Dye
Natalie Alienova Romanova
~~~
"What was she like?" The question hangs in the air and Wren freezes.
"Who?" Wren asks even though it's obvious she knows. Wren came into their room after combat time. Natalie and Wren have a good kinship now.
"Dunya. What was she like?" Nova elaborates. Wren looks at the ground and Natalie touches Novas elbow.
"I don't think Wren wants to talk about that sweet Nova," Natalie whispers.
"No. I'll talk about it," Wren says and shrugs. "What harm can it do?" Nova smiles brightly at her response. "What do you want to know about her?"
"What did she look like? What kind of personality did she have? How'd you know she was our soulmate?" Nova inquiries while absentmindedly twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers. Her eyes are wide and curious. Natalie can't help but want to give her the world when she sees those eyes.
"Well she had this burgundy hair. It was short and smooth. I loved to run my hands through it. Dunya's eye were always full of wonder. They were a piercing green that could easily look intimidating but ok her they just looked innocent.." Wren sighs deeply and wipes an escaped tear out of her eye.
"She sounds pretty," Nova says.
"She was gorgeous and not just that. Her personality matched her amazing looks. Dunya would not lift a finger against a fly. She valued everybody else's feeling over her own. She was absolutely selfless...to a fault," Wren lets out a huff of laughter. "You know she always refused my help and extra food. She said 'she didn't want me getting in trouble.' Dunya would rather herself die than me." More tears start running down Wrens face and she haphazardly wipes then away. A nostalgic smile spreads across her face and she continues. "I knew she was my soulmate because she completed me. Her laugh made my heart flip and her smile made the butterflies in my stomach to wild. Dunya's eyes stared into my soul and she wasn't disappointed in what she saw. I knew she was my soulmate because I felt the pull to her. Like my heart was yanking at me to pay attention and take care of this girl."
Natalie can't help but let her eyes gaze at Nova. Nova doesn't notice she's too captured by Wrens words. Natalie shifts slightly uncomfortably. Wrens description sounds too familiar.
"I loved her," Wren states with a sad grin. "I still do. I'll never stop loving her."
~~~
"How many languages do you know Natalie?" Nova asks. It's night therefore time for Nova to ask Natalie simple questions so she can try to ignore the fact she's handcuffed to a bed.
"Ten," Natalie replies. The Red Room thoroughly educates their girls.
"Wow! That's so cool. I can only speak one. What are some of the languages you can speak?"
"Russian is my first language, and English my second. I also know Spanish, Latin, French, Mandarin, and Korean. There's two others from small countries you wouldn't know. The last is American Sign Language," Natalie responds.
"English is your second language? You speak it so well!" Nova exclaims in shock.
"On missions there can be no mistakes," Natalie states simply. Red Room girls can't have accents or mispronunciations at risk of blowing their covers.
"Do you think you could teach me?" Nova asks. "If Russian is your first teach me so I can talk to you easier."
"It wouldn't be any easier for me. My English is perfect. But if you want I guess I could teach you Russian. James could help as well," Natalie answers simply.
"Yay!" Natalie can't help but chuckle and smile. Nova's cheer is infectious.
~~~
"Natalie help me dye my hair for me next mission?" Dolly asks at breakfast in the morning. Nova perks up at the mention of hair dye instantly.
"Sure. What color is it gonna be?" Natalie inquires. The Red Room girls can't risk wigs getting ripped off in long term missions.
"The Madams said black this time," Dolly replies.
"Is there ever extra dye?" Nova questions with a playful smirk.
"Yeah there usually is. Do you want to dye that beautiful blonde hair of yours?" Dolly quips with a raised eyebrow. Natalie frowns at the thought of Nova changing anything about herself in the Red Room. If she genuinely wants to Natalie won't stop her.
"I think it'd be fun to have a little flare. Maybe just one or two steaks," Nova answers with a shrug. "Or maybe dye the tips."
"I think that'd look pretty cool. Just come by the make up bathroom during room time you two."
~~~
"Alright Dolly all done and it looks like there is enough dye for Nova to do something," Natalie announces pulling off the due covered gloves and tossing them into the trash. Dolly sits up in the seat pulling her hair from the washer. It's now black and wet.
"Thanks Natalie! What do you think you're gonna do Nova?" Dolly questions excitedly.
"I just want two kind of hidden streaks," Nova remarks after a second of silence. "Can you do that?"
"Definitely sweet Nova. Whatever you desire," Natalie responds with a soft smile. It's in that moment Natalie realizes that she would give anything for this girl. She'd kill anyone, steal anything, and even forfeit her own life.
"Yay!" Nova cheers and claps her hand. With a chuckle Natalie sets to work.
~~~
Novas hair streaks turn out great and she proudly dons them.
~~~
"Natalie I have a secret," Nova mutters once she's sure the Madams and escorts are out of the halls.
"Hmm?"
"I wanted to dye my hair so that I could be in control again. Getting kidnapped and trapped here took all my control. I just wanted to control something," Nova confesses quickly. "I need to be back in control of my own life."
"I understand sweet Nova. I felt the same after I came here," Natalie utters and smiles at Nova. It's dark so she can't see it but it's the thought that counts.
"I wish I had just held my dads hand on that train."
Natalie doesn't bother saying it probably wouldn't change anything.