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Chapter Text

Clint liked working alone. 

The only exception to that was Natasha, so he knew that as soon as she found out he had taken this kid with too much bravado and a lot of skill with a bow under his wing that she was going to tease him relentlessly.

So he didn’t tell her, but she did find out, when they were all over the internet after their recent encounter with Maya.

Clint was on the sofa -ice packs covering his body, while Kate and lucky sat on the other sofa, both eating, Kate seeming entirely unphased by the fact she got beaten up no more than five hours ago-, when his phone rang.

“Yeah?”

“There is a mini you, Barton?”

“She is not a mini me,” Clint grumbled, Natasha laughing in his ear.

“Never thought I would see the day Clint Barton had a protégé.”

"Don't start," he grumbled. 

"I didn't think there would be anyone out there as good with a bow as you," Clint could hear the smile in her voice. "She looks like she gives you a run for your money."

"She's right here and excitable, I don't want to compliment her too much." Clint side eyed Kate, who he knew had been listening in, even if she was pretending to watch the movie. The little twitch of a smile confirmed that for him. "She's good, very annoying."  

"I get that,"

"Did you just call to tease me about this?"

"No, I'm just having my fun before we get to the more serious stuff." Natasha said. "You remember the little sister I talked about?"

"The black widow kid who kicked your ass in Budapest?" Clint smirked when Natasha scoffed. 

"She didn't kick my ass in Budapest,"

"Yes I did," Clint heard a strong Russian accent call through the phone, making him laugh. 

"You're laughing now but someone hired her to kill you and warn off that little hawkling of yours."  

That caught Clint's attention, prompting him to sit up, glancing at Kate who immediately noticed the shift in his mood. "Who?"

"Someone pretty high up in the Maggia," Natasha said. "You poking around in their business?"

"Kind of, yeah." Clint sighed. "I'm hoping she turned down the job?"

"She did but that doesn't mean others aren't gonna come knocking." 

Clint headed into the room then, Kate watching him with a concerned little frown as he went. 

---

When Kate woke up the following morning the first thing she registered was the voices coming from the kitchen were very much not Clint.

She was alert immediately, springing out of bed and grabbing her bow, arrow nocked as she quietly headed out to the hallway. Before she could turn toward the kitchen someone rounded the corner, stopping dead with the tip of Kate’s arrow a hair away from her nose.

The girl looked surprised that she was suddenly staring down the business end of an arrow, but a little smile pulled on her lips a few seconds later, and Kate was immediately thrown by not only the smile but just how pretty this girl was.

“You must be Kate,” She said, a heavy Eastern European accent.

“Yeah,” Kate tried to sound confident, but even she could hear the break in her voice. “Who are you?”

“Put the bow away, kid.” 

Kate looked past the girl to see Clint standing there, Natasha standing alongside him.

“Overzealous like you, Barton.”

Kate lowered the bow, a little dazed at the fact Black Widow was standing in her kitchen.

“She can be a little much, yeah.” Clint agreed, disappearing with Natasha back into the kitchen, leaving Kate standing with this still smirking girl.

“It is rude to point a weapon at someone.”

“You were -are- a stranger in my kitchen.” Kate defended, propping her bow against the wall. “Who are you?”

“Yelena,” There was a ghost of a smile on her lips as she held out her hand toward Kate, who wrapped her fingers around it and shook. “I’m here to get you guys out of trouble.”

“We’re in trouble?” Kate peered around the wall at Clint, who shrugged. 

“Little more than I thought we were, yes.” 

“What’s going on?”

“Come have coffee and we will tell you,” He said, and Kate nodded, looking back at Yelena, who was watching her with a raised eyebrow, her eyes flickering down to their still clasped hands.

“Right,” Kate quickly pulled her hands away, sheepish smile on her lips. “Sorry.”

Yelena gave a no worries look, heading into the kitchen area.

Clint filled Kate in on just how deep this went. That someone high up in the Maggia knew Clint was the Ronin, that they hired Yelena to take Clint out.

“They also wanted me to warn you off,” Yelena said, leaning toward Kate, and now that Kate had woken up a little, and wasn’t on high alert at the sound of strangers' voices, she was suddenly aware of just how pretty this girl was. An infuriating cheeky smile on her lips, eyebrows raised.

Kate blamed her being tongue tied on the fact she was still sleepy, and not because Yelena looked entirely too pretty, and very smug, as she took a sip of her coffee.” Wha- I- Me? Why?”

“Because you’re going around putting arrows in people and snooping in mob business.” Natasha said, giving Kate a welcome distraction.

“I have?” Kate frowned at Clint, who nodded slightly.

“I just don’t know who’s, exactly.”

Kate nodded slowly. “Perfect,”

“We want to check out Jack,” Clint said. “Which is perfect, because your mother is hosting a party tonight, and chances are some of his associates will be there. So, you’re going to get us in.”

“I am?” Kate frowned, nodding when Clint did. “I am.”

“Perfect, I’m going to go get a new suit.” Yelena looked to Natasha, who nodded.

“We will go out once I’ve finished this.”

Kate headed over to her mom’s place after breakfast, Lucky trotting alongside her, she knew of the party, but had no real intention of going, she really couldn’t think of anything worse.

Her mom looked at her weird when she asked for three extra tickets to bring a few friends.

“You don’t have any friends in New York?” 

“I do,” Kate argued. “Clint is one of them, and I have one in visiting.”

Her mother eyed her for a few seconds, but ultimately nodded. “If it will get you to come along then fine.”

“And Lucky?”

“Stays at home,” She said as she disappeared into her bedroom.

Kate looked down at Lucky with a pout and shrugged. “Worth a shot.”

Kate showed up before the rest of them did, having agreed to help set up, which was really just her wandering the building, scouting exits and looking out for anything out of place.

But then her mother grabbed her to start mingling, which Kate did not do, instead heading for the bar to watch the room.

She was approached twice at the bar, the first guy took the hint, the second did not, persistent even when faced with Kate’s dismissive attitude, which piqued Kate’s interest, because there was no reason for him to work so hard at this, there were plenty of women here for him to talk to.

