Mission Accomplished
Sep. 15th, 2019 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
red_roomThis is what redemption looks like.
Natasha never thought she’d get to see it in person. It’s a horrible, beautiful thing. A precipice with only one absolute end in front of her. The chance to save seven and a half billion people and uncountable life across the galaxy requires a sacrifice. How cruel that she and Clint would be so briefly reunited before being faced with this. They’re uniquely fitted to obtain the soul stone. Natasha may not be Clint’s wife, but they’re lifelong friends. Closer than partners. A found family. Both more whole because of the other. Only one of them is going to walk away from here. She knows before Clint even looks up that this isn’t going to be easy.
He’s not going to let her make the choice without a fight. Why would he? Natasha sure as hell isn’t going to let Clint break himself for this.
No one else wanted to come. Dominion of death, the cold lifeless center of celestial existence. The gravesite of the cradle of the universe. The place Thanos murdered his own stolen daughter in his quest for the Soul Stone. In the end, only Nat and Clint were willing to go. Steve would have if they’d told him to, but his path was the one that they needed precise people involved with. By comparison heading to an unmarked grave in the center of the universe, the Who mattered a whole hell of a lot less in the equation. Neither one of the former SHIELD agents wanted Nebula to have to be the one facing this.
Hubris definitely played a part too.
Besides, each one of them thought while staring at the ceiling of their respective quarters night after night, what more do I have to lose?
The very air hangs stifling between the pair as their impossible guide explains the nuance to the Soul Stone. It’s a defense mechanism that they both spend the energy they surely don’t have to thank circumstances that Steve hadn’t been the one to come here considering the familiar face waiting at this horrible place. Hadn’t been the one to follow the face that once belonged to Red Skull, now more smoky apparition than a man all the way up the winding rocky cliffside until they stood with their prize but a leap away. Hadn’t had to have the face who took everything from him be the one to speak the truth.
“A soul for a soul. One of you will have to give up or neither of you will leave with what you seek. To manifest the stone you must lose that which you love.”
It’s Winter in the Nexus all over again. Natasha is so tired of these arbitrary spiritual cruelties being taxed for everything she does to save others. Hasn’t she given up enough? Surely Clint has already lost everything dear to him. Her fingers play with the end of her braid while she peers down the sheer drop to the stones below. Senses trained for a life of killing and espionage detect the spike in Clint’s heartrate as his breathing picks up. Her own is hardly any better.
“The stone’s down there, Clint.”
“For one of you, yes. For the other--” Whatever proselytizing the mystique of this decrepit place Red Skull wants to give neither human wants to hear.
“Shut. Up. Before I make the rest of you as unfortunate looking as your face.” Clint’s voice is tight with emotion. With despair; with the same hopelessness Natasha could hear when she came and brought him back to the complex. Before her life turned around Natasha didn’t think her heart functioned enough to break. She knows better now. It’s in pieces at her feet to hear the man who gave her a second chance and this found family of theirs convincing himself he needs to die. That he’ll never see his family again evenif when they succeed.
And in this moment, Natalia Alianovna Romanoff chooses how her story ends.
In place of Clint’s despair her own heart steels itself in determination so solid she would shatter Steve’s shield if she were to face it. Her fear choked out by the sheer pride that fills her to know she will send Clint home to Laura. To Lailah and his sons. That the heart of the Avengers still beats long after her own stops.
Once, Clint Barton risked his life to change Natasha’s life for the better. Clint’s hand shakes in her own.
“Every mission we've ever been on. Every prank we've ever played. Forget the last five months, all our years working together lead me to here. To this moment. Saving everyone. Including you.” Her voice steady while Clint’s trembles as much as much as his grip. He knows, too. But Clint’s lost so much. It’s too much to ask to lose Natasha too.
“After what I’ve done...Nat. It’s gotta be me. You. They need you, going and getting all Decent on me like you’ve done.” It’s taking everything Clint has not to burst into tears right here. Especially when Natasha doesn’t hide the wetness slipping down her cheeks, doesn’t even try to brush her tears aside. They both know neither of them will let the other die. That’s what partners are for.
“I don’t judge everyone for their past mistakes.” Only the people who’ve hurt Him. Hurt Clint and everyone else in the small family Natasha has made for her own.
“Maybe you should’ve.” It’s not an argument Clint is going to win. He has to try anyway. Has to it’s not fair he can’t lose--not Natasha too.
“You didn’t.” Two simple words and the barest hints of a smile. Natasha doesn’t hurt to smile now. Not when Clint’s swearing and pulling her into a hug. Resting his forehead against hers because this is the last moment together they’re ever going to have. He has to throw himself first. Has to before she gets a chance to react. Before he loses Natasha. The man may as well be broadcasting his thoughts aloud because Natasha reads them loud and clear in the restlessness of his stance, the twitch in his fingers. The hitch in his breath.
She’s home.
Clint’s sweep is every sparring match they’ve ever had. The stone knocking the air from her lungs just like it always has. Tell his family he loves them? Ha. Clint hasn’t won one of these in years and he’s not about to start now. Tell them yourself, Hawkeye. Her tazers aren’t deadly but they’ll do the job long enough to leave him on the ground so she can take a run toward the cliff. Stone’s erupting at her feet, the blast from Clint's detonation arrow knocking her to the side. He’s desperate. Clint’s always been stubborn. It’s one of the many things that’s made him so great an asset all these years. He’ll take the jump--that’s fine. Natasha’s there to tackle him when he does, fire off a grappling hook into the stone and clip it to his gear before they slam into the side. Pinned just like he always is.
“Damn you…!” He can’t get it free. Hurts too much to just let it go and at this angle he can’t get a grip with his other hand around Natasha’s own. They dangle together one last time but he’s safe. He’s stuck in her web. A web crystal clear for the first time. There’s not a speck of red anywhere.
Except her own.
“Let me go.” Natasha’s voice is patient. This isn’t easy for either of them.
“No! No please don’t make me-- Natasha please. Please don’t…” He’s never begged before. Natasha’s heart is full with everything it means. She’s a part of his family. Has been all along.
“It’s okay, Clint. You have to let me go.” Maybe it is too cruel to ask him. Natasha’s foot finds purchase against the stone.
“Please--” She kicks off, wrenching herself from his grasp. “No!” This is what redemption looks like. A single choice. A friend saved.
A sudden.
Natasha never thought she’d get to see it in person. It’s a horrible, beautiful thing. A precipice with only one absolute end in front of her. The chance to save seven and a half billion people and uncountable life across the galaxy requires a sacrifice. How cruel that she and Clint would be so briefly reunited before being faced with this. They’re uniquely fitted to obtain the soul stone. Natasha may not be Clint’s wife, but they’re lifelong friends. Closer than partners. A found family. Both more whole because of the other. Only one of them is going to walk away from here. She knows before Clint even looks up that this isn’t going to be easy.
He’s not going to let her make the choice without a fight. Why would he? Natasha sure as hell isn’t going to let Clint break himself for this.
No one else wanted to come. Dominion of death, the cold lifeless center of celestial existence. The gravesite of the cradle of the universe. The place Thanos murdered his own stolen daughter in his quest for the Soul Stone. In the end, only Nat and Clint were willing to go. Steve would have if they’d told him to, but his path was the one that they needed precise people involved with. By comparison heading to an unmarked grave in the center of the universe, the Who mattered a whole hell of a lot less in the equation. Neither one of the former SHIELD agents wanted Nebula to have to be the one facing this.
Hubris definitely played a part too.
Besides, each one of them thought while staring at the ceiling of their respective quarters night after night, what more do I have to lose?
The very air hangs stifling between the pair as their impossible guide explains the nuance to the Soul Stone. It’s a defense mechanism that they both spend the energy they surely don’t have to thank circumstances that Steve hadn’t been the one to come here considering the familiar face waiting at this horrible place. Hadn’t been the one to follow the face that once belonged to Red Skull, now more smoky apparition than a man all the way up the winding rocky cliffside until they stood with their prize but a leap away. Hadn’t had to have the face who took everything from him be the one to speak the truth.
“A soul for a soul. One of you will have to give up or neither of you will leave with what you seek. To manifest the stone you must lose that which you love.”
