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Smoothing her shirt and taking another look in the mirror, Maria pulled a face. Picking a date night outfit had never been so hard. Not ever.
To be fair, she only had a couple civvies outfits when she was in the military. And she rarely had time to wear them since joining SHIELD. Plus, if it was a Tony bash, Pepper arranged everything. Everything.
She remembered the now infamous 'thong argument' with a laugh.
“Mar, let me see!” Sharon called, bringing Maria back to her present predicament.
“This one’s not right either.” Maria kept her hand on the doorknob, not letting it open in case her insistent friend tried.
“Come on!” Sharon’s encouragement was tinged with a hint that her patience running thin.
“Just let me try one more. K?”
“Maria, you’ve tried six outfits already.” And there it was, Sharon’s limit. Now that they crossed it, she dropped all pretence of patience.
“I know!” Maria pulled the top off, wishing she could just wear nothing and lead with her abs.
“What are you smirking at?”
“How do you -?”
“I know you.” Sharon sang. “You’re wishing you could go naked.”
“Not completely naked.” Maria quipped. “But she does like my abs. So…maybe cut to the chase?”
“And there you are. Finally. Took a fucking age to get my old friend back but I’m glad you’re here.” Sharon opened the door. “And I can see why she does.”
Maria laughed, finally relaxed for the first time in ages. She’d been carrying extra stress, worrying about this date for no reason. Rationally, she knew there wasn’t anything to worry about. But emotionally, she just wanted things to go right.
“I work hard to keep them, you know.” Maria flexed, dodging Sharon’s swat.
“She doesn’t care what you wear. So what are you comfortable in?”
Maria gestured up and down her torso. Before the word ‘this’ could form in her mouth, Sharon interrupted her.
“Clothes. Maria. Clothes. Jesus, don’t make me call Peg.”
Even in her relaxed state, Maria didn’t mask her wide-eyed panic. “No Peg! It’s bad enough that you’re meddling.”
“Helping isn’t meddling. Plus, you asked me.” Sharon tossed a black teeshirt at Maria. “This is a safe bet. Looks good on you, you look comfortable in it. Versatile, -” her hands waved through the air.
“Ok, ok.” Maria pulled it on, smoothing it down over her abs with a cocky smile. “You’re right. It looks good.”
Sharon laughed, despite her scrunched up face. “Keep it in your pants, Rico Suave. I remember how you were five minutes ago, even if you don’t.”
“I’m fine!” Maria struck poses in the mirror, smugly admiring herself from numerous angles.
“You’re being vain but I’ll take it over your sulky self–doubt any day.” Sharon pulled on Maria's belt loops, turning her tso they faced each other. “And yeah, it looks good. You look good." Sharon nodded, "this is it", she added with finality.
Maria nodded confidently, a ghost of a smirk lingered on her lips.
“You never told me what you’re actually doing tonight.” Sharon fished, feigning idle curiosity.
“That wasn’t by accident, my CIA friend.” Maria booped Sharon on the nose, passing her to grab shoes and bag.
“I won’t tag along!” Sharon promised weakly.
Maria hummed, doubtfully amusemed. “You’ll have me tailed. And you’ll just "happen" to pop up in the same part of town.”
A flash of objection crossed Sharon's face but she kept her mouth shut and crossed her arms moodily instead.
Maria laughed, shaking her head as she pulled on a pair of casual shoes. “Three’s a crowd tonight. don't make me call Peg."
Sharon frowned, knowing Maria absolutely would call Peg on her.
“Fine." Sharon held her hands up in surrender. Make that almost surrender, "will you at least -”
“If there’s something to tell, yes.” Maria raised her eyebrows silently daring Sharon to keep pressing.
Sharon raised her hands in surrender again, keeping them up and looking contritely at the floor.
Maria softened a little. “But maybe not tonight if", a goofy hopeful smile broke out over her face again, "you know.”
Sharon grinned back, glad that her friend was feeling like herself again. “Deal.”
—
“You look nice.” Maria greeted Nat with a kiss on the cheek, not even really noticing her outfit.
