Work Text:
Cause the sign on your heart
Said it's still reserved for me
Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?
- Taylor Swift, The Alchemy
"You have one fork?"
"I'm one person."
Yelena cradled the shimmery lilac painted silverware daintily between her fingers. It had only been a few days since she last saw the archer, but those striking blue eyes had been bugging her mind ever since she left New York.
The frustration and grief of Natasha’s death was still hanging after her fight with Barton, but there was a weird buzzing emotion sprouting in her heart, pulling her to want to visit the city again.
She couldn’t put a finger to it.
Back in that apartment, she had the intention of giving Kate a scar or two if she did not confess to Clint’s whereabouts, but the girl was just so genuine and good despite their initial hostile greeting, that her plans was thwarted.
But perhaps it was before, back on the rooftop where her intrigue first grew. Kate had a killing shot, but did not take it. She saw the other mystery girl on the rooftop take an arrow to the shoulder so the archer was capable of at least hurting her. She still remembers the adrenaline flowing through her veins at their stand-off, the shake of her head to warn Kate against taking a shot hoping to deter the archer knowing at their distance she'll not be fast enough to dodge it. She remembers the slight relief and confusion when Kate lowered her bow- and a question of why?
She smirked, as her memories floats to their little tussle at the Rockefeller. Kate could hold her own to some degree but she was inexperienced and Yelena had fun during their little play fight. That bold slap across her face- honestly impressed her because she would have left anyone else without hands if they even tried. The ridiculous question of getting drinks together- it surprised her that she played into it and even said yes.
Was Kate Bishop spending time with her friends for New Years? Or maybe Clint is introducing her to the other posers that very moment...
“It’s just a fork.”
Annoyed, Yelena drops the cutlery back into the display crate, mumbling some curses in russian. A figure steps beside her- Sonya, a friend and fellow widow gave her a pointed look.
"Pick one and let’s go. You have been staring at the forks for ages, we are done with the shopping.”
Right. They were out getting some supplies for the new recovered widows that have landed in Melina’s farm that afternoon. She had texted Valentina right after leaving Clint by the fallen Christmas tree, informing her that she was extending her holiday before hopping on the earliest flight back to the farm.
Her parents welcomed her with open arms as she busied herself with the other widows and farm work. She needed time to accept that there was no one to blame for her sister’s death. She wanted to simmer alone but there was this unexplainable longing to go back to New York that kept her mind busy in other ways.
She took one last glance at the forks.
Her fingers involuntarily reached forward for the silverware once again. She huffed, having made up her mind. Nonchalantly, she placed the fork with the rest of the items at the cashier, and if Sonya noticed, she did not comment on it.
As the widows brought the items back to the barn, Yelena fished out her fork, walking back into her room. She placed the silverware carefully on her table before shuffling through her room and realising she didn't have a wrapper or box of some sort. It would be weird to put just a fork into a plain old envelope, right? She searched her room one more time before returning to the living room, in hopes of finding what she needs while Melina was still in the kitchen cooking dinner.
“моя дочь, why are you sneaking around like a thief in your own home?” Melina called out, a spatula in hand, brow raised.
Дерьмо. Yelena sighed internally. Only her mother was ever able to sneak up on her.
“Do we have wrapping paper?” She asked airily.
“I do not remember it is any of the girls’ birthdays. Who are you gifting a present to?”
“No one.”
Melina shook her head. “I am your mother. Does it have anything to do with the fork? Sonya said you were looking at cutlery for a long time when you were in town.”
“No. I just need it.” She groaned, mentally slapping her friend in the face. Why did she get that fork again? Stupid Kate Bishop and her ocean eyes…
“You are blushing.”
“I am not.” Yelena countered, agitation in her voice.
“Your cheeks are a tint of pink.” Melina remarked. “Do not lie to me. You shift your left foot to a hundred and five degrees at the end of your sentence when you lie. It is a bad habit, моя дочь.” Her mother ambled further into the living room and picked out a small rectangular gift box underneath some books on the floor.
The assassin had told her parents about her mission in New York, briefly touching on her encounter with the archer, but not enough for her parents to pry for anything else. “I want to give it to Kate Bishop. She only has one fork.” She confessed as she received the empty gift box from her mother, knowing there was no point hiding it anymore.
Slumping on the sofa, she pretended to flip through the television channels.
“Ah. Do you want me to book your flight back to New York then?”
“No need. I will ship it.”
“Nonsense. You do not need to be embarrassed about showing interest in someone. It is perfectly normal to have feelings and want to act on it. I will get Mason to fetch you a ride for tomorrow morning.”
“Mama… please…”
“Trust your mother. You go back tomorrow, да?”
All Yelena could do was groan into a pillow.
.
.
.
