#Dreykov

[hadesisqueer]

Btw I rewatched Black Widow with my sister last night and I don't care what anyone says, that movie had the most terrifying villain in the MCU. "Taskmaster--", she wasn't the actual villain, she was a victim. You may complain over how it wasn't even Tony Masters, I get it, but that's not the point of the post. The villain was Dreykov. "But he's weak" oh yeah physically. He's not a purple alien or a crazy robot yeah. He's still terrifying. He was a human trafficker. He kidnapped little girls. He brainwashed them, he forcibly sterilized them, taking their choice of whether they wanted to be mothers or not —Natasha wanted kids, Yelena didn't but the point is the choice. He groomed them and turned them into killers, also had them trained into using seduction and sex as a weapon (you know what that probably means), literally chemically subjugated them so they couldn't even refuse. The ones who weren't useful enough for him or rebelled against him? He had them killed. He ruined thousands and thousands of lives.

He was a wealthy guy with huge political influence who viewed women as expendable resources to do his bidding and nothing else. Even his own daughter. So yeah, that's why I found him more terrifying than other villains. Because no purple alien with a gauntlet is going to come to kill people. But there are a lot of motherfuckers like Dreykov in real life. He's a realistic villain. That's why.

[classicanalyzer]

What If Season 3 - What If... the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier? Thoughts

"Now, think. Think back. What's the first thing you see?" Alexei Shostakov

"I see... I see... I see Coney Island." The Winter Soldier

"See! You are somebody. You are the Great Coney Island hero. And the Red Guardian is proud to fight next to you." Alexei Shostakov

Episode 3 was so peak. Alexei is so fun! I really wish we got a movie, a show, or something with him because he's such a fun character. His dynamic with Bucky is also pretty fun. We got so much lore about the assassination of Howard and Maria Stark. This is the last episode written by A.C. Bradley, and man I'm going to miss her writing and work in What If. Also, this episode was supposed to be in S2 (footage of it can be seen in S2's title sequences and the S2 finale fanfare) but was swapped out for the Corpsman Nebula episode which was supposed to be in S3.

Alexei's character in this episode is really great. He may be really enthusiastic about his belief in Communism and the Soviet Union, but it's clear he genuinely wants to do good. I really like how he isn't as dumb as he looks and how he sees the good and best in people. Someone also pointed out how since this is 1991, the USSR is on the verge of collapse, and Alexei thinks they will overthrow the US which shows how he was kept in the dark by his bosses about the USSR's deteriorating situation. Even Alexei realizes after he knows Dreykov and the Red Room are working with Capitalists that those at the top never truly cared about the ideals of the USSR as he did. I also find it funny that the What If situation possibly came that, What If Alexei stole the file of the Winter Soldier's assignment lmao. David Harbour was amazing casting for Alexei in the Black Widow movie and this episode continues to prove why it was perfect casting.

I really love how Dreykov and the Red Room knew about and was connected to HYDRA and the Winter Soldier. It makes me wonder if the Red Room's Sky Fortress was a HYDRA collaboration and the Red Room simply cut their ties with HYDRA after the Winter Soldier movie. While this doesn't fix my feelings about the Red Room's Sky Fortress, someone pointed out how HYDRA most likely covered up the Sky Fortress from SHIELD. This makes so much more sense than if the Sky Fortress was simply able to hide for so long because it was simply good at "hiding" lmao. I also liked how it pays off a fact from S2 Episode 2, Bucky as the Winter Soldier was used by the USSR. That's some great multiversal continuity there haha. I love the Red Room presence in this episode with Dreykov and the Red Room Task Force soldiers. Also, Antonia Dreykov being in the picture is pretty sad and dark given what happened to her and how Dreykov never truly cared about his own daughter.

I love to see Bill Foster in this episode and I love his suit from S2 Episode 2. It's just really nice to see Bill Foster as the hero Goliath since we never saw him in action before in the movies. Ranger Morales was also a fun new side-character for this episode.

The montage of Alexei and Bucky heading to the United States was perfect and funny with the major differences in their purpose and tone. When that Winter Soldier theme kicks in, I got the chills. I like that Alexei does have his morals, even if he says it's to spread Communism and the revolution, it shows how he doesn't tolerate the work HYDRA is doing. It's really funny seeing Alexei quip during his fight with Bucky that Bucky just resorts to biting him.

I laughed when Bucky and Alexei both agreed to go off the cliff, even Uatu was surprised. These two super soldier idiots really make for a funny team once Bucky loosens up a bit. The Russian music in this episode is both epic and funny given how it's used. I also love the comedic gag of Alexei trying his best to get Bucky to stop resorting to killing as the first solution to every problem.

Bucky legit has a mental crisis when he realizes he failed for the first time. I love the arc where Bucky even if for this mission broke out of the programming and realizes HYDRA never cared for them. The scene with him remembering Coney Island is so heartwarming given how he and Steve hung out at Coney Island. Likewise seeing him reject Dreykov’s kill order on Alexei was heartwarming to see. I also love how he listened to Alexei's advice of using his metal arm to block the bullets when Stane tried to kill them. Their friendship (they’re basically siblings in this episode) truly is one of the most heartwarming things to see how Alexei managed to bring the good out of the Winter Soldier and both of them considering themselves friends. Sebastian Stan's voice performance went a long way from him phoning it in back in Episode 1. Also “Technique!” haha.

