Chapter 14
Vormir, 2014 – Returning the soul stone.
Steve Rodgers arrived on the planet and ran around, trying to find his friends and the place of the soul stone. He reached the mountain top and watched as Natasha and Barton fought each other. Holding himself back, desperately trying to not disturb the timeline a thought occurred to him.
He jumped up and revealed himself to them.
"Wait, guys, wait!" he yelled at them.
Red Skull floated a bit higher than usual, intrigued by this arrival.
"Steve, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in 2012? On earth?" Natasha asked as they approached each other. Steve stared at her, remarkably overjoyed to see her alive. He pulled her into a hug without explaining himself.
"Steve, man, what's going on?" Barton asked.
Steve stepped away from Natasha and found it harder than he expected. He thought about how he could explain himself and wondered whether he didn't just mess it all up.
He caressed Natasha's cheek and sighed. "I can't say anything." He said softly, "Just that you didn't make it back to us."
"Dude, you're from the future? Did we do it? Did we win?" Barton broke Steve's focus.
"I can't tell you that," Steve turned away from Natasha and held out a stone to Barton, "If you take this with you, tell them Nat didn't make it and that she can't come back. Tell them that she sacrificed herself for the soul stone. And there are no returns. Make them believe it."
"Steve, son of Joseph," Red Skull drew their attention and the three of them turned to look at him. "You are playing with time. Remember that when you mess with time, time will mess with you." He gestured towards Natasha and nodded, returning to his spot in the corner.
"What the hell?" Barton frowned.
"So, where are we going?" Natasha asked Steve.
"I don't know, I haven't thought this through," Steve chagrined.
"Yes clearly," Natasha stated, "the creepy-looking floaty guy just gave you a warning."
"You can't go back to the future, it could change everything," Steve muttered. "But I can still save you."
Natasha looked at the edge of the cliff, at Red Skull, then Barton, and lastly up at Steve. Something in the way he looked at her, scared her, but she understood.
"I can't go back to the future, Clint," she said as she looked back at the edge where they had both attempted to jump off of. "You have to make them believe it."
"Are you sure?" Barton stared at the stone and Natasha nodded, closing his fingers over the stone.
"Now go." Natasha stepped closer to Steve and they watched as Barton returned to his time.
"So, what now?" she asked Steve.
"We have to return the rest of them." He pointed at his previous hiding spot and they started walking to the case holding the stones. "And then I think we find a place to live, far away from all the drama."
"Amen to that! I've had enough drama," Natasha sighed and started up her quantum suit.
Steve pulled her into another hug.
"Not that I'm complaining, but I'm certainly getting a lot of hugs today," Natasha said as she looked at him again. "Can you tell me what happens?"
Steve looked back at Red Skull and at the edge of the cliff.
"I'm guessing that I died here?" Natasha stated rather than asked. Steve nodded. His expression making sense. Natasha thought for a minute, knowing that she was just about to jump off anyway, but at a different time, she had done it and it ended her life. A strange sorrow filled her as her breathing sped up.
"Did we do it?" she asked and he nodded after a long time.
"What did we lose?" She added to her questions.
"Does it matter?"
"No," Nat said simply, knowing she couldn't take the answer at that moment. That's when she saw Mjolnir next to the case of stones.
"Why do you have that?" Nat crossed her arms but smiled teasingly at him.
"Turns out I'm worthy," Steve grinned as he held his hand out and the hammer flew to him.
"I'm not surprised."
Steve blushed and picked up the stone case, handed it and a few Pym Particles to Natasha, and took her other hand.
He changed her time GPS to match his and with the click of a button, they arrived on…
Asgard, 2014
They appeared to be in a royal courtyard, lavished with flowers and beautiful statues.
"More time travelers, I presume," a voice startled them. Steve and Nat turned to find themselves face to face with Frigga. She smiled at their utter shock and glided closer, placing a reassuring hand on Nat's shoulder.
"Don't worry dears," Frigga patted the back of Nat's hand, "I presume my son was successful."
Steve bowed his head, "Queen Frigga, your majesty," he greeted and Natasha followed suit.
"No need for that, dears." Frigga waved her hand casually, "I believe two time travelers such as yourselves who I presume saved the universe, has a higher rank than a mere queen.
Natasha opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, not knowing how to state her question.
"I see with more than eyes, my dear," Frigga answered the unasked question. "You can leave that here for now," she pointed at the case and the hammer, "the place you want to go to is just around that corner," Frigga pointed to her left. "Let the girls have a little chat." And she pulled Natasha closer, linking arms with her, and started strolling away.
Steve and Nat shared a reassuring nod and then he ran off with the reality stone.
"Thor is okay," Natasha broke the silence, wondering for herself whether it was true.
"I'm sure he is," Frigga smiled.
"And Lo…" Natasha didn't know what she wanted to say but Frigga cut her off
"Loki will preservere as he always has. He's a survivor," Frigga stated.
They strolled in silence for a bit as Natasha decided to admire her surroundings.
"Everything will be alright, dear," Frigga said eventually. "You will live a beautiful life. You deserve it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Natasha whispered, overwhelmed by the strange deep feeling of peace and joy she suddenly experienced. They stopped walking when they had made a full circle back to the hammer.
"You ever pick that up?" Nat asked, gesturing to the hammer, hoping to stop herself from crying.
"Of course, dear," Frigga grinned, "who do you think hands it to Odin?"
Natasha laughed, some happy tears rolling down her cheek. Frigga wiped her tears and cupped her cheek. "Every strong man needs a strong woman at his side. Soft on the inside, but strong on the outside. A partner." Frigga held and Natasha felt as if she wasn't talking about herself and Odin.
Steve ran into the courtyard and stopped dead when he saw the two women hug.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Natasha smiled and distractedly picked up Mjolnir. "Where does this go?"
Frigga grinned and Natasha let out a laugh, happy to know she too was worthy.
"Oh, that reminds me," Frigga waved her fingers gracefully and a second Mjolnir appeared on the ground.
Both Steve and Nat had seen Loki's magic, and this reminded them of that.
"Take that one with you," Frigga indicated to the one in Natasha's hand. "It would be a shame to have the real one broken."