Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

August… God she loathed August. She hated the heat. She was a usual Russian child who preferred the freezing cold to overwhelming heat. She had hoped she would get lucky this year, and Fall would start earlier in August rather than late September, but she knew that could never actually happen. However, this year was more bearable for the fact she had access to her best friend… well not best friend, Widows didn’t have friends. She reminded herself. But Annie called her, her best friend, so she went along with it allowing her to call her that to maintain their cover. Every tiny thing she did was important to the mission. Melina... no mom would tell her to just have fun be a kid while it lasted because there was no telling when it may end.

What was she thinking about again… she sighed shaking her head, oh the pool. Annie’s pool. Her “best friends” swimming pool across the road. Annie was her first “friend” here in Ohio on this strange, slightly boring but kinda good mission. Melina... no Mom told her on their second day here just over a year ago to “Go play outside and be a kid it’s important for the mission to keep up the cover” She had nodded and headed for the back door before hesitating. She contemplated whether it would be okay to ask a question before like Melina… Mom had read her mind “If you’re not sure how to be a normal child Natasha why don’t you play out the front and try and make a friend with one of the children in the neighbourhood. You can watch and copy them” she’d nodded and headed for the front door. “Take a ball” Melina... Mom said grabbing one from a box and tossing it toward her.

Not 5 minutes later of awkwardly kicking a ball around had Annie appeared. She didn’t shut up the entire time they had played together. She’d only gotten one word answers out but Annie was happy and didn’t seem to notice how awkward she was and to be honest Natasha was glad and enjoyed hanging out with the girl without the possibility of eventually having to kill her one day. She had been grateful they ended up being the same age, and that she was going to be going to Annie’s school in the new school year. While she would never be as bubbly, happy and outgoing as her, Annie had taught her a lot about being a well-rounded kid and had helped her fit in this last year.

“Natasha when you girls finish your lunch be sure to head over to the Greyson’s house. Mrs Greyson said she’s happy to watch you both while I head to the store” Melina said pulling her out of she thoughts.

“Mel... Mom I was going over to Annie’s to swim... do I have to go to Mrs Greyson’s? Can’t Yelena just go and I go to Annie’s?” She could still sometimes almost slip up and call her Melina instead of mom, Yelena never seemed to notice thankfully.

“I want to go swimming with Nattie! Please mommy!” Yelena yelled pulling out her puppy dog eyes, Natasha would always roll her eyes at that, she’d never in her whole life made ‘puppy dog eyes’.

“Sorry Natasha it’s not fair for you to do that while Yelena has to go to Mrs Greyson’s.” Melina watched her eldest “daughter’s” face fall. She always felt bad disappointing the girl. “When I get back you can go though.” She smiled watching Natasha’s face brighten a little. “I should only be an hour and a half, two tops. Okay.” Natasha nodded.

“Can I go swimming then too mommy?” Yelena begged. While Natasha was becoming more comfortable asking for things, Yelena had never been shy in begging or throwing tantrums.

“I’ll ring Annie’s mother when I get back and see what she says okay Lena?” Melina said while going through her purse to check she had everything.

“Otay mommy” Yelena said with a mouth full of peanut butter sandwich. Natasha grimaced.

“Alright I’m off... straight to Mrs Greyson’s as soon as you’re finished okay” Melina said sending Natasha a serious look knowing it was entirely possible Natasha would drop Yelena there and head to Annie’s, even if Yelena would end up ratting her out.

Natasha watched her “mother” walk out the front door. She sighed it was always a small weight lifted when she was left alone without her “parents”. While she had begun to somewhat trust them, she knew that no matter what as soon as this mission was over, she would be back there in a heartbeat along with her “baby sister”. Glancing toward the small blonde girl as she chatted away, mouth full of food unaware that her “big sister” wasn’t listening to her.

Natasha still found her “little sister” to be incredibly annoying and well dumb to put it bluntly, but the little girl had never been there before and so her childlike wonder and happiness much like her “friend” Annie’s was fully intact neither knew any of the things Natasha had experienced in her 11 and a ½ years of life. Looking at her “little sister” again she thought of how she would actually give anything to save her from her fate of ending up there even if she was annoying, No one deserved to ever go there. It was something she had started thinking about recently when she realised that Yelena really was becoming her sister not just a part of the mission.

“Nattie you weren’t listening to me” Yelena pouted, crossing her arms. The look on her face pulling Natasha from her thoughts again.

“Sorry Lena. I was just thinking and daydreaming”

“What about?” Yelena said perking up with wide eyes. Her big sister was kinda weird to her. Often quiet and always thinking. She always wanted to know what she was thinking but Natasha would never really tell her.

“Just about Ohio and you.” Natasha sighed looking down sadly. Yelena wasn’t sure why that seemed to make her sad.

“Why are you sad… Did I do something mean?” Yelena pouted. Natasha smirked, her “little sister’s” pout was something else and always made Natasha laugh a little. She had never seen anyone actually make a sad face like the kids at school would draw.

“No, you didn’t Lena. Don’t worry about it. I was just thinking about how I wish we could live here forever.” Yelena tilted her head, not sure what on earth her sister was talking about. Then she thought about how daddy said they might go on an adventure one day. Maybe that was it. But it was only going to be for a while and then they would come back home.

“You’re silly Nattie. Daddy said we might go on a venture one day, but we will come home again like Lilly. She went away with her mommy and daddy and brother, but they came home and with lots of cool stories” Yelena smiled trying to cheer her sister up.

Natasha shook her head. There was no point talking about this anymore Yelena was too little and had no idea what was probably going to happen someday, hopefully not too soon. Natasha didn’t want this to end too soon. She smiled at her “sister”. “You’re right Lena. I’m silly I don’t know what I was thinking of” Yelena grinned happy her sister understood.

The pair returned to their lunch unaware what was happening outside their house.

-

“Barton are you in place? Do you have eyes inside?”

