for drunkentides

[iwasrussian]

Natasha knew the multiverse was a funny thing. She'd been around, able to say more often than not that each trip was not her first rodeo or would it be her last. That was her thinking until she went home the last time and lived for what would be the last five years of her life.

It didn't bother her as it might for someone else. Sure, there were thoughts about it, a slight ache in her heart for leaving Clint, Laura and the kids. There was more sadness than she thought there would be in not watching Cooper become a man or teaching Lila as much as she could until her father got involved. And little Nate who she barely got to know. Then there was Steve.

She would never admit it but the two men singlehandedly helped make her into who she was. Then Arthur happened and she found herself holding on to the prospect of happiness.

On the morning of what would unknowingly be their last day in the City, Natasha awoke still nestled in Arthur's arms in the quaint little beach house he'd built. The redhead loved it there, loved waking up and being greeted by the view from the front window. Her favourite though was when it was grey and rainy, giving them both reason to stay where they were like nothing else existed beyond the walls that were around them. That was how that morning started.

Something felt different. She felt different.

At first, it was the vague feeling of things shifting around her, causing her stomach to roll uneasily. Then it only continues to worsen as the minutes go on. Natasha reaches for the strong arm that had been draped over her hip, careful not to make it abrupt because maybe she was still groggy from sleep. But it didn't get any better. That's when it occurs to her that she is in the midst of being pulled away from the City.

And him.

Closing her eyes, she wishes to be able to see him again. Somewhere else. In some other world. Whenever the multiverse deems it fit. When things go black, she knows there is no fighting it.

When she opens her eyes again, Natasha is treading, blinking back the water in her eyes after emerging from beneath the surface and trying to focus on a flashing light in the distance. Once she can see it clearly, the redhead realizes what it is.

A lighthouse.

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[drunkentides]

Whatever one might call their travel, Arthur didn't feel a bit of it, sleeping clear through until his subconcious realized that the bed next to him was cold and empty. When he cracked his eyes, he expected to see the walls of the little beach house he'd built; the refuge he'd manage to find in a more than limiting world, that managed to be turned into a little paradise with one particular red-head's companionship. Instead, he found the walls of his room at his Dad's, feet hanging oddly off the twin bed that was never quite large enough for the man he'd grown into.

His stomach churned. Arthur couldn't tell right off if it was because he'd because he'd travelled or because Natasha was gone, and he felt back into the bed to put a forearm over his forehead for a long minute.

Thirty something years on this planet, and he hadn't found anything or anything that made him quite as happy as the Black Widow had. Ironic, considering her working name, but Arthur couldn't help leaning into it playfully when he learned it; now their laughter haunted him.

Begrudgingly, Arthur got out of bed, pushed a hand through his hair and stood up, to go and try to find his father. His dad always put a little perspective on things and if Arthur could use anything, besides the woman that wasn't next to him any more, it was his father's wisdom and compassion.

But it was early, and Tom Curry was where he always was at this time of morning; standing on the docks, waiting for Alanna to show up. It was to everyone's benifit that he was - Natasha's head popping out of the water was more than easy to see, with nothing else on the calm ocean.

"HEYO!" Tom called, waving his hands. "LAND THIS WAY!"

Despite it being a dock, there was no boats, not even a rowing boat that Tom could use to go meet her.

Arthur, noting the time, only had to look out to see his dad, and made his way out of the house and down the stairs that winded their way towards the dock's edge.