See You in a Minute

N A T A S H A

❝I thought I'd have to strike you with lightning!❞
- Thor Odinson

× × ×

Waking up was never a pleasure. Some people awake to a new day with smiles on their faces, excited to do something good with their lives-but me, I simply learned to tolerate waking up to a reminder of the person I have become and to the life I'm set to live. But today, the ephemeral moment where I got to feel like myself again didn't vanish and I'm grateful. I was on the brink of being compromised and waking up to discover that I'm not brings unexplainable sensations through me. My lids were heavy and were begging for sleep and my body was fighting to get rest but I continued to fight myself and get up. And despite the loud sirens my ears keep hearing, I simply pushed them away, and before I could do more, the door suddenly busted open and appeared were the boys with worrisome expressions.

The joy I felt when my eyes landed on Tony was beyond description. I had my doubts and I didn't believe that I could really bring him back because the idea itself was a joke. I, Natasha Romanoff, could actually bring the back the dead-ludicrous, is it not? I was unexpectedly put in a situation where I was hearing various abilities that I can suddenly do! And no matter how absurd it was, I put the ridiculousness of the situation aside and just did what I knew I had to do. And I did it. And finally, I'm at peace.

I could see the indecision playing along their faces, silently asking as to who should enter first. It was Steve who did.

"How are you feeling?" he asked tentatively, softly.

I eyed them individually before answering, "If you're asking me if I'm compromised, I'm not," I said with conviction and they all let out a breath of relief I didn't even know they were holding. I understood why they held that sort of expression on their faces-they weren't sure if the Natasha that would wake up is the Natasha they've gotten to know. They were afraid that when I wake up, I'll once again be the compromised Black Widow that the world once knew, but only with mystical abilities this time. They were afraid that they'd have to hurt me, stop me. They were scared of me.

"This is great! I thought I'd had to strike you with lightning," Thor said, grinning.

I can't help but smirk at them, "Of course you did," I told Thor before setting my eyes on Stark.

He smirked in my direction, "Agent Romanoff, you miss me?"

× × ×

"Witnessing the abilities that Ms. Romanoff can do, it's no doubt that she's powerful," Strange said as he paced around the room. "But she's too powerful for her own good."

All of us were gathered at the common room. The Doctor was the one who initiated the meeting, saying we had to discuss what to do with me. After eating breakfast and regaining enough strength, they finally told me that we had to talk about what to do next. I was someone the virgin universe has never crossed paths with-something had to be done.

I don't know what to feel or what to think. I never wanted this. I never wanted to be the soul stone. I just wanted to bring back half of the universe and save the world. I did whatever it took, no matter the circumstances. But I never knew that Steve was going to bring me back, and more than that, I didn't know bringing me back will make me this new creature that the universe has never faced before.

I just wanted them back, but never at this cost.

"So you're saying that she can't use her powers?" It was Wanda who asked.

Everyone suddenly saw me as this new, bigger benefit to the team. They think that just because I have these powers, our team will become more invincible. It insulted me at first really-because I always thought I've been giving more than this team already needs. I guess sometimes being an assassin just isn't quite enough.