because I'm sad we didn't get to see them interact more.
(artistic liberties taken, because I don't pretend to understand how time travel works. as we say in my family...just suspend judgment and be entertained.)
enjoy.
"I want to go to Vormir," Thor says quietly.
"You wanna what?!" Rocket exclaims. "Why?"
"Natasha's body may still be there. She deserves to be laid to rest in the custom of her people."
"Uh, that's a nice thought," Rocket replies as gently as he can, "but isn't that in a completely different timeline?" Thor just stares and Rocket sighs. "Okay, even if it is there...it would've been there for almost ten years…"
"And?"
"And even if Vormir's just a desolate rock, there's probably not a whole lot left…"
"She gave her life to save the universe. She deserves to be honoured as a hero and to be at peace."
"Look, Thor, I'm not disagreeing with you. Red did a hell of a thing, and as humans go she was one of the good ones. But for all we know there's some magical aspect to that place because of the stone and there's nothing for us to even get."
"Still, I want to try."
"I'll go with you," Nebula offers as she comes up behind them. "I know the coordinates, and I'd like to pay my respects to Romanoff...and to my sister."
Rocket lets out a heavy exhale. "Fine, take the pod. We'll be here for at least a few days fixing up the ship anyway."
"Good evening, Lady Natasha."
"Just Natasha is fine, Thor," she replies, the barest hint of exasperation in her tone as she tilts her head and scrutinizes him.
"Forgive me," he says with a rueful smile while making his way across the roof to where she is leaning on the railing, looking out over the city. "It is custom-"
"Yes, I know. You've told me," Natasha interrupts gently, waving off his explanation. "I'm still waiting to meet this Lady Sif you keep telling us about though."
He grins widely. "She is keen to meet you as well."
Natasha's eyebrow arches doubtfully. "Really?"
Thor nods enthusiastically. "Oh yes. I've told her of the Avengers and our battles, and she was particularly intrigued by your inclusion on the team. It was her impression that human women did not usually partake in battle. Before meeting you, I'm embarrassed to admit I believed the same."
"Oh yeah, they're all about equal opportunity here on earth," Natasha replies with a roll of her eyes.
Thor frowns in confusion. "Jane had informed me that there were many areas in which women were not given their fair-"
"Sarcasm, Thor."
"Of course," he replies, flashing a sheepish grin. "Still getting used to that here."
"I know," she replies with a reassuring smile. "Keep hanging out with Tony and you'll be fluent in human sarcasm and pop culture references in no time."
Thor puts Mjolnir down on the ground between them and leans back against the railing. "So what troubles you this eve?"
"Nothing," she replies with a shake of her head. "Just enjoying the view," she adds with a gesture toward the city's skyline.
"It is a sight," he agrees after twisting to glance at the setting sun peeking through the outlines of the towering buildings.
Natasha's head turns and her gaze narrows as she scrutinizes her teammate further. "What troubles you this eve?" she asks, echoing his words as her head tilts in an invitation to share.
"Thinking of my mother," he admits.
She nods understandingly. "I heard. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," he says with a nod. "She's in Valhalla now, rejoicing with her fellow warriors and ancestors."
"Is that where Asgardians go when they die?"
He nods. "The noble and worthy, yes. It is a place of peace where the brave live forever."
"That sounds beautiful," she offers softly.
Another nod. "What is your people's afterlife like?" he asks, mirroring her pose and turning around to rest his arms on the railing.
Natasha blows out a breathy laugh. "I don't think I'm qualified to answer that question." His brow furrows, prompting her to explain. "We have conflicting religions here on earth, each with their own ideas of what life after death is like. Some believe there is nothing after and our consciousness just stops. Some believe those who have lived good lives go to heaven to enjoy peace and happiness, and those not worthy of heaven are relegated to spend eternity suffering in hell. Some believe we are reincarnated into a brand new being. And those are just the main ones…"
"It must be confusing to live a life with so much uncertainty."
