Even If I’m Not The Reason Behind It
“You got this, mladshaya sestra,” 11-year-old Natasha called out, her hand hovering protectively behind 10-year-old Yelena as the blonde wobbled on the bike, trying to ride without her sister’s help.
“Tasha!” Yelena’s voice cracked with panic as she nearly lost her balance, but she steadied herself, determination written on her face.
“You’re doing it!” Natasha beamed, keeping her voice steady. “Just keep your head up, don’t look down.”
“Like this, Yelena!” Kate, confidently biking ahead of them, shouted with a grin, her excitement infectious. She sped forward, completely at ease, her helmet slightly askew as she pedaled with carefree enthusiasm.
“Kate, slow down!” Natasha called out, her protective instincts kicking in as she watched the brunette zip ahead. Yelena, however, wasn’t paying attention, her focus solely on keeping up with Kate.
“Tasha, I’m doing it!” Yelena’s voice was filled with disbelief as she sped up, her bike less wobbly now. She started to close the gap between herself and Kate, her face lighting up with pride as she reached her.
But just as Natasha was about to smile in relief, Yelena’s bike swerved into Kate’s. The two girls collided, and with a shriek, Yelena toppled onto Kate, their bikes crashing beneath them. Natasha’s heart leapt as she rushed to them, her heart beating fast fearing the worst.
When she reached them, she found Yelena trembling—except it wasn’t fear.
It was laughter.
Loud, unrestrained laughter that soon spread to Kate. The two girls were a tangled mess of limbs, giggling uncontrollably as they lay on the ground.
Natasha let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, shaking her head in exasperation as she helped them both up. She immediately checked Yelena for scratches, running her fingers gently over her arms.
“I’m okay, Tasha!” Yelena groaned, batting Natasha’s hands away.
Natasha turned to Kate, still grinning despite the minor crash. “Me too, Miss Belova,” Kate said with a proud smile.
Natasha winced, shaking her head. “Kate, call me Natasha. I am only one year older. Not old like Mama. And it’s Romanoff, not Belova.”
Kate frowned, tilting her head. “But aren’t you two sisters?”
“We are!” Yelena chimed in quickly.
Natasha smiled softly. “But we’re not related by blood.”
Kate’s frown deepened. “What does that mean?”
Yelena glanced at Natasha for help. “What’s the word, Natka?”
“Biological,” Natasha supplied. “We are adopted Kate.”
Kate’s eyes widened in understanding. “Oh, that’s cool!”
Natasha chuckled. “Very cool. What’s not cool is that cut on your leg, Kate. Let’s go clean that up, okay?” Yelena stepped closer to her friend, eyes filled with concern as she stared at some of the blood oozing out of the cut.
Kate glanced down at the small scrape on her knee. “Okay!” she chirped, unfazed.
As the girls got ready to hop back on their bikes, Natasha gently stopped them, earning exaggerated pouts from both.
“No more riding today. We’re walking these back,” Natasha ordered, though her voice was warm.
With a resigned sigh, Yelena and Kate obediently began walking their bikes beside Natasha, the three of them heading home together, Natasha keeping a watchful eye on them, her heart full with seeing Yelena with her first real friend.
➳⧗
Yelena was actually enjoying this date a lot.
Located in one of the corners of the burger shop, Yelena dipped her fries in her milkshake laughing at Dani’s incredulous expression.
“Trust me. It is really good,” Yelena encouraged as Dani finally gave in, taking one of the blonde’s fries and dipping it into her own chocolate milkshake.
“Okay, that’s actually fucking delicious.” Dani confessed as she took another fry and repeated the process.
“I told you!” Yelena triumphantly pointed as she sipped her milkshake gleefully.
Dani had initially taken her to a high-end Mexican restaurant but as Yelena browsed through the menu, she had to confess to the brunette that she was allergic to citrus, meaning she can’t have most of what’s on the menu. The cheerleader was understanding and ended up leading them to a burger joint across the street, the two ordering their respective burgers pairing it with a milkshake as they chatted.
“I swear to God, I cried like five times watching the film.”
“It is a good movie. It has my favorite soundtrack of all time.” Yelena grinned excitedly as she bonded with Dani over the musical film, “I’ve actually been trying to learn how to play ‘Rewrite the Stars’ on the piano.”
“That’s cool,” Dani remarked casually, her fingers lightly drumming on the table. “I wish I could play the piano.”
Yelena furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Didn’t you mention in the poems that you could play both the piano and the guitar?”
Dani blinked, a momentary flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she quickly recovered. “Oh, yeah! I mean, I can play, but I wish I could play that song you like. I’ve never learned it, but maybe I will… for you.”
