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“Is this what heroes do? Arrest their mothers on Christmas?”
Her mother was right on somethings. Eleanor protected her from the real world, and now she had to deal with the consequences of her actions. No more destroying a bell tower and your mommy paid for it. Her life was a disaster, her apartment was almost ashes, luckily she had insurance. She didn't had a job, her account was frozen. Bishop Security was closed until the end of her mother trial and she wasn't sure what was gonna happen with the company by then, she will probably have to sell it. Kate had no money to pay a lawyer. So most likely she would found out the dictum on the news. Her mother wasn't talking to her and it had no point to go to the trial without a lawyer. Another thing her mother was right. The world was about unfortunate arrangement. People who believe they are unstoppable walk by among us and it's her job to stop them.
But she was wrong on somethings too. Kate could handle it. She returned from the Bartons farm after expending Christmas there and was all alone (don't tell Lucky she thought that). She put her life together. She finished college. She has a partial job, well, she has had a lot of partial jobs since. Some she lost it because of her vigilant full non-pay job. Other, well, for unfortunately events. An idiot wanted to overstep with a random girl in a bar. A broken rib didn't allow her to stand for several days. For God sake she was the greatest world archer, how did she managed to brake nine plates in her last job. It could have been ten, but Peter saved it.
Suddenly she had Peter, they were partners, he is superhero too. A devil man showed up one day, their path crossed some times. One night a weird girl appeared in her apartment and now Kate has a team. She was an Avenger. Finally.
Although she had one problem. A problem who has a name, a Russian accent, blonde hair, green eyes like a forest and freaking hot. Oh, shut, right, the problem maybe wasn't Yelena. Maybe the problem was Kate constantly forgetting that Yelena is an assassin.
“Hiiii” Yelena called from the new (second hand) couch petting Lucky. “Welcome back, Kate Bishop. You took forever”
“What are you doing here?” Kate asked pointing Yelena with an arrow.
“Relax, Kate Bishop” It wasn't the first time the assassin popped up to say Hi, because she usually says Hi and leaves. “Good luck I cook you food” Oh, that too. Cooking food for her, taking Lucky for walks when Kate couldn't. Taking care of her when she can't. Maybe those moments are the ones that make Kate forgot the truth. “Real food” she was referring to the forgotten pizza box on the floor. Lucky came and ate it. She couldn't ate it anyway. “Lucky! I bought you food. Don't eat that. You're gonna feel sick” she growled, standing up, her gaze studied Kate from top to bottom “Gotta go. See you next time”
“Wait” Yelena waited on the stairs. “Are you still an assassin?”
“Aren't your groupie still after me?”
“Then you can't keep doing this”
“What exactly?”
“Popping up! Cooking me food. Taking care of me and Lucky. I can't keep lying to them. And you can't get away with murder forever!”
Yelena didn't say a word, she nodded once and like she always do she jump off the window.
That was two months ago.
The longest time she has been without seeing Yelena, without the killer appearing unexpectedly in her apartment. She tried not to think about it. Because the blonde didn't intrud in the Avenger affair either. It was like she had disappeared.
Kate opened the door finding the couch occupied, her heart stopped for a second
“I need help with my math homework” Kamala said giving Lucky the cookies Yelena bought for him.
“And we are not doing it online because”
“I told my mom I'll be here. But I was following a lead, it was a dead end. Don't tell my mom”
“Okay. Next time give me a heads up and take me with you”
“Promise” the girl said. “I still need help, tho. By the way, what a strange billboard. I noticed when I get here”
“Billboard? What billboard?” the archer asked curious.
Kamala lead her. From one of her windows you could see the promotional billboard. It was strange indeed. Totally white with a phrase in the center.
I thought you were special.
“What the fuck”
“What do you think they are promoting? Like a show. Maybe it's a support business for break ups”
Shit.
“Shit”
“What?”
“Nothing” Kate said quickly moving them away from the window. “Let's do your homework”
Waiting for Kamala to finally sleep was a nightmare. She slipped silently out of bed and went downstairs. She called the unknown number that had been the bearer of bad news a year ago. She didn't even know if it still work, but it didn't hurt to try.
The call went straight to voicemail. “You know what to do. Except for you Walker”
Kate frowned ignoring the last part. “Seriously, Yelena? A billboard. I know it was you. If you have something to say come tell me face to face”
She never got an answer. At least not the one she was expecting.
“I found the new tracksuit lair. Wanna go tonight?”
Kate closed the magazine she had read the third time in a row “Let's do it”
They had nothing better to do anyway, any threats level Avenger. So instead of having the night off. Better do something productive.
“Nice, let me call Eli”
“I miss the times when it was the two of us”
“What? You don't like Eli?”
