𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑━︎━︎ N. Romanoff (𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑑)

𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

CHAPTER SEVEN:
A BOLD PROMISE

NATASHA SAT THERE PATIENTLY, HER eyes never leaving Olivia's face. Olivia was looking down at her hands, knowing the truth that was bound to happen. Natasha would become horrified with her, and she would become a disgrace and she didn't want that to happen. Whether or not Olivia would actually admit it out loud, she was growing fond of Natasha. Hell, the woman had saved her life, and that was a life debt that she now owed both Natasha and Clint.

     Olivia cleared her throat, sucking in a breath of air as she started. "I grew up in a home that was so perfect. I had a loving father and mother, an over protective and caring sister. They were my family, and I loved them. I was so young that I didn't realize how truly ugly the inside of my family was. I was the youngest, so I was shielded away from everything. I didn't realize it until I got older, but Allison, my sister, would always make an excuse to get me out of the same room as my father, and because he wanted to believe he cared, he let me go.

     "My father was truly a twisted person. What he did to my sister is something I'm curious about even now. He was experimenting on her, science and curiosity always getting the best of him." Olivia shook her head, a bitter laugh falling from her lips. "One day, it got bad. I was in my room, being six at the time, when I heard yelling from downstairs. Of course, I was a curious child just like my father so I went downstairs to see what it was that was happening. I found my sister down stairs, yelling at my mother and father."

     "You're crazy! A lunatic is what you are!" Allison snapped, glaring viciously at their mother before her eyes turned toward their father, Alexander. "And you! Don't get me started on you and your crazy experiments. I'm a kid, a ten year old child, that has no right to be treated the way you two idiots are treating me!"

     "And the argument only grew more and more heated." Olivia explained. "She told my mother that she shouldn't have had children if she hated them so much. I was confused as to what was happening, my tiny brain not being able to fully comprehend the situation. I didn't realize what she was saying then, but I didn't realize that she was speaking the truth."

     "Don't bring your sister into this!" Amanda glared.

     "Why? You treat her the same way she just doesn't know it because she's six! She's six year's old! She doesn't know better than to listen to what her abusive parents have to say to her!"

     "That's because your sister isn't a hellion child like you!" Amanda snarled. She took a step forward, but Allison stood her ground.

     "She will be." Allison sternly said, her voice dangerously low. "She's going to escape from this hell hole, she's going to become better than you and she'll learn quickly. She'll be smart and get you two arrested for child neglect and illegal human experimentation."

     "Of course, the arrest didn't happen, but the escape did." Olivia said, glancing at Natasha before looking back down at her hands. "My sister was dragged out of the house later that night. And then it had been my turn. I was a naïve kid, didn't know any better. But my father had managed to lure me with chocolate down to his personal science lab, which so happened to be our basement. And he experimented on me, like he did Allison. He experimented on me for years, and when I became eighteen I had managed to escape.

     "But, I was something that I couldn't understand. It was frightening really, because I wasn't me. I wasn't standing on two feet, I was running on four paws with fur covering my body. News of a wolf running around Seattle was quickly placed on the news, and I fell onto S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar. That's when Clint found me." A small smile came to Olivia's face as she mentioned her best friend. "He made sure the men didn't shoot me, and he helped me turn back. He brought me in, and I explained the situation. They went back for my father, only to find him and all evidence of him ever being there gone."

     A sigh left her lips. "He's still out there somewhere, and I have this fear that he's going to find me and finish what he started. He damaged me, gave abilities that no human should have. Not only can I turn into a wolf (which allows me to heal much faster than the normal person), but I can also move things with my mind, and I have a protective shield. Though, I often forget I have it so its not used that often." Olivia swallowed thickly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I understand if. . . if you don't want to be around me anymore. I'm a freak of nature, I shouldn't even exist. So, if you decide to leave and stand against me, then I completely understand."

Olivia had never felt more vulnerable than she had right then (well, minus when Clint had first found her). She was terrified of being an outcast, she wanted to prove that she was normal. But she wasn't, and that was her fathers fault.

Natasha sat there, going over everything Olivia had just told her. And she understood everything. She understood Olivia's harsh words, she understood Olivia rough and tough wall that she placed over herself. She understood Olivia, and Natasha wanted the girl to know that. She found Olivia unique, not a freak of nature. She found her so intriguing that it was almost painful. And as Natasha looked at how vulnerable Olivia was in that moment, she didn't take the moment for granted. She took a leap of faith―︎something that didn't happen often―︎and placed her hand over top of Olivia's. Olivia looked at her hand in surprise before turning her head to look at the woman, her eyes flooding with confusion.

     Natasha gave her hand a small squeeze before offering her a reassuring smile. "Why can't you see that I'm never going to leave you?"

     "Because you barely even know me." Olivia told her, frowning.

     "Well I do now." Natasha nodded her head. "So, here's a promise. I'm not going to leave you. Not now, not ever."

     "That's a bold promise to make." Olivia whispered.

     "It's a bold promise that I plan on keeping."

     "I thought you were supposed to be the hard ass Red Room assassin." Olivia told her, cocking her head slightly as the corner of her mouth slowly started to pull upwards. Natasha smirked back at her in response.

     "Believe me, I am."

     "Well, don't go all soft because I shared my sob story." Olivia joked. Natasha gave the woman a small smile in response, letting out a soft chuckle before she stood up.

     "Get some rest. I'll let Clint kick my ass for being soft."

     "You better." Olivia smirked. Natasha turned around stopping in the doorway and glancing at Olivia who was getting situated in her hospital bed.  She let a genuine smile on her face before turning her head and walking out of the room, determination filling her veins. She was going to keep that promise to Olivia, no matter what it took.

And this is the end of part one! Ugh, my heart just-they're so adorable and vulnerable around each other. Imagine the ending of this chapter happening over and over for the next few years, just more intimate touches (not like that you dirty people) and then you'll understand Clint's irritation!