14198/The Russian Summit

The Russian Summit
Date of Scene:	16 March 2022
Location:	An undisclosed location.
Synopsis:	Natasha and Yelena end hostilities while Alex plays referee
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Black Widow (Belova), Black Widow (Romanoff)

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Phobos has posed:
    21:17.
    Grand Central Station Main Concourse.
    The old rail station in New York has a reputation to the world. Beautiful, timeless, with that brilliant facade of stone and marble. It is a place that is iconic to the great city and known throughout the world as a wondrous place to visit.
    To the Intelligence Community however? It's a nightmare.
    An operation in the station is horrible to execute. Sight lines are bad, the acoustics are terrible, and so many areas are compartmentalized poorly that it's easy for a small force to secure the area from intrusive elements. A horrible place if someone wanted to assassinate another.
    A perfect place for a meeting during detente.
    Which is exactly why it was chosen.
    Formerly Agent Aaron had served as go between. Messages given, promises offered. Not a neutral element, true. For Alexander's sympathies did lie with Natasha. But also not an actively antagonistic element either. It had been enough perhaps, and he also put himself out there as the first to establish the point of meet. It was his head on the line if Yelena set it up for a hit.
    Because it was him sitting down in front of the Panera Bread in one of the side tables on the concourse. An offering of peace by taking the exposure first so Yelena can take her time surveying the landscape and commit one way or another.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
The Panera Bread was a wise choice. Yelena has a very hard time resisting pastry or carbs of any sort. Garlic bread was an especial weakness of hers. She would have to get some when the meeting was over. Provided she survived, of course.

She's wearing a black woolen peacoat, belted at the waist, her blonde hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. She has slacks, heeled boots and at least seven weaposn stashed at various points on her person. She cuts through the crowd quickly and moves to sit down next to Aaron, not even looking at him.

"I am neglecting my duties to do this. I should not bother. But is important that Natasha and I be able to work together. In case we...have to work together."

"It really sucks that you cannot smoke in here. What a load of crap."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
<Be there in two minutes.> The text came through to Alexander's phone shortly before Yelena's arrival. She had been delayed. It wasn't uncommon for her and Alexander was used to it. Yelena may not be so understanding.

She was dressed in a pair of jeans and an oversized pullover sweater with long sleeves. A pair of black boots on her feet. Both of the people at the table would likely be able to realize she was most definitely armed but that was to be expected considering who she was. Just as she was positive Yelena would be. Her red hair was short, far shorter than that Natalie had been sporting during their previous meeting.

She was shortly behind Yelena in arrival. "Sorry I'm late. Work." And that was the only explanation she gave as she took her spot at the table. Opposite Yelena.

Phobos has posed:
    Acting like he's still just sitting there, Alexander himself has his own pea coat on though his is a touch larger than Yelena's. Though there are no weapons in his curiously enough. Usually even a 9 milly would stand out just to the tried and tested eyes of a Black Widow, but the young Olympian is not strapped at all.
    He does, however, turn the page of the 'City Paper' that he's reading, browsing the pet section as he reaches a hand forward and takes a sip of the iced tea he had gotten.
    "Smoking is bad for you." He says with the casual aplomb only the truly insufferable can summon. Then he looks up and his gaze slides around the room, taking note of this person, that person. No hints to his curious eyes. And no tingle upon the vibe he feels throughout the large station. Oh there is fear here, in varying amounts. But it's the fear of trepidation, anxiety, mundane drean. And not the roil of fear of an assassin readying their strike.
    Then he touches a hand to his chest covering the pocket, carefully unbuttoning it as the cellphone within hums faintly. He taps it again, then withdraws it and sets it down on the table with the display facing up so if she was of the mind Yelena could read the message. Then he nods. Best to let Yelena know what was up.
    When Natasha appeared, however, he looked up. Nodded. "Heya." He smiled a little as he started to fold up the newspaper. "I'll go take a walk."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova crosses her arms over her chest, resembling a petulant little girl in some ways despite her status as a lethal assassin feared the world over. "I didn't think they were made of vitamins, Mister," she says.

She regards Natasha for a long moment, the two of them engaging in the staredown one might usually expect from a pair of badasses in the midst of facing off properly for the first time. The silence lasts for a few minutes, but it eventually gets to Yelena first, making her speak.

