All hope was lost.
Tears streamed down Natasha's face uninhibited; she was way too exhausted to even try to keep them in.
Her hand found Steve's as they stared at the army rising in front of them. Cold. Empty. Tired. Done.
Nat waited for the death that she knew was coming. Human resistance determination be damned; in the eyes of Thanos and his army, she was nothing but a bruised and beaten girl next to a bruised and beaten man. One blow away from collapsing to the ground in brutal defeat.
Dust and ash swirled into the sky.
Only broken rock remained of the place she once called home, where she laughed and cried and trained and learned.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
Nat was ready to see her family again.
And then she heard it.
"On your left."
There was no easy way to describe the feelings that coursed through her veins as Nat watched her friends that felt like family appear on the battlefield through swirling circles of light.
It was even harder to describe the way the feelings amplified, the way her breath flew out of her chest and her hands trembled when she saw him.
T'Challa.
Five years without him by her side; of believing him dead; of never really getting over the grief; of seeing him everywhere no matter how hard she tried to cast him out.
Nat closed her eyes for a brief second, hoping that he'd still be there when she opened them and when he was, she couldn't stop herself from launching into a sprint over limp bodies and rubble. He didn't see her coming as he stared at the massive force that stood before them.
Nat needed to see his face. That damn mask lay between her and seeing her love again.
"Challa!" Nat cried as she hurled herself toward him.
He reacted quickly, wrapping her in his arms and holding her securely against his chest. Nat could hear the mask retract and her head shot up to gaze at his princely features.
"My love." His words were barely above a whisper as she cupped his cheeks, taking him in with so much frantic desperation.
Her lips found his as troops charged past them, yelling a blazing war cry so loud that Nat was sure the sun could hear it. The kiss was everything she'd ever wanted. So familiar, so tender, so full of love. She couldn't help the tears that flowed as he pulled away.
"We must go, my love." his eyes were reluctant but his stance was ready.
"I know… I've found my hope again, it better still be here when the battle has been won," Nat managed, letting her hands slide down to his neck as the mask covered his face once more.
"I will not leave you again."
Nat smiled softly before shifting her gaze to the waging war,"Then let's make them regret ever stepping foot on this planet."