Fins. Teeth. Water. Shark.
The Barton dining table was a storm of energy laughter, shouting, the occasional argument over the validity of a word but in the middle of all the chaos, two people sat stiffly, like statues at a museum exhibit titled ‘Awkward Tension’.
Kate and Yelena weren’t ignoring each other, exactly. They were technically participating, going through the motions, forcing smiles when appropriate. But it was painfully obvious that something was off.
Kate kept sneaking glances at Yelena when she thought no one was looking, eyes filled with something fragile and unspoken, but she never actually said anything. She just sat there, quietly suffering.
Yelena, meanwhile, was the picture of indifference. Straight-backed, arms folded, her expression was so blank, so polite, that it bordered on eerie.
Laura watched with a frown, she had hoped a night of board games and friendly competition would shake off whatever weird tension had settled between them, but nope. So far, neither of them had properly acknowledged the other.
Even if she had only seen their dynamic for a few days, she knew this was not normal. That was not them and if they weren’t going to fix it themselves, Laura would force them to.
“Alright,” she announced, clapping her hands together, immediately silencing the chaos around the table. “Time for Pictionary.”
There were groans. There were protests. But Cooper immediately started bragging that he was going to annihilate everyone, while Clint sighed, rubbing his face like a man who had seen war.
Kate barely reacted. But Laura saw the way her eyes flicked toward Yelena, waiting, hoping for some kind of response but Yelena didn’t move.
Clint set up the game while Laura divided the teams, her voice casual, as if she hadn’t planned this for the past ten minutes. “Alright. Cooper and Lila. Clint, Nate, and me. And… Kate and Yelena.”
Kate’s head snapped up so fast it was a miracle she didn’t give herself whiplash. She locked onto Laura with wide, pleading eyes, silently begging her to reconsider and Laura just smirked. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Yelena, in contrast, didn’t react, not even a twitch. Not until Kate, in a half-hearted attempt to break the unbearable silence, muttered, “Well… there are worse team members.” Then, under her breath, she coughed out a single word. "Clint."
A small, breathy chuckle slipped out of Yelena before she could stop it. It was quick, almost imperceptible, but Kate heard it. And for a split second, her heart soared. Then Yelena shut down again, her face smoothing over into a cold, unreadable mask and Kate’s heart sank.
The tension around them was suffocating, thick enough to choke on. But undeterred, Cooper was practically vibrating with excitement, while Nathaniel clapped his hands together and shouted, “We are gonna win!”
“That’s the spirit, buddy,” Clint said, ruffling his son’s hair.
Laura handed Clint the marker first. “Alright, go.”
Clint took it with the careful precision of a man who had been through this battle many times before. He immediately started sketching, sharp, quick strokes forming…
“A raccoon!” Nathaniel shouted.
Laura tilted her head. “Rocket?”
Clint fist-pumped. “YES!”
For the next few rounds, it was mostly just the Bartons having a good time. Cooper and Lila were freakishly good at this, finishing each round in record time. Nathaniel just seemed to enjoy being involved, clapping at every answer, even when it was completely, catastrophically wrong.
But Laura wasn’t happy. Her plan was failing. Yelena still looked… cold. Not in the literal sense, Laura was pretty sure Yelena could wrestle a bear in a blizzard and not blink but distant. Reserved. Every smile was polite but hollow, every nod perfectly calculated. Laura hated widow mode. She had seen it too often from Natasha.
And Clint noticed too. His eyes kept flicking between Kate and Yelena, catching the way Kate’s expression crumpled slightly whenever Yelena looked away.
Meanwhile, their turns were horrible. Kate would take a guess, expecting at least some kind of reaction, a sigh, an insult but it went something like this:
“Uh… a boat?”
“No.”
“A fish?”
“No.”
“…A very sad potato?”
Yelena exhaled through her nose. “No.”
That was it. No sarcastic retort. No exaggerated groan. No “Bishop, do you have two brain cells fighting for dominance?” Just a cold, lifeless no before the game moved on. Kate didn’t argue when the answer was revealed, she just sulked.
Kate felt like she was dying inside. Even when Yelena did guess correctly on Kate’s turns, there was no smug grin, no teasing, just a small, fake smile and a nod.
It was slightly awkward, but the Bartons kept the game going, determined to make the most of their family time, even if Clint’s team had clearly peaked in round one. Ten-year-old Nathaniel was back on drawing duty, which would’ve been fine… if his artistic skills weren’t quite so questionable.
After many guesses and plenty of head-tilting from every angle, Clint and Laura had officially given up, all of their attempts wrong. Eventually, Clint leaned forward and glanced at the card Nathaniel had drawn from.
Clint let out a long, theatrical sigh and rubbed a hand down his face. “Son,” he said, voice heavy with paternal weariness, “I love you. Truly. But that does not look like a bicycle.”
He squinted once more at the whiteboard, where Nathaniel had proudly presented his latest masterpiece. It looked… well, generous eyes might have called it “abstract.” Realistically, it resembled a jellybean with legs and two lopsided squiggles that vaguely hinted at having once aspired to be wheels…maybe.
Nathaniel turned, completely unbothered. “It has wheels!” he announced, gesturing to the two misshapen blobs at the bottom of the jellybean-shaped creation.
Clint blinked at the wild chaos of lines again. “I mean… technically,” he allowed, dragging the word out with painful reluctance.
Laura tilted her head, a warm smile playing on her lips as she studied the chaos. “Sweetie,” she asked gently, “did the bicycle… get into a fight?”
Nathaniel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “It’s a better drawing than Dad’s koala.”
That got Lila’s attention. “Literally anything is better than Dad’s koala,” she said dryly. “I mean, what kind of koala has a tail?”
Clint’s jaw dropped in exaggerated offence. “Why wouldn’t they have tails? They live in trees! It’s practical!”
Desperate for backup, he turned to Kate. “Kate. Come on. Help me out here.”
Kate looked up at him with wide eyes. She tried to hold it in, but the image of that tailed monstrosity Clint had drawn earlier flashed in her mind, and a quiet chuckle escaped her. “I’m sorry, old man,” she said, a small, amused smile curling at her lips. “But this time, I can’t.”
Clint groaned and pivoted toward Yelena, who sat with her arms folded loosely as she watched the exchange with mild curiosity. “Yelena,” he said, sounding betrayed. “Surely you see the logic here.”
Yelena didn’t move, only raised a single brow and smirked, her lips barely twitching. “Nope,” she said, clearly entertained. “Logic is clearly not your strong point, Barton.”
Kate let out another quiet chuckle beside her, the sound soft but warm, and Yelena glanced at her just briefly. The eye contact lingered a half-second longer than it should have.
Clint flailed dramatically toward the ceiling. “Unbelievable. You’re all turning against me.”
“Aw, honey,” Laura said sweetly, reaching over to pat his hand, “it’s okay. At least now you’ve learned something… at the grand age of—”
“Don’t you dare!” Clint cut in sharply, flailing a hand in the air. “That is classified information.”
From the far end of the table, Lila muttered without looking up from her phone, “Pretty sure your birthday’s on Wikipedia, Dad.”
Clint let his head fall back with a groan as laughter filled the room. Kate caught herself glancing at Yelena again, catching the faintest curve of a smile at the corners of her mouth. They didn’t speak, but it was a moment, soft and shared, buried in the noise of the Bartons being ridiculous.