“Girls like you just like to be chased.” The guy had said, moving a little too close, and Kate was seconds away from punching him.

“There you are,” A husky American accent said off to her left, one Kate wasn’t sure she recognised. “I’ve been looking for you all night.”

There was a hand on her hip, and Kate glanced over to see Yelena standing there, little smile on her lips, eyebrow arching almost challengingly, daring her to play along.

“Not hard enough,” Kate teased.

“Who’s this?” Yelena nudged her head toward the man, eyeing him with clear disgust.

“He was just leaving,” Kate flashed him a sarcastic little smile, and he eyed the two of them for a second before conceding. “What’s with the accent?”

“What fun is it being under cover if you can’t spice it up.”  

“You’re good at it,” Kate hummed, “Should I try a Russian accent?”

Yelena snorted at the lame attempt at a Russian accent. “Please do not.”

“What, was it not good?” Kate grinned over at Yelena, who rolled her eyes.

“It was terrible,” She said in a perfect West coast accent. “You need to practice if you’re gonna be in this business.”

“You will need to teach me the art of accents.” It had come out a lot more flirtatious than Kate had meant it to, and maybe she would have backtracked if Yelena still didn’t have an arm wrapped around her, hand on her hip, standing far too close for someone Kate had spent an hour with.

“I dunno, I think you’re a hopeless cause.” 

“How about Irish? Could I pass with that?” Kate knew it was awful, she should really have been embarrassed about it, but Yelena laughed, little dimples appearing on her chin, and Kate decided then that it was worth looking like a moron.

“Absolutely not.”

“Is this the friend you were telling me about?” 

Kate pulled her eyes from Yelena to see her mother and Jack standing there, her mother eyeing Yelena’s arm around her waist, how they were huddled together against the bar.

“Uh, yes. Yeah,” Kate glanced at Yelena, who gave her hip a little squeeze, before turning fully to her mother.

“Kate never said she had a sister,” Yelena said, charming smile on her lips as she offered up her hand.

Her mother looked flattered, and a little impressed, taking Yelena’s hand into her own.

“Charming, huh?” Her mom glanced at Kate, who gave a tight lipped smile.

“Should I be worried?” Jack cut in with a little laugh.

“No, no.” Yelena chuckled, glancing back at Kate with a little smirk., playful. “I only have my eye on one Bishop, sir.”

Yelena was playing with her, Kate knew that then, having her fun while she could.

“Sir,” Jack preened. “I like this one, Katie.”

“Mm,” Kate hummed, eyeing Yelena for a brief second before stepping toward her, hand landing a little low on her hips. “She sure is something.”

“Does she have a name?” Eleanor asked, eyeing the two of them.

“Of course, sorry.” Yelena chuckled. “Charlotte.”

“But she prefers Charlie,” Kate cut in, feeling a little smug when Yelena flashed her a look. “Like the chocolate factory.”

“Yes,” Yelena turned back to Eleanor, fake smile on her lips. “Like the chocolate factory.”

“Well, Charlie, it’s nice to meet you.” Eleanor smiled. “We need to go mingle, but we will catch up at some point.”

“Maybe you could come for dinner,” Jack offered. “I will cook.”

“Nothing sounds worse,” Kate said with a big smile, earning a glare from her mother and a snort from Yelena.

“Come on, Katie, we just want to get to know your… friend.” Jack pressed.

“Of course, sir.” Yelena cut in, probably just to end this interaction, not so much that she wanted to have dinner with Kate and her family. “We will sort out a night tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” He beamed. “Enjoy your night, girls.”

Yelena smiled at him, waiting until they were out of earshot before turning to glare at Kate. “Charlie?”

“Like the chocolate factory.” Kate tried to fight a smile, but when Yelena punched her arm, making her laugh and stumble a little to the side, rubbing her arm. 

“Children, please.” Natasha chided teasingly, both she and Clint appearing beside them.

Kate and Yelena shared a look, one that naughty kids would share after getting into trouble by a teacher or parent.

“Those two are going to be trouble together.” Clint said as he and Natasha moved to get a drink.

“Yelena is trouble with everyone.”

“Hey,” Yelena argued. “Kate started it.”

“I did not,” 

Clint and Natasha disappeared almost as soon as her mother and Jack got up onto the stage and started their usual bullshit of how they were happy to help the less fortunate, how this night was about the hospital or school or whatever it was they were using to make themselves look good this time.

“Is this what rich people do?” Yelena asked, watching Jack on the stage as she sipped on her drink. “Pat themselves on the back for not hoarding all their money?”

“Pretty much.”  Kate rolled her eyes. “And everyone in here will be underpaying their workers.”

“Mm,” Yelena hummed, leaning a little closer to Kate with a little smirk. “You wanna play a game?”

“Who are you, Jigsaw?”

“I don’t know what that means,” Yelena said dismissively. “How are your pickpocketing skills?”

“I’m not sure,” Kate frowned. “Why?”

“Whoever had the coolest thing come the end of the night wins.” 

“What?” Kate looked down at Yelena, who was leaning against the bar, looked mischievous and far too pretty in her perfectly tailored suit. “That’s not a game, that’s-” Yelena just flashed her a smirk and sauntered away. “A crime.”

A crime that Kate decided she was going to partake in, maybe it would spice up the night.

She watched Yelena at first, how she moved and distracted whoevers pockets she was dipping, how she could get the watch right off a man's wrist by simply fluttering her eyelashes at him and touching his arm. 

Yelena always seemed to know when she was watching, catching her eye and smirking, even winking at her, Kate felt a little out of her depth not for the first in the past few weeks.

“Have you gotten anything yet?” Yelena asked as she slid up beside Kate at the bar.

“Not yet, I’ve been learning.” 

“You don’t need an excuse to watch me,” 

“From the show you were putting on I don’t think you mind,” Kate shot back, draining her drink. “But I think I’ve seen enough to know what I’m doing.”

She was clumsy at first, almost got caught a few times, but she was a quick learner, managing to unhook a man's pocket watch and slipping it from his pocket with ease.

