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Natalia Alienova Romanova
~~~
"Natalia why can't I see him?" Nova asks. Every night Nova asks Natalia new questions before they sleep.
"Maybe he hasn't been born yet or maybe he's just further away from us then Maria is," Natalia replies are fully leaving out the possibility he is dead.
"When I draw him I see only shadows," Nova murmurs. Natalia closes her eyes and tries to picture him. Nothing.
"Don't worry you'll see him eventually," Natalia assures.
"I hope so."
~~~
"So you're dying your hair? Why?" Nova inquires. Natalia is holding her hand and guiding her through the halls as James follows dutifully behind. Nova isn't stupid, Natalia can't cover this up.
"I have a mission."
"I figured that, how long are you going to be gone?" Nova asks. She looks crestfallen, like she knows what's coming.
"I don't know," Natalia admits. She avoids Nova's gaze guiltily. Nova lets out a shuddering breath and squeezes Nova's hand.
"That's okay, we'll be okay," Nova says quietly. "I'll be okay." She looks so brave and confident, it warms Natalia's heart.
"Yeah we will."
~~~
Nova watches with a smile. It amazes Natalia how Nova can smile in the worst of times. Rena is professionally rubbing dye into Natalia's hair while she sits frightfully still. Dana is watching Rena and fiddling with the two cellphone in her hands.
"These phones will only call each other," Dana informs. "No one knows we have them so I don't think you're at a danger of being tracked or listened in on."
"Perfect," Natalia says.
"So I can call you then? When I miss you," Nova remarks happily.
"Let me call you sweet one. Don't call me it could be dangerous," Natalie advises and Nova nods in understanding. Nova is mature beyond her years. The Red Room does that.
"So how old are you guys?" Nova inquires curiously.
"I'm 17," Rena replies. She says it softly with sad eyes. Rena is one year away from having her soulmarks burned off.
"19," Dana states somberly. She's hardened and almost completely shut down emotionally. Rena is the only thing keeping her sane. Dana is one year past having her marks burned.
"I'm twelve now," Nova answers with a grin. Natalia gasps and sits straight up nearly ruining Rena's awesome dye job.
"Twelve? But you were eleven? When was your birthday? Why didn't you tell me?" Natalia splutters. She knows how important birthdays are to younger girls. Nova shakes her head and just gives a reassuring smile.
"It was a month ago. I didn't say anything because it seems so unimportant now." Her words make Natalia's heart break.
"I would have done something," Natalia says.
"You are always doing something. You keep me safe, you get me colored pencils, you get me paper, you love me and that's all I need."
Nova gives Natalia a genuine smile and kisses her cheek. The gesture makes butterflies flutter in her stomach.
Natalia has never met someone so selfless before in her life.
"It's okay."
~~~
Nova hums as she runs her hands through Natalia's new brown hair. Natalia misses her red hair so much.
"How was the world when you went out a month ago?" Nova asks. Natalia sighs as she remembers what she found about Nova.
"It was still good. Still spinning."
"So it spins on without us? We stay here almost in a stasis and the rest of the world goes by not noticing the girls it's left behind."
"That's how it goes Nova. One day we'll escape this stasis and rejoin the world. One day you'll be able to see the sky everyday and the stars every night," Natalia promises and turns to face her Nova. Her red eyes look so innocent and so despairing. "I'll show you the world in all its grandeur."
"I can not wait. For now though I'm happy with our little world right here. It's not perfect but it's ours."
~~~
With a heavy heart Natalia wakens the next morning and starts her day knowing that she has to leave the next.
~~~
"I'm gonna miss you Natalia. I'll miss you so much," Nova whimpers during lunch. It seems to have just dawned on her that Natalia is leaving for a long time.
"I'll miss you too but worry not I will call," Natalia murmurs and kisses the girls head. The whole table of girls falls quiet and they stare. It is a rare afternoon, the escorts and madams did not come to lunch.
"Yeah Nova and you have us," Wren chimes in. "We will keep you so much company that before you know it Natalia will be back."
"Gosh I hope so," Nova chuckles as leans into Natalia.
It isn't spoken about for the rest of lunch.
~~~
As soon as the madams left the room Natalia undid her cuff and slipped under the covers with Nova. Nova smiled at her when Natalia unlocked her own handcuff and wrapped her arms around the older girl.
"I don't want you to go," Nova confesses with teary eyes.
"And I don't want to go," Natalia utters and blinks back her own tears.
They both let silent tears fall and cling to each other till Nova falls asleep. Natalia carefully gets up, tucks her soulmate in, and gingerly puts her hand back in the cuff. Natalia lets out a small sob and ever so cautiously cups the face of her soulmate as if she's porcelain.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey," her breath hitches as she sings but she continues. "You'll never know dear, how much I love you. So please don't take my sunshine from me."
~~~
James wakes her up early the next morning. It's time to go.
"I am weak James," Natalia says shakily as she stares at her sleeping soulmate. "I am a different person."
"The person you've become with her is worth being."