Kate felt a flicker of hope stir in her chest at the small interaction but the instant Yelena’s stiff, almost robotic movements came into view as she stepped up to the board, that hope began to fizzle out. Yelena walked with all the enthusiasm of someone approaching a firing squad and Kate's heart sank with the realisation that the icy barrier between them would remain. Another cold, tense round was about to begin, the same silence that had settled over them the entire evening creeping back in.
But Kate wasn’t ready to let the moment drag on like this. Not this time. She wasn’t about to sit in the heavy silence and let it suffocate whatever small chance they had to make things better. She had to do something, anything, to shift the mood.
She couldn’t stand how frozen everything had become. She was desperate for another smile, she would even settle for a softening in Yelena’s gaze, or maybe even a sarcastic comment. Anything to prove that Yelena wasn’t as far away as she seemed.
Determined to make that shift, Kate focused all of her attention on Yelena’s movements. Her eyes followed every subtle twitch of Yelena’s fingers, the way they hovered above the board, before finally dipping into sharp, jagged lines that seemed to cut across the surface.
The lines didn’t make sense to Kate, there was no structure to them, no form she could latch onto. But she was determined to figure it out.
Kate cleared her throat. “Uh... a star?” she ventured, her voice cautious, though tinged with curiosity.
Yelena didn’t even blink. Her eyes remained locked on the board, her expression unyielding. “No,” she said flatly, not offering any further explanation.
Kate’s heart sank, but she pressed on. “A crown?”
“No,” Yelena replied again, her tone even more curt this time, as if the guessing game was the last thing she wanted to indulge in.
“A... an explosion?” Kate’s voice faltered slightly, but she pressed on, desperate to crack through the tension.
Yelena’s jaw tightened, a muscle in her neck visibly clenching. “No.”
Kate paused, trying to make sense of the chaos in front of her, but the jagged lines still eluded her. “Then what—”
Before she could finish her thought, Cooper, ever the source of unnecessary commentary, burst out laughing from the other side of the table. “Oh my God, Yelena, you have such a bad teammate! It’s clearly a shark, Kate!”
Kate squinted at the board, her eyes narrowing as she tried to force sense out of the image. For a second, she was torn between disbelief and frustration. Her competitive side, always just beneath the surface, flared up in an instant. “That’s a shark?” she asked, her tone edged with disbelief.
Yelena’s head snapped toward her, a flicker of surprise quickly turning into offence. “Yes,” she said, her voice clipped.
Kate couldn’t stop herself from laughing, a breathless, almost incredulous laugh. “Yelena, that is not a shark,” she said, shaking her head, her hands thrown out in the air as if the very idea was preposterous.
Yelena’s scowl deepened, becoming defensive. “It is a shark. Look—” She jabbed a finger at the drawing, pointing out different parts with exaggerated emphasis. “Fins. Teeth. Water. Shark.”
Cooper was laughing so hard that he was practically on the floor, clutching his stomach, while Lila was doubled over in her chair, trying to stifle the snorts escaping from her. The entire table seemed to be caught up in the moment, but Kate stood up with her hands firmly planted on her hips, trying to keep her composure.
Kate moved closer to the whiteboard, squinting at the chaotic lines and angles that Yelena had created. For a moment, she felt like she might be losing her mind. The drawing was a mess of jagged lines and shapes that didn’t quite add up to anything coherent. But then, after several more exaggerated jabs from Yelena at various parts of the drawing, something clicked. Sort of.
“When you point at it like that,” Kate admitted, finally narrowing her eyes at the mess of shapes, “I can sort of see it. Kinda.” She hesitated, her brow furrowing. “But, your drawing sucks.”
Yelena raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into the slightest smirk, clearly pleased that Kate had at least partially come around. She couldn’t quite resist the urge to needle Kate. “Or maybe,” she said with a teasing lilt, “it’s a failure on your part, Bishop, and my drawing is actually great.”
Kate’s eyes widened, and she exaggerated a dramatic pout, crossing her arms in mock frustration. “I tried so hard, Yelena! You don’t even understand!” she said, her voice a perfect blend of exaggerated exasperation and mock sorrow. “If your drawing was so good, I would’ve gotten it!”
Her pout deepened, but there was a flicker of sincerity in her words, a quiet undercurrent that revealed how much she wanted to prove herself, how much she wanted to connect, to bridge that gap between the awkwardness that still hung between them. Despite the teasing, she truly did want to show Yelena that she could be as sharp, as quick, as perceptive as anyone. Even if the drawing was... well, utterly terrible.
Yelena, despite herself, felt a warmth bloom in her chest at the sight of Kate’s sad little pout. It was too much, and she couldn’t help but soften. For the first time that night, her face lit up with a genuine smile, one that was far more relaxed than the cold, calculated expressions she had been wearing all evening. “Stop with the whining and be better, Little Hawk!” she teased, her tone playful but with a hint of fondness.
Kate felt her heart skip a beat. The nickname sent a warmth through her, and seeing that smile, that real smile made all the tension and uncertainty of the night melt away. It was like someone had taken a weight off her chest, and for the first time in hours, she could actually breathe. She was so caught up in the moment, staring at Yelena, that she completely forgot to respond.
Yelena noticed, and her smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the effect she had on Kate. But before either of them could speak again and potentially ruin the calm that had settled between them, Laura’s voice cut through the moment like a lifeline. “Alright, Lila, you’re up!” she called, her tone light but firm, snapping everyone back to reality.
Kate blinked, her cheeks flushed, as she reluctantly tore her gaze away from Yelena. The game carried on, but something had shifted, something subtle, yet undeniable between them. It wasn’t perfect, and they weren’t quite their usual selves, but the tension that had hung in the air seemed to settle, like the calm after a storm. There was still a slight unease, but it was manageable, and that in itself felt like progress.
It took a few more rounds for the distance to close completely. With every round, Yelena softened a little more, allowing Kate to slip closer in. The sad glances and the cold stares disappeared, replaced by something warmer. Eventually, the two of them fell into a rhythm, like nothing had ever been amiss. The tension between them dissolved entirely, leaving behind the kind of easy companionship they both craved.
What followed was a playful back-and-forth, teasing and laughter woven between every comment. Their eyes locked with lingering looks, hands brushing just a little too long when they passed the board. They pushed each other when the other teased, their banter quick, sharp, and full of energy.
It got to a point where it was clear that Lila and Cooper were way ahead, and before long, their victory was sealed. Cooper ran circles around the room with Lila piggybacking on his back, both of them chanting, “Best team! Best team!” at the top of their lungs, clearly thrilled with their win.
Kate and Yelena watched them with wide grins on their faces, the playful rivalry between them softening into something else entirely. Kate, without thinking, reached out and took Yelena’s hand. Her thumb gently stroked over Yelena’s fingers, the touch quiet but intimate, a connection between them that didn’t need words. Their hands were clearly placed on the table, and the moment wasn’t lost on either of them.
Despite Yelena’s usual reserve, her defences crumbled just enough for her to break into a wide, genuine smile. It was impossible to hide her happiness now, and she beamed at Kate, her entire face softening in a way Kate hadn’t seen before.
From across the table, Laura watched the scene unfold with a knowing smirk. She had no idea what had set them off earlier, but it was clear her plan had worked. As she sat back and watched them now, watching how effortlessly they fell into sync, how they seemed to complete each other, she knew, deep down, that they were perfect for each other.
