INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 7, 2020 17:36:37 GMT -7
Where she was Ava didn't know. Her briefing was simple. Get on a quinjet and take nothing apart from her foils. She was the only one on there apart from the flight crew who couldn't tell her where they were going. By the feel of the craft they had tried to disorientate her by going round in a few circles and zigzags but that could have just been because they were trying to stay clear of some areas.
One of the crew came back and took a bag off the shelf before approaching Ava.
"Here, you'll need to put this on."
Ava frowned, nodded and spoke formally.
"Yes sir."
She took the offered bag and opened it to find inside colder weather gear. Ok, so that reduced a huge chunk of the world down. As she had been trying to keep track of directions it must be north. How far she didn't know. She stretched in her seat trying to ease her body from the more recent spars and missions. The latest against Captain America was still causing her problems, especially her jaw. She slipped on the coat, trousers and boots over her normal white attire. She smiled as she saw her Red Widow logo embroidered on the chest pocket. The last items in the bag were a pair of gloves. All wouldn't look out of place in the alps or further north.
Finally she felt the quinjet descend. A voice came over the coms.
"Your stop Red, we will keep the engines running. Head straight out the back and get clear enough away. When the weather settles you will know where to go."
Ava's frown deepened even further as she was starting to hate being called Red! She didn't need to respond to that command. Slipping her gloves on she headed to the back of the quinjet. The ramp lowered to reveal a white curtain. She pulled her hood up and slipped a pair of goggles on before exiting. She knew how far she needed to go so she moved out. Counting to 15 in her steps she then crouched down making sure her face was angled so she wouldn't get a face full of moving snow. It didn't take the quinjet long to move off and once the snow had settled she was able to look around whilst brushing off the snow. Why had they put her at the top of a mountain where a cable cart hut rested. She looked around and then saw a cabin not far from the hut which had smoke coming out of the chimney. She headed in that direction and pushed the door open. It was a lovely cosey bar which seemed to be completely empty but she could hear someone moving. Within seconds she had one of foils out as she scanned the room through the goggles.
Ava was unsure as she moved towards a second door which helped to keep the cold out. Then stopped to listen carefully. There was someone there, that could be both bad and good. With what was going on she was going with the bad... but if they knew she was coming then she might as well enter. She hid the foil behind her back and she entered the room, this was set out with a small bar, skis, small kitchen and a load of sofas.
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on May 8, 2020 21:47:42 GMT -7
Call it selfish. Call it a vacation, or just call it her privilege, but whatever "it" was, Natasha was glad to have it at this moment. She too often failed to live a life beyond her missions with SHIELD and the Avengers so this little escape into the Himalayas at a remote, private ski cabin was just what the Black Widow needed. No, scratch that. It was just what Natasha Romanov needed. The cabin held all of the amenities one might expect of a property owned by her billionaire lover but none of that was able to be seen from the outside. Rather, it seemed like a common enough abode, albeit one that probably seemed odd for its location unless one knew of the excellent skiing offered at Gulmarg, a hill station town in Kashmir at the northern-most part of India. Then, perhaps, this wouldn't seem so odd. Of course, the person joining her this afternoon would probably not know about the world-class ski opportunities of the region. The ski adventure was all meant to be a surprise for Ava, and as Natasha understood it, also an opportunity for the youth to take a much needed "breather." She heard the outer door open and knew Ava had arrived. Likely the girl was on edge, not understanding why she was here, of all places, but the elder Widow knew she would figure it out soon enough. Of course, Nat was not aware that SHIELD kept the fact that this was an extended vacation with Natasha a secret from her protege. She had left no such instructions. Ava was simply to be brought to her this afternoon, and Nat had informed Maria Hill (and Tony) that neither of them should be expected home until next week. She gave no date of return and no one forced one. The red-haired woman was not entirely certain why the girl held herself with such alert suspicion when Ava opened the second door that led to the homely comfort of a small well-stocked bar with a quaint kitchenette off to one side, a sofa and two reclining chairs (all quite luxurious) and an (unplugged) television across from her, while a couple of sets of skis leaned against the bar. Natasha turned from her position standing at the bar where she had been swirling a drink, listening to Pandora, and she fully faced Ava in welcome. She was dressed more casually than her sestra had probably seen her in a long time, wearing a sassy (if ironic) t-shirt, denim jeans and wearing headphones. (No crown, but the pic couldn't be skipped!)Natasha raised a brow and gestured toward the girl's back. "I know we often find trouble wherever we go, Ava, but I assure you that we are completely alone." The spy took her in with a quick once over, looking aloof as she dismissed her as benign. She reached back for her hot cocoa and released Ava from her gaze as she said, "Did you not bring a bag? It's going to be hard to relax if you're always dressed in your uniform."
