Rekindle
Natasha stays with her sister, watching as she exits the building to go to the bar, ordering cheap beer to silently drink in a corner of the building.
A day passed, possibly more, and she returned twice with no other intention than to drink and feel miserable. Her messages were blank, and it was hard for her to figure out if she was happy or sad Kate hadn't tried to contact her.
Natasha sat opposite her in the booth, not that she knew, of course. Yelena is on her second beer of the fourth day, when a clatter at the doors makes the sisters look up.
Kate stumbles, holding her side, and Yelena shoots up to steady her, being stopped by a hand held out.
"Nope! I got it, pretend that it was much more perfect than it was."
Yelena smiles for a second despite herself.
"You're always perfect."
Kate and Natasha raise their eyebrows in synchronization, both thinking the same thing, with Kate able to say it.
"You break up with me and still say things like that?"
Yelena frowns for a moment, dropping her still raised hand.
"I, I didn't break up with you-"
"Yes you did."
They speak at the same time, human and spirit, both just as shocked at her lack of reason. For the record, Yelena was just as shocked at her slip of the tongue, but doesn't comment any further on the topic.
"Why are you here?"
Kate smirks, and Natasha moves over as she slides into the booth.
"You mean the best place for shitty beer in town?"
The bartender casts a dirty look their way.
"I knew you'd be here."
Yelena raises her eyebrow and looks around, mentally agreeing that not only was the beer bad, the bar was just as unforgiving. It's why she came here, it was so far from her normal taste she thought it would be impossible to be found.
"... Really?"
Kate laughed and managed to hide the wince this time.
"No, not at all. I've been to almost every bar in the city, pretty sure they think I have a problem or something."
Yelena shrugged and swigged her beer.
"Maybe you do have a problem."
"I do actually, she's about 5 foot 3, blonde, amazing eyes, weirdly impulsive and needs to learn to respect my opinion more-"
Yelena taps her bottle off the table.
"I do respect your opinion-"
"About our relationship, not on what movies we watch."
Yelena has the respect to look guilty, tapping the glass bottle with a frown pulling at her lips.
"... It's not safe for you to be with me."
Kate stares hard and unblinking, fighting the urge to shake the blonde by the shoulders.
"... My mother pissed off Fisk, my father owes them a debt, I've been seen with Hawkeye and ties with the Ronin. I have a black belt in way too many martial arts, not to mention I've been branded as a public menace after the tree thing-"
"It was a big tree."
She groans and once more resists the urge.
"Yes it was, you're totally right. Anyway, my point was I can handle myself, yes they got me, but they had to drug me to do that, and now I'll be prepared if it happens again."
Yelena glares at a poor stain on the table, cursing under her breath.
"I do not want you to be prepared, don't you understand?"
They lock eyes, and Natasha feels she is intruding once more.
"I want you to be concerned about normal things, like rent, TV, your favourite games and movies, not being kidnapped because of me."
"Because of- Yelena they took me because of my family, not because of you."
Yelena doesn't speak, and that's all the que Kate needs.
"What if I get hit by a bus, or a car, or mugged, are you gonna think that's because of you?"
Her voice is quiet, not accusatory, just concerned.
"I just want you safe."
"I want that for you too, but life isn't always safe, let alone for an assassin and soon to be Avenger. All I know is I want to be with you, and I need you to want that too."
Kate held her hand out on the table, palm facing up, and Natasha urged her sister to take it.
"What I want more than anything, is for you to be happy."
The hand moves closer.
"Then be with me."
Yelena's finger twitches.
"But-"
"If you want to break up with me for another reason, it's okay, but if you're scared…"
Yelena moves and takes Kate's hand, loose enough for her to pull away if she wishes, but she doesn't.
"I'm not scared, I love you."
Kate smiles, leaning across the table and lacing their fingers together.
"Then do you wanna get outta here and stop being silly?"
A blush started flourishing up her cheeks and Natasha smiled at her sister's vulnerability as she nodded. The yellow glow came back over her eyes, she managed to look at her sister's smile as the two leaned closer, content in the knowledge that, while she wasn't perfect, she knew her sister was in good hands.
Don't hurt her, Bishop. I'll find a way back if you do.
With that, Natasha faded from the scene, feeling somehow lighter than before as her sister's quiet laugh guided her away.