BLACK & RED | NATASHA ROMANOFF X READER | MARVEL

3

The next morning, I woke early, the room still shrouded in pre-dawn darkness. I groaned, wanting to stay in the warm bed, yet I opened my eyes despite my own reluctance. The time on my digital alarm clock read 6:32.

I decided to take Romanoff up on her offer, curious about her training process. Maybe she would even end up teaching me something.

I put on a workout outfit that they had provided me, and I left my bedroom, looking for the training area.

As I approached, I could hear the rhythmic sound of punches and the occasional grunt of exertion echoing through the hallways. The training area was a spacious, high-tech gym, equipped with everything from weights and punching bags to advanced combat simulators. Natasha was already there, deep into her training routine. She moved with a grace and precision that spoke of years of experience, her movements fluid and deadly.

Eventually, she caught sight of me and paused, wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead.

"You made it." She drops her hands and approaches me, grabbing her water bottle taking a sip, her eyes never leaving my gaze.

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a bit out of breath just from watching her intense workout. "I wanted to come and see if I could learn a thing or two."

Natasha's lips curled into a small, approving smile. "Good. There's always room for improvement." She gestured toward the center of the training area. "Let's start with some basic drills. I need to see what we're working with."

I nodded, moving to the designated spot. Natasha took me through a series of exercises, her instructions clear and precise. She demonstrated each move with effortless grace, then watched as I attempted to replicate them.

"Keep your balance," she corrected, gently adjusting my stance. "Don't lean forward too much."

I focused on her advice, feeling the burn in my muscles as I pushed myself to match her pace. "Like this?"

"You're doing great," she acknowledged, her gaze sharp and appraising.

We sparred lightly at first, Natasha testing my reflexes and technique. She was fast and unpredictable, her strikes coming from unexpected angles. I moved fluidly, blocking and countering with practiced precision.

"Not bad at all," she said, clearly impressed. "You've got solid training."

"Thanks." I replied, feeling a swell of pride.

We continued training, the intensity building with each exchange. Natasha was relentless yet composed, her movements calculated and precise. Each strike she landed was met with a swift counter from me, my focus sharpening with each passing minute. Sweat dripped down my brow, mingling with the lingering tension in the air.

By the time we finished, I was both physically drained and mentally invigorated. Natasha's acknowledgment held a weight that transcended mere words. It was as if her approval validated not just my skills, but my presence among these legendary figures.

As we caught our breath, Natasha turned to me, her expression serious yet somehow softened by a hint of empathy. "You did well today. Just keep that focus, and you'll fit in here just fine."

Her words echoed in my mind, stirring a mix of emotions. "I don't know if I will ever fit in here," I confessed quietly, taking a sip from my water bottle and unwrapping my hands.

Natasha nodded thoughtfully, her gaze steady. "I thought the same thing when I first joined."

I looked at her, surprised by her admission. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I understand what it's like to come from a place like HYDRA," she explained, her voice carrying a weight of experience. "Trust me when I say, you're going to be just fine here. Stick with me, and everything will fall into place."

Her reassurance was unexpected, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She gave me a cheeky wink, a gesture that felt strangely comforting. I stood there, momentarily at a loss for words, caught off guard by the genuine connection forming between us.

"Uh-" I struggled to find my voice, the nickname she used resonating deeply within me.

She placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding. "Let's do this more often, Lana."

Lana. The nickname stirred memories I had buried deep, a reminder of a time before everything changed. I hadn't heard that name in years.

"Yeah," I managed to say, watching her depart. "Let's do this again."

Here's an expanded version with more detail:

As Romanoff left, I watched the dynamic duo of Sam Wilson and James "Bucky" Barnes stride into the gym, their banter filling the space with easy camaraderie. I glanced at the clock and was surprised to see it was already 8:30. Two hours had flown by with Natasha, and yet it felt like mere moments.

"You ready to get your ass kicked, Bucky?" Sam quipped with a grin, using the nickname that seemed to be universally accepted for Barnes.

They approached me, and Sam noticed my presence immediately. "Hey, Alana," he greeted, his voice friendly. "Just finished training with Romanoff?"

I sized up Bucky discreetly, noting the changes in him despite his familiar appearance. Our time in HYDRA had been marked by competition and enmity rather than camaraderie; he was my adversary, the benchmark against which I measured my own abilities. If I couldn't surpass him, I was unworthy of even the basic necessities like food and rest. He was a superhuman, and I was just a fifteen-year-old girl.

"Yeah," I replied evenly. "She's tough." Bucky gave a slight nod, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You wanna join us for a bit?" Bucky asked, his tone unexpectedly warm and inviting. It caught me off guard; I wasn't used to hearing him like this.

"I..." I hesitated, caught between fatigue and a desire to prove myself. "I'm actually kind of tired, if that's alright."

Bucky's smile remained. "Don't worry about it."

"Yeah, go grab some food," Sam chimed in. "We'll catch up and get to know each other tomorrow night."

"Thanks," I said, ready to leave before pausing. "Wait. What's tomorrow night?"

"Your party," Sam explained matter-of-factly. "Stark's throwing a bash in honor of you being the new recruit."

"Oh." I blinked, trying to process this unexpected news.

"He does it for everyone," Sam continued, glancing at Bucky and rolling his eyes playfully. "Well, almost everyone." He nudged Bucky, who smirked.

"I didn't know about this at all," I admitted with a nervous chuckle. "I'll see you guys at the party, I guess."

"We'll see you there," Sam confirmed with a nod, his smile reassuring.

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