web of lies

Natasha, Clint, and Kate sat in the sleek, modern kitchen of the newly improved Avengers compound, its stainless steel surfaces gleaming under the soft lights. The trio were engrossed in a conversation, strategizing the next steps for the Young Avengers. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air.

In the living room, the rest of the Young Avengers lounged on plush sofas and chairs. The large windows allowed moonlight to cascade in, casting a gentle glow on the young heroes.

Cassie sprawled on one of the couches, flipping through a magazine. Kamala and America engaged in a lively discussion about their recent training session, the laughter from their banter echoing in the spacious room. Eli and Peter were engrossed in a video game, which was displayed on the big flat screen.

Clint raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Kate as he sipped his own coffee. "So, how's work, Kate?"

Kate nonchalantly took a sip of her coffee, "Oh, you know, I stopped showing up about two weeks ago."

Clint chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Natasha, on the other hand, rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. "Seriously Kate?" she muttered, as if this was a regular occurrence.

Kate shot a playful smirk at Natasha. "Hey, I've got more important things to deal with, like saving the world and stuff."

Clint laughed again, clearly accustomed to Kate's unique approach to responsibility. "Well, as long as you're not causing too much trouble."

Kate's playful smirk faded into a furrowed brow. "Yeah, someone decided to auction off our suit at my mom's charity gala."

Clint and Natasha exchanged glances, both surprised and intrigued. Natasha leaned forward, her coffee mug in hand. "Your mom's gala? What happened?"

Kate shrugged, taking on an air of nonchalance. "Oh, you know, just the usual. High society, fancy dresses, and a surprise auction for superhero memorabilia. Classic Tuesday."

Clint's concern deepened. "Wait, who has the Ronin suit now, Kate?"

Kate leaned back, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Relax, Clint. I've got it all sorted out. I executed a flawless plan, and now the suit is in safe hands. No need to worry."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Flawless plan? Care to elaborate on that?"

Kate continued with a confident smile, "Susan, you know, my trustworthy sister, was my undercover bidder. I made sure everything went smoothly at the gala, and as a bonus, I even managed to give Yelena a bit of distraction."

Kate's confident demeanor faltered for a moment. Yea she definitely messed up by mentioning Yelena. She figured nobody knew about Yelena's mystery mission.

Natasha's expression remained relaxed but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. She was well aware of Yelena being gone that night, but she didn't know why. Then suddenly Kate's mention of distracting Yelena made her internally cringe.

Before Natasha could respond, Clint, always eager for information, asked, "Why was Yelena there in the first place?"

Natasha sighed quietly, shooting a glance at Kate. "Want to tell him?" She asks Kate.

Kate stayed quiet, trying to comprehend what was going on. Kate hesitated, realizing that Natasha might be under a certain impression. Natasha thinks Yelena and her are hooking up. She wasn't totally wrong, but she then realized it was a great lie to use. A sly smile crossed her face as she decided to play along.

Clint raised an eyebrow, "What's going on?"

"I invited Yelena, no big deal." Kate replied, playing along.

Natasha sighed out loud, "Clint your protege is hooking up with my sister."

Then Clint's face turned red. "Oh, oh no, Kate, why?"

Kate sat amused by Clint's reaction. She looked over at the redhead, who seemed equally amused.

"No this is not okay, I don't want to talk about this but we need to discuss it." Clint said.

"If this is a work issue, we hooked up before all this, so yea." She casually informed them.

Natasha almost felt betrayed that her sister didn't tell her about meeting someone. But she's glad she didn't know now that she found out it was Kate.

"It's a personal matter, Clint. Let's leave it at that. And please, don't make it weirder than it already is." Natasha added.

Clint huffed, clearly uncomfortable, but he nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine. But if things get too complicated, it's on you, Kate."