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 9, 2020 9:56:58 GMT -7
Ava looked around and relaxed a little at seeing Natasha. She had seen her relaxed once in Brazil and it was almost the same. Pulling her hood down looked around.
"Erm... A bag? No... they told me to just wear my normal but without the rest of the equipment. I think the pilots were worried I would short out the quinjet!"
Ava half smiled.
"They did give me a bag of stuff though."
She turned back into the first small room whilst clipping her foils back in place. It was then she noticed a bag with a tag with her name on just inside the door. She chuckled a little and shook her head as she moved over and picked it up before returning to the comfy room. She smiled to Natasha.
"Isn't it normal for trouble to find us though? Even going out is not easy any more!"
Placing the bag next to a chair she sat down and started to rummage through it. Ok... so someone was having a joke if she was going to wear any of this but... still it was better than nothing. She was thinking about the strange happenings in the nightclub and her causing a huge black out in the middle of NYC.
"Why are we here? They told me nothing about what I was going to do... are we going skiing?"
She looked at the ski's with trepidation as she started to remove the cold weather gear and shoving it back on top of the other items of clothing and revealing her white layer underneath.
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on May 11, 2020 20:45:35 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
Natasha tried not to smile when Ava was so befuddled. The girl didn't always like it when Nat laughed at her expense, even if it was something Ava may have laughed at herself. So, it was nice when Ava smiled first when commenting about the normalcy of trouble always following them anyway. The Widow was hard-pressed to disagree, especially when she was the one who brought it up to begin with. Natasha turned to Ava and left her warm drink on the bar. She made sure to remove her headphones so as to prove she wasn't ignoring Ava in any way. The music had been turned low anyway, but it was the thought that counted.
"I'm not surprised they didn't give you any details. This trip was meant to be a surprise, but I am unsure why they wouldn't have told you I was meeting you," Natasha said, referencing the fact that Ava seemed caught unaware when she first entered. She rested her elbows back on the bar behind her and took in the SHIELD packed bag that was provided to Ava. Maybe she should have packed it for Ava to be brought by the agents, but Natasha barely had time to pack her own bag after returning from some Avenger business. Ava mentioned skiing and brought Natasha's mind to the girl's query.
"Yes," she replied. "This mountain has some of the best skiing in the world, mostly because of its altitude probably but I prefer to think it's because of the numerous snow leopards we might see while cutting through the snow." She smirked at Ava and attempted to joke lightly. "A little birdie told me that you like a little danger wrapped up in all of your vacation packages."
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 12, 2020 16:53:47 GMT -7
Once a bit cooler, well than she would have been if she had kept her cold weather gear on, she looked back to the bar and sighed as she noticed the hot drink. Then looked back to the bag and shrugged.
"A prank? Or taking instructions too bluntly? Or the person who organised the transport had a laugh? Who knows Sestra. Anyway, I asked what I needed and was told just what I was wearing, which was this uniform and my foils."
She shrugged again as she moved towards the hot drink and picked it up breathing in the hot coco. It was one thing she missed from the Hostel, the hot chocolate which always waited for her. She sipped it then looked behind the bar.
"I have no idea where here is, well apart from that we are North and most likely somewhere not in America or Canada. Which leaves Eurasia and Asia. I'm discounting Africa as it is not known for its skiing!"
She said with a slight chuckle. Then looked at Natasha with seriousness on her face.
"It isn't a good time you know. I have exams in two weeks, both practical and theoretical. Also... .... .... I don't know how to ski. Your memories are a little vague. Knowing a little more about snow leopards and skiing would help."
She looked at Natasha still with a stoic expression as she lifted up her drink before chuckling behind it. She was going to have to keep her guard up a little.
