Learning to Love - Natasha Romanoff and Maria Hill

One

A/N : Before you read this book I would like to give a major TW for mentions of suicide, nightmares, harsh language, arguing, violence, and rape. If you do not think you can handle any of these topics, then please don't continue this book or message me so I can tell you which chapters to avoid! Stay safe and enjoy :)
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Natasha slowly forced herself out of bed and walked to her door, unlocking it and opening it. It had only been a few days since she had been able to leave that lonely, sorry excuse for a home that was her prison cell, and to say the least, she was grateful to have a comforter rather than the rough, thin S.H.I.E.L.D. issued blanket she had been using for the past, what, three months? Of course, any prison cell or blanket here is much better than the ones she was given in the Red Room, but she still knew the difference between what she had been laying on and a comfortable bed.

"Hill. Care to explain why you've just woken me from the best nap I've had in years?" A flirtatious smirk appeared on Natasha's lips.

Maria was her guard while she was stuck in that cell, and she couldn't have wished for anyone better although she would never admit it to save her life. Maria talked to her, comforted her, held her when she had nightmares, brought her candy and donuts, and they even kis-

Natasha promised herself she would never bring up or even think about that situation ever again. It was a moment of weakness. Natalia- no, the Black Widow- , no, Natasha, doesn't have moments of weakness. She was still getting used to her new name. Maria had helped her come up with it. She liked it. It was like a fresh start, but how could someone like her ever deserve or earn a fresh start, she thought to herself.

"Well, Natasha, I was actually coming to tell you that Fury wants to see you in his office. In five minutes. Don't be late, or he'll kick your ass," Maria responded, an even more smug (if that's even humanly possible) smirk appearing on her face.

"You're one to talk, Hill. Didn't I see you go off on Fury for no apparent reason, what? Like yesterday?" Natasha raised an eyebrow at her, the smirk never once leaving her face.

Maria rolled her eyes before giving Natasha her best 'I'll be the deputy director in a few days' glare,"Natasha, you and I both know that I did not yell at Fury, or even yell to be completely honest, but that's aside from the point, for no apparent reason.''

"Yeah, whatever. Keep telling yourself that, Hill," Natasha grabbed her phone off of the shelf sitting next to her coat rack and walked out of her door, shutting it behind her and stopping next to Hill before turning her head so her lips were practically brushing against the shell of Maria's ear,"And you don't need to defend me, babe," she whispered so softly that Maria could barely hear her, but just loudly enough that she was sure Maria would.

Maria just stood there, dumb founded, as Natasha walked away. She had been defending Natasha, and she had no idea how Natasha knew that. She was aware that Natasha could hear them arguing as they had been near the outside of her cell, but she must have super hearing because what the hell? They were halfway down the hall, and Natasha's cell was made of steel on all four sides. Natasha continued to amaze Maria everyday, and it scared her. Not in a weird, dark, and twisty way, but in the way that she didn't want to develop feelings for the redhead. But she was so perfect and beautiful and she did this cute thing with her lips when she tried not to smile. Maria made her try not to smile. That thought made the future deputy director's heart almost jump out of her chest.

God, Hill, get it together. This is not an option. Not. an. option.

Maria realized that she had zoned out in front of Romanoff's door. She looked around to make sure no one noticed before turning and escaping down the hall to her office. She was in the process of moving her office up to the seventh floor, Fury's floor. She was so ecstatic about the new promotion that she had forgotten she had to haul at least ten boxes up to her new office. She could have asked for help, but she was Maria Hill, and Maria Hill, badass extraordinaire as she'd been called, never ever asked for help. She sighed before picking up the first three boxes, which were surprisingly heavy for files and office supplies, and walking toward the elevator.

By the time Maria had gotten everything up to her new office, she realized she had forgotten her couch. She really loved her couch, and although she was extremely strong, she knew she could not carry the couch by herself. She was also above asking for help. She refused to ask someone to help her carry the couch. She'd just have to either work a miracle or leave the damn couch for the next agent who would be taking over her office.

"Shit," she mumbled to herself.

She could always just buy a new couch, but it would never be her couch. Part of the reason, she thought, that she was so attached to a fucking couch was that it was the couch where she had shared some of the best laughs and comforted her best friend while she cried and held her when she didn't think she could take the pain anymore. Ashley Ames was one of the few people she let in. She was a badass doctor, amazing friend, beautiful soul. Ashley never took shit from anyone. One time, a misogynistic bastard, as Ash had described him, questioned her authority, and Ashley showed him up by performing a perfect craniotomy on a patient with a brain bleed after the dumbass had removed a G.S.W. to the patient's head and didn't think to check for bleeders during the operation. Maria was very proud of her, but she never gave herself enough credit, always blaming herself for the patients she couldn't save and never letting herself forget about it. She ended up killing herself last year. That really left a mark on Maria. She thought about her everyday, and she would have never admitted to it, but she was in pain. Physical pain. Pain that hurt so bad that her chest would tighten up and her body would ache and she would feel like she was going to throw up. So, no, leaving the couch behind was not going to be an option.

She let herself flop down onto the couch, hiding her face in the cushions. She hadn't slept in almost two days, and she was exhausted. She almost threw the couch itself at her door when she heard a soft knock.

"I'm not in the mood, figure it out yourself," she called to whoever it was.

The person proceeded to waltz into her office, which meant one of two things: it was Fury, or it was a junior agent that apparently wanted to have their ass kicked or had somehow killed or injured someone.

When she didn't hear Fury make a smart remark, she rolled her eyes before forcing herself to sit up,"Do you not have ears? Oh-"

The redhead was just standing there with that perfect smirk on her perfect face,"Didn't know you were that unhappy to see me, Hill."

"I didn't- I thought you were some junior agent who was too ignorant to not be afraid of me," Maria wiped the tiredness from her eyes before scooting over, inviting Natasha to sit with her.

Natasha accepted, gracefully walking over to the couch and sitting next to the brunette.

"What's got you tired enough that you're sleeping on this couch, rather than in your bed?" Natasha raised a curious eyebrow at Hill, her eyes scanning her face.

"Stop doing that?" Maria playfully pushed at Natasha's shoulder.

Natasha feigned innocence,"Doing what, Agent Hill?"

"Reading me, Agent Romanoff."

"Okay, but only if you tell me what's going on," Natasha's eyes softened, giving Maria either an opening or an out, she didn't know which Maria would take.

A/N : hope you like it! lmk know if you want more :)