Work Text:
Natasha frowned as she watched Hill across the room. She watched her laughing with coulson and May. Up until a week ago, that had been her and Hill.
Until Maria had suddenly pulled away, distanced herself. Natasha was hurt, she hadn’t done anything, not that she could think of.
But she couldn’t stop blaming herself. Why am I not good enough, why do I always ruin relationships?
She watched Maria stand up, say goodbye to the two agents and then leave. After a moment of consideration, she got up and followed Maria out, hoping to catch her.
She followed her to the Commander’s office, and quickly slipped in before Hill could shut the door.
“Oh jesus christ, Natasha!” Maria exclaimed, holding a hand to her chest. “What do you want?”
“Why have you been avoiding me?” Natasha asked, cutting straight to the point. Maria stepped behind her to shut the door, then walked to her desk.
“I’m not,” she shrugged, and Natasha rolled her eyes.
“Bullshit. What, did me being the Black Widow finally get to you? Can’t be friends with someone so heartless, is that it?”
“What?” Maria frowned. “No. No that’s not why-,”
“Then why? What did I do, Maria? Why can’t you even look at me?”
Maria’s gaze stayed directed at the floor. She didn’t answer. Natasha’s eyes slowly filled with tears, and she looked up to the ceiling, breathing in slowly.
“You can’t even look me in the eye,” she said quietly, voice breaking, “Why am I never good enough?” She whispered, but Maria still heard.
“Natasha no, it’s not you. It was never you,” she stepped forward, but stopped when Natasha’s eyes snapped towards her, venom in her stare.
“Clearly I did something. Look I like you, Maria. More than I thought I would,” she seethed, “So why do you suddenly hate me?”
“I don’t hate you,”
“Then what-,”
Maria stepped forward, taking Natasha’s face in her hands, and pulling her closer. After a pause, she kissed Natasha. Hard.
Eyebrows knotting together, she sighed into the kiss, voice breaking through into a soft moan, as Natasha responded hesitantly but fervently.
After what felt like too long, and not long enough, she pulled away, breathless, and leant her forehead against Natasha’s.
“Oh,” Natasha breathed.
“Yeah,” Maria laughed , “Oh,”
She pulled Natasha into another kiss. It was gentler than the first, softer. Her hands snaked through Natasha’s hair, and Natasha’s came to fall on Maria’s waist.
“Holy shit,” came a voice from the doorway, making them jump apart.
Coulson and May were stood by the door, Maria’s ID in May’s hand. Maria flushed red, and Natasha looked down at her feet.
“You left your ID at the table,” May said, amusement evident in her voice.
“Thanks,” Maria said quietly, taking her ID from May’s outstretched hand.
After a silent pause, Coulson groaned, “Man, I owe Barton twenty bucks,”
At this, Natasha glanced back up.
“You bet on us?” Maria asked, arching a brow.
“Yeah. And stupidly, I bet against it. I should’ve known he’d be right,” his voice trailed off as he went to find Barton.
“Have fun,” May smirked before leaving, closing the door behind her.
“I will be back very, very soon, but I have a bird-brained archer to murder,” Natasha said, only half-joking, before also leaving to find Barton, leaving Maria to process what had just happened.
She sat down at her desk, with a small smile that refused to leave her face.