"Did you hear I bumped into Hawkeye on a shooting range?"
That would tell her if Nat had heard about what she was hiding. She knew she was better at blocking than Natasha but she didn't know if Nat had got any better and trying to locate her as she could Nat.
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on May 13, 2020 19:56:36 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
Natasha watched as Ava came and took her hot cocoa and took a drink out of her cup. It was a bold move but one she decided not to begrudge the girl. As she said, this trip was as much her idea as it was dictated by her SHIELD trainers. The reports coming back to Nat were that Ava was a very high strung young woman that they feared might be on the edge of breaking. Her powers were growing but Ava's ability to control either those or her impetuousness was not. That said, they were impressed with her enough that they still wanted to help her become the asset they knew she could be. It was all very reminiscent of the way she grew up in Russia - being seen more as a tool and less as a person - but Natasha was willing to give SHIELD a bit more credit knowing they also cared enough about the girl's mental health that they encouraged a vacation rather than an execution.
"We're in Kashmir, India. The Himalayan mountains, not fr from the disputed border with Pakistan, actually, but I don't foresee any trouble coming of that while we're here. If you're lucky, we'll take a ride up the highest ski lift in the world." Natasha took her cocoa back from Ava's hands. "But if you keep drinking my cocoa, your luck will quickly run out."
Natasha turned to get another mug from the cupboard behind the bar and set about making more hot cocoa for Ava, and herself at this point. Ava made a comment about seeing Hawkeye recently and asked if she knew. Natasha made no sign either way but merely replied, "Really? Which shooting range?" She set the kettle to boil with more water and turned to Ava. She folded her arms comfortably in front of her with one hand holding her cocoa cup so Ava couldn't steal it again. She sipped some of the liquid as if by doing so she was reclaiming it as her own.
Whether Natasha knew of this encounter or the many others Ava had recently, she was not going to tell her protege. It was better for Ava to have the opportunity to speak openly or choose to detour around list things of which she knew Natasha would disapprove. It mattered little in the scheme of things but the woman within the agent of SHIELD hoped that her sestra allotted her at least a modicum of trust.
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 14, 2020 4:36:51 GMT -7
Ava's mind went through her geography and she found where she was looking for and her eyebrows shot up and she beamed at the idea of where she was. It was a beautiful area and the snow leopards were just one species that was here. The look of pure joy, so rare on her face was heightened by a deep blush, even more uncharacteristic as Natasha took the mug from her hands.
"Sorry, I was parched! I was training when I got told to get ready. Didn't get chance to stop. They really did keep me on my toes."
She just seemed to relax further as Natasha drank the remainder of her mug while making Ava one. Ava moved to help make it if needed. She thought about pushing to see if Natasha did know or not but that was not a good idea for the time being. It didn't matter if she knew or not. What had happened was interesting and she had learned a lot.
"It was at The Whortlekill Rod and Gun Club just north of New York City. I was on... a break."
By break she meant getting the bugs out of her shooting skills while trying to relax. Only she didn't relax not until Hawkeye helped her realise what she was missing.
"It helped me figure out why I had been missing recently and he gave me a few pointers."
So really, she wasn't on a break just working the same in a different place. She knew why she did it. Just thinking about it made her heart hurt again as she looked to the sofa. Her blush had gone and the spark that had been there had faded despite the smile still being there. She tried hard to keep the hurt feeling away from Natasha but she knew the longer they were together the more the pair would be able to tell. Perhaps that was why she had been sent here. A way for SHIELD to tell where she was and what she was thinking. She looked down to the mug of coco and stired in the hot water. She preferred it with warm milk, maybe later.
"The technician, Gemma, is working on an adaptation of my uniform. The adaptations on here are tempoaray but seem to be helping."
She lifted her arm up bending her hand backwards to show a small silver piece of metal, which she used to connect to her foils. That helped to ground her powers. It was then as her coco was cooling a little that she took off her jacket, revealing her thin layer of SHIELD uniform underneath her fencing jacket. Draping the jacket on the back of the sofa she looked up for a moment to the ghost that sat there then to the wall beyond. Her thought at that point was simply "no.".
"How have you been?"
