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It starts with a single text from Yelena, just one, that leaves Kate completely baffled.
From [Lena]: I’m coming over with Bob.
Kate’s first reaction: I missed her.
Her second, far more confusing thought: Who the hell is Bob?
Listen, Kate knows her girlfriend sometimes forgets to give context, but… Bob? Only that?
Did Yelena adopt a new dog? A guinea pig? That, by the way, was a very strange thing to come home to once: an animal inside a little box labeled “Take care of this little one.” The possibilities are endless, and none of them make sense right now.
Kate is staring at her phone, brows furrowed, so lost in thought that Kamala is the first to notice.
“Something wrong?” Kamala mutters, just loud enough for Kate to hear.
“Not really…” Kate replies, still frowning at her screen. She looks up, dead serious. “Do you know who Bob is?”
The whole room falls silent.
Cassie and Riri stop mid-conversation, while Kamala puts her pen down, blinking in confusion. For the record, they’re currently calling themselves the Young Avengers—or the Champions. The team name is still a work in progress.
“Bob?” Cassie blurts out.
“Uh… nothing,” Kate answers quickly, cheeks flushing. “I just… I gotta go. Bob-related business.”
“But I made cookies!” Kamala pouts.
Kate sighs dramatically, grabbing her things and heading for the door. “Save me one. Or two. Depending on who Bob is.”
An hour later, Kate is finally home.
She’s really happy her girlfriend is back from her mission, but she kind of wishes it were just the two of them. Instead, she’s been tidying up the apartment for… Bob. Whoever Bob is.
Still, Kate reminds herself: Yelena would never bring someone dangerous here. If there’s one thing about Yelena, it’s that she’s fiercely protective of the people she loves.
She strips off her Hawkeye suit, pulling on something more comfortable: her favorite oversized blue sweater and a pair of cozy brown pants. Then she settles on the couch, Lucky curled up on her lap, his tail lazily thumping against her knee.
And she waits.
The sun dips below the skyline, the apartment growing dim except for the soft glow of a nearby lamp. Kate glances at the clock, wondering if she should’ve asked when Yelena planned to show up.
Almost as if the widow can hear her thoughts, there’s a sudden rattle of keys outside the apartment door.
“Kate Bishop!” Yelena calls, her voice bright as she bursts in like she owns the place, which, honestly, she kind of does.
Behind her is… someone.
A guy, maybe around Yelena’s age, not quite older, but not younger than Kate. His hair is a bit messy, but in a deliberate, kind of cute way. He lingers awkwardly by the door, like he’s not sure if he should be here.
Yelena steps further into the apartment, takes one look at Kate, and immediately bursts into uncontrollable laughter.
Her whole body doubles over as she wheezes, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Her nose crinkles in that endearing way Kate knows all too well, but right now… Kate’s just confused.
“What?” Kate mutters, glancing down at herself, briefly panicking that maybe she put the sweater on backwards.
Yelena can barely get a word out between fits of laughter, finally motioning for the guy behind her to come in.
“Bob,” she wheezes. “Come in.”
And he does.
That’s when Kate gets a full look at him.
She blinks, then starts laughing just as hard as Yelena.
Because, by some ridiculous twist of fate, Bob is wearing almost the same outfit as Kate. He takes a few seconds to connect the dots, looking down at himself… and then lets out a soft laugh.
“We’re matching, bro!” Kate exclaims, grinning widely as she throws her arms out in amusement.
“That’s funny,” Bob says quietly, his voice warm as he fidgets with his hands. He looks so shy, it’s actually kind of adorable.
Kate looks between him and Yelena, giggling a little.
“I get why you like him. Bob, you can stay.”
After that hilarious introduction, Yelena finally explains to Kate who Bob is.
To be fair, Kate didn’t believe that Void was that shy guy at first, but in the end, anything can happen, so she believes her girlfriend.
That’s how Kate ends up sitting beside Bob on the couch while Yelena goes to the bathroom to change her clothes.
“So… Yelena told me some things,” Kate says quietly, trying to get closer to the other guy.
“Yes…” Bob mutters.
