Chapter 10
YELENA’S P.O.V.
As the three young adults sat around the table for breakfast at Kate’s apartment, the sound of a bulbous LARP arrow hitting Sonya in the back of the head had been enough to draw attention to the little girl.
“Yelena Maryna Romanoff!" Yelena exclaimed, walking over to the kid sitting on the couch. In her hands was the toy Hawkeye bow that was taller than she was. Lena wasn’t exactly giggling as she aimed directly. She was definitely fixed on her target. Unlike the other LARP arrows Kate had originally bought her, these were only twenty-eight inches long. They did have strong foam heads to avoid harm, but they weren’t as wide. They must have just been made with Kate’s workbench.
"That's not nice.” said Yelena. “We don't shoot at other people, especially not friends." The woman scolded while approaching the kid and removing the toy bow from her little hands (RIGHT before Lena could put the next foam-headed arrow on). "You have to apologize." And Kate Bishop probably did too, for whatever archery stunts she was passing on. Looking back at the dinner table, Yelena could swear she saw a grin on the girl’s lowered face as if she was proud or something.
After half a minute of no response, Yelena flatly said to her niece, “Lena, you have to tell Sonya you’re sorry.”
The five-year-old pouted at her aunt's words, reluctantly being guided to where the short haired woman was. Lena remained silent, not even looking in her direction.
"Yelena, it's okay,” said Sonya, picking up the foam-headed arrow from where it fell to the floor. Her Filipino accent was very light, not sounding miffed at all. “Didn’t hurt anyway. Kate has targets all over. She was probably trying to hit one of them and it dropped too soon. I’m sure she didn't mean to—"
"No, it's not. She knows it's not okay, I think that’s why she did it in the first place." Yelena crouched next to her niece, trying to encourage her to say the words. "Come on, malyshka."
"I'm sorry." the little girl whispered, giving both adults her best puppy eyes. Yelena wasn’t sure she meant it, though. Still, she just wanted the issue resolved, she was tired and not in the mood for it. Especially since Sonya was quick to forgive.
"Apologies accepted," Sonya smiled at the child, handing back the short-enough LARP arrow that had bonked her.
"Good job," Yelena said tiredly.
Sonya whispered to the five-year-old with a wink, “And good shot.”
Yelena really wished she wouldn’t say that, though. Her niece snatched the arrow back and walked over to where she was.
“Only shoot at TARGETS, Lena. You know Auntie Kate has a big one right over there.”
Kate, having cleared her plate, quietly got the toy bow from Yelena and guided the little girl over to her shooting line. Now she could aim at the big target on the wall. When Lena was there with her focus diverted, Kate came back and got started on the dishes with her friend.
-/-
THAT NIGHT…
Yelena had looked all over the loft and came back downstairs to see Kate going through behind-the-scenes Extras of that Robin Hood movie. She was getting more concerned by the second. The fact that Kate wasn’t, though, just sitting there in her pajamas with a purple weighted blanket over her lap, showed that she had a good idea where her niece was.
"Where's Lena?" she asked with worry. Of course, the apartment wasn’t big so it wasn’t like she could get lost. But still, it was lighting a spark in Yelena’s head that told her something was off.
Kate answered dryly, “Sleeping,” jerking her thumb toward the shadowy spot underneath the metal stairs.
Yelena slowly descended the stairs, seeing that little Lena had fallen asleep on the dogs’ beds. They had been placed together against the short wall of the cement steps that led to the metal ones. She lay with her little arms wrapped around Fanny as Lucky was lying close to them, nuzzling his way in since he loved cuddles.
"How did she end up there?" Yelena couldn't avoid a smile at the sight. It was just too cute.
Kate raised an eyebrow and switched her gaze. To avoid waking the kid up, she answered quietly, "Well, maybe if you paid less attention to your widow friend, you would know." The new Hawkeye did NOT sound happy. “She’s been over there napping with them pretty much every day. Same at your place. She’s more used to them now than her own bed." Kate craned her head, staring back at the little girl with sympathy. “Can’t say I blame her.”
