((Contains material of an adult nature.))

One thing Tony Stark was very good at was responding quickly to an emergency. Just as Nikolai and Alyona had expected, a drone had been dispatched to investigate the missile fire near their location, and even through the snowstorm's last hour, they had managed to flag it down as it passed overhead. Barely two hours later, a familiar roar declared the arrival of the quinjet with Sam and Natasha at the helm, collecting their wayward teammates easily and no doubt giving Hydra something to think about. The Iron Legion was also deployed in the area, with the purpose of making sure that Pietrovich and his family got out of the region without being harassed or attacked.

Despite Nikolai's best efforts, Alyona had utterly failed to rest properly during their tense sojourn in the vardo, almost asleep on her feet by the time they got on board. She promptly passed out on one of the medi-benches, allowing herself to relax as the quinjet rose into the upper atmosphere and went sonic. Natasha glanced over her shoulder with a wry smile for Nikolai. "You look like you could do with a nap, too."

Just as exhausted as Alyona, his body working to heal the wounds that were now more annoying than actually painful, Nikolai was relieved Alyona was resting at last, but he still felt too restless to do the same. "I'll rest when we get back," he told Natasha, too stubborn to give in to mere human weariness. "There's a Hydra base somewhere nearby," he told her, wasting no time in filling her in.

"Figured that missile blast must have been for you," Nat commented mildly, nodding for Sam to take over piloting as she moved to input what Niko had to say into the computers. "How'd they find you? Took me months to find that spot."

Nikolai practically scowled at her question, obviously not happy about the answer he was about to give her. "A tracking device in my arm," he replied, pointing to the very spot where Alyona had found it but had been unable to remove it or even disable it. "Alyona was able to block it somehow, but it needs to be removed."

"Huh." Typically, Natasha didn't have a whole lot to say about that. "I guess we're getting Richards and the doc on the case, then." She shrugged, scanning the satellite images on the screen in front of her. "You guys did some damage without us" I'm hurt." She was referring, of course, to the still smoking trucks and discernible bodies around them, visible from the aerial views she had of the area.

Nikolai's lips twitched, almost as if he might smile. "We are a good team," he said, meaning himself and Alyona. The two of them had done more damage all on their own than that of a small army. His gaze drifted briefly to the sleeping Alyona before moving back to Natasha. "She is young," he mused aloud, more to himself than to her really.

Natasha's gaze flickered to the sleeping woman and back to him, her own smile wry and just a little uncomfortably knowing. "Not that young," she pointed out. "Takes more than years to age someone up, Petrov, you know that."

"Da, I know," he replied, but he was not talking about years as measured by experience or knowledge, but merely time. By the measure of time, he was old; and yet, he had only been thirty-two when he'd gone into the cryotank. Physically and mentally, he was still thirty-two, despite it being over fifty years later.

"Did I miss the big moment with you two?" Nat asked, half-teasing and half-serious. "Cap owes me a dollar. I called it when she reached into your head and brought you back to yourself, months ago. You should thank me, really." She flashed him a faint grin.

"The big moment?" Nikolai echoed, brows furrowing in confusion. Which big moment was she referred to exactly' "Thank you for what?" he asked further, since it was Alyona who had brought him back to himself and Alyona who had dared to love him. What had Natasha done but guess what the outcome might be?

"For getting you two on ops together," she shrugged, casually taking the credit in her own inimitable way. "Stark was all for keeping you on opposite sides of the mansion for a while there. I had your corner."

"Because he did not trust me," Nikolai said, making a pretty good guess. He had often wondered how Tony Stark felt about three Russians infiltrating his very American mansion.

"Tony doesn't trust anybody all that much," Nat shrugged again. Her fingers moved quickly over the keypad, sending off the data to be analyzed back home. "It's not really anything to do with you. He's still feeling bad for suggesting she's a rogue WMD when we first picked her up. Overkill is a good way of describing how he thinks he's making up for it. You have seen the wardrobe he bought her, right?"

"They do not suit her," he said, with a frown of obvious distaste. Yes, he had seen the clothes Stark had bought her, or at least, some of them, but he thought she should choose for herself. She was neither a schoolgirl nor a model, though he thought she was pretty enough.

"Really?" Natasha looked surprised. "I'd have thought you'd have liked the little black dress, at least. Or is that too grown up for the little girl?" Her expression was just a little caustic; he couldn't have it both ways. Alyona was either old enough to love him, or she wasn't - that was all there was to it.

"You twist my words," he told her, sounding not only defensive but a little annoyed. "I only mean that she should be able to choose her own things, not feel indebted to Tony Stark," he said, though he supposed they were all indebted to Stark, one way or another.

