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It was a normal Tuesday.
Though, for Kate it was never normal for her. Her normal was not of an average person’s 9 to 5 or a quirky job that involved arts or something bizarre.
Her normal involved frozen pizzas or peas taped around various places on her body, in hopes that her bruises would go away overnight. Most of her normal involved intercepting a mugging or saving the world a few times, and breaking a bone or two while you’re at it. Then, afterwards you’re going home to a nearly empty house.
Was it fun? It was.
Was it exhausting? Very much so.
Being a superhero was awesome but also she does deserve a bit of luxury of time to herself. A time where several crimes that didn’t need her aim and inquisitive detective skills, or when two world events coincided and you’re stuck into a loop of existential crisis you did not need to have it outed in front of your team.
Kate was used to being needed, and always ready to help if she can, but last night was a disastrous mission. Her fingers were aching, and her feet refused function in ways she wanted it to. Her return back to the apartment was hell and nearly unbearable. Then she submerged herself into a well needed bath before accidentally falling asleep. She thought she could squeeze in a last minute look at her detective corkboard but… sleep had begged her to reconsider.
“You are not thinking of taking another mission, are you?” Yelena flicked her forehead, causing a yelp to rise out of Kate’s mouth.
The older woman had returned from a mission days ago and wound up in Kate’s new apartment hours before, not even bothering to change out of her tactical gear. According to her, the team didn’t know where she would disappear to for hours on end.
Kate wanted to lie, but Lucky snuggled on her lap, his big boba eye looking up at her in a way that made her forego the lie on her lips. “That broken bridge situation in Jersey made me think of possibilities. Like villain lair possibilities, please don’t make that look, I’m right most of the time.”
At Yelena’s eyeroll, Kate asserted. Thankfully, she didn’t leave the couch. “I promise I’m leaving these for next year, but I can’t promise saving a cat tomorrow or the next day and…”
“I get it, you are hero. The infamous Hawkeye!” Yelena teased, sneaking in a kiss during her spiel. “My Hawkeye.”
“Don’t you have a gala tomorrow? Val’s.”
“Bah! I’d rather not go.” Yelena pulled away, adjusting the guinea pig on her lap, who was dozing peacefully on her white and red pajamas. Fanny was laying on the floor on her paws, playing a ball Kate had bought for her many moons ago.
“Why not? It seems fun. Appetizers are probably otherworldly, and the dancing? Music never fails in those galas. Probably Italian themed too.”
“You hate galas.” Yelena bopped her nose with the breadstick she was holding and trying to eat except Lucky was eager to try and jump after it.
Kate had terrible experiences with galas lately, but it was nice to entertain a gala without any worry that a villain was lurking nearby or a illegal auction in a wine cellar. The last time she was at a gala, supervillains of all kinds had bullets rain down on her and Clint, nearly costing her of a shoulder.
“Yeah, I do,” Kate rested her head against Yelena’s shoulder, “Stay here with me. I’ve got no holiday plans anyway.”
“The Bartons?”
“We agreed on Easter.” And Summer, if Kate was willing and available to move away from New York for a while. She looked over at Yelena, that decision didn’t seem likely for her. She had too many loose ends anyway.
“Hm,” Yelena stared back, picking her apart in one single gaze. Kate felt her insides squirm at the scrutiny. She knew her too well. “I’ll be fine to stay at the Watchtower. We have Christmas movies nights.”
“You’d hate it,” Kate took the breadstick from her hands and munched on it. “‘Cause I’m not there.”
“You think too highly of yourself.”
“Well yes, I am Hawkeye, aren’t I?”
“My Hawkeye, if you please,” Kate leaned over to kiss Yelena. She was too adorable in that red ugly sweater that had a smiling cat. Yelena continued, “I think I can stay until the New Year’s, I don’t want to share you with them.”
“Good, ‘cause I’ve got slushie ideas for us to try. Maybe a dog-friendly ginger bread house.” And a myriad of things she was determined to let Yelena experience.
