The Black Widow

Yelena:1990-1994

1990
I unpack the sniper rifle careful not to make a sound. It is the middle of the night in some undisclosed location it the United States of America. I have had quite a few missions here in the past. The first time I came I was much younger and was ecstatic that my English was so good that I fit right in. I was also pleased because the security here was so bad. It has gotten better since but still is nothing compared to some of the things I have had to deal with back home. I glance down at my watch. I still have a few minutes but don't relax. I can't relax until the job is down.

I glance at the building my mark will be exiting from anytime. There is a rather large American flag blowing gently in the light summer breeze.

I shake my head almost laughing at. They consider themselves so patriotic. It's ridiculous. I have done things for my country that they would never even consider doing for their's. 

The front door opens interrupting my silent rage.

I aim the rifle.

It isn't my target.

"You're a little jumpy aren't you." 

I whirl around towards the voice. An American girl. Has to be with that accent. who they are or why they are even here I have no idea but I am ready to deal with them. All threats to the mission must be neutralized. I find that the source of the voice isn't at all American but Russian. It's Yelena Belova. My best friend who wants to kill me. Well she isn't really my best friend anymore. She pretty much is just one of the many people who want me dead. The only difference is she might succeed in killing me.

I want her to remember the girl she used to be more then anything. But she can't. I have to stop thinking of her as Mariya.

She is Yelena. A threat. A threat that must be taken care of.

I force a smile on my face, "Yelena. How have you been?"

I keep one eye on the doorway my target is supposed to be exiting at any time and the other on her.  I scan for weapons and am surprised not to find any.

She shrugs, "Just peachy... I have been watching you."

"I figured you might have been." I play it cool but I actually had no idea. How could she have been watching me without me noticing. I notice everything.

She gives me a knowing smile like she knows that I am freaking out on the inside. Scanning through the past weeks of my life trying to find out where and when she had been watching me. I can't find any.

"What do you want?" 

She shrugs again, "You know what I want Natasha. I want-"

I hold up my hand to stop her from speaking, "I am at work you will call me Black Widow."

She glares at me. I can see the jealousy in her eyes. The pure rage. I am afraid I am only fueling the fire. Was that a mistake?

"No! It is you who will call me Black Widow. That is my right. This is what I deserve after everything I have worked for. Everything that I have done."

I should be angry or frustrated or at least annoyed but I am none of those things. In fact I pity her. She has been bred for a job that she can never have. Told all her life that she will rise up and be something great. To have that all snatched away because someone else got there first. And then on top of that to be thrown away by the very people who once said you were great. It would be like someone ripping your heart out and stomping on it until its in broken pieces scattered all over the floor. That I can understand. I can understand that heart break.

"I am so sorry малютка."  She seems to he taken aback by my soft tones. This is not what she was expecting. "None of this was fair to you."