Red illusions (marvel)

Maria "missing you"

Maria: Hey, you still up for watching that movie?
Natasha: Tonight?
Maria: Or tomorrow? I've got the day off.
Natasha: I'm sort of in the middle of something right now, sorry.

Maria stared down at her phone, rereading their messages; Usually, Natasha would jump at the chance to get Maria out of her office and away from work, even if it meant leaving Yelena to run the studio alone for a couple of nights, or missing out of Laura's famous apple pie. As far as she knew, she hadn't done anything to upset her... Maria shook her head, focusing back on the file she was reading. She was probably just overthinking things: the red head had always loved her alone time. Maria continued her work, diligently reading and signing off multiple documents.

However, half an hour later, her mind was still travelling back to Natasha. She knew it was unreasonable to assume the worst, but Natasha had become the woman's safe space and she knew that she was Natasha's too. It had been at least six - not that Maria was counting - long weeks since she and Natasha had last seen each other for more than a twenty minute briefing and if it taking a toll on Maria, it was definitely affecting Natasha in the same way. Maria knew that, apart from Clint and Yelena (and maybe Laura), she was the only other person that Natasha trusted to let her guard down; with Clint constantly on missions and Yelena running the studio, Maria was sure the red head would be more than happy to spend a bit of time watching a movie and chilling out. Checking her phone again, Maria read over their last messages - nothing seemed odd... except the face that Natasha has used proper grammar; it was rare for her to use full stop, let alone a comma. Maybe she would pay the woman a visit later on? Double check everything was okay and Natasha wasn't pulling 'i'm fine' when in fact she had gotten badly injured on the previous mission.

***

Natasha hated declining Maria's offer to hang out but there was way to much to be thinking about that Maria couldn't know about.

After an hour of her and Eliza talking, the girl had finally agreed to stay with her and Yelena for a while. Now on the couch, Natasha watched as the three girls all sat down on the sofa; the youngest sat in the middle, still holding Zoe's hand; Eliza placed herself closest to the door, her skilful eyes scanning the room; and Zoe was switching her gaze between her and Yelena, her body language asking the obvious question of 'what do we do now?'.

Natasha wasn't going to admit it but she really hadn't thought this far. Laura had promised they would figure something out; it was looking less and less likely that they would though, with Eliza's unwillingness to let her and Yelena out her sight, and clear distrust, not to mention Zoe's need to have Dasha in her view at all times. This made it near impossible for Natasha to even suggest they hide away at an unknown farm, far away from civilisation and communication ( two important things that widows knew they needed for missions, for survival ).

Yelena searched the fridge for some semblance of edible food, frowning when all she found was a few decaying vegetables and yogurt. She was healing quickly, no doubt because of the harsh training she had in the Red Room, and felt she - and the new little widows they had picked up - deserved more than that. "You guys like pizza?" She called out, walking into the living room and sitting down next to her sister. Natasha smiled as Yelena read out the options to the girls. Zoe perked up at the sound of a Hawaiian pizza and Dasha was content on sharing with her sister (she couldn't remember the last time she had pizza, so the safe bet was to just share as they used to like the same things when they were little). When Yelena had read through all the options, Eliza still had a blank face, uninterested in the food.
"They have a few sides if you just want one of them? Chicken wings, garlic bread..." Yelena said, listing the various different foods. It took Yelena a while to realise that maybe Eliza hadn't had pizza before and now, not only was trying a new food from a different country, Yelena had just given her a thousand different things to pick from. Yelena remembered how she had gotten overwhelmed the first time she went shopping with Laura because the Red Room seldom gives their weapons a choice, nevertheless the choice of something so small as what food they ate. "How about a peperoni?" Natasha asked the girl, pleased when she gave a small nod.