No one was unscathed by Thanos' snap. Even if you survived it, you lost at least one person you loved and that was the same for everyone. Half of the world disappeared in a blink of an eye and now those that were left had to find a way to adapt to life without them. It was even harder for those that had fought so hard to stop the snap from happening in the first place.

Although you were struggling, you knew that Natasha was struggling far more, not that she would let you know that. You knew how hard she had been fighting to try and save the world from this fate and even though it wasn't her fault, she blamed herself. The loss had only happened days ago, and you knew it wouldn't resolve that quickly, but you felt hopeless not being able to make things better for her.

Natasha had barely spoken to you. She had barely done anything. She had set herself up on the sofa and sat silently in silence, holding onto one of the cushions, nothing visible on her face to tell you what went through her mind.

You had tried to stay strong for her, to pay her back for how strong she always was for you, but you needed to help her somehow to try and fight how hopeless you were beginning to feel.

You knelt down beside the sofa so that you could look up in her numb looking eyes

"Please, Nat... how can I help you?" You whispered. "I know I can't solve what happened, but I want to make what I can better."

She pursed her lips, a fragment of life returning to her eyes for a second. Silence consumed the two of you for a moment as you didn't want to rush her to a decision as you doubted either of you had any idea how to make things better for either of you when such a tragic outcome had come when everyone had done so much to fight it.

"Can just hold me please?" She croaked; her voice hoarse from barely using it since the end of the battle.

You nodded your head. "Of course."

You clambered up onto the sofa, pulling Natasha into your lap so that she could rest her head against your chest, with your arms wrapped around her. It wouldn't solve her problems, but if sitting in your arms gave her even an ounce of comfort, you'd do it forever.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.