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on May 18, 2020 13:41:13 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
Natasha was aware that Agent Simmons was creating something to aid Ava with her powers. Phil had told her of it, though with little explanation. So Nat had gone straight to Jemma for further information. The elder Widow had witnessed some of the work and seen prototypes, but seeing them on Ava' arm was good. To know they had been working was better.
"I'm glad Agent Simmons is helping you," she told her protege. "She doesn't often fail in her endeavors so you should have everything you need to help you control your powers soon."
Ava continued to glance at the empty sofa. Natasha didn't need her to tell her why. She knew. Her knowledge didn't come from some mental connection. Rather, just from having spent time with Ava enough to know she still struggled with seeing Alexei's ghost frequently. Sometimes, Natasha envied that. She would like to see Alexei sitting casually on a sofa reading a magazine about fencing or laughing at some lame Tik-Tok video. Sadly, only Ava had such privileges.
Choosing not to address the ghost in the room that only one of them saw, Natasha instead handed the mug with hot water in it to Ava. She knew Ava preferred milk, but this was simpler. Still, Nat pulled her secret weapon from the fridge and handed it to Ava. It was creamer for coffee. Natasha always used it in her hot cocoa. She just smirked at the younger girl then and answered her question - both the one asked and the one that had to be in the back of her mind.
"I've been good. Busy as always saving the world from itself and sometimes even the big, bad villains." Her voice was light with jest as she said the last words. There were always real threats to avert, but sometimes it seemed like people were their own worst enemies. Being a super spy and part of the Avengers, the Widow often encountered the big, bad villains, but being a New Yorker she more often just saw the former. After putting some more cream in her hot cocoa, Natasha continued. "Because of my busyness, though, I felt like I had been neglecting my sestra. So, I requested this vacation for both of us. I hope that's OK. I know the timing is harder for you, but we have to take what we can get sometimes."
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 18, 2020 15:20:33 GMT -7
Ava was enjoying her hot chocolate as Natasha spoke. She smiled at her joke but didn't laugh.
"I have come across a few on training, now that I am allowed in the field. As long as I'm accompanied by an adult! At least you don't have to be accompanied."
She looked up to Natasha allowing a bit of her irk to be allowed to be felt if Natasha was paying any attention.
"At least we get some down time now and I'm glad your safe. I don't fancy another..."
She trailed off looking towards the sofa and frowned before continuing.
"Dante is doing well. He hasn't broken any of our records."
She smiled at Natasha letting her know she had broken a few of her records. Whenever she had any down time she was either studying or working hard to improve some agility or physical skill. The only time people didn't find her hard at work was either when she needed to have food or drink. Or when she was told to go to bed. That was when the nightmares would start though. Of course she never told Coulson or anyone else about them. She knew Natasha knew, there was no hiding them no matter how far apart they were. It had always been that way. That reminded her of something she had also been meaning to ask.
"I didn't like the man who had no skin... he hurt! Why don't you seem to get hurt as much? Well you do and you don't."
She was frowning at Natasha and was curious of the answer. Sensing that it was something deep, like a memory from an old unseen photograph and knowing were two different things for Ava. Her curiosity was hoping she would be able to see the photo from Natasha's comment... if she did give any at all. She felt like it was stretching her boundaries just a little, if she didn't ask she would never find out.
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on May 20, 2020 19:39:03 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
Natasha chose to ignore the adolescent petulance Ava exhibited when she complained about needing to have supervision in the field. She didn't remind Ava how lucky she was that she wasn't thrown into the fire of missions after having to kill all of the other children you trained with in order to obtain that honor. Her sestra should have known how lucky she was, but whether it was chosen ignorance of Natasha's memories of her childhood or Ava's newfound American privilege at being expected to ignore her privilege, Ava was being selectively spiteful toward her SHIELD supervisors. It bothered Natasha, but not enough to dredge up her past to confront it.
Again, Ava looked at the empty sofa. Natasha followed her gaze but was, again, denied seeing Alexei. It was likely better for the spy not to be interrupted by such visions. It would be potentially deadly if she were to see her little brat during a firefight, a high stakes game of intrigue, or attempting to sneak into a place where she was not invited. Not that it was any better for Ava to see him constantly, but perhaps in time she would outgrow her obsession. It was not lost on Natasha that this same obsession and coinciding hallucinations of a dead boy might also have something to do with Ava's lack of control of her abilities, but to speak this would be to rehash the same conversation they had shared - and not shared - countless times. So, again, the elder Widow kept her mouth shut on the subject. She did, however, speak up when Ava said that Dante had not broken any of their records.
