See You In A Minute
"How long will you be gone?"
This pains me, hearing his soft voice asking innocently. I'm not sure for how long, but I know I'll come back. For James, for everyone. I have a reason to comeback, I have someone to comeback to.
"I won't be long honey."
"Come back okay?"
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too."
"And mommy, bring daddy back too."
I felt my heart warming. I'll soon hold both of them in my arms.
I left James at the Stark's. Morgan and James have only met few times before but they instantly got along pretty well. With Morgan with him, for sure he won't get bored. And with Pepper and Happy taking care of them, for sure they'll be in safe hands. With this, I'm even more ready to go without worry. James is in good hands.
____
It didn't take long for us to get ready. We're so close and no one wants to waste any second.
"See you in a minute."
I smiled at myself, looking down at the platform. I don't know to whom I say this, to everyone standing on the same platform as me or to the family I'm about to see in a few. I guess to both.
I'm excited, I can feel it. I'm one step closer to having everyone back. I can't wait to see them again, to embrace them.
To hold Steve.
To see James finally meeting his father.
To see Steve finally meeting his son.
To live our lives.
To finally have a family of my own.
To have my whole family.
____
Vormir.
We're here. I didn't expect this place to be anything closer to how it actually is. It's dark, with some part of the sky that has pink-purplish hue.
I've been to a lot of missions, scary ones, life threatening, and Thanos, but this one seems peaceful yet dangerously different.
We started climbing the hill and each step I take I felt a little more... I don't know, I can't seem to figure it out. If I should explain it, it felt like what's about to happen is something familiar yet different.
We reached the top, and was greeted by a floating cloak slowly revealing a red skull. If I'd be honest, this would creep me to death if this happened before the chitauri attack in New York.
He's creepy but anything for my family. Anything.
"For you to obtain the ones you seek you shall give up what you love the most."
"An everlasting exchange. A soul for a soul."
The skull didn't say much but we understood. This is it.
That's why it's familiar, yet different. I've been to a lot life threatening missions yet this might be my last call.
I weighed everything in my mind, Clint does the same. I sat a little far from where he stands, giving each one the time to weigh in everything.
I have James to come back to.
Clint have three kids to get back.
I have Steve to get back.
Clint have Laura to get back.
I have a whole team to get back, a whole family, the rest that I haven't seen in five years.
Clint has been alone for the last five years.
I have half the living things to get back.
Clint has lost everything in the last five years.
I know, and I hate myself for thinking this way. I shouldn't, I have a family to comeback to. But so does he. He saved me once, is this the time for me to save his? If I don't then what kind of friend am I?
If I do, what kind of mother am I?
If I don't, what kind of human am I?
I let my mind be free of any thoughts for a couple of seconds. Then I started thinking again.
I've had my chance to live with James since the day he was born and even before, Steve hasn't. Whatever it takes, I have to give both of them a chance to meet each other, to live as a son and father, a family... even if it means without me.
A tear fell from my eye. I told James I'm coming back.
And I told him I'd bring his daddy back.
"Then I guess we both know who it's gonna be."
"I guess we do."
He held my hand and I hold his in return. He looks at me and I tried to smile naturally but he notices the pain in my eyes, Clint knows me that much.
"I'm starting to think we mean different people here, Natasha."
We got into argument for a short while.
"Well I don't judge people on their worst mistakes."
"Maybe you should."
"You didn't."
"You're a pain to my ass you know that?"
We took a moment together for the last time, painfully. He leaned his head on mine and I never once imagine our parting would be as painful as this. Giving up one to save one? We both wouldn't let each other do it for the other. We both see what's gonna happen next.
"Okay. You win."
I don't believe him. He'd never let me take the fall as much as I wouldn't let him take it. I'm full of emotions and I know I have to run fast to the edge but he got me.
"Tell my family I love them."
"You tell them yourself."
I tased him and ran fast as I could til his explosive arrow hit me from the side. I looked at him in the eyes as he runs to jump the cliff.
He jumped.
And without wasting a second I ran after him, thankfully I caught him. I shoot a wire somewhere in the cliff and attached the other end of it to his vest.
He's still holding me, too scared to let me go. I looked down, then I realized, there's no turning back. This is how it ends for me.
"Let me go."
"No. No, please no."
I can feel my eyes are tearing up. It's hard to say, and even harder to let go but this is the only way.
Whatever it takes.
"It's okay."
"Please."
I can't stay any longer, if I do even just for a second I might change my mind. I might go back.
I kicked myself out of his grip and with much effort my wrist slipped from his hold.
"Nat!"
...