She had just managed to slip a pack of Black Russian cigarettes from a man’s pocket when someone grabbed her arm.

“Get over here,” Clint hissed, dragging her over to Natasha and Yelena, standing off in the corner, Natasha looking miffed, Yelena smug.

“What are you both up to?” Natasha asked, glaring at the two of them.

“It’s so boring,” Yelena groaned. “We were just having a little fun, these guys aren’t going to miss anything.”

“We are here looking for people connected to the mob and you’re stealing from them.” Clint snapped.

“They won’t know it was us,” Kate argued.

Clint stared at her for a few seconds before looking at Natasha. “Trouble, I’m telling you.”

“Come on,” Yelena reached for Kate’s arm, slipping out of her sister's grip. “I saw food over this way.”

The night was uneventful, there was no one suspicious, no underground auctions, so she and Yelena spent the night eating and drinking, carrying on like they had been friends for years, under the watchful eye of both her mother, and Clint and Natasha.

It was probably the first time Kate actually had fun at one of these events.

“Nat is getting the car,” Clint said to her, the event having almost emptied out.

“Okay,” Kate hummed, finished off her drink and squeezing the hand Yelena had had on her forearm all night. “I’m gonna go say bye to my mom, I will meet you outside.”

“You seemed like you had fun tonight,” her mom said as she approached. 

“Yeah, it was good.” Kate hummed.

“I don’t think it had anything to do with the event.” Her mother gave her a knowing look. “You’ve never mentioned her before.”

“It’s new, I didn’t want to jinx it.” 

Eleanor nodded, peering past Kate, prompting Kate to follow her eyeline to see Yelena lingering by the door, speaking with Jack who was laughing at whatever she had said. “She's nice, I like her.”

“Yeah,” Kate hummed, Yelena apparently sensing she was being watched, her eyes moving to Kate, little smile pulling on her lips, lifting her hand and wiggling her fingers at Kate. That very much should not have made Kate blush, or smile.

“You seem to like her, too.” Kate looked back at her mother, who was smiling softly at her. “Why didn’t you say you were seeing someone?”

“Like I said, it’s new, and not really anything serious.” Kate shrugged. 

“Hm, whatever you say.”

“I’m going to go, Lucky needs to be fed.”

“Okay, we will sort out that dinner tomorrow.”

“Sure, mom.” Kate agreed, forcing a smile before turning and making her way over to Yelena and Jack.

“She was amazing, no one else stood a chance.” She heard Yelena say as she approached, a smile pulling on her lips as she reached out for Kate, something she had done all night as soon as Kate was in range.

“Katie, you didn’t tell me you met Charlie at a fencing event.” He said, big smile on his lips. 

“Didn’t I?” Kate let her arm slip around Yelena. 

“No, she was telling me about that event, how amazing you were.” Jack placed a hand on Kate’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”

Kate’s eyes slid to his hand and back to him, shrugging it off. “Thanks, Jack.”

“We’d better get going,” Yelena gave her a gentle tug. “I’m looking forward to seeing that sword collection.”

Jack grinned proudly, making Kate roll her eyes.

“You’re too charming for your own good.” She murmured against Yelena’s ear.

“I’m not this good at my job for no reason, Katie.” Yelena smirked.

“Don’t start,” Kate warned, making Yelena laugh. 

“I hate him.” 

“Me too,” 

Kate had always liked being in the back of a car at night, resting her head against the window and watching the streetlights go by, it was calming. Usually. 

But right now, as she stared out at the streetlights, trying her best to seem unaffected, Yelena’s fingers were tapping on her thigh, tracing small patterns, it was a lot, the whole night with Yelena had been a lot. 

Clint had given up his room for Yelena and Natasha to sleep in, taking up camp on the sofa, even after Natasha teased him about being an old man and pulling his back.

Kate knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep, that there would be no point in trying, still too wired from the night, so she clambered out onto the fire escape, taking Lucky with her, wrapping them both up in a blanket as she watched the world go by.

“Is this invite only?” 

Yelena wasn’t using that American accent anymore, leaning out of the window, dressed in a pair of black sweats and a black hoodie.

“Do you only own black clothes?” Kate said, but nudged her head as an invite to join her.

“What kind of spy would I be,” Yelena grunted as she hopped out, sitting beside Kate. “If I wore anything but black?”

“Mm,” Kate hummed. “We’re not having dinner with my family, by the way.”

“Bummer,” Yelena didn’t sound at all bummed out about that. “I was looking forward to spending more time with Jack.”

“He loved you,” Kate said. “You really stroked his ego.”

“Men are easy to flatter,” Yelena hummed. “Your mother however, was very suspicious of me.”

“No, she was just wondering why I have never mentioned you.” Kate said. “Which is fair, I would have talked about you more the other day had I known that was the angle you were taking.”

“It was good fun,” Yelena pulled out a whole bunch of trinkets from the pouch pocket of her hoodie. “What’d you get?”

“I got mostly watches and a platinum American Express card. But I got these,” Kate fished around in the pocket of her pyjama pants and pulled out the pack of  Black Russian cigarettes. “They have gold filters, totally obnoxious.

“Not bad, Hawkling.”

“Do not start calling me that,” Kate rolled her eyes, opening up the large blanket to Yelena , who shuffled closer into the warmth. 

“I don’t know what a baby hawk is called.”

“Eyas,” Kate said, shrugging when Yelena gave her a look. “I looked it up.”

Yelena rolled her eyes, looked out at the street. “I think we should go to your mothers for dinner,”

“Is that right?” 

“Mm,” Yelena nodded. “We can use it as a time to snoop on Jack.”

“Are you sure you don’t just want to spend time with me?” Kate side eyed Yelena, little smirk on her lips.

“No,” Yelena shook her head. “I would rather spend time with Jack.”

Kate scoffed at that. “That’s so fucking rude.”

Yelena just snorted out a little laugh, both falling silent as they stared out at the city, staying like that for a long while.

“This place really never stops.” Yelena muttered after a particularly rowdy man on the street started yelling at a car.

“It’s oddly comforting,” Kate hummed, leaning forward to rest her chin on the railing, peering down at the drunk man.

