The Pasts

Chapter 8

The next day:

The soft murmur of morning conversations and the clinking of coffee cups fill the air as you, Natasha, and Wanda sit outside at a bustling cafe. The cover of a busy city morning provides the perfect backdrop for your first undercover operation. Natasha sips her tea, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses, but you can feel her gaze on you, her jaw tight. The tension from the previous night lingers between you, unspoken but noticeable.

You sit across from her at another table, pretending to read a book with a cup of coffee by your side. Your camera is set aside but recording, capturing the scene around you. The mission details flash through your mind as you check your equipment. Camera? Check. Comms? Check. Heart? In pieces, but functional.

Wanda sits at another table nearby, sipping her coffee. She wears no sunglasses, only a baseball cap pulled low over her face. Her eyes scan the area, her demeanor relaxed yet alert. The silence on the comms adds to the awkwardness, each of you wrapped in your thoughts.

You clear your throat and begin reading aloud from your book, your voice low but clear. "The Art of Deception in a World of Secrets," you start, watching Natasha from the corner of your eye. Her fingers tighten slightly around her tea cup, as she finally speaks.

"What are you doing?" Natasha's voice comes through the comms, a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

You suppress a smile, feeling a bit of the tension ease away. "Just setting the scene," you respond playfully. "Chapter One: The Disguises We Wear."

Natasha turns slightly, pretending to adjust her sunglasses. You catch a glimpse of a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth before she looks away, hiding her reaction.

Before you can respond, a shadow falls over your table. You look up to see a man standing there, a charming grin plastered on his face. "Well, hello there," he says smoothly, leaning on the table. "Couldn't help but notice you're reading alone. Mind if I join you?"

You raise an eyebrow, taken aback by his boldness. Before you can respond, Natasha's voice grumbles over the comms. "You're kidding me right now."

Suppressing a laugh, you look up at the man with a polite but firm smile. "Actually, I'm waiting for someone," you say, hoping he'll take the hint.

Natasha's jaw tightens, her knuckles whitening around her tea cup. She shifts in her seat, her eyes narrowing behind her sunglasses seeing the man not moving. "What part of 'waiting for someone' does he not understand?" she mutters through the comms, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

The man, oblivious, persists. "Oh, come on, I'm sure they won't mind if I keep you company until they arrive," he insists, pulling out the chair across from you.

Before you can respond, Wanda steps in, her voice smooth and confident. "Actually, I do mind," she says, placing a hand on your shoulder as she stands beside you. "I'm her girlfriend."

The man's eyes widen slightly as he looks between you and Wanda, a challenge glinting in his gaze. Instead of backing down, he raises an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Girlfriend, huh? Well, there's always room for a boyfriend, right?"

Wanda's demeanor shifts, her eyes narrowing as she steps closer, her presence commanding. "No, there isn't," she says firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Move along."

You look between Wanda and the man who clearly can't take a hint, his eyes still set on you. Natasha's blood boils as she watches the scene unfold, her jealousy evident. The tension in her posture and the tightness of her jaw reveal how much this is affecting her.

Wanda then looks down at you, and you meet her gaze, raising a brow at the look on her face, giving her a silent, What are you about to do? Without a word, she leans down and captures your lips in a firm kiss.