Romanogers One-Shots

A Chance

After defeating Thanos, Steve goes back in time to return the stones and comes across an unexpected surprise.

  It had been a week since the battle against Thanos, a week since Natasha and Tony has died. Steve was pretty sure he hadn't slept in a week—Tony's death would flash before him every time he tried closing his eyes. And Natasha...

  Natasha. He couldn't even say her name without a wave of guilt crashing down him, threatening to pull him under. His friends had spent the whole week reminding him that her death wasn't his fault, and deep inside, he somehow knew it wasn't. But i was he who assigned her the mission of retrieving the soul stone, and there was really no one else to blame.

  "Cap, remember what to do?" Bruce asked while pressing a few buttons on the time traveling machine. Steve nodded, his hand tightening around the case and Loki's scepter.

  He had volunteered to return the stones because he lost one of his closest friends—Natasha had given up her life for the soul stone. He still remembered the moment Clint came back alone, grief written all across his face. Without Natasha, Steve felt like a part of him had completely shut down. Travelling to Vormir to return the soul stone was his way of paying tribute to the spy who had sacrificed everything for he and the rest of the Avengers.

  Then he lost Tony, one of the bravest people he had ever met. Sure, they had a few disagreements over the years but they had always been on the same side when the situation mattered.

  "Going in 3...2...1!" Bruce's voice faded when a blinding light surrounded Steve before he got sucked back in time. I'm doing this for you, Nat. He closed his eyes.

  When the soldier opened them, he was in the middle of a dark alley, the people around him oblivious to his presence. He immediately recognized Stark Tower standing tall in its former glory. It was then when he noticed the smell of burning and smoke. 2012, right after the battle with Loki. The first time working with Natasha. Steve felt his heart clench at her name, hands rolling into fists.

  "Evacuate the citizens now!" A voice rang out and Steve was met by the intimating figure of Agent Rollins. Soon, a Shield quinjet landed, strike team Delta marching out. Steve saw the opportunity when everyone was occupied with work and sneaked into the streets, hoping to blend in.

  The entrance to Stark Tower was eerily silent, no staff, no agents whatsoever. The captain rode the elevator to the main floor, expecting a swift getaway later. What he did not expect was to see 2012 Natasha standing beside the bar, laughing at something Clint said.

  Steve's heart cracked again. Natasha looked so carefree and young, not knowing what was about to come in eleven years. And Steve knew he would do anything to see her smile just one more time. Focus on the mission, Rogers. Steve thought to himself, managing to put the scepter where it belonged.

  He took one last glance at 2012 Natasha and hell, was he about to cry? But the stones in the case reminded him why he was here in the first place so Steve left, for good.

  Returning the other stones was a success until the soul stone was the only left. He had deliberately saved that for last—the pain of going back to where Natasha died was almost too much to bear. Gloomily, Steve arrived at Vormir, already disliking the purplish and grey sky. He couldn't believe that Natasha spent the final moments of her life here. Here. In this stinking gloomy place.

  "Holy hell, these stairs..." Steve wheezed as he continued to climb up the cliff. If Natasha were here, she would have teased him relentlessly for cursing out loud.

  Language, Rogers. I expect old men like you to be at least respectful.

  Steve smiled at that thought, his brain now playing their memories together over and over again. He missed her so much. Her smile, her eyes, the way she would look at him—like he was an idiot and she couldn't care less. His happiness was short-lived though, and a wave of guilt threatened to drown him when he remembered that she wasn't in his life anymore.