Years Beyond - Old Soul Sequel

8

<Natasha's Pov>

I refused to sit in a recovery room for longer than I needed too. While Bruce insisted that I stay under observation, I was eager to get back to work. How can I sit around and do nothing when Steve traded his life for mine?

Everything kept replaying over and over in my head: Steve, urging me to return to S.H.E.I.L.D. while he stayed behind to endure more torture. It was an idiot move. He was much more valuable back at the headquarters than I was. But of course, where there's Avalie, there's trouble. Where there's trouble, there's Steve.

He made the decision out of love. He didn't even take a second to think about it, using his heart above his head. I couldn't exactly commend him on his choice, but I couldn't be mad either. I often wished that I was strong enough to let my heart guide me.

"We need to get them out," I spoke aloud. I sat around the conference table with the Avengers that could attend the meeting. Bruce sat at my right, of course. Wanda was there, along with Vision. Sam hasn't missed a meeting regarding this issue, and neither has Bucky. Thor was absent--he never remained on Earth for too long. But even Tony was there, despite his dispute with Steve that no one dared to mention.

"Saying it over and over again doesn't get us any closer to actually getting them out," Tony dully pointed out. I sneered at him. Everyone knew that he was only present because he felt obligated. By all means, I wanted to say, we can arrange for you to get out.

Wanda looked between Tony and me uneasily. She was always the one to pick up on potential fires and was quick to put them out. "All we know," she said, forcing herself into the conversation. "Is what Natasha has told us. We might be able to come up with a plan, but even then--"

"We risk a war," Sam finished for her. He shook his head, pacing slightly. We all knew what Hydra wanted, and if Hydra didn't get it, then the streets of New York would be a full blown battlefield. Sam exhaled loudly, knowing what everyone was thinking. "I hate to be the one to say it, but--"

"Cap's pretty little blonde girlfriend isn't worth a fight," Tony said. At least he's blunt, I thought bitterly. He'll say what everyone is scared to.

Sam cleared his throat, off put. He makes no effort to tell Tony he's wrong, though. I couldn't find the words to speak either. I looked to Bruce at my side for some aid, and after a long exhale, Bruce stands.

"She's valuable to them for her abilities," he said, taking off his glasses and folding them neatly to hold them in his palm. "As long as she's sick, she's useless." He frowns. "But if she somehow miraculously heals, then we need her on our side. Hydra will use her powers for bad."

"So you're saying that we go through the trouble of rescuing her when she'll just die anyways?" Tony blurted, ever the realist.

"I'm saying," Bruce said firmly. "That if we rescue her along with Steve, the war stays at bay." He hesitates for a moment, an unpleasant look passing over his face. When he speaks again, his voice is grim. "That way, she can live her last few days in freedom."

The conference room falls silent. I feels something sharp and my throat and duck my head. I still remember the day Avalie moved in. I had called Steve about a mission, and he said he'd be ready as soon as his new neighbor was done moving in. Whenever there was a mission, Steve usually made me wait while he helped his elderly neighbor with her groceries, or other thoughtlessly generous deeds.

But when Avalie moved in, it was different. I could hear the light in his voice through the phone. For the first time, he was doing a good deed not only because he was kind, but because he wanted something. He wanted Avalie.