Yelena blushed, her cheeks warming at the suggestion. “I’d love to hear you play one day.”
“Maybe one day,” Dani replied with a grin, leaning back in her chair.
There was a pause before Yelena spoke again, her voice soft with appreciation. “I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For the art supplies. You didn’t have to go out of your way like that. You even got the set I wanted.”
“Oh, of course. I remembered you said you wanted to start painting again the other night, right?” Dani shrugged it off, though there was a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.
Yelena’s smile deepened. “You really listened.”
Dani smirked as she leaned in a little closer. “I always listen when a pretty girl is talking to me.”
The compliment caught Yelena off guard, sending a flush of heat through her cheeks. Needing a moment to collect herself, she excused herself to the restroom, the cool air of the bathroom providing a much-needed moment to herself. She stood at the sink, staring at her reflection, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
Her hands trembled slightly as she turned on the faucet, letting the water run over her fingers as her mind replayed the conversation with Dani.
Something felt off.
The flow of Dani's words felt too casual, too detached from the poems that were written in the envelopes that are at home. Yelena scrubbed her hands slower than usual, as if the repetitive motion could calm the storm of uncertainty.
Am I overthinking this? she wondered, staring at the water swirling down the drain. She sighed, lifting her eyes to meet her reflection again.
Despite her doubts, she couldn’t deny that she was enjoying the date. Dani was charming, and Yelena found herself smiling and laughing despite the unease tugging at her.
She caught her reflection and realized she was still wearing Kate’s football jersey. Her fingers grazed the fabric as she stared at the large “9” on the back, a reminder of who had given it to her. With a sigh, she slowly pulled the jersey off, folding it carefully. As she traced her fingers over the number one last time, she felt a pang in her chest.
She tried to shake the uncertainty away, forcing herself to focus on the moment. Dani was waiting outside, and Yelena was determined to make the most of this. After reapplying her lip gloss and fixing her eyeliner, Yelena steeled herself and stepped back out into the cafe.
Dani’s eyes flickered to the folded jersey in Yelena’s hands. “Everything okay?”
Yelena nodded with a smile, sliding the jersey into her bag. “Yeah. Everything’s great.”
She took her seat again, turning her attention fully back to Dani.
“Now, you said you had a cat? I want to know everything about them.”
➳⧗
The loud chatter of the party buzzed around Kate, but her mind was a million miles away. She sat at the edge of the couch, swirling her drink half-heartedly, barely paying attention to the conversation. The boys were deep in a heated debate about MVP predictions for the upcoming season.
"It has to be Lamar Jackson, dude," Pietro said passionately.
“One word: Allen.” Steve commented on receiving sounds of complaints from Pietro and Bucky.
"I'm tired of the quarterbacks. Give it to CMC," Bucky shot back.
Kate stared into space, the voices becoming a distant hum. Steve’s voice cut through her daze.
"What do you think, Kate?"
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as she realized everyone was looking at her.
"What?" she asked, a little too sharply, she cleared her throat. .
"Who do you think will be MVP this season?" Steve repeated, his tone leaking slight concern.
Kate forced a shrug and muttered the first name that came to mind, "Probably Lamar."
The boys erupted back into their debate, but Kate was already retreating into her own head again. Her thoughts, much like earlier that day, drifted back to Yelena.
A date. With Dani.
The words replayed in her mind like a broken record, the sting of them still fresh. She took another sip of her drink, the alcohol burning as it went down but doing little to dull the ache.
Pietro, sitting beside her, nudged her gently. "Hey, you okay?" His voice was filled with worry, and Kate could feel his eyes lingering on her.
"I’m good, Piet," she repeated for what felt like the hundredth time tonight, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She appreciated his concern, but it was starting to annoy her.
"I can get you something stronger," Pietro offered, his tone casual but with a hint of knowing sympathy.
Kate quickly shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "As much as I would love to get fucked up right now, I don’t wanna wake up feeling even more like shit." She grimaced, taking a slower sip this time, already deciding that this drink would be her last for the night.
Well, maybe not.
Across the room, Natasha’s voice cut through the noise. "KATE! COME HERE! I NEED YOU ON MY TEAM."
Kate sighed, trying to avoid it, calling out. "I’m good, Nat."
"Bishop, don’t be boring. Come here!" Natasha insisted, already making her way toward the boys..
"Nat, I really don’t feel like—"
"Pleaseee," Natasha whined, her pout impossible to resist.
Kate let out a resigned sigh. There was something about these sisters that she just couldn’t say no to.
