Yelena
It wasn’t uncommon for Kate to be late. While Yelena valued punctuality Kate ran on her own schedule. On the best of days it just annoyed Yelena. But this wasn’t the best of days. It felt like all they’d been doing was fighting, culminating in an episode a few weeks before where Kate had actually withdrawn from Yelena in fear.
“Where’s Kate?” asked Maria as she trailed into the training room. Natasha winced as Yelena started cursing under her breath. Maria didn’t seem fazed until Yelena switched to Russian. “Did you call her?”
“Of course I called her-”
Natasha covered her sister’s mouth and smiled sweetly at her wife. “Why don’t you try calling her? Maybe she’s just avoiding old grumpy pants over here.”
Maria pulled her phone out and tried to call Kate, but Yelena could tell she wasn’t answering for Maria, either.
“How long do we wait?” asked Maria.
“We wait however long it takes her to get here,” said Yelena gruffly.
Two hours after Kate was supposed to be at training Yelena had gone from frustrated to frantic. Her calls had all gone to voicemail, the texts unanswered. She didn’t want to be the kind of person that checked on her girlfriend or her partner when every little thing went wrong, but it was pretty unusual for Kate to not be attached to her phone when they weren’t on a mission.
The doorman in the Bishop’s building nodded and smiled as she came in. Kate had given Yelena a key to the private elevator and gotten her on the list, so she was able to go right up. Before the door even opened in the penthouse she was calling Kate’s name. Stepping off she glanced around. Kate’s bag was in front of the elevator, her phone in the middle of the foyer. Yelena’s gaze kept going to find Kate sprawled on her back near the bottom of the stairs, almost deathly still.
“Kate!” Yelena started searching for injuries. Kate finally blinked, and that’s when Yelena realized her face was streaked with tears.
“Yelena, she’s gone. My mom’s gone.”
“What?” Yelena couldn’t comprehend what Kate was trying to say. Her hands came up to brush futilely at Kate’s tears.
“She’s gone. She hung herself in her cell- the chaplain said it happens-”
Yelena almost never saw Kate as anything but strong and powerful. But she lay broken in front of Yelena. She pulled Kate into her lap. “No,” said Yelena, grasping for anything. This was beyond something she could fix, beyond something anyone could fix. She wanted to take away all of Kate’s pain, absorb it with her own body and soul.
“Yes- she-” Kate broke off, overwhelmed by tears again.
Just the week before Eleanor had called and made promises to Kate that things would be okay. Yelena had thought her foolish. How could the situation ever be okay again? Why would she have said those things to her daughter if she planned on taking her own life? Yelena pulled out her phone.
To: Natasha
3/9/2025 19:19
<<Eleanor Bishop found hanging in her cell>>
From: Natasha
3/9/2025 19:21
<<Kate?>>
Yelena shifted Kate closer, trying to completely enclose the young woman in her arms.
To: Natasha
3/9/2025 19:25
<<Devastated>>
3/9/2025 19:26
<<But safe>>
From: Natasha
3/9/2025 19:28
<<What do you need?>>
Shifting, Yelena maneuvered so she could stand, carrying Kate to the couch. She pulled off their boots and laid down, guarding a sobbing Kate with her own body.
To: Natasha
3/9/2025 19:34
<<Every image taken in that cell>>
3/9/2025 19:35
<<Every image from the autopsy>>
<<The name of every guard in the building last night>>
3/9/2025 19:36
<<Name and background info on the lawyer>>
3/9/2025 19:37
<<Contact information for Jacques Duquesne>>
3/9/2025 19:38
<<Call Clint>>
<<Dinner?>>
Yelena didn’t even wait for a response - she knew her sister would take care of everything she asked. By the time she dropped the phone behind her on the table Kate was nearly catatonic again. Gripping her tightly, Yelena started talking. Knowing it wouldn’t matter what she said, she let herself wander between languages, mostly defaulting to Russian.
By the time darkness had completely descended it seemed as though Kate had actually fallen asleep, her breath deepening. Yelena stopped talking and started plotting. What were the chances that Eleanor Bishop had actually killed herself? What would the motive be if someone did kill her and made it look like suicide? Was there a real chance that it was a setup, or was it just Yelena’s suspicious mind looking for things that weren’t there? Should she say something to Kate or look into it without her?
When the doorman called up Yelena gently woke Kate so she could let Natasha up. Kate was sitting up when the door opened and Natasha walked into the penthouse, her arms filled with bags. She came into the living room and set down everything.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted,” she said quietly. Yelena offered a weak smile of thanks before Natasha knelt in front of Kate. “I’m so sorry Kate.” Kate started to cry again. She tilted forward into Natasha and Natasha wrapped her in a hug.
Yelena went through the bags until she found a container of soup, popping off the lid and unwrapping a spoon. She sat next to Kate. “Natasha brought food.” Kate turned her head sideways to look at Yelena. “Can you have some? Just a little bit?” Kate let Yelena feed her a few spoonfuls before turning away. It felt like a win that she’d eaten anything at all.
