Chapter Text
Being a racing driver is one thing. Being female while racing is a whole other.
But Kate is used to the hate, is used to be called anything but successful, to be a brat and just in formula 2 because of her parents money.
And part of it is true. She is here because her parents have money, but so do the parents of every other driver in every major league. Racing is sadly a really expensive sport. But Kate isn't just some rich kid. She is 21, in her second year of formula 2 and a very respected part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. She is a race winner, has been since her second ever race in F2 and she fought for the championship.
But she sadly came third, due to one too many mechanical failures and one really bad weekend in the Netherlands. But all that made her better and she is mostly ready for her, hopefully last season in F2.
Mostly ready because her old Personal Trainer just quit to be the PT of a more promising Driver. And that sucks because now she has to get a new PT, someone that fits her well and someone that will do everything thats necessary to bring her on a new level of confidence and skill.
"Clint I don't want just anyone. Don't you have someone that you can call. I mean you are a race winner yourself, as if you don't have connections. Or something that is helpful except to say that everything will be fine. Nothing is fine at the moment." Kate speaks defeated. Her phone is clutched in her hand, knuckles turning white with brute force.
"Kate, listen. I'm trying my best. But the PTs aren't flying from the sky and you and I both know you can be a bit difficult to work with. No offense." Clint says it bluntly because he knows he's right.
"Wow... Thanks." there is s pause from both of them. It takes a moment but Kate has an idea.
"But what about Andrea?" Kate asks hopefully. She hears Clint sigh.
"I'll speak to her and ask her if she knows someone. You know she isn't involved with being a PT for racing drivers anymore. But maybe she knows someone who knows someone. Listen I'll call you back. Just keep practicing. Do some sim work."
Kate rolls her eyes. Clint knows very well that she is on her way to do just that. So she bids him goodbye and makes her way into her garage, bag slung over her shoulder.
For someone who is only 21 she has a ridiculous amount of cars. But they are her passion and not just the new shiny ones. She likes to work on them when she has the time. Her and her dad did it all the time when she was younger.
In her home garage is a Ferrari Cabrio California T and a Ferrari 458. She loves those cars but they are so flashy sometimes. Kate knows she herself can be flashy and its a quality she does't always like but lets be for real, who wouldn't be flashy as a racing driver.
So she takes her 458 and starts driving to the PREMA headquarters.
She has many places where she or her parents have a house or an apartment. But at the moment she is in Italy. The home of Ferrari and PREMA so she really feels a bit more at home, even though her parents still live primarily in the states.
Clint doesn't call her for the next 5 hours because he knows she is busy in the simulator and with her engineer Steve.
Steve is a cool dude. Kate and him are good friends and an even better duo on track. So it shouldn't be a surprise that she asks for his advice while they eat their lunch.
But what comes as a surprise is, that he seems to have someone in mind.
"What do you mean you might know someone? Do you or do you not?" Kate asks in disbelieve. He has to tell her, it could be a match made in heaven. Maybe a bit early to say that but Kate can get quite excited. Yeah like a puppy its Clints voice in her head again.
Steve chuckles
"Oh i do know someone but she is wrapped up with someone else so I'll have to asks a someone some questions and will be getting back to you with more infos." he tells her. Then he walks away and Kate is left with her lunch half eaten and a bit of hope in her belly.
Later when Kate is in her home gym stretching and listening to some Taylor Swift her music suddenly stops. Alexa lets her know that Clint is calling. So she picks up and braces herself.
"So Steve had an incredible idea and I may be a tiny bit jealous that I didn't think about it first. But never mind. I made you an appointment for Friday 4 p.m. sharp. It's near the facility and you are meeting a potential candidate. She is currently with another driver in another series but she has been hinting to end that relationship since the end of last season. So she is ready for someone new."
Clint speaks so fast, he rivals Kate. But Kate is way too excited to tease him about it.
"Won't you tell me who it is?" is her only question. And it comes out way calmer than she expected it to. Maybe her pokerface has improved.
"Oh yeah. It's Yelena Belova. She is currently on her way over and we will meet her on Friday." Clint explains. Kate nods her head as if he could see her. Than she registers what he said.
"Like THE Yelena Belova?! The one who was part of Lewis's Team in 2019? That Yelena? Clint wtf?! And how does Steve know her? Or you for that matter? She is one of the best, if not the best PT!?"
"Oh you know... She may be Nats sister." Kate can picture him with his hand rubbing his neck and looking sheepishly. Kate gasps.
"Yelena Belova is the sister of Natasha Romanoff? The ex driver Natasha Romanoff who has not only been in F2 but has also won more than 15 races in 3 seasons?! She is the sister of the Black Widow?!"
