Kate was doing some errands, not having school since it was summer. She got a new place since her old own burned down and she refused to be a burden to Clint by moving in. He would still check on her from time to time to make sure that Lucky wasn’t eating too much Pizza. Or at least that’s the excuse that he used to hide the fact that he did in fact care.
Next on her list; buy a toy for Lucky for shoes to be spared. She got in the shop, getting a message on her burner phone. She frowned and looked at the message.
{Hello! Don’t go all crazy but I am at your place. Very cozy. Your dog loves me, Kate Bishop :) }
She sighed, realizing who it was. She replied quickly.
{Yelena, what are you doing in my apartment?????}
She watched the three dots appear on her phone, waiting for an answer.
{I need a place to lay low. I thought of you. An old friend needing help, I’m sure you won’t say no, Kate Bishop. No?}
She rolled her eyes at that message. She put her anger aside and worried for a second.
{Are you in trouble? Danger??? Hurt??}
Once again, she waited for the dots to disappear and a message to appear.
{Santa put me on the naughty list! Nothing to worry about. It will blow over after a few days, Kate Bishop.}
She scoffed and start typing aggressively.
{Who’s after you??? For real, Yelena???}
She randomly picked a toy for Lucky.
{Not sure. They always wear a mask. On the bright side, might just be a secret admirer! Do you have those Kate Bishop?}
She rolled her eyes once again, paying for the toy quickly and leaving the shop.
{Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll be there in 10. Istg Yelena}
{I missed you too, Kate Bishop.}
That made her chuckle, because even if it was under these circumstances, she was somewhat glad that Yelena was alive and well. There had been no way for her to keep in contact with her in the past so she never knew where the spy was.
She put her phone in her pocket, speedwalking down the street. She didn’t live far away from her old place. She quickly got to her apartment. She unlocked the door, opening it and being met by a gun.
-It’s me, you idiot., said Kate, looking at the young widow with a sassy expression.
-Sorry. Out of habit. Were you followed, Kate Bishop?, asked Yelena.
-I don’t think so but again, I don’t know who’s after you so how should I know if they’re following me or not?, replied Kate, closing the door behind herself and locking it.
She looked around, seeing Lucky on the couch asleep. She then looked back at Yelena who walked further into the apartment with her. She sat down on a chair in the kitchen and groaned lightly.
-You’re hurt., stated the younger girl.
-It‘s nothing. A little scratch., shrugged Yelena, her hand pressed against her side.
-Listen, you can stay here but don’t lie to me. Okay? Now show me the little scratch., said Kate as she walked up to her, now waiting for Yelena to move.
-It is barely bleeding. I am fine., replied the blonde girl, her eyes anywhere but on Kate.
Kate rolled her eyes and pulled a chair to herself, sitting in front of Yelena. She moved her hand to Yelena, but the blonde’s reflex kicked in and she grabbed Kate’s wrist with her other hand. The brunette looked up at Yelena, who finally had her eyes on Kate. They didn’t need to use words. Yelena loosened the grip on Kate’s wrist, her eyes not leaving Kate’s. The blonde girl then let her hand go, her other hand still on her side. Kate gently removed it as well, now looking at the bloody wound.
-Lift your t-shirt for me?, said Kate, more of a question than an order, feeling how tense Yelena was.
The blonde girl nodded and lifted the hem of her shirt, revealing the wound fully. Kate got up.
-Stay put, I’ll get the first aid kit., sighed the brunette, walking away.
Yelena was left alone with her thoughts.
She will hate me.
Kate quickly came back with the kit, carefully patching Yelena up. She tried to be quick, feeling nervous for some reason.
-So, who did this? Who’s after you?, asked Kate once again, taking care of the wound.
-I don’t know. They’re pros. I can’t seem to track them back., replied Yelena, staring at the ceiling while she let Kate do her thing.
-You? You can’t track them back? Didn’t think that was possible. A widow not being able to track someone. Sounds unrealistic., added Kate, putting a bandaid on the wound.
