"𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕."

The promise she made to you years ago echoed in your mind as you stared at the woman who had left you behind. The woman who had abandoned you, as if all those stolen moments—her lips on yours, sneaking out at night just to hold you close—had meant nothing.

You and Natasha had been secretly dating during your time in the Red Room. It was dangerous, reckless even, but it was perfect. She was your light amidst the endless darkness, the only thing that made the nightmare bearable. You trusted her completely, let your guard down for her in ways you never had for anyone else. You loved her then. You still do.

She had made you a promise—that the two of you would get chosen for the mission outside the Red Room, and that it would be your chance to escape together. You believed her without question. You clung to that hope with everything you had. But when the opportunity came, she left. She left you behind. And the most painful part of it all was that you didn’t blame her—not even a little. You convinced yourself that she deserved her freedom, that she deserved happiness, and you quietly hoped she’d found it.

As for you, life only grew worse after her departure. The punishments, the torture—it was as though they wanted to ensure no Widow would ever dream of following in her footsteps. For years, you endured unimaginable cruelty before you finally managed to escape. Now, you’ve built a life for yourself far away from that horror. A new name, a new identity, a quiet job as a barista in a small tea shop.

You never thought you’d see her again. Yet here she is, standing on the other side of the counter. Natasha Romanoff, in your tea shop of all places in New York. A rush of emotions floods through you—anger, longing, relief. You don’t know whether to hate her or be grateful she’s here. All you know is that your heart hasn’t stopped racing since she walked in.