[ Not much fazes Natasha. The Hulk roaring after her, Steve saying he trusts her, a telepath rooting through her mind — this. Even the knowledge of other worlds and disparate timelines (streams and wires crisscrossing) leaves her unprepared for Ava's story of moments unlived, at least for Natasha.
Nat hasn't met someone like her in quite some time. She still has KGB contacts, connections everywhere from Kiev to Laos, but the Red Room has been at a distance. Uncertainty comes first, instinctively questioning every aspect of Ava's confession and searching for lies in her face. Then, a sharp stab of unease comes, widening her eyes. If she doesn't remember, then something has been done to her, or she arrived incomplete. Anything could have happened while she was in cryostasis. Is this how Rogers felt? No, not exactly.
Finally, guilt settles in her chest. If she really did save Ava, her confusion now must wound the girl. ]
We're out of sync. [ uttered steadily, a purposeful avoidance of the phrase I don't remember you, which is too harsh a truth to wield without intent to harm. Nat steps forward, closing the gap between them. She reaches out slowly (prepared to pull back if Ava shows any signs of fear or anger) and if it seems welcome, she covers Ava's fidgeting hands with one of her own. ] But I believe you.
[ For now, though wariness keeps her from admitting how much she knows, exactly, or from asking for the girl's name immediately. The Red Room turned girls into weapons, and she'd be a fool if she lowered her guard now. Still, her offered comfort is genuine, based on her snap judgment of the situation. ]
sorry for the wait!!
Nat hasn't met someone like her in quite some time. She still has KGB contacts, connections everywhere from Kiev to Laos, but the Red Room has been at a distance. Uncertainty comes first, instinctively questioning every aspect of Ava's confession and searching for lies in her face. Then, a sharp stab of unease comes, widening her eyes. If she doesn't remember, then something has been done to her, or she arrived incomplete. Anything could have happened while she was in cryostasis. Is this how Rogers felt? No, not exactly.
Finally, guilt settles in her chest. If she really did save Ava, her confusion now must wound the girl. ]
We're out of sync. [ uttered steadily, a purposeful avoidance of the phrase I don't remember you, which is too harsh a truth to wield without intent to harm. Nat steps forward, closing the gap between them. She reaches out slowly (prepared to pull back if Ava shows any signs of fear or anger) and if it seems welcome, she covers Ava's fidgeting hands with one of her own. ] But I believe you.
[ For now, though wariness keeps her from admitting how much she knows, exactly, or from asking for the girl's name immediately. The Red Room turned girls into weapons, and she'd be a fool if she lowered her guard now. Still, her offered comfort is genuine, based on her snap judgment of the situation. ]