Chapter Text
Kate had a pretty great couple years, if she gave you the whole picture.
Christmas of 2024 had been wonderful and weird. Kate misses her mom, but the experience also gave her the chance to become Hawkeye’s mentor. She never dreamed of meeting her idol (and having him tell her how proud he was oh my GOD- pull it together Kate), but now that she has, it’s great. She gets to lead Bishop security, and gets invited to missions. Both her jobs help each other. How great is that???
But she also got to meet Yelena.
Aggravating, Amazing, Charming Yelena.
The assassin had terrified her at first. She just kept showing up and she wanted to kill Clint. Kate didn’t understand if she should be scared or infatuated with her by their second meeting. And by the end of the whole disaster, she sort of thought of Yelena as a friend.
A very hard to keep in touch with friend.
Yelena had showed up a couple times to Kate’s apartment after Christmas. The first had been to drop off more cutlery (asshole), the second because Kate needed patching up and didn’t know what to do. Yelena had shown up 15 minutes later, looking slightly drunk, but her hands had been so steady and careful while stitching Kate’s shoulder she might as well have been touching glass.
“Shh маленький ястреб,” Yelena had murmured, bandaging her arm with a forlorn look on her face. “I am fixing you.”
The archer knew that she was probably thinking of someone else, and had let her have the moment. The blond had carefully patched up every injury, not breaking eye contact with her until she knew she was alright.
Kate had asked her to stay the night, and Yelena had refused.
This happened a few more times, Yelena stopping by when Kate told Yelena she was hurt without being asked. The widow never asked Kate to patch her up, but she did start taking the couch on the archer’s more serious injuries under the guise of “watching Kate for worsening injuries”.
Then a year went by, barely any contact. Kate had worried the assassin had died the first month long gap she was silent, before she had texted back a brief sentence. The minimal texts she did get were unlike Yelena, sloppy and cold, like she hadn’t been sober for any of them. She never wanted to push, not wanting to make Yelena recoil from her, but she missed the blond.
And then, one day, the news came on when she was sitting at her office desk.
“THE NEW AVENGERS?”
In big bold letters.
And Yelena’s face, beaten but alive, staring determined at the camera.
Kate had never dialed a number so fast in her life. A small part of her was jealous, but the bigger part was proud. She had lifted the phone to her ear just in time to hear Yelena’s tired but content voice rasp, “How about that drink, Kate Bishop?”
They didn’t get to it right away, of course. Yelena was busy with the Thunderbolts and all the PR stuff that came with it, and Kate was swamped with Bishop Security. Yelena snuck to the brunette’s apartment once or twice when she could, but their time was limited. It wasn’t until a few months later they finally went out to a bar for a drink. Yelena had looked stunning and Kate would be lying if she said she wasn’t staring at Yelena’s lipstick all night. They had done a few shots and danced, laughing themselves till it was dark. The assassin had actually looked relaxed, and it made Kate’s heart flutter.
Yelena had taken them back to Kate’s apartment, making sure the archer wasn’t too drunk. She spent the night on the couch while Kate dreamed of them dancing all night. When she awoke, the house was clean and Yelena was gone. The blankets were folded neatly on the couch, the kitchen cleaned, and Lucky had a new bone to chew on. She exited quietly, like a ghost. It was quiet for another week.
Then Clint had asked Kate to go on a mission he wouldn’t make it to, and for her to get backup for the stealth operation. She hadn’t even thought twice before asking Yelena. She was shocked when she said yes.
One mission turned to two.
Then two to five.
Then more than Kate could count on her hands.
Which led them to tonight.
They had gone out for dinner, a little outside pizza joint they could bring the dogs to. Kate had recently started looking after Fanny for Yelena, and the widow missed her Akita greatly. They had a wonderful dinner, went back to Kate’s place, watched some shitty TV and then Kate had asked Yelena to stay the night.
No mission, no reason, no nothing. Kate had asked outright. The same offer as always. “You could spend the night? You can share the bed with me but the couch still has the blankets you like on them-”
“With you.” Yelena had interrupted. “I’ll…stay with you to sleep tonight, Kate Bishop.”
So now they're here. Lying in Kate’s bed. Half asleep.
Nothing to freak out about or anything.
They spent the night quiet, no movements advancing except a gentle wrist hold between them. Their ankles were brushed together by the time they awoke, Yelena looking like she hadn’t slept much, but relaxed.
When she was leaving, Kate had grabbed the cuff of her sleeve like they were in a rom-com. The blond had paused, letting Kate speak.
“Just…” Kate fumbled, “I hate when you go. I like being with you. I like y-” the archer stopped herself, unsure of what to say.
Yelena studied Kate a moment before stepping closer. “I…as well, Kate Bishop.”
“You…what? You, what, as well?” Kate says almost desperately.
The widow had leaned in, breath fanning the brunette's lips as if waiting for permission. Kate didn’t need to be told twice. The kiss was short but carried so much. It didn’t feel like a breath in, but an exhale of relief. Like her heart settled its anxious thrumming.
Yelena stepped back. “I will come back. You can make me mac and cheese. With cutlery.”
“Okay.” Kate laughs, cheeks strained from how much she was smiling. “Sure you don’t wanna share a fork?”
The assassin had chuckled as she left, exiting swiftly to head off towards the tower for god-knows-what.