When you have a dark side,  nothing is ever as good as it seems

A day later

Natasha absolutely despised her father, that good-for-nothing idiot who couldn't see loyalty if it hit him in the face. Once upon a time, Natasha was a happy child, a carefree one, who had a wonderful carefree kid sister. Yelena.

Natasha remembers times when she and her sister would run around the woods looking at the fireflies around them, forest stars, as Yelena called it. Natasha cherished those times dearly. When it all came crashing down, when her father murdered her sister and her mother, Melina. Natasha couldn't quite remember a time when she had ever wanted to kill so badly.

Of course, at least her father was good for something. He gave her the skills to get rid of her current situation. She was staring at the man she shot dead blank in the head and the woman who is trying to steal her prince in the storage unit that her father owned. She remembered the last time she was here, perhaps a story for another time.

"Please let me out, I swear I won't say a thing," Right, she had to figure out what to do with her friend. "People are going to be looking for me!" She cried out.

"No one is gonna look for you," Natasha held up her phone, "According to Instagram, you are on a social media cleanse while you find your inner self-purpose,"

"Damn that does sound like something I'd do," She mumbled before looking right back to Natasha. "What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something?" Natasha asked. She leaned down making sure that the woman's cuffs were tightly placed around her wrists. "Don't worry I will find a more comfortable place to let you rest"

"People don't tend to kidnap people that they don't want anything from," Gail said, her face glistening with sweat. "This is about Brock, I swear it was nothing. I know you and steve are friends-"

"Steve and I are in love," Natasha stopped her. "He and I are meant to be together forever."

"This is about him them, you want him? Fine have him, he's all yours,"

"How can you just throw him away? Steve is a perfect person." Natasha said waving the gun around the room, Gail couldn't help but flinch. "He deserves better than you,"

"Then give it to him! I don't care, just let me out,"

"Over your life and him, you'd be so selfish to choose yourself?"

"You are insane! I'm giving him to you! Take him! If you love him as much as you say you do then take him away from me and the pain I'm causing him!" Gail face was laced with panic and confusion.

"You are disgusting," Natasha muttered reaching for her face. "You don't deserve this gun, you deserve much worse. I will make sure that every last breath you take will be painful. You will go into your next life knowing your value." A smirk laced her face. "You are nothing."

|~|

Natasha is back in her bookshop the next day, it's been nearly forty-eight hours since she last saw Steve, she was starting to get impatient, and angry. Why hasn't he come for her? She is here for him, why can't he understand that?

She was so angry she didn't even notice that she was squeezing the glass in her hand so tightly until it crushed beneath her.
"Woah, you okay there?" Maria asked walking out of the back room.

"I am good," Natasha answered quickly.

"Huh, right, tell that to the broken glass," Maria muttered as Natasha tried cleaning up the mess. Natasha was acting odd, well odder. She was on edge lately, but Maria couldn't figure out why. "So have you talked to Nick lately?" Natasha nearly froze at the sound of the question. She took a second before continuing to clean.

"Why would I talk to him?"

"Because it's nearing the anniversary," Maria said gently. "I don't want to pry but I know Detective Barton keeps you updated."

"Why does it matter, I know what happened, they just refuse to believe that," Natasha said casually.

"Nat," Maria said softly. "Three of your family members are missing-"

"They aren't missing," Natasha said. "They are dead. Murdered by my father."

"Nat, do you ever think maybe it's time we revisit therapy-"

"I am done talking about this," Natasha said, her voice on edge. While she loved Maria with all her heart, she feared she may attack her if she kept talking. "I asked you not to bring them up, and you are breaking your promise. I hate people who don't keep promises."

"Okay," Maria held her hands up, giving up for now. She knew better than to push her like that. Natasha was like a frightened kitten. "Hey, your blonde is here," Thank god for Steve. Natasha's head shot up toward the door revealing the beautiful face of Steve Rogers.

His hair was messy today, he almost looked carefree. Natasha noted his blue shirt, it made his eyes pop. Except for today, Natasha noticed instead of his carefree, loving expression, today it was replaced with a worried, confused look. This can not be over her.

"Hi Steve," She smiled, giving him a small wave. By now Maria had retreated back to her place in the back.

"Hi Nat," Ah, her name on his lips sent chills down her spine. Her craving for this man was nearly insane.

"Are you okay?" She asked, she did not like it when he was anything but happy. The only emotion he should have to worry about understanding was happiness. Not worry, not sadness, not angry. No, he should be carefree. Getting rid of Gail should have been released.

"Not really," He admitted. "It seems Gail is on a social media cleanse,"

"Oh," She foreign. "Is that such a bad thing? I mean I can't say that I am an expert in anything relating to social media. It's always good to get away from social media every once in a while right? I mean I could be wrong of course, but social media isn't exactly the most healthy place to be twenty-four-seven."

"No no of course not, but it seems she even left her apartment, with not so much of a goodbye. I thought that we were finally at the point where we can communicate but it seems like we are just going backward." He sighed. "And now I am ranting my problems to someone I barely know."

"I don't mind," She said a little too quickly that Steve raised an eyebrow. "I just mean that I am here if you want to talk. I feel like we are at least friends at this point wouldn't you say?"

"Yes I would say so," he smiled at her. "Well I appreciate you listening to me," Steve admitted.

"Good, I am glad." Natasha smiled.

"Maybe her little trip could be seen as a blessing in disguise," Steve shrugged.

"Well, you know what they say," Natasha shrugged. "The grass is greener on the other side,"

"It's looking bright," Steve laughed. The two just stared at one another with a smile on their face. Natasha has never felt as calm as she did right at this moment. Despite the dead man and chained up Gail in her storage unit, she couldn't help but feel like everything is right in the world. "I suppose I should start looking for my next read."

"Help yourself." She smiled. Steve turned away and looked at the shelves. She watched him closely, a smile lacing his face. She knew she was doing the right thing, it was only a matter of time before Steve saw it as well. Steve was right to worry about Gail, it showed what a caring and loving man he was, which is exactly why she couldn't help but fall for him even more. Soon she would rid him of all his worries. But first, she had to get rid of Gail for good. And she knew exactly what she needed to do.