"Konechno, net (Of course, not)." Natasha replied dismissively. "Dante is a promising agent, but he is no Widow nor does he have superhuman abilities like you do."
Ava followed that up with a question asked ambiguously. Natasha looked at her and shook her head "You are trying to ask without asking and it's annoying, Ava. Just speak plainly about what you want to know. I am your sestra and your mentor. I have very few secrets about my person I am unwilling to share." That said, Natasha put her cocoa on the side table by the comfy lounge chair and grabbed a blanket off the back of it. She draped it over her legs when sitting down, then took her cocoa back in hand. She sipped and looked at Ava over her cup before answering her almost-not-asked question. "I am not superhuman in the way, say, someone like Wolverine or the Hulk is powered. I was merely given Russia's attempt at Captain America's Super Soldier Serum. I am at peak human capability, much like an Olympic athlete who could excel in most competitions. I am permitted a long life - provided I am not killed unnaturally. These things I was gifted, yes, but I still hurt. I still need time to heal when the pain is delivered." Her lip ticked upward ever so slightly. "I have simply learned to avoid getting hurt."
Natasha set her cup down and spoke to Ava bluntly. "So, my advice is this: Don't get hurt. When you mature, you will learn how to do this better."
The woman let her words concerning Ava's inexperience set in before turning the table, so to speak. "But you, you have been gifted much more. You have superhuman abilities. Tell me, what more have you learned about them over these past weeks?" Natasha hoped by bringing up Ava's gifts a second time that perhaps the girl might find some humility when speaking of her friend, Dante. She was unnaturally gifted in more ways than her electricity. She had the muscle memory and decades-learned skills of a seasoned spy. It was an unfair advantage and one that she should not be quite so pleased with herself over. After all, Ava had nothing to do with any of it. She was merely a conduit for Ivan's experiments.
Just like Natasha.
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on May 21, 2020 18:11:33 GMT -7
Ava thought about it all adding a little more coco powder to her hot chocolate. She looked into it while Natasha continued to speak. For the time being she remained standing as she listened and accepted that Natasha didn't wish to share all. Yet, she knew the information was there somewhere. Then when Natasha did answer she looked up raising one eyebrow and listened. Her words made sense at the same time she hated the thought of what Natasha had been through. For a moment closed her eyes as the metaphorical photograph was shown to her. There were a flash of a few fragmented memories that would have made her shiver but she ignored it. Then when Natasha spoke again she flinched and opened her eyes. Ava looked at Natasha where she stood, now leaning slightly against the work top. She kept her face calm when her maturity was raised again. It was one of the statements that was really annoying her, that along with the restrictions which were in place but she also knew the liberties she took. Pros and cons, they were always there.
It was as Natasha asked her about the past few weeks that she finally moved over to the sofa content with the hot chocolate in her hand, the other hand was unfastening the fencing jacket. Sitting down and placing the coco on the table she then removed her fencing jacket to reveal her standard issue SHIELD black skin layer which for Ava had no sleeves. She had others which did but as she had had no time to change this one would do for the time being. Bending forward she took off the boots before picking up her hot chocolate and tucking her legs up onto the sofa. She let out a soft sigh.
"I have learned that my power may do more than just electrocute things. I found Eugene who has very similar powers to me but he is a lot more experience than me. He is able to heal from his, he has just been signed up to SHIELD as a new alley. Mainly because the pair of us.... well me really caused a few blocks in New York City to erm... have a major power cut. It was blamed on a power surge. I then went to see Mr Stark as I had understood something amazing about..."
She looked over to the seat next to her and smiled.
"I'm not the only one who can.... never mind."
She looked back down to her hot chocolate knowing that Natasha wouldn't want to know.
"Mr Stark wasn't in so I had to leave it alone until Agent Williams picked me up from a hospital after the power surge. I didn't mean to do that, my power just got away from me and I didn't want to get Eugene..."