"Fine, fine. I'm coming," she muttered, getting up from the couch and downing the last of her drink.
Pietro raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to get messed up tonight?"
"I did," Kate replied with a tired laugh as she made her way toward Natasha, who was already grinning like they’d already won. As the redhead slung an arm around her, hollering in triumph, Kate couldn’t help but roll her shoulders back in determination.
What? She was competitive.
“Ready to get destroyed?” Natasha taunted as she handed a ball to the quarterback.
Kate picked up the table tennis ball, closed one eye, and with a steady breath, carefully aimed before tossing it toward the pyramid of cups.
Swish. Plop!
One cup out of the way.
Nine more to go.
➳⧗
The party was in full swing now. Music blared from every corner of the house, blending with the loud chatter and laughter of everyone around. Red Solo cups littered the floor, and the smell of cheap beer mixed with whatever concoctions Sam, the self-appointed bartender, had whipped up. Kate’s head felt heavy, a fuzziness creeping in from the alcohol she’d consumed during the endless games Natasha had dragged her into.
It wasn’t long before they called it quits after barely winning their fourth game. Kate was stumbling, her vision spinning as she crashed into Natasha, who was cheering loudly, tossing table tennis balls at the losing team.
"Ha! Losers, drink up, motherfuckers!" Natasha yelled, her grin wide and unrestrained.
Kate tried to laugh along, but something in Natasha’s smile and competitiveness reminded her too much of Yelena. Despite the sisters not being biologically related, they seemed to share many characteristics. Before she could stop it, tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over without warning.
"Kate? Kate, whoa." Natasha’s voice cut through the fog. Kate could barely make out the cheerleader through her tears. Natasha noticed the distant look in Kate’s eyes, the tears streaming down her face.
"Hey, come on. Let’s get you out of here."
Through her blurred vision, Kate spotted two redheads talking to each other, but her mind couldn’t quite process why Natasha seemed to be having a conversation with herself. The words exchanged were muffled, distant, as if her brain wasn’t fully comprehending them amidst the haze of her unraveling emotions.
“Woah, Kate? Are you okay?” Wanda's voice cut through, filled with concern.
Natasha quickly intervened, stepping closer to her. “I’ll take her upstairs, Wanda. It’s fine. Stay here.”
“I’ll come with you guys—” Wanda started, but Natasha cut her off firmly.
“No, stay here. Make sure no one starts throwing shit or starting fights,” Natasha commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Wanda frowned, her brow furrowed with worry as she glanced between Kate and Natasha. Reluctantly, she nodded, her gaze lingering on Kate, filled with unspoken concern. “Okay, just... take care of her,” she muttered, watching as Natasha carefully guided Kate away from the chaos.
Natasha slung an arm around Kate and guided her through the crowd, up the stairs, and into Kate’s room. The world felt like it was closing in on Kate, the walls too tight, the air too thick. Natasha gently pushed her down onto the bed, kneeling in front of her.
"Kate, hey, talk to me. What’s wrong?" Natasha’s hands were on her shoulders, firm but soft, grounding her.
Kate finally met her gaze, but the moment their eyes locked, it was like a dam burst. The sobs she’d been holding back came rushing out, shaking her body uncontrollably.
"Whoa, hey, hey, it’s alright," Natasha whispered, pulling Kate into her arms. "Breathe. You’re okay. I’ve got you."
Kate’s body shook as she clung to Natasha, her tears soaking the redhead’s neck. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, the weight of her emotions crashing down all at once. Natasha’s hand began to gently massage Kate’s scalp, her fingers threading through her dark hair in slow, soothing motions.
"Just breathe, Kate. You’re okay," Natasha repeated, her voice calm, steady.
Gradually, Kate’s sobs softened, her body calming in Natasha’s embrace. She pulled away slightly, burying her face in her pillow instead, but Natasha stayed by her side, never stopping the comforting motion of her hand.
"Hey, Bishop," Natasha murmured, her tone lighter, trying to coax a response. "You okay there? Had me worried for a sec."
Kate lifted her head, her face streaked with tears, hair sticking to her damp skin. She felt like a mess.
She was a mess.
"I’m good. I think I just had too much to drink."
"Yeah, seems like it. That’s probably my fault," Natasha said sheepishly, though her eyes stayed on Kate, filled with concern.
Kate could feel the weight of the question hanging in the air.
Natasha was never the type to let things slide. Especially when it came to her. She thinks the older girl has always been overly protective and stubborn with her after that one time she had opened the door for 13 year old Kate who was sporting red-rimmed eyes after an argument with Eleanor. No Yelena to be found, she was out with her parents that day, so Kate had no choice but to tell Natasha everything. But that’s a story for another time.