She nudged Clint with her elbow, the corner of her lips curling into a smile, proud of her meddling and accomplishing her little mission. Clint groaned, clearly not wanting to acknowledge the moment. “Yeah, yeah. I see it too.”
Laura took a sip of her wine, her eyes still on the pair of them. “Good. Now go get the Monopoly board.”
Clint’s face immediately drained of colour. “Absolutely not.”
---
Eventually, the night wore on, and the Barton family began to pack up the games. Clint and Laura, along with the kids, trickled off to bed, leaving Kate and Yelena alone in the kitchen to clean up. As the last plates were stacked in the sink, the comfortable buzz of earlier seemed to fade, leaving behind an all-too-familiar awkwardness.
Kate found herself staring at the dish in her hand, not really seeing it as she dried it for what felt like the hundredth time. Her mind was racing. She was still thinking about the night before, how it had been the best sleep she’d had in a while, with Yelena curled up beside her, so warm and safe. She wanted that again. She wanted to ask Yelena to sleep in her bed again, but the weight of today’s tension made her hesitate.
Kate knew she had upset Yelena, but how could she apologise? She wasn’t particularly sure what she did wrong, had only been doing what she thought Yelena wanted, and now she wasn’t even sure where to begin.
Yelena noticed the shift in Kate’s mood as they worked in silence. She’d been quiet for too long, and it didn’t take much to recognise that something was wrong. “What is it, Little Hawk?” she asked, her voice soft but piercing as she finished washing the last cup, casting a quick glance at Kate.
Kate shook her head quickly, swallowing hard. She could feel the lump forming in her throat, but she didn’t know how to voice the jumble of feelings inside her. She was stuck, torn between wanting to say something and being too scared to get it wrong.
Yelena waited, watching Kate as she held the plate with both hands, her eyes glued to the surface of it like it could offer an answer. When Kate didn’t say anything, Yelena’s patience ran thin. Without warning, she turned to face Kate fully, pulling the plate from her hands and placing it on the counter before snatching the towel from her grasp.
“Kate,” Yelena said, her voice a little firmer now. She gently cupped Kate’s chin, forcing her to look at her. The second their eyes met, Yelena saw it, tears pooling in Kate’s eyes. Her heart clenched at the sight, and she immediately softened, her tone dropping to a gentle whisper. “Oh, detka (babe), no, don’t cry.”
Kate’s walls crumbled, and without a word, Yelena pulled her into a warm embrace. Kate tensed at first, as though unsure if she could trust herself in the closeness, but then she melted into it, finally allowing herself to be held.
After a moment, Yelena pulled away, gently guiding Kate towards her guest room. She knew the kitchen wasn’t the right place for this conversation, not with the whole family in the house, not with the weight of what was unsaid hanging in the air. She closed the door behind them, offering a space where they could talk without interruption.
Kate sat down on the bed, her shoulders trembling, and Yelena crouched in front of her, looking into her eyes with a rare softness that was all for Kate. “What can I do?” she asked, her voice low, full of concern.
Kate didn’t know how to answer. She wanted to speak, wanted to explain what was going on in her head, but the emotions flooded her all at once, too overwhelming to process. Her sobs came in sharp, erratic bursts, and for a moment, Kate couldn’t find any words to explain the knot in her chest. Everything felt too much, and yet, all she wanted was Yelena’s comfort, her presence.
Yelena didn’t try to fix it, didn’t offer any advice. Instead, she simply stayed there, her hands gently resting on Kate’s knees, waiting for her to gather herself. The silence between them was filled with understanding, and Yelena’s quiet presence was the only thing Kate needed right now. She knew Kate was lost in the mess of her own emotions, and all Yelena could do was wait until she was ready to speak.
Eventually, Kate broke the silence, her voice trembling with emotion. “I don’t even know why I’m crying,” she said, the words laced with a watery chuckle. “I just… I know we need to talk, but I’m so scared that it will end with you leaving.”
Yelena’s gaze softened as she leaned in, her hands gently cupping Kate’s face. Her thumb stroked the soft curve of Kate’s cheek in a soothing gesture. “Kate,” she said, her voice steady but full of warmth. “I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”
Yelena paused, her eyes locked with Kate’s, watching as Kate processed the quiet reassurance that Yelena wasn’t going anywhere. She could see the hesitation, the need for confirmation in Kate’s gaze.
“We can talk now,” Yelena said softly, her voice steady and patient. “Or we can just cuddle, sleep, and talk tomorrow. It’s up to you.” She gave a small, reassuring smile, her thumb continuing to lightly trace Kate’s cheek. “Whatever you need, okay?”
Kate blinked, a little taken aback by the offer, she felt like Yelena had read her thoughts. “Wait… you… you’ll stay in here with me?” she asked, her voice quiet, almost shy.
Yelena’s gaze faltered for a second, her usual confidence slipping just slightly. “I mean, if you want me to, then sure,” she said, her voice unexpectedly hesitant.
Kate smiled faintly, her heart aching at the thought of Yelena staying with her. “I want you to,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper, but sincere.
Yelena’s face softened into a smile, her eyes lighting up just a little. “Then I will stay in here, Little Hawk,” she said, her words carrying a weight that made Kate feel like her chest could finally relax for the first time in hours.
Kate let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding. The tension that had been coiling in her stomach eased with that promise. She finally felt like she could breathe again.
“I… can you tell me what I did wrong?” Kate asked quietly, hesitating, her eyes searching Yelena’s for an answer. She quickly added, “I mean, I know… I know it was clearly something to do with dropping your hand, but I just… I… I figured. Ugh… I wanted you to be comfortable. I didn’t want you to be forced to tell anyone, and then you just switched up on me, and I didn’t know what to do or say, and you…”
Yelena stopped her with a gentle but firm hand on her arm, her voice low but full of reassurance. “Kate, stop it,” she said, her tone surprisingly calm. “It’s fine. I should’ve just spoken to you. You’ve already fixed what was wrong.”
Kate blinked, confusion spreading across her face. “What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, a little lost in the haze of her emotions.
Yelena chuckled softly, but there was no malice in the sound, just a quiet self-awareness. “I thought you were ashamed,” she admitted, her voice breaking slightly with vulnerability. “That you didn’t want Clint to know, that I wasn’t… enough.” She paused, and when she spoke again, her words came slower, more measured. “But you did it thinking it was what I wanted. I should’ve just spoken to you, Kate. I’m not good with emotions. I haven’t had them very long, and I just… closed off. I… I truly am sorry.”
Kate felt the words hit her like a wave, but in a way that washed away the heavy weight she’d been carrying. She didn’t know how to respond, her heart full and aching in the best way.
“I’m sorry, too,” Kate said softly, her voice cracking just slightly as she looked at Yelena, her eyes brimming with sincerity. “I never wanted to hurt you. I just… I thought I was helping. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Yelena reached out, her hand brushing over Kate’s hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear as she looked at her with such tenderness that Kate could feel it in her very bones. “I think we both need to learn to talk,” Yelena said quietly, her gaze unwavering. “But it's fixed now, we are okay.”
The weight of the words hung between them, both of them sitting in the space that had been filled with so much tension and uncertainty. Now, with the air cleared, all that was left was the understanding that they could move forward together, even if it was messy, even if it wasn’t perfect.
