S.H.I.E.L.D. Tactical Command Room – Headquarters
Maria Hill stood like a blade.
In front of her: a plan. A strategy. A trap.
— "We need to drive a wedge between them," she stated coldly. "Romanoff is the anchor. If we separate her from him, he weakens. Becomes unstable. That's when we'll be able to contain him."
The surveillance officer hesitated.
— "But if their bond is real… the separation might trigger a loss of control."
Hill shrugged.
— "It's a calculated risk. I want a mission. Solo. For Natasha. Classified. Red zone."
— "And him?"
— "Tell him she left without saying a word."
---
The next day, Natasha received a message through a private channel:
Priority mission. Immediate extraction. Estimated duration: 72 hours. Contact prohibited.
She understood.
But she obeyed.
Because even in love, she was still a soldier.
Before leaving, she left a note on the fridge. Not a farewell. Not a confession.
Just:
"I'll be back. Don't listen to what they'll say. You know me."
---
Naruto came home that evening. Silence welcomed him.
No lights.
No smell of coffee.
No breathing.
He searched. Called her name.
Nothing.
Then he saw the note.
And his heart clenched.
He knew it wasn't a betrayal.
But the void opened all the same.
---
The following days were a haze.
Naruto trained alone.
Meditated longer.
Ate little.
Spoke less.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sensors detected a dip in emotional stability.
Spontaneous energy surges—unfocused and erratic.
The analysts were alarmed.
Coulson tried to de-escalate.
But Hill… waited.
— "If he breaks without her, she was a liability. If he holds, we never needed her."
But they didn't understand.
Not Naruto.
Not Natasha.
Not the bond they had woven—night after night, breath by breath.
---
On the fourth day, Natasha came back—earlier than expected.
She had seen through the ploy. And she had chosen to end it.
The moment she opened the apartment door…
Naruto was there.
Sitting on the floor.
Shirtless, meditating.
He looked up.
No anger.
No accusation.
Just… a breath of relief.
She approached slowly. Knelt before him.
He stared at her for a long moment, then whispered:
— "You came back."
She cupped his cheek with her hand.
— "I always do."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
And for the first time since they had found each other… he let his tears fall.
---
That night, they didn't speak.
They made love.
Slowly.
Gently.
Without urgency.
Without pain.
Like two souls who had wandered through storms… and finally found shelter.
Their bodies bore the marks of battle, but their hands were soft.
Every kiss was an apology.
Every caress, a forgiveness.
Every sigh, a promise.
And when they fell asleep…
It was wrapped in each other's arms.
As if refusing to ever be lost again.
---
That night, something happened.
Not in the chakra.
Not in the flesh.
But between them.
An exchange of energy.
For a moment, Natasha felt a soft warmth radiate in her chest.
A strange vibration.
A gentle red glow deep in her abdomen.
Naruto, in turn, felt a profound peace wash over him.
As if an ancient, invisible wound had just healed.
They said nothing.
But deep down… they knew.
Their bond was no longer just emotional.
It was spiritual.
Living.
Protected by something S.H.I.E.L.D. would never understand.
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Natasha woke first.
Naruto was still asleep, peaceful, his hand still holding hers.
She watched him.
For a long time.
Then leaned in, and whispered:
— "You're the only thing I don't want to lose in this world."
He didn't open his eyes.
But he replied:
— "Then don't ever let me go."
She nestled into him.
And they stayed that way.
Two survivors.
Two weapons.
Two souls… rebuilt by love.