14191/Widows

Widows
Date of Scene:	14 March 2022
Location:	Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Synopsis:	Yelena meets Alexander. Then the Widows meet. And it doesn't go as expected.
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Black Widow (Belova), Black Widow (Romanoff)

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Phobos has posed:
    The trip with Tony Stark had gone off without a hitch, and the coverage used for Pepper was on a steady rotation with some elements set for permanent direct support while others were on a more wide orbit. But one thing was for certain, the Stark Industries executive Miss Potts was well protected.
    Which had left Tony to need a bodyguard on his trip to the West Coast. And, of course, he chose the best. Though some might argue that.
    Natasha Romanoff, the famed Black Widow, under the covered guise of Natalie Rushman had seen to Stark's travel safety as well as the affecting of his broader plan for dealing with the death threats thrown his way and Pepper's way. It had been a trip of several days and during that time little information had been relayed to the former SHIELD agent Alexander Aaron.
    All he knew was that Natasha was, once again, in play. And all he could do was support her distantly. Which was why he had visited the Stark Tower several days ago. A brief meeting with Pepper Potts, a few words exchanged that had given her insight into the man who has been connected with Natasha for the last year. The word in intelligence circles was that he had been a Tactical Response Team member for SHIELD. An operations went south. He lost his job, though tacitly was still held on contract. Yet not an asset they used.
    Which might make it easier to imagine why he was there that night when Natalie Rushman was due to return. Down on the street in one of the VIP parking spots, leaning against a black SUV. He was a man in his twenties, perhaps twenty-six if one had to go on looks alone. A black pea coat protected against the thirty-seven degree weather and his hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the vehicle and waited with the casual innocuousness of a native New Yorker.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova is approaching Stark Tower, intending to get a couple of hours nap in Pepper's Penthouse before her charge comes back to it. And perhaps to eat some of the food out of Pepper's fridge. She had these special little garlic olive things that Yelena was rapidly growing addicted to in her own way. You could just eat them with a toothpick! So good!

As she does, though, she notices the man leaning against the SUV. Suspicious activity. She could leave it alone, pretend it wasn't her problem. She could inform security and have them go hassle the guy and give her peace without having to worry about it. But, honestly, she had been a little bored lately. Might as well poke something, see if it bites.

She's wearing a green peacoat over black slacks, her hair tied back in a blonde braid that runs down her back and her gloved hands in her pockets. "Hey, Mister Man, what gives? You waiting for somebody?" she asks in her heavily accented voice.

Phobos has posed:
    He's handsome, though scruffy in some ways. A small beard and his hair could use a trim. His hazel eyes are pale which is a curious look and when they focus on Yelena she might pick up on the subtle micro-tell as they narrow very faintly. Most others wouldn't notice it. It'd just be easily done and given. But she can see that small fraction of a second hesitation, then the ease into a mask that might put some of the others from the Red Room to shame.
    For it's a smile, and an openness that seems entirely sincere. "Yes, I am, Miss." Coupled with a casual look that notes likely spots for hidden weaponry, gauging reach and range and distance. All in that single sliver of time that it takes him to shift his hips to one side slightly and lean very subtly a little different.
    "Friend's working late. That is a lovely accent, where is it from?" And the reverse to put the onus back on her.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova crosses her arms over his chest, "Pennsylvania," she says in a thick Moscow drawl. "Are you waiting for someone at that building?" she says, pointing over her shoulder at the Stark Tower.

"Because that is important place for important people. And you do not seem important," she says. "You are too scruffy and young. Maybe your Daddy is important man. I know type," she says. Even as she says that, though, she can see that glimpse in his posture that shows combat awareness, training assessment. She slides her hands carefully out of her pockets. "Just asking questions, of course."

Phobos has posed:
    The hands are noted. Not obviously so, but in the way he looks aside and to the street when she shifts slightly. Then he looks back and his smile is still there, easily given and at ease. If he was an agent, then he does a good job of showing no wariness, no anxiety, not even the slightest hint of fear which if he was an assassin or an operative on task... would be impossible to hide from someone with her training.
    But he seems to exhibit humor at the comment about Pennsylvania and the smile does reach his eyes somewhat. "Ah, I..." He pauses, brows rising as he lifts a hand to scritch-scritch along the curve of his neck thoughtfully as he murmurs, "Suppose I could stand to have a shave." Which is true. Slacker.
    "But yes, I am waiting for a friend who works there." He gives a nod toward the tower. And if she chooses that moment to look she'll hear a scuff of his shoe...
    The bastard is trying to spook her by making that noise. Perhaps trying to trigger an over-reaction. Total jerk.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova manages to give something resembling a smile. It doesn't reach the eyes, but it never really does with Yelena anyway, so how would anyone know the difference?

