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“Is this what heroes do? Arrest their mothers on Christmas?”
Kate has to admit—her mother had a point. Eleanor had protected her from the real world all her life, and now Kate had to deal with the consequences of her actions. No more destroying bell towers and no more mommy to pay for it. Kate’s life was a disaster; her apartment was in ashes, she didn’t have a job, and her accounts were frozen. Bishop Security was closed until the end of the trial, and Kate wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the company by then, but she knew she would probably have to sell it. The truth was, Kate has no money to pay for a lawyer. So she would most likely learn the verdict on the news. Besides, her mother hadn’t spoken to her since Kate testified against her, so Kate knew it was pointless to return. Another thing her mother was right about. Kate understood that the world was about unfortunate arrangements. People who believe they are unstoppable walk among us, and it’s Kate's job to stop them.
When Kate returned from the Barton farm after spending Christmas with them, she felt alone, despite Lucky’s presence. (Don't tell Lucky, Kate thought this). So, Kate gets her life together. She finished college. She has a part-time job, well, she has had several part-time jobs. Since she loses the majority of them due to her vigilante, non-paying job. Well, she loses some of them to other unfortunate events. Like an idiot who decides to overstep with a random girl at a bar, and a broken rib that prevents her from standing for several days. For God’s sake, Kate is the greatest archer in the world, how did she manage to break nine plates at her last job? It could have been ten, but Peter saved one.
Oh yeah, Peter.
Suddenly, Kate has Peter. They became partners, ever since she found out he’s Spider-Man. Not to mention the devil-masked man—Daredevil—who showed up one day, unexpectedly crashing into her life like he owned the place. Then, there’s the weird (and very young) girl—Kamala, aka Ms. Marvel—who appeared in her apartment one evening, grinning like she’d just won the lottery, and offered Kate an invitation to join a team. The Avengers. Kate was an Avenger. Finally.
Despite this, Kate had one problem. A problem that came with a Russian accent, blonde hair, green eyes pigmented like a forest, and a ridiculously hot body. Oh, wait—maybe the problem wasn’t Yelena. Maybe the problem was that Kate kept forgetting Yelena was an assassin.
“Hi,” Yelena called from the couch, absentmindedly petting Lucky. “Welcome back, Kate Bishop. You took forever,” she drawled, dragging out the last word.
Kate barely had time to process the scene before instinct kicked in. She spun toward the couch, bow raised. “What are you doing here?”
Yelena didn’t even flinch. “Relax, Kate Bishop,” she said with an easy smirk. It wasn’t the first time the assassin had broken in just to say hi. Usually, Yelena showed up, made some snarky comments, and then disappeared just as quickly.
“Luckily, I cooked.” Yelena grinned.
Oh, right. Yelena did that sometimes. Cooking for Kate. Taking Lucky for walks when Kate couldn’t. Looking out for her in ways Kate barely even noticed until she did.
Maybe that was why Kate kept forgetting the truth. The truth that Yelena was an assassin. And that she was in Kate’s house. Again.
“I cooked real food,” Yelena added pointedly. She gestured toward the discarded pizza box on the floor. Lucky trotted over and started eating the leftover crust, completely unbothered. Kate didn’t stop him—she couldn’t eat it anyway. “Lucky! We talked about this. Don’t eat that. You’re gonna feel sick later,” Yelena scolded, standing up with a groan. “You’re worse than your mother.”
She grabbed Lucky by the collar, dragging him away from the pizza. As she did, her gaze flickered to Kate, studying her from head to toe. Kate felt the weight of Yelena’s stare and quickly looked away.
Without warning, Yelena stepped back. “Gotta go. See you next time,” she said hastily, already making her way to the window.
“Wait,” Kate blurted.
Yelena paused on the stairs, turning slightly.
“Are you still an assassin?”
Yelena didn’t answer right away. Instead, she smirked slightly. “Isn’t your team still after me?”
Kate clenched her jaw. “Then you can’t keep doing this.”
Yelena raised a brow. “Doing what?”
“Popping up! Cooking for me! Taking care of me and Lucky. I can’t keep lying to my team. And you can’t get away with murder forever!” Kate snapped.
For once, Yelena didn’t have a snarky comeback. She simply nodded once. Then, as always, she turned and jumped out the window.
-×-
That was two months ago.
This was the longest Kate had gone without seeing Yelena—without the blonde assassin unexpectedly showing up in her apartment. She tried not to dwell on it, especially since Yelena hadn’t interfered with any of her Avenger duties either. It was like she had vanished.
Kate pushed open the door, her heart stuttering for a second when she saw someone on the couch—only to realize it wasn’t Yelena. It was Kamala, lounging comfortably in her apartment.
“I need help with my math homework,” Kamala explained, handing Lucky the cookies Yelena had bought for him.
“And we’re not doing this online because…?” Kate asked, raising a brow.
“I told my mom I’d be here. But I was following a lead—it was a dead end. Don’t tell her.” Kamala shrugged.
Kate sighed. “Next time, at least give me a heads-up. And take me with you.”
“Deal.” Kamala grinned. “I still need help with my homework, though. Oh, by the way, what a weird billboard outside. I noticed it when I got here.”
“Billboard?” Kate asked, curious. “What billboard?”
Kamala pointed toward the window. Kate followed her gaze, spotting a promotional billboard in the distance. It was strange—completely white, except for a single phrase in the center:
I thought you were special.
Kate’s eyes widened. “What the fuck.”
Kamala tilted her head. “What do you think they’re promoting? A show? Maybe it’s an ad for a breakup support business or something.”
Shit.
“Shit,” Kate muttered under her breath.
Kamala frowned. “What?”
“Nothing,” Kate said quickly, stepping away from the window. “Let’s do your homework.”