Touching back down in New York, Yelena immediately made a beeline to Kate’s apartment. She slipped through the window, only to be greeted with empty space. A pang of disappointment hitting her chest as she realised that Kate had moved out.
Whipping out her tracking device, she switches on the tracker she had clipped onto Kate’s suit during their encounter at Rockefeller. (What? She had to keep tabs on people who might cause trouble.)
She let out a hum of satisfaction as the GPS blinked, leading her to another apartment five blocks down.
Shooting her grapple up the fire escape at the side of the building, she easily made her way to the window pane. It wasn’t even locked and Yelena scoffed as she slipped into the apartment, landing softly on the stairs of the loft.
A fury creature shot right at her legs as she kneeled down to give the friendly golden retriever some scratches. This must be the dog she saved. No sense of self preservation. Just like the owner. She twists its collar to read the dog tag. Lucky. She gives the dog one last pat on the head before standing up.
It was uncharacteristically quiet as she made her way down to the main living room. There was a new work space as she scanned the desk- different arrow heads and fletchings scattered around. She smirks, looking at the new purple bow riser that was propped up in the center.
Her mind drifts to Kate as she wonders what to say to the archer. The Red Room had taught them many things. To survive. To fight. To kill. To read body language. To create their characters for deceiving their marks.
Should she be mysterious? Confident? Scary? Did she really need to put up an act with Kate Bishop? There was just something about that girl and Yelena did not know if she wanted to find out.
She passes by the television, a few trophies and photo frames filled up the cabinet stand. She stares at the new photo of Kate with Barton’s family and makes a mental note to text Melina about her arrival later on.
After Natasha’s death, it hadn’t been smooth sailing with her parents. Alexei was a mess, getting drunk and crying while Melina turned ice cold. It had taken them many fights to return to their pre-blip dynamics- not like there was much family there in the first place. Her father was still a pain and her mother was stoic to the bone but they were her parents. The only real thing she had left. And despite them being terrible, they loved her and she loved them.
She wonders if her parents would like Kate.
Okay. Let's not go there.
Cringing that thought away, she walked further in towards the open kitchen. Pulling out the drawers, she searches for the cutlery.
There was only still one fork. One spoon. One knife.
Maybe I should have gotten her a whole cutlery set.
Yelena placed the gift box on top of the kitchen island as she heard the jiggle of house keys.
Her stomach swooped as soon as she came face to face with the archer.
She sees Kate jump slightly, eyes widened in surprise. Grinning, she greeted the confused archer.
“Hiiii!”
.
.
.
A few months has passed and Yelena had stayed in the city.
So has her confusing feelings.
It was embarrassing really, how many times she kept returning to Kate's apartment.
It started with their first girl's night, where they ate pizza and had vodka shots on Kate’s couch and the archer had introduced her to the American Pie movies. From then, she remembers gagging at other movies like Twilight and being impressed with John Wick. She teases Kate who can’t hold her liquor pass eight shots and always needing a chaser. They play darts on some nights and she gets introduced to a gaming device called a PlayStation.
She tries to forget how her chest tingles every time Kate’s striking blue eyes land on her. She could tell, the overwhelming attention Kate gives her every time and she yearns for it, as much as she tries to convince herself that she hates it.
Her brain short circuits the first time Kate touches her.
Their fingers brushed as they cleared their pizza boxes up. Kate lets out a panicked apology when Yelena flinched instinctively, startled by her own heart that skipped a beat. She sees the worry etched onto Kate's face and assures her immediately it was just a reflex crafted out by the Red Room. She doubles down by scooting a little closer to Kate that night, feeling the archer's thigh against hers and their shoulders touching as they sat on the couch.
She congratulates herself when Kate boldly reaches out for her hand to look at her rings one night and she lets her. Of course she had rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed but Kate didn't need to know how pleased she felt inside anyway.
Of course she has allowed her fellow widows to touch her too.
But Kate was different.
Her heart doesn’t immediately go haywire when hugging her widow sisters. Her hands doesn’t get clammy. She doesn’t instantly need to divert her eyes away and act composed, as though Kate did not send her whole body buzzing in delight.
She doesn’t stay though.
As soon as Kate falls asleep, she skilfully wraps their shared blanket around the archer before slipping out of the apartment, chiding herself for spending too much time inside.
She still goes away for widow rescues. Putting distance between them as she flies across oceans to Europe and Asia. She does a mission for Valentina too, with a rag-tag team of ex-assassins and super soldiers. They barely made it out alive, and with her battered and bruised body, all Yelena could think about was returning to the apartment in New York instead of Melina’s farm.
But they were just friends.
Yes, Kate was a friend. A good friend that always welcomes her back no matter how long Yelena stays away. A good friend that keeps boxes of kraft mac n cheese and that obscure hot sauce brand Yelena loves that is only found in trader joe’s. A good friend that patches her up after her missions without prying too much.
