R O Y A L S

XXV.

I'M with you 'till the end of the line, pal.

The words rang in his head, echoing like fading sounds in a vacant cave.

Is this it? The end of the line?

The finale to their friendship, the conclusion to all the years spent with joy?

Only one dreadful realization dawned upon him: All is lost.

How much more can one lost before a new moon had even appeared?

Although more often than none did he debated the diverging views of his father's and his, more often than none did he spent days  neglecting his father for preposterous petty reasons that would not have been a problem should both were willing to yield to an agreement once in a while, away from the grasp of their own stubbornness, but to lose him to death will never be any easy battle to pass.

He's lost a pillar of support, and now he's walking in limps.

He watched Natasha slipped out of his grasp and into Bucky's, albeit his friend, another man nonetheless. The void nothingness and inconsolable aching heart numbed him, the pulsing ache of yearning for the presence of her reminded him that there was no one else to blame but his premature rejection and cruel plans, a supposed secret that had unveiled itself at the wrong tick of moment.

What was unexpected came to be. His mind too occupied coping with his shredded heart to even stop to wonder, I couldn't have lost more, could I? The unthinkable did not align with bitter truth.

He's lost a father, a lover and a brother.

Everything.

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He deserved everything.

To give him all her love was all he could ever asked, and he loved her with all his heart. She loved him, in a way, but it had scarred his heart that she'd never returned his heartfelt confessions, not even in blissful moments spent in each other's embrace.

Remorse and loss flowing like endless river streams in her veins as a single tear made its way down her cheek.

"Tasha?" She heard a voice softly called, as she wiped away the moisture from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Clint," she greeted as she heaved a sigh at the presence of him. She just stood and stared off, slowly taking a seat on the foot of her bed as Clint put a hand on her shoulders, rubbing soft motions as she shook her tears away.

"He had you, Natasha and trust me when I say the best moments of his life are those spent with you," he spoke softly as he watched her eyes dim in a stormy likeness, brimmed tears glassed her eyes as she gazed at him.

"I don't deserve him," she said in a voice hushed with rough effort, and Clint pulled her into an embrace, cradling her head softly as she felt her eyes sting with burning tears.

They buried him in the only greenland there is in Russgard, the resemblance to his sunny days in Midgard made her chose the place, although she had wanted to bring him back to Midgard. The entire kingdom mourned with their princess as she lost her moon to her stars.

Steve did not make it back in time for the funeral, but upon arrival in the castle doors, Natasha was there. He all but ran into her arms, cradling her head as he nestled his face on the crook of her neck as they both shared the unbearable pain of loss, seeking comfort in the warmth of each other's presence as he held her tighter with every tear that trickled down his cheeks. At that moment, he knew he had her back.

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"I had Bucky, I had you. I've never imagined a future having neither of you in it, to live it.. I don't know if I could," Steve said, voice soft and low as he ran his hands through his hair.

"We have what we have when we have it," she said softly as they sat side by side on the grand staircase.

There was a momentary silence before he said, "This isn't supposed to end this way."

"It isn't, he deserved better," she agreed, "But we can't change anything, we can only.. live it."

"You have to Steve, he wouldn't want to see you like this everyday, he'd want you to live your life. It's the least we could do, for him," she added when she saw his fingers began to tremble once more. She reached at him and intertwined their fingers as she squeezed them lightly, grazing her thumb over his knuckles.

Minute hands went by as they sat there in the silence, basking in the comfort of each other's presence, knowing that they've got each other's back.

"God, what would I do without you," he said to which her lips curled upwards for the first time in days.

"You'd do just fine, Steve," she replied, "besides, Midgard and Russgard is just a letter away, even with distance you'd still have me."

He knows it's ridiculous and pathetic, but he desperately wanted to ask her so he did, "Can you- Is it possible that you accompany me back to Midgard? I know it's ridiculous but I just need to have you close for some time and then I'd let you go once more. I- I just don't want to be alone," he admitted.

"Oh, Steve," she said, trying to fight the need to just do as he says and it pained her to do so but she just couldn't, "You know I'd love to, but I have my responsibilities here and you'd be king back at Midgard, I don't think it might be the best idea."

He nodded slowly, realizing that he was asking for far too much and so he dropped it. Maybe, it all happened for a reason. Maybe, it's best to return back home and start his new role with a new clean slate. Maybe, it's best that he and Natasha live separate lives, apart from each other and unbounded by anything.

Maybe, it is best to let go of her once more.

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Finally, an update! I'm so sorry for the late update but so many things have been going on these past days, thanks for your patience guys, I truly appreciate it!

anyways, this chapter is dedicated to @LegendBat and @TheJollyRoger91 for being such sweet souls!

I hope you guys enjoy, don't forget to leave your thoughts and comments!

much love.xx