"She was only 6 years old back then, just 6! In her heart, I was her sister, but I didn't protect her!"
Tears shimmered in Black Widow's eyes.
Blake walked over, gently embracing the Black Widow who was sitting on the sofa, and softly kissed her head through her hair.
In a gentle voice, he asked, "And then?"
"Then..."
A look of struggle and pain appeared in Black Widow's eyes.
"I was lucky enough to survive the Red Room, complete my training, and become a 'Black Widow.' They... they removed my uterus and fallopian tubes..."
Blake felt Black Widow's body tremble slightly, and he tightened his arms around her. "It's not your fault!"
Maybe it was the photo of Yelena that had triggered Black Widow's memories, or perhaps it was Blake's gentle comfort and reassurance. Or maybe it was both.
Black Widow then told him everything, clearly recounting her experiences before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. Meeting Hawkeye, failing her mission, being spared by him, and finally, with his help, carrying out the mission to kill Dreykov.
"I watched Dreykov's little daughter walk into that house. From the look in her eyes, I knew she didn't know anything—she was just an innocent, ordinary girl. But I still pressed the detonator..."
Black Widow had uncovered the deepest scar in her heart, and finally, she let go of all her defenses, bursting into tears.
For so many years, she had been a killing machine in the Red Room, killing scientists, politicians, and enemy spies. But never an innocent little girl—especially not because she was desperate to leave the Red Room.
At the moment she detonated the bomb, she even imagined Yelena grown up, her eyes just as pure and innocent as Dreykov's daughter's.
After a long, long time...
Black Widow's emotions gradually calmed down.
Curled up in Blake's arms, she looked up and said, "I'm a monster. I don't have a uterus; I don't even have the right to be a mother..."
Blake's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"I'm a monster too. I'm invulnerable, super strong, and can even breathe fire… I sometimes wonder if I ate a few gourds in my past life..."
"Gourds?"
Black Widow was successfully distracted by Blake.
"Yeah, gourds! Let me tell you the story of the Calabash Brothers... A long, long time ago, there was an old man..."
"And in the end... the seven Calabash Brothers defeated the Scorpion Demon and the Snake Demon, and lived happily ever after in the mountains!"
Black Widow burst out laughing at Blake's absurd version of the story.
"So, dear Mr. Calabash Blake, where's your Snake Demon?"
"I don't like snakes; I like spiders—the more venomous, the better, like a Black Widow..."
Before Blake could finish, his words were cut off by Black Widow.
This kiss was different from their previous ones—today, Black Widow was more teasing, more aggressive.
Blake, overwhelmed with excitement, fumbled to undress Black Widow.
But she gently pushed him down onto the sofa.
Backlit by the moonlight, Black Widow stood above him, slowly undoing the straps of her dress.
The silk dress slid down her smooth, fair skin.
Blake couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
Black Widow looked at the undisguised passion and admiration in Blake's eyes.
She smiled slightly. "My little Calabash, here I come!"
Under the moonlight, her flawless body slowly leaned down on top of Blake...
... The night passed in silence(non)...
... Leaving much to the imagination...
The next morning.
Blake slowly opened his eyes in a ray of sunlight, feeling the warmth in his arms and the incredible smoothness and elasticity beneath his hand.
He grinned silently.
Although, due to the injury on Black Widow's back, not all of the skills he'd diligently learned from his years of "study" were put to use, the experience had been more than enough to savor.
As he gently caressed the scar on Black Widow's back, he recalled the stories she had told him the day before.
Having just been discharged after an attack, Natasha suddenly received news of her long-lost sister.
What a coincidence—there was no way things could be that coincidental. Now that Black Widow had become his woman, Blake decided to take on the burdens of her past grudges and feuds as well.
Originally, Blake had planned to ask Nick Fury for some information about the Red Room. However, with Yelena's sudden appearance, he decided to sit back and wait for his opponents to come to him, curious to see what their real intentions were.
Sure enough…
After spending a few sweet and shameless days with Black Widow, one night around eleven o'clock…
Blake and Black Widow were passionately kissing on the sofa, and just as Blake picked her up, ready to carry her to the bedroom, Nicole's voice echoed through the living room.
After moving to New York, Blake had Tony set up a system here as well, though it was mainly connected to the hidden chamber in his Los Angeles apartment.
"Sir, I know I shouldn't disturb you right now, but Mr. Stark is at the door, and he says he needs to see you about something."
If it weren't for Nicole's voice, Blake would've almost forgotten that he and Tony were neighbors in New York.
"Tell him to go back to his own place. I'm in the middle of something important..."
Blake perfectly embodied the phrase "prioritizing love over friendship."
"Sir, I think you should open the door. Miss Romanoff might be interested in what Mr. Stark has in his hands."
Nicole switched the TV to show Tony standing outside the door, holding a brown paper envelope.
"Blake..."
Black Widow looked at Blake with hope in her eyes.
Knowing how to prioritize, Blake sighed and said, "Go change your clothes. Nicole, tell that bastard to wait a minute at the door."
To be fair, Tony didn't intentionally mean to interrupt them. How was he supposed to know Blake had taken Black Widow home? S.H.I.E.L.D. had given her time off to recover, and agents' whereabouts during leave were usually kept secret. Who knew Blake would bring her straight home?
Tony walked in, waving the envelope.
"Blake, what have you been up to lately? I haven't seen you in days. It took forever for Nicole to open the door. Are you hiding a woman in here?"
He casually tossed the envelope to Blake.
"Go get the booze you've been stealing from me. I need a drink with you. You have no idea what's been going on with me and Pepper... Wait, what? Natasha! You two are actually living together!"
Tony stopped mid-sentence, suddenly seeing Natasha walk out of the bedroom in her loungewear.
With a shocked expression, he threw his arm around Blake's shoulders.
"Did I just interrupt something? Heh! What's going on with you? You're only in your twenties! My God, and you've already brought a woman home? What's wrong with a hotel suite? Don't tell me you're giving up the whole forest at such a young age. Let me tell you, a man who's never been a lumberjack is disgraceful…"
Tony gave Blake two hard punches to the ribs, then turned to Black Widow with a genuine smile.
"I never thought you two would officially get together. Congratulations, Natasha, congrats to both of you!"