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Best Shot

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Sweat drips down Yelena’s neck as she surveys her situation.

The blonde flexes her blade. The give and take of her stick feels different from before. The last hit she just took left her with a broken stick. It also left her with a penalty kill against one of the better teams in their division.

“Cука,” Yelena mutters. She throws her stick to the side and gets in position in front of the net. Then she clenches her jaw, trying to expel her aggravation in some way.  

The puck is in her peripherals. She twists and blocks a shot with her skate. The crowd roars in approval. Then she makes eye contact with Aurora, the chick who hit her from behind a minute earlier and broke her stick.

“Belova!” A voice shouts from behind her. 

Yelena turns her head and sees her teammate, Ana, on the bench. The other woman gestures towards her with the stick in her hand. 

The blonde nods and quickly skates over to get the puck. She sighs in relief when the penalty finally ends. Now she can get off the ice for a bit.

As Yelena hydrates, her defense partner and close friend, Sonya, nudges her. 

“You’re a fucking idiot, you know?” Sonya says as she rolls her eyes before taking a large gulp of water.

Yelena shrugs. "What are you referring to?" 

Her friend shakes her head. “You know." She scoffs. "Every time you go after that bitch, she fucks up your stick or your face.”

Now it’s Yelena’s turn to roll her eyes, “She hit me in the face one time and-”

Sonya cuts her off, “Bishop is going to want to talk to you if you keep fighting.” She shakes her head. “We have a reputation to uphold. Weren't you listening to whatever bullshit Hill was spewing at us?”

The blonde doesn’t feel like getting lectured by her friend again. She wants to focus on what’s most important: winning. 

“Let us focus on the game, da?” Yelena huffs. She can feel her coach's glare on her from where she stands on the bench but she won’t acknowledge it. 

Sonya exhales. “Alright then, play on.” 

The team ends up winning the game. 

And Yelena ends up with a black eye. She doesn’t care. 

________________

After meeting with her GM and coach, Yelena makes her way quickly to her car. It’s not until she starts heading home that she feels the effects of the game. 

Her entire body aches all over; every time she moves her body protests against it. Even when she takes a deep breath in, she feels the soreness. 

Yelena surveys her apartment as she walks through the entryway. It’s dark. The only light inside is the moonlight shining from the windows. 

Her apartment is minimally decorated. It has a couch, a small coffee table and then a twin mattress in the corner of her modest studio. 

Her teammates criticize her all the time for her lack of decorations but Yelena brushes them off. They’re hypocrites because their living spaces aren’t much better. Yelena spends half her time on the road for hockey. She finds there is no point to decorate if she barely uses the space. 

The only decorations the blonde has are a few photos hung up here in there. And that’s only because her sister, Natasha, strong-armed her into having them. 

Small picture frames litter Yelena’s mantle.

One frame has a picture of her team all together- even Maria. Another is of Yelena and Natasha. The rest are some variation of the team or Natasha. Wanda, her sister’s kind of friend and sometimes more, also features in a photo or two. The woman is also one of the team’s trainers.

Despite protesting the decorations at the time, Yelena always finds herself smiling when she glances at them. 

The blonde heads into her bathroom to grab the bottle of ibuprofen. Yelena rolls her shoulders. She looks in her mirror to check her injuries. After the doctor gave her another lecture, she patched up Yelena's split lip and put ice on her black eye. The captain was advised to ice it until she went to bed.

Unfortunately for Yelena, the medical attention and the hot shower she took afterwards were not enough to rid her of all of her aches and pains that she feels all over her body.

Honestly, Yelena feels like she’s been hit by a truck three times over. 

Just when the blonde is about to fall into bed and pass out, her phone rings. The blonde grabs it when she sees the name lighting up her screen. 

“Sonya, what is it? I was just about-”

“Belova,” Sonya interrupts. Her tone is frantic which makes Yelena pause. “Turn on the TV.”

Yelena furrows her eyebrows.  “What—” 

“Turn on any channel.” Sonya insists. “It’s fucking everywhere right now.” She sounds distraught. Yelena can’t remember the last time she had heard her friend’s voice like this.

Yelena does as the other woman says. The moment it turns on, breaking news alerts flash on the screen.

“Fuck,” Yelena mutters as she looks on.

Her jaw drops as she watches pictures of Derek Bishop, the general manager of the hockey team, flash across her TV screen.

“He just-” Sonya whispers, “He just dropped.” Then she exhales. “Heart attack right after the game.” 

Yelena feels herself open and close her mouth a few times before any sound comes out. 

“What-” The blonde clears her throat. “What’s going to happen next?” She asks. 

While she isn’t aware of the specifics, Yelena knows that teams have plans, protocols, etc. for extreme situations like this. The PHF insists they have them. Every team is required to have it all but Yelena’s team isn’t just any other team. 

The Brooklyn Thunderbolts are a family first. All of the girls have been together for a while now. There had been barely any trades in the last five years, which is unheard of. Derek Bishop protected his players because he believed in them. He was a hands-on GM who came to all of their practice and games. 

Now what? Yelena thinks.  

Sonya shakily exhales. Even though they’re speaking over the phone, Yelena knows her friend is running a hand through her dark locks. It’s a nervous tick of hers that Yelena is familiar with.

“I don’t know.” The other woman resigns, “I guess we’ll find out sometime tomorrow.”

“I wonder when the funeral will take place.” Yelena wonders aloud to herself.  

The TV continues to flash interviews of the team and their general manager. 

As Yelena watches, she feels an ache in her chest. She needs to ensure that her future with this team is solid. She is the captain but she needs to make sure she won’t be traded. Someone else is going to come in and fill Derek Bishop’s place. She has no idea if they will decide to cut money or not. 

Whatever happens, Yelena is determined to maintain the stability she has finally found. 

________________

There is an optional skate the next morning and it’s no surprise to anyone that the entire team shows up. They’re all in the locker rooms getting dressed when their coach, Maria Hill, walks in. Her usual stoic facade is gone. Instead, a solemn expression graces her face as she addresses all of the players. 

“Ladies,” Maria greets with a curt nod. “I assume that you have all heard the news by now.” She sighs. “Fortunately, we have some time to digest. We are not scheduled to leave for Toronto until Friday.” 

“When is the funeral?” Sonya voices. 

Their coach pauses for a moment before answering. “The funeral for Mr. Bishop is going to be held the day after tomorrow. It’s not open to the public, but the family said anyone who wants to attend is welcome to.” 

There are a few nods around the room, murmurs of understanding, before the coach speaks up again.

“I know that I don’t need to remind you all about how important the Bishops are." Maria says, "They have done a lot for this team and this city. It would be nice for all of you to pay your respects.”

Yelena doesn’t need to take her eyes off her coach to know all of her teammates are in agreement.

“Hey,” Sonya nudges her. When Yelena looks at her, the brunette shakes her head as she says, “Don’t think too hard.”

The blonde gives her friend a curt nod before getting lost in her thoughts. 

Sonya has been one of Yelena’s constants for a while now.

They have been friends since they were in high school. Both of them went through the foster care system from when they were kids. When they got older, Sonya lived with a nice enough single mother; Yelena had her sister and her foster parents.

Due to their unconventional family dynamics, they were seen as outcasts at school. They bonded over their love of hockey and they played on their high school team. 

After high school, they played in city leagues together before they were both drafted. Unfortunately they went their separate teams in the minors. Then years later, Yelena was traded to Sonya’s team. And the rest is history. 

The optional skate goes by slowly. Everything feels like it’s in slow motion. The heart that her teammates usually play with isn’t there; they’re sluggish and sloppy. Maria senses it too. Yelena can tell their coach is just as mentally exhausted as they are.

It’s hard to watch for both the coach and the captain of the team as everyone plays out of sync. 

At the end of practice, Maria addresses the team to try and motivate them.

“I understand that this is a somber time and that this may be the last place you all want to be right now.” Their coach starts, “But we still have a job to do. We are two months from the playoffs.” 

Then she locks eyes with Yelena. “We’re locked in with DC in the standings. I doubt we all want to lose in the second round again. It’s time to get moving.” 

Her eyes drift to the rest of the team as she takes a deep breath. “Go shower and go home.” Then as she turns around to go to her office, Maria calls out, “Belova, stay back. I need to see you in my office.” 

Yelena shakes her head. It’s not the first time their coach has asked this of her and it won’t be the last.

Sonya nudges her side and they share a small smile. 

“Later Belova.” The brunette says as she heads out of the locker room. 

Yelena takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. She grabs her water bottle and sprays water into her mouth. With a huff, the blonde readies herself and then walks over to Maria’s office. 

Heading down the hallway, Yelena knocks on Maria’s office door before opening it. 

Instead of a proper greeting, Yelena states, “I am exhausted, Hill.” Then she asks, “Will this take long?”

Maria raises an eyebrow and that stoic, no nonsense facade is back. “Belova, I need you to meet with the new GM.” 

The blonde’s jaw drops. “What?” She scoffs as she shakes her head. “You are telling me that there is a new GM already?” 

Derek Bishop passed just barely twenty-four hours ago and they’re just moving on. It seems disrespectful to his memory.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Yelena rolls her eyes, “Who is he?” 

Maria shakes her head. “She is Kate Bishop.”

Yelena tilts her head. “Kate Bishop?” She moves to sit down in the chair in front of Maria’s desk. “His infant daughter?” 