Kate let out a shaky breath, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just wanted us to be okay,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I want to be with you, openly. I’d show you off to the world if you let me.”
Yelena’s expression softened, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She reached for Kate’s hand, her grip warm and comforting, but then a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. “Maybe not the world,” she said, smirking, “since I’m still very much a wanted criminal in most countries. But to the Bartons? Sure.”
Kate’s breath caught in her chest, and a laugh bubbled up from deep within her. “You’re such an idiot,” she said, her voice filled with all the affection and love she could possibly pour into those words.
Yelena scowled playfully, crossing her arms. “You’re the idiot,” she retorted, trying, and failing, to hide the smile tugging at her lips. “My idiot.”
Without thinking, Kate surged forward, closing the space between them, and pulled Yelena into a kiss. Yelena’s hand cupped Kate’s cheek, the kiss deepening, and Kate’s heart raced in her chest. She pulled back just slightly, her lips still brushing against Yelena’s as she whispered, “Yours.”
Yelena chuckled against Kate’s lips, the sound vibrating in the kiss, her voice low, almost teasing. “And I am yours, milaya devushk (sweet girl).”
Kate pulled back slightly, confusion crossing her features. “What does that mean?” Her voice was barely a whisper, the heat of the moment settling over her like a heavy fog.
Yelena smirked, her lips curling in a way that made Kate’s chest tighten. “That’s for me to know and you to find out,” she teased, her gaze flicking to Kate’s lips as if she couldn’t resist.
Kate’s pout deepened, her hands pressing into Yelena’s shoulders as she tried to pull away. “No fair,” she muttered, frustration creeping in, her voice tight and vulnerable.
Yelena’s eyes once again softened at the sight of Kate’s pout, a small laugh escaping her. The playful smirk faded, and in its place, something tender, something genuine took its place. “Fine,” she said quietly, voice soft and unguarded, “It means ‘sweet girl.’”
The words hit Kate in a way she wasn’t prepared for. She blushed fiercely, her heart suddenly feeling like it might burst from her chest. She turned her head away, embarrassed, but Yelena’s gaze never wavered.
Before she could speak again, Yelena closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss so deep and desperate that Kate felt like she was drowning. It started slow, tender, the gentleness of their connection grounding them both. But then, in an instant, the air shifted, charged with something deeper, something more powerful than they had been prepared for.
Kate’s hands moved, urgent, pulling Yelena down on top of her. She flopped back onto the bed, tugging Yelena with her, their bodies pressing together in a surge of desperate need. Kate’s thigh slid between Yelena’s, and Yelena’s breath hitched, a soft gasp escaping her as the contact sent a jolt of heat through her veins.
They kissed like their lives depended on it, as though every touch, every brush of skin was a promise. Hands were everywhere, gripping, pulling, desperate to be closer, to merge into each other in a way that felt impossible. Yelena’s breath was uneven, and Kate’s was ragged, the overwhelming wave of emotion and lust threatening to drown them both.
But then, suddenly, Yelena pulled away, her chest rising and falling with the same frantic rhythm. Her eyes were wide and dilated, her voice husky. “Kate… we can’t. Not here.”
Kate’s heart was pounding in her ears, the haze of desire clouding her thoughts, but a part of her knew Yelena was right. They couldn’t do this, not like this, not in this moment with everything still raw, with the kids just down the hall. Her hands trembled as she ran them through her hair, frustration and longing mixing together in a knot deep in her stomach.
“Fuck,” Kate murmured, her voice strained with want. She didn’t want this moment to end, didn’t want to let go of the heat, the closeness, the way their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. But she had to.
Yelena leaned down, her forehead gently resting against Kate's, the warmth of her breath sending a shiver down Kate's spine. She then shifted, settling her head on Kate’s chest, her breaths fanning across Kate’s neck. The tension between them was palpable, hanging in the air like a thick cloud.
Kate did her best to calm her racing heart, but with Yelena’s weight pressing down on her and her breath tracing along the sensitive skin of her neck, it was all too much. The realisation hit her like a wave, and her face immediately flushed crimson. She let out a shaky laugh, trying to break the mounting tension.
“Yeah, no, Lena,” Kate said, her voice a bit breathless. “I’m not calming down with you on top of me like this.”
Yelena scoffed, rolling off her with a frustrated huff. She sat up, shaking her head in disbelief. “Such a teenage boy, Kate Bishop,” she said with a teasing smile.
Kate groaned, putting her arm over her face in embarrassment. “Oh, shut up. Have you seen yourself? I can’t help it.”
Yelena laughed softly, finding Kate’s reaction cute. “Don’t worry, Little Hawk,” she said, her voice lower now, almost a whisper. “I’ll make it up to you when we get back to New York, okay?”
Kate's heart lurched in her chest. She didn’t even know how to respond to that, the idea of being with Yelena in a way that wasn’t rushed, wasn’t forbidden, almost too much to handle. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she just muttered, her voice thick with both desire and frustration, “I’m going for a very cold shower.”
Yelena’s smirk deepened, clearly enjoying every second of seeing Kate flustered. There was something about seeing Kate so undone that sparked a sense of power within her. "Behave yourself in there," Yelena teased, her voice dripping with playful authority. "I’ll be waiting for you."
Her fingers traced a slow line down Kate’s arm, the touch light yet deliberate, and as her hand lingered at Kate’s wrist, she could feel the shift in Kate’s breath, the way her body tensed, caught between the desire to pull away and the yearning to stay. Kate’s gaze followed Yelena’s fingers like they were a trail of fire, her mind clearly racing with thoughts that were definitely not PG.
Yelena laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained. "Go shower, Little Hawk. I want to sleep," she said with a wink, her voice softer now, but still filled with that same teasing edge.
Kate huffed, her lips pressed together in a pout, eyes flickering toward Yelena one last time before she stood and turned to leave. Yelena couldn’t suppress a satisfied grin, the image of Kate’s flustered face still fresh in her mind as she watched her disappear down the hall.
Once Kate was in the shower, Yelena went and got herself ready for bed before pulling the covers down and sinking into Kate’s cool sheets. She settled herself comfortably, but as she lay there, her mind wandered back to Kate. She couldn’t wait for her to return, to have her close again, thinking back to how she had woken this morning wrapped in Kate’s arms.
When Kate finally came back, she slipped under the covers, but this time, Yelena didn’t wait for her to settle. She immediately shifted, turning onto her side and pulling Kate in behind her. Kate followed her lead, instinctively curling around Yelena’s smaller frame, spooning her from behind.
Yelena felt a warmth spread through her at the feeling of Kate’s body pressed up against hers, Kate’s breath gentle against the back of her neck. Her fingers instinctively reached for Kate’s, intertwining them as she relaxed further into her embrace. Yelena didn’t even care that she was the little spoon, this was the only place she wanted to be.
Kate nuzzled her face into Yelena’s shoulder, her body finally relaxing completely as she felt the comforting warmth of Yelena’s body against hers. It was the perfect fit. The world outside felt miles away, the only thing that mattered was the soft rise and fall of their breathing and the steady heartbeat beneath her palm.