"He's right, though. About the Red Room, Dreykov..." Alexei Shostakov

"Dreykov's a pig. All of them are. But not you. You are a good man." The Winter Soldier/Coney Island Hero

The Rook being Obadiah Stane was a surprise to me. It didn't register that was him until near his death and the end credits confirmed my suspicions. I was really surprised but yet also not surprised that Obadiah told the Russians (and therefore by extension HYDRA) about Howard's recreation of the super soldier serum. God, seeing Obadiah talk about how "amazing" Capitalism makes me sick, and glad to see him fall out of the window after Bucky threw Alexei's shield at him. Hopefully, with Howard and Maria Stark alive along with Stane's death, Tony's life will be a lot less messed up and has less daddy issues.

I really hope Vasily Karpov dies in Las Vegas that's one less HYDRA personal in this universe. Also, I hope when Bucky was being brainwashed that this time, it was less successful than the previous moments, thanks to Alexei's influence. Plus, thanks to Alexei disavowing the Red Room and his nation, the Siberian Winter Soldiers will never occur!

Also hell yes, Alexei gets to be a part of the Avengers and Captain America knows him!

Episode 3 is truly a peak episode and showcases a dynamic ripe with story and character exploration. It'll be very interesting to see how Thunderbolts will show the two interact. This episode uses its characters amazingly well.

Note: Someone pointed out that so far, each episode has a tiny person interact with someone or something much taller (Sam with Gamma Apex Bruce, Kingo with Celestial Agatha, and now Alexei and Bucky with Goliath). I wonder what Episode 4 will do to continue this streak haha.

"Fighting for survival. For acceptance. Fighting to be somebody. But in the end, the fight is never the point. It's your friendships that change the course of history. Even when they end." Uatu

[finequeenbean]

you wish you never ever met her at all 🕷️🥵

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 0:10

My first video edit!! How exciting. I’ve always wanted to make one of these bad boys. I hope y’all like it, comment if you have constructive criticism or suggestions!!

[tashaclint]

I wish there was more emphasis on the fact that Dreykov, for all intents and purposes, was Natasha’s father. She was brought to the red room as a baby and spent roughly two decades as their black widow. Not only does he acknowledge that he raised her, but their showdown really alludes to the detached intimacy that would have come with the devolvement of their relationship

Also while the bw movie ends up elaborating on Loki’s statement regarding “Dreykov’s daughter” in the avengers part of me likes to think that there’s still the implication that he was referring to the fact that Natasha has committed this unforgivable sin of being raised as Dreykov’s daughter

[anders-chr]

“Good for you.” (EDITED!)

A short little excerpt I wrote for The Winter Soldier, or a moment I think could’ve happened in the movie he was first introduced.

— warnings: manipulation, brainwashing, panic attacks. if any of this makes you uncomfortable, please don’t click on this!

The chair was cold. It always was. It bit into his back like steel fangs, locking him into place as the harsh, sterile light illuminated his face. His breaths were shallow, uneven. The edges of his vision blurred with pain, but the memory was there—faint, fleeting, like smoke slipping through his fingers.

A face. Blonde hair. A shield. Steve.

Bucky—no, The Winter Soldier, he corrected himself—stared at the floor as Dreykov’s polished shoes clicked against the concrete. The sound was sharp, purposeful. It filled the suffocating silence between his labored breaths. His hands were right behind his back, face devoid of warmth completely.

“Good. You’re awake,” Dreykov said, his tone crisp and clinical. “Do you remember you place?” Not even a moment after, he’s already telling the scientists to prep him. Wipe. To get him ready for the pain, the electricity, the loss of a conscious.

That was the cruelty of those above you. Do you remember your place? For a second, the soldier didn’t respond. He knew the answer they wanted: I am the Winter Soldier. I am also called The Asset. I have no place outside of a mission.

He blinked against the haze in his mind, searching for something, anything, to anchor himself. That name, it sounded like nickname. The tone. But, it could be an actual name. The Winter Soldier would take it gladly, opposed to the title he has been given. But, he hasn’t known anything else. Taking that name, not knowing what it’s associated with — it’s scary. And it had to show on his face because the soldier felt the atmosphere shift and saw the cruel eyes of everyone around him sharpen like hawks.

“Did you hear me?” Dreykov asks again, taking a step closer. His voice harsher. “You are The Winter Soldier. Your place is nothing else but that. Do you understand?”

The Asset lifted his head, his jaw tight. His voice was hoarse from misuse, but that was the least of his problems and it came out low and raspy. “What if I don’t want that place?” He asked, genuinely. Like a kid asking a parent why they have to clean. “What if…I’m just me?”

Dreykov’s eyes glinted with amusement but his expression remained stern and cold as ice. He tilted his head slightly. “Just you? A man doesn’t have more than 50 kills on his head. But,” The Russian general began, “A soldier knows their mission, and they complete it. A soldier can kill in a war. If someone’s in your way, you crush them. Leave them to die. That is your place, your duty.”

The Winter Soldier’s eyes darkened. His voice dropped, laced with a bitter edge. “Well, I guess if I hesitate more, I won’t be of use. What’s stopping you from crushing me too? Go ahead.” He leaned forward as much as the restraints would allow, his gaze piercing through Dreykov like a blade. “I really wouldn’t mind.”

For a moment, there was complete silence and The Asset registered what he just did. The expression on Dreykov’s face didn’t falter, but the hands behind his back tightened ever so slightly. His gaze turned to steel, and for a moment, a small part of The Winter’s Soldier was worried Dreykov might hit him. He could take it. It probably wouldn’t hurt that much. He’s been shocked, stabbed, shot, waterboarded, and learned quickly people can do far worst things than hurt you physically. It didn’t stop that irrational fear though.

But then he let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Fine.” Dreykov said, signaling to scientists to with a wave of his hand. “Release him.”

The Asset blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. The scientist hesitated but obeyed nonetheless. The restraints hissed as they unlocked, the weight lifting from The Winter Soldier’s wrists and arms. He didn’t move immediately, warily looking at the restraints come unloose like a caveman who discovered fire. With equal fascination and fear.