“I’m in place... I can see the two children at the table eating… No other movement in the house. Doesn’t appear the main target is home, and no one has snuck back in since he left this morning.”

“Alright... Andrew, Lloyd, are you still following the car?”

“Car is in our sight, doesn’t appear she has noticed us”

“Okay. Gunner, Is your team in place”

“We are set sir.”

“Miller is your team still following Andrew and Lloyd?”

“Right behind them sir”

“Alright, Team 2 keep following the car, move in when she stops. Team 1 stay ready. Only the children are home. If these people are from where we suspect, then the children could still be trained and unpredictable. Move with caution. We move when Barton, gives the word”

From his vantage point, hidden up a tree in a neighbouring property he watched the two young girls. One couldn’t be older than 5 if she was lucky the other might be double digits but there was no way of knowing till, they could ask her. She would be the definite wild card but even the little one could be too, if they were dealing with the Red Room here. He watched them eating and felt his stomach doing flips. They were going in with nonlethals as the worst case scenario but this all felt so wrong and strange to him. How could anyone use these little girls… well he did know but hated to think about it.

They had lost eyes on Alex this morning, it was Dalton and Kent’s fault they were tasked with following him to work, they were still alive but lost him when he must have noticed them following. Clint had been watching the house since last night and nothing had seemed off. Alex must not have had the chance to warn his wife… if she was his wife. She appeared to have left the house normally and she had left the girls behind which was either a good sign or not…

Now was their best shot to get the children though and hopefully his wife and hope they could tell them where Alex was. “Alright move on 1… 3. 2. 1... Go Go!” He watched from the tree as 4 agents broke through the front door and another 5 were spread around the backyard and sides of the house in case the girls tried to run out the back.

-

Natasha had almost finished her food when she suddenly felt like something was off. It felt quiet… not inside, her “sister” was still yapping away about anything and everything, Natasha was letting out a few yeps and uh huhs which kept her happy. Outside felt off though and quiet… Suddenly there was a few quick loud bangs against the front door, then it was flying open and 1, 2, 3, 4 men she quickly counted ran through the door holding large guns, they looked nonlethal to her eye, they were shouting to freeze and stay where they were. Yelena immediately started screaming but Natasha was trained for this.

She quickly scanned the room for weapons. There were knives on the bench that would be helpful, but she needed to get there and keep Yelena safe. She quickly dropped to the ground and moved toward her sister, grabbing her arm she pulled her off her chair toward herself. “Stop screaming and follow me!” She pretty much growled, leaving no room for questions from Yelena. Yelena shut her mouth quickly and nodded, tears falling from her terrified eyes.

Natasha looked around the room from the ground for a possible hiding spot for Yelena. She quickly spotted one behind a large indoor pot plant in the corner of the dining room. She crept quickly pulling her sister behind her, she then pushed her behind the plant. She held her finger to her lips and mouthed ‘stay’ with the most serious look Yelena had ever seen. The little girl nodded and curled herself up trying to stay hidden. Natasha turned and looked around and listened to the 4 sets of footsteps moving quietly through their house. Not quiet enough for her though. She took a deep breath and started to move away from her sister. Yelena saw this and grabbed her hand, more tears pouring out of her eyes “No Nat” she squeaked

Natasha’s eyes widened as her sister spoke, and the movement stopped and then started again toward them. They were already coming her way, so she stood quickly and angrily told her sister “Do Not Move” she spun around as the first man came around the corner. She started running toward him, she swung her leg out and knocked the gun from his hands. He stumbled back and she moved into a flip so she could use her whole body weight to hit him in the face. He was knocked out quickly and had fallen back into the man behind him, sadly he wasn’t knocked out too, but it gave her enough time to grab his dropped gun. She fired two shots into the second man knocking him out. She artfully dodged a shot fired from behind her from a third man making him hesitate in shock at the skilled young girl, allowing her to fire four shots, two at him and another two at the fourth man behind him.

She let a breath out and swiftly ran toward her crying sister. “Yelena, we have to run! Stay behind me, stay quiet unless I tell you to speak and run as fast as you can okay!” Natasha quickly grabbed two of the other men’s guns, putting one over her back and holding the other in her hands. She preferred small handguns, but these would do. She was however unaware of the other agents outside and the one hiding in a tree who had watched everything go down inside.

Barton watched as the inside team got taken out within just a couple of minutes with a shocked look. He realised his mouth was hanging open and promptly shut it before snapping back into work mode. “The older girl just took out everyone inside, she has some of their guns. Outside team do not let your guard down. If you can get to the younger girl she doesn’t look like a threat but stay cautious. The older one may stand down if we can get the little one.” He spoke into his comm. “She’s looking around for an out. You two closest to the front of the house move NOW. Everyone else move in through the back. Go Now! Coulson I’m moving in” He grabbed his bow and quickly climbed down the tree then jumped over the thankfully low back fence before running toward the house.

Not realising there were more agents outside she pulled her sister up and began running toward her “parents” bedroom. She knew they kept weapons hidden in there. Pulling her sister into the room she ran toward the bed and threw the pillows behind her hoping for a knife or handgun but came up empty. “Think Natasha where would you hide a gun?!”

“A Gun!?!” Yelena squeaked with wet wide and scared eyes. She hadn’t stopped crying since the scary men broke inside. All she wanted was her mommy she had no idea how her sister wasn’t as scared as she was.

Natasha ignored Yelena and scanned the room but before she could look somewhere else, they heard glass breaking and more people entering the house “дерьмо” (shit) Yelena’s eyes somehow got bigger in fear as she let out a scream. They heard a man yell “This way” Natasha looked toward the window and then the bedroom door. She ran to the door and slammed it and locked it. No point being quiet now they knew where they were thanks to Yelena. “Yelena, we need to go out the window! Come on” she moved toward her sister and grabbed her arm again. Yelena cried out and tugged her arm back.

“I want mommy!” she cried holding her arm which was sore from her sister pulling her around.

Natasha let out a panicked breath and tried to think of something quickly. Her sister was stubborn and if she picked her up, she would just scream and fight against her which she didn’t need. “If we don’t go through that window right now! You’re not going to get to see mommy again! Do you understand Yelena? This is serious!” Natasha said and held her hand out. Her sister continued crying but grabbed her hand and let herself be pulled toward the window.

“Barton, I have eyes on the girls in one of the bedrooms. They are heading towards the window I need you round the front now” Coulson yelled into the comms watching from the street. He prepared himself to engage with the girls “Anyone else closer to the front, get out here now. Those near the door go in that way.” This was a fucking mess. Thankfully everyone in the neighbourhood seemed to be inside due to it being lunchtime and the silencers helped keep the gun shot sounds to a minimum to stop unwanted attention being drawn.

“Running along the side of the house boss almost at the front.” Barton said. As he rounded the corner, he saw a window fly open and soon after small girl was jumping from it. He saw his moment. If he could grab the little one, they stood a chance of taming the older one. “The little one is outside! I’m grabbing her now. I need back up asap the older one isn’t going to be happy” He ran quickly toward the blonde girl whose eyes were wide with fear.

Yelena let out a piercing scream as she watched a man with a bow and arrow run towards her. She continued screaming as he picked her up and continued running. Before Natasha could jump out the window and follow her sister she watched in horror as a man grabbed her sister and ran toward another man who was pointing a gun at her. She froze for a moment her mind spinning, she heard someone yell to stand back from the other side of her “parents” door. If she stayed here, they would grab her, she was cornered in the room and they probably knew not to underestimate her like the first lot, and she wouldn’t know where Yelena was. So, she jumped out the window and yelled “Give Me The Girl Or I’ll Shoot!” she pointed the gun toward the men. One was using Yelena as a shield, but she could get him in the leg if she could take out the other man.

“Stand down kid. We aren’t going to hurt you or the little one. But you need to stand down” The man with the gun said carefully and clearly. He wasn’t scared of her. As she searched the man for a weakness or opening another two men came into her view from inside the house. Her eyes snapped to them and then back to the man with the gun. He hadn’t flinched. Her mind was reeling, trying to figure a way out, she was the best widow in her year, but she was only just over halfway through her training and even though she tried to keep up with it this last year she hadn’t been training like she had been. She was rusty. They had Yelena. She heard her “parents” door be broken through and listened to them yell to stand down from the window.

She dropped the guns and slowly stepped forward with her hands up away from the guns. The two men that had come from the house carefully moved toward her. She could see the man with the gun near her sister watching her like a hawk. They were probably going to knock her out she might as well put on another show and take these two out. She smirked in her head but kept her face neutral. She took a breath before she pounced. She heard the shot and then felt the needle in her back. She heard her sister scream and felt the man she had jumped at grab her before she could fall to the ground and then everything went black.

Chapter Text

Everything felt like it was spinning. Like she was on a fair ride or maybe she was on a boat on the water. For a moment she felt panicked as to why everything was dark till she calmed herself and realised she still had her eyes closed. She didn’t open them though, she wouldn’t have the upper hand if she opened them and someone was watching then they would know right away she was awake. She wondered for a moment if her breathing may have given it away in her brief panic, but she had quickly focused and calmed her breathing and hoped no one had noticed.

As the spinning/rocking motion began to settle she was able to focus better on her surroundings. She could tell she was likely lying on a bed from the softness underneath her or possibly a couch. She pondered why the bad guys/her kidnappers would put her on something comfortable and then her heart skipped a beat at another possibility… She focused and calmed herself and hoped for another reason. Mentally shaking her head, she refocused on what she could hear around her she came up blank. Everything was silent, till she heard a slight shift nearby.

“You’re pretty sharp and well trained” Someone spoke fully breaking the silence in the room. She tensed up slightly at the sudden voice before relaxing again and wondering for a moment if she could keep the act up, that they would think they were mistaken. “I know your awake”

She weighed her options, she could leap up and attack, but they were probably ready for that, she could just continue to pretend and see what they might do, they would have slapped her by now, but these people or this person hadn’t done that… yet. Then the thought of Yelena popped into her head. She couldn’t hear her in this room, so where was she? She felt herself start to panic a tiny bit again. After mentally telling herself to calm down, she decided to play along so she might be able to get back to her sister sooner and then she could figure out a way out of here, wherever here was.

Natasha opened her eyes and slowly sat up, she still felt a bit dizzy “Where am I?” she scanned the room quickly and then the man sitting on a chair in the corner. The room was clean and plain, possibly a med room but it was definitely secure. There wasn’t a large mirror on the wall, but she spotted two small cameras in separate corners, no blind spots in this room.

She stared at the man as he shifted in his seat, he was watching her closely before he spoke softly “My name’s Phil, Phil Coulson, What’s your name?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, weighting up how she would respond, she decided she’d be blunt and to the point. “I don’t really care… I would rather know where I am?” she opted to skip over answering his question for her name.

Phil chuckled, he liked this kid already. “I could tell you that… if you tell me your name?” The younger girl hadn’t told them any names since they managed to catch the two. They had hoped she would talk but she had been going between asking for her mom or sister or crying. The plan had then quickly become, see how much information this girl would give and then reunite the two sisters.

Natasha narrowed her eyes again, watching this man, Phil, carefully. She could lie and tell them a fake name, but Yelena wasn’t trained like her, and never actually shut up, so they probably already knew her name and were testing her. She clenched her jaw, might as well get this out of the way. “My name is Natasha.”

Phil smiled “Thank you for sharing. I’ll hold up my end of the deal. I work for S.H.I.E.L.D have you heard of us?” he asked watching her face flash a moment of surprise before it was gone and back to a scowl.

Natasha had heard that name before, in the early days of the mission when she didn’t trust Alexei and Melina in the slightest, (not that she still overly trusted them, but they hadn’t hurt her or Yelena as of yet, so she wasn’t as nervous around them anymore). She had spied on them more frequently then and had overheard the mention of shield a few times but had always been slightly confused by it as a shield was just something used to protect you. Keeping her face blank she asked, “What do you want with me and my sister?” She paused before adding “And where is my sister?”