"Are you jealous of Sonya?" Yelena questioned her friend humorously, regarding time spent catching up. But still, Kate Bishop was NOT amused.
"No. I’M not. Lena is." The archer nodded her head toward the kid. "We know she shot that LARP arrow at Sonya on purpose, I saw where she was pointing it and was hoping she wouldn’t miss. She’s a fast learner. If she had about two—maybe three—more seconds, another one would’ve flown.”
Yelena countered that last part with, “And Sonya would have caught it before it could reach.”
“That’s not the point. Lena feels threatened by Sonya, giving her every reason to act out.” Kate looked up at Yelena from where she sat as if imploring her. “She just wanted your attention and all you did was scold her."
“Oh, come on, even you know that I had to do that. Lena can’t just go around using those on people randomly.”
“Those ‘Archery Tag’ arrows are completely harmless. That’s why I bought the original ones for her and gave her a shooting lesson she wanted. Then, if she needs to cope, she can do it without real target heads. Without any danger.”
“My point still stands, Kate Bishop. Especially if she does it to be rude on purpose.”
Kate sighed, saying sincerely, "I understand you want to spend time with Sonya. You haven’t seen each other in years, and she thought you were dead because of the Blip. I get it. But Lena isn't doing alright. So maybe spending some time alone with her for more than five minutes would help…"
"I appreciate your concern. But I would ALSO appreciate if you didn't judge how I parent my niece." she said. “Nor should you encourage her to do things like that out of spite.”
“Spite.” Kate repeated. “Says the girl who used up all the fuel in a helicopter to get back at her surrogate dad for being an idiot.”
Yelena exhaled deeply, looking down with her hands on her hips. Kate did have a point there. She wasn’t exactly innocent of antics like that. But still, there was no danger since that helicopter had just fallen onto the dirt with the propellers still spinning. Plus, Alexei WAS a narcissist who’d treated the three years in Ohio like a tedious chore instead of being a family.
“Besides, it’s not spite you’re dealing with, Yelena. She has abandonment issues already.” Kate pointed out, not rudely but saying it as a fact. “It’s bad enough that those are still raw, but now she’s having off-and-on separation anxiety. If she doesn’t have you around, it’s me she runs to. If not me, then it’s one of the dogs—or both of them—showing her the affection she wants. Or, should I say, the affection she needs. If it weren’t for them, she’d be curled up in a ball on her bed with just her pink pony for company.”
That was a hard point to digest. That must have been because it was true, Yelena thought. After all, she really was trying to raise that little girl. Kate was there to help, yes, but it wasn’t her name on those guardianship papers. In fact, Yelena still hadn’t decided who would be the godparent; either (1) Kate or (2) Clint and Laura Barton. She was really at a crossroads there.
"Just… That kid is SO sensitive,” said Kate. “Desperate to get your attention and to keep it… She needs you, Yelena. She probably thinks you’re drifting away since she’s so used to how much attention you’ve given her before. The amount now? Too big a difference, and it scares her. You saw how she was when I left the apartment, when she didn’t want me to leave. She’s probably afraid you’re gonna run off, like before back at Clint’s farm when you had jobs. Or Natasha before the kid lost her for good. If it was me in her shoes when I was little—my dad going on some long business trip instead of being killed—that’s exactly how I’d feel."
Yelena sighed at her friend's words, remembering learning her info on Kate before meeting her and how her father Derek Bishop was lost during that alien attack in 2012. Even if she didn't want to admit it, there was some truth in what Kate said. Her niece needed her and she hadn't been there for her enough these last few days. It felt like such a short time but, for a little kid, a week could feel like eternity.
“Hmmm.” Yelena chewed her lip in thought. “Well, Sonya’s leaving soon anyway. After that, Lena won’t have to worry.”
“Good. I better not have anything to worry about either.”
-/-
KATE’S P.O.V.
Kate finished the BluRay Extras and turned the TV off, looking back over at where little Yelena and the dogs slept. Lucky came over to the couch as Kate ruffled his fur, getting a better look at Lena with Fanny. With just a quiet whimper, the little girl shifted where she lay and hugged Fanny a bit more. Kate stayed quiet and kept an eye on her, wondering if she was waking up. She was sure the volume on the movie stuff was low enough, plus the five-year-old was a heavy sleeper.
