Chapter 9
That was one of the warmest and most pleasant mornings. The warm rays of the sun intruded through the window, making Kate to begin to blink slowly. Completely sleepy, coming back to the reality of each day and leaving that dream, so cozy and happy.
She wasn't ready to fully open her eyes and wake up from that beautiful dream where she shared a life with the person she loved; a wonderful and passionate night with Yelena and confessions of love. What if she opened her eyes and found herself alone? That would be devastating.
She sighed. Kate opened her eyes and found herself with the most beautiful image of her existence; suddenly waking up wasn't so bad after all. A loving smile on her lips, she met Yelena's green eyes next to her.
Naked. Sharing the same bed, with their legs intertwined.
“Good morning, lyubov.” That hoarse voice, she didn't know if it was because she had woken up recently or because her voice was usually like that. So sexy. Oh, she was so whipped for her.
“Best morning I've had in a long time.” Kate smiled widely, hearing her lover's giggle and knew that she definitely wanted to spend the rest of her days with her. Waking up next to her, nothing else mattered in the world right now.
After a while of giggles, playing under the sheets and some morning cuddles, Kate finally got up so they could make something for breakfast together until she realized that: a. she probably didn't have anything to cook and b: she didn't knew what to do besides some cereal and pancakes.
But when she got to the kitchen she noticed a small note stuck to the fridge that made the archer smile widely.
‘You have some hotcakes that I made (I made too many and Wanda is kinda tired of them) in the kitchen cabinet, I assumed that you wouldn’t want to cook after sleeping like a fucking sloath… if the date went well for you... I hope so.
Plus: cooking lesson, you have some eggs, break them in the pan and don't let go too dark (they’re burning!).
You can do it, Slothie, I trust you will do great!
I’m happy that you’re happy.
-A.’
“Thank you.” Kate barely whispered and grabbed everything she needed to be able to cook some scrambled eggs and actually throw some bacon into the pan.
About five minutes later, she was carrying a tray with fresh coffee, the scrambled eggs that miraculously looked and smelled really good, and of course some hotcakes to go with it.
“Oh, breakfast in bed.” Yelena smiled from her place, snuggling into the huge pillows of her bed. Her smooth, white skin was perfectly complemented against the sheets. "You're going to spoil me a lot, Kate Bishop. That can't be good.”
Kate walked over and placed the tray on the side of the bed, sitting next to her beloved so they could enjoy the food.
“This is so American of you. You eat bacon with everything, right?”
“Not always. Do you guys drink vodka with everything?” Kate responded playfully as she took one of the pancakes and brought it to her lips, taking a bite.
“Smart mouth.”
The day went by slowly for both of them and nothing could make them happier, spending a whole day together between kisses, movies and cuddles. Yelena make lunch this time, which undoubtedly ended up being a huge plate of Mac and Cheese, she bragged that this was the best of all the ones she had make before and it certainly looked appetizing.
As the days passed and both lived in their little honeymoon, together. Kate had taken a week off without any commitment so she could walk around New York with her love and show her some wonderful places, and sometimes with the company of their amazing Pizza Dog who seemed delighted to meet Fanny, the new roomie.
Wanda and Aidan had given them all the privacy they needed to enjoy themselves, although sometimes they used to come over to see if they needed anything and Kate used to fangirl with Aidan about everything via texts or instagram posts.
But as everything that goes up must come down, neither of them expected the crisis to come, much less in the way it did.
That Russian one had a huge smile on her lips as she walked into the apartment with a grocery bag and a big Monopoly box, exhaling the air in a big sigh. Clearly exaggerating.
“Kate Bishop, I'm back.” She greeted and looked up to look for her beloved on the upper floor of that apartment, noticing how Kate went down the stairs. “I brought everything for gamenight tomorrow.”
“I'm ready to kick your asses and keep everything for me.” Kate teased before giving Yelena a short but passionate kiss of welcome. “Everything okay?”
“All good, all good” that russian thick accent just made Kate melt. Yelena pulled out two bottles of sriracha and one of chipotle that Aidan had recommended two days ago. Since Yelena had found out that the older brunette had no romantic interest in Kate, the conversations between the two had been more constant and pleasant, discovering that they had more things in common than they expected. Yelena could think of Aidan as a 'friend', because she didn't have one anyway. Little by little she began to gain her trust. With Wanda everything had been easier, they could chat about Natasha and the adventures they had had when they escaped from the Raft.
“You know we could have done a game night with something more modern like... a PlayStation games or watching a few episodes of ‘Killing Eve.’" Kate mocked her beloved, who pounted offended.