"Surprise you to learn she did choose most of it?" the redhead told him in a mild tone. "Tony's not a complete ass. He doesn't think, and he doesn't stop himself reacting, but he treats her more like a little sister than he treats his sisters. He wouldn't wish harm on her, any more than you would."

"Then, I suppose we have nothing to complain about," Nikolai said, wondering why he was feeling so tense when it came to this subject. It wasn't jealousy, exactly. He didn't want to be Alyona's brother; he wanted to be something more, and it irked him a little that Tony Stark had insisted on playing the part of big brother.

Natasha considered him for a long moment. "You work on being with her," she told him finally. "Leave Stark to me." With a final tap on the screen, she finished up her inputting. "And get some sleep, Petrov."

He sighed, knowing Natasha meant well, as did Tony Stark. He wasn't sure what it was that was bothering him. Maybe it was the fact that they all depended far too much on the generosity of Tony Stark. Maybe it was that there was no real privacy at the mansion to speak of, with one or another of the Avengers always lurking somewhere nearby. Whatever it was, he had to admit that he was indebted to the Avengers for rescuing him, so why was he feeling so trapped suddenly' He said nothing in reply to Natasha, knowing he had a few hours to rest, if he could. And he knew he should.

Whether he managed to rest or not, the quinjet landed back at the Avengers Mansion within four hours - twice the time it had taken to reach them in Russia, but breaking the sound barrier too often could draw unwelcome attention. True to her promise, Natasha diverted Tony's arrival with an overload of information, and set him on the task of devising some comms system that could be carried easily and concealed, strong enough to reach halfway around the world without needing a battery the size of a baby.

Jarvis waited until Nikolai was in his own room before speaking. "Mr. Petrov, I understand you have recently been through a freezing experience. For your convenience, and Miss Evchenko's, your bathrooms have been heated through."

She glanced down, letting out a soft giggle at the sight of her little friend peering out at him. "Da, this is Pasha," she introduced him, letting one arm fall as the other hand fished the tiny ball of fluff out from beneath her robe. Pasha was tiny, jet black, and very curious about the new person who smelled familiar.

For once in his life, the man was at a complete loss as to what to do, and it was all because of something as simple and commonplace as a kitten. He hadn't had a pet since he'd been a small boy. It was something he hadn't thought of in a very long time. Dressed in a pair of navy blue sweatpants and a white t-shirt with an Avengers emblem in the corner, he crouched down and held out a hand to the kitten for his inspection.

Pasha didn't need any more invitation. He raised his little head to sniff at the fingers offered to him, and then, apparently satisfied, proceeded to rub his head against Nikolai's outstretched hand, staggering on slightly clumsy legs to attempt to climb the man for a better cuddle.

Alyona giggled softly, thumping down onto the edge of her enormous bed to watch. "He likes you."

"Where did you find him?" he asked, curiously. He couldn't imagine how she'd snuck him in here without anyone knowing, except Jarvis, it seemed. And who'd taken care of him while they'd been in Russia"

"Someone left a box of kittens in Mr. Stark's car that he did not notice until he arrived back here, about two weeks ago?" She tilted her head, trying to remember the date. "Yes, two weeks. I stole Pasha out of the box before he took them back to the city." She grinned over at Nikolai cheerfully. "Jarvis has been looking after him for me with the, you know, helpful robot ....Dummy?"

"Dummy?" Nikolai echoed dubiously. That didn't sound like a very flattering name, even if it was just a robot. While they were discussing names, Nikolai thought he'd inquire further about the cat. "Why Pasha?" he asked, as he rubbed his fingers against the cat's fur.

She shrugged. "I like the name?" she suggested. "It does not remind me of anyone, if that is what you are wondering. No ex-boyfriends. Not that I have had boyfriends. I think the closest I have ever had was a three day ....I think the words are hook up?"

He idly wondered what that made him. The word "boyfriend" didn't quite seem to fit, but he wasn't a lover, either. Friend" Partner" Though his knowledge of the English language was extensive, he couldn't quite find the right word to fit the situation. As for himself, the last time he'd been with a woman, that woman was his now long-deceased wife. "It is a good name," he admitted, for lack of anything else to say. Tired of crouching, he moved to sit beside her on the bed.

Abandoned, Pasha proceeded to amuse himself, pouncing imaginary prey on his shaky legs as Alyona giggled at the sight of him. "It is a familiar name," she said quietly. "It sounds like home." She raised blue eyes to his with a gentle smile. "Are you well, Niko' You seem unsettled."

