[ That actually makes something soften in Natasha. She's not used to letting her walls down, at least not on purpose. The last few years have worn her down a lot. It's been too much loss, even for someone like her. She only pretends to be unbreakable, after all. ]

Maybe not, but I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I watched him die and came home. He--

[ She pauses, swallows because her voice had been about to crack. ]

I'm just faster than he is. That's why he came back with the stone and I didn't. He's too slow.