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Kate slowly woke to the sound of thuds coming from the hallway. The soft light dancing through the curtains told her that it couldn’t be earlier than six. She reluctantly lifted herself up from where she was laying practically on top of Yelena, ready to investigate if the sounds continued, but thankfully no more came.
“Honestly, who would even wake up at six in the morning,” she thought to herself as she buried her face back into Yelena’s chest, willing herself back to sleep.
What couldn’t have even been five minutes later, not nearly enough time to fall back asleep, Kate heard a knock on the door.
“What,” she grumbled lazily, not caring enough to even open her eyes. The past week had been full of exhausting missions and she was really looking forward to catching up on some much needed sleep.
She heard the door handle click open, and the person outside the door started talking a mile a minute as soon as they entered.
“Heykatehaveyouseenmydarthvaderlegofigure?”
Kate felt Yelena start to stir under her, her hands moving slowly up Kate’s back as she propped her chin up on Yelena’s chest to look at the room invader.
“Excuse me?” Kate questioned, squinting her eyes open just enough for Peter to come into view.
“Have you seen my Darth Vader Lego figure? I think I left it in your room,” Peter asked. As if he was just then taking in his surroundings he added, “Oh, hey Yelena. I didn’t know you were in here.”
“Go away spider boy,” she mumbled sleepily, humming as she wrapped her arms around Kate tighter. “I do not want to see you until lunch.”
Kate lifted her head up to fully look at Yelena, resting her weight on her elbows and running her fingers through her hair. She looked painfully beautiful in the early morning lighting. “I think I have to go help him look,” Kate said, resting her hand on Yelena’s check. “We’ve got a whole day to cuddle.”
Pouting, Yelena placed Kate’s chin between her thumb and index finger and guided her to her for a quick kiss.
“Fine,” she said to Kate. Then to Peter, “and don’t think I forget this. Okay, spider boy?”
Kate turned back to Peter as she started to climb off Yelena in time to see him frantically nodding his head, color draining from his face.
“You know she’s only joking,” Kate told Peter. “Let me quickly brush my teeth. I’ll meet you in the living room to look; I think I saw it there. But so help me Peter, if Darth Vader isn’t in the living room I am personally going to throw you out a window.”
“We will!” Peter called back, already halfway out the door. As Kate walked into the bathroom, she heard Yelena shout after him.
“And no, I am not joking. I don’t joke.”
“Go easy on him Lena, he’s still scared of you,” Kate called from the sink.
“Good. He should be. He is taking my solnyshko from me.”
“You’re only mad cause he woke you up. Go back to sleep, I’ll make breakfast when you’re ready,” Kate told her as she walked out of the bathroom and planted a kiss on her cheek. Yelena looked so perfect just laying there, her golden hair splayed out on the pillow and a sweet, inviting smile on her lips. Kate really wished she hadn’t agreed to helping Peter, but here she was. Besides, she suspected the others would start to get up soon. No one really slept in around the Tower.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After thirty excruciatingly long minutes of unsuccessfully begging Vision to use his powers to help, and ultimately tearing through couch cushions and cabinets herself, the mini Darth Vader was found. Kate really didn’t understand what was so urgent about this that Peter had to wake her up, but she appreciated that even though he had big hero responsibilities, he still was a kid at heart.
Making her way to the kitchen, she found that Clint, Steve, Tony, Bruce, and Natasha were already up and silently enjoying their cups of coffee.
“Is the water still hot,” she asked, lifting up the kettle from the stove.
“Yeah, help yourself, I just made some,” Bruce called from the table.
Grabbing her favorite mug, the enamel one with a bunch of ducks on it from a mission in Michigan, she reached for the jar of instant coffee Bruce kept on the counter. It wasn’t her favorite, but it was early and she didn’t have the energy to be picky. As she turned toward the pantry to grab ingredients for breakfast– pancakes– Natasha asked, “Is Yelena not up yet?”
“I don’t think so. Peter woke us both up to search for his lego but I told her she should go back to sleep. I’ll check on her after I make the pancakes,” Kate replied.
Steve glanced at her over the rim of his mug.
“That’s nice of you.”
“Very domestic,” Clint agreed, not looking up from his newspaper.
Tony took a slow sip of his coffee. “Painfully domestic.”
Kate frowned. “What does that even mean?”
“You’re making pancakes for your girlfriend at six in the morning.”
“I’m making pancakes for everyone, at six in the morning” Kate defended, pointing her whisk at everyone.