“A drunk man yelling at a parked car?” Yelena frowned, shuffling forward to look over herself.

“The noise of the city,” 

“Why?”

Kate shrugged, “I don’t know, I’ve just always been that way.”

Yelena nodded, chin resting on her arm.

“I would choose a cabin in the middle of nowhere any day,” Yelena said. “I’m not a fan of people, especially the ones a city like this attracts.”

“Could have fooled me, you charmed everyone tonight.”

“I know how to get what I want,” Yelena tilted her head to look at Kate, cheek resting on her arm, and Kate was struck by how this girl -worlds deadliest childhood assassin according to Clint- could look this cute. “That’s something we were taught.”

“You and Natasha?”

“Yes, and the other widows,” Yelena looked sleepy, slow blinking like she was close to falling asleep. “What did Clint tell you?”

“About what?”

“Us. Me,”

“Not much, mentioned how Natasha wanted an out, how you were the best childhood assassin.” Kate shrugged. 

Yelena nodded, and Kate noted the far away look in her eyes.

“What’re you thinking?” Kate questioned.

“Nothing,” Yelena said, straightening and holding up one of the watches, a clear attempt at distracting Kate. Kate let her. “I think you would suit this.”

They headed in not long after three, when Kate’s head started lulling against Yelena’s shoulder or the wall, Yelena dragged her feet as she gave Kate a little wave goodnight.

–

They ended up agreeing to having dinner with her mother two days later, much to her mother and Jack’s delight, less so to Kate’s.

“Don’t you want me to meet your parents?” Yelena had teased.

“I don’t want them to meet you,” Kate clarified. 

It wasn’t until they pulled up in the underground parking lot and got into the private elevator that Kate remembered what their deal was.

“How long have we been dating?” Yelena asked, slipping into that perfect American accent with ease.

“I told my mom it was new,” 

“Two months it is then,” 

Yelena was entirely too charming.

She greeted Eleanor with a sweet smile and complement on her dress, Jack with a complement on his tie and a promise to see his collection after dinner. 

She always had a hand on Kate, too, which was disorentating in the best possible way.

“So, you live near Kate’s school?” 

“I do. I was working a fencing event, the first time I saw Kate she was a little overzealous and almost stabbed someone in the face.” Yelena turned to Kate, chin in her hand, her other hand on Kate’s, very easily pulling a loving smile on her lips. “I watched her that whole day, she was untouchable.”

“How long ago was this?”

“A little over two months ago,” Kate answered, and Yelena hummed.

“And you never mentioned her to me?”

“Mom,” Kate sighed, because if this was actually for real than saying something like that would cause issues.

“No, it's okay, babe.” Yelena gave her hand a little squeeze. “I actually asked that it be kept between us.”

“Oh, really?” Eleanor’s eyebrows raised.

“My parents aren’t exactly supportive, so I wanted it to just be between us while I figured things out.” Yelena explained. “But that wasn’t fair to Kate.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,”

Yelena shrugged simply. “They weren’t great parents anyway.”

Kate gave her a tour of the home after dinner, taking her to her childhood bedroom, showing her the chandler she swung from when she was five.

It wasn’t until they were on their way back to the living room that they heard Jack on the phone.

They crept along the hallway, Kate couldn’t understand a word of what she thought was maybe Russian or some sort of eastern European language, but Yelena could definitely understand, listening intently as she loitered outside the door.

“It was him,” Yelena whispered to Kate. “Who tried to hire me.”

“Jack?” Kate hissed, just as Jack fell silent.

Yelena turned to her, and Kate could see her assess the hallway, and if they could get away in time, before she ultimately decided they couldn’t, settling for gripping Kate’s hips and backed her against the wall.

Kate was very much embarrassed by the surprised little squeak that escaped her lips when Yelena kissed her, trapping her against the wall with her hips. Kate caught up quickly, going purely on instinct because her brain certainly wasn’t working, her hands sliding into Yelena’s hair, tugging her closer.

They pulled back when they heard Jack clear his throat, and Kate felt kind of proud at the dazed look Yelena had, her lips parted, eyes unfocused, at least Kate hadn’t been the only one thrown but how that kiss had felt.

“Maybe you girls should head back to Eleanor.” Jack suggested, smile tight.

“Of course, sir.” Yelena nodded, grabbing Kate’s hand and dragging her toward the living room.

“Does he know who you are?” Kate whispered.

“No, they don’t give out any info on us.” Yelena shook her head. “We should go.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Clint and Natasha didn’t look at all surprised when they told them it was Jack who hired Yelena, it had been something Clint had suspected since finding out Jack was involved with the Tracksuits, since that night at Kate’s mom’s place.

They were holding something back, both Kate and Yelena could tell that, Yelena calling them out of it but they claimed they weren’t, that they didn’t know much more than they did,

She and Yelena settled on the fire escape again, both silently mulling over the night.

“They're keeping something from us, right?” Yelena said, and Kate hummed.

“But why?”

“I have no idea.”  

“What did he say?” Kate asked. “When he was speaking in Russian, what did he say?”

“You don’t speak Russian?” Yelena teased, probably sensing how tense Kate was feeling, knowing that her mother was marrying a guy that tried to hire an assassin.

“Only cuss words,” Kate managed a small smile.

“Respectable,” Yelena hummed. “He was just saying about how Clint Barton should have been taken care of by now. How you were around two Avengers now, and you were too close.”

“Aren’t your employers mad you aren’t doing this?”

“They only pass jobs to me, I don’t need to take them.” Yelena said. “They’re affiliated with SHELD, so they didn’t pass the job along to me to take, it was more to protect him.”

“I’m worried about my mom,” Kate admitted quietly. “He killed her own uncle, there’s nothing stopping him from hurting her.”

“We will figure it out before he does,” Yelena assured. “Besides, men like him need to appear normal, so having your mother is more beneficial to him.”

Kate nodded, staring out at the park, eyes unfocused, jumping when Yelena placed a hand on her leg.

“We can bug the house if you want?” Yelena offered. “That way if anything does happen we will know.”