Nat’s arm wrapped around Maria, keeping her close for an extra second. “You too”, she murmured near Maria’s ear.
Maria lost herself in sensations she didn't realize she missed. Natasha's body against hers made her knees weak. Natasha's quiet whispers made Maria's head swim. Natasha's scent filled Maria's nose and lungs with familiar warmth.
Time seemed to freeze.
Gradually, they pulled apart, gazing at each other. The warm city air buffeted them, tufting Natasha’s hair like a movie star. For a moment, the city ceased to exist, as they were lost in each other’s eyes.
“- and then he offered to read my palm to cover his half of dinner! Can you belie- OOF! Watch it!” A body slammed into Natasha, bumping her into Maria’s arms.
“You watch it!” Maria cradled Natasha with one arm, shoving the offender with the other.
“I’m ok.” Nat extracted herself quietly from Maria’s arms. “It wasn’t that hard.”
“It was rude.” Maria huffed, crossing her arms defensively.
“Yeah." Nat shrugged, unperturbed, "it’s New York. What'd you expect?” With a smirk she asked, “is this why we’re having our date up here instead of DC? So you could let out some aggression? Tired of berating cadets?”
That smirk melted Maria’s anger, she found herself mirroring it before she felt it turn dopey.
“Didn’t think so.” Nat cocked her head. “So what are we doing then?”
“First, losing any tails Carter assigned to us tonight.” Maria’s eyes pretended to follow a passing truck.
“Two there.” Nat blinked in the direction. “What do you want to use?”
“Tony’s helping with that today.” Maria patted her backpack.
Nat's eyebrows twitched.
“LMDs.” Maria answered Nat’s silent question.
Nat smirked again, “does he know?”
“Does it matter?” Maria laughed easily, delighted to be sharing this with Nat.
“Fair enough.” Nat chucked. “Where?”
“That dive bar.” Maria leaned in close. “But first, I’m gonna give you a kiss.”
“Bold. I like it!” Nat met her halfway with soft lips.
The kiss, although quick, sent a zing through Maria’s body.
“Mmmm, yes. We’ll need to do more of that later.” Maria did a happy wiggle and took Natasha’s hand, walking with her to the bar.
The happy hour crowd was just starting to thin out, offering them two stools at the end of the bar. “After you”, Maria said pointlessly, Natasha was already heading there.
“We have time for one drink?” Nat asked loud enough for the bartender and a couple patrons to overhear.
Maria pretended to check her watch, playing along. “Yup. One drink.”
As expected, Maria’s phone buzzed with a text. Without looking, she knew it’d be Sharon ‘checking in’ on her. 'More like showing her hand', Maria rolled her eyes.
“I thought the CIA would be more subtle.” Nat scoffed quietly before ordering from the bartender, “two G&Ts, please.”
“Perfect for a warm day.” Maria agreed, approving of Nat’s wise choice of drinks: quick to make and entirely within the realm of things she and Nat would order.
Maria’s heart fluttered, overwhelmed with adoration for her favorite small spy who immediately picked up the thin cover Maria barely hinted at, ‘yes anding’ it and making it better.
Just as their drinks were served, Maria saw their tails enter the bar.
"To us!" Nat clinked their glasses together, subtly drawing attention to them. Natasha took a large sip, draining about a third of the drink in one go.
Maria blushed into her drink, admiration washed over her. How could she not be bowled over by Natasha? She was whip smart, hilarious, and in for a joke at Carter's expense.
Maria took a generous gulp of her own drink, hoping it would cool her rosy cheeks and calm the butterflies she felt growing inside.
So they could make a quiet exit, Maria busied herself with closing the tab. Conveniently, the group closest to them started whooping with joy over someone’s engagement ring, creating quite a stir.
Like most patrons, Maria’s attention was pulled over to that table. Their glee was palpable and shouts drowned out all other conversations.
It was the perfect cover.
Maria felt a series of taps on her calf and a moment later Natasha reappeared on the stool. "I never really understood the whole pineapple on pizza debate."
"Heh, me neither." Maria smiled at Natasha. "But I'm not a huge fan most of the time."