Suddenly, the silence in the Avengers compound was shattered by a blaring alarm. The blaring sound reverberated through the walls, catching everyone off guard. The young Avengers, who were relaxing in the living room, jolted upright, exchanging alarmed glances. Natasha, Clint, and Kate in the kitchen, along with others scattered throughout the facility, paused in their activities.

The distinctive Avengers alert echoed through the compound, signaling a reminder of the responsibilities that came with being a hero. Red lights flickered, casting an eerie glow across the surroundings. Screens throughout the facility lit up with urgent messages, and the automated voice of the AI system announced, "Avengers, assemble. Priority mission briefing."

Kamala was the first to react, her eyes widened, and she leaped to her feet. "Oh wow, this is it! Our first mission! I can't believe it's happening!" She said excitedly.

Clint and Natasha shared a quick look, a silent understanding passing between them. Kate set her coffee aside and stood up, heading towards the team.

In the living room, Cassie, Eli, and Peter were already heading towards the armory. America Chavez, who had been catching up on some reading, closed her book with a snap and joined the group. The sense of urgency filled the air as they moved with efficiency.

In the kitchen, Natasha was already securing her weapons, and Clint was checking the status of his arrows. Kate, slipping into her role effortlessly, grabbed her bow and quiver. "Time to shine, kiddos," she said with a smirk, rallying the younger members of the team.

The compound buzzed with activity as everyone geared up, ready to face whatever challenge awaited them.

As the Young Avengers arrived at the scene in downtown New York, chaos unfolded. A multiversal monster wreaked havoc, its presence sending shockwaves through the city. Buildings trembled, and citizens hurriedly evacuated the area.

In the midst of the chaos, Peter swung in, Kate securely in his arms. With a graceful landing, Kate leaped off, rolling as she hit the ground. In one swift motion, she was on her feet, bow in hand. Aiming with precision, she fired an explosive arrow towards the creature.

The explosion echoed through the streets, drawing the attention of the creature. It roared in response, its attention now divided between all the Young Avengers.

Just as the situation seemed to escalate, America Chavez opened a portal, and the rest of the Young Avengers emerged. Cassie, Eli, and Peter joined Kate on the rooftop, ready for action. Kamala, with her stretching abilities, propelled herself into the air, surveying the scene from above.

As the Young Avengers sprang into action, America Chavez swiftly created a portal, grabbing Cassie with her. They disappeared through the portal, reappearing near the distressed civilians. America assured Cassie they were there to help, guiding them to safety while keeping a watchful eye on the ongoing battle.

Meanwhile, Peter swung through the air, a blur of red and blue, before landing on the monster's back. He started striking the creature, trying to distract and weaken it from above.

On the ground, Eli, Kate, and Kamala coordinated their attacks. Eli, with his strength amplified by the Super Soldier Serum, delivered powerful blows to the monster's legs, attempting to destabilize it. Kate, armed with her trusty bow and an array of trick arrows, provided cover and targeted vulnerable spots. Kamala's stretching abilities allowed her to dodge the creature's attacks while delivering strategic hits, aiming for its sensitive areas.

During the chaos of the battle, Kate's voice crackled over the communication devices. "Alright, team, let's keep this dance going. Eli, keep hitting those legs, try to trip it up. Kamala, focus on dodging and striking when you see an opening. Peter, keep doing your thing, it's working. And America, any chance you can create a portal to distract it?"

As she commanded the team, she fired another explosive arrow, creating a piece of a building to tumble onto the creature.

"On it boss." She heard America respond. She rolled her eyes at the young girl's antics.

Suddenly Kate's sharp eyes spotted a glimpse of a frightened little girl, stranded in a partially destroyed building. Memories of her own past flooded back, the Battle of New York stuck in her mind. She could vividly recall standing in her living room, a scared child herself, until Clint Barton, Hawkeye, had come and saved her.

With determination etched on her face, Kate wasted no time. She swiftly grabbed a nearby grappling hook, expertly launching it to anchor it onto a secure spot above. With practiced ease, she went up the makeshift line, up to the worried little girl. The building's terrible state added urgency to her movements. She had to be quick.

