The Shield and the Rose || S. Rogers

Truth

The first day that Katherine walked into the Sokovian base, she found herself sticking as closely to Kurt as she could. Even if it meant that she would be with technicians and scientists for the entirety of the day, she found that she didn't mind. 

"You know, you will not have any idea how to do anything in this damn office of mine," Kurt grinned. 

"That might be true, but I do know how to keep my best friend company. And let's be honest, you and I could use the company right about now," she shrugged with a grin.

And so she sat in his office reading through different old files about different missions from the different parts of Hydra's history. It may not have been the smartest choice for her, and she acknowledged that, but she searched for and found the oldest files she could find. Ones from the 1940s when Steve and Bucky had both been a part of the Howling Commandos. She had always heard stories word of mouth, but she had never settled into a seat and read through their own records of what had taken place.

Many details that were included she knew had been phrased to seem as if they were the wronged party, but it was funny to her how she was still so quick to defend the opposing side. She understood now where they had been coming from the entire time they were fighting. She found that she would have agreed with them the entire time if she had always known the truth about the situation.

Kurt continued with his normal activities, checking in on Katherine every once in a while. Noticing the files that she was looking at, he seemed to sigh a bit. Looking back to his computer screen, he decided to finally acknowledge what she was looking through.

"You know, I don't think that's the best set of files for you to be reading for the hell of it," he looked to her long enough to give her a knowing look.

"I know," she agreed. "But I mean, it is interesting to read."

"Interesting and a bad idea," he chided. "You should put those files away."

"I will eventually," she waved her hand as if dismissing him.

"What if I told you I'd go with you to get some lunch?" he grinned at her.

Looking back up at him, she narrowed her eyes slightly before she closed the file in her hands. "Alright. You've got yourself a deal. Let's go."

As they walked inside of the cafeteria, a hush settled in the room. Confused, Katherine looked around and realized why the hush had settled. She had walked into the room and Victoria sat at one of the tables. Katherine had failed her mission and Victoria had no doubt spoken to anyone and everyone about it.

Determined to not allow the stares and whispers get to her, she looked back to Kurt and encouraged him to simply take her with him to go and get food and leave. That plan wasn't able to happen the moment that Victoria called out to her.

"Back so soon?" Victoria taunted in the cafeteria.

Katherine ignored her and continued on her way to the line for getting food. She knew that Victoria didn't like that she was being ignored. She knew that Katherine could hear her. Katherine knew that Victoria was trying to get a rise out of her. She was determined for that not to happen.

"Why don't you tell your big sister what happened," Victoria taunted.

"I have no sister," Katherine hissed. "You are nothing to me." Turning on her heel, she had prepared to abandon the idea of getting food and leave the room as she left that as the final interaction between herself and Victoria. Instead, she was brought to a halt as she heard six little words in a thought.

I know you tried to leave.

She stood still, her back continuing to face Victoria. Kurt braved walking closer to her as he tried to read her facial expression. He had only just begun to part his lips to say her name as Victoria's voice was all that Katherine could hear in her mind.