-Yeah, well it isn’t., said the blonde girl with a firm tone.
Kate looked up at her.
-You’re scared., stated Kate.
-No. I am not scared, Kate Bishop., scoffed Yelena, shaking her head.
-Then why are you being this weird?, asked the brunette, raising an eyebrow.
-I’m not. I’m just tired., said Yelena, eyeing the couch.
-Then get some rest. I’ll make us something to eat for tonight. If you need clean clothes, my room is down this hallway, first door on the right. You can grab whatever you want., said Kate; getting up and putting the first aid kit away.
-Really?, asked Yelena, slowly getting up, not wanting the bandaid to fall off.
-Yeah. Now go, hush hush., chuckled the brunette, opening the fridge.
-Okay. Thank you, Kate Bishop., said Yelena, walking away and following the directions that Kate had given her.
Kate sighed and shook her head. Something about this whole thing felt off. Yelena being followed, hurt, deciding to reach out to Kate and putting her in danger as well? Sounded unrealistic to Kate. She knew Yelena and she also know that the blonde girl would rather die than put anyone in danger willingly. Yelena was lying about something. She knew that. But the wound was keeping her from believing her paranoia. She walked to the table to put the chairs correctly, bumping into Yelena’s backpack. She looked at the empty hallway and then at the backpack. She grabbed it, putting it on the table and opening it. She went through the backpack, finding guns, clothes but also a knife. She took it out and looked at the blade, seeing blood that someone had tried to clean. She saw a bloody piece of clothing and she connected the dots. Yelena tried cleaning the blade. She frowned. How did Yelena have the knife that she almost got stabbed with and doesn’t know who the person is? Kate was about to give up and put the knife down until she saw something on the knife. Y.B. Yelena Belova. Her initials. The confusion just kept growing and so did her anger. Why was Yelena being so shady.
Kate grabbed the backpack and the knife, making her way to her room, opening the door aggressively, making a sleepy Yelena on her bed startle.
-Kate Bishop, do not scare me like that., pouted the blonde girl.
Kate threw the backpack at Yelena and then showed her the knife.
-You have exactly one minute to explain this. No lies., said Kate seriously.
-Or what? Kate Bishop, we both know that you can nott take me., sighed Yelena, sitting up.
-We also both know that you won’t hurt me. Now start talking. The seconds are running., replied the brunette, clenching her jaw.
-Don’t be like that. I told you, someone was following me and then they hurt me., shrugged Yelena, looking at her backpack as she talked.
-You really are a shitty liar. So much for being a spy. This is your knife, Yelena. So tell me the truth or you can pack your stuff and leave my fucking house., said the brunette as she started getting worked up.
-Oh come on. Why so angry?, tried the blonde girl.
-Stop trying to get out of it by distracting me with stupid questions! I don’t do lies, Yelena! I hate lies! Get out. Get out of my place!, yelled Kate, dropping the knife on the bed.
Yelena raised her eyebrows, never having seen Kate like this. She would usually take everything as a game or joke. She frowned and looked down, nodding.
-Okay. I will leave., said Yelena, grabbing her backpack and her knife, getting off the bed and walking up to Kate.
The brunette watched her, holding her tears back as her anger took over.
-I did not mean to upset you. I am sorry., apologized Yelena, walking past her and through the hallway, making her way to the exit.
Kate followed her, not saying a word as she did. Yelena turned around to look at Kate.
-I am sorry for bothering you., said the blonde girl as she was about to open the door.
-Why won’t you tell me the truth? I don’t- I don’t understand this! Just- Tell me the truth. Please. This is confusing and frustrating., tried Kate desperately.
Yelena let go of the knob and sighed. She looked Kate in the eyes, seemingly tense now.
-I have been wanting to spend time with you. I did not know how to…to make that happen. I thought this would be a good idea because it would also show me if you do really care about me. I guess it was a twisted test., explained Yelena, looking at the floor after talking.
-You stabbed yourself., stated Kate with a frown.
