Retnikopf: Widow Of Siberia (old Version)

Chapter 12 - Where've You Been?

Large strands of hair had fallen out of Vienna's braid as she had gotten thrown about in her fights against the bots. A long cut went from the tip of her chin down her neck, not deep enough to kill her but enough to be painful everytime she moved.

Fortunately, the hydra robot soldiers were starting to thin out and a win was looking like it was in sight. But, the Avengers were thinning out too. These bots packed a punch and they were all feeling it.

Vienna stumbled to her feet after bashing the head of one of the bots into a dent. She did a quick scan of the sky for what felt like the hundredth time since she'd pressed the button. It wasn't the first time she'd been let down, they'd been dealing without her so far, they'd have to finish this without Captain Marvel as well.

Looking up, Vienna saw Kate a few yards away from her. She was focused on her next shot and didn't see the other bot aiming it's weapon straight for her. In a quick dash, Vienna took a slide and tackled Kate to the floor, getting her out of the way of the first blast. The bot fired up again before they could get out of its way again, Vienna pushed with all she could to move Kate to safety but had no time for herself. All she could do was hide behind her arm and brace for its impact.

Vienna felt a squeeze on a hand, that she wasn't expecting to be there. Opening her eyes, she saw Kate smiling at her.

"She came," Kate almost whispered as she held onto Vienna's hand in relief, "We're good."

Vienna turned her head to see a light zipping through the air, taking out the remaining bots in the city with ease.

Kate helped Vienna to her feet and they watched Carol clean up the rest of the bots. Once she was done, Carol circled round and landed in front of Vienna who wore an angry glare on her face.

"Hey kid," Carol chirped.

She gain no response from Vienna, all she did was step passed her.

"What's up with her?" Carol asked Kate, who felt a little awkward to be standing there.

"You were a little late," Kate told her, following after Vienna.

--

"Where's Shuri?" Vienna asked Harley who was resting on a piece of building.

"We found her she's fine," he told her, "coms broke."

"Okay good, and Sam?" she continued to ask around about what had happened to the rest of the Avengers.

"I'm here," Sam said, walking towards her. His suit was busted up but he seemed fine.

"And James?" she asked him, looking around to try and see him, "where's Bucky?!"

Vienna began to panic in her anger, she looked frantically around her only to get grabbed by the shoulders by Carol.

"Hey, calm down," Carol told her, she was trying to calm her down but all she did was focus Vienna's attention on herself.

"Where were you?" Vienna asked, her tone venomous as she glared up at her, "there was an emergency, and I called, where the hell have you been?"

"Listen I--" Carol started but Vienna cut her off immediately.

"People died!" Vienna raised her voice as she spoke, "people died that didn't need to because you weren't here. We were so close to losing people because you weren't here. I don't care how many little Martian kids got to give you a hug before you left, but you promised you'd be here for us and you weren't. We took the leap and we fell, and the safety net wasn't there to catch us."

"Kid--" Carol tried but she could see the residual fear fading out in Vienna's eyes, the regret from lashing out could be seen clearly in her face as her mother came to remove her from the situation.

"Come on," Melina spoke softly as she gently pulled Vienna away from Carol, "it's okay, let's go."

Melina lead her over to where Yelena was sitting. Vienna could feel everything becoming more and more overwhelming as the adrenaline wore off.

"You're safe baby," Melina told her, cupping Vienna's face, trying to lift it up from the floor, "Look at me, look up for me."

Vienna was shaking, it was just like when she would have a nightmare, she felt a little dizzy as she sat looking at her mother. Yelena leaned forward in silence and wrapped her arms around her sister, resting her head on her shoulder.

"You didn't hurt anyone today," Melina told her, remembering the little girl that would do this whenever she had had to hurt someone in the red room, "what you did today, saved lives. You saved us and so many others. You called her for help, she may not have come as fast as you wanted her to but, we're alive and that's what matters."

"Mama," Vienna said quietly, her breathing was starting to steady, "is everyone okay? Is everyone safe? Where's Alexei?"

"He's around," Melina's voice was soft, she didn't want to put any kind of tone into it and stress Vienna out any further, "don't worry about that, he'll be here."

"Alexei!" Vienna called, lifting her head out of Melina's hands. Yelena lifted her head but didn't let go as Vienna sat up, "Alexei! Dad!"

"Right here," Alexei called out to her as he jogged over, half limping as he hurried over to his family. "I'm here. I'm okay."

Vienna let out her breath as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She let her head fall down onto Melina's shoulder as her mother held her with a hand holding onto Yelena as well. Her kids were safe and that was all she cared about. She couldn't lose another one.