Dancing Under The Stars

21

Natasha slowly opened her eyes and sat up. Her wrists and ankles are in handcuffs. Vibranium. She recalled. They always use Vibranium. Clumsily, she clambered herself backwards, till she could feel a wall.

It was pitch dark and there were no windows or lights inside there. Not even a tiny lamp. She knew even if she found the door to her room, she couldn't budge herself out of it. The red room was always careful, there was a reason why they couldn't escape till they were fully grown up. Even then, they still couldn't, Natasha was an exception.

She yanked her wrists apart, hoping somehow, and miraculously that it would break, but it didn't. It was no use. She was trapped and imprisoned, just like before. Her eyes swept across the dark ceiling, and bingo, a small tiny red light. That was one of the cameras, she doubted that they just had one.

Using the wall, she stood up and hopped over to the corner towards the red blinking light. She needed to know what they were up to, then find a way to tell Steve and the Avengers. Hopefully, they will try to solve this before she dies.

And, one more thing, she needed to know where her sister Yelena is.

They knew, and she was sure of it. The dagger was Yelena's, and she needed to know where she was. She couldn't, and wouldn't abandon her sister again.

She just hoped that Steve will be safe. "Where is your partner?" Snarled Madam B. They thought she would tell him but she didn't. Now they only had one avenger instead of two. Which meant Steve had the advantage, before the Red Room found ways to imprison Steve too.

Her mind immediately flew to the blond once she thought about him. He imagined those baby blue eyes staring angrily at her, demanding where she was, giving him a fright. She chuckled at the thought of him. He was always so caring. Forcing her eyelids shut, she pushed away the thought of him Not now, Romanoff.

Then the door flew open.

~

"Where the heck is she?" Muttered Steve for the hundredth time. He woke up, and she was gone again. No trace of where she went. No little sticky notes, or messages. She just disappeared.

What did he do again? Natasha was way too strong to be taken by force, plus he was pretty sure she left with her gun so even if she got caught, she would've defended herself.

He opened his duffel bag and fumbled for his phone, he needed to call Fury. She did mentioned about going on a date. A little voice in his head reminded, but she wouldn't have brought her whole duffel away plus her guns. He was sure, she left because of another thing. He racked his brain and tried to remember every single detail yesterday. If Natasha knew about the suspect, she would tell him. Except for the small talk she had with the bald guy.

With his heart thrumming, he thought about how she looked so distraught after the bald man pulled her in for a few words. They weren't trying to flirt with Natasha, they were probably bringing news to her, and if so, Natasha must be threatened. He pinned the bridge of his nose with his fingers and sat down, she could've just told him., and he would've helped. Does she not trust him anymore?

A few rings later, Fury answered the call.

"Captain."

"Fury, please help me pinpoint Natasha's location, she ran away."

"Rogers, could you please fill me in on-"

"No, there's no time. Just- please..."

Steve pleaded, if she was in danger, he wouldn't know, and that thought alone, scared him to death. He shut his eyes closed and pushed the thought away. She'll be fine. He dug his fingers into his palms, hoping that the silence meant nothing bad. If Natasha's chip blinked out, she'll most likely be dead, and he prayed that it wouldn't happen and frankly, never happen.

"Captain, I'll send you the location but-"

"Thank you. Thank you."

"-she blinked out three seconds ago."

"What?"

He felt a cold shiver ran down his spine, his legs wobbled and he slumped helplessly on the floor. The phone threatened to slip through his trembling fingers, but he held it tight, his knuckles white. It felt immensely unreal. And for awhile, he couldn't speak. He could feel the world spinning and dancing beneath his eyes. Why torture me the second time? He hitched his breath and tried to calm down. His throat felt clogged and he couldn't speak. The faint feeling of nostalgia hit him again.

And it hadn't happen after he went into the ice.

"Rogers?"

He found his voice again.

"Yes?"

"She might not be dead, maybe just hurt, or maybe her chip expired."

"Yes, yes, of course."

"Be careful Steve."

Then Fury hung up. However, Steve didn't let go of the phone, he gripped it tightly like he was afraid it would disappear. His mind was still comprehending what Fury had said. She might not be dead, maybe just hurt, or maybe her chip expired. A tiny fire ignite inside him. She could be alive. And he had to hold on every bits of this tiny hope. He will find her, he will.

~

"Ballet class girls." Madam B exclaimed, her eyes glinted, and if any of the girls had noticed, they didn't shiver from fear. Girls in black leotards began to line up. They lowered their head as if they were being scolded for something. Clapping her hands, Madam B said, "We have a guest ladies. Please welcome her."

As in cue, they all clapped and stopped in unison. A blond haired women stepped into the room with perfect posture and grace, her tutu was bloody red with matching pointe shoes. When the music begins, she started to twirl, her calves held her upright and she didn't stop. Turn, turn, turn. As the rhythm of the music changed, she dropped out of her pirouette and begin to dance across the room in beautiful variations. Step, step, leap. Never once, she dropped herself. Every beat and every movement was perfect and calculated.

When the music fades away, she slowly stopped dancing and then bowed. Her blue eyes looked blank and her blond hair, which was neatly put into a bun, begin to fall out of the red ribbon. She didn't dare move, until a voice said, "Bravo, Yelena, bravo. I knew I had taught you well." Then, the blond haired women broke her posture, yet still looking graceful, she slowly backed out of the room and left.

"Now, it's your turn."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading!