"Oh my god."

No one knew exactly what had happened. But the disappearance of sound made everyone think that the end of the world had descended upon Wakanda.

Steve Rodgers was kneeling. He was thinking about what he had just witnessed. And thinking that it couldn't be real. It was not real.

His breath was hitching…he was hyperventilating.

"Steve…"

He shook his head. "No."

"Steve, come on," Bruce Banner's voice was next to him. "Let's go."

He swallowed, looking upwards.

It was a beautiful day.

He was sitting at a long table, listening to the others talk. It was a global catastrophe…it appeared as though billions had died.

No.

Disappeared.

"With all of the stones, Thanos wiped out half of the global population."

"No. Half of the universe," the raccoon said. "And I'm not a raccoon, whatever the hell that is."

Not a raccoon. "What's your name?"

The thing looked at Steve. "Rocket."

"I'm Steve. And I'm not an Avenger. I haven't been for a few years."

This stopped her. "What?" Natasha spoke for the first time since it happened. "Now isn't the time for this. What happened today was…"

"I need to go," he stood. "I…can't talk about it right now," he looked at Nat. "I understand that we can't just let this go. But I need…" he looked around at them. Bruce. Thor. Rocket. Rhodey. And they were waiting to hear from M'Baku, Shuri, and Okoye. "I need a few hours," and he walked away, into the royal palace.

Nat watched him go, then looked at Bruce. "We need to talk."

She watched him shift. "Ok."

She swallowed. "I think that we all could use a break for a bit. Let's try and relax for the night and think about all of this in the morning. We've all suffered a shock, and we can't be our best if we are numb and exhausted."

Rhodey nodded. "I won't argue with that," and he got up.

Thor sighed. "It's been a trying few weeks for me, I admit. I'll take a walk. See you in the morning," he left.

Rocket didn't say anything. He just left.

Natasha smiled.

"Your hair looks good that way."

She shrugged. "Thanks."

Bruce Banner dropped his gaze. "So…"

"So. I think that maybe I was being…presumptuous and silly."

"You …what?"

"You were right. And I …I was holding onto something that wasn't there. Grasping at straws. It's ok. I'm over all of it."

"You are?" his face betrayed his confusion. "But…"

"Bruce. Look. It's all fine. And we have the biggest job we've ever had in front of us. We can't try and sort something out that is not only doomed, but a fantasy."

Bruce Banner didn't respond right away. His head fell, and he nodded. "It's madness, Nat. All of it. From where we are coming from, to where we are going. And I…I don't think that it makes sense to confuse it."

"Don't worry. I'm not confused. Not anymore," and Natasha stood. "It's good to see you, Bruce," she smiled warmly at him.

Steve Rodgers was looking out into the great expanse of Wakanda. He was still shaking somewhat. He never had a reaction like that before. Not to anything.

But this was different.

He likely would never understand just how different it was.

He stood there, thinking about everything that he had just lost, and if it was even possible to get any of it back. Bucky. Sam.

He wanted to cry, but couldn't.

"Are you just gonna look at that window? I mean, it's a pretty nice window."

His gaze fell. "I was looking at the country on the other side."

Natasha went over to him, arms folded across her chest. "Yeah, well. If you like lush green landscapes with futuristic buildings…it's nice."

Steve looked at her. "Sorry I bailed."

"You needed a minute. I get it."

"No. More than that, Nat. I need a day or two. And even then…"

"What's up?" her brow furrowed.

He sighed.

"It's the beard, isn't it? You can't wear a beard in this heat," she smirked.

"No. It's no good. I …" he swallowed, looking into Natasha's verdant eyes. "I'm afraid. I've never been afraid before."

She worried her lip. "Steve…it's ok to be afraid. You're human. You…"

"It's not ok. I'm a soldier first, Nat. I'm the best soldier. If I lose my nerve…"

"You're beating yourself up. Today was terrifying. Maybe we take tomorrow. And then…we come up with a plan."

"There's no plan. There cannot be a plan. This is so beyond…" and he looked out of the window again. "How do we fight this? How could we possibly get back what we've lost?"

Natasha swallowed. She didn't have the answers he was looking for.

Yet. "Let's take tomorrow. Let's just relax and have a drink. I mean, if there was ever any reason to drink, it's billions of people disappearing in seconds," she smiled.

He smiled a bit, too.

Encouraged, she continued. "So yeah. We have a day. Figure out what we can do with the people we have…and we…do it."

"So ….what? Bruce and Thor and you and me…we just hang out? Drink? Forget…?" his voice trailed.

"Something like that. Until we find out who's left. Or maybe just you and me… ok maybe Rocket the Raccoon. He seems like a partier."

"Who's left," he repeated, closing his eyes.

"There are people left, Steve. We are still here. Let's do something…" she touched his arm. "Let's take a short break, and then we get back to work, refreshed," she dropped her hand.

"I dunno," he sighed, looking back to Wakanda again. "Maybe you have a point."

"I always do. Ask Stark," and she backed away. "I'll see you in the morning, ok?"

He nodded, and, feeling somewhat defeated, looked after her. "One day. And if I feel the same way tomorrow at this time, I'm gonna need …" what would he need?

"A stiffer drink?" she smiled.

"Something. I'll need something," he turned away from her, wondering if he'd be able to sleep at all that night.