“Yelena, she is twenty-three.” 

The blonde cuts her off, “You have got to be kidding me.” She raises an eyebrow. “How is she going to—”

Maria holds a hand up. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion, Belova.” She says sternly. “It doesn't matter. It’s decided. The daughter is taking over for her father and that’s that.” Then she tells her, “You’re meeting with her.”

Yelena rolls her eyes. “Why?” 

The coach rubs her forehead to relieve some pressure. “For when the press conference is announced. I need you to speak at that as well.”

Yelena scoffs, “Fuck, Maria—”

 “You’re the captain of this team, Yelena.” Maria reminds her, as if she could forget it. “You have been for the last three years. You must lead by example. Your acceptance of the new GM, as well as giving the team’s condolences directly to his daughter is important for-”

The blonde stands up abruptly, feeling herself get worked up again. “No, Maria. What is important is the future of this team!” Yelena scoffs. 

“Yelena-”

The blonde shakes her head. “How can some woman who has never been around take over?” She scoffs again, “We must succeed and her coming in will not help us do that.”

“You’re being unfair.” Maria protests, her demeanor calm in comparison to the blonde’s. “You don’t know for certain about Kate’s ability to lead.” She says. “You two will work as a team.” Then she adds, “Plus, Kate used to spend a lot of time at the rink when she was younger-”

Yelena rolls her eyes again, shaking her head. “Oh yes when she was a child and then where has she been here in the last ten years?”

Maria is silent while Yelena continues to seethe. The white hot rage that she uses to her advantage on the ice is starting to bubble up. She can feel her entire body vibrate with anger. 

Kate Bishop is a familiar name but Yelena has never seen the young woman. Derek Bishop spoke reverently about his daughter any time he could. He had nothing but good things to say. Brilliant young entrepreneur who’s tech savvy-ier than anyone he’s ever known. 

How is a tech savvy person supposed to lead a women’s hockey team to victory? Yelena wonders internally. 

How is this Kate Bishop person supposed to take over for a man who spent 90% of his time at the rink if she probably hasn’t stepped foot on the ice in over ten years? 

Yelena is not a foolish person. She understands that a family member is the most logical choice to take over for Derek in the meantime. 

The Bishop family is practically an institution in Brooklyn and Manhattan. They donate money to the public schools. They fund projects that help build arenas and concert venues. They also volunteer in their free time. What free time they have is a mystery but they still manage to do it. 

However, Yelena doesn’t know how any of those contributions can create a strategic hockey mind out of an entitled, UES ‘tech savvy’ girl. 

Maria breaks Yelena out of her spiral. “I am not asking you to do this Belova.” She says, not mincing her words. “I am telling you to do this.” The woman has that look on her face that she gets right before she forces Yelena to do extra workouts and drills. 

Yelena rolls her eyes petulantly. It’s a similar situation to a young teenager rolling her eyes at her overbearing mother. 

Instead of getting more fed up with Yelena’s stubbornness, Maria’s demeanor changes. Her mask falls and she just looks exhausted again. “Yelena, this isn’t easy for any of us.” She says quietly. “But, we have to stick together.”

The blonde nods in agreement but she does not comment. 

“The team needs you, and so do I.” Maria explains. “Do this, please.”

Yelena sighs after a few minutes of tense silence. She shakes her head and rubs a hand over her forehead in exasperation. 

“Where am I going to be meeting her?”

________________

Yelena has a meeting with Kate Bishop the next day, which is also the day before her father’s funeral. 

While the blonde finds it to be a rushed decision, she suspects that neither of them made that choice of their own volition. 

Yelena knows little to nothing about Kate Bishop but she finds it hard to believe that the Bishop girl would want to have a meeting like this before she’s even said goodbye to her dad. 

Now that Yelena thinks about it, she has no idea what Derek Bishop’s daughter looks like. Yelena takes in her surroundings, eyes lingering on every brunette woman to try and see if she is Kate Bishop.

After making awkward eye contact with three brunette women, Yelena gives up. At the very least, Kate Bishop knows what she looks like. 

The blonde sits at a table and waits. She waits and waits; soon enough, an hour has passed.

Yelena decides that she has waited around long enough for someone who she doesn’t even have any interest in meeting. With a huff, the blonde heads over to the bar to drink her all of frustrations away. 

“Being stood up, of course.” Yelena mutters to herself. 

Once the blonde reaches the bar, she orders two shots of vodka. As she waits, Yelena sits down at one of the bar stools, watching out of the corner of her eye as a woman, probably around her age or maybe even a few years younger, rushes in and sits down. The young woman orders two pours of Highland Park 12 whiskey neat.

“Rough day?” Yelena can’t help but ask as she turns to face her. 

The brunette’s eyes are blue and Yelena can’t understand how they look simultaneously bright and dull.

Once the woman looks up from her drink, the hockey captain watches her do a double take. “I know you,” She says.

Yelena smirks as she takes a sip of her drink. “Subtlety.” She teases. “I like that in a woman.” 

The brunette blushes and shakes her head. “Sorry, my bad.” 

“It’s alright.” Yelena says as she waves it off. “Most people act coy at first. Then they reveal they know my true identity.” Then she laughs a little and shrugs. “Your bluntness is refreshing.” 

The younger woman smiles before she takes a sip of her whiskey. Her eyes close briefly before she looks back at Yelena to face her. “You play for the Thunderbolts?”

Yelena nods. “Yelena Belova.” She holds out her hand to her. 

The other woman shakes her hand. Unfortunately she doesn’t tell Yelena her name as she goes back to her drink. 

“I heard about what happened to the GM.” The woman opts to say instead. Her voice is soft, small even. 

Yelena swallows hard, and nods again. “He was a good man,” She admits before motioning to the bartender for another shot. It only takes a moment for it to arrive and Yelena throws it back immediately. 

“I feel that.” The other woman says with a scoff. 

The blonde nods. “I am actually here to meet his daughter.” She admits. 

It’s unlike her to speak so loosely to a stranger. Honestly, she just needs a distraction. And an outlet to vent.

Yelena sighs. “I think she stood me up.”

“I don’t believe anyone could stand you up.” The woman tells her. 

The blonde raises an eyebrow. Now, she prides herself in being able to read social cues and body language pretty well. It’s not hard for her to tell that this woman seems to be flirting with her. 

Yelena shrugs, unsure if she wants to pursue something. There’s something familiar about this woman. And the blonde is also too exhausted emotionally and physically to seek something out. 

Instead, Yelena continues to vent. 

“I must admit that I am not surprised.” The hockey captain continues. “I had an inkling that she would do something like this.” She scoffs. “She is incredibly wealthy, spoon-fed. Honestly, I am probably on the very low end of her list of things to do.”

The other woman shrugs. “I’m sure she has her reasons.”

Yelena huffs, “Every wealthy person always has a some 'valid' reason.” She shakes her head. “It doesn't matter. My team and I are trying to do something in this city.” She explains. “We’re trying to win a championship. How are we going to do that with a new general manager who has no business being involved?” Then she scoffs, “I doubt she even cares for the sport.”

The woman tilts her head. “What makes you so sure that this guy’s daughter doesn’t love hockey just as much as you?”

Yelena looks at her glass for a moment. “She has not stepped foot into the arena since she was a child.” Then she rolls her eyes. “I have come to understand that she is some tech tycoon or finance person. She attended a fancy school. I bet she lived abroad, traveled the world and spent family money. She does not sound fit to run a hockey team.”  

The woman is quiet. Then she downs the rest of her drink and stands. Yelena watches her take out a bill and place it on the bar to cover her tab. 

Just as she is about to leave, she turns to Yelena and speaks. “Well, Ms. Belova, I hope your meeting with her goes well.” Then she nods. “Good luck with the rest of the season.”

Before the blonde can say anything, the brunette is gone. Yelena looks back down at the bar, there’s a business card there next to the drink. As she reads it, she groans. 

Kate Bishop, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brooklyn Thunderbolts - Premier Hockey Federation

“Fuck,” Yelena huffs as she realizes that she just unloaded all her grievances about her new boss right to her face. 

________________

“You’re an absolute idiot,” Natasha says as she reprimands her later that night. 

The blonde huffs, “How could I have known?!”

Natasha rolls her eyes. “You could have looked up a picture of her before you went to meet her. You know while you were waiting and instead of drinking.”

Yelena shakes her head. “Thank you for your very helpful insight after the fact.” She scoffs. “Clearly I did not do that and now I believe I am in danger of getting traded.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, sestra.” Natasha says softly as she joins her younger sister on her couch. “You are a talented player. Just because you insulted your new boss to her face, doesn’t mean she’s so petty to get rid of you.”

Yelena exhales. “You don’t know that.” 

Natasha shrugs. “Maybe so but there’s no legitimate reason for her to legally trade you or mess with your contract.” She raises an eyebrow. “Plus, I’m sure the rest of your teammates and Maria would be up in arms if the new boss traded you out of the blue or for no good reason other than 'she insulted me'.” 

The blonde nods at her sister’s words but does not comment. She sighs again as she turns her attention to her TV. 

All the sports news is about the Thunderbolts. Yelena cannot stand to watch any more installments about Derek Bishop. It makes her heart constrict and then it leads her to think about the possibility of being traded again.

“Yelena, what are you thinking?” Natasha says softly. 