Yelena’s eyes fluttered closed, her hand still holding Kate’s as she melted into the embrace. For once, it wasn’t about the teasing or the tension between them. It was just the two of them, together, safe and secure in each other’s arms. And as the night went on, they both drifted into a peaceful sleep, wrapped up in each other, where nothing else could touch them.
---
Yelena woke to the now familiar weight of Kate’s body draped over her, the warmth of her skin pressing against Yelena’s back. It was comforting, grounding, Kate had stayed curled around her all night, her arms wrapped around Yelena like she was trying to protect her from the world.
Yelena blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. She tried to focus on the way Kate’s steady breathing sounded in the silence, the rise and fall of her chest pressing against Yelena’s back. It was soothing, but then it hit her, once again, Kate had slept through the entire night, undisturbed, and Yelena smiled, feeling a sense of achievement.
Unlike the morning before, the room was quiet. Even Lucky, usually quick to stir at the first sign of movement, remained curled up at the foot of the bed, his tail twitching in sleep. The silence felt heavy, like the world had paused around them.
Yelena, however, was awake and as much as she wanted to go back to sleep, she couldn't, it just wouldn’t come. Kate could feel it before she even opened her eyes. It’s not like Yelena was shifting restlessly or anything, but Kate could just sense it.
Kate inhaled deeply before murmuring, “Mmm, good morning,” her voice thick with sleep, still lost somewhere between dreaming and reality.
Yelena exhaled a quiet chuckle, turning her head to look at Kate. Her voice was rougher than she intended when she whispered back, “Morning, Kate Bishop.”
Kate smiled lazily at the way Yelena was once again using her full name, even when they had just woken up from sleeping next to one another, it seemed so out of place. Her arms instinctively tightened around Yelena’s waist, keeping her close.
“How’d you sleep?” she asked, voice still heavy with exhaustion but laced with a quiet curiosity.
Yelena let out a slow breath, letting Kate’s warmth seep into her skin. “Good. I haven’t been awake long.” She hesitated, then added, “No bad dreams?”
Kate’s eyes fluttered open slightly, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. She shifted just enough to nuzzle her nose against Yelena’s shoulder, her lips brushing warm skin as she smiled. “No, no bad dreams. Thanks to you.”
She hadn’t meant for it to come out so soft, so vulnerable, but it was the truth. And the way Yelena’s body tensed, just slightly, almost imperceptibly told Kate that maybe Yelena wasn’t quite used to hearing things like that.
Yelena wasn’t, that sort of softness had only ever come from Kate, and it made something ache deep in Yelena’s chest.
Before either of them could linger in the moment too long, Kate sighed dramatically and flopped onto her back, pulling Yelena with her.
Yelena let out a startled noise that was more of a squeal than anything, her head now resting on Kate’s chest. Yelena immediately relaxed, letting her body mould against Kate’s as if she belonged there.
Kate’s fingers found their way into Yelena’s hair, absently brushing through the soft strands. It was soothing, grounding in a way she couldn’t quite put into words. She let her gaze drift, taking in the way the golden strands caught the morning light, the way Yelena’s lashes fluttered slightly against her cheek. She closed her eyes, basking in the moment as a smile made it’s way to her face.
For once, there was no weight on her shoulders. No expectations. No pretending to be okay when she wasn’t. Just this.
Yelena shifted slightly, tilting her head up to look at Kate, the sight sending warmth blooming through her. “I like seeing you smile, Kate Bishop,” Yelena murmured.
A teasing grin tugged at her lips. “You’re such a softie, Yelena Belova.”
Yelena scoffed, immediately burying her face against Kate’s collarbone as if to hide. “Shut up,” she mumbled, voice muffled. “It’s just nice to see.”
Kate softened at that, her fingers continuing their slow, lazy movements through Yelena’s hair. “Yeah, well… it’s nice to not feel like the whole world is on top of me for once,” she admitted, her voice quieter now.
It wasn’t something she had planned to say, but it was true. “Being here with you, with the Bartons… it’s nice.” The words felt fragile, like if she said them too loudly, she’d break whatever spell they were under. Her fingers stilled slightly. “I know going back to New York is going to ruin this, though.”
Yelena frowned, her eyebrows furrowing. “Why’s that?” she asked, voice softer now.
Kate let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. “Because eventually, you’ll go back to work, which means no more you. Then I have to figure out what to do with the company and I have to go back to the penthouse.” The words came faster now, like she was forcing them out before she lost her nerve. “Fuck, I don’t want to go back there.”
She hadn’t meant to say that last part out loud. Yelena shifted, sitting up just enough to look down at Kate. There was something unreadable in her gaze, something that made Kate’s heart pound a little harder.
“I’m in no rush to get back to work,” Yelena said, her lips quirking into something playful. “I have a very rich girlfriend at my disposal.” She winked.
Kate froze. Her stomach twisted sharply, and her breath caught in her throat. She forced a weak laugh. “You… uh… you don’t,” she said, suddenly finding it difficult to keep her voice steady.
Yelena’s smirk wavered, the teasing edge of her words suddenly feeling misplaced. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
Her first thought, the one that hit like a punch to the gut was that Kate was rejecting the word girlfriend. That she’d pushed too far, too soon. After all, they had only just started to figure this out, whatever this was. Maybe Kate wasn’t ready for labels. Maybe Yelena had misread everything.
A sharp pang of regret coiled in her chest, embarrassment creeping in as she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. Idiot she scolded herself, suddenly wishing she could take the words back.
But Kate swallowed hard before explaining herself. “Everything’s tied up because of the police. My accounts, the company… I’m going to be broke pretty quickly.”
Yelena blinked, clearly taken aback and grateful that it was this, and not the slip she had made, even if it was something that she couldn't fix for Kate right away. “Well,” she said, trying to sound casual, “one contract nets a good profit. I promise I won’t be gone for long.”
Kate’s stomach twisted again, but this time for an entirely different reason. “By ‘work,’ I assumed you’d be saving widows,” she said carefully. “Not taking contracts. You’re still going to kill people?”
The shift was instant. The warmth in the room evaporated. Yelena stiffened, stomach dropping, as she sat up to pull away, her expression guarded now. “Uh… I guess, yeah,” she admitted, before adding, “only bad ones, if that helps.”
It didn’t. Kate didn’t know what to say. She had known, of course. She wasn’t stupid. But hearing it confirmed like this…
Her silence must have spoken volumes because Yelena let out a sharp, bitter laugh, feeling exposed and defensive. “Kate, I don’t know what else to do,” she said, her voice suddenly raw, frayed at the edges. “It’s who I am.”
Kate felt something heavy settle in her chest. “Yelena…”
“No, Kate, you know what I am,” Yelena insisted, her voice sharp and rising slightly, tinged with frustration and something deeper…almost desperate. “I’m a killer. An assassin. A spy. I’ve always been a bad person. I’ve got a set of skills, and they’re only good for hurting people.” She shook her head, as if trying to make Kate understand, to make her see the truth. “You’ve known this about me, from the beginning. So what did you expect?”
Yelena had assumed (hoped) that Kate had already accepted the truth, that it wouldn’t be an issue. After all, it was all Yelena had ever known, all she had ever been. Why would it be a problem now? But the look in Kate’s eyes shattered that fragile belief.
It wasn’t just confusion or shock, it was a mixture of fear, disgust, sadness, empathy… And what hurt most, what cut deeper than Yelena was prepared for, was the way Kate seemed to be reconsidering everything.