“You know modern is not my thing, Kate Bishop. I like Monopoly and karaoke!”
“Oh yeah?” Kate narrowed her eyes playfully. “How about the Clash Royale and your precious valkyrie?”
“Oh, that's a vice I won't be able to give up easily. Damn Aidan and her videogames.” She narrowed her eyes at her, but smiled when Kate pecked her lips in a short kiss.
They both dropped onto the sofa for a moment and stayed there for a long time. Enjoying a moment of silence until Kate couldn't take it anymore, a huge smile gave her away so much that she had to bite her bottom lip.
“You’re my safeplace, you know that?”
“Kate, it looks like you're going to explode. Say it at once.” Yelena giggled, she knew that woman perfectly. She couldn't keep any secrets or surprises because everything in her being showed that she was hiding something.
“I have a surprise for you.” Kate moved her fingers anxiously and jumped up, startling Lucky who was sleeping.
“Yes, I can see that.” The blonde watched intently as Kate walked quickly around to grab a brown paper envelope from its hiding place, came back hugging the envelope against her chest.
“I want you to know that I did this because I want you to fulfill everything you want in your life, because I love you and there’s nothing in the world that I want more than to see you complete and happy, Yelena Belova.” Kate began somewhat nervous and at the same time excited, her huge eyes shone and that made Yelena feel a pleasant warmth in her belly.
"What are you talking about?" she asked curiously, sitting down on the sofa. She took that envelope carefully when Kate held it out to her and as if something were telling her to prepare for what was coming, she took a few seconds before opening the envelope and looking at the folder inside it.
“What is this, Kate Bishop?” The small cute smile on Yelena's lips caused Kate to sigh in relief, taking seat next to her. But once Yelena started flipping through the pages, her face changed to a more neutral one. The most beautiful smile completely vanished.
“Yelena? Are you okay?" she asked her once the silence got too long. The archer's leg began to shake due to the moment.
“This…” Yelena swallowed hard. The information in this folder was overwhelming, the photographs showed a huge number of girls lining up before being seen by one of the Red Room doctors.
Beneath one of the photographs she was able to notice a specific date, and some phrases in Russian. Белосне́жка и семь гно́мов. Страх. Все еще. Боль.
Yelena could see a girl with golden braids looking at the camera and remembered that moment where she met Oksana, an eleven-year-old girl who had been her friend until Madame B. decided to kill her for having been ‘useless and weak’ in front of her. In front of all the other girls in the room.
The widow’s hands began to tremble at the memory of her, how they were forced to watch the death of that girl and how she would "serve them as a lesson" to make a better effort.
“Babe?” Kate's voice was heard like a distant echo, Yelena began to look at more pages and pictures but her vision began to blur. Tears began to fall on the old papers, some information crossed out with black to hide the information.
She stopped, terrified.
Panic.
“I can't believe you did this...” Yelena said in a sob, but far from seeming distressed by the memories that came back to refloat in her memory, her voice denoted annoyance and hurt by Kate's interference. “…without telling me before.”
“Yelena, I thought…” Kate stammered awkwardly.
“You thought?!” She let out a bitter laugh as she tossed all the information into that envelope. “Who gave you this? Tell me! How did you get it? This is impossible!”
“I asked for Aidan’s help.” Kate swallowed hard. “She looked for that information because I asked her to, she said that it was hard to find it, I just…”
“This is my life, Kate Bishop.” She hissed through her teeth, as an angry rattlesnake warning of its attack. “It's not yours! It's not yours to choose for me! Neither is Aidan's to meddle in my life!”
Yelena moved away from that sofa and walked to the door, not without first taking her coat but Kate stepped between her and the exit.
“I just wanted to do something nice for you…” Kate grabbed her girlfriend's arm, trying to hug her against her body, but she ended crashing into the wall as Yelena pushed her hard causing one of her paintings to fall to the floor. The kind of strength she never used against Kate, one she hadn't even used when they'd struggled in that building months ago.
“Your intentions doesn't matter!” The blonde yelled her. A cold and hurt look, much like the frozen waters of Lake Baikal that she used to tell Kate about. Yelena fixed her gaze on Kate and pointed her finger threateningly at her. “Never meddle in my life or my past again...”
Kate tried to reply but her lips just twitched, as if she was trying to say something but her voice wouldn't let her. Her eyes moistened by tears, the brunette witnessed how Yelena ran away from her and slammed the door, leaving Kate scared, hurt and embarrassed. And though everything in her said go after her Yelena, she knew there was nothing in the world that could stop her and she deserved to calm down.
