Chapter Text
[ 𝟷𝟼 𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝙰𝚐𝚘 ]
"Finish the job. "
"I-I can't."
The small blonde girl scrambles back against the wall, back pressed to the corner. Pigtails askew, her favorite pink shirt is torn.
There's dirt and blood smeared across the once glittery unicorn design that she'd been so proud of.
Across from her, a man sits, trembling. His hands are bound, mouth gagged. There are cuts already running down his arms.
"No, no, no!" He muffles, fighting the restraints that keep him in the chair.
She buries her face into her knees, shaking her head. "I can't, I can't, I-"
"Yelena! Look at me."
Her face is ripped from her knees to meet the eyes of another teenager girl. The older girl's hair is childishly short and blue, but unlike Yelena, she wore tactical gear.
" I can't, Nat." Her voice cracks.
" You have to." Natasha speaks firmly, keeping Yelena's chin in her hand.
"H-He's right there! He can see me!"
A sob shakes her tiny frame. Natasha shakes her head, swatting away the tears as they came.
"Stop it. Stop it now." She orders. Her voice is steel.
Yelena holds back a wail, biting her lip till she tastes copper.
" Now, when the Red Room comes, and they will, they'll expect the job done. If it isn't..."
Yelena gulps.
" They're going to kill him anyway. There's no doubt of that. The only question is if you go with him. Do you want to survive?"
"Yes, but-" She begins to protest.
"No buts." Natasha cuts her off sharply. " Do you want to survive?"
"Yes."
"Then finish the job."
Natasha moves, and Yelena rises from the floor on shaky legs.
"NO! NO!" The man struggles further, banging the chair around as he frantically tries to escape.
Yelena pulls the gun from her belt. Just like she'd practiced.
Loads it.
Raises it.
Clicks the safety off.
"NO!" the man screams around the gag desperately. His eyes lock with hers—blue, wide, desperate. Pleading.
She freezes, finger hovering on the trigger. His blue eyes are full of sorrow. Not fear. Not hate.
Remorse.
Regret.
"Survive, Lena." Natasha bites out. "Finish the job."
Survive.
Her hand tightens. She closes her eyes.
"NO—!"
The gun fires.