echoes of the past
Yelena's heart pounded with apprehension as she watched Kate stumble into their apartment, blood pouring out of her side. Despite her raging feelings towards the archer, she couldn't just ignore her after seeing the sight of her injuries.
As Natasha and Yelena rushed to Kate's side, Yelena's emotions churned. Anger simmered beneath her surface. Yet, beneath the anger she continued to tend to the girl's wound. The blonde's hands moved precisely, her touch somewhat careful but still firm.
As she continued, Yelena's mind replayed the events that had led to this moment. Kate's actions still laid fresh in her mind. She couldn't shake the bitterness that lingered, The betrayal was still too deep. Lost in her hazing thoughts, the blonde wasn't aware of her surroundings until Kate's hiss of pain cut through the haze. The sound jolted Yelena back to the present moment, reminding her that the archer was bleeding out on her living room floor.
Natasha's voice snapped Yelena out of her thoughts. "Сестра, твоя рука на ее ране," she said, her voice sounding urgent.
Realizing, the blonde quickly removed her hand from the wound, blood dripping onto the hardwood floor. "Она в порядке," she said, attempting to brush it off. But the redhead knew her sister was racing in thoughts.
Yelena continued to help Natasha and she began to stitch up Kate's wound. "So, how did you manage to get this?" Natasha asked, her tone casual as she tried to distract Kate from the pain.
Kate winced in pain but managed a faint grin. "Just helping a friend," she replied, her voice strained with discomfort. As Natasha continued her work, Kate's breath caught, and she instinctively moved her arm and reached out to grasp the edge of the nearby coffee table. With a tight grip, she applied pressure, hoping to distract herself from the throbbing ache.
Yelena's gaze lingered on Kate, her eyes tracing the tattoos that adorned her arm. There was a flicker of admiration in her expression, but then quickly vanished when she realized she was just checking her out.
Shifting away her thoughts, Yelena asked, "Who did this to you?"
Both Natasha and Kate turned to look at Yelena, surprised by her sudden inquiry. Kate's voice broke the silence as she answered, her tone matter-of-fact despite the pain. "One of Fisk's people," she replied, her words punctuated by a sharp intake of breath as Natasha continued her work.
Natasha sighed with a mixture of relief and concern as she completed wrapping up Kate's wound. "Okay, you're all done," she announced, her voice gentle yet firm. With tons of practice, she finished tending to Kate's injury, ensuring that it was properly wrapped.
Kate sat up slightly, her gaze drifting between Natasha and Yelena. "Thank you," she murmured, her tone sincere. Then, after a moment's hesitation, she added, "I should get going now."
Natasha's response was swift and decisive. "Oh no, you're staying right here," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Or maybe not on the floor. I'll help you over to the bathroom so you can get cleaned up." With a supportive hand under Kate's arm, Natasha helped her to her feet, mindful of her injuries. Together, they made their way to the bathroom, leaving Yelena to linger in the aftermath of their unexpected reunion.
A few minutes later, Natasha emerged from the bathroom and stood in front of Yelena, her expression serious yet gentle. "Kate's just getting washed up. Can you make sure she's okay? I'm going to clean this up," Natasha said, gesturing towards the blood-stained floor.
Yelena hesitated for a moment, her instinct to refuse warring with Natasha's determined gaze. "I can clean this up," she started to protest, but Natasha interrupted her with a firm shake of her head.
"No, go help Kate," Natasha insisted. She gave the blonde a look, indicating that she would not take no for an answer.
Yelena took a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the medication on the nearby counter. She gripped the bottle tightly and turned towards the bathroom door. Each step felt like an eternity as she approached, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and determination.
When she finally reached the door, Yelena hesitated for a few seconds, her mind racing with thoughts of what she would say to Kate once she entered. She knew that Kate probably sensed her presence on the other side of the door. But she continued to stand in silence for a while.
With a resigned sigh, Yelena pushed open the door and stepped into the bathroom. The sound of running water greeted her ears, and she saw Kate standing by the sink, her back turned towards her. For a moment, Yelena simply stood there, unsure of what to say or do next.
Kate turned around slowly, her arm resting on the counter to support herself as she faced Yelena. She was surprised to see her standing there, and for a moment, her expression softened as their eyes met. "Hey," she said softly.
