Clint was watching in awe as Natalia took down the remaining targets. She had basically been the MVP of this mission. Her skills were unmatched, paired together with her ruthlessness and brutality.
That was...until she came upon another target. She nearly let one go accidentally.
But it wasn't just anyone.
Natalia gasped.
Madame B smiled at her serenely. "Natalia."
Natalia froze, her hand that held the gun trembled slightly. She straightened her posture subconsciously, even using her other hand to adjust her hair neatly.
"Madame. What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I escaped. I'm not going back again. I'm here to right the wrongs that I did."
Madame B smiled again. "You of all people should know that you can't possibly wipe out that much red. You've been toppling empires from within, massacres all over the world. How are you supposed to redeem all that with so little time left in your life? Come back. You can stop all this hero nonsense."
"If I can cause massacres, I can do the opposite. I'll save thousands instead."
"Hm. I'm sorry, but I cannot allow such talent to go to waste."
Madame B drew her own weapon but Natalia was faster. She shot Madame B in the heart.
Her former mentor collapsed to ground with a groan.
Natalia covered her mouth in surprise. She shot her. She killed her.
Natalia dropped her gun, falling to her knees before crawling to Madame B.
"Madame," she whispered quietly.
"Good girl. I wanted this, don't stress about it," Madame said, gasping. "Read the note. Pocket. Stay safe..."
She exhaled softly, her head lolling to the side.
Natalia gasped as she ran her hand over the woman's face, closing her eyes.
'Note. Pocket.'
She scrambled hurriedly, finding a slip of paper in her mentor's pocket before hiding it in her own.
Clint trudged over soon after. "Hey. What happened——oh."
He observed Natalia's expression. Her face had turned ashen white and her hands were shaking.
He quickly took her hands in his. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Look at me."
She didn't. But he continued anyway. "We're gonna' go back, and I'm going to get James for you, alright?"
"B...body...bring back," Natalia said.
"Alright. We will. I promise."
*****
Clint gave a report of the mission to the rest of the team as Natalia slept in the jet.
James paled over the online meeting. (?????) "Oh god. It's her. Madame B."
Steve frowned.
"She was Natalia's mentor in the Red Room."
YOU ARE READING
Infinite (buckynat/winterwidow)
FanfictionAn au where the avengers (excluding Nat) are tasked by SHIELD to take down a deadly Russian duo. Meanwhile, Bucky and Natasha are on the run after escaping from the Red Room. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to...
