Chasing Shadows ;; Steve Rogers

four.

Ana was laying on her back, staring at the ceiling. She didn't know how long she would be here, but she was used to living in a cage. She had been confined to a single room short of missions and training for years. She would outlast them. She wasn't worried.

The door opened, and she turned her head slightly to see Natasha walk in. She went back to staring at the ceiling, not acknowledging her in any way.

"Do you need anything?" Natasha asked. "I know it can't be very entertaining in there."

"Is this the good cop routine?" Ana said, still not looking at her. "Is Yelena going to come in to beat the shit out of me after?"

"Of course not," Natasha said. "We're on your side, Ana."

She scoffed, but didn't say anything.

"You know, I was a lot like you once, before I left the Red Room," Natasha said, "so full of anger, and hatred. I saw enemies everywhere. But this team showed me what I could have if I just opened up. Please, let us help you too."

Ana sat up slowly, turning to face her. "The difference between you and I, Natasha, is that I don't need help in seeing clearly," she said. "Not again at least. You already opened my eyes."

"What are you talking about?" Natasha said.

Ana rolled her eyes. "Your fake ignorance is the most boring thing about this place," she said.

"It's not fake," Natasha said. "I really don't know why you hate us this much. I'm sorry we thought you were dead. That's what they told us. We didn't know to look for you. But you can't hate us this much for it, can you? You know how they were. They lied to us."

"And you don't lie, is that it?" Ana laughed coldly.

"Of course I lie, it's part of the job," Natasha said. "But I wouldn't lie to you. Not about this. You know that. We've through too much together, even if we were only together for a few years. But after Ohio..."

She blew a gust of wind at a chair, causing it to fly into the window in front of Natasha. It didn't even cause a scratch, but it shut Natasha up, which was her goal. "Don't you dare talk to me about Ohio," Ana seethed.

Natasha watched her in silence for a few moments, as if assessing her anger. Well, that would take her a while. Ana had a lot of anger. "What did they do to you?" she asked finally.

Ana stood up and walked to the window, standing directly in front of the other girl. "Do you want to know what they did? They made me stronger than you. You let these Avengers in? They've made you weak. You should never show the enemy this much weakness. At least before, I would have had a worthy adversary. Now? I'll be embarrassed when I have to cut you down."

"You're not the enemy," Natasha said softly.

"That's where you're wrong, Natasha Romanoff," she turned and walked back to her bed. "I will always be your enemy."

Ana didn't turn when she heard the door close before her.

• • •

Yelena had come in the next day, sitting by the glass and just staring at her. She didn't say anything, but Ana could feel her gaze. She rolled her eyes and finally spoke herself, not turning to look at the other girl.

"So Natasha was good cop, and you're what? Silent brooding cop? What's next? Send the soldier in here to be the bad cop?" Ana said finally.

"Is it so hard to believe I just want to spend time with you?" Yelena asked. Ana didn't even dignify that with a response.