The blonde shrugs, moving to dwell on Maria’s words from earlier. “I must do a press conference with her as well.” Then she shakes her head. “The funeral is tomorrow so I will apologize then too.”

“That’s very mature of you, sestra.” Natasha says with a small smile. 

Yelena looks at her sister. “I can be mature at times, Natasha.” 

“I’ve never seen it.” Her sister teases. 

Yelena’s only response is to throw a pillow at her sister and mutter ‘сука’ under her breath. However, the tension in her shoulders has lessened. The blonde has Natasha to thank for that.

________________

The next day is Derek Bishop’s funeral and it’s a very long day for everyone.

The funeral is private but there are at least a hundred people, if not more, in attendance. Yelena was already aware of how much Derek Bishop was loved by the community but seeing the sheer amount of people at the funeral still stunned her. 

The second Yelena walks in, with Sonya and Ana in tow, she immediately spots Kate Bishop. The brunette is standing with an older woman who has the same shade of brown hair. She assumes she is Kate’s mother. 

When the team lines up to offer their condolences after the service, Yelena has every intention to apologize for what had happened the other day. However, she is unable to get the opportunity since the brunette ignores her completely. 

The older woman who was with Kate earlier introduces herself as Eleanor Bishop. “Thank you for coming,” She tells Yelena. There’s a stern look on her face, as she tries to mask her initial shock at her daughter’s dismissal.  

While Yelena does not know much about Derek’s now widow, she understands that Eleanor runs Bishop Securities. Being the CEO of a major security company keeps her busy; she was rarely around the team. 

However, having friends in high places has its advantages. There was an incident one year where Oksana took a slap stick shot to her neck by a vindictive player on the opposing team. Eleanor Bishop helped the team win the lawsuit.  

“What the hell did you do?” Sonya asks Yelena as soon as they step outside of the church.

Yelena exhales as she runs her fingers through her hair. “I spoke poorly about the new GM to her face.” 

Her friend’s jaw drops. “You what?”

“I may have implied that she was privileged and that some tech person was not fit to manage our team,” Yelena clarifies as she looks down at her feet. 

Sonya facepalms. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I was not aware of what she looked like.” Yelena defends herself. "I didn't know it was her until it was too late." She knows she messed up but now she has to live with her actions. She just hopes that her lack of decorum doesn’t come back to screw  her over later. 

The short-haired brunette balks. “You are aware that Google is a thing.” 

“I understand my transgressions, Sonya.” Yelena huffs. “I do not need you to say more.” Then she takes a deep breath and then shakes her head. “My plan is to apologize to her once she gives me the chance. Then after, I will avoid her and hope she doesn’t trade me.”

Sonya rolls her eyes. “Avoid her? How mature of you.” Then her eyes go wide as she sees someone behind the blonde. “Don’t look now,” She warns.

Yelena looks up just in time to see Kate Bishop heading in their direction. The brunette does not look happy. 

“You!” Kate shouts, practically stabbing Yelena in the chest with her index finger. “You are the most headstrong, arrogant person that I have ever met!”

The blonde blinks, her brain slowly registering her situation. “I-”

“Don’t talk.” Kate bites. “How dare you say all that stuff about me without even meeting me.” She scoffs. “You don’t know anything about me.”

Yelena raises an eyebrow. “I could say the same things Kate Bishop, yet here you are throwing accusatory insults my way.”

Kate rolls her eyes. “You are so condescending.” She scoffs. “You know I was going to ignore your embarrassing oversight but then you didn’t even have the decency to look sorry. You didn’t apologize-” 

Yelena stops her, eyes hardening. “How could I apologize when you completely ignored me a moment ago.” Then she raises an eyebrow as she nods to their surroundings. “And are we really going to do this right now? We’re in the middle of your father’s funeral.” She states as she tries to keep her voice down.

The fire in Kate seems to settle as she registers her words. To Yelena, it seems as if Kate is just now remembering where they are. 

Sonya stands on Yelena’s left, just like she would be on the ice. The blonde turns to her friend, sharing a look with her before looking back at their new boss. 

“Look, Kate Bishop.” Yelena starts again, “I am sorry for speaking out of turn but you must understand my misgivings.” She exhales slowly. “I do not think-”

The young woman interrupts her, sending Yelena a look with so much disgust it almost makes Sonya flinch. Yelena doesn't react at all; she holds her ground.

“Stop.” Kate says, fury in her eyes. “I don’t care what you think of me. I am running this team now, and my dad taught me everything he knows.” She huffs, putting her hands on her hips. “You have another thing coming if you think I’m just going to let you do whatever you want and say whatever you want.”

With that, Kate promptly turns her back on Yelena and Sonya and walks over to meet her mom. 

Sonya shakes her head. “Well, that went well.” 

Yelena sighs, sending a look at her friend. “Again, your comments are very helpful.” 

________________

The next time Yelena sees Kate, it’s the morning of when the team is supposed to take off for Toronto for their next game. They give their first press conference together with Kate as the new GM for the Thunderbolts. 

To an outsider, Kate Bishop looks perfectly put together. But Yelena can read a bluff a mile away. The brunette has a look in her eyes that Yelena is all too familiar with. It’s a look of someone who’s lost everything, but doesn’t quite know where to start putting pieces of her life back together.

It reminds Yelena of the dead look in her eyes when she was briefly separated from Natasha. Despite it being a distant memory, she will never forget that look that stared back at her in the mirror. 

During the press conference, Yelena is professional. She provides condolences on behalf of the team, and promises that the team will do everything in their power to honor Derek Bishop’s dream. She insists that they will work three times as hard to win the Isobel Cup. Kate smiles graciously at Yelena’s words. 

Once it is over, they all walk out to the bus. Kate walks past Yelena and Sonya and doesn’t say a word. Yelena ignores the dread that starts to form in the pit of her stomach. The rest of the team get on the bus. It takes them to the airport, where the team plane is waiting. 

Only a few minutes into the drive, Yelena stands from her seat. 

“What are you doing?” Sonya asks warily. It sounds like she already knows what Yelena is up to and is adamantly against it. 

Yelena resigns herself to the inevitable; she must try to make amends. “I have to try and talk to her again.” 

Her friend shakes her head. “No, that is not wise, Belova.” She scoffs. “I think you said enough at the bar. And at the funeral.”

“Thank you for the reminder, сука.” Yelena snarks as she rolls her eyes.

“It’s my job, засранец.” Sonya winks at her as she sends a look in Kate’s direction. “Don’t do something worse.”

The blonde deadpans. “You give such good advice.”

With that, Yelena walks over to where Kate sits on the other side of the bus. The driver sends her a look for getting up but the blonde doesn’t spare him another glance. She quickly slides into the seat next to the GM.

“Don’t get up from your seat.” Kate opts to say instead of a formal greeting. “Paul will have your head.” She doesn’t spare Yelena a look. 

Yelena nods. “If that is the risk it takes to sit next to you, I will gladly take it.” 

The brunette rolls her eyes but does not say anything else. 

Deciding to make small talk first, Yelena nods to the driver. “How long have you known Paul?” 

Kate finally looks at her. “Since I was 7.” She explains. “My dad arranged for him to take me to my archery classes after school when he was staying late at the rink.”

Yelena tilts her head, surprised to be on the receiving end of any intimate information about her new boss. “You took archery lessons?” 

“Look Belova, why don’t you cut to the chase about what you really want to talk to me about instead of trying to suck up to me?” The younger woman says bluntly. “I’m trying to do some work and I’d like to get back to it.” 

The blonde sighs and holds her hands up. “Forgive me.” She shrugs. “I wanted to apologize again, Kate Bishop.” Then she concedes, “You had every right to call me out. I behaved inappropriately the other night. I keep my emotions close to the surface. I should not have assumed anything about you.” 

Kate’s blue eyes soften momentarily, like she wants to give in, but then she straightens up. “I agree. You shouldn’t underestimate me. You know nothing about me.”

“You are correct.” Yelena takes a deep breath. Then she proposes, “I was hoping that we could start over?” 

The brunette eyes her warily and shrugs. “I guess.” Then she notices the bus has stopped. “Time to go.” She stands but spares Yelena one more glance. “Don’t make me reevaluate my father’s decision in making you captain, Belova. Your temper is dangerous.” With that, she takes her belongings and walks off the bus. 

Yelena sighs, shaking her head as she walks back to Sonya.

“How’d it go?” Sonya asks with a smirk. 

The blonde shrugs. “It could have gone worse.” 

“Promising.” 

________________

The Thunderbolts beat Toronto but not graciously. It’s an ugly win. 

Despite having a lead by three at the end of the second period, the game goes into overtime. Things fall apart after Yelena gets into another fight. It costs her five minutes in the penalty box and it costs the team their lead. The Six take advantage of the situation. The score ends in a tie just as the buzzer goes off. 

The team only scores the winning goal in overtime because of Sonya. The brunette catches the goalie out of position. She sends a wrist-shot over her shoulder and it's game over. They win but no one really feels like they won. 

The white hot rage has been simmering in Yelena since her fight. Really, she just wants to punch something to expel the energy. She knows she’s going to be reamed out by Hill and she’s not looking forward to that. 

Just when Yelena sits down to take off her skates, the locker room door bursts open. Kate Bishop storms in with a fire blazing in her blue eyes.