It’s Winter in the Nexus all over again. Natasha is so tired of these arbitrary spiritual cruelties being taxed for everything she does to save others. Hasn’t she given up enough? Surely Clint has already lost everything dear to him. Her fingers play with the end of her braid while she peers down the sheer drop to the stones below. Senses trained for a life of killing and espionage detect the spike in Clint’s heartrate as his breathing picks up. Her own is hardly any better.
“The stone’s down there, Clint.”
“For one of you, yes. For the other--” Whatever proselytizing the mystique of this decrepit place Red Skull wants to give neither human wants to hear.
“Shut. Up. Before I make the rest of you as unfortunate looking as your face.” Clint’s voice is tight with emotion. With despair; with the same hopelessness Natasha could hear when she came and brought him back to the complex. Before her life turned around Natasha didn’t think her heart functioned enough to break. She knows better now. It’s in pieces at her feet to hear the man who gave her a second chance and this found family of theirs convincing himself he needs to die. That he’ll never see his family again even
And in this moment, Natalia Alianovna Romanoff chooses how her story ends.
In place of Clint’s despair her own heart steels itself in determination so solid she would shatter Steve’s shield if she were to face it. Her fear choked out by the sheer pride that fills her to know she will send Clint home to Laura. To Lailah and his sons. That the heart of the Avengers still beats long after her own stops.
Once, Clint Barton risked his life to change Natasha’s life for the better. Clint’s hand shakes in her own.
“Every mission we've ever been on. Every prank we've ever played. Forget the last five months, all our years working together lead me to here. To this moment. Saving everyone. Including you.” Her voice steady while Clint’s trembles as much as much as his grip. He knows, too. But Clint’s lost so much. It’s too much to ask to lose Natasha too.
“After what I’ve done...Nat. It’s gotta be me. You. They need you, going and getting all Decent on me like you’ve done.” It’s taking everything Clint has not to burst into tears right here. Especially when Natasha doesn’t hide the wetness slipping down her cheeks, doesn’t even try to brush her tears aside. They both know neither of them will let the other die. That’s what partners are for.
“I don’t judge everyone for their past mistakes.” Only the people who’ve hurt Him. Hurt Clint and everyone else in the small family Natasha has made for her own.
“Maybe you should’ve.” It’s not an argument Clint is going to win. He has to try anyway. Has to it’s not fair he can’t lose--not Natasha too.
“You didn’t.” Two simple words and the barest hints of a smile. Natasha doesn’t hurt to smile now. Not when Clint’s swearing and pulling her into a hug. Resting his forehead against hers because this is the last moment together they’re ever going to have. He has to throw himself first. Has to before she gets a chance to react. Before he loses Natasha. The man may as well be broadcasting his thoughts aloud because Natasha reads them loud and clear in the restlessness of his stance, the twitch in his fingers. The hitch in his breath.
She’s home.
Clint’s sweep is every sparring match they’ve ever had. The stone knocking the air from her lungs just like it always has. Tell his family he loves them? Ha. Clint hasn’t won one of these in years and he’s not about to start now. Tell them yourself, Hawkeye. Her tazers aren’t deadly but they’ll do the job long enough to leave him on the ground so she can take a run toward the cliff. Stone’s erupting at her feet, the blast from Clint's detonation arrow knocking her to the side. He’s desperate. Clint’s always been stubborn. It’s one of the many things that’s made him so great an asset all these years. He’ll take the jump--that’s fine. Natasha’s there to tackle him when he does, fire off a grappling hook into the stone and clip it to his gear before they slam into the side. Pinned just like he always is.
“Damn you…!” He can’t get it free. Hurts too much to just let it go and at this angle he can’t get a grip with his other hand around Natasha’s own. They dangle together one last time but he’s safe. He’s stuck in her web. A web crystal clear for the first time. There’s not a speck of red anywhere.
Except her own.
“Let me go.” Natasha’s voice is patient. This isn’t easy for either of them.
“No! No please don’t make me-- Natasha please. Please don’t…” He’s never begged before. Natasha’s heart is full with everything it means. She’s a part of his family. Has been all along.
“It’s okay, Clint. You have to let me go.” Maybe it is too cruel to ask him. Natasha’s foot finds purchase against the stone.
“Please--” She kicks off, wrenching herself from his grasp. “No!” This is what redemption looks like. A single choice. A friend saved.
A sudden.