Red

The Past

Kamila's POV cont...

"Anything on Nat?" Dr. Banner asked as Stark entered the lab where we were gathered.

"I haven't heard."

"She's alive." I said, forcing confidence into my voice. "Or Ultron would be rubbing it in our faces."

"This is sealed tight." Clint announced, jumping off the cradle.

"We're gonna need to access the program within, break it down from within." Dr. Banner said.

"Is there anything Natasha might leave you a message outside the Internet? Old-school spy stuff?" Stark asked, turning to look at Clint.

"I have some nets I can cast."

"I have a few more I can show you." I added. He nodded at me and I followed as he led me to his office.

I watched as he sat down at the computer and began typing away. once he was satisfied with what he had done, he turned me and said,

"Have anything you'd like to add?"

"May I?" I said, referring to where he was sitting. He nodded and stood. I sat down and began clicking away at the keys, adding layers to the stuff he had already begun on.

"You know, Nat. Don't you?" He said, breaking the silence.

"No, never met her. I'm only searching for her right now."

"No, I mean. You knew her when you were younger."

"How did..." I began.

"Deductive reasoning. What you said earlier about not having a happy childhood, and the fact that you two act alike. And besides, she had a weird reaction when Steve introduced you. Like you were bringing back memories."

"That's probably true." I murmured.

"So you did know her." I nodded.

"Yeah. I did." I took a deep breath, deciding I could trust him. "Well before I was born, my father died leaving my mother with nothing. She wandered the streets, extremely pregnant. When the time came and she went into labor, she stumbled upon a girl's home. They took her in and helped her deliver me. She survived long enough to name me before she died. The 'girls home' was actually a front for the Red Room." I inhaled shakily. He looked at me, compassion on his face.

"You don't have to continue. I know this is difficult." I shook my head.

"No, I should." I nervously bit my nails before continuing, "They raised me similar to a normal child for that first year. But after that, they began to teach me. I didn't realize this until during my stint in the jail cell, but they were shaping me to be their perfect weapon. Their monster." I took another breath before continuing.

"I wasn't allowed to talk to any of the other girls. I was isolated. There were only a few that knew of my existence. Tasha was one of them." I bit my lip at my use of the nickname. "They had few of their top students train me. Natasha, though, treated me like I was a girl, instead of a weapon. The last day I saw her, before..." I trailed off. "She gave me a piece of advice that helped me get through what happened next. She said, 'Never let them take your heart.' I promised her that. And I didn't." I looked up from my hands, and Clint was looking at me with admiration. Before he could say anything though, the computer beeped. I turned.

"She's in Sokovia."