“We just want to ask you some questions. About your parents mostly. Maybe where you lived before here?” Phil said hoping for some kind of reaction, but she didn’t even flinch. “Your sister is safe, she’s in a room across the hall, one of my agents is with her. You can see her in moment if you answer my questions.”
Natasha studied his face for any lies. She decided to try her luck. “And if I don’t answer your questions” she raised her eyebrow.

“I’ll need to speak to my boss first” Phil said, hoping she would make things easy, so he did not have to leave her and speak to Fury.

Two options, one was easy and hopefully not a trick, the other she was not sure what it could mean, but it would prolong her getting to her sister. She mulled over the choices before deciding to negotiate. “I could answer some of your questions, and finish answering them if you take me to my sister.” She could answer them all, but they could end up just leaving her here anyway. She glared at the man in the corner. Even for an 11 year old her glare could make a grown man fidget.

“Fair question… I suppose I can agree to that.” Phil said holding in a chuckle, he knew that the chances of her trying to negotiate were pretty high and had already planned to allow her to answer a few questions before bringing the little girl in. “We will start small, question 1, How long have you lived here in Ohio?”

She let out a sigh, better to get it over with. “Over a year”

“What are your parents’ names?”

“Alex and Melissa” she said giving him their cover names.

“Are they your parents?”

She hesitated for a moment, but Phil caught it “Yes”

“Are you sure?”

“And what if they’re not?” She tried.

He decided to skip over her counter question. He wasn’t sure what they would do or what they were going to do anyway as unless Natasha knew the answer to where her “parents” would go, it was likely the pair had gotten away. Leaving two young girls behind, and one that probably couldn’t be put in a simple foster home. He was getting ahead of himself though. Moving on he asked, “How old are you?”

Again, she contemplated lying, even if she said something else it was easy to tell she was nowhere near 18 and any other age was useless like her actual age. “11”

Phil raised his eyebrows, he had realised she was young after they had knocked her out, but to actually hear her age was something else. He was definitely going to give the boys taken down by her a hard time later. “And your sister?”

“4” she sighed

“What’s her name?”

She narrowed her eyes yet again, she really couldn’t tell if he knew already and was just wanting to see what she would say. She needed to see Yelena though. “Her name is Yelena”.

“Has she had training like you?”

“No”

“Last question and you can see your sister. Do you know where your parents would go in an event like this? A safe place?” He asked watching her closely

She thought about the question for a moment. She had heard them in the early days talking about a getaway location, but they hadn’t discussed many details about it near her. She could easily answer this question truthfully. “No. Can I see her now?” she asked inching to the side of bed she was sat on. Phil glanced up at one of the cameras and nodded before facing her again quickly, he did not want to take his off her for even a few seconds too many, he’d seen what she could do.

Natasha waited with a bated breath for something to happen. After a minute or two, the door opened and a woman with dark brown hair and warm eyes, holding Yelena’s hand stepped into the room.

“Nattie!!” Yelena shouted pulling her hand from the woman’s and rushing toward Natasha. She barrelled into her sister, trying to hide herself in her sister’s arms.

“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Natasha asked trying to pull her sister back slightly to look at her for any injuries, Yelena was having none of it and wouldn’t budge. She could feel her nod yes and then shake her head no to her questions. Making Natasha feel slightly better.

Phil and Laura watched the girls interacting, before deciding to leave them alone. “We will leave you alone for a bit. I still have more questions, but they can wait for now.” Phil said heading to the door that Laura had kept open with her foot. The two swiftly exited and let the door close. They ensured it was locked securely, before they nodded to the two agents that were assigned to watch the door, in the off-chance Natasha managed break out, although those chances were almost impossible, they then headed down the hallway. It felt wrong to lock the girls in, but they couldn’t take any chances with Natasha, after what she had managed to do at her home.

-

“Did the little girl say anything to you Lau?” Phil asked as they walked to one of the large office rooms that had been set up as briefing room for the small lead taskforce members.

“She told me her name after I told her mine. Her name is Yelena but likes to be called Lena” Laura chuckled “She just a baby. I’ll never understand how some people can use children like this” she sighed sadly.

“The older one is Natasha, I wasn’t sure if that was her name or not but the little one… Yelena called her Nattie when you brought her in so it must be true. I asked if Yelena had any training, she said she didn’t or at least not like herself maybe, again could be a lie to throw us.”

“I don’t think any, After I managed to get Yelena to stop crying, she even let me give her a little cuddle while we waited for word from you. I was tad nervous at first and Clint told me not too through comms but her little eyes, my motherly instincts had too.” She rolled her eyes as she walked through the door Phil held open for her. Laura wasn’t a mother yet, but she wanted to be in the near future.

Clint and Fury looked up at the pair from their spots sat at a large desk watching the girls from two computer monitors. “Nice work Coulson. At least we got some info from her. I probably would have asked a few more questions before bringing the little one in but too late now.” Fury said watching the two girls cuddled together in the corner of the bed that was against the wall. He couldn’t hear or see the older girl’s lips moving as she had them hidden in Yelena’s hair.

“Any word from Andrew or Lloyd or Miller?” Coulson asked. They had been following the mother, Melissa, no one was sure how, but they had lost her.

“No” Fury grumbled, he was beyond pissed that both “parents” had gotten away. “She’s definitely an agent too. Only way to explain how she got away from them.”

“I certainly think they are Russian sir, the girls’ names are Natasha and Yelena. And I definitely don’t believe the parents’ names are Alex and Melissa. They are aliases for sure.” Coulson said sitting at the round table in the middle of the room.

Joining Phil at the table Laura asked, “What else did you get from Natasha?” She hadn’t heard anything Phil had asked as she had been with Yelena.