"I like your new haircut. See? That was civil."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"You don't have to go," Natasha says to Alexander's offer to leave. "Unless Ms. Belova would prefer you do?" Putting it squarely in the court of the other Widow. After all, Natasha would end up just filling in the blanks for him later so easier if he was there to witness himself. And he might pick up on things that the pair of them may not, being they both likely had their own presumptions in play.

Whatever he chose, she returned Yelena's long look. Not attempting to be confrontational in any way yet likely being so without meaning to. She just sat and watched the other woman. When the words came, she almost explained it was an old haircut and she'd worn a wig before but honestly? Some things were simpler.

"Thanks. It's easier to deal with. Though in a year or so, I'll change my mind again. I always do."

Just like normal people talking.

Phobos has posed:
    "I would prefer it, give you guys a chance to talk without an outsider listening in." Alexander says that even as he closes the newspaper and then places his hands upon the surface of the table. Then with a push he rises to his feet. Though he does look between the two of them as he takes a step to the side.
    A nod is given, "I'll be back soon." That said he points at the iced tea and says, "I marked the side of that glass. If either of you drink any of it I'll know." A hand lifts as he points to them, as if that actually mattered to him. But then he turns and starts to move to the rope 'exit' to Panera's seating area and after a few more moments he's gone.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova sighs and looks off to the side for a moment, blowing air out and then giving in to the urge to talk again after little bit of silence.

"What you said didn't make any sense," she said. "You do not recognize me? Do not know me? But you helped to train me. I have done missions with you. I tried to kill you three times. You stabbed me, right here, under my little booby," she says, patting her coat.

"At first, I think is mindgame, you just fucking with me. Pepper says you would not do that. So I don't know. Did you get big anvil drop on head, make you forget like cartoon coyote?"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I wouldn't do that," Natasha states immediately. "Against an enemy? Certainly." She isn't above using whatever tactics are necessary in that sort of setting. Even Loki had learned that lesson. Although perhaps learned might be shining too polite of a light on the Asgardian.

"I honestly don't remember you." And that has her brow furrowing. "Which can mean quite a few things. First thought was you are lying." She lifted a hand, as though to interrupt any protest that might be coming as she followed up verbally. "I don't think that's the case. Considering you have been protecting Pepper, working for Tony."

She picked up Alexander's tea, taking a sip of it before putting it down. In front of herself. His fault for walking away or he could've kept it safe. "So if you believe those things happened, it could be your memories were altered. We both know they have done that often. Or my memories could have been. Which means either or could be true. We could have history. Or no history at all. Either way, that would explain the difference in our memories."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova snorts, "If I had wanted to lie, I would have said I loved you. That you were hero, best friend, super BFF. That I wanted to be just like you," she says. There's a little catch in her voice as she says it. That last one, of course, wouldn't have entirely been a lie.

"Instead, I tell the truth - that you probably wanted to kill me. That you hated me. Which was true, far as I know. But maybe you're right. Maybe my memories are lies. That would suck. I have some good memories. Some bad ones, too, of course. But we all get those, right? They wouldn't take away the bad memories. The bad memories keep us in line."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Which makes me suspect it is my memories that are altered," Natasha admits with a hint of frown. Everytime she thinks she has gotten her brain fixed, something else crops up. Course, last time she did it was simply to remove triggers from her brain that turned her to try to kill others. Alexander had been the one to trigger the last one. She hadn't specifically asked if there were any gaps in her brain.

"Or perhaps a combination of things. They could have erased my memory but some of your memories of me might involve people that were portraying me. Not sure if that is possible but if it was a rather encounter, you might not have been able to pick up on the signs that it was someone else. To help build the narrative against me to lead to a conflict. Which apparently has happened between us. In some manner of speaking."

She ran a hand through her short hair, breathing out a sigh. "I am sorry this happened." To Yelena and herself. "All I know to do is try to move forward. If you want, I am willing to help. I have friends who are telepathic but I realize that might be too much trust. It took me over a decade before I was willing to trust one inside my head," she admitted. Yelena being new to it would likely make that an impossibility. "I can see if they find any memories hidden in my head. If they weren't just wiped out entirely." Like an eraser on a chalkboard. Terrifying but possible.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova sits for a moment and considers. She thinks she can tell Natasha is telling the truth. She also knows that Natasha is a skilled enough liar that Yelena would probably not actually be able to do that, even if she thought she could, so she then can't trust her own judgment about whether or not Natasha is telilng the truth. But it sounds like the truth. So it probably is the truth.

