Tell me every terrible thing you ever did and let me love you anyway// Blackhill

Chapter 8

"You had a bet on me?"

Tony laughed as Maria threw up her hands in exclamation, sending fake angry looks at Clint and Natasha, who were trying their best not to laugh in fear of Maria threatening to throw something at them.

Maria sat with the Avengers in the living area of the Helicarrier, drinks in hand after a long day's work. It had been about two weeks since her and Natasha had started dating, an additional week since the moment in Nat's bedroom. Naturally, they tried to keep it low-key since it was still a co-worker relationship. Also naturally, Clint was a little shit and was sneaking around Natasha's room and eventually found them. Lucky for him, and for them (she supposes), they weren't doing anything. Clint then proceeded to tell the the rest of the Avengers, which brings Maria to where she is now. On a couch sipping red wine from the glass in her hand and watching in amusement as her girlfriend and her girlfriend's best friend argue about who blames who for the bet incident.

"Maria, it was Clint! He's the one who proposed the bet in the first place!"

"You went along with it!" Clint shot back.

"Only because you wouldn't drop it"

"Yeah, well, you could've walked away anytime!"

Maria chuckled, shaking her head at the ridiculous antics of the two. She turned her attention to the rest of the group, which seemed to be having and argument of their own.

"I'm clearly the strongest, I'm the god here, remember?" Thor's voice rang out arrogantly.

"Oh yeah? I bet I could lift your hammer." Tony says with the confidence of a man who knows he's rich enough to own pretty much everything.

"Go ahead," Thor motioned, and set his hammer down on the table. "Try it."

Maria rolled her eyes at the guy's, clearly not impressed that even after years of being 'The Avengers' they still argue about this.

Maria almost couldn't believe it. She was in a room surrounded by the Universe's sworn protectors and they're all either pointing fingers or having a pissing contest about who's stronger.

They're all acting like petulant children. Maria thought. The Maria from three months ago would've been annoyed beyond belief. But as she looks around the room, at the people who've confided in her and each other with their lives, their everything, she can't find it in herself to be annoyed in the slightest. No, she feels something else. She feels proud. Not just proud, she feels at home. A home. Now that sounds nice.

As much as Maria confided in Fury, she never really felt like she had a home at SHIELD, that it was merely her job. She hasn't felt like she had a home, not since the military. But now, watching as Clint and Natasha tease each other and Tony tries to lift Mjölnir with his Iron Man suit while Steve and Thor are laughing at him, she can't think of a better word to describe it.

Banner catches her eye from across the couch a smiles, lifting his glass in salute.

"To new beginnings?" He asked, motioning to Natasha.

Maria looked over at Natasha, who current had Clint in a headlock and smiled. She turned back to Banner and raised her glass.

"To new beginnings."

~

"So, how did things go down between you two?" Tony asked, eyebrow raised as he swirled his wine glass.

The night has wound down and they're all currently sitting on the couch, sporting drinks of some kind. They had all talked about their personal lives before, but tonight seemed like the night for deep talk. Surprisingly, it didn't feel uncomfortable, though. No, it felt welcoming.