“Just names and ages… They are 11 and 4… I’d say it’s true, seemed too specific.” Phil said as he sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. Laura’s face fell at hearing the girls ages. “I asked if Alex and Melissa... oh, she told me the woman’s name too. I asked if they were their parents, she hesitated but said yes” Phil added.

“She... Natasha said she doesn’t know where the parents would go, she answered that sounding pretty sure, so that’s definitely no help for us but I’m not really surprised, while the older one can fight and is… was… in training… I’d bet good money they are only here for the cover.” Clint said speaking from his spot in front of the computer screens watching the girls.

“So how are we going to locate them team?” Fury asked his tone was that of a pissed off man. The mission was going to shit, and he wanted it back on course ASAP.

“I could try speaking with and bonding with the girls see if I can get their guard down and maybe get more information from them?” Laura suggested glancing at the computer screens.

“Lau... the oldest one is not to be messed with…” Clint started worrying about his wife. He’d watched the live show Natasha had put on at the house and he did not want anything happening to her.

“Clint, I can handle myself just fine, plus if a dozen armed men broke into our house like that, with my training I’d do exactly what she did… and so would you.” Laura said cutting her husband off and giving him a pointed look.

“Fine but I’m waiting outside the door.” Clint replied.

Fury rolled his eyes at the couple. “Alright Bartons, you two tackle the girls. Coulson, you head back to the house and see what the strike teams have found, and I’ll monitor you and the girls from here and find out what team two are up too in the search for the mother.” He assigned to the agents in the room before turning back toward the computers.

The three agents were up and heading toward their assigned destinations. Phil wished the couple good luck as they headed back to the girls’ room and he headed toward the parking garage.

Laura felt Clint grab her hand as they walked. She gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand as he spoke “Maybe I should come in, in case they gang up on you.” He rubbed his other hand on the back of his neck, he was nervous, he knew Laura was skilled, but he never wanted anything to happen to her.

Laura took a moment to contemplate as they kept walking down the hallway. The girls could be fine with Clint in the room, but they could also shut down and not talk or maybe Natasha would get aggressive… but if she kicked Clint out the second either of the two scenarios happened maybe that would gain some of their trust… Clint raised an eyebrow at her waiting for her response as the couple arrived at the door to the girls. “Alright you can come in with me, but if I tell you to get out if Natasha gets agitated you need to listen to me” She said, giving him a I’m serious look. He nodded and she smiled as she began unlocking the door.

-

Natasha and Yelena had been tucked up in the corner of the bed against the wall, snuggled together since Phil and the dark-haired women who brought Yelena in had left. Yelena had started crying again shortly after, Natasha had started rocking them and whispering comforting words in her sister's ear trying to calm her. After what felt like forever Yelena’s sobs had turned to sniffles.

The little blonde pulled her face away from her sisters' chest and wiped at her eyes before asking “Nattie why are we here? Where’s mommy and daddy?”

Natasha felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked at Yelena’s wet big brown eyes. She bit her lip before looking down at the bed, she had no idea what to tell her, Yelena knew nothing, she didn’t know that ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’ weren’t their parents or that they weren’t actually sisters or that until today she hadn’t even thought of her as her sister… she didn’t know what to say so she replied “I don’t know Lena.”

She couldn’t look Yelena in the eye. She had been taught to lie since she could speak but lying to Yelena had always felt bad, now more than ever. Pushing aside her guilt Natasha decided to see what the woman that had been with Yelena had asked her.

“Lena what did that woman ask you when you were with her?”

Yelena turned her head from looking around the room toward her sister. She took a moment to think before answering. “She asked me my name, and she told me her name was Laura after I told her mine. I was crying lots too because I thought you died and I wanted you and mommy, and I was scared but she asked if I wanted a hug and I said yes because I was scared. She was nice” the blonde rambled on.

Natasha blinked taking all the information Yelena told her in. She felt a lot of emotions, sadness and anger that Yelena had thought she had died but also uncertain and nervous that the woman had hugged Yelena, nothing good could come from that.

She knew Yelena was too trusting and decided she needed to give the little girl a crash course in staying alive and safe till they escaped, or Melina and Alexei or the Red Room could save… no that didn’t sound right… get them back maybe because save and the Red Room did not go together.

“Yelena whatever these people ask or tell you don’t listen to them. Don’t answer their questions or take anything from them unless I’m with you. Do you understand?” Natasha said her tone serious.

Always one to ask questions and not be quiet Yelena did not just answer with a simple Yes. “Why? Laura was nice?”

“Because… it will keep you safe. Please Yelena just listen to me, just this once” Natasha pleaded.

Yelena couldn’t understand why her sister was worried and scared, pretty much anyone Yelena had meet was nice, but her sister had always been more quiet than she had and she had never known why. But for once after what had happened at the house she decided to listen to her sister.

Yelena nodded and replied, “Okay Nattie.” Just as the girls heard the locks on the door opening. Natasha’s eyes widened and she grabbed Yelena and dragged her behind her on the bed as she moved forward ready to fight if need be.

Chapter Text

Laura slowly pushed the door open, ready in case of an attack, Clint was close behind, He had wanted to go first but Laura thought it would be better if the girls saw a familiar face first. She poked her head through the doorway and smiled softly at the two nervous girls.

She moved carefully and slowly into the room as not to spook them, she felt Clint following behind carefully too. She noticed the oldest, Natasha tense up and level a glare toward her husband, obviously recognising him. She stepped in front of Clint to try and block Natasha’s view of him.

“Hi girls” she smiled and waved, keeping her hands where the girls could see to show them, she wasn’t a threat. Yelena gave her a small smile, but Natasha kept her glare trained on Clint, almost daring him to try something.

Laura glanced around the room and noticed there was only one chair. Staying standing was only going to continue to intimidate the girls and she could tell with one look at Natasha that having Clint in the room was not going to help get anything from her. Yelena even looked nervous as Clint had been the one to grab her at the house. Turning towards Clint she quietly spoke to him “You need to go, we aren’t going to get anywhere with them with you in the room at the moment. Why don’t you go grab something for them to eat might help them warm up to you.” She gave him a small smile hoping he would actually listen.