He shrugged, as though it was nothing, unable to lie to her, even if he wanted to. "It is this place," he admitted, though he wasn't sure what exactly it was about it. The lack of privacy probably, though they were often left alone here while the others ventured out. "It feels like a prison."

"It is a prison." Had he expected her to say that' Perhaps he had expected her to tell him he was wrong. But Alyona felt as trapped here as he did. The only difference was that she was trying to make her cage more homey. "They don't mean it to be, but there is nowhere else we can go. Not safely. Not yet."

"For how long?" he asked, knowing she didn't have an answer to that question. No one did really. What if they never succeeded in defeating Hydra" What then" Were they to remain prisoners here for the rest of their lives" That thought did nothing to lighten his mood. "Do you think you will ever return home?" he asked, meaning to stay, not just to visit.

She shook her head, looking down at her fingers, twisting together against the terry of her robe. "I don't have a home, Niko," she reminded him softly. "I was born in a Hydra facility, and Tabor won't ever take me back into his family group, with good reason. I really do have nowhere to go. Perhaps that is why I do not mind the cage."

He reached over to lift her chin, ice blue eyes meeting hers. There was hope in those eyes or perhaps a longing for something better. "It is a big world, Alyona. There is so much to see," he told her, having only seen some of it himself. "I would show you, if I could."

Her sadness eased as he spoke, as she looked into his eyes and knew he meant every word he said. "I would like that, very much," she confessed, her lips quirking into a faint smile. "I-I would like ..." She broke off, blushing as she looked away again. "Nyet, I should not say that."

He frowned a little as she trailed off, wondering what it was she had wanted to say. Was it just that she wanted to get to know him better or was it something else? He touched her cheek to meet his eyes again. "What is it, Alyona" I would like to know."

Perhaps it was strange that a telepath, someone who saw into everyone's mind, could be shy of sharing what was on her mind. But Alyona was shy, and a little afraid of being rejected. Still, she raised her eyes to his once more at his urging, gathering what little courage she had. "I would like you to stay, with me," she said quietly.

He arched a brow, wondering further just what she meant by that. Did she mean just for the night or on a long-term basis" And what would the others think if they started sharing a room' Or was she not talking about living arrangements so much as being together as a couple. "Here?" he asked, needing clarification. "Tonight?"

"Always?" Of course she wanted him to stay tonight; she wanted him to stay every night. If they hadn't been in imminent danger of being found and shot, she might even have broached the subject in Russia.

He smiled softly as he tucked a strand of hair away from her face, touched by her answer. "Always is a long time, Alyona," he reminded her, wondering if she really understood what it was she was asking.

"Not when you know it could end tomorrow," she answered tenderly, daring to touch his cheek with her fingertips. They both knew everything could end tomorrow; Hydra could find them, any one of a hundred different mistakes could end the world. All there really was to hold onto was the moment, and in this moment, all she really wanted was him.

He couldn't really argue with that. Instead of replying with words, he drew her hand to his lips to touch tender kisses to her fingertips in a gesture that was almost more intimate that kissing her lips.

For someone who had never really been kissed by anyone who truly meant it, just that gesture was enough to take Alyona's breath away. The deep blue of her eyes darkened with longing as she watched him, half-afraid to breathe in case all this was a dream she could wake from at any moment. But somehow it felt real ....real enough that her other hand rose, skimming the cool metal of his arm to tease her fingers into his hair.

The way things were going, it was a good thing Jarvis wasn't monitoring or recording anything that was going on in her room. Letting go of her hand, he touched his fingers to her face again, fingers caressing her cheek and touching her hair, as if he was trying to memorize every inch of her face. He leaned in, close enough to kiss her, but only watching her quietly, not afraid, but simply taking his time and savoring the moment.

If she was too dressed for his liking, he was definitely too clothed for hers, and yet without his cooperation, that was exactly how he would stay. She laughed her frustration against his ear, her hands holding herself tight to him by his hips as that laugh trailed off into a low moan. "Niko ..."

There was that familiar form of his name again - a nickname he hadn't heard spoken in a very long time. There was something about the way she said it - half moan and half plea - that sent a shiver along his spine. His fingers found their way inside her shirt, exploring the warm flesh and gentle curves that were hidden behind that veil of cloth.

Her head turned, lips brushing against the pulse in his throat as her fingers threaded into the shaggy fall of his hair ....as her other hand slid down to take the motionless fingers of his metal left hand and draw that touch to her breast. Fearless of the strength in those fingers, and far from flinching in revulsion, she accepted all of him, whether he was truly at ease with himself or not. She loved him - how could she not?

