The Algorithm To Infinity

[16] see you in a minute

"I'll see you in a minute."

Her last words echoed in his ear, the way her fingers had curled around his, a soft squeeze of reassurance before she pulled back and took her spot beside Clint. Steve had gazed into her emerald eyes gleaming with hope, a small smile on her lips that made his heart thrum and his soulmate mark pulse.

"I love you." She had mouthed.

"I love you too." He had mouthed back.

Then, within a minute, he'd lost the love of his life. His entire world. Clint had come back alone, tears shining in his eyes and his hands shaking. Panic had immediately overwrought him, the kind of panic that made his heart pound, and it brought him to his knees. "Where is she?" He had gasped, staring up at Clint with desperation reflecting in his eyes.

"Sh-she sacrificed herself for the stone." He shuttered.

She was gone, and his heart was in a thousand pieces. He wanted the grief to destroy him, to chip away at his resolve until he couldn't take the agony of losing his soulmate anymore. He had to stay strong, however, and it was so much worse. He had to for their little girl, and he had to tell Tatiana that her mother had died. Somehow - someway - he had to explain to their six-year-old daughter that her mother wouldn't hold her again and wouldn't kiss her forehead as she sang her to sleep. Somehow - someway - he had to figure out a way for them to live without the brightest ray of sunshine that held them together all these years.

Tears were streaming down his face as he stumbled through their empty house after Clint drove him home. He was lost without the woman he loved, the woman he was entirely devoted to and the reason he lived. He could hardly breathe, sobs shaking his shoulders as he fell into their bed where Natasha had lay just a few hours ago. He buried his face into her pillow, inhaling the smell of her fading shampoo and lotion as he clutched the pillow to his chest. Rolling over onto his side, he blinked through the tears in his eyes to gaze at one of their wedding photos as he brushed his thumb over his wedding band. He remembered the day in Wakanda like it was yesterday; how stunning she had looked, how happy she had been. He had cried for fucks sake as she had walked towards him with Clint by her side and a smile on her face that made his heart thrum. He could still recall her vows that had taken his breath away, even though his breath had already been taken from him the moment he had met her for the very first time.

He had never really caught his breath since then.

"I thought I didn't have a place in this world, that my only place was in the shadows to do KGB and Hydra's dirty work... to try and wipe out the red in my ledger. Then, I met you and our worlds fell apart at our feet and the only thing - person - I had any faith in was you." She said, stepping closer to him to cup his jaw, and it was as if they were alone, not in the middle of their wedding. "You - Steve Rogers - the only person who believes in me when no one else does. The one person who stays at my side, who waits for me and forgives me despite all that I've done. It's not because we're soulmates... I mean that in its own way is extraordinary special... but because you are the most incredible man, and I am proud to be by your side. I can't promise you much because of who I am, but I can vow to always stay by your side just like you've always been by mine. I can promise that I will always be there at the end of the day, lifetime after lifetime... I promise I will always love you, and nothing will ever change that. Nothing has shaped that, not even the mark on my neck, but you and everything that you are. Nothing - no one - but you. Forever and always."