Now...
Maria dropped her bags and stepped further into their apartment, not entirely sure what to say. Having been away for the entirety of their relationship, and never having met the man, how was she supposed to?
"What do you mean he's married?" she asked, making a decision and moving towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of vodka from the cupboard, pouring them each a drink.
"I mean, he's married" Natasha answered unhelpfully, taking an offered glass and drinking the vodka in one.
"And he only just told you?" Maria drank her own shot before refilling both their glasses.
"Well... Not exactly..."
"Nat, what did you do?"
Natasha shrugged, her universal answer for 'I don't want to talk about it', before sitting on the sofa. Moving to take a seat beside her, Maria left the bottle in the kitchen, perhaps adding alcohol to this mess wasn't going to help. "Nat?" she prompted, hoping there was a simple explanation for whatever had happened and it was all a big misunderstanding...
The redhead didn't answer, but handed Maria her phone. Open on a photo of the man she recognised from Natasha's text updates, sitting with a blonde woman. Granted, they certainly looked like they were familiar with one another, but this didn't automatically mean married...
"This could just be-"
Natasha interrupted Maria's doubt by scrolling to the next photo, revealing him kissing her cheek, their hands clasped. She scrolled again, a close up of his smiling at her. Her certainly looked happy to see her... Maria continued to scroll through the few photos of them the two blondes together, before reach a selfie of Natasha and Clint together. Maria couldn't help but frown, he and Nat looked so happy together; she was wrapped in a knitted scarf and matching hat, smiling at the camera, while he was stood with his arms around her, his attention fully on her with matching expression of pure content on his face.
"I looked her up" Natasha explained without Maria having to ask. "Doctor Barbra Morse. She's the new Biochem Professor they just hired... Everyone at college has been talking about her"
"And-"
"And they're married. I found their wedding certificate online" Natasha answered before she could ask her question.
"Jeez..." Maria drank the shot she still had in her hand and sighed. Damn. "You know, I still think your investigative skills would make you a great spy" she added, trying to lighten the tone.
Natasha rolled her eyes but Maria knew it was fondly, it was an old joke between the two, but it still remained true.
Maria looked back at the photos of Clint and his wife, "where is this?"
"Entwine" Ah. An upscale cocktail bar which was far beyond their student budgets. It certainly seemed like a nice place for a date.
"And you what? You followed him there?.."
"What? No- I was at the bookstore across the street when I saw him. And then I saw her..."
Natasha's phone buzzed in Maria's hand and the pair looked at it, seeing a message from Clint.
[Text: Clint to Natasha] I need to talk to you