Waiting for Kamala to finally fall asleep was a nightmare. The second she heard steady breathing, Kate slipped silently out of bed and headed downstairs. She pulled out her phone and dialed the unknown number—the one that had delivered bad news a year ago. She didn’t even know if it still worked, but it was worth a shot.
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 to my face.”
-×-
“I found the new tracksuit lair. Wanna go tonight?” Peter asked.
Kate closed the magazine she had been reading for the third time in a row. “Let’s do it,” she smiled.
They had nothing better to do anyway, considering there were no major threats at Avenger level. So instead of taking the night off, they decided to head out on a mission. Better to do something productive than nothing at all.
Peter raised his phone. “Okay, let me call Eli.”
Kate sighed. “I miss when it was just the two of us.”
“What? Don’t you like Eli?” Peter smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“You know it’s not that.”
-×-
“Bro. Bro. Not again. How do they keep finding us? We were very careful this time,” one of the Tracksuits groaned.
“You have a huge truck outside that says Trust a Bro. It’s pretty hard to miss,” Eli remarked sarcastically, effortlessly disarming one of them.
Kate fired off a trick arrow, releasing a gas that put a group of Tracksuits to sleep. Just as she exhaled in satisfaction, she sensed a presence behind her.
“Bishop girl.”
Kate turned, already on alert. Thomas, one of the Tracksuits, smirked at her.
“Thomas,” she said flatly. “When did you get out of jail?”
“This morning,” he answered, cracking his neck.
Kate rolled her eyes. “Are you ready to go back?”
Thomas furrowed his brows. “No. I need to get back with my girlfriend first.”
“You guys fought again?” Kate asked.
“Yes. She’s with another man now.” Thomas sighed, rolling his shoulders. “Got any advice for me?”
“Change of lifestyle, maybe?” Kate offered.
Thomas actually considered it for a second.
Kate eyed the gun in his hand. “So… what’s up with that?”
“I’m sorry,” he said instead.
Kate sighed. Well, she had given him a second chance. Without hesitation, she disarmed him and got ready to knock him out—only for Thomas to speak again.
“This is the only life I know,” he wheezed.
Kate hesitated. She had never really thought about it like that. But before she could process it, a voice cut through the air.
“Kate!”
Elijah’s scream barely registered before he tackled her to the ground, covering her with his body. The sharp sound of gunfire rang out.
By the time Kate looked up, Thomas was on the ground—lifeless. Blood pooled from a single bullet wound in his forehead.
“He’s… he’s dead,” Kate gasped, her breath catching in her throat.
Elijah moved quickly, his hands on her shoulders. “Kate. Kate, look at me. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
She couldn’t answer. Her mind felt blank.
Elijah exhaled sharply. “Good. He deserved it,” he muttered. Then, softer, he cupped her cheeks, forcing her to focus on him. “Breathe, Kate. Just breathe with me.”
-×-
Elijah and Peter walked her home, but Kate hadn’t said a single word since Thomas’s death—not to the press, not to the police. Apparently, CCTV footage from a warehouse across the street was enough evidence to clear them. At least for tonight.
At her doorstep, Peter hesitated. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”
“Yeah, guys,” Kate said, forcing a small smile before pulling them into a hug. “See you tomorrow.”
Lucky greeted her, his joy clear on his face. “Are you hungry, boy? It’s really late, of course you are.”
Kate grabbed Lucky’s food, filling his bowl with a proper amount of food. She set the food down, then switched on the TV. The press had gotten their hands on the CCTV footage, and the video from the Tracksuit mission was all over the news. Kate groaned. The worst part was how, as usual, the media was focusing on the wrong thing. A man had died right in front of her, but all she could find online was talk about how Elijah had saved her—and how in love they were.
“Fuck them. Fuck all of them,” Kate muttered, anger thick in her voice. “I’m taking an Advil, a relaxing bath, and then I’m going to sleep.”
Lucky licked her hand with his snout.
“Sorry, Lucky. Did I scare you?” Kate crouched down to him, kissing him repeatedly. “You haven’t even eaten yet. I’m sorry, mommy’s not mad at you.”
Thomas’s words echoed in her mind.
Crime was the only life he knew...
And now Thomas was gone, never having known another way.
She grabbed her phone. She had created a new contact for the unknown number: Stupid blonde Russian. For some reason she was expecting Yelena to eventually find out about the ridiculous name and taking actions on the matter. It didn't happen.
The voicemail picked up. “You know what to do. Except for you, Walker.”
Not that Kate expected Yelena to answer.
“You don’t know another life,” Kate began softly. “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…” Kate choked on her words. “I didn’t want him dead. He didn’t deserve it.” Her sobs broke through the silence, her chest heavy. She could have cried for hours, but then Lucky came into the room, hopped onto the bed, and started licking her face, showering her with wet kisses.
Kate let out a small laugh through her tears. “I have to go. Lucky came to rescue me.” She hung up.
Kate collapsed onto her pillows, sniffling. She was asleep soon enough, but the sinking of her mattress woke her from her dreams.
“You came.” Kate whispered, barely awake but happy for the assassin presence.
“I thought you had enough of Lucky.”
“Thanks for feeding him.” Kate giggled, eyes still closed.
“You figure it out.” Yelena’s eyebrows raised, surprised.
“It’s always you,” Kate murmured, curling into the pillow again.
Yelena bit her bottom lip, fighting a smile.
“Advil PM, huh? Cool. My favorite.” Kate tried to smile but kept her eyes shut, already knowing Yelena was the one who had left the pills in her first aid kit.
“He didn’t deserve it,” Yelena said softly, her voice gentle as she kissed Kate’s cheek. “And most importantly it wasn’t your fault.”
Kate smiled, her lips barely moving. “Good night, Yelena.”
“Good night, Kate Bishop.”
-×-
“Are you serious? Are you fucking serious?!” Kate groaned, pure annoyance dripping from her voice.