“You know it's not that”
“Bro. Bro. Not again. How do they keep finding us? We were very careful this time”
“You have a huge truck outside that says 'Trust a Bro'. It's pretty hard to miss” Eli sarcastically remarked before disarming one of the tracksuit.
Kate put a group of tracks to sleep with one of her arrows when she felt a presence behind her.
“Bishop girl”
“Thomas. When did you get out of jail?”
“This morning”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Are you ready to go back?”
“No. I need to get back with my girlfriend”
“You guys fought again”
“Yes. She is with another man now. Have some advice for me?”
“Change life style?” Thomas thought about it for a second. “So, what's up with the gun?”
“I'm sorry” well, she gave him a second chance. After disarming him, she was about to knocking him when he said. “This is the only life I know”
She had never thought of that and she had no time to think deep in it.
“KATE”
Before she could react Elijah was over her on the ground. She had barely been aware of the shot. When she looked up Thomas was falling, blood coming out of his forehead.
“Kate. Kate look at me. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“He is… he is dead” she said shocked.
Elija continued trying to gain Kate's attention. “Good. He deserved” He made Kate's gaze meet his by caressing her cheek. “Breath, Kate. Breath with me”
Eli and Peter walked her home. She hadn't say a word since, not to the press or the police. Apparently a cctv from a warehouse across the streets was evidence enough to let them go, at least for tonight.
“Sure you're gonna be fine by yourself”
“Yeah, guys” she hugged them both. “See you tomorrow”
Lucky greeted her happy to see her. “Are you hungry boy? It's so late of course you are”
She put a proper amount of food on his bowl. Turned on the TV, somehow the press always managed to get the police official evidence so now the video from the crime scene was on the news. The worse part was that as always they were focusing on the wrong perspective. A man had die in front of her. But the all she could find was how Eli saved her and how in love they were.
“Fuck them. Fuck all of them. I'm gonna take an advil, a relaxing bath and I'm going to sleep” Lucky kicked her hand with his snout. “Sorry, my boy, did I scare you. You haven't even eat. I'm so sorry, mommy is not mad at you” she knelt down to the retriever height and kissed him repeatedly.
Her plan almost worked. But Thomas's words refused to leave her mind.
It was the only life he knew, and he died without knowing another one.
She picked her phone. She named the contact, Stupid blonde Russian. For some reason she was expecting Yelena eventually finding out and making something about it. It didn't happen.
“You know what yo do. Except for you Walker” not that she was expecting the blonde to answered.
“Is that right? You don't know another life. You don't know how to get out of it. You're afraid. I'm afraid too. I feel so alone all the time, even when I'm surrounded by people. I miss my mom I wish she had never done that. I didn't…” she sobbed. “I didn't want him dead. He didn't deserve it” she was closed to cry when Lucky entered on her bedroom jumped on the bed and left wet kissing on her face making her laugh. “I have to go. Lucky came to rescue me”
She was asleep, although It didn't go unnoticed when the mattress sank.
“You came”
“I thought you had enough with Lucky”
“Thanks for feeding him”
“You figure it out”
“It is always you” she murmured closing her eyes again.
Yelena bit her lower lip, holding back her laughter.
“Advil PM, huh. Cool. My favorite” Kate curls her lips in an attempt of a smile but her eyes never open. Actually, Yelena was the one who left the pills in Kate's aid. “He didn't deserved. But most importantly, it wasn't your fault” the blonde declared with a soft voice kissed Kate's cheek. “Good night“
The archer smiled. ”Good night“
”Are you serious? Are you fucking serious?!“
Kate returned from the police department when she noticed a new billboard, not that she was looking at the old one every day. Not at all. The new one was worst and definitely confirmed her suspicions.
Have you told your boyfriend about us, Kate Bishop?
”SHE IS… AH!“ she screamed, an old lady seen worried but didn't approach. ”I'm fine“ She said running to her apartment.
Not knowing what to do, or who ask for advice, she call the only person who could help her.
”It's everything okay?“
”She is driving me crazy, Clint“
”Who?“
”Yelena!“ she screamed like if there was no one else in the world capable of doing it. ”She is everywhere. She is so confusing. She appears cook me food, bring me grocery, medicine, cookies for Lucky, take him to walks when I can't. How does she know? And disappears. Puff. Gone. Sometimes I don even know she came. What is she up to? Does she wants me dead?“
”It sounds like she is taking care of you“
”Clint I'm serious“
”Me too, kid“
”She is a fucking black widow assassin. You say so“
Clint sighed. ”Kate sit“ he ordered. ”It's not my story to tell, okay. But you must know. Black widows are not normal assassins. They were stolen or bought from their families, trafficked in containers from all over the world. You played with dolls, they have had a gun in their hand since they turned 6. So yes, Kate. I don't think she wants you dead. I think that's the only way she knows how to show you how much you mean to her“ a stronge noise came across the other line. ”Are you okay? What was that?“
”I fell“ Kate said almost automatically.
