[Many think that her value to Fury is her fighting prowess. Her willingness to do whatever's necessary to get the job done. But it's her ability to read people that makes her a dangerous asset. A tool that the Red Room honed to a knife sharp point, the same way they'd whittled the rest of her skills to lethality. As he answers her question, she can see the shape of it crystal clear, as if the past is in the room with them, just out of sight over his shoulder.
They'd found the button to press to break him and they'd held it down until it stopped working. Held it down until he craved any kind of human presence. Held it down until they didn't have to hold him down so they could start building their weapon on top of the torment. She can see too how this would make him easy to manipulate. If she were still with the Red Room, she could have reported this to her handlers and brought him under her thumb.
Thankfully, she's a long way from the Red Room now. There will be no report on this delivered to Nick Fury. No observation shared with his therapist, or even with the other people in his life. This is his story to share. His path to walk.
It's quiet for a moment as she considers this information. Her hand rests on his metal arm, and after a moment, she looks up to take in the expression on his face. Part of him is still there, in the dark, alone, desperate for any sign that he's still a person, that there are still other people in the world.
The same way that there will always be a part of her stranded shivering in Siberia, waiting to see which of the widows will make the first move.
Her gaze is understanding. It's a close neighbor to sympathy, because there's still sorrow in her - for the way they've both been treated by the world - but sympathy isn't what he needs. He needs to find his way out of the dark.]
HYDRA took you out of your life and made you a weapon the same way the Red Room did to me. We both did what we had to do to survive. And we both have to live with what that means. I think there's probably still a part of you that's waiting for that cycle to start over again. After every deep cover mission the Red Room sent us on, they cycled us back through. The selection process. The conditioning. It made it so that it took time after I got out to believe that I really was out. Is there anything that helps you feel safe from that?
and it's piping hot!
They'd found the button to press to break him and they'd held it down until it stopped working. Held it down until he craved any kind of human presence. Held it down until they didn't have to hold him down so they could start building their weapon on top of the torment. She can see too how this would make him easy to manipulate. If she were still with the Red Room, she could have reported this to her handlers and brought him under her thumb.
Thankfully, she's a long way from the Red Room now. There will be no report on this delivered to Nick Fury. No observation shared with his therapist, or even with the other people in his life. This is his story to share. His path to walk.
It's quiet for a moment as she considers this information. Her hand rests on his metal arm, and after a moment, she looks up to take in the expression on his face. Part of him is still there, in the dark, alone, desperate for any sign that he's still a person, that there are still other people in the world.
The same way that there will always be a part of her stranded shivering in Siberia, waiting to see which of the widows will make the first move.
Her gaze is understanding. It's a close neighbor to sympathy, because there's still sorrow in her - for the way they've both been treated by the world - but sympathy isn't what he needs. He needs to find his way out of the dark.]
HYDRA took you out of your life and made you a weapon the same way the Red Room did to me. We both did what we had to do to survive. And we both have to live with what that means. I think there's probably still a part of you that's waiting for that cycle to start over again. After every deep cover mission the Red Room sent us on, they cycled us back through. The selection process. The conditioning. It made it so that it took time after I got out to believe that I really was out. Is there anything that helps you feel safe from that?