Natasha had spent the majority of her life outside of the Red Room too terrified to make attachments to collect too many friends. When she had stumbled upon a few it had always been someone she worked with, always someone who had displayed a skill set and a common enemy with her, always someone she knew she could follow into battle. It had only been since coming to the Nexus that she'd tried her hand at friendships without motive, with people from different walks of life, and although Joan did not come from the same world as Natasha, Natasha sensed, though Joan had not bothered to divulge either way, that she was battle tested as well. She was naturally curious about it all, but had learned enough about friendship to know that it was always best if you let a friend bring their war stories to you in their own time.

"Aww, that's no good," she said at Joan's mention of things getting messy back home, leaning forward gratefully when Joan began to slather the lotion along her back. "Boyfriend or work or just shitty in general?"