I'll be there for you

6

One week later.

Maria shut the door and threw her coat over her shoes, not willing to hang it since she was going out again. She had to go grocery shopping and university homework was getting harder and needed research, especially that last essay…

She froze at the sound of the television on and glanced at her watch. Six forty five. It could be Clint, she supposed, but he usually practiced archery till seven at school, then Phil picked him up for their 'boy's night'. Unless he had been shipped elsewhere for a couple of days; then he would let Clint at her place with some cash to pay for the teen's expenses. So Clint it might be, she decided, although walked silently to the living room in case it was an intruder. Maria peeked from afar and…

A very female giggle echoed in the room, followed by kissing sounds and hums of content. Now that she listened more carefully, bypassed the sound of TV, she could hear two heavy breathing and…She really hoped that was not what she thought it was.

"Clint? What are you do-" she called as she entered the living room and left the words die in her throat. True to her semi-expectations, Maria found herself facing a very bare-chested Clint lying over a bra-covered Natasha on her couch. She narrowed her eyes as his widened in surprise and tumbled off his girlfriend. Testing waters first, hadn't he said? Well if that wasn't a major improvement in his indecision.

"Ma- I –sorry I thought" he babbled, his cheeks reddening as he searched blindly in his back for his shirt while said shirt was actually on the floor. He nearly fell off the couch, too panicked and downright uncomfortable with the situation. Maria felt halfway amused, halfway annoyed because, catching her surrogate kid brother almost in the act was kinda funny, but hey, it was her couch! Natasha was silent as always, her top already back on, but her ears were flushing red and avoiding her gaze.

"A word, Clint." Maria eventually said, nodding towards the bathroom. The teenager left his seat and started heading there reluctantly.

"Don't ground Clint please" Natasha suddenly spoke up, standing from the couch in turn. "I'm the one who started things. We just got carried away."

Maria returned her an unimpressed look.

"Doesn't matter who started, I still want a word with Clint. Wait here." She ordered, then left the room followed by the bashful teenager. She led him to the bathroom and closed the door behind them. Then, she crossed her arms and waited. If possible, the young man looked even more nervous. Maria smiled inside- she couldn't wait to tell Steve about that one.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be back so soon." She raised an eyebrow and Clint flinched slightly; wrong thing to say.

"So you figured my place would be perfect to make out with your girlfriend, out of Phil's eyes and ears?"

"Swear to God, we really just wanted to watch a movie! And then things…well you know" he made a vague motion of the hand to accompany his words.

"Listen to me. I don't care if you want to screw your girlfriend or not." The teenager stared at her puzzled; was he not supposed to be slapped on the wrist? "I do care that you decide to screw her in my living-room on my couch. I believe you have your own room. Use it. And put the music loud when you…you know" she repeated his last words with a light smirk. "Especially when I'm here." Pause. "On second thought put it even if I'm not here. You're old enough now to be judge of those things and I definitively don't want to know."

"So…you're not angry?" He was eyeing her in disbelief, almost fearful. She smirked widely this time.

"Clint, you're a guy. She's a girl -a gorgeous one- and she likes you. Even if I kicked you out of the apartment, you'd find somewhere else to do whatever you guys are doing. I'd rather you 'do' here than…well you get my point."

He looked so relieved it nearly made her laugh. But she wasn't quite done with him yet.

"Ah, one last thing." She turned towards her chest of drawers and pulled one. She picked up something and handed it to him. "Whatever happens, promise me to use this."

Clint took it, stared at the package, and his whole face and neck turned red.

Steve spit out the gulp of water he had drank and cough in his fist.

"Y-you gave him a condom?" Maria nodded very calmly. "But…but why?"

The woman smirked. She and Steve had met the next day for another sparing session (she refused to call them dates) and had just told him the little anecdote.

"Reverse psychology." She replied. "Whenever they'll be about to have sex, Clint will remember the condom –and remember me."

"You really think it'll work?" he asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. Maria shrugged.

"Natasha threw me a dirty glare when I came across her in the corridor earlier today. I assumed it worked at least yesterday. I know she slept over; her shoes were still at the entrance when I went out this morning. But it won't in the long term. If Natasha's smart, she'll get the pill and that would definitively be safer."

Steve stared at her sideways.

"Do you always plan so far ahead?" Maria shrugged.

"As much as I love Clint, I'm not in a hurry to see his kids run around anytime soon. I'm not stopping him though."

"Aha." He replied, obviously skeptical.

"I just want him to act like a responsible person." she added, frowning at Steve. "Is that wrong from me?"

The blond smiled sheepishly and shrugged. Maria observed the way the corners of his mouth curved upwards, the honest laugher in his eyes. She had no idea why he had continued to seek her company after the funeral –or rather she did, she just didn't want to acknowledge it yet- but she liked it. He was smart, didn't back off at her biting humor and a strong opponent. He also didn't mind her silences, didn't push her into talking –and even when he did, knew when to stop. He was learning more about her every day and so was she.

"I understand, although I'm not sure I'd act the same if Natasha was my sister" he joked and picked up a cereal bar from a pack she had brought for both of them.

"If he hurts her, I will kick his ass anyway. Natasha's a good kid; she's just hard to figure out."

"A bit like you?" Maria threw him a warning side-glance. Steve shrugged. "Just saying that might be the reason why you three bound so easily. So are you hungry? I know a Mexican restaurant nearby."

The last sentence was rushed compared to the rest. He sounded quite nonchalant, but Maria felt it, the tenseness and forced casualty. It did reassure her a little, knowing that he wasn't the only one feeling nervous right now. And Mexican was her favorite; if that wasn't enough big of a hint. He glanced at her when she didn't answer right away. She decided to stall him a little, and raised an eyebrow keeping her expression flat.

"Is that a date?"

Steve swallowed heavily and bit his lower lip.

"It's up to you." He eventually replied. "Don't feel…I mean I don't want to pressure you or anything, I'm perfectly fine being friends and all, I mean-"

She dropped next to him, stole his bottle of fresh water and took a generous gulp for herself. Then she turned to look at him, feeling her cheeks warm as she replied:

"I'd like that."

Okay this is the end (short and a bit rushed but I didn't know what to add afterwards…) Hope you enjoyed this and see you in another fic :)