Sad Avengers one shots

A soul for a soul

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam looked over at Bruce as Steve took a step onto the platform.

"For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds" Bruce clicked a few buttons. Steve picked up mijorn(fix) as Sam spoke again.

"Ready cap? We'll meet you back here ok?"

"You bet." Steve gave a curt nod. Bucky watched as the helmet slid onto Steve.

"Going quantum in 3....2...1.." he disappeared, just like that. "And returning in 5....4....3....2...1...." nothing, nothing appeared on the pad. They all looked around in confusion.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know, he blew right past his time stamp. He should be here." Bucky looked around hearing the argument in the background.

"Well get him back!"

"I'm trying!"

"Get him the hell back!" Bucky noticed two figures seeming to sit side by side near the lake.

"Sam." He spoke calmly, turning to them. He gestured to the two figures and started to walk over.

"Who is it?" Sam caught up to him, falling into step with him.

"I have a idea." He walked closer, then he noticed that one figure was standing, and was just the same height as the other. He knew who it was. "Steve?" He questioned. Sam looked at him with confusion as a familiar face looked over. He crushed him in a hug, quite literally, he could have crushed the small man. They pulled away after a long moment.

"Hey buck. I'm not alone."

"Barnes." The other person stood up and turned to them. She looked... well... alive.

"Natasha?"

"You remembered me this time." She smiled softly.

"But- how?" He turned his gaze back to Steve.

"When I went to return the soul stone, I just, I couldn't leave without trying to get her back. So I talked to the Red Skull," he took a small breath, sitting down. "I asked him if by giving back the stone I could get her back. He said no. He said that the only way to get her back was another sacrifice. So I sacrificed myself, I sacrificed Captain America, and I got Natasha back." Bucky placed a hand on his friends shoulder.

"Steve, you are so much more than Captain America." He smiled softly. The group stood in silence before Bruce came over.

"Nat?" He asked softly. The girl turned and her eyes lit up.

"Hey Bruce." She walked over and hugged him, pulling away and wiping at her tear filled eyes. "Where's Tony?" The group went silent. Bucky saw Steve lower his head and Sam shift uncomfortably.

"He saved the world." Bucky said softly, shaking his head. He watched Natasha's eyes well up with tears.

"He's-"

"Yes." A blanket of sadness dropped over the group.

"I want to see him." Bucky nodded, putting a arm around Steve as he stood up.

-Natasha's POV-

She looked around at the lake, her heart dropping.

She thought of Tony, how happy he seamed with his family, how much he had changed in the years they worked together. He looked so much happier since he had Morgan, she knew how much it hurt for him to lose Peter.

She took a deep breath, wiping harshly at the tears in her eyes. She looked down at the memorial, sniffing quietly as a drop landed on the arc reactor. "I'm so sorry Tony." She whispered quietly. "I'll protect Morgan with my life" she promised quietly.

It was quiet and sullen around the area, until a choked sob reached her ears.

"Tasha?" She turned, tears welling up when she saw Clint. She got up, ignoring the burning in her aching muscles. She sprinted, throwing her arms around him. He pressed his hand on the back of her head and she curled further into his shoulder, crying silently. "Please never leave." There was desperation in his voice as he clung onto her as if she was just going to disappear.

It felt like years since she's been near him, she soaked in the familiar person, her heart aching for the one they left behind.

"I never will."