Again she shook her head and looked at Natasha, sighed and then came out with it all.
"I didn't want to loose another friend to anything to do with me. Both Eugene and Agent Williams could see Alexia! They both can sense power. Which means... I'm not imagining him! He is there!"
Her eyes lit up a little and she looked really happy with this fact but she knew that there were some 'howevers' there including the fact that she could possibly be projecting the image as she wants to see him. Wants him to be alive. There was excitement and pain all mixed in one. The hope could be vanish at any time, then the hatred of getting another person killed, comatose or signed up to be canon fodder weighed heavily on her.
"I think, in time, I can make him more solid."
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on Jun 11, 2020 13:35:09 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
Natasha knew some of what Ava confided in her. She knew about the power outage caused by Ava and the other boy, Eugene Grandwell, and she knew that the boy had been brought into SHIELD. He was powerful, more so than Ava at this point, and just as reckless when his emotions became entangled with his decision making. It was good that both of them were being mentored and trained by SHIELD. Maybe they would learn to control their impulses and do more harm than good during their lifetimes. Only time would tell. Frankly, Natasha's only priority was Ava, but if this "EKG" fellow became more embedded in her life and training, Natasha would inevitably be drawn to look more into him than she already had.
However, Eugene and their shared power experiences quickly became aside to the current conversation once Ava revealed that others beyond the two of them had seen Alexei. Her eyes narrowed slightly in contemplation of such a thing. Certainly, this world universe had proven itself to be full of surprises. Nothing could be taken as a given in terms of logic or scientific fact when aliens and magic could be involved. Likewise, Eugene's power enabled him to construct things with his electrokinesis, bringing intangible things to physical reality by manipulating the energy around him. Could Ava be doing simply that? Or was there more to it? Natasha knew that because Ivan had been involved, nothing was out of the question.
Still, something about others seeing her long-dead brother gnawed at her. His memory was too precious, too intimate, to be so casually shared. As a result, Natasha felt her anger rise toward Ava. She tamped it down, but it simmered just below the surface as she pushed for more clarification and asserted her own answers.
"So, you believe you can make a new Alexei as an energy construct in the same way Eugene might create a ball?" She took a sip from her cup to conceal her emotions but her eyes never left her young counterpart. "You do realize, creating a construct is not the same as his being resurrected? It would not have Alexei's soul. It would not BE Alexei and the construct would fade as quickly as Eugene's toys once the energy is used or dispersed."
Natasha paused and breathed deeply before she exhaled as she leaned and set her cup on the table next to her chair. She used her training to release her inner frustration and bring herself into a neutral calm. She sat back and looked at Ava. "You will only be hurting yourself more by entertaining ideas of bringing Alexei back or thinking you can make him real again. I wouldn't advise going down this path - for either of our sakes."
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on Jun 12, 2020 17:03:23 GMT -7
Ava was not as good at controlling her anger as Natasha, her age had it against her. Plus the Russian part of her made it even harder.
"No! It isn't a new Alexei... Ask him something about himself from his files that I don't know."
She waved in the direction where he was sat but before Natasha would even get a chance to ask Ava carried on talking with heated passion.
"I know it is not the same. He can't even touch me, not properly."
Ava shook her head. Her heart hurting that even her Siesta didn't believe her.
"I don't even know if it is possible, it is just a theory."
As she listened to Nat's words she rubbed her forehead. It wasn't a headache but that she knew she needed to get control of her emotions. She drank the last of her hot chocolate. The pain was clear on her face but it faded slowly as her watch beeped. Looking down at the watch she took several deep breaths focusing on making the numbers go down. Like all recruits she was training to keep calm no matter what happened. Ava didn't need to worry too much if she was here for a skiing holiday though.
When her pulse had finally steadied she looked back to Natasha. Her face calm once more she put her empty, yet still warm, mug onto the table.
"You asked what I have been doing so now you know. I tried to ignore him but he has just been annoying me. Then when Eugene asked about who and what he was I was floored! I need to learn what I can and can't do. Even if it is building a construct to distract possible enemies it is a start. I don't know what else this ... can do!"
