Forgotten Ghost | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter 65: Waterloo

It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. Not too warm you were sweating in a t-shirt, which was what Katya was used to when it came to Africa. 

She loved the continent. The pure, open people, the vivacity on the streets and in some cases, the lack of technology and good security. It was good for both her soul and the job. 

So that she was hauled up with Steve of all people in a small hotel room, keeping an eye on her fiancée and her best friend on the streets below, wasn't how she had wanted her next trip to this healing place to go. Steve, as always, was way too tense and serious, a sharp contrast to the usually sarcastic and outgoing Russian next to him.

Katya's short brown hair fell into her face as she peeked through the curtains. Healthy nerves danced through her body. She was ready for a fight.

''All right, what do you see?'' Steve asked Wanda. 

The woman was seated at a table of a nice, small café on the opposite side of the street. Her brown cap hid her face from her, but besides that, Katya had a good view of her. It made her feel a little bit better about sending the Sokovian into one of her biggest missions yet.

Contrary to Wanda, who blended in nicely, Natasha stuck out like a sore thumb despite the glasses and cap she had on. That red hair was simply not disguisable. She looked amazing however, in her light jacket and boots. Katya still couldn't believe she was going to marry her.

Wanda steered her coffee, slowly bringing it up to her lips so it wouldn't be too obvious she was talking to someone. A trick Katya had taught her, and she executed it perfectly. She looked over her shoulder casually to observe the tiny police station across the street. ''Standard beat cops. Small station. Quiet street. It's a good target.''

''There's an ATM in the south corner, which means...'' Steve trailed off, having her fill in the rest. Learning by doing was the best way. Katya could list a thousand tricks to help Wanda's spy work, but by doing it, she would know what worked and what didn't.

''Cameras,'' Wanda finished flawlessly. Katya couldn't help but be proud of her pupil. A year ago she almost had a panic attack in Sokovia and today she was sitting there calmly, acting perfectly normal.

Katya noticed something Wanda hadn't yet said. ''Both cross streets are one way,'' she hinted.

''So compromised escape routes.''

Katya nodded approvingly even though the woman couldn't see it. She took over from Steve, seeing as she was more skilled at this than him. ''Means our guy doesn't care about being seen, he isn't afraid to make a mess on the way out.'' She pulled the curtain open a little further, but not enough to alert the people down below. ''You see that Range Rover halfway up the block?''

Wanda's eyes flickered over to it, instantly spotting it. ''Yeah, the red one? It's cute.''

''You're right. It is cute.'' Katya couldn't help but joke, feeling the annoyance from Steve radiate off him. She had gotten used to his disapproving stares by now, since she was often the person on the other end of them.

''It's also bulletproof, which means private security, which means more guns, which means more headaches for somebody. Probably us.'' It was the first time Natasha had spoken up. And of course when she did, she did it with that sarcastic underlaying tone of hers while hiding her smirk behind her coffee cup. 

Wanda all but scoffed. ''You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?'' she bragged. Her powers had gotten so much more controlled and powerful. Katya was sure she could have ripped those giant worms during the Battle of New York right in half before they were even halfway through the space holes. Where was a witch when you needed one?