Chapter 8
The next day,
Bucky and the rest of the gang were determined to find out whether Natasha has amnesia so they went on and see Natasha in that studio.
Steve was nervous but excited to see Nat again, so he, Bucky, Thor, and Sam went.
As they went in, they were greeted by a redhead but it wasn’t Natasha it was Wanda one of Nat’s best friends. Wanda was a bit baffled when she saw them but immediately composed herself and tried to warn Nat about them by greeting them loudly with so much enthusiast so Nat would hear her.
Natasha was done shooting a family for a holiday card when Wanda’s enthusiastic manner caught her attention she took a glance at her and that’s when she saw them, she immediately went back to the family and asked for another shot, confusion was written on their faces but went with it eventually. She used that as an excuse to compose herself before facing them.
On the other hand, Wanda was scrutinizing them about showing up out of nowhere, “What the hell are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here.” Wanda said furiously, “Why? Scared we might figure something out?” Bucky countered. “What are you on about?” asked Wanda impatiently. “We just wanted our pictures taken professionally.” Sam butted in, “Yeah, why is that illegal now?” Thor said. “No, it’s not, but why here? Natasha doesn’t know that I know you” Wanda said. “Because Tony said this is the best,” Thor said shrugging off his shoulders. “Yeah, and we wanted to check on Nat too,” Sam said.
Steve was quiet while listening to them.
“Well Nat’s fine and busy, so you better go now,” Wanda said dismissively
“We have an appointment you know,” Bucky said grinning. Wanda checked and there it was, an appointment courtesy by Pepper Potts. When she looked up to tell them to wait she noticed that Thor was nowhere to be found she panicked and just heard him say, “Hey Nat’s here! Hi Nat.” Thor exclaimed excitedly.
Nat was on her computer screen working on her earlier shots when she heard Thor’s voice. She just looked his way and said “Hi? What can I do for you?” She asked unbothered. Thor was still unaccustomed to the way Nat talks to him so he was fully convinced that Nat doesn’t remember him and that saddened him.
Natasha saw that sadness in his eyes and she felt sorry for him and she did miss him and his great hugs, but she’s got to put her armor on and there is no going back now.
This caught the others' attention and was on his side in no time.
Wanda was also fast on her feet and went to where Nat was, but she saw that she has the situation under control and went back to her post. Natasha heard the entire conversation and readied her game face on.
“Hi.” Steve greeted her, “It’s us again, from the grocery remember?” “I’m Steve, by the way, this is James, but we call him Bucky, that’s Sam and that’s, “but before he could introduce Thor he cut him off and said, “I’m Thor the best hugger, remember me?”
“Oh, yeah!” she smiled at them sweetly and asked “So what brings you here?” making eye contact with them.
“Uhm, we want our pictures taken?” Sam said reluctantly. “Of course, silly me why else would you be here,” Nat said sarcastically to herself but said it in a joking manner for them to see.
They all laughed at that reluctantly, and she could see that they were just going along with it to please her. She started taking photos of them while they try to make small talk with her. They were mostly checking up on her while also trying to figure out if she did have amnesia. Natasha could read their intentions so well and decided to make them uncomfortable turning the table against them.
“So, we know each other from before? Are we were all friends? She asked. “Yes,” they all said in unison. “So, how come Wanda nor Maria told me about you guys?” she asked them again while instructing them to try another pose. “Maybe they just forgot to mention us, we’ve lost contact for a while now.” Sam said, “Yeah we tried looking for you Nat, but you just disappeared we’ve missed you,” Thor said.
She could see the sincerity in his eyes but she couldn’t let that give her away. So she opted for an attack on Steve. “Wait! None of you were an ex of mine right?” she asked them looking them straight in the eye one by one. “No, god no, you’re like a little sister,” Thor said laughing at her statement, “Nope, I’m more into brunettes,” Sam said, “No,” Bucky said timidly and uncomfortably. When she looked at Steve, he looked hesitant and just shook his head.
Natasha grinned at that, she could see that uncomfortable look on his face and he still couldn’t look in her eyes when he lies that’s good to know she noted to herself.
She smiled at them sweetly again and said “Well, that’s a relief because wouldn’t it be so awkward if one of you were my ex? Or that I may have hurt one of you? I mean I bet you’d hate me and wouldn’t want to see my face right?” she said jokingly.
They laughed with her uncomfortably “yeah that would be awkward” Sam said awkwardly taking a glance at Steve and seeing the discomfort on his face. Nat saw that too and grinned knowing she was victorious at taking a jab at him.
“Well, I guess having amnesia was a blessing in disguise then,” Bucky said and Nat looked him straight in the eye bared with emotion that she was affected by the topic. She answered him bravely “I guess it is.” And just smiled at him unaffected.
Bucky was convinced that she has no amnesia especially when she brought up about one of them being her ex, but when he saw how unaffected she was about Steve and them being around it’s like seeing a whole new Natasha. He couldn’t detect a hint of recognition from her it’s like he is seeing the usual playful and funny Natasha but one that doesn’t know any of them. He is now starting to believe her not remembering them or she might just be one hell of an actress.
Natasha could now see that Bucky was in doubt, she’s glad that her plan was working she has learned to toughen herself through time and she has now mastered the game of masking her emotions.