“I’m glad you met her,” Kate says softly. “She seems tough on the outside, but she’s very considerate. She cares. I can see why she wants to take care of you, and as long as you stay with us, I’m going to care for you too.”
Kate ends with a gentle smile, trying to show him she truly means it.
“Thank you,” Bob says, finally looking at Kate, his hands still fidgeting, but for the first time since he got here, he’s looking at her. And Kate’s happy for it.
The silence that follows is a comfortable one.
They’re resting on the very comfy couch when suddenly Kate jumps up, her smile big and her eyes locked on Bob’s.
“MARIO KART!” she abruptly declares. “Lena! We have to play Mario Kart with Bob!”
Yelena comes back from the bathroom just in time to hear her girlfriend’s voice. Her face lights up.
“Oh, I’m in.” She looks fiercely at Kate, but when she glances at Bob, her eyes soften. “I’m not going easy on you, Bob. I’m the best Bowser player ever.”
“And I’m the best Peach player ever,” Kate adds confidently.
“I’m the best Yoshi player,” Bob mutters, making the other two grin, very much content about the sudden playdate they’re about to have.
Kate sets up the Nintendo Switch with ease, she’s used to playing with Yelena every free weekend they have.
“Okay, ground rules,” she says, pointing at the other two. “No cheating. No pushing the other person. No blue shell. And no screen peeking.”
Yelena scoffs, plopping down between Kate and Bob. “Oh, Kate Bishop, you only say this because you always lose to my blue shells.”
Kate gasps, placing a hand over her heart. “That is slander.”
“Is truth,” the blonde shoots back, but you can see her smirking.
Meanwhile, Bob sits quietly on the other end of the couch, clutching the controller like he’s afraid to break. His Yoshi avatar is already selected, bouncing on the character screen.
Kate notices and chuckles. “You’re serious about Yoshi, huh?”
Bob shrugs, smiling a little. “He’s good…”
“Don’t get cocky Bob, he’s not better than mine.” Yelena deadpans, selecting Bowser.
Kate, of course, picks Peach. Always.
“Okay, everyone, prepare to lose,” she announces.
Yelena leans over and pretends to whisper to Bob, “She always says that… but then she falls off Rainbow Road.”
“That was one time, Lena.” Kate pouts, but Yelena is laughing at her.
Lucky, still curled up at the edge of the couch, lifts his head and lets out a soft huff, as if he’s heard all of this before.
The first race starts, and the living room fills with the chaotic sounds of engines revving, item boxes being smashed, and the occasional yelp of frustration.
Kate leans forward, laser-focused. “Outta my way, Lena.”
“Never,” Yelena grins wickedly, sending a red shell straight at Kate’s kart. “Bye-bye, Kate Bishop.”
Kate throws her hands up in disbelief. “You did not just—”
Before she can finish, Bob quietly zooms past both of them, slipping into first place very calmly.
Kate blinks. “What?”
Yelena narrows her eyes at the screen. “No way, Bob.”
Bob shrugs, not even looking away from the TV. “I played… a lot. Before.”
Before?
Kate glances at Yelena, who just gives a knowing smirk like, yeah, he’s part of the family now.
The race finishes with Bob in first, Yelena in second, and Kate, tragically, in third.
“Second is still better than third, Kate Bishop,” Yelena states, throwing the controller on the front table.
Kate turns to Bob, dramatically pointing at him. “You… you’re insane! You played all innocent, but you’re a Mario Kart pro.”
Bob just smiles shyly, tucking his knees up on the couch.
Kate sighs but can’t help smiling, looking at him. “Fine. Rematch.”
Yelena’s eyes sparkle with competitive glee. “Oh, you’re on.”
And Bob… Bob feels at ease. Like he’s supposed to be here with them.
By midnight, they’re all tangled together on the couch, controllers forgotten, the console menu screen looping quietly in the background. Kate leans her head against Yelena’s shoulder, smiling sleepily at Bob, who’s dozing with Lucky curled up next to him.
“Not bad for your first Bob-related business,” Yelena whispers in Kate’s ear.
Kate snickers softly. “Yeah. Not bad at all.”