”I said sit“
”I miscalculated the distance“ she swallowed processing the revelation. ”I didn't… I don't know what to do“
”It was difficult with Natasha. It's going to be extra hard with her. It is up to you if you wanna help her and it's up to her if she wants yours“
”You're being really vague“
”Yeah. I'm sorry, kiddo. Good luck“
”Wait. It's Yelena even her real name?“
”Probably not even she knows“
Suddenly it was all over the news. Peter called worried. Kamala and Cassie facetimed her curious. Elijah asked for an explanation. Great, because I had nothing better to worried about. That's when her phone rang. I talked too soon.
The Unknown number made her heart stopped, and she may had answered too fast.
”Yelena?“
”So that's her name?“ a mysterious voice declared.
”Mom?“
”You're more surprise to hear your own mother voice than a murderer. The woman who is gonna kill me“
”What do you mean?“
”Are you that blind, Kate? I hired a contract killer to murder an Avenger. In this business there are a lot of things it's better not known. But you always had to know the perfect amount, in case everything blows. I can see you're not following your mother case, I'll accept a deal, the type that gets you dead. I gonna tell you what is gonna happen after. They'll move me to a maximum security prision for my own safe. Your girlfriend who didn't accomplished her original mission, will be send to kill me because I'm a loose end“
”Police will protect you“
”Again, Kate“ her mother sound disappointed. ”Blind. Who do you think are the big bosses? Everyone has a price. A simple policeman is not going to pay for his second child's college bill and his house mortgage without making sacrifices“ Kate didn't speak and time was running out. ”If you still feel some affection for me, please don't let me die. Take care, sweetie. They may consider you a loose end too“
The call ended leaving Kate standing in the living room. Shut, this looks bad.
Me: My place now.
Peter entered in the apartment through the window, swinging on his cobwebs, twenty minutes after she send the message.
She explained the situation as best she could, omitting the few details of Yelena's personal life she knew so far.
”So, we need to find a trained spy we've been trying to capture for months. Stop your mother from being murdered in prison. And take down a global organization that uses assassins to commit murders. Yeah, no problem at all“
”We don't have to accomplish everything at the same time. Saving my mom first maybe. If she is in real danger“
”I think her story has sense“
”Sadly, me too“ they stayed silent for a couple of seconds. ”Any ideas?“
”Face recognition?“
”We don't have any pictures of her“
”Let's hire an artist. You describe her“
”Why me?“ she asked defensively.
”Because you're the only one who has seen her face. Every time we meet her she wears that strange mask“
Kate grimaced at the undeniable reality. Not to mention that she hadn't only seen her once as his friend believe. ”Fine“
”Her hair is blonde, actually, when it's tied up it's dark blonde, but when its down it's more light blonde. She is slim, but with firm, strong body. Maybe in her early 30s. She has very delicate features, yet just by looking at her you know she can take you down in a hand-to-hand combat. Her eyes are like cats. Wide open, alert to any threats. Her lips are full, she has a strong neck, and high cheekbones. Her skin is smooth and shiny. She has a lost look in her eyes that is both direct and chilling. Totally focused and almost completely unapproachable“
”So, is that like a square or wavy face?“ The artist asked.
Kate looked at him as if she was aware of his presence in the room for the first time. Then she turned her attention to Peter who raised both eyebrows adding with too much excitement. ”We have a lot to unpack“
Thank good I didn't call Cassie or Kamala or this situation will be five times worse.
”If my idea works we just need time and the AI will do the job for us. She has been in New York, There is a camera every three steps. How hard can be?“
Extremely hard. The program took twelve hours, and they got nothing.
On the other hand, Eleanor was right. Her deal was kept in secret but they managed to found out about her imminent transfer.
”What now“
”We call the others. Being an Avenger brings power. Let's use it“
”You know that if something goes wrong, you'll be blamed“
”It'll be worse if it goes wrong and I lose my mother. Just in case, you'll stay. I have a plan to find Yelena“
”You're crazy. The woman is clearly an expert, how do you think you are gonna beat AI“
”The same way we used a real artist and not a AI to made her portrait“
”That was matter of respect“
”Shut up“ They continued studying the CCTV, this time focusing on cameras near her neighborhood. ”There. It's her“
”How you can tell? Because of the blonde hair“ Kate looked at him accusatory. ”Sorry, because of her blnde dark hair tied up“
”I'm telling you. It's her“ They found other takes, all of them near to Kate's apartment and never a frontal shot. ”Do it. Do a movement recognition“
”Are you gonna tell me or I have to guess“
”I was hoping you were more discreet“
”Than Cassie or Kamala“ Peter finished the unspoken words. ”And here I was thinking you choose me because I'm the best“
”You are“
”Is she good?“
”Don't know“ she confessed. ”I don't even know what good means anymore“
”Thanks, sweetie. Really. You here means the world too me“ The trip was a nightmare. Kate did not relax for a second. It was done by jet, which did not make her suffering end any quicker. ”I'll live another day“ she was manipulating her in the worst way possible.
