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꧁꧂
THE WORLD'S IN colors as Scott and I travel through the time back to 2023. Halfway through, we are joined by the others until we make it back to the Time Machine in the garage.
I steady my footing, catching my breath. The helmet retracts back into the suit, the suit disappearing as well.
"Did we get them all?" Banner questions. I look around, watching everyone.
"Are you telling me this actually worked?"
"Hold on, someone's missing. Where's Natalia?" I inquire, looking to Clint, who had been with her.
Clint falls to his knees, staring off into nothing. He was soaked, his hair flopped on his head. "Clint, where's Nat?" Everyone turns, finally paying attention.
My eyes widen in realization. "No," I murmur. "Clint, what happened? She can't be-" I cut myself off, not wanting to believe what was being said.
Natasha Romanoff was dead.
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Tears leaked slowly down my cheeks. My breathing was rigid and shaky.
We were outside on the dock that was above the lake, mourning our fallen Avenger.
"Do we know if she had family?"
I don't speak up, not answering Tony. She had a sister. An adoptive family.
"Yeah. Us."
I hiccup quietly, my breath catching in my throat. Steve runs his hand up and down my back, trying to comfort me and help my breathing.
"What?" Thor confusedly asks.
"Huh?" Tony turns to him. I keep my eyes trained on the ground.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Just asked him a question."
"Yeah, no, you're acting like she's dead. Why are we acting like she's dead? We have the stones, right? As long as we have the stones... Cap, we can bring her back. Isn't that right? So, stop this crap. We're the Avengers. Get it together."
"Thor," I warn, my voice shaky.
"Can't get her back," Clint speaks up for the first time since he got back.
"What's he..? What he? Wh-W-What?"
"It can't be undone." Clint shakes his head, looking up at the long-haired man. "It can't."
Thor laughs heavily. "Look, I'm sorry, no offense, but you're a very earthly being, okay? And we're talking about space magic. And "can't" seems very definitive. Don't you think?"
"Yeah, look, I know that I'm way outside my pay grade here. But she still isn't here, is she?"
