Combustion ✦ STEVE ROGERS² [✓]

26 | A DAMN GOOD WOMAN

THE NEXT DAY, KATO DECIDED TO LEAVE TONY AND NATASHA TO FIND THEIR NEW "RECRUITS". She didn't feel like she'd be much help. And besides, the subtle yet angry glares Tony kept sending her way was a clear indication: he didn't want her there. It hurt her heart to know that her own teammate was so annoyed with her that he didn't want her around, but after her outburst with Secretary Ross, she didn't blame him. So she felt it was probably better to leave, rather than stick around and face Tony's anger.

Kato knew she couldn't stay in Germany. Being so close to all the craziness that had happened over the past two days was going to drive her insane. Not to mention she might run into Steve while outside; even if he was in disguise, she'd recognize him anywhere. So she decided to leave the country altogether. And the only place she could think of was back to the place where she'd been raised: Miami, Florida.

Since she had to be back in Germany at a moment's notice, Kato chose to fly to Miami. She was there in a matter of seconds, and touched down at the edge of the city. A few people cried out in surprise when she landed, but Kato quickly ignored them and made her way into the city. Then, she slowed her pace, strolling down the sidewalk as she watched the people around her.

Miami was alive with activity, just like it had been when she was younger. Kato remembered when her mother would take her into the city to shop, since they lived towards the edge of it. She had always adored watching the people do their regular day-to-day activities, as she always found it fascinating. And now, as Kato looked around, she realized that the feeling had not changed. Watching the city truly was fascinating.

There was an elderly couple walking down the street, arm in arm. A group of teenage boys were huddled next to a small liquor store, wearing skateboard helmets as they chatted and sipped from bottles of Pepsi. A businessman was walking briskly along the sidewalk, his phone pressed to his ear as he hurried along. A mother and her young daughter were just exiting a store, with the handles of the bags slung around the mother's arm as she held her child to her chest.

Kato passed the mother and child, keeping to herself. However, she locked eyes with the little girl, whose eyes widened in shock and recognition. Kato offered the small child a smile and a little wave before winking at her, and the girl smiled and waved back before the two rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

Kato's smile faded once the two were gone, and she sighed. She really had no objective to where she was going, but somehow she found herself instinctively following a path she knew all too well. Jumping into the air, she flew over the city, following her heart to the other side of the city near the edge. Then, she touched down on a small, quiet street, staring up at the house in front of her.

It was her old childhood home. Kato hadn't been here since she was kidnapped all those years ago, but she was surprised to see that not much about it had changed. True, the two-story house was now a warm brown instead of the pale green she was used to, but other than that it was still the same. It made her wonder who occupied it now, and if they ever knew about the fond memories and tragic horrors that had occurred there.

Kato took a deep breath, her mind beginning to flash back to the night she was taken. But she quickly forced the memory aside. She had to think about the happy times she'd had in this house, not the trauma she'd gone through.

"I was wondering if I'd ever see you come back here."

Kato spun around, instantly on her guard. There was a man behind her - an older, heavyset Latino man with graying hair and a matching goatee. She didn't know who it was at first, but that was when it dawned on her. He had a lot more gray hair now, and his face was more weathered, but she knew who it was.

It was her adoptive father, Juan Navarro.

Kato's eyes narrowed in fury, a feeling of rage mixed with confusion surging through her. With a clenched jaw and her eyes slightly glowing, she hissed to Juan, "What the hell are you doing here?!"