Chapter 1: One
Chapter Text
The sound of an alarm blaring through the Avengers Tower wakes everyone up. They all rush to meet Tony at the central console in his lab. He is frantically typing on the holographic keyboard and J.A.R.V.I.S is giving him too much information at once.
“J.A.R.V.I.S? I need you shut up a minute, buddy. Too much information for 5am. Morning.” Tony directs the greeting to the rest of the Avengers, without looking up.
“Why is there an alarm blaring at 4am?”
“5. It’s 5am.” Tony corrects.
“I don’t give a fuck what time it is. It’s too early.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, my sister, Yelena.” Natasha sighs, rolling her eyes. Yelena sticks up her middle finger in her direction and yawns.
“J.A.R.V.I.S, can we turn off the alarm?”
“Certainly, sir.” The computer silences the alarm.
“Oh, thank God. Okay, back to bed.” Yelena complains, turning to leave. She takes a few steps past Natasha, who grabs her arm and pulls her back to her side. “What? I am so tired.”
“Well, if you weren’t up all night, then you wouldn’t be tired.”
“I was training, Natasha.”
Natasha scoffs. “Playing Call of Duty isn’t training.”
“Ah, сука, calling me out like that. Ты, должно быть, тоже устал... Я слышал, ты занимаешься сексом. Ты довольно громкий.”
Natasha frowns. “Что? Бред сивой кобылы. Ты ничего не слышал. Вчера вечером я молчал.”
“Итак, ты признаешься в сексе?” Yelena asks, chuckling.
“Нет, я ничего не делал.”
“Ha! Стоны, доносившиеся из тоже комнаты вчера вечером, говорят мне об обратном.” Yelena continues, trying to get her to confess.
“Я мастурбировал, идиот!”
“Oh. Well, in that case, I’ll shut up again.” Yelena replies, clearing her throat.
“Yes, please do. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
J.A.R.V.I.S chimes in, “Sir, I could translate for you, if you wish?”
“No!” Natasha and Yelena shout in unison.
“No thanks, J.A.R.V.I.S, that won’t be necessary.” Tony confirms, and the two women sigh. “So, good morning. We have an alert that there is some terrorist activity, with bombs, in the city.”
“So, we can stop them before they detonate them, right? Send Hulk or Thor or even you to deal with them. The rest of us can just be on standby, right?” A tall girl in a purple suit asks.
“Kate Bishop? It is Kate, right?” Tony asks.
“Mmhmm.”
“Kate, that was a stupid suggestion.” Tony chides.
“Oh. Well, sorry.” Kate says looking down at her slippers.
“We all need to be ready, so, if there are multiple, we can deal with them separately.” Tony sighs.
“You know, sending one or two of us ahead, to stop them from detonating, isn’t such a bad idea.” A blonde lady says, appearing out of nowhere. Kate jumps noticing the newcomer by her side. “Carol Danvers, by the way. AKA Captain Marvel.”
Kate holds out her hand and Carol shakes it. “Oh, wow. Hi. Kate Bishop. Just a regular American citizen.”
“No one in this room is a ‘regular’ anything. You must be some sort of special to be in the Avengers Tower.”
“Well, I am an archery champion, and a two-time state fencing champion. I’m highly skilled at archery, fencing, swordsmanship, jujitsu, gymnastics, boxing, and other forms of combat. But compared to these lot, that’s nothing.”
“Actually,” Yelena begins “that’s very impressive. And just as good as the likes of us. Why are you not an Avenger yet?”
Kate scoffs. “Too young, I guess. I’m only twenty-two.”
“And I’m only twenty-five, but there we go.”
Kate chuckles. “So, why are you not part of the Avengers?”
“Most of these work for S.H.I.E.L.D. I do not. I think you have to work for S.H.I.E.L.D to become an Avenger.” Yelena shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Hey, Thor, buddy? Where are you going?” Tony begins.
“I sense trouble in Asgard. I must go and find out what is happening. I shall return soon.” Thor replies, before stepping outside and lifting his hammer – Mjolnir – to the sky. “Heimdall! Open the Bifrost!” he shouts, skyward. A blinding, bright white light appears in a concentrated beam and hits the ground just in front of him.
“Woooooah...” Yelena says.
“That is so cool.” Kate adds, seeming to finish Yelena’s sentence.
As soon as Thor steps into the beam of light, there is an intense roll of thunder and multiple cracks of lighting, and he disappears.
Somewhere far below them, there is an explosion. “What the hell?!” snaps Natasha. “Tony? What’s going on?”
“Uh, that’s just a bomb.”
“Just? Just a bomb?” Kate asks, panic in her voice.
“Well, in the grand scheme of things, in comparison to a potential decimation of the city, a singular bomb is a minor inconvenience.”
“Are we going to do anything about it?” Kate probes.
“If needed, yes. Otherwise, we’ll just leave it to S.W.A.T and the Bomb Squad.”
As if the criminals heard him, there is a ripple of explosions below and several shops have their windows blown out in the blast. Cars are launched into the air and crash down onto the sidewalk with an immense amount of pressure.
“Okay, that’s more serious. Time to suit up!” Tony confirms.
Each person rushes around trying to get his or her uniform on, but Kate is too stunned to move. “Kate, get moving.” Clint says, giving her a little shove out of the lab.
Down in the streets of Manhattan, the six OG Avengers are stood in a tight circle, keeping the younger two (Yelena and Kate) in the centre. They cannot do anything about the bombs which have already gone off, but they are on the lookout for any signs of other bombs, and any law enforcement coming their way.
“Sir, we have the NYPD and Bomb Squad on their way. They’re about 5 minutes out. NYPD S.W.A.T will be here in 2 minutes.”
Sure enough, the S.W.A.T Mobile Command Unit pulls up, its brakes hissing, and the officers disembark.
“Sir, another bomb is scheduled to go off inside Grand Central Terminal in 10 minutes, and another one set to blow up the Chrysler Building in 5 minutes.”
“Thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S.” Iron Man says, his voice slightly muffled by the closed helmet.
“Iron Man! Do you have any idea what is going on?”
“Send the Bomb Squad to Grand Central Terminal. There’s one there programmed to go off in 10 minutes. We’ll focus on the Chrysler Building.”
“Roger that, Iron Man. Oh, and, uh, be safe. The city needs more heroes like you to protect it.”
Iron Man positions his hands at his sides, palms down, and uses his blasters to launch himself to the top of the building, where he flies around the outside, using his technology to scan for the bomb. Black Widow and Hawkeye rush towards the main entrance before she vertically jumps an impressive ten feet. She releases her grappling hook, at the last possible moment, and uses it to propel herself, feet-first into an empty office window. A few seconds later, Hawkeye releases his grapple arrow and copies her. Yelena and Kate take a quick glance at each other, and sprint towards the main entrance, leaving Captain America and Hulk to keep a watch on the street.
“Did you know she could jump like that?” Kate asks, as they run.
“Uh, no, I did not. That was so cool. What was that, like ten feet straight up?”
“Yeah, think so. Hey, Iron Man, Hawkette here. Any idea where we should be going?”
Iron Man speaks and everyone with Comms can hear. “Negative... Wait... J.A.R.V.I.S. zoom in... Yeah, what floor is that? Uh, that’s the 55th floor.”
“Jesus. Okay, Yelena and I are on our way.”
“I have a code name, you know.”
“What is it?”
“Black Widow.”
“But, I thought Natasha was Black Widow?”
“We are all Black Widows, or just Widows. It is a codename for Dreykov’s team of female assassins.”
“That’s gonna get confusing.”
“Well, how about Black Widow 1 and Black Widow 2?” Yelena suggests as they step into the elevator.
“Well, you’re wearing white, and she’s wearing black, so how about White Widow?” Kate shrugs.
“For now.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.” Yelena echoes.
“If you two are done with your mother’s meeting, we have shit to take care of!” Natasha scolds in their earpieces.
“What is the meaning of this ‘mother’s meeting’?” Yelena asks, having not heard the term before.
“It means that we’re talking shit. Saying nothing of importance.”
Yelena tuts and folds her arms, before muttering in Russian, meaning only Natasha would understand. “Я хочу с ней поговорить. Мы застрянем в лифте на 55 этажах, и я не хочу ехать молча.”
“Ладно, это вполне справедливо. Будем надеяться, что она не убьет тебя до того, как ты доберешься до своего этажа!”
“You’re a dick.” Yelena says, a little too loudly.
“What? What did I do?”
“No, not you. Natasha. She thinks you’ll kill me before we get to our floor.”
“Pssh, yeah. I mean, I could...”
Yelena laughs, boisterously. “You kill me? Oh, Kate Bishop, you are so funny. That’s hilarious. That one is the funniest.”
“You don’t think I could?”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“I don’t think you want to find out.” Kate adds.
“Whatever.”
They continue the boring ascent in silence when all of a sudden the elevator comes to a halt.
“Shit!” Kate exclaims, worriedly.
“Relax, Kate Bishop. It is probably a minor maintenance issue.”
As they wait, Iron Man locates the bomb and quickly defuses it, as Black Widow and Hawkeye try to locate the criminals. As they patrol the corridors, they hear a scream and run to the end of the hallway they’re currently in. Peering through the window in the door, Hawkeye sees that it is a hostage situation and quietly calls for back up.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” Iron Man calls as he smashes through the window. He shoots a small beam from his blaster, which disintegrates the gun the captor is holding. He is picked up by Iron Man and flown, yelling in fear, straight into the arms of the S.W.A.T Commander. They had successfully defused the other bomb and arrested the crooks.
The squad gathers outside once more and waits for Yelena and Kate to eventually join them.
“That was one of the easiest situations we’ve ever had to deal with. It didn’t even require all of us. The youngsters didn’t even get a taste of the action.” Captain America complains.
“Would you have preferred a harder fight?” Iron Man asks, landing on the road and powering down his suit.
“No, but maybe more of a challenge.”
Meanwhile, back in the elevator, Kate is beginning to pace. “We’re trapped. In a steel box. Thirty floors above nothing. I mean, what if the cables snap and we fall to our deaths?”
“There are brakes and emergency cables. The likelihood is that it won’t happen.”
The cab drops a little.
“You were saying?”
“It’s probably the maintenance crew. It’ll be fine.”
It drops again.
“Shit! We’re gonna die.”