Clint nodded “Okay what should I get?” he asked.

Turning back toward the girls who were both watching them closely she asked, “My husband, Clint here is going to go and get you some food, whatever you want.”

Before Natasha could speak for both of them and tell them they didn’t need or want anything, her sister spoke loudly and quickly, excited by the opportunity of having a choice of anything.

“Mac n Cheese!!! Pleaseeee!” She grinned before it fell with the look her sister was giving her. Natasha was quickly fuming after Yelena happily answered Laura’s question. Yelena had never really seen her big sister give her a look like she was currently giving her, and so she slowly began to shrink down, trying to hide from Natasha’s glare.

Turning back to the couple who were waiting to see what she would do, Natasha levelled the pair with her signature glare and told them “We don’t need or want anything from you.”

Trying to calm the situation down Laura said, “Okay we won’t get you anything, don’t worry” She watched Natasha’s face relax slightly but her eyes never left Clint. “Would you prefer if Clint left while we talk?” she asked.

“Not that I trust you at all but if he comes near my sister again, you may need to look for a new husband.” Natasha stated calmly, her eyes still not leaving Clint. Laura couldn’t hide the shocked/surprised look that popped up on her face, she wasn’t used to children speaking like that. Clint let out a chuckle.

Laura turned to Clint again, trusting him to watch her back while he was here. “You better go.” She said quietly, before mouthing the words ‘Get food’ knowing he would understand. She turned around and softly smiled at the girls as she heard Clint leave the room.

Natasha watched Laura move toward and sit on the only chair in the small room. She studied the woman, she appeared kind as Yelena had said, but many people can appear kind. She looked to be average height and a slim but stronger than she looked build. She had kept her kind, soft smile and had noticed that she and Yelena were uncomfortable by her husband. Natasha observed but she couldn’t decide how she felt about the woman, for now she was sticking with trusting no one.

“How are you girls doing?” Laura asked, taking Natasha out of her thoughts.

“How would you be doing?” Natasha snapped, narrowing her eyes at the woman.

Laura sighed, pressing her lips together as she looked at the girls trying to decide how to approach this situation. It was obvious Natasha was angry and in no mood to trust anyone, she wouldn’t either if her house had been attacked and she was pretty much kidnapped and held in a secure room in an unknown building and place. Yelena was nervous and obviously scared, with no idea what was happening or why. Natasha was sat in front of Yelena, protective and ready to fight anyone who tried to get close. But it was definitely making Yelena more nervous.

Natasha didn’t like how Laura was watching and studying her, she wouldn’t be the one to speak first but she couldn’t help but clench her jaw. Laura waited to see if Natasha would break but it didn’t come so they sat like that for a while, Natasha and Laura watching each other.

What felt like at least an hour but really had only been about 10 minutes but felt like forever for Yelena who had started to fidget within the first couple of minutes of their standoff. First, she played with the back of Natasha’s shirt, then she started to shift around (she never liked to stay in one place for long). Shifting around slightly she then started to play with Natasha’s hair before her slight shifting got worse. Natasha realised what was happening before Yelena could or would say something… she needed the bathroom… and the longer she and Laura were waiting each other out, the worst the fidgeting would get before probable disaster, but she couldn’t be the first to break, she wouldn’t have the upper hand then.

Laura watched Yelena’s fidgeting get worse and a flash of nervousness cross Natasha’s face. She wasn’t sure what was going on but she could tell she needed to be the first to speak. “Is everything okay?” she asked watching the pair carefully.

Never one to want help and certainly not to ask these people for it, Natasha glared at Laura but before she could speak and tell Laura they were fine, Yelena bet her to it again.

“I need to go to the toilet!” the little girl said almost bouncing up and down now, trying to hold it in.

Laura’s eyes widen and her head began to spin trying to figure out what to do. Logically Laura and the team knew the girls would need to use the bathroom at some point, but they hadn’t thought about exactly when or how they were going to get the girls there without issue. Because Natasha mostly likely wouldn’t let Yelena go without her, but they couldn’t have both girls out of the room at the same time this soon, Natasha was pretty skilled, and most agents would not be comfortable fighting her properly and the chances of the girls escaping could be quite high.

Knowing with young kids they can only hold on for so long. Laura jumped into action, Natasha wouldn’t like it but there was only one solution. “Okay Yelena, it’s alright, there is a bathroom just down the hall.” Laura said standing and holding her hand out toward the girls “I’ll take you now, it will be alright sweetie” she smiled.

“Nope you aren’t taking my sister anywhere!” Natasha shouted jumping up and blocking Yelena from moving toward Laura.

Laura felt stuck, she couldn’t push the girls, but the clock was ticking.

“Nattie please, I need to go so bad” Yelena whined, she was trying so hard not to wet her pants, because she really didn’t want too.

Biting her lip Natasha said “Well I’m coming too then” she held her arms out toward Yelena and the little girl shuffled forward so Natasha could help her off the bed.

“I’m sorry Natasha but you have to stay here… I promise you I will bring your sister back here as quickly as possible” Laura said feeling awful as Natasha stilled with Yelena in her arms.

Natasha stood still as a statue, with Yelena in her arms, contemplating her options. Her heart was racing in fear of her little sister leaving her sight, anything could happen to her while she was gone, she didn’t want to have to trust anyone here, but she didn’t want Yelena to wet her pants, she could be a baby a lot of the time, but she was 4 years old and always used the toilet.

Yelena began to fidget again and moaned almost in pain “Nattie I really need to go, Laura is nice please” she pouted, her frown fully on display.

She sighed and bit her lip again “5 minutes and if you’re not back, I’m not responsible for what I do after that.” She said putting Yelena down and watched her run/shuffle toward Laura’s hand and the pair quickly headed for the door.

