Chapter Text
2012
Natasha was on a mission. Again. This time Petra wasn’t with her, and was on a separate mission. Petra was nine now, and had been doing solo missions for years, but Natasha couldn’t help but worry. Natasha had been tasked with taking out a detective that was getting too close to figuring out that one of the widows was behind a past assassination. She had successfully killed him, and was currently planting the evidence to make it look like it was his assistant who had killed him.
She slid the knife covered in the assistant’s fingerprints into the desk and spun around, somehow not noticing the figure in the doorway until she was looking right at it. He was dressed in full black like her, and had a gun aimed directly at her head.
Natasha froze. She didn't have any weapons, and there was a gun pointed at her. She was going to die here. She was never going to see Petra again, and her precious daughter was going to be forced to grow up in the Red Room without her there to protect her.
“Please…”
She didn't even mean to say it. She’s Natasha Romanoff, she didn’t ask for anything, let alone beg. But she wanted to see Petra again. She wanted to live.
To her surprise, the gun lowered. She almost collapsed with relief. The man was looking at her funny, like he was trying to figure out what she was thinking.
“You’re not doing this willingly, are you?
Natasha shakes her head. “I was raised like this. But I hate it.”
“Come with me. I can get you out.”
Nat hesitates. She wants to leave. She wants to leave so goddamn badly, but she can’t leave Petra
“I can’t. She chokes out. There's someone else, I can’t leave them.”
Clint looks at her for a second, then nods.
“If you can get out, we can help.”
Natasha’s heart soars. She can get Petra out.
“Ok, here's the plan.”
Two days later, Petra had been told the plan too. Natasha will never forget the look on her face when she told her that they were getting out. She should have done this a long time ago. But it is happening now. They're on their way back from training when Natasha gives the signal. She ‘trips’, and the second the guards escorting them are distracted, Petra knocks them out, killing them with her fangs. She grabs the dead guards’ guns, and hands one to her mum.
They go on a killing spree, their years of training together meaning they fight together seamlessly, taking out guards as they silently move down the corridors. They open cell after cell, letting out all the prisoners, until the Red Room, the home of their trauma and pain, was empty except for the bodies of guards and anyone who was willingly working in the Red Room.
“We’re free.” Petra says quietly. “We’re actually free.”
Natasha nods and pulls her into a hug. After a few seconds they pull back, and head out to the roof where Clint is waiting for them. He’s standing in front of a helicopter, obviously waiting for them. When his eyes land on Petra he does a double take. Petra’s face is completely blank, just like it always is with anyone other than Natasha. She retracts her fangs into the roof of her mouth and waits silently.
“Clint, this is Petra. She’s my daughter.” Natasha says, not wasting any time. Clint, despite being shocked at the revelation, just nods as they climb into the helicopter. They’re in the air before Clint can get his mouth to work.
“Your daughter? How?” Natasha took a breath before responding
“The Red Room waited to raise widow’s from birth. Petra is the only one who’s survived.” They fell silent, unsure of what to say. It wasn’t long before the helicopter landed at SHIELD.
“мы будем здесь в безопасности?” [We’ll be safe here?] Petra asks her mum quietly. She smiles before responding.
“Да мы будем.” [Yes, we will]