Finally Free.

New Names.

TW: Dissociating.

Chapter 3

Yelena stared down at the papers in her lap as she and Natalia sat before Maria's desk. Her brow furrowed as she struggled with the English on the paper. She huffed and ended up passing over the papers to her sister in frustration.

"She struggles with English sometimes, Russian comes most easiest to her," Natalia explained.

"But I can still speak fluently in 6 other languages," Yelena quickly defended, not wanting to seem useless. She didn't want to risk this being the reason she would be thrown out.

"Impressive," Maria smiled at the girl before looking over at Natalia, "You can translate for Yelena in your own time but those are a list of the rules and regulations, these are forms you need to fill in, you can do them now if you like that way you can ask me any questions you may have." Maria explained pushing forward a new set of papers towards Natalia.

Natalia read over the first section she had to fill in and paused. Yelena noticed and peered over Natalia's shoulder to try and read.

"Nat even I know that one, it's asking for your name; Natalia Alianova Romanov," Yelena replied simply. Natalia gulped before asking her question to the commander.

"What if I wanted to change my name?"

Both Maria and Yelena looked slightly surprised.

"Is that something you want?" Maria asked to which Natalia nodded.

"That can be arranged, write down the name you would prefer," Maria advised. Natalia scribbled down a name that she had been thinking about for a while.

"I didn't know you wanted to do that, why?" Yelena said quietly.

"Natalia did awful things," Natalia paused, rubbing her knuckles agains her thighs, "I don't want to be her anymore, i-it's just something I want to do." Yelena nodded slowly, still slightly confused.

"Okay... Natasha," Yelena smiled, reading over her sister's shoulder. Natasha gave Yelena a tight smile, tears gathering in her eyes, Yelena did not realise this was something that was bothering the woman.

"Yelena would you like to change your name?" the Commander asked the blonde. Yelena met Natasha's eyes again.

"Just because I changed mine does not mean you have to," Natasha said firmly, "It is your choice."

Choice. Such a foreign thing to Yelena.

"No, I want to keep my name," she replied after a moment. "My choice," She whispers to herself.

After filling out forms and Natasha translating the list of rules to Yelena, the two of them joined Clint in the cafeteria for lunch.

"So did you get your schedules?" Clint asked around a mouthful of food. Natasha seemed to reply but Yelena didn't quite hear it. She was too focused on the bustling atmosphere of the cafeteria. Clint was right. This was a lot. She could hear so many things. See so many people. Too many people. Too many hazards. Too many potential threats. The buzzing of the electricity from the lights above seemed to echo in her ears, getting louder and louder as her fingernails dug deeper and deeper into her thighs. It wasn't until she heard the thud, as someone dropped their tray onto a nearby table, did she jolt and clasp her hands over her ears.

"Yelena, you okay?" Natasha asked her sister quietly, aware of Clint staring at them. Yelena did not reply though, she couldn't. Yelena felt hands under her arms, forcing her up from the table which only further panicked her. The electricity was still buzzing in her ears and it was so loud. And everything was so fuzzy.