She was coming back from the police department that evening when she spotted a new billboard. Not that she made a habit of checking billboards, but this went too far. The new billboard was definitely bad and definitely confirmed Kate’s suspicions.
The billboard was empty except for bold black text that made her blood boil.
Have you told your boyfriend about us, Kate Bishop?
“She’s so! Ugh!” Kate screamed, loud enough for a passing old lady to glance at her worriedly, though she didn’t stop.
Not sure what else to do, and desperate for advice, Kate called the one person she knew could maybe help her. She didn’t want to keep bothering him, but she was desperate at this point.
“Kate? Is everything okay?” Clint’s voice came through the speakers.
“She’s driving me crazy, Clint!” Kate complained, feeling her frustration building.
“Who?” Clint chuckled.
“Yelena!” Kate screamed, because she was pretty sure only Yelena could pull this kind of thing off. “She’s everywhere! She’s so confusing! She shows up, cooks for me, brings me groceries, medicine, cookies for Lucky, even takes him for walks when I can’t. How does she know? And then she just disappears—poof! Gone. Sometimes I don’t even know she was there. What is she up to? Does she want me dead?!”
“It sounds like she’s taking care of you,” Clint said, deadpan.
“Clint, I’m serious!” Kate’s voice dropped into frustration.
“Me too, kid,” Clint replied, his tone softening.
“She’s a fucking Black Widow assassin. You’ve said it yourself,” Kate reminded him.
Clint sighed heavily.
“Kate, sit down,” he instructed. “It’s not my story to tell, but you need to know. Black Widows aren’t just normal assassins. They’re either taken or sold by their families, trafficked from all over the world. While you were playing with dolls, they were playing with guns. So, no, Kate. I don’t think she wants you dead. I think that’s the only way she knows how to show affection.”
Kate’s throat went dry as she processed the revelation. “I didn’t… I don’t know what to do,” she whispered, her voice small.
“It was hard with Natasha. It’s going to be even harder with her. It’s up to you, Kate. Do you want to help her? And does she want your help?”
“You’re being really vague,” Kate pouted.
“Yeah. I’m sorry, kiddo. Good luck.” Clint sighed.
“Wait. Is Yelena even her real name?” Kate asked, the question lingering.
“I doubt even she knows,” Clint answered, and with that, the call ended.
-×-
Suddenly, it was all over the news. Peter called, worried. Kamala and Cassie FaceTimed her, curious. Elijah asked for an explanation.
Great, Kate sighed. It can’t get worse than this. Just as the thought crossed her mind, her phone interrupted her.
I spoke too soon.
The unknown number flashed on the screen, and Kate’s heart stopped. She answered quickly, too quickly.
“Yelena?” she asked, her voice unsure.
“So that’s her name?” A mysterious voice declared.
“Mom?” Kate asked, surprised, her heart racing.
“You’re more surprised to hear your own mother’s voice than a murderer’s voice,” Eleanor said, disappointment heavy in her words. “The murderer who’s gonna kill me.”
“What do you mean?” Kate asked.
“Are you really that blind, Kate?” Eleanor’s tone was sharp with anger. “I hired a contract killer to murder an Avenger. In this business, some things are better left ignored. But you, you always had to know everything, in case things blew up. I understand you’re not following my case, but I took a deal. A deal that’s gonna get me killed.”
“What are you saying?” Kate whispered.
“I’m gonna tell you what’s gonna happen, Kate,” Eleanor seethed with frustration. “They’re going to move me to a maximum security prison for my own safety. Your girlfriend—who didn’t complete her original mission—will be sent to kill me because I’m a loose end.”
“The police will protect you,” Kate argued.
“Again, Kate?” Eleanor’s voice was filled with disappointment. “Blind. Who do you think the big boss is? Everyone has a price. A simple cop isn’t going to pay for his second kid’s college and mortgage without making sacrifices.”
Kate fell silent, the weight of her mother’s words sinking in. The call was nearing its end.
“If you still feel any affection for me, Kate,” Eleanor said softly, “please don’t let me die. Take care, sweetie. They might consider you a loose end, too.”
The call ended, leaving Kate standing in the middle of the living room.
Shit, this looks bad.
-×-
Kate: My place now.
Peter enters the apartment through the window, swinging on his webs, twenty minutes after Kate sent the message.
Kate explains the situation as best she could, leaving out the personal details about Yelena she doesn't feel comfortable sharing.
“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,” Peter groans.
“We don’t have to do everything at once. Saving my mom first, if she’s really in danger,” Kate clarifies.
“I think her story checks out,” Peter admits.
“Yeah, it does,” Kate sighs. “Got any ideas?”
“Facial recognition?” Peter proposes.
“We don’t have any pictures of her,” Kate deadpans.
“Let’s hire an artist. You describe her,” Peter shrugs.
“Why me?” Kate asks defensively.
“Because you’re the only one who’s seen her face. Every time we run into her, she wears that weird mask,” Peter explains.
Kate grimaces at the undeniable truth. “Fine.”
The artist sits across from them, ready to start.
“Her hair is blonde,” Kate begins. “When it’s tied up, it’s dark blonde, but when it’s down, it’s light blonde. She’s slim, but with a firm, strong body. Maybe in her early 30s. She has delicate features, but you can tell by looking at her that she could take you down in hand-to-hand combat. Her eyes are like a cat’s—wide open, always alert to any threat. Her lips are full, her neck is strong, and her cheekbones are high. Her skin is smooth and shiny, like she takes care of it. She has a lost look in her eyes—direct and chilling. Totally focused and completely unapproachable.”
“So... square or wavy face?” the artist asks.
Kate looks at him as if she just noticed his presence. She then glances at Peter, who raises both eyebrows. “We have a lot to unpack.”
