Conundrum

Maria stood in the gym watching with her arms folded as she observed Romanoff and Barton sparring. Her legs still hurt like a bitch, but she refused to let it slow her down. The world didn’t stop spinning just because she wasn’t feeling well. 

It took her two days to work up the nerve to approach Romanoff after the encounter in her quarters. Two days of office work, and an hour before bed each day staring at her reflection in the mirror and being completely dissatisfied with what she saw after each introspection.

The agent’s final words to her in that last conversation struck a nerve. Maria tried to do what she believed in, she tried to be both a good person and a person who did the right thing.

Currently, the right thing to do was to give the woman an apology. Not because Maria thought what she did was wrong, but perhaps the way she did it could have been handled better.

The Russian for her part had taken to keeping their interactions strictly minimal and professional and barely spared her a glance.

Maria huffed at her own spinelessness and forced herself forward. The two stopped sparring as they noticed her approach.

“Commander Hill?” Barton greeted her curiously.

“Agent Barton, I’d like to have a word with Romanoff.” She greeted both of them, then grimaced, and attempted to correct the impression she’d given as she assessed the Russian. “I understand I’ve interrupted your training, so this is not a requirement.”

The mirth that shone in the woman’s eyes was not what she would have expected.

The teasing quip came out was something she should have expected - but hadn’t, given the last few days.

“Barton, I hope those ears of yours have been cleaned out. Did you just hear the commander asking to speak to me?”

Maria’s not even ten seconds into attempting to correct her misdeed and she’s already beginning to second guess her new found revelation.

She stood silently, waiting to see if the agent would accommodate her request. 

Barton seemed uncomfortable as he glanced between them. 

The woman’s eyes seemed to appraise her for what felt like forever. “This isn’t training, we’re just having fun. I’m off-duty, remember?”

A well earned tongue in cheek denial. 

She nodded her head in acknowledgement, “Then please try not to maim each other.”

Earned or not, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Still, there were other things to do.

Coulson was in his office when Maria popped her head in to see if he was available. He smiled easily at her. “It’s not every day you decide to come and visit. What’s the occasion?”

“I wanted to propose a trade. I understand you have a pretty hefty workload as it is. Two agents.” 

The man let out a low whistle, obviously not expecting that. “Who?”

“Romanoff and Barton for two of your own choice.” She hesitated, finding it difficult to explain the ‘why’ without being prompted. “Barton goes with Romanoff, and I have damaged what little rapport I’ve built with her. If she works for us, she should be comfortable while doing it.”

“I never thought I’d see the day that you’d admit you’ve done something wrong.”

Maria frowned, and mumbled unconvincingly. “I haven’t done anything ‘wrong’ per se.”

What was rather inconvenient about this, was that she’d be working later than normal tonight - because frankly, she didn’t exactly have any time to give any person (agent or otherwise) this much attention. Any time she spent now, was time she had to make up for later.

Coulson tossed her a piece of candy from his pocket, then let out a laugh. “We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you really felt that way. If it’s any consolation, she hasn’t mentioned anything. So it couldn’t have been too bad.”

“Maria, come see me in my office.” Fury summoned her, through the comms.

“Romanoff’s not the type to say anything. Sorry Phil, I’m going to have to cut this short.” She apologised to the man. “Have a think about it.”

“Tell Director Fury I want my Captain America card back.” He grinned at her knowingly.

She shook her head with a faint grin of her own. “I’m not getting involved with it. Good luck getting it back.”

*

“You are definitely more miserable than Carter or Fury.” A certain Russian agent greeted her.

Maria redirected her gaze from the map she was studying for an upcoming escort op, to Romanoff who casually leaned against the briefing room doorway with folded arms. 

“Fury has a three day inquisition to attend and Carter is unable to eat anything except soup and ice cream. I’d say they’re feeling pretty even at the moment.”

“You’re so predictable, Hill.” The agent drawled, pushing herself off and taking a few steps into the room. Her green eyes appraised the map for a moment.

“I might work too much.” Maria admitted tiredly, looking back at the map and beginning to draw X’s where potential ambushes could be awaiting the team.

There were sounds of movement, and a thump of something being placed behind her. Hard calloused hands were placed on either shoulder and she was firmly pushed down into the chair that waited for her.

The physical relief was immediate.