Kate nodded. “Yeah, maybe.”

Kate did fall asleep this time, and Yelena let her sleep for a while until she started shaking with the cold, then she gently shook Kate awake, helping her inside when she sleepily stumbled over the lip on the window.

“Ya know,” Kate hummed, clambering into bed with Lucky while Yelena headed for the door. “You didn’t need to use Jack coming as an excuse to kiss me tonight.”

She heard Yelena snort. “Goodnight, Eyas.”

“Night, Charlie Bucket.”

“Suka,” Yelena muttered in Russian, making Kate laugh softly.

“I know that one,” Kate said as the door clicked closed.

Chapter Text

“We’re going over to your mothers for lunch,” Kate was midway through chewing on a piece of pizza, Pizza Dog eating his own beside her, when Yelena appeared, almost startling her into choking.

“What?” Kate frowned. “Are you talking to my mother?”

“No, you are.” Yelena smiled as she held up Kate’s phone, which Kate promptly snatched back. 

“How did you even get into it?” 

“Your passcode is the day you found Lucky, and met Clint.” Yelena shrugged. “You should really make it something more difficult.”

“It is hard enough if you aren’t a top spy.” Kate grumbled. “Why are we going for lunch?”

“We are going to bug the place.” Yelena fell down on the sofa beside her with a huff, snagging the pizza slice from Kate’s hands, smiling when Kate motioned incredulously at the box with a few slices still in it. “I don’t trust Jack.”

“No, me neither. I never have.”

Yelena kept Jack distracted with his sword collection when Kate went around the house placing the bugs in places she thought they were most likely to catch something, reluctantly placing one in her mother's bedroom (“I am not putting one in the bedroom, Yelena.” “That’s where most people do their chit chatting.”).

Lunch dragged in, the only saving grace was Yelena, always with a hand on her, all smiled and charming personality, which shifted completely when Jack started making thinly veiled digs at Kate.

“Kate can be a bit excitable, likes to cause problems.” Jack said, and Kate felt her jaw tense in an attempt to stay quiet. “You know she is running around with Avengers, I’m sure.”

“With all due respect, sir. ” Kate was surprised at the cutting tone behind Yelena’s words, her hand landing on Kate’s thigh. “Kate has done nothing but help people since I met her, so I think causing problems is a little out of hand.”

“I just mean that she likes to inject herself into trouble.”

“That’s not true,” Yelena said immediately. “She goes out and helps keep people safe.”

“By getting involved in business that has nothing to do with her,” Jack shot back, her cool demeanour melting away.

“Jack,” Eleanor warned.

“By protecting people against bad guys and worthless gangsters.” Yelena snapped, cutting smile pulling on her lips. “Sir.”

“We’re gonna go,” Kate said, grabbing Yelena’s hand on her thigh as she stood. “This was as awful as always, thank you.”

“Kate,” Eleanor tried.

“No,” Kate shook her head, turning to her mother with a frown. “He has been saying shit like that since I got back, and not once have you stuck up for me.”

“He’s right, you’re not an Avenger, you’re a child. A child who has never known when to stop. ”

“Maybe,” Kate shrugged. “But I know dad would be proud of me, even if you’re not.”

“Kate,” Eleanor sighed, but Kate was already pulled Yelena away, Yelena’s eyes boring into Jack as they passed.

“Katie,” Jack tried.

“It’s Kate,” Yelena scolded as they disappeared out the room, Kate marching them straight to the elevator.

Kate stared down at her feet as they waited in the elevator.

“Hey,” Yelena tentatively pulled her in with their still joined hands, her eyes flickering over Kate’s features. “Do you want me to beat them up? I totally can.”

“No,” Kate laughed, sounding tired. “Keep it in your back pocket, though.”

“Okay,” Yelena nodded , giving her hand a little squeeze. 

“Thank you,” Kate smiled. “For sticking up for me.”

“Nothing I said was untrue.” Yelena shrugged. “He is a dick.”

Kate knew she was quiet after that, and she knew Yelena noticed, Clint and Natasha, too, when she immediately headed into her room for a nap when she got back.

She had been in there for five minutes when there was a light knock on her door. “Yeah?”

The door creaked open and Clint peeked in, offering her a little smile before slipping inside.

“Everything okay?” She asked, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

“Fine. Yelena told us what happened.” Clint started. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah, I’m used to it.”

“I’m not gonna say he’s wrong, your super power is definitely attracting trouble.” Clint said, but the teasing smiling on his lips told Kate he didn’t mean it maliciously like Jack had. “Look, if you were my kid, you would stress me the fuck out, but I’d be proud of you.”

Kate felt a warmth spread across her chest at those words. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re a good kid.”

“Thanks, Clint.”

Clint nodded once. “Get a nap, it’s movie night.”

“Clint,” Clint turned back to her as he was part way to the door. “I’m sorry you won't be home for Christmas.”

“It’s not your fault,” Clint smiled, motioning toward the door. “Yelena is probably going to try and come in after, she seems worried, should I let her in?”

“Sure,” 

Sure enough, Yelena appeared less than a minute later, peeking inside after knocking. “Is your bed more comfortable than the one next door?”

Kate chuckled against her pillow. “Do you want to nap with me?”

“Since you’re offering,” Yelena shrugged easily, slipping inside and under the covers with Kate, lying on her side while Kate was on her stomach, both facing each other.

“I really do appreciate you having my back today.”

“You didn’t deserve the things he was saying.” Yelena shrugged. 

“Will you guys be here for Christmas?” Kate muttered sleepily, one eye open to peer over at Yelena.

“I think so,” Yelena hummed. “It is just the two of us so we don’t have anywhere to be.”

Kate hummed, letting herself fall asleep.

–

Kate went to her mother's on Christmas morning to have breakfast, Yelena coming along with her because Kate didn’t feel like being alone with them, and Yelena didn’t want to leave her alone with them.

Yelena was extra clingy, her arm wrapped securely around Kate’s waist as they sat on the sofa, staring Jack down for most of the two hours they spent there, not even trying to be nice or charming anymore, not with Jack, anyway, she still tried with Eleanor.

