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Ever since she walked through the doors she could feel it, used as she was to the warmth of their attention. Were she not in the middle of a mission she would be walking up directly to meet Kate, instead she has to focus on the target at her side.
Gala dinners were the perfect hunting grounds for information on the big and new-coming players, all eager to assert their power among the elite running the city. This evening she was the arm-candy of such a fool, running the old family business at the shipping yard, overseeing what goes in and out of and taking his unfair share from it.
It will be a long night of playing pleasantries and entertaining bloated egos, she just hopes the intel they can get through the cloned phones and hacked accounts will be worth it.
It takes longer than expected, and it is perhaps due to her own cowardice, but she does eventually give in and risk a look in the direction of the bar. Where she knows Kate has been for the past half an hour. Having grown up in the midst of all this pomp and circumstance, Kate effortlessly looks the part of just another spoiled trust fund kid enjoying a night of free drinking and bragging rights. All the while, looking handsome in a tailored black suit that accentuates her form, ostentatious gold watch shining through her sleeve as she reaches for her drink and openly stares back at Yelena.
Kate acknowledges her with a minute nod, gaze burning with a wild intensity, holding her there. Captive. Challenging Yelena to jeopardize the mission in favor of deciphering the intention behind those eyes.
It almost makes Kate seem dangerous. In a way that Yelena has never witnessed from her before.
Foolishly, she wants to dive in, tear it apart and claim-
A rough tug at her waist rips her away from the moment and back to the presumptuous conversation happening right in front of her. Or rather ending, since he is pulling her away from the ex-Senator and company to drag her in the direction of the dance floor. Where the few odd couples are barely putting in any effort in following the orchestral arrangements of the most popular classics. As he does so, she sneaks another glance at Kate and quickly smothers the stray thought of what it would be like to share a dance with her instead.
The mission tonight was simple. She didn’t need back up. She certainly didn’t need the help of Kate Bishop. Miss archer extraordinaire who drops her arrows mid acrobatic jump to join the fight. Still, Yelena had been the one to share her plans completely unprompted. Had been the one informing Kate that she could simply show up to a Gala, that she had for sure been invited for and would otherwise not attend.
They had been working together more often lately, with Yelena accompanying Kate in all of her missions whenever she was in town. What had initially started as logical cooperation for a common goal, now meant they had reached a level of toxic codependency that she absolutely despised. She has a reputable fame as a Black Widow assassin, she does not need the help of anyone else to complete a mission!
However, Yelena always keeps coming back. Always finds a new excuse to be in New York.
The truth is, nowadays, the idea of going on a mission alone sounds sooo boring.
She just wants Kate to be there.
Always.
***
It’s hours later when she arrives at Kate Bishop’s apartment to find her furiously typing away at her laptop, sleeves rolled up, tie hanging loose around her neck.
“Any luck?” Yelena asks, removing her high heels and joining her on the couch.
“I know I’m biased but they should really consider investing in Bishop Security. Seriously, it’s like they’re not even trying!” Kate gloats as she continues sorting through files.
“Well, I am glad I invested in the 24h tech support plan.”
“Hey! I’m much more than your IT guy!” Kate ripostes, challenge clear in her voice.
“True. Sometimes you are also my ‘shoot stick from afar’ girl.” She can’t help the deep laugh that escapes at her own jab.
“Rude.”
Yelena faces her to continue the unrelenting teasing, but is instead stopped by the sight.
Kate is slumped back against the couch, head facing sideways, towards Yelena, and for once she is not at a height disadvantage. An opportunity she fully intents to exploit, especially given the way the faint light from the lamp in the corner of the room highlights Kate’s blushing cheekbones, lips parting in a complicit smile that she can’t help but mirror.
Much like earlier tonight, Kate’s intense stare doesn’t leave hers. That swirl of blue pulling her in to drown in its depths. A tantalizing siren promising to reveal itself, and yet all she can see is herself reflected on them.
Kate’s attraction to her has been clear since the very start, but the girl has never acted upon it. Whether out of fear of rejection or respect for Yelena’s boundaries, she is unsure but, appreciates it nonetheless. She was never afforded the luxury of an option. Of control. Not when she was nothing but a puppet for them to take apart.
Now here with her, having been given the time to let whatever they have grow without the pressure of expectations; having been given the space to lower her walls and rediscover who she truly is without the mind control; she has become addicted to it. The thrill of vulnerability. A feeling she once thought a weakness. Now she knows the strength it requires.
It’s intoxicating being so close to someone who isn’t afraid to love, who shares all her heart so openly.
She was a fool to think she could ever fight it.
Yelena knows that nothing has to happen.. but for the first time she wants it to.
She wants to ignore her past, her doubts, her struggles with her own self worth.
She wants to be selfish.
If the price to pay is tainting Kate, then so be it. The archer can handle it. She has proven it time and again.
Yelena is done living as a spectator of her own life, done with resigning herself to a fate carved by the Red Room. She wants to dive in to these feelings, find out how deep they can run.
She is ready now.
With a newfound determination she stands up and extends a hand at Kate, while her left swings to her own back as she gives a small curtsy. “Kate Bishop, would you join me for a dance?”
She is left in suspense for what feels like too long until her words finally seem to register in Kate’s mind. A rapturous smile breaks through the initial confusion and Kate reaches for the offered hand.