The team stares at the new GM, completely bewildered and frozen. Their GM had never stopped in the locker rooms before so everyone is surprised to see their new one show up.

“What the hell was that?” Kate states. While her words are heated, her tone is low. It’s a dangerous kind of low. “How many late goals are we going to give up in one season?”

“Ms. Bishop, you shouldn’t-” Maria starts, but is silenced when Kate sends her a look. 

The GM shakes her head as she addresses the coach for a moment. “This won’t take long.”

Maria holds her hands up in surrender and stays quiet. 

Yelena stares at the coach in disbelief. She cannot believe the audacity of this woman. Kate Bishop should not be in the locker rooms, end of story. If she had something to say, she could have told Maria and Maria would have given her the message.

With that, Kate regards the entire room. “Every single person in here needs to figure their shit out.” Her voice remains even but her eyes are sharp. “This.” She gestures to all of the girls. “This is not acceptable. We cannot continue going into overtime. It’s a hollow victory.” She scoffs. “We can’t keep acting like we’ve won after the first period or two and then have the opposing team destroy us in the third.”

The goalie on the team, Oksana, speaks up. “All due respect Ms. Bishop, those goals were fucking hard. I was screened for the first three. The last one just beat me.”

Kate’s eyes soften as she looks at the other woman. “I’m not blaming you.” She sends her a small smile. “You worked your ass off. Stopping over 40 shots is amazing.” Then she looks at Yelena. “I’m blaming needless penalties for leaving us two players short and giving you no help in front of the net.” 

Yelena narrows her eyes at the brunette. The rage continues to build again. 

Then Kate addresses the blonde. “Belova, fighting is useless. It could cost us a win. Ignore the ego.” Then she moves closer in Yelena’s space and growls, “If you get into one more fight that risks us a lead, you’re going to be a healthy scratch.”

Now Yelena sees red. She stands up abruptly, her skates still on. 

“Like fucking hell am I going to sit out—”

“ Belova .” Maria shouts but Yelena ignores her. Her rage has spilled over.

The blonde gets in the other woman’s space. “Our best center got tripped three times without a call.” She scoffs. “It was bullshit and you know it. They were saying absolute-”

“It doesn’t matter what they do or say.” Kate shakes her head. Her eyes harden more and she sends an icy glare at Yelena. “You-”

Yelena cuts her off. “No. This team is family. No one screws with us on my watch. So, I went after the сука. Anyone else would have done the same.”

Kate shakes her head.“I don’t care,” She scoffs, “It is not worth it when it gets you stuck in the box for five minutes-”

“You know nothing of the situation.” Yelena states darkly. 

The GM rolls her eyes, challenging her. “Oh please do enlighten me Yelena about what is so goddamn important that you’d risk the win.” 

Yelena clenches her jaws before speaking, “I was not going to ignore the insults their offensive line kept throwing at me about your father.”

Once her words register in the brunette’s mind, Kate freezes.

“Do you wish for me to allow ignorant people to speak of things they know nothing about?” Yelena shakes her head. “Your father-”

“Stop!" Kate shouts. "My father would agree with me! He wouldn't want you to give into their taunts.”

Then the GM shakes her to gather her thoughts. When she meets Yelena'a gaze again, her eyes are fierce.

“My dad believed in this team.” Those blue eyes unyielding as she says, “He believed in you. You’re the captain. You must uphold a standard. How can you do that from the sidelines?”

The team and their coach watch as the tête-à-tête continues. They have seen their captain mad before but not like this. There’s a fire blazing in Yelena that’s burning just as fast as the one in their new GM. 

Before Yelena can respond, Kate growls out, “You call yourself a captain? How can you be one if you can’t stay on the ice? If you can’t control that temper of yours, then what are you doing here?”

The blonde has never felt so angry and contrite at the same time. It’s confusing.  

How dare this woman, who has been the Thunderbolts GM for so little time, question her. She has no idea who Yelena really is if she has the gall to question her integrity and challenge her captainship.  

It’s unreal to believe that this is the second time in less than a week that she and Kate Bishop have been at odds when everyone wants them to be a united front. 

“Get your priorities straight before I bench you Belova,” Kate states firmly. Then she turns around and walks out of the locker rooms. The door slams behind her and echoes throughout the entire room.

The air in the locker room is thick. No one moves. No one breathes. 

Yelena feels like she’s suffocating on her anger. Kate Bishop has no idea who she’s speaking to. The blond is one of the most dedicated players the Thunderbolts has ever had. 

Then the blonde looks at her team. There’s a mix of emotions on each of her teammates' faces. 

Her coach just looks disappointed. That’s not new. 

Then as the fire in her starts to ember, the inevitable feelings of dread and shame start to flow in. She knows her temper gets the best of her. 

Kate Bishop’s words hit the root of Yelena’s biggest vice. She is taking too many bad penalties. When she first started playing, she never acted on her emotions. But then as the team turned into her family, she stopped playing smart and let her anger fuel her play.

Maria finally breaks the silence. “Mandatory skate tomorrow. We need to get our penalty kill figured out.” Then she leaves without another word. 

The team is left alone. 

Iris, one of the plays on defense, lets out a breathless laugh. “Fuck. What a сука.”

Yelena growls as she whips to face the defensive player. “Watch your tongue! Show some respect. That woman signs your paycheck.”

"Why are you defending her?" Iris scoffs, an incredulous look on her face. “She just fucking reamed you out in front of the entire team.” 

There’s a smug smile forming on the other woman’s face and Yelena wants to punch it off her. 

“I am not going to repeat myself.” Yelena says darkly as she walks towards her smug teammate. Sonya is on her weak side, like she always is, and Iris backs off. 

Her team is her family but sometimes Yelena is not above fighting them. It’s not often that it happens but Yelena is dying to hit something. She is itching for a fight. 

When Iris backs off, Yelena stalks off to the team bus that will take them to their hotel. With the dark look on her face, no one bothers to speak to her. 

By the grace of some higher power, Kate Bishop does not join the team on the bus. 

________________

When they get to their hotel, Sonya does not try to get Yelena to talk about what happened. She is thankful for her friend understanding that she does not want to relive what happened. 

Morning skate is at 9am. 

Because of her lack of sleep, Yelena drinks three cups of coffee before hitting the ice. 

Practice goes a lot better than Yelena was anticipating. 

While she does not know her teammates' reasons, she knows why she is pouring all her energy into the practice. It’s because of Kate Bishop. The younger woman is in the stands, watching them like a hawk. 

A small part of Yelena wants to show the GM that it would be a foolish decision to bench her. However, a larger part of her is self-motivated by doing right by her teammates. She’s been playing selfishly. Being captain means she is supposed to play her best and help the rest of the girls do the same. 

During their break, Yelena gives them a fiery speech to convince them that they’re not just doing this for themselves, they’re doing it for Derek Bishop too. It reinvigorates the team for sure. 

For once, it’s a good day. They haven’t had one in a while. Probably since they received the news about Derek. 

As Yelena leaves the ice, her green eyes catch Kate Bishop’s blue ones. The brunette sends her a small smile. Yelena nods. 

It is the closest thing they’ll get to apologizing to each other for what happened in the locker room.

________________

The next two months fly by.

To everyone’s surprise, Kate and Yelena become amicable. The incident in the locker rooms after the Toronto game quickly turns into a distant memory. 

Kate surprises Yelena by sitting right behind the bench for most of the games. The blonde thought the other woman would rather sit up in the suite like a lot of team personnel do. 

The brunette also attends every practice, and a few times she even laces up herself. Kate glides on the ice, claiming it provides her a better perspective as they run drills. 

While Yelena hates to admit when she’s ever wrong, she realizes just how quickly she judged the younger woman. 

Practice after practice, Kate Bishop proves to Yelena that she is more than some tech savvy rich girl. She knows her hockey and she looks like she belongs on the ice right along side the team.

As the days go by, Yelena slowly starts to accept that she actually likes having Kate around. They end up spending a lot of time together. Team meetings. Planning strategies. Talking points for press conferences. Watching the game film. Yelena spends a lot more time with Kate than she ever did with Derek Bishop.

The duo working as a team is what Derek and the rest of the team personnel had wanted since the beginning.

In a surprise twist for everyone, it turns out that they work very well together. When Kate is calm, Yelena is passionate. When Kate is professional with the press, Yelena is strategic with the team. 

The Thunderbolts is on their way to setting a franchise record. Compared to their disappointing record last year, they have come so far from when they barely made it into the playoffs. And then losing in the second round. 

However, there’s a lingering thought in the back of Yelena’s mind that she’s too afraid to accept quite yet. 

It’s in the way Kate Bishop sits next to her at meetings where they watch film of either their most recent games, or film of the teams they’re getting ready to play. 

Or, it’s the way Kate gushes to Yelena about her golden retriever, Lucky, when she finds out Yelena has a dog of her own one night after a long practice. Natasha had Facetimed Yelena with Fanny in the background since the pup spends most of her time with Natasha during the season. Kate’s eyes lit up as she looked at the fluffy Akita. They trade pictures of their fur babies almost immediately. 

Maybe it’s in the way Kate tosses back three glasses of milk after Yelena insists on having her try her ‘not that spicy’ curry dish. The blonde belly laughs for a full five minutes as the younger woman tries to quell the heat in her mouth. The brunette makes Yelena buy her ice cream to apologize and she does not trust anything Yelena offers her to eat after that. 

