Chapter Text
Kate has come to accept that she is, simply, easily abandoned.
Of course, it's not her dad's fault for dying. But from then on, it seemed like everyone that Kate ever got close to would eventually leave her.
It happened all the time with friends growing up. She'd get close to someone - share all of her deepest, darkest secrets with them - only for them to eventually lose interest and find someone new to spend their time with. Kate did her best at first to not take it so personally. Human connections don't always last. But, why did it feel like no human wanted her?
Then it was her mother. Kate still can't wrap her head around why her mother would do what she did. How she could abandon her daughter so easily for her own benefit …
Kate can't dwell on it for too long. The hole that has been ripped open in her heart has yet to even begin healing.
Clint had to go back to his family, of course, so Kate couldn't be upset with him when he went back home. He even offered numerous times for Kate to move in for a while. Take time to heal from everything. But that would only make Kate feel like a burden. She had ruined their family Christmas with her mistakes. Kate found it best to keep her distance.
Then, there was the case of Yelena.
The Russian assassin who had broken into her home only weeks ago. The same one who, somehow, seemed genuinely interested in maybe hanging out with Kate.
Friendship.
After it had almost been a month since the whole Christmas ordeal, Kate was sure Yelena had forgotten about her. Makes sense. Yelena probably had more important things to do than get drinks with Kate, whose life had arguably gone to complete shit.
Kate distracted herself by fully diving into her new life.
With her mother in prison, Kate began working diligently to get Bishop Security in her own name. And, of course, Kate's mother hadn't made any of this easy by any means. Kate has had to consult with multiple lawyers in the past month, with many telling her it was in her best interest to let the company dissolve itself.
Kate needs something, though. She has her vigilante work, but that doesn't pay the bills by any means. Either she'd have to be hired by someone - contracted out to perform missions and earn a living that way. Or, Kate could use this as an opportunity to turn Bishop Security into something that could help the general public more.
In fact, Kate is on her way home from another meeting that seemed to drone on and on incessantly that Thursday evening. The talks finally seemed to be going Kate's way, though. It may actually be possible to make a name of herself with Bishop Security. Albeit still living in the shadow of her corrupt mother, but it’s something at least.
Kate hurriedly crosses the intersection with the rest of the bustling night crowd. Poor Lucky has been cooped up all day. The archer doesn't even want to think about the mess he's created while she's been gone.
Kate turns down the next street. The cold wind bites bitterly at her face. The winter season has never felt so solemn before now.
It's only a few more minutes before Kate returns home. For the time being, she's staying at her mother's now empty home. Mostly, because Kate certainly can't afford it while she rearranges Bishop Security. Her other reasoning being that she would go absolutely insane staying in this big, empty home. Attached to so many awful memories.
Lucky the Pizza Dog rushes the door as soon as Kate enters.
“Hi, buddy!” She greets happily. Lucky burrows his head in her hands as she tries petting behind his ear. “Hold on, hold on, we gotta go pick up food first. Wanna go for a walk?”
Hearing both magic words - food and walk - Lucky dances excitedly in a circle. Kate chuckles to herself as she drops her bag and grabs the leash on the table. She attaches it to Lucky's collar and off they go.
While Kate exercises Lucky and grabs their dinner, she sends texts to Clint to update him on her life.
The Avenger, who once wanted nothing to do with Kate, now acted as her worried father. He can't help it, of course, knowing Kate is alone now and most likely getting herself into trouble again.
But truthfully, Kate has distanced herself from the vigilante lifestyle in the past month.
Everything that happened with her mom - the Tracksuits, Maya, assassins being hired, and Kingpin - it was a lot for Kate to process. She fears Clint is right. Maybe she's not cut out to handle any of this.
As she stands outside the pizza shop waiting for her order, Clint calls.
“Hi, Clint!” Kate greets in her usual enthusiastic voice. She looks down at Lucky. “Lucky, it's Clint! Say hi!” When she holds up the phone to Lucky, he lets out a small bark. One of the many tricks Kate has been teaching the golden retriever.
“Hey, kiddo,” Clint greets back. “Hi, Lucky. Kate, you're feeding him more than just pizza right? He needs actual dog food.”
“Of course I do,” Kate replies. “I'll have you know, I bought him the best premium food that any dog could ask for. And you know what he does? Turns his nose up at it, like it's not good enough for him.” She looks back down at the culprit. “Anything to say to defend yourself, Pizza Dog?”
Lucky buries his head in snow.
“What Lucky wants, Lucky gets, huh?”
Clint chuckles over the other line. “Right. Well, you're taking care of yourself too, right? Haven't stirred up any more of my enemies of the past?”
Kate chuckles and shakes her head. Her eyes peer inside the pizza shop, her hunger slowly starting to get the best of her.
