Clint kept it casual, but Natasha could feel his concern radiating off him in waves. She was either going to have to get better at hiding her issues, or she was going to have to try to put them into words, because she knew he wouldn’t let her get away much longer without trying to get her to tell him what was wrong.

How could she tell him when she didn’t even know?

At least for now he seemed content to just be her silent support, something she was entirely grateful for.

They stocked up on a good number of food items, and the more Natasha immersed herself in the fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and pastas for sale the more relaxed she felt. Her stomach even started to rumble a little, reminding her that she had barely eaten yet today.

The tea stand was a nice surprise, and she offered Clint a smile when he settled for his usual coffee and excused himself. “Okay, but you do realise I could spend a fortune at this one stall, right?” she said, managing to sound more like herself. “You’re not the one looking a little pudgy,” she continued, pinching a bit of fat at her waist before giving him a light push to let him know he could go, that she would be fine here without him.

While Clint carried off their purchases, Natasha selected several different teas. One with ginger for her stomach, some chamomile to help her sleep, and a couple of exotic blends she had never tried before that smelled strongly of various spices. Once they were paid for she didn’t want to wander too far from where Clint had left her, but a nearby stall caught her eye. A lady was selling handcrafted hats and various other items, but it was the tiny little mouse, clearly a cat toy, that Natasha ended up purchasing.