It’s definitely in the way where Yelena wants to make Kate smile all of the time instead of seeing that dull look in her eyes whenever the brunette remembers her dad. 

It’s just different. The atmosphere is different. 

The team respects Kate Bishop. They respected Derek too, but he felt like a father finger to the girls. Kate is kind of like the team’s little sister. 

Yelena will never forget the time Sonya defended Kate to the press after two losses in a row. The media blamed it on bad management but the short haired brunette, with the rest of the team, adamantly disagreed. 

For Yelena, she is very much aware that Kate is not her little sister. She has one annoying older sister but no little sisters. 

This is that lingering thought she tries to keep in the back of her mind. 

Yelena truly believes that if she doesn’t say it out loud, it’ll go away. 

Probably. 

________________

Around the end of December, the team decides to throw a holiday party.

Yelena begrudgingly asks Natasha to come with her because her sister kept nagging her to meet Kate Bishop. Her defense was that she should get to know more people in her younger sister’s social circle. 

Natasha had met a few of Yelena’s teammates before. Sonya and Ana have been around the most and the redhead met Oksana around the holidays the year prior.

It takes all of three seconds for Yelena to regret introducing her sister to her boss.

Natasha takes the opportunity to tell Kate embarrassing story after embarrassing story about Yelena growing up. 

“And then the pig ran into the house, covered in mud. Yelena thought the best course of action was to chase after it. There was mud all over the first and second floor.” Natasha recalls in between laughs. “Our mama made Yelena clean all of it. She had to take four showers to get rid of the smell.” 

The brunette barks out in laughter. “Wow, I wish I could see pictures.”

“Oh I have them.” The redhead says as she takes out her phone.

“Natasha!”

Despite bonding through Yelena’s misfortunate habits as a child, the blonde enjoys seeing her older sister get along with the younger woman. It stirs something in her stomach that Yelena does not want to name.

One their way back to Yelena’s apartment, Natasha smirks at her sister as she unlocks her door. 

“Why is your face like that?” Yelena asks, a deadpan look on her face as they walk inside. 

The redhead looks entirely too smug. “You totally like her.” 

Yelena tosses her keys on her table and falls back into her couch. “What?” 

Natasha rolls her eyes. “You know exactly what I am talking about, sestra.” She shakes her head. “Falling for the boss, never thought you had it in you.” 

Yelena’s face sours. She sits up. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” 

“Denial is not just a river in Egypt.” Her sister jests as she sits on the edge of the couch. 

“I do not know what that even means.” Yelena says, looking more confused than anything else. 

Natasha smiles. “Deny it all you want, Yelena.” She raises an eyebrow. “I know when my sister is falling for someone and you are falling hard.” 

The blonde does not comment but she knows her lack of response speaks more volume than anything she could have said. 

Yelena sighs. She thinks back on the last few months. She has no idea how she let her feelings get away from her. Ever since she met Kate Bishop, Yelena slowly started to notice more and more about her.  

Reflecting on it, the blonde thinks it could have started when Kate started coming to the team meetings. 

The brunette participated in a way her father never had. Yelena has a strong feeling it’s because the younger woman felt the need to prove herself, not just to the media but to the team and the investors as well. 

After really getting to know Kate Bishop, Yelena is positive she has never met someone with as much fire in her eyes as herself. 

________________

Once her sister calls her out on the feelings Yelena had tried to deny, the blonde stops ignoring them. As a result, her attention when she’s off the ice focuses on the quirks that make Kate Bishop entirely too endearing to resist.

The way her nose scrunches in exasperated amusement when Ana and Oksana rattle off corny jokes and horrible puns. 

The light pink blush in her cheeks when she drinks just a little too much during beer pong with the team. She’s definitely a light weight in comparison to Yelena and her teammates. 

The twinkle in those blue eyes of hers when they beat Toronto 5-0 at home. 

The way her eyes go dull and there’s a faraway look in them when someone mentions her dad.

The way those same eyes get a little brighter when Maria tells her that her father would be proud.

The investment she has in any hockey game, regardless of the stake she has in it. One night during a team dinner, Yelena watched as Kate practically vibrated in her seat when Boston and Minnesota went into overtime. The blonde teased the younger woman for stressing when a shootout was called.

The giant coffee cup Kate always walks into the rink with. Any time Maria asks the brunette if she wants to shoot, Kate always chugs the hot coffee as fast as she can before lacing up. It becomes a routine, with Sonya always offering her stick to Kate. The young GM looks a natural on the ice, proving to everyone that she’s not a stranger to the game. 

In all of those details, and during those moments, Yelena feels that warmth spread throughout her entire body. It's every time she notices something different about Kate Bishop, which happens quite often. 

________________

However, things take a turn when the blonde starts to notice immediately when the GM suddenly stops coming to practices. 

Then at their next game, Yelena notices a change in the younger woman and her behavior towards the team. It’s when Kate sits in the suite instead of the bench with Maria that Yelena knows something is off. Kate's face remains neutral as she listens to the rest of the teams’ personnel. 

Slowly the other players start to notice as well. They all shoot Yelena confused looks. She wishes she had an explanation to offer them. 

As they warm up on the ice, Sonya skates over to Yelena. There is a sharp look in her eyes. “What did you do?” 

Yelena shrugs helplessly. “I honestly haven’t the faintest idea.”

Her friend eyes her warily. She tilts her head and scrutinizes the blonde. “Did you-”

One of the referees blows their whistle. Sonya huffs, shaking her head before saying, “We’ll figure it out after.”

“Agreed.” Yelena mutters. 

Despite wanting to know what she did, they have a game to play. It is what is important right now. 

However, that thought doesn’t stop Yelena from wishing that Kate was sitting behind the bench.

The yearning is a sure sign for Yelena that she is royally screwed. She hates to know that she did something that caused Kate Bishop to ignore her and her team. She just wishes she knew exactly what she did. 

________________

Two weeks and then playoffs start. 

It’s during that time that Yelena breaks her silence. Kate has been distant with the team, not interacting as much with them or coming onto the ice. She’s also been avoiding Yelena, walking in the other direction every time the captain approaches her.

It stops now. 

The blonde and Maria are aware that the lack of the brunette’s presence has negatively affected most of the players. 

The team isn’t practicing as hard. Kate offers a calming reassurance in contrast to Yelena’s passionate motivation. There’s a heart that Kate brings to the team and Yelena knows that she isn't the only one who noticed it.

With Kate not being around and the fact that the team is on the road for their last four games, Yelena and Maria are incredibly concerned for the team's chances to win. 

The cup is in sight; they’re so close. It can’t end like this, not with their GM going AWOL and their captain at a loss for how to make it better. 

Yelena knows that her head isn’t in the game as well. She doesn’t know if it’s rational or irrational to think this way, but she feels personally responsible for Kate Bishop not being herself. 

The blonde would like to think that she’s grown a lot in the last few months since she and Kate became a united front. So, she’d like to believe she’d be intuitive enough to know when she’s in the wrong. But this time, Yelena has no idea what she could have done to deserve Kate’s cold shoulder.

Honestly, she feels like Kate abandoned them, abandoned her. She wouldn’t admit this to anyone but herself, maybe Natasha or Sonya. 

Since they started their partnership, Yelena’s grown used to Kate Bishop’s support. They worked seamlessly together and it helped to have someone to lean on and shoulder the burden. Kate would back her up when she needed the team to play like it meant something. For Yelena, their teamwork means something to her. She doesn’t know how to do this alone.

Determined to get answers, Yelena finds herself standing in front of Kate Bishop’s hotel room. There’s a fine line that she knows she’s teetering on. 

“You’re going to be crossing like a million different lines if you do this.” Sonya protests, shaking her head. 

Yelena raises her eyebrows. “So you don’t want me to go talk to her?” 

“Are you insane? You absolutely need to go talk to her.” Sonya yells as she practically pushes Yelena out the door of their hotel room. 

Yelena shakes her head. Her talk with Sonya did nothing to quell her worries or provide insight to her confusion. Only Kate Bishop has the answers, so she knocks on the door firmly and waits. 

Just seconds later, Kate opens the door, a surprised look on her face. “Yelena?”

The blonde clears her throat and nods, “I apologize for just showing up, but- ”

Kate interrupts her, “We can’t do this out here. Someone could see you.” She whispers as she pulls the blonde inside her room. Then she shuts the door before turning to look at the other woman.

Yelena starts, “I-”

“What are you doing here?” Kate asks as she puts some space between them. 

The blonde sighs. She doesn’t know how to start this conversation. So, instead of getting to the root of the issue, Yelena points out,  “You weren’t at the team dinner. Everyone wanted to know where you were.” She explains. Then she adds, “I was worried you may be feeling unwell.” 

Kate shakes her head. “I’m fine.” She says with a shrug. “I just wasn’t hungry.”

Yelena nods curtly. She looks to the side before looking at Kate again. Then she decides to just bite the bullet as Natasha would say, “You have not been around at all lately.”

The brunette at least has the decency to look apologetic. “I’ve been-” She halts her words and runs her fingers through her hair. 

Resolving herself, Kate meets Yelena’s gaze with a blank expression and says, “There’s just been things going on.” She shrugs again. “I haven’t felt like I need to be there as much. The team has you and Maria.”

Yelena scoffs. “I am not you. Neither is Maria.” She shakes her head. “You cannot just check out. You need to be there.”

