Whatever it Takes: Black Widow

Chapter 10

Natasha drove the jet while Yelena was in the other seat and Bruce slept in the back.

"So, is Big Brother ready to meet dad?"

"Yeah," Natasha replied in a neutral tone.

"How do you feel about seeing him again?"

Natasha shrugged, not fully knowing the answer herself. On one hand Alexei had a big heart, but he was also... Alexei. He didn't always say the right thing and was very defensive of his own emotions, often using his own version of humor to keep himself from expressing what he was feeling.

On one hand Natasha missed her adoptive family, but she also knew how chaotic and messed up they were. As a team they worked well together, but as a family they had a lot to get through.

Yelena pulled up the tablet, showing that Alexei had turned on the comm and they could talk to him.

"Can you wake up Bruce," Natasha asked Yelena.

"Big Brother, wake up," Yelena yelled, causing Bruce to jump up from his seat.

"What happened," he asked while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Code Green?"

"No," Natasha replied. "We're about to get Alexei out."

"Tuning on earpiece now," Yelena said as Bruce put on his headset.

"Today is your lucky day, Alexei," Natasha said in full Widow mode, then turned to look at Yelena's map on the tablet, which was also tracking him. "Move to the door on the south wall. Go left. Just don't make a scene."

Natasha looked out the window to see guards running inside the building.

"You made a scene, didn't you," Natasha asked in an annoyed tone. She didn't have time for his bull.

After watching Alexei try and fail to get out on his own, Natasha went to go help him. She sighed in annoyance and looked at Yelena who shook her head, as if it this happened on a regular basis.

"Bruce, take over," Natasha said.

"Yes, ma'am," he said with respect in in voice as he passed her.

After she landed and beat up a few guards, Natasha could hear Bruce yelling at Yelena not to shoot the big gun, but Yelena didn't listen and had set off an avalanche. Natasha grabbed the jet's rope as they flew past, then Alexei's hand when they got closer to him.

Once Alexei had gotten his balance, Natasha climbed up and got back onto the jet, then heard Alexei yell, "Farewell, douchebags," in Russian while the redhead passed Bruce, who had moved to his original spot, and she sat in the empty driver's seat.

She looked at Yelena, who was already annoyed at Alexei's presence and trying to hide her anger. Natasha put on her head gear and glanced and Bruce behind her, who was doing the same while glancing at Alexei, who was walking to the front.

"Oh, that was exciting," Alexei said. "Oh, I'm so proud of you girls. Oh, you can't hear me, huh?"

The sisters chose to ignore him. Natasha didn't know how to feel, especially while her boyfriend was in the same space.

Next thing Natasha knew, Yelena punched Alexei in the face and the redhead had to hold back laughter.

"Why the aggression, huh," Alexei asked through his headgear. "Is it your time of the month?"

Natasha heard Bruce groan then say, "Geez," under his breath.

Yelena reminded Alexei about the involuntary hysterectomy, going into vivid details, making Alexei cringe and say, "Okay, okay. Okay! Okay! You don't have to get so clinical and nasty."

Natasha held back a laugh as Yelena said, "Oh, well, I was about to talk about fallopian tubes, but okay."

Bruce smirked from his seat and Alexei asked, "Who are you?"

"Dr. Bruce Banner."

"Natasha's future husband," Yelena piped up.

"We're not engaged," Natasha said while giving Yelena a look. "Bruce, Alexei. Alexei, this is my boyfriend, Bruce."

"You're dating my daughter," Alexei asked in a serious tone that would have been menacing to anyone else.

"Yes."

"And you turn into the green one?"

"Yes..."

"Well, at least he's not Captain America," Alexei said in Russian.

"Bruce speaks perfect Russian, Alexei. He can understand you," Natasha said.

"You're strong, speak our language and not Captain America," Alexei said in English. "Natasha, marry this one!"

Natasha had had enough of her love life being the topic of discussion and changed it while looking in Alexei's direction, "You're gonna tell us how to get to the Red Room."

"Whoa, look at you, huh? All business."

"Tell me where the Red Room is," she said. He either knew or he didn't.

"I have no idea," Alexei scoffed. "Okay?"

Natasha had it with him and took off her headset, got out of her seat and sat next to Bruce across from Alexei, taking off Alexei's headset in the process to show she wasn't messing around.

"Come on," she said. "You and Dreykov were like..."

"Dreykov?" Alexei interrupted. "General Dreykov, my friend, huh? Gives me glory... Soviet Union's first and only super soldier. I could have been more famous than Captain America. Then he buries me in Ohio on that stupid mission. Three years! So tedious, boring me to tears. No offense, huh?"

Natasha masked her hurt and glanced at Bruce who was glaring at Alexei. She tapped her boyfriend's arm to get his attention. When he looked her in the eyes, she took his hand and squeezed it, trying to tell him she would be fine. He nodded and they both turned their attention to the man across from them.

Alexei continued, not seeming to notice the effect he had on Natasha since Yelena's hurt was more visible. He went on about how he ended up in prison, which still wasn't very clear. Then he brought up Natasha killing Antonia and the redhead heard Bruce take an annoyed sigh, as if he had heard enough.

"You done," Bruce asked, his voice hard.

"Can we throw him out the window now," Yelena asked.

"I think we should wait till we get to a higher altitude," Natasha said, also having enough. She had forgotten how much his words had stung.

"Why not ask Melina where it is," Alexei asked in Russian.

"Wait, Mom Melina," Yelena asked.

"We thought she was dead," Natasha said, lying through her teeth.

Alexei gave them the information they needed and Natasha wanted to sigh in relief that at least that didn't change in this timeline.

She needed to find Melina in order to get to Dreykov, otherwise he would see her coming and run like the coward he is, especially if he saw Bruce with her.

They were one step closer to defeating Dreykov and destroying the Red Room. Soon they would all be free and so would the other girls.

But more than anything, Natasha just wanted her dysfunctional family back. They were a mess, but those five years without them after the snap nearly broke her.