She was soon pacing the room and counting the seconds since Laura left with Yelena. She was almost at 5 minutes when the door opened, and Yelena barrelled into the room with a grin feeling much better.

“I’m back!” she giggled, and Natasha let out a breath “I told you Laura was nice!” she said putting her hands on her hip giving her big sister a ‘I told you so’ look. Natasha just rolled her eyes.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom Natasha?” Laura asked from the doorway, keeping the door open so it was easier for the pair to leave if she needed it. Natasha shook her head no, not wanting to be away from Yelena again so soon. Laura then stepped into the room and let the door close.

“Okay can you answer some of my questions now?” Laura asked as she sat down, ready to try again.

-

Pulling into his parking spot, he turned the vehicle off and let out a sigh. He glanced at the takeout food on the passenger seat and grumbled. He’d been grumpy since he left the girl’s room. He trusted his wife, they both knew that the older girl, Natasha, was just a scared kid trying to protect her sister from a bunch of kidnapping strangers, but he wanted to stay with Laura while they worked to gain Natasha’s trust, and logically he knew that this early, Laura needed to take the lead.

Getting out of his vehicle and making sure to grab the bag of takeout, he heard another vehicle pull into its parking space nearby and immediately recognised the SUV as his handler Phil’s.

“Hey Coulson” He waved heading toward him as Phil got out of the SUV.

“Barton. Where have you been? Thought you were working with Laura and the girls?” Phil asked as he moved toward the boot of the vehicle.

“Got sent out for food for the girls. Larua is taking the lead. Need any help?”

“Yes please, I grabbed a bunch of the girl’s stuff from their house. Mostly clothes and some toys” He pulled a box out and handed it to Clint.

“Jesus how much shit did you grab?” Clint groaned taking the box and looking at the other three boxes in the SUV.

“Kids have a lot of shit Barton, better get comfortable with that fact if you and Lau are gonna have kids someday soon” Phil chuckled “I also have a ton of evidence for us to go through, which is in those two boxes, I looked at a few things already that hopefully Natasha can have some answers about” He grabbed another box out and closed and locked the car, leaving the other boxes for someone else to grab once they got upstairs.

They made small talk till they reached the taskforce bullpen, Phil and Clint placed the boxes down and Phil asked a couple of nearby agents to go back to his car and get the other boxes out.

They greeted Fury before Clint asked. “Laura get anything from the girls?” He had moved to the computer monitors to see the live feed, which showed Laura and the girls speaking to each other.

“Natasha won’t answer any questions about their parents, where they lived before here or where she learned to fight, she just goes quiet till Laura asks something to do with the life they are currently living. I’m getting the feeling the younger one knows nothing. Yelena is getting confused and has been asking questions about what Laura is asking though” Fury said watching the screens closely. Natasha appear to be getting flustered by Yelena.

“Maybe a break and some food might help?” Clint asked nodding toward the bag of takeout on the table.

Fury nodded “Just knock and hand it to Laura, tell her to get them sorted with eating and then to come out here. I have an idea”

Grabbing the bag of food Clint headed toward the girl’s room. He knocked on the door and started to unlock it. He opened it a crack and waited to see Laura’s face. She smiled and told the girls she’d just be a minute and moved into the hallway with Clint.

“How’s it going?”

“Slow. Natasha won’t answer any questions about before here, Yelena is confused and keeps asking her questions about what’s going on. Natasha is going to snap soon” Laura sighed rubbing a hand over her face.

Clint pulled her into a hug and rubbed a hand over her back. “I got the Mac and Cheese. Fury said to get them sorted and eating and then come back to the bullpen, he has an idea.” Clint said and handed her the bag of food. “I’ll wait here, you got this” He smiled, and Laura gave him a small smile back and returned to the girl’s room.

Yelena perked up as soon as she saw the bag in Laura’s hand and Natasha just glared at it. Her nerves were fried, and it was getting hard to hide. Yelena had that effect on her.

“What’s in the bag?!” Yelena asked bouncing slightly, happy for a distraction from all the confusing questions Laura was asking.

“I know you said you didn’t want or need anything from us… but it’s getting late, and I know the last thing you ate was lunch and that was about 7 hours ago. You’re growing girls and it’s been a very stressful day. So, we got you the Mac n Cheese” Laura said with a smile.

Yelena squealed and started to move toward Laura, she was starving but had been too nervous to ask. Natasha however clenched her jaw, her nerves were still on the edge, and all this was making it worse. She quickly grabbed Yelena as she was getting off the bed. The little girl let out a yelp at her sister sudden move, she was about to protest till Natasha gave her the same look from earlier and she shut her mouth.

“I’ve gone a lot longer than seven hours without food. We will be fine!” Natasha snapped “Also who knows what you put in it, I’m not stupid” she added before she suddenly realised what she had let slip, she was then clenching her teeth harder and avoiding eye contact with Laura.

Laura was fast to school her features and promptly reevaluated the room. Yelena had gone from excited about food, to anxious and quiet from Natasha outburst. Natasha had finally been tipped over the edge and actually looked nervous.

Taking control of the situation, Laura ignored the girls and moved toward the small table against the wall between the bed and one chair in the room. She pulled the food out and cardboard utensils (Less likely to be a weapon… less) Thankfully there was 4 sporks (Cardboard usually got soggy fast). She opened both food containers and water bottles and took a small drink from both bottles and then a spork full of Mac n Cheese from both containers. Then finally she spoke “Everything is safe I promise.”

Natasha had watched Laura closely, somewhat intrigued to see an adult (not counting Melina and Alexei – they had been a whole different can of worms, which would take her years from now to fully wrap her head around) trying so hard to make her feel safe-ish. She had been in similar situations to her current one and never felt so off her game and flustered. But maybe it was because she truly had no idea what these people were going to do next, they hadn’t yelled or hit them, there was a bed, and the room was clean. It was all so strange and put her on edge.