"You know me", Nat shrugged, "I'm not picky."
"Sometimes you are." Maria teased.
Across the bar, things grew loud as a duo started hurling insults at each other.
"Quite a place you picked for us, Hill." Natasha winked sarcastically.
"Yeah…sorry." Maria glanced at their tails, noting that their attention was also on the bickering couple. She took the opportunity to activate her own LMD, slipping out unnoticed.
At the end of the block, Maria felt Natasha's arm loop through hers. "Nicely done!" Nat squeezed Maria's arm. "Where to now?"
"I have a couple ideas but is there anything you really want to do?" Maria melted a little into Nat's touch.
"Whatchu got for food options?" Nat bit the inside of her cheeks to keep a straight face.
Maria burst out laughing, "I shoulda guessed".
"Huh?"
"Your LMD was talking about pizza."
"Pizza sounds good!" Nat nodded in agreement with her LMD.
Maria chuckled happily, "this way", she led them down a side street.
—
"Mmmm, yeah, New York pizza really is delicious." Nat tossed her greasy napkins in a garbage can and licked her fingers clean.
"It is." Maria tossed hers on top of Nat's.
"But I've never had Chicago style though."
"It's just a ton of cheese. It's…honestly, most Chicagoans don't really eat deep dish because it's just CHEESE!" The way Maria emphasized cheese cleared the sidewalk in front of them, people eyed her warily.
Nat's giggle and doe-eyed adoring gaze wore Maria's resistance down a bit. "One of these days, we will have some."
Nat nodded happily, accepting the answer as closure. Brushing her hands together, she glanced around quickly, getting her bearings. "Where to now?"
"I was thinking we could either poke in antique shops or -"
"For what?"
"You know that spot in my living room?"Maria drew some shapes in the air, trying to indicate the spot despite the lack of reference points.
"Over where the ottoman used to be?"
"Yeah!" Maria felt another wave of affection, this time mixed with the comfort that Nat remembered details about Maria and their time together.
"Like another ottoman? Or…?"
"I'm not really sure yet. But you know the space." Maria opened a creaky door to a dimly lit shop.
–
“It just seems like a lot of money, Masha. And those colors were hideous. Lime green with bubble gum pink and tangerine? Too much of a circus fever dream for your minimalist aesthetic.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” In her head, Maria disagreed, thinking the splash of color could be a unique accent piece.
“You don’t even mean that!” Nat nudged Maria, playfully.
“I mean…you’ve got an opinion and I - “
“Oh my god, don’t become a pushover just to make me happy. You know that’s not how we work.”
Maria blushed out of embarrassment, hoping Nat didn’t pick up on it. It was a dumb wish considering her date and everything.
“Hey”, Nat pulled Maria out of the flow of foot traffic, tight against her body. “Things are good. Don’t overthink it.”
Maria relaxed, once again relishing the feeling of Nat’s body against her own.
“Too relaxed”, Nat winked, her fingers teased between their stomachs, gently probing for Maria’s abs.
“Heh”, Maria grinned, flexing. “Was wondering how long it’d take you.”
“I’m being good. Taking it slow.” Her fingers traced the topography. “New workout?”
“I added some new moves.” Maria blushed more deeply.
“Mmmm. Can’t wait to see!” Nat inhaled sharply and withdrew her fingers. “But I’ll be patient.”
Maria quirked an eyebrow.
“Anyway, I don’t put out on the first date.” Nat barely kept a straight face when she said it.
Maria’s joyful laugh bubbled up out of her. She loved this date. This completely aimless, us-vs.-the-world-but-not-really-date date. She’d missed Nat. She’d missed this intimacy. She’d missed how relaxed they could be together. How well they just clicked. And how safe she felt when they were together.
Life felt more like an adventure than a challenge with Nat by her side. Maria saw the humor in situations. Ok, that wasn't because of Nat. Maria always found the humor in situations. But with Nat, she had someone to snicker with. Someone to cackle with.
And when Maria struggled to find humor, Natasha found a way to make her laugh and see the lighter side.
Natasha brought levity and joy.
Natasha's fingertips traced the skin under Maria's belt sending a jolt straight to Maria's groin.