« Okay, I’ll see you there. » she typed quickly before putting her phone back in her pocket. The brunette looked at herself once more in the mirror and then she nodded a little nervously, after all: how long has it been since she did something like that?
Aidan left her room praying Wanda wasn't here but luck wasn't on her side. Since that nightly confession, things had not been entirely 'normal' between the two women. Although Aidan had assured her that she wanted nothing more from her than to be honest, couldn't help but feel a growing tension every time they were alone. Remembering Wanda’s rejection wasn’t a pleasant thing, least of all for her ego. Millennia and had never been rejected.
The witch was on the sofa, enjoying one of her favorite shows, 'One day at a time'. Truth be told, it was one of the shows the two of them could share since Aidan had shown it to her and Wanda had loved it from the start. Loved so much as she loved Modern Family, Wanda loved sitcoms since forever.
“Hey… Do you want to see ‘One day at a time’? I'm about to hit play.” The Sokovian told her, pointing to the television, they used to share some episodes when Aidan was free.
“I can't now, but you can watch it.” Aidan stammered and hurried over to the counter to get the keys to her '67 Camaro, a car that Kate used to swoon over and ask for permission to drive but Aidan's answer had always been the same: not even in your dreams.
Wanda remained silent, noticing how Aidan didn't even look at her.
“Hey… are we okay?” Wanda asked finally.
“We are ok, of course we are.” Aidan answered, nodding so quickly. “Are we?”
“Of course I do, I mean…everything is fine.”
Silence fell between them again, making this an awkward moment that Aidan decided to break, pointing to the door.
“Okay, I have to go now.” She turned and grabbed the black leather jacket that was hanging in the doorway.
“You look nice... Where are you going?” Wanda asked curiously, tilting her head. She noticed Aidan's nervousness since she had left her room, and didn't even have to read her mind or her emotions to find out. Even if Aidan’s thoughts were very loud. “I thought we were having game night tonight with Kate and Yelena.”
“Umh, well… after all these days so full of romance and… you know, ew! But last night I decided to download Tinder and…” She licked her lips, she couldn't keep her gaze on a fixed point, avoiding Wanda and that made the witch nervous. “Well, I have a date. Kind of a date… I texted Kate that I couldn't make it to game night tonight, but I'll make it up soon. But she didn't reply so I'll go to her apartment now.”
“Oh.” Wanda was quiet for a moment, somewhat surprised. “Oh. That's… that's good. Right?”
“Yeah.” Aidan smiled and shrugged. “We were talking all night and she seems like a pretty interesting and really hot so I said why not?” She shrugged, then turned to look at herself in the mirror once more. She was wearing a black RAMONES shirt and her typical leather jacket, she wasn't wearing anything out of the ordinary. “Okay, I don't want to be late, I'll see you tomorrow.”
The witch frowned blankly, taking a step forward. “Wait, aren't you going to go back to sleep here?”
“I don't know, it depends on how well the date goes. Why?”
“Well, because we're friends and I care about you.” Crossing her arms, Wanda looked a little annoyed but she wasn't about to show it. “I mean, we had plans between us. All. Friends.” She added her, as if trying to make it sound less weird.
“Wanda, I am thirty-two years old woman and a former S.H.I.E.L.D Agent. Trust me, I know how to take care of myself. Plus I want to go out and... have... things. I deserve it.”
Wanda sighed and only resigned herself to losing her friend that night. “OK. Have a good luck.”
“Thank you. See you later.”
The dark haired woman left that apartment so quickly that she had to sigh deeply before knocking on Kate's door. Since when had things gotten so awkward with Wanda? Why did she have to confess her feelings to her? Now her friendship seemed like a poor wreck of what she had been.
Aidan knocked on Kate's door and before she could even do it again, the door swung open giving her a little shock.
In front of her was Kate but to her surprise, she looked worn and tired. Her red and puffy red eyes, wild hair and the same clothes she wore yesterday.
“Kate... what's wrong?” Aidan walked into her apartment, noting that the archer seemed disappointed to see her. It was clear that she was expecting someone else. “Are you okay?”
“She hasn't come back yet.” She mumbled barely, her voice was muffled and somewhat hoarse.
Aidan looked around the apartment and could see a picture and broken glass, and what appeared to be some cushions near the door as if Kate had just sat there all night, waiting.
“Who? Kate, tell me what the hell happened here.” The panic she felt at seeing her sister like this, her best friend looked down at her but before Kate could answer, the door opened revealing Wanda, who now seemed just as worried as Aidan.
“What happened here?” the Sokovian asked.