Yelena held Kate's gaze for a moment longer, her expression softening slightly before she cleared her throat, breaking the tension that hung in the air. With a subtle shift in demeanor, she reached for the medication and handed it over to Kate. "Here," she said quietly. "Make sure you only take one. They're strong."
Kate accepted the medication, her fingers wrapping around the bottle as she nodded in acknowledgment. But before Yelena could say anything more, Kate's words cut through the air like a knife. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her tone heavy with remorse.
Yelena's breath caught in her throat at Kate's unexpected apology. For a moment, she was taken aback, her mind racing with thoughts. Then her voice cut through the silence, "What do you want me to say, Kate Bishop?" she asked, her tone tinged with bitterness. "That I forgive you?"
There was a rawness to her words, some vulnerability lingered in the air.
Kate opened her mouth to speak, to offer some form of explanation or apology, but the words caught in her throat. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Finally, Yelena broke the silence, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of resignation. "I don't know if I can forgive you, Kate," she admitted.
Kate nodded solemnly, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she met Yelena's gaze. "I know I'm the last person you want to see," she began, her voice laced with regret. "And I hate to ask this, but I need your help. I'm going after Fisk," she continued, her voice unwavering. "And I'm going to end him once and for all. But I can't do it alone. I need your help, Yelena."
The weight of her words hung in the air, a silent plea for understanding and acceptance. Kate knew it was a hard bargain, but she had to try.
"You're the only person I trust with this job," Kate added, her voice soft but unwavering. It was a simple truth.
Yelena's arms crossed tightly over her chest, her gaze bore into Kate's. Curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Why do you need to take down Fisk?" she asked, her voice guarded. There was a hint of suspicion in her tone.
"I can't let him get away with what he's done," Kate replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil roiling within her. "He's responsible for so much destruction, so much suffering. Someone needs to stop him, and I'm not going to wait around for someone else to do it."
"Isn't Fisk the man you volunteered to work for?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her words cut through the air sharply.
"That was then," Kate replied, her voice firm despite the uncertainty that gnawed at her. "Things have changed. I've changed."
Yelena walked closer towards Kate, "Have you?" she challenged, her tone cutting to the quick. "You say you've changed, but have you really?"
Her gaze bore into Kate's, searching for any sign of doubt or hesitation. There was a hardness in Yelena's eyes, a guardedness born from years of betrayal and disappointment.
"You're reckless," Yelena continued, her voice tinged with frustration. "You just came into my home bleeding onto the floor, expecting me to clean up your mess."
Her words stung, hitting Kate like a punch to the gut. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, a surge of anger coursing through her veins. Yelena's accusations cut deep.
But instead of lashing out, Kate took a deep breath.
"I know," Kate replied, her voice softer now, tinged with regret. "I'm sorry for barging in like this. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Yelena's expression softened slightly, but the tension between them didn't die down. "And what about your past with Fisk?" Yelena pressed, her tone wary. "You wanted to work for him, didn't you?"
Kate's jaw clenched at the mention of Fisk, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She could feel the weight of her past mistakes bearing down on her.
"I was a kid." Kate began, "A dumb spoiled kid, who had no idea what I was getting into. All I wanted was to protect my family, or the family I had left anyway." Kate's gaze dropped to the floor, unable to meet Yelena's piercing stare. She felt a lump form in her throat, she could barely speak.
"And I wanted to get my mom out of the mess," she continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "But Fisk manipulated me from the very beginning. And you of all people should know how that feels," Kate added, her voice barely above a whisper. "To be manipulated, to be used and discarded like you're nothing. It's not something you ever forget."
Yelena watched as Kate's eyes searched for hers. The archer was asking for a lot, and she didn't know how to feel about it. But then the memories from the Red room flooded her thoughts. She knew what it was like to be manipulated.
As she watched Kate standing before her, vulnerable and remorseful, Yelena felt a flicker of something stir within her—a chance to help.
Yelena turned away from Kate, her steps purposeful as she made her way to the door. With a deep breath, she spoke, her voice firm despite the turmoil churning inside her. "I'll do it," she said, her words tinged with determination. She paused, her hand on the doorknob, and cast one last glance over her shoulder at Kate. There was a hardness in her eyes, "But after we're done," Yelena continued, her tone unwavering, "I don't want to see you ever again."
With her final words, she pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway, leaving Kate behind in the bathroom. As the door closed behind her, Yelena couldn't shake the sense of finality that hung in the air—a chapter closing, and a new beginning, whether they were ready for it or not.