It was a particularly tedious mission, where she stumbles through the window pane, clutching her side, blood oozing out of her suit. A henchmen had gotten a lucky shot in when she had miscalculated the firing power of his high-tech weapon.
Kate had immediately carried her into the bathroom and Yelena had blamed the loss of blood to her delirious state as the touch of the archer’s fingers burns her skin. The top part of her suit was quickly taken off, Kate’s trembling fingers sewing the wound up with uneasiness.
“I could have done it myself.” She huffed, hoping Kate did not notice the goosebumps on her skin wherever the archer has touched.
“If you did you wouldn’t have came back here.” Kate’s voice was final, her eyes determined.
Yelena relents, allowing the archer to help her into fresh clothes. Kate was a stubborn one, but she also felt safe. She observes that stupid archer that carried her onto the bed. Her fetching face. Her alert eyes. Her soft smile.
“Tell me… Kate Bishop... The first night on the roof top, why did you not shoot me?” The assassin asked, her voice hoarse and vulnerable. If she dies from Kate's (frankly barely passable) stitching skills, at least she'll have that answered.
Kate freezes by the bed side, taking a moment to herself, her face going through a series of emotions.
“There was this feeling in my gut when we made eye contact the first time.” The archer rolled her lips together. “…That if I shot that arrow at you, I’ll regret it my whole life. So I didn’t.”
Yelena wanted to scoff but ends up wheezing a little. “You are too trusting, Kate Bishop. You should never let the enemy get away.”
“Well if I shot you, you won't be in my bed right now.” The archer jest, drawing circles round Yelena's wrist.
"Kate." The assassin rasped, needing the archer to remain serious.
"Right. Right." The archer dropped her eyes to their now interlaced fingers. “You didn’t feel like the enemy, okay? A day before, Clint told me a story... of how he was sent to take Natasha out, but he didn’t. The best shot he didn’t take. Perhaps it stuck to me. And maybe in this weird twist of fate, I knew you were mine in that very moment.”
Yelena almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. She was not her sister, Kate was not Clint. And yet a warmth pooled in her stomach. She feels floaty, fatigue taking over her as she thought about how much Natasha would have made fun of her right now. She doesn’t comment on how much the lavender sweater smelled of Kate, nor that she slept with an abundance of peace in the younger girl’s bed that night.
Why would she destroy this precious thing between them by digging too much into her feelings?
It was just Kate.
She definitely did not have a crush.
.
.
.
So… Yelena has a crush.
She falls... slowly then all at once.
It starts small, like all things do- Kate’s touch extending out of their girl’s nights. Like a sleepy Kate in the morning, grumbling “good morning” with a hand landing on the small of Yelena’s back to edge her way over to the coffee machine. The assassin swears her heart almost jumped out of her chest the first time the archer does it.
Then there was Kate who lies her head on the assassin’s lap, aimlessly scrolling through tik tok videos with one hand, sometimes nudging Yelena to watch them too. With her free hand, Kate usually reaches out for Yelena’s, drumming her fingers on the assassin’s knuckles.
And there was also the times where Yelena cooks, and Kate cranes her neck from behind, warm breath tickling the nape of the assassin’s neck, sending chills down her spine. Sometimes the taller girl would wrap an arm around her shoulder, proposing to help, only to be swatted away with the cavil of spoiling the meal prep.
It was fine.
She could handle a little skinship.
The Red Room’s training kicks in most of the time- her body automatically bringing her heart rate back down to a steady pace, schooling back into passive facial features and body language.
But the chemicals of acceptance hits her like white wine after ten shots of vodka and rum during a trip down to Coney Island.
Kate had made it her own personal mission for Yelena to experience the city. They had the High Line, a few broadway musicals, some museums on their list, as well as addresses of old diners- just like how Yelena loved eating at as a child with Natasha and their parents.
The Luna Park at Coney Island was their first stop. The summer air brought on a soft breeze as they strolled around the theme park, taking in the rides, stalls and people around them. It was Yelena’s first time experiencing the intricacies of an amusement park and her heart soared as she dug into a cup of dipping dots ice cream for the first time.
It was late afternoon and they had already taken a few rides- Yelena deciding the Thunderbolt roller coaster was the best ride ever, pulling a paled face Kate to take the ride three times over. She had also enjoyed the Brooklyn Flyer and Astro Tower, with Kate reluctantly agreeing to them.
“Kate Bishop, what if you were to fall from a floating tower up in the sky? You need some practice for your heart to take the adrenaline!” She teased.
Kate chokes. “A what now?”
