Shadow Of Darkness: Avengers x Male Reader

Chapter 130.5: À La Vie, À La Mort, À La Folie

A/N: This is officially the end of Shadow of Darkness. I must admit, I cried a good amount while writing this. This book has been up for so long now and I always kicked myself for never giving it the send off it deserved. I doubt anyone listens to the music I put on these, but I do urge you to listen to any placed below as I personally think they add a nice hint to the atmosphere.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years with love and kindness. This book never would've gone anywhere without all of you. I can happily say that this is the close that I have wanted for so long. A final, heartfelt epilogue to all that has come before in this work. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

From the bottom of my heart... thank you.

Kate groaned, rubbing the side of her face. She sat in the back of an ambulance alongside Clint. Luckily, the two didn't have many harsh injuries, which was surprising for Kate. She had been caught in an exchange with Kingpin while saving her mother. When Clint heard she had not only protected her mother, but incapacitated Kingpin with trick arrows, he was shocked to say the least.

"You know, I gotta be really honest with you, Kate. It doesn't happen too often, but every once in a while, you come across somebody that just makes you better in every way." Clint spoke softly. Natasha's memory sat in his mind after the confrontation on the ice. She truly did bring light to those around her.

Across the road, (Y/N) and Yelena sat on a wall, their quiet conversation seeming to bring smiles across their faces. The sight warmed Clint. If it wasn't for Natasha, those two would've probably been more bitter than ever and never would've changed.

"Was it because of Natasha that they met?" Kate asked, her eyes also watching the two. She watched as Yelena looked at the ring on her hand with an endeared expression. Despite that, the two still looked remorseful for everything. Clint nodded in agreement.

Kate's eyes focused on the ring, becoming acutely aware that Yelena hadn't been wearing it the last time they met. "What happened back there?" She looked to Clint curiously.

Clint shrugged in response, taking a small breath as he watched the two hug. "Couldn't tell you for sure." He couldn't wipe away the proud, happy smile on his lips. "I think I understand what he meant now."

Kate hummed at him, raising a brow.

"He thanked me for always being there; said he was sad he never got to say it to Nat or Steve. I think at face value, he meant it in case he died. Metaphorically, I don't think he meant (Y/N) dying, I think he meant Erebus." Clint noted aloud. As if he had heard his name, (Y/N)'s head turned towards them. He gave them a small smile, content with the path the world had now paved.

The two smiled back at him. Clint had known him for more than a decade now and had seen the good and the bad. He'd watched him turn from a heartless killer to a remorseful hero. Even if he still kept up that cold exterior, it didn't take a thermometer to know his heart had warmed.

(Y/N) looked up to the sky, peering at whatever stars weren't drowned out by light pollution. Despite the difficulty seeing them, many of the dots seemed to gleam brighter under his watchful gaze, as if calling out to him. In them, he could attribute their call to that of spirits.

His father.

His mother.

His grandparents.

His great-grandparents.

All of them were watching with pride and respect. They'd always been with him. They always would be. He rested his head against Yelena's, shutting his eyes with a gentle, comfortable sigh.