Warning: Adult content. Trigger Warning: Violence.

Natasha moaned loudly as she stretched across her king sized mattress. Her Alexa played Mily Balakirev to wake her from her sleep at 12.

"Alexa, stop." She said to turn off the music that was blasting in her room. Silence greeted her as she moved off her bed and towards the bathroom to get ready for her day. Natasha looked in the mirror admiring her features. Her volcano red hair was disheveled from sleep and her face shined like a porcelain doll. She was beautiful and she knew it. The constant stares and catcalls she dealt with on a regular basis supported that. She stood at 5'3 and was curvier than most ballerinas. Her smile was pearly white and probably one of the most beautiful. It's not surprising that she had been featured on the cover of numerous magazines in Russia for being the World's Most Beautiful Woman and World's Most Beautiful Ballerina. However, that was the past and two worlds away now. She was living a small life and staying hidden from the life she no longer wanted. She glanced over herself again after brushing her teeth before getting dressed in an old T-shirt and sweatpants that were entirely too big for her. Her clothes were baggy and tattered, but it didn't matter since she was going to probably have paint all over them by the time she got home tonight.

Natasha packed her dance bag with her pointe shoes and leotard in case she had the urge to do a few barre exercises and a dance. It had been two months, since she actually danced and two years since she danced on a stage. She shoved her charger, headphones and extra clothes in her bag and left.

Natasha figured she would go to the Home Depot closest to her studio, so she wouldn't have lug the cans of paint around. About an hour later, she was walking through the doors of the big named hardware with a checklist in her mind and determination written across her face. It wasn't too busy today, which she was grateful for. Her first stop was the paint department. Natasha knew she wanted a light blue to color the walls. They were currently scathed with marks that were unappealing to the eye.

"Hello, are you finding everything ok?" A short, balding man said walking over to her.

"Yes, I actually need about 5 gallons of this paint and a paint roller." Natasha told the worker, holding up the blue paint that had caught her eye.

"Ok, I can do it for you. Would you like the primer mixed in as well?"

"Yes, please. I would like it to be semi-gloss."

"Alright, give me about 10 minutes and I'll have it ready for you."

"Thank you."

Natasha took her leave and looked around for some tarp to lay down on the ground of her room. Since she was only doing one space today, she figured she could just get three packs for the floor. Walking through the aisles, she came across the Drydex wall patch. She knew she had about five holes that needed fixing so she threw three kits in her cart and continued to browsing for extra tools that she may need. By the time she was finished, her paint was done and in no time she making her way to the studio, which was only around the corner.

The smell of old dust filled the air as Natasha entered the studio. It was the whole floor and comprised of five separate ballet rooms. She walked down the narrow hallway glancing to her left and right which led to the grand ballet room, where she would hold her main classes. The mirrors were ceiling high unlike the smaller rooms she had passed. Natasha set her stuff down near the entryway and started unpacking the tarp laying it down and taping it to the wall.

She pulled out her headphones, playing soft music while she began dressing the walls in the pastel blue liquid. The strong smell of paint filled the air. Natasha smiled as it smoothed across the walls. The blue engulfed her mind and soon she found herself thinking about a time when it was once a color she held so dearly.

"Alexei, do you think you can reach the top?" Natalia said as she strained to paint the top of the wall. "I'm too short to reach."

"Yea, don't worry. I told you I'd do the room. I don't want you breathing in the paint fumes." He said taking the roller from her hand and resting his other hand on her waist.

"Oh Alexei, I'll be fine and so will little Alexander." She says looking down smiling as she rubbed small circles on her belly.

"Only 5 more months, until we meet him." Her husband said as he knelt down to kiss her now protruding belly. "Go rest Natalia. I'll finish the room and I'll call you when it is done." It was more of a statement, then a suggestion, but she didn't mind. She had painted quite a bit of the nursery and could use a well deserved nap. She smiled sweetly at him before turning around and leaving, stealing one more glance at the man she loved.

Natasha came back to Earth at the sound of scurrying. Her head shot around to see two mice running across the wooden floors.

"Great! Another problem I have to fix." She made a mental note to call pest control tomorrow. She took a step back to admire the work that she had put in, glancing towards the top. She had always been to short to reach the higher parts of the wall. A sad smile crossed her face as she recounted her daydream from moments before. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she dipped the paint roller back into the tray and continued her project.

After two hours, her hand began to ache at the constant motion. She took a break, deciding to do a few exercises on the barre. Natasha stripped from her paint splattered outfit and changed into her pale pink leotard. It clung to her like the paint on the wall. She sat on the ground and slid her delicate feet into the shoe, lacing them tightly for support. After years of ballet, she still felt a sense of joy and freeness every time she danced. Her phone connected to the stereo she had brought into the building yesterday. Soon the sound of music filled the empty room and Natasha began to dance. The tempo began slowly as her feet moved effortlessly across the floor. As the music picked up speed, so did she. Her arms moved gracefully around as she twirled to the sounds of piano. A thousands jumps, twists, and a few moves later, she was sweating and breathing heavily. Her body was on fire and her heart was beating out of her chest. She wanted to keep going, but knew she shouldn't over work herself too much. She had only planned on doing simple barre exercises but her body had other plans. A quick glance towards the window and she realized how late it was. Hours had passed and the sun was now replaced by the moon.

