They spent the remainder of their morning preparing to learn. With the files securely stored on Natasha's phone, they each went to pack their suits and a handful of civilian clothes. As with many deep-cover missions, they'd buy any extra necessities once they arrived in Germany. Natasha did snag one of Tony's credit cards though, making sure to leave a quick note for Pepper should she be suspicious of any overseas purchases.

"Natasha?"

Looking up from her duffel bag, Natasha turned to see Wanda standing in the doorway still in her pyjamas. Her heart immediately dropped and she was spitting out an apology before the girl could ask what she was doing. 

"I'm so sorry, Wanda," she said, waving her into her room. "Nick called and we're being sent out on a deep-cover mission."

Wanda took a seat on Natasha's bed and watched as she fiddled with a handgun then tossed it in the duffel bag.

"What is it?" 

"Just Hydra again," Natasha said, giving Wanda a look. After the first time Wanda had tried to pry for more information, Natasha had been quick to make sure she knew never to do it again. To try and ease Wanda's mind, though, she said, "We'll be okay."

"Steve's going?" Wanda asked. Natasha nodded. "Alright," she murmured, "maybe I can get Vision to take me shopping."

"I'm sorry I can't take you," Natasha said again, though Wanda was already waving her off.

"We'll go a different time," Wanda said and Natasha was sure they would. "Have fun in Germany."

Before Natasha could reply, Wanda hurried out of her room. With a smile and a roll of her eyes, Natasha zipped up her full duffel bag then went to find Steve.

* * * *

Natasha had read through the files four times before they were even halfway across the Atlantic. Despite having handed her phone over to Steve to read, he was fast asleep on a row of seats with his head on Natasha's lap. With the quinjet on autopilot and still a lot of time to kill, Natasha read through the files two more times.

By the time she finished, Natasha had well and truly memorised both of their characters. Deciding to see if Steve knew his, she bounced her leg to wake him up.

Steve groaned and brought a hand up to rub his face. "Are you finally done?" 

Natasha rolled her eyes and passed her phone to him once again as he sat up beside her.

"Maria von Kant," she said, pointing to the file she'd be reading. "Kicked out of university for creating some unknown serum and later fired from a government job for testing it on a colleague."

It was right up Hydra's alley, but Steve was still half asleep and couldn't be bothered to do more than hum.

"And I'm supposed to be Erik Dietrich?" Steve muttered, squinting at the screen.

"Ex-military," Natasha told him. Again, Steve just hummed. "Your profile is impressive enough that Hydra should be tempted to try and recruit you even without me."

Steve looked horrified at the idea, but Natasha wasn't surprised.

"Do you think it will work?" he asked, handing her phone back.

Natasha pursed her lips. "Possibly," she answered. "It depends on how desperate they are. Both Hydra and the KGB have an endless supply of crazy scientists and soldiers, so we'll have to be better."

Steve rubbed his eyes again then turned to look at her.

"Are you really okay with this? Seeing the Red Room again?"

Almost immediately Natasha wanted to deny it. "It's not really the Red Room." The argument sounded bad even to her ears, so she avoided Steve's eyes as she said, "It's just the idea behind it."

The rest of the trip to Germany was completed in relative silence. With the knowledge that she very well could be facing the Red Room again, Natasha was much less eager to arrive. For Steve's sake, though, she tried not to show it.

When they finally did arrive in Berlin, it was late at night and the sun was long gone. They set it back on autopilot to return to the Compound then made their way out of the airport with their duffel bags in hand. 

The job of waving down a taxi fell on Steve while Natasha looked for hotels near where they needed to be. She booked it on Tony's card just as Steve managed to find a taxi for them.

"Any luck?" he asked, loading their bags into the back of the taxi.

"Yes, actually." She slid into the taxi and gave the driver the hotel address in rapid German. Joining her in the backseat, Steve glanced out the window and tried to relax as they drove through the city.

They arrived at the hotel rather quickly, though Steve wasn't sure whether it was due to the lack of traffic or the fact that every minute they spent in the taxi meant they were getting closer to Hydra.

He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised at the grandeur of the hotel building, but he couldn't stop himself from looking around the lobby in barely contained awe. SHIELD had always been sure to book hotels that matched their covers and it seemed like Natasha did the same. If they had to face down Hydra, at least they could do it under the disguise of a wealthy cover.

Natasha checked them in and after a brief conversation with the hostess, they were on their way towards the lift.

"Fancy place," Steve murmured. Even the elevator was fancier than he would have thought possible. 

"We have two rooms," Natasha told him as they reached their floor.

The first room they arrived at was Steve's. Natasha unlocked the door and set his keycard on a nearby table while Steve followed her in and set down his bag.

"I'm just down the hall."

With a little smirk, Natasha snatched her bag from Steve and walked further down the hall. He followed her and frowned when her door opened to reveal a suite much more elaborate than his own.

"How come you get the suite?" he teased.

"I'm the one who's playing the wealthy scientist," Natasha reminded him, tossing her bag aside. 

Steve shook his head. "Next time I'll tell Nick to let me play the wealthy scientist."

Natasha rolled her eyes and Steve raised an eyebrow at her. "What? You don't think I could play the wealthy scientist?"

"No, I don't think so," she said, smiling as his jaw dropped in mock offence. "Tell me, what's Thorium?"

Without missing a beat, Steve replied, "Thor's grand-dad."

As he'd expected, Natasha burst into laughter and shook her head.

"It's an element," she argued, still laughing beside him. Steve pursed his lips and shook his head.

"Pretty sure I know the elements." Listing each off on his fingers, he said, "Wind, water, earth, and fire."

Natasha's laughter increased and Steve smiled.

"It's a periodic table element."

"No, it's not!" Steve swore he knew all the elements on the periodic table. Well, at least the ones he'd learned about in earth science back in the 30s. He was pretty sure Thorium hadn't been one of them.

"It's okay," Natasha teased, stepping forward to pinch his cheeks. "One day, you'll grow up to be a big, smart boy―"

Before she could finish her sentence, Steve picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

"Natasha?" Steve asked, turning around the room. "Where'd you go? I thought we were having a conversation."

"Let me down." 

Knowing better than the fight him, Natasha reached down to tickle his sides instead. Steve jumped, twisting to get away from her but not succeeding. As she jabbed at his sides again, he dropped her on the bed.

"God, Nat," he exclaimed, "it's rude to disappear in the middle of a conversation."

"Oh shut up." She reached over and tugged him onto the bed beside her. "You cheated and you know it."

Before he could further argue with her, Natasha reached for the TV remote and began flicking through the channels. At the very least, she would be enjoying one peaceful night before they started their mission.