The Black Widow

Gone

Nat's POV
With Alexei for the first time ever my life was actually going well. Everything was wonderful. I never thought I would be happy after everything that happened with Ivan but now I am. I never thought I could ever love anyone but I am finding that might not be true.

I know Mr. Suit finds it acceptable as well. He finds I can be very productive in missions outside of Russia as well as inside now that I have a pilot he can trust. 

I know Alexei still doesn't approve of what I do but he does understand. We both serve out country, that he doesn't have a problem with. He knows that someone has to do the dirty work and he understands that that someone is me. I try to keep that in mind as I prepare to parachute out of his plane. For most missions he knows the location and I have a name, a place and where to find them.

I think it's absolutely adorable Mr suit thinks he can keep the location from me by simply not telling me.

"Rodriguez." Alexei calls back.

I smile and shake my head, "Not even close."

We always play this guessing game where we try to figure out what was in the other persons file. I don't tell him that I pretty much know where we are going based on how long the trip takes, how much fuel he gets and other actors. That would ruin the game and besides I think he might call that cheating.

"India." I guess. I know that isn't the answer way to close but I like to humor him.

 "Not even close." He laughs. I like how he can always laugh, no matter what. I wonder how he got to be so carefree. "Alexandra?"

"Actually yes."

He glances back, "Really!" 

"No. I already told you it's a man you doofus."

He glares at me, "Alexander then."

I shake my head and he goes back to flying his little plane.  We get there in the next couple minutes and I prepare to jump

"Need any help with this one." He grins.

"Not a chance."

Alexei's POV

When she is gone I finally relax. I take multiple deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. She didn't catch me in the middle of my lies. I feel bad. With anyone else she would have noticed right away but with me she is so blind. She doesn't even bother looking for signs of deception. I make her let her guard down and for her that isn't good.

I turn the plane around and head back to Russia.

I have a meeting with Mr. Suit. I call him that ever since Natasha told me about his nickname. It's silly but very fitting. I have never seen him wear the same suit twice and each must be worth thousands of dollars.

He told me that I have to keep this meeting from her and anything he tells me I can't tell her. That scares me. Mr Suit rarely ever wants to talk with me. Why would he? I am his failure. Natasha is his success. His little pet assassin.

I am disgusted by the thought of it. Even more disgusted that she doesn't realize this. She could have done anything she wanted with her life but instead she is trapped in this awful job. The worst part is she doesn't know how trapped she is. She will never know until she tries to leave but I don't think that will ever happen.

I calm myself before entering his office, I try to never talk to him angry. I could say something that might get me killed. Pilots aren't hard to come by. I can be replaced.

Once I compose myself I push open the door. He straightens his light blue tie. Then smooths out the wrinkles in his fancy dark grey suit.

"Alexei." He tilts his head just a tiny bit like he is contemplating the best way to dispose of me, "Come in."