𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐓 | ʏᴇʟᴇɴᴀ ʙᴇʟᴏᴠᴀ x ᴏᴄ

𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.

CHAPTER EIGHT:

After the fiasco with the pig (yes, a pig) at the dinner table, the conversation went on.

"Dreykov has chemically subjugated agents planted around the globe." Melina tells us.

"And do you know who they test it on?"

"Hmmm...." After a moment she continues. "No. That's not my department."

"Ah, come on, come on." Alexei urges. "Don't lie to them, hmm?"

"I'm not lying." 

"You're Dreykov's architect, huh?"

"What were you? If I was his architect, you were his partner. You were his business partner." 

"No, no, no. I was patsy-" He bangs the table. "Don't give me that, he sell me ideology-" They continue but I'm barely even in the conversation, zoning out.

"Shut up!" Nat says suddenly. "You are an idiot." She says to Melina. "And you're a coward. You're a coward." She tells Alexei. "And our family was never real, so there's nothing to hold on to. We're moving on."

"Never family, huh?" Alexei begins. "In my heart, I am simple man. And I think that for a couple deep undercover Russian agents I think we did pretty great as parents, huh?" 

"Yes, we had our orders, and we played our roles to perfection." Melina agrees.

"Who cares? That wasn't real." Nat says.

"What?" Yelena asks, I can hear the hurt in her voice and I don't like how this'll go. 

"That wasn't real, who cares?" Nat repeats.

"Nat-" I begin.

"Don't say that." Yelena says. "Please, don't say that. It was real... It was real to me." She turns to Melina. "You are my mother. You were my real mother. The closest thing I ever had to one. The best part of my life was fake." Too late to ask for another shot of vodka? She exhales deeply and bangs on the table softly. "And, none of you told me." The whole table is silent as they all, for once, listen. "And those agents you chemically subjected around the globe?" She asks, back at Melina. "That was me." She then turns on Nat. "And you, you got out. Dreykov made sure no one could escape. Are you gonna say anything?" Total silence. "No." She stands up and Melina goes to grab her hand. "Don't touch me." She grabs the bottle of vodka before walking away from the table.

"Yelena-"

"No." She slams the door behind her and I reach over, having Melina's shot of vodka.

"What?" I ask when I see the glare on her face. "I'm not the one who faked being a mother." They all stay there silently before Alexei gets up. 

"I'll go talk to her-" He says. I take the shot and look over at him.

"Are you dumb?" I ask. "Actually- don't answer that." They all stay there, a little awkwardly. "Look: I've had many arguments with my parents in the past. The first three minutes straight after an argument is always better to be left alone. After that it's a little less- hostile. Also- yeah great idea. You just sent her over the edge, she's got vodka in her system and you're gonna go and talk to her after less than thirty seconds of the argument." I put the shot glass back in front of Melina. "You made the mess. Not me." 

I put my feet up on the table, moving the plates and glasses around a little and Alexei sits back down in his seat. I look over at him. "You see, the problem is, the only thing you've shown to care about is the stupid glory days you've had as the Russian Captain America, you'll tell the stories as many times as you like- but no one cares." I say before turning to Melina. "You were meant to be the mom. And moms usually are there for their daughters. And yes, you weren't her real mother- maybe you liked to live that lie you lived in Ohio, but Yelena didn't deserve to also be made to think it's real."