"You deserve someone obsessed with you, anything less isn't worth your time"

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There were very few people who grab Natasha's attention for long, Maria and Steve were two of the very few people. But this woman in front of her, Gail, intrigued her. Natasha would soon realize that she was studying her, watching and taking notes, trying to find out why Steve found himself so interested in her.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful," Gail said. "But I am actually off carbs, and gluten," She said looking at the bowl of spaghetti and piece of bread that Natasha had brought her. "I mean it's the very least you could do,"

Natasha ignored the woman. Watched her without so much as one thought in her head. Why did he love her? Then it hit her. Did Steven even love this woman? She had to know if he did, because if he didn't, then that would explain so many plot holes.

"Does he love you?" She asked blatantly.

"What?"

"You heard me," Natasha said. "Answer the damn question."

"I mean... I don't know. He's never said it." Gail admitted.

"But he could," Natasha concluded.

"Look, I know you love him and all, but I have to tell you this, whatever it is that you two have it won't last. Steve's not one for commitment."

"Haven't you two been together for years?"

"Doesn't matter how long we've been dating." Gail practically rolled her eyes. "Do you know why there isn't a ring? It's because that man is afraid of commitment."

"You're wrong." Natasha shook her head. "He's perfect. Which means you, you are the problem."

"Then just kill me already!" Gail said, punching the bowl of pasta away from herself, it splattered all over the floor.

"No," Natasha said calmly standing back up, slipping her heels back on. "I will pull you apart piece by piece till I find out what's wrong with you, I will find your faults." She looked down at the food on the floor. "You really shouldn't have done that, I will be gone for a bit."

"You're insane!" Gail yelled. "I swear to god someone will find you, and you'll regret it!"

"They haven't found me so far,"

|~the next day~|

Maria was also studying someone, she was watching Natasha. She was acting rather odd as of lately. She was always odd, but right now she was acting even more lost in space. Maria figured it had something to do with the anniversary of her family's disappearance, so she knew she couldn't exactly bring it up subtly.

She watched as the redhead roughly flipped the pages of her book like she was looking for something. She would get frustrated but then slammed her book down, to pick up another one. Maria almost pushed herself to go stop the woman when a familiar face walked in.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Maria mumbled. Wanda Maximoff came walking in, a file under her arm. "Did you call her here?"

"Yes," Natasha said, "I told you,"

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did,"

"I would have remembered you bringing her up," Maria said with a roll of her eyes.

"That probably just means you were drunk," Wanda said butting into the conversation. "it's nice to see you again Hill,"

"I wish I could say the same thing about you," Maria rolled her eyes. "Is there a reason you have to come here into my happy place?"

"My brother," She held up the file. "Asked me to drop this off for Nata-"

"Yes, thank you!" Natasha said grabbing the file. "Maria I am going on break,"

"Where the hell are you going?" Maria asked.

"I have to go,"

"Okay, whatever," Maria said with a wave of a hand, she'd have to go about finding out what's wrong with Natasha later on. First, she had her own problem to deal with. "You can go away now too,"

"I see you are just as delightful as I remember," Wanda said.

"Why did you come back Maximoff,"

"Does it matter?" Wanda asked. "We both know you don't care."

"Say what you will," Maria said rolling her eyes. "Now, get out,"

"Ever so polite,"

"I could be mean, trust me, you'll know." Wanda only smiled at the woman before turning on her heels. Maria watched with a frown, god she hated that woman. Speaking of a woman that she hated, she looked at her phone and saw a message from Sharon. 'Wanna meet up tonight?'

God, couldn't she take a hint? Doesn't matter but Maria really wanted to have sex, so she agreed. About another fifteen minutes passed over and Natasha was just walking in, she had a look on her face that Maria can positively say she's only seen one other time before, and that was when a new edition of Natasha's favorite book was re-released.

"What's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?" Natasha asked casually, placing her bag down, Maria noted that Natasha no longer had the file with her, where it went, well that was a mystery.

"You just seem different is all," Maria shrugged. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," She smiled over.

"Does it have something to do with the mystery file that was just given to you," Maria could have sworn something happened in Natasha's eyes at that moment? Something flickered. But it went away as quickly as it came.

"No of course not, I was just thinking about a movie I am gonna watch later on tonight," Maria didn't buy it, however, she wasn't gonna put up much of a fight, if she knew anyone like she knew Natasha, then pushing would push her away.

"Hmm, want company?" Maria asked.

"No," Natasha said a little too fast. "I mean I actually hoping for some alone time,"

"Okay cool cause I was gonna go have sex,"

"I wasn't expecting any less," Natasha smiled. Maria would eventually figure out what was going on with Natasha but right now she had a few other things to worry about, like how was she gonna get away from Sharon, cause there was a pretty Brunette at the bar that she wouldn't mind getting to know.

|~|

"I have figured you out," Natasha said smiling at the blonde that was standing at her door. Steve had come over, at per Natasha's request, for a friendly night out.

"Do you now?" He asked, and Natasha smiled opening the door wider for him to come through. "I like your apartment, it's very cozy," Natasha smiled even brighter at that. "So what is it that you have figured out about me,"

"I must admit, you aren't exactly an open book," She said smiling over her shoulder as she lead him to the kitchen.

"So I've been told," was the response, Natasha reached for a beer bottle from her fridge handing it over to him, and he took it gratefully.

"You're an old soul, you hate doing things like social media, and you love yourself a good book," She put it all simply. "But you do find an awe in the things around you, for example, you said you're an artist, you like to appreciate art."

"I love to capture the beautiful things in life," He nodded, staring at her like he was reading a book. She felt like she was on display for his own private museum. It surprisingly didn't bother her so much, she would open a private studio for him if he asked.

"I appreciate you for coming over," Natasha smiled.

"No problem, I really am trying to expand my friendships in New York, to think I've been here for my entire life, and yet I can name like one or two." He laughed. "So what are we watching,"

"Well I got pizza on the way, and I have the great gatsby"

"Awesome," he smiled looking down at his phone, Natasha saw his eyebrows crease slightly.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her stomach twisting at the sign of him being distressed. Steve looked up, an apologetic look on his face, he really didn't mean to be a thousand miles away.

"Yes sorry, It's just it's been a few days and I still haven't seen or heard from Gail. It's starting to concern me if I am being honest. Again I am so sorry, I know you probably don't wanna hear about my relationship problems."

"I don't mind as I said early," Natasha said giving her a slight smile. How could she get him to know that she is here for him? She is here to make sure he is happy, that possibility alone is enough to make her happy. "You're worried about her."

"I am," He sighed. "And maybe I shouldn't be, I know she is an adult and she can handle herself, but a part of me, the part that loves her, feels betrayed and scared."

"You love her? Really love her?"

"I really do," She nodded her head at his answer, ignoring the anger that is filling her body. He can't love Gail, no it didn't make sense. Gail was the root of all that was wrong in the world, she was the evil stepsister to her cinderella. Steve was her prince charming, not Gail's.

"you are a very good friend Nat," Friend. See that's what brought her anger back up. This is why she had to get rid of that evil spawn in her father's storage. It would only be a matter of time before Steve realized that they were going to be there for each other no matter what. That he could only really ever rely on her. "Shall we get started then?"

"Of course," Natasha smiled leading him to the couch. She'd have to get rid of her, but she had to first become more like her. She knew exactly where Steve's affection for Gail lay.