"So, what’s really going on?" Natasha pressed, crossing her arms. "I know this isn’t just the alcohol. You’re not a cry drunk unless something’s really bothering you. What’s got you like this, Kate?"
Kate sighed, pressing her palms against her eyes until she saw white spots. The pressure was a welcome distraction from the overwhelming emotions brewing inside her.
"It’s just… everything," Kate mumbled, her voice shaky, unsure. "I don’t know. Maybe it’s the alcohol, maybe it’s the stress. Maybe it’s just me being a mess. Oh hey. That rhymed."
Natasha raised her eyebrow as Kate let out a weak chuckle at her failed attempt of lightening the mood.
Natasha didn’t say anything for a moment, just sat beside her, waiting. But Kate could feel the weight of her gaze, the unspoken understanding that Natasha knew it was more than that.
And in that silence, Kate's mind spiraled back to Yelena. The moment she found out she had a date with someone else. The words she wanted to say, the confession that had died on her lips. All of it came crashing back, and the tears threatened to return.
“I thought about what you said. About Yelena.” Kate’s voice was quiet, the words falling heavily between them, her fingers toyed with the edge of her sleeve. Natasha nodded in acknowledgement as she waited patiently for her to continue.
Kate shifted uncomfortably, her throat tight. She swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. “I was going to tell her. You know, how I feel. After the game.” Her words came out rushed, like she had to push them out before she lost the nerve. “I had this whole speech planned. I even bought her flowers—the green peonies she loves. I was going to take her to her favorite restaurant, and maybe, if everything went right, end the night with dessert at our ice cream shop.”
She let out a strained laugh, rubbing her hand across the back of her neck. “I had it all figured out.”
Natasha’s brow furrowed in concern. “Kate… what happened?”
“I was ready, Nat,” Kate continued, her voice growing shakier, a mix of frustration and sadness. “I was going to tell her it’s me. That I’ve been writing the poems. That all those words were mine, every one of them. I was finally ready.” She hesitated, her next words barely a whisper. “But I was too late.”
Natasha’s confusion deepened, and she leaned forward, her eyes searching Kate’s face. “What do you mean, too late?”
Kate let out a bitter sigh, her hand running through her hair as if trying to release the tension building inside her. “Wonder why your sister isn’t here right now? She’s on a date.”
Natasha blinked, her expression turning to shock. “Yelena’s on a what?”
“With Dani,” Kate muttered, her eyes downcast, the words tasting sour as the cheerleader’s name came out of her mouth.
“WHAT?” Natasha’s voice rose, her protective instinct kicking in. “Yelena’s on a date with Dani? What the hell—Yelena didn’t tell me anything. When the hell did this happen?!”
“I didn’t really ask for the details,” Kate said, huffing in frustration. She threw her hands up in defeat. “Still think I have a chance, Nat? Because honestly, I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something.”
Natasha shook her head, her mind reeling. “Okay, look. It’s just one date, Kate. It’s not like they’re together or anything. It could go terribly wrong. You still have a chance.”
Kate let out a painful laugh, the sound hollow. “A chance? Nat, I don’t even know if she’d want that. Maybe this whole thing is a sign. Maybe I’m just supposed to stay in my lane and keep things how it is. How it’s supposed to be.” The last sentence came out more bitterly than she intended.
Natasha’s gaze softened. “Kate, listen. Even if they went on a date, that doesn’t mean it’s over. She deserves to know who wrote those poems still, whether things work out between them or not. You have to tell her the truth.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, Nat!” Kate groaned, rubbing her forehead in frustration. She collapsed back onto the bed, her arm covering her eyes as if to shield herself from everything.
“I can’t think straight right now.”
Natasha sighed, watching Kate fall apart in front of her. She reached out, placing a hand on Kate’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t know. If I had, maybe—”
“Don’t,” Kate cut her off, her voice strained. “It’s not your fault. Even if you did know, it’s none of my business. I’m not her girlfriend. Hell, I’m not even close to that. I’m just her best friend.” Her voice cracked at the end, and she pressed her palms to her face, trying to steady her breathing.
Natasha leaned over, wrapping her arms around Kate, pulling her into a hug. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re not just her best friend. You’re more than that. You’ll always be more than that whether that’s romantically or not.”
Kate’s body shook with silent sobs, her breath hitching as she tried to regain control. Natasha tightened her hold, rubbing Kate’s back in slow, soothing circles. “Breathe, Kate. You’re okay.”