“Yelena…” The archer sighed, trying not to let out a sob. Her puffy red eyes showed that she had been crying all night and possibly all day. “Yelena didn't take well that we found info about her…”
“Oh, no. Oh, sweetie.” Aidan hugged her sister and helped her to the couch while Wanda used her powers to gather the crystals from the floor and put them in the trash can.
The remains of yesterday's food remained in the kitchen, it didn't look like Kate had moved away from where she was.
“She was furious, Aidan.” Kate muttered. “I’ve never see her like that. She said I had no right to meddle in her life, and she… walked away. I've been waiting for her ever since.”
“Calm down, okay? She will come back.” Wanda assured as she approached them, she carried in her hand a glass of water which she handed to Kate. “Please, drink some water, Kate.”
“I haven't heard from her since last night.” The younger brunette told her friends, they looked at each other, although it wasn't a long time, neither of them expected that Yelena would be lost for so long without letting her know. She used to be a stubborn woman with everyone but Kate, she was her weak point. She was the only person in the world who was completely worth it, in her own words.
“It's normal, I mean, it's a normal time. Right?” Aidan cocked her head to look at Wanda, who only shrugged slightly.
“It's... I dont know.” Wanda murmured and brought her hands together, her fingers began to play with each other, something the witch used to do when she felt nervous. “I don’t know it depends?”
“Jeez, Wanda.” Aidan looked back at Kate and leaned down so She could meet her gaze, trying to comfort her. “She's a black widow, Kate, she'll be fine. Right now she's mad but she'll be back soon, you know Yelena loves you. She can't live without you, and believe me, I know what it is... I would do the same.”
“I never saw her that way, Aidan.” Kate sobbed the brunette and took a sip of water, setting the glass aside. “So hurt. I should have been less selfish, I should have thought about the consequences of searching the past.” She sighed. “You were right.”
“Yeah, I'm not proud to be right of that.” Aidan muttered under her breath as she got up.
Kate allowed herself to drink some water and tie her hair in a messy ponytail, now that her friends were there, she felt a little sorry for them to see her that way.
“I'll go change and... shower, I guess.” Kate sighed deeply and got up from her seat, avoiding seeing them. She just felt and looked so down that her sister's heart sank. The archer used to be such a cheerful girl, she was like fireworks on a dark night. Seeing her so sunk again was…heartbreaking.
While Kate was cleaning up in the bathroom, the other two women had decided to tidy up the apartment a bit, maybe make some tea for the girl when Wanda spoke.
“Go, you'll be late for your date.” Wanda commented in a sharp way. “I'll stay with her.”
“She’s my sister. I'm not going to leave her.” Aidan growled with a frown, slightly offended that Wanda would even consider it.
“Well, that's what you came for, right?” Her annoyed tone made Aidan just shake her head in complete astonishment. That attitude in the Sokovian was new and she didn't understand where she came from or why.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Wanda?”
“With me? What is going on with-?” Wanda started, but she stopped when Kate came out of the bathroom. She had changed out of her shirt, washed her face and combed it into a much more comfortable ponytail. The sudden silence made Kate stir, the tension obvious and it made her ask:
“What's going on...?”
“Nothing.” They both answered at once, making this moment even more weird.
The three looked at each other with some tension which was broken by Wanda helping Kate to settle down on the sofa, between the two of them they tried to comfort Kate by drinking some tea and talking about some other stuff. Both tried to make her understand that it was not Kate's fault, although she tried to do something good for Yelena, the Russian had the right to feel invaded. Neither of them was to blame.
The clock struck ten o'clock at night. They had spent about two hours together until the door opened, a blonde hair stormed into the apartment but it was not a surprise for her to see them together.
“Finally! Yelena, are you alright?” Kate got up so fast from the couch that she almost tripped over the covers. And although the image of the archer in such a way broke the black widow's heart, she had every right to feel hurt by her actions.
Kate's hands cupped her beloved's face, which she quickly removed as if she was in pain.
“I am better now that I see you.” Yelena's voice was cold and distant, as was her icy gaze. Wanda and Aidan got up too, a little uncomfortable in the presence of the blonde. They had many things to talk about.
“I think you guys have things to talk about.” Aidan walked towards the door while Wanda followed but the Russian stepped in her way, quite defiant. The height distance between the two of hers didn't make Yelena flinch, her frozen green gaze green against a brown and confused one.
“I see you like to search through other people's trash.” Yelena hissed. “What if someone breaks into yours?”
Those words made Kate frown, Aidan clenched her jaw knowing that if she delved into her own past, things could get too complicated.
“Yelena, I know you're mad, but this isn't the way…” She muttered before taking a step out of that apartment but Yelena pushed her back, making her step back.