“The Red Room was up in the sky. I fell off it after destroying чёртова свинья Dreykov’s helicopter when Melina destroyed one of its fan rotators. I thought it would have been a cool way to die but Natasha attached a parachute to me.” She replies, finishing off a corndog. The trauma of the Red Room had always been locked deep in a vault, yet it was scarily easy with Kate.
“Well I’m glad you’re alive.” The archer grins, pulling her over to a snack stand.
“Let me show you something cool.” Kate whispers into the assassin’s ear before facing the teen boy at the stand. She hands over a few bills. “Hey kid, here’s twenty. Mind if I use the machine for a stick?”
He shrugs, scooting over to make space for the archer.
Kate picks up a spoon, pouring a pinch of yellow sugar crystals into the slot. She picks up the stick, skilfully adding different coloured sugar crystals and shaping the candy into a… flower?
Once she was done, the archer snickers to herself, walking back over to Yelena to present the candy.
“Kate Bishop, I know how cotton candy taste like.” Yelena chuckled, amused at the archer’s antics.
“But like, have you tried it as a flower? No you have not! I learnt this during a college carnival once when promoting the archery club and its… a neat party trick? You know, since its officially our first date outside and its customary to receive flowers.” Kate winks playfully, mirth in her eyes.
The archer meant it as a friend date right? Like a “hang out”, as those Americans coin it. They was not in some cheesy teen movie.
Yelena rolls her eyes but could not keep a smile off her face. Red Room training be damned, her heart thumps wildly at the gesture as she picked out a mouthful of cotton candy.
“Bah! Like a cloud disappearing into my mouth!” She replies gleefully, taking another bite. "The flower was a pretty cool trick too. I will admit that, Kate Bishop."
"I knew it!"
They were quick to finish the cotton candy before Kate was running off to the row of game booths.
“Come on! I need to show off some more!” The archer yelled across her shoulder.
“Kate Bishop! Do not run off like Lucky!” Yelena scolded, weaving her way pass the crowd to catch up with the girl in purple flannel.
The archer stopped in front of an archery game of some sort. Yelena snorted. She should have known. The stall had a young woman managing it, behind her were a few balloons and targets with plushies decorating the front. Her face was bored, clearly unimpressed at the failures of the adults and children attempting to get a prize out of the game.
“If you hit the big ballon, its a keychain. The medium one, a coupon for churros. The small one, a small plushie. If you hit more than one you get to pick anything you want, including the bigger toys.” The young woman repeated the instructions in a monotoned voice before dropping the bow and arrows on the table.
“Hey Yelena, best to start thinking which prize you want.” Kate picked up an arrow, nocking it effortlessly.
“Bah! Even I know these silly games are rigged, Kate Bishop.” Yelena shook her head.
Confident Kate was a sight to behold. She was hot. The flexing of her forearm muscle, the slight fiddling of her fingers while she aimed, her calculating blue eyes making adjustments to her stance within a split second.
The archer lets the arrow fly with ease, the largest balloon bursting in a mere second. Without taking a breath, she picks up the next two arrows, nocking them one after the other, causing the other two balloons to explode as well.
Kate turns to the assassin, a satisfied smirk on her face. “You were saying?”
Yelena grunted as she folded her arms, trying to look composed. “That dog toy please.” She pointed to a spitz shaped dog that looked a lot like Fanny.
“Sure.” The employee hopped onto a chair to bring down the large plush toy. She handed it over the counter, into Yelena’s arms.
Kate started laughing then. “Oh my! Its as big as you!” The archer whips out her phone, preparing to take a picture. “Come on, smile for me! I need some proof of the greatest softie assassin."
Yelena rolled her eyes to feign annoyance but complied- she could never really say no to the archer anyway, might as well roll with the punches. Her head poked to the side of the plushie dog’s head and she stuck out her tongue as Kate snapped a picture. She posed for a second more before picking up pace, walking faster to avoid Kate commenting on the pinkish hues of her cheeks.
Yelena felt a little ridiculous, carrying round a huge plush toy but Kate had won it for her and it would be mean to discard it, no?
“Its nice seeing you happy.” Kate remarked after staring her for a few moments.
The statement was just so overwhelmingly genuine that Yelena thinks that’s what would break her- the dam of “Kate feelings” finally shattering through. Her body melts as she desperately struggle to steady herself, looking away to the coral background of the setting sun.
“Yes… I had good time, Kate Bishop.” She replies when she felt confident enough of her voice not cracking.
"Your smile is one of the things I like about you."
Why must Kate Bishop be so... urgh. She snorts, playing off that ludicrous statement even though she felt her heart almost tumble out of her throat.
“Come, let us find dinner.”
“Alright. I googled a diner nearby this morning.” Kate reaches a hand out, holding onto one of the plushie dog’s paw, leading Yelena to the exit, blissfully oblivious to the assassin's inner turmoil.
