Chapter 8
He could feel them breathing through the sack, curled up and warm. It wasn't as distracting as it should be.
But it was enough, the slow beat of their pulse against his back, the whisper of their being.
Marina glanced back at him from time to time, but they moved in silence across the rooftops, further and further away from his apartment.
It had been a long time since he worked with a widow like this - Marina's classification notwithstanding.
But he knew it, he knew these steps and this wildness. He knew this feeling in his chest, this bright alertness that moved so steadily inside him.
He had spent years as a weapon. Years as at the beck and call of masters.
His lips curled beneath his mask, mind drifting to Steve for a moment, and then to Sam.
They paused for a break, flat rooftop for a few sips of water and a resettling of the bag.
"We'll reach the tunnels soon." Marina murmured, mouth barely moving. She was masked in one of Yelena's spare suits, body hidden beneath the armor of a widow once more.
"Mhm." He agreed, scanning their surroundings. Who was hunting them?
Marina stood, slowly, breath easing out of her.
He grabbed for her, so the shot only winged her, a burst of bright blood as she flattened against the roof. He threw her and she rolled as the assailant hit the roof where she had been.
The fight was swift, a brush of electricity glancing off his chin as he slammed her back.
Because it was a her - A widow - but he knew the widows, he had trained most of the active girls.
That was the reason for the familiarity as she attacked, he was sure of it. It had to be.
She was fast, brutal - but she was aiming to disable.
Not to kill.
Fuck.
She caught him with a sting in the chest, winding him and grabbed for the bag, using it to throw him over the edge of the roof. There was a loud sound from the bag, a tearing sound. His body hit the wall hard enough to daze him.
Marina screamed.
A lot of things happened at once. The bag tore further open, boy almost falling past him as the assailant tugged backwards - he caught the child, tugging him close against his chest. "Marina!"
She caught the boy, dropping past him to the fire escape beneath him, and he kicked off the wall, twisting around to try to grab the girl.
More electricity to his jaw, his fist slammed into the mask - the goggles cracked and broke.
Frustrated, the assailant pulled the mask off, throwing it to the ground as she threw all her weight against the bag.
He had no power to resist her, his body had gone limp - stunned.
"Natalia?" His voice sounded strange to his ears.
She twisted her lips, and the world went dark.