December 19 2025

Koltsovo, Russia

Natasha sat in the car and watched the snow fall on the windshield. How could James be joking during a major mission? Why is he acting so normal around her? Has he forgotten about their past? The things he kept from her for so long?

The passenger door opened, bringing Natasha back to reality. She started the car and headed towards her destination.

The car ride was silent, only the sound of the tires crushing twigs filled the vacant air. Which was great in Natasha's case, she needed some silence and some time to think. Ever since her run in with James she had been distracted. His smile, his husky voice, the way his jaw tenses.

Stop.

Natasha shook her head and focused on something else. Anzhela Zuyez.

Yes.

She realized she had not thought about what they were going to do once they found her, whether she was breathing or not she had to think of something. Natasha put up two options, one for if Anzhela was alive and one for if she was not. If they find her alive they have to take her somewhere safe and isolated from the outside world, somewhere where no one can eavesdrop or worse. She would ask her a few questions, starting out with her husband and what his relation to Trikov was.

If she was found dead Natasha and James would have to look around for any signs that connect to Trikov. Then they would dispose of the body and keep searching for any other indication.

She tapped her thumbs on the wheel, everything seemed like a dead end when it comes to Trikov. Like he knew exactly what they were doing and knew exactly how their wheels turn. No matter how many steps she took he was fifty steps ahead. Feeling eyes on her, Natasha turned to James.

"What now?"

"You're thinking."

"Thanks for the notice Captain Obvious."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Whatever it was, you seemed very-"

"Very what?"

"Concentrated."

She tapped her thumb on the wheel again. "That's what you do when you think."

It was silent once again and Natasha kept her attention on the road ahead.

James broke the silence. "Why don't you trust me?"

Natasha laughed, but not out of humor. "Is that seriously a question?"

"We are working together on this search so you should at least tell me what the hell we're doing."

Natasha was quiet.

"Unless this is a part of your plan, to keep me in the dark so you can run off and do this yourself."

She tilted her head in James' direction. "Why do you think I don't trust you?"

"So it's true then, you are trying to."

She ignored his comment. "Who taught me not to trust anyone?"

James was silent as she pulled the car over. "Who taught me that the only person you should trust is yourself? Who taught me that with trust comes betrayal?"

He could not look at her. Feeling like the walls were closing in, Natasha opened the car door and walked out into the icy nothing. James watched her as she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

For the first time he realized, she was still not over it.

He then opened the door and walked up to Natasha.

"Natalia...I..." He did not know what to say, how can you ever apologize to someone who has taken so much?

"I wasn't gonna run off."

He tilted his head in confusion. "What?"

She shook her head. "I'm still thinking about what we are gonna do." She sat on a half-standing brick fence. "This guy, he, he's got this whole thing played out perfectly for him. He never leaves a clue and when he does it's like he leaves it there on purpose. So we can find it and go exactly where he wants us."

"Like we are his own personal puppets." James said, understanding where she is going.

"Not just us but anyone who is a possible threat to him." She gazed up at James. "He's done this multiple times, he knows how to conceal anything. It's in his league of profession."

"So basically we can only find him if he wants us to find him." He watched as snowflakes fell onto her gingery, auburn hair, it reminded him of fire, threatening but beautiful.

"Basically were pawns in his own personal game." She headed back to the car. "Let's go, we already wasted time." Saying no more James followed her back to the car.

About half an hour later they arrived at the border of Yurga Юрга. Border patrol was fairly easy, compared to others, just a passport and proof that the car you are riding is yours. Once they passed through they parked in the nearest public area and began to search for the bus stop.

The area was full of of people, laughing, taking pictures and enjoying each others company. The perfect placed for someone like Anzhela to hide and change her atmosphere. James threw on his jacket and cap, trying to hide the gleam of his metallic arm. Instead, Natasha pulled up her hoodie and walked beside James.

"Should we hold hands? You know, to fit in?" He grinned.

"Why? You scared?" She mockingly pouted.

"You know you're such an asshole sometimes."

"Sometimes?" She repeated.

Ignoring her comment, James searched for a suspicious face and Natasha did the same. They scanned for any sign of strange activity and also for the person who owned the name Anzhela Zuyez. So far nothing seemed out of the norm and that scared them more.

They made a right, finding the bus stop. An old couple sat while holding hands and waiting. Before Natasha can do anything James approached them. He went down to their level and greeted them in Russian. They smiled back, he then asked if they have seen a woman with Anzhela's description. Natasha smirked to herself, she had not heard James speak Russian in a long time, but hearing it again made it feel like something new. The way the words flowed gracefully and the sound of his rough voice when it blended all together. She did not realize how sexy it was until he laughed. His charm was a weakness to almost everyone and anyone he has ever met, including her.

Natasha did not notice she was smiling at James until the old man looked up at her. She nodded her head politely and watched as the man spoke to James. A second later James peeked at Natasha and smiled then he thanked the couple and walked back to Natasha.

"So what did they say?" Natasha asked eagerly.

"They said that they did see her. She came off about half an hour ago."

"And?"

"And what?" He grinned.

"What else did they say? I know there's more." Natasha was getting impatient.

"They said you were beautiful and asked me if you were my girlfriend."

Natasha grew silent and James' grin grew bigger.

And a gunshot broke the silence.

"I think we found Anzhela." Natasha said as she and James ran toward the echoing sounds of distress.