“I’ll shut my mouth. I’ll stop protecting you and I’ll let you go,” Dreykov continued, his voice filled with mock benevolence. “Is that good enough for you? Would that be good for you?”

Before the soldier could respond, Dreykov’s hand shot out, gripping The Asset’s chin with cruel precision, forcing him to meet his gaze. The Winter Soldier’s fists clenched, the knuckles of his human arm whitening, but he didn’t move. Couldn’t move.

"I’ll personally deliver you to your precious Captain America." Dreykov glare was dark and cutting as he sneered. "Do you honestly believe he cares for you? The courts, the government—they would tear you to shreds.“

The Asset barely flinched, but the Russian general could see that flicker of fear in his eyes at that possibility. His jaw clenching, and both firsts that trembled so subtly.

He released The Winter Soldier’s chin with a shove, his movements growing more aggressive as he took a step back and spread his arms in mock generosity. "Would that please you, soldier? Because anything The Winter Soldier wants." He offered a mock bow, his tone dripping with disdain and sarcasm.

The soldier’s head began to spin, each word sinking deeper and deeper. They were letting him leave. Dreykov was nowhere near the door, he could just walk out. Without his restraints, he could tear this entire building apart if he wanted. Burn it all to hell, never look back.

But what if — what if they were right? If he left, what then? Who does he have to turn to? Was he just a weapon — an extension of Hydra, incapable of surviving without them? It wasn’t an order he was given, it was a choice. An open door, unarmed guards and a promise of freedom. And that scared The Asset more than anything.

The scientists and the guards voices joined, adding their own comments, agreeing with each other.

“He wouldn’t last a day out there. Does he even know how to function without orders?”

“Who would take you in? The Avengers? They’d see you as a monster, nothing more.”

“No one will love you like we have. No one will put up with your mistakes like we have. You’re a lot of work, you know.”

“You’re clumsy and impulsive. You can’t even get through a mission without guidance. Out there, on your own? You’d never survive.”

“We gave you purposely and stability? Who else would do that? Who else even wants to?”

They’re right. As much as he hated to say, they were right. Who else could care about him? Who else would? He was too much work, he couldn’t even do the simplest task of killing two Avengers. What was he, if not The Winter Soldier? The Asset? At least his work is appreciated here, at least he gets a “well done, soldier.” when someone’s blood is on his hands? Shouldn’t that be enough? Everything grew louder, like an unrelenting storm.

“You’re nothing without us.”

“He’s weak and dependent.”

“You’ll never be anything more than a soldier.”

“All you know is how to destroy.”

“I give him three days. Tops.”

Dreykov leaned over into his space, hands resting on the armrests of the chair. His eyes bore into him behind those glasses, as he said “You don’t have a place in the world. Even if you ever did, you’d never be able to go back.”

The weight of their voices pressed down on him, each word cutting deeper, each accusation twisting like a knife. The Asset’s breaths quickened, his chest heaving as the walls seemed to close in around him. Tears brimmed in his eyes, his throat seemed to close up as everything seemed louder and louder.

No one could care. No one would care.

The faces of his targets flashed before his eyes—so many lives, so much blood on his hands. And then, one face. Blue eyes, soft and full of something he couldn’t name. Bucky. That’s what the man had called him. Was that who he used to be? Was that even real? What if there was nothing for him out there? What if this was all he was?

He shook his head violently, trying to drown out the noise, the memories, the doubts. “STOP!” he screamed, his voice raw, breaking. His head dropped, his shoulders shaking. "Just — just wipe me already.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the echo of his plea hanging in the air. A cruel smile came across Dreykov’s face, faint and triumphant. He signaled to the scientists, who hurried to restrain Bucky again.

As the chair’s restraints locked into place once more — two on his human arm, one of the bionic one, the familiar hiss of machinery filled the room. The Winter Soldier slumped, his energy drained, his spirit crushed. He opened his mouth to receive the mouth guard, the familiar taste of rubber and plastic sickeningly seemed comforting.

Maybe this time, he thought, they’d erase everything. Maybe this time, he wouldn’t remember. Maybe this time, he’d finally be the Winter Soldier they wanted.

“You’ll understand this very soon.” Dreykov said, and the pain started, the screams were ripped out of his throat before he could stop them but it felt familiar. It had to be better, compared to whatever could happen out there. It’s too late to go back, he knows that. So why even bother?

And mercifully, when it felt like he wasn’t being eaten by electricity anymore — it all went to black.

—

I was listening to “Good For You” in the Dear Evan Hansan musical while I wrote this. I may be too sad, but hey, I love any opportunity to write manipulation and project on a character. Anyways, if you want more of this content, just lemme know!

— andy.

[gunsnarrows]

day 3: what terrible wrong was done to put you on this path?

[thingsasbarcodes]

What If...? 3x03 - What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

[magnoliasandarson]

forget me not, please

The petals were delicate- like fairy silk between her fingers. Yelena pinched her thumb and forefinger, her lip curling when the periwinkle blue darkened as the flower was obliterated. She turned her palm over, letting the remnants float to the ground.

What an odd thing, to be both scorpion grass and forget-me-nots, to be both a killer and a mourner. The symmetry was glaring, and it made Yelena drop the rest of the bouquet onto the dirt path, crushing it under the heel of her boot. Little blue petals fluttering off through the field of marble monuments.

It didn't matter that the flowers were gone. Natasha would never get to see them anyway. What did it matter that Yelena had selected the bouquet because they were the exact shade of blue Natasha's hair had been when she was six? What did it matter that Yelena had come at all?

