Damian had just arrived home.

He was at the award ceremony that the president organized for Tony in gratitude for saving him.

Tony had insisted that he come so that a bunch of annoying people wouldn't surround them.

Despite his thoughts, it was worse as they had almost created a mob of people around them.

As he walked through the living room, he saw Monica and Jane still lazing around, playing video games or taking a walk around city.

With a mischievous smile, he approached them quietly before covering both of their eyes with each hand.

Immediately, there were screams of protest as they tried to move their heads to see the screen.

Damian chuckled under his breath before disappearing.

In the room, only the two women remained, looking annoyed around, easily guessing who had been behind it.

Damian appeared in the backyard where Ana was playing with the girls.

They were soaked while using water guns to play.

To one side he saw a rather large hole in the ground, he chuckled as they had barely started when he left.

Watching them play, he simply sat in the chair under the shade and observed.

After a while, Ana talked to the girls, telling them to continue without her before she approached Damian and sat on his lap while hugging him.

Her hair was wet, with small water droplets on her face.

"Hello," said Ana, kissing Damian.

"Hello," said Damian, smiling as he hugged Ana's waist, pulling her close to his body while both watched the girls play.

"Wasn't it Natasha's turn?" Damian casually asked.

"Yes, but she left in a hurry. I didn't get a chance to ask what she was up to," Ana said as she settled in and rested her head on Damian's shoulder.

"That's strange," Damian murmured, realizing that nothing unusual should be happening at this time.

In the end, he stopped thinking about it. The supposed plot or timeline was already completely distorted, and he wouldn't be surprised if Thanos showed up on Earth tomorrow.

He just wondered what Natasha was doing; she would probably tell him when she came back.

"Daddy, let's play!" Alice said, running to his side and placing her water gun on his shoulder.

"Sure, sweetheart, let's play," Damian said, laughing before giving Ana a kiss and standing up.

....

"Hey, stop pressing buttons," Natasha said, looking at her sister, who was examining the ship with curiosity and pressing things to see their function.

"Don't be stingy; we're in the middle of nowhere. Even if I shoot a couple of times, it won't hurt anyone," Yelena said, looking at Natasha with a smile.

Natasha shook her head with a smile, looking ahead she saw the landscape completely white and desolate.

"Are you sure he's here? And why was he locked up in the first place?" Natasha asked, confused referring to her father. She had heard about his imprisonment, but at that moment, she was so angry with her father for leaving them that she hadn't bothered to find out.

"I'm not sure; I just heard that he was locked up many years ago, not long after we were separated," Yelena said, looking at Natasha.

Natasha looked at Yelena with a smile, "I see, and how do you want to do that?''

''What if we just shoot at the prison and destroy it? I'm sure Dad can handle a building falling on him,'' Yelena said excitedly about firing the ship's weapons.

''We can do that, but we should also follow the plan we already had,'' Natasha said with a spiteful smile, she definitely wanted to throw a building at her cheap father.

The ship quickly arrived over the prison in stealth mode before Natasha's control released a small drone that began descending toward the prison.

The drone infiltrated through the ventilation before entering the cells and started searching for Alexei.

Yelena pressed her head against Natasha's as they watched the image sent by the drone.

After a short search, they quickly located their target.

"Wow, he looks terrible and has gained a lot of weight," Yelena said, looking at her father.

"It seems that Dad hasn't had an easy time in these years," Natasha said, thoughtfully looking at Alexei.

"Do they not have razors in this place?" Natasha asked, making a face at his long, unkempt, and dirty beard.

Natasha controlled the drone and made it approach Alexei, who seemed to be taking a nap in his cell.

The drone flew at the level of Alexei's ear before shooting a communicator that entered perfectly into his ear.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Alexei rubbed his ear, frowning uncomfortably. Sensing something inside, he couldn't help but sit up before taking it out and looking.

Seeing that it was a communicator, he quickly put it in his ear and waited.

"Today's your lucky day, Alexei," Natasha said.

"Go to the kitchen; we'll blow up the place, so you have to get out quickly. Try to be a little discreet," Natasha said. The kitchen was the least secure place, and a small explosion would create an opening to escape.

''Take cover too, it's going to be a big explosion," Natasha said.

"Can I shoot?" Yelena asked, looking at Natasha trying to appear adorable.

"I'll give you control," Natasha said, activating the weapon system.

Yelena took control while maneuvering the ship to aim before firing with a big smile.

The ship's main cannon fired something like a blue bubble that hit the target at high speed but did not cause any damage on contact.

It only shone for a moment before exploding violently, creating a loud noise.

Alexei, who was a bit closer than they had told him, couldn't help but be blown away and hit the wall.

"Cough cough, that's more than a big explosion," Alexei said, coughing as he stood up and looked in amazement at how the building had disappeared, leaving only snow and high mountains in the distance.

He began to run outside to the sound of alarms and the heavy steps in his direction.

When he exited the half-destroyed building, he found a medium-sized ship measuring about 10 meters long.

A door opened, and without thinking too much, he ran inside.

Alexei exhaled loudly as he sat down and looked at Natasha and Yelena, who were in the pilot seats.

Natasha quickly controlled the ship and took off.

"I'm very proud of you girls. It means a lot to me that both of you came for me," Alexei said, approaching both.

Yelena couldn't help but tease and hit him in the face.

"It would have meant a lot if you had come for me too," Yelena said, looking angrily at her father.

Alexei seemed affected by her words before shaking his head and continuing to display a smile.

"Where is the Red Room?" Natasha asked directly.

