The Black Widow

A babysitter

I have never messed up before. It's embarrassing and I do not like it. It's like everyone has forgotten all the missions I completed perfectly. Now all anyone can talk about is how much of a mistake it was to give this much power to a little girl.

The worst part was that it wasn't even all my fault. The job did get done.I killed the guy in the isolated place where I was told to go but some guy saw. I had to shoot him too. I thought they would all be happy about my ability to improvise but they are just upset because I shot a civilian. They don't even care about the guy. Their just upset because the guy I killed was from a wealthy family and now they have a huge mess to clean up. I still don't see what is so bad about about it. Now they can get off their rear ends and work for a change. If you ask me they needed the exercise.

Mr. Suit does not share my opinion.

"That was stupid. Not only was it stupid it was also reckless. Are you getting reckless Black Widow?" Today he is wearing an expensive looking dark gray suit with a dark blue tie.

"No sir." I figure its best not to argue. I just need to ride this out. In a couple days everyone will have forgotten about this incident. 

"Then what is then? I mean a witness. Now we have to somehow cover this up."

I don't respond. I don't think he wanted me to answer the first question.

"Well aren't you going to say anything!"

I think for a moment. And then I ask a question that I hope he doesn't perceive as rude. People who are rude to Mr. suit tend to live short lives. "would you rather me let him live sir?"

He sighs, "No shooting him was the right thing to do."

I want to point out that I did the right thing and the whole situation was not my fault but that might be pushing it.

"I have decided to give you a partner. Just for a little while."

A partner. A partner! I can't believe this. This is so unfair, "You mean a babysitter."

He gives me a warning look. I am not to interrupt, "You have to know that a lot of thought went into this decision. You might have been partnered with him anyways."

I want to scream but I don't. I will do that later, "Will he be able to keep up with me?" 

That's the last thing I need right now. Someone who I will have to slow down for. He smiles. It sends chills down my spine. "I think he will do just fine."

I try to search my mind for anyone I know that could possibly keep up with me. Not just anyone but a he anyone. What if it's Alexei? I haven't seen him in so many years and the last time I did see him it wasn't exactly pleasant. I would love to see him again.

I don't ask. I can't let him know that I care, "When will I meet this partner." 

He smiles again, this one is slightly less creepy. "I have a meeting set up tomorrow at three. I will give the details to Petrovitch."

I nod "Yes sir"
He waves me away. I am led downstairs where Ivan was waiting.

He doesn't say anything until we have driven for five minutes. "Was it bad?"

 "Not really but they are giving me a babysitter." He looks kind of shocked. "Not really a babysitter, he called it a partner."

I don't share my secret hope that it will be Alexei. That is something I will keep to myself. He sighs, "Wow. who are they getting."

I shrug, "Don't know but he said he could keep up with me."

He smiles, "Think it might be Alexei."

He practically read my mind. I hope he can't see how much I want it to be him. I shrug, "Could be" And leave it at that. We don't talk much for the rest of the ride.

The next day at exactly 3:00 I arrive at the warehouse where we are supposed to meet its kind of a creepy place but I go in anyway. Who am I to judge my new "partner" As soon as I walk in something feels off. It doesn't smell right. I can hear something that doesn't fit. A shuffling sound that couldn't simply be a rat or a bird.  There is someone here and they are trying to hide it. For a minute I think that they are trying to kill me. Maybe they think this will be only the first of many mistakes. What if one if the procedures I had when I was younger is starting to kill me. No. They wouldn't do that. It would be almost impossible for them to kill me. I would escape and run. Then I would find one of their enemies and tell them all that I know.If they were going to kill me this would be a stupid plan. 

This must be a test. My partner is giving me a test. I must admit that is smart. If he has skill like my own he might be doubtful that I would be able to keep up with him. It did not occur to me that he would have the same doubts as I. Sadly this eliminates Alexei, he knows how good I am.
I can't believe I didn't think of this kind if plan myself.

I grin, "It's a test right. You want to see if I can really do what they say."

Silence.

"Well I am as good as they say. But I assume you will want proof. So come out and fight me."

Nothing happens for a full ten seconds. And then out of nowhere a body lands on me. A hand is on my neck. I drop and turn so I am facing my opponent. I take in a quick picture. He is wearing a weird rubber mask that covers most of his face and goggles cover his eyes. I can tell he is white though. His hair is long and stringy. It almost reaches his shoulder. he obviously doesn't care to much about his appearances.

"Nice to meet you... partner" I smile. Then I yank his arm down. On a normal person it might have dislocated his shoulder but he is not a normal person.

 "Likewise." His words are muffled but I can hear an American accent. I actually can't believe it. They are going to have me working with an American. They have to be joking. Then he yanks his arm away and throws me across the room.

Pain explodes in three different places. My thigh. My Leg. My arm. I ignore all of it. I stand up."How..?"

He rolls up his sleeve and I am shocked by what I see. Not very much ever shocks me.

"Good job" He mumbles, "Not many people can escape from that."

"Do I look like people?" I spit at him. I am upset at his obvious advantage. I know this shouldn't upset me but it does. I don't like it when people are better them me.

He stares at me for a few seconds. Or I think he does. I can't tell cause of the goggles. "No. I don't think anyone would ever mistake you for people, Natalia."

I am surprised that they told him my name. They never told me his. Is it possible they trust him more than me? This man who not only isn't even Russian but an American of all things. They trusted him with my identity. "How come you know my name but I don't know yours."

He shakes his head, "Don't have a name."

"They must call you something." I glare at him and cross my arms. I am told I can be quite intimidating sometimes. He doesn't look bothered.

He shrugs, "Most people just call me The Winter Soldier."

Hello! So actually the Winter soldier was supposed to be an instructor in the Red Room but I found that out after I was done with those chapters. Sorry I hope you don't mind that I just added him in here. Thanks for reading!

P.S. He is not the character I was having a crisis about.