Or at least she has to operate as if it is.

"I don't even know if it matters," she says. "My feelings about you do not matter. Whether I hate you or I love you, I have to work with you. You are a part of the operation I have signed up for. You work with Tony and Pepper and Captain Steve Rogers. They trust you. And so I must trust you, if I am to work for them. If I am to get them to trust me."

"Maybe someday, I let someone poke in my head. If I trust them. Which I probably won't."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Your feelings do matter."

It might seem odd. Natasha caring what she thinks. "While we were taught that we were just there to serve, there is far more to us. We are all people and we all have our own feelings. Yours are valid and matter. If there is something I can do to help, please let me know. If you hate me because of our history, then I understand that." She smiled slightly and shrugged. "I've worked with people I hated in the past and will again in the future. It's part of being a professional. You can't tell me you liked every person you were assigned to work with, outside myself?" Then she almost chuckled. "Well you could tell me. I just wouldn't believe you."

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova sighs and hugs herself a little, "I do not think that I hate you," he says. "I do not know what I feel about you. As you say, I do not even really know you. The you I felt that about, she is not you. You just have same face. Maybe implant, maybe clone, I don't really give big flying fuckaroo. I am tired of being jerked around by Red Room. Is main reason why I quit," she says.

"And no, I did not like very many of them. One or two girls. Some of them were also kind of hot."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I would like to know which it is but I don't know if we ever will. I will have a telepath friend peek in my head but they've been there before and it's not pretty. As you can imagine," Natasha added. Since Yelena would have far more understanding than probably anyone.

"I'm glad we had this talk though. I think it will make things easier. Since we both are going to be in the same circles, it seems. Pepper being a friend to both of us."

She glanced over in the direction Alexander had wandered then back to Yelena. Then her expression showed a moment of revelation. "I should probably also let you know that the Winter Soldier has also changed loyalties. He's turned his back on the Red Room, Hydra, all of it. I don't know if you ever trained with him but just in case."

Phobos has posed:
    It only took a handful of minutes to sweep the area. Most wouldn't notice the circuitous route the young man took around the station, moving with the flow of the crowd for the most part when needed and then along the edge when having to go against. Just a steady stride with hands in the depths of his pockets.
    He took some time to drink from the water fountain, did a turn around the security area, then resumed the roundabout trip until he settles in a course to bring him back toward Panera. Eventually.
    Which ends with him moving back to his seat, drawing it out with one hand and settling into it. One brow quirking and noting the new location his iced tea found itself in then he's raising his voice and saying simply, "She came alone. At most perhaps a micro-drone." Or some autonomous element that could slip past his perception of mortals and their ilk.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova blinks in surprise, "The Winter Soldier? Truly. <My god>," she finishes in Russian. "They must be losing their minds. No wonder I was able to slip through cracks so easily. Losing Winter Soldier must be giving them five heart attacks a day. He is like their favorite toy," she says.

"Pepper is best person I have met. Ever, maybe," she admits. "I am her protector now. I like it."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Both Black Widows and the Winter Soldier."

Putting it in those terms would put things in very clear terms. The other side had lost three of their best. If not the best. Admittedly, Natasha had left about a decade ago. But Bucky had been within the last couple of years. Yelena even more recent.

"I'm not sure how long you've been out. It may have even happened before that. Which means they are trying to keep it quiet. If words get out they lost all three..."

No need to spell that out. Things would go insane in the Red Room if the inklings of defection started to be whispered.

As Alexander gave his evaluation, she pushed his tea back over in front of him. It wasn't a lot missing out of it. She just had to yank his chain a bit.

"I wonder if they will retire their Black Widow monikor. It's been bad luck for them. Maybe they should stick to other spiders."

Phobos has posed:
    Accepting the purloined tea, Alexander looks between the two of them, gaze drifting back and forth. He gives a nod and settles into the seat then takes a sip as he looks over their surroundings. One hand pushes through his hair and the other casually adjusts his coat before he reclaims his City Paper and nods.
    "You all doing alright?" He asks, shooting a glance at Yelena and then back toward Natasha. His eyebrows raise as he asks, "I can take another trip around or head off if you think you've got this under control."
    Which might not be entirely wise to leave them as they are, but still.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova gives a soft yawn in Alex's direction, "We are fine, Natasha's boyfriend. Do not worry."