Natasha was supposed to find her.

Natasha wasn't supposed to leave her. Again.

Still, Yelena continued on the path, battered flowers lying behind her on the ground. She weaved her way through the rows, knowing the route by heart. She had made this exact journey nearly a hundred times. She had bought flowers and abandoned them just as many. Natasha wouldn't have wanted flowers. At least, that's how Yelena rationalized it each time she left, kicking over the crushed petals on her way out.

Crouching in front of the grave, Yelena whistled quietly. There was still hope buried deep in her chest that she would hear the answering notes. There was no body under the marker, there was no date of death on the stone. There was still a chance-

Salt prickled the corners of her eyes, and her forehead met cool stone. If Natasha came back, it wouldn't be for her. Yelena hadn't been enough for Natasha to stay, to remember, to find, to live for. Don't be a hero. Natasha never listened.

Yelena glared at the piles of dying flowers and soggy bears. None of it mattered. She pushed back to her feet, unceremoniously punting one of the dirty stuffed bears to another grave. Her fingers tapped the edge of the stone, "till next time сестра,"

Despite herself, Yelena whistled again as she left, pausing for just a moment- hoping against hope that something- anything would happen. It never did. She turned to continue down the path, kicking the abandoned flowers to the small pile of rotting bouquets.

Forget-me-nots, what a joke.

[broadwayfan92]

Bruce finishes a gamma radiated serum for Dreykov. What happens when the scientist unwillingly becomes part of the project?

Iris chapter 16 is on Wattpad and AO3.

[wolviestars]

DREYKOV????

Literally now it makes sense how Fury had “eyes everywhere, ears everywhere else”

[firelance2361]

What If...Black Widow Left Her World Behind?

Here's another What If...? Crossover Idea I've been working on for a while, based on a few corners of the MCU's past.

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In this universe, Ver's fellow Starforce compatriots intercepted the Skrull Command ship before Talos had the chance to use their mind-scanning device on her, allowing her to escape as a massive dogfight ensued between the two battle cruisers.

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During the ensuing spacefight, a rogue Skrull craft was shot down went off course, crash-landing on C-53 in Mount Vernon, Ohio, landing near the homestead of a young Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova.

Upon hearing the crash in their backyard, the two of them ran outside to see what the commotion was, where they found the Skrull Ship laying in their backyard. The two sisters slowly approached the vehicles, only to hide behind the remains of their swingset as the injured Skrull pilot stumbled out of the vehicle, collapsing on the ground a few feet from the craft.

As Nat attempted to examine the unconscious warrior in front of them, a curious Yelena ran over to the Skrull ship, climbing into the cockpit and messing around with the buttons. Nat ran over to the craft, trying to get Yelena out of the pod, only to fall inside of it herself as Yelena accidentally activated the craft, sending the pod flying off into the space with the two of them inside it.

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Nat and Yelena flew off in the spacecraft for moments, only to be caught in a Tractor Beam by The Helion, who took the craft with them as they returned to Hala, assuming they caught a Skrull survivor.

As Starforce prepared to take on the Skrull combatants, Vers opened the pod, finding Nat and Yelena still inside of it. As the two sisters emerged from the pod, Nat grabbed on of Att-Lass's guns, trying to defend herself and Yelena from danger. The rest of Starforce readies themselves, believing the two of them were Skrulls, until Vers stepped in, telling them to stand down until they knew for sure they were Skrulls.

Vers then slowly approached Nat, telling her that they were friendly, and that they wouldn't hurt her or Yelena. Feeling some sense of sincerity in Vers, Nat relinquished her weapon, putting her trust in Vers.

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After interrogating the two of them and learning of their past within the Red Room, the crew determines the sisters are human, but divided on what to do with them. Some of Starforce including Yon-Rogg believe they should return them to C-53.

Vers, on the other hand, objects to the idea, saying that if they do then the so-called "Red Room" will turn them into agents of infiltration and destruction like the Skrulls. She then volunteers to look after the girls herself, a decision everyone is reluctant to accept, but Vers vehemently stands her ground, feeling sympathy for them. Everyone eventually caves, but Yon-Rogg warns her to keep a close eye on them.

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In the following two and half years after taking them in, Vers does her best to help Nat and Yelena adjust to their new environment, becoming a mother of sorts to them.

- Nat and Yelena are given Kree blood transfusions and new codes to help them identify themselves.

- Nat is enrolled in the Kree Combat Academy, raising quickly to the top of her class as the top student.

- Yelena finds comfort in her new cosmic lifestyle from Hala, learning about all the different planets and worlds outside of Earth. She also becomes intrigued by Vers' powers, finding her bioluminescent abiilities astounding.

- Vers still suffers from the effects of the Skrull mind-reading device, continuing to ponder about the pieces of her past, trying to put them together with any help from the girls she can get.

- The search for the Skrulls and their "superweapon" continues, but without any leads from Vers, Talos and the remaining Skrulls have retreated into the further corners of the galaxy.

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One day, after picking Nat and Yelena up from class, Vers surprises the girls with a trip to on of the Kree colonies as part of an escort mission on Planet M-67. During the trip, however, the escort gets ambushed by a strange assassin who bombs part of colony, causing a panic.

As Vers moves to protect the ambassador, she then notices the masked assassin approaching from behind Nat and Yelena in the crowd, immediately blasting her before she can grab them. Vers takes the girls and moves through the streets of the Colony, attempting to evade the assassin. However, the trio gets cut off as the assassin lands directly in front of them, engaging Vers in combat.

Vers attempt to use her powers to take down the assassin, only to discover she has the same powers as her. The fight thankfully manages to end when Nat shoots the assassin with a Kree pistol, incapacitating her.