Eleanor looked upset when Kate said she was leaving, but Kate honestly couldn’t find it in herself to care, she would rather spend the day with Clint, Yelena and Natasha than with her mother and Jack right now.

Clint cooked, and Yelena and Kate teamed up to beat Natasha and Clint at Pictionary, Natasha dominating at Trivial Pursuit, and Kate easily coming out on top at Mario Kart, while Natasha and Yelena fought over second -literally, Yelena clambering onto Natasha while they played in an attempt to distract her-, Clint was more than happy at the back.

It was a nice day, the most relaxed Christmas Kate had had in a long time, Christmases with her mother had always been weird since her father died, most things had. She and her mother just didn’t have that same bond she had with her father, that was something they both knew and accepted, doing the best with what they had.

Kate and Yelena ended up out on the fire escape later that night, bottle of whiskey at their feet, wrapped up in a blanket.

“It wasn’t me, you know?” Yelena said quietly, and they had been quiet for so long that Kate took a short while to register what had been said, blinking and turning to Yelena.

“Hm?”

“Like it was me, technically, but it wasn’t.” Kate frowned, unsure if she had missed something Yelena had said while she was zoned out. “Has Clint told you about how they trained us?”

“Uh,” Kate was a little thrown at the conversation, maybe slightly drunk, too. “No.”

“Nat was different, but me, they- mind control.” Yelena took the bottle and took a long drink. “They did something to us, it was like you were there, you just took a back seat to whatever it was they did. Something else was in control and you couldn’t stop it.”

Kate could see the far away look in Yelena’s eyes, clearly reliving what had happened. She placed a hand on her leg, and Yelena blinked, bringing her attention back to Kate.

“I just felt like I wanted you to know that it wasn’t me. I was the deadliest assassin, but it wasn’t me.”

Kate frowned slightly, nodding. “Okay,”

“I did so many bad things, I don’t want you to think poorly of me.”

“I don’t,” Kate said immediately. “I never have.”

Yelena looked relieved, and Kate thought back to that first night out here, the look she had when Kate had said about her being the best child assassin. “How did you get away?”

“I was on a mission in Morocco, chasing down a defective Widow to get this stuff called Red dust, but she exposed me to it and it stopped the mind control.” 

“That must have been awful,” Kate moved closer, hand sliding to the inside to Yelena’s thigh. 

“It started when I was six, the day they took us Natasha tried to fight, pulled a gun on soldiers and begged them not to take me. Not her, she didn’t care if they took her, but she didn’t want me to go through what she had.” Yelena leaned into Kate as she moved closer. “We found the place and the man who did it, who took all those girls and turned them into mindless assassins, and killed him.”

“Good, having someone like that in the world is dangerous.” Kate hummed, pressing a lingering kiss on Yelena’s alcohol warmed cheek. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Yelena nodded slightly, little smile pulling on her lips. “Thank you for understanding.”

“I didn’t think you cared what I thought.” Kate said with a little smile.

“I think you know I do,” Yelena turned to her, her eyes drunk and filled with something Kate couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“I think you’re amazing, I have since the day you got here. And now, after telling me what you did, I know I was right. I also know now that you’re incredibly strong, and good . You’re protective, and sweet in your own way.” Kate couldn’t not smile at the little smile that pulled on Yelena’s lips. 

“You guys want hot chocolate?” Natasha called from inside, making Kate jump and Yelena chuckled.

“Let’s go, Eyas.” 

The nickname was said with such fondness that Kate didn’t scoff, or argue, instead letting Yelena pull her to her feet, grabbing the bottle as they went.

“I want extra marshmallows,” Yelena called in to Natasha.

—

The bugs turned out to be a great idea, but they didn’t pick up what Kate had expected. 

She had been out most of the day with Lucky and Yelena, wandering aimlessly around Central Park, and when they got back they could both tell immediately something was going on.

“You should probably sit, kid.” Clint said, and Kate glanced at Yelena, who was eyeing both Clint and Natasha curiously, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Those bugs came back with something. Jack is involved with the Maggia, but it wasn’t him who hired Yelena.” He looked uncomfortable, glancing at Natasha before continuing. “It was your mother.”

The fact Kate wasn’t actually all that surprised by that spoke volumes, but hearing it still hurt.

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” Clint shrugged.

“We found ties to the Maggia at the party, but we weren’t sure if it stemmed from Jack or her.” Natasha added. 

It made sense, really, since Yelena was told to make sure Kate didn’t get hurt, that it was only Clint who was to be killed even though Kate had had an equal part in snooping.

“Are you okay?” Yelena asked carefully, moving to sit down beside her.

“I’m not surprised,”

“I don’t think any of us are.” Yelena hummed, hand on Kate’s back, both Clint and Natasha watching them curiously. “Are you okay?”

Kate lifted her eyes to Yelena, giving her head a minute little shake, because while she wasn’t surprised, she now had to choose between pursuing her mother and doing what was right, and her mother. The choice shouldn’t be as easy as it was, Kate figured.

“Okay,” Yelena’s voice was soft, quiet, so comforting. “What do you need?”

“I- A nap.”

Yelena nodded, fingers pressing into her back. “Let’s go nap, we can figure this out later.”

Kate let herself be led into her bedroom, Yelena climbing into the bed after her, both facing each other. 

“Whatever you choose, Kate-”

“It’s not a choice.” Kate cut in. “She tried to have Clint killed, this isn't a hard choice.”

Yelena nodded at that, giving Kate’s shoulder a little shove. “Turn around.”

“Why?”

“Just turn around, Eyas.”

So Kate did, not really sure what she expected, but it wasn’t for Yelena to shuffle closer, wrapping herself around Kate, nose pressed against the back of her head.

Kate relaxed immediately, her hand landing on Yelena’s who threaded their fingers together.

“Thank you, Yelena.”

Yelena hummed against the back of her head, before planting a kiss there. “Make it up to me with coffee later.”

Yelena was still there when Kate woke up a few hours later, lazily tracing patterns on Kate's arm. 

