𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗡 | 𝗡. 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗙𝗙

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trigger warnings: vomit, drug usage, violence

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𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚

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Natalia Alianova Romanova had left the Red Room for the first time when she was seven years old.

Up until then, the Red Room had been her entire life. She had grown up staring at those same walls, hearing the same screams and mantras day in and day out.

She didn't know about love or mothers or family, but she did know death and manipulation and pain.

She didn't have her first steps, but she did have her first punch.

She had her first ballet shoes. 

Her first pirouette. Her first high kick. Her first dance.

She'd had her first kill when she was six. It had been another girl who had also been six.

Natalia had had her first family when she was seven. The mission in Ohio had been unusual—most girls didn't get one until after graduation—but it had been her first, and Natalia had played her role as expected.

She'd been a daughter. And a sister. She'd loved her family, as daughters were made to do. She'd gone to school, had made friends, had received good grades.

She'd been perfect.

Maybe a little too perfect.

Natalia Alianova Romanova had left the Red Room for the second time when she was fourteen years old.

At the time, she'd been the youngest graduate from the program.

All because she'd been chosen as their Black Widow.

All of the girls who graduated were considered widows, but there was only one who Dreykov had wanted to be his best. Natalia had been special—whether that was because of her innate ability of espionage, her genetic potential, or the treatments she had been given to become stronger, faster, more resilient, it was a fact.

It was also a fact that, as a result of these specialties, Natalia did not have any freedom.

Ten years as the Black Widow, this world renowned assassin whose reputation preceded her everywhere she went, and Natalia had had no choice in it.

Not until she'd met Clint Barton.

The archer who'd given her a second chance.

Twenty-five years as Natalia Romanova, the girl with the red hair and no place in the world, the girl she had to be to survive.

Not until she'd met Truth Castello.

The assassin who'd taught her how to live.