"Kate keep your cool. You're fangirl-ing way too much right now."
"Yeah you try being a female icon duo like these two." Kate answers defensively. She can feel Clint rolling his eyes at her but she knows she is right.
"Friday can't come fast enough." She says and hangs up. Her stretching routine is far from finished.
Friday does come pretty fast, seeing as the phone call with Clint took place on a Wednesday. So Kate may be a bit nervous. She isn't really the typ to get nervous in such situations but something about Yelena fascinates her beyond believe.
She is so wrapped up in getting her makeup ready that she forgets to pick an outfit and ends up just tossing on her Ferrari Academy Driver T-Shirt. It's her fav anyway. It represents her passion and how far she has made it.
So dressed in light blue high waist jeans, white sneakers, her t-shirt and a matching Ferrari cap, she drives to the rooftop bar where she will meet her (hopefully) new PT.
Getting to the bar is easy, while getting out of the parking lot is a bit tricky. She is in Italy and she is dressed in Ferrari red, so it is to be expected when a group of people ask for her autograph. She happily sings everything that isn't thrown at her. She is maybe a bit late to her meeting but it's nothing new for her.
Seeing Yelena Belova is a very earth shattering experience. How can someone be that beautiful. Kate has stopped walking. Like she can't physically walk anymore because Yelena is that beautiful.
Someone shoves her and she is in the midst of complaining when she registers it was Clint who shoved her in the direction of Yelena.
A smoky chuckle is heard and then Kate sees a hand outstretched towards hers. She takes it in hers and wonders why Yelena's hand is so callused.
"Kate Bishop. It is not very nice to not introduce oneself to others." It's the first thing she says and why the fuck does she have to have a Russian accent that makes Kate want to propose to her.
Life is so unfair sometimes.
She is still holding her hand. Oh fuck she is still holding Yelena's hand and she hasn't said anything in way to long.
"Well. I forget my manners sometimes.... Es... Especially when I want to make a good impression." Kate also has a tendency to ramble when she is nervous. And if it wasn't clear already, she is extremely nervous.
But to her surprise Yelena laughs and slips her hand form Kates hold. Kate misses her touch already.
"Well Kate Bishop, you are not the only one who wants to make a good impression, so I suggest we skip that part and begin to get comfortable with each other. It'll be quite a season." Yelena says it like she speaks about the weather, but she has just agreed to be her PT, or has she?
"I suggest we sit and eat. Than we talk business. Kate can't really think when her stomach is empty." Clint chimes in. And if looks could kill, boy this ex driver would be dead on the floor.
After sitting, eating and talking for a bit about nothing in particular it is time for business, as Clint had said earlier.
"So you really want to work with Kate? Are you sure? She can be a bit like an overexcited puppy." Clint says it to Yelena. And Kate is offended.
"Shouldn't you try to get her to want to be on my team? Like whose side are you on old man?" Kate couldn't help the jab. Yelena laughs breathlessly. Clint now looks a bit offended.
"Well Kate Bishop, it seems like he just wants to be upfront. A quality I appreciate greatly. And yes he should be a bit more positive about this arrangement. But he already knows that I want a change and a chance to work with one of the promising rising stars of Formula 2. So don't be to harsh on him."
It's the second time that Kate is speechless while being around Yelena. And she only knows the blonde for less then 30 minutes.
"Well- I... Yeah but - I.." she stammers. But thankfully Clint has decided to help her get Yelena on board.
"What she wants to say is thank you and that she is excited to be working with you. Let's discuss some more about your contract." Manger Clint is back and Kate is very grateful.
"Well I will have to move here. I can make that happen in the next say, 2-4 weeks. In the meantime I will have to stay at yours and will begin Kates training... On Monday." Kates eyes almost pop out of their socket. Yelena is willing to be up and running in less than 48 hours. The commitment makes Kate feel a bit proud and a lot scared.
"You can live with me." It's out of her mouth before she has thought about it probably. Clint looks at her funny. Like she's crazy. But Yelena smirks.
"We will be by each others side for very long hours Kate Bishop. I'm the best PT there is and you're sure you want to spend even more time with me than is necessary?" Yelena says it with an easy smile but Kate likes to think she can see a bit of uncertainty in her eyes. So she does what she does best. Double down.
"I think it is beneficial for developing our relationship and I think we will have fun with each other, don't you?" She should be careful with challenging this women. She doesn't know her but Kate is so sure it's the right thing to say. And she is proven right when Yelena smirks and nods confidently.
"Well Kate Bishop. It seems like you have yourself a deal."