SLIGHTLY.
006. | ❛ gone with the wind. ❜

TOMORROW I'LL THINK OF SOME WAY TO GET HIM BACK. AFTER ALL, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. While Gone with The Wind wasn't one of her favorite books in high school or even an adult, perhaps it's because Scarlett kind of reflected Katia in way. She knows that she often acts immorally and that she faces absurdly difficult circumstances, and to avoid feelings of guilt and helplessness she simply avoids reflecting on her life. Katia lives in the stories of others rather than telling her own.

Scarlett's determination to believe that "tomorrow is another day" indicates her fundamental optimism about the future. Because Scarlett represents the South, her optimism indicates Mitchell's general optimism about the South's ability to survive in the face of change. Given that the book took place during the Civil War, she reminisced about the book that was the next one to read to Bucky.

Being already thousand of miles away from him was stressful because she was risking his life and mental health, all because she didn't want to miss him waking up. If they would've told her months  ago that she'd be the one caring for the winter soldier and reading to him, she'd think they were crazy. If anything, Katia didn't save Bucky. He saved her. Because of him, she fell in love with literature again.

What she didn't know was that if the image she had built in her head matched the one that would stand in front of her in two days. Much like all of the books she'd read to him, Katia didn't want to break the illusion.

She didn't know what would be more painful; the scientist not being able to remove the brainwash or Bucky not remembering her voice.

Reaching over for her purse, she dug deep to find her wallet. She moved aside keys, clothes, and a passport before she found the wallet. Unzipping it, she looked to the left side were a picture of her and her mother was placed. Both ladies looked younger, with a teenage Katia before she went off to college when her hair was longer and no highlights were visible. Katia was kissing her mother on the cheek while she embraced her in love. She could still smell the flowers surrounding them, and the breeze that washed away the hot day that it was. That photo was so innocent and pure one that captured the essence of their relationship; playful and joyful with a hint of fire that the Rivers always had.

Her lip trembled as she held the photo close to her heart, and thinking of what was the last words she had uttered to her mother. The mind looped and looped around to pinpoint the last words, and couldn't put a dot on it. Did she tell her mother that she loved her? Or that she was blessed to have had an understanding mother like her?

While her brain worked to find the memory, Katia felt herself get drowsy until she dozed off getting a couple of hours in before the nightmare of her life would start.

When the plane hit New York soil, Katia was greeted by a set of open arms from her favorite soldier. He held her close to him and she wrapped her arms around his neck, just staying in that position for a while to not continue with the day that was waiting for her. He placed an innocent kiss on the side of her head, as she gave one to his cheek.

The pair had a bond like brother and sister, never really thinking of each other more than that. When first introduced to the system, Steve was Katia's first friend and only friend for a while before associating herself with others. They were a support system for each other, one to cry on and rise with. Their innocent kisses weren't common, the only time they'd come out would be for times of tragedy.

"I know how rough today could be, are you sure you want to go through with all of this today?" Steve asked the brunette who fixed the strap of her purse on her shoulder.

"If not today, when?" Katia shrugged as she walked forward with Steve by her side. "And I also have a scientist down my back to return to Wakanda."

Steve seemed stunned by the response that her mother's death had over there, and that anybody would be so cruel to someone who recently lost a relative. "Does he know that your mother died?"

Katia stopped Steve before they continued any further, "I know you mean well, but can we not talk about work?"

Steve nodded politely before the pair continued to their first destination of the day, the morgue.

The morgue freaked her out in ways that she didn't know how to explain, goosebumps just kept running throughout her whole body while she was in there. Something about the dead always scared her, and it could possibly have to do with making too many zombie movies as a kid.

The funeral home was next and it was a little less tragic to be in, but still had that same effect on her. Each step was closer to her mother finally being able to rest in peace. Steve and Katia waited until her mother's ashes were ready and when handed to her in an urn, she held the remains close to her heart.

The last spot was her home. The small apartment she had in the Avengers HQ that had become so much more than a place to stay.

Her apartment was definitely different from the others, with hers almost containing very little about herself. No decorations or stylish choice marked the room. Katia was always out in training or in the field that she never had time to decorate the place she had her own. Decorations never really made it her home, the people that surrounded it did.

Katia placed the urn in top of a fake fireplace with hydrangeas placed next to them for a symbol. She placed her hands together and sent a small silent prayer for her mother. The words of love came out as she wished that her mother's soul found itself in heaven and that she would be looking down on her and guiding her in the future.

A single tear streamed down her face before she touched her mother's urn one more time, and turned to Steve. He nodded knowing of what Katia was going to do; get back on the plane to Wakanda.

Making their way to the plane, Katia remained silent and detached from everything. It was her way of coping with it, she was never good at emotions and didn't know how to express them out loud so she just kept it in.

As the plane loaded, she gave one last hug to Steve not knowing whether she'd see him again or what her next mission would be. She wanted to go on board, but couldn't leave without telling Steve of what was going to happen when she got back. "They're going to wake up Bucky, Steve."

His eyes widened at the news and no words left the soldier's mouth. Bucky was going to wake up with doctors that are going to remove the crazy stuff that Hydra did to him. His friend was going to come back.

"I think he's going to need you there with him." Katia told him what he already knew, and grabbed his hand. "But I need you as well."

Steve squeezed her hand, "What are we waiting for? Bucky's waiting for us. For you."