Title: Endings and Beginnings
Rating: PG/K+
Originally posted: 23rd September 2023
Originally written for: quietlyimplode – '"Dying, is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well." from Lady Lazarus, by Sylvia Plath (Pls no character death)'
Characters/Pairings: Nat & Clint
Notes: for the be_compromised Summer Promptahon 2023 on Dreamwidth.
It was a strange feeling, standing by a grave on which the stone bore her name. Not that it was her real name, of course. Not that there was even a body buried down there. Just one more cover blown, one more alias whose life had to end to save future missions. Natasha wasn't even sure why she cared all that much, but something about this one just felt different.
"I guess I kind of got attached to this one," she said with a sigh, fingers reaching out to trace the lettering on the stone, but not quite making contact. "It's stupid. You'd think at this point, I'd know better.
His hand on her shoulder was warm and comforting, a touch she almost wanted to lean into but didn't quite dare.
"Not all attachments have to end badly."
Her eyes closed a moment at his soft tone, at the way his fingers squeezed her shoulder. She could trust him, she knew she could, even though he was probably the only guy in the world she could say that about and know it to be absolutely true. Maybe one person was all she needed, if she was only going to be one person herself now.
Turning to look at Clint, she knew she had made the right choice and found him a smile as a result. When she shifted a little closer, his arm went around her shoulders and hers slipped easily around his waist as they turned to leave the cemetery. The sun was just now coming up over the hill and the new day looked like it was going to be a bright one.