The quiet uncertainty in Kate’s gaze felt like a cold knife twisting in Yelena’s chest, and in that moment, she was hit with the harsh truth: she was not enough. The parts of her that she couldn’t change and the darkness she carried, were going to drive Kate away.
And It hurt. It hurt so much and before she could stop herself, she was curling inward, knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapping around them in a feeble attempt to hold herself together. Like if she just squeezed tightly enough, she could shield herself from the weight of Kate’s disappointment, from the ache blooming in her ribs, from the terrifying thought that this might already be slipping through her fingers, again.
She should’ve known better. Should’ve expected it. Should have never dared to hope. How could she have believed that Kate, the girl who had turned her own mother in for crimes far less severe than the ones Yelena had committed, would ever accept her like this?
And it wasn’t like Yelena wanted to keep living this way. She didn’t want to keep killing, to keep being the assassin the Red Room had made her. But what choice did she have? It was all she knew, all she was. What else could she possibly be, if not a weapon?
Kate watched as Yelena retreated, and inhaled sharply. “Yes, I knew what you did before,” she eventually said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “I knew who you were. But I don’t believe for a second that you have to keep being that person.”
Yelena’s jaw clenched, but Kate pressed on. “You think this is all you are, but I don’t,” she said, reaching out despite knowing Yelena would flinch away. “You’re more than just a Widow. You’re more than a killer.”
Yelena shook her head. “What else will I do, Kate?” The words were a whisper now, barely audible. “Like I said, it’s who I am. It’s what I was made for. I am and will always be a Widow.”
Kate’s heart ached at the sheer certainty in Yelena’s voice, the way she spoke like it was a fact, like there was no way out. She reached out again, hesitantly covering Yelena’s clenched fist with her own. Yelena stiffened at the touch, but she didn’t pull away.
Then Kate shook her head, squeezing Yelena’s hand as if to remind her she wasn’t alone in this. “Yes, you’re a widow. But you’re also so much more than that. And I’m not asking you to erase your training, but there are ways you can use those skills that don’t involve... killing. You don’t have to keep doing this.” She paused, her mind racing. Then it hit her, an idea that lit her up from the inside out.
“Oh! Or…wait! What about becoming a private investigator?” Kate practically bounced in place, her excitement bubbling over. “You’d be amazing at that, Yelena! And we could do it together! Can you imagine? You with your skills and my tech from Bishop Securities? We could be unstoppable!”
Yelena blinked in surprise, caught off guard by Kate’s sudden enthusiasm. “Wait, why is that a good idea?!” she asked, a laugh escaping her, a mixture of confusion and intrigue.
Kate grinned, her eyes sparkling. “Because I’m full of them,” she teased. “You just haven’t caught on yet.”
Yelena scoffed, a smirk tugging at her lips. “This is completely new to me, Kate Bishop.”
Kate rolled her eyes playfully, but her tone shifted back to something more serious as she spoke again, voice quiet and earnest. “You don’t have to keep doing what you’re doing. You can do good, Yelena. And I’ll be right there with you. We can also fit it around saving the widows! It is perfect!”
With that, Yelena felt something stir within her, a glimmer of hope that maybe, she wasn’t just a killer. But what struck her the most wasn’t the realisation about herself; it was Kate. Kate, who only days ago had been on the edge, ready to give up, ready to let everything go, and now? Now she was talking about life, about building something, about a future.
What was even more astonishing to Yelena was that in helping Kate climb out of that dark pit, Kate was unknowingly pulling that dead buried part of Yelena out with her. Kate’s words, her dreams, they weren’t just for herself. They were for both of them.
Kate was offering her more than just comfort or a distraction, she was offering her a way out, a chance at a different life. A chance to be someone more than what the Red Room had shaped her into. Something real.
Yelena’s heart swelled, warmth flooding through her as she turned to Kate, her gaze softer than she ever thought possible. There was something so solid about this moment, about the way Kate spoke like they could actually do this, together. It sent a shiver down her spine, one that was equal parts excitement and something deeper, something she didn’t quite have the words for yet.
“It is,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, thick with emotion she wasn’t used to letting herself feel. A small smile tugged at her lips, one that reached somewhere deep in her chest, curling into the spaces she usually kept locked up.
But then reality crept in, wrapping around her like a vice. Her smile faltered, the weight of practicality settling in as she turned to Kate with a quiet sort of hesitance.
“The company will be yours soon though, right?” she asked, her voice careful, measured. “I don’t think the CEO will have time to help.” The words left her mouth before she could stop them, doubt creeping in, whispering that this could all be just a pipe dream.
Kate didn’t answer right away, and Yelena watched her, watched the flicker of thoughts in her eyes, the way her expression shifted as different emotions passed through her. She was planning, thinking, weighing everything.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kate shrugged. “I don’t really think I want to be a normal CEO,” she admitted, her voice steady but thoughtful. “I still have to get the papers signed before anything can actually happen, which is just… frustrating. I feel like that’s part of what’s stressing me out right now, being stuck in limbo, you know?” She exhaled sharply, raking a hand through her hair before continuing.
“But I am thinking that once I get rid of the bad apples and make sure the company is actually doing things legally, I’ll probably just bring in more management,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll only be involved when I have to be. I do not want to spend my life pretending to be my mother.” Her voice was firm, resolute, and Yelena felt a deep sense of admiration for her in that moment.
A slow smirk spread across Yelena’s lips as she nudged Kate playfully. “That is a good plan. And you, my Little Hawk, should stop worrying about the paperwork. I have some contacts…I can get that sorted for you.” Her voice was light, teasing, but serious beneath the humour.
Kate’s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion lacing her expression. “Yelena,” she said slowly, drawing out the syllables like a warning. “Will this be illegal? Because that kind of goes against the whole ‘let’s make sure the company is legal’ plan.”
Yelena chuckled, shaking her head. “No! I swear,” she promised, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “I have a plan, and it will be entirely legal.” She leaned in slightly, voice dipping into something conspiratorial. “I promise, Kate Bishop, you will not be arrested because of me.”
Kate sighed dramatically, though the amusement in her eyes betrayed her. “I better not be,” she muttered, but her lips quirked into a smile as she bumped her shoulder against Yelena’s.
The conversation naturally quieted, the sounds of the Barton household beginning to stir around them, but Yelena made a silent vow. She would do everything she could to ease Kate’s worries, about her assets, about Bishop Securities, about the penthouse.
Granted, while Yelena’s plan was technically legal, it would involve a little gentle intimidation when it came to Eleanor Bishop. Nothing too drastic, just a firm push in the right direction courtesy of Sonya, who Yelena would call when Kate wasn’t around to overhear the details. Sonya was always eager to help, seeing Yelena as something of a saviour to the Widows, a symbol of the freedom she and Natasha had secured by taking down the Red Room.
Yelena would have Sonya retrieve the necessary paperwork from their trusted legal contact, ensuring every step was airtight. Then, all that remained was persuading Eleanor to sign over the company and her assets to Kate, solving two of Kate’s biggest problems in one move. It was simple, clean, and best of all, something Kate wouldn’t have to stress over.
That just left the matter of the penthouse. Yelena wasn’t about to let Kate return to a place so steeped in misery, so she’d have to figure something out. That part was a little trickier, but she would find a way. And when she did, she’d make sure it was a surprise, just so she could watch Kate’s face light up with that smile, the one that showed hope, fight, and dreams, the one Yelena was starting to realise she’d do anything to see.