“You're going to tell Kate the truth, and you're going to do it now!” The blonde threatened Aidan. Wanda, who thought she knew what she was referring to, remained with her arms crossed and her gaze on the ground avoiding saying anything.
“What are you talking about?” Kate asked without understanding anything that was happening in front of her eyes. The archer stepped forward and stood between them, preventing the fight from becoming physical again.
“Yelena, that was my decision. It's not Aidan's fault, it was mine." Kate defended her 'best friend' from her not knowing what she was in for next. But to her surprise, Yelena's gaze softened as she settled on her beloved.
“You have a big heart, Kate Bishop.” She said before handing her a folder, a new one. But not only that, but she took her phone and searched for something on it before handing it over so that the three of them could watch the video. “I think it's time for you to know the truth, but every truth.”
«The last time I saw you, you were a scrap of a human being. »
« I never thought you cared so much about Kate.»
« Take care of my Kate, Aidan. A goddess promise can't be broken, right? »
That video recorded by the security cameras of the Ryker prison, showed Aidan extending an envelope with some photographs, what appeared to be a telephone and other objects in one of the visits to Eleanor Bishop. The conversation in that video was extended, but the main topic had always been Kate and everything she had done in these weeks.
Kate's eyes widened in surprise, not only from her but also from Wanda who had no idea what it was about.
“What is this, Aidan?” The archer searched for an answer, even one that would tell her that wasn't true. That it was fake because it didn't make any sense. “Why have you been visiting my mother?”
“Kate, I…” Aidan started but again, Yelena cut off any excuse the brunette was going to give.
“Tell her, Aidan. If that’s your name… Tell her why you visit her mama.” The blonde smiled sideways, with some joy that her lies were discovered. Tell us, you love looking in the lives of others but you rarely talk about yours.”
“Shut up! You don’t know shit about this!”
Aidan tried to seek support even from Wanda, but the witch had decided to keep quiet. Aidan hadn't been entirely honest with her, Kate and Yelena.
Her whole perfect world was beginning to collapse and it was time to act, be mature and explain things or run once again like a coward. As she had been all her life.
“Okay, I’ll do it. Just stop staring at me like I’m an evil being!” Aidan finally said, fixing her gaze on Kate. She nodded and walked around the place until she reached the window, looking at the starry night knowing that after that, nothing would ever be the same. Wanda was about to walk away when Aidan's voice made her turn around. “Don't go, Wanda. This includes you too.”
The taller woman sighed, ready to deal with those three people. The most important people in her life.
“I visited your mother in Ryker because I've known her for a long… long time.” Aidan licked her lips, a gasp was heard in the room, it came from Kate. “Since I was born, things in my life were not normal. Not normal at all. My mother's name was Maria José Valencia, she was a wonderful woman who had lived in Colombia all her life. She was a nurse when she came to America, she used to work a few shifts at a restaurant in Manhattan as a waitress and that's how she met my father.”
While Kate and Yelena watched her without understanding what the hell she had to do with Eleanor Bishop, but Wanda knew exactly where that story was going.
“My father, who didn’t take care of me because I was the product of an affair, he was young, my grandfather threatened to take everything from him just for having a baby with a latina who didn't even have a house of her own. My grandfather would never let them get married or anything like that, but my father didn't love her either. I was a mistake that cost him dearly. My father, who told my mother that he would take care of everything but he could never be near me. My father, who with his lovely wife years later had a beautiful girl who appeared in all the magazines. Showing that chubby baby with blue eyes and dark hair.” Aidan's voice became shaky, she felt that each word helped her to continue, that she left enormous weight that sank her deeper and deeper. “Kate Bishop.” So hurt.
Kate's eyes widened.
“But even though some children would have felt a stinging envy, I always wanted to meet my beautiful little sister. Play with her, comb your hair before going to school, maybe tease her about… crushes or boybands.” Aidan gave a little giggle between a sob, it was hard to continue, but she had to do it. “When my father died in the attack on New York and I found out what had happened in your home, I was a girl in my late twenties completely scared of losing my little sister that I never knew so… I found Eleanor and told her the truth.”
“I told her I didn't want the money or anything, I just wanted to meet you, take care of you. Now that our father was dead, you could... you could have me. A big sister.”
The only sound that could be heard in the place were the sighs of Kate, the surprise and the sobs on the part of the archer when discovering the web of lies. She was now hugged by Yelena who had taken her place on the sofa next to her, holding her hand, giving her whatever support she needed.
“Eleanor said that she knew all about the affair, but that she had never interfered. She kept helping my mother by sending her some money, but the condition she had put on her was that I would never get close to you. And that you would never, ever know the truth.”