"Does your friend have a name? I work in there. Just hired, a couple of weeks ago. Is big deal for me. Very big job. Maybe I know your friend. We could all be pals. Get drinks, play karaoke. I do 'Time After Time'. Love that Cyndi Lauper," she says.

When the scuff comes, she tenses a bit and doesn't strike back, but there is a momentary tension in her shoulders, a near-reaction that could have been ugly. "Who are you?"

Phobos has posed:
    There is curiousity there now. In those pale eyes.
    His head tilts a little the other way, eyes level with her, expression calm. "My name is Alexander." He says, and no tell of untruth, but he might be good enough to hide that. But from her? Unlikely. Unless...
    "And is it against the rules for me to wait here?" A look to the side at the signage above and for a time his brow furrows as if he were trying to parse out exactly how the parking laws might work for this particular VIP spot, especially at this particularly late hour.
    He looks back to her and then answers, "I would hate for her to get in trouble. You're welcome to wait here with me, though."
    A beat.
    Then he adds, "I love that song."
    As if opening a side conversation, or perhaps her declaration of Lauper love earned that much.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova regards the stranger coolly. "You are right. Is not breaking laws or rules. But dangerous people come around here. Some of them wanting to hurt people. And hey, good work when you can get it. Nothing personal. But I am supposed to keep someone safe in there and if anybody - anybody - puts their hands on her, I will break those hands, tie the broken fingers together into little knots, and then put the knots in a blender. She has a really nice blender, too, it's...it's really cool," she says, a little breathless.

"So da, yeah, I guess we wait, Mr. Alexander."

Phobos has posed:
    At that his eyes widen slightly, then he says gently. "Ah. Well."
    He looks aside and if she had an inclination to strike that likely would be the moment. That brief hesitance as she can see he's crossing some sort of mental threshold before he turns back and then tells her, "I have no intention to harm anyone in that building."
    There's a pause, "I mean, unless there's an assassin already in there, I'd mean them harm." Then he straightens up a little, one hand lifting to rub the back of his neck and curiously enough it would obscure his features and lips from view with the way his elbow is bent if someone were watching them from afar.
    For that is the moment when he confides, "Miss Potts is not someone I'd want to see any harm to come to."
    Then he lifts his chin slightly and he adds, "I'm waiting for Ms. Rushman." Which if she knows, she'd know that that was Natasha.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova turns her head slightly, "You knew I meant Pepper just because I mentioned the cool blender? Dammit. I knew I shouldn't have told you that."

At the revelation of 'Ms. Rushman', Yelena's eyes go extremely cold and flat, turning her face away. "Oh. Her."

She turns and starts to walk away, making it a few steps before she freezes and turns around again. "Nope. I am not running away from her this time. Fine. We are waiting for her. Yes. And there is no assassin in there, Pepper is very protected, there are six guys on her which is almost as good as one me. Well. Okay, not almost as good, but good enough for most assassins."

Phobos has posed:
    "Well more..." He looks back up toward the tower, then back to her. "How many people in one place are actively being hunted. As it were." Alexander leans against the car and looks at her, following along. But then when Yelena's reaction is to depart...
    That causes him to raise his eyebrows. Clearly surprised, and perhaps feeling a slight hint of... fear? Anxiety? Some small tremulous note in the world's turmoil around him. Yet he does not pursue nor press her on the matter. Letting her do as she would.
    "I know that people turned out to help her." He looks back up the tower and then tilts his head to the side.
    A few moments pass. There's some quiet. But eventually Alex breaks it by asking, "So how do you know her?" Perhaps knowing somewhat. Or perhaps wanting to hear her side of such a story.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova doesn't mean to answer at all at first. It's all so personal and technically top secret. She had been trained to never speak about Widow matters to anyone, ever, and while neither she or Natasha were with the program anymore, those drills were burrowed deep into her psyche. Hard to shake off.