“We’re not going to turn this into a competition, are we? Seeing how long we can hold out and ‘be patient’ or ‘take it slow’ or whatever?” Maria pulled Nat close, flexing her abs against Nat’s stomach.
Nat’s laughter tinkled, “doesn’t sound like us”.
“Sure doesn’t”, Maria grinned, laying her forehead against Nat's.
They stood embraced for a few moments, savoring the sensations and peace before Nat’s impatience got the better of her. “One more place or…?”
“I’m kinda over it. Do you want to swing by a bookstore?”
Nat’s head cocked ever so slightly, silently indicating her interest. “Looking for anything in particular?”
“I have a list.” Maria pulled it out of her back pocket.
“Of course you do.” Nat’s smile didn’t distract Maria enough to not notice how Nat’s hand twitched like she wanted to check Maria’s back pocket to see what else was in there.
“We don’t have to take it slow, you know.” Maria said, pulling away.
Nat dropped her gaze to a dark glob of gum mashed into the sidewalk.
“Even Dr. Raynor said.” Maria took Nat’s hand, gently pulling her along the sidewalk.
An unexpected blush shot up Nat’s neck. “You talked to her about this?!”
“Of course! I’m getting my money’s worth!” Maria nodded. A split second later, she screwed up her face in confusion, “you don’t?”
“Uh…patient confidentiality? Can I plead that?” Nat nervously looked away.
“You don’t have to share anything you don’t want to. I trust you. Whatever you want to share is cool. Whatever you don’t is cool.”
“OMG, this is too much like therapy. Stop. Can we just get back to the date!?” Nat twisted uncomfortably, her face contorting through several uncomfortable emotions. Maria couldn't hear the huff over the din of the city, but she caught Natasha's shoulders fall quickly just before she crossed her arms.
“Yes. 100%” Maria pulled them out of foot traffic again. “Do you have a favorite bookstore you want to show me?”
“Not right now.” Nat answered, her arms still crossed defensively.
“Ok.” Maria accepted Nat’s answer. “This way.”
–
“How did you buy 7 books and I got one?” Maria shifted part of Nat’s stack between her arms.
“I read when I can’t sleep.” Nat shrugged. “So I read a lot.”
Maria hummed in understanding.
“And on missions, there’s a lot of downtime.”
“That’s true.” Maria agreed. “I wish I could just pick up a book when there’s nothing going on.” She sighed. “Guess that’s why I read more on my phone these days. Less conspicuous.”
“Especially when you’re reading smut.” Nat cracked a cheeky smile.
“I hardly ever do that!” Maria admitted with more pride than embarrassment.
“Why AD Hill, you rebel!” Nat barked. “What would Fury say if he knew?”
“He asks for recs.” Maria blushed, embarrassed for him more than anything.
“WHAT!?” Nat doubled over, bumping into Maria.
“Careful! I’ve got your precious cargo of”, Maria tilted the stack to read some spines, “The Odyssey and War and Peace. Wait. Haven't you read War and Peace like a thousand times?”
“Yeah, but I don’t have this translation.”
“You don’t need a translation!” Maria laughed.
“I like reading it!” Nat shrugged dismissively.
A crack of thunder in the distance abruptly shifted their plans.
“Where are we taking these books?” Maria eyed the darkening clouds overhead, wishing she'd paid for a plastic bag.
“I’m staying at the Tower.” Nat stood on her tiptoes looking for any free taxies, none were available.
“My place is a couple blocks away.” Maria picked up her pace. “Just for the sake of the books.”
“For the books, of course.” Nat agreed, nearly jogging to keep up with Maria’s long strides.
Their timing could not have been better. Just as Nat stepped into the building lobby, the heavens opened up.
–
"I didn't know Thor was going to drop by!" Nat joked after an especially bright lightning bolt lit up the staircase through the skylight overhead.
"Why Thor and not Sif?" Maria reached her hand out for Natasha's, finding comfort in their casual touching.
"I know your place wouldn't be her first destination on Midgard", Nat tittered.
"You got that right. Not since someone introduced her to a few lesbian bars here."