Kate seems to remain impassive to the situation, lowering her eyes to her feet as she says, “Well then maybe I just didn’t feel like being there.” 

Hearing that makes Yelena suddenly very upset. “What?” She pauses to get a handle on her emotions. Then she swallows the lump in her throat. “Why not? You’re needed. I need you.”

There’s a desperate tone to Yelena’s voice. Kate notices it and it causes her to meet the blonde’s gaze again. 

Yelena decides to be completely honest and raw with the woman in front of her, maybe that will get the message through. 

“I cannot do this alone, Kate Bishop.” Yelena admits quietly. “I need you to be by my side because we are a great team. The girls need you to bring back the heart we all lost when you stopped coming around. You inspire them. You motivate them in a way that I am unable to.”

Kate turns away from Yelena, facing the wall. The blonde is at a loss. She has no idea what she did to push the younger woman away. Kate’s demeanor seems to be devoid of any emotions; it does not look like she will budge. 

Feeling like this is a silent dismissal, Yelena goes to leave before she can make matters worse.

“I need to keep my distance.” Kate admits just as Yelena’s hand reaches for the door. 

The blonde slowly turns back around to meet Kate's gaze. Kate’s body language has done a complete flip. It’s like seeing Yelena give up had knocked down whatever walls Kate had tried to build up around her. 

Now, there’s a look on the other woman’s face that guts Yelena. Kate looks completely wrecked. 

Yelena closes some of the distance between them but still remains far enough to let Kate have her space. She nods at the brunette to continue.   

“I’m too close,” Kate adds, her voice strained, “I’m getting too close to the team. I’m letting my emotions control my decisions.” She shakes her head. “I’m the general manager. I have to be able to make the hard calls and I can’t do that if I treat everyone like a friend.”

“I understand that lines may have blurred, Kate Bishop.” Yelena acquiesces. “You are the boss. And, a boss who spends 24/7 with her employees can raise some speculation.” 

Kate nods, the tension is her shoulders being released as it sounds like Yelena understands what she’s implying. 

“But,” The blonde starts, waiting for those blue eyes to meet her green ones. “Since we seem to be putting everything out there, it feels like there's more to what you are implying." She tilts her head and asks, "What about me?”

Then the look of relief is gone as quickly as it came. Kate looks conflicted now. She doesn’t make a move to answer so Yelena continues. 

The blonde takes another step towards the other woman. Her moves are slow but deliberate. “Are you getting too close to me, Kate Bishop?” 

“You have to stop calling me that,” Kate weakly protests.

Yelena raises an eyebrow. “Stop calling you by your name?” She tilts her head. “What should I call you instead?”

Kate shakes her head and repeats, “I’m your boss.” Then, she says shakily, “We can’t be so familiar with each other.” 

“I have called you Kate Bishop a hundred times now and-”

“Well it’s too many!” Kate argues, taking a step backwards. “It’s a hundred times too many because we both know that there’s a fondness in the way you say my full name.” 

Yelena remains silent. She won’t deny it; the other woman is right. 

Kate shakes her head. “Look, we can’t do this.” She takes another deep breath and exhales slowly. “It’s better for the team if I distance myself because-” 

Yelena pushes, “Because why?” She shrugs helplessly, still at a loss for how they’ve reached this point. “Did I offend you? Hurt you? Step out of line?” She huffs in frustration. “I want to make this right but how can I do it if I do not know what I did wrong.” 

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Yelena.” Kate rushes to explain. “I just-” She shakes her head. “Nothing.” Then she averts her gaze to the floor. 

“It does not seem like it is nothing, Kate.” Yelena says quietly as she tries to read the woman in front of her. 

For a brief moment, Yelena's thoughts turn in a direction that she had not considered in a while. It makes her heart constrict at the thought of the other woman's answer. 

Yelena swallows the lump in her throat as she says, “I clearly did something wrong and you do not want to break the news to me.” 

Kate’s head whips up to look at Yelena. “Yelena-” 

“Am I being traded?” The blonde asks desperately. Her heart pounds as she poses this possibility. “Is that it?” 

“What?” Kate's eyes go wide. She shakes her head. “No, of course not. Why would you think that?” 

Yelena shrugs helplessly, feeling lost and a little panicked. “What else am I to think, Kate B-” She stops herself. “Just Kate. If it is not that, then what is it? I will fix it. I will do whatever it is that needs to be done because I cannot lose you!” 

The brunette tilts her head. “Lose me?” 

“The team.” Yelena hastily explains. “I mean, I cannot lose the team.” She huffs. “You know what I mean.”

Kate’s blue eyes pierce into Yelena’s. It’s like she’s trying to read the blonde’s mind. A few seconds, that feel like hours to Yelena, later and Kate speaks. 

“It’s not bad,” The brunette sighs. “It’s just unprofessional.”

Yelena raises her eyebrows. “What is unprofessional?” 

Kate closes her eyes for a moment. She takes a deep breath in and then out. Then she looks at Yelena. “I have feelings for you.”

The blonde pauses and tilts her head. “You what?” 

“I like you.” Kate scoffs. “And, it’s ridiculous because one minute, we are like oil and water.” Then she starts pacing in front of the other woman. “You infuriate me so much and you just know how to push so many of my buttons.” 

Kate shakes her head and continues to ramble, “But then another minute, you are able to read me so well that we can communicate without speaking. I’ve never worked so seamlessly with someone once we laid out our differences and used them to our advantage. It’s like we were meant to-”

The rest of Kate’s spiral is cut off when Yelena closes the rest of the distance between them. The blonde stops Kate’s nervous pacing by placing one of her hands on Kate’s waist and the other one on Kate’s face. 

The sudden change causes Kate to stutter. Slowly, she places one of her hands on Yelena’s cheek. Then she unconsciously changes how she is standing so she can lean her forehead against Yelena’s. 

The difference in their height has never been so pronounced until now. The GM has several inches on the hockey captain.  

“Kate Bishop,” Yelena says softly as she looks into those blue eyes. 

Kate clears her throat. “Yeah?” 

Yelena smiles fondly. “You talk too much.”

“I get that a lot.” Kate says shyly. 

The blonde nods. “I am going to kiss you now, if that is alright with you.” 

The brunette continues to stare for a beat. Yelena watches the resolve on Kate’s face slowly fade. 

After a few painfully long seconds, Kate nods. Then without any hesitation, Yelena tilts her head up and places her lips against Kate’s. 

The kiss is soft at first, tentative even. But then the brunette sighs into her mouth and Yelena is done for. 

The blonde feels Kate maneuvering them so now Yelena’s back is against the door. Kate nudges Yelena’s legs apart with her knee and slots her thigh in between them. 

In turn, their kiss shifts from soft to passionate. Yelena gets lost in it for a few minutes. It’s all teeth, tongue and heat. It’s like how they fight but it feels insurmountably more pleasurable. 

Kate’s hands run through silky blonde locks. Yelena’s hair is normally tied back but her natural blonde waves have always been alluring to the younger woman. 

Yelena feels Kate scratch at her scalp and it causes a shiver to run down her spine. She pulls the brunette impossibly closer to her.

Wanting to take back some semblance of control, Yelena pushes away from the door and moves them backwards until the back of Kate’s legs hit the bed. 

They pull away to catch their breaths and to allow Kate to fall back on the bed, with Yelena quickly following after her. The blonde presses every inch of her body against Kate’s, molding them together so tight that she can’t really tell where she ends and Kate begins.

For the pair, there has always been tension. 

At first, it was created because of unfair assumptions and an unknown future. They were both fighting the same battle but instead of being on the same side, they were fighting each other. Back then, Yelena never would have thought their tension would shift in this direction.  

But it did. Slowly and inconspicuously. The more time they spent together, the more Kate and Yelena were able to understand each other. Yelena received insight on Kate’s drive and Kate started to understand the motivation behind Yelena’s every move on the ice. 

Their tension has been building for the last few months and now it’s being released. Through heated words and even more heated actions. 

Yelena does not want to lose the feeling of finally acknowledging it all and based on Kate’s reactions, neither does she. 

________________

The next morning, Yelena wakes up from the most restful sleep she has had in a while. It takes her a moment to get her bearings but once the memories of last night come flooding back to her sleep-hazed mind, the blonde shifts her attention to the other side of the bed. She is expecting to see Kate’s sleeping form, hoping to spend a few blissful minutes holding the younger woman in her arms. 

Instead, she finds the other side of the bed empty. 

It’s not hard to find the brunette. Kate's hotel room isn’t that big. The other woman is on the balcony, a cup of coffee in her hands and her eyes red-rimmed. 

“Shit.” Yelena mutters, not expecting to see unshed tears in her new lover's eyes. “Kate Bishop, what is wrong?” She asks as she closes the distance between them to wrap the brunette up in a firm embrace. 

Kate shakes her head, pulling away to look at Yelena. “I’m sorry, I-” She trails off, clearing her throat as she tries to collect her thoughts. 

At first, Yelena’s mind goes to the worst conclusion. She assumes the other woman regrets last night, regrets her and all her baggage. 

Did she pressure the younger woman into facing whatever it is she was feeling? She hopes Kate doesn’t hate her for it. 

“It’s not you,” Kate manages to say as Yelena breaks out of her panic. “I’m sorry, I don’t-” She wipes a few tears away before she admits, “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I don’t know how to do this.”