Kate let herself enjoy the comfort as she slowly woke up, enjoy the safety before she had to get up and face this. 

She turned in Yelena's arms to face her, Yelena offering her a little smile. "Welcome back, sleepy head."

Kate just smiled sleepily, eyes slipping closed again, willingly allowing Yelena to pull her in against her. 

"How're you feeling?"

Kate shook her head. "Not yet."

"Okay," Yelena hummed, rubbing Kate's back comfortingly, and Kate could very easily melt into the heat and sleep some more. 

It took her a further ten minutes to allow herself to wake up properly, Clint greeting her with a little smile and coffee. 

Clint and Natasha were quiet, watching her with concern, which finally broke Kate after half an hour. 

"How are we going to take them down?"

"Kate," Clint sighed. 

"No, you said it yourself, right? You lose people. And if it's true, she deserves to be behind bars." Kate said simply. 

"You really believe that?" Natasha asked from across the table. 

"I do," Kate nodded. "She tried to kill you, Clint. And god knows what else she has done that we don't know about yet."

"And you're willing to hand in your own mother?" Natasha asked, and there was this strain in Kate's chest at the thought. 

"Nat," Yelena sighed. 

"I'm willing to do the right thing," Kate said. "And if that means handing in my mother to protect Clint, or anyone else, then yes."

"I think you should sit this one out," Clint said, and Kate felt anger burn in her chest, because clearly Clint thought she was a child, too. 

"I'm not a kid," Kate snapped as she stood, jaw tense as she stared at Clint. "I know everyone seems to think I'm just a child playing dress up but I've done nothing but prove that I'm all in. If you leave me out here I'll just go after her on my own."

Clint glanced at Natasha, who shrugged. 

"You need to tell us if you're getting cold feet," Clint insisted. "I get you might decide you don't want to be a part of this, but you can't stop it."  

"You should have more faith in her," Yelena said, all eyes firing to her, but she was staring at Clint. "She's on your side, she has done nothing to prove otherwise."

Kate felt a little smile pull on her lips, it shouldn't really come as a surprise to Kate, really, because Yelena had been behind her since they met, entirely unwavering, but this was different, logically Kate knew she could be a liability, she was sure Yelena knew that too. 

“You two are just in cahoots now?” Natasha asked, a playful, teasing tone in her voice.

“”Partners in crime, I heard Clint say.” Yelena hummed, little half smile on her lips as she side eyed Kate.

–

Kate hoped that it could all be sorted without any kind of confrontation, which was naïve of her, she knew that, but she didn’t want to come face to face with her mother, she wasn't sure if she was strong enough.

But, of course, it didn’t work out like, she knew herself that it never would have, especially when they were actively following her mother right into the belly of the beast. 

Their plan was to go in quietly, take down Fisk, Jack and her mother separately to avoid any kind of fight -Kate knew that was for her benefit, that neither one of the other three would have any issues hurting them-. 

But they knew they were coming, guards and goons swarming them as soon as they entered.

Everything went to shit.

 They managed to get Yelena, Natasha and Clint, tying them up, but none of them touched Kate, probably under her mothers orders, which gave Kate the opportunity to slip away, making her way through the compound until she found the room Yelena, Natasha and Clint had been dragged to. 

She entered just as Fisk’s fist came down hard on Yelena’s cheek, Jack with his sword against Clint’s throat, and Kate couldn’t just sit by and watch, sending an arrow into Jack’s shoulder from the shadows before emerging.

Jack stumbled back, fire in his eyes as he looked at Kate, who nocked another arrow.

Her mother was shocked when she trained the arrow on her, Jack and Fisk took a steps back as Kate advanced forward, Jack with his sword extended toward Kate, Fisk drawing his gun.

She positioned herself between the two groups, heart pumping in her ears.

“Let them go,”

“Kate,” Her mother actually sounded a little heartbroken, which Kate supposed was nice. “What are you doing?”

“You’re not going to hurt them,”

“She is a liability, Eleanor.” Fisk said, and Kate acted quickly, swivelling and releasing her arrow right into his hand, causing the gun to tumble from his grasp. 

Jack went for her then but stopped dead when she nocked another arrow and aimed it right at his head. 

“Don’t even think about trying to pick it up,” Kate warned, taking a few steps back to put some space between her and them, and putting her closer to Clint, Natasha and Yelena. 

“Kate, I’m your family, not them.” 

Kate shook her head, arrow still on Jack. “I can’t not do anything about this, mom. You’ve hurt people, good people, and for what? Money? Power? Was it worth it?”

“You don’t know anything,”

“Katie,” Jack tried, and Kate had no issue letting the arrow fly then, embedding in his other shoulder, arrow back in place within a second.

“It’s Kate.” She muttered, and Yelena snorted behind her.

“What is your plan here, girl?” Fisk snapped. “You can’t take the three of us with that.”

“I could, but that’s not the plan, I’m just wasting time.”

Clint, Natasha and Yelena had managed to get their restraints loose then, going for Fisk and Jack, while Kate kept an arrow on her mother.

“Don’t do this, Kate.”

“Dad would be so disappointed.” Kate shook her head, jaw tense, fighting back tears.

“You always were a daddy's girl,” Eleanor had a cutting smile on her lips, eyes hard. “I could never compete.”

“It was never a competition.”  Kate took her attention from her mother for a second to send an arrow whistling into Fisk’s shoulder, but it was long enough for her mother to stop an opening, launching herself at Kate, tacking her to the floor and pinning her to the ground with her bow across her throat.

“I should have been much tougher on you as a child, maybe you wouldn’t have turned out to be such a petulant little brat.”

“Maybe if you weren’t so distant and cold I wouldn’t have ended up like I am.” Kate shot back, taking her mother by surprise when she punched her on the underside of her ribs, kicking her off and springing to her feet, pinning her mothers sleeve to the floor with an arrow before she had even registered what had happened. “And maybe if you made the effort to come to my competitions you’d have known that move was a bad idea.”

Her mother glared up at her, tugging against the arrow.

Yelena appeared in front of her then, hands on her cheeks, giving her the once over. “Are you okay?”

