Date: September 12, 2022
Words: 2147

~ Author's Note ~

Lyrics belong to Mumford & Sons, Broken Crown

...I'm back at school people...

Does anyone still reads this?

Remember, I suck at fight scenes...

Well, touch my mouth and hold my tongue
I'll never be your chosen one

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Russia
July 6, 2016

The tension in the helicopter is overwhelming.

Yelena stares forward determinedly, struggling to win over the urge to turn to look at her fellow companions. Though the upcoming prison and the bright snow flowing freely prove to be a distracting view, it is nothing compared to the two stubborn individuals flying with her.

The blonde would usually let out a sarcastic comment to break through the tension, but the burning gaze her sister sends her every time she moves stops her in her tracks. The older woman refuses to acknowledge the soldier in the back, stubbornly ignoring all the longing looks sent in her direction.

Natasha shivers against the emotions surging through her veins. The unwanted emotions. Anger and anxiety fighting to be released. Her head is pounding with the thoughts of Steve and Alexei clashing.

How is she going to tell Steve about the baby? Will he be happy or angry? They haven't even talked about the idea of having kids. Why would they? She had told him about the graduation ceremony. They both thought she couldn't have kids.

Then there is Alexei, her dear old dad. She hasn't seen him in twenty-one years. What is she supposed to say to the man who didn't do one fucking thing to stop the devil from taking her back to hell? I miss you?

Yeah, well, that's not fucking happening.

Natasha watches the controls closely, while the sisters glide the helicopter over the prison. She can hear the man behind her, typing away on a tablet. After Yelena had explained the plan in more detail, the blonde had told the Captain to watch the screen to tell them when the super soldier had activated the earpiece. If he can use his brain long enough to activate it, that is.

"He's activated the earpiece," Steve comments.

Would you look at this? Alexei does have brains.

"Today is your lucky day, Alexei," Natasha comments dryly.

Steve pushes himself forward, quickly passing over the tablet. She glances at the blueprint documents, bright glowing dots giving away the guard's locations.

"Move to the door on the south wall," she commands through the comm link. The redhead watches as one of the glowing dots begins to move, before unlocking the nearest gate.

"Go left," Natasha starts, leaning closer to Steve to get a better look. "Just don't make a scene."

They can hear the sounds of people yelling through the comms. Natasha shakes her head, against the sounds of metal and glass breaking. Does he ever listen?

The redhead grits her teeth, "You made a scene, didn't you?"

Yelena grimaces, the annoyance flowing off Natasha in waves. The helicopter struggles against the chilling winds, flying as close as she can to the prison's white and red walls. Suddenly, a flow of turbulence crashes against the chopper.

Natasha grips the arms of her chair tightly, feeling the familiar clenching in her stomach. One hand falls to the base of her belly, and she stubbornly ignores the pain emerging from the bruises. Her serum focuses on the major issues first. Her internal injuries, the two broken ribs included, are in the process of healing. The flesh bruises? That will take some time. She needs rest and food.

Neither of which are a priority.

"Nat?" Steve calls, concern flowing through his tone.

The redhead shakes her head, forcing her attention to the commotion below. She notices a man, with white streaks flowing through his dirty-blonde hair, sprinting down one of the pathways. He has on a navy-blue jacket, with red stripes. She swears she can see the sweat and dirt radiating off him.

"What now?" he asks through the comms.

"We're gettin' you outta here."

The guards start shooting past the prisoners. The yells of Russian enter the comms, and Natasha ignores the burning in her chest, concern for Alexei flowing into her veins. She has not seen him in years, but she doesn't want him to die. Not yet.

Even if he can be an ass.

"Go to the upper level," Natasha yells. Alexei frowns, glancing at the commotion bursting from all around. He can feel the panic rising in his chest, his feet refusing to move. "Move your ass, super soldier."

Alexei snaps back into focus, sprinting forward through the chaos. He jumps onto the second level, struggling to get his footing in place. One of the guards notices the man trying to force himself higher. He shoves his taser into Alexei's shoulder, ignoring the cries of pain as they slip past his lips.

"He's never going to make it," Yelena exclaims.

The sisters grimace, watching their father gasp for air, lying defeated on the ground. The redhead bites her lip anxiously, thoughts piling through her mind. Yelena is right. He's not going to make it on his own. Someone needs to help, and she's not sending Steve.

Alexei will have a heart attack.

"Get me closer," Natasha commands. She unlocks her seatbelt, ignoring the disbelief being sent her way from her sister. "You got a better idea?"

"You can't," Yelena exclaims, "Natasha! You can't, what about..." She trails off, aware of the ears listening. The blonde curses her sister for being so pig-headed, while the older woman dismisses the calls of her name. The redhead quickly attaches herself to a grappling hook, preparing herself to jump.

"Natasha, wait?" Steve calls out.

"What?" Natasha snaps, "Are you going to demand to come down there with me?" He steps back, the biting tone striking him down. "You should stay here and help Yelena with the plane." She shakes her head, "I don't need your help, Steve."

Steve sighs, watching her jump out the door. He moves forward, setting himself in front of the controls. There is no point in trying to stop her once she sets her mind to a goal. He knows that familiar determination a little too well. The remaining passengers watch as the redhead lands on one of the upper-level ramps in a pose.