“Kate Bishop. We are not going to die. Stop being so dramatic.”
“Yelena, Kate. Any time today, please.” Natasha reprimands.
“Uh, slight situation. We’re stuck in the elevator, thirty floors up and it’s dropped two feet in the space of... Woah, fuck. Make that five feet.” The cables creak. “How sturdy are the cables?”
“Probably really sturdy.”
“Okay, well they just creaked.” Yelena continues, trying to keep her voice steady.
Inside his helmet, J.A.R.V.I.S blinks to life. “Sir, we have a problem.”
“What is it J.A.R.V.I.S.?”
“There appears to be some sort of small device on the weight of one of the elevators. If it goes off, I deduce that the car will drop rapidly and the impact will ripple up the shaft and snap the counterweight, making the car plummet thirty floors and crumple at the bottom, killing anyone inside instantly. I have a small window to calculate which car the two young women are in, but that device is set to go off in 3½ minutes.”
“J.A.R.V.I.S., get to work!” the tone of Iron Man’s voice suggests that there is something major wrong.
“What is it?” Natasha asks.
“There is a possibility—"
“An 80% chance.”
“An 80% chance—"
“Of what, goddamn it?!”
“J.A.R.V.I.S., buddy... Little help here?”
“Certainly, sir. There is an 80% chance that I will be able to locate the girls and you will be able to fly up the shaft and hold onto the bottom of the elevator, but the device is a small, but very powerful bomb. If that goes off, it will push the suit into maximum overdrive, which may cause a power outage. I can direct all power to your blasters, should that occur.”
“Do we have any other options?”
“Without bringing the entire building down? No, sir. This is your only option.”
“Fuck it. It’s me or the girls. And I think, right now, Natasha would prefer if the girls were safe.”
“Tony, what are you talking about?”
“There’s a bomb, on the weight of the car that Yelena and Kate are in. If it goes off, the elevator will drop, and the impact will break the counterweight. They will die, instantly, unless I can get in there and slow down its fall.”
“How long have we got before it explodes?”
“J.A.R.V.I.S.?”
“2 minutes, sir.”
“Fuck! Alright, J.A.R.V.I.S., you know what to do.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, Kate Bishop. You were right. We are gonna die. Fuck. Well, it was nice to meet you.” Yelena holds out a hand for Kate to shake, but instead, she pulls her in for a hug.
“I don’t wanna die without one last hug.” She whispers, before removing her earpiece and switching off the headset. Yelena does the same. “Also... forgive me if this is the wrong vibe, but you’re really pretty and I just... I want... I just want...” Kate leans in and gives Yelena a quick kiss on the cheek. “There... Okay, no, I’m sorry. That’s not what I want. If this is to be my last moments on earth, then fuck it.” She looks into Yelena’s green eyes, then kisses her again, but this time, on her lips. The blonde is taken by surprise, and just blinks a few times when Kate takes a step back.
“Last moments, huh?”
“Yeah, last moments.”
“You know we’re probably gonna be saved, right?” Yelena says, calmly.
“In two minutes? I doubt it.”
“Have faith. Oh, what the hell.” Yelena pushes Kate into the wall, her one hand on her face, the other on her waist. She takes control of the situation and embraces her, passionately. They continue to make out, as the bomb explodes and the car plummets.
The sudden lurching of the elevator sets off Kate, who has a panic attack, and begins hyperventilating. Yelena squeezes her hand and tries to comfort her as the light pops, electricity sparks and darkness suffocates them.
* * *
“Impeccable timing as always, J.A.R.V.I.S..”
“Thank you, sir.”
Iron Man carefully places the elevator on the ground and rips open the doors. As the daylight pours in, Natasha finds Yelena squashed into the corner cradling an unconscious Kate.
“She fainted. She was hyperventilating. I tried to help her, I couldn’t, I, I... failed.” Yelena looks up at Natasha, blinking in the sudden bright light, and a small lump forms in her throat. For a split second, Natasha thinks she sees fear and sadness in Yelena’s eyes, but this is soon replaced by relief upon hearing Kate’s voice.
“Did we die?”
“No, thank God.” Yelena swallows, trying to fight the tears welling up. “I told you that we wouldn’t die, Kate Bishop.”
“Here.” Steve holds his hand out for Kate to take, as Natasha helps Yelena to her feet.
“Thank you.” Kate whispers, before kissing Yelena’s cheek as she passes. She blushes a little and this goes unnoticed by everyone, except for Natasha.
“What happened in there?” she asks, in hushed tones.
“We... had... a moment. We thought we were gonna die.”
“Did you kiss?” Natasha queries. Yelena doesn’t say anything, but her rapidly reddening cheeks is the answer. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Shh, not so loud!” Yelena hisses.
“I didn’t know you were gay.”
“It was potentially our last moments on earth. I thought it was like a bucket list achievement for her. I just went with it.”
“Bucket list?”
“Yeah, you know, it’s probably something like: ‘Kiss a pretty girl before I die’.”
Natasha scoffs and Yelena’s cheeks turn a deep scarlet.
“You alright there, Belova?” Iron Man asks.
She clears her throat. “Yup, fine.”
“You’re looking a little red-faced. What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“We kissed.” Kate announces and then mouths a ‘sorry.’ “We thought we were gonna die.”
“It was one kiss, it me—it means nothing.” Yelena suddenly stammers.
“Not yet it doesn’t.” Iron Man laughs.
“Ебать. Это не смешно. It’s not funny.”
“No? Seems pretty funny to me. Ten to one Russia invades America.”
“What is this? ‘Invading.’ There is no war between our countries.”
Natasha rolls her eyes. “Yelena, you are dense.”
“Eh? No. I am not dense.”
“You don’t understand what he means, do you?”
“No, because I am not Ameericaan.”
“Tony’s implying that you and Kate will have sex.”
“What?” Нет. Natasha, Я даже не знаю как... ты не хуже меня знаешь, что мы не можем воспроизводить потомство.”
“Лесбиянки все равно не могут забеременеть, дура. Я уверен, что если придет время, Kate все объяснит.”
“Great. Perfect.” Yelena replies, sarcastically.
“Good. Now fix yourself up and...” Natasha lowers her voice. “try to look cool in front of her. Right now, you look like an idiot.”
Yelena scoffs and the eight return to the Avengers Tower. “Why did you tell everyone?” she asks, hanging back to talk to Kate.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think. It just came out.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t need people knowing my business.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” Yelena snaps, elongating her strides. She shoulder-barges Nat, who calls her a ‘bitch’ in Russian, and takes the stairs two at a time. Tony is already in the Conversation Pit waiting for them all.
“Did I say something out of line?”
Yelena makes a startled noise. “How did you get there?”
“I can fly. Y’know, that does help. Don’tcha think you’re being a little bit harsh on Bishop?”
“Me, harsh? What about you and your ‘invading’ talk?” Yelena huffs.
“Oh, come on. I was having a joke.”
“Well, it is not funny, Tony.” Yelena storms off down the corridor and slams her bedroom door as everyone gathers around the central console.
“I’ll go talk to my baby sister.” Natasha sighs, heavily. She opens the door, without knocking.
“Ever heard of knocking?!” Yelena snaps.
“Ever heard of manners?!” Natasha snaps back.
“Listen, I don’t—”
“No, you listen!” Natasha snaps, before realising how loud she is. She lowers her voice, to keep the conversation private. “You don’t just come up here, acting all entitled, and slam the fucking door, Yelena. You have no right to be pissed at Tony or at me or anyone else! What went down in that elevator, is between you and Bishop, but your attitude stinks. You’re twenty-five, not five! You better start acting your age, or so help me God.”
“We kissed because we thought we were gonna die, okay? I’m not some fucking invincible God from Space, or some billionaire with a fucking flying suit. I’m not immortal, Natasha! And neither is she!”
“What, and you think I am?”
“No, you’re mortal too, but... fuck. You’re running with the cool kids. You haven’t got time to be scared. The fucking KGB wiped that out of you!”
Natasha scoffs. “Yeah, and the Black Widow Programme didn’t?”
“No, it did... but... since I got out... I, I... I have all these emotions and I don’t know what to do with them! I’m like a goddamn pubescent teenager all over again! You got brainwashed, by stupid Soviet Union propaganda, I was under chemical subjugation! I didn’t have emotions under Dreykov! You tell me it was the same for you, but my brain was chemically altered! Once I got out... I saw the world in a new light... and... and I get scared, sometimes, okay? Of dying. Of ending up alone. Of... of...” her anger dissipates, and she lowers her voice, “losing you. I can’t lose you, Natasha. You’re everything to me. The best part of my life was fake, and nobody told me. You are the best part of my life. And Mom and Dad. In that stupid elevator, I thought I was gonna die. Kate thought we were gonna die. I told her we wasn’t going to, but I thought we might have. At least if we did die, it would have been together, and not alone, you know? That kiss was just... whatever, but it made me think, okay? I’ve never had any kind of relationship, except for with you and Мама и Папа. What if we did get together? Hypo-thet-ically... would that be such a problem?”
“Wait... are you scared that I’m gonna, what, be mad, or upset if you ended up dating a woman?”
Yelena shrugs. “I don’t know anymore.” She sighs. “I don’t even know what we’re fighting about.”
“You. Being a prima donna.”
“Am I really—?”
“A diva? Yeah. Well, you can be. You threw a tantrum because Tony made a joke that you and Kate were gonna sleep together and then you yelled at me because you now have feelings. Look, it’s okay to be scared or confused or to be mad or sad... it’s normal and human to have these feelings.” She sighs. “I understand it, okay? I went through it too. Admittedly, not to the same degree, but when you’re first able to think for yourself and understand your emotions, it’s confusing. Go... shoot your bad guys and I’ll see you for dinner, ‘kay?”
“‘Kay.”
“I’ll apologise on your behalf.”
“For what?”
“Yelena, everyone would have heard our conversation. We weren’t exactly being subtle.”
“Do you think Kate Bishop is gonna... mind?”
Natasha shrugs. “I dunno. You’ll have to ask her that. Shall I send her in?”
“Give it ten minutes, I need—”
“To masturbate?”
“God, no! That’s you.”
Natasha chuckles. “I walked into that, huh?”
“Yeah, you did. No, let me get out of my uniform and into my pyjamas.”
“You’re not getting into—"
“Shorts and t-shirt, then.”
