Black Widow: Dark House

22. "Hurt"- Johnny Cash

Bold Italics- Russian

Italics- any language besides English

**- thoughts/ memories

Ana felt like she was drifting back and forth until she slowly opened her eyes and the world rightened itself before her. She let out a breath, one she felt like she had been holding for years. In an instant everything came back to her, her life, the Red Room, Dreykov, Antonia, her missions, Dr. Freeman, the prison in Siberia, blood, so much blood on her hands, and...

"Natalia" she breathed.

Tears fell from her eyes as she experienced everything over again, pain, loss, anger, betrayal, and fear. Her body shook with the force of her emotions.

Ana finally took in a deep breath, forcing herself to gain control of her composure. The memories roared in her mind, now surrounded with clarity whereas before it had felt like her consciousness has been locked in a prison in her mind, watching as her body was controlled by someone else. Hunger clawed at her stomach as she took in her cell for the first time with clear eyes, recognizing where she was and the gravity of her situation.

**They haven't killed me yet. Which means they want something** she thought to herself.

As if on cue she saw the elevator doors beyond her cell open, three people stepping out. Two of them she recognized from the last time someone had visited her. The woman had touched her, and then the pain had followed.

Captain America, she recognized, had made Baby-arms and Hawkeye stop their interrogation of her. He'd more than likely been the one to figure out the issues with her memory.

The other man, with the well-kept facial hair was new to her, but she recognized him immediately from articles and video feed. Tony Stark.

Ana felt her jaw clench as they entered the cell, choosing to remain silent.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked.

Ana swallowed, "Still hungry" she said quietly.

"What do you remember about our last visit?" Wanda asked.

"... Everything" she croaked, her voice breaking slightly, "I remember everything" her eyes filling with tears.

Shaking her head, Ana forced the tears away, "Thank you for giving me my choice back. As I'm sure you no doubt know from your little romp through my mind" she glanced at Wanda, "I was made this way. Not by choice. But my question is now, what do you plan to do with me?" she asked pointedly.

Tony stepped forward, "Well that really depends on you. Do you know who we are? And what we do?" he asked.

Ana rolled her eyes, "Yeah, the Avengers, the people who take Halloween too seriously, who doesn't know you?" she retorted.

"Well we want to kill Dreykov, for good. And take down the Red Room. You can either hop on this train and help, or I'll keep you down here until you wither away into mutant glitter" Tony shot back.

Ana raised an eyebrow, smirking at his words.

"What's the catch?"

Tony shrugged, "don't try to kill us. Or go back to your boss"

Ana's eyes durned dark and menacing, "I would never willingly return to that monster" she spat.

Steve nodded, "Well then, we have an understanding. But we will also need your help."

"There it is" Ana quipped, letting out a disappointed sigh.

"We need to know where the Red Room is" Tony said.