Work Text:
Fresh out of the Red Room, Natalia Alanova Romanov is a promising agent for the KGB. She’s never failed a mission and she doesn’t plan on breaking her win streak anytime soon. Her latest mission requires her to travel to Asia, specifically China. She’s gone to other countries within the continent before, but never this one. She looks over the file to study her target: a middle aged monk. Strange, what business did this woman have with the Russians? As she pours through the file, she begins to think this mission was ridiculous. This woman hadn’t committed any crimes nor had she harmed anyone. The only reason they want her dead was simple: she’s a psychic. Natalia is not a big believer in things she can’t explain. It doesn’t make any sense. How can one person claim to predict the future? Nevertheless, she was the target, and she’s only wasting time questioning her orders.
The Black Widow finds herself on an island outside of Shenzhen. The psychic wasn’t very hard to find at all; apparently she’s very well known throughout the town. Though she got a few strange looks, most people still directed her towards the temple where her target spent most of her time. She makes the twenty minute hike to the top of the mountain to find the monk greeting her at the top. Natalia is rarely caught off guard, but something about this woman was enough to give her the creeps. They were alone; no one else was in sight. To further surprise her, the woman speaks to her in English. Not many people on the island knew another language, let alone English.
“What is your name?”
She couldn’t help herself from a snarky reply. She still isn’t a believer, and this had to be a coincidence.
“Shouldn’t you know? You’re the psychic here.”
“I know many things. I can help you, but only if you tell me your name.”
She doesn’t know why she answers her, honestly, but she doesn’t give her a cover.
“Natalia Alianovna Romanov.”
“Good, now what about your birthday?”
“November 22nd, 1984.”
“Ah, I see. Come, my dear, I’ve been expecting you.”
Without another word, she beckons Natalia to follow her to the woods… strange that she didn’t insist on going inside the temple. The two women walk until they reach a pond with a fallen tree. The monk takes a seat on the stump while Natalia continues to stand.
“I’ve been waiting for this day to come. It’s a shame it had to be you.”
“Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. We have very little time together, we should focus on you. What did you want to know?”
“I don’t really buy into this crap.”
“Your parents died when you were very young. You’re a well trained agent. You’re fighting on the wrong side, but you’ll learn that soon enough.”
“Anyone can say stuff like that.”
“You’re going to have a son.”
“That’s impossible .”
“You’ll learn that there are endless possibilities in this world. It’s a shame you won’t get to share them with anyone.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You’ll never get married.”
“I could have told you that myself. Besides, my line of work doesn’t exactly advise getting attached.”
“You can’t fight fate, Natalia. Just remember that. You’ll meet the man you’re meant to be with, cherish him while you can.”
“Stop that. You don’t know anything about me. You’re just trying to stop me from completing my mission.”
“I know more than you think— you just choose to not accept it. Remember which side you’re meant to be on.”
This was going nowhere. People are willing to resort to all sorts of tricks to survive, but Natalia was smarter than that. She didn’t buy into their bullshit. She feels no remorse as she takes her gun out and fires a single shot into her target’s head, her body falls easily from the force. Her eyes are closed as the blood starts trickling onto the stump. She walks away from the scene, ready to go home, but she doesn’t forget about this mission.
It haunts her for the rest of her life.
—
James’ sixteenth birthday passes and they’re still unpacking. They were supposed to be done a month ago, but with Natasha’s work schedule and James’ training, the move proves to be a difficult task. There’s only a few more boxes left to go, and they already had their housewarming party. It was a nice chance to relieve the Avengers of their daily duties.
James finishes hanging the last of his clothes when he spots an unfamiliar dress. He picks it up; it’s clear that it belongs to his mother. He’s confused as he studies the material.
“James! Are you almost done in there? What do you say we…”
She stops mid sentence. It’s been a long time since something has caught her off guard.
“Mom, was this your wedding dress?”
“... yes… it was.”
“But I thought you and dad didn’t get married?”
“We didn’t.”
…
“This is gonna work Steve.”
“I know. Cause I don’t know what I’m going to do if it doesn’t.”
She places her hand on top of his. She smiles at him.
“It’ll work. Besides, you made a promise to me and I’m holding you to it.”
He smiles back at her, he laces their hands together, and brings her hand up to admire his promise to her. It’s nothing too extravagant, but it’s real and a symbol of their love. He kisses her hand.
“After we beat Thanos, it’s our turn to be selfish. I’m going to make an honest woman out of you, Natasha Romanoff.”
“That’s Mrs. Rogers to you.”
“Mrs. Rogers. I like the sound of that.”
…
She’s twisting that very ring on her finger. No one can fight fate; she was never meant to marry. Not when the one she’s destined to be with is gone. She puts on a smile for her son, one of the few reminders she has left of her lost love.
“Let’s finish unpacking, Kiddo.”