Eternal Winter

XII: Night Terrors

December 26 2025

Area Classified

Natasha and James sat on the bar stools while a rush of a savory aroma touched their noses. Clint was behind the stove while Wanda placed herself on the navy and white veins of the marble island.

Natasha watched as Clint focused on his creation.

Wanda handed Natasha and James two pitchers of ice cold water. Natasha's eyebrow went up.

"You'll need more than just a cup love." She winked at Natasha.

Natasha smiled and they both chugged down the water, not taking a moment to breathe.

Moments later, Clint placed steaming bowls of food in front of them.

A smile grew on Natasha's face. "Mac-n-cheese?"

James choked on his laughter.

"What? You don't like my legendary mac-n-cheese? You use to devour it when we lived together!"

James then choked on the pasta. "Lived together?"

Natasha ignored both of them and took a bite of Clint's legendary mac-n-cheese. Her body filled with warmth from the gooey mouthful.

She moaned. "Legendary."

"Damn right." Clint laughed.

James watched as Natasha and Clint's friendship revived.

They're just friends. He kept reminding himself.

Once they finished their meals, they all sat on the U-shaped couch. Laughter burned the fireplace.

"She walked up to me," Clint continued. "And she punched me right in the jaw." He started laughing. "Just for taking her chocolate bar."

Natasha threw a pillow at his face, he caught it just in time. "Never take a woman's chocolate bar. Especially at that time of month."

"I was reminded every month since that day."

Natasha exploded with laughter in James' arms. He could not help but laugh with her. Seeing her glow like nothing had ever happened made his ember burn brighter. He kissed the top of her head.

After a couple more laughs and stories, Clint and Wanda insisted both James and Natasha should sleep. They could not deny that.

They both walked into the room; the room where they kissed just a few hours ago. Natasha laid down under the soft cold sheets while James peeled his shirt off.

She watched as his arm glinted in the moonlight spilling from the window. Flashes of long forgotten memories rushed into her head. Nights when James would come to her, nights where it was cold and empty without him.

Those nights were no longer cold.

She dipped her head into his chest as he pulled her closer and kissed her shoulder. They faded into deeply missed slumber.

Faint images of recollection dragged James into an abyss of pure torment.

Trikov stood tall in front of James, showing no signs of humanity. They were in the familiar halls of their torture home. The walls were filled with shadows of the victims before them, stuck in purgatory. Ice cold air came from the cracks of locked rooms, and screams were written into the foundation of the horror house.

A grim smile spread across Trikov's face, the Hades of his own Underworld. He hauled James into an open room, where a hole took residence. The hole was colossal, and blacker than an empty night sky.

The barks of savage, merciless dogs bounced off the black nothing.

" YA ne dumayu, chto ya poznakomil vas s moim suk. (I don't think I introduced you to my bitches)" He feed a thick piece of meat to the darkness.

The sound of dogs growling and attacking the small piece of meat echoed in the room.

"You're next." He bent down to his level. "Then your bitch."

Trikov pushed James with the bottom of his boot and watched him fall into the home of his hell hounds. James stared into Trikov's eyes as the black nothing consumed him.

James jolted up and gasped for air. Natasha was right up with him, she could feel his heart pounding like it was about to break free.

She knew he had a nightmare, and she knew she could not stop them. Natasha put her arms around his back and kissed his neck. "YA zdes'. (I'm here)"

He did not say a word but she can feel the anger consuming him. Saying no more, they both tried to go back to sleep.

The sunlight illuminated the gym as James bashed his way through six punching bags and eight dummies.

Natasha, Clint, and Wanda were sitting on the kitchen table.

"This rage is eating him up. I can see it." Natasha said as she held her coffee mug.

"Of course it is." Clint said. "You guys have been to hell and back."

"I know, but if he continues to act like this, his anger is going to cloud his judgement and that isn't going to end well."

"She's right Clint." Wanda pitched in. "It's not going to do him any good."

"He's obsessed with the idea of watching Trikov bleed." Natasha looked into Clint's eyes. "It's all he thinks about, even at night. It's like Trikov is taunting him."

"Have you had any nightmares? You don't seem as affected as he is." Clint wondered.

Natasha put her mug down. "I am, it's just that I've been tormented since I was a child. I've accepted my past but he hasn't. Because I've kept my past in the past, I don't feel as much pain as he does. Not that I'm saying it hasn't taken a toll on me. It has, I'm traumatized by the fact that my ex-husband watched me as he pulled my insides out. But all James sees is Trikov and all he wants to do is annihilate him of the face of the earth."

Clint and Wanda nodded. "I know this is hard for you to hear but you need to let him be. He has so much rage stored inside him and he needs to let it out. The only way he can let it go is if he gets rid of the problem."

Natasha shook her head. "From the way he's acting, I'm afraid of what he's going to do once he has Trikov. I'm afraid that the monster that has been locked up in the back of his head is going to escape and never leave."

Clint inclined. "Well then, lets plan a strategy."