Work Text:
After dealing with the mess from the collapse of the Red Room, Nat comes into the last of her previously established safe houses, cautiously opening the door only to freeze. Maria is lying on the bed, reading a book, and looks up at her. There's a long silence before she enters the space fully, closing the door behind her.
"Hi, honey, I'm home." The bag she was carrying hits the floor with a soft thump.
"I hear you've been busy." It's the only thing Maria has time to say before Natasha makes contact with her, pulling clothes off both of them and pressing their mouths and bodies together.
Maria has just enough time to realize there's a lot going on here before giving in to the sensations, the sex somehow combining relief and comfort and reassurance. Affirming the idea that she's still alive in both their minds.
Afterwards, Natasha finally lets go, crying herself to exhaustion, though not sleep, while Maria cradles her in her arms, trying with all her will to impart whatever it is that Natasha wants to draw from their joined bodies, whatever she needs.
Eventually the sobs turn to tears, the tears to silence, and then, only then, Natasha gets up, gently disengaging, to get a much needed shower and change of clothes. Maria follows suit, and before too long they are both clean and back in the bed, lying face up, side by side, shoulders pressed together.
Before the silence can stretch out too long, Maria turns her head to study Nat's profile as she asks, "Rough day at the office?"
It makes Natasha smile, a genuine, amused smile, and she doesn't turn her own head to look back, but she answers. "You have no idea."
"Tell me?"
And Natasha does.