She regards Natasha neutrally now, the hostility let go, at least for now. Maybe she'll still have to wrestle with it, but Yelena is a creature of reason as much as spite. Well. Most of the time.

"About a year ago," she says. "Although I do not know if THEY knew it as quickly as I did. It wasn't so hard, really. But we will see. I know they will come. But I am not afraid."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"They will come." No doubt. Natasha speaking from experience. Yelena obviously knows the people she will be dealing with. She is more than equiped to handle it. Yet, Natasha still feels compelled. "Let me know if you would like help with that. The Soldier likely would be willing to throw his hat in too. Getting payback is always appreciated."

She turned her attention to Alexander again. "We're good. Air cleared and moving forward from this point. Although we still need to figure out the threat to Pepper and Tony."

Focusing back on tasks instead of emotions. It's always easier that way.

Phobos has posed:
    Making a slight face in Yelena's way he at least doesn't correct her on the declaration of his title, and just lets it go since to take exception would merely encourage her. Another sip of tea is taken as he looks between the two Russians and then settles his attention on Natasha as she speaks.
    "Well it's good that you're decently at ease. Otherwise I was gonna have to whup both of ya." He gives a nod and then slouches a little in his seat.
    Then, of course, he deflects from his statement by pressing forward with a question. "Anything more on that front?" Since he hadn't heard about much since he last saw Pepper and wasn't entirely in the loop.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova looks a little uncomfortable, eyes down, "There was an attempt to kidnap Pepper last week," she says. "They tried to seize her while we were at a bar. Talking. My fault. I let my guard down. I managed to prevent her from being taken, but Tony Stark relieved me of duties. But then Pepper hired me again. For herself. I think I like that better," she says with a little smile. "Now Tony Stark is not my boss anymore. Ha!"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
The words from Alexander were met with a long look and a smirk. Followed by a kick of a booted foot to his shin beneath the table.

"Pepper can do that," she said to Yelena. Not a disparaging remark. There was affection in her tone. After all, Pepper was one of her few friends in the world that didn't run around playing hero. Although, for Natasha, Pepper was a hero. The woman had saved her life, after all. "Friendship can cloud judgement at times. But I suspect you will be more cautious now." She did have to smile at the idea of Pepper hiring her after she was fired by Tony. Because it was fitting.

"Did the suspect give any intel that can be followed up on?"

Phobos has posed:
    A wince is Natasha's reward as he crinkles his nose a little after that kick. He flits the straw wrapper in her general direction but otherwise gives no further reprisal.
    There's a tilt of his head as Alexander focuses more on Yelena, gaze tightening as he seems curious. Then his head tilts the other way as he ponders exactly what Yelena is telling him and perhaps what she's not telling him. He spares a glance toward Natasha, not giving voice to his thoughts for the moment.
    Instead he straightens up a little more and winces a little as she mentions Tony firing her which seems like a logical progression of matters so he nods a few times.

Black Widow (Belova) has posed:
Yelena Belova shakes her head, "He was just a hireling. Petty mercenary. A pawn," she sighs. "The only clue, perhaps, is that he usually worked for organized crime. So perhaps the source is somewhere within those ranks, although there are thousand mobs in New York. All of them mean and stupid."

She feels Alex measuring her and turns to face him more directly, meeting his eyes as if daring him to say something.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I'll put out some feelers in those circles. At least if it is a local group, it might narrow the search a little bit." Or maybe go do a little questioning herself. She glanced at Alexander, that silent communication between people who know each other well being her intention. His attention was on Yelena.

And now Yelena was noticing his attention and just looked right at him. Natasha reached out to attempt to take Alexander's tea for a sip , keeping her expression carefully neutral and not letting that smile slip.

Phobos has posed:
    The young Olympian's expression widens with a smile and on someone normally it might seem a touch wild, and who would be so utterly unrepentant and unintimidated of a Black Widow in such a situation. There are things about the young man that don't entirely add up, but he does say, "You're dealing with a lot of roughness from what you've gone through."
    He glances toward Natasha and lifts his eyebrows at yet more stealing but looks as if offering her a silent question before he turns back to Yelena, "Tony probably made the right call, and Pepper did too. Good to have you on hand, than not. But now Tony can be free to make tertiary arrangements."
    A nod is given, "Unless there's all sorts of ego involved."