On the other hand, for a spy, Yelena is something of a motormouth.

"We grew up together," she says. "Well. Not together together, but the same way. Sometimes friends. Usually enemies. We have tried to kill each other a few times. I still have scar, under left boob, from where she stabbed me once. Scraped a rib. Nasty. Hurt like a bitch," she sighs.

"I may have thrown her off a roof once or twice."

Phobos has posed:
    Lips parting in a small 'ah' of understanding.
    He offers a look of empathy, but then smiles a little at the mention of their past. And the stabbing. He nods a bit and offers at least as some form of touchstone a comment, "She can be kinda rough, yeah."
    Then, perhaps to offer her some hint of ease or security, he folds his arms over his chest. A posture that many operatives know is not conducive to conflict. Too limiting. But might help to ease some of the tension. "I don't get along with my family either." Which might seem to minimize things, but is more true than she'll likely know.
    "I know a bit of her past." He offers, "I have a small idea I think of what it cost her to get to where she is now. Do you want to tell me your name, or should I just call you Cyndi?"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova frowns, "Kind of rough? She's killed like ten thousand people. She makes most serial killers look like babysitters. So do I, for that matter. I am not sure which of us killed more. Probably me," she says, although she sounds doubtful.

"It does not matter. She will not have mentioned me. My name is Yelena," she says. She should use an alias, but frankly she's gotten tired of that, too, and her new friend Pepper is showing her new ways of how to be an actual human being and not just a knife people shove into other people. Metaphorically speaking. Mostly.

Phobos has posed:
    "I know what she's capable of," The young blond man answers.
    He scritches a nail along the curve of his cheek, catching that stubble and looking serious. "And I know some of what you have most likely had to endure,"
    He shifts to the side on that SUV, still leaning against it and watching her with those curious pale eyes until he spares another glance toward the tower. "Though," A pause as he looks back, "She has mentioned you. That you took her place when she left."
    A look away, "Don't know how she feels about you having left as well." He nods toward the tower, then looks back to her, "I imagine this is a good start. But if I may ask..." His eyebrows rise, "What moved you to leave them?"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova crosses her arms over her chest, feeling a bit defensive, "You don't know anything," she says, turning away a bit and looking off into the distance. She's quiet for a long moment, gathering her thoughts and lost in memories. She doesn't know how to feel that Natasha mentioned her. They always taught her to hate Natasha. That she was a traitor. But if Natasha was a traitor, what did that make Yelena now?

"I wanted to make my own choices. About...everything," she says. "Is not permitted in program. Must be good soldier. I do not like being obedient."

Phobos has posed:
    "Hm," Alexander says quietly as he chews on the inside of his cheek in reflection. Just for a time he watches her, gaze level and that expression calm. A slight lift of his eyebrows might give some insight into him, that he's perhaps having some internal argument or discussion with himself about her or about this particular encounter.
    Then he nods a little as if accepting what she said at first, "I probably don't, but I think I have an idea at least."
    Then he adds, "That obedient thing though, something you both have in common perhaps."
    After a moment he then says, "Yelena. I know to you this is likely a moment that matters little. That part of you will view this and me as an asset and a situation to take advantage of. I would like it if you didn't. I would like you to see it as a chance. Because right now, I'm willing to extend that acceptance of the concept that you might have parted from them in sincerity. I think Mr. Stark is doing similarly with you. And I know Miss Potts is doing so."
    "So I hope you are sincere. And I hope years from now we'll all be on good terms with each other. Me? I'm a former SHIELD agent. Now? I'm taking night classes. But I think you and her might have a chance to find common ground that nobody else in the world could have."
    Then there's a small shrug, "But what do I know?"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova listens while staring off into space, keeping her hands tucked and her posture somewhat stiff.

"All of you Americans are very yappity. Yap yap yap, like little dogs. Except Captain America, but he is big old man stud," she says, having clearly been impressed by the Star-Spangled Avengers.

"I am sincere," she says softly, at last. "I am no angel. But I am tired of being devil."

"So...you are Natasha's boytoy?"