'I've got red on my ledger, I'd like to wipe it out.'
Those words ring to my ears for the last time.
Then as I fall deeper, I feel lighter, free.
...
As I fall, the Avengers, the whole team, Nick, Maria, Steve... James... it's all them I could see.
...
Before I hit the ground I could see Clint looking away. I'm sorry, you have to see me like this.
Before I took my last breath, I could see us. I could see the whole team looking at a family.
A happy family.
I look much closer.
It's us.
Steve. Natasha. James.
I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
'If I do, what kind of mother I am?'
I hear myself ask again.
'You're the best mom.'
'It's okay mommy, don't be sad'
'I love you.'
I love you baby.
____
Clint and all others, except for one, came back to exactly where they left a minute ago.
Everyone was celebrating how it worked but it was short lived soon as they saw an empty space beside Clint.
Bruce, looking devastated fearing for the worse.
"Clint, where's Natasha?"
Clint fall on his knees crying. And that answered everyones curiosity, Natasha didn't make it. No one knows how, and no one dared to ask. Clint definitely needs time.
A little bit later, the original four Avengers took a time together, Tony asking who's gonna tell James. No one answered.
The lonely silence made Thor furious, he shouted and reprimanded everyone for how they act. He still believes that since they have all the stones, they could get her back. Yet Clint counters in anger how the exchange is everlasting and can't be undone.
____
Not long after, Tony was able to finish the gauntlet they could use for the stones. Bruce volunteers to do it because he believe he's made for it that his the most likely to survive because of the gamma radiation inside him.
They all hold their breaths, no one dares releases it as they wait for what will happen.
Bruce, after gathering up his strength, snapped his fingers and shouted as he tries to suppress the power of the stones combined.
Gladly, Bruce survived with a burnt right arm. It could be worse.
Scott, slowly went over the huge windows and see for himself what has changed. Outside, he sees birds chirping a top the tree, observing everything in front and around him, his lips slowly started to crook on the sides. Happily smiling as it worked.
Clint on the other hand heard his phone vibrating from the table near them. Slowly he walked towards it, hoping for the best. Then he saw the caller id. Laura.
"It worked."
Before they could celebrate much further. A huge explosion can be heard and felt from the outside.
One, after another.
Turns out Nebula was not their Nebula, and invited Thanos and his army from the year 2014.
Everything went downhill. They're now facing a huge army, Thanos' army. And they're outnumbered, too outnumbered.
"You could not live with your own failure. Where did it bring you? Back to me."
The fight between Thanos' army and the rest was painful to watch. Tony and Thor faced Thanos and the rest facing thousands of aliens.
They were about to hopelessly lose again, when...
____
In Wakanda. Okoye witnessed how each and every dusted Wakandan started appearing once again. Then she knew, they must've found a way. She can't help herself but smile proudly of how Natasha finally got what she's been working so hard for the past years.
Steve and Bucky reunited once more.
I don't know how long it has been, but we're here together again. For a second I thought we're in a different place with just everyone who got dusted but I recognize the place, we are where we left a moment ago. We're back, and I know Natasha must be the head of this, and I'm proud of her. I can't wait to tell her that, but I'm much more excited to tell her I'm back.
I'm back, Nat. See you in a minute.
I can't stop myself from feeling excited. But then one sorcerer, he says he is, welcomes us with something not welcoming.
I didn't even thought of this since the moment I came back, I was just so thankful and looking forward to seeing Natasha and others again. I almost forgot we lost a fight, and didn't expect we'd comeback to another one.
He opened a portal for us, and before it's accessible I called to Nat but it's not connecting to hers, and for a little I'm worried.
The next thing, I called to Sam who seems to not be here, means he survived the snap.
"Sam, can you hear me?"
____
On the battle ground, at the compound, Sam could be seen picking up Steve's shield that Natasha prepared for Steve when he heard a static on his earpiece. He wonders who it's from.
Slowly the voice gets clearer. And soon he recognized it, thankful it worked and thankful of the help that's coming their way.
____
"On your left."
Everyone started to notice one portal opens after another. And everyone started to feel relieved.
I went in and found how awfully the compound turned out, It's unrecognizable. Then I started to command.
"Avengers."
Sam handed the shield to me, I looked over to Tony and he just nods. So I took it.
Then I immediately searched for Natasha. Every time I say that words, she's always beside me and it will feel different if she's not. Tony, Thor, Bruce, I could spot them easily. But where's Nat? However small she is, I'd always be able to spot her in seconds.
I continue searching from the corner of my eyes, yet I can't be distracted. I know wherever she is, she sees me. And that's enough for now.
"Assemble."