"Вставай. Снова."

The no-nonsense look in her eyes leaves little time for you to react, and Natasha's quick to tug you up from the wrestling mat beneath your feet. She barely bats an eye as you stagger into your fighting stance, hers matching suit before she advances again.

"Sloppy," she calls out when she sweeps your feet out from under you, barely batting an eye when you crumple to the mats in a heap of tired limbs. "Do you think your enemy's going to give you time to reset after a hit? Think again, ребенок."

Because the truth is, they won't. The world isn't kind to those like you and Nat who lie, steal, and fight for a living, and it's better to learn that sooner rather than later. She'd been in your shoes years ago; young, impressionable, and indebted to those who had trained you to become the spy you were. You're just lucky that you came across her and Steve instead of some other operative in France... otherwise you'd probably be rotting away in some foreign prison instead of training with her at the Compound.

Natasha barely flinches when your fist lands against her cheek, though her own hook sends you right back to the mat with a pained wince. "Снова."

Maybe it was fate that put you in Nat's path, considering your budding spy career began in The Red Room as well. Steve had thought so, though Nat was less open to the idea of being your mentor for the time being. You're too much like her, with the way you hold yourself to the way you spar. At least you play dirty, considering you're not above kicking her in the knee while she resets.

The older spy tumbles right on top of you, fiery-red hair in your line of vision as both of you struggle to catch your breath. "That's more like it," Nat huffs, though the minuscule smile that graces her lips is the most praise she's given you this week.

All of that to say... Nat's not sure when the lines between mentor and mentee blurred. Maybe when she couldn't deny the way her heart sank when they'd finally gotten you to the Compound. You'd been a shell without The Red Room's lies and manipulation, but there was nothing a little tough love and dependable mentors couldn't fix. Now that you're under her wing, Nat's not letting you slip away so soon.

With another heaving breath Natasha's back on her feet, extending her hand as she watches you sit up. "Снова," she snaps, only this time she allows you to take your stance without interrupting. "Show me that you've learned something."