Chapter 15
After that confrontation with Steve, Natasha’s silence did not go unnoticed by Wanda and Maria.
“Mind telling us what happened last night?” Wanda asked Natasha worriedly.
“We heard from Nick Nat, were sorry,” Maria added sincerely.
Natasha told them what had transpired that night, she told them what happened from the beginning of the shoot till that conversation with Steve. They listened to her intently, even Clint who was on the computer screen was all ears.
“It’s good that you were able to let out all those pent-up emotions Nat,” Wanda said giving her a supportive smile.
“Yeah, it felt good releasing all that anger and I finally got the answer to my question all those years ago,” Natasha told them looking relieved than ever.
“We’re glad to hear that Nat,” Clint said who was glad to hear that finally, Nat got her answers, Maria on the other hand felt relieved as well, but what satisfied her more was Steve’s agony when she imagined the scene between him and Nat.
“Well, serves him right, it’s a good thing you were finally able to tell him those things, right in front of him. I’m pretty sure his guilt is eating him up right now, the things you told him will now haunt him.” Maria said letting out her frustrations.
“If I were you, Nat, I would’ve rubbed it more to his face he deserves it and when he said he was sorry he was a coward you should’ve slapped him right there and then.” Maria let out.
“Hey, Nat?” Maria called for her “I think you should be the one I’m slapping right now.”
Natasha absent-mindedly switched off the tap on the overflowing pot she was holding when she heard Maria calling out her name.
“Nat?” Wanda called her worriedly.
“Natasha, what are those?” Maria asked her.
“What?” she asked curiously.
“What’s that look in your eyes, Nat?” Maria asked her looking intently in her eyes she feigned innocence and asked “What look?”
She knew exactly what Maria was talking about she had slipped her mask off showing her vulnerability.
“Look me straight in the eye and tell me, what those are Nat?” she said challenging Natasha.
“Anger!” Natasha blurted out defensively.
She looked at Wanda and saw her shaking her head and looked at Maria and Clint looking at her like she’s grown another head.
“Wrong answer Nat,” Maria said looking at her with concern.
She gave them a bitter snicker, “why? What is it supposed to be?” she asked them eagerly.
“It should be you don’t care because the fact that there’s still an anger inside you means there’s still love in it,” Maria said like was the most obvious reason.
She saw the look of agreement from her other friends and she felt like she was outnumbered by them.
“There’s nothing, none!” she said convincing them.
“Are you sure about that Nat?” Wanda asked her trying to comfort her and as if trying to convince her to let out the truth.
“There’s nothing okay, it’s all gone now.” Trying to convince herself more than them.
“If you say so,” Clint chimed in totally not convinced and so does the girls.
She went back to what she was doing in the sink knowing full well that she didn’t convince any of them. “There’s none.” She repeated to herself trying to convince herself once more about not having any feelings left for Steve.