"Most of life is uncertain," she replies with a shrug. "People will believe what they want and need to."
"And what do you believe, Natasha?"
"I don't know," she admits after a beat. "But I think it's worth trying to do some good in the world in any case."
Thor nods. "It is always a worthy cause to do good in the world."
They fall into silence after that, each seeming content to watch the last beams of sunlight disappear beneath the horizon.
"What makes a person worthy of admission to Valhalla?" Natasha asks, breaking the silence.
Thor glances over to her and catches her gaze rising up from Mjolnir, a strange expression on her face that he can't place. "It is usually reserved for great warriors, and those who have died glorious deaths. Dying to save your people, your loved ones, in service of another…"
"I see."
Silence envelops them for a moment as he puzzles out why she had asked. He finds that the more he learns about her, the more he realizes that she is far more than what she lets people believe, and that Natasha is distinctly different from the Black Widow.
"You would be welcomed with open arms, Lady Natasha. You have saved countless lives, and despite having no enhancements you fight alongside us in these battles against beings from other worlds and enemies armed with technology that surpasses your own."
"That's very kind of you to say..."
Thor recognizes her hesitancy and tilts his head. "And yet…" he prompts.
"I'm not an Asgardian."
"My people can recognize contributions to the nine realms beyond those of our kind. Your actions have not only protected Midgard, but that of other realms as well." He pauses for a beat. "And besides, your life is far from over. Who knows what other battles you will help us emerge victorious from."
She smiles. "Anyone ever tell you that you'd make a great life coach?"
Thor frowns, recognizing the deflection but also unsure of the term she'd used. "Life coach? What's that?"
Natasha laughs. "Get Stark to explain it to you. Steve could probably use the explanation too, come to think of it."
"Yo, Point Break, Natalie! Care to join us? We've got a sceptre to go after!" Stark's voice calls out loudly from the doorway behind them. "It's briefing time."
"Speak of the devil," Natasha mutters with a roll of her eyes.
"Let's go! Barton's gonna eat all the danishes, and you know how grumpy I get when-"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll be right there, shellhead," Natasha calls out, interrupting Stark's ramblings.
He disappears back through the doorway, and they are left alone on the rooftop once more.
"We better get a move on. He wasn't kidding about Clint eating all the danishes," she says, pushing herself off the railing.
Thor's hand grabs her arm gently before she can get too far. Her gaze drops down to his hand immediately, looking unimpressed.
"Fear not, Natasha," he says, heeding her unspoken warning and letting go of her arm. "You will, when the time comes, be welcomed into a peaceful and beautiful afterlife, wherever it shall be. I believe the Fates shall will it so."
Natasha blinks as she processes his words. "Here's hoping you're right," she replies dryly before heading back into the Tower.
"Well done, Captain," Thor says as he claps him on the back. "A most valiant battle, and a strong victory in the end."
"Yeah," Cap replies distractedly as he eyes the damage surrounding them in the town. When they'd been called to handle some people with leftover Chitauri weapons and tech and a possible lead on the sceptre, none of them had imagined just how destructive it would be. But all things considered, things had gone well. There had been no civilian casualties, and the damage was not irreparable.
"Stark's already called in his team to help out with the cleanup, Steve," Natasha says, sensing the source of his distress. "They're in good hands."
"Go to hell, Widow! You've done enough damage to this country!"
Thor's head whips around to find a small crowd of upset people yelling at the group of Avengers, or rather, at Natasha. As he recalls her explanation of the Midgardian concept of hell, Thor finds rage beginning to grow in his chest as he considers the man who is wishing eternal damnation on his teammate. His mouth opens to retort, but Natasha's hand is already on his arm pulling him away. "Don't, Thor. It's not worth it," she hisses.
"Yes, it is," he replies, shrugging out of her hold. "You are a mighty warrior, and should be acknowledged as such. Not demeaned and threatened by the very people you are protecting."
