Chapter 11
Steve was setting up the lights for the photoshoot while Nat was busy tinkering with her camera when Maria approached them, “Hey Nat, where’s the tripod?” Maria asked. “You don’t have it? It must be in the car then.”
Steve heard this and presented to get it. “Well, that’s what I’m here for,” he said and asked Nat for the keys and left.
The moment Steve left the two high-fived and smiled at one another “Now it begins,” Maria grinned at Nat teasingly. “Well just in case you forget Maria, Steve has the stamina and it won’t be easy to tire him up.” Nat reminded her. “That may be true, but it’s not like he’s got superpowers that stamina will run out eventually besides we’ve got lots of time.” She said winking at Nat. they laughed at that and a few minutes later Steve arrived carrying the tripod. He waved it proudly to them while walking towards them.
“You only got one?” Nat asked him when he was near them. “Oh, sorry let me just grab the other one then.” He told her handing the one he was carrying to Maria. They grinned at each other after that.
“Wanda was a genius, it’s a good thing she quickly canceled on Clint,” Maria told her. “So that’s why I got a text from him.” “Wanda knew that he’ll follow us that’s why she informed Clint not to meet us here anymore,” Maria explained. “I swear Wanda is such a psychic sometimes,” Natasha exclaimed bewilderedly. “Or, she just knows Steve well enough to predict him,” Maria said shrugging her shoulder, Natasha answered her with shrug as well.
Steve walked out of the set full of energy once again he got to admit, going up and down the building was no joke, he’s just glad that they accepted his help he remembers how Nat would complain about being so tired of having these long hours of photoshoot.
When he arrived, he was bombarded by lots of male and female models going around the area, but he immediately spotted Nat talking to some of the models and was at her side in no time. He took out the tripod and set it up for her, Nat saw this and remembered he used to do this a lot for her in the past this brought a smile to her face but was immediately gone when she felt a pang in her heart. That was in the past she thought to herself. She didn’t mind him at that moment and continued giving instructions to the models about the concept she had in mind.
After setting up the tripod Steve glanced at Nat and saw that she was in her element and that got him mesmerized by how enchanting she looks when she expresses her ideas and that brought a smile to his face being able to see this side of Nat once again. He missed it, “God I missed her, I missed her so much,” he thought to himself.
She started with her test shots and was a bit discontented about it she felt like she’s missing something. His ears perked up when he heard Nat call for his name “Steve, in the studio you’ve mentioned you’re an artist right? What do you think is missing?” “This looks great but I feel like somethings missing.” She said still thinking about it. Steve looked at the setup, he must say it does look great but she was right it lacks something.
Being an artist himself he gave her a piece of his mind and Nat agreed with it. They were having a Renaissance-inspired photoshoot and Steve did most of the setups in Nat’s area to help her work continuously.
Nat was on her momentum and seemed to be unbothered by her surroundings and he was there standing in the corner admiring her work when Maria approached him and asked him to get something from the car and he did it so willingly again, this was why he was here in the first place.
Natasha may appear like she doesn’t know what’s happening around her, but she was hyperaware of her surroundings. What she’s learned from the past was to never let your guard down. She glanced at Maria and gave her a teasing smile and wink.
They got busy with the photoshoot changing set-ups from time to time and Steve doing the heavy liftings most of the time, he would also go around the building looking for something they need and he even drove around several times.
He can feel the day catching up to him, he feels a bit tired but he has to keep going, Nat needs him he was currently driving back to the building when he spotted the place where he and Nat usually go to. He smiled at the memory of Nat telling him it was the best milkshake and cheeseburger and fries she ever had. Wanting to see that smile again he decided to get her, her favorite cheeseburger and fries.
When he arrived at the set, Natasha and Maria were discussing something on the monitor with an elderly woman who must be the owner of the magazine. He waited for them to finish and looked around the area, everyone seems to be on their break and smiled at the thought of that. Finally, she can rest for a bit she’s been working nonstop Steve thought to himself.
When he saw Nat and Maria approaching him on the break table he raised the bag he got in front of them. “Cheeseburger and fries anyone?” he was expecting that bright smile Nat would give him when he offered the said food. His excited expression faded when he heard her say, “Uhm sorry I don’t eat burgers, thanks.” She said dryly. Steve was filled with dread after hearing this and reminded himself that she had amnesia despite knowing this he still felt sad and blamed himself for this. It was his fault in the first place and it tore him to pieces that she forgot one of the things that brought her joy.
