CALL-SIGN
A/N: Thoughts in italics. Short, I know, but I couldn't resist. In the same 'verse as 'Forget Yesterday'.
"Hill needs a new code-name."
The announcement has her stopping at the door she meant to pass. "Obviously," Natasha says, arching an inquisitive brow at Pepper. Inside the official Avengers break room, she spots the billionaire and his CEO-girlfriend: Stark is browsing through old SHIELD blueprints as per usual, while Pepper works on her laptop.
"He found out-" Tony cuts her off: "Hey, I thought we were, you know, not friends, but like, a team- ugh no that souds too gay, even for-" Natasha cuts him off this time.
"Are you mad? That I didn't tell you?" she elaborates in amusement. "Because I didn't tell anyone." Catching sight of his pouting, she sighs. "You really expected me to what? Run around yelling 'I like Maria and she likes me' at the top of my lungs? What am I, twelve?" She has now moved in closer to the couple.
"Well, you knew about Pepper," Tony retorts petulantly, deliberately ignoring his now snickering girlfriend. "We should be able to talk about these things."
"Oh, because we can relate?" Natasha asks sarcastically. The man really was something else. "Did you also wanna exchange BFF-bracelets while we braid each others hair? My love-life isn't any of your business, Stark."
There's a sudden stillness when they all realize that she said 'love-life' and not 'sex-life' as is expected, and then Tony smiles. "Hey look, it's Agent Hill! We were just discussing your new code-name; care to contribute?" His eyes twinkle at the new addition to the room. "I think we should consider something related to ...arachnids."
Natasha only turns around to face her lover(girlfriend?) when Maria chuckles softly. "Director Fury and I already came to an agreement about this very topic, actually." Her gaze on the blushing (blushing? Why am I blushing?!) redhead is unreadable. "We're gonna stick with 'Agent Hill' for now."
"As well you should," Tony says, nodding seriously. "It's a lovely, I mean, perfectly appropriate-"
"We'll be going now," Pepper says, pulling her boyfriend closer to the door. "You kids better behave yourselves," she mock-scolds as she drags her smug boyfriend past the smiling brunette.
A sly wink. "Oh, we intend to."
Gulp.