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Kate Bishop was being watched. Again.
She wasn’t paranoid, and she wasn’t imagining it. This was real.
Yelena Belova was always watching her.
At first, Kate thought it was just a protective thing. They had become inseparable over the last four months—movie nights, takeout marathons, late-night sparring sessions that left Kate bruised and exhilarated. Yelena was her best friend. It made sense that the assassin kept an eye on her, right?
But it wasn’t just that.
Yelena wasn’t just looking at her. She was watching. Studying. Always there, just on the edge of every mission, every fight, every damn thing Kate did. And it was starting to drive her crazy.
Kate noticed it in the way Yelena’s gaze lingered longer than it should. How she always knew exactly where Kate was in a fight, how she always moved to intercept danger before Kate could even register it.
And tonight? Tonight was the last straw.
Kate had taken this mission alone. A small-time gang trafficking stolen Stark tech through the docks—nothing she couldn’t handle. She had knocked out three guys already, moving silently along the shipping containers.
And then she felt it.
That familiar, frustrating, lingering gaze.
She whipped her head around, scanning the rooftops. And sure enough—Yelena.
Perched lazily on a water tower, arms crossed, head tilted, watching her like this was just another episode of whatever reality TV show she had been bingeing lately.
Kate saw red.
She turned back to the fight, channeling her frustration into every punch, every strike, until the last guy hit the ground.
And then she spun on her heel, marched toward Yelena, and—
“Are you serious right now?” she snapped.
Yelena, who had already started climbing down, landed effortlessly in front of her. “Hello to you too, Kate Bishop.”
Kate threw up her hands. “No, don’t ‘Kate Bishop’ me. What the hell are you doing here?”
Yelena blinked, expression blank. “Watching.”
“Exactly!” Kate pointed at her accusingly. “You’re always watching me! You’re always there! Every mission, every fight—I can’t even go to the grocery store without wondering if you’re lurking behind the cereal aisle! Why? Why?!”
Yelena’s jaw tightened, something unreadable flickering across her face.
Kate didn’t stop. “You never let me breathe! I can take care of myself, Yelena, I don’t need—”
“It’s because I LOVE YOU!!”
The words exploded out of Yelena like she couldn’t hold them in anymore. Her breathing was uneven, her fists clenched, her whole body coiled like a spring.
Kate just stared unblinking.
“There. I said it,” she spat, voice thick with emotion. “I can’t lose you ok?! I am so fucking in love with yo—”
Suddenly, Kate grabbed her jacket and yanked her in, crashing their lips together.
Yelena tensed for a split second before melting into it, hands finding Kate’s waist, pulling her closer. The world spun—heat, adrenaline, Yelena, Yelena, Yelena.
When they finally pulled away, Kate’s breath came out in a gasp.
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
Then, a slow grin spread across her face.
“YES!!” she yelled, jumping up and down. “I knew it! Oh my God, I fucking knew it! I knew there was something! Yelena, you like me—”
She didn’t get to finish because Yelena rolled her eyes, grabbed her by the collar, and kissed her again.
This time, it was slower, deeper. When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together.
Kate exhaled, breath shaky. “I love you too.”
Yelena chuckled, lips quirking up. “I can tell, lyubimaya.”
Kate blinked. “What?”
Yelena smirked. “Ah, you don’t know Russian? This will be fun.”
Kate frowned. “Wait, what does that—”
Yelena leaned in, brushing her lips over Kate’s ear. “Moya printsessa.”
Kate’s face burned. “Oh my God, stop.”
Yelena grinned wider. “What’s wrong, kotenok?”
Kate groaned, covering her face. “Yelena—”
Yelena’s laughter was warm and teasing. “Maybe I should call you zolotse? Hmm, no… malyshka fits you better.”
Kate groaned louder. “I hate you.”
Yelena pecked her lips. “No, you don’t.”
Kate sighed dramatically. “No, I don’t.”
Yelena smirked. “Good girl.”
Kate just about died on the spot. She chokes and walks away from Yelena and her cackling.
___________________________________________
Later That Night
By the time they made it back to Kate’s apartment, she was exhausted.
Not that she’d admit it.
She made it exactly ten minutes into a movie before her head started nodding forward.
“Kate.”
“I’m fine.”
Yelena raised an eyebrow. “You are literally falling asleep.”
Kate blinked rapidly. “No, I’m—”
Another yawn cut her off.
Yelena smirked. “Mm-hmm. Sure, solnyshko.”
Kate frowned. “What does that—”
“Bed. Now.”
Kate huffed but didn’t argue when Yelena pulled her up. She expected the blonde to tuck her in and leave. Instead, Yelena slid into bed beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Kate stiffened. “Uh—”
“Shhh, moya lyubov”
Yelena climbed on top of her, draping herself over Kate like a human blanket.
Kate’s heart slammed against her ribs.
Yelena smirked against her shoulder. “Your heart is beating very fast, printsessa.”
Kate groaned, covering her face. “I hate you.”
Yelena chuckled, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Go to sleep, moya lyubov’.”
Kate melted.
She stayed awake just a little longer, watching Yelena breathe, wondering how she had ever lived without this.
Without her.
She never wanted to again.