Natasha turned off her music and let the eerie silence come. She began to pack up the paint and supplies storing them off to the side. She planned on coming back Monday after work to paint the next ballet room, so there was no point in bringing it with her. She threw her pants back on not opting to put on her shirt, since her leotard covered her upper half. Natasha took one more glance towards the room and left, turning off the lights.

In a matter of moments, she left the building and was welcomed by the orange glow from the street lights. The streets were fairly deserted with only a few people walking. This wasn't the best neighborhood, but it wasn't the first time she had walked in the dark alone. She took multiple defensive classes over the years and picked up a thing or two from her male friends back in Russia. Although she wasn't scared, she wasn't stupid either. Her feet moved quickly across the cracked pavement towards the subway, which was about 7 blocks from where she was.

She noticed a bodega and suddenly felt hungry. Should I get a chopped cheese or just wait until I get home? I mean, I have food at the house but do I really want to eat left over salad from two days ago. Natasha rolled her eyes at the thought of eating the salad that was probably now turning brown in her fridge. As she pondered whether or not she should stop somewhere for a quick bite. She felt rough hands suddenly grab her. She let out a scream, but that was stopped with a hand covering her mouth. Her eyes frantically moved about to try and pin point what was happening. Who the hell was grabbing her? Natasha struggled as the man tightened his grip around her body.

"Scream and I swear it will be the last thing you do." His voice trickled into her ear as she continued to move against him.

"You should know better than to be walking out late like this." It was a different voice. She felt another set of hands touch her breast. Oh God, Please! This can not be happening. Natasha was dragged into a dark corner with her back pushed against the wall. She came face to face with her attacker as he pinned her with his forearm against her neck. Her breathing got heavier and shorter. She did the only thing, she could think of, Kick! With a swift move of her leg, she kicked the man between his legs causing him to stumble back in pain. "You little bitch!" He screamed as he doubled over. Natasha didn't waste time, she ran, but it didn't matter due to his friend grabbing her by her waist. He flung her down hard making her head connect with the hard, dirty concrete. Her mind went black. She groaned in pain, but couldn't bring herself to move. She laid still as the men peered over her.

"Shit! I think she hit her head!" The younger looking one said.

"So, she just kicked me in the dick! Imma get what I want!" The bigger guy spoke viscously and began to pull down her sweats and climb on top of her.

"Dude, if she dies, we're fucked. Let's just go, come on!" His counterpart said as grabbed his friend's arm trying to pull him back.

"Fine. Let's go." The man stood up, but made sure to punch her in the face. "That was for kicking me in the dick, bitch." He ran off with his friend and left her laying back down on the ground.

Natasha felt nothing but pain. Her neck and head felt like it was on fire. She didn't know how long she had been there before she heard a gasp and felt a delicate hand touch her face.

"Sweetheart, can you hear me? Sweetie, please wake! Oh my gosh!... Yes, I need someone at East Tremont and 3rd Ave. There's a woman unconscious, I believe. I think she was attacked...Yes....She's breathing...She's not talking...barely moving...Ok..Thank you...Miss, the police are on their way..Please just stay with me."

Natasha could barely open her eyes, she could only make out the small figure of an elderly woman as felt her hands on her face.

"It...It hurts..." Natasha said barely above a whisper.

"Did someone attack you?"

She nodded. "Two..two men."

"Two men. Did they... rape you?"

Natasha shook her head no. "They ran..They..they.. got scared." Her eyes finally opening completely to see the older woman staring at her.

"Ok, the police are on the way sweetie. My name is Joanna. I'll stay with you until they come." Joanna said while her short silver hair cascaded down her face.

"No...No..No police." Natasha said breathlessly. Her face scrunched as she tried to sit up. Her head had less throbbing now and she couldn't take the chance of the police coming with all their commotion.

"Sweetheart, don't move." Joanna said trying to get Natasha to lay back down. "No, I cant. I can't see them."

"Oh my gosh...Are..you.. Are you illegal? I know people who can help you here." The woman said unsure.

"No..I'm not. I just..I can't. I have to go" The sirens wailed nearby as Natasha pulled her sweats up and tried to stand. She glanced towards Joanna who was know walking towards the police car that had pulled in front of the curb.

Natasha stood and glanced around for her bag. She found it a few feet away from her. She tried to move quickly, but with her lightheadedness, she didn't make it more than three steps before almost collapsing onto the ground. She braced herself for the fall, but it never came. Instead she found herself in the arms of a man. She looked up at him and his blue eyes poured into her green ones. "Hello, I'm Captain Rogers."

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