Shadows of Stardom / Scarlett Johansson x Daughter

Chapter 12: Moscow's Surprises

As soon as Anastasia stepped off the plane and onto the runway, it was as if the hours of sleep she had managed to get on the flight had infused her with boundless energy. Despite the crisp, cold air of Moscow biting at her skin, she felt a surge of excitement coursing through her. She bounced up and down, her usual childlike demeanor taking over as she looked around with wide eyes.

"I'm in Russia! This is amazing!" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

RDJ, trailing behind with Elizabeth and Scarlett, chuckled and shook his head. "Kid, can you at least act like an adult for five minutes?"

Anastasia grinned at him but continued bouncing. "Nope!"

They all grabbed their luggage and started following the signs through the airport. It didn't take long for them to realize one glaring problem—they couldn't understand a word on the signs. Everything was in Russian, and none of them spoke the language. At first, they tried to follow the pictures and vague symbols, but soon they were utterly lost.

"Ugh, this is impossible," Elizabeth groaned, squinting at one of the signs. "What does this even mean?"

"Something about luggage... I think?" RDJ guessed, scratching his head. "You'd think they'd have more English translations."

Scarlett glanced around, frowning. "Well, I heard that most Russians don't speak English very well."

As if to confirm that point, they reached a checkpoint where a tall, broad-shouldered Russian guard stood, eyeing them skeptically. His uniform was pristine, his expression unreadable. Scarlett, taking the lead, approached the man and tried to communicate with him in English.

"Uh, we're looking for the exit? Can you help us?"

The guard stared at her, not understanding a word. She tried again, slower this time, gesturing as she spoke, but the man simply shook his head, clearly confused.

"Maybe we should try Google Translate?" Elizabeth suggested, already pulling out her phone.

Just as they were about to resort to technology, Anastasia stepped forward, her face breaking into a mischievous smile.

"Don't worry, I've got this," she said confidently.

Before anyone could question her, Anastasia launched into a rapid stream of Russian, her words smooth and confident. The guard's face immediately lit up with recognition, and he began speaking back to her in Russian, a grin spreading across his previously stoic face. They exchanged a few laughs as the group watched in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what was happening.

After a few minutes of friendly banter, Anastasia motioned for the others to follow her as the guard led them through the checkpoint. The entire group trailed behind her, completely in awe.

Once they were outside and heading toward the taxi stand, Scarlett finally broke the silence. "Ana... when did you learn Russian?"

Anastasia giggled, shrugging casually. "I've been learning it ever since 'Iron Man 2'. You know, your whole Russian spy thing? I thought it was so cool, so I decided to learn the language for fun."

Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. "For fun? Are you serious? I can barely learn Spanish."

"Well, it came in handy, didn't it?" Anastasia winked, proud of herself.

RDJ chimed in, laughing. "What were you even talking to the guard about? You guys looked like you were having the time of your lives."

Anastasia snickered, leaning against RDJ's shoulder as they got into the taxi. "Oh, we were just laughing at how all of you are lost and only speak English. He thought it was hilarious."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the amused smile tugging at her lips. "Great, now we're the joke of the Moscow airport."

Everyone laughed, except for RDJ, who put a hand to his chest dramatically. "I feel betrayed, Anastasia! How could you let them mock me?"

Anastasia nudged him playfully. "Relax, RDJ, you're still their favorite American superhero."

Once they were settled in the taxi, the group continued to bombard Anastasia with questions about her newfound Russian skills. She answered them all with an air of nonchalance, enjoying the attention and the chance to show off a little. It wasn't often she got to be the one with a hidden talent, especially in this crowd.

As the taxi wound its way through the streets of Moscow, Anastasia gazed out the window, watching the world go by. The city was a mix of old-world architecture and modern skyscrapers, the streets lined with snow-covered trees and bustling with people going about their day. It was her first time in Russia, but somehow, it felt strangely familiar—perhaps because of all the stories she'd heard growing up on the 'Iron Man' sets, or maybe because of her endless fascination with the language and culture.

Scarlett watched her daughter quietly from the other side of the taxi, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and bittersweet nostalgia. Seeing Anastasia this lively, speaking Russian like it was second nature, reminded her of just how much time she had missed in her daughter's life. She hadn't seen Anastasia's first performance, hadn't been there for her early career struggles. So much of her daughter had developed without her, and yet here they were—together again, even if just for work.

"What's on your mind, Scar?" Anastasia asked suddenly, snapping Scarlett out of her thoughts.

Scarlett blinked, surprised. She hadn't realized she'd been staring. "Just... thinking about how much you've grown up. I'm proud of you, Ana."

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, her expression softening, though she quickly masked it with a playful grin. "Are you getting sentimental on me?"

Scarlett chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe a little. Don't get used to it."

RDJ and Elizabeth, who had been quietly listening, exchanged a look before RDJ grinned mischievously. "You know, this feels like the perfect time to reminisce about old times. How about a movie?"

Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "Oh, yeah! We could watch one of Scarlett's classics. How about Lost in translations?"

Anastasia shot them both a look, half-joking, half-serious. "I don't think I'm ready to watch another one of my mother's emotional roles, thanks. I'm still scarred from Don Jon."

Scarlett let out a laugh, genuinely amused. "Trust me, lost in translations is way less traumatizing than Don Jon."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "Fine, but if it's too emotional, I'm blaming all of you."

As the taxi continued its journey through the Russian streets, the group settled into a comfortable rhythm of laughter, banter, and shared stories. Anastasia, leaning against RDJ, felt a sense of belonging she hadn't anticipated. Sure, her relationship with Scarlett was still complicated, but in moments like these, it felt like the walls between them were slowly crumbling.

Maybe this trip to Russia would be more than just work. Maybe it would be the start of something new—a real chance to rebuild what had been lost between them. And for the first time in a long while, Anastasia was willing to give it a try.

The taxi eventually pulled up to their hotel, and as they all climbed out, Scarlett caught up to Anastasia, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks for today, Ana. For making this trip feel... lighter."

Anastasia looked at her mother, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. She hesitated for a moment before offering a small smile. "Yeah, well... you're welcome."

Scarlett gave her a warm smile in return, and they both headed into the hotel, ready for whatever Russia had in store for them.