The last several years have been the best of Natasha's life. No matter how bad things got, no matter how hopeless, they were always days worth living because she had her comrades by her side. Every time she told herself she was alright dying today with the fight they had in front of them she meant every word. Better to die among friends than to live the meaningless life she spent every waking moment in before Barton brought her in.
Barton and Fury changed everything. They're both gone now. But if they can't bring back the people Thanos erased from reality then Natasha sees only one valid way forward.
"We go back to the complex and I call everyone that will listen. We tell them this is it. There is no going back." Okoye will mourn. They will all mourn. A world collectively paying respects to the people its lost. "Then we start picking up the pieces, one at a time. I'll do everything I can to..." The spy raises her arms, but the gesture she wants to make dies halfway through and leaves them flopping uselessly against her sides once more.
"...To keep people safe." Rhodey finishes, voice tight with emotion. "I'm in." Bruce doesn't speak up from where he's still watching the door to see when Thor and Steve will come back. Natasha's lips quirk in the beginnings of a smile she knows is forced but does it anyway. This is the only way forward. It's what Nick would do, and he's one of the best men Natasha knows for all his faults. If Steve isn't strong enough to do it then Natasha will.
Someone has to. She looks down at Rocket before walking over to where his seat is.
"You've got a home with us for as long as you want it. No strings attached." There is no hope in her face. No blind idealism that this will somehow be okay. Just a grim determination to make something meaningful out of this even if it kills her. Better to die among friends than spend even a day living the way she used to. She won't go back to that.
no subject
Barton and Fury changed everything. They're both gone now. But if they can't bring back the people Thanos erased from reality then Natasha sees only one valid way forward.
"We go back to the complex and I call everyone that will listen. We tell them this is it. There is no going back." Okoye will mourn. They will all mourn. A world collectively paying respects to the people its lost. "Then we start picking up the pieces, one at a time. I'll do everything I can to..." The spy raises her arms, but the gesture she wants to make dies halfway through and leaves them flopping uselessly against her sides once more.
"...To keep people safe." Rhodey finishes, voice tight with emotion. "I'm in." Bruce doesn't speak up from where he's still watching the door to see when Thor and Steve will come back. Natasha's lips quirk in the beginnings of a smile she knows is forced but does it anyway. This is the only way forward. It's what Nick would do, and he's one of the best men Natasha knows for all his faults. If Steve isn't strong enough to do it then Natasha will.
Someone has to. She looks down at Rocket before walking over to where his seat is.
"You've got a home with us for as long as you want it. No strings attached." There is no hope in her face. No blind idealism that this will somehow be okay. Just a grim determination to make something meaningful out of this even if it kills her. Better to die among friends than spend even a day living the way she used to. She won't go back to that.