”Good luck, mom“
”How was?“
”She is safe… for now“
”Don't worry. I have an eye on her“
Kate frowned. ”Did you hack the prison?“
”Shouldn't I?“ He asked confused.
”No man, that's amazing!“
”And illegal“
They laughed. Until the knock on the door froze them both in place.
”Oh my god they found us. We're going to jail“
”Calm down. There's no way they could found us that fast“ Out of the corner of her eye she saw all the images on the monitors behind her change to pictures of kittens. She opened the door revealing a middle-aged, gray-haired man. ”You don't look like a delivery guy“
”Because I'm not. I'm from the CIA. Can I come in? Don't worry guys, you're not in trouble. My name is Everett Ross, I'm here because I believe we have a common goal“
Kate smiled nervously. ”World peace?“
”I'm sure that too. But what brings me here is a Russian assassin we've been trying to capture for several years now, who also happens to be the main threat to your mother, Eleanor Bishop“ he waited. ”So, are we working together or not?“
Her shift ended, well, her superior ended it. It was the tenth order she got wrong, a new record. But could you blame her? Her mother tells her not to trust anyone, not even the police, and 24 hours later a CIA agent shows up at her door and basically forces them to work for him. Great, just great.
The apartment was empty and the monitors were off.
”Peter?“
The complete silence, the tension in the air. She has felt this before.
”Hi, Kate Bishop. I heard you've been a very nosy girl“
”Oh shit. Are you here to kill me?“
”Oh gosh, Kate Bishop always with the murderous thoughts. When it'll be the day that I come home and you tell me: you're finally home. How was your day? I cook for us“
“I don't cook”
“Nothing new. Sit. I brought food”
“Where's my dog?”
“Kate Bishop” Yelena shout out with her offended not offended voice. “I'm not a monster. I'll never hurt an animal. He is upstair. I wanted us to talk without interruptions. Don't worry, I brought his favorite cookies. God, I'm such an idiot. You've been out for a while, he must miss you. I'll go get him so he can say hi, go set the table”
Great. Now I was not only working with the CIA under threat, almost threat, but now I was also taking orders from an assassin. An assassin who hid all her arrows and her bow. Something to defend myself. Something... Oh, She left the knives. Knives that Yelena herself bought. That's what Kate assumed when a complete set of cutlery appeared in her kitchen.
“Come on, boy. Say hello to mama”
After a few kisses Yelena said something in Russian and Lucky just walked up the stairs ahead of the blonde.
“Did you teach my dog Russian?!”
“Maybe” Yelena came back with her. “Okay Kate Bishop. Let’s get to business. How much do you know about me and who did you tell?”
“You don’t know? Don’t you have microphones all over the place?”
“No, Kate Bishop, that would be a breach of your privacy”
“Sure, because you haven’t done it before” she replied sarcastically.
“Kate Bishop” Yelena coughed offended. “You can find that information anywhere. There’s this amazing thing now called internet, you know. I’ve learned how to use it. And now that you’re famous, all you have to do is follow your hashtag on Instagram and have a Google alert. It’s called: What’s new with Hawkeye?”
“Is that a real thing?”
“Yes, Kate Bishop. Haven't you ever Googled yourself? Turns out there are a lot of women who would give a finger to sleep with you” Kate had never heard Yelena being jealous, and she didn't wanted to believe that was how she sounded when she was. “Do you know how many pictures a day I have to look at because you went to your favorite pizza place?” She admitted with displeasure, but with an indecipherable smile on her lips.
“Okay. Not weird at all. Sorry you have to deal with such an umplacent experience“
”Don't be“ Yelena shrugged. ”So, speak“
“Are you gonna kill my mom?” Kate asked as she finished setting the table.
Yelena ignored the question sitting down, waiting for Kate to imitate her
“You're going to hurt yourself. You need to work on your game, Kate. Hiding a knife in your pants is dangerous, for you.