Vers unmasks the assassin, and she, Nat, and Yelena are shocked to discover that it is not only human, but also a brainwashed Black Widow agent. Everyone of them is stunned at the sight, when they suddenly see a strange label on her bracelets' display screen, with the words "Icepick Protocol" on display in Russian.

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The Widow was taken to the Kree Supreme Intelligence, where they quickly removed the mental barriers keeping her from telling them her information. After coming to, Yon-Rogg ordered her to start giving them information as to why they were on M-67.

She told them she'd been sent by General Dreykov of the Red Room to retrieve Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova for him, and given cosmic-level enhancements to make her more powerful for intergalactic field-work. Before Vers could ask how many of them there were, the Widow then broke free of her restraints, killing herself before they could get any more answers.

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After hearing this, Vers attempted to persuade the Supreme Intelligence to let her go to C-53 to confront Dreykov, believing this is somehow connected to her strange memory lapses. The Intelligence refused, forcing Vers to take drastic action to protect her adopted daughters, deciding to sneak her off the planet herself to take down Dreykov.

As she was exiting Hala in her ship The Hoopty, Vers was soon surprised to find Nat and Yelena stowed away in the cargo hold. Despite some initial arguing, Vers eventually caved, allowing them to tag along under the belief that Dreykov would just send more enhanced Widows to Hala to take them again.

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After a while Vers, Nat, and Yelena finally arrive at C-53 to find some answers to the Icepick Protocol. Natasha uses her knowledge of the Red Room to determine that either Melina Vostakoff or Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian may be the best key to determining the source of the Icepick Protocol, since both were Dreykov's right hand lieutenants.

After managing to hack into the World Wide Web, they soon find that Alexei was incarcerated in the Seventh Circle Prison in Russia, so they covertly travel to the prison, managing to break Alexei out without being detected. Alexei, although overjoyed to see Nat and Yelena was met with a cold reception from both children.

Vers gets right to the point, asking Alexei about the Icepick Protocol, to which he explains that when Natasha and Yelena disappeared in '95, Dreykov called both him and Melina back as their cover for the infiltration of the North Institute was soon blown.

However, thanks to their moles inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. they were able to find out from the deceased Skrull of the existence of a Power Core belonging to Wendy Lawson, one that could give it's user powers similar to Vers. Thus, he began what he called the Icepick Protocol, sending out Superpowered Widows to spread Dreykov's will across the galaxy.

When Melina and Alexei tried to stop him, Alexei was imprisoned while Melina was forced to become his chief scientist for the project. Vers correctly determines that the Power Core must be the same Skrull Superweapon the Kree have been searching for.

Natasha then asks how Dreykov found the Core, to which Alexei says the mole found a Black Box with the coordinates to the Core included. Vers then tells them to take them there, to which he agrees, happy to have one more family adventure with Nat and Yelena however, none of them are in a happy mood about the situation.

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The group began their journey to the Red Room's new base of operations, The Bolshevik. Vers piloted The Hoopty into the base, surprised to find it is a former Kree Battle Cruiser. After successfully docking and infiltrating the base, the group moved quickly and quietly to where Dreykov's office was located, finding the Tesseract located within the room. They also find hidden inside the walls' airducts none other than Goose the Flerken, whom Yelena takes an immediately liking to.

Their attempts to take it are halted by none other than Melina Vostakoff, who holds Alexei at gunpoint demanding to know what they are doing there; Natasha stops Melina from opening fire, telling her they just came for the Tesseract. Vers then recognizes Melina as Nat and Yelena's adoptive mother, marking the moment as an awkward family reunion before asking Melina how Dreykov got a hold of a Kree Battle Cruiser. It's only when Melina closely examines Vers voice that she recognizes her as the woman from the Black Box.

Confused, they all then gathered at the nearby computer to listen to the Black Box Dreykov found, with Melina revealed they found it during the widespread search for Nat and Yelena. Listening to the events that transpired eight years ago with Vers and Mar-Vell. After hearing what was on the recording, Vers reclaimed her memories as Carol Danvers, learning that Yon-Rogg killed Mar-Vell and took her to Hala.

Most everyone is taken aback by the truth about the Kree using Carol her as a weapon. Alexei attempts to lighten the situation, only Nat to shut him up and scold Alexei and Melina, calling them cowards. Melina's attempts to justify herself only set off Carol, calling them out for even letting the possibility of Nat and Yelena going back to the Red Room even pass by in their heads, and for what's worse, fabricating their entire family as lie to serve a twisted madman.

Melina then pointed out that Vers never even bothered to take Nat and Yelena back home to Earth, to which Carol explains she did that to keep them away from the life of danger that her and Alexei would have put them in had she brought them back. Vers then asked what the Red Room would do to the girls when they returned, to which Melina and Alexei gives only silence, but it was an answer enough for her.

The group's argument is interrupted as the lights go out, with the other Superpowered Widows bursting in and subduing everyone inside the room, rendering everyone unconscious.

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When Carol awakens, she finds herself restrained with Dreykov standing over her. She attempts to blast him with his powers, only to find her power unresponsive. Dreykov then remarks at her incredible abilities, and how thanks to her and the Kree's technology, he was able to utilize their little inhibitors to his own benefit to control his Widows.

Carol calls out Dreykov for his actions and twisted methods, especially for endangering young children like Nat and Yelena. He shrugs it aside, monologuing about how he owns the world, and now thanks to Carol's potential, he will own far more.

Using his ring to access the information in the ship's computer, Dreykov shows Carol that thanks to Mar-Vell's work on the Tesseract, he has agents across dozens of cities across hundreds of planets. With the Icepick Protocol, he will spread his Superpowered Widows into his new Soviet Union across the universe.

