Red Room

RR68 All the Dark Things

A sharp pain to her shoulder told her that it was about to happen. Bobbi had been talking with Loki on what to do when they found Natasha, and their spirits were low. Before this moment, she had been feeling much more like herself. The few days of rest she had gotten refreshed her body and mind, and she felt like she was ready for anything. She only hoped that the rest she was allowed didn't have anything to do with when Natasha pushed her out of her head, although the growing darkness in her mind convinced her otherwise. She had to admit though, it was nice being able to joke around with Darcy and a few of her teammates again. After deeming her okay, Darcy filled her in with what she and Simmons, Fitz, Clint, Hill, and Loki had discovered back at the SHIELD base. She had also rekindled her relationship with her team. Jemma Simmons had come to her along with Skye and they had deeply apologized. Once Skye went back to meet with her Strike Team, Agent Hill came to her to check in, and also tell her of their theory. She kindly let her know that Darcy had filled her in, so they instead talked about their strategy when they found Natasha. It was then that Loki joined her on the third day.

They had begun to grow closer as friends, and she put his monstrous past behind them as she listened to his stories about his life. In the middle of their conversation, Bobbi furrowed her brow as her head started to feel heavy; something was finally happening. The first jolt of pain was easy to ignore, but the second made her grimace for a split second. Standing to shake it off, Loki asked what was wrong, uncharacteristically touching her arm in concern, and then Simmons came over when she saw the commotion. In fact, everyone on board had been so on edge, that all eyes shot over to their corner of the plane as if they knew that this was the moment they had been waiting for. A flash of light invaded her vision as well as a set of footsteps, but then it disappeared as the floor of the plane came back into focus. Bobbi's apprehension grew when she felt a sharp crack erupt at the base of her skull that brought her to her knees. The pain lasted for only a second, but as she stayed where she was, she could feel herself moving as if being guided by a painful grip on her shoulder. She felt herself stop, and then her thigh lit up like fire. She couldn't stop the whimper of pain that escaped her lips, as well as the word that seemed to be whispering repeatedly into her ear as more pain enveloped her body.

"Prochnost, Prochnost, Prochnost"!

It was time; the mole had gotten the message out, and they needed Bobbi to focus to find out any other shred of information she could to aid them in their mission. It had to be the mole causing Natasha pain. That was the only way that Bobbi would be able to get the message. As the pain grew and the connection became stronger, she grabbed onto Loki to steady herself, unknowingly letting him be a part of the connection as he flexed his returning powers.

Loki, he knew he wouldn't be able to understand all that was happening, so he grabbed the only other person who he though would be able to cipher through the information...Jemma Simmons. He grabbed onto her shoulder and felt her jump, but then tensed when the images started flowing into her mind as well. His only regret was that she was feeling what him and Bobbi were as well.

Natasha felt lost. She couldn't even call herself that, because her mind wandered clumsily about the darkness. She had no name, and the tiny prick of light she saw in the back of her mind seemed to float farther away each time she grasped at it. Not even death had dominion over her anymore. The pieces of her soul were scattered all around, but the path towards them was broken and bent. There were so many doors, with so many locks and not enough keys; not that she wanted to open those doors anyway. The screams of death and rattle of a last breath existed behind those doors. It was much easier to ignore them...for now. She didn't have to think about where to put her feet, they just went one in front of the other at the suggestions drilled into her. So simple were the orders, 'find the girl and bring her to me'. It didn't hurt when she followed those words, but it was agony every time she turned from them.