Chapter 4
2013, date redacted
"You don't have to do this Nat," Maria soothes, stroking one her her knuckles.
"I have to. I owe it," Nat quietly says, staring at the camera feed of the high security prison on the Helicarrier.
"You did all you can Nat, don't be too hard on yourself."
"I should have done something, back all those years ago," Natasha whispers, ghost pinpricks of tears forming, tearing at her.
"You know you couldn't have done much, Nat. He's here, he's going to be okay, just let go Nat," Maria softly murmurs, pulling Natasha into a hug.
Natasha wraps her arms around Maria, rocking back and forth.
"Let go Nat, he's going to get through this. Steve and Tony are going to get him through this."
Natasha's grip tightens on Maria and Maria lays her head against Natasha's, inhaling her scent.
"I hope so, Masha. I love you, you know that?"
"Love you too Nat."
Natasha sighs and swallows her tears back, keeps the doors of the dam close.
"I'll miss you," Natasha says.
"Miss you too, we'll skype. Please eat healthy and don't run yourself ragged hunting down HYDRA with May and Barton."
"Shut your mouth and run me like a river," Natasha teases in a sing-song voice.
"Oh god, you're never going to get over that one time where the stupid arcade machine gave you a higher score than me for that song are you," Maria groans, fake punching Natasha on the arm.
Natasha catches Maria's arm and gives her a quick peck.
"Never, never letting you go."
Maria's eyes soften.
"I'll see you soon Commander."
"I'll see you soon Natty," Maria laughs at the adorable pout the name brings to Natasha's face.
Natasha gives her one last brief kiss before she goes for the exit of the Helicarrier. There's other agents who are also saying goodbye, to friends, to family they made in S.H.I.E.L.D.
This is what Maria works for. Order, peace. If the price of keeping the balance of innocent and guilty in the world stable, she'll damn well do it without complaint.
She watches from the docks as Natasha waves goodbye, the Helicarrier starting up.
Maria presses two fingers to her forehead on impulse, and Natasha's smile is something Maria manages to see even that far away.
Maria watches until the Triskelion Headquarters is only a pin prick, and returns to the duties of Commander Hill, including housing a currently being re programmed assassin from the 20th century.