Kate's gaze dropped to the folder Yelena had handed her and now the photos showed a lovely dark haired woman in her thirties and a baby living in Hell’s Kitchen and Boston, photos taken by a private detective. She graduated to 'Alena Valencia' for finishing high school, and and some important papers, like Aidan's mom hospital bill.
“If you couldn't get close to me when you were underage, but… why didn't you do it when you were older? My mother wasn't going to hurt you.” Kate asked, hurt. But really, wouldn't she? Eleanor Bishop had shown that taking care of her and her family was the most important thing to her, above all else.
Aidan swallowed hard.
“Next thing… is maybe something that none of you can understand.” Aidan clenched her jaw for a moment, working up the courage to say what was following. But, if she thought about it, in front of her was a millionaire archer who had survived the alien attack on her home. To a spy and assassin who was subjugated against her will and was controlled by a spy russian agency and disappeared for five years, who now lived lovingly with her girlfriend. And to the Scarlet Witch, who was capable of destroying the world if she wanted to.
“I died.” She began hesitantly before walking over and kneeling in front of Kate, who remained seated. “My life hadn't been the best, my mother died after a long illness… and I fell into places that were bad, really bad, and I didn't want to mix that life with you. I didn't want to bring all that to you, Kate.” She bit her lower lip and brought her right hand up to her archer's cheek, caressing it. “I was an alcoholic and a drug addict who did nothing but ruin her own life and she couldn't poison yours. Until one day, I just... ended my life. In one of the alleys in Dublin, I used too much heroin and... my dealer tried to go too far and I defended myself. He got violent and stabbed me, leaving me to bleed to death in that alley. Unaware that it was the end.”
Yelena watched and listened to all this with attention and confusion on her face, as did Wanda.
“You died, how…? How can you be here?” Asked Kate, curious, hurt, happy. A whirlwind of emotions that hit her so hard, she didn't know what to feel, she had always felt alone in the world and now she discovered that in another part of the world, someone was looking for her in the same way.
"There are rules in life, we can't reverse death." Wanda said a bit upset.
Aidan sighed. “Like I told you, I don't expect you to believe me, but I do expect you to see it. I… died, of course, but when I did…” She got up and hesitated for a moment as to how to explain that stormy situation she had experienced. “I basically died and was reborn thanks to Goddess Artio, who offered me to bring me back if I agreed to be her avatar in this life.” She blurted out so fast that it was hard for all of them to even comprehend it, showing in her expressions.
The three women in front of her reacted in three different ways. Astonishment. Disbelief. An awkward smile.
“Это чушь!” Yelena whispered, frowning. “This is nonsense!”
“Kate, your family… We come from an important lineage, they didn't just have money because they were good at business Kate. ‘Bishop’. The first of our ancestors millennia ago was the first avatar of Artio, the goddess of Wild Nature. You can call her ‘Artemis’ or ‘Diana’ or whatever you want to call her.” Aidan explained patiently, trying to make it sound better than how crazy it sounded to her. “Our ancestor was her avatar and taught her words, until the gods disappeared and…you know, Christianity.” She rolled her eyes at the obviousness of the story itself. “But the gods abandoned us, or we abandoned them, and Artio couldn’t protect us again. Until I died and agreed to be her avatar because the next one was you, and I couldn't let that happen to you. Never.”
“Artio was the bear goddess of wild nature, the protector of women.” Wanda murmured, remembering Aidan's words.
“This is a good story, but this woman is completely insane. I didn't know she was this crazy! I thought she was a scammer or a Hydra spy!” Yelena said with her eyes as wide as Kate's, who didn't say a word and even if she wanted to, she wouldn't know what to say. It all sounded so weird and impossible, but what was impossible?
“Of course, crazy enough not to accept that you are a black widow, who blew up a floating station and survived. By your side you have a witch who can do telekinesis and really crazy shit, half the world disappeared for five FUCKING years thanks to two alien attacks and don't forget the killer robot!” Aidan said a little tired and a little annoyed. “AND I AM THE CRAZY? Okay, let's see what’s crazy here. Oh, yeah… you have THOR but you can’t have a goddess in front of you!”
The brunette took off her leather jacket and settled in front of them so they could see her.
After sighing and cracking her neck, she murmured a few simple words and a crescent moon formed on her chest. She took a hand to her back taking an invisible arrow that began to take shape in a magical and wonderful way until it became material. On her other hand appeared a bow, it looked like an ancient and wondrous one. The wood carved so delicately, some moons could be seen.