“How about little Gilbert,” Yelena caressed on the guinea pig’s fur, not even stirring when she accidentally jostled her legs to avoid Lucky’s paws. “What will our handsome guinea pig have?”
“Guinea pig friendly ginger bread houses?” She’s never heard of such things but Kate was anything but resourceful. Looking up the internet was very easy these days.
“Are those even…” Yelena frowned in thought, the kind that had her brows just pinched a little that made her even more adorable.
“I’m sure someone out there made one for their guinea pig.”
Yelena thought for a moment, still frowning. “Okay, we can do that. You mentioned slushie…”
“Oh yeah! There are new flavors on the cabinet!” Kate brightened, moving to get up but a strong hand on her shoulders and Lucky’s paws stopped her.
“Ow?” The archer winced, her dog’s paws digging onto her lap. It didn’t help that his tongue was lolling out in either a warning or a mere mention of the slushy. Kate believed it was the latter, Clint had made a mistake of giving him a small amount of slushy when he came by in November.
She’d never seen him indulge the slushie quite like his occasional pizza slices. It was terrifying.
“I’ll get it, lyubov. You shouldn’t be up and walking around.” Yelena kissed her forehead, transferring the sleeping guinea pig on her lap, atop the quilt that the blonde had made for her this Christmas.
“That wasn’t cool, Luck.” She glared playfully at Lucky who panted once at her and followed Yelena into the kitchen. Fanny got up too with a small whine, wondering were her Mama had gone. A Mama’s girl that one.
She looked down at the sleeping guinea pig, caressing his fur lightly. “Looks like it’s just you and me, Gilbert.”
Of course, the guinea pig didn’t answer, too engrossed in the dreamland of either the snowy winter wonderland or gingerbread houses they would make soon. Man, that would have been such a beautiful dream to have. If only she wasn’t plagued by nightmares every few nights, or late nights were sleeping was a foreigner and work was much too important.
“I don’t blame you, Gilb.” She sighed, “I would love to be in Winter Wonderland right now.”
Minutes later, in the silence and the croning melodies of Christmas Ballads that she had forgotten were there, Yelena returned. In tow, was a happy looking Lucky and Fanny, both of whom snuggled into their doggy beds near the fireplace.
“What did you give them?” She asked Yelena, accepting the cold mug of four seasons slushy and a multi colored mini umbrella.
“Treats that won’t bother us for at least an hour,” Yelena glanced warily at Lucky. “I thought I told you to teach him manners.”
“He’s a good boy,” Kate defended. She really tried. “He deserves treats.”
“Not always.”
“I don’t give him treats every minute. I’m not that generous.”
Yelena stared at her for a few seconds, her eyebrows raising incredulously. “A few hours then?”
“He’s not— with me all the time,” Kate responded weakly. She focused on sipping onto her slushy, groaning at the fruity goodness that filled her.
“But discipline, Kate.” Yelena tried.
“I know, we’ll try next year?” Kate grinned sheepishly, “Come on, drink your slushy. What flavor did you get?”
“It said Avocado?”
Kate looked at her expectantly, grinning. “Well, my dear, you chose one of the best flavors.”
Yelena sipped on her slushy, her eyebrows raising. “Oh, that wasn’t bad. I like it.” She tried a few more sips. “Maybe we can try actual fruit products next time?”
“Ah, shit.” The taller woman winced. “I forgot to do my grocery.”
“I know,” Yelena shook her head softly. “The Holiday market closed down yesterday.”
“Yeah, it did.” Kate was going to do some well meaning shopping but the mission nearly took her soul out, and Grills had called to catch up mentioning about the market closing. “I guess we can save it for New Year’s? I don’t really want to risk going out this week. It’s likely a snowy week than a single snow day.”
The blonde woman smiled softly, grabbing her hand, tracing patterns with her thumb. “More time for me to stay.”