Phobos has posed:
    A short laugh comes from him and he shakes his head as he looks away. When he looks back it's with a quirked eyebrow with a tinged of admonishment to it but it's ruefully amused as well. "We are colleagues is as much as you need to know."
    Though it isn't an outright denial, to be fair.
    Then he adds, "But yeah, Cap is... crazy awesome." He shakes his head as if trying to puzzle out the conundrum that is Steve Rogers and his nigh unto universal appeal. The old bastard.
    Then he looks sidelong toward her, "But... good. I'm glad you're sincere." She's likely seen it before. Likely even used it to her advantage in the past. A person who doesn't trust her entirely, but decides to take that risk of trust. It's likely caused many bodies to fall across her path. Perhaps now might be different.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova makes a scrunchy face at him, "Well, I am so glad that you are glad. I will sleep very good knowing you are glad," she says.

She looks back at Stark Tower for a long second then stomps her foot. "What is taking her so long? I should have been in hot tub by now and instead I am waiting in cold with you. I should have left alone, but no, Yelena is good guy now, has to investigate. Stupid."

Phobos has posed:
    "She probably stole the hot tub, is lounging in it up there right now. That'd be just like her." He says with a subtle 'grrr' to it even though his smile is wry. Though he shifts his feet slightly, though this time the sneaker doesn't scuff so that one time was definitely on purpose.
    "To be fair, she said between nine and eleven so..." There's a good bit of wiggle room. And apparently he's alright with waiting that long. Though now he meets her gaze evenly, "You can preoccupy yourself with one of the many many stories you must have in the past about you and her. Or a particularly interesting mission." Then he looks back, "Or you could ask me a question or two, though if it conflicts with a prior promise I might not be able to answer."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova narrows her eyes, "If she has stolen my hot tub, we are going to fight and it will not be pretty," she says, pointing her finger.

"How did you meet Natasha? You are colleagues, you said. Does that mean you have been on missions with her?" she asks. "Do you know Tony? Do you work for him? Or for the government?"

Phobos has posed:
    That amuses Alexander as he smiles and looks down at the toe of his sneaker as if it suddenly was so interesting. The idea of Nat and Yelena in a fight over a hot tub holds entirely too many amusing angles to pursue. Yet he wisely travels down none of those paths.
    Looking up he tells her, "She was a friend of the family, albeit distantly and from a good number of years ago. But she was tasked with running a surprise raid operation on my team as we were going through training. Middle of a training exercise we were hoofing it through a series of team building exercises when a bunch of gunmen dropped in and took it over, held our instructor at gunpoint." A hand lifts as he waggles it a little.
    "I disarmed one of the gunmen and complicated the situation. Before it got more complicated Natasha appeared out of nowhere and dropped me."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova furrows her brow, "Friend of the family? Why be friend with a family? Is weird. Just be friend with person, like normal. Weirdo," she says.

"Dropping you sounds about right. Natasha like to remind you she's better than you. Is very annoying. Not that she has taken me. Much," she says, blowing a whisp of stray hair off her cheek.

Phobos has posed:
    "Your face is weirdo." Alexander replies casually, arms still folded and as if that was simply a thing someone could say to an international assassin who was accusing their entire family of being weird.
    Though something about the response might seem like it's almost a kneejerk reaction, perhaps to the format of her insult.
    "But yeah, after that though it did inspire me to improve." A small shrug is given, then he turns his head to the side and meets Yelena's gaze. There is definitely something so curious in those hazel eyes, something distant and strange but the face they're in seems so earnest. A curious dichotomy.
    "And you? How did you first meet her?"

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova sticks her tongue out at the juvenile reply, but seems generally in the spirit of it all.

"In training. She was easy standout in most classes. Until me," she says. "I gave her run for her money. She was still favorite, always. Natasha is always everyone's favorite," she says, looking down for a moment and swallowing. There's clealry some bitterness there. "We were all compared to her. Badly. It made us hate her. They made us hate her. And then when she left, when she became free and we were all still left behind..." she says, almost grinding her teeth before she closes her eyes and forces a breath.

"Yeah. Since we were kids."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova sticks her tongue out at the juvenile reply, but seems generally in the spirit of it all.

"She was trainer. Always on top. Always putting us on our backs. Until me," she says. "I gave her run for her money. She was still favorite, always. Natasha is always everyone's favorite," she says, looking down for a moment and swallowing. There's clealry some bitterness there. "We were all compared to her. Badly. It made us hate her. They made us hate her. And then when she left, when she became free and we were all still left behind..." she says, almost grinding her teeth before she closes her eyes and forces a breath.