Thank god I didn’t call Cassie or Kamala... This situation would be five times worse.
Once the portrait is finished, Peter prepares for the next part.
“Say hi, Karen.”
“Karen?” Kate looks around, confused. There’s no one else in the apartment.
“Hi, Peter. How have you been?” the AI program responds.
“Amazing. Are you ready to work?” Peter grins.
“What the hell, Pete?” Kate’s disbelief is clear.
“Bruno and I have been working on this project. I recreated Karen, and together we uploaded the system. Karen can help us with our problem,” Peter explains. “If Yelena’s been in New York, there are cameras everywhere. How hard can it be?”
Extremely hard, even with Karen’s help. Twelve hours later, and they’ve got nothing.
On the other hand, Eleanor was right. Her deal was kept secret from the press, but they managed to find out about her imminent transfer.
“What now?”
“We call the others. Being an Avenger has its perks. Let’s use it,” Peter suggests. “But just know that if something goes wrong, you’ll be the one blamed.”
“It’ll be worse if I lose my mother. Just in case, you stay. I’ve got a plan to find Yelena.” Kate says.
“You’re crazy. The woman’s an expert. How do you think you’re going to beat her?” Peter blurts.
“The same way we used a real artist and not Karen to make her portrait.”
“That was a matter of respect.”
“Shut up.” Kate chuckles.
They continue studying the surveillance footage, this time focusing on cameras near Kate's neighborhood.
“There. It’s her.” Kate interrupts.
“How can you tell? Because of the blonde hair?” Kate shoots him an accusatory look. “Sorry, because of her dark blonde hair tied up?”
“I’m telling you, it’s her.” They find more footage, all near Kate’s apartment, but never a frontal shot. “Do a movement recognition, Karen.”
“Don’t give orders to my AI. She responds only to me,” Peter warns.
“Right away, Ms. Bishop,” Karen responds.
Kate grins.
“Gotta fix that,” Peter mutters, narrowing his eyes. “Are you gonna tell me, or do I have to guess?”
“I was hoping you’d be more discreet.”
“More discreet than Cassie or Kamala?” Peter finishes the unspoken words. “And here I was thinking you picked me because I’m the best.”
“You are.”
“Is she a good guy?” Peter asks.
“Don’t know,” Kate admits. “I don’t even know what ‘good’ means anymore.”
-×-
"Thanks, sweetie. Really. You being here means the world to me," Eleanor said, her voice laced with a touch of manipulation. The trip had been a nightmare for Kate. She hadn’t relaxed for a single second. Though they traveled by jet, it didn’t make her suffering end any quicker. Kate couldn’t shake the feeling that her mom was manipulating her in the worst way possible.
"Good luck, Mom," Kate muttered, her voice tinged with resignation.
“How was it?” Peter asked, his voice full of concern.
“She’s safe… for now.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got an eye on her,” Peter reassured her.
Kate frowned. “Did you hack the prison?”
“Should I have not?” Peter replied, feigning confusion.
“No, man, that’s amazing!” Kate said, impressed.
“And illegal,” Peter pointed out.
They both laughed—until a knock on the door froze them in place.
“Oh my god, they found us. We’re going to jail.”
“Calm down. There’s no way they could have found us that fast.” Kate’s eyes darted to the monitors. They had switched to pictures of kittens, and she couldn't help but stare. She opened the door and found a middle-aged, gray-haired man standing there.
“You don’t look like a delivery guy,” Kate remarked.
“Because I’m not. I’m from the CIA. Can I come in? Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. My name is Everett Ross, and I believe we have a common goal.”
Kate smiled nervously. “World peace?”
“I’m sure that's a common goal. But what brings me here is a Russian assassin we’ve been trying to capture for several years now, and she also happens to be the main threat to your mother, Eleanor Bishop.” Ross paused, eyeing them both. “So, are we working together or not?”
-×-
Kate's shift was over—well, her boss ended it. It was the tenth order she’d messed up, setting a new personal record. But could anyone really blame her? First, her mother told her not to trust anyone, not even the police, and then 24 hours later, a CIA agent shows up at her door and basically forces them to work with him. Great. Just great.
The apartment was empty now, and the monitors were off.
“Peter?” Kate called out, scanning the room. The silence was thick, and the tension in the air was palpable. She had felt this before.
“Hi, Kate Bishop. I hear you’ve been a very nosy girl.”
“Oh shit. Are you here to kill me?” Kate jumps.
“Oh gosh, Kate Bishop always has murderous thoughts. When is the day I get home and you’ll tell me, ‘You’re finally home. How was your day? I’ll cook for us.’”
“I don’t cook.”
“Nothing new. Sit. I brought dinner.”
“Where’s my dog?” Kate asked, glancing around for Lucky.
“Kate Bishop,” Yelena called, her voice a mix of offense and something else Kate couldn’t quite place. “I’m not a monster. I’d never hurt an animal. He’s upstairs. I wanted us to talk without interruptions. Don’t worry, I brought his favorite cookies. God, I’m such an idiot. You’ve been gone a while, he must miss you. I’ll go get him so he can say hi. You go set the table.”
Great. Kate was not only working with the CIA under threat—almost threat—but now she was also taking orders from an assassin. An assassin who hid all her arrows and her bow, leaving her without anything to defend herself with. Except, Yelena left the knives. Knives that Yelena herself bought. That’s what Kate assumed when a full set of cutlery appeared in her kitchen.
“Come on, boy. Say hello to мама.”
After a few kisses, Yelena said something in Russian, and Lucky trotted up the stairs after her.
“Did you teach my dog Russian?!” Kate demanded.
“Maybe,” Yelena replied, reappearing. “Okay, Kate Bishop. Let’s talk business. How much do you know about me, and who did you tell?”
“You don’t know? Don’t you have microphones all over my place?”