"Straight to the point, huh?" Alexei said, feigning sadness, realizing that he was only rescued because she needed something from him.

"Yes, that's right," Natasha said irritably, without having much patience for Alexei

"The sweet Natasha, a true Avenger, even brought the Avengers' superjet," Alexei said, amused, marveling at the technological marvel that the ship was.

"Where is the Red Room?" Natasha asked again.

"I have no idea," Alexei said, provoking sounds of annoyance from Natasha and Yelena.

Natasha activated autopilot before standing up and sitting in front of Alexei.

"What are you talking about? You and Dreykov were like brothers," Natasha said, frowning and speaking loudly.

"Dreyk-" Alexei began to speak only to stop, surprised, as he looked at Natasha.

"Who are you?" Alexei couldn't help but say, jokingly.

Alexei approached Natasha and tried to pull her hair, taking her face closer to his eyes to see if she had contact lenses.

"Don't touch me, and you stink," Natasha said, annoyed before hitting Alexei in the stomach, making him stagger and cough.

"Cough, your mother and I didn't raise you to be so vain," Alexei said, coughing.

"You didn't raise me; the Red Room did," Natasha said resentfully.

"Cough... anyway, you say we were like brothers? General Dreykov?" Alexei said mockingly and resentfully.

"He offers me glory, the only super-soldier of the Soviet Union, stronger even than Captain America."

"Then he buries me in that mission in Ohio, three tedious years," Alexei said, raising his voice in irritation.

Yelena and Natasha just looked at Alexei as if they couldn't believe he was saying that.

"Well, no offense, you know how I am, going to an office every day is no different from torturing myself," Alexei said uncomfortably, receiving their glares.

''When I come back to collect my reward, he locks me in prison," Alexei said in frustration as he kicked the floor of the ship.

"And why, huh? Why?"

"Just because I told him his hairstyle and mustache were ridiculous? Just because I told him he dressed like an idiot? Just because I said the political party felt like a bunch of treacherous snakes?"

"I gave everything for the political party, literally everything."

"But in return? He throws me into prison for the rest of my life," Alexei said, annoyed.

"Since he's useless, can we throw him out of the ship?" Yelena said, annoyed.

"When we're much higher," Natasha said, looking at Alexei as if she wanted to beat him.

"Why don't you ask Melina?" Alexei said.

"Mama Melina?" Yelena said in surprise.

"Hasn't she died?" Natasha asked, doubtful.

"A cunning fox like her doesn't die easily," Alexei said with a chuckle.

"She was the scientist, the brain; I was the muscle. She has worked with Dreykov much more than I have," Alexei said.

"Wait, you mean Melina is still working for the Red Room?" Natasha asked, frowning.

"Yes, remotely on the outskirts of St. Petersburg," Alexei said.

''It is possible that she will not tell us or even warn Dreykov that we are looking for him, the man is very elusive," Natasha said, frowning, not wanting to let it slip.

"Come on, Nat, trust your mother," Alexei said, trying to be positive.

Natasha just scoffed before changing the course of the ship.

The white environment was left behind, and they quickly crossed several cities before reaching their destination.

"Technology has advanced quite a bit," Alexei commented casually as he explored the ship.

"How much does one of these cost?" Alexei asked casually.

"I don't know," Natasha replied dryly.

The ship soon arrived at a farm under Alexei's direction.

From the window, they could see a woman with black hair looking at them with a rifle in her arms, aiming.

Natasha made the ship land before opening the door and descending, followed by Yelena and Alexei

Melina, who was aiming at them, was surprised to see them before lowering the weapon hesitantly.

"Honey, we're home," Alexei said, smiling.

Melina remained silent, looking at Natasha and Yelena with an inexplicable gaze, unsure if she felt guilt or sadness upon seeing them.

"This way," Melina said, indicating for them to follow her. As she walked, her expression gradually calmed down.

The sudden appearance of her family took her completely by surprise.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Melina said, leading them to her house, a small wooden cabin.

"Make yourselves at home," Melina said before opening a secret wall and storing her weapon.

Natasha just took Yelena's hand and led her to sit at the table; she was not afraid of any tricks Melina might pull.

Yelena glanced at Natasha for a moment, she was no child, but she enjoyed her sister's attention.

Alexei began to explore the house before disappearing from Natasha's view.

Natasha sat across from Yelena and took her hand again, seeing that her expression was not entirely good.

Melina also arrived and sat next to Yelena.

The three women remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"Let's drink," Melina said, taking a bottle of vodka from the table and pouring it into each cup.

Before they could take a sip, their attention was drawn to Alexei, who cleared his throat loudly to get their attention.

Alexei had a proud smile, wearing his red suit with a large star on his chest.

"I still look good, don't I?" Alexei said, posing proudly.

Melina looked at him and whistled appreciatively while applauding.

"God..." Yelena said, turning her head, not wanting to see more while sighing.

Alexei laughed more cheerfully upon hearing Melina as he approached and sat at the table.

"The family, finally reunited," Alexei said, smiling.

"I must say you haven't aged a day, just like the day we pretended to get married," Alexei said in a raspy voice, looking into Melina's eyes.

Yelena and Natasha couldn't help but take a sip of vodka before sighing, trying not to listen.

"Your weight has increased, but you still look good," Melina said somewhat flirtatiously.

"I just got out of prison, and well... I have a lot of energy," Alexei said with a suggestive expression as he approached Melina.

"Please, no," Natasha said, massaging her forehead.

"Melina, where is the Red Room?" Natasha said, tired of the show and getting straight to the point.