"We don't want you here, you Russian wh-!"
"I'll ask you to be kinder to the Lady Natasha," Thor interrupts firmly, striding forward with purpose toward the man who shrinks back in the face of the large Asgardian.
"Thor," Natasha calls from behind him, "leave it alone."
"She has just helped to protect you and your town's people from destruction and harm, and this is how you repay her efforts?"
"She's a Russian spy who's trying to bring down our country," the heckler spits back.
"She is an Avenger," Thor corrects. "And you will treat her with the respect she deserves."
"I'll treat her however I-"
"You will treat her with respect," Thor repeats firmly, now towering over the man. His tone brooks no argument. "Now apologize."
The man looks disgusted at the very thought, but he shrinks back further under Thor's threatening stare.
"Now," Thor presses, stepping closer to the man.
"Sorry," the man mutters and then turns on his heel and walks away briskly.
Natasha's expression is hard when Thor turns around. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me," she says. "I'm not some damsel in distress. I can handle myself."
Thor's brows knit together in confusion. "I meant no offence," he explains, holding up his hands to protest his innocence. "I know you are more than capable. I was merely ensuring you received the respect you were due. I would have done the same for anyone on the team."
She seems to consider his words before turning and heading back to their quinjet. Later, when they're just a few minutes from landing back at Avengers tower he feels her hand squeeze his arm as she walks past him. "Thank you," she says softly, ensuring no one else can hear. He nods, but she has already settled into the co-pilot's seat beside Barton as they prepare for landing.
"I don't understand," Thor says. "There should be something here. Her weapons or perhaps her suit…"
"The stones...they are magical objects. Maybe her body was taken as a part of the sacrifice," Nebula offers, eyes drifting over the stony surface and searching for some hint of her sister.
Thor's throat tightens. He hadn't admitted it freely to himself, but a part of him had been hoping to find something of hers so he could give her a proper sending off.
He remembers many years before, standing atop Avengers tower discussing the afterlife. She hadn't had any idea of where she would end up when her time came, and had even seemed a bit envious of his firm belief in Valhalla. Looking back now, he wonders if she feared she might end up in hell. She'd never believed herself worthy, something Thor could never understand. He'd always suspected Cap could lift Mjolnir, but Natasha had dismissed the notion of even trying outright, as though she already knew the answer.
He feels a tear escape his eye. She'd pushed off the cliff to her death without knowing what came next. Without any belief in a place that would welcome her to eternal peace. Without any knowledge that there was even somewhere for her to go.
Thor drops to his knee, touching his hand to the blood-stained rock before glancing up. It was a long way down, and he can't help but wonder what her final thoughts had been as she fell through the air. He hoped it was something that brought her peace. She had lived a life of conflict, wrought not only by those who sought to use her as a weapon and control her, but by her own mind as she warred with herself to leave her past behind and be a better person.
"Be at peace, Lady Natasha," he murmurs as his gaze drops back down to the stone beneath him. "Know that we are better for having known you, and that the world is better for you having been in it for your short time. Your bravery and your kindness were unparalleled, even though overlooked by so many. You were a strong and fierce warrior." He pauses as he clenches his jaw to hold in his grief. "And a true friend."
Thor turns to find Nebula kneeling next to him, her head bowed respectfully. They stay there for a few more minutes before they reach an unspoken agreement that they should go.
Thor allows himself one final look up at the cliff as he rises to his feet. "I know I shall see you again, Natasha. I know you were worthy of Valhalla, and I look forward to seeing you when my time here is done." His eyes close as he pictures her determined expression. "May your eternal life be as beautiful as your soul, and may you finally find rest."
The walk to the pod is silent, with only their footfalls and the whipping wind to fill the void.
"Do you think they know we beat him?" Nebula asks suddenly.
Thor stops and turns his head to meet her gaze before he nods solemnly. "I think they do."
as always - comments and thoughts are warmly welcomed.
more to come...