Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 08:

Melina Vostokoff’ s perimeter alarms were not loud. They were set a half mile around the house, within easy range of her rifle. Her sharp ears picked up the soft sound of the alarms in her house, just enough for her to hear but not the intruders.

She had been feeding her pigs and ran into the house to grab her sniper rifle.

She was surprised that rather than approaching through the forest, the intruders were strolling up the road without a care in the world. She was more than surprised at who the intruders were.

Yelena, her one time daughter for three years, and Oksana, her fellow chemist stations in Barcelona.

Not present was the witch who had taken Yelena.

Dreykov had not expected the witch to return with Yelena, but he gave strict instructions if she had. Melina was to alert the Red Room immediately. Dreykov wanted to study what the witch had done to his asset and if possible, capture the witch.

The Witch.

That was the name given to her by Hydra agents and Dreykov himself, after seeing what she had been capable of. She was no true witch. She had been given amazing powers by Hydra and then escaped with the help of the Avengers.

Melina lowered her rifle and walked back into the house. She considered arming herself with more than just her knives but wanted to call Dreykov first. She had no idea what state of mind Yelena was in, and Oksana’s presence threw her.

She tried to pick up her phone from the table, but her arm was frozen at her side, unable to move. Melina attempted to move her other arm, her legs, her hands, but nothing obeyed her. She was frozen.

Her eyes widened when a woman who was no doubt the Witch whispered in her ear and she felt the warmth, the glow of red encircling her body.

“It is not very pleasant, is it?” Wanda whispered in her ear. “Having your mind controlled, being a passenger in your own body but unable to do anything. Take the rifle and put the barrel in your mouth.”

Melina had been trained her entire life not to feel fear. Fear was a weakness widows could not abide. Fear got you killed. Emotions were weakness, love was for children who did not belong to the Red Room.

She felt fear now. Melina did as she was told, taking the rifle, and placing the barrel in her mouth.

“Finger on the trigger.” Wanda whispered once again.

Melina was able to close her eyes, knowing the end was near. She had fought, survived her entire life and was about to take her own life.

“When I saved Yelena, a signal was sent to her brain, one that told her to kill herself. She would have had no choice. Do you think you should have a choice, Melina? Open your eyes and blink once for yes.”

Melina opened her eyes and then blinked.

Twice.

“I don’t believe you should have a choice either, but Yelena wants to have a chat with you. You are going to tell us where the Red Room is, or I will rip the information from your head and leave you a catatonic drooling mess, who will suffer and die of starvation. Perhaps your pigs can eat you when you finally die. HYDRA calls me the Witch for a reason. Only this witch kills monsters like you. Take the gun out of your mouth and sit, monster. I can smell your fear. It stinks.”

Wanda walked in front of the Melina who sat at the table and stood with her arms crossed, glaring at the woman who had subjugated so many young girls to mind control. She was dressed differently. While at Oksana’s safe house she had picked up a black widow combat suit and batons covered her back.

Unfortunately, Yelena would not allow her to have a gun or widow bites. Yelena was convinced she would shock or shoot herself.

The two stayed in place until Yelena and Oksana walked in. Oksana immediately began searching Melina for weapons, pulling several knives from her person.

“Did she try to call the Red Room as we suspected?” Yelena asked, taking a seat in front of Melina.

“Yes.” Wanda answered. “Just as you suspected she would.”

Yelena shook her head slightly. “Couldn’t wait to get me back under your chemicals, right Mama?”

Melina sighed and looked at the table. “I thought you had died. I wasn’t sure what the Witch did to you. When I saw you coming with Oksana, I thought perhaps you had escaped her and returned, and Oksana had accompanied you back. The Red Room is your home. Where else would you have to go?”

Melina’s hands shot up and begin scratching her own cheeks deeply, drawing blood. She shrieked in surprise, not having expected that.

Then her hands were free again.

Yelena looked irritably at Wanda. “No damage. Not until… remember?”

Wanda shrugged. “No disabling damage. A couple scars on her face won’t hurt her.” she defended herself.

“Find me Vodka, yes?”

Wanda rolled her eyes and left the two sitting, Melina no longer under control. Yelena and her Mama were left alone.