“Are you sure?”
Yelena never stayed, not when she had a room of her own and a tower practically up in the sky to live in. Kate was content to let their relationship have a slow snail pace, given their chosen professions, it was bound to move quickly than expected. But for now, they had plenty of time to dawdle and snuggled in front of the fireplace for all they cared.
“Of course. Unless you don’t want me to…”
“No, I want you to stay.” Kate squeezed her hand, “You’re more than welcome to.”
Her smile was warm, and all-consuming. The kind that would light up a room if it was in complete darkness. Perhaps that was a creepy sort of description, but one thing Kate was sure of was that Yelena deserved to smile more. She was glad she met the Thunderbolts, she was absolutely refusing to call them New Avengers with a Z, because the last time they had met, Yelena’s smile was a different one that she could decipher from her odd years before returning to New York. Her smile was reaching a glow and clearer intentions than ever before.
She mused that they both had plenty of baggage to sort through, and over the year they’ve put a careful label on their relationship, it was slowly unfurling a comfort they’ve been seeking half their lives. It wasn’t lost on Kate that they’re spending their first winter holiday together.
“I was wondering if maybe you’ll extend staying til the New Year’s?” Kate bit her lip, observing her green eyes, almost getting lost in them. Well she could, for hours now that she had the luxury and excuse to. “There’s a really good firework display near hear, it’s definitely viewable on the rooftop.”
“Perhaps having Susan take over the company was a good thing, Kate Bishop.” Yelena grinned, “You get a really nice mansion apartment paid by the company, and a good view to die for.”
“She felt guilty for leaving me when I was a kid, as I’ve told you many times.” Kate finished her slushie, somehow doing it with Yelena’s hand still on hers. The blonde was still drinking her slushie. “And it was either here or that warehouse place I leased for a month in Harlem.”
“Guilty enough to give you a mansion,” She sighed. “I could get used to that.”
“You literally live in a skyscraper in the sky or something,” The dark haired woman shook her head, amused. “Not just any skyscraper. The Avengers Tower now the Watchtower. Your Watchtower where your team lives in.”
“It’s not so glamorous up there, Kate.” Yelena rolled her eyes. “But I can sneak you up there one day, I think you’d love the view.”
“Really?” Kate had forgone thoughts of begging Yelena to take her up the tower and see the stunning view of New York finest city skyline. She wasn’t above pushing her girlfriend for a childhood fantasy fulfilled.
“Really,” affirmed Yelena. “Though, it seems our only problem is which team you are on, and now,” She held up a hand when Kate moved to speak. “I have told them many times you have since left the two other Avengers team. They are still wary.”
“I get it. No hard feelings there, love.”
Kate knew if there was a call for the world to go to shit again, she won’t hesitate to answer Cap’s or Kamala’s calls. But if it was Yelena, she didn’t even need her to call her. She’d go straight to her if she was able to.
“Is your feet okay?” The blonde asked softly.
She scrunched up her nose, trying to move her toes. It was still aching. “It’s tolerable.”
“All the more reason for me to stay then,” Yelena sighed, finishing her cup before reaching over to pick up a now awake Gilbert from Kate’s lap.
“Good Day, Mister Gilbert. How are you?” she cooed at him. Kate took the other mug with a quiet giggle.
If the guinea pig responded, he gave no indication. The guinea merely blinked, hovering in front of Kate through Yelena’s gentle hand.
“Kiss him, darling.”
“What? He’s not going to sleep.”
“Kate.”
Kate grinned at her playful pout and kissed on Gilbert’s furry hair. “Good Day, Gilb.” She cooed at him, taking home from Yelena’s hands gently. Her heart was full and satisfied, she didn’t feel like moving. Yelena’s laugh reverberated against the walls and she found herself thankful for the snowy days.
Her feet was still aching and her bruises were still purple or yellow, but at least she was with the woman she loved, and their lovely loyal animals.
There was no place she’d rather be.