“Of course, it would be my pleasure. Plus, it would be a shame to waste an opportunity when we are both dressed up!”
“Indeed, go put your blazer back on.” Yelena teases with a light swat at her shoulder.
Kate heads to the foyer basically skipping a step “Alright, alright!”.
Meanwhile, Yelena takes the laptop to search for an appropriate classical waltz.
When she returns, it’s Kate’s turn to do a small curtsy as she reaches for Yelena’s hand and whisper’s a cheeky “M’Lady.”
“Let’s see if those rich kid etiquette classes were worth anything.”
“Actually, all the fencing tournaments helped a lot with the footwork.” Kate’s smug smile and words contrast with the delicate way she approaches and places a hand on Yelena’s back.
One step closer still and Yelena slowly readjusts Kate’s tie, fixing the knot so it sits properly on her collar.
A breathless “Thank you.” Followed by a more confident “And can I say, you are a vision just.. beautiful and powerful. You commanded that room tonight.”
“Why thank you Kate Bishop. You look very handsome yourself.” She admits, her hand smoothing the soft lapel of the blazer before settling on Kate’s strong shoulder and allowing her to lead.
They move in concert around the living room, the improvised dance floor, as Khachaturian’s Masquerade Waltz fills the air.
“This sounds so dramatic, almost feels like I’m dancing with a villain!” Says Kate.
Yelena laughs in response. “I know that you tend to forget, but you are.” Although the underlying self deprecation is always still there, tainting the intention, she does say it out of mischief. Yet again longing for another teasing match with her.
Not missing a cue, Kate follows in step with her best impersonation of mocked distress. “Oh no!! What will you do to me?”
Yelena’s left hand slowly slides up to tangle and tug lightly at the hair in the back of Kate’s head, voice dropping to her most lethal, huskier tone. “Whatever I should wish to, Kate Bishop.”
This elicits a stuttered inhale from Kate. However, their steps around the room never falter and in the next beat she lowers her head to say clearly in Yelena’s ear.
“For you.. Anything.”
She presses closer to Yelena, invading her senses with her scent and warmth as they continue to dance across the room.
The crescendo drawing them closer together only for the following dizzying spiral of strings to pull them apart as the melody once again stalls. Touch alight with fire. The ever growing contrast in tension building a menacing and suffocating atmosphere around them, as they both allow the music to take over. Another spin. Bodies collide, drawn by the dark undertones of the percussion. Lips part, a breath escapes. There is no turning back, no use resisting. Only one thought in mind.
“Can I kiss you?” Heartbeat clearly disregarding the slowing melody.
“Please..” Kate murmurs, lips drawing closer but still waiting for her to take the final step.
So she does.
Yelena meets her lips with an intensity she didn’t expect from herself. It’s not gentle. It’s heavy and bruising. But Kate takes it all eagerly, grabs her jaw and guides her to slow down and deepen the kiss, letting her feel all that Kate has held back for so long. It’s overwhelming and not nearly enough.
As they slowly pull apart Kate releases a short disbelieving laugh. “I didn’t think I would ever get to do that.”
“Me neither.” Yelena shares in her amusement, trying to put that pure look of joy to memory.
“What made you change your mind?”
“You.” Despite all the progress, the words feel trapped on her tongue. Instead, she leans forward to kiss her again and reassure her in a way that her words still don’t know how.
Kate breaks away from the kiss, but she doesn’t move too far. She holds on tight, one hand digging into Yelena’s hip, burning an imprint she won’t forget; the other tangled in the back of her head, keeping her in place when Kate lowers her forehead to Yelena’s.
Yelena keeps her eyes closed, just basking in her presence until she hears Kate release a shuddering sigh that somehow unmasks a growing tension.
When Kate finally speaks, she can hear the fear in her words.
“Please tell me that this is real, that you won’t run away and drop contact the second you start doubting it.”
Suddenly, Yelena is reminded that she is not the only one feeling insecure here.
It can be so easy to forget, given Kate’s usual loud and confident demeanor. How strongly she always carries herself and makes her own way, refusing to bend to the demands of the World.
Yelena raises her hands to Kate’s cheeks, gently coaxing her to look at her.
“I don’t know how to do this. This relationship thing, but I want to try it, if you let me. I want you Kate, of that I am certain.” Yelena’s own determined look seems to settle Kate, who now has a tearful smile, even though none fall.
“You just barged into my life, all fury and chaos and I was a goner. I was happy to just have you around for all these silly misadventures but I couldn’t help falling for you. You have no idea how much you mean to me.” Kate surges forward to steal her breath with a lingering kiss. The notion seems absurd but Yelena doesn’t want to ever let go.
“I know” She brushes softly at the hair over Kate’s temple. “You wear your heart on your sleeve, it’s one of your best qualities.”
“Not my dance moves?” Kate slowly starts swinging them back into the rhythm of the new song playing.
“Oh, those are definitely up there!”
“Great, because I have a few Galas coming up and I need a dance partner.” Kate says mischievously.
“Just how many of these ridiculous events do you get invited to?”
“Too many.”
She doesn’t know what to expect from the future, but she finds herself looking forward to join such events with Kate by her side, holding her hand and her heart freely.