Taking a deep breath, Yelena tried to gather herself. “Do you need me to call anyone?”
“I guess I should call Jack,” her voice faltered, “but I don’t have his number.”
“I do,” said Natasha softly. “Do you want one of us to call him?”
Kate shook her head and copied down the number Natasha showed her. “I’ll just- I’m gonna-” she gestured towards the other end of the house.
“Are you sure?” asked Yelena, worried about Kate having to do it alone.
“Yeah, yeah- it’s fine.” She tried to smile, but it crumpled as she walked away.
As soon as she was out of earshot Yelena rounded on her sister. “What do you have?”
“Maria’s working on getting images and the names of everyone on duty last night. Eleanor’s lawyer is James Thompson. Seems clean. She’s worked with him before, and Derek did too before he died. I called Clint. Well, actually I called Laura - you know how he is. The kids are back in school, so one of them can fly out now and the other one can come with the kids for the funeral. I told them to wait until I talked to you. We need to get in touch with the lawyer who handles the estate and get the ball rolling on the funeral, but I think we’re just going to have to support Kate through that. I-”
Footsteps padded across the foyer and Natasha cut off. They both turned to face Kate.
“You know, I thought I really hated Jack, but- but-” Kate’s face crumpled again. Yelena moved, in front of Kate as quickly as possible, pulling her down into a hug.
“Why don’t you guys head to bed? I’ll take care of this,” said Natasha, gesturing to all the food she’d brought.
“I should go out-” protested Kate.
“No,” said Yelena. “New York will survive for one night without us.”
They both slept fitfully. In the morning there were dark circles under Kate’s puffy eyes. She choked down a dry bagel while Yelena watched before calling Eleanor’s aunt Moira, the estate lawyer, and the criminal lawyer. The estate lawyer reminded Kate that there was a copy of her mother’s will in the safe, including her wishes for her funeral, so after they’d finished their calls Kate got it out and spread it on the table. Both the will and Eleanor’s wishes were clear: her funeral was to be simple with a small service, and burial with Derek in the Bishop plot. Kate inherited everything straight-out, including the controlling interests of Bishop Security. Even though she still wouldn’t be able to access her trust fund until she was 30, the inheritance and income from Bishop Security would be plenty, as long as she was careful. The government had seized some of the money that had been tied up with Kingpin and Bishop Security in January and the lawyer had said that Kate would likely never see it.
Yelena called the funeral home and scheduled a meeting. She texted Kate’s friends from college and the rest of the Avengers, letting them know what had happened. It wasn’t until she tried to get Kate to choke down a lunch that she realized she’d completely forgotten her own breakfast. Kate managed a few sips of soup and Yelena a bit of some of the Chinese food Natasha had brought before they had to be at the funeral home.
It seemed like Kate was barely present during the meeting, so Yelena tried to take notes and redirect Kate’s attention when it was needed. Miraculously they got everything sorted out and arranged for the service.
When they got back to the penthouse Natasha and Maria were waiting. Kate slumped against her in the elevator and Yelena almost regretted what was coming, knowing if the others were present it was for a good reason. When the elevator doors opened she headed right for the alcohol, poured herself a shot and tossed it back. When she turned back Kate was watching her with glassy eyes.
“You should sit,” she said, leading her girlfriend to a chair. As soon as she was seated Kate’s head fell into her hands. It seemed like the only thing to do was to get it over with, so she gestured Maria and Natasha over and tried to wait patiently.
“Kate… yesterday when Yelena texted she asked us to look into things surrounding your mother’s death.” Natasha paused, but Kate didn’t react. “We think it was a setup-”
“What do you mean?” Kate’s head came up and her gaze drilled into Natasha.
“I don’t think your mom killed herself. I think someone tried to make it look like she did-”
“What makes you think that?”
“Maria and I reviewed the photographs-”
“Let me see-”
Yelena’s stomach turned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea-”
Kate turned to her in rage. “You don’t get to make that decision.”
“I was just trying to-”
“I don’t need your help, Yelena-”
“Whoa,” said Natasha placatingly. “Why don’t we save the evidence for another time and just let me finish?” Kate nodded. “Is there anyone you can think of that would want your mother dead?”
“I mean- there could still be someone she worked with when she was working for Kingpin…”
“What about Kingpin himself? What happened to him after Christmas last year?” asked Maria.
“I mean, yeah, I guess it could be him.”
“But why now?” pushed Natasha. “Had anything changed?”
“The calling me was new,” said Kate. She bit her lip. “They'd just set the trial date. The last time we talked she said something about getting out and going back to the way things were.”
“Wasn’t she facing a murder charge?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would she think she would be getting out?”
“Wait.” Things finally connected for Yelena. “Last Christmas when your mother met with Kingpin, she threatened him. She told him she had copies of everything, evidence against him. That is how she planned on walking away.”