"Yeah. Since I was a kid."

Phobos has posed:
    It's an easy vibe to maintain, now that... at least on his part, he isn't angling to line up a kill shot anymore. Instead he's just enjoying the distraction from the waiting, and the chance to have some insight given from someone who has gone through much of what Natasha has gone through. In some ways at least.
    "Well, I'd maybe think of the place. And what they were trying to do. Lay it more at their feet, than directly at hers. But..." A pause is taken, then he murmurs, "Your experience is your own." He glances again at the tower, then back.
    "You aren't entirely what I was expecting, to be fair."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova snorts, "That is because I am unpredictable enigma. I am like the wind. A cold Russian wind. Not a warm wind, like a fart."

"I know they were breaking me and lying to me. But is not always easy to lay down enmity for someone who has tried to kill you. Even if they try to kill you because you try to kill them first. Is very symbiotic. The circle of life."

She's quiet for a few moments and then she begins to hum the tune from the Lion King.

Phobos has posed:
    Another snort given at her joke, then he shakes his head.
    "I had this mental image of a femme fatale... blond bombshell with a perfect American accent and projecting a particular air... unlike a fart." Which has him giving a small shrug.
    Then he looks back at her, "But you are strange. In a quirky sort of way." Then his eyebrows lift as he shrugs with one shoulder. "But that could be another cover as well to hide the professional aspects and all."
    Of course that's the moment when his brow knits together as distantly he might see some sign of something that gets him to straighten up a little.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
What he might be responding to would be the door of Stark Tower opening. And exiting out that door was a petite figure with a small rolling suitcase. The woman was wearing white button-up blouse with a pair of black dress pants. A pair of heels on her feet, the clicking of heels on the concrete able to be heard as she walked toward the parking area. Her red hair was longer, falling to below her shoulders, straight and perfectly kept. Makeup just so. The perfect vision of Natalie Rushman from the Legal Department.

She caught sight of the familiar vehicle in the VIP parking spot even at a distance. Her steps were bringing her closer and she was curious why there were two figures. Until she recognized the second. Outwardly, there was no change to her expression or movements. Inwardly, she'd just gone to high alert.

She moved to within range and gave a smile to the pair. "Sorry we were a little late. There was some weather that complicated matters."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova stiffens as she sees Natasha in the flesh. It had been some time, after all. Her old rival, her old mentor, her old friend, her old enemy. All of those things, wrapped up into one. The definition of bittersweet, it seems. Yelena has a hard time stilling her expression, but she doesn't even know what she thinks for sure.

"Hello, Natasha," she says simply. There's nothing else for her really to say. She isn't sure how Natasha will react to her either, after all.

For the moment, no offense to Alex, but he doesn't really exist anymore, insofar as Yelena is concerned. Not until this is resolved.

Phobos has posed:
    The young man pushes off of the SUV, no longer leaning against it and then turns slightly to present himself on Natasha's side, though it almost sub-consciously puts himself in the angle of the likely fire lines from the buildings above, just in case. Not an obvious thing, but one that would become so if the two of them gauged the tactical situation. Protective, but not intruding.
    Then he gives a nod and says, "Miss Rushman, this is Yelena. She's been somewhat direct as far as I can tell." Which gives his support to the idea that Yelena may have told him the truth. Even as it is clear he will trust Natasha's judgment of the situation more than his own.
    A look toward Yelena is given, but he realizes with the electricity between the two it's likely he's not even there for them anymore.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
At the words from Alexander, Natasha gives a nod and continues to close the distance. She moves to the back of the SUV, setting her suitcase upright and reaching to open the compartment. All normal movements though she has Yelena in her line-of-sight still. Enough to react if she needed to but playing it completely cool. "I see," she murmurs to Alexander.

Then she waits for the rear door to lift and puts the suitcase inside before turning to look at Yelena directly. "You must be Yelena. I've heard a lot about you." Her tone is not like someone who has known a person though. It is more a stranger who is meeting a collegue.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova stiffens a bit. Is it possible she isn't remembered? Isn't known? The thought of it hurts somehow. Hurts in a way she hadn't expected. It makes all of her own focus and energy towards this person crumble a little bit. What could it mean? Is she being deliberately cruel? Or does she really not know?

