The Sokovian Shadow

Chapter 24

TW:
- Blood
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We reached the compound's hospital and I rushed to the table the Tichu was resting on. I unfurled her wing gently, running my hand slowly over the wounds. Natasha watched from a distance as the skin stitched itself together. When I couldn't detect any fresh blood coming from the gashes, I flicked my had to the side, removing the dried blood. There would always be a scar, but at least she wouldn't die. I leaned back and watched her sleep. She was shivering on the cool metal surface of the table, so I moved her to a blanket on the table and sent a tongue of my soul fire over her, making it so that it wouldn't hurt her, just warm her up a bit. Natasha walked up behind me, gently extending Tichu's wing and taking in the scar. She made an impressed sound.

'You just did in less than a minutes what would have taken our most advanced healing tech at least ten.' I nodded in acknowledgment. 'How did you learn how to do this?' She released Tichu's wing after gently, placing it against her side.

'I should probably start at the beginning, but it's kind of a long story...' I trailed off, unsure of myself.

'We have time.' Nat sat down and motioned for me to do the same. I did, then I began.

---

An hour later I'd finished. Tichu had woken up and seemed to be confused as to why she was still in the Physical World, not the jungle portion of the After World.

'That's all well and good, but you didn't answer my original question; where and how did you learn to do that with blood?'

'It's not something that can be learned. Every Hybrid Wraith has a special power of some kind that they get from the spirit that makes them. It's more often than not influenced by the name they're given. Oris Pyro?' She nodded. 'His name means Earth Fire. He was pyrokinetic. When he died, he gave his fire magic to me. That's where I got my soul fire. My name, Aorta Necros, means...' I stopped. This would drive her away. I took a deep breath. I'd promised her answers. 'It means Blood Death. I have blood magic.'

'To what extent?' Her face was blank and her eyes were cold.

'I can control the blood within another person's body. I can turn someone into my puppet if I want to. I- I have before.' I turned away in shame.

'How?' Nat's voice could have frozen fire

'In the Inter World, before I knew. Oris was charging at me during one of our training sessions, and I couldn't jump out of the way in time. I knew he wasn't going to actually hurt me, but I was still really young, so it was an instinct to put my hands up in front of my face.' I demonstrated. 'Oris froze. I put my hands down and his movements obeyed them. I could tell he was scared, and I was too. I didn't know what I was doing. Oris still helped me calm down, since he'd discovered his fire magic about a week earlier. I haven't done it since.'

'And if you had the chance?'

'Nat, you have to believe me, I never wanted this kind of power! It makes me feel like more of a monster than I already am! You and Dr Banner think you're monsters because of the Hulk and your leger? I'm the monster! I've killed thousands intentionally! And at least a couple of hundred more in the bombings and the war against Ultron! I've felt like a monster my entire life! I was an freak in the Inter world and I'm an outcast here! And the worst part? I can't make it stop!' Nat's eyes widened as she understood.

'You've tried?' Her voice was soft.

'No, but I know it's impossible. The only thing that can kill a Wraith permanently is the Reaper. If I die, even now that I'm exiled, I'll just "respawn" in the Inter world, then come back here.' I sank into the chair, burying my head in my arms. 'Celes thinks that if she hadn't still been a part of me, there's a strong possibility that I would have cut off my own wings to try to please the Reaper.' I murmured. I sighed in defeat when I heard the legs of her chair scrape against the floor. I knew I was going to push her away.

I tensed up when I felt her hand on my shoulder, similar to how Laura had when she saw my memory written in Russian. I wasn't sure what she was doing. She rubbed my shoulder with her thumb, while her other hand reached under my chin and brought my head up to look at her. I didn't meet her eyes. She let go of my chin and reached around to my other shoulder. She wrapped her arms around me and I froze. I'd seen humans do this before. They called it a "hug". It was usually used to show affection or comfort someone.

I slowly wrapped my arms around her as well. I slowly began to calm down, and I buried my head in her shoulder as I closed my eyes. I released my wings from my back and wrapped them around us, creating a cocoon. I felt Tichu pecking gently at the feathers on my wing gently, not wanting to be left out. I smiled slightly and drew my wing and arm back, letting Tichu hop onto my lap. She was comfortable around Nat I think because of how comfortable I was. In any case, she didn't protest or pull away when Nat started stroking her head.

'What did you look like before you killed Celes?' Nat looked up at me.

'A lot like you, actually. Same eyes, same hair, same skin. I seriously could have been your sister.' I Tichu hopped onto Nat's lap as I stood up and raised my hand to my chest. Celes' spirit hopped onto the table next to Tichu and Nat. Tichu bowed her head and Nat seemed mesmerised by the ghostly appearance of the falcon. I smirked.

'That's not something you see every day.' Nat commented as she turned back to me. 'By the way, Friday?'

'What can I do for you Agent Romanoff?' Came Friday's Irish accent from the ceiling.

'Bring up files for the Romanova family in Russia.'

'Locating data.' A series of holographic scenes flashed to life on the far wall to us. 'Ivan and Milena Romanova gave birth to two children. The first, Natalia Romanova is said to have perished with her father in the great fires of 1988. However, their second child, Aliana Romanova, was still born due to the conditions of her birth and her mother's sickness.'

'Thank you.' Natasha interrupted.

'You are quite welcome, Agent Romanoff. Have a good evening.' The holograms vanished.

'What was that about?' I tilted my head.

'I had a theory when I saw you without Celes, but now I know for sure.'

'Know what?'

'Natalia Romanova didn't die in the fire. She's me. And you're my stillborn younger sister.' Natasha- no Natalia's face was grim as the words sunk in.