“This is Artio’s bow, deadly as the goddess itself.” she whispered before aiming at the target that she Kate used to practice with and let the arrow go, hitting exactly in the center. When she turned around, she could see Kate open her mouth so wide that she could fit her entire fist into it.
“I can also turn into a bear if I want to. I thought about doing that but I don't want to ruin your place or scare the puppies.”
“Did you know about this?” Kate asked Wanda who just shook her head, shrugging her shoulders.
“Just that she was your sister.” She whispered Wanda somewhat overwhelmed by all the information. “She hid this from everyone.”
“So, you've been the avatar of a goddess for… what, five years?” Kate got up from her seat to reach out her hand, taking that weapon with her own. She definitely felt that it was something important, something in her body told her that in part she also belonged to her too, that she fit perfectly in her hands. Kate smiled.
“A little more than that. It was after the Battle of New York and I wasn’t a victim of the snap.” Aidan shrugged. “S.H.I.E.L.D. gave me a new identity and purpose as long as I served them too. This was all confidential, the only one who knew about this was Nick Fury and one of his best agents.”
“What agent?” After a long time in silence, Yelena's voice was heard calling the attention of the other three women.
Aidan hesitated a moment before answering.
“Natasha Romanoff. I met her when I got involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. We worked together for a while after Thanos snap.” Aidan swallowed hard knowing she might not like the answer. A silence fell until Kate walked over to Aidan, standing in front of her.
“So... we're sisters.” Kate pressed her lips together, she looked nervous.
“Yeah, we are.”
“I wasn't alone before.”
Those words made Aidan's expression change from a worried one to a sweeter one, her heart had softened at Kate’s words. “You never have been alone.”
“So… you are my big sister.” Kate took a step forward and hesitated but she ended up breaking the distance and hugging Aidan so tightly that she left the goddess surprised. “You’re my older sister.”
After a few seconds, the older brunette ended up wrapping her arms around her little sister's body. She now she could say it, she could admit it.
“Oh god. I always wanted to do this.” Aidan said closing her eyes, allowing herself to smile as she let go of all the weight of guilt and lies. Being able to tell Kate the truth. “Tiny one… although I don't like the word 'old'… I’d like ‘big sis’ more. Sounds better.”
Yelena and Wanda watched that moment; The witch smiled with a certain tenderness when she saw the moment and Yelena only sighed deeply, surprised at everything she had heard. Maybe she had misjudged Aidan, maybe she had been too hard on her, and maybe Kate just wanted to help her find herself or parts of the truth about her, and she ended up finding part of herself.
Once they parted ways, the raven-haired woman and the archer smiled slightly until reality hit them.
“So, gods exist.” Kate's eyes widened as she realized everything she was saying. “I mean, Thor exists but...I didn't think of it this way.”
Wanda didn’t seem surprised, her knowledge and her long talks with Vision and Thor had made her understand that the universe and the world in which they resided was very small.
“They do.” Aidan smirked slightly. “There are some… they survive thanks to the avatars, they speak through us. There are… Osiris, Aphrodite, Konshu, Tawaret, Athena, Hathor…”
"Someone we know?"
"Yeah."
"Really? Who?" Kate asked curiously.
"Kylie Minogue is Aphrodite."
"No way. I'm such a fan." Kate's lips parted like a big 'O'.
“No way.” Yelena's voice broke the moment, repeating the same words as Kate. The look of her gaze on Aidan made her shiver. “Interesting.” With her arms crossed, the Russian approached her until she was facing Aidan again. “Where were they when thousands of girls were kidnapped and subjugated by the Red Room?” She hissed again, she would not be able to forgive such a sin. “Where were they when New York was attacked?” Aidan gasped like a fish out of water but couldn't answer. “Where were they when Thanos attacked and wiped out half the population of this planet?”
Yelena didn't care who she was, a goddess or Kate's sister, or just a woman. Knowing that there was a god or many of them and that they could interfere in so many tragedies, but they hadn't even lifted a finger to help them made her blood boil even more. Her sister, being a human being, had to sacrifice herself to save a world that they had to take care of.
“Where was you…avatar of a goddess of women when thousands of girls were killed, we cried and asked for salvation? WHEN WE WERE FORCED TO KILL OR KILLED?”
After a few seconds of silence, Aidan dared to reply. She let the Goddess whisper back into her ear so she could reproduce her words.
“We cannot interfere in human affairs. When the humans abandoned us, we had to survive in hiding. Meddling would be… for the worse. But I have never stopped seeing you, Yelena Belova.” She told her with regret, knowing that this would end up breaking any kind of relationship with Yelena.
