Chapter 1: Prologue & India

The safehouse in Finland was quiet, the kind of stillness that Natasha Romanoff had grown accustomed to during the years she spent living on the run. She stood by the window, staring out at the dense forest, though her mind wasn't on the tranquil scene outside. It was on the mission that had brought her here. After months of chasing ghosts, the Red Room's resurgence had proven to be more dangerous than she could have imagined.

Her breath fogged the cold glass as she exhaled, thinking about everything that had happened since she had defected from the Red Room. She had thought it was over, that Dreykov was dead and the program had been dismantled for good. But she had been wrong. The whispers of a revival had turned into something real, and now she found herself right in the middle of it again.

Snake Eyes sat across the room, his posture as still as a statue. He had been her partner through this mess, helping her navigate the dangerous new version of the Red Room that had started to emerge. Though he never spoke, they communicated effortlessly, their shared experiences and trust making words unnecessary.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Nick Fury strode into the room, his usual serious expression set even deeper on his face. Natasha turned to face him, already knowing by his demeanor that whatever he had come to say wasn't good.

"We've got a situation," Fury said, his voice low and direct. He tossed a manila folder onto the table, and Natasha immediately moved to open it, scanning the contents.

Inside were detailed reports and photos from a S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance operation. They showed footage of a massive, unknown ship hovering above the earth. Fury continued as she flipped through the pages.

"We're dealing with something bigger than the Red Room, Romanoff. Loki's back, and he's not alone. He's brought an army—some kind of extraterrestrial force. This isn't just about us anymore. It's global."

Natasha frowned, her mind racing. "Loki? Last I heard, he was dead."

Fury shook his head. "Not dead. Not even close. He's been busy, and now he's here to wage war. We've confirmed he's in possession of the Tesseract."

The mention of the Tesseract sent a jolt of recognition through Natasha. The powerful energy source had been under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s watch, but if it had fallen into the wrong hands…

"What's the plan?" she asked, already knowing the answer would be something big.

Fury paused for a moment before speaking. "We're putting together a team—a response unit. People with abilities, skills, and resources that go beyond what we've got at S.H.I.E.L.D. I've already reached out to Steve Rogers, Stark, and Banner. They're in."

Natasha's eyebrows rose slightly. She knew of all these individuals, especially Stark, the billionaire playboy who had become Iron Man. Rogers, the man out of time, had only recently resurfaced as Captain America. And Banner—she had been briefed on his situation with the Hulk. These were not your average operatives.

"What do you need me for?" she asked, her tone even, though she already knew the answer.

"I need you to get to India," Fury said, his voice steady but urgent. "Banner's gone off the grid. He's the only one who might be able to track the Tesseract's gamma signature, and we need him if we're going to find Loki before this escalates. Your job is to bring him in."

Natasha nodded, already processing the mission in her mind. "And the Red Room?"

Fury's gaze hardened. "We'll handle it, but this takes priority. Loki's army is a threat to the entire planet. The Red Room is dangerous, but this…this is a war waiting to happen. We need to stop it before it starts."

Natasha clenched her jaw but didn't argue. She knew Fury was right. As much as she wanted to continue hunting down Dreykov's forces, the stakes with Loki were too high to ignore. This wasn't just about her past—it was about the future of the entire world.

She glanced at Snake Eyes, who gave a single, almost imperceptible nod. There was no hesitation on his part. He understood the gravity of the situation as well as she did.

"I'll go to India," Natasha said. "I'll bring Banner in."

Fury nodded, relief flickering across his face. "Good. The sooner we have him, the better. Once we've got the team together, we'll hit Loki before he can make his next move."

As Fury turned to leave, Natasha called after him. "What about Loki? Where is he now?"

Fury paused at the door. "Stark's tracking him in Germany. He's making a public appearance. We're moving fast."

With that, Fury left the room, leaving Natasha to prepare for her next mission.

---

Later that day, Natasha sat in the back of a cargo plane, mentally preparing for the task ahead. Her thoughts flickered between the impending confrontation with Loki and the Red Room's shadow that still lingered in the back of her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that Dreykov and his new network were planning something far more insidious than she had anticipated.

But right now, the mission was clear. Loki had the Tesseract, and the world was at risk. For now, she had to focus on that. The Red Room could wait—this couldn't.

The plane began its descent, and Natasha readied herself to find Banner. She knew he would be reluctant to join the fight, but they didn't have time for reluctance. The Avengers were being assembled, and she was a part of that now, whether she liked it or not.

---

Chapter 1: India

The crowded streets of Kolkata were filled with noise and movement, a far cry from the quiet Finnish safehouse. Natasha moved through the market with ease, blending in with the locals, her senses attuned to every detail around her. She had tracked Banner to this area, where he had been working as a doctor, providing aid to the sick and impoverished while staying off the grid.

Her mission was simple: bring him in, convince him to help them find the Tesseract. But convincing Bruce Banner to step into the chaos of the world he had been avoiding was anything but simple.

She finally spotted him, moving between makeshift tents, tending to the sick with the quiet efficiency of someone who had done this for years. Banner looked up, and their eyes met. Natasha kept her expression calm, non-threatening, as she approached him.

"Dr. Banner," she said softly, not wanting to cause a scene.

He stopped, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "You're Natasha Romanoff, right?"

"I am," she replied, her voice steady. "We need to talk."

Banner's eyes narrowed, but he didn't resist as they moved to a quieter spot, away from the prying eyes of the market.

"I'm guessing this isn't a social visit," Banner said, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Natasha shook her head. "It's not. We need you, Dr. Banner. Loki's back, and he's got the Tesseract. We're putting together a team to stop him. Fury needs your help."

Banner sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't want me. You want the other guy."

Natasha's expression softened, but her resolve didn't waver. "We need both of you."

Banner looked away, the weight of his inner conflict visible on his face. "I've been out here trying to stay out of trouble, keep a low profile. Bringing me in…it's dangerous. You know that."

Natasha stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "It's already dangerous, Banner. Loki's planning something big. We don't know what yet, but we know it's bad. You're the only one who can track the Tesseract's gamma signature. Without you, we don't stand a chance."

Banner met her gaze, searching her eyes for something—perhaps reassurance, perhaps a reason to believe that this wasn't going to end in disaster. After a long moment, he exhaled heavily.

"All right," he said, his voice resigned. "But if things go sideways, you're going to have to deal with what happens next."

Natasha gave him a small nod. "We can handle it."

As they began their journey back to the rendezvous point, Natasha couldn't help but feel the weight of the looming battle. The Red Room could wait. For now, her focus was on stopping Loki—and whatever came next.