"What?" Nat feigned innocence, "she was bound to find them at some point. And chicks dig scars."
"And swords."
The lights flickered as they got close to the top of the last flight of stairs. Maria stiffened.
“I thought you were going to text me if there was anything to tel-” Carter trailed off when she caught sight of Nat behind Maria.
“I was. And there’s nothing to tell." Although Maria's tone was light, she clenched her jaw just once.
“Hi Carter.” Nat greeted Carter with an enigmatic smirk, cryptic enough to make Sharon swallow nervously.
"Hi Nat-asha." Sharon fumbled. "I uh, I was just -"
"I know why you're here." Natasha's unreadable smirk and unbroken eye contact made Sharon swallow again and fidget with a zipper on her bag.
Maria swore she saw a bead of sweat form on Sharon's forehead before the lights cut out completely.
"Guess we're stuck here for a while." Another flash showed Maria's unamused frown as she unlocked her door.
"My first sleepover!" Nat exclaimed, crossing into Maria's apartment.
"Really?" Sharon followed with wide curious eyes.
"Not really." Said Maria over the sound of rummaging through her drawers. "She's spent the night before." Maria lit a candle.
"That's not what I -" Sharon tried to clarify.
"Are you going to be this weird all night?" Maria lit another candle, setting both on her coffee table. A warm glow cast dancing shadows on the wall.
Lightning flashes highlighted Natasha's investigative progress around Maria's living room. She hadn't been here since that kiss. Very little had changed since that day.
*Crack!*
And yet so much had changed.
"Shar, relax. Natasha is still the same Natasha as always."
Natasha took Maria's distraction as an opportunity to admire her. She'd been so captivated by Maria's proximity earlier that she hadn't really had a chance to see her. To appreciate the way her shirt hugged her muscular arms. To see her chiselled jaw and quick eyes. To want to kiss the tip of her nose and watch her blush. To know exactly how good that ass felt in her hands and still be surprised each time she grabbed it.
*Crack* Rain pelted the window.
"You ok, Nat?"
The flash of another bolt snapped Nat back to the moment. "I'm ok. Just zoned out."
"Staring at my ass?" Maria's tongue poked out the side of her smile, Natasha tore her eyes away from Maria's mouth to her bright eyes that were gazing back.
"I'm so sorry!" Carter spattered, breaking their intense eye contact.
"I shouldn't have come here! I'm just going to go!" Carter's attempted escape was captured like an old flash bulb, her image seemed frozen in the moment.
"Carter. It's no big deal." Maria said patiently. She studied the street below, barely visible through the driving rain and gusts.
"Yeah." Nat chimed in, "we're taking it slow."
Maria nodded. "And you're not going anywhere. Street's flooding already and there aren't any cabs."
A quiet whimper of defeat escaped Sharon's throat.
"So get comfy and settle in. I think you're spending the night." Maria said.
"Anyone want to play poker?" Natasha fished out a deck of cards from a drawer.
"Not really." Sharon wrinkled her nose.
Natasha simply smiled as her hands started to shuffle the deck. "Solitaire again."
Maria cleared some space on her coffee table, and sat in the chair facing Sharon. Without losing her shuffling rhythm, Nat sank to a sitting position between Maria's legs, clearly familiar with this routine.
"I have a frozen pizza. Might as well bake it. You want anything to drink?" Maria asked over the patter of raindrops.
"Whatcha got?" Nat kept her eyes on her hands moving cards around.
"The usual. A couple of beers that are going to warm up. Scotch. Maybe a bottle of white. Vodka."
"Vodka." Nat tossed a card down. "And water."
"Sharon?"
"What are you having?"
"Why?"
"Cause the wine sounded good but-"
"White wine coming up." Maria lifted her long legs over Nat so as not to disturb her.
–
"Who won the-" *hic* "card game?" The last lightning flash seemed to snap Sharon out of the hypnosis she'd been in for the past 20 minutes. All she'd done was stare at the window pane.
Maria and Nat exchanged an amuse look. "I did!" Nat said cheerfully with only a hit of sarcasm.