“Well, since you knew my sister, you can answer this for me… Tell me one thing, Aidan or let your 'goddess' speak. If you all mighty had interfered in the fight with Thanos, would Natasha be alive right now?” Facing her, Yelena would not back down. The memories and the pain of losing her sister, she was made all the worse knowing that she could have been avoided.
“The odds of that are...”
“Answer me.”
The silence. Kate and Wanda's discomfort was becoming more and more noticeable.
“Say it.”
“Yes. Natasha would have been safe.” Aidan swallowed hard and clenched her jaw once more, trying to keep the tears from falling “But it was not our battle, no god wanted to interfere, they said that things should take their course. Artio wanted to-”
Almost as if she expected it, Aidan closed her eyes as felt the direct punch to her face making the woman stumble back. Couldn't even recover from that when a strong kick to her chest made her crash into the wall, holding on to it.
A drop of blood began to fall from her nostril, a broken nose that would end up healing in a few minutes.
“I’m so sorry, Yelena.”
“Don’t say that!” Yelena yelled, going back at her, punching Aidan again and again until Wanda stopped them, using her magic.
Although Aidan could defend herself against it, she simply decided to take her jacket and leave the place and not cause more pain than she had caused.
A small sob escaped Yelena's lips as Kate wrapped her in her arms; the Russian cradled her face in the neck of her beloved in order to take refuge in her. They both needed to recover from everything they had heard, from all those lies, from all that pain.
The scarlet witch looked down and still in silence, left that apartment to let them talk and release all the pain they carried, to be able to reconcile between them because the love they had was so intense that at some point, she had felt some envy.
When she got back to her apartment, she could see Aidan taking some clothes. Leaving.
She didn't say anything, Wanda just witnessed in silence, not knowing how to judge her from what she had heard. How could Wanda judge her when she had enslaved these people in Westview? Who was she to judge Aidan for the actions of selfish gods? So she thought until something came to her mind, forcing her to break the silence.
“Vision.” The sokovian accent sent a chill through the brunette. She didn't know if she was because of how beautiful and sensual her accent was or because she knew where she was going with that question. “He would have survived if they had interfered.”
“Wanda…” Aidan whispered.
“It is true.” The witch shook her head.
“If so, what do you want me to do? Thanos destroyed it to take the gem.” Aidan a bit annoyed as she grabbed t-shirts and put it in her backpack before turning to Wanda. “Did you love him? Didn't what you experienced in Westview make you realize the truth?”
“About what?”
“Your connection with him was only because of the gem, he couldn't feel love, Wanda and…” Aidan was about to continue when she realized that she was just taking out pain, maybe even hurt by her rejection.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.” Wanda's eyes turned red but Aidan was in no mood to find herself in a fight with the mythical Scarlet Witch. Not even a goddess could against her.
Aidan just sighed and started to leave when Wanda spoke again, making the brunette stop.
“Yelena was right.” Added the scarlet witch, wanting to get out all the anger she felt inside her at that moment. In front of her there was finally someone to blame and at the same time, she couldn't do anything. “You could have done something to save them, Natasha, Vision… but also to save Pietro and me. And you say you… you liked me? Ha. You were able to save me from the horror long before I experienced it and you did nothing. It's your fault they died."
"I know, Wanda…” Aidan licked her own lips and turned to look at her. “Every night, I heard you cry for help in that closed room, trying to push away everyone who came near you.”
Wanda didn't say anything, just ignored her.
“I have been in love with you since… forever but you have no idea of everything that has happened around you. You have no idea of the things that were going on while you were behind those walls where you were being experimented on, or those walls that you created in the Avengers compound, or those walls you built in Westview." She swallowed hard, hurt. "You think I didn't do anything to save you, but you have no idea what I did... so you wouldn't be suffering like you could now. You have no idea how it would have ended, you wouldn't be here."
You would have destroyed the multiverse, you would have lost yourself.
“I think I'd better go.” Wanda just let out a bitter little laugh, everything was so…strange and bizarre. The universe seemed to mock her tragedies, and those who took care of her too.
“Don’t. You must stay, you must take care of them now.” The goddess, or the avatar of that goddess closed her bag and hung it on her shoulder before approaching Wanda to leave something in her hands, a valuable object. It was a box with a figure carved in marble; a crescent moon and a bear. “Take care of this. Don't let anyone take it, it's really important. Do you understand?” She sighed before making her way to the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked her looking at that object, feeling the energy of it. Wanda looked up from her to see her one last time. But Aidan didn't say anything, she just left that place with the idea of changing things, for better or for worse.
“To fix this mess. I'm sick of waiting and watching people suffer without being able to do something..."
"Let's get her back." Artio whispered in the brunette's mind.