Being at the diner was no better.
The dim lights of the place reflected Kate’s face in the most stunning of ways. The younger girl was chatting animatedly about something and Yelena fucking swoons, drinking it all in, getting a sense of high as though she had been smoking on Kate’s jokes all damn night.
She laughs when she orders Kate something spicy, the girl never backing down from a challenge but her face immediately turning red as soon as the burger doused in chili went into her mouth. And she giggles at the archer's antics when she jumps up, giving an impromptu dance to a Mick Jagger song that floated out of the jukebox.
Once out of the diner, they stroll hand in hand by a broad walk. Kate had the plushie wrangled under one arm, her free hand free holding onto Yelena’s again as soon as they walked out of the doors and who was she to reject such soft hands.
Kate casts a charming smile with eyes crinkling and Yelena hopes the archer would not notice her reddening cheeks in the twinkling lights. She looks down at their entwined fingers, biting on her bottom lip, a whole damn zoo stomping in her stomach.
It was as clear as the night sky- she had feelings.
But did Kate have them too?
Yelena bits her lip a little harder, resisting the urge to kiss the archer.
She hadn’t exactly been able to observe Kate in a relationship, what if she does this with all of her friends? The archer was naturally flirty and confident in almost any scenario anyway.
Kate was just being Kate.
Of course Yelena was misreading it.
.
.
.
Having a crush was really up there with being chemically subjugated as the worst thing Yelena had experienced.
It was awful, being consumed by Kate’s very being.
She had pretty much moved into Kate’s apartment, evidently by them sharing a bed, her clothes in the extra wardrobe Kate “accidentally” bought and Fanny being Lucky’s companion when the both of them were out.
They even had a routine.
She wakes up, makes them breakfast, Kate gets up twenty minutes later and goes into the kitchen to greet her. If it was a work day for Kate, she would loiter around the apartment while the archer was at Bishop Securities.
It was different today. They were going on a mission to hack into one of Oscorp’s computers to obtain the data file for a faux biochemical formula. Kate had an invitation to Osborn’s R&D event held in the building’s lobby and they were to sneak into the computer room in the midst of it. Her friend Sonya, had tagged along, as they needed someone with a birds eye view and loop the live security footage.
As soon as Kate showed up at Sonya’s place where they were getting ready, her friend let out a loud wolf whistle to her annoyance. The assassin smacked her friend on the back of the head, chiding her in russian to let the younger girl in.
Kate was in a classy, sleek and dashing black tuxedo, slightly blushing at the compliments Sonya was giving.
“Перестань позорить бедную девушку, Соня. (Stop embarrassing the poor girl, Sonya.)” She growled.
“Я натурал. Не слепой. (I’m straight. Not blind.)” Her friend snorted.
“Come, Kate Bishop. Where is your car? We cannot be late.” Yelena rolled her eyes, putting on her heels before heading out of the door.
In the car, she sees Kate’s eyes landing on her silver dress before darting everywhere else. She was in a low v-cut dress with a deep hip slit, with a gun and a few knives strapped underneath, of course.
The archer’s body was stiff and Yelena decides to break a little tension. “Like what you see, Kate Bishop?” She smirked.
“Yeah. Yeah. Just wondering where all your weapons were. It uh-“ Kate clears her throat as she gestured vaguely to the assassin's dress. “Doesn’t seem to be able to hide much.”
Yelena chuckles as she let her fingers dance across Kate’s collar to adjust the bow tie. “Do not worry about me, Kate Bishop. Just be your charming self so we can steal the data, hmm?”
“Эй, сосредоточься на задании. Не будь возбужденным. (Hey, focus on the mission. Don't be horny.)” Sonya called out from the driver’s seat.
Yelena flips her off as her friend barks out in laughter, Kate wide eyed and oblivious.
They made the rest of their way in silence. Sonya stops the car right up front, Kate rushing over to open the door only for her to roll her eyes at the archer's antics. A charming grin greets her and Yelena felt her lips tug upwards as she slips her arm naturally into Kate’s while they made their way up the stairs and into the building.
They made their rounds, first greeting Norman Osborn, the man behind the company, and his son, Harry. The older man had a cold disposition, a fake smile barely reaching his lips as he made small talk with Kate while Harry kept up a conversation with Yelena. They moved on to other investors soon after, seeing if anyone would slip up about the formula.
“Katie! How come you haven’t introduced this beautiful lady to me yet!” A man in a maroon suit walked towards them with a wide grin.
To her surprise, Yelena felt Kate’s grip on her waist tighten, a tight smile on the archer’s lips. She sees them size each other up. Company competitor perhaps?
“And let you steal her away? No thank you, Roberto.” The archer retorted.