Natasha scoffs. “Okay.” She steps out into the hallway and closes the door before leaning against it and sighing. Inside the room, Yelena unknowingly mirrors her sister.
Natasha joins the rest of the team. “I’m so sorry you all had to hear that. Yelena can be... a handful.”
“It’s fine.” Tony says, trying to sound reassuring.
Kate, who had gone to bed with a pounding headache re-joins the others. “Hey, what was all that yelling?”
“Sorry. Yelena and I were having a heated discussion.”
“Nat, that was an argument. You were shouting and cussing at each other.” Steve says, folding his arms.
“Right.” Natasha agrees, rolling her eyes.
“Is Yelena in her room? I think we should talk.”
“Hey. Be gentle with her, okay?”
“I’m not gonna sleep with her. She’s your sister!”
“No, not like that! I think she’s... sensitive.”
“Oh. OK.” Kate nods and leaves the group. Outside Yelena’s door she stops and begins to pace nervously. Natasha, Steve and Clint lean back from the counter to watch her pacing.
“I know you’re out there.” Yelena says from inside the room
“I know you know I’m out here.”
“Then why are you skulking about like it’s a minefield?”
“Be-because I’m nervous. I wanna talk to you about today, but I don’t know what to say.”
“Then try...” Yelena opens the door and catches the three grown-ups looking at them. She sighs and pulls Kate inside before sticking her middle finger out into the corridor at them. She closes the door and locks it. “‘Try and talk to me, in person, and not through a door,’ is what I was gonna say. Want a soda? Or a beer?”
“Uh, soda. Soda is good.”
“Pepsi? Fanta? 7Up?”
“Pepsi, thanks.”
Yelena hands her a can from the mini fridge and Kate nods in thanks. Yelena, on the other hand, cracks open a beer. She thunks the bottom of the bottle onto the side of the can. “So, talk.”
“Manners.”
Yelena sighs, unamused. “Talk, please.”
“I just wanna start by saying I’m sorry for kissing you. It was out of line, and I was rude for jumping on you like that. It wasn’t a bucket list kinda thing. I’m bisexual and... well, you’re hot.”
Yelena snorts and Kate shoots her a look. “Oh. You’re being serious. You really find me hot? Why?”
“Your voice. It’s raspy and that’s sexy.”
“Well, I have a bit of asthma and tracheomalacia. I’ve had it since I was a toddler. Basically, my trachea narrows and sometimes collapses causing breathing difficulties. I was in and out of hospital. Now, it just means that I have this raspy voice and a ‘cough laugh’.”
“Does it hurt?”
“The laugh? Sometimes, but I’m used to it. It just sounds scary to some people. Only my doctor, my parents, Natasha and now you know. So, don’t go telling everyone.”
“Ha, I won’t.” Kate chuckles.
“I’m being serious.”
“I’m not gonna tell anyone. Scouts Honour.”
“So, you find my voice sexy. Why else do you like me? I’m not known to be likeable.”
“Your eyes are a beautiful green colour, and your lips are beautiful. It’s like your top lip makes a heart. And that kiss... it was nice.”
“Nice?”
“Well, on account of us almost dying, I didn’t exactly analyse it.”
“Then maybe we should do it again and you can analyse it properly?”
“You’re just saying that because you’ve had alcohol.”
“I’ve had a mouthful.” Yelena states, licking her bottom lip, slowly.
“Maybe we shouldn’t.”
“Why? Because you’re worried you might catch feelings?”
“I’m afraid I already have. No, I’m worried that I won’t be able to stop myself.”
“From what?”
“Wanting more.”
“Hmm.” Yelena looks from Kate’s blue eyes to her lips and then she sits on the bed and leans against the wall.
“What are you doing?” Kate whispers.
“Sitting on my bed. You?” Yelena whispers back. They continue in hushed voices.
“You’re being all seductive.”
“How?”
“The way you looked at me just then. And now... you’re... inviting me onto the bed with you.”
“Am I?” Yelena chuckles, huskily.
“Are you not?”
“You’re reading too much into this, Kate Bishop.”
“Well, shit. I’m sorry. Thanks for the soda. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you around.” Kate gets up from the chair and wanders to the door.
In an instant, Yelena grabs her wrist and pulls her sharply towards her, before backing her into the wall. “If you don’t want me to kiss you, please say something now.” Kate says nothing against it, so Yelena kisses her lips, neck and behind her ear.
“Yelena...”
“You can tell me to stop. Should I stop?”
“This is kinda working on me.”
Yelena continues to kiss her neck. “You’re weird.”
“I’m aware. Okay. Enough.” Kate says, changing her tone of voice. Yelena stops kissing her neck. “I need you to know something, before this goes any further.” Yelena takes a step back and sits on the chair Kate was sat on earlier. “You’re the first girl I’ve kissed. And I’m... I’ve never...”
“Had sex?” Yelena guesses. Kate blushes at the question and shakes her head. “I’m a virgin too.” Yelena admits, before also blushing.
“Okay, so if, emphasis on the ‘if’, things were to progress, it makes me feel better knowing you’re new to this too. We can... explore... together. That’s a big ‘if’, of course!”
“Of course.”
“I’m gonna go. I’ll see you for lunch. Okay?”
“I’ll be there.” Yelena replies, switching on her PlayStation 4 and navigating to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
Kate exits the room and hurries down the corridor to her room, shutting the door firmly.
After ten minutes, Yelena gets a knock on her door.
“It’s Nat.”
“Come in.”
“Hey, so, uh...” she closes the door. “Didja have a chat with her?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“Yes, Yelena, I do. Why?”
“I’ve got the hots for her, something fierce.”
“Wait, are you serious? You’ve only just met.”
“I know. But we kissed again.”
“Again?”
“My skin feels on fire, Nat! I swear to God.”
“You do look a little flushed.”
“I kissed her neck, and she told me it was working for her. I called her ‘weird’, but I got the warm fuzzies.”
“That’ll be oxytocin, or the ‘love hormone.’”
“Have you ever felt this way?”
“Yes. About one man.”
“Do I know him?”
Natasha avoids the question. “So, what are you going to do about your little crush?”
“‘Crush’? I think... Is it infatuation? Lust? Love? I don’t know. How can you tell?”
“First of all, slow down. Breathe. Take a moment to get your head screwed on. Don’t let your guard down. It’ll make you soft. Don’t give into your urges, just yet. Give it a few days, to let your emotions settle. You’re probably hypersensitive because of the elevator dropping.”
“Yeah, yeah, probably. You’re right. Thanks, Nat.”
“This is what big sisters are for.”
Natasha leaves Yelena to play PlayStation for a bit longer and then at twelve o’clock goes to get her for lunch. She knocks on the door, but there is no reply, so she carefully opens the door to find Yelena fast asleep in bed. She kisses her temple, but leaves her to sleep.
Around the long kitchen island, the chatter increases in volume already.
“Hey, Nat. Where’s your sister?” Steve asks.
“Asleep. She’s exhausted.”
“What’s for lunch?” Carol asks, startling everyone.
“Fuck!” Bruce exclaims.
“Language!” Steve retorts.
“Spaghetti Carbonara, homemade by yours truly. A recipe taught to me by one Pepper Potts. Did you happen to see Thor on the way over?”
“Negative.” Carol replies. “I managed to halt the production of several bombs. I took out their bomb making facilities in a safe and controlled manner.”
“Meaning?”
“I blew up the factories with my photon blasts.”
“Photon blasts?” Kate asks.
“Energy blasts. I have superpowers, as most of the Avengers do. Here, watch.” She places a hand on Tony’s kettle and her hand glows red. Of course, Tony has a whistling kettle, and as such, it whistles when it reaches its boiling point.”
“Wow! I bet that saves time in the mornings!”
“It does. I can also fly, and I can breathe in space.”
“No way! That’s awesome!”
“Yeah, it is pretty awesome. So, any updates on the bombs?”
“Well, since you took them out, nada. Terrorists work in groups. You might have only shut down one group. Who’s to say another won’t rise up in their place today or tomorrow or the next day?”
“So, be on high alert, right?” Kate asks.
“Kate... Another stupid question.” Tony scolds. Kate frowns.
“Don’t listen to him.” Carol suggests. “He’s not good with kids.”
“I’m 22!”
“You’re a kid, compared to us.”
“Cheers for that.”
Yelena opens her bedroom door and stumbles out of the room, looking dazed. “Anyone know the way to the bathroom?” She’s pinching her nose.
Natasha drops her fork with a clatter and she and Kate rush to her side.
“What happened?” Natasha asks.
“I dunno. It ju’t ‘tarted.”
“Let me look.”
“No, I’m bleeding.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
Kate grabs the first item she sees – a tea towel – and holds it under Yelena’s nose, as she slowly releases her pinch.
“Woah. That’s a big clot!” Natasha exclaims as some stuff drops out of her nostril. Yelena closes the one nostril and lightly blows through other one. “No! What are you doing? That’ll make things worse! Did you not pay attention to Мама when she taught us about nosebleeds?”
“That was years ago!”
“Okay, so under Dreykov, what did you do if your nose bled?”
“Um, guys, we’re trying to eat.”
“Blew out the snot and blood and carried on.”
“And if it didn’t stop?”
“I’d have it packed by the nurses.”
“I’m surprised Dreykov didn’t use that as an excuse to kill you.”
“He used it as an excuse to torture me.”
“Are you being serious?” Kate asks, shocked.
“Deadly serious. Dreykov was a ruthless leader and ruthless killer. He took pleasure in taking girls, training them in his Black Widow Programme, killing any defects and torturing us, personally, so that we would become hardened soldiers.”
“Why didn’t you fight back?”
“We couldn’t. He had a phenomenal lock on all Widows.” Natasha answers. We couldn’t hurt him, but it didn’t stop us from flinching if he so much as raised a hand. I severed the connection, so I managed to get my own back and beat him up. And then Yelena here killed him.”
“I blew up his jet.”
“What the? How?”
“Stun Batons directly in the propeller.”
“Hey,” Kate begins, lifting her chin up sharply, “your nose has stopped bleeding.”
“Oh, good. I’m starving. What’ve we got?”
“Spaghetti Carbonara. Which we are trying to enjoy.” Tony remarks.
“Got any hot sauce?”
“Hot sa—why do you want hot sauce?”
“Because I like it.”
