Chapter Text
A few months had slipped by since the Convergence, that cosmic event where realms had brushed against one another like ships passing in a foggy night.
Against all odds, it had unfolded without the cataclysmic chaos everyone had braced for.
The Dark Elf refugees were settling into their new home on that distant Jotunheim planetoid, with occasional check-ins from Thor and Sif, who were still on their journey. Loki's regency over Asgard proved surprisingly stable, his cunning channeled into diplomatic maneuvers that even Odin silently admired.
On Earth, the Avengers had mopped up the last of Rodriguez's Extremis sleeper cells, with Tony's nullifying compound ensuring no more glowing surprises. Harry had finally caught a breath, reuniting with his family their refurbished floor of Avengers Tower
James continued honing his hybrid powers in controlled sessions whenever he and Doreen were not doing all-nighters to keep up with their NYU workload. Hugo, had transferred into Midtown School of Science and Technology.
Life had settled into a rhythm of normalcy, or as normal as it got for a blended family of wizards, inventors, and superheroes. Tony, free of his arc reactor at last, threw himself into 'civilian' projects, like upgrading Harley's garage lab in Queens or tinkering with new equipment for Pepper's new Stark Industries initiatives.
Kate Bishop, a sharp-eyed seventeen-year-old with a knack for bows and a disdain for her family's opulent but empty penthouse, had found herself drawn into the Avengers' orbit. Clint's extended presence in New York to help with the disaster relief around the city had allowed them more time to seriously practice and helped her talent blossom.
Ckint had known her since she was young, being the landlord of her parent's usually enpty penthouse. He had offered her a spare key to the apartment he occupied two stories down, a place that felt more like a home to her than anywhere else.
On this particular evening, as autumn leaves swirled outside the window, Kate lounged on Clint's worn couch, the golden retriever Lucky sprawled at her feet like a living foot warmer.
The TV flickered with a mindless sitcom, the kind where characters tripped over punchlines and resolved conflicts in twenty-two minutes. Kate barely paid attention, her mind wandering to the wild tales Clint had shared about the Battle.
It all sounded like something out of a fever dream, but she'd been there in New York and could only believe it. Being alone in the apartment didn't bother her; it was a sanctuary, far removed from the sterile echoes of her parents' place, where conversations were as rare as genuine smiles.
A rhythmic knock echoed through the door—three quick taps, a pause, two more. Kate's face lit up, recognizing the code. She bounded up, nearly tripping over Lucky, who woofed in protest.
The key turned in the lock, and in stepped Clint Barton, his archer's build casual in jeans and a faded purple hoodie, hand intertwined with Natasha Romanoff's.
The Black Widow looked effortlessly poised, her red hair tied back, a sly smile playing on her lips. Trailing behind them was Yelena Belova, her blonde hair in a practical braid, but her expression was a storm cloud of annoyance, arms crossed over her leather jacket.
'Hey, kid,' Clint greeted, tossing his keys onto the counter. 'Didn't burn the place down, I see.'
Kate grinned, hugging him quickly before turning to Natasha. 'How was the... whatever it was? Date night? Mission?'
Natasha chuckled, squeezing Clint's hand. 'A bit of both. But we're here now.' She glanced at Yelena, who huffed and headed straight for the bedroom she shared with Kate during her stays. 'Rough night for some.'
Kate followed Yelena, curiosity piqued. The bedroom was a cozy chaos—bows and arrows leaned against one wall, a mix of Yelena's tactical gear and Kate's casual clothes strewn about. Yelena kicked off her boots, muttering in Russian under her breath.
'What happened this time?' Kate asked, plopping onto her bed.
Yelena peeled off her jacket, revealing a fitted black top that accentuated her athletic frame. 'Douchebag. Again. Thought he was charming, but no—talked about himself the whole time, like I care about his stupid car collection.' She mimicked a pompous voice, rolling her eyes. 'And then he tried to order for me. As if I need a man to choose my food.'
Kate laughed, shaking her head. 'Sounds awful. Why do you keep going on these dates anyway? You're way too cool for those losers.'
Yelena paused, turning to face her, a knowing glint in her eyes. She started changing into comfortable sweats, her movements fluid and unselfconscious.
Kate couldn't help but glance—admiring the strength in Yelena's shoulders, the graceful lines of her back. It was more than admiration; it was a pull she'd felt growing over the months, ever since Yelena had crashed into their lives, helping Clint and Natasha seach up dead-ends on the Red Room. But Kate caught herself staring and quickly looked away, cheeks warming.