Yelena shrugs helplessly, “Kate, I am sorry but I do not know what you are referring to.” She takes Kate’s hand in her own. “Did I do something? Did I overstep?” 

“No, not at all.” Kate amends. She kisses the back of Yelena’s hand. “Last night was amazing.” 

Yelena smiles and nods in agreement. “It was.” 

Then the brunette chokes back a sob. 

“If everything was amazing, then why are you so upset?” Yelena asks gently. 

Kate scoffs, “It’s not fair that I meet someone that I am crazy about, who likes me and challenges me and makes me better, but she works for me. I am falling for my employee.”

Trying to lighten the mood, Yelena squeezes Kate’s hands. “We are still talking about me, da?” 

Kate rolls her eyes fondly, nudging Yelena on the arm. “Yelena!” 

The blonde exhales. She moves closer to Kate and kisses her cheek before resting her forehead against Kate’s. 

“If it makes you feel any better, I have not the faintest idea on what to do either.” She sighs. “Falling for the GM was not on my to-do list for this season.” 

Kate laughs, shaking her head. “I would have been concerned if it was at the start of the season since it would’ve been my dad.” She manages to joke. 

Yelena smiles, glad to see Kate’s eyes light up a little more at the mention of her father. 

The blonde kisses Kate softly on the lips. “I was not expecting you, Kate Bishop.” Yelena admits, “But you are the best surprise I could have ever asked for.” 

Kate blushes, shifting so that she can melt into Yelena’s side and bury her face in the crook of her neck. 

The pair fall into a comfortable silence as they try to digest their situation and what it means for their futures. 

“When I was given the job because of my dad,” Kate says as she breaks the silence, “I hadn’t planned on staying long.”

Yelena raises an eyebrow. “Really?” 

Kate nods. “Yeah, it was supposed to be temporary.” She sighs. “Hockey was always my dad’s thing that I liked enough. I always preferred archery or martial arts.” 

Yelena nods but she remains silent, waiting for Kate to continue.

“It was supposed to be temporary but then everyone said I couldn’t do it.” Kate continues. “Even you.” 

The blonde blushes. “Sorry, detka.” 

Kate waves her off. “I’m not bringing it up for you to apologize but because of everyone’s lack of faith in me, it drove me to prove them wrong.” She laughs. “It was a stupid reason but it worked. I stayed but I never thought I would like this job as much as I do now. It's amazing.” 

Yelena smiles. “You are a natural.”

The brunette kisses Yelena quickly before she continues. “Thank you. It means a lot coming from you.” She sighs. “Doing this, it makes me feel closer to my dad now that he’s gone. Honestly, I was worried that being the boss would sour my outlook on it but it turned out to have the opposite effect.” 

The blonde tilts her head, a fond look on her face. “It did?” 

“Yeah, it made it so much better.” Kate answers. 

Yelena pulls Kate into her lap and kisses the side of her head. “You made it better.” 

“I think you’re a little biased.” Kate teases as she melts further into the blonde. 

The older woman laughs but does not respond. The pair settle into another comfortable silence, watching the sky change colors. 

Yelena speaks first. “Do you want to know what I am thinking about?” She asks suddenly. 

Kate nods. “What?” 

“Let us prove to all those critics wrong.” Yelena insists. “Let us prove that your dad was correct when he teamed us up together.”

The brunette tilts her head. “What do you mean?” 

Yelena smiles. “It means, I think we have an Isobel Cup to win, Kate Bishop.”

________________

The Thunderbolts sweep Montreal in the first round.

Then, they take the second round in five games.

The Brooklyn Thunderbolts are two periods away from winning the Isobel Cup. 

It’s crazy in the arena; the fans and the players are wired. 

Yelena is on the ice, sweat dripping down her face. Her breathing is labored. 

The team has been on the penalty kill three times during this game. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on who she asks, Yelena has gotten the most ice time out of her teammates.

Ever since Kate and Maria’s speech in the locker rooms, the team has been playing with such fierce determination. They’re running on adrenaline and pure passion. 

As the periods have gone on, it’s been making them on edge and more reckless. It’s why there have been so many penalties. 

Thankfully, the period ends fast, which allows the team to break and catch their breaths. Also to get lots and lots of water. 

“Hydrate!” Maria shouts at all the players as they head into the locker rooms. 

Yelena shakes her head as they all walk in. “Too many penalty shots.” 

Sonya groans in agreement. 

Oksana scoffs, slightly in amusement and slightly in exasperation. 

All too soon, the team gets back on the ice. 

Yelena finds Kate behind the bench. Their eyes meet briefly. Those blue eyes light up and then she winks at the blonde. It almost makes Yelena stagger. 

Sonya glides next to her, a smirk on her face. “Focus, Belova. Eyes on the cup, not the pretty girl.” 

The blonde rolls her eyes at her friend but she knows she needs to get her head back in the game. Collecting herself, Yelena controls her face and moves to center ice to take the face-off.

Yelena flies up the ice with Sonya on her left and Ana on her right. 

Her other teammates, Amelia and Iris, are close behind them as they take their places on the blue line. 

Yelena lifts her head and sees a lane right to the net. This goalie has a weak spot, anything that comes in from over her shoulder.

As the game continues, the other team starts to play more aggressively. 

Yelena finds herself pulling up to avoid getting a hard hit for the third time in so many minutes. She hears the roar from the crowd when she evades yet another one. Her quick moves cause the other player to fall from her own momentum. Yelena uses it to her own advantage and takes the slapshot, feeling it hit right in the sweet spot of her blade.

Then, everything moves in slow motion. 

A defense player from the other team straightens her stance. It’s her attempt to get out of the way and avoid knocking the puck into her own net. It does not work in her favor; the player ends up screening their own goalie. 

Then, the goal horn is going off.

Yelena raises her stick in celebration with her teammates as they crowd her against the boards. The volume of the crowd increases so much that she can barely hear her own teammates celebrate. 

The blonde skates back over to her bench to celebrate with the rest of her teammates. They all give high fives.

Then, unlike watching the puck go into their opponents net, the next thing that happens, happens so quickly Yelena doesn't register it until it's too late. 

One moment she’s smiling at Sonya; another moment, Yelena feels her feet go out from under her. 

Then the blonde captain sees stars.

Faintly, Yelena registers her team up in arms on the bench. She sees Sonya and Ana immediately go after the player who knocked her down after the play was already over.

Dazedly, Yelena registers that  it’s Aurora, just like she knew it would be.

Something to know about Aurora is that she and Yelena have a long withstanding rivalry. It went all the way back to college. They were both huge prospects and they were undoubtedly the best players on their respective teams. Then Yelena was drafted over the brunette. Since then, Aurora has held a grudge. Plus the woman is infamously known as the enforcer of her team. She will hit anyone without hesitation. 

Yelena attempts to get back on her feet but her left leg goes out from under her again. Sonya notices immediately and tries to help haul her up. Before she can try, the team trainers are there, shouting at both of them not to move her.  

Maria is there too which is a rarity. The coach never leaves the bench.

“Belova, I swear to whatever higher power is up there that if you’re hurt, I’m going to kill you.” The older woman shouts. 

Yelena rolls her eyes. “You are a regular Florence Nightingale, Maria.” She slurs as she attempts to catch her breath. The wind had been knocked out of her just moments ago; it’s hard to talk given the rough landing on her back. 

“Good to hear that her humor is still intact; I was worried.” Maria says dryly as she looks at the person on Yelena’s other side. 

Belatedly, Yelena realizes that the person on her other side is Wanda. The redheaded trainer looks at her with mild concern and frustration. 

Wanda explains, “She may have a concussion. We need to take her to the quiet room.” 

Yelena groans in protest. “Must you? There is still time left. I am alright. I must-” 

“You need to get up and do as I say,” Wanda states, a no-nonsense look on her face. The redhead is strong-willed. Tiny but mighty. Even Maria is scared of her at certain times.

With that, Wanda, Maria, Sonya and Ana help Yelena off the ice. When she looks back, Yelena is pleased to see Aurora in the penalty. Then much to her surprise, Iris is in their own penalty box too. This could only mean that Iris probably beat the shit out of Aurora as soon as Yelena got hit. At least the chick sticks up for her when she really needs it.

“You have to keep your eyes open.” Wanda instructs once she gets Yelena onto an exam table in the quiet room. “If you feel nauseous or you feel like you have a bad headache, you need to tell me.” 

Before Yelena can answer, the door bursts open. 

Kate rushes in. There’s a mix of worry and anger in her eyes. It’s a déjà vu moment for Yelena as she recalls the last time Kate was all fired up as she burst into the locker rooms. Two very different situations though.  

“Yelena,” Kate says. The look on her face softens when she notices the blonde's state. 

Wanda clears her throat, dragging the couple’s attention away from each other and onto her. “I’ll give you a few minutes. If she throws up, come get me.” Then she leaves the room. 

Yelena holds her hands up, “I am alright, detka.” She assures Kate before the other woman can speak. 

Kate huffs, “Good, or I’ll kill you.” Then she manages a weak smile.

The blonde teases, “That’s what Maria said.”

“I knew I liked her.” Kate says with a small smile. 

Yelena huffs, “Are you going to come closer or just stand by the door?” Yelena asks as she holds out her hands, “I would come to you but I am injured, after all.”