Though the metal hand was obviously not made of human flesh, it still behaved accordingly - fingers flexing and responding to the commands from Nikolai's brain. The touch was warmer and gentler than either of them might have expected, and in that moment, Nikolai tried to forget that he was not entirely human anymore. He carefully drew the cloth back from her shoulders, baring her to his eyes and his touch, his gaze wandering over her form, hungry and admiring.

And this was a first for Alyona. She was a master at hasty fumbles, at scratching the itch with a faceless stranger, but here and now, exposed to the eyes of the man she loved, she forgot all her confidence. She felt like a blushing virgin all over again, unconsciously curling her arms to hide herself, acutely aware of jutting hip bones, small breasts, a body that had been starved more than it had been fed over her lifetime.

Very gently, he pulled her arms away to admire her again, but he did not gawk. Instead, he took both her hands in both of his - flesh and metal - and drew her back toward the bed once again, this time with the intention of finishing what they'd started.

She went with him willingly, even laughing a little at her own shyness, stepping closer to unwind her fingers from his grasp so she could reach up to him once more. Her lips found his, needing that distraction from her sense of vulnerability, knowing he wouldn't hurt her, hoping she could give him what he needed. Needing him not to change his mind.

She was exactly what he needed, in more ways than one. It wasn't just a physical attraction between them either, but a deeper connection - at least, he hoped so. Her kiss only encouraged him, and his answering kiss told her that he wanted and needed her just as much as she did him.

Her hands plucked at his t-shirt impatiently as they traded those longing kisses, slipping low to push at the waist of his sweats. Let me see you. Her voice in his mind, as though she had spoken aloud but for the fact that her mouth was very much otherwise occupied. It seemed as though stress and fear were not the only things to spur her on to learning new things about her abilities.

The voice in his mind might have troubled him had he not recognized it as hers, and he couldn't help but smirk at her request, as if it amused him a little. She was the lesser dressed of the two, though they were technically both still wearing pants, of a sort - Alyona looking adorable in a pair of pink lace panties, as opposed to Nikolai's slightly baggy sweatpants. Together, he thought back at her, without speaking, wondering if she'd hear him.

She drew back, startled to hear his voice in her mind, unaware that she had linked herself to him so inexorably the more intimate they became. But he hadn't pulled away; she hadn't frightened him, or offended him. She had simply expressed herself the only way she could, and he had answered her without judgment. So, with a slow smile, she dared to step back, hooking her thumbs into the waist of her "adorable" panties to sweep them down her legs in one fluid motion.

He couldn't help his gaze as it wandered over her, admiring the curves, as slight as they might be, which made her a woman; and he couldn't help the affect that view was having on his own body, even as he returned the favor and tugged the sweatpants and boxers off his legs. A younger man might have blushed in embarrassment, but he did not; though he was worried what she'd think of the scars and the arm that was not truly his.

The shyness returned, but only because she knew she wasn't the full figure of the woman that, say, Natasha was. As for his scars, his arm ....she didn't see them. She saw him. She loved him. And given how easily she slipped back into his arms, she saw nothing about him that even remotely repulsed her.

His arms went around her waist as she slipped back to him, and he touched a kiss to her lips that was full of all the passion and desire he was feeling for her in that moment and in the days leading up to this moment, when he'd tried to keep his feelings to himself. He abruptly swept her up into his arms, his lips still pressed to hers to lay her back upon the bed and cover her body with his, hearts beating together.

She squealed happily as he swept her off her feet, locking arms and legs around him as he lay with her on a bed that had become her safe haven over these past months. In a very real sense, she was giving herself to him, trusting him above all others, whether he knew it or not. And even if he didn't know that, he was about to find out that the woman he had once thought of as a little girl was anything but.

There was something special in that first sharing - in exploring and learning about the other, in giving and taking, in loving and being loved in return. All of the barriers between them came down, each trusting in the other, no secrets left between them. He gave as well as he received and in that giving, he was not only giving himself to her, but he was offering her his heart.

Alyona might be young, but his heart was safe in her hands. She proved it, time and again, in the way she cared for him; the way she had been caring for him ever since he came out of the cryo-pod less than a year before. Her mental touch had driven Hydra from his mind; her company was always there when he needed it. She had never asked him for more than he was ready to give, and yet here they were, locked in love on an island of their own making, far away from the world outside that door in each other's arms.

They might as well be miles away for all they seemed to care of the world outside that door. It seemed that all the other had needed they'd found right there in each other's arms. One night or many, what mattered was here and now. And just maybe, this time, it would endure.