“You wanna ruin the authentic taste of Italy with hot sauce? Is she being for real, right now?”
“Yes!” Yelena and Natasha answer in unison.
“No, I do not have any hot sauce.”
“Okay. I can still eat it; I just prefer spice. If anyone wants to get me something for Christmas, then get me some hot sauce.”
“You know it’s only July, right?”
“Yes.”
“When’s your birthday?” Carol asks.
“1992.”
“What month?”
Yelena shrugs. “I don’t know. Nat is December 3rd.”
“I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but how do you not know when you were born?” Carol continues.
“They destroyed my birth certificate, so I reinvented it.”
“‘They’? Who’s ‘they’?”
“General Dreykov, the Red Room. I dunno who. I don’t really celebrate my birthday... I mean, we always celebrated Christmas.”
“All the boxes under the Christmas tree were empty.” Natasha announces, causing Yelena to gasp in surprise.
“Whaaat? You’re lying!”
Natasha frowns. “I thought you knew?”
“No! I thought they were real!”
“Why do you think we never opened any?”
“Because Мама said they were for the Photoshoots for the cards... Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter.”
“Because they were empty, Yelena. I knew all the presents under the tree were just empty boxes, but I didn’t care. I wanted to open every single one... so just for a second it would feel real.”
“No. You’re lying. Don’t do this to me.”
“I swear Yelena, I’m telling the truth.”
“We had presents.”
“Yes, the same ones every single year. You were too young to understand that Dreykov selected us to pretend to be sisters and he selected Alexei and Melina to pretend to be our parents. You believed the lie. You were three when we first met. You thought we were your real family, because that is how we grew up.”
Yelena’s bottom lip begins to quiver, and she pouts a little. “I told you; the best part of my life was fake. And none of you told me. It was real to me.”
“I know it was. It was real to me, too. Just not the presents, I’m sorry to tell you.”
“So, I haven’t had any presents for twenty-five years?”
“Not unless you bought them for yourself. Although, what about that ring I got for you? The one inscribed with YB.”
“That was a nice gift.”
“See, you got a gift.”
“One, Natasha. One. In twenty-five years. When is my birthday?”
“I don’t know. You didn’t have a birth certificate when we met. Truth be told, you’re a mystery.”
“When did Mom and Dad celebrate it?”
“Whenever they remembered. It changed every year.”
“‘Whenever they remembered’...” she repeats in a monotone. “Yeah, cos I was the chore, the job Dad didn’t want to do!”
“No, Yelena. It wasn’t like that.”
“No? Then tell me what it was like! Tell me why you had a birthday on the same date every year and mine was ‘whenever they remembered’! Tell me why you were so fucking important and why I was a fucking chore! What did you have that I didn’t? Why were you so special, huh? How come Mom and Dad gave you so much more attention than me? You got hurt; Mom helped you out. You wanted to ride a bike, Dad taught you.”
“Yelena, you had those things too. You were never less important than me. You had the same amount of love and attention as I did! In fact, there were times when I was jealous of you because Mom gave you more attention than I had. Mom always remembered your birthday. Dad had to be reminded, either by her or by me. General Dreykov had him working multiple undercover missions. He never remembered because of how much work he had to do. How many people he had to take out. Don’t forget that Alexei was Soviet Union’s first and only Super-Soldier. He was meant to be greater than Captain America! He was meant to have glory days as the Red Guardian. He was the Red Guardian and then he was buried in that Ohio mission for three years. If you wanna be mad at someone, be mad at Dreykov, but don’t be mad at us. We tried, Yelena. To be a real family. We were... are a real family. Dreykov forced Alexei to do multiple undercover missions. That is the nature of being a spy. You have so many aliases, passports, birth certificates, identification... that by the end of it, you’re so exhausted, you forget who you are. I stopped using my real name, years ago, when we moved to Ohio. You’ve known me as Natasha, for my whole life. In Russia, I was Natalia Alianova Romanova. That is who I was born. I became Natasha Romanoff when we moved to Ohio. At least your name didn’t change. You came to us as Yelena Belova and that is who you are and will always be. I know it’s hard to find out these things now and I’m sorry I told you in this way, but it would have been so much worse if you had found out when you were a kid.”
“Would I not have been able to process it better or at least forget about it?”
“You did forget about it. We were all so deep undercover that we became the family we never had. I was taken. You were, too. My mother, she never stopped looking for me. Melina told me this. A bargain was struck, and my family was paid off.”
“What about me?”
“We were told very little about your past... your first three years. Melina was told you were an orphan. That’s why she became your mother. I’m sorry. This is probably too much to process and deal with now. And I realise I’ve just revealed everything to everyone else.”
Yelena’s pout gets bigger, and her eyes start to fill up with tears. She clenches her jaw. “I don’t care... that they all know... I don’t. What I care about is the fact that what I thought was real turns out to be fake. For the second time. How many times are you going to keep doing this?”
“Are you mad at me?”
“A little. But, you know... I don’t blame you. You were lied to as well. We both went through lies and trauma and abuse. But we always had each other, huh? And we always will, right? Right?”
“Until we die.”
“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to be alone. Do we have any vodka?”
Tony realises she’s talking to him and so jumps a little before scampering to the fridge. “Uh, Smirnoff okay?”
“Sure. Thanks.” She takes the proffered bottle, “Ваше здоровье!” then exhales loudly before chugging a third of vodka in one go.
“Ваше здоровье!” Natasha echoes. “Uh, Yelena, you might wanna—”
“No. Don’t tell me to slow down. I’m going to finish this by myself and then I’m going to disappear.”
“Why don’t you take it to your room?”
“Because I—I don’t know. Just shut up!”
Natasha chuckles. “Okay.”
They all watch as Yelena gulps down the vodka, like water. As she wanders off, she throws the bottle over her shoulder... and it somehow lands (and subsequently shatters) in the sink.
“Jesus, Yelena! You’re fucking reckless!” Natasha scolds.
“La, la, la, not listening.” Yelena replies putting her index fingers in her ears. She strides... staggers... down the corridor and the group watches her go.
“I’ll go and—”
“Sit, Kate. Let her sleep this off. She’s had a tough day and I fucked it up.”
“Is she gonna trash anything or hurt herself?”
“No, she’s not a violent drunk. If she’s upset, she gets drunk, has a cry, then falls asleep. But don’t tell her I told you that. As for me? I don’t really get drunk anymore. It’s not for me. She’s young, she handles it better.”
“Nat! Nat! C’mere! Nat, get your ass down here!”
Natasha shakes her head at the belligerent behaviour, exhales slowly and makes her way down to Yelena’s room.
Natasha knocks on the door and walks in without waiting for an answer. “What do you want?”
“Nothing in particular. In all honesty, I just want to cuddle you and fall asleep in your arms, like we used to do when we were kids. Is that weird now that we’re adults?”
Natasha chuckles. “No, that’s actually incredibly sweet. God, I miss those days. They were the best, huh? Warm, cosy and safe.”
“Yeah. And I just want to feel safe and loved, right now. My heart hurts... and, and my soul.”
“Okay. I am sorry. I shouldn’t have told you all that stuff. I feel like I’ve broken your heart.”
“Hey, you had your heart broken too. I love you, Сестра.”
“I love you too, младшая сестра.”
“Be my big spoon?”
“Yeah, alright. But don’t you dare fart!”
“No promises.” Yelena snorts, then laughs and Nat joins in.
Chapter 2: Two
Chapter Text
The next day, Yelena wakes up alone. Natasha had left at some point during the night. Looking at her phone, she sees it is 4am and decides to just get up, as she can't sleep anymore anyway.
Stepping out into the corridor, she hears shushing, and her curiosity gets he better of her. She treads carefully down the corridor and hovers outside an ajar door. She eavesdrops on the conversation.
"Keep your voice down. I don't want anyone to find out."
"I don't know what you're so afraid of."
"Look, if the others find out, don'tcha think they'll make it difficult for us to work together?"
"Nat, we're grown-ups and consensual adults. We're not doing anything wrong."
"I know that, but letting my guard down... Just shut up."
"Okay, but I-"
"Just shut up and get it in. I need you to."
"Nat, it's 4am, I'm not even hard yet."
"Then I'll help-"
The sound of gentle sucking fills the corridor, and a disgusted Yelena turns to leave. As she does so, she whacks a knuckle, loudly, on the door frame.
Shit, ow. She mouths.
The sucking stops and there are quick footsteps to the door. Yelena tries to dart away.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Natasha hisses, poking her head around the door.
Yelena stops and turns around slowly.
Natasha steps out into the corridor, wearing a robe. She blinks in the harsh fluorescent lights as she ties the belt around her waist and closes the door. She strides up to Yelena and shoves her against the wall, with an arm across her chest, close to her throat.
"What the hell?"
"I was... sleepwalking?"
"Yelena, you have never sleepwalked a day in your life. You're eavesdropping. You know that's really rude. What did you hear?"
"Nothing."
Nat's arm is pushed up and into Yelena's throat. "Don't lie to me! I could kill you where you stand."
"Your... own... sis-ter?" Yelena asks, straining.
Natasha moves effortlessly and where her arm was once on her sister's throat, she now has Yelena's right arm behind her back and is pushing her forward. "Move!" she hisses.
She shoulder barges her to get her to move and the pair make their way to the kitchen.
"Talk."
"Let go of me and I will."
"No. Start talking."
Yelena's gaze falls upon the knife block. "Remember Budapest?"
Nat knows exactly what she's talking about, and so she pushes Yelena into the island counter and slams her head onto the surface, with a thud. She holds it there, tightly, and Yelena begins struggling.
"Who are you-ack!" she exclaims as Nat pushes her head harder into the marble. "Who are you sleeping with?"
"None of your business, Yelena."
"I heard you talking to one of the guys. It's one of the quiet ones. Banner? Rogers? Barton?" Natasha's grip loosens a little. "It's Barton, isn't it? Is that who's cock you were sucking?"
"You better watch it, Yelena!"
"That's not a no."
"I can still kick your ass."
"Well, come on then."
"I'm in my robe."
"Don't threaten what you can't dish out."
"You can't say shit, okay?"
"Why does it matter?"
"Because I can't let my guard down."
"And you think I can?"
"You should, Yelena. I'm a monster."
"Why?"
Natasha sighs. "Because of the graduation ceremony. We can never have kids."
"Does he know?"