“Shut up,” Kate huffs, but walks over to stand between Yelena’s legs. “You’re not supposed to be talking. This is a quiet room.” She scolds. Then she takes one hand and rests it on Yelena’s cheek. It causes those green eyes to flutter shut. 

Yelena sighs. “I am all sweaty,” She protests. 

Kate shakes her off. “I don’t care.” She moves to kiss Yelena’s forehead, as Yelena's hands rest on her waist. “You gave me a freaking heart attack out there.”

“I am okay, Kate Bishop. I promise.” Yelena says softly, trying to comfort the other woman. “I want to fight the cyka again, but I will be ok.”

Kate furrows her eyebrows. “Are you sure?” 

“Yes.” 

“I need you back out there.” Kate says but leaves it at that. 

Yelena can tell that the brunette wants to say more but she doesn’t. There’s so many things left unsaid, so many things that those blue eyes convey that Kate doesn’t voice.

The pair have only been together for so long but the blonde is confident in how well she knows the other woman. But, she also knows that Kate doesn’t need to say them; Yelena already understands.

“I will finish this, detka.” Yelena eventually says, breaking the silence. Then she insists, “Get Wanda to clear me.” 

Kate shakes her head and exhales. “This is serious, Yelena.” She huffs as she insists. “I don’t mess with concussions.”

Yelena links their fingers together, “I am okay,” She repeats, her tone even softer than before. “We will be okay, Kate Bishop.” Then she raises their hands to kiss the back of Kate’s. “Trust me.”

As green eyes meet blue ones, there is so much conveyed in the silence of the quiet room. 

Despite the lack of words, a promise is made between the pair. 

Then, just minutes later, Yelena is back on the ice. 

________________

The team wins the Isobel Cup.

It’s like Yelena’s incident pushed them even more. Sonya and Iris both score two more goals and that ends it. 

The crowd is absolutely wild. After shaking hands with the other team, Yelena and the rest of her teammates are presented with their trophy.

As the captain, Yelena lifts it over her head first. She looks up and thinks of Derek Bishop. 

This is for you. Yelena thinks. Thank you.

Her eyes fall on Wanda for a moment; the redhead is watching her like a hawk from the bench in case she passes out. The adrenaline of winning seems to be the best medicine for her. 

Yelena takes her victory lap around the ice with a broad smile on her face, hearing the crowd roaring in approval.

As Yelena passes the cup to Sonya, she scans the crowd for Natasha. She knows her sister is somewhere but despite having red hair, Yelena does not find her immediately. Eventually, she spots Natasha in Kate’s usual seat. Her sister sends her a wink before nodding to the ice. 

‘Go find your girl.’ Natasha mouths to her. Or at least that’s what Yelena makes out, she can’t be quite sure. 

Yelena looks around and finds that Kate is with them on the ice. 

The GM and the coach both give speeches. They thank the city and its fans for coming out to support the team. Kate specifically thanks them all for helping her bring her dad’s dream to life.

Yelena meets Kate's eyes after that. The blonde tries to tell Kate without words how proud of her she is. With the way Kate’s cheeks go pink, it tells the blonde got the message across.

Unfortunately, in all of the celebrations and press and excited teammates and fans, Yelena loses sight of Kate for a while. There are parties for her team that she’s expected to show face in. A lot of champagne is opened and spilled throughout the night. 

It’s after the third party the team is dragged to that Sonya finds her. 

“What are you still doing here?” Sonya shouts over the crowd. “Don’t keep our boss waiting.” 

Yelena huffs. “You’re not going to let me live this down, will you?”

“Nope!” Sonya smirks. “But, you already knew that.”

“Cyka.” Yelena mutters. Then she nods over to the rest of their teammates. “Go celebrate.” 

Sonya nods, a more genuine smile forming on her face. “We did it, Belova.”

The blonde nods. “Yeah, we did.” Then she places a hand on the back of Sonya’s neck to draw her closer. She rests her forehead against her friends. “Thank you, sestra.”

The other woman nods. “Thank you, sestra.” 

With that, Yelena breaks away from the excitement. Wanda and Natasha find her before she leaves. The trainer insists that Yelena take her pain pills once she gets home. Natasha sends her a look so Yelena relents. Having two overbearing redheads in her life is interesting for sure. 

________________

To Yelena’s surprise and relief, she returns to her apartment to find Kate already there waiting for her.

“Kate-”

The brunette cuts her off and kisses Yelena immediately as she walks in the door. Weeks of pent up feelings make them both a little desperate.

“I’m quitting,” Kate says in between ardent kisses. She peppering light kisses down Yelena’s neck so the blonde registers the words slowly. 

Yelena freezes once she realizes what the other woman said. She pauses their movements and meets Kate’s gaze. “Wait, what?” Her jaw drops, shocked at the confession. 

Kate takes a deep breath and nods. “I’m promoting Maria and hiring a new coach.”

“Oh.” Yelena mutters, not expecting this change in staffing. 

The brunette shrugs. “It’s better to leave now right? I’m at the top. We won the cup.”

“True.” Yelena agrees. “But then-” She tilts her head. “Then, where are you going to go?”

“I am not going anywhere.” Kate says softly, pecking Yelena lips quickly to calm the blonde. 

The older woman raises an eyebrow. “I am going to need more explanation than that, detka.”

Kate laughs. “Let’s be upfront, I really want to date you.” She smirks. “If I was the general manager dating my team’s captain, that would not look good for either of us.”

The blonde tilts her head back and forth. “Ok, I can understand that but I do not want to be the only reason-” 

Kate smiles. “You’re not; I promise.” She sighs. “I’ve realized that I'm not cut out for this job. I do love hockey, but-” She trials off, like she’s frustrated and slightly disappointed in herself. 

Yelena pulls her closer, whispering. “You can tell me, detka.”

The brunette leans in closer, “You know, you’ll have to tell me what that means soon. You have used that a lot on me recently.” 

“Do not change the subject, Kate Bishop.” Yelena says with a smirk. 

Kate relents. “Ok, fine.” She looks away for a moment before meeting Yelena’s gaze again. “I said yes to this job because my dad wanted me to. It was in his will.” Then she admits, “He also said in his will that if we win the cup, I should leave the team with Maria and find a job that I'm truly passionate about.” 

Yelena quirks an eyebrow. “He really dictated that in his will?” 

Kate laughs, “Yeah he did.” She shakes her head. “My dad and I were really close. I am not surprised to find out that he can know me even better than I know myself at times.”

Yelena kisses Kate’s temple. “Your dad was the best thing that ever happened to this team.” 

“What about me?” Kate says, feigning insult. “Am I not the best thing that happened to the Thunderbolts? We did just win the cup.” 

Yelena laughs. “Come on detka, you are ruining my line.” 

Kate smirks. “Oh there’s a line, huh?” She laughs. “Well, lay it on me, Belova. Give it your best shot.” 

The blonde’s green eyes are bright as she readies herself. “I do not know if you are ready for my suave and debonair ways, Kate Bishop.” 

“What? Yes I am!” 

Yelena smirks. “I don’t know. You did just say ‘give it your best shot’ to a hockey captain. That is a really corny hockey pun.” She shakes her head. “Puns are the lowest form of humor. I mean, Ana and Oksana resort to them.”

Kate huffs as she rolls her eyes. “Oh my gosh, just say it!” Despite her words, she pulls Yelena closer to her.

Yelena smiles, her demeanor softening. “I was going to say that your father is the best thing that happened to this team,” She repeats. Then she leans closer to rest her forehead against Kate’s. “But you, Kate Bishop, are the best thing that has happened to me.”

Kate’s face scrunches up. It’s adorable and Yelena loves it. The brunette tries to hide her blush by pressing her face into Yelena’s neck but it doesn’t work. 

“You’re right, I wasn’t ready for that charm of yours.” Kate quips before kissing the blonde's neck. 

Yelena smiles. “I did warn you.” She looks into Kate’s eyes and suddenly finds a few unshed tears in them. While she doesn’t question them, the blonde brings a hand up to Kate’s cheek to provide some comfort. 

“In all seriousness,” Yelena says, her voice soft. “When we first met, I had completely misjudged you. Then after our fallout, it would have been so easy to just ignore you, maybe even try and hate you.”

Kate smiles through her tears as she listens, “And?”

Yelena matches her smile. “Who could hate you, Kate Bishop?” She exhales. “The second you called me out on my bullshit and challenged me to be better, I knew it was too late for me. When we started really working together, that was it.” 

Kate blushes. “We’re a team?”

Yelena smiles, “A great team. You challenge me. You make me better.” 

“You make me better too, Yelena.” Kate admits. “And even though we won’t be a team on the ice anymore, I think we’ll make a great team off the ice as well.”

The blonde nods. “There was never a doubt in my mind about that, detka.”

“What does that mean?” Kate asks. She smiles. “I hope it’s a good thing.” 

Yelena pulls Kate closer and whispers against her lips, “Everything with you is a good thing, baby.” 

Then Yelena leans in to kiss Kate again and they get lost in each other. 

It’s so cheesy and cliche and everything that she and her teammates make fun of when a romcom comes on the TV. But Yelena can’t help it; Kate Bishop tastes a little like hope and a lot like something more that she’s not willing to name just yet. 

Regardless, Kate Bishop is the best thing that’s ever happened to her, including the Isobel Cup, and Yelena can’t wait for what happens next for them.