As Kate reached the child, she went up to her. "Hi," she spoke with a reassuring smile, though she was trying to hurry. "I'm Kate, and we're here to help. Hold on tight, okay?"

The little girl, wide-eyed but hopeful, clung to Kate as the young archer skillfully maneuvered them down to the safer ground. Kate swiftly navigated through the debris in the streets, the little girl secure in her arms. The distressed mother, her face etched with both relief and worry, rushed forward as Kate approached the crowd of people.

With a gentle handoff, Kate placed the child into her mother's waiting embrace. The woman grabbed her child and held her close, continuing to sob. With tears streaming down her face, she looked over at the archer. "Thank you, you saved my little girl."

Kate simply nodded in acknowledgment. "Take her to safety," Kate urged. She turned to address the gathering crowd, "Everyone, move back! Head toward safety, and stay together. We're here to handle this!"

After seeing Kate's evident care she had shown to the mother and child, the crowd began to run away to safety. Kate watched as they moved away from the danger zone. She then looked up and saw multiple helicopters above, recording the scene.

Shaking her head, she refocused on the task at hand. She sprinted back to the chaos.

Suddenly, Clint's voice crackled through the comms. "Way to go, kid," he praised.

Kate, slightly out of breath, responded, "Clint? Why are you on the comms?"

There was a brief pause before Clint replied, "Just wanted to say I'm proud of you. Now go kick some monster butt. We've got this." His words carried encouragement, a reassurance that even in the midst of chaos, they were a team.

As the chaos unfolded, Cassie's voice crackled through the comms, a note of urgency in her tone. "Guys, we're struggling down here. This thing is tough

"Tough?" America asked. "This thing is beating our ass. I hit it with all I've got, and it's not even breaking a sweat."

Amidst the banter, Kate observed Kamala approaching. She stretched her arm, attempting to get the creature. However, instead of gaining control, the creature hurled Kamala across the battlefield.

Then she watched as Eli charged forward. Yet, despite his determination, the creature effortlessly stopped him. And threw the boy. Kate winced at the sight, her concern growing for her teammates in the midst of the struggle. They were losing, and they needed an advantage.

As chaos ensued around her, Kate swiftly created a plan. She quickly relayed instructions to Peter, "Spider-Man, lead that thing to the west!"

However, before Peter could acknowledge, Kate observed him swinging through the chaos, carrying two frightened civilians to safety. Realizing she was on her own, she took a deep breath, preparing to face the monstrous threat.

With a quick motion, Kate swiftly fired a smoke arrow, creating a cloud of obscuring mist. The creature, momentarily disoriented by the sudden cover, shifted its attention towards Kate. It was a calculated risk, a tactical move to divert the creature's focus and buy her teammates the time they needed. Now, with the monster's gaze fixed on her, Kate braced herself.

Then Kate ran. She ran as fast as she could. And she had know idea how she achieved it. But she jumped inside the creature's mouth. And it swallowed her.

Kamala was the first to see what happened. Her cry for Kate echoed through the comms, a mixture of shock and concern. The sudden and unexpected turn of events left the team in stunned silence.

"What the hell did she do?" Eli asks, unaware of the situation.

The team was frozen, unsure of what had just happened and how to respond. They all exchanged uneasy glances, coming with the realization that their fellow Avenger had just willingly plunged into the belly of the multiversal monster.

Natasha and Clint's sudden appearance on the comms brought a mix of relief and concern to the team. There was a heated exchange between the two heroes. Clint's voice, filled with unmistakable distress, echoed through the comms, contrasting with Natasha's calm but urgent tone.

The helicopters hovered ominously above the Young Avengers as they faced the creature. And their mentors' distant voices could still be heard.

The monstrous creature's pained hisses filled the air. It's horrible screeching made everyone close their ears. As the team looked on in shock and confusion, Peter, drawn by the commotion, moved closer. His eyes caught sight of a sharp object slicing through the creature's thick skin.

