BlackHill | If only

Chapter 17

Maria's POV:

On the flight home, Nat remained in a catatonic state, she didn't speak about what she had seen as if it was still too raw to mention. She shouldn't have gone on the mission without me. I hated that I wasn't able to be there for her and that I couldn't understand what she was going through.

Yelena had offered to fly the jet noting my urge to comfort Nat. She laid in my arms on the floor of the ship, still not a word uttered between us. After about an hour she must have finally drifted off as I felt the tension in her body dissipate and her breathing evened to a steady pace.

Another hour passed until we touched down in the compound hangar, all the while Natasha remained asleep. The doors opened with a hiss and people piled onto the ship. Steve, Tony, Fury. All faces complete with equally confused expressions all staring at Nat in my arms. Steve spoke first in a hushed tone as to not wake Nat. "We should get her inside".

I nodded and shifted my body out from underneath Natasha, now in a crouched position over her unconscious body. Steve knelt down, reaching his arms out towards her as if to carry Nat inside. I waved him off "It's ok I should do it".

He stepped away with a smirk on his face, and I received a raised eyebrow from Fury. I cradled Nat's body into my arms. Bringing her head close to my neck so I could feel her warm breaths against my skin.

My muscles began to protest as I lifted her off the ship, but I wasn't about to let anyone touch her.

I had carried Nat through the entire compound, ignoring the sideways looks from the other agents. Some of the team traipsed behind us, more in awe at my insistence to carry her all the way up to her room. Even Wanda appeared with a shadow of a smile on her face as she ushered people away from Nat's door.

She lingered after everyone had gone, "I'm glad she has you Hill. You better take good care of her". I offered her a smile back and entered Nat's room, shutting the door with a click. I gingerly laid her on the bed, finding a clean pair of clothes as a substitute for her dirt-covered suit.

I peeled the suit off her bruised body, stopping myself from staring too long and trying to remain focused on the task at hand. Once she had some clean clothes on I tucked her into the duvet, taking one last look at her face before switching off the light and heading downstairs.

The Avengers were all in the main living room, sat in a circle, seemingly deep in conversation. An image was being projected to the right but it was obscured from my vision. I entered further and saw two men standing by the projection. I only recognized them from past S.H.E.I.L.D files and potentials for the avengers initiative. Steven Strange and Scott Lang were deep in conversation with Tony.

"He's coming now, don't you realize we have to stop him from getting the last stone."

I stepped into the room. "Who is coming?" all eyes turned on me as I interrupted Strange.

He replied in a very clipped manner "Thanos is coming". He gestured to Vision sitting near the back of the room. "And there are only two stones, including the one in his head, between Thanos and the decimation of half the entire population".

Tony spoke up in his usual sarcastic tone. "So what do you suggest we do, oh great magician?" Strange huffed at Tony's lack of seriousness. "We need to destroy that stone before Thanos can get his hands on it".

Tony retorted, "That stone is one of the most powerful elements in existence, how do you expect us to destroy it? And if we did destroy it Vision could die". Vision's voice echoed from the back of the room, "I have an idea that may help". Whilst glancing at Wanda perched next to him.

Steve chimed in "We don't trade lives in the Avengers. I know someone that can help us".