Yes, and she has a vendetta now.

Kate finally reached her quarters, her heart still pounding from the series of humiliating encounters she had just endured. She quickly slipped inside, shutting the door behind her with a soft thud.

She sighed deeply and collapsed onto her bed, feeling utterly drained, both physically and emotionally. Wrapping herself tightly in a blanket, she pulled it up to her chin, burying her face in the soft fabric. For a long moment, she just lay there, trying to shake off the awkwardness of the day, the cold air still making her skin prickle with embarrassment.

But then, as if the universe wasn’t done with her yet, her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She groaned, reaching for it with a **** hand.

The text message was from America. It read: "Best birthday ever, right? XD"

Kate stared at the screen, her cheeks flushing with the reminder of everything that had happened. Her mind immediately conjured images of Tony's ridiculous announcement, Kamala's wide-eyed stare, and Clint's smirk. She could almost hear America’s laughter echoing in her head.

With a determined huff, Kate typed a response: "This means war."

She hit send, feeling a little better, but deep down, she knew that eventually, she'd look back on this and laugh—well, at least when enough time had passed for the mortification to wear off. But for now, she was just too tired of being the punchline.

After a long pause, she muttered to herself, “Next year, I’m spending my birthday alone.”

Kate pulled the blanket tighter around herself, sinking into the bed as the weight of the day finally started to lift. Maybe next year, she’d skip the team celebration altogether... or maybe, just maybe, she'd find a way to turn the tables on America.

For now, though, she just needed a few hours of peace.