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Elsewhere, Nat and Yelena awaken in a cell next to Alexei and Melina, both of them concerned for their safety, but nether girls were in the mood to talk. After collecting himself, Alexei proceeded to apologize for his misdeeds as a father and ask for her forgiveness. Yelena then expressed her anger towards him and Melina for not only lying to her about the Red Room but also the fact that she would have just handed them over to Dreykov when their mission was over like they never even mattered.

She laments that the hardest day of her life on Hala was the day the Natasha had to tell Vers the truth so that the Kree would believe they weren't Skrulls, which meant telling Yelena that not only was the only good part of her life was a lie, but that when it was over they would have been sent back to the Red Room to becomes killers and assassins, a life that neither she or Natasha never chose nor wanted.

Despite denying it at first, Melina realizes the true damage of what she actually did to her daughters, and realizes why they stayed with Carol. Having a change of heart, Melina realizes that she always worried that either Nat or Yelena would have caused them to fail the mission, but now she sees that if the girls was happier with Carol, then the only real failure was her and Alexei.

Natasha asks if they will really help them end this for good, to which Melina says they will or die trying. Unexpectedly, the cell door opened and when she asks why, Romanoff revealed she swiped one of the keys from Dreykov's desk during their infiltration. After managing to subdue one of the guards, they free Goose from imprisonment and reclaim Alexei's old Red Guardian gear, before making their way to free Carol from Dreykov.

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Back in his office, Dreykov sees the family moving through the halls, activating the Icepick Protocol once more and ordering his Widows to apprehend them. As he watches, Carol then gets an idea, beginning to mock Dreykov for how pathetic he is, goading him into punching her repeatedly as she continued to antagonize him. After Dreykov kicks her in to the nearby wall, the resounding impact causes her photon inhibitor to be crushed.

With everything she needed from Dreykov revealed, Carol smiled, however, confusing Dreykov as she thanked him for giving her the information she needed. She then blasted Dreykov into the nearby wall. Before she could kill Dreykov, she was stopped by the other Superpowered Widows as he escaped through the The Bolshevik's halls.

Danvers then attempted to release a powerful pulse, knocking them all away, but the other Superpowered Widows matched her power levels beat for beat, swarming her and overwhelming her with their power. Thankfully, the onslaught is stopped when the Widows are flail them about by a set of tentacles, knocking them all out and freeing Carol from the swarm.

After reuniting with Nat and Yelena, she tells Melina that they need to land the ship as soon as possible. Melina tells her that Dreykov protected The Bolshevik's controls with his ring, only for Carol to reveal she swiped it during her interrogation, using it to hack inside the ship's mainframe, redirecting the coordinates to land on a safe spot on Earth.

Melina then says Dreykov will attempt to thwart them by taking out the engines, so Carol tells Nat and Yelena to take Goose and the Tesseract and get to the nearest dropship and get off the station while the rest of them handle the engines. As Melina tries to warn them that the Tesseract is too dangerous for anyone other than Vers to hold bare-handed, Goose suddenly swallowed it, much to their shock. Nat and Yelena gives all three of the adults a big group hug before running off to the escape pods, as Carol, Melina, and Alexei make their way to the engine to stop Dreykov.

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A furious battle then erupted inside The Bolshevik for control of the Tesseract. During their escape from the base, Nat, Yelena, and Goose find the imprisoned Skrulls Mar-Vell sheltered during her time here. Despite being hesitant at first, Nat and Yelena ultimately decides to free them, believing they shouldn't have to suffer from the Kree or the Red Room anymore.

The freed Skrulls manage to provide a big enough distraction for them and Nat, Goose, and Yelena to get to the escape pods. However, just as they get to the pod, one of the widows shoots the pod and cuts off their escape, recapturing the girls and dragging them to the hangar bay.

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During the ensuing fight through the base, the parents ran through dozens of Widow soldiers, finally making it to The Bolshevik's engines, managing to defuse a rogue bomb and using Alexei's shield to trap the blast, preventing the engines from being destroyed.

However, the victory is short lived as they hear Dreykov over the radio, telling his troops to bring Nat and Yelena to the hangar. Just as they were about to make their move to the hangar, they were cut off by a squadron of Superpowered Widows. Carol tells Alexei and Melina to get the girls, and they run off as she holds off the squadron, finding herself evenly matched by the troops. She fights them off to the bone, determined not to let them win.

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Dreykov finally arrives to The Bolshevik's hangar where Nat and Yelena were dragged to, telling his troops to bring them aboard the dropship. Before they could however, a spray of Widow bites incapacitate them and the vehicle as Alexei and Melina have arrived.

Dreykov then grabbed the girls and used them a human shield, holding his blaster to their heads. Nat whispered for Yelena to stay calm, saying they would be okay. He told Alexei and Melina to drop their weapons, threatening their daughters lives. Yelena, still in Dreykov's grasp, manages to flash and slip Natasha a stolen tool she took from the fallen Widow guard.

Understanding her signal, Nat signaled for Alexei and Melina to be ready to fire as they steadied their ground. Nat stabbed the tool into Dreykov's arm, grabbing and pulling Yelena away as Alexei threw his shield into him, knocking him back into the vehicle; Melina then followed up on that by shooting Dreykov in the leg and stomach, crippling him.

As Dreykov collapsed to the ground, the girls ran to them, hugging them both. Dreykov attempted to pull a gun on the family, only to be blasted back into the hangar wall by a photon blast. The group turns to see a weary and battle damaged Carol and Goose stumbling into the room, with the girls embracing them. After the hug, Carol then walks over to the bloodied and defeated Dreykov, kneeling down and telling him that his empire is over, and that after all that talk of being powerful, here he'll die as a pitiful and pathetic monster. With his dying breath, Dreykov tells Carol that if he can't have his Widows, no one can.