"He knows about the Red Room and the graduation ceremony, but not what that entails. So, uh, not really."
"But why keep it a secret?"
"I dunno. It's like you with your feelings for Kate."
"I confessed my feelings... to you."
"Right, but not to her."
Yelena sighs, understanding. "Okay, so why do you need to pretend you're not fucking Barton?"
"Yelena! You are so crass."
"I'm Russian. You're too... sensitive."
"I'm American."
"Russian-American. Anyway, it does not matter. Why are you so shy?"
"I don't know."
"Natasha, is Barton married?"
"No, he isn't."
"So, enjoy fucking him and who cares if people know you're fucking him."
"Yeah, right. And you enjoy fucking Kate."
"Hey! She and I are not."
"Not yet, you're not."
Yelena scoffs. "If I promise to let it go, can you let me go?"
"I don't know if I can trust you."
Yelena gasps and squeaks. "I am your sister!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But we're also trained killers. The first time we met after twenty-one years, you tried to kill me!"
"Me? Kill you?" Yelena laughs boisterously. "Oh, Natasha, that is the funniest. If I wanted to, I would have. But also, you are my sister, so of course, I held back."
"You held back? Then it wasn't a fair fight!"
"You held back too, don't lie."
"Well, yeah, you're my baby sister. I'm not gonna hurt... kill you."
"Exactly! Look, let me go, I can't feel my fingers."
"Reach for a knife and I swear to God, I'll-"
"You'll kill me."
Natasha sighs and lets Yelena go. The latter stands up and shakes out her hand, to get the blood back, and then rotates her shoulder to ease the stiffness. "That's an effective grip."
"I know." There is a loud crack and Natasha looks at Yelena worriedly. "What was that?"
"My shoulder."
"Did that not hurt? It sounded like it did."
"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks for the feigned concern, though."
"That was real concern, Yelena. It sounded painful."
There is a long silence between the two.
"Hey, you want something to eat?" Yelena asks, suddenly.
"I should get back... It's been a while."
"Really? You're gonna... now? Are you that desperate?"
"Well, no, I'm not. Yes, alright. I'll have some toast."
A sleepy Clint shuffles down the corridor, unbeknownst to the women. His voice startles them. "Nat are you coming back to bed?" he asks, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Hello, Barton. You plowing my sister?"
"What? I-" he stammers "No...?"
"Barton, she knows." Natasha replies, sighing.
"You told her?"
"She found out herself."
"We didn't do anything."
"I heard you talking. And Natasha did say to 'get it in,' sooo... you do the maths." The pair blush. "I think it's healthy. I don't get why you have to be so secretive about it."
"That's what I've been saying."
"See, the man gets it."
"I can't have babies."
"What? Who said anything about-huh?"
"I didn't want you to think I'm a monster because of it."
"Natasha, why would I ever think that? How many times have we hooked up? Let me tell you: a lot. You know I have feelings for you. It's not like it's a one-night stand. We keep coming back together. Even when we're on opposite sides of the law. I might want kids, one day, but not now."
"If you want kids, you should be with someone who can give you kids. I can't."
"Why, because you don't want them?"
"She doesn't have a uterus, dipshit."
"Or ovaries." Natasha adds.
"Yeah, that's what happens when the Red Room gives you an involuntary hysterectomy. They kind of just go in and they rip out all of your reproductive organs. They just get right in there and they chop them all away. Everything out, so you can't have babies."
Clint is stunned. He has no words.
"Remember when I said: 'In the Red Room, where I was trained, where I was raised, they have a graduation ceremony. They sterilise you. It's efficient.' That is what I was talking about."
"And you think that makes you a monster?"
"It makes me less of a woman." Natasha replies, glumly.
"You're still a woman, Nat. It's disgusting what they did to you-"
"Between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. Mostly. Some were even younger."
"Yelena, you're not helping!"
"What? The man has a right to know."
"Yes, but this is my boyfriend and my body, so I should be the one to tell him!"
"Yes, but we both went through the same process."
"You were six when you joined the Red Room."
"What has that got to do with anything?"
"I was born into it. I was put into the Red Room from when I was one, until I was eight. Then I lived with you, in Ohio, until I was eleven, and then I went back into the Red Room. Melina had been cycled through the Red Room four times before I was even born. You don't know the same shit as I do."
"You got out! I didn't. You were out for three years. You had a childhood! I know more about the Red Room than you."
"What do you mean you didn't get out? I got out when I was eight and was sterilised when I was fourteen."
Yelena laughs, gravelly. "I went in when I was six, yes?" Natasha nods. "I was sterilised when I was eight. I graduated, but Dreykov wanted me for his own 'special project'... he trained me, he abused me... physically, mentally, sexually... and then he kept me on. He said he needed me. He needed to make me the best Black Widow of all time. He made me better than you. He trained me in the exact same way as he trained you, minus all the psychological training usual for a spy. Initially using psychological conditioning to make the Widows obedient, by the 2000s the program had shifted to using mind control. The counteragent was made in secret, as you know, and I was on a mission to retrieve it. I killed Oksana after she freed me. We fought... I stabbed her in the stomach, twisted the knife, then ripped her open... she sprayed the gas in my face, which freed me. She told me to free the others and then I realised what I had done and then I watched her die. I wasn't freed until I was twenty-four. I was raised and trained in the Red Room for eighteen years. I watched them go from psychological conditioning, with a focus on Soviet Union propaganda and war tactics, to literal mind control... chemical subjugation. And as Dreykov's 'pet,' I was the first to undergo this... this change. So, don't stand there and tell me I 'don't know the same shit'. I don't know what it's like to have a life outside of the Red Room, until now. That's why I feel like a pubescent teenager. I feel like I'm a fucking sixteen-year-old in a twenty-five-year old's body. It's been one year since I was freed, and I don't know what to do with myself. I don't have a purpose or a routine and it's killing me. Why do you think I play Call of Duty so much? Because it's a routine and it's war. That's all I know, Nat. War. Killing. Death. And I know you're gonna wanna circle back to an earlier comment I made, but I don't wanna talk about it. I let it slip and I wish I didn't. I've carried that with me for fifteen years. I'll carry that to my grave if I have to."
"You were nine?"
"Are we talking about the sterilisation or the other thing?"
"The other thing."
"The thing I just said I didn't wanna talk about?"
"Yes, Yelena."
"Why do you want to talk about it?"
"Because I didn't know that happened. None of that happened for my generation."
"It was the 80s, I'm sure it happened."
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Well, yeah, I didn't think it would happen in the 90s, but it did."
"How many times?"
"Would you believe me if I said, 'just the once'?" Yelena looks at her feet and Natasha knows she's lying. She used to do the same thing whenever she lied.
"You know you look at your feet when you lie."
"I do not!"
"It's okay, I used to do it too. You really are my sister." Natasha forces a laugh.
"The abuse went on for five years."
"Five years?! What the hell?"
"I thought it was normal... that that's what all the girls went through. An intense, intimate grooming session."
"Dreykov groomed you? Did he... you know?"
"Yes. Mom caught him once. She yelled at him; told him I was 'just a child.' He thought he could get away with it for two years. He never tried again after that. We couldn't do shit, anyway. He had manipulated us both."
"Oh, God. Yelena, I am so sorry." Natasha replies, silent tears on her cheeks. Even Barton looks upset. "Is that why you're gay?"
Yelena scoffs. "I'm not gay. But I don't ever want to sleep with a guy. Ever. If that's what you enjoy, then fine, but for me, it's a hard pass. Pun unintended."
"How did Mom-?"
"I vaguely remember her walking into his office and pulling him off me. I cried and cried, as I pulled up my pants. I was so scared. She yelled at him, and I sat in a corner, shaking in fear. She came over to me and I told her I was sorry. I thought she was gonna yell at me and tell me I 'should have known better,' because I was fourteen, then. Instead, she cried and held me, and shushed me. She rocked me back and forth and wiped my tears and kissed the top of my head and told me it wasn't my fault. She didn't ask questions. She just assumed it was the first time. I couldn't bring myself to tell her it wasn't and that he started when I was eleven or twelve. And then, after an hour of crying, I fell asleep in her lap, and she took me to bed and then I briefly woke up. I asked her to stay with me, so she did. She laid on the bed with me and was stroking my head... like she used to, to help us fall asleep. She was gone when I woke up and I never saw her again. I thought she had been killed. And that was it. Until two years ago, when we broke Dad out Seventh Circle Prison, and he told us that Mom was still alive."
"Yelena, Моя сестра. Почему ты не сказал мне, что Дрейков тебя изнасиловал?"
"Я только что это сделал. I've been carrying this with me since I was eleven or twelve years old. I'm glad the weight has been lifted from my chest, and I'm glad I killed him. It started with me and ended with me, and I'm fucking glad he's dead and can't do this to anyone else."
"I'm glad you told me. It was a very brave thing to do."
"You can't say shit." Yelena says, directing this at Barton.
"I heard nothing."
"Good. Keep it that way. And, Natasha... I said I am not gay, but... Меня очень привлекает Kate Bishop, и я не знаю, что с этим делать."
"Пригласите ее на свидание."
"Куда дети ходят на свидания в наши дни?"
"I do not know. Pizza? Bowling? Somewhere to talk, so don't take her to the movies.
"Okay, I can manage that. Uh, will you be alright without us?"
"We've managed without you before. And no, that's not me saying I don't want my baby sister to tag along, whilst I save the world with the cool kids. That's me saying that you should have a nice time and not worry about us. I love you, you know, but we are the Avengers, we've been doing this since 2012. We know what we're doing."
"I love you too, Nat. Alright, I'll ask her out on a date today. It's just a date. She'll probably say yes. I mean, we've kissed already."
"Exactly. You've already got to first base, you just gotta take your time and don't rush for a home run, okay?"
"Base? Home run? Nat, this isn't baseball."
"No, but in dating there are bases. First base is holding hands, kissing, and making out, and second base is touching above the waist, above or below clothes. Third base is stimulating anywhere below the waist, above or below clothes... though, usually below, and fourth base, or home run, is having sexual intercourse." Barton explains, sensing Natasha's unease with the situation.
"Oh, okay. I get it. Well, yeah, we've done first base. Also, I think now is a suitable time to apologise for eavesdropping on you two." Yelena adds, sounding sincere.