To everyone's astonishment, a hand emerged from the creature's side, holding a familiar sharp blade. The creature screeched in agony. As the slicing continued, Kate Bishop emerged from the creature's insides. Her presence shocked her teammates.

The moment was surreal, a mix of relief and disbelief. Peter rushed forward to help Kate, his expression a blend of concern and amazement. The Young Avengers watched in awe. Then they all ran towards the creature, as Peter helped Kate out.

Kate emerged from the defeated creature, she looked at it, then back at her team. "Looks like I killed it," she remarked.

Kamala, unable to contain her emotions, was the first to rush over and envelop Kate in a tight hug. Kate was taken back, but then put her arm around the girl. Soon, America and Cassie joined in. Peter stood behind the girl's as they huddled together. Eli grabbed his shield off the ground and walked towards the group.

The team, momentarily forgetting the recent horror, took the victory. Soon Clint and Natasha joined in. Kate got a scolding from both of them. But also a long hug from Clint.

In the aftermath of their successful mission, the Young Avengers found themselves in the spotlight. News outlets and social media buzzed with discussions about the new team, particularly highlighting the heroic rebranded Hawkeye, Kate Bishop. The video capturing Kate's daring rescue of a little girl became a viral sensation, now making her an even bigger name in the public eye.

Despite the newfound fame, Kate Bishop faced another challenge. Her mother was not impressed with her daughter's involvement with the Young Avengers. Knowing Eleanor's disapproval and desire for Kate to stay out of such dangerous activities, Kate hesitated to answer her calls.

Under the weight of public attention and strained family ties, Kate found herself really stressed. But the archer had discovered a way to relieve it.

"You can't ignore your mother forever, Kate Bishop." Yelena said.

Yelena laid beside Kate, the archer's arm wrapped around the blonde's waist. Their naked bodies were covered with Kate's purple blanket. Kate's hand slowly caressed the blonde's hip as they both started at the ceiling. Kate's phone rang in the distance.

Kate sighed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I know, I just... I can't deal with her right now."

"Christmas Eve is tomorrow. Do you usually celebrate it with your family?" Yelena asked.

"I used to celebrate with my family, but things are different now." She responds, adjusting her arm around the blonde. "What about you? Any plans?"

Yelena paused for a moment before answering, "Not much. Just another day for me."

Kate, turning to face Yelena, raised an eyebrow. "What about Natasha? You don't spend it with her?"

Yelena shook her head, "We were planning on going to Barton's together, but I have some things to take care of here."

Kate nodded, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Well, they're leaving tomorrow morning. You could still join them. Late departure, you know, because someone decided to get swallowed by a monster."

Yelena chuckled, "Ahh yes the mighty new Hawkeye saves the day by getting swallowed by a multiversal monster." She said referring to all the headlines in the news.

The archer's phone continued to ring, interrupting their conversation, the persistent sound echoing in the room.

As the persistent ringing continued, Yelena got up from the bed, a playful glint in her eyes. She reached for a shirt nearby, a smirk playing on her lips. Kate sat back, putting her hands behind her head, watching Yelena's movements with an amused expression.

Yelena pulled on her shirt and pants. When she was finished, she turned to Kate with a teasing grin. "Well, as much as I'd like to stay chatting, duty calls. I'll see you later, Kate Bishop."

As Yelena reached for the door, Kate's voice halted her. "Hey, wait a sec," Kate said, a hint of nervousness in her tone. Yelena turned, raising an eyebrow.

Kate cleared her throat. "Um, so, tomorrow, Christmas Eve... Would you, you know, want to grab a drink or something? It's totally fine if you've got plans or, you know, things to do. Just thought I'd ask."

Yelena's expression softened, and a small smile played on her lips. "Sure, why not? A drink sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow, Kate Bishop."

With that, Yelena left, and Kate found herself alone with her thoughts, a mix of excitement and unexpected nerves about the plans for Christmas Eve.