"You always win!" Sharon giggled.
"At solitaire? Yes I do! I'm unbeatable!" Nat giggled along with Sharon.
"How did you-" *hic* "let me finish that whole bottle myself!?" Sharon swayed where she sat, where a few months earlier Maria had slurred her breakup story to Sharon.
"Here's some water." Natasha handed her the glass and helped her take a small sip.
Sharon looked confused by Natasha's sudden presence. Her eyes focused on the glass of water and misted over. "You guys are so nice to me!" Sharon gushed. "Even though I ruined your date -" *hic* "twice!"
"You didn't ruin anything. We had fun!" Maria said kindly. "Here. Change into these. Sleeping in jeans is the worst." Maria swapped clothes for the glass in Sharon's hand.
Sharon peeled her jeans off, turning them inside out in the process. Next, she tried to remove her bra from under her shirt but the underwire kept getting stuck in one of the long sleeves.
Carter tugged against the sleeve, shoving her other hand inside to fish out the offending item, wrapping herself up in the process.
Maria heard Natasha's quiet snort behind her.
"Carter, I think we've got to take your shirt off." Maria said patiently. "You're stuck."
"I got it!" Carter declared, tipping back onto the couch.
Nat swooped in, taking advantage of Sharon's state to help the process along.
Before she knew it, Sharon had been stripped and redressed in one of Maria's old tee-shirts and a pair PE shorts.
"Time for bed, Shar." Maria tucked her in. "There's a toothbrush in the bathroom for you when you're ready."
"You're the best" Sharon smiled goofily and immediately dozed off.
Thunder rolled in the distance, the rain slapped the window with the same vigor as before. But the moment felt peaceful.
"You can, uh, share my bed." Maria turned so Nat could see Maria's bedroom.
A dimmer flash lit up Natasha's eager joy. "Thank you." She whispered, placing a kiss on Maria's cheek.
"There's a toothbrush for you too." Maria whispered. "I'll get you some clothes."
–
Laying in Maria's bed sure felt like a sleepover to Natasha. Her body buzzed like she had a sugar high, just like a sleepover. She'd had pizza for dinner, just like a sleepover. She'd told funny stories and laughed so hard she snorted a couple times. She wasn't sleeping at her place. She was excited to spend more time with the host.Based on everything she learned about them, it was a sleepover.
Another flash lit up a very familiar view of Maria's room. Natasha practically lived here before they broke up. It looked almost the same.
The familiarity sucked the air out of Natasha's giddiness. What were they doing? Sharing a bed when they were taking things slow? They'd never been very disciplined before. And Natasha had already crossed the line tonight. How would she be able to keep her hands off Maria?
"Nat", Maria said half asleep, "don't think too hard. You'll break something."
Nat groaned. "I'm not!"
"Ok." Maria's voice rose, unconvinced. "Nat, this is fine. We aren't rushing. We won't do anything." Maria's hands shot down to her sides. "I'm very disciplined if I have to be."
"I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about me!"
"I can take you." Maria faked being smug.
Despite herself, Nat snorted again. Damn Maria and her perfect … everything.
"We're just sleeping. Ok?" Maria threw her arm across Natasha's body. "Taking it slow." She planted a kiss on Natasha's cheek and dozed off.
When Maria's breaths were regular and her arm felt like it weighed as much as a car, Natasha extracted herself and grabbed War and Peace from the stack.
Pausing near the window, Natasha gazed at the drenched city. The temperature had plummeted when the rain began, she could feel the chill seeping through the window.
Her curiosity got the better of her, she pressed her palm to the glass. It was as chilly as she expected. Fine condensation formed around her fingers, reminding her of countless nights in The Red Room when she'd used this sensation to make sure she was still alive. The cold grounded her, cooling her emotions and libido when it threatened to overtake her.
Maria's bed was barely visible through the grainy dimness. It looked inviting, like exactly where Natasha wanted to be. She didn't need to be grounded right now.
She didn't! Everything was good! She was happy. She was safe.
The handprint she left behind stayed clear until she puffed warm air on it, filling in her fingers and palm. Rain splattered against the window, wrapping the city in what she imagined was a clingy, sloppy shawl.