"I...yes. I imagine you have," she says softly, her expression somewhat stunned as she regards the beautiful and deadly woman before you. She does shoot her eyes over to Alex for a moment, showing her own confusion for a second.

Phobos has posed:
    The young Alexander can definitely feel the disruption, the feel of fear and anxiety a palpable thing to him and if he listens closely he can sense the sentiment of the world in any given moment. With these two here so close, it is clear there is... an undercurrent and tumult. Despite the calm manner being given.
    The pale eyes of the Olympian youth slips from one to the other, then back again as he clears his throat slightly when each of them in their own turn look upon him. He says quietly, "Mr. Stark..."
    He starts, though he's not telling Natasha something she doesn't already know. Perhaps it's more important that Yelena see him and hear him saying such. "Has given Yelena the freedom to step away from what's gone before. And Miss Potts seems to be of positive feeling." Fairly neutral things to say all told.
    "We've been talking," He then confesses, "And I feel she is being sincere as far as she is aware." A pause, "But I think you both might gain something from a dialogue. If not now. Perhaps later."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
The insight from Alexander was important for Natasha. She knew he had abilities, could sense things she might not pick up on. Particularly that emotion with which he was linked. He wouldn't be able to sense her own fear, at least not of Yelena. Perhaps something that was a discomfort. Of what she might represent to their world as a whole. How it might disrupt things if she were not being truthful in her choice to leave her old life behind. Even if she were truthful, there would be ripples. Like a stone thrown in a pond.

"Mr. Stark mentioned he had you watching after Pepper." She did use the familiar first name. She was watching Yelena closely but that familiarity wasn't there still. Whatever memories Yelena had, Natasha seemed to not. Which begged to question--why?

"I appreciate you watching over her. She is a good friend." An admission that showed she was willing to give that benefit of the doubt where Yelena was concerned. Which was followed with, "I will admit I am cautious. But I am willing to give second chances. If someone hadn't given them to me, I wouldn't be here today."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova regards Natasha with a perplexed expression. She can't hide the hurt that's in her. In some ways, hatred would have been a better response. At least she would have felt acknowledged. This emptiness, this absence of feeling, just makes Yelena baffled. Her stomach hurts. For all that she is raised to be a mindless killer, Yelena wears her heart on her sleeve and is, frankly, pretty sentimental and perhaps even overly emotional. That rage proved useful for killing. But now that she was letting the rest of her feelings out, things were starting to get messy.

She feels the sting of tears trying to rise in her eyes and blinks rapidly, turning her head down.

"Pepper is best person I have ever met. She is kind to me. I will not let anyone touch her. If they try, I will skin them alive and feed them their own anuses," she says with a bit of a snarl and there's a hint of that rage again as her eyes rise up.

In Russian, she says <<I do not need your permission for a second chance. Or anything else, Natasha Romanova. You have no power over me anymore.>>

At which point she will try to stalk off in a huff, hugging herself and clacking her heels on the pavement as she walks.

Phobos has posed:
    The tall Olympian does not stand in Yelena's way, his brow furrowing as her emotions roil and she offers those words given from hurt. The only sound he makes is a deep breath taken, then held as she speaks in Russian to Natasha. Some puzzlement is in his gaze, though he does pick out Natasha's name in all of it, yet he seems not to comprehen the rest though it's not too hard to imagine...
    Though when she stalks off he does not stop her, instead he looks toward Natasha and bides to see what she'll do, though he does look after the young woman as she moves off.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
<<Anymore?>>

The word in Russian is filled with confusion. Natasha had seen that reaction. She might as well have slapped Yelena. What the hell was going on here? <<Of course you don't need my persmission. That isn't what I was saying.>> Then she shook her head, brow furrowed and confusion evident.

"It was good to meet you. I do think we perhaps need to talk sometime, if you are willing. I feel like...I'm missing something."

And with that she doesn't try to pursue. It is Yelena's choice.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova doesn't say anything. She's not in any condition to right now. She will be soon. And she will probably have a lot to say.

She usually does.

For now, she uses her security card to get into Stark Tower and goes upstairs to the suite she is using, preparing to try to lose herself in a bottle of red wine and a trip to the jacuzzi.