“I won’t apologize. I wish it hadn’t been you. I didn’t know until Dreykov told me you were taken.” Melina said.

Yelena raised an eyebrow. “What did you expect? All widows my age and younger were placed under his thrall, by your drugs. What did you think would happen to me?”

Melina was quiet for a moment, looking at the table top then raised her eyes to meet Yelena’s cold gaze.

“I had hoped you were dead.”

The silence for the next minute was heavy, oppressive even. It had a weight that made it difficult for Yelena to breathe.

“You were my mother. You were the only mother I had ever known, and I loved you. I was so scared when I last saw you. I thought you died, and I mourned you. Now, you wish I were dead?”

Wanda walked back into the kitchen and laid a bottle of Vodka and two shot glasses. She knew what was coming. They had talked about this.

Yelena pushed the shot glass toward Melina, poured her a shot and then herself.

Melina wasted no time drinking hers.

“You were soft. You were pure and loving. Natasha had already been through Widow training. She knew what to expect when she returned. You were a just a small innocent child when you were given to me. I… I played my role to perfection. I became… fond of you.”

“Fond of me?” Yelena asked, taking a shot, and pouring another. “I loved you with my entire heart and you were fond of me?!”

“Love is for children.” Melina recited automatically.

“I was a child!” Yelena yelled.

Melina nodded. “Yes you were. I knew what would happen to you. I didn’t want that life for you. Natasha begged me to let her take you away. She wanted to run away and thought she wouldn’t be hunted. You both would have been killed. Sending you to the Red Room was the only chance you had. The fonder of you I grew, the less I wanted you to live. I… the Red Room training was horrible. The deeds you would have to do were terrible. I didn’t want that for you, but I had no choice but to give you to them. My only hope was for you to die young and painlessly, to avoid the life they had planned for you.”

Yelena poured her another shot, her face stony once again.

“I see. You did me a favor by hoping I died young. Who were my real parents?”

“I don’t know.” Melina told her. “You were likely taken as a baby to be used for cover in missions. When you were three you were given to us for the Ohio mission. I doubt anyone knows. Perhaps Dreykov but he would never tell you. They are likely dead. Does it matter? You have a name, given to you. Yelena Belova. It is a beautiful name.”

Yelena shook her head, disgusted, hurt, betrayed and angry. There was so much anger in her.

“What was the Ohio mission?”

“SHIELD had been infiltrated by HYDRA for years. One of their scientists discovered a drug that could take away free will. We were tasked to retrieve it. Alexei had a job as a security guard at the SHIELD facility and I was hired as a chemist. I worked to gain his trust for a year until I was put on the project. I even had to sleep with him.

“When the HYDRA scientist had taken it as far as possible, he hid his work in a safe to keep it away from his fellow SHIELD colleagues. I told Alexei where it was, he broke open the safe and burned down the facility. Before I came home to you girls that day, I had killed the scientist. A few hours later we were flying to Cuba. Alexei had not bothered to cover our involvement. When I recovered I perfected the drug. I developed the technique for controlling widows over long distances so that General Dreykov would have control no matter how far his widows were away from him. The entire program was mine to develop. I have done my job well.”

Yelena sighed and slumped in her chair. She wanted to cry, to yell, but she had to remain in control for now.

“Do you have no conscience?” Yelena asked.

“How do you?” Melina countered. “I wish things could have been different for you and Natasha, Yelena. You deserved more. I wasn’t equipped to give you all that you needed. I had lost my heart long ago. The Red Room was all I knew since before I could remember. My whole life has been spent serving the Soviet Union, but even after its fall I still served Dreykov. I always did and most likely always will.”

“Oksana does not serve him. She has developed an antidote to your chemical. She kept her heart.”

Melina sighed and poured another shot. “I’m not that strong. I do not know how she kept her heart. I do not know how Natasha kept her heart. I wish I could remember having one. You and your sister were the closest I ever came to love. I gave you as much of my heart as I could.”

“Wanda, I’ve heard enough.” Yelena said.

Wanda walked back inside, her eyes glowing red and fists clenched. She had been in the hall at Yelena’s request, ready to stop her if she killed Melina too soon.