“Sounds like a good excuse to take a break. What do you say?” Romanoff replied, moving to sit on the table, and swinging her legs. 

It was completely unfair that both the swinging and her smooth, toned legs were so alluring. 

Was it cheating to fantasise, if it never would come close to reality?

Was it even cheating to fantasise, if Maria was married to her job?

Romanoff was right, she really was a hypocrite - Just not for the reasons she thought.

“I’d say ‘sure, but not for long’, and then I’d ask why you’re up so late.” Maria replied, tilting her head from side to side in order to try and relieve some of the tension she was feeling.

Natasha cheekily grinned as she reached behind her and pulled out a small flask. “I was thirsty and saw someone moving about in here. I thought it was Fury. I should have known it was you.”

Strictly speaking, alcohol consumption wasn’t permitted except for special events. It wouldn’t do well to have intoxicated agents translating intel and communications at a moment's notice. 

“So you decided to stay and keep me company? You must be bored.” She couldn’t find it in herself to be bothered with it - it was some awful hour of the morning and Romanoff was off duty after all; and even if she weren’t, Maria was already aware of it being in the agent’s possession. “Let’s just say I’ve selectively lost my vision and I don’t see that.”

“See? I knew you only pretended to be a stick in the mud all the time.” The flask was held out in offering.

She felt a headache coming on. It would be pounding within the next thirty minutes. A sure sign of her overtiredness, and there was still a large chunk of preparation to do before sleep.

There was one particular thing that felt the most important.

“While you’re here, I need to say something.” Maria said, ignoring the joke at her expense. She declined the offer of the flask with a small shake of her head.  “I owe you an apology. The last time we spoke properly I projected my foul mood onto you. That wasn’t an acceptable or fair thing to do.”

Natasha redirected the course of one of her legs, nudging her. “Oh. If that was you in a bad mood, then I might hang around a little longer.”

In return, she put her hand on the redhead’s knee closest to her and felt the swinging leg halt its movements. The calf muscles flexed briefly upon contact before hanging limp.

She shouldn’t have touched her without permission.

Maria looked up into Natasha’s face staring down at her intensely. 

There were few situations that required her to consider whether or not someone was ‘happy’ in her work role.

Right now, she isn't in any role. 

This was a ‘social event’.

And there was no reading Romanoff’s intention with the expression she wore.

Carefully, all Maria could say was, “What?”

One of those stupid, stupid perfect eyebrows arched over pretty greens. “You tell me, babe. I’ve never seen somebody so fascinated with a single knee before.”

Now was the perfect time to make her escape by reason of exhaustion.

It’s not like her to-do list was going anywhere anytime soon.

She let go as if it burned and stood up. “Sorry. My lack of sleeping is catching up to me. You have fun stirring up whatever trouble you want. I’ll plead plausible deniability tomorrow.”

Romanoff cleared her throat purposefully drawing her attention back to her. The flask once again, was being offered out. “It’s only fair you have some, since you were temporarily taken over by aliens and decided to give this to me.”

“It’s over a month late.” Maria replied more gruffly than she intended due to being called out, “Happy Birthday.”

Then out the door she went. 

Or she tried to. 

Romanoff was quicker than she was, jumping from the table. Maria felt herself be spun around and her breath caught at the proximity. They were so close, she could feel the Russian’s body heat.

She felt herself tense up and closed her eyes at seeing Natasha inch her head closer. She felt the tickling of the woman’s breath on her lips.

This was bad.

Soft lips barely brushed against her cheek and the body heat was gone. Maria let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and opened her eyes to see Natasha’s slip back into the briefing room.

“Thanks!” The Russian threw over her shoulder with a cocky grin.

Once again when it came to the agent, Maria found herself just a little lost. “You’re welcome?”

The only real thing that made any sense in regards to every interaction they’ve had was that Romanoff was testing the waters. The blatant (and not so blatant) curiosity about Maria’s personal life, the recollection of their hopefully unintentional first meeting, the dousing her with water, the dance dip despite her declining and finally today’s incidents where her request to speak to the agent was denied, and then whatever this latest… conversation was.

Either Romanoff was a little cuckoo - which was probably likely at least on a small scale, or she was trying to see what made her tick.

Maria never saw her screw with anyone else quite like this.

She made it to her bed and promptly fell into it.

Maybe, just maybe, it was time to see what made Natasha Romanoff tick.