As Banner prepared Steve for his journey back in time to restore the stones to their rightful places, Steve traversed Vormir. As he ascended the mountain, he arrived just in the nick of time to intervene as Natasha and Clint were on the verge of sacrificing themselves for the Soul Stone. The eerie voice of the Red Skull echoed, revealing his presence.
"Steve Rogers, Son of Joseph Rogers, you have returned the stone to its place. Thank you," the Red Skull acknowledged.
Steve, momentarily caught off guard by the reappearance of his old Nazi adversary from the past, snapped back to attention. Natasha and Clint turned, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.
"Steve, what are you doing here?" Natasha inquired.
"We won. Thanos is defeated, and now I'm returning the stones to their original locations," Steve explained. Turning to Natasha, he handed her a device. "Natasha, take this. You need to go back to the present."
As Steve uttered these words, Clint suddenly vanished from the scene. Natasha, puzzled, questioned, "Where did Clint go?"
"He's not needed here anymore. He survived; you didn't. That's why I'm here," Steve replied with a solemn resolve.
Natasha looked at Steve with a mixture of disbelief and realization. The weight of their past adventures and sacrifices seemed to hang in the air as she processed the gravity of Steve's statement.
"But Steve, what about you?" Natasha questioned, her eyes searching his for answers.
Steve met Natasha's gaze with a somber expression. "I've lived a full life, Natasha. Fought the battles, made friends, and lost some along the way. Now it's time for me to do what needs to be done."
As Steve spoke, the Red Skull observed silently, a witness to the unfolding exchange. Natasha, still grappling with the situation, hesitated before speaking again.
"Are you sure about this, Steve? You could come back with us. We can figure this out together," she pleaded.
Steve offered a gentle smile, appreciating Natasha's concern. "Natasha, I've already had my dance. It's your turn now. Besides, there's something I need to do."
With a determined nod, Natasha reluctantly accepted the responsibility that Steve was passing on to her. As she activated the device he handed her, a rift in time and space opened, ready to transport her back to their present.
Steve turned away from Natasha, facing the Red Skull. "I guess this is where we part ways, old foe."
The Red Skull nodded solemnly. "Indeed, Captain. Fate has a way of guiding us, even across time."
With a final glance back at Natasha, Steve walked towards the edge of the cliff, ready to return the Soul Stone to its proper place in time. The portal shimmered, and he disappeared into it, leaving Vormir behind.
Natasha, now alone on the desolate mountain, took a deep breath, steeling herself for the journey ahead. The weight of the responsibility and the sacrifice made her realize the true cost of their victory.
As the portal closed, she whispered a quiet farewell to Steve, grateful for the friendship and camaraderie they had shared throughout their extraordinary journey.
In the contemporary timeline, Banner, Bucky, and Clint found themselves in an anxious state, eagerly awaiting Steve's return. The atmosphere crackled with tension, a palpable mix of anticipation and uncertainty. As the portal unfolded its cosmic embrace, it wasn't Steve who emerged, but Natasha, alive and well. Clint and Banner couldn't contain their joy, celebrating her return with exuberance.
Amid the jubilation, Natasha's attention gravitated toward the tranquil lake nearby. To her astonishment, a figure sat on a bench, staring contemplatively at the water. Approaching, she was met with a rush of recognition.
"Steve?" Natasha called out, her voice tinged with disbelief.
The older man turned, revealing a face weathered by time but adorned with contentment. "Hey, Nat. Took you long enough to find me."
Natasha's eyes widened as comprehension dawned. "Is that... Is that really you, Steve?"
Steve Rogers, now aged and wise, nodded. "Yeah, it's me. Decided to take a detour, live a quiet life. Figured I deserved it after all we've been through."
The trio exchanged glances, absorbing the unexpected twist. Clint interjected, "So, you lived your life?"
Steve chuckled. "I did. Peggy and I had our dance, just like I promised. It was a good life."
Despite being happy for Steve, Natasha couldn't entirely mask the bittersweet undertones of her emotions. "You could have come back."
Steve shook his head with a gentle smile. "I made a choice, Nat. And I'm at peace with it."
By the lake, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the weight of past adventures and sacrifices seemed to lift. Though they closed this chapter, the Avengers' legacy endured. In that moment, by the water's edge, they shared stories, laughter, and a profound sense of gratitude for the extraordinary journey that had led them to this point.