“I’m going to introduce myself anyway.” The man glanced at Yelena, a toothy grin taking over his face. He stretched out his hand. “Roberto da Costa. Or Bobby. Heir to A.I.M Technologies. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Kate and I see each other frequently during events like this.”
Bobby ducks his head, giving Yelena a light kiss on her rings-filled knuckles. The assassin groaned internally but fakes an amused smile at his playboy demeanour anyway while having eight ways to kill him in her head already. Greasy men are so annoying.
“Can’t say its always a pleasure.” Kate says through gritted teeth.
“It’s because you are boooring. You know, there’s poker going on downstairs…” Bobby rolled his eyes dramatically before focusing on Yelena again, this time trailing his eyes up and down her dress, stopping very purposefully at her chest. “I think a pretty thing around my arm would give me great luck tonight, yes?”
“Keep your eyes up Bobby or I’ll sock ‘em.” Kate’s face was deathly serious now.
Yelena pats the archer’s lower back in an attempt to convey a warning. The archer was not about to start a fight with this random boy over him ogling her. It was not the first time men were being disgusting creatures and they did not need attention drawn onto them.
“Darling, why don’t we try some dessert?” The assassin taps the lapel of Kate’s tuxedo lightly. “Maybe we’ll join you for that game later on, Mr. Da Costa. See you around.”
Not waiting for his reply, she tugged Kate in the direction of said table. The archer followed without much resistance, not saying a word even after Yelena handed her a tiramisu.
The assassin takes her in- Kate’s jaw was still clenched, exhaling strongly through her nose as she glared into the tiramisu.
Okay, Yelena was worried now.
“Kate.”
“… What?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just didn’t like the way he was staring at you.” Kate exhaled, eyes still glaring at her tiramisu.
Yelena sighed. She should have known Kate's hero complex was simmering to the surface. “You are going to burn a hole through the dessert cup. Get that chivalry stick out of your ass. We are on a mission.”
This snaps Kate out of whatever inner turmoil she was dealing with.
“Sorry. I know. I'll be good. I was just hangry." The archer chugs down the dessert before flashing Yelena a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. " We should head over to the computer room now.”
“Kate, stop looking so rigid. You suppose to be enjoying your time with me, remember?” Yelena scolded playfully. She can pry into this odd behaviour later, they needed to go on with the mission. There was security at each corner of the room and it was important to look as natural as possible before slipping away. “We need to work on you maintaining a neutral face.”
Kate rolled her eyes, shoulder slumping and finally relaxing a little. “Okay. Okay. I’m ready.”
“The change in shift is coming. You have five minutes in the blind spot.” The assassin hears Sonya’s voice in their comms.
“Copy.” She responded, pulling Kate along with her. They slipped through the side door, going pass a small hallway as the number of people dwindled. They leaned against a pillar as Kate pulls out a tablet, handing it over to her.
With a few taps, a loading bar appeared as they waited for the hacking device to download the information they needed regarding the formula. Yelena keeps her eyes on the tablet while Kate keeps a look out.
They were at 91% when she felt Kate's body jerking abruptly, the archer’s taller body pressing up against her as a hand slams onto the pillar just to the side of her face, the other on her waist. The archer let out a grunt, pupils dilating wildly as their forehead pressed together. Yelena hears boots stomping within the next second as she got the cue, slipping the tablet back into Kate’s blazer.
She felt Kate’s fingers digging into her dress as she pushes down a gasp that threatens to rise from the back of her throat. The archer’s warm and unsteady breath mixes with hers as her eyes flutters and her fingers involuntarily reaching out to grab the archer’s lapels.
The tip of Kate’s nose brushed lightly against hers just as a stern cough was heard behind them.
Faking an embarrass giggle she greets the security who stumbles on his words for them to return to the main ballroom. She doesn’t hear the excuse Kate makes before they made their way back.
“Sorry about that. The guard was getting closer and I had to block the view of the tablet somehow.” Kate whispers as they were waiting for Sonya’s car.
“No. That was quick thinking.” She replies, her brain still rebooting from their close quarters a few minutes ago. She sneaked a glance at Kate who was trying to steady her breaths, fingers fiddling nervously on her cufflinks. The younger girl’s face was a little red and Yelena chalks it up to the adrenaline, it was quite the close call after all.
"We got the data though." Kate checked the tablet in her blazer before taking the article of clothing off and placing it over the assassin's shoulders.
Yelena raised a brow in question but the archer just shrugged.
"I know you are russian and all but the wind is chilly and you are a grumpy sick."
With the surge of want flowing through her body, especially in her lower regions, she gave an exasperated look back at the archer, forcing herself to act like nothing has happen.
.
.
.
Fuck, she’s down bad, sinking with a white knuckled grip into the cascading waves of one Kate Bishop.