The words offered a bit of comfort, and slowly, Kate’s breathing steadied. She buried her face into the pillow, frustrated at herself but being unable to keep herself together, but Natasha’s hand stayed on her back, the gentle pressure a reminder that she wasn’t alone.
“Knock knock, Bishop,” Natasha whispered, trying to lighten the mood just a little. “Don’t get stuck in your head again. Get out of there.”
Kate finally lifted her head, her eyes puffy and red, her voice hoarse. “I’m not. I just… I really had too much to drink. The room is spinning right now. There are three you’s looking back at me…”
Natasha sighed in guilt, gently rubbing Kate’s back again. “Look, I know you’re a mess right now, and I don’t want to pressure you into talking. I think you should get some rest. We’ll figure this out tomorrow, okay?”
Kate nodded weakly. “You’re staying?”
“Of course. I’m not leaving you like this,” Natasha said firmly. “Plus, after dragging you into all those games, I kind of owe you.” She smiled and leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of Kate’s head. “I’ll get you some water, and then you’re going to sleep, okay?”
Kate managed a weary nod before her eyes fluttered shut, her body sinking into the comfort of sleep.
➳⧗
“Yelena?”
“Ah, finally you’re up, Kate Bishop!” Yelena greeted with a grin. “Come sit next to Tasha. I made breakfast.”
Kate shuffled over to the table, her eyes still heavy with sleep, and quietly took a seat beside Natasha who had her legs tucked in beneath her as she ate her breakfast slowly. She watched as Yelena darted around the kitchen, her energy contrasting Kate’s grogginess. The blonde furrowed her brow, searching through the cabinets before disappearing briefly, leaving the smell of sizzling bacon filling the air.
What the fuck is happening? Am I dreaming?
Kate shot Natasha a questioning look, her brows raised in confusion. Natasha just shrugged and leaned in to whisper, “Change of plans. She called me earlier saying she was coming over when she found out I stayed the night. Think someone is trying to make up for her absence from the party yesterday.”
The mention of the party made Kate freeze. The events of yesterday came rushing back, flooding her mind with the weight of her sobbing in Natasha’s arms and telling her what had happened. She barely had time to compose herself before Yelena reappeared, Lucky trotting behind her with his tongue happily hanging out.
“Sit, Lucky,” Yelena commanded, pointing to a spot by Kate’s feet. The golden retriever plopped down immediately, tail wagging.
“Good boy,” Kate murmured absentmindedly, still processing the night before as she gave her golden retriever love. She glanced up at Yelena. “Thanks, Lena,” she said, her voice a little quieter than usual, though she tried to muster some enthusiasm. She dug into her eggs the blonde had placed in front of her like she hadn’t eaten in days.
“Of course, Kate Bishop,” Yelena responded warmly. “I even picked up hashbrowns. I know they’re your favorite after a night of drinking.”
“Kill me now.” Natasha muttered into her coffee, taking a long sip of the bitter liquid as if it could erase her hangover.
“How was the party?” Yelena asked as she wiped down the counter, her tone light but curious.
“It was good,” Natasha replied, her voice betraying none of the tension from earlier. “Bishop and I dominated cup pong.”
“Yeah? That doesn’t surprise me,” Yelena chuckled, shaking her head as she began loading the dishwasher. "I expect nothing less from you two."
“How was your date?” The words slipped out of Kate’s mouth before she could stop them. Her pulse quickened as she waited, the silence filling with tension. She gripped her coffee mug tightly, trying to ignore the way Natasha was eyeing her with caution.
“It was good. I had a good time.” Yelena said simply but there was no denying the smile that followed, Kate’s heart both soared and cracked at sight.
“Something you want to tell me Lena?” Natasha jumped in with an accusatory tone.
“What?”
Natasha narrowed her eyes as she pointed. “Dani? You went on a date with one of my cheerleaders?”
Yelena scoffed. “What? Are you their mother? Was I supposed to ask for your permission before going?”
“No! But I am your older sister! She should’ve asked me permission.” Natasha said indignant, clearly upset, her expression fierce with overprotectiveness.
“You are dramatic. She doesn’t need your permission for anything.” Yelena rolled her eyes as she wiped down the counter.
Kate glanced around, wondering where Alma and Isabella were, hoping for a distraction. Lucky had stood up from his sitting position and was nudging her leg before curling up under her chair. Kate reached down, running her fingers through his fur, trying to ground herself.
“Was she as terrible as a date that I thought she would be?” Natasha questioned, clearly not letting it go.
“Tasha!” Yelena glared, shaking her head. “No. She was sweet. Even understanding when I told her we had to change restaurants because of my allergies.”
“The bar is low,” Natasha muttered under her breath, but Yelena ignored her, “How did this even happen?”