”I don't know what you're talking about“
She turned around grabbing the pizza box, from Kate's favorite place. ”I thought we deserved a nice farewell dinner“
”Where are you going?“
”Far. My boss found out I'm too... committed“
”To the cause?“
Yelena laughed out loud wrinkling her nose. ”Kate Bishop you're so funny. To you“ Her face was completely serious when she confessed the last bit.
Kate turned back pretending to look for something, maybe the pizza cutter and in the process get rid of the knife before it cut her gut or whatever. When she managed to put it on the worktop a hand rested on hers, snatching the weapon from her.
”I figured. This isn't the way, Kate. Look“ She put the knife aside and pulled out a small dagger from somewhere, Kate was too busy getting lost in the forest of her eyes. ”This one's more practical. You hide it in your shoes or the side of your hip. Now, I'll show you quickly“ she held out the dagger. ”Where would you aim?“ Kate took the dagger pressing it against the lower right side of the abdomen. ”No, Kate“ Yelena grabbed Kate's hand and directed it to her neck. ”You aim for the neck first, but you have to catch your enemy off guard. Obviously that's if you want it dead. Aiming for the heart is tricky“ She said moving the dagger to the spot. ”With the ribs, the tits, you have to be very well versed in anatomy to hit it right. Then the stomach, it's a mess in surgery. My favorite special is the spleen“ she directed the dagger slowly from the stomach to the middle left side of the abdomen. ”So much blood, death in seconds. So which one will it be, Kate?“
”Were you sent to kill my mother?“ Kate asked without moving. Yelena was so close she could feel her breathing.
”You first“
”I talked to Clint. He told me a few things about your past, without going too deep“
“Hm. Points for Barton”
“It's not like I can get the information directly from you”
“We'll never know, will we? You never bother to ask”
“Maybe I was afraid you were gonna attack me from behind”
“When exactly, Kate? When I was curing your wounds, taking your dog for walks or buying you a proper dinner!”
Kate didn't dare to answered, basically because Yelena was calling her by her first name only, and somehow that was more scarred than all the others stuffs. “Your turn“
”I won't kill your mother. Who did you tell?“
”No one. I haven't said anything I know“ she admitted. ”Who do you work for?“
Yelena shrugged. ”If you go high enough, we are probably working for the same people“ Kate absorbed the information, the same answer her mother had given her. She focused on Yelena again, and Kate didn't want to fool herself but the assassin seemed nervous before asking her next question. ”Do you feel sorry for me, baby?“
”No“
”Prove it“
”I don't trust you and I'm not gonna care what you've been through if you kill my mother or someone else and I find out I'll be prepared. I'll have proof and I'll make you rot in jail for the rest of your life. I'm not alone. I'm working with the CIA, and think about it before you kill me. You'll be the first person they suspect, if not I'll kill you first“ Yelena looked impressed. ”I'm not sorry, baby“ Now the knife was only in Kate's possession pointing upwards. Yelena moved quickly forward and by reflex Kate defended herself cutting Yelena's left cheek close to her eye. The blonde smirk but her eyes didn't follow, she wiped away a drop of blood that was running almost to her jaw.
”Dinner is canceled“
Peter arrived a few hours later, Kate was still sitting in front of the worktop.
”Kate? What happened?“
”She was here“
”What? What happened?“
”I have no idea. I'm glad you're okay“
“Me? You're the one who's a mess. I went to get clothest I already stank, and food, your fridge is empty. Come on. Let's eat something, let's relax. It's over”
“No, I can't eat now”
“Okay, I'll put it in the fridge, we'll warm it up later. Go take a bath” he helped her friend to stand up. “Kate when did you go to the store?”
“What...? It was her” She answered tiredly.
“Is this something you two do often?”
“It's over. She came to say goodbye”
”Why do you sound sad?“
”I'm tired. I'm gonna sleep, we start hunting her tomorrow“
Tomorrow was not better. The AI still was working on the movement recognition processing all the data. It was dark when she looked up from the monitor, she had spent the entire day following her mother through the prison, studying strange behavior around her.
”Kate“ Peter called. ”The billboard“
She almost fell out of her chair trying to stand up.
She ran down the stairs and turned the corner to find three men working on the new billboard. "Hey!" she called. One of them came down. "Who hired you to put up that sign?"
"I don't know, lady”
“You don't know? How can you not know”
“Look, girl, as long as they pay us, we'll hang anything. If you have any problems, get an order."
”Peter how fast can you find all the personal information“
”From who?“
”Everyone. Every inmates, guard, cleaning people, everybody“
”Are you crazy?“ She didn't answer, she didn't even look at him, she kept her attention on the new billboard, expecting the workers will finish for her to see the new message. ”Actually, don't answer“
I'm going to make you sorry, baby. x
Peter had to drag her back to the apartment. The news that Everett wanted to meet helped. Peter decided to stay and take care of the task Kate asked for.