Carol then realizes what he means, but not before an explosion occurs, caused by a backup bomb linked to Dreykov's heart. The engine erupts, sending The Bolshevik crashing down towards Earth as it's pulled down into the atmosphere. The Hangar bay also bursts, trapping Melina and Alexei under some debris, leaving them helpless as the atmospheric vacuum sucks Carol, Nat and Yelena outside as the emergency doors close behind them.

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As they were falling at a fast pace, Carol managed to glide over and catch both Nat and Yelena, holding the girls close to herself as they prepared for the end. During the fall, Carol apologized for everything that happened to them and her failure to break them free of their past, all her efforts amounted to nothing.

Despite being scared, Nat told Carol that it wasn't her fault, reassuring and admitting to her and Yelena that their family was real to her, no matter what. As they embraced each other, prepared for the end, Carol then began to focus herself and her power to protect their family. Suddenly the trio stopped falling as they opened their eyes, shocked to find themselves is floating in midair. Everyone is shocked and excited by Carol's new ability to fly, relieved they are saved.

Carol and the girls then took a moment to enjoy the fact that she could now fly, letting out loud cries of joy, only for their cheers to halt when Yelena sees the ship about to crash. Determined, Danvers then flew them safely to the nearby ground before flying back up to land The Bolshevik. Flying up to the underside of the ship, Carol braces herself and slows The Bolshevik's descent to the ground, steering their ship towards a safe landing space as it crashes down onto Earth's surface.

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Carol then manages to open the ships' hangar doors, finding Alexei, Melina, and Goose wearied but alive. She manages to free them and bring them outside where Nat and Yelena embrace all three parents with a big hug. That's when the Carol gets a call from Yon-Rogg again, demanding for her to explain what has happened on C-53. Now with the full truth in hand, Carol swears off Yon-Rogg, breaking her comm in half.

The battle being over, the groups scours the remains of The Bolshevik, finding The Hoopty still intact and functional. As she fixes up the ship, Carol tells the girls that she has a lot of things left to do, telling them that after she frees the other Widows, she's going to Hala to end the Kree-Skrull War for good, and then says if any of them want to come with her, there's always room.

Despite not wanting to let Nat and Yelena go, Alexei and Melina fully realize that the girls will likely never be safe on Earth with Dreykov's associates still out and about. Understanding that Carol may be better equipped and better suited to look after the girls Alexei and Melina bid farewell to their children as they leave them in the care of Carol.

After gifting Natasha with his old shield as a memento, Alexei finally gives Natasha and Yelena an apology for everything, telling them that they would be all right, and that they would be there to take care of each other. After the girls bid them goodbye and board The Hoopty with Goose, Carol assures them that she will take care of them as best as they can, to which Melina replies that she will do all she can to handle the surviving Skrulls and dismantle Dreykov's operations Earthside.

Before leaving, Carol gives them a note with Maria Rambeau's contact information, instructing them to let her know she'll be back as soon as possible. Alexei and Melina then watch as The Hoopty leaves the planet for space once more as the pair was left by themselves amidst the rubble as the local authority arrives and surrounds the pair.

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20 years after these events, Carol, Nat, Yelena attend the funeral for Maria Rambeau, giving condolences to Monica for her loss. Before they left, Monica told Nat and Yelena that if they wanted to put their skills to use, S.W.O.R.D. would be more than accepting for them. Nat tells them they'll consider it, walking back to their ship with Goose in tow.

As Carol sees the two of them getting along, Monica comments on how well she raised them; Carol simply replies that she can't get all the credit, since despite their rough past, Alexei and Melina deserve some as well for helping save their lives. After giving Monica her condolences again, she boards The Hoopty with the girls, heading off to embark on another cosmic adventure.

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Sorry if the lengthy bio, but I thought it would be a both interesting crossover concept for a future What If..? scenario to examine how these two different parts of the MCU's past would interact.

IDK, let me know what you guys think! Hope you like it!

[tobiasdrake]

Nat's "fight" with Dreykov is a work of art. Avengers 1 introduced Nat doing this sort of reverse interrogation. When we join her, we find her tied to a chair, using the perceived helplessness of her situation to coax information out of this crime boss.

Black Widow keys that particular skill into its finale. Dreykov has special pheromones that make it impossible to harm him, and Nat takes advantage of his confidence to interrogate him about the other Widows.

Mainly by emasculating him; Nothing gets under a domineering man's skin quite like being mocked by a woman. A man like Dreykov will say and do whatever it takes to be feared and respected by women.

And so Nat's needling achieves two goals: Getting him talking about how cool he is and how great this system he built is, and goading him into hitting her - With the intent to trick him into breaking her nose, so she can't inhale his troublesome pheromones.

Nat's line, "Thank you for your cooperation," directly referencing that scene from Avengers 1 that inspired this bit, is a solid fuck you to this asshole. But my favorite part is where the other part of Nat's plan went awry. She reveals that Dreykov's weak little boy punches actually weren't strong enough to do the job, then smashes her own face on the desk to break her nose.

Stone. Fucking. Cold. A brutal way to cap off a clever reference to one of Nat's earliest context-free MCU scenes.

Dreykov has given Nat a wide berth for fear of provoking retaliation from the likes of Iron Man and Thor. But in this moment, he learns that they aren't the ones he needs to be afraid of.

[voicesinthedarkness]

Child

TRIGGER WARNING: IMPLIED CHILD NEGLECT

Chapter One

He finds her in a safe house.

