After almost two hours in the arcade, they are finally off to their next venture. This time Yelena blindfolds her friend while still in the car; and when they come to a stop Kate awaits direction. She hears the click of the taxi door opening and feels the cold air breeze through the warm car. There's a light tug on her arm as Yelena escorts her from the vehicle and securely onto the sidewalk.
There's a slush of mushy snow beneath her shoes as she's lead into the venue. Upon entering, the hostess makes a sudden, but customary greeting; and Yelena is quick to cover Kate's ears. They are ushered forward until there's sudden silence and they come to an abrupt stop. The veil is slowly removed from Kate's face and she trembles in awe. "Happy Birthday, Kate," Yelena says.
Immersed in the lights projected in the large cathedral, Kate stares up at the vaulted ceiling with her mouth agape. The floral mural extends down the large walls to the mirrored floor where the image bounces back, and engulfs the viewer. However, Yelena seems to be more captivated with Kate's smile than the ongoing art show.
"Thank you," Kate says, softly, "I honestly didn't realize the day. My mom was always the one big on birthdays." The archer kisses the adorable assassin on the cheek; and as if on cue, balloons begin falling from above. Kate takes her hand and they gaze a bit longer before moving on to the next visual space.
About an hour later, they emerge from behind the golden doors of the Cipriani building onto the artic like city street. Kate walks to the edge of the sidewalk and starts to stretch out her arm to hail a cab. Yelena pulls her hand back, "No need for a cab," she says. She points toward a town car parked just a few feet away. "I was tired of the stench of multi passenger vehicles," Yelena says. As Kate heads toward the car and is taken aback as Yelena reaches out to intertwine their fingers.
They slip into the car and Kate immediately takes a liking to the heated seats. She lets her head fall back into the leather headrest and releases an exuberant sigh. Yelena is shivering when she gets in the car. So Kate envelops her inside her coat and pulls her close. "I told you to wear extra layers," she tells Yelena; while trying to create some friction with their bodies. But Yelena winds up relaxing into Kate's arms.
"Thank you again, I really enjoyed myself this entire day," Kate says, "but you didn't need to spring for the town car home."
"Actually, I have one more place in mind," Yelena says with a grin, as her dimples makes their first appearance of the day, "But we have some time. Is there anything else you'd like to do?"
"There is actually one place that I've wanted to go with you," Kate says, with an endearing smile of her own.
They arrive at Kate's requested location and she asks that Yelena wait a moment before exiting the vehicle. A few seconds later, the jubilant archer swings the car door open. The reserved blonde glance up at the red awning that stretches the city block, it reads, 'Stand Bookstore'. It's a surprise that breaks through Yelena's frigid posturing.
"While I may not be an intelligence gathering super agent. I do listen at times," Kate tells her, as they stroll into the enormous book outlet. "I know you love to read, and I know you've been looking for a certain book, but can't remember the name. So... here we are!" she exclaims.
Yelena goes straight for the first row of books nearest to them. She saunters down the isle making sure to caress each book with her fingertips. "Kate, you did not have to bring me here. It is your birthday and you don't even like books," she says.
"It's not that I don't enjoy books," Kate says, "I just prefer movies. I feel they provide a nice summation of what's in a book."
"That is possibly the saddest thing I've ever heard come from you," Yelena says. She comes to a sudden halt once they reach the Russian literature section. "I will know it when I see...ha!" she shrieks.
"Well that was easy," Kate says.
Yelena slides to the ground with the book in hand, "I love this book," she says.
Kate takes a seat on the floor beside her to get a look at the title. "Wow, that's a pretty dreary cover, 'The Dream Life of Sukhanov,' she reads, aloud.
"I found this during a mission. I'd picked it up to keep my cover and somehow began reading it,"she says, "I was on task and I didn't get the title before chaos broke out," Yelena explains. She leans back using her friend as a prop while she reads portions of the book aloud. Kate takes note of how certain passages affect her usually stoic roommate. She interlocks their fingers and pulls the blonde into her space.