Because as long as Kate was dreaming, as long as she was fighting for something more, Yelena knew she could dream too. And she’d fight with her, for her, every step of the way.
---
A sudden knock at the door startled them both, making them jolt like guilty teenagers caught in the middle of something scandalous. They weren’t, of course. They were just sitting cross-legged on the bed, facing each other, their conversation still lingering between them. But for some reason, the knock sent a surge of panic through them, as if they had been caught red-handed doing something. Their wide-eyed expressions met for a split second before Kate hurriedly cleared her throat.
“Come in,” she called, her voice a little too high, a little too quick, betraying her nerves.
The door creaked open, and Laura stepped inside, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. “Hello, lovebirds,” she greeted, her tone warm but undeniably teasing. “I have to admit, this is not the position I expected to find you in, hence the knock.” Her smirk deepened, eyes twinkling with mischief before she added, “But I made breakfast. You want some?”
Kate groaned dramatically, flopping backwards onto the mattress with an exaggerated sigh. Yelena, on the other hand, simply looked amused, her lips twitching at the corners as she stretched her arms over her head. “I would love some,” she said, and as if on cue, her stomach growled, betraying just how much she meant it. She pushed herself to her feet, running a hand through her tousled hair.
Kate huffed, reluctant to move, clearly not ready to face the day just yet. But with one last dramatic sigh, she begrudgingly dragged herself up. “Fine, I’m coming,” she grumbled, rubbing her face.
Laura chuckled, shaking her head fondly before stepping back out of the room, leaving the door open behind her. Yelena cast one last amused glance at Kate, whose pout had not yet disappeared, before nudging her lightly with her shoulder. “Come on, detka (babe), food awaits.”
Kate’s face lit up at the now-frequent Russian slipping into their conversations, but this one she hadn’t asked about yet. Her curiosity sparked, and she glanced at Yelena, suddenly feeling shy after remembering what the last phrase meant. “What does that one mean?” she asked hesitantly.
Yelena shrugged, her expression casual, like it was nothing. “Babe,” she answered simply.
Kate’s breath hitched slightly, and a blush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it. The word settled in her chest, warm and fluttery, and she found herself staring at Yelena, completely unable to hide her reaction. “You are cute,” she murmured, watching the assassin with an affection that she wasn’t even trying to mask anymore.
Yelena, however, was unfazed, grinning as she placed a hand on her stomach. “I…am hungry,” she countered, as if that was the only thing that mattered in the moment.
Kate chuckled, rolling her eyes before stepping closer. “Ugh, come on then, babe,” she said, deliberately emphasising the word, letting it linger just long enough to tease.
Yelena quirked an eyebrow but didn’t falter. Instead, a smirk played at her lips as she turned for the door. “You are teasing,” she noted, her voice dripping with amusement. “But I liked it. So really, I win.”
Kate blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how easily Yelena had admitted that, how openly she had accepted the pet name without hesitation. Her stomach flipped, warmth pooling in her chest at how effortlessly Yelena was letting her in.
Before she could overthink it, Yelena was already heading out of the room, her movements as casual as ever. Kate stood there for a beat, stunned, before realising she was falling behind. She quickly hurried after her, the sound of Yelena’s soft chuckle echoing down the hall at her rushed steps.
As they entered the kitchen, Kate and Yelena found the Bartons already gathered around the table, two chairs side by side left for them. It was a quiet morning, but the warmth in the room made it feel like a home, a feeling Kate hadn’t fully experienced in her own home. Yelena didn’t hesitate, eagerly settling into her chair as Laura handed them both a plate of bacon and eggs.
“Thank you, Mama Barton,” Yelena said, her voice light, before she dug in with relish. The food was warm and comforting, and Yelena didn’t waste any time diving in.
Kate, however, was more reserved. She could feel Clint’s eyes on her, a weight in the way he was watching her. It wasn’t the same as the others, his gaze felt like it was searching, like he was trying to figure something out. And she knew. He knew.
She forced herself to begin eating, trying to focus on the conversation that was already flowing around the table. The kids were talking about going back to school on Monday, and Clint and Laura were discussing his current project, replacing the decking outside, something Laura had already pointed out was a little absurd given the unpredictable weather. But when Clint got something in his mind, there was no shaking it.
Kate’s mind wandered, her focus drifting in and out of the chatter, but then Lila’s voice cut through the noise, speaking directly to her.
“Kate, can we practice archery again before you leave today?” Lila asked, her excitement evident in her wide eyes.
Kate smiled at her enthusiasm, nodding immediately. “Of course we can practice,” she said. Then, she hesitated for a moment, turning to Clint and Laura. “But, we actually wanted to ask you something.”
Clint raised an eyebrow, a silent signal for her to continue. Kate felt her stomach flutter a little, but she pushed through, her voice dropping slightly. “Could we… uh, could we stay a few more days?” she asked, her words coming out shyly, as if she was still unsure how to ask for this kind of thing.
Clint scoffed, shaking his head in amusement. “Why the hell are you even asking, Kate?” he said, his tone warm. “You’re both welcome to stay for as long as you like.”
Kate’s cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t help but feel a rush of warmth at his words. She hadn’t felt this wanted in a long time, certainly not in the way she felt now, surrounded by people who cared. “Thank you,” she said quietly, the words almost too soft to catch.
Lila, ever the enthusiastic one, piped up again, her voice full of genuine happiness. “This is so cool. I love it when you guys are here,” she said, her excitement clear.
Clint chuckled and shot his daughter a playful look. “Are we not good enough, kiddo?” he joked, feigning hurt.
“Ugh, shut up, Dad,” Lila shot back, rolling her eyes in a classic teenage way. The kind of eye roll that made both Kate and Yelena chuckle, sharing a moment of understanding with the young girl who was so much like Kate in certain ways.
Eventually, breakfast came to an end, the table filled with empty plates and the soft clink of silverware as the kids excused themselves, leaving Kate and Yelena with Clint and Laura.
Clint shifted in his seat, a playful smirk curling on his lips as he turned his attention to the two women. The air between them felt suddenly thick, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of them could ignore.
“So,” Clint began, his tone far too casual, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement, “you two are… friends again?”
Kate’s heart skipped, her breath catching in her throat. The question hung in the air, heavier than it should have been. They weren’t just friends, not anymore, not by a long shot. But as much as she wanted to admit the truth, for some reason, the words felt like they were lodged in her throat, tight and suffocating.
She glanced at Yelena, hoping to find some kind of clarity in her gaze, but Yelena was watching her intently, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched between them, and she stammered, “Uhm, we never weren’t friends…”
The words felt weak, like a half-hearted attempt to deflect. But her hand found Yelena’s under the table, her fingers wrapping around hers so tightly that she felt Yelena stiffen beside her.
Yelena was using all of her training to not react with a yelp to her squeezing, but Yelena knew she would do this for as long as Kate needed if it grounded her.
Clint’s voice sliced through the silence, his amused snort making Kate flinch. “Oh, come on. The tension between the two of you was insane.”
Kate’s heart hammered in her chest. How much did Clint know? How much had he guessed? She hated the thought of him seeing right through her, but there was no denying it now.