“Sure you are. And you just happen to be making them with blueberries, her favorite way. Totally just a coincidence,” Natasha teased, raising her eyebrows and high-fiving Clint without taking her eyes off of Kate.
“Fine. Nobody gets pancakes then.”
“Wait what?” Peter’s voice came from the living room, his head popping up slightly from behind the couch.
“They’re being annoying,” Kate called back.
“We’re not being annoying,” Clint disagreed, “We’re just making observations.”
“Yeah, observations that lead to you making fun of me,” Kate said, crossing her arms over her chest, whisk still in hand.
“Okay, okay, we’re sorry,” Steve chuckled, leaning back in mock protest.
“Thank you,” Kate replied.
“We’re just saying you’ve gotten pretty domestic,” Clint quietly added.
“Oh my– I have not! You guys are impossible,” Kate grumbled, turning back to her pancakes.
“I mean, you do know all her favorite foods,” Peter said, still in the living room.
Shocked at his betrayal, Kate whipped back around and replied, “Yeah, so what. I know everyone’s favorite foods.”
“But you did buy her those new sweaters,” Bruce added.
“She kept stealing mine.”
“And you always make sure she has her favorite snacks,” Steve pointed out.
“Okay, can you stop keeping track of everything I do?”
“Do you cut her grapes in half too?” Clint innocently asked while lowering his newspaper and trying to suppress his laughter.
Kate just stared at him.
“She’s an adult, Clint.”
“Right, just checking.”
“She’s an internationally trained assassin.”
Tony nodded from across the table.
“So that’s a no?”
“Why are you helping him?
Clint raised his hands in defense, “Just wondering when you two got so old couple-y.”
“I am going to throw this spatula at both of you,” Kate threatened, holding the “weapon” above her head.
Next to him, Natasha laughed.
“Just shut up and make your pancakes,” she said, “you two can battle it out in training tomorrow.”
“Yeah and I’ll win” Kate mumbled as she turned back to the stove, rolling her eyes. She loved them all, she really did, but sometimes they could be a bit…much.
About ten pancakes, and some much needed silence later, Kate heard the sound of someone shuffling into the kitchen. She didn’t even have to look up to know it was her girlfriend.
She felt Yelena’s arms snake around her from behind as she rested her chin on Kate’s shoulder. Kate smiled despite herself, leaning back into her embrace. She loved how easily they fit together, like they were made to find each other. Humming contently, she continued to flip pancakes until the last of the batter had run out.
Only once she’d finished did she turn around in Yelena’s arms to face her. Kate’s stomach jumped. She was breathtaking. Her sea-green eyes still held the remnants of sleep, and her cheeks were tinged with a soft blush as she took Kate’s appearance in as well.
Tracing her thumbs along Yelena’s hips, she whispered, “Good morning.”
A sleepy smile spread across Yelena’s face. She tucked a loose piece of hair behind Kate’s ear, her hand lingering on her cheek before she closed the small distance between them. Her lips met Kate’s in a soft kiss, warm and familiar, the kind that makes everything else but the two of them cease to exist.
When Yelena pulled away, she didn't go far. She left her forehead resting gently against Kate’s, her eyes fluttering open as she looked at Kate with that same sleepy smile from before.
“Good morning, solnyshko.”
Kate barely leaned in to give her one more quick peck before she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Still holding onto Yelena, Kate turned both of them to the side to look at the rest of the kitchen.
Clint was pretending to busy himself with his newspaper, while Steve is trying –unsuccessfully–to look anywhere but the two of them.
Kate looked over to see Natasha’s lips twitching, suppressing a smile while Clint handed her a ten dollar bill.
Kate blinked at the exchange in front of her.
“Did you seriously just bet on that?”
Natasha tucked the bill into her pocket as she smiled.
“Maybe.”
“Natasha.”
“You’re very predictable.”
“I am not!”
Clint snorted behind his newspaper.
“You really are.”
Kate looked around the kitchen in disbelief.
“You lost me ten dollars,” Clint pouted.
“I didn’t know I was participating!”
“That’s why it was a bet,” Natasha deadpanned.
Yelena, still tucked against her side, looked at Kate with a confused expression. “What are they talking about?”
“Nothing,” Kate mumbled, face heating up with embarrassment.
Natasha grinned smugly. “Just admiring how domestic you two have become.”
Kate groaned as buried her face into Yelena’s neck.
Yelena smiled, amused, and pressed a quick kiss to her temple.
“So are the pancakes ready?” Peter called, still in the living room.
Kate closed her eyes.
“I hate this kitchen.”