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Tonight was going to be perfect. Yelena would make sure of it. It was Kate Bishop's birthday and this was going to be the first one Yelena had spent with her girlfriend. She was going to make it perfect, no matter what.
Kate's special day had started with being awoken by a flurry of Yelena's kisses. Kate had tried to take it further but Yelena shushed her and went to get her breakfast. A beautiful plate full of a different assortment of Kate's favorites. Lavender was neatly placed inside a small vase on the tray. Kate had loved it. Then, after Kate had finished her food, they had made love. Kate had loved that too.
Now Kate was out with her friends. Yelena had dropped her off, waving to Riri and Kamala before she drove off. She wanted ample time to set everything up. She wanted the whole shebang, the classic romantic birthday dinner she and Kate loved seeing in romantic comedies. Only the best for her girl.
Yelena had already laid out various candles, each lighting the room in a dim yet warm glow. She also bought more fresh roses and scattered out the petals, one trail going from the entryway to the dinner table and another going from the dinner table to their bedroom. It looked perfect, better than their little movies.
She had even dropped off their adorable pets with Barnes. Lucky and Fanny were happy to play with the man's white kitten and Cheeze, their guinea pig, was indifferent to the whole ordeal.
Now, Yelena was just doing the hard part. The cooking… Yelena had never cared much for extravagant foods, preferring the lazy man's way of pop tarts, noodles, and boxed mac n cheese. So the Widow had no idea what she was doing as she re-read the recipe's instructions. The book she had stolen from Walker listed many different romantic dinners and she had opted to make "Spaghetti Nests.” They seemed fairly simple and romantic but also fun. She believed Kate would enjoy them. That is, if she could actually make the damn things. The soft, romantic playlist she had put on contrasted hard with the current state she was in. Sweat ran down Yelena's back, surely visible through the formal white button up she had tucked into her black slacks. She had an overly hard time constructing the noodle nests, despite it just being circles held together by cheese. Nonetheless, Yelena had managed and she placed the full tray of little nests inside the oven. She watched them through the little window. They were very cute with their little meatballs resting on top.
Now all Yelena had to do was wait for the beeper that indicated that the nests were done. In the meantime, Yelena thought it would be best to get cleaned up. She did not want to smell of sweat and tears when her girl got back.
Yelena had her shirt off and was wiping her skin down with a small wet towel. She hummed at her reflection, smirking at the lacy purple bra she had on. Kate was going to love it. She tugged her button up back on, careful to have the ends neatly tucked, and lightly sprayed herself with her cologne. She went to cap the bottle but dropped it when she heard a loud explosion. The fire alarms started blaring and Yelena quickly fumbled with the doorknob and ran to the kitchen. She did not make it far, the fire prevented her from fully entering. She saw the oven. It had a gaping hole in the center and there was fire everywhere. Yelena yanked up her collar, tugging the shirt out of its neat tuck, and covered her nose while she sprinted towards the fire extinguisher. It was surrounded in flames but if Yelena just–!
She was thrown back as the can exploded, the force sending her flying into the front door. She was dazed, eyes blurring as she watched her and her girlfriend's home be engulfed by fire. The roses she had set out lit up in flames, one by one, slowly coming towards her.
Yelena heaved herself up and ran out the door. She was about to run down the stairs but gasped as she remembered what was inside. She quickly ran back in, covering her nose from the smoke as she looked around. She gasped when she saw it, Kate's bow, sitting untouched before the rapidly expanding fire. Yelena ran in, the ends of her clothing getting singed, and snatched the bow. She ran back out, ignoring the scolding heat on her face.
She stood outside now, panting and choking on the smoke leftover in her throat as her home went up in flames. Her neighbors were all on the sidewalk as well. Thankfully it seemed everyone had evacuated before Yelena's fire could stop them.
Yelena fell to her knees, holding back tears as she clutched Kate's bow and stared at her fiery destruction. She had ruined what was supposed to be a perfect day for Kate. She pressed her forehead into the cool material on the bow.
“Who the hell is burning down my kitchen.”
Yelena's head snapped up and she shivered as she saw Kate Bishop push through the crowd and abruptly stop. “Holy shit…” She seemed to just be realizing that her kitchen actually was on fire. Like, for real.
Kate's head swerved around and her eyes frantically scanned the crowd of apartment tenants. Yelena looked away but based on Kate's gasp, her girlfriend had seen her.
Kate fell to her knees in front of Yelena and her hands hovered over the blonde, scared to touch anywhere that hurt.
“Oh, baby,” Kate whispered. Her hands finally came to rest on Yelena's shoulders. “Are you okay? Does anywhere hurt? Baby… Please look at me.”
Yelena finally raised her face from the cold bow and Kate gasped. Yelena looked like she was about to cry. Kate instantly wrapped her up in a warm hug, flinching at how hot her girlfriend felt. She heard Yelena mumble something but she couldn't make out the words.
“What was that, Lena?”
“I am sorry…” Kate gasped again and rapidly shook her head.
“No. This isn't your fault, baby.”
“It is… I burnt down the kitchen. I was trying… I was trying to make you a romantic dinner but it blew up.” Yelena hiccupped. Kate had never seen her like this before.
“Yelena, it's oka–”
Yelena pulled back from Kate and shook her head and screwed her eyes shut, stopping them from leaking.
“I ruined your perfect day…”
It was quiet for a long moment.
“Please look at me.” Kate's voice was quiet. Yelena forced herself to look up. She trembled more at Kate's serious expression.
“I don't care about any of that. You know I don't. The only thing I care about– Wait are the–”
“I left them with Barnes earlier,” Yelena croaked. Kate sighed in relief and shook her head to concentrate.
“The only thing I care about is that you're okay." She brushed her fingers through Yelena's hair. "You are okay, aren't you, baby?” Yelena nodded, tears breaking free and running down her face. Kate kissed them away.
“The rest doesn't matter. That's all I need for a perfect day. Just you. Okay?” Yelena wobbly nodded.
Kate looked down at Yelena's charred clothes and frazzled hair. She saw the bow she clutched in her arms.
“Oh, baby…” Kate ran her hand over Yelena's white knuckles, allowing them to relax around the bow before she brought them to her lips.
“We're gonna book a nice, big hotel room and get you cleaned up. We'll take a warm bath in a tub with jets and bubbles. I'll order us some greasy pizza and bubbly drinks. Eat in a big fluffy bed before passing out together. We'll finish off my perfect day with a perfect night, okay?”
Yelena nodded and embraced Kate tightly. “I love you so much my chest hurts,” she practically whimpered.
“That might be from the smoke…”
“You are quite smoking.” Yelena's voice was raspy and broken but the corny joke had the same effect it always did. Kate rolled her eyes and kissed her. Kate would have to make calls later. One would definitely be with her green lawyer. Kate knew for sure she would be calling a pizza place. She and Yelena would have to start looking for a different place to live as well. She didn't really care as long as it had less stairs than their current, burnt to a crisp, one did. Maybe a house? Big yard for their dogs to run around, extra bedrooms incase they wanted to expand their little family. Kate would like that.
It really was a perfect day, as long as they had each other.