"I saw that," Yelena said, her tone teasing but soft. She slipped into a loose tank top and shorts, sitting on the edge of her bed. "You were looking. Maybe you should do something about those thoughts running through your head, Kate Bishop."
Kate's heart hammered like a drum in her chest. "What? I—I don't know what you're talking about." She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, trying to play it cool, but her voice came out stammering.
Yelena leaned forward, her expression shifting from annoyance to something warmer, more vulnerable. "These dates? They're just... distractions. I'm waiting for you to find your courage and ask me out yourself."
The words hung in the air, electric. Kate's mind raced—memories of shared training sessions, late-night talks about everything from archery techniques to the absurdity of superhero life, the way Yelena's laugh could light up the room. It had always felt like more, but Kate had chalked it up to wishful thinking. Now, here it was, laid bare.
"You... you mean that?" Kate whispered, her pulse thundering.
Yelena nodded, a small smile curving her lips. "If you want to, Kate, you can kiss me. Right now."
Hesitation lasted only a heartbeat. Kate closed the distance, her hand gently cupping Yelena's cheek. Their lips met—soft at first, tentative, then deepening with a rush of emotion. It was like igniting a spark in the dark, warm and exhilarating.
They tumbled back onto Yelena's bed, limbs entangling as the kiss lingered, breaking only for breathless laughs. Eventually, exhaustion from the day caught up, and they drifted off wrapped in each other's arms, the TV's distant murmur a lullaby.
Had it not been for Lucky suddenly jerking awake and looking at the window, Yelena might have not been awake enough to react in time.
As it was, her painfully acquired reflexes allowed her to catch the injection dart before it landed in her neck. The next second, she was rolling out of bed, grabbing the gun and knife she had stashed in the headboard of the bunk bed.
"Lucky! To Kate! Guard, now!" she ordered, the one-eyed former K-9 jumping over the confused and awakening black-haired 17 years old just as someone busted through the window. "Yelena, what-"
"Kate, Stay down! That's a Widow" the blond cut her off "And from the sound of it, Barton and my sister have their hands full too!"
Kate Bishop was known to everyone around her as stubborn, but even she knew when she was outmatched, and Widow assassins were at the very top of the 'don't even try to fight' category
"Come quietly and nothing will happen to her" the intruder spoke
"Nothing will happen to her period" Yelena challenged and brought up her gun
"I'm never complaining about you going to bed with those rings ever again, even when they're ice cold," Clint said through heavy intakes of air as he looked up from the Widow he had just killed with a shard of glass from his broken window.
"I'll hold you to that" Natasha sighed, looking down at her own opponent, which she had knocked out thanks to the hidden Widow's Bites that Hermione had enchanted into her rings "Cectpa! Barton! Come quick!" Yelena's voice rang through the apartment
"Go," Natasha said, jerking her head to the unconscious woman at her feet "I'll secure this one"
Clint only nodded and quickly got out of his room, bolting through the hallway to the girls' room.
When he arrived, the scene he saw broke his heart. Sat in a corner, with her knees hugged to her chest, the barely adult girl he had been looking after for months now, Kate, was visibly going into shock, Yelena trying her best to gather her attention.
On the other side of the room, yet another Widow was sprawled on the ground, her unseeing eyes not registering the pool of blood leaking from the arrow wound in her neck.
"Oh Kate..." he sighed, coming into the thoroughly trashed room
"I'm sorry," Yelena apologized as she made a place for him at Kate's side
"What for?"
"I should have stopped the fight sooner. But she was too fast and got me in a chock hold and Kate... Kate had to..."
"Yelena" he cut her off, gently placing a hand on the blond's shoulder "You defended her to your best, I know that."
"I wasn't enough... I shouldn't have been overwhelmed."
"Three assassins shouldn't have come for us in the first place. Now, there are two dead and one unconscious with your sister in our room. Can you go help secure her for transport?"
"Transport? Where are we going?"
"We are going to the Tower. Loki broke you out of the Red Room's control with his magic. Let's see if our science and magic people can do it too."
"You're bringing Kate?" she asked as she stood up
"Her parents are out of town, and with this situation, I ain't got much of a choice"
"Alright, I'll bring her overnight hag"
"Thanks"
"I should be the one thanking her" she retorted as she exited the room