“No…” She sounded scared, but she was quiet this time like a whisper. “Auntie Lena…”
Kate and Lucky carefully walked over to her, staying close while Yelena slept upstairs in the guest space that she and her niece typically shared. Fanny nuzzled against the little girl who clung to her tighter now. “Stop… please, don’t… no…”
Good thing dogs seemed to pick up on emotions and cues more than actual words, or Fanny would have probably gotten way confused and backed off. Kate saw a tear streaming from the girl’s eye and into Fanny’s fur. She was terrified.
Whatever nightmare Lena was having, no way in hell was Kate going to let it continue. She reached over slowly and gave her shoulder a gentle nudge. “Hey.” she whispered. “Lena…” The little girl opened her eyes and moved back with fear, looking up at her Auntie Kate. “It’s ok, you’re alright. Just a dream.”
Lena shut her eyes tight for a moment and looked back and forth, probably disoriented. It must have been the type of dream where you still can’t tell which is real when you wake up. She sat there breathing heavily as if she’d been chased. “I’m scared,” Lena trembled. “I don’t want to sleep anymore.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Kate brought her weighted blanket over, laid it on the floor and grabbed two more ‘regular’ blankets. She lay the biggest over her weighted one and gently spread the second one over Lena, tucking it under her chin. “Here. I’ll stay with you, like they will.”
Kate lay on her side with her blanket over her, making herself comfortable and within arm’s reach. The child looked nervously at Lucky and Fanny who watched her from where they lay with their heads on their forelegs.
“Do you want to tell me about your dream?” Kate asked gently, adding, “You don’t have to, though.”
“It was dark, had red eyes… something scary, pulling Auntie Lena into a hole.” She trembled as Fanny crawled over and let her snuggle. “It was going to eat her…”
“Shhh, it’s ok.” Kate whispered. “Auntie Lena’s fine, she’s right upstairs.” Kate saw the time on her wall clock showing it was past midnight. She wanted the kid to go back to sleep somehow, and hopefully her being there would help. “Everything’s fine, kiddo. I’ll stay with you till you have good dreams, ok?” Kate stayed with Lena, both of them quiet as the dogs nuzzled into them.
“Can you sing?” Lena asked, still nervous. “Mama and Auntie Lena have.”
The archer lay there thinking of something that she could slow down to make it sound like a lullaby… “I got one.” Kate nodded, saying slowly, “And it’s because for Auntie Lena and I, YOU are always in our hearts.” She gave Lena a playful tap where her heart was as she finished that sentence. It tickled the kid, which finally got her to smile just a bit.
Kate had heard “You’ll Be in my Heart” by Phil Collins while watching TARZAN and sometimes listened to it when she was lonely and needed a positive vibe. Really, it was a good one. She just had to do it slower here.
“For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry…
Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more…
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always…”
Eventually, just before finishing the whole song, Kate noticed through her heavy eyes that Lena had fallen back to sleep and lay totally still. Good thing, seeing how she’d been putting herself to sleep as well.
There was another thing Kate noticed above her when shifting in her blankets; the blonde head at the edge of the loft, forearms resting on the railing.
-/-
08:00
“You’re good with her, Kate Bishop. I thought you said you didn’t have other siblings.”
“I don’t.” Kate yawned as they sat on the couch and Lena ran around the apartment. Fanny was chasing her for the stick she’d kept raised over her head. That is, before the akita tackled her for it and she burst out laughing.
“It’s the protective instincts that kicked in when I was younger.” Kate continued. “The ones making me wanna emulate Clint so badly… to protect mom and I, like dad said he would right before he died.”
It seemed to make sense to Yelena as she sat there nodding and fiddling with the rings decorating her fingers. The archer looked down at the tan lines on Yelena’s wrists from where the widow bites used to be before being put in that strongbox. Just as well, for all their sakes, that those things were put away.