In two days, the quiet Avengers compound has turned into a kind of little war zone. People running everywhere, getting ready for the upcoming battle, while the Avengers gather everything they need to rescue one of theirs. Steve has been more active than never. He hasn't slept in three days, and yet doesn't feel tired at all. The rush of adrenaline in his veins is such that he can nearly feel his blood boiling. One person occupies his mind night and day, a solid reminder of his objective. The rest of the Avengers haven't slept much either. Tony has been busy upgrading his suit, something about adding nano photon blasts on his back. Bruce is currently working on a huge version of Veronica for himself and Scott, Hope, Janet and Hank are finishing their new bulletproof suit. Everything is going well, but the tension is slowly growing and everyone can feel it. Wanda's situation hasn't improved a bit, in the bad sense as well as in the good. She is still so weak that she has barely the energy to eat. Pietro doesn't leave her side, except to check on Steve from time to time and shower. And if Steve's heart aches at her sight, he is also very grateful for her to support this for them. She still refuses to cut the link with Nat, meaning she is still a faithful indicator of Natasha's status. She is still alive and that's all that matters to Steve.
Standing in Tony's lab, he watches below through the bay window. Dozens of people are rushing in front of him but he barely sees them. All he sees is Natasha and Thanos. He has never been the murderous type, but for the first time, he can picture himself killing Thanos and be glad to do so. He would love to see the giant bastard die in his arms, by his hands. Seeing the light leaving his eyes and laugh about it, knowing it would be the last thing Thanos would ever hear. As he lets out a small sinister laugh, Tony and Bruce lift their heads and exchange a concerned look. They are aware that Steve would never intentionally do bad things, but the exceptional circumstances they are currently in might bring an exception to this rule. Nodding his head, Tony lets his work on the side before taking a few steps toward their Captain.
« Steve, » he tries hesitantly.
When Steve doesn't answer, Tony closes the gap between them and places a hand on his shoulder.
« Steve, » he repeats louder.
Finally breaking his train of thoughts, Steve looks at him and Tony nearly steps back at the fire and rage burning in the ocean eyes. They stare at each other for a good ten seconds, before Tony speaks again.
« We are nearly done, Steve. Hold on one more day and we get her back. »
Steve nods, before returning to staring at the ground.
« Steve, please, » Tony insists « Tell us. We aren't blind, you know. »
« It's nothing it's just, » Steve starts « Have you ever consider murdering someone voluntarily? » he asks, biting his lip.
« Honestly? Yes, » Tony shrugs « and for even less than this. We know you Steve and you know us. You aren't suddenly a bad guy because you want to murder him. He IS bad and I wouldn't mind piercing his heart either. It doesn't make you bad, just human. Cause if you are a bad guy, I think it's pretty safe to say that anybody is. Steve, we all want to kill him, so if you have a way tomorrow, don't hesitate. »
Steve laughs weakly and shakes his head.
« Thanks, Tony, » he says sincerely « I... needed that? »
« I happen to be a good friend Rogers you know? » Tony smirks, « It's not often but it happens. »
« I know I know Tony but really, thank you »
« Don't thank me for this. That's what family is made for right? Just try to get some sleep. We better be in the best shape to get our spider back. Don't tell her but she is kinda the glue that makes us stick together. But please don't tell her. Her ego is already bigger than mine. »
This time, a real, true laugh leaves Steve's throat and Tony can't help but do a little victory sign toward Bruce, who grins in return. His mission accomplished, Tone goes back to work on his suit, just to be joined by a renewed and still laughing Steve Rogers five minutes later.
***
Natasha stares at the ceiling like she has been doing the hour before, and the hour before that and the hour even before. She stares at it but doesn't quite see it. No, she is way too lost in the deep corridors of her mind, between sorrow, guilt, and anger. All she sees is Thanos and how she can murder him. All she feels is the pain remaining in her stomach and the void in her chest. It feels like her soul has been ripped from her body. She has no tears left to cry, no energy left to move. She is waiting. She doesn't even know what. Death? A miracle? Something. Anything that would just stop everything. Unconsciously, she probably hopes to wake up from her nightmare and realize she is safe back in Steve's arms.
Doctors have started to experiment on her body again but she barely feels it. She hasn't slept nor screamed nor cried. If it wasn't for her slowly rising chest, people would have probably presumed she was dead. Whatever they were looking for, they must have found it because two hours ago, one of the men ran out screaming as if he had just received the biggest gift of his life. Since then, nobody has even come into the room, not that she cares anyway. Her toes already feel cold, her mind is foggy and her vision blurry. She doesn't even acknowledge Thanos entering the room. She has never been farther from being Black Widow than she is now.
« I know what you feel my child » a voice makes its way through the clouds around her brain.
« You could never... » she hears herself responding, her voice raspy.
« I can. I know this. »
She doesn't argue back. It's not worth it. Nothing is anymore.
« A long time ago, I adopted and raised two young girls, I saved them from starvation on their home planet. »
For having looked at his file, Natasha knows that he probably killed half to the population on both planets, leaving the two poor children orphans, and took them against their will. Despite all she is feeling, she can't help but feel tears rushing back in her eyes and wonders how many more lives Thanos ruined in his murderous state.
