She should have known nothing was ever simple, they were cursed SHIELD agents after all. Always ready to drop anything at the last minute. They started Christmas Eve fairly calm, still in their pj's with a day full on nothing they planned to spend together. But nothing ever really went to plan, not for them anyway. Five Hydra agents later, one tiny and I mean tiny explosion later and here they are. Some shitty, overcrowded Indian restaurant. A perfect place for their Christmas eve diner. It didn't really matter where they would spend it, as long as they spent it together.
Amidst the vibrant chaos of the restaurant, in the heart of New York City, they tucked into their dinners. Natasha, eating some Kiddy dish that Maria most definitely teased her for and Maria with her far too hot vindaloo. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of spices, the clinking of cutlery, and the lively chatter of patrons celebrating the holiday with feasts and festivities. It wasn't that bad after all. Plus, Maria had that sparkle in her eyes. Natasha didn't quite understand why, they just spent the better part of their evening being shot at. But whatever it was, Natasha hoped it would never leave.
The restaurant was adorned with festive decorations, stupid little plastic dolls of Santa in every corner, its walls echoing with the upbeat tunes of Bollywood hits which for some reason resembled 'Rudolph the Red Noses Reindeer'. Maria and Natasha, still clad in their mission attire, sat at a corner table, surrounded by the eclectic blend of colours and the joyful hum of the crowd – and the joyful screaming of children enjoying their dinner with the families.
Natasha, ever the master of levity, watching said children couldn't resist cracking a joke. Her eyes glinting mischievously as she observed the myriad families around them, children running between tables in a frenzy of excitement. Mothers and father's sharing a bottle of wine – or two, talking about the events that would unfold in the next morning.
"You know, Maria," Natasha smirked, gesturing subtly towards the bustling scene, "Christmas in an Indian restaurant is like watching a herd of kids on a sugar high. The chaos is practically a mission of its own."
Maria chuckled, momentarily swept away by Natasha's wit. However, the glimmer of laughter fades as she catches a fleeting glimpse of concern in Natasha's eyes. The mirth is replaced by a more serious tone as Maria takes a sip of her beer, a drink she highly favoured after her father told her it wasn't very 'lady like'. Her gaze lingered on the swirl of foam on top of the cup.
"Nat," Maria began cautiously, "about what you said... about kids and chaos."
Natasha leaned back in her chair, her expression softening, her red hair looking unusually fiery in this light. "Maria, I was just joking. You know how I am with kids—"
Maria interrupts, her tone gentle yet earnest. "Nat, do you... I mean, do you ever think about having them – I mean, having kids, I mean with me? Having kids with me?"
way to go Hill, she mentally scolded herself for that verbal disaster.
A flicker of vulnerability crossed Natasha's face, a moment of raw honesty amidst the festive fervour. She gazed into Maria's icey eyes, her own revealing a depth of emotion. There was a turbulence hidden behind her stoicism. "I never thought it was in the cards for me, you know? "
Maria reached across the table, her hand finding Natasha's. "It's something I've thought about, Nat. I want to make sure we're on the same page."
There was a still moment of silence, something Natasha wasn't sure she was ready to discuss, she needed time. Maria dropped the conversation almost immediately sensing Natasha's apprehensiveness. Natasha appreciated it greatly, Maria Hill could read her like a book. They continued to eat, small talk filling the growing gap between them.