“Where is the Red Room?” Wanda asked, hoping the woman would refuse to tell them so she could dig around in her head and destroy her mind as she had done so many HYDRA operatives.

Melina stiffened, Wanda’s eyes making her feel something close to fear. She knew there was no way out. She could tell them the truth or have her mind rooted around by the witch and driven insane.

“The Red Room is a giant base… in the sky. It uses the SHIELD technology the Helicarriers did. It hides over the clouds forty miles north of Moscow. There is a runway at the base, and the widows are sedated and flown to their missions then returned in the same state and placed inside. Not even the widows on board know they are in the air.”

Yelena closed her eyes, frustrated, realizing this mission just became complicated.

“After Natasha’s attempt on Dreykov’s life, he never leaves the base. There are no more than twenty widows at one time on the base training, but there are over two hundred operating worldwide. In addition to the twenty widows, there are over forty guards, ten pilots and a monster called the Taskmaster.”

Yelena held up her hand. “Who is the Taskmaster? I have heard this name but never seen him.”

Melina shook her head. “Not even I know it’s identity. It could be a robot for all I know. It is the perfect weapon, able to watch the greatest fighters in the world, including the Avengers, and copy their techniques exactly. If it isn’t a robot, it is under the influence of my drug because it obeys Dreykov without hesitation.”

“It? He, she, whatever it is, has never fought me.” Wanda told her confidently.

Melina looked her in the eyes for the first time. “You will never get the chance to fight Taskmaster. Dreykov knows your weakness. Did you not think he would prepare a plan in the event you found him?”

“Do you think he can prepare for me? Hydra couldn’t find a weakness. He is arrogant to think he can find one.” Wanda told her.

“And you are arrogant to think you don’t have an obvious one. Compassion.”

Wanda was silent for a moment, not understanding the meaning of what she said.

“Compassion.” Melina said again. “You did not kill Yelena. Instead, you flew off with her. You felt compassion for a mind controlled girl. He knows if you come for him, it will be due to your anger over what was done to the girl you saved. He has told me this.”

“What else has he told you?” Yelena asked.

“He will not have his guards attack you. He will have the twenty mind controlled widows on board attack you, even if it means letting them onto the runway. He can always erase their minds afterward. That is a new technology but if it kills the girls it doesn’t matter to him. He will have them fire on you, Witch.”

“I can handle bullets. His snipers fired on me when I flew Yelena away.”

Melina nodded. “Can you protect yourself from twenty girls you do not want to hurt while they fire hundreds of rounds at you? What else will you do? Taskmaster will close in for the kill. Can you help Yelena while you are protecting yourself? Can you protect her from violent black widows you refuse to kill?”

Wanda looked toward Yelena and Oksana who were deep in thought. “We have the antidote. If we can…” Wanda paused, looking to Oksana and Yelena for answers.

“We would be killed before we ever got close to the girls. They need to be in one area. A training room or bunk. Once it is delivered through the vents, one of us will have to explain what is going on, encourage them to take up arms and fight Dreykov.” Oksana said. “They may not pick you up on radar if you are too small, but the red glow will alert them that you have arrived on their base with us.”

Melina nodded. “You understand, Oksana. There is no scenario where you accomplish your goal without dying. Perhaps one of you can free the widows, but the other two, perhaps all three of you will die in the attempt. The widows will be confused without one of you leading them. They will be picked off easily. It is also possible Dreykov will order them to terminate themselves before you rescue them and escape by air while his guards are busy killing you.”

Yelena sighed. “It is worth dying for. I am willing to try.”

“As am I.” Wanda said. “We need an effective plan, plans for the base, including the vents, the security systems, the training room, bunks, and a schedule. We have to move stealthily. I need to become better at flying, no glows. I turned invisible once. I turned my house invisible. I just need more practice.”

Melina shook her head. “You are basing your rescue plans on many things you cannot yet accomplish. I know the base plans, I know what you need, but it will be impossible. You will die.”

To accent her words, thunder rumbled in the air and rain began pouring outside.

“Draw us the plans.” Yelena instructed her.