Laura, who had been watching with an entertained look, finally spoke up, her tone far more understanding than Clint’s. “What he means is, we noticed you two didn’t seem okay when you got home, but things seemed better by the end of the night… And since you slept together…”
Kate’s eyes widened, panic surging through her as Clint suddenly choked on his coffee, his face reddening as he coughed violently. Laura slapped him on the back, only mildly concerned. “As I was saying, since you slept in the same bed again, it would suggest you guys are good now.”
Kate’s entire face turned crimson, the heat rushing up her neck. She wanted to hide under the table. To scream. To flee. But she couldn’t move. Not when it felt like everything was unravelling in front of her.
And then, finally, it happened. The words spilled out before she could stop them, a surge of defiance pushing them past her lips. “Fuck it,” she muttered under her breath, barely audible. “Yelena and I… are together.”
Laura erupted in laughter. “Hell yeah!” she cheered, turning to her husband with a victorious grin. “You owe me $10, honey! I told you they’d be together by morning!”
Clint grumbled, digging into his pocket with a sigh before pulling out a crumpled note and handing it over. “I thought it would be at least another day,” he muttered, clearly irritated but amused at the same time.
Kate blinked, her mouth hanging open in surprise. “You bet on us?” The words came out sharp, but there was no hiding the incredulity in her voice.
Both Clint and Laura burst into laughter at her reaction, and Kate found herself momentarily lost for words. She wasn’t sure whether she should laugh with them, feel embarrassed, or punch Clint in the arm. Instead, she huffed, her cheeks burning with a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. “I hate you both,” she muttered, half-serious, half-amused.
Yelena felt a surge of warmth bubble up inside her at Kate’s retort. It was so typically Kate, “I hate you,” had become her default response whenever she didn’t know how to respond to something, a defence mechanism. It was so her, and the more Yelena saw it, the more she couldn’t help but love it.
Each time it happened, her heart swelled just a little more. She was starting to notice the little things, the way Kate fidgeted when she was uncomfortable, how her voice shifted when she was trying to avoid vulnerability. She was learning more and more about her, about the mannerisms, the subtle cues, the things that made Kate, Kate. And the more she learned, the deeper her feelings grew.
Clint cleared his throat again, his tone shifting to something more cautious as he met Yelena’s gaze. “So… uh… I guess I have to do this, and trust me, I don’t want to because you could definitely murder me in ways I couldn’t even begin to think of…” He trailed off, letting out a nervous breath before continuing, his voice steady but serious. “What are your intentions with my newly adopted daughter?”
Kate’s face immediately flushed crimson. She groaned and dropped her head into her hands, her fingers gripping her hair in embarrassment. This wasn’t how she had imagined this conversation going. The moment Clint’s words registered, she felt the familiar anxiety rise in her chest.
Yelena, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, her lips quirking into a teasing smile as she tilted her head slightly. She had seen this scene before, in the cheesy TV shows and movies she’d watched once she got out of the Red Room to try and understand how people were supposed to behave. She hadn’t expected it to be quite this awkward though.
“Ah, this is the... shovel talk, right? That’s what it’s called here, I think?” she said with a smirk, her voice light, but the amusement was laced with something deeper. “If I remember, it usually ends with 'You will hurt me if I hurt Kate', da (yes)?”
Clint blinked, his face serious, and nodded slowly, clearing his throat again.
Kate cringed at the awkwardness, her eyes darting between Yelena and Clint. She felt like she was in high school again, being put on the spot about something that was so far from her control.
Yelena’s playful expression faltered for a split second, her eyes narrowing as her usual guarded demeanour slipped into something more intense. Her jaw tightened, and her voice dropped to a low, dangerous note.
“A, I would like to see you try,” she said, her gaze never leaving Clint’s, the quiet tension crackling in the air. But then she softened, the harshness melting away as quickly as it had come. “But B, I will not hurt Kate.”
There was a pause, and Yelena looked down at her hands for a moment, clearly battling something inside her. The raw honesty in her next words was almost too much for her to allow herself to say.
“Well... I will try really hard not to, and it will never be on purpose,” she added, her voice quieter, more vulnerable than Kate had ever heard it before. “But you know, I don’t have much experience... with well, anything other than the Red Room.” Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, the words tumbling out before she could stop herself. “So I’m probably going to make mistakes.”
Kate’s heart swelled at Yelena’s confession, her chest tightening with a mixture of empathy and affection. She hadn’t expected to hear such honesty from Yelena, especially not about her past and not around Clint of all people.
She knew how hard it must be for Yelena to admit her own flaws, how she carried all of that weight on her shoulders. Kate opened her mouth to speak, to offer reassurance, but before she could, Laura spoke up.
“That’s… that’s very brave of you, Yelena,” Laura said, her voice soft, but laced with genuine warmth. Her eyes flickered to Kate before landing back on Yelena. “It’s not easy to admit when we’re unsure about something. Especially when we want to get it right.” She offered a small smile, nodding slightly as if to give her silent approval.
Kate squeezed Yelena’s hand tighter, silently telling her that she didn’t have to be perfect for them to work, she just had to try.
Clint’s expression softened, though there was still a faint trace of wariness in his eyes. He knew he couldn’t just throw all of his trust behind Yelena, he still had his reservations but the sincerity in her voice made him believe, for now, that she was genuine. That was enough for him, at least for today.
“Well,” he said, his tone easing into something more relaxed, “I guess that’s all I need to hear for now. You have my blessing.” He turned his attention to Kate, his expression shifting, becoming a little more serious again. “Oh, and Kate?”
Kate, who had been holding her breath, immediately looked up. Worry flickered across her face. She wasn’t sure where this was going, but it felt important.
“Nat would kill me if I didn’t do this,” Clint continued, his voice taking on a playful, yet affectionate edge. “So… no hurting Yelena, either, okay? Work on things, talk, communicate, come to us if you need support.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze firm but not unkind. “But please, for the love of all things holy, just be good to each other, okay?”
Kate blinked, still processing the weight of Clint’s words. It was an odd mixture of protectiveness and permission, a little overwhelming, but in a way that made her feel lighter. Clint had her back, he had Yelena’s back too. It was more than she’d expected, and maybe more than she even realised she needed.
Yelena, sensing the tension in the room dissipating, couldn’t resist lightening the mood. She smirked, leaning back a little in her chair. “What, no threats of violence for Kate? I see how it is,” she teased, the humour in her voice breaking the intensity that had settled over them.
Kate’s lips twitched at the unexpected levity. She shot Yelena a glance, one that held both affection and a touch of exasperation. “Really? You want me to be threatened with violence?”
Yelena just shrugged, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I’m just saying, you got off easy."
Clint groaned, looking at Yelena with mock annoyance, though there was a hint of relief in his eyes. Laura chuckled from the sidelines, clearly amused by the whole situation.
Kate couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh herself. Despite the heaviness of the conversation, there was something undeniably comforting about the way Yelena could make her smile, even in the most unexpected moments.
“Fine,” Kate said, her grin still lingering as she turned to Yelena, her gaze softening as their eyes met. “We’ll be good to each other, I promise.” The words were more for Yelena than Clint, a vow between them, unspoken but understood.
Yelena held her gaze, her expression softening too as she nodded, a small, genuine smile curling on her lips. “Me too,” she whispered, her voice steady but filled with a warmth that only Kate could provoke.