CHAPTER EIGHT:
IT ISN'T SAFE

SHE WAS CONSTANTLY ON EDGE. Willow was sure that she had never lived a day where she wasn't on edge, constantly looking over her shoulder, because the paranoia and fear she felt is something that she's carried since she had been a little girl that had to hide the fact that she murdered her parents from the police. She was constantly in fighting mode, ready to take down whoever came close to her even though she didn't really know how to fight all that well―︎usually by that point the darkness in her would take over and kill the person that attempted to approach her.

Willow just wanted to be able to breathe. She felt there was a constant pressure on her chest, keeping her from breathing, and Willow just wanted to be free. While she waited for Rosalynn to do what she needed to do, Willow found herself walking throughout the facility, something she seemed to be doing a lot more often. She found herself stopping in front of the glass wall, looking down upon the agents that were being trained by Steve and his girlfriend, Liliya.

Willow couldn't help but think about her small training that she had with Natasha, and she couldn't help but want to train more. If she was going to have to co exist with this thing inside of her, she was going to have to find some way to take control. And learning how to fight and take care of herself was the top priority that was on her list. But it would have to wait, because the sound of her stomach growling made her realize that she hadn't ate a single thing all day.

She walked away from the window before making her way towards the exit of the facility. She decided that she was going to go out and eat, even though she knew she could've ate at the facility. She just needed a breath of fresh air. She hadn't left since she had arrived, and she was starting to feel a little trapped, and she absolutely despised feeling trapped. She was already trapped enough with this thing attached to her, she didn't need to be trapped inside of a building that was filled with heroic people that she had to do everything within her in order to keep that other personality of hers from killing them.

Willow let her hair down from it's ponytail, ruffling it slightly before making her way towards the exit. She stood in the elevator, her hands placed in her jacket as she leaned against the wall of the elevator. She closed her eyes, a soft sigh falling from her lips as she felt a headache coming on. She opened her eyes only when the elevator stopped, and the sound of footsteps soon followed. She almost rolled her eyes in annoyance when she saw the red head assassin enter.

     "Are you following me?" Willow questioned crossing her arms over her chest as she placed her head back against the wall of the elevator, her eyes closing once more. Natasha turned her head to look at the woman, cocking an eyebrow at her. She could tell that Willow was going somewhere. She turned her head back to look at the elevator doors as the machine continued to take them down floor by floor. She stared at their reflections for a few moments before straightening her shoulders and her stance, pushing the hair away that had fallen in her face.

     "Why would I be following you?" Natasha finally questioned back, and her tone was one that Willow couldn't help but hate. It was so monotone, and she constantly sounded bored.

     "Why would I know the answer to that?" Willow shot back. "Thanks for the training session, but I don't need anything else from you." Her words slapped Natasha across the face, the assassin turning to look at Willow with confusion. Just a few hours ago the two were civil with each other, Natasha teaching Willow how to defend herself, and Willow giving Natasha compliments and saying how good she was at what she did. Now, Willow was giving her the cold shoulder.

     "I'm sorry, did I make you hate me in the past hour or something?" Natasha questioned, turning her head to look at Willow. Willow opened one eye to look at the woman, and she couldn't help the smirk of amusement that pulled at the corners of her lips. She sighed.

     "Not everything is about you, Miss Romanoff." The sound of the elevator dinging made her open her eyes. She waited for the elevator doors to open before she kicked herself off of the wall and made her way out of the elevator and towards the doors. Before the doors could close, Natasha exited as well and quickly followed after the woman. Willow made her way towards the door, pushing her way out of the facility and humming slightly when Natasha continued to follow after her. "So you are following me."

     "Where are you going?" Natasha questioned her, quickly catching up so that she was walking right beside of the girl.

     "Does it matter?"

     "Yes, it does." Natasha grabbed her arm, stopping Willow in her tracks and forcing her to turn and look at her. Willow narrowed her eyes at Natasha. "Willow, it isn't safe."

     "It never has been." Willow muttered. "Not for me." Willow looked at Natasha, clenching her jaw for a moment. "I know that I'm dangerous, Natasha. But my plan wasn't to hurt anyone. I was going to come back. I just wanted to get some food that wasn't made in that kitchen up there. I'm literally suffocating in this building. I just need to breathe."

     Natasha looked at her for a moment before letting go of her arm and nodding her head. She kept forwards and Willow watched her with furrowed eyebrows. Natasha stopped and turned to look at her, nodding for Willow to follow after her. "Come on. I'll show you one of my favorite places to eat." And then she was walking again, and Willow paused for a moment before sighing and quickly following after her.