"Is that a genuine apology from Yelena Belova? My God!" Natasha jokes, chuckling.
"I can take it back."
"No, no takebacks. You actually apologised. Good for you, how does it feel?"
"Fuck you, I've apologised genuinely before."
Natasha snorts. "With me, it was rare."
"You rarely apologised, too." Yelena says.
"I apologised, just not for stupid things. When you fell down and bumped your knee, I said nothing. We were playing, I didn't push or trip you, you slipped. It would have meant nothing if I had apologised. If I hurt you, or upset you in some way, I always said 'Прости меня, сестренка.' Which, for Barton's benefit, is 'Forgive me, little sister.' I apologised when I needed to, as did you. But you were more stubborn than me, sometimes. You wouldn't always eat the food Mom cooked for us, and you'd throw a tantrum because of it."
"And I bet you ate everything, huh?"
"Compared to the military-style food given to us by Dreykov, home-cooked food was a fucking Godsend. I only complained about food I didn't like. Anyway, I'm exhausted. I want to go to sleep. Like, actual sleep. It's six o'clock. We have three hours before we need to be up."
"Goodnight, Nat." Barton says, giving her a kiss on the cheek and wandering back to his bedroom.
Natasha places a hand on Yelena's neck to show her support for the news that she has learnt and looks into Yelena's eyes. Yelena touches Nat's nose with her own, then pulls her in for a secure hug. Natasha reciprocates the hug, and they hold each other tightly for a few minutes.
"I'm proud of you, you know." Natasha announces.
"Why?"
"For being brave and telling me something so personal. And because of your crush on Kate."
Yelena does her usual cough-laugh. "We're not sixteen. Can we say something more grown-up than a 'crush'?"
"It's what it is, deal with it."
"I feel better telling you. It was eating me up inside and I didn't even know."
"I bet it was. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to stop it."
"You were eighteen when it started."
"The year the KGB recruited me. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought it was normal. I told you that."
"Okay, yeah, I understand that. Sorry to keep bringing it up."
"It's fine. Wait, the KGB recruited you when you were eighteen?"
"Yeah, I was their youngest member. They saw my potential through Dreykov. They would frequently come and watch us train. Boris Turgenov selected older Widows, and he chose me to work for them. I worked for the KGB until 2010, when Tony recruited me and Barton. That's when I started to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. As I told you, killing Dreykov was the final step in my defection to S.H.I.E.L.D. That's when we imploded a five-story building and then had a shoot-out with the Hungarian Special Forces. Back then, the Avengers were a subsidiary of S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't until the events with Hydra and the Winter Soldier in 2014 that we became an independent group."
"I'm learning more about you, Natasha. But you should sleep. Do you still want toast?"
"Nah, I'm not hungry. You have some and go play CoD. That's what 'the kids' are calling it."
Yelena chuckles, lightly. "Much easier than saying its whole name all the time."
Natasha smiles at her, before leaving the room, so Yelena can play alone. She closes the door and sighs into the empty corridor. Her sister was hard work, sometimes, but she still loved her fiercely, and wouldn’t trade her for a thing.
Yelena boots up the PlayStation, from rest mode and it immediately opens her game. She grabs a beer from her mini fridge, presses ‘Continue’ and dives into the campaign, instantly taking down five enemies with silent headshots, before they even know she’s there. She grins smugly to herself. “We’re just getting started, boys.”
* * *
Three hours later, everyone begins rousing to start their day. Some are more slow-going than the others. Natasha and Carol look exhausted. Carol had been up since six and had gone down to Tony's training room to use his punching bag. She had gone a couple of rounds on it, but they were a little too hard, so she had snapped the chain between the bag and the ceiling hook. As the chain had snapped, the bag came flying off and embedded itself into the wall behind. She places the broken chain on the kitchen island. "Sorry I broke your punch bag. It's stuck in the wall."
"How did you manage to break a chain?" Steve asks, gobsmacked.
"I punched the bag, the chain snapped, and the bag got stuck in the wall."
"Superhuman strength?" Steve asks.
"Superhuman strength." Carol repeats.
"That hook is solid steel." Tony adds. "Designed to hold up 50kg of weight. How hard did you punch?"
"Hard enough, apparently." She hastily retreats to the other side of the room.
"Where are the kids?" Bruce asks.
"Probably asleep." Natasha answers. "I'll check." She makes her way to Yelena's room and opens the door to find her fast asleep in her gaming chair and the PS4 controller upside down on the floor, where it had fallen. Natasha sighs at the image on the screen:
"Oh, Yelena." Natasha says softly. She creeps out of the room and closes the door quietly, before heading to Kate's room. She knocks on the door and waits for a response. There is none, so she carefully opens the door and knocks again. "Kate?" She mumbles and rolls over. "Kate?"
She's pretty responsive to her name. "Yeah?" she asks, groggily.
"It's time to get up. We're all in the kitchen."
"Aww. I was having a good dream." Kate whinges.
"Sorry to stop your dream."
"It's okay, I'll get over it." Kate replies. Natasha nods and proceeds to wake up Yelena.
Back in Yelena's room, Natasha goes to simply switch off the PlayStation.
"No, I have to save it!" Yelena exclaims, making Natasha jump.
"You were killed by a grenade, by the way."
"Damn it. I was doing so well."
"What difficulty are you on?"
"Hardened. It's the one below Veteran."
"Damn. So, you're pretty badass then?"
"I am, yes. In real life, too"
"Now you're just showing off. C'mon, Kate's up. But, uh, do your teeth. Your breath stinks."
"Thanks, Nat."
She shrugs. "You'd do the same for me."
"Yeah, actually, your breath stinks of cock."
"Oh, and you know what that smells like, do you?"
Yelena walks out into the corridor but turns to Natasha. "Ha(!)" she replies sarcastically, "No, but that's what you were sucking last night."
"Touché." Natasha replies, shaking her head.
Yelena turns around and collides with Kate. Their foreheads smack together, and each is dazed.
Kate stumbles back and Yelena catches her around her waist. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay, I'll live."
"Glad I caught you. Wouldn't want you falling."
"For you or to the ground?"
"Into me... to the ground? I don't know."
"Well, I already did fall into you. You have a pretty solid forehead."
"Да. I've broken many noses."
"Well, thanks for not breaking mine."
Yelena chuckles softly. "I'm sorry about last night."
"What happened last night?"
"You know, arguing with Natasha, downing the vodka, shattering the bottle?"
"Oh, you mean yesterday evening? That's alright. It seemed like a difficult family moment."
"Yeah, it was, but that's beside the point."
"How are you feeling today? Hungover?"
"A little tired, but I feel better now you're here."
"Is that so?"
"Well, yeah, I mean, you're my age, near enough, so I feel like I can talk to you more."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. Cos they all talk about superhero stuff, and we can talk about what movies you're into or your favourite pizza toppings."
"Yeah, and you're more likely to rescue me than they are."
"Do you need rescuing?"
"You seem to think I do."
"Do I? I never said-"
"No, but your strong grip on my waist indicates that you're worried about the bump to my head."
Yelena looks down at her hand still firmly on Kate's waist and gulps. "It was a nasty bump to the head. You could have concussion."
"If I had a concussion, then I wouldn't remember your name."
Yelena drops her voice. "True, but a girl shouldn't take chances."
"And who's gonna stop me from taking chances?"
"Me."
"Ah, so, you're holding me against my will... I don't think that's as charming as you think it is."
"You can leave any time." Yelena says, letting go of Kate's waist and bringing both her palms up to show she means no harm.
"I could, but maybe I don't want to."
"So, what do we do?"
"I don't know. Hold me again and I'll tell you." Kate says, playfully biting her lower lip.
"You mean like this?" Yelena asks, grabbing Kate's hips and pulling her, so their pelvises touch.
Kate gasps a little. "Yeah, like that. You're a dangerous woman, Yelena."
"Do you like dangerous women?"
"Hmm, when I've figured it out, I'll let you know." Kate winks at Yelena and playfully shoves her backwards and into the wall. She lifts Yelena's chin, with her index finger, before letting go. She leans in and her lips ghost Yelena's, right before she turns around and saunters down the corridor to grab some breakfast.
Yelena watches her leave, focused on her ass, so doesn't hear Natasha leave her bedroom and stand next to her.
"What was that?"
Yelena jumps, then punches Natasha on the bicep. "I don't know... talking."
"That was more than talking. You two were flirting. I told you; you like her."
"I know I do, dipshit. I wanted to kiss her so badly."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because we've only just woken up and I've not brushed my teeth yet. It was probably the wrong moment."
"That was a moment."
"Should I go after her?"
"Dude, this isn't a Hallmark movie. Go to the kitchen for breakfast and if you have a moment again, take it."
"Hmm, alright."
They wander down to the kitchen and as Yelena takes the Cornflakes from Steve, Tony begins talking. "Ah, Belova, Romanoff, glad you two could join us. Now, if we can all head down to my lab."
"But I've not had any breakfast. Let me eat. Please, my Daddy says it's good for you." Yelena whines.
"Did you just-you know what, not gonna ask." Natasha begins.
"I'm sure if your 'Daddy' were here, he'd tell you that what I'm about to tell you is more important than breakfast."
"Tony Stark. Just give me five minutes to pour milk, then cereal into this bowl, grab a spoon and then I will follow you, and listen to your oh-so-important spiel."
"You do milk, then cereal?" Carol and Steve ask, shocked.
"Да, is that not right?"
"Nooo! Cereal and then milk!" they reply in unison.
"No, I'm with Yelena on this. Milk, then cereal." Clint and Bruce replies.
Everyone starts to argue about how best to make a bowl of cereal.
"I just have toast, so-" Kate replies, quietly.
"Oh, my God! I didn't know cereal could be this divided. All right, enough. All of you."
"I didn't say anything. That's not fair."
Natasha throws her a look, since she started it. "Tony, give her time to have breakfast, because she's only going to whinge and complain about being hungry, if she doesn't."
"I'm not a baby, Natasha."
"No, you're not. But even when we were on the run in Budapest, you complained multiple times about being hungry."
"Yeah, because I had only eaten breakfast. My lunch was disturbed by you and the Widows who were after you and those vials. Then, if you remember, we got smoked out, shot at, chased, almost mowed down by an elite armoured tank by Dreykov's special project, then the car we stole got blown up by him-"
"Her. Antonia."
