The ethereal piano music lingered in the wilderness, blending into the evening breeze and the waves.
The two lay side by side on the soft green grass, shedding all their identities and guardedness, completely relaxed. There were no missions, no conflicts, no pros and cons to weigh; the entire deserted wilderness was filled only with ultimate tranquility and relaxation. The fatigue that had accumulated for so long was gradually soothed in this landscape of mountains and sea.
Time slipped by quietly, the clear blue of the sky slowly faded, and twilight spread from the sea, gently enveloping the entire cliffside wilderness. The brightness of the day gradually subsided, and tiny starlight pierced the dark night sky one after another, densely covering the boundless sky, the Milky Way sparkling, so clear and untouched by a speck of dust.
The sky was getting dark.
Lynn and Natasha got up one after the other and worked together seamlessly to clear the space and set up the tent. One of them held up the frame while the other secured it. Their movements were swift and natural, without any unnecessary words, yet they exuded an unspoken familiarity.
Before long, a sturdy outdoor tent was erected on the seaside grassland. The two then cleared a clean space, arranged the dry branches and firewood, and a warm campfire slowly lit up.
The orange-red flames flickered and danced, dispelling the chill of the far northern night, brightening the relaxed eyes and brows of the two, and adding a touch of warmth and life to the desolate and cold mountains.
Marinated meat skewers are laid out on the campfire, the oil sizzling as it heats up, and a rich aroma of meat slowly spreads, mingling with the fresh scent of mountain grass and sea breeze, gentle and comforting.
Lynn raised his hand and swiped lightly, and a tiny portal opened slightly, connecting to the Fridge in the living room. He reached in and took out two bottles of chilled beer, twisted them slightly with his fingertips, and handed one of them to Natasha beside him.
Natasha reached out and took the bottle, her fingertips touching its cool surface. Her gaze fell upon the vast, boundless starry sky in the distance. She stood quietly, saying nothing.
The flickering campfire, the starry sky, the rolling waves, and the gentle evening breeze created a tranquil night just for the two of them. There was no noise, no disturbance; time was gentle, and the world was peaceful. This moment was beautiful, simple, and pure.
After a long while, Lynn gazed at the flickering firelight and the distant, deep starry sky, her voice as soft as the whisper of the evening breeze, as she slowly opened her mouth to express the softest thoughts in her heart.
"I'm actually a very easygoing person. I've never had any earth-shattering ambitions, nor have I ever thought about standing in a high position or wielding much power."
His tone was calm yet insightful, concealing a past state of mind unknown to others. His unknown wanderings and confusion were gently revealed at this moment, subtle yet restrained.
"Throughout this journey, I've mostly been forced forward against my will. During this time, I've witnessed too much conflict and experienced countless anxieties. What I've truly desired has never been fame or glory."
"I just want to be with the person I truly care about and love, in a place far from the crowds and noise, to settle down peacefully. Life doesn't need to be dramatic, just simple and stable. Life may have its little bumps and stumbles, its little annoyances and troubles, but that's what real life is. Two people accompanying each other, supporting each other, walking hand in hand through the years to come, until the end of our lives."
Lynn turned his head and looked at Natasha's face, his eyes filled with a gentle tenderness.
"By the way, have you noticed that your smile is different today than usual?"
Natasha paused slightly, then looked up at him.
"Before, your smile was always just right—decent, considerate, and flawless. It was a habitual, businesslike smile, with a layer of deliberately maintained fakeness, distant and polite," Lynn said softly. "But today is different. You've let down all your guard; your eyes and brows are relaxed, a genuine ease from the heart. Actually, you look really good when you smile."
The firelight illuminated Natasha's cool and aloof features, softening her sharp edges. A barely perceptible hint of emotion flickered in her eyes as she listened quietly to his words.
"I once read a book that said everyone has two birthdays," Lynn said, gazing at the starry sky, her voice gentle and serene. "The first is the day we are born, the day we enter this world. The second is the day we truly break free from constraints, understand ourselves, and begin to live well."
Upon hearing this, Natasha softly asked, "Then, what day is your second birthday?"
Lynn lowered her eyes slightly, her thoughts drifting away, recalling the time when she was alone and lost. After a moment, she slowly spoke, "It was probably the day I left everything I had and stood alone in the New York subway station."
That was the beginning of his complete farewell to the past and his entry into the game alone, and also the starting point for him to break free from the shackles of the past, be forced to be reborn, and move forward alone. A few words contained the loneliness, confusion, and helplessness of arriving in a different world for the first time, and without saying more, all the hardships were expressed.
After saying that, Lynn turned her head and asked, "And what about you? What day is your second birthday?"
This time, Natasha did not respond.
She remained silent, the tenderness in her eyes slowly fading, replaced by a faint emptiness. In her past life, there had only been training, missions, duties, and obedience; she had never experienced a moment of "rebirth," nor had she ever truly lived for herself.
Lynn understood her silence, and without pressing for an answer, simply stayed by her side as she gazed at the starry sky.
A cool night breeze swept across the open fields, brushing over the grass and shrubs, bringing the fresh scent of grass and the fragrance of damp earth, dispelling all the gloom in my heart.
After a moment of silence, Lynn suddenly spoke softly, breaking the silence. " Natasha, have you ever seriously thought about what you would most like to do if you could set aside all your identities, if you weren't Black Widow?"
This question is too unfamiliar, and too extravagant.
Natasha fell into a long silence. The flickering firelight illuminated her quiet profile as she sat still, as if tracing back the past twenty-odd years of her life, trying to find a glimmer of her own amidst the layers of shackles and the fixed fate.
After a long silence, so long that Lynn almost thought she wouldn't answer, she finally spoke softly, her voice low and weak, as if murmuring to herself, tinged with a hint of bewilderment and helplessness. "I don't know. I've never considered this question. My life was predetermined from the very beginning; I've never had the right to choose."
Seeing the emptiness in her eyes, Lynn smiled gently, her voice soft yet firm. "It's okay. If you didn't have the time or the opportunity before, then start thinking about it slowly from today, from this moment."
"You have a long life ahead of you; you don't need to live within a predetermined framework forever."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with sincere expectation. "If one day you figure things out and find what you truly want to do, I'll give you a special surprise."