She held her hand out palm up and blue electric zipped over her fingers.
|
|
INFORMATION Female
3,887 posts
► ◄
Awards:
1
|
Post by Super Chick on Jun 17, 2020 13:35:33 GMT -7
________________________________________________________________________
It was obvious that Ava was not thrilled with Nat's response to her "making" an Alexei. The younger would-be Widow spoke with passion and anger in retort to her elder's accusations that any creation wouldn't be the same, suggesting that Natasha ask the invisible Alexei sitting on the sofa (where Ava gestured) anything not in his files. That was just stupid in Natasha's logic that whatever this link was between them that allowed Ava to know too much already would simply provide an answer. Not her brother. Not their Alexei. No, it was still as likely to be Ava's projection of any answer with informaiton she subconsciously gathered from Natasha's memories.
Perhaps that was part of the problem. The younger woman held more than simply her own thoughts and memories. It must be causing a rift in her thoughts, a fracture in her psyche. Something that, even an intelligent youth such as Ava might find difficult to differentiate. It was often considered by many at SHIELD to be a probable cause for Ava's hallucinations of her brother. Even Natasha's visions of her brother during that short mission almost two years ago was just as likely to be Ava sharing her mind linked hallucinations of Alexei's memory and projecting him into Nat's conscious thoughts. And, while Natasha enjoyed the occasional reminder of a brother whose life was cut short too soon, she dared not accept it as being his ghost or in any way some temporal reality. It was why she did not entertain Ava's obvious glances at empty spaces often. Yet this conversation was proving to demand it.
So, Natasha allowed Ava to settle before she replied. It would do no good to continue to raise her emotions. The last thing Natasha wanted was an avalanche that might ruin their ski trip. So she chose not to contradict Ava's logic that Natasha could ask him something that Ava wouldn't know and simply confront her with the hard truth in a gentle way.
"Ava, you are not your powers," she began. "And your powers are not a tool to resurrect Alexei. He is gone, but I think your inability to accept that has kept him in a sort of limbo in your mind and this is a distraction from your training - your life."
Nat sighed heavily and sadness gripped her. "He was my brother and someone I made myself to forget in order to protect him. I missed so much of his life. If anyone wishes he was not dead, it is me. But he is gone, sestra. And now, all we have is each other. I promise not to forget you as I thought I had to do for him. You are stuck with me, but Alexei... I fear that you need to let him go. It may be the only way to fully conceive of the power you've developed - and discover for what purpose you may have it. That could be key, you know. Was this truly an accident or could it have been planned by Ivan to happen all along? We both know it is possible."
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
INFORMATION
2,536 posts
► ◄
Awards:
0
|
Post by Gummy on Jun 17, 2020 15:16:01 GMT -7
The sparks vanished from Ava's hand, the storm inside was building as much as her temper. She closed her eyes as she listened to Natasha trying to calm the growing storm. She had had so much hope, so much excitement and Natasha was the one to pop it. The rage for her past grew. She held it steady, kept it stable whilst opening her eyes and looking at Natasha once more. Her thoughts and feelings were buried. Natasha had brought up the training. Was it her life? Was this all she had? Oksana , Dante, Alexie - all gone in one way or another. Her family, her past - gone. Natasha's promise had also been and gone. Letting out the held breath she forced all that down. She was strong and skilled in more ways. For a brief moment she contemplated pinning Natasha but knew that was stupid. Even though she felt anger towards the words part of them were true.
"Ok, so... if he is something I'm project. Why can't I create Oksana? Or my mother? Or Ivan? Trust me... all apart from the last I tried! The only person I have not tried is you. You.... we lost him. He is gone. Buried!"
She felt the rage rising again and it took a lot of will to keep calm. Her voice mellowed once more.
"I want to let go. I have tried but he just keep turning up. If you made yourself forget, make me forget and see if he still appears?"
She stood up and shook her head.
"It's been a long day. If Ivan had planned all this, then perhaps there is more to it. It is not him who is distracting. It is being stuck inside that building. Being told time and time again that I'm not ready for missions and when they put me on missions ending up unconscious in the medbay. Or being left a note in Russian by a person who might have been the old Japanese man I had met on the first island we visited!"
Laughing a little she smiled. Well it was an attempt at a joke to lighten the air. She had also voiced her frustration
"I might as well call the medbay my room!"
|
|