Chapter Text
Kate and Yelena’s relationship wasn’t meant to last.
Actually, their connection wasn’t meant to be real in the first place.
It all started with Peter Parker. A gangly, baby-faced boy who set foot in Stuyvesant High School two months in in the semester. Peter is plainly awkward, not seeming to know when to either speak up or shut up. His innate ability to embarrass himself in mundane situations means that he’s led a life of shallow relationships. This also turned him into a bit of a recluse. But that doesn’t mean that Peter isn’t susceptible to falling in love - especially love at first sight. Because that’s exactly what happens to him on his first day when he sees a tall, pretty girl walking past him by the school entrance, while a guy named Ned, his counselor-designated “compass buddy”, stands next to him. Ned follows his line of vision.
“Don’t even think about it, dude.” Ned says, looking back at him seriously, paired with a disapproving shake of his head.
“I didn’t even say anything!” Peter laughs incredulously.
“Well, I know what you’re thinking.” Ned pauses. “There is a line of guys that want MJ, but the problem is her parents. I’ve heard that her parents are very, very strict and will slice your balls off if you even attempt to take any of their daughters out on a date.”
Peter follows Ned as he starts walking towards Peter’s first class that’s written on his schedule. So, the pretty girl’s name is MJ, unfortunately has strict parents, and has sisters. Peter thinks, already making mental notes about a girl she hasn’t even properly met.
“I’ve heard crazier.” Peter mumbles, feeling a little discouraged.
And she also happens to be seated in the same exact classroom Ned had just stopped in. Oh shit.
“Here you are. Seems like you have the same class as your girlfriend.” Ned jokes, saying ‘girlfriend’ in a sing-songy tone.“Good luck, I’ll meet you back here after the bell rings.” He hands Peter his schedule back, preparing to turn around before he seems to suddenly remember something.
“Wait, you have Spanish!”
“So?”
“So, I heard that MJ needs a Spanish tutor. Jump at that chance if your crush-at-first-sight is that serious. You better be ready to teach though!” With that, Ned waves goodbye and heads towards his own class, leaving Peter seriously considering that proposition just to get a chance to talk to MJ.
Well, I better brush up on my Spanish skills. Peter nods to himself, entering the door, and committing to the idea.
Peter ends up tutoring MJ, and he sincerely does not know how it happened, but it’s been going so well even if it’s at his other grades’ expense. He’s been staying up late planning curriculums and study guides for every tutoring session he has with MJ, and he’s going as far as spending his lunch re-learning how to speak Spanish himself. He has to make it believable that he’s capable of teaching somehow.
Peter sits down in his usual chair at the library after school, waiting for MJ to show up. So far, he’s been pretty professional during the sessions, telling himself it’s less likely he’ll embarrass himself in that way. But today is different. He had promised himself (and Ned, who ends up sticking with him even though he knows his way around the school competently now) that he’ll make a conversation that doesn't just pertain to conjugations and baños. He wants to get to know MJ, his balls getting cut off be damned.
MJ finds him shortly after, putting her heavy books and backpack down as she sits down. She sounds a little breathless as she greets Peter, which he finds adorable. He greets her back with a smile.
Halfway through their curriculum, MJ asks to take a break to mull over everything Peter just taught her. Peter braces himself as silence stretches over them both.
Okay, this is my cue. A change of subject, a change of pace.
“So, MJ…” Peter starts nervously, hoping his brain catches up with his mouth. “What are your thoughts on…dating?”
MJ blinks at him. “Dating?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’s high school right?” Oh shit, word vomit incoming. “A lot of people are dating around us, and it’s just this thing that I ask people who are single.” MJ furrows her brows, as if she’s not following. “Assuming that you’re single…which if not, then definitely feel free to not answer that, of course.” Strong finish. Great going, dumbass!
MJ shrugs at him when she’s sure he was done talking. “Well, I’d like to date someone before I die, hopefully. But my parents kind of make that impossible. And my sister.”
“Your sister?” Peter asks, internally sighing in relief that his effort of conversing past Spanish subjects went somewhere.
“My sister, Yelena? You’ve probably seen her walking around with a permanent resting bitch face. Just, straight up always scowling. Makes it impossible for people to approach her, which makes it impossible for her to date. People tend to not make a move when you look like you’ll stab them just for saying hi to you.”
Peter chuckles weakly. “But, how is that your problem though? If I could ask.”
“My parents are only allowing me to date if she dates. They made this stupid rule because they know she’ll never do it since she thinks everybody in this school are musty cretins. Her words, not mine.” MJ groans, her exasperation evident.
“So, you’ve never been on a date? Ever?”
“Did you hear a word I just said?”
“No, no, yeah, of course!” Peter waves his hands in front of him wildly, placating. “It’s just that, I’ve never been on one either, and it’s nice to have someone to relate with.” MJ looks at him, her eyes narrowing.
“If you were to go on one though… where would you want to go?” Peter asks hesitantly. At this point, he might as well give it all he’s got, no matter how much effort it’s taking to make the words go past his mouth.
With his question, MJ looks at him with a glint in her eyes, as if catching onto something. After all, Peter is cute to her, and he’s obviously smart if he’s offering tutoring services. Cute and smart are not bad adjectives to her at all.
“I don’t know. I love rides and games, so probably the carnival or something.”
“I’ve always wanted to visit Coney Island!” Peter exclaims, hope budding in his stomach with the way MJ is humoring him.
MJ smiles at him sweetly. “Well, if it weren’t for my sister, I’d go with you.”
“You mean that?”
As MJ nods at him, Peter left the library that day with a cosmic smile on his face. He’d essentially just asked MJ out (without even meaning to!), and she had said yes (basically, right? He’d never confirmed if she’d go as a friend or a date, but a win is a win!). Now, he just needs to figure out how to convince MJ’s sister, Yelena, to date someone. Or to convince someone to date Yelena.
Comes in Kate Bishop.