A shiver reminded Natasha that she was underdressed. As much as she loved wearing Maria's old clothes, they weren't enough to keep her warm. And since Vormir, cold clung to her bones like never before.
Slipping under the warm covers of Maria's bed, Nat was relieved to find the ray of light she used to read still lit up her pages while Maria spooned her.
Maria's arm pulled Natasha into her warmth. It felt like heaven.
Natasha's eyes focused on the now familiar opening passage of the book. 'Well, Prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now just family estates of the Buonapartes.' She barely got past the first line before her eyes slid shut.
–
Bright morning sun streamed through the window, driving Natasha's face into the strong back she was pressed against.
"Why don't you believe in curtains?" She grumbled into Maria's tee-shirt.
"I'm a morning person!" Maria quipped, rolling out of bed. "Careful of your book there."
Natasha felt the spine dig into her hip as she tried to roll on her back.
"Looks like you didn't get too much reading done last night." Maria picked up the book, keeping it open where Nat set down. "Page one."
"Urrng." Nat groaned into the pillow she dropped on her head. "Too much talking."
"Grumpy pants needs coffee." Maria smiled adoringly at her grumpy ex girlfriend. Girlfriend? Ex girlfriend who she was dating again.
Sharon wasn't in better shape in the living room. She'd also buried her head under pillows and one leg of her inside out jeans.
"Eggs?" Maria passed briskly.
"Can't eat. I'm dead." Sharon groaned.
"And coffee. And juice. Juice is magical."
"No talk." Sharon turned away.
Maria prepared breakfast as quietly as she could and left a steaming cup of coffee on the coffee table with some toast and jam.
She brought breakfast in bed to her grumpy adorable ex girlfriend.
"Eggs. Coffee. Juice. Toast." She put the tray on the bedside table.
"No."
"Eggs." Maria patted Natasha's butt. "Coffee!" She patted a little harder. "Juice!!" That one was a smack. "Toast!!!" She smacked again.
"Arg!" Nat growled into the pillow.
"Eggs!" Maria tried to smack again but Nat shifted away.
"Too early."
"Eat the eggs while they're warm and I'll leave you alone." Maria sipped her coffee, waiting to see what the spy would do.
"Eggs and then cuddles." Natasha peeked, watching Maria with one eye.
"Deal."
–
A few hours later, Maria awoke from a surprisingly rejuvenating nap entangled in Natasha's limbs.
"Maria?" Sharon poked her head in the bedroom, still looking a lot worse for wear. "I'm going home. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'll get these clothes back to you."
"Sharon, don't even worry about it." Maria said from the bed. "I hope you feel better."
"Feel better", croaked Nat from the pillow.
The click of the front door latch meant they were alone. With one less obstacle keeping them on the 'taking it slow' side of things. Neither Nat nor Maria wanted their first time to be with Sharon around.
"Just the two of us", Nat sang softly.
"Does that mean you wanna make it?"
"How old are you?" Nat kissed the closest part of Maria she could reach, an awkward part of her arm.
"Not if it starts with that!" Maria teased, turning to face Natasha.
Just as they started to get lost in each other's eyes, Maria's phone rang shrilly.
"Ugh. Duty calls."
"Fury." Natasha recognized his ringtone. Whatever he was calling about meant their quiet time was probably over. She headed to the bathroom to fix herself up.
"Hill", Maria was already all business, no play. "Sir. Yes, sir."
"Mmm?" Natasha poked her head out of the bathroom, mouth full of foamy toothpaste.
"They're picking us up in five minutes." Maria pulled a fresh tee-shirt over a black sports bra. "We've got an assignment."
Natasha spot, “We?”
“That’s what he said.” Maria held out a bag, “your books and clothes are in here. I’m gonna take the garbage out. We’ve got four minutes.”
“I’ll be ready in one.” Nat winked. “Race you down there.”
Maria didn’t wait, “lock up using your old key!” She called from down the hall.
Two minutes later, Natasha joined a smug Maria on the sidewalk right as a black SUV pulled up.