Chapter Three: A Shot in the Dark

As Bruce's body faded away, a dam burst inside Natasha, causing her to collapse into sobs. Gamora ran over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist to help her stand up.

"You'll be okay." She whispered, as Nat gently rested her head on her shoulder. "We both will. I…I had someone like that, too."

"What are they like?" Nat asked through a sniffle, grateful for a distraction from her grief.

"He's a huge dork." Gamora smiled despite herself. "He loves music, and dancing, and…I've never had anyone make me that happy before."

"That's exactly how I feel about Bruce. With him, I was…part of a team. Part of a family."

"I know." Gamora sympathetically rubbed Nat's shoulder. "All the more reason to find a way to get out of here."

"Right. So, is there any way to send a message to anyone? I don't suppose there's a postal service here."

"Not exactly. The only thing I've been able to find, is this…" Gamora moved her right hand in a circular motion, sending off hot yellow sparks from her palm. "Damn it."

"I hate to be a downer, but that's not exactly impressive." Nat teased with what could almost be considered a smile.

Gamora rolled her eyes jokingly before trying again. "Sometimes it takes me a few tries…here."

After a few more attempts, she created a glowing, circular ring.

"What does that do, exactly?"

"It's a portal."

"But, it looks exactly the same. Is it to somewhere else in the Soul World?"

"No, another dimension! Look closer."

Nat turned her head to peer in, and she locked eyes with…

"Wanda?!"

The Scarlet Witch was sitting leisurely with her legs crossed as she aimlessly braided her hair.

"She can't hear me?"

Gamora shook her head. "My guess is that we can't communicate between dimensions. We can see into them, but we can't go through them."

"What do you mean?"

"The only people in there are victims of the Thanos's snap. I opened another portal once, and I..." her throat caught before she could continue. "I saw my parents. The people of my home world."

"But that's good, right? If these things act like a window, then we must be able to make a door somehow."

"Exactly."

Before they could continue, an unfamiliar (though not unattractive) man strolled by them in the portal, awkwardly dancing along to whatever music was pouring out of his headphones.

"Check this guy out."

"That would be my Peter."

"You sure can pick 'em." Nat joked with a good-natured elbow to Gamora's side.

"Yeah. I can." She responded, with the most genuine smile that Nat had ever seen from her.