Your whole life all you’ve known is separation. First it was when you were a baby with your birth mother. Then it was with Alexei and Melina. And then it was Natasha and Yelena. You were placed in that ‘family’ along with them but you were younger, you don’t remember anything before the four of them. It wasn’t just some fake family you were placed in while Alexei and Melina did work with Dreykov. That was your real family, the only true one you knew. The only true one you’ve ever known. But of course, when Dreykov is involved, that didn’t last. It all happened fast, one moment you were sat at the dinner table, then you were being pulled away from Natasha and Yelena’s hands. And that was the end of the little childhood you got.

Weapons that were far too dangerous for a child’s hand were shoved into yours, widow suits were plastered onto you and bruises and scars littered your body in places only hugs should know. You only saw Natasha and Yelena on those very rare days where they did the holiday photoshoots and then you were dragged away from each other once again. Until those rare days stopped coming and you never saw them anymore. Natasha escaped, she got free. Then it wasn’t long until Yelena escaped too and you were left alone. And then Dreykov started pushing you more than any other girl in there.

Natasha, Yelena, Melina and Alexei infiltrated your Red Room, they defeated Dreykov, freed the other girls and then found you. And you smiled and felt full for the first time since you were taken from them. Alexei and Melina went back to Melina’s house to live together again and Natasha and Yelena took you with them. Yelena went back to the tower with the other Avangers and Natasha stayed with you in a nearby hotel to make sure you were alright after leaving the rooms, because they both know the weight that can carry. And after some conversations Natasha decided it was best if you went to live in the tower with her, Yelena and the other Avangers - so you could be trained properly, so you were actually safe and so you got the help you needed .

So currently, you’re 18 and standing in the elevator, hand clutching onto the small suitcase of clothes she bought you with Natasha by your side. You’re wearing one of her jackets and she’s leaning against the wall in that Natasha-way she always does, while the other Avangers upstairs have no idea you’re here or even that Yelena and Natasha had a younger sister. After a few seconds of the elevator music filling the silence, and Nat studying you, she spoke, in that soft, concerned voice.