-I did. I know. It is stupid. I really did not know how to contact you without it being about work or about danger. I am sorry, Kate., apologized Yelena, looking at her with tears in her eyes.
-I’m your friend, Yelena. You could simply send me a message that you’d want to hang out with me. Just be fucking honest. I hate lies. I hate the whole manipulation thing. I know your life has been shitty and you have been through too much, but you can’t just do things like this. If you’re struggling, just reach out. Talk to someone. Talk to me., sighed Kate, shaking her head.
-I know. I am sorry. I will leave you alone now., replied Yelena, her heart aching as she listened to Kate’s first few words.
-Okay. If you need anything, tell me., said the brunette, watching the blonde girl open the door.
-I need you, Kate. In a way that even I can not understand. But I do not think that either of us ready for that conversation., replied the blonde girl as she walked out and closed the door behind herself.
She walked away, not looking back, leaving Kate with her thoughts. The brunette frowned, staring at the door. What did she mean? What did that mean? Yelena needed her? She was confused. She sighed and walked back to the couch, sitting down and looking at her now quiet apartment.
In a way that even I can not understand.
It just kept replaying in her head, trying to figure out what she meant by it. She clenched her jaw and took her phone out. She called the number that Yelena was using to text her earlier, waiting for her to pick up.
Yelena stared at the ringing phone, sitting in the stairs of Kate’s apartment building. She gulped and took a deep breath, finally picking up.
-Yes? Did I forget something?, asked Yelena.
-What did you mean with that?, wondered Kate, getting straight to the point.
-With what?, asked the blonde girl.
-Don’t even. Tell me what you meant., ordered Kate.
-I think you know what I meant., tried Yelena, but that didn’t satisfy Kate.
-Say it., replied the brunette.
-Do I have to?, sighed Yelena.
-Just say it., ordered Kate once again.
-I like you, Kate Bishop. I like you. I like that you care this much. I like that you run into danger head first whenever you can help. I like that you are a good person to everyone. I like that you would rather run through traffic to safe a dog than watch it get hurt. I like your humor. I like…I like you., said Yelena, slightly getting carried away.
-Get your ass back. Now., said the brunette with a firm tone.
Yelena didn’t reply, simply getting up and walking to Kate’s place, finding the door open. She walked inside, seeing Kate on her couch.
-You stabbed yourself because you like me but didn’t know how to make a move. So instead, you hurt yourself to see if I really cared. You hurt yourself because, what? You thought I’d fall for you by seeing you vulnerable?, asked Kate, getting up.
-I do not know. It was stupid. I was going insane. I could not stop thinking about you. I had to do something. I wanted to ask you out to go have a drink but- I chickened out and did this instead. I do not know how to deal with this. I have never had this. I do not know what I am feeling. I am trying, Kate. I am trying to be open and communicate, just like my therapist told me. And yes, I am seeing a therapist because I wanted to work on myself because I do not want to be a danger for you. I am trying. I swear., said Yelena, watching Kate move closer to her.
-Okay., nodded Kate.
-What?, asked Yelena, confused.
-I understand., replied the brunette.
-Really?, frowned the blonde girl.
-Yes. Just, no more lies, Yelena. Okay? You try to manipulate me or you lie to me, then you already know where the door is. Okay?, warned Kate.
-Fair enough., nodded Yelena.
-Okay. Then stay. Stay at my place. So we can spend some time together and talk about this., suggested Kate.
-I do not want to stay if you do not feel the same way, Kate., frowned Yelena.
-I do. I like you, Yelena. But I can’t do this yet. We need to build a real friendship and connection before I allow myself to trust you. Is that good with you?, asked the brunette.
-Yeah, I can be patient., nodded Yelena.
-Okay. Good. Now let’s order some pizza and watch a movie together., said Kate, making Yelena smile.
-That sounds nice. Yeah., smiled the blonde girl.
And so they did. Pizzas were ordered. The movie was watched. They eventually fell asleep on the couch, glued to each other. It would take some time for them to build their relationship, but with the feelings that they already have, they knew that it would be easy.