Soulmates series- Romanogers

It may be hours, but now we have forever

"Good luck," Steve says to her, a smile on his lips. Stopping her bounce for a moment, she studies her husband's eyes as ice shoots through her veins.

He's my soulmate, Natasha realizes instantly. Steve recognizes that something isn't right immediately, but she stows her emotions away before he can catch it. Resuming her dance, she sends him a radiant smile while simultaneously memorizing his face.

Blinking back the tears, she reverts to humor to hide her pain from him, "See you in a minute." The hum of the machine distracts her as she turns her attention to see it open up and transport them; hyper-aware of Steve's gaze on her the whole time as she's sucked into the vortex.

When they land on Morag, she quickly wipes away the straying tears before turning to say good-bye to Rhodey and Nebula. The cyborg catches the spy's gaze with a knowing glance and Natasha's blood runs cold again. The dots instantly connect to when Nebula told them about the soul stone and how two people went for it, and how only one came back.

Every human knows the legend of soulmates and how once you hear the words, you know who they are. But it's also the last time you ever see them again. And Steve just said her words, making him her soulmate.

It all connects at that moment when Natasha realizes she will be the one to die.

Curtailing her emotions again to keep this revelation secret, Natasha gives Nebula a curt nod before they part ways. Her thoughts are dark as Clint and her scale the mountain, worry about Steve building in the pit of her stomach. She's grateful it will be her dying, not her husband. It's cruel to say, but Steve will have friends to support him. Tony, Bucky, Sam, Clint, Wanda and more once they reverse this mess.

But still: how will he react?

And another question lingers: should she tell Clint about this new information? No, she decides, he'd just tie me down and try to sacrifice himself instead. Her best friend already felt guilty enough about missing the wedding and being absent for the last five years; she can't put this on his shoulders too. Natasha just hopes that in the end her husband and best friend will be able to help each other get through this mess.

They reach the top and Red Skull (Natasha's really glad Steve isn't here for that part) reveals what she already knows. Selfishly allowing herself a few more moments with her best friend, Natasha realizes that she's going to have to fight Clint for the right to die. The fight that ensues is difficult, but fate is on her side and the master spy manages to get the upper hand in the end.

As Clint tries to desperately figure out how to save her, she just smiles at him with accepting green eyes.

"Tell Steve I love him."

Clint blinks helplessly at her when with no hesitation she kicks off of the cliff.

She wakes in an imperfect afterlife without her soulmate and it's there that she finally lets her tears fall.

"Agent Romanoff," A familiar cocky voice interrupts her dozing. "You miss me?"

Her lips turn into a frown as she views the figure blocking her sun. She's lying next to a pool with a vodka martini in hand, where the delicate glass clinks against the ring on her finger.

"How could I, Shellhead?" Natasha retorts, her green eyes narrowing into daggers. "You didn't give me any time to actually miss you."

Tony's cockiness fades at her words, morphing into a sad smile. "I couldn't leave you here alone, Red. What kind of gentleman would that make me?"

"The one that should've stayed behind with his wife and kid." Her tone is sharp with disappointment and sympathy.

"Like you couldn't have done the same with your husband?"