The air was thick with tension as you and Natasha sat in the quiet corner of the common area, the hum of the ship providing the only background noise. You hadn’t realized just how much you needed to talk until now, until you’d finally settled into the space where the world felt just a little bit smaller.

Natasha, always the calm and collected one, had a way of knowing when you needed space, and when you needed someone to listen. Tonight was one of those nights when the weight of the world was a little too heavy on your shoulders.

“You’ve been quiet all day,” Natasha said, her voice light but carrying a hint of concern. She sat beside you, crossing her arms loosely as she leaned back into the seat. “Something on your mind?”

You hesitated for a moment, trying to find the words to explain the heaviness in your chest. You’d never been one to keep things bottled up around Natasha. She was your best friend, someone you trusted with everything—even the things you sometimes struggled to face yourself.