SLIGHTLY.
002. | ❛ the great gatsby. ❜

HER FACE WAS SAD AND LOVELY WITH BRIGHT THINGS IN IT, BRIGHT EYES AND A BRIGHT PASSIONATE MOUTH, BUT THERE WAS AN EXCITEMENT IN HER VOICE THAT MEN WHO HAD CARED FOR HER FOUND DIFFICULT TO FORGET.
She believed that Fitzgerald's words couldn't have been more accurate to her situation. Katia tried to remain optimistic about anything, and always had an expression of amazement and wonder that any young child has. As for her voice, it was almost delicate in sound, and more dangerous and threatening when she wanted it to be. Unfortunate for one particular person, he was the aim of her rage in the moment.

The call went to voicemail once again and adding more gasoline to the already lit fire she had within her. "Hey Steve, it's Katia. Unless you don't want a knife pressed to your throat when I come back, I suggest you answer your phone."

Katia dialed one more time to the patriotic soldier's number, once again getting his voicemail. "You can't hide from me forever!"

Angrily putting her phone in her pocket, she gazed around at the infinity of books that surround her every inch. She couldn't deny that the library was magnificent in its being, yet it didn't take away from her scorn. Not only Steve, but the rest of the Avengers she confide in, knew that she wanted to get away from her last career. She wanted to be free of literature, and the analytical mindset of the book.
Exhausted of debating any longer, she needed to complete this mission.

Her first stop was the enormous library to find a copy of The Great Gatsby, she didn't like to admit it in front of T'Challa but her adoration for the book certainly can transcribe a connection to anyone whether or not in a comatose state. When she entered the monstrous library, on the first table she saw the copy that she had back in NY; with a small little sticky peeking out on the first page; from the cursive writing she could tell it was only T'Challa.

Peeling it out from the first page, she read out loud to herself with the echo of the library resonating it even louder, "I found this book when you left it here your last time in Wakanda. I knew slightly that you would start of with this classic. T'Challa."

She smirked at the intelligent king for the sentiment value of her one copy of the book. Quickly glimpsing inside it, she saw all the notes she had made the first time she read it. The indents that she would go over with her class, and the red ink mostly of her frustration with all the characters. It was the first classic she read, and couldn't find another than would top it. All the character with their flaws and the concept of New Money and Old Money. That everything Gatsby did was Daisy, and she couldn't even return that love in the same way.

It was truly a tragic yet amazing novel.

Shutting the book, Katia went outside to find the agent that would lead her to where they were keeping James Buchanan Barnes. Going there wasn't the most difficult part, being there was. Suddenly, she was surrounded by scientists walking about and all at the same time coming up with a cure to wipe Bucky's brainwash from Hydra.

Seeing it all now, kind of made Katia feel bad for how she accepted the mission. The people crowding her were all working together and hard at work, while Katia was upset that she wasn't going to be out in the field. She wasn't doing any less than any other agent, she was helping in her own way. A skill that could keep him tethered to this world.

As she divulged further into the never ending room, she saw the cryogenic sleeping man in a tube almost mesmerizing to the eye. Granted, she wasn't a scientist and didn't understand any logic behind it; however, seeing him after so much talk from Steve's side was simply a hard hitting moment.

Her hand extended forward almost to touch the man that was hidden behind glass. The finger pads were about to touch when a vibration from her pants divulged her attention. Reaching into her pocket, she saw the caller being the Captain himself. Before she could answer, all the eyes in the room were looking at her; she mouthed a quiet sorry before leaving and accepting the call elsewhere.

"Hello, Steven." Katia said in a rather negative tone.

"I know that tone, Kat. And by the twenty some voicemails that you sent me, I have my suspicions about what this could be about." Steve responded.

"You know what this is perfectly about, Steven. And let me just say that I am...okay with it." Katia said almost accepting out loud that her mission needed her. That she was chosen for a reason, and the line of duty was to serve that reason no matter what circumstance.

"Well, that was really anticlimactic." Steve addressed and she could hear his sigh from the other end. "Listen, Katia. None of this had anything to do with me. You can think like that, but there is a clear sense of why you were sent. No other trainee had or had the capability to understand literature in a particular, different way than you. It's like the words personally speak to you, and that's why I think Fury chose you. If there's anybody who can keep Bucky tied to reality, it's you."

Although Steve couldn't see it, Katia was speaking at the kind words and suddenly made her forget about all the anger she had prior. "Thanks, Steve. I was mad at first, but now I can see what's important. It's not just you or me, it's about Bucky. From the things you've told me, I'm sure that whatever juju that Hydra had in his system that these scientists are working harder than ever to accomplish. This is my mission, and I won't stop until it's complete."