NO ONE's POV

Natasha paced the small, dimly lit room, her eyes locked onto Dreykov's right-hand man, who was bound to a chair. His face was bruised and swollen from the beating he'd taken. Natasha's patience had run out hours ago, but her determination was as strong as ever. She needed to find Y/n.

"Tell me where she is," Natasha demanded, her voice low and dangerous. The man remained silent, his defiance only fueling her anger. She grabbed a handful of his hair, jerking his head back. "I'm not asking again."

He smirked, blood staining his teeth. "Even if I knew, why would I tell you?"

Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Because I can make you wish you had."

She released his hair and picked up a small knife from the table. She held it up, letting the light glint off the blade. "You think you're tough? Let's see how tough you are."

The man squirmed as she brought the knife closer to his face. "You wouldn't-"

"I would," Natasha cut him off, pressing the blade against his cheek just enough to draw a thin line of blood. "Where. Is. She?"

He gasped in pain, his resolve starting to crack. "Alright, alright! She's in a box, under the floor in one of the storage rooms. Dreykov... he wanted to keep her hidden. Until she runs out of... breath."

Natasha's heart clenched at the thought of Y/n trapped and alone. "Which storage room?" she pressed, her voice trembling with urgency.

"The third one on the left," he stammered. "Please, don't kill me."

Natasha's expression hardened. "You'll live. But remember this-if you ever cross me again, you won't be so lucky."

She knocked him out with a swift blow to the head and rushed out of the room. Her mind raced as she made her way to the storage area, praying she wasn't too late.

As Natasha sprinted down the dimly lit hallway, alarms blared, and the sound of heavy boots echoed behind her. She cursed under her breath-Dreykov's men were already mobilizing.

Turning a corner, she ran straight into a squad of armed guards. They raised their weapons, but Natasha was faster. She dove into a roll, coming up with a spinning kick that sent the first guard sprawling. She disarmed the second with a swift twist of his wrist, using his gun to knock him out.

Two more guards charged at her. Natasha dodged their attacks with ease, delivering a series of punches and kicks that left them incapacitated on the floor. She barely had time to catch her breath before more guards arrived, their shouts filling the corridor.

She ducked into a side room, slamming the door shut behind her. Her eyes scanned the room, spotting a window leading to an adjacent corridor. She smashed the glass with her elbow and climbed through, the jagged edges cutting into her skin. Ignoring the pain, she pressed on.

The new corridor led her to the storage area, but as she approached, she saw a reinforced gate blocking her path. Natasha gritted her teeth, looking around for a way to bypass it. Her eyes landed on a heavy iron rod lying nearby. With all her strength, she jammed it into the gate's mechanism, prying it open just enough to squeeze through.

When she reached the third room on the left, she kicked the door open, her eyes scanning for any sign of Y/n. Spotting the wooden floorboards that looked slightly disturbed, she dropped to her knees and began prying them up with her bare hands. Panic surged as she worked frantically, finally revealing the small, cramped box beneath. She opened it and found Y/n unconscious, her face pale and body limp.

"Y/n!" Natasha cried, pulling her out of the box and into her arms. She checked for a pulse and let out a sigh of relief when she found one, though it was faint. "Hang in there, I've got you."

Cradling Y/n gently, Natasha carried her out of the storage room. As she made her way back through the labyrinthine corridors, she encountered more guards. Each encounter was a desperate, brutal fight, but Natasha's resolve never wavered.

Finally, she burst through the exit and into the fresh air. The cool breeze was a welcome relief, and she took deep breaths, savoring it. Her legs were weak, and she leaned on Natasha for support as they moved away from the dark room.

"You're safe now," Natasha whispered, her voice filled with determination and hope. "I'm here, and I'm not letting you go."

Back-ups arrived then, taking you into their account as Natasha refused to leave your side. The paramedic started wiring you inside the ambulance, giving you oxygen through your nose while Nat held your hand.

"You're here, you're safe," she repeats over and over as if you'd hear her, nevertheless it was like a reassurance to her that you were safe.

Natasha kept her eyes fixed on Y/n's face, willing her to wake up. The ambulance lights flickered in the night, casting an eerie glow on their surroundings. Natasha's mind was a whirl of emotions-relief, anger, fear-but she forced herself to stay focused. Y/n needed her to be strong.

The paramedics worked quickly, their hands moving with practiced efficiency. "She's stable for now, but we need to get her to the hospital," one of them said, glancing at Natasha with a reassuring nod.

Natasha squeezed Y/n's hand tighter, her heart aching at the sight of her friend's pale face. "I'll be right here," she whispered, leaning in close. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

The ambulance doors closed, and Natasha took a seat beside Y/n, never letting go of her hand. The siren wailed as they sped through the city streets, the world outside a blur of lights and sounds. Natasha's thoughts drifted to Dreykov and his twisted plans. She knew this wasn't over. But for now, her priority was Y/n.

At the hospital, doctors and nurses took over, guiding Y/n into the emergency room. Natasha was forced to wait outside, pacing anxiously. Each minute felt like an eternity. She replayed the rescue in her mind, analyzing every detail, every moment she could have acted faster, be smarter. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had almost been too late.

A doctor finally emerged, and Natasha rushed to meet him. "How is she?" she demanded, her voice tight with worry.

"She's stable," the doctor replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious expression. "She's weak, but with some rest and care, she should make a full recovery."

Natasha let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, relief flooding through her. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"You can see her now, but just for a few minutes," the doctor added. "She needs to rest."

Natasha nodded, following him into the room. Y/n lay on the bed, an array of medical equipment surrounding her. Natasha's heart broke at the sight, but she took a deep breath and approached the bed, sitting down beside her friend (with benefits).

"Hey," she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Y/n's face. "You're safe now. You're going to be okay."

Y/n's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at Natasha, her expression dazed but grateful. "Nat..." she whispered, her voice weak.

"I'm here," Natasha replied, tears welling up in her eyes. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Y/n managed a faint smile, her hand squeezing Natasha's weakly. "I knew... you'd come for me."

"Always," Natasha said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Y/n's forehead. "Rest now. We'll get through this together."

As Y/n drifted back to sleep, Natasha sat by her side, her determination renewed. She would protect Y/n at all costs and cut ties with Dreykov for good, her decision was final, fuck her company, you were far more important to her than that. For now, though, she stayed vigilant, her presence a silent promise that she would never let harm come to Y/n again.

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