“No, Kate Bishop. That would be disrespectful to your privacy.”
“Sure, because you’ve never done that before,” Kate shot back sarcastically.
“Kate Bishop,” Yelena coughed, clearly unamused. “Don’t be defensive. You can find that information anywhere. There’s this amazing thing called the internet, you know. I’ve learned how to use it. Now that you’re famous, it’s easier. All I have to do is follow your hashtag on Instagram and set up 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’d give a finger to sleep with you.” Kate had never heard Yelena sound jealous before, and she wasn’t sure she believed that was what she was hearing. “Do you know how many pictures I have to look at because you went to your favorite pizza place?” Yelena admitted with a mixture of displeasure and a small, indecipherable smile.
“Okay. Not weird at all. Sorry you have to deal with such an unpleasant experience.”
“It wasn’t unpleasant,” Yelena shrugged. “So, speak.”
“Are you going to kill my mom?” Kate asked, finishing setting the table.
Yelena ignored the question and sat down, motioning for Kate to do the same.
“You’re going to hurt yourself, Kate Bishop. You need to work on your game. Hiding a knife in your pants is dangerous for you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kate said, feigning ignorance.
Yelena turned around and grabbed the pizza box from Kate’s favorite place. “I thought we deserved a nice farewell dinner.”
“Where are you going?” Kate asked, her voice tinged with concern.
“Far. My boss found out I’m too... committed.”
“To the cause?”
Yelena laughed, wrinkling her nose. “Kate Bishop, you’re so funny. To you.” Her face was completely serious when she confessed the last bit.
Kate turned away, pretending to look for something—maybe the pizza cutter—and in the process, she carefully took the knife out of her pants and managed to place it on the countertop, when a hand rested on top of hers, snatching the weapon from her.
“I figured. This isn’t for you, Kate.” Yelena set the knife aside and pulled out a small dagger from somewhere, her eyes locking with Kate’s. Kate was too lost in the intensity of her gaze to think straight.
“This one’s more practical. You can hide it in your shoes or on your hip. Now, I’ll do a quick demonstration.” Yelena handed her the dagger. “Where would you aim?” she asked, moving closer, holding Kate’s waist.
Kate swallowed nervously and, almost on instinct, pressed the dagger to the right side of Yelena’s abdomen.
“No, Kate,” Yelena interrupted, grabbing her hand and gently redirecting it to her own neck, not letting go. “You aim for the neck first, but you have to catch your enemy off guard. Obviously, that’s if you want them dead. Aiming for the heart is tricky.” She moved the dagger to the spot. “With the ribs, the tits—you have to be well-versed in anatomy to hit it right the first time. Then the stomach... It's a mess in surgery. My special favorite is the spleen.” She guided Kate’s hand to her left lumbar region, the dagger pressing painfully into Kate’s palm. “So much blood, death in seconds. So, which one will it be, Kate?”
“Were you sent to kill my mother?” Kate asked, her voice steady despite the panic rising inside her. Yelena was so close now that Kate could feel her breath on her skin.
“Answer my question first, what do you know about me?”
“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 could’ve gotten the information directly from you.”
“We’ll never know, will we? You never bothered to ask.”
“Maybe I was afraid you were going to attack me for asking.”
“When, Kate? When I was wrapping your wounds, taking your dog for walks, or making you a proper meal?”
Kate didn’t dare answer. Yelena had used her first name only, and somehow, that felt more terrifying than the whole situation.
“Your turn.” Kate said.
“I won’t kill your mother. Who did you tell?”
“No one. I haven’t said anything,” Kate admitted. “Who do you work for?”
Yelena shrugged. “If you go high enough, we’re probably working for the same people.” Kate processed the information, the same vague answer her mother had given her. She focused back on Yelena, noticing a flicker of unease in her expression before she quickly masked it with arrogance. “Do you feel sorry for me, baby?”
“No.” Kate started, “I don’t trust you. I don't care about what you’ve been through if you kill my mother or anyone else. And if 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. Think about it before you kill me. You’ll be the first person they suspect.” Yelena seemed impressed by her response, though her face remained unreadable. “I’m not sorry, baby.”
Now, the small dagger was in Kate’s possession, pointing upwards, and when Yelena moved forward, by reflex, Kate defended herself, slashing the dagger across Yelena’s left cheek, just beside her eye. The blonde smirked, her eyes cold. She wiped away the drop of blood running down her face.
“Dinner is canceled.”
-×-
Peter arrived a few hours later, yet Kate was still sitting in front of the countertop, her head buried in her knees.
“Kate?” Peter called softly.
“She was here,” Kate answered, her voice muffled.
“What? What happened?”
“I have no idea. I’m glad you’re okay.” Kate whispered.
“Me? You’re the one who’s a mess,” Peter said, sounding more concerned. “Jesus, so much happened while I went to get some clothes and food. Come on, let’s eat something, let’s relax. It’s over.”
“No, I can’t eat now.” Kate whimpered.
“Okay, I’ll put it in the fridge, we’ll warm it up later. Go take a bath.” He helped her get to her feet. Then opened the fridge to put the food he bought inside, “Kate, when did you go to the store? Your fridge is full of food.”
“What...? It was her,” Kate 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 will start hunting her tomorrow.”
-×-
The next day wasn’t much better. Karen was still working on processing all the movement recognition data. Tracking her mother’s behavior throughout the day was all she could do. It was late when she looked up from the monitor.
“Kate,” Peter called, breaking her focus. “The billboard.”
Kate almost fell out of her chair trying to stand up.
She rushed downstairs and rounded the corner to find three men working on the new billboard. “Hey!” she called out. One of them came down to meet her.
“Who hired you to put up that sign?”
“I don’t know, miss.”
“You don’t know? How can you not know?” Kate growled.
“Look, miss, as long as we’re paid, we’ll hang anything. If you’ve got a problem, deal with it.” The worker sighed.