Oksana brought sheets of printer paper and Melina began drawing. She drew for an hour due to the sheer size of the base. It was probably a quarter of the size of a SHIELD Helicarrier but still large. Melina’s details were precise.

After she was done, Wanda sent a tendril of red toward Melina’s head. Melina gasped, her eyes turned red, and she stiffened in her seat.

“She has been truthful.” Wanda said.

“Of course, I have.” The woman said, once she regained her bearing. “I do not want you to do this. Take Yelena far away, hide her. Find more widows in the wild if you can and try to cure them. Perhaps you can build an army. Whatever you do, the widows on that base will die, as you likely will.”

Yelena knew she was right, but they had no choice, right? They could travel the globe for years trying to hunt down elusive widows and free them. It would take many years before they could gather the forces they would need. The Red Room had to go down first. Dreykov had to die or none of them would ever be free.

“If we fail, we have a backup plan.” Yelena said quietly.

Melina shook her head. “The Avengers, I suppose. Have you sent Natasha a message that will be delivered in the event of your death? The same scenario applies. They are not known for being subtle. Dreykov may be captured but he will hold the widows lives as hostages. If he dies, he will take everyone with him, even his own people.”

Yelena stood up, poured herself another shot and downed it. “Enough. Outside. We have unfinished business, Melina.”

Yelena walked outside, not bothering to see if Melina was following. The rain was pouring heavily, lightning danced across the darkening sky and thunder rolled. The ground was muddy and slick, but her boots dug in easily.

She turned to Melina who remained passive, showing no reaction.

Yelena tossed her a knife which the older widow caught with ease.

“I won’t fight you.”

Yelena smiled, pulling her own blade.

“You have no choice. A Black Widow fights to survive. I didn’t come this way just for information. I came to kill you. You fight, or you die.”

Melina dropped the knife. “I’m sorry. I wanted to… I wish I had the bravery to take you away…”

Yelena snarled. “Coward! Slaver, Dreykov’ s willing whore! Pick up the knife. You will die anyway but at least you have a chance.”

Yelena rushed Melina and the older widow bent down to retrieve the knife, but it was too late. Yelena had jumped over her bent form, grabbed her neck, and threw her into the ground, knocking her breath out.

Melina saw a screaming Yelena falling on top of her, knife at the ready, aimed for her heart. She rolled away just avoiding the blade. She kicked Yelena to give her space on the ground and hopped up to her feet.

“Fight me, coward! You say you wished I were dead! Now you can make it happen! Show me what you are! Show me the great Iron Maiden!” Yelena screamed, regaining her feet.

Melina flinched at the name, one she had not been called in many years.

The two began trading blows, knives swinging and barely missing each other. Kicks were blocked, punches were thrown, until Yelena connected with her former mother’s ribs, cracking three with one blow. Melina stepped back, grabbing her side and Yelena attacked, jumping, her legs wrapped around her head, flipping the Iron Maiden to the ground. Before Melina could rise, Yelena had stabbed her in the shoulder and stepped back.

Her knife was dipping blood, rainwater drenched her and the lightning behind Melina lit up Yelena’s furious visage.

Melina switched her knife to the hand that wasn’t attached to her bleeding shoulder.

“Fight me, сука! Dreykov will lose his whore if you do not. Do you want to disappoint your owner?” Yelena yelled.

Melina did what every wounded animal did. She struck, swinging towards Yelena, giving her all. She had attempted to subdue Yelena during this fight. To make her surrender, to make her see that she could not win against her or Dreykov.

Instead, she was failing from the start. Melina had more experience, but Yelena was younger, faster, stronger and fought without mercy. Melina had several cuts on her body she was just beginning to feel, none of them life threatening, but enough that she felt the blood loss.

Melina knew every one of these slashes could have gone deeper. They could have disemboweled her. Yelena was savoring the kill. She was taking her time, inflicting damage. She was a cat and Melina was the mouse.

Yelena kicked the side of Melina’s head and she found herself on the ground. Her knife was kicked away, and Yelena stood over her.

