Steve sat still, almost stunned, staring at nothing through the darkness of day. The curtains covered the bright and sunny day, the heat from it crossing inside the small apartment where Natasha and Steve lived. Or maybe, used to live. He was alone and broken, after realizing that she was never coming back, and he will never see her again. His eyes were tired and weary, with dark spots carrying over them. His back was hunched, elbows resting above his knees. His hands carried his head, sighed in regret in bringing her to the mission where she lost her life.
They were both inseparable since the Accords were all but a distant memory to most civilians. Then realized that they needed each other more than just friends, but something more. Since then, they would sleep, they would eat, they would work, and they would live in one house together, spending each and every second being alone in each other's arms, knowing that peace was only temporary, and they're glad they did.
Each mission became harder and harder. They would always keep vision in the center of the team's circle, just in case anyone from the black order tries to take his mind stone. The second stone was with Stephen who is safely in his lair where they were sure they wouldn't reach. The rest of the stones are out there in the galaxy, and they can't possibly go out there. The stress that kept on adding up would never lessen, and it took its toll to them both. They would never stop worrying about each other, knowing that the chances of them all surviving was nearly impossible. It was almost impossible to focus.
This was the last mission they were gonna have. They found a lead on where one of the members of the Black Order was reported.
~~~
Steve and Nat took their time inside their shared room, sitting on the sofa with each of them at the edge of it, feeling the awkward stillness surround them. They were both reluctant in being beside each other, that they feel some kind of shock whenever they touch. It's been like this since last week when they find out about this mission. They were too scared to feel each other because they know that they can never keep their minds off and focus.
The quietness was almost too bearable to keep, that Natasha finally broke it. "Are we really not gonna talk at all?"
"You know what might happen." Steve answered, the building lump in his voice made a crack from his voice that didn't escaped Natasha's ears. "I might never focus on the field, and we promised each other to not die until we face Thanos ourselves."
"Do you think you'll forget about me if you don't talk to me? You know I only realized right now that our minds would only be more occupied than how it is already such a mess."
"Really?" He looked up, his gray eyes showing his gloomy and broken self, opening it to her now when he tried to keep it strong in front of her. He needed to be the Captain when he needs to, and needs to be the Steve she loved who she can always lean on whenever she needed to, and only now he realized that he needed her more than before when he looked at her green eyes that never fade its colors. "I'm glad you realized."
He extended his arms out for her to get in, which she took readily, pushing them slightly off the edge when the impact was so hard. They wrapped their arms around, and remained like that in what it felt like an eternity, taking in each other's scents, looking at each other, trying to memorize every part, every curve of their bodies as if it might be the last, when truly, it was. That was the sick truth, and they wished it wasn't even there.
"Steve, promise me to not freak out." Natasha said calmly, looking up on his eyes that is starting to form its true color. "Whatever you're about to hear, I want you to not react at all and keep calm." Her voice was deep and sounding almost downcast when she tried to sound a bit cheerful.
