Chapter Text
***
“I’m sorry, Ms. Bishop, I really am. But I’m afraid that this is the best we can do in your given situation. The ties with your mother and your shared wealth just crosses too many legal tape lines, I’m afraid.” The lawyer said, adjusting his tinted glasses slightly.
Kate breathed out through her nose, turning her glance to the window and skyline. Various lights from the towering buildings twinkled through the falling snow.
Jack, who had been sitting next to her through the entire conversation, placed a gentle hand on her forearm. “Thank you, Matt, was it? We really appreciate all of your help. Kate and I have much to figure out, moving forward.” He gave a polite smile as he rose, escorting Matt out of the penthouse. “I think I’ll make some tea, can I get you anything?” Jack asked, lingering almost awkwardly in the doorway of the study.
“No, uh, I’m okay. But thanks, Jack.” Kate turned her attention away from the window and to Jack, nodding with her response. She felt a twinge of guilt - it wasn’t his fault the problems with her and her mom continued to escalate.
***
Two and a half weeks ago, Kate had watched from the curb as her mom was arrested outside of the nearly destroyed FAO Schwarz. She still couldn’t shake the look her mom gave her as she was handcuffed and put into the police car.
Kate hadn’t even given a thought to what her mom’s arrest meant for her or future, not until she was helping clean up after Christmas dinner with Clint’s kids, Cooper and Lila. Laura had pulled her aside and away from the kitchen for a moment, promising Lila she wouldn’t take long.
“Clint told me about your mom, Kate. I’m really sorry,” She had said, pulling Kate into a tight squeeze. Kate returned the hug after a moment, and when the two pulled apart Laura reached into her back pocket. She pressed a business card into Kate’s palm and gave her a small smile. “This is an old friend of mine, back from when I did more work in the city. He’s a lawyer, a really good one. Give him a call when you get home, okay? I’m sure he can help you figure things out.”
Kate had nodded as she glanced down at the card in her hand. Written in a simple script was a name and phone number for a Mr. Murdock, a lawyer unfamiliar to her. She’d seen the thick folder in her mom’s work office that was filled with Bishop Security’s legal affiliates, and had met most of them at various mixers and parties over the years. They all seemed like a blur to her now, and she shoved the card into her own pocket before returning back to the kitchen sink.
After spending Christmas with the Barton’s, Clint had seen Kate off to the airport back to New York. He shook his head and looked down at his shoes when she started to get teary-eyed outside of security, but pulled her into another tight hug before she left.
“Be safe. Don’t be stupid. Don’t call me.”
“I’ll call and tell you all about my flight!”
“I’m blocking you as we speak.”
For most of the plane ride, Kate spent her time staring blankly at the business card from Laura, and slowly sipping her ginger ale. She hadn’t even thought about contacting or hiring a lawyer to sort out the business with her mom, but it didn’t seem like she had much of a choice now. At first, she had debated on ignoring Laura’s recommendation of a lawyer and finding one from her mom’s files, but she wasn’t sure how that worked legally if her mom was in charge of the company. Plus, she wanted to listen to Laura; Kate liked her a lot already, even besides the fact that she was Clint’s wife.
So, not seeing any other option, she called Mr. Murdock once she was back home. They met twice before the conversation where Jack was present, and the results weren’t ideal for Kate.
Because her mom’s imprisonment was connected to her work, there were certain legal standings where Kate wasn’t allowed any “inheritance” from her mom until she was released. The courts hadn’t even sentenced her fully yet, so they barely had a clue of when that would be. Essentially, Kate was blocked from most to almost all of her mom’s money and accounts. She could keep what she had and the job at the security firm, but the whole place left a sour taste in Kate’s mouth.
Kate quit her job at Bishop Security as soon as she could. She wanted to separate herself and her name from her mom’s to the best of her ability. It would still follow her around with the various socialites that knew her, but it was a start. Jack had stepped up as well, promising her that he would always be on her side, and support her however he could, whenever she needed. Kate thanked him profusely, but declined most of his money. She explained her newfound need for a sense of independence, supporting herself and working for herself - entirely away from her mom. Jack understood and respected this greatly, slightly to Kate’s own surprise.
They found a new apartment for Kate, albeit not as nice as the one her mom was previously paying rent on. The pair salvaged what they could of the charred apartment, and after moving her belongings and some cheap furniture in, Kate was settled. Jack insisted, and paid for her down payment and the first two months’s rent. Almost immediately, Kate began the hunt for a job.
The one she found wasn’t the most picturesque or ideal, it was a bit farther into Brooklyn. But they had decent hours for what Kate was looking for, and with enough shifts it was enough to scrape by with her new rent.
Everything seemed to be looking up, and Kate finally let herself exhale. Not for long, however, as she was currently late for her Tuesday morning shift.
***
Kate pushed her way through everyone that was crowding the sidewalk. She was three blocks away from her new job, and the slush that lingered on the ground wasn’t helping.
Kate glanced up at the large lettering above the door - Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop. She made it in with two minutes to spare, and quickly clocked in and slid behind the counter, smoothing her uniform out.
“Dude! You just missed it. He came back, he was here again.” Her coworker, MJ, hissed at her as she wiped the countertop down.
Kate met MJ during her first shift, and since they worked together a lot, they became fast friends. MJ explained how she was picking up more and more shifts, trying to gain some savings before she started her freshman year at MIT. She even introduced Kate to her best friend, Ned, who came by ever so often to study or just to chat.
“I’m sorry! My dog made a mess this morning, and then I couldn’t find the right shoes, and THEN my train was late - but tell me everything! What’d he say? He’s cute!” Kate ended her ramble, looking up to see an amused MJ holding back a laugh.
“It’s chill, really. And I don’t know. Same awkward stuttering and lack of eye contact. I think he was trying to like, ask me out?” MJ averted her eyes at the last bit, knowing what was coming.
“Tell me you said YES?” Kate squealed. Her eyes were sparkling, a huge grin across her face. MJ just rolled her eyes.
“Dude! Come on! He’s the cutest! And he like, totally has a thing for you. It’s so obvious!” Kate looked like she was about to take off and fly through the ceiling. MJ, again, rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know. He seems sweet, but I don’t know if I want to get into something before I move to Massachusetts, you know? Plus I like, barely even know him. If you like him so much, you can have him.” The younger girl said, clearly trying to change the subject.
Kate smiled but shook her head. “No way. He’s a little too young for me, even if he is eighteen. He clearly has a thing for you, not me. I don’t even want something like that with a guy right now anyways.”
MJ laughed, and the two were so engrossed in both their conversation and ignoring their work that neither glanced up when the door opened and the bell rang. The customer cleared their throat after a moment, and MJ (for another time) rolled her eyes.
Kate opened her mouth to reply to what her friend had said, when the customer interrupted her.
“Kate Bishop! We meet again.”
Kate whipped around, only to be met with the sight of a smiling blonde, her hair up in an intricate braid.