Yelena broke her from her thoughts when she shifted and asked her, “Can we eat now Nattie? Please I’m so hungry I’m gonna die” she complained, and Natasha couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the dramatics. Natasha let out a breath, released her hold on her sister and nodded.

Yelena grinned and pretty much bounced over to the table, grabbing a spork she began shovelling Mac n Cheese into her mouth. Natasha grimaced, her sister’s table manners definitely left something to be desired.

Laura smiled, glad things were under control again. “I’ll let you eat in peace, I need to go speak to my team, I’ll be back as soon as I can okay.” Natasha only gave her a quick glance before turning her attention to her sister, while Yelena nodded and said with a mouth full of food. “O-a Ora” adding a thumbs up too, Laura somehow managed to hold back her laughter as she left the room and heard Natasha say “Oh my god Yelena! Don’t talk with your month full” she could hear the absolute disgust in her voice.

Yelena had almost finished her food by the time Natasha finally started eating or picking at it was a better way to describe what she was doing. Natasha could feel Yelena watching her, but she (for once) hadn’t said anything yet and Natasha wasn’t in the mood to speak.

She wasn’t sure why she felt so tired, it wasn’t the food, because she so far had barely eaten anything and Yelena still seemed wide awake. Maybe it was the fact that since lunch (apart from the hour or so she was knocked out) she had been running on pure adrenaline, and she hadn’t felt like that in well over a year. God she was slipping. Also, SHIELD was doing a good job of luring her into what could only be a false sense of security, making her adrenaline wear off.

As usual Yelena broke her from her thoughts “Nattie why are you scared of the food?” she asked then continued before Natasha could answer her. “Why do they keep asking about mommy and daddy? And where we lived before here? Did you live somewhere else before I was borned?”

God she was sick of questions. Closing her eyes and breathing out a long slow breath to ground herself “Don’t worry about it Lena” pausing she added “and it born not borned”

“But I want to know” she whined

She closed her eyes again and tried to remain calm “I’ll tell you tomorrow okay. It’s been a long intense day and I’m over it okay.”

Yelena contemplated what Natasha had just said before nodding. “Fine but you have to tell me tomorrow”

-

About 20 minutes after Laura had left, she returned with Clint. The team had a game plan for tomorrow at least. They had decided to let the girls be for the rest of the evening and night and were going to start again in the morning.

The couple had a small box with them with a change of clothes aka pyjamas, a couple of activity books and crayons (safest option) and a few of most likely Yelena’s toys. The current game plan was to get them ready for bed.

Clint was coming along to give them the box of items to hopefully build a tiny bit of trust, and to also take the empty food rubbish with him. Laura knocked on the door and began unlocking it.

“Hi girls, are you feeling better after having some food?” she smiled entering the room.

“Yep! And Nattie let me finish hers too” Yelena grinned rubbing her tummy. “Can we have ice cream?”

“Yelena!” Natasha scolded

Laura just laughed and shook her head “Not tonight, Missy, maybe tomorrow.”

Grumbling the 4 year old said “Why is everyone saying tomorrow”

Skipping past that Laura decided to properly introduce Clint to the girl. “Natasha, Yelena, I know you met in the least ideal circumstance, but I would like to actually introduce you to my husband, Clint” She gestured for Clint to come in. Yelena moved behind Natasha quickly and Natasha glared at Clint as he entered the room and let the door close behind him.

“Hi girls” He waved awkwardly still holding the box. Natasha’s glare didn’t falter, but Yelena’s attention was caught by the box.

“Girls I promise he’s a big teddy bear. He never will and never had any intention to hurt you today. He was just trying to get you here as safely as possible so we can figure out what was going on with your parents okay?”

Yelena nodded not really understand her attention still mainly focused on the box in Clint’s arms.

Natasha just stared at the couple for a while, making Laura shift uncomfortably. Finally, she spoke calmly “I don’t trust him… or you… and if he grabs my sister again then well… like I said earlier you will need to look for a new husband”

Laura was surprised yet again but just chuckled like earlier. “Deal” He said. Natasha just narrowed her eyes at the man not amused.

Before the room could become stagnate again, Yelena blurted out “What’s in the box?” The man, Laura’s husband, still made her nervous but her curiosity always got the better of her.

Clint smiled and moved slowly toward the table to put the box down pushing the takeout containers toward the wall. “One of our coworkers grabbed some of your stuff from your house.” He said stepping back so the girls could look.

Natasha leaned forward first to make sure it wasn’t a trick, she saw the clothes and toys and nodded to Yelena it was safe. Yelena squealed when she saw some of her my little ponies “My ponies! Thank you!” she grinned pulling some out of the box.

“No problem kid” Clint smiled “Right I’m gonna leave you be now, I was just here to deliver some of your stuff and be the rubbish removal guy” he chuckled slowly moving toward the table to clean up what was left of their dinner.

Once Clint had left, Laura moved into action. “Okay girls, we are going to leave you be for tonight, let you get some sleep” she smiled “You can get changed and go to the bathroom down the hall. I have to take you separately though sorry”

Natasha sighed but nodded. “You go first Lena”

“But I want to play with my ponies” she pouted.

“The faster you get ready for bed the longer you can play before you need to go to sleep” Natasha said, repeating what Melina would say almost every night.

Natasha grabbed Yelena’s things and handed them to Laura as the tiny blonde groaned and slowly got up from the floor like it was the hardest thing she had ever had to do (something she did almost every night).

“Right, I guess I’ll leave you be till tomorrow” Laura said once both girls were changed and ready for bed. “There is a light switch here” she pointed toward it, “and if you need anything in the night, bathroom or water or anything else just yell out, someone will be keeping an eye on the cameras and they will let me know and I’ll be here as quick as I can, Okay?” Both the girls nodded.

“Okay Goodnight” she smiled and headed for the door.

“Goodnight Laura” Yelena smiled. Natasha just stayed quiet, she definitely wasn’t going to get much sleep tonight, nighttime was always when bad stuff happened.