Chapter III:
The Call
Mother sat on the rocking chair at the far end of the room while I sat across from her in the well-worn, leather couch. The room is cloaked in darkness, my worn-out eyes are only able to make out black blobs of objects. My fingers were numb from the metal soda can held in my hand. Neither of us wanted to be the one to break the uncomfortable silence.
The first one to do so showed their weakness, it's the equivalent of rolling over and playing dead. Knowing that Mother would never submit, or give in, I decide to be the one to do so. My pride isn't of concern to me.
"What is it that you need Mother?" I put emphasis on the title, knowing she hates that. At the sight of her silhouette stiffen at that word, an instinct she'd managed to squish earlier, I glare at her.
Even though her face is hidden by the shadows, I can see the look of annoyance written on her face as she fights the urge to snort in response.
"Do not call me that," she replies. Her voice is heavy with detest which is painfully apparent in her tone.
I swallow the aching lump in my throat, keeping my mask of indifference. So long as she's here, I will not allow myself to show any flaws in her presence, or give her any reason to believe that her opinion of me matters. Even if it does immensely.
"Your genuine and overwhelming concern for my well-being is truly touching," I retort, sarcastically.
It's been nearly three years since my mother last contacted me. We've only spoken to one another a handful of times over that duration of time. She never called to ask how I was fairing in the world. No. It was only about the connections and inside leads available.
Mother huffs, indignantly. "Ah, I see. Your feelings are hurt. Well let me tell you something, as far as your sensitivity goes, it's pathetic. I have told you before daughter-dearest," she spits the term with venom. "Your melodramatic tendencies are an embarrassment. Have I taught you nothing? Those sort of connections will be your downfall child.
"Yes, so you've mentioned a thousand times before," I reply, childishly.
"And yet you seem to be unable to comprehend this certainty, so I shall say it again." Mother leans forward in her chair, her shadowy form showy and graceful yet deadly and dangerous. Like a lion ready to pounce.
You cannot rely on anybody in the world except yourself child. Not in this line of business and most certainly not in life." Mother stands, and turns. Her back facing me as she stares at the dark curtains. "Our type of work doesn't allow for such luxuries. For us, there is only the next play."
"Which brings us back to where we started. Why are you here?"
Her icy blue eyes pierce through the dark, cutting at my soul like a knife. "An important source of mine was quick to inform me about your run-in will Steve Rogers. I also know about the lie you told to Secretary Ross. You placed trackers on that Quinjet."
Understanding washes over me. I nod, slowly. "That's what you want. A location?"
Mother snorts.. "Well I certainly didn't rush across from the opposite side of the globe to discuss your lack of obedience and negligence to inform me of the incident child. As you're aware, I'm well informed."
I bite back a frustrated sigh.
Reaching into my purse, which sat beside the couch, I pull out my iPhone and tap a few times on the screen. It takes only a minute for the device to anonymously sync with the wireless output from the AUDT. The best thing about those trackers is that the signal is rerouted through over a hundred-thousand mainframes, preventing anyone from tracing the network back to my phone.
A map of the world appears, then the screen zooms in to show a red dot hovering over a place in Africa. The area situated around Wakanda, the country King T'challa now rules. What would Steve Roger's be doing there?
I toss the iPhone to my mother who catches it with practiced ease. The type of reflexes that come with a lifetime of practice and agility. She examines the screen, her pale skin illuminated slightly by the blue glow of it. Though her face is shrouded in shadows, I can see the wicked edges of her long black eyelashes, the sinister curl of her scarlet lips, and the humorless smirk tugging at the edge of her mouth.
She's the very image of a dangerous predator out for the kill with aura of menace that radiates to match. A sensation that expels from her like a furnace, and yet she brings about a chill to the air that counteracts the former.
Mother is both. Beautiful and dangerous. Calm and vicious. Passive and sinister. A volatile combination of the most opposing characteristics.
A trait which can terrify even the most battle hardened warriors. She's is the unexpected, the untamable. The monster in the night and one to never be trusted or left out of sight. The type of being that one would be foolish to ever leave your back to for fear that she'll strike. And yet, I'm unaffected by the chill and unease that most feel in her presence.
I wonder if it's because I radiate the same thing, though I severely hope not, or if it's because Mother's always been a figure too far out of reach for me to grasp, let alone be dangerous to my safety.