Yelena smirks, "Such a poser."

Steve allows a little laugh to slip. She is a poser.

Natasha takes a measured breath, her face blank of all emotion. The guards start to pounce forward, pursuing the new threat. She doesn't hesitate, a natural instinct taking over, as she slams the force of her body against one guard. The redhead quickly sends another guard flying over the edge of the bridge, with a round-house kick.

The Avenger can feel the adrenaline spreading through her veins. She leans forward, using the grappling hook to slam herself into the guy in front of her, before using it to take out the one behind her.

Yelena gasps, as gun fire crashes through the chopper walls. Both blondes struggle to control the plane, trying to find a way out before they crash. Yelena tries pulling the controls, Steve copying her actions, the helicopter spinning in effect. They watch in horror as they notice the tail dropping toward the ramp.

Oh, fuck.

Natasha gasps, ice filling her veins. She quickly slams her back against the hard metal floor, watching as the blades barely miss contact with her body.

"Seriously?" Natasha exclaims.

Yelena winces, sharing a glance with Steve. They are never going to hear the end of this. "Sorry!"

"What are you doing?" Natasha frowns, pulling out her taser rods. "Are you kidding me? Back up!"

"We are both doing a very good job." Yelena grimaces, giving her sister a thumbs up, hoping to calm the anger surging through the other woman.

It's not helping.

Natasha shakes her head, turning her attention back to the guards. She tries to catch sight of Alexei, hoping he is making better progress than her, but she notices him struggling on the bottom level.

Shit.

This rescue is not going to plan.

Yelena grits her teeth, the sounds of bullets crashing into the sides of the chopper. She spares a glance at Steve, immediately noticing he's not doing much better than she is. Both of them worry about how much the chopper can take before it crashes.

"Okay. Enough of this," Yelena growls. She pulls off the headset, quickly walking to the weapon department in the back. Steve glances back, a pit settling in the depth of his stomach.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

"Taking care of the problem," she replies.

Yelena grabs a grenade launcher off the rack, walking over to the open door. She closes one eye, steadying her aim, before firing at one of the large towers in front of her. "Ha!" She exclaims, watching the tower explode into flames.

Steve shakes his head, a soft chuckle slipping past his lips. The young blonde moves forward, settling herself into the piloting seat. It only takes a second for them to notice the change happening on the mountain. A deep rumble echoes around, while the snow starts to break away from its solid frame.

"Oh, my-" Steve trails off, words failing him.

"Whoa..." Yelena watches with her eyes full of wonder, a small smile appearing on her face. "This would be a cool way to die."

Natasha takes a deep breath, the cold air flowing into her lungs. She tries to think of what to do next, but her feet are frozen on the ground. Her gaze is completely captivated by the swirling clouds approaching. There is a scent of danger spreading through the air, forcing her into action. She does not have time to waste. Not with an avalanche heading their way.

Thank you so much, Yelena.

"Tell me that's a good sign for us!" Alexei calls.

"Move your ass," Natasha calls in return. She glances over the railing, noting the guards running around. He pushes himself forward, breathing heavily through the cold winds, trying to scale up the wall.

Natasha frowns, while the crackling sounds emerging from the avalanche echo around them. The remaining prison and guards spiral into a panic frenzy. The storm is forcing its way closer, and the only source of cover is the old prison. It's not going to hold.

"Get us outta here!" Natasha yells.

The cold winds are getting tougher, and the white suit is not a good source of cover. She forces her freezing body forward, running toward the chopper, hoping with everything inside her Alexei is doing the same. At full speed, she jumps off the platform, quickly grabbing the rope hanging out of the helicopter.

She holds on tightly, fear of slipping off crashes into her, but she quickly grabs the edge of the rope and wraps it around her leg for stability. The helicopter turns around, heading in the direction of the man below.

The redhead glances around, struggling to catch sight of the older man through the thick winds. She can not see anything. But finally, she catches sight of the red stripes on his jacket as it shines in contrast to the white snow. For a second, their fingers brush over the others, and hope washes over her.

But it's not enough.

And at the last moment, a suit shines in the light.

Someone else lifts him off the ground.

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The pull on my flesh was just too strong
Stifled the choice and the air in my lungs
Better not to breathe than to breathe a lie

XX

Next Chapter:

Let me guess
You want an apology, probably

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"Little Natasha," Alexei taunts, his voice worsening his already sour demeanor. He ignores the question being asked to him further, "All indoctrinated into the Western agenda."

Natasha tightens her fingers around the controls. The Avengers are broken, yes, but they are a part of some of the best moments of her life. She was happy. She had a family with them. A place where she felt safe to be herself. Somewhere, she didn't have to worry about any of them stabbing her in the back during the night to secure a place at breakfast.

Natasha comments, "I chose to go west to become an Avenger." She glances around, catching Steve's gaze, worry radiating off of him. "Cause they treated me like family."

"Really? Family." Alexei shakes his head, "These two can barely look at each other. And you did not look too happy to see the Great Man of Iron," he taunts, finally sparing Tony a glance. "So, tell me where is the rest of this family? Where is that family now?"

XX

What do you think? Ideas?

How do you think Steve is going to find out Natasha is pregnant? What do you think his reaction should be?