“I'm fine, Clint,” she finally responds. “Just picking up the pieces of all the crap my mother left for me. Kingpin had his hands everywhere … My lawyers told me to just let Bishop Security dissolve, but I don’t know. I don’t want to let go, but I’m putting out so many fires that my parents started that I’m starting to think -”
“Slow down, kid,” Clint stops her. “Take it one step at a time.”
“I know, it's just -”
“I get it,” he replies gently.
There's a small beat of silence.
“Hey, why don't you come up to the farm this weekend? Get some family time in and take a break from picking up the pieces.”
It warms Kate's heart to be considered part of Clint's family. However, there's also a part of her that feels sad about it.
She's not actually his family. Her real family is either dead or in prison.
Clint and his family, though? That's real. And Kate feels she has no place infringing on that.
“Kate?” Clint asks when it takes her a few moments to answer.
The young archer is pulled out of her thoughts. Her eyes lock with the man inside the pizza shop. He's motioning for her to come inside and take her food.
“Uh, sorry, Clint,” Kate responds, regaining her bearings. “Pizza's ready! Lucky's real hungry - gotta go!”
“Kate, wait -”
She quickly hangs up the call.
Back at the house, Kate lounges on the couch with Lucky as they happily consume the entire box of pizza. She has an old movie playing on the TV, but she's hardly paying attention. Instead, she scrolls her phone.
There isn't much for Kate to do now. No one to reach out to. She effectively dropped her friends from school once it became clear Kate would most likely not be going back. Besides, how do you come back from Christmas break and explain what Kate had been through? No one would understand.
It's not good for her, but Kate goes through old messages.
There are the last texts she sent to her mom that she still can't bring herself to look at again. Then, there's a message from Jack, reaching out to see if there's anything he can do to help her right now. Kate couldn't bring herself to respond when she received the message and two weeks later, she still can't.
Then, there's the case of Unknown Number.
Yelena.
Kate hadn't deleted the messages from her phone that alerted her to her mother's corrupt behavior. In fact, she had recently decided to do something incredibly embarrassing.
She texted the number.
It may or may not have happened after consuming several beers. And, it may or may not have happened after a particularly difficult phone call with her confined mother.
Kate was at one of her lowest moments. All she wanted was a goddamn friend. For once.
Hey! Don't know if this number actually works … How about getting that drink sometime?
When Kate opened her phone the next morning, she was met with her drunken decisions. Hurriedly, she tried to find a way to unsend the message, but it was impossible.
And the worst part? No answer.
Still, two weeks later, Kate hasn't heard from the assassin at all. To be expected she supposes. Yelena probably has better things to do. Another job, another mission … Everyone has something.
Everyone, except for Kate.
Who knows? Maybe the number isn’t even in service anymore.
Lucky suddenly puts his head in Kate's lap, as if he can sense her depressed mood.
“At least I got you, huh, buddy?”
Yelena initially hoped that getting some sort of closure regarding her sister would help her feel better.
Months after blipping back into existence, Yelena still struggles to wrap her head around what happened. First, Yelena was in Ana's bathroom. Next thing she knew, the walls were changing and Ana was telling her five years had passed.
Not only that, but Natasha was gone forever. And Yelena didn't even get to say goodbye.
Killing Clint was her first option, and luckily, she had been contracted out to do just that. The thought of seeing him bloodied and begging for his life - it could bring a smile to Yelena's face. Somebody had to pay for what happened to her sister. Someone had to take responsibility.
But then, on that cold winter night, Clint explained it all. Natasha had sacrificed herself. Nobody could stop her. Not even Yelena, had she been there.
Now, Yelena feels like she is back at square one.
There's an emptiness developing inside her. Yelena had aimed to fill it by completing her assignment, but now it remained open & exposed like a flesh wound. Every little thing made the wound sting. Yelena can't even bear to hear the word “sister” without her throat closing and her face getting hot.
After abandoning her assignment, Yelena began looking for her next job opportunity. It wasn't long before Valentina contacted her for a more permanent gig.
Shadow ops.
Yelena jumped at the opportunity when she heard it. Now, she spends her last week in New York before she is sent off on her first assignment.
She wanders the bustling streets in an attempt to find something to do. It's rare for her to go this long without work. Yelena feels like she's going stir crazy in her down time and it's allowed her to think way too much about things she'd rather forget.
Yelena comes to a newspaper stand. Her eyes glance over each headline. There's one in particular that catches her eye.
Kate Bishop, daughter of imprisoned Eleanor Bishop, to take over as CEO of Bishop Security?
Yelena's breath falters.
Kate Bishop.
The incredibly silly, over-confident, and surprisingly talented young archer. It's safe to say, Yelena is in denial about just how many times the Kate Bishop has entered her thoughts. Yelena has been doing what she does for a long time. She knows to consider any variable and expect the unexpected. Running into Kate, though, ended up throwing Yelena for a loop - more than she ever anticipated.