The blonde pulled Melina up by her throat and stabbed her in the thigh, then tossed her back down. Sitting on top of her, Yelena struck over and over with her fists, breaking through the woman’s feeble attempts at blocking and landing on her head, her nose, her cheekbones, and jaw.

Yelena was screaming, forgoing technique, and giving into blind rage. Since she had been free, she had done a good job at managing her emotions, even as memory after memory rushed into her mind now that the haze was gone.

Now it was all coming out. Every torture, every sick thing she ever had to do for Dreykov, the people she killed, the innocents as well as the guilty all the pain she underwent and caused, she was unleashing now.

The face of her Mama, the one she dreamed about at times, cleaning her scraped knees, fixing her dinner, brushing her hair before she went off to kindergarten, was breaking, shattering into something unrecognizable.

She had no idea why Natasha had never looked for her, but it didn’t matter. She had lost Natasha when they were pulled apart after arriving at some warehouse with dozens of other girls stuck in the back of the van. Natasha had fought to stay with her. She would never forget Natasha’s or her agonized screams as they saw each other for the last time, pulled apart. All Yelena had left was a photo strip she hid on her body. She held onto that strip, the last token of her childhood. She held onto it through her training, and when she underwent chemical subjugation she never took it from under her bed where it had been hidden, taped under the mattress. It was still there, waiting for her.

She wanted it back.

Melina could have looked for Yelena. She could have found her easily. Instead, she had hoped she was dead.

When Melina was no longer recognizable, Yelena grabbed her hair and dragged her through the mud. She picked the woman up by the waist and threw her into the pigpen.

Melina was still breathing slightly. Her ribs were fractured, her clothes were torn from Yelena’s strikes, her nose and cheek bones were smashed. She was spitting blood and her eyes were swollen but she still lived.

Yelena stared down at the muddy woman and spit on her.

“Coward. May there be a hell so you can burn in it!”

She stared at the woman, not even turning when Oksana coming out of the house. Oksana stood by her side and looked down into the pigpen where Melina lay half dead.

“We may still need information from her.” Oksana said. “Do you wish her to die here, or should I treat her? I’m good either way. Your kill, your choice, Yelena.”

“Do what you will with her.” Yelena said, controlling her breathing to bring herself back under control. “I am finished. She is finally dead to me.”

Yelena walked into the house and Wanda was waiting for her.

“I need some time.” Yelena told her.

Wanda nodded, understanding.

“I’m here when you are ready. I always will be.”

Yelena patted her on the shoulder and held out her hand. Wanda knew what she wanted and gave her a phone.

The blonde walked back outside, past where Oksana was pulling a half dead Melina from the pigpen and continued down the dirt road. She eventually found a tree to sit under, blocking most of the rain and dialed.

“Yelena!”

“Hello Kate Bishop.” she greeted her.

“I hadn’t heard from you in a few days. I was worried. Not that you needed to call me. You said three weeks, but whatever you are doing is obviously dangerous and you hadn’t texted…”

“Kate, calm down. I am… not okay but unharmed. Do not worry about me. How are you? Are your Avengers treating you right?”

Kate hesitated. “I’m about to go home. Mom left the compound yesterday and came back with a lead. She said she got it from a confidential source. She knew where Tolliver was. Iron Man and War Machine insisted on handling it themselves. I think Mr. Stark just wanted to get away. He didn’t want my mom taking me home and she said something about it not being safe here. He told her it was the safest place on Earth, and she said something about Stark Tower and how the portal directly over it allowed aliens in who killed my dad and nearly killed me. Apparently because Hawkeye saved me he is the only Avenger she trusts, and he has been gone. I thought it was pretty rude, but that’s my mom. She can be… vindictive when someone challenges her. Even if it is Tony Stark.

“You would still be safer there.” Yelena pointed out, wondering how her mother got a lead so fast. Not even Bishop Security should have been that fast. Unless Eleanor Bishop had her own ties to the underworld. It wasn’t Yelena’s problem and certainly not something she would bring up with Kate now.

“Mom seems to think nothing can happen to me in New York. Maybe Tolliver is scared to operate in the city for some reason. So, what are you doing? It sounds like it is raining. Are you outside?”