Kate tried to focus on her coffee, its surface swirling with milk. She wished she could shrink and drown herself in it, anything to avoid hearing more about Dani. But Yelena kept talking.
“I approached her,” Yelena continued, her tone casual, oblivious to Kate’s inner turmoil. “I told her I knew it was her writing the poems to me.”
Kate froze as she heard those words, feeling Natasha tense beside her, but Yelena’s back was towards them not aware of their reactions as she continued on, “She admitted it and asked me on a date. Simple as that.”
“She told you she was your secret admirer?” Natasha’s voice was sharp and loud.
“Well, I kind of forced her to come out with it,” Yelena shrugged, not noticing the way Kate’s face paled. “I had a feeling it was her, and she confirmed it.”
“Yelena-”
“I know, I didn’t think it was going to be someone like Dani either but you know what? She’s sweeter than you guys think. And charming.” Yelena added as Kate burned holes into her coffee, her chest tightening.
Was it getting hard to breathe or was it just her?
“Yelena,” Natasha laughed unbelievably, “Kate is your-”
Natasha stopped at the feeling of a leg hitting her under the table, she whipped her head and glared at Kate who only sent her a pleading look to stop. Natasha frowned as the two bickered silently with wild gestures, Yelena’s back towards them still, oblivious to it all.
“What was that?” Yelena finally turned around waiting patiently.
“-Kate is your biggest supporter.” Kate finished off Natasha’s sentence, praying that Yelena wouldn’t see through her inner turmoil.
Yelena beamed back at her, oblivious. “Thanks, Kate Bishop. Now, tell me—was Peter at the party last night? Did he embarrass himself in front of MJ again?”
Kate met Natasha’s eyes briefly, shaking her head subtly before answering Yelena’s question to the best of her abilities, her heart aching with Yelena being so close yet so far.
➳⧗
"I don’t understand why you’re letting Dani take the credit,"
Natasha muttered, her voice tight with frustration as they sat in Kate’s car, waiting for Yelena to finish her conversation with Dani. Both football and cheer practices were over, and Kate watched the two standing too close for her comfort. She tore her gaze away, turning to Natasha, whose glare was fixed on Dani.
"And you stopped giving her your letters! It’s like you want Dani to win," Natasha continued exasperatedly.
"It’s not a competition, Nat—" Kate began, only for Natasha to grumble, “Yes, it is.”
"You can’t tell me you didn’t see how her eyes lit up when she talked about Dani," Kate shook her head, her voice softening. "She was so happy."
"Until she finds out it’s not Dani," Natasha pointed out sharply.
"She enjoyed the date, didn’t she? She’s smiling. She likes Dani even without the poems.”
"Dumbass. Obviously, she thinks Dani is the one who wrote them. She’s in love with the idea of Dani, the poet—which she isn’t. She’s Dani, the liar."
“Look… she crosses her feet, the right one behind the left, and she tucks her hair repeatedly behind her right ear when she’s really happy. I noticed it. She’s relaxed, she’s… she’s glowing.” Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to keep going. “I just want her to be happy, Nat. And she is. Right now, she is.”
Natasha's expression softened as she followed Kate’s gaze. “Why do I want to kill Dani more than you do?” she asked, voice low and fierce. “I’m not the one whose poems are being miscredited.”
“I’m sad, yeah. But I can’t be angry,” Kate admitted quietly, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel, her heart aching with every word.
“Not when her eyes are shining brighter than the stars, even if I’m not the reason behind it."
➳⧗
Everything has gone back to normal.
Kate is settling back into her routine as a high school student and quarterback of the WestView team, her main priority lately has been focusing on winning Friday’s away game against the Hawks.
It was Wednesday today and everything was fine.
Things are back to normal.
Yelena and her are as close as two best friends can be. It’s like how they’ve always been since they were little. Even if Yelena has been talking to someone now, it hasn’t caused a bump in Kate and Yelena’s dynamic.
Kate wouldn’t allow that.
Nope.
They were good!
As far as Kate knows, Yelena and Dani are still talking, though nothing official has happened between them. Kate mostly deals with seeing them together after practices, when Yelena waits by the bleachers for her and Natasha. She tries not to think about how often they might see each other outside of school, though it wouldn’t surprise her considering how close they’ve gotten over the past week since their first date.
Yelena and Kate have continued their daily Mac n Cheese Monday with the family, Mario Kart Night with the friends, and Kate's personal favorite, baking something new with just the two of them.