Something about Kate immediately had the assassin hooked. She almost wishes they had met under different circumstances - so that maybe they could have eventually gotten that drink together. But, such is life in a job like her's. It's always the pretty ones who are your worst enemy.
Yelena isn't actually even sure if Kate truly meant the whole “let's go grab a drink together” thing. The archer was trying to save her idol and all - desperate to do anything to get Yelena off their case. Yet, Yelena wasn’t opposed to it at all. When she considered it in her mind for that split second, the idea of getting to know Kate better under different circumstances actually sounded genuinely enjoyable. A proper girl’s night, where neither of them are worried about the other randomly attacking.
Friendship.
The blonde has to shake the thought out of her head. Unfortunately, Black Widow assassins aren’t cut out for friendships. Yelena had kissed the thought of enjoying girls' nights and sleepovers again goodbye after she was sent back to the Red Room. Widows were always meant to be alone.
It’s better that way.
Yelena wanders some more. In her dissociative state, she finds herself back on a familiar street.
Her eyes wander up the building she stands outside of. Kate’s old apartment. At least, Yelena thinks Kate has abandoned the home - considering it’s still scorched and suffering from water damages.
So, probably no chance of seeing the archer here.
No, she’s probably moved on by now. Yelena can practically picture it now - CEO Kate Bishop spending her evenings cozying up in a big, fancy penthouse. In her fantasy, the black haired woman wears fuzzy slippers, a silk robe, and drinks only the fanciest of white wines in an obnoxiously large wine glass. Yelena pictures her sprawled out on an all white couch, staying warm by a large fireplace. She can’t even push out the intrusive thought that maybe Kate is spending her evenings with someone. The thought of it being a man makes Yelena’s skin crawl, but what’s worse is thinking of Kate with another woman. It sends something alight inside Yelena.
Against her better judgment, Yelena scouts the outside of the building. The window she had used initially to get in last time is now boarded over. Not a problem for the assassin.
Is there something better Yelena could be doing that doesn’t involve stalking the apartment of a woman she met once one month ago? Actually, no.
There’s nothing else Yelena would rather be doing.
Just like last time, Yelena attaches herself to the building and scales the wall. Lucky for her, the window that isn’t boarded up has a lock that is incredibly easy to pick. Yelena makes a mental note to remind herself, should she ever run into Kate Bishop again, to lecture the archer about proper safety and security protocols. The woman is the CEO of a security company now, after all.
Yelena slips into the half-destroyed apartment with ease. She has a striking feeling of deja vu wash over her as the blonde slowly scopes out the place.
No sign of Kate.
Yelena walks down the stairs. She right away notices that most things from the kitchen have now been removed - not like there was much to begin with. Yelena still can’t wrap her head around Kate only owning one actual fork. Besides that, though, the pots and pans are gone. Yelena rummages through cabinets to see all the non-perishable food has been removed as well.
She’s almost disappointed that she didn’t randomly stumble into Kate upon her entry. This is the only effort she is willing to put in to see her again. Anything else, well … that would be desperate, right?
Yelena isn’t sure how this whole “friendship” thing works.
The assassin hangs out for a little too long. Yelena looks for anything that could give her any indication as to where Kate would be now. Would Yelena actually ever go looking for Kate should she find anything? She isn’t sure, to be honest.
Would Kate even want to see her?
Yelena travels a hallway, her feet leading her to a now mostly empty bedroom.
Only an old vanity and side table remain. Yelena walks to the vanity.
There’s a picture framed and sitting on the white vanity. Yelena picks it up with steady hands.
The picture is of a young girl with two adult figures standing behind her. It’s obvious to Yelena that this has to be Kate with her parents. Before her father had been killed in the Battle of New York.
It’s a picture that tugs at the heartstrings of even Yelena Belova. She slowly puts the picture down. Curiously, she wonders why this is one of the few things Kate has not removed from the scorched apartment.
Then, there’s rustling at the door.
Shit.
Yelena actually panics for a moment. Her feet bring her back to the living room. She really wasn’t expecting anyone to suddenly enter and the thought that it could be Kate walking through that door has her heart skipping a beat.
She’s practically caught red handed as the door swings open. Of course, it’s Kate that’s entering, with a golden retriever following at her side.
“Okay, Lucky, I just have one more box to grab and then-”
Kate is silenced as she meets with Yelena.
Yelena smiles warmly. “Hiiii!”
Kate has only a few more things to grab from her destroyed apartment, and then finally, that chapter of her life is finally closed.
She elects to take care of the remaining items as she takes Lucky for his nightly walk. The archer needs something to do, anyways, as the weekend approaches quickly and she politely declined Clint’s offer earlier to have her come and stay at the farm for a couple days.