Kate nodded, glancing around to see Fisk and Jack on the floor, arms and legs bound by a glowing red wire.

“You are very impressive, Bishop.”

Kate managed to force a smile, running her hands over her face.

“Come on, SHIELD is outside. Let’s get you out of here.”

“How could you betray your family like this, Kate.” Her mother called after her, but Kate ignored her, allowing Yelena to guide her outside.

Clint and Natasha stayed behind to ensure they got taken in with no issue, Kate had no idea where they were being taken, didn’t really care in that moment, all she wanted to do was go home and shut the world out.

Yelena set her up on the fire escape with a blanket and Lucky, making them hot chocolate before joining them. She didn’t say a word, simply holding Kate against her, fingers tickling the skin on her hip comfortingly.

“She’s never going to want to see me again.” Kate muttered against Yelena’s shoulder. “I’ve lost both of my parents, now.”

“I’m sorry you were put in this position, lyubov'.” Yelena tightened her grip on Kate, pressing a kiss to her crown.

Kate let herself melt into it for a while, before she pulled away just enough to peer up at Yelena, who smiled down at her, something so soft and comforting that it probably should have been jarring to Kate just how much of an easing effect it had on her. But it wasn’t, because it was something that had kind of always been there, that safety, that calming effect.

Kate’s hand snaked out from the blanket, finding Yelena’s cheek as she tipped her hand up to press a firm, lingering kiss on her lips, which Yelena pressed back against, and Kate could feel the smile tugging on her lips.

“Thank you,” Kate whispered against her lips, forehead falling against Yelena’s cheek.

“My kisses are thanks worth, yes.” Yelena hummed, and Kate chuckled, shaking her head slightly. Kate felt Yelena’s finger under her chin then, gently tilting her head back up to kiss her again. 

Kate melted into it this time, her hand balling Yelena’s sweatshirt, pulling her in closer, probably a little too eager for their second kiss -Third? Kate wasn’t sure that one at her mothers place counted-, but she didn’t care, she wanted this.

“You are welcome,” Yelena muttered against her lips, grinning down at Kate when Kate chuckled. “Krasivaya.”

“I don’t know that one,” Kate admitted, her fingers playing with the hair on the back of Yelena’s neck.

“Too bad, Eyas.”

“Tell me,” Kate pouted, and Yelena rolled her eyes, the hand on Kate’s chin moving to brush her thumb over her jutted out bottom lip. 

“I said you’re beautiful,”

Kate pressed her lips together in an attempt to suppress her smile, but she knew it was clear on her face, so she pressed her mouth against Yelena’s shoulder. “You like me,”

“I unfortunately do, yes.” Yelena sighed dramatically. 

“I like you, too.” 

“I know,” Yelena smirked, side eyeing Kate.

Clint and Natasha got back not long after that, offering Kate a solemn smile and telling her that her mother was now in Ryker’s, which was jarring to Kate, because she thought that was just a prison for super villains.

Which, she supposed that’s what her mother was, or at least a villain, one with high up connections.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Clint said, Yelena and Natasha in the kitchen squabbling as they made dinner. “You have never given me any reason to doubt you, I was out of line.”

Kate nodded, pressing her thumb into her palm as she looked at Clint with tearful eyes. “It really hurts.”

“I know,” Clint nodded, moving to the sofa, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Even when you know it’s the right thing it hurts to lose someone you love.”

“How do you stop it?”

“You don’t,” Clint gave a sad little smile. “You gotta feel it out, get better at managing it.”

Kate sniffed and nodded, giving Clint a tight lipped smile. 

“You don’t add the flour to the milk, it gets lumpy if you do that.” Natasha scolded.

“What does it matter, they’re going to end up in the same place eventually.” Yelena shot back, brandishing a whisk that Natasha immediately snatched from her. 

“It’s just how it works, okay?”

“It’s stupid,”

“You’re stupid,”

Kate found herself watching them with a little smile, glancing at Clint to see him doing to the same.

“Suka,”

“Neudachnik,” Natasha pointed the whisk at Yelena. “Go sit down, you’re nothing but a hindrance here.”

“Ublyudok,” Yelena murmured as she made her way over to them, falling onto the sofa with a huff. “Natasha is causing issue in the kitchen.”

“We did just watch what happened.” Clint pointed out.

“So you saw,” Yelena looked to Kate, who could do nothing but stare at her with a fond little smile. “She was being a dictator.”

Kate wasn’t really sure where they stood, they hadn’t talked about it, but she didn’t care, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward and kissing Yelena, who hummed against her lips.

“I like it better here,” 

Everything had gone to shit, Clint was going to go back to his family, Yelena and Natasha back to Ohio, Kate would be left alone in New York with no one, but that was an issue she would deal with when it came, right now she was already overwhelmed.

She was just going to enjoy the comfort that came with Yelena clinging to her, not with the added bonus of Yelena kissing her every so often, which Clint and Natasha took to teasing them about.

– 

Clint headed back a few days later with the promise that he would be back soon, most likely with his family, she knew now Natasha had no real reason to stay in New York so she was just waiting for the day she and Yelena said they were leaving.

“What do you think,” Yelena started, her fingers tickling Kate’s back as they woke up one morning, Kate tucked safely in against her side, head on her chest. “About me staying in New York?”

It took Kate a few seconds to register what Yelena had said, pushing herself up onto her elbows, frowning down at her. “What?”

“Ohio is fine,” Yelena shrugged. “But I’ve become quite fond of New York.”

“What about Natasha?”

“I’m sure she will survive without me,” Yelena grinned crookedly. “I want to stay, I will miss Pizza Dog very much.”

Kate didn’t even try and hide the large grin that bloomed on her lips. “I want you to stay, Pizza Dog, too.”

“Perfect,” Yelena smiled, pulling Kate closer when Kate kissed her. “I like you, Eyas.”

“I like you,” Kate whispered against her lips, kissing her sweetly. “Do you like me enough to make coffee?”

“Razvyaznyy,” Yelena muttered, pecking Kate on the lips before rolling out from under her.

Kate watched her go, face pressed against her pillow, big smile on her lips.