"Her. And it was flipped upside down and sent careening down the stairs into the subway. You wouldn't let me bandage my arm and then we hid in the same vent you and Barton hid in. There was no time for food, but I was hungry. And I expressed my hunger to you."
"Like a child."
"No. I did not whine or pout or throw a tantrum. If I recall, I said 'Great plan. I love the part where I almost bled to death', then we talked about Dreykov's special project and how it was like fighting a mirror, then you asked me for the location of the Red Room, and I told you I didn't know as it 'changes location constantly. And every Widow is sedated on entry and exit for maximum security.' We then got out of that cosy vent and headed out of Budapest and that was the first time I asked for food. We got to that shop; I got a first aid kit and left you to pay for it-"
"After you called me a 'poser'."
"Haha! You're such a poser."
"And then by night-time, we found that little café thing and you got the beer. I needed food, but you didn't get me any. I asked you twice. That's it."
"You could have bought some yourself."
"With what money? All of my money was in the Budapest safe house. And my good vodka. Блин."
"Alright, you've made your point. Everyone, for God's sake, have some breakfast. I'll be in the lab." Tony announces, exasperatedly. He saunters off and down the stairs. The others troop after him, leaving Belova and Bishop to make breakfast.
"Hey, Tony. Just fill us in. Let the girls have the day off."
"And why is that?"
"Because I told Yelena to take Kate out for the day and that we'd manage it. Come on, they're young and they're crushing on each other. Let them have their fun, go on a date. What's the harm? We're the Avengers, we've taken on some bigger threats than..." she looks at the holographic screen in front of her, "six bomb threats. Again? Thought Captain Marvel took them out."
"She did. Very well, I might add. But these are copycats and there's another set to go off in Downtown in an hour and a half. So, I suggest you cut the conversations short and get suited up. I'll send S.W.A.T. to some of the other locations."
The six come back up the stairs and Captain Marvel clears her throat, making the two youngsters spring apart.
"Did we, uh, did we miss it? The meeting, I mean." Captain Marvel nods. "Блин. Tell us where and when we need to meet."
"We've got this. You kids have the day off. So, make the most of it."
"The day off? Oh, thank God." Kate replies, delighted.
"Wait, Carol, why do we have the day off?"
"Oh, because you're young." She replies.
"Go and have fun." Natasha adds, winking at Yelena.
"Did you seriously tell them?"
"Do you want to take her out on a date, or what?"
"I do, but-"
"No, no buts. Go spend the day with her, take her on a date. Show her your softer side. Make use of the quiet building, cos you know you won't be interrupted during any makeout sessions."
"Who said we're going to be making out?"
"I was assuming you weren't gonna go straight to fourth base. Any kisses you might share. I know you're embarrassed."
"I'm not embarrassed."
"Oh, yeah? Then why did you spring apart once Carol arrived?"
"She cleared her throat, it startled me."
"Because you felt like you were doing something wrong. You're not, so stop sneaking around."
"Says the one sleeping with-"
"Don't finish that sentence."
Yelena shrugs and turns to Kate. "So, uh, we have the whole day to ourselves. What do you want to do?"
"Coffee first. Then we can get dressed and I'll meet you back here."
"Okay, well I'm gonna shower. Does anyone need a piss before I shower?" Yelena asks the group, loudly and impolitely.
"You know there's several bathrooms in the Tower, right? I'm not a pauper. This is basically a penthouse. I have eight bedrooms and six bathrooms." Tony announces.
"Alrighty, then." Yelena says, before turning and marching down the corridor. It's Kate's turn to watch Yelena's ass.
By the time Yelena and Kate meet up again, the others are long gone.
"What say we continue where we left off before Captain Marvel interrupted us?"
"I'd say that's a good idea, Kate Bishop." Kate, being the taller of the two, leans down and kisses Yelena on the lips. She then kisses behind her ear. "Oh. Hello. I've not been kissed here before."
"You like?"
"It's different."
"How opposed are you to it?"
"Kiss me there again."
Kate obeys.
Within a few minutes, their kisses turn heated and Kate parts her lips to let Yelena's tongue in. She pushes the brunette into the counter and then helps her on top of it.
"I knew this island was a good idea." Kate whispers. "May I?" she questions, taking the edge of Yelena's white button-up vest top.
"Let me help." Yelena undoes the four buttons on her vest top and allows Kate to remove it. "Sorry, I don't have a secret six pack or anything."
Kate kisses her soft stomach. "I don't care if you do, or you don't. It's beautiful."
"Pssh, I have never heard of a belly being 'beautiful'."
"Just enjoy the compliments, Yelena."
Kate places more kisses on Yelena's abdomen, before working her way up to her chest. "These are really nice." She says, admiring her beasts. "Don't worry, I won't touch without permission."
"Was that a hint?"
Kate chuckles. "More of an invitation..."
Yelena gets the hint and removes Kate's sheer white t-shirt. "So beautiful..."
With their tops discarded, they continue to kiss each other. Kate removes Yelena's bra strap and kisses her bare shoulder, as Yelena digs her fingernails into Kate's back. When Kate nips at the skin, Yelena accidentally scratches her back.
"Woah, easy there, tiger." Kate announces, indicating that it hurt. "We're not at that stage yet."
"Sorry." Yelena mumbles into Kate's neck.
* * *
Downstairs, masked assailants quietly break the lock to the Avengers Tower and make their way inside. They are confronted by Happy, but he is immediately Tased and put into a utility closet. Pepper is at a board meeting, so she isn't even on site.
"Есть ли у нас подтверждение того, что Белова находится в здании?" The soldier asks, pressing a finger to his ear.
"Да, у нас есть глаза в небе. Она на кухне. Не убивайте мирного жителя. Сделай Беловой больно, но не убивай ее. Она нужна нам живой."
"Утвердительный." He confirms, before making hand signals to the rest of his team.
They stealthily make their way up the stairs and then before they reach the top, they throw a couple of smoke grenades out. The girls cough and splutter and scramble for their tops. Dressing themselves, they wait for the smoke to clear. Kate wafts it away and Yelena grabs the chef's knife from the block. This is the first time Kate has seen her grab one for self-defence, and she's both curious and afraid to know how well she can use it.
Out of the smoke a soldier, dressed in black, rushes at Yelena, who screams and slices the air, a mere inch in front of the guy. She's raging now and slashes again and again, this time, cutting his stomach and his wrist. He drops back, clutching it and stemming the blood flow.
"Ты сука! Вы заплатите за это!"
"Достань меня!" Yelena claps back. She waits for another man to rush her and again slashes the knife horizontally. The guy grabs her wrist and bends it back, and she pants, and gasps in pain. Kate, concerned for her safety steps forward, but then she watches as Yelena drops the knife into her other hand and drives it into the man's stomach, before twisting the blade, accompanied by a grunt. To finish it off, she drags the blade from left to right, before removing the knife with another grunt. He falls on her and she pushes him away.
Two down, three to go.
One of the men shoots and the knife is flicked out of her hand, where it clatters to the floor.
"Вас пятеро только для меня? Я не знаю, стоит ли мне польститься или оскорбиться!"
The man who shot the knife out of her hand, shoots her again, this time in the liver.
"Shit!" Kate exclaims.
"I've had worse. It's a graze." Sure enough, when she lifts her vest top, there is a nasty red mark, and deep welt where the bullet rubbed on her skin but didn't penetrate it.
"Stun batons? Aw, you shouldn't have!" Yelena mocks, grabbing a fallen pistol. "Kate! Grab my phone, go into contacts, click ICE and select Nat! Do it now! Hey! Get the fuck off her!! Не трогай ее! Я убью вас всех! Я буду стрелять! Не трогай ее!"
"Оставьте гражданский."
Kate runs down the corridor to Yelena's room and snatches up her phone from the pillow. It has a pin code. She sprints back to the kitchen to find Yelena in hand-to-hand combat with the leader, whilst being electrocuted on the back by a stun baton from another.
"Yelena! Pin code!"
"It's Nat's birthday! Day, month, year!" she looks like she is in agony, but she's resisting the electricity.
"Gotcha! Come on, pick up, pick up."
The third man pins her arms behind her back. The stun batons are momentarily discarded, in favour of punches to her face. An elbow connects with Yelena's nose, and it breaks. She drops to the floor, where she gets punched, kicked and kneed in the face.
"Nat! Oh, thank God. You need to get back here, quick."
"A little busy at the moment. What's so urgent?"
"These men broke in and they're beating up Yelena!"
"Oh, my God! Yelena?"
Another round of stun batons to the face and Yelena is screaming in agony now.
"Никто за тобой не придет. Вырубите ее!" the leader orders and one of the men punches Kate so hard in the face that she's out cold before she hits the floor.
"Kate? Kate!" Yelena screams in pain and anger, and although the phone is on the floor, Natasha hears everything.
"Спокойной ночи, Yelena. Ты пойдешь с нами."
There is a thud as Yelena's head hits the tile and then a crunch as her phone is stepped on, before the line goes dead.
An unconscious, battered and bleeding Yelena is dragged, under her arms, out of the kitchen, before being thrown over one soldier's shoulder. Once outside, she's dumped into the back of an unmarked black vehicle, with the license plates removed and driven away from the Avengers Tower, two dead assailants and an unconscious Kate Bishop.
* * *
Natasha finishes her takedown of the enemy that was in the bomb facility and punches him in the face for extra assurance. She looks up and sees Carol leaning on the doorframe. "You okay? You seem worried."
"It's my sister. There's something wrong."
"How bad?"
"I heard fighting and they said they were gonna take her. Then the line went dead."
"Go find her! We can hold down the fort."
"You sure, Danvers?"
"Yes. If it were my sister, I wouldn't even hesitate! Go, now." Carol gives her a playful push out of the room, as she walks past.
Natasha claps Carol on her shoulder, and runs out. "I'm coming, Yelena." She runs out of the disused warehouse and jumps on a bike (which, conveniently had the keys in the ignition) and speeds up the dock and onto the main road. She zooms up the road, weaving in between the cars, and races back to the Avengers Tower. It was a fifteen-minute ride, but suddenly she hits rush hour traffic. "Ебать!" she says to herself. She gets too impatient and decides to jump up onto the pavement, beeping the horn, to try and warn the pedestrians on the pavement. As she rides, she gets stopped by a police officer. She slams on the brakes, and the back wheel comes up, so she ends up doing a front wheelie.