”Fancy restaurant“
”It's my favorite. The lobster is incredible. Hello“ the woman greeted. ”Nice to finally meet you, Kate. I'm Valentina, everyone calls me Val“
”Am I in trouble?“
”No, Kate“
”Why did the CIA director wants to see me personally?“
”Agent Ross and you made a deal, I heard you haven't been very cooperative, anyone could say you don't want to catch an international assassin. Do you know how many she has kill“
”Do you?“
Valentina smiled. ”We've gathered a lot of information, we'll share it, if you reciprocate”
“I don't trust you”
“Excuse me?” Valentina laughed again, Kate didn't see the funny side on the situation. “You really got attach”
“I didn't. She is going to pay for her crimes. I swear”
“Why, because you are an Avenger” Valentina scoffed. “What does that word even mean? The Avengers died 3 years ago. Your little group of copycat teenagers are nothing. SHIELD is dead, Fury is nowhere to be found. Stop playing and let the adults handle the situation. Are you conscience that she will kill your mother?”
“Why would she? My mom doesn't know her name, she contracted her through a handler. Sending her will be predictable”
“So you think they are gonna send another”
“You're stupid if you didn't considered” A phone call saved her from Valentina anger. “Clearly you need me more than I need you. So. I'm going home”
She left the restaurant in a rush. Peter had an uber waiting for her outside.
“You're amazing”
“You're unbelievable” Her friend replied still not fully believing what happened in the restaurant. “Now come home you were right”
“Meet Clara Aster. She was imprisoned eighteen years ago for murder. She kill a woman and has a life sentenced”
“Okay”
“Well, here is where it gets trickier. There is no record of her trial, only of the sentence. The judge died a few years later and despite having a birth certificate, when you look for her parents it is as if they had never existed”
“It's her”
“Yeah but she is being there too long. Why?”
“If I were a black widow I would rather have a life sentence in prison than kill for someone else”
“Then why do you think she would kill now?”
“No idea. Money?” she figured. “Wanna do another round of watch my mom do absolutely nothing in prision?”
“Do I have another choice?”
“No” she declared. “You watch Clara I got my mom”
“How fun. Sleeping is not in our schedule” he replied sarcastically. “I'm sorry”
“No, you're right. Go rest. I'll do the first watch. How much can they do at night”
“You too need to rest”
“I will” he gave her a look. “Gonna check on Clara's behavior and stuff, then I will” she clarified. “Promise”
“сука!”
Kate screamed, waking Peter up.
“What? And since when you speak Russian? You have a lot to confess”
“I learned curses just in case”
“In case of what?”
“Focused, Pete” she called out. “Look” he did. “It's Yelena”
He rewound trying to see what his friend was referring to, hard when once again the woman never show her face to the camera. “How can you tell? Again. Don't tell me. Kate it's 10 am, did you sleep?”
“If you're hungry go downstairs and buy pizza”
“Do you have money?”
“I'm unemployed”
“I guess I'm going with the food your girlfriend left you” He didn't got an answer, Kate was focused programming on the computer. Peter was afraid to asked her not to mess with his program. He went back sitting next to her. Thought of share the chicken salad, but he had the feeling she wouldn't appreciate. “What do we do?”
“Nothing”
“Excuse me?”
“She said she won't kill my mom”
Peter looked at her like she was crazy, actually, he had been looking at her like that a lot lately. “Kate…”
“No. Maybe she there to protect her or she is being blackmailed. She'll let me know”
“Kate!” Pete growled. “You have to stop. I've trusted you, I trust you. But not her and you're certainly not you when it comes to her”
An unusual movement on the camera called them attention. A fight in the dining room moved most of the guards to the place. When they managed to calm and removed the crowd of inmates surrounding the initiators of the dispute. Kate saw something that broke her heart. Her mother's body was leaning over Clara's. Everything happened very fast. Eleanor was taken away from Clara who was seriously beaten by the guards. Eleanor was taken from the scene almost unconscious. The third woman in the dispute was beaten and restrained forcing her to drop the knife she had in her hand, her nose was already bleeding, possibly from the fight.
“Shit. It's her” Peter muttered still not believing it. Yelena and Clara fell to the ground visibly battered after that beating. Spider-Man reacted first. Looking for the infirmary camera. “Don't be afraid Kate. She'll be fine”
The girl was still staring at the monitor seeing the blood Yelena and Clara's bodies left before they were taken. “Where did they take them?”
“You worry about them and not your mother?” Peter asked chocked.