“Until I had her arrested,” muttered Kate.
“What if she thought she had enough evidence against him to…”
“Get away with murder?” asked Kate incredulously. “I’m upset, not stupid. Do you think there’s enough evidence in the world for them to drop the murder charge?”
Yelena spoke carefully. “I believe your mother believed there was. But, no, I don’t believe there is enough. If she had hired an assassin to kill Armand, possibly-”
“But she didn’t,” finished Kate. “She killed Armand herself.”
“But if she was under duress or being forced or something was being held over her…” said Maria.
“And she had evidence,” added Natasha.
“Then it could have gotten a reduced sentence?” asked Kate.
“Possibly,” said Natasha.
“Okay, so where’s the evidence?”
“If she believed she would be getting out sooner rather than later, then the lawyer probably has some or all of the information,” said Natasha.
Kate was instantly on her feet, heading to the next room to call the lawyer.
“Are you okay?” asked Natasha as soon as Kate was gone.
Yelena shrugged. “It does not matter-”
“It does matter. You don’t have to take care of this alone-”
“She does not have anyone else-”
“She does. Please let me call Clint-”
“His secretary said he’d just left for the day,” Kate said as she walked back into the room. “What about Clint?”
“Clint offered to fly out if you needed anything. Or Laura. And they all want to come to the funeral-”
“No,” said Kate decisively. “The funeral is Monday. The kids don’t need to miss school for that.”
Yelena was trying her best, but nothing in her life had prepared her for the kind of situation she was in. She cared about Kate deeply, but didn’t know what it felt like to have someone she loved die. Every day for most of her life had just been about surviving. Watching Kate was a kind of torture. She wanted to make everything right, take away all the pain, protect her. But she couldn’t. Maybe Clint or Laura could. And even if they couldn’t they could help with all the very adult first-world problems of things like words to say at the service and writing an obituary and choosing flowers. But Yelena didn’t want Kate to think that she didn’t want to be there, so she stayed silent.
Natasha was watching Yelena, though, and seemed to see right through her sister. “I think it would be good to have one of them here,” she pushed gently. “Would Clint or Laura be better?”
“But-”
“Please, Kate, just let me do this.”
Kate blinked back tears. “Clint,” she said with a sigh. “But tell him he doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want-”
“I’ve got it, kid. Now tell me about the lawyer.”
“He’s gone for the day. The secretary said I could come by tomorrow morning - they blocked out time for me at 10. If someone really did… you know- I mean-” Natasha nodded gently and Yelena squeezed Kate’s hand. “Do you think the lawyer is safe?”
“We’ll go check on him,” said Natasha.
“I should-” started Kate.
“What? You think we can’t handle a little guard duty?” teased Natasha.
Kate sized Natasha and Maria up. “No, you’re right. I just feel like I should be doing something-”
“You are doing something,” said Maria. “Kate…” she hesitated, clearly torn. Yelena knew that Maria was probably the only other person in the room who could relate to what Kate was feeling, and she hoped Maria had some hidden words of wisdom. “Let people help you. Don’t run away from the pain, it only makes it worse.”
Kate turned into Yelena’s shoulder, trying to muffle her sobs. Natasha and Maria stood. Yelena sent Maria a brief smile, trying to alleviate the guilt so clearly written on her sister-in-law’s face.
It was another long night. Kate was fidgety. She moved the furniture back to where it had been when her mother had been in the penthouse. She cleaned her bedroom. She walked back and forth past the door to her mother’s bedroom, but didn’t go in. She checked her bow and arrows. She cleaned her gear. She made Yelena look over each of her suits until they found one for the funeral. She tried to write a eulogy and alternated between throwing her pen across the room and sobbing.
When dawn finally came neither of them had slept. Maria texted to say that she was headed to work, but that Natasha was still following the lawyer and that nothing had happened overnight. Yelena convinced Kate to shower by offering to do it with her with some trepidation. Normally that was an invitation for being late to everything, but instead Kate let the water run down her back while she stared into space, letting Yelena wash and condition her hair for her. At 9:50 they were at the lawyer's office. Yelena, at least, was armed to the teeth. She knew her sister was lurking nearby, but they hadn’t seen her yet.
It turned out Natasha had been right, Eleanor did have evidence against Kingpin. The lawyer had copies of everything. When they asked how he’d gotten it he said that Jack had sent over all the information shortly after Eleanor’s arrest, but that Eleanor had assured him that it was saved in multiple places - Jack only had access to one of the copies. Eleanor had intended to use it to prove that she’d been forced to commit many of the crimes she had, but the lawyer didn’t really think that it was enough to go after Kingpin alone. Yelena filled in the blanks: if they wanted to bring Kingpin down, they needed more evidence.
When they left Natasha was waiting outside. Yelena called her over and filled her briefly, aware that anyone could be listening. There was no point in guarding the lawyer any longer. He didn’t have a case without more evidence, and he’d happily handed over copies of the files Jack had provided. It was time for a new plan.