"Hmm, I am rather surprised." Mother tosses the phone back, and I glance down at the blinking dot.
Maybe it would seem like she was actually and genuinely shocked by the turn of events, but I know her better than most Even though her cold exterior prevents me from digging to deeply, I know that she isn't all that surprised. So I don't know why I bother to explain at all.
"I'm not. Tony Stark informed Thaddeus Ross about the influence that a Sokovian man played in the events that transpired. Baron Zemo was behind the bombing in Vienna, and he killed T'challa's father. It makes sense that once the truth was revealed, T'chall would be apologetic of his actions and offer Rogers a simple stay in Wakanda. Even if it goes against the accords."
"And these 'heroes' are regarded by many fools as saviors of the Earth? They cause more havoc than anyone else has, all that property damage, death, and destruction." Mother lets out a dry cackle.
"Not to mention that most of these events are their fault to begin with. Tony Stark being the instigator. Ultron's terror was on him and that Dr. Banner, for geniuses they are not very smart. It's times like these that makes me sure that humanity should not be trusted with it's own freedom. That there needs to be a new control of power."
"A very wise man once said the same thing, and he's dead now. Yet his ideals will live on," she replies, as she rises to her feet. "The problem is that humans despise change. They are stubborn and set in their ways. Afraid to see how great a new order could be. That is why the methods to achieve something as such has changed in the passing decades."
Mother turns her back to me, her body a black blob against the backdrop of the darkened room.
"And what happens after, when the change is complete? What would such a world be like? A peaceful one, or a place eclipsed in chaos and ruin. Those are the choices to be made, but I know you, as much as you may dislike that. Why have you sought me out. I know you wanted more than Roger's location."
She says nothing, instead she shifts closer to the window.
"Leaving so soon Mother?" I ask, looking away. "How long do I have to wait around for you this time?"
I try to keep the unsteady anger and sadness from bubbling out. The complete abandonment I feel every time I have an encounter with the woman who gave me life. When I was young, all I ever wanted was to make her proud. For her to love me. I've never gained either of those things. Even now I long for it, long for her love and approval.
Though I'd lie though my teeth if asked.
It's as Mother said, emotions are a weakness that cannot be allowed. They will only lead to ones own destruction, concern for other will be my demise if something were to happen. I've always wondered though, after the painful tests, in the empty nights alone, while I held back tears, and tried to be strong like my mother who was unbreakable.
Was it worth it? To be so easily broken at ones death.
To have the sort of connection and willingness to die for another. A love so profound that your own life was minuscule in comparison to theirs? Is that what made emotions a strength? Or was that what made it a weakness...
She manages to keep from tensing at the title. So ignore it completely. "Not long child, I have great plans for you. I'll be in touch. There are more important matters to tend to, for now. Be ready"
By the time I look back, she's gone. Almost as if she'd never been there to begin with, but the breeze blowing into my now-open window tells me otherwise.
June 16, 2016
12:00 AM
Loud ticking from the grandfather clock in the living room is mocking me by this point. I've been in bed since Mother left, returning to the darkness from which she came. Now I'm troubled. Unable to understand what has transpired only three hours prior. Then my phone rings. Sitting up in my queen size bed, I reach on the night stand for my cell phone and wince as the bright light from the screen burns my retinas.
Answering without even glancing at the caller. "Hello?"
It's Thaddeus Ross.
"Sorry to call so late Ms. Kassner. I would have waited, but this was important."
"That's perfectly fine Secretary Ross, what can I help you with?" I ask, throwing my front back up. Making my voice sound cool and professional, burying all my feelings deep inside myself.
"Now's not the time, there will be an important meeting at the United Nations Headquarters. I would like you to be there. I'll be assigning you on a very special assignment. That'll be all."
"I'll be there, thank you."
The line goes dead.
A/N:
Oh my gosh, this chapter was such a killer. Trying to figure out what happens next in the MCU now that's it's been blown apart is a lot harder than you might think it is. Like how the hell do the people at Marvel just pick random locations for shit to go down? It makes no sense to me. Anyways, I was originally going to have Johanna at that meeting that'll be in next chapter (don't worry it won't be long), but I was over this chapter. Maybe after next I'll start to pick up the pace, get into what makes her the way she is and start revealing some of her backstory. What do you want to see? Who do you think Johanna really is? What is her goals? Who do you think her mother is? And what would you like to see happen next? Comment below and favorite if you like it!