Yelena chuckled. “Yes, I needed a shower, and the one inside is already in use. Can you do something for me, Kate Bishop?”

“Of course. Do you need my help with your mission?”

“No… tell me about your high school.”

“My high school? What do you want to know?”

“You said your friend in Paris was the only one in your social circle you could stand.”

“You remember that?”

“I remember everything you said. Why do you not like your other friends?”

Kate was quiet for a moment before speaking. “I suppose I have never fit in. I go to a private school and everyone who goes there is rich. My friends are into partying, social climbing, being seen with the right people, going to the right parties, and gossiping about everyone, especially those they consider friends. The guys play football and field hockey, and the girls are mostly into cheerleading.

“I’ve never really cared about that. They include me because my mother is rich, but I’m not really part of them. I’ve always been more interested in archery, fencing, martial arts, and gymnastics. I’m probably too smart for their tastes as well. I could imagine the things they say about me.”

Yelena hummed. “You have mean girls and… jocks? Is that the right term?”

“Yeah, close enough.”

“Is it a large school?”

“Not really. It’s a private school, only a couple hundred in the high school. It’s been around for like a hundred years. The buildings are made of stone but the interior stinks. It’s like old libraries. Decades of water damage, decay, crap like that give it that old smell. You get used to it after a while.”

Yelena was silent for a moment, imagining it.

“Do you wear uniforms?”

“Oh yes. I hate uniforms. They are so simple and boring. White button up shirts and blue skirts that hang past our knees. The guys wear blue slacks and white shirts with ties. No style at all.”

“Do you and your friends go shopping at a mall?”

Kate sighed. “Like I said, I don’t really get along with them so I couldn’t call them friends, but my mom is constantly pushing me to have the right friends, so I have to go sometimes.”

“Are there arcades in the mall?”

“Not anymore. Everybody plays games online or on consoles. There is a movie theater.”

Yelena closed her eyes imagining it. “Does it smell like popcorn?”

“Yeah, all movie theaters do.” Kate said as if this were common knowledge. Of course, it probably was.

The blonde sighed. “I’ve never had popcorn. Perhaps when I was a very young girl, but I cannot remember it. Is it good?”

“You don’t remember popcorn? You have to come to New York. We could go to a movie and have popcorn covered in gooey butter… have you been to a theater?”

“No, I do not think so.” Yelena admitted.

“I know you are super busy with your mission, but we have our first archery contest the first weekend in March. I know it’s a couple of months away but if you could make it… I know you have other things to do. I’m just saying, if you aren’t busy saving people and being all badass maybe you would like to come? I can show you my skills you are missing. I mean my archery skills!”

Yelena smiled. “I would like that Kate Bishop. I can make no promises though. For now, I must go. I will text you, but it may be a few days. The end of our mission is coming soon. I must prepare. Before I go, is Captain America there?”

“Uh… yeah. Him and the Falcon are looking for other leads on Tolliver’s safe houses but if Iron Man takes out the main guy the rest of his goons will probably disband.”

“What about Vision?”

“No, he has disappeared for the last couple of days. He does this a lot from what I’ve heard. Honestly, for being the Avenger’s Compound this place is kinda boring. Why? Do you want to talk to him?”

“No.” Yelena told her. “I want you to give Captain America this number to pass on to Natasha. Tell him to ask Natasha to call me.”

“Okay… you didn’t want anyone to have this number. What is going on Yelena?”

Yelena laughed lightly. “You made me realize something about myself Kate Bishop. I will talk to you soon. Be safe.”

Yelena ended the call before the girl could say goodbye.

She walked back to the house and found Wanda waiting for her with a fresh pot of coffee.

“Cream is in the fridge and sugar…”

“Is for children.” Yelena finished.

She prepared a cup black and had a seat across from Wanda.

“Is Melina still alive?” Yelena asked.

“For now.” Wanda told her. “Oksana had to do something to open her airway. There may be a hole in her throat. It was a bit gross, so I stepped out and made coffee.”

Yelena snorted.

“I was just talking to Kate Bishop.”

“I thought as much.” Wanda told her.