And she knows this when she agreed to Kate's team hanging out in the apartment.
First there was Peter Parker, or Spider boy as she calls him. By far her favourite- only because he was a great sparring partner with his spidey senses whom they met when they crashed one of Kingpin's weapons trade. Next there was Kamala and America, who took Kate away to fight some Kang dude and brought Cassie into the fold. Then there was Billy and Tommy who linked up after the Strange Doctor asked for their help to find the Scarlet Witch.
Of course she worries for the girl, but Kate was way too stubborn to stop from sticking her nose into trouble and Yelena knew there was no point fighting her on it. The whole Avengers thing still was a sour taste in her mouth but she tolerates it for Kate, sometimes even joining them so she could at least keep the archer in check.
Things she does for lo- nope, she's not going there.
It was Halloween and the team had decided to get all dressed up for a party.
Why did she cave and agreed to a bunch of newbie posers to infest their home? (Pft, Kate’s home. Yelena, calm down.) Why did she end up grocery shopping with Kate and why was she now prepping different colourful jelly shots in the kitchen in a Thor t-shirt? Just. Why.
“Come on, don’t look so dark. Experiencing All Hallows Eve was on the list.” Kate wriggles her fingers as she made very unconvincing spooky noises. “I even got you a very accurate replica of Thor's Mjölnir.” Her eyes darts down to the hammer tied to Yelena’s jeans.
“But please don’t hit anyone of my friends with it okay?”
Yelena regrets glancing at Kate then, immediately folding at the archer’s pouting face. Stupidly charming Kate Bishop. She was a deadly assassin. Why was she crumbling over those blue eyes?
“Please be on your best behaviour.” Kate whines.
“I will not poison the bowl of nachos.” That she could promise the younger girl.
Kate reads her better than that, immediately giving her a back hug, pressing her nose into the assassin’s neck, the cloak of her vampire outfit swishing softly as she swayed them on the spot. “Yeah. I know. You are a big softie.”
Yelena sighs internally as she relaxes into the archer. That she was. For Kate Bishop was something else entirely.
The baby avengers streamed in quickly. Kamala, arrived first, the young teen dressed up as Captain Marvel, followed by Cassie who came in as a pumpkin. Next came Billy and Tommy who were a ketchup and mustard pair. Then there was Peter in a knight’s costume and America dressed up as Batgirl.
She doesn’t talk much, only jabbing in a joke or two at Peter as she let her fingers run through Lucky’s fur, the dog thankfully deciding to curl up on the sofa beside her. She was seated beside Kate of course, who had her body turned away at the moment, busy in a conversation with the Kamala, Cassie and Peter. She observes the television screen silently as the other three had their eyes glued on a weird american game called Grand Theft Auto.
Their thighs were touching and Yelena was getting a little lightheaded from Kate’s pear and sage perfume. If only they were alone, she would have rolled her head into the archer’s shoulders for a cuddle.
She almost chokes on her spit when Kate lifts her arm and wraps it around her shoulder. She freezes, taking a sharp intake of air, hoping no one notices her panic. Kate was still engage in the conversation, laughing heartedly at something Cassie had said while her fingers massaged Yelena’s shoulders as though it was the most natural thing to do.
Damn it, Kate. She has an image to maintain in front of these babies!
She fidgets a little before slumping back against the sofa again. Sneaking a glance to her left, she calms down a little at the oblivious faces of the rest of the gang. Even if they noticed, they hadn’t teased her about it, unlike how Kamala caused cola to be snorted out of Cassie’s nostrils when they brought up ant girl’s crush on a cafe barista.
She stifles a sigh, slowly allowing herself to fall back into the comfortable warmth of Kate’s body as she tries hard to ignore the swirling feelings in her head and between her legs.
She could hear Peter bringing up a game called ‘Marry, Kiss or Kill’, with Kate scoffing at whatever the choices were. She couldn’t be bothered to listen in, not when Kate tugs her closer and all she could focus on was trying not to hyperventilate on the spot.
How was she a black widow when she was the one trapped in Kate’s web?
.
.
.
She finds help in the most (un)likely of places.
Between Halloween and Christmas, Yelena feels something shifts between them. She couldn’t exactly describe it- but Kate engulfed her. Like she could only breathe for that woman.
She wasn’t sure where they stood, but they definitely weren’t all that platonic. Not according to the Red Room’s book of body language and attraction anyway. She welcomed Kate’s needy want to touch her almost every minute in the apartment and catches her staring on more occasions than one, yet the archer had not given her any words of affirmation regarding their relationship.
She was fine with them the way it is.
And yet.
She smothers her feelings on wanting more.
The winter air hits Yelena’s cheeks as they pulled up on Clint’s farm, his family waiting patiently for them on the porch. It was the week of Christmas- of course they had visited a few times before then, but it was a little special this time, the day marking one year since Yelena had tried to kill the older archer.