Exhausted from practice, Kate jogged off the field towards the fence where Yelena stood waiting with a dry cloth in hand. The blonde tossed it over, and Kate caught it, wiping the sweat from her face as she tried to ignore the exhaustion that was creeping in. She was ready to forget about football and indulge in some sweets tonight.
“So I’ll be out in 10 and then we can go to the store for the crinkle cookies?” Kate proposed, mentioning the new dessert they’d planned to bake together. The idea came from a TikTok video Kate had sent Yelena of Chocolate Crinkle cookies, and the two had been excited to try it themselves.
Yelena hesitated before replying. “Actually, Kate Bishop, would it be okay if we postponed it to another day? Dani wants to check out the drive-in theater tonight.”
Kate’s heart sank, the disappointment hitting hard. “Oh,” she said, trying to mask the hurt. “Okay, yeah, I guess that’s fine. What movie’s playing?”
“Breakfast club.”
Kate ignored the pang she felt in her chest.
That was one of Kate’s favorite movies.
“Right. Yeah, okay,” Kate said, forcing a smile. “We can do it next week then. Do you still need a ride home?”
“No, I think we’re just going to go straight from here. Can you let Tasha know for me?”
“Yeah, of course.” Kate smiled through the pain, but inside, her heart was aching. She thought she’d be okay with letting things go back to normal, with Yelena just as a friend, but now it was really starting to hurt. Tonight was supposed to be a fun distraction—after the stress of practice and preparing for the big game against the Hawks, she had been counting on it. Baking with Yelena was the one thing that helped her forget about the pressure, even just for a little while.
When she had hopped into the car twenty minutes later with no blonde with her, Natasha frowned before immediately asking.
“Where’s Yelena?”
“She’s going out with Dani,” Kate muttered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Natasha’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously? But weren’t you coming over to our house?”
“I was. Chocolate crinkled cookies.” Kate raised her hand in a weak cheer, trying to shrug it off. “I guess there won’t be an attempt today.”
Natasha’s eyes narrowed, studying the way Kate was intentionally avoiding making eye contact with her.
“No.”
“No?” Kate’s head shot up in confusion.
“No,” Natasha repeated firmly. “I’ll make them with you. Come on, let’s go to the store.”
“Are you serious?” Kate blinked, surprised evident on her face.
“Dead serious, Bishop. Come on, let's go.”
➳⧗
That’s how Kate found herself standing in the middle of the Shostakov/Vostokoff kitchen, pouring dry ingredients into a bowl that was already filled to the brim. Natasha stood beside her, phone in hand, reading the recipe with a concerned look on her face, her hip jutted out as she eyed the overflowing bowl.
“I don’t think this bowl is big enough,” Natasha commented, though she made no move to find a bigger one.
Kate glanced over, raising an eyebrow. “Did you even adjust the recipe for fewer servings? We’re making 20, right?”
Natasha scrolled through the recipe on her phone, her face falling slightly. “Uh… it’s set for 50 servings.”
From the living room, Fanny, who had been lounging nearby, let out a deep sigh, as if even the dog was unimpressed by the situation.
“Nat,” Kate groaned, narrowing her eyes at the redhead.
“Hey, look,” Natasha shrugged waving her hand, “Alexei can probably eat half of them by himself. We’ll be fine.”
Shaking her head, Kate sighed, making her way around the kitchen to search for a larger bowl. As she rummaged through cabinets, Melina strolled into the kitchen, her eyes taking in the chaos.
“What’s going on in here, girls?” Melina asked, her gaze landing on the nearly disastrous bowl of ingredients.
“Tonight’s baking night!” Kate grinned as she opened another cabinet, still coming up empty-handed in her search.
Melina gave a knowing nod before asking, “Where’s Yelena?”
Natasha answered for Kate, whose smile faltered at the mention of Yelena. “She’s out at a drive-in.”
“Mama Melina, where do you guys keep the bigger bowls?” Kate asked, quickly trying to move past the topic of Yelena.
Melina moved gracefully to where Kate stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, reaching up to open a cabinet Kate had just checked. “It’s hidden behind all that,” she said, pointing up to a higher shelf.
Kate, being tall, easily grabbed the bowl and flashed a grateful smile. “Thank you!”
“Of course,” Melina smiled back warmly. Kate’s eyes brightened even more. “I’ll go change quickly, then join you girls.”
Once Melina returned, the kitchen became lively with chatter, laughter, and teamwork. With Melina’s expert guidance, the three of them found a comfortable rhythm as they prepared the cookie dough. Rolling the dough into perfect little balls, they chatted about everything from Kate’s latest game to Natasha’s plans for college. The comforting atmosphere filled the room, making Kate almost forget about the ache in her chest.
