You curtsied as you entered the room, your eyes flicking to the teacher.
'Good morning Madame.' You chorused.
'You're late, (Y/n).' Madame rebuked. 'Next time, you shall be punished.'
'Yes Madame.' You mumbled, your chubby fingers fiddling with your tutu.
'And don't ruin your uniform! Get in line, quickly.'
You walked meekly away, ignoring the snickers and giggles from the other little girls. They all liked to laugh at you.
Except one.
'Hey (Y/n).' The little red-headed girl said.
'Hi Natalia.'
Natalia had been your best friend since day 1 at the Academy. Something about the quiet, red-haired, Russian girl had attracted her to you. You had heard the grown agents talking about her in hushed tones. She was going to be the next great assassin, they had said.
'All right girls!' Madame clapped her hands lightly. 'Today, you will partner together, and we shall have a little competition. You will demonstrate what you have learned so far. Those who win will get a special privilege at supper tonight.'
An excited murmur resonated among the girls. Special privileges usually meant an extra helping, or, on rare occasions, even a dessert.
There was a muted clamour as the little assassins-in-training rushed around, looking for partners.
Natalia grasped your hand. 'Be my partner?'
You smiled at her. 'Of course.'
The two of you won effortlessly, gracefully making your way across the floor. That night, you got chocolate pudding as your special dessert.
That was the last time you ever saw Natalia Alianovna Romanov.
The next day, you had been carted off to another training facility, leaving the Red Room for the first and last time.
There wasn't enough time to say goodbye.
*******
'Agent (L/n), report.' Your squad leader said in your comm.
HYDRA was under attack.
You and your squad had been called in as reinforcements. It was the same team, the 'Avengers', they called themselves.
'Agent (L/n), your target is a Level Six. Code Name: Black Widow. Natasha Romanoff.'
'Got it.'
You ventured into the line of fire, looking around for your target.
The soldier and the spoiled rich boy were in your sights. They hadn't noticed you yet, and it was just as well. They were Level Eight, you weren't allowed to touch them. Yet.
You strolled casually around the fighting bodies, dodging and firing bullets here and there.
'Where's my fucking target?!' You yelled, frustrated. This was starting to get boring.
'2 'o clock, Agent. Concentrate.' Came the curt reply.
You looked, and saw... her.
Time seemed to slow.
It was Natalia.
The little girl's features were still there in the woman's face, though they were faded. Natalia was smiling slightly, taking down her opponents with ease.
Those ballet classes really paid off, you thought.
You strode forward, all intentions of killing her gone. You took out the comm from your ear and chucked it as far away from you as you could.
Natalia-Natasha was still fighting when you got to her, grappling with three other agents. She was not in any trouble though, she hadn't even broken a sweat.
You shot the three in the head without a word.
Natasha spun around to look at you. Her eyes widened.
'(Y/n)!?'
'Hello, Natalia.' You said in Russian. You grasped her arm and smiled.
'Be my partner?'
-KS