Natasha saw the pain in his eyes and glanced at Maria giving her a knowing look and smirked. “I’ll have one of those” Maria said taking the bag from him. “You sure you don’t want one?” Maria asked her as if to rub in his face that the things he does from the past that would usually elicit a bright smile on her face don’t work anymore. “Thanks, Maria, but I don’t like grease on my hands you know how much I hate that,” Nat said nonchalantly.
That was another jab for Steve, but Nat felt bad for saying that to her favorite food. She saw the bag he was carrying the moment he arrived and she knew exactly what he was up to and she wouldn’t give that to him. He doesn’t get to come back and do things he used to do and act like he didn’t do anything to hurt her. She’ll do anything just to make him feel the hurt he had caused her even in just the slightest even if she had to denounce her favorite cheeseburger she thought.
The break was over and they were back at work again, Natasha was currently helping out Maria with her set who was having a bit of trouble in her shoot.
“Still not working Nat, he’s not giving off the greek god thingy,” ”no offense” Maria directed to the male model. The owner approached them as well to see what was happening. “I’ve seen the shots, and I agree it doesn’t feel right.” The owner agreed with Maria. “Can we not try another model?” she asked them. “That’s the thing ma’am we tried everyone else and he’s the last of them,” Natasha answered her. “Should we just go with him?” Maria asked them, “Seems like it, we are out of time and these shots are needed ASAP for publishing.” Miss Wright said dejectedly. Natasha took a glance at Steve and smiled to herself. “I think I have a solution.” She said excitedly. Both women looked at her confusingly. “Just give me a moment she smiled at them.”
Maria caught on to her idea and grinned at her “I know he’s good-looking Nat, but does he have what it takes?” Maria asked challengingly. “Well let’s find out then,” she said raising a brow at her as if saying I’m winning on this one.
Natasha knew that Steve has it all, she knew he’ll be perfect for it but Steve is a shy person and never shows off. That’s why she sees this as a win-win situation, she’ll get to have a perfect subject that would impress the owner and she’ll get to make him feel uncomfortable.
She approaches Steve and asks him to do the shoot with her sweetest smile and look at Steve with eyes that he couldn’t say no to.
Despite being uncomfortable and out of his comfort zone Steve couldn’t say no to her and was now wearing a ridiculous cloth around his torso that would turn him into a greek god.
Natasha was waiting for him on the other side while he changes, he went out looking embarrassed with his head down. Natasha was taken aback seeing his toned body once again but immediately composed herself and told him he looks fine. “Don’t worry Steve, you look perfect.” She went back to Maria’s set with Steve on her tail.
“I have your greek god now,” she told Miss Wright and Maria. They looked up at Steve mesmerized, Natasha was right indeed he does look like a greek god.
Maria did her test shots and he looks good in every single one of them, but he looks stiff and very out of his comfort zone. Natasha saw this and told them not to worry, she went to Steve and talked to him.
The entire shoot Steve was still very uncomfortable but he remembered that this was for Nat, so the entire time he would look at her first to find comfort in her and the entire shoot was just him looking at her then the camera, and she would go to him and position him to get the shot right. This made him feel good being able to feel Nat so close to him again.
Every time Natasha has to get close to Steve Maria would pay attention to her every move and could tell that her friend was not affected by their closeness not even just a little bit, but not the same could be said with Steve. His feelings were overflowing and Nat’s plan was working flawlessly and that was to make him fall for her just for her to leave him after her dust much like what he did to her before.
Natasha was aware that Maria was watching her every move, Maria could pretty much read her easily, but she has become a master of masking her real emotions and she can’t show her that she was somehow getting affected by Steve’s closeness.
The shot with Steve was over and they went on another one, this went on for another hour when they saw Steve sitting in the corner. The load of the entire day has finally caught on to him, it was 1 in the morning he felt so tired so he decided to sit in the corner and rest his eyes for a while.
The photoshoot was wrapping up and Miss Wright thanked Natasha and Maria for their hard work. “Thank Nick for me will you,” Miss Wright told them “I’m really glad he got the two of you to work in this despite having informed you for a very short notice.”
“That’s no problem ma’am, were glad you’re satisfied with the shots,” Maria said politely. “It was a pleasure working with you two.” Miss Wright said shaking their hands. “It was a delight to work with you, ma’am,” Natasha added.
The staff was almost done clearing up the area when they saw Steve still sleeping in the corner, Maria nudged her elbow and had this evil smile on her face telling Nat that she was up to something no good.