“Lower right quadratus” He waited for his friend to explain more. “They wounded my mother in a less lethal area. The gun must have been small to be easy to hide. It wasn't a fatal wound. She would have been aimed at the heart or the throat”
“Should I be scared?”
“Where did they take them, Peter?!”
The women were not immediately taken to the infirmary. They were in solitary confinement cells for 12 hours. Twelve hours Kate spent at the hospital after receiving the fateful news. Eleanor was in surgery for about 4 hours and the doctors kept the prognosis reserved.
“She will be fine. You'll see, Kate”
“Thanks for being here guys”
“You're tired. We will take care of her safety personally” Kamala declared, Kate did not think Mrs. Khan would be very happy with that task but she did not protest.
“Go rest” Cassie ordered. “We will call you when she wakes up”
Kate finally got a few hours of rest, Waking up to the beep of the program that had finally finished analyzing the recordings. Neither Peter or Lucky were in the apartment, so she assumed the younger boy had taken him out for a walk. She began to study the images the program had flagged that matched the data.
The apartment was quiet, clean and tidy. You'd think no one lived there if it weren't for the clothes hanging in the closet and the food in the refrigerator. Kate angrily chugged a beer, searching for any personal traces of the woman's presence there.
“Я не могу в это поверить. Одна услуга. Я прошу об одной услуге, а она забывает” The blonde entered murmuring in Russian. She went straight to the closet. “You can buy another one, Yelena. Well I don't want another vest” Yelena turned back filling a presence behind her. She raised an eyebrow. “Are you having a party?” she nodded to the bottle of beer on Kate's hand. Kate showed the other hand, pointing the weapon to Yelena. The blonde raised both hands.
“Sit”
“Okay, Kate” Yelena started. “I know how it looks, but I swear I didn't try to kill Eleanor”
“I know. I know everything”
“Do you? That I'm working with Everett Ross to catch Valentina who is also my contract and she was the one who wants Eleanor dead so she hired Clara Aster to do it, which is not her real name. She is a widow, who was imprisoned as punishment for trying to scape the Red Room. So I get myself in prision with a contra offer. Not kill your mother and get us both out of there”
Kate opened her mouth and closed again. “Wo… I… did… did I? I don't know anymore” Kate rambled confused. “Valentina? Seriously. Bitch”
Yelena chuckled. “I think you call her stupid. Everett told me” she clarified. “So what now?”
Kate opened the fridge handling a beer to Yelena. “I owe you a drink”
“I thought you never ask” the blonde answered accepting the bottle.
“Multitasking. For your wounds” she said sitting on the bed in front of Yelena, the face of the assassin was a mess but she didn't seem to had serious injuries.
“Thanks ” the widow take a sip and then covered one of the bruises with a grimace of pain.
“Woman why are you taking so…?” Sonya interrupted herself. “Oh, hi”
“Hi”
“You find her. You actually find her” Sonya commented with too much excitement.
Kate looked at Yelena waiting for an explanation. “Sonya” The blonde said introducing her friend. “Another widow”
“Nice finally meet you, Kate” she said shaking the archer hand.
“Sonya” Yelena stopped whatever her friend was about to say.
“Do I have to worry about the gun?”
Kate realized she still had it. “Oh. No. Please take it. I don't even know how to use it” Both widows laughed at the disgust on Kate's face. “And Yelena is not going to need it”
“Do we wait for you?”
Yelena shook her head. “Take Nadia to a safe place. I'll contact you guys later”
Sonya raised her eyebrows smiling. “Have fun”
“Go” she waited for her friend to leave. “I'm curious. How did you find me?”
“You were hard to find”
“Yes I take all the precautions. You didn't answer me”
“I know the way you move” Kate murmured.
“What?”
“I know the way you move. Do you have a problem with that?”
Yelena shrugged. “I hear you the first time. I just wanted to hear it again”
“Cheater” both smiled to each other. Kate took a deep breaths. “I think about you all the time. I think about what you are wearing and what you are doing, and who you are doing it with. I think about what friends you have. I think about what you eat before work or what shampoo you use, and what happened in your family. I think about your eyes and your mouth and what you feel when you kill someone. I think about what you have for breakfast. I just… wanna know everything”
Yelena swallowed nervously. “I think about you too“
“If I ask, you will be honest” Yelena nodded. “What's your name?”
“Yelena” Kate rolled her eyes. “Belova”
“Is it your real name?”
“I don't know. They burn our birth certificates. It's the best I can give you”
“How old were you?”