They spent the rest of the day making ginger bread houses with the kids, Laura deciding Nate and Yelena’s house the best decorated while the rest of them argued biasses.
Kate then took the kids outside for a game of football while Clint and her watched by the swing. Fanny had padded up beside them, deciding not to involve herself either. They sat in silence for awhile, content with just watching the excited screams of the young group.
“So. You and Kate, huh?” The man’s voice was gruff, but slightly amused.
“What?” She feigns ignorance, glancing out at Kate who was tossing the football away from Cooper for Lila to catch, Lucky and Nate just happy to be running around.
Her heart squeezes unbearably tight at the archer’s bright smile.
“I won’t give the shovel talk. She’s my mentee and you’re my best friend’s sister. I’m in a weird position.” Clint hummed.
“We… aren’t a thing.” She shook her head, giving Clint an affronted look.
“Well, sure looks like it, kid.” Clint shrugged.
“I'm not a kid." She huffed, taking a swig of her hot cocoa. Дерьмо. She wished she had Natasha to talk to, but perhaps the old archer was the closest thing she could get. Gosh, she must be desperate if she was about to open up to Barton of all people. "We… haven’t talked about it. And you know Kate can’t keep her mouth shut. So there’s nothing between us. Evidently.”
“Maybe she is waiting for you to say something about it.”
“Kate Bishop does not have a patient bone in her body.”
“She has changed. And so have you.”
Yelena sighs. The first time they had visited, it had been real awkward between her and Clint, but as time went by, they had eased into a steady understanding. It was what Natasha would have wanted.
“You know, it was Laura who asked me out. She cornered me at S.H.I.E.L.D’s lobby and promptly told me to get ready for a date the following day.” He rubbed his neck, smirking slightly at the memory. “Us Hawkeyes sometimes don’t have the best eye on everything despite our perfect eyesight-”
Nate comes crashing into her knees then, interrupting Clint. The small boy flailing and crawling up onto her lap. Yelena chuckles, heart a lot lighter at the boy’s wriggling body. He was Natasha's namesake after all, and she had a different kind of soft spot for him.
“Kate told me a secret!” He squealed, vibrating with delight. “She told me she likes you ‘Lena, but she doesn’t know if you like her back, so I told her I’ll help her and ask you! And then tell her! So do you? Do you?”
The assassin felt as though someone had knocked out her throat as she stared wide eyed at the excited boy on her lap.
What a tattletale. So much like Natasha.
“Well here's your answer.” Clint laughs breaking her out of her stupor. He picks up his son, hoisting him over his shoulder as he called for Cooper and Lila to head back inside as well.
Yelena turns, seeing Kate stopping a few feet away from her.
Oh Kate Bishop, what should I do with you... She saunters up to the archer, reaching up her hands to hold Kate's cheeks. An anxious smile squirms onto her face as she felt Kate’s arms easily snake around her waist.
“Guess the cat’s out of the bag.” The archer confessed sheepishly.
“I did hear something from Nate. But I needed to check back with the primary source.” Yelena teases, finally feeling like she had gained the upper hand on something.
“You are so hot. It makes my brain stop working.” Kate pouts. The archer pressed their bodies tighter, their noses lightly brushing. “Yes, Yes, God... I have fallen for you, Yelena Belova. How could I not? Frankly you had me as soon as you poured hot sauce onto that mac n cheese. And then I got to know how amazing you are. At first I thought it was enough, just waiting for you to come back to the apartment each time you leave after our girls' night. And then you started to stay and I kept wanting more.”
“I just didn’t know how to tell you all of it. Because just- just look at you.”
Yelena was sure she leaned in first.
There was nothing left to say.
No words to fully encapsulate how she was feeling.
For it was just fireworks.
Capturing Kate’s lips was the closest she felt to her heart exploding.
Kate kisses her like she was the entire universe, wrapped in a single breath. And it was intoxicating. The archer hands ran up and down her back, sending skitters of exquisite static down the assassin’s spine as she arched into her.
“You smell good.” Kate rasped out when they finally part. Yelena's eyes flutters with desire when the archer tilts her head, taking a whiff of the assassin's neck.
“It is your body wash.” She quips, her hands now hooking round Kate’s neck.
“Hmm… you look good too. In my hoodie.”
“You talk too much, Kate Bishop.” Yelena shudders, her heartbeat giddy as the archer kissed her neck. She chokes down a throaty moan, holding onto the single thread of awareness that they were on Clint’s front porch.
“If you want to shut me up, you should kiss me again.” Kate’s eyes twinkled in a teasing challenge with a smug look.
Yelena threw her head back and laughed.
That she wants to do forever.