« I raised them and trained them as my owns. It was a long process, but I made them the fiercest women in the galaxy, my deadly weapons. Alas, destiny is a cruel thing. To retrieve the soul stone, a sacrifice must be made. You have to lose what you love. I lost Gamora that day. I still feel the pain in my chest. »
« You, » Natasha all but whispers « you sacrificed your daughter just for that... that fucking stone? Just to get it? What kind of monster are you? »
« I am not asking you to understand. I have been assigned with a glorious purpose, and I will achieve it, no matter the cost. The Avengers represent my last wall to break, so break them I will. Without a leader, how can they win? It'll break Steve Rogers, and each one of them, one by one until nothing stands between me and my dream. »
« You're,» Natasha says, coughing « you're a psychopath! »
« Perhaps. But are you better? Are any of you better? A trained assassin, a man whose ego is bigger than the universe, a witch who helped Ultron, same for her brother, and let's not even talk about the Winter Soldier... »
Natasha gasps in shock. She didn't expect him to be so well-informed about them. But yet, she shouldn't be so surprised. With all the stones, he certainly must know more about themselves than them.
« My child, you're not the only one cursed with knowledge. Do you think I would come unprepared? Once your dear captain gives me what I want, my army will bring you all down. Nothing will stop us, not you, not him, not the Avengers. You will watch your world crumble. »
Natasha is tempted to laughs ironically, but what would be the point? If only he knew how careless she is right now, how nothing matters. He could raise his army here and now and she wouldn't even move a muscle. Or she would move to run toward them and let it be over as soon as possible. So she doesn't say anything and lets him rambling for what feels like hours, her mind back away in her thoughts.
***
It's not real. Surely another mind trick. She knows it's not so why does her heart beat so hard against her ribcage? She stares in awe at the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. It's so close, so nearly real and yet so far that it scares her to death.
She is outside a small but cozy house, localized in a quiet neighborhood. She watches as her 8-year-old daughter runs in their garden, laughing as a golden dog catches the ball she just threw. Well, to be honest, she isn't sure that the girl is indeed her daughter. But there is this feeling inside her. She just knows. Natasha immediately thinks she is beautiful. Her short red hair matches Natasha's actual hair cut but her eyes are a deep ocean-blue like Steve's. Natasha lets out a loud sob and immediately covers her mouth with her hand, as if she feared someone could hear her.
« Natalia! It's time to eat my dear! »
Here he is. The man that makes her heart beat faster. The one that changed everything. Made her believe that love was made for her too.
« Oh Dad please! Just five more minutes! Oliver still wants to play! »
« No little spider, food's gonna be cold »
« Fine... »
Natasha watches as Natalia gets inside the house. After recovering her motor skills, she follows as quietly as possible. Steve and Natalia are sitting at the table, eating what looks like to be Steve's famous omelette and some salad. Unlike five minutes ago, Natalia looks closed in on herself. Maybe a little too much Natasha-like, but it makes Natasha's heart jumping. She sniffles slowly, knowing that some part of her still lives somewhere. She is not stupid. She has understood why she hasn't appeared on the scene. She knows why only two plates are set on the table. An idiot would have understood this.
« Dad... » Natalia's voice is barely louder than a whisper.
Steve looks at her like he already knows what she is going to ask.
« Yes, malyska? »
Natasha's heart breaks a little more, hearing Steve's nickname for their daughter. Russian. Like she told him many years ago. He must have taught Natalia.
« Can you... Can you tell me about mommy again? »
Even if he expected the question, Natasha sees the way Steve's shoulders tense slightly.
« What do you want to know, little spider? »
« How did you two meet again? I love that story. Please tell me again? »
Steve stands up and picks Natalia up in his arms before settling the two of them on the couch.
« You remember how I told you about the Avengers? »
« Yes, Uncle Clint and Aunt Wanda were part of it too. »
« Exactly. Well, at first it was uncle Fury who recruited me. He needed me to fight some bad guys. »
« Loki, Uncle Thor's brother. »
« Yes. He stole something precious and we needed to get it back. To do that, uncle Fury invited us in his big ship. Your mother was there when I arrived. She showed me everything around. She looked so beautiful, even in a simple leather jacket. »
« Was she that pretty? » Natalia asks.
« Oh malyska, she was beautiful. She was exactly like you. You have everything she had, and I am more than proud that you look alike her so much. She would be so proud of you, like I am proud of you too. You have her grace and beauty, her courage and her temper. She too had a huge heart. And remember what I told you. She is always looking at us, among the stars. »
« She is the brightest one! » Natalia screams.
Steve laughs. « Sure she is. She was the best in everything, I am sure death isn't an exception. »
Natalia hugs him tight. Steve wraps her arms around her and lies back down. It doesn't even take five minutes for them to fall in a deep sleep. Natasha moves to sit in front of them on the ground. She tends her hand and brushes her finger against Natalia's cheek. And if her heart wasn't already broken, it surely is now.
***
Steve looks at his team as they board in the jets. Everything is finally ready, and thus they don't waste another minute, rushing all their equipment inside to take off as soon as possible. Several teams will several missions, all focused and ready. Steve, Thor, Clint, Bruce and Tony are going to free Natasha. That is the number one priority. The guardians as well as T'challa and the Dora Milaje will fight the minions. Janet and Hank are still working on a chemical product to bring down all Thanos army at once. And so on. Turning the device on, he settles his earpiece in his ear. Everyone wears one, courtesy of Tony Stark. Said man is in the driver seat, coordinating the operation. He even programmed the jets to receive all commands from this one. One button pushed and all coordinates change in every single jet.
« All jets get ready. Five minutes until take off » Tony announces through the earpieces.
« Remember, Thanos has already four stones. Our top priority is to take them back if we want to bring him down. Fury's backup is apparently on its way and whoever that is, we can't wait anymore, he or she will have the join us on the spot. Today, it's not JUST about getting Natasha back. It's also about saving the world. Thanos is threatening our world and we have to defend it. With your help, we can win. We are the Avengers. If we don't defend what's worth, who will? We NEED to win. Whatever it takes. »
Once his speech is over, Steve lets out a huge sigh. Then he turns over, looks at Tony, who is already looking back at him.
« Let's go. »
And with a simple nod, Tony turns the engine on.