“He bought us or stole us from our families since babys. My mom says we were sent to orphanages until a proper age. In my case when I was three I was sent to my first mission. I lived in Ohio for three years with fake parents and Natasha pretending to be a family. Until we accomplish the mision and me and Natasha were sent to the Red Room. My training began and Natasha's continued”
“You were so young”
“Natasha was younger when her training began. We didn't see each other for 21 years. Things were hard but they are my family. They are my parents. She is my sister, they all are”
Kate smirked, Yelena didn't want her to feel sorry for her, so she wouldn't. “Family is complicated” Kate's phone rang. “Speaking of the devil. My mom woke up”
“Go. She must be wanting to see you” Yelena saw doubt on the brunette face. “I won't disappear”
“I know. What did you hang that board? I thought you were mad at me”
“You and Valentina. So it worked”
She returned from the hospital hours later.
“You're still here. Good”
“Couldn't leave Lucky alone. News?”
“Thanks. My mother is recovering well she is out of danger. You?”
“Well, you have a visit sleeping in your couch”
“I'm not asleep. I don't trust you enough” Yelena murmured. “And Lucky was not alone. I am here” In fact the dog was with her.
“I don't trust you enough” Kate saw Yelena smiling with her eyes closed. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. She is fine”
“Call if you need me”
“That's why spider boy is my favorite”
“He hates it when you call him that”
“I know” Kate smiled grabbing a bag of peas from the fridge, handed it to Yelena and sat down at the table in front of her. “Careful Kate Bishop, I'm going to think you care about me”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Everett visit too. Valentina is being investigated, she had to abandon her position in the CIA”
“Nice” Yelena opened an eye, making eye contact with Kate. “What?”
“You're finally home. How was your day? I didn't cook but I brought pizza from downstairs” Yelena jumped up from the couch, her eyes wide open. “I bet you weren't expecting that”
Yelena grabbed Kate by the neck pulling her towards her joining their lips gently at first until Kate smiled deepening the kiss. Yelena regained control dictating the pace. “BOM! I bet you weren't expecting this”
The brunette laughed. “Idiot. Do you really don't like my friends?”
“Hm. I mean, Mini Marvel has too much energy, just like you”
“Hey!”
“Carolina”
“Cassandra”
“Same. I haven't decided yet. But you two certainly have a fanbase. Your boyfriend…”
“He is not my boyfriend”
“That's not what the fanbase say”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yes” Kate closed her mouth. “What? You thought I was gonna lie?”
“No and he is not. Also I'll appreciate if you stop putting boards outside my apartment saying he is. I'm trying to get to know someone else”
“Who is it?”
Kate rolled her eyes shaking her head with a big smile con her lips. “I haven't thank you for saving my mom”
“I was returning you a favor”
An unfamiliar sound in the room woke Kate up, it would have bothered her but she was too comfortable. She pulled Yelena closer to her inhaling the scent of her shampoo. Yelena groaned.
“Turn that off”
“It's your cell phone not mine” Kate protested.
“Whoever it is tell them I died and I'm in heaven” Kate chuckled. “Except my parents or we'll have them at the door in 15 minutes”
“Bucky? Like Bucky Barnes? Captain America's friend. Why is he calling you?”
Yelena jumped up answering the call. “Sorry to bother you. Sonya told me the good news. Congrats”
“Save it Barnes”
“We have a Sentry Situation”
“дерьмо”
“Walker lose him and we can't find him”
“I'm on my way out”
“What's going on. Can I help?”
“Better not. It's complicated, but Bob doesn't like strangers. I'll be back soon I promise” she kiss Kate goodbye.
“Be safe”
That was a month ago. Kate could tell she was handling it pretty well. Her mother was discharged. She got a herself a lawyer. “A very good lawyer” His words, not hers. He helped her with the company's situation and her accounts. She didn't buy junk food as much as she used to. She had also been busy with her new job at an IT company, she mostly work from home so had a lot of free time which is a pro, she can't break anything and has time to dedicate to her other full-time job as an avenger/vigilante.
She walked around her neighborhood. It had become a habit to look at the billboard, Yelena's last message had disappeared a long ago, in that month it had served as a promotion for other businesses.
Yelena called her every week and they chatted daily. Finding Bob was complicated and they were currently trying to find a safe place for him.
Her stomach growled, she regretted not accepting those snacks they offered her on the jet when she returned from the mission in California. God the Runaways and their parent issues. A girl greeted her and asked to take a picture, she was pretty beat up, but what the hell she wasn't going to say no to a fan, branding was important.
“Can we take it and get the board?”
Kate stopped paying attention to the girl and turned her gaze to the poster. “It's about you, isn't it? I always knew there was nothing between you and Patriot. Who is it?”
“Do you want your picture or not?”
They took the picture and to her surprise Kate found herself smiling widely, even though she wasn't interested in the fan's opinion anymore, she just wanted to run home.
“Thank you”
She barely heard the girl scream.
Has anyone seen my girlfriend?