When the cookies were finally in the oven, Melina reheated some leftovers for the girls, and they all gathered around the table for dinner while they waited. Kate, still buzzing with excitement, tore open the powdered sugar too enthusiastically, sending a cloud of sugar into the air. It coated her, the table, and a good part of the floor.
“Bishop really?!” Natasha said exasperatedly, shaking her head in mock disapproval as she and Melina exchanged amused glances.
“Upstairs. Go change,” Melina ordered with a playful shove. “We’ll clean this up, but we won’t do the powdered sugar without you. I promise, sweetie. Shoo, go now.”
Kate grinned. “You promised!”
She dashed up the stairs to change into the extra clothes she kept in the guest room, which at this point had basically become her room in their house.
By the time Kate returned, the kitchen was spotless, and true to their word, Natasha and Melina had waited for her to dust the cookies with powdered sugar. As they admired their work, Kate felt a small bubble of pride.
“They’re beautiful,” Kate whispered as the three of them stood over the trays, the crinkled tops of the cookies gleaming under the kitchen light.
Melina nodded approvingly. “Well, what are we waiting for?” she asked, grabbing a cookie and passing two more to Kate and Natasha. “Cheers, ladies.”
Kate bit into the cookie and immediately moaned at the softness, the dark chocolate chips she had added last minute was a good move as the sweet melted in her mouth. She closed her eyes happily, thanking Melina for joining in, and practically being the reason why the cookies turned out so good.
“These are delicious,” Natasha murmured, breaking her cookie in half before taking another bite.
“Your father will love them,” Melina added, just as Alexei came stomping into the kitchen, still in his work uniform, his large frame taking up the entire doorway.
“What will I love?” Alexei asked, his eyes lighting up as they landed on the trays of cookies.
“Alexei, try these,” Melina urged him, pointing to the tray.
Alexei’s face broke into a wide grin, rubbing his stomach in anticipation. “Cookies? Oh, it’s like Christmas girls!” He grabbed five in one go, but Melina quickly took four away, leaving him with just one. He stuffed the whole thing into his mouth, chewing with exaggerated enjoyment before nodding repeatedly. “Can I have all of these?”
Kate laughed, pushing the tray toward him. “I can always make more!”
“We can always make more.” Melina corrected but shook her head affectionately.
Alexei, now gleeful, grabbed another cookie, earning an amused head shake from Melina.
Natasha took another bite of her cookie, savoring the rich flavor before silently slipping out of the kitchen, leaving the football player with her parents. She made her way to the living room, sinking into the couch with a satisfied sigh as she stretched her arms and legs, relishing the comfort. Reaching for the remote to turn on the TV, she furrowed her brow when it wasn’t in its usual spot on the table.
"Where the hell...?" Natasha muttered, now determined to find it.
She dug between the couch cushions before searching the floor, and, instead of the remote, her fingers brushed against something unexpected—Kate’s backpack. It had been left unzipped, the contents spilling out in an uncharacteristically messy fashion. Natasha bit her lip as she eyed the backpack with curiosity. Glancing towards the kitchen spotting Kate tossing a piece of cookie into Alexei’s mouth.
With one last look over her shoulder, Natasha made her decision.
She darted for the backpack, kneeling on the floor as she carefully sifted through the contents
Notebook. Notebook. Pencil. Laptop. Pens. Letter. Highlighter. Another pencil.
Wait–Letter!
Curiously, she opened the letter, her eyes immediately drawn to the familiar, slanted handwriting.
It was another one of Kate’s poems for Yelena.
Clearly based on the contents of the poem, this was written recently, and the more Natasha read, the more Natasha’s heart constricted in her chest.
From what Yelena had told her, all of the poems Yelena had received so far were typed—except for the first. Clearly, Kate had forgo her pattern, seemingly not planning to give it to Yelena from how messy the letter was and the lack of green wax to seal it.
The letter was raw and vulnerable; the curves of each letter, the uneven lines, the tiny smudges at the corners, and—was that a tear stain? Natasha frowned as she carefully traced the dry marks, hoping that she was wrong.
Natasha hesitated for a moment, her fingers trembling slightly as she folded the letter back up. She stuffed it into the pocket of her hoodie, her mind racing.
Before heading upstairs, she casually called out, "Don’t eat the rest of the cookies! Save some for Yelena."
She quickly slipped away to her room, placing the letter on her desk before quickly heading back downstairs and spotting Alexei stuffing his face with more cookies as Melina helped Kate take out all the ingredients needed to make more.
“More cookies?” Natasha questioned amusedly before the three answered in unison.
“More cookies!”