Torn

-|NEW YORK|-

2012

Katia was pacing her room in DC. Natasha hadn't come home in a week. She should be home by now. Katia went to the living room and put on the news.

"Aliens attack New York! The Avengers have saved New York City!"

Aliens? Natasha was fighting aliens? Katia turned off the TV and called Natasha.

"Мама! Почему ты не сказал мне, что сражаешься с инопланетянами?! Знаешь, тебя могли убить! И тогда я был бы совсем один, и мне было так страшно-"

Mama! Why didn't you tell me that you were fighting aliens?! You know you could've gotten killed! And then I would be all alone and I was so scared-

Katia only spoke Russian when she was angry or sad or scared. In this case, it was all three.

"Kat, slow down I'm fine!"

"Well, you could've called..."

"Yeah sure, I would have definitely called you in the middle of fighting against an army of aliens."

"It's not funny, Мама!"

"You're right. I'm sorry, it's not funny. I'll see you soon."

Natasha hung up and continued eating her lunch that she got from the shwarma place. She got looks from all of her fellow Avengers. Finally, Tony said,

"So who was that?"

"A friend."

"Really? I didn't know you have friends."

"Good."

"Yeah, it's just that you were smiling and that doesn't happen often. Is it a special someone?"

"I don't have time for a 'special someone'. I told you, it was a friend."

"Okay, okay."

Clint was stifling a laugh because he knew exactly who it was. He was grinning until Natasha sent him a discrete glare. After lunch, Natasha flew home in the Quinjet. She landed it at the Triskellion and took a taxi home. As she steps through the door, she sets her bag down.

"I'm not dead!"

"Мама!"

Katia ran to hug Natasha. Natasha bent down to hug her back. Even though Katia was eleven years old, she was still a bit short for her age.

"Hey, what have you been up to this week?"

"Studying, watching TV, stressing out while watching the news."

"Nice.  Do you wanna order a pizza? Maybe watch some John Hughes movies?"

"Uh, Hell yeah!"

John Hughes movies were Natasha and Katia's thing. They would never get tired of the comedic genius of Ferris Beuler's day off, the soundtrack of Breakfast Club, or the utter chaos of Home Alone. Although, Natasha would never let any of her coworkers know that she found joy in pop culture.

After the movie, it was time to go to bed. They both retreated to their rooms. Natasha was sore after the fight and laying down on the soft bed felt like heaven. She turned off her light and closed her eyes, letting a much-needed sleep consume her.

Natasha's eyes opened, but she didn't quite feel awake yet. She hoisted herself out of bed and went to the kitchen to get herself some coffee. As she poured the coffee from the pot into a mug, she noticed something. It was something that no normal person would have noticed. But as we all know, Natasha is no normal person.

She noticed a slight change in temperature. Was Katia awake? Could she have opened a window? No, she was too short to reach the lock on the window. Natasha gasped. Katia. She rushed to Katia's room. If Katia hadn't opened a window and Natasha hadn't opened a window, who had?

When she got to Katia's room, she tied opening the door. It was locked. Natasha's worry grew stronger. Her maternal adrenaline kicked in as the door was kicked down. She examined the room. Everything was fine. Katia was asleep in her bed. But there was something wrong. She felt a presence. She looked in the corner of the room.

"Loki."

"Hello. I told you I would get you back."

Natasha tried to move but it was as if her feet were glued to the floor. She could only watch as Loki stalked toward Katia's bed.

"You love this child, don't you?"

"Get away from her!"

He took one of the pillows from the bed.

"NO!"

Loki pressed the pillow over Katia's small face with a sadistic smile on his.

"NO! No, Kill me instead!!! Please!... Not my baby..."

Natasha sobbed, not worried about whether she was showing too much emotion. She was gone. Katia was gone...

That is when her eyes snapped open. There were tears running down her face. She got up and ran to Katia's room. The door was unlocked. She carefully opened it. Katia was still sleeping peacefully. She looked around the room. There was no one else there. Natasha walked across the room to make sure the windows were locked.

Once she was sure everything was secure, Natasha walked out to the kitchen. She checked the time. 5:30 AM. Natasha decided to leave for work early since she was already awake. She got ready and got her things together. Before she left, she set a note down on the kitchen counter.

Left early, be good.<3