The worker went back up, and worked on finishing the billboard. Peter stood behind her, both of them waiting for the billboard to finish being put up.
The message made Kate’s blood run cold:
I’m going to make you sorry, baby.
Peter had to drag her back to the apartment after that. The news that Everett wanted to meet helped ease her tension.
-×-
“Fancy restaurant,” Kate muttered as she walked in following Ross.
“It’s my favorite. The lobster’s incredible.” a woman she had never seen before said. “Nice to finally meet you, Miss Bishop. I’m Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, but everyone calls me Val.”
Kate blurted without thinking. “Am I in trouble?”
“No, Kate.”
“Why did the CIA director want to see me personally?”
“Agent Ross and you made a deal. I heard you haven’t been very cooperative. Anyone could say you’re not serious about catching an international assassin. Do you have any idea how many people she’s killed?”
“Do you?” Kate fired back.
Valentina smiled, her expression almost amused. “We’ve gathered a lot of information. We’ll share it, if you reciprocate.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Excuse me?” Valentina laughed again, but Kate didn’t find it funny. “Have you gotten attached?”
“I haven’t. She’s going to pay for her crimes. I swear.”
“Why? Because you’re an Avenger?” Valentina scoffed. “What does that even mean? The Avengers are gone. Your little group of copycat teenagers is nothing. SHIELD is dead, Fury’s gone. Let the adults handle this. Do you realize she’s going to kill your mother?”
“Why would she? My mom doesn’t even know her name. She contacted her through a handler. Sending her would be predictable.”
“So you think they’ll just send someone else?”
“You’re stupid if you haven’t considered it.” Kate’s phone rang before Valentina could respond. “Clearly, you need me more than I need you. So, I’m going home.”
She left the restaurant in a rush. Peter was waiting for her outside, standing by the Uber.
“You’re amazing,” he said, as she climbed in.
“You’re unbelievable,” Peter replied, still trying to process the strange dinner. “Now come on, you were right.”
-×-
“Meet Clara Aster,” Peter said, as they arrived back at the apartment. “She was imprisoned eighteen years ago for murder. She killed a woman and got a life sentence.”
“Okay,” Kate replied, trying to piece it together.
“Well, here’s the tricky part. There’s no record of her trial—just the sentence. The judge died years ago, and despite her having a birth certificate, it’s like her parents never existed.”
“It’s her.”
“Yeah, but she’s been there too long. Why?”
“If I were a Black Widow, I’d rather serve a life sentence in prison than kill for someone else.”
“Then why do you think she’d kill now?”
“No idea. Money?” Kate offered with a shrug. “Wanna do another round of watching my mom do absolutely nothing in prison?”
“Do I have another choice?” Peter deadpanned.
“No,” Kate said, her tone resolute. “You watch Clara, I’ve got my mom.”
“How fun. Sleeping is not on our schedule,” he said sarcastically. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re right. Go rest. I’ll take the first watch. How much can they do at night?”
“You need rest too.”
“I will.” She gave him a pointed look. “I’m gonna check Clara’s behavior, then I’ll rest. Promise.”
-×-
“Сука!” Kate screamed, waking Peter up.
“What? Since when do you speak Russian? You’ve got a lot to confess.”
“I learned curse words just in case.”
“In case of what? The same reason you keep hot sauce on the shelf, even though you hate it?”
“Focus, Pete,” she snapped. “Look. It's Yelena.”
He rewound the footage, trying to see what Kate was referring to—especially when the woman on the screen kept hiding her face. “How can you tell? Again. Don’t tell me. Kate, it’s 10 a.m. Did you even sleep?”
“If you’re hungry, go downstairs and grab some pizza.”
“Do you have money?”
“I’m unemployed.”
“I guess I’m going with the food your girlfriend left you,” Peter teased, but didn’t get a response. Kate was absorbed in the computer, programming away. Peter hesitated, wondering if it was safe to ask her not to mess with Karen. Instead, he sat back down next to her, considering offering the chicken salad he’d prepared—though he had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate it. “What are we doing?”
“Nothing.”
“Excuse me?”
“She said she won’t kill my mom.”
Peter stared at her in disbelief. He’d been looking at her like this a lot lately. “Kate…”
“No. Maybe she’s there to protect her, or maybe she’s being blackmailed. She’ll let me know.”
“Kate!” Peter growled. “You’ve got to stop. I’ve trusted you. I trust you. But not her. And you’re definitely not yourself when it comes to her.”
An unusual movement caught their attention on the camera. A fight had broken out in the dining room, drawing most of the guards to the area. Once the chaos died down and the inmates were separated, Kate saw something that shattered her.
Her mother’s body was leaning over Clara’s, and the scene unfolded too quickly. Eleanor was taken away, barely conscious, while Clara was dragged off, bloodied and beaten. The third woman involved was restrained, her nose bleeding, and the knife she had been holding was taken from her hand.
“Shit. It’s her!” Peter muttered, barely able to believe it. Yelena and Clara had fallen to the ground, both visibly battered. Spider-Man reacted first, his eyes scanning for the infirmary camera. “Don’t be afraid, Kate. She’ll be fine.”
Kate was staring at the monitor, watching as Yelena and Clara were taken away. The bloodstains left on the floor seemed to burn her thoughts. “Where did they take them?”
“You’re worried about them and not your mom?” Peter choked out, still processing what had just happened.
“Right iliac region,” Kate replied, her voice strained as she analyzed the scene. She waited for Peter to ask for more. “They wounded my mom in a less lethal area. The knife must have been small, something she could hide easily. It wasn’t a fatal wound. If she wanted her dead, she would’ve aimed for the heart or the throat.”
“Should I be scared?”
“Where did they take her, Peter?!”
