buy me a drink first
The air was thick with fog and fumes from chimneys, the alley floor scattered with rainy pavestones and dead leaves that crinkled under Kate's converse as she lifted a bulging bin bag over one shoulder, preparing to throw it into the dumpster.
She faltered at the last second as a weak voice croaked from somewhere nearby, the heavy accent familiar.
"Kate from flower store..."
Kate's eyes widened as she dropped the bag and dove into her pocket for her knife, memories of her mother's crooked deals and the creased, tattooed faces of criminals smashing through their old kitchen window still fresh in her mind. You don't erase flashes of the past when they're that heavily laden with danger and warning.
Hand trembling on the handle and really wishing she had her bow, Kate turned the corner, only to gape, slack-jawed as the woman on the wet ground against the wall limply raised a hand in greeting.
"It IS you! Eyyyy!"
The blonde looked absolutely terrible.
There was blood smeared down her cheek, a gash above her brow that matted her hair into a dirty mess, and a rip in her jacket framed a glinting wound on her bicep. She smiled, though.
"What the HELL-" Kate sprinted forward, knife clattering on to the ground behind her as she knelt by the woman's side, hands outstretched but pausing. "What the fuck happened to you? Can i-"
She nodded, head lolling to the side with a grimace and Kate's hands flew to cup the sticky wound on her arm.
"Okay, I need to- we-" Kate took a breath. "I need to get you inside."
"And bleed all over your sofa?" The beautiful Russian with a nick in the bridge of her nose looked indignant. "I will not be so rude."
"I'm not going to fucking leave you out here!" Kate hissed, suddenly realising that whatever threat she'd endured could very well still be out there. "There's got to be a reason you've refused to go to the hospital so this is our only option." Kate slid her arms under her waist and back.
"You don't need to..." The woman said weakly, head flopping against Kate's chest and fizzing up her insides. "I don't know what medical training a flower shop employee has undergone...are you going to stuff my stab wound with petunias?"
It was probably the blood loss that made this one comment so damn hilarious, as the blonde wouldn't stop laughing until she was being lowered onto Kate's couch.
Kate's arms burned. She definitely needed to start working out more if this was going to be a regular occurrence.
"Right. Take your clothes off."
Ah. Even though most people would be unconscious in the injured woman's state, her face lit up with a childish glee. "Buy me a drink first, Kate Bishop. Man, lesbians really do move fast-"
She KNEW the shop regular had spotted her pride pin on her apron last week.
"Am I going to have to get my fabric scissors?" Kate demanded angrily, before pausing. "Wait. My full name, what...how did you-"
"Well I had to do some background checks before landing myself in your alley like a bird with a broken wing." The blonde said, shrugging and then wincing. "Ow. Your mother is in some trouble, huh..."
The hand not working on freeing the wounded areas clenched into a fist, Kate's jaw ticking.
"Oh. Shit. That was rude. Of me. To say- dammit." The woman looked regretful, pale face shifting into a pout that Kate refused to look at, ducking her head. There would be no colourful winged insects in her stomach this evening no thank you sir. "I didn't mean to be."
Kate forced a smile. "Well. Since you know so much about my personal life, how about giving me a name?"
The woman sat up as Kate unfurled bandages, fixing her gleaming eyes on her. "I would tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."
Kate snorted, but the silence coaxed her gaze up to see the blonde's impassive stare, blood still trickling past the gentle curve of her cheek. "Oh."
"Nah, I am just messing!" She laughed, then sucked in air sharply through her teeth. "Ow, fuck-"
Kate scowled as she sterilised her needle and thread.
"Oh, you have a dog!!" Kate followed her gaze to where the bowl on the floor in the kitchen was just visible. "What is their name?"
"Let's see if you survive the night. Then I'll introduce you to my son."
"Yes, anyway. I don't think you'd go spilling my secrets anytime soon."
"And why not?" Kate asked. "Would you like the big, slashed hole in your arm to be sewn up with a pretty pink or blue?"
"Hmm. Blue. And because I know your secrets, flower girl." She said with a wolfish grin, winking when Kate scoffed. She glanced back down again with hot cheeks. "Joking. Again. I trust you."
"Why?!"
"You handle my flowers with respect." She said immediately, face serious.
"I-" Kate shifted. "You just- I can tell when, when they're for something special."
"Mmm." The woman flinched a little, eyelashes fluttering when Kate swabbed her arm with antiseptic. "You're special, Kate Bishop."
I bet she tells all the girls that, something sniped quickly within her brain. But Kate just raised her eyebrows and considered.
"What's your bloody name, before I set my dog on you?"
A smirk.
"Yelena."