BlackHill | If only

Chapter 23

Nat's POV:

It had been a difficult couple of weeks back at the compound. We spent many sleepless nights planning out every detail of the mission. I still couldn't fully wrap my head around it. Time travel. Relocating the stones from years long gone by.

Ria and I had been figuring out their locations for days now, finding the perfect place for us to retrieve them. Tony had finally completed the suits this morning, even down to the bracelets which would bring us back to the compound. If all goes well, this could be over within minutes.

We had all gathered in the central room in the compound, all adorning the white suits, each one of our wrists complete with the device to bring us home. Now came the crucial part. Where would each of us be going?

Clint spoke up first "So. I've never been to space. Seems like this would be the best time to try it." Everyone mustered a feeble laugh. We were all extremely nervous about the mission and clearly, no one was in the mood to hide it.

"I'll join you then Clint. Seems only fair since I've never been either." I flashed a small grin at him. Ria stepped up to me, "Absolutely not." Everyone had the sense to remain silent as she grabbed my hand. Our rings flashed in the sunlight.

Her voice was low and deadly serious, "There's no way you're going without me". I stared up into her fiercely burning eyes, I knew she wouldn't back down. And I managed to convince myself at that moment, that it was better if we did this together. "Till death do us part then". She smiled, although it didn't quite reach the corner of her eyes, some sadness hidden beneath her reassuring gaze.

Tony piped up, breaking the silence. "Alright then. So it's decided. "Steve, Clint, and I will be in New York. Where the space and mind stone are located. "Thor. You'll take Rocket and Scott to Asgard for the reality stone. Nebula and Rhodey you'll be going for the power stone. And Bruce, don't forget to bring us all back".

Tony turned his gaze to Ria and me, our hands still folded over one another, rings entwined. "Nat, Ria. You'll be after the soul stone."

Ria nodded tightly, offering me that same half-smile. Her hand gripping mine slightly harder. Neither of us knew what was in store. And fear had begun to settle in. As we assembled in a circle on a raised platform. Tony's voice could be heard in the comms, "Don't forget to press the device when you've retrieved the stone. Bruce will bring you back. Good luck guys".

You could almost hear the fear in his voice, as it shook a little saying his final words. I spoke out into the comms, to no one in particular. "See you in a minute."

Ria's POV:

It felt like my stomach had just plummeted from my body, for a moment all I could see were these bright colours, dazzling my eyes. Then suddenly I felt a jolt through my knees as my feet made contact with solid ground. Panic set in my body briefly as my eyes adjusted to the unfamiliar setting. I squeezed my hand around Nat's, her touch instantly calming me. The silence was deafening, not a whisper of a voice could be heard instantly putting me on edge. "Vormir". Nat breathed out whilst glancing around.

I gazed up at the darkening purple sky, clouds looming ominously above the only landmark in sight. A huge cliff jutted out from the ground, the clouds obscuring the peak. A shadow of movement caught my eye. It appeared to be scaling up the only visible pathway. Disappearing after a second but I knew it was leading us to the stone. "Nat, did you see that too?" She nodded slightly, unholstering her gun. Only setting me more on edge so I did the same, reluctantly letting go of her hand to reload.

She led the way up the path, it was too narrow for us to walk together so I remained behind her. Constantly checked to see if anyone was following us. However, the shadow never made a reappearance. Leaving us on high alert the entire time, constantly waiting for one of Thanos' goons to attack.

After about half an hour of silent walking, with only the sound of our boots against the ground for company. We finally reached the top, our bodies now engulfed in the clouds. Considering the circumstance it really was a beautiful view. Nat and I stared out at it for a moment, the purple hues all blending into a perfect sunset.

The silence was broken by a voice behind us. "I presume you're here for the soul stone?" His voice was layered with a thick German accent, I couldn't place why he seemed so familiar since a dark hood was covering most of his face. Nat raised her gun to the void under the hood. "Give it to us. Now. And no one has to get hurt".

He only laughed in response "I cannot give it to you, I am only a guide. To you and to all who seek the stone".

I raised my gun towards him, stepping closer. "Oh good, tell us where it is then". He slowly moved past us, tendrils of back mass curling around as he spoke gravely. "Ah, lieschen. If only it were that easy".

He paused by the edge of the cliff. "What you seek lies in front of you. As does that which you fear." Nat's gun dropped slightly, fear lacing her voice, "The stone's down there?"

He turned again to face us, his voice now utterly solemn. "For one of you. For the other, in order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love. An everlasting exchange. A soul for a soul."

Nat's POV:

I thought I was going to throw up. The taste of bile rose in my throat and my heart dropped. The shadow had dissipated in the time it took me to realise what had to be done.

Our eyes locked the second the pin dropped. "It has to be me". It was true I had to be the one, it always was going to be me. Ria crossed the distance pulling me into a fierce hug. "Don't."

Her voice shook as she spoke, "You are not sacrificing yourself for me." I lifted my head towards her, "I can't let you die. Ria, I'm the logical play. Think about it."

A tear rolled down Ria's cheek "Why would you say something like that? You are so much more to me than... the logical play." I brushed a finger along her cheek, wiping away the tear. "I have to do it. To make up for everything, the red in my ledger will finally be clean".

Ria shook her head. "No... Nat. I can't watch you die, don't do this to me." She stared down at me, lowering her forehead against mine. "I love you, Nat. Don't ever forget that".

I pulled her face down to mine, meeting her lips in a soft kiss for the last time. Remembering the feel of her mouth, ingraining it in my mind. Remembering this moment before the worst had to come and I knew what I had to do.

I whispered softly against her lips "I love you, Ria. And I wish we had more time together." I paused taking a breath against her skin. "I'm sorry".

I convinced myself this was the only way as I poised my wrist by her neck. My widow's bite sent an electric shock through her body. And she jolted away from me, the hurt clear in her eyes as she screamed out. "NO!"

It was too late, by then I was already running towards the edge taking in the scene before me. There are worse ways to die I told myself, now a step away from the edge I clenched my eyes shut. Prepared to feel the drop.

I felt myself slip over the edge, not before a hand clamped over mine swinging me into the side of the cliff. My eyes flew open to see Ria straining above me. She had tied herself to the edge of the cliff, now leaving us both dangling off the peak. She tried to pull me up but the rope only groaned under her efforts.

She screamed in frustration, attempting again to pull me. "I'm not letting you die, Nat!" She attempted to use her other arm to grab onto me but, the rope continued to protest.

I smiled up at her, "It's ok Ria." Gazing one last time at her icy blue eyes, the curves of her face so familiar to me. Every memory of her now flooding into my mind. "Let me go".

I used the tip of my foot to push into the side, breaking Ria's grip on my arm. I heard screaming as the air rushed through my hair. Clenching my eyes shut once again until I could see was Ria's face.

I whispered one more time. "I love you".

Then nothing.