The women weren’t immediately taken to the infirmary. Instead, they were placed in solitary confinement for twelve hours. Twelve hours Kate spent at the hospital after receiving the fateful news. Eleanor was in surgery for about four hours, and the doctors kept the prognosis guarded.
“She’ll be fine. You’ll see, Kate.”
“Thanks for being here, guys.”
“You’re tired,” Kamala said gently. “We’ll take care of her safety personally.”
Kate didn’t think Mrs. Khan would be thrilled with that, but she didn’t protest.
“Go rest,” Cassie ordered. “We’ll call you when she wakes up.”
-×-
Kate finally got a few hours of rest, waking up to Karen’s call that she had finished analyzing the recordings. Neither Peter nor Lucky were in the apartment, so she assumed the younger boy had taken him out for a walk. She began to study the images Karen had flagged, matching the data.
“She’s mostly been captured on camera near your address, Ms. Bishop. Doing groceries or sightseeing.”
“I can see that,” Kate said, a soft smile appearing on her lips as she watched Yelena visiting places where famous sitcoms had been filmed. “She’s a Sex and the City fan. Interesting.”
“Yes. I looked at every place she visited. I think I’ve managed to find her location.”
“What?”
“Do you want her address?”
-×-
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. Even her weapons were neatly arranged and hidden.
“Я не могу в это поверить. Одна услуга. Я прошу об одной услуге, а она забывает,” the blonde muttered in Russian as she entered. She went straight to the closet. “You can buy another one, Yelena. Well, I don’t want another vest.” Yelena turned, sensing a presence behind her. She raised an eyebrow. “Are you having a party?” she nodded toward the beer bottle in Kate's hand. Kate raised her other hand, pointing a gun at Yelena. The blonde raised both hands in surrender.
“Sit.”
“Okay, Kate,” Yelena began. “Let’s calm down. I know how it looks, but I swear I didn’t try to kill Eleanor.”
“I know. I know everything.”
“Do you? I’m working with Everett Ross to catch Valentina, who is also under contract with me. She’s the one who wants Eleanor dead, so she hired Clara Aster to do it—though that’s not her real name. She’s a widow who was imprisoned as punishment for trying to betray the Red Room during a mission. So, I ended up in prison with a counteroffer: don’t kill your mother, and get us both out of there.”
Kate opened her mouth and closed it again. “Wo… I… did… Did I? I don’t know anymore,” she rambled, confused. “Valentina? Seriously? Bitch.”
Yelena chuckled. “I think you call her stupid, which I think is amazing. Everett told me.” She clarified, “So, what now?”
“I want to tell you something.” Kate opened the fridge, handing a beer to Yelena. “First, I owe you a drink.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” the blonde replied, accepting the bottle.
“Multitasking. For your wounds,” Kate said, sitting on the bed in front of Yelena. The assassin’s face was a mess, but she didn’t seem to have any serious injuries.
“Thanks.” The widow took a sip, then winced, covering one of her bruises in pain.
“Woman, why are you taking so…?” Sonya interrupted herself. “Oh. Hi.”
“Hi.”
“You found her. You actually found her,” Sonya said with excitement.
Kate looked at Yelena, waiting for an explanation she didn’t get. “Sonya,” Yelena said, introducing her friend, “Another widow.”
“Nice to finally meet you, Kate,” Sonya said, shaking the archer’s hand.
“Sonya,” Yelena cut off 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’s 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.” Yelena 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.”
“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 heard you for the first time. I just wanted to hear it again.”
“Cheater,” Kate said, both smiling at each other. Yelena stayed silent, waiting. Kate took a deep breath. “I think about you all the time. I think about what you’re wearing, what you’re doing, and who you’re 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—gosh, I think about your eyes a lot—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, will you be honest?”
Yelena nodded.
“What’s your name?”
“Yelena.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Belova.”
“Is it your real name?”
“I don’t know. They burned our birth certificates. It’s the best I can give you.”
“How old were you?”
“He bought us or stole us from our families when we were babies. My mom says we were sent to orphanages until a proper age. In my case, I was three when I went on my first mission. I lived in Ohio for three years with fake parents and a fake sister, Natasha, pretending to be a family. They all knew it was fake, but I didn’t. After we completed the mission, Natasha and I were sent to the Red Room. My training began, and Natasha’s continued.”
“You were so young.”
“Natasha was younger when her training started. We didn’t see each other for 21 years, during which I was under mind control—actually, all the widows were. Long story short, I got out, and with my family’s help, we took down the Red Room. 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 agreed. “What do you want? Honestly. Don’t be a dick.”
Yelena shrugged. “I want all the widows to be free. Then, normal stuff. A nice life. A cool flat. A fun job. Someone to watch movies with. God, I’m tired,” she moaned. “Aren’t you tired?”
“A little, yeah.” Kate’s phone rang. “But we have to keep going. The widows need you, and my mom woke up.”
“Go. She must be wanting to see you.” Yelena saw doubt on the brunette’s face. “I won’t disappear.”
“I know. Why did you hang that last board? I thought you were mad at me.”
“You and Valentina. So, it worked.”
-×-
She returned from the hospital hours later. Visiting time was over, and her mother had to rest.
“You're still here. Good.”
“Couldn't leave Lucky alone. News?”
“Thanks. My mother is recovering well and is out of danger. You?”
“Well, you have a visit sleeping on your couch.”
“I’m not asleep. I don’t trust you enough,” Yelena snarled. “And Lucky wasn’t alone. I’m 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’s fine.”
“Call if you need me.”
“That’s why Spider-boy is my favorite.” Yelena confessed when Spiderman left them alone.
“He hates it when you call him that.”
“I know,” Kate smiled, grabbing a bag of peas from the fridge, handing it to Yelena, and sitting 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 visited too. Valentina is being investigated; she had to abandon her position in the CIA.”
