--cold as winter
The situation wasn't ordinary.
The Red Room had a thing for theatricality-- as most secret agencies do-- extensive torture for traitors, extreme respective behaviours towards higher ups, the usual. But today, the situation wasn't ordinary.
When she'd been told a new instructor would be taking on her training, Natalia expected to just stroll in the training room and find a different face waiting. But that wasn't the case.
In front of the redhead stood three of her superiors, haughty, sturdy men-- the common look of the Russian comrade. Natalia's curiosity was at peak, but there wasn't even the slightest hint of it on her face. Her front was calm and obedient; hands firmly clasped behind her back.
Suddenly, the director spoke, turning to his right, towards the door, "<Oh, comrade!>" He opened his arms with delight, "<Glad you decided to join us.>" Natalia made no comment about how, and she was sure of it, the man probably didn't have a choice. "<This is the woman you'll be mentoring. The program's finest, Natalia Romanova.>" He gestured towards her. That was when she turned her head to the left, and despite all of her training, a flash of surprise appeared in her eyes.
There stood the Winter Soldier.