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Maria and Natasha loved each other like every day could be their last—because it could be. Working for SHIELD is great and all. It's one of the best paying jobs possible, purely for how dangerous it is.
Maria used to believe that love would be burning red, like Natasha's hair. But the emerald-eyed beauty proved that love is golden like daylight.
It's on one of those rare missions where Maria and Natasha are teamed up that it happens.
There had been reports of the Red Room being active. So now Maria and Natasha are in Budapest.
Maria is just about to suggest they wrap up and head home as they've spent a week with zero results. She turns to say as such to Natasha but the redhead is nowhere to be found.
Natasha had run after a flash of blonde hair passed her, a shade of blonde she thought she'd never see again.
She's currently chasing the blonde down several side streets. She's too scared to call her name in case Dreykov has a mic planted on her.
It's only when the blonde turns around and sees Natasha does everything change. Just to confirm her suspicions, Natasha whistles two notes. The blonde completes the secret melody, confirming this for the both of them.
“Yelena.” Natasha is breathless from relief, the chase, and overwhelming emotion.
“Natasha? It's really you?” Yelena is a lot less certain.
“It is, моя сестра. It's me. I'm here. You're safe.” Natasha doesn't even try to stop the years from falling.
“Natasha.” Yelena comes barreling towards her sister, and Nat catches her, pulling her in for a hug.
The sisters stand like that for several minutes until Maria catches up with Natasha.
“Nat, why'd you disappear—” She pauses when she sees the reunion happening in front of her. “Oh.”
Natasha composes herself quickly and professionally. “Maria, this is my sister Yelena. Yelena, this is my girlfriend Maria Hill.”
Yelena eyes Maria with wariness. “Tasha, how do you know her?”
“We work together. At SHIELD. Where I'm hoping to bring you now. We were just wrapping up. Right, Masha?” Natasha answers.
“Hm.” Yelena grunts noncommittally. She follows Natasha back to the jet anyways.
The entire ride back, Yelena is silent. That breaks Natasha's heart. When they were little, she would've done anything to get Yelena to shut up for five minutes. Now she'd go to hell and back to revive that youthful energy in her sister.
Once inside SHIELD headquarters, Natasha and Maria lead Yelena to Fury's office.
“Agents. Welcome back from your mission.” He greets, then he sees Yelena hovering behind Natasha. “I see you brought a stray. Romanoff, I didn't know Barton was rubbing off on you that much.”
“Very funny, Director. She's not a stray, she's my sister. Lena, this is Director Nick Fury.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms…” Nick gives Yelena the opportunity to introduce herself as he offers a hand for her to shake.
The room is silent for about 40 seconds as Yelena stares at Nick's outstretched hand.
Finally, she shakes it with a firm grip. “Belova. Yelena Belova.”
~
That evening, Yelena joins Natasha in the staff lounge as she catches up with her friends. She soon learns that in addition to Maria, Natasha is friends with a girl named Bobbi, a dude named Clint, and another dude named Phil.
She learns that Clint is married with three kids, the youngest being Natasha's godson.
“So, Yelena. You joining us for good or are you a one hit wonder?” Clint asks while on his third bottle of beer, very stupidly dragging Yelena into the conversation.
“I plan to stay. I work. Job is money. America is expensive.” Yelena says, keeping it short.
Between the lemonade and vodka in Natasha's hand, the fiery golden hues of the sunset, and the blonde of her best friend's hair, Maria is certain that this color means nothing can go wrong.
~
Maria was stressing about the same things for the millionth time, making sure the flower crown of dandelions was securely on her head before she walked down the aisle while she straightened her suit of the same color. She and Nat had agreed on a floral wedding, and had narrowed it down to this one color. Daffodils could be spotted in every room.
Bobbi, the amazing maid-of-honor she is in her magenta suit, uses commands that sound close enough to military orders that Maria listens without hesitation to get the bride-to-be to calm down.
#meanwhile#
Natasha is fixing her emerald dress for the umpteenth time, asking Yelena if she looks okay.
Yelena, busy trying to zip up her violet dress, sighs exasperatedly. “Tasha, if you ask me that question again, I'll get Mama in here.”
That threat finally shuts Natasha up until it's time to head out.
~
The ceremony is a beautiful thing. For two reserved spies who rarely show emotion, both of them wrote the most poetic vows.
It's small, just as Natasha wanted it.
That doesn't mean the party thrown at SHIELD once the newly wed couple return from their honeymoon has to be.
The last time a pair of SHIELD agents got married, it was Clint and Laura.
The party is the biggest any of the staff can remember ever being thrown within the company.
Things change. Things stay the same. People change. Or not.
Life is unpredictable. Unless someone takes control of their own life. Once that happens, life is as predictable as a sunflower in spring.