“Nice.” Kate was strangely silent. Yelena opened one eye, studying the archer. “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 toward her, and their lips met gently at first, until Kate smiled and deepened the kiss. Yelena regained control, dictating the pace. “BAM! I bet you weren’t expecting this.”
The brunette laughed. “Idiot. Do you really not like my friends?”
“Hm. I mean, Mini Marvel has too much energy, just like you.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t worry, Kate Bishop. I like it if it’s you,” she confessed, making Kate blush. “Carolina…”
“Cassandra?”
“Same. I haven’t decided yet. But you two certainly have a fanbase. Meanwhile, your boyfriend…”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“That’s not what the fanbase says, Kate Bishop.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yes.” Yelena admits.
Kate raised her brows in surprise.
“What? You thought I was gonna lie?” Yelena chuckled.
“No, and he’s not. Also, I’d appreciate it 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 on her lips. “I haven’t thanked you for saving my mom.”
“I was returning you an old 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, sniffing 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.”
Kate chuckled, shaking her head while grabbing Yelena's phone to check who was calling.
“‘2 minutes,’ Captain America. Who is that?” Kate asked.
“Oh, no. Decline.” Yelena groaned.
Kate shrugged, obeying the demand. She wasn't expecting much from the assassin, but she didn't want to push, so Kate didn't dig into it too much. Yelena must’ve sensed, though, that Kate was curious, and offered an explanation.
"I work with him. He is part of the team I joined."
That was vague, but it was a start.
"Wait, two minutes, Captain America? That is a weird bad joke, and there is only one person who fits the description." Yelena smirked, loving that Kate and her shared the same sense of humor. "Also, in your voicemail, you mention Walker. Do you work with him?" Kate asked, she wasn't judging Yelena; her voice was more curious.
"Sometimes the world needs people willing to make sacrifices and take decisions that the Avengers cannot." Yelena answered.
"He sent a message: 'I know you are ignoring me. I need your help. We have a Bob situation.'" Kate read out loud.
Yelena growled, grabbing the phone. He answered on the first ring. "Seriously, Walker, you can't take care of him? It’s just a fucking week. It can't be that hard; you have a child, for Christ's sake."
"Yes, but my daughter doesn't spend all her time saying she wants to see you or wants to eat ice cream."
"First of all, that's because she doesn't know me yet." Yelena teased, and Kate rolled her eyes. The brunette didn't miss the fact that the assassin had put the phone call on speaker. "And second of all, if you have a problem, call the next in line."
"I'm not calling Bucky." Walker grumbled.
"Why? Because you are afraid of him?" Yelena teased.
"Shut up."
Yelena chuckled. "Can't you call anyone else?"
"I tried!" he shouted. "Antonia didn’t even answer. Ava hung up when she realized it was me." Both the girls held in their laugh.
"And my dad told you the stories about his glory days as the Crimson Dynamo in the old USSR," the blonde sang sarcastically.
"Yeah. It took me half an hour for him to listen to me, and then he said no. But then told me that I was welcome to call him any time if I wanted to hear more."
"I'm sure you are." The blonde let out a heavy breath. "Okay, I will take him until it's Barnes's turn."
'Sorry,' she whispered to Kate, and the girl simply nodded.
"Oh." He suddenly realized. "Right. I lost him."
"You what?! Why didn't you start with that?"
"Well, you didn't let me talk."
"Oh my God, ты ебаный идиот. How the hell do you lose him after all we went through to catch him? He is like a fucking God."
"God? The Sentry?" Kate covered her mouth, but it was too late.
"Who is that? Who are you with?" Walker asked, suspicious.
"No one." Yelena sighed.
"Were you the one who captured him?" Kate whispered. She didn't receive a response, but Yelena's words stayed on her mind. They were the ones who saved New York, and no one had thanked them.
"Are you with Ava? I knew there was something between you two.” Walker retorted.
Kate raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not with Ava," Yelena rushed to say. "There is nothing between us."
"Hmm. I know," he declared cheerfully. "Hi, Archer."
Yelena rolled her eyes, her gaze never leaving Kate’s. She didn’t want to miss the brunette's reaction. The girl was surprised, and there was a bit of blush on her cheeks. "She has a name."
"I know. But you hate when I call her Archer."
"You think you're so smart. I must remind you, you are asking for my help. What if I said, ‘Go call Bucky?’" Yelena drawled.
"Shit. Sorry, Ms. Bishop."
Kate bit her bottom lip, clearly enjoying it, although Yelena's mood shifted to a more serious tone.
"That's too much, and we have to call the others anyway. We are gonna need everyone if we want to find him."
"Fuck." Walker groaned.
"Call them, I think I know where he may be," Yelena ordered. "See you on the base in fifteen minutes." She hung up before he could reply.
"Can I help?" Kate asked.
"It’s better if you don't. He is usually like a little kid. Right now, he is afraid, alone, and dangerous. I promise I will introduce you to him when the right time comes. Right now, he is not in a good place to meet new people." Yelena pouted, hating herself for not accepting Kate's help, hoping the younger girl could understand.
"We have a deal. Stay safe." Kate sighed, worry etched into her face.
Yelena nodded, giving her a goodbye kiss.
-×-
That was a month ago.
Kate could tell she was handling it pretty well. Her mother had been discharged. She got herself a lawyer. “A really 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 a cyber company, mostly working from home, which was a pro. She had a lot of free 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 time ago, and in this month, it had been used to promote other businesses.
Yelena called her every week, and they chatted daily. Finding Bob was difficult, 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 they returned from the mission in California. God, the Runaways and their parents' issues. A girl greeted her and asked for a picture. She was pretty beat up, but what the hell, she wasn’t going to say no to a fan; branding is important.
“Can we take it and get the billboard?”
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.
Can someone tell my girlfriend to come home?