“I have concluded I am not afraid of death, but I would rather not die if possible. There are many things I want to do in life. As much as I hate her, Melina is right. The three of us are not enough. We will fail.”

Wanda nodded, having thought of the same thing. She might have played fast and loose with her life but the idea of Yelena’s ending before it had begun frightened her.

It was time to put pride aside.

“We need help.” Yelena told her.

“Yes.” Wanda agreed.

“Tolliver is being handled as we speak. Natasha should be calling me soon. Vision has gone from the compound, and no one knows how to reach him. Can you contact him?”

Wanda nodded.

“Are you okay with this?” Yelena asked.

“The important thing is the girls are free. Tony Stark can figure out a way to stop Dreykov from forcing the girls to kill themselves. As much as I despise the man, he is a genius. They have one who can fly silently, not be seen. Vision can also fly and get into the Red Room with no problem. No area would be off limits to him. He and Captain America are likely stronger than whoever or whatever this Taskmaster is. You trust Natasha and I trust Clint.”

“Are you okay with this?” Yelena asked again.

Wanda nodded. “I know we said this was our mission. That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s about getting those girls free and killing Dreykov by any means necessary. That means we need the Avengers. We just need to make sure Stark doesn’t cause any large explosions that will kill the girls. Of course, we are the ones with enough explosives to level a skyscraper now that I think on it.

“I never wanted to involve the Avengers. I wanted us to handle this ourselves. This is about more than my pride. We need help and Dreykov will never expect the Avengers.” Wanda concluded.

Yelena’s phone buzzed. She looked at Wanda and nodded. “You contact the robot. I will handle the rest.”

Yelena was left in the kitchen while Wanda walked away in search of a quiet place.

“Hello sister.”

She heard a sharp intake of breath and then a trembling voice.

“Yelena? Is it really you?”

“It is. Where are you?” Yelena asked.

“We just broke Alexei out of a Siberian prison. It took us days to plan and was nearly a disaster. We couldn’t use our quinjet so we were stuck in a helicopter older than the one you have and had to disguise ourselves so the Russian government wouldn’t complain to the U.N. that the Avengers broke the Red Guardian out of prison. Alexei doesn’t know where the Red Room is, but he told us that Melina might. Of course, you already knew she was still alive. Now we are flying to St. Petersburg but considering you are calling, I suppose Melina gave you the location and you, Wanda, and the new friend you picked up in Spain are about to leave for the Red Room. I am the backup plan, right?”

Yelena chuckled, amused at Natasha’s irritation.

“This is payback for that scavenger hunt I made you go on to find your Twilight Sparkle doll, isn’t it?” Natasha asked.

“I miss that doll.” Yelena said. “But no, we are not attacking the Red Room now. It is impossible without taking many innocent lives and likely losing our own in the process. We need help. Wanda is contacting Vision. As for you, I need you to… what is it you say? Assemble Avengers? Avengers Assemble? I read that in a magazine in Morocco. So, you will assemble the Earth’s mightiest heroes and we shall end this, together.”

“You are serious?”

“I could give you a hero speech if you like. Dreykov lives. Since you didn’t do it right the first time, I will help you kill him properly this time. We need your help, sister.” Yelena told her.

“I will be there in two hours. Do not leave where you are. Clint will gather the team. I am coming.”

“I look forward to it, sister. It has been too long.”

The call ended.

Natasha looked towards Clint, her eyes beginning to burn with gathering tears.

“What’s going on now?”

“Contact Steve and tell him to get the team to Russia as fast as possible. We will send coordinates when we land.”

Clint grinned and took placed his headphones on, connecting to the compound.

“What is going on?” Alexei asked from the back.

Natasha wiped her eyes and smirked without turning towards the man. “You finally get to meet Captain America and tell him all the stories of how you beat him. Stay in the back, Alexei. I’m in too good of a mood to listen to you now.”

Alexei for once did as told and Natasha leaned back in her chair and smiled, then wiped her eyes. Clint did not look at her, knowing Natasha hated crying, but she needed this. He reached over and took her hand which she squeezed in return, and he smiled.

His best friend was about to be reunited with her sister. That made chasing Yelena and Wanda all over the damn globe worth it.