[ The Gilboian secret service is a force to be terrified of. Jack's know that since he was small and watched enemies silently disappear in the wake of his family. Watched people buried and forgotten. It's also not a place you're allowed to depart from with secrets. Secrets like Natasha Romanoff has, who stands in the royal muesum like there isn't a target on her head and a price lingering in the wings. But she's something fierce and terrifying in her own right - they don't come for her because they know she'll bury them like all the others. Jack's seen her do it. He's sent her to do it before, and as they stand in front of an ancient statue of some hero that's ashe and dust right now, he knows she'll have a freedom he'll never have, and he envies her for it.
She's been with them for decades - since she was too young for her to be outwardly employed. He grew up with her stalking the halls with the impassive face schooled perfectly. He'd admired her then and admires her now, as he stands with his pockets and thinks of his pregnant wife back in the palace - his punishment. His chains. Not even his son will be allowed to him, taken to be fitted for the iron cage they'll stick him into, just like they did him. He wonders if it'll be the same one. He'll bring that boy into the world knowing he's damning him, and if he had the freedom to abort him, he'd do it. Save him from a living hell. ]
How'd you do it? [ He asks her quietly, with a sickness and a shaking in his voice. He knows she knows it. He knows she's felt it. ] How'd you get out alive?
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She's been with them for decades - since she was too young for her to be outwardly employed. He grew up with her stalking the halls with the impassive face schooled perfectly. He'd admired her then and admires her now, as he stands with his pockets and thinks of his pregnant wife back in the palace - his punishment. His chains. Not even his son will be allowed to him, taken to be fitted for the iron cage they'll stick him into, just like they did him. He wonders if it'll be the same one. He'll bring that boy into the world knowing he's damning him, and if he had the freedom to abort him, he'd do it. Save him from a living hell. ]
How'd you do it? [ He asks her quietly, with a sickness and a shaking in his voice. He knows she knows it. He knows she's felt it. ] How'd you get out alive?