Shots are fired. Three arrows leave black marks on the wall next to a window. Finally, he pins her to the floor and holds a knife to her throat. Something flashes in her eyes, something that makes him stop.

It is not anger, or hate, or vengeance.

It is regret.

Remorse.

Fear.

Sorrow.

He stares down at her, panting. She stares up at him, no longer struggling. Resigned to her fate. “Black Widow,” he says, voice still rough as he tries to catch his breath. “Hawkeye,” she replies steadily, her Russian accent thick.

“Do you want to live?”

“I… I don’t know.”

His voice softens. “If I roll off of you right now, are you going to attack me?” Her breath shudders in surprise. “No.”

And she doesn’t.

“What’s your name?” he asks, dabbing at the small scrape on her throat. She hesitates, thinking, then answers, “Natalia. But… but my friends call me Natasha.” He smiles. “Hi, Natasha. I’m Clint.”

~ ~ ~

Natasha Romanoff

“We need confirmation Dreykov’s in the building,” Clint says, eyes focused on said building from his perch a few roofs away. “His car is pulling up now,” Natasha reports. She watches as a young girl, no more than four or five years old, with hair even redder than Natasha’s exits the car and is ushered inside. Her eyes follow the girl to the second floor, heading to a room with a familiar figure inside. This is wrong, she thinks suddenly. The girl shouldn’t be killed for Dreykov’s sins. But if Dreykov dies…

Maybe my own sins can be forgiven.

“Natasha, we clear?”

“Yes,” she answers automatically and promptly regrets it. “Wai—”

But the building is already exploding. The girl’s tiny body is wreathed in flames and propelled through a window. She lands below Natasha’s hiding spot on an apartment building fire escape, bruised, bleeding, and unconscious, but strangely unburned. Natasha easily slips from her hiding spot into the alley, feet thudding on the gravel-strewn asphalt next to the girl. Clint runs up to them, a first-aid pack in his hands. “Hey,” he pants, kneeling and taking out a couple alcohol wipes and some bandages. “How’d you find her?” he asks, cleaning a scrape on the girl’s arm. “She was flung out of the building by the explosion,” Natasha explains, bandaging a cut on her leg. “So… probably part of the Red Room?” Natasha nods. “I… I couldn’t leave her. To be… made into another Widow.” The girl’s hair is coated in ash and dust, but a few of the fiery red-gold curls still glitter in the light. Clint nods too, touching Natasha’s arm gently. “I don’t want that either.”

They work together in silence for the next several minutes, until a gunshot hits the brick of the building behind them, not far above Clint’s head. Immediately he’s up, the girl in his arms, zipping down the alley. Natasha fires her own gun while packing up the first aid kit as fast as possible and follows him.

The gunman chases them for several blocks and into a train station. They dart around a couple corners, until Natasha spots a grate in the ceiling, leading to an air vent. She gestures to it and Clint nods, shifting the girl in his arms so that he can reach up and swing it open. He lifts the girl inside, pulls himself up, and holds out his hands to help Natasha up. “Come on!” he hisses impatiently when Natasha pauses, her independent instincts warring with the critical goal of hiding. Finally, she gives the first aid kit to Clint and grabs his hands once he’s shoved it behind him. He pulls her up easily and gets the vent closed once more just before the gunman comes around the corner, raging about what he’s going to do to someone named Iskra Khozyaikova.

He searches for a long time, so long that Clint eventually takes out a Sharpie and draws a strange grid on the wall of the vent. Natasha can only give him a look of complete confusion. He draws an x in one space, holding the permanent marker out to her. Hesitantly, she takes it and draws her own x. Clint’s eyes widen with surprise. “Do you know how to play tic tac toe?” he whispers. Natasha shakes her head mutely. Clint's expression saddens, but at the look on Natasha's face, he wipes it away quickly. “One person draws x’s and the other draws o’s,” he explains, still whispering. “The first person who gets a line of three wins.” Natasha nods in understanding and draws a new grid, then an o in the far-right middle space, and hands the marker to Clint.

They play two or three dozen games before they both decide it’s safe to leave. Natasha wins the most by far.

~ ~ ~

Clint leads Natasha, the girl in her arms, to a safe house. She wakes up at the sound of the door creaking open, her golden eyes instantly filling with fear. She twists and writhes, but her body is so small and her strength so little that Natasha keeps hold of her easily. “Ты в безопасности,” (you’re safe) she soothes, carefully setting her down when she pauses for a moment. Clint heads to the tiny kitchen, taking three cans of baked beans from the pantry, dumping them in bowls, and putting them in the microwave. “Хотите немного еды?” (Would you like some food?) Natasha asks, leading the girl into the kitchen. She nods after a moment, tentatively climbing onto a chair. “She looks really malnourished. Don’t let her eat too much,” Clint warns. Natasha makes a noise of agreement, watching carefully as the three of them eat and nudging the girl’s bowl away when the amount of beans in the bowl has visibly decreased. “Остальное вы сможете получить позже,” (you can have the rest later) Natasha reassures in response to the girl’s sound of protest. “Как тебя зовут?” (What's your name?) Natasha says. The girl just stares at her silently, clearly still suspicious. Natasha exhales. “Хорошо, ну, меня зовут Наташа, а моего друга зовут Клинт.” (Okay, well, my name is Natasha, and my friend’s name is Clint.) The girl flinches when she hears друга (friend). “Что не так?” (What's wrong?) Natasha asks, reaching out to take the girl's hand, but she jerks away, eyes wide. “Нет,” (no) she whispers. “Пожалуйста.” (Please.) Natasha nods, pulling away. “Ты безопасности здесь,” (you're safe here) she repeats. “Обещать.” (promise)

Chapter Two