“Just give me one minute to grab some stuff and then we can pick up our dinner,” Kate says to Lucky as they navigate the hallway. She stuffs a hand into her jacket pocket to fish out her keys.
As Kate unlocks the apartment door, she’s expected to be greeted with a usually mostly empty, and half destroyed, home. This time, though, is different.
Yelena stands there in the middle of the living room with a guilty expression washing over her face. She quickly disguises it with a warm smile - as if she’s actually welcoming Kate home.
“Hiiii!” Yelena greets warmly.
Kate is frozen in the doorway. Her eyes widen at the assassin, who wears normal civilian clothing in the middle of her apartment and acts as if this is a normal thing that’s happening. Lucky immediately pulls at the leash, managing to free himself from Kate’s grasp in her surprised state. He rushes to Yelena.
“Awh! Cute dog!”
Kate watches, in horror, as Yelena bends down to greet Lucky. He happily licks at her face.
Some guard dog, Kate thinks to herself.
“Uhh … “ Kate falters. “W-what are you doing here?”
She continues to watch Yelena, who continues to act like this isn't weird. To be gone for a month, completely off the grid, and then randomly show back up again at her old apartment. As if the assassin was waiting for her.
If she wanted to kill me, she would have when I walked through the door, Kate reassures herself.
“Ah, I was in the neighborhood,” Yelena answers so casually.
Kate narrows her eyes. After everything she went through with Clint, she’s gotten better at assessing the room around her before completely trusting the person standing before her. There’s obviously something strange about this sudden reunion.
“I see,” the young archer answers.
“This is the dog you saved from the street?” Yelena asks, still scratching Lucky behind the ear. “He is so friendly. Not much of a guard dog, though.”
Kate nods awkwardly, her face growing hot. “His name’s Lucky. Good Dog Lucky the Pizza Dog, is his official title.”
“Wow, that is a mouthful.”
Yelena finally stands up to officially greet Kate, who can’t help but take a step back.
“Ah, do not be so afraid, Kate Bishop,” Yelena reassures her. “I’m off duty. No assignment.” She holds her hands up, as if to signify there’s no weapons in her hands. As if her hands aren’t also weapons in themselves.
“I-I see,” Kate replies, still looking Yelena up and down. Her eyes go to the windows, noticing the broken window is still boarded over. “How did you break in this time?”
Yelena feigns offense as she wanders the empty apartment. “Kate Bishop, what is this ‘breaking in’ nonsense? I told you, I am too talented than that.” She motions to the window next to the boarded up one. “I picked the lock. Very easy. I hope your new place has better security measures.”
Kate can't wrap her head around any of this. While in her surprised state, Lucky makes his way back to the archer and nudges his nose into her hand. It's his “I really need some food right now” signal.
“H-hold on, boy,” Kate mumbles to him.
She takes a few steps towards Yelena, who almost seems surprised that the younger woman is attempting to close the space between them. She takes in the sight of Yelena, who wears black pants, a white blouse, and a grey oversized blazer. Her blonde hair is pulled into a high bun with bangs framing her round face.
“Are you going to slap me across the face again or something?”
Kate sighs, obviously annoyed. “Seriously, Yelena,” Kate says in a low tone, “why are you here? I think we both remember that the last time you were here, it was to intimidate me before trying to kill my favorite superhero. So … sorry if I’m not all that trusting of you randomly showing back up here.”
The attempt at a warm smile that sits on Yelena's face slowly fades.
“Whatever you want - I'm taking a break from the whole superhero thing,” Kate explains. “For now. Just while I figure my life out and all.”
“Kate Bishop, I told you -”
“And can you just call me Kate? Please?”
Yelena rolls her eyes and throws her hands up in the air dramatically. “Ugh, Kate, whatever.” Her hands go back down to her sides. “I told you, I'm not here for any of that stuff. You know, you were the one who suggested drinks, remember?” She gives Kate a pointed look.
Kate is honestly surprised that Yelena even remembered that quick interaction. She falters for a moment before quickly regaining her wits.
“R-right! I did. You … actually want to?”
Yelena shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly. “Sure. I have nothing better to do.”
Kate stands there, stunned. Her mouth goes agape.
“What?” Yelena asks impatiently. “What is this look?”
“You actually want to hang out? With me?”
Yelena groans, rolling her eyes at the young archer. “Oh my god, well if you’re not going to believe me then I guess I’ll just go -”
As she starts turning to make her way back to the window, Kate reaches out and stops her.
“Wait!”
Fingers wrap around the assassin’s forearm. The touch makes Yelena’s head snap to look at Kate, whose touch quickly retreats.
“Sorry!” Kate takes a step back, putting distance between the two women. Her face grows red. “Uhm … do you wanna come over to my place?"