"You cannot ride on the pavement!"
"It's an emergency!"
"I don't care, it's illegal. Licence and registration."
"I don't have time for this! My sister has been kidnapped!"
The officer isn't budging. "License and registration!"
Natasha grumbles, but hands him her license.
"Natasha Romanoff? Is this your motorcycle?"
"No, it isn't. I stole it. Look, if you wanna fine me, then so be it, but I need to find my sister."
He hands back her license. "No, no, my mistake. I will let you go. Thank you for your time, I hope you find your sister."
She carries on driving on the pavement and then pops off the kerb and onto the road, continuing on her way. She opens the throttle and cuts through two red lights, before she gets to the Tower. She skids to a halt, kicks down the side stand and jumps off. Bursting through the door, the takes the stairs two at a time and enters into the hallway. She sees the two dead bodies and Kate crying in the corner. She sprints to her aid and knee slides to her side.
"Hey, Kate. You okay?"
"Hey, Nat. No, no. Yelena's gone. I don't know where. I'm scared."
"I heard. Let's take a few deep breaths and figure this out. What happened?"
"Well, we were making out here in the kitchen and we had our t-shirts off and-"
"Ah-da-da-da, skip that part."
"Oh, right. Well, as we were making out, these masked people came out of nowhere. They hit us with smoke grenades. Yelena grabbed that knife, there, and killed those two - ripped open their stomachs! It was kinda horrifying, to be honest! And... shit, where was I... uh, yeah, so she killed those two and then they hit her with these electrified sticks and then beat her up. Punches, kicks, elbows... they got her down... they kept beating her up. She was bloody and then they hit her with those sticks again and then punched me in the face. When I woke up, she was gone, but there was some blood. Maybe there's a trail?"
"Shit. Stun Batons? Were they male or female?"
"I only heard two men speaking... They were speaking in Russian, I guess. Yelena was talking to them and goading them, I think."
Natasha takes Kate by her shoulders. "We're gonna find her. I promise. Look, get some ice on your face, then go home. I will send Barton over to check in on you after a bit. Okay?"
"Thanks, Natasha. Please can I have a hug? I need it."
"Yeah, course." Natasha says, pulling her in for a tight hug. She instinctively kisses the top of Kate's head, as if she too were her younger sister. "I will find her." Natasha turns around and scans the scene. There is a pool of blood around the two deceased men and more blood towards the end of the kitchen. Natasha wanders over to it and crouches down the inspect the blood. She puts her index finger into the pool of blood and gingerly licks it. "That's rather metallic. Either low levels of iron, or low blood sugar. I hope it's Yelena's. I know Captain America has skills in investigation, so he can help too. And probably Iron Man, especially with J.A.R.V.I.S. I'll call them. We can't rush into this when we don't know where we're heading."
Soon enough, however, Natasha and Kate are joined by the rest of the Avengers.
"What happened back there, Nat?" Barton asks.
"Yelena's been kidnapped."
"By whom?"
"These two were part of the crew. Yelena killed them. Tony, can you programme J.A.R.V.I.S to follow a blood trail?"
"J.A.R.V.I.S.?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Are you able to follow a blood trail?"
"If you give me a blood sample, I can analyse it and follow it."
"He will need a blood sample."
"Natasha already tasted a drop. It's metallic, she said."
Natasha dips her finger into it again. "Where are you wanting this?"
"In the lab, on a glass slide."
Keeping her finger steady, she follows Tony into the lab, where he hands her a glass slide for a microscope. She presses her finger to the cold surface, transferring as much blood as possible, before sucking the smear left behind off her finger. However, instead of it going under a microscope, Tony presses a button on a device and a drawer opens. He places the blood-covered slide in the drawer and pushes another button to close it. Somehow, it's hooked up to J.A.R.V.I.S.
Ten minutes later...
"Sir, I have completed the analysis. I can give you a full breakdown of the blood type, iron, sodium, sugar, oxygen levels and whether there were certain chemicals being released at the time. The blood type is B+. The haemoglobin levels are 12 g/dl, the sodium-"
"J.A.R.V.I.S. no jargon, please."
"Yes, sir. The haemoglobin, which is the protein in the red blood cells are at a normal level, as is the sodium. There is low blood iron, which means that there is anaemia, there is also low blood sugar, which is also known as hypoglycaemia. There was a spike and a dramatic increase of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol, which indicates there was a fight or flight situation. It appears that there was also an increase in endorphins. At two instances. The first instance, there shows an increase in endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, and the second instance shows the increase of endorphins, as well as the aforementioned hormonal reactions."
"Aren't endorphins the 'love-drug'?" Clint asks, causing Kate to blush.
"Yes. That is correct. Endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin are released during moments of pleasure, including love and sex. Endorphins are also released as a way of managing pain. Adrenaline and cortisol are released by the body during a fight-or-flight scenario. My analysis detects that the blood sample belongs to Yelena Belova. I have further analysis, which may assist?"
"Go on," Tony begins, "I'd like to see where this goes."
"Well, it appears that when the endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin were released, there was a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation. Meaning the blood oxygen levels were reduced."
"In English." Natasha begins.
"An elevated heart rate and release of these love hormones decreases the supply of oxygen in the blood."
"We kissed! For God's sake. It's not rocket science. Yelena and I were making out and then we got ambushed. You could have just asked." Kate blurts out, cheeks reddening. "The fight-or-flight chemicals would have been released as she was getting her ass kicked."
"Yelena never has her ass kicked."
"Probably not, but she was getting electrocuted, so that probably made it harder to defend herself."
"Would you be able to defend yourself with several thousand volts of electricity hitting your skin?"
"You mean several hundred, surely?" Kate asks, worried.
"Up to 30,000 volts." Natasha replies, bluntly.
"Fuck. That would kill-"
"A superhuman." Natasha replies.
J.A.R.V.I.S. continues, "She would not have been hit with that much. She is not superhuman. A human can withstand 100-250 volts of electricity. To render her incapacitated, I would guess 120."
"That high?"
"The Red Room trained us to withstand many forms of torture, including electroshock, gassing and waterboarding."
Kate's eyes widen in horror.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., Yelena is missing, and I want to find her. Today!"
There is a bleep from the computer and Tony sighs. "Got the blood trail on the HUD in my helmet. C'mon, we've got work to do."
"Does it need all of us?" Kate asks.
"Clint, take Kate home. Stand guard outside her place. Bruce, get some blood samples from the dead guys and find out who they are. Steve, Carol, Tony, with me."
Chapter 3: Three
Chapter Text
Yelena slowly opens her eyes. Her vision is blurry, and she is in pain. Lots of pain. She inhales, sharply, and scrunches up her nose. She has a headache, and her left eye socket is throbbing. As she arouses from unconsciousness, other parts of her body begins to hurt - her hands, legs, sides, face and back. She feels warm, sticky liquid running down her arms and face and when she moves her head, she realises that she is upside down and attached to a meat hook via a rope. The blood is from a small puncture wound in her abdomen where her uterus should be. She howls in agony as her pain receptors kick into overdrive.
Running footsteps approach and she sees her kidnappers. They're no longer wearing masks, but she does her best to commit their faces to memory. One man, with a ginger beard, twists the knife and she grunts, before spitting at him. She's punched in the side of the head.
"You killed my parents, so now you must die." Ginger Beard says, with an American accent.
"I don't... know you." She wheezes.
Ginger Beard speaks again. "Ian, go and get Scorpion."
"Who?" Yelena asks.
"Your worst nightmare! Mac Gargan." Ginger Beard admits, stupidly. "Mr Gargan, she's all yours."
"Ah, Ms Belova. I know all about you. Russian born and bred, brought up in the Red Room, efficient assassin, loner. You have no family. No real family. You have no partner, no next of kin. And nobody will miss you."
"Why are you doing this?"
"To make you suffer, as you have made others suffer."
"There are many assassins. Why me?"
"You killed Mr and Mrs Ivanenkho. Boris is pissed at you for that. And as for me? I've been watching you and if I kill you, then we trap the Black Widow, like a fly to shit, and we kill her too. Two Widows down. And then we work through the rest of the Avengers. The criminals of Ryker's Island will rise up and take over the city. Every so-called 'hero' will fall, and we will rule. First New York City, then America, and then... the World."
"Ambitious. Stupid. And a massive cliché. Do everyone a favour and kill yourselves, not us! Oof!" Yelena is punched in the ribs. "You fucking cunt!" she's knocked out again.
"Shut up! I detest that C word." Scorpion admits. "Ian, Boris, keep torturing her. I don't want to kill her right away. I want to make her suffer, for all the suffering she caused."
The blows to her head and body come more frequently and she wakes up again after ten minutes. They keep her awake and she yells in pain at every blow. She is strong in both mind and body, but the pain she's going through is something she has not felt since her early days in the Red Room. Her body isn't used to this, so each attack is more painful than the last. However, in the deep recesses of her mind, she remembers her training and focuses her mind on something else, to resist the torture. She thinks of Natasha and Kate and soon the pain dulls.
After three hours of continuous torture, between assault, waterboarding and electrocution, Yelena is thrown, naked, into a cell. This is done to humiliate her and to help her give up the location of Natasha. Next, she is starved and dehydrated, so as to weaken her mind and body, but still, she does not give in. With her left eye swollen half-shut, she drags herself into the corner of the cell and spits out the blood in her mouth. Dragging herself into the opposite corner, she lays down and swiftly falls into an uneasy sleep.
"Проснись! Время для второго раунда."
"Пытай меня сколько хочешь. Я вам ничего не говорю!"
"Начнем с... Fingernails! Pull dem out, one by one, until you tell us where we can find Natalia Romanova."
"Natalia Romanova is dead." Yelena replies.
"You lie."
"She died years ago. She was killed on a mission."
"Well, it was you Scorpion wants anyway. Dis is for killing my mudder and my fadder!" Boris snaps, stabbing Yelena in the liver.
She grunts with the pain, then breathes heavily through her nose. He leaves the knife in her side and kicks her shins, before kicking the side which has the knife. She cries out in pain. The second kick catches the hilt of the knife and pushes it in deeper. She breathes through the pain... and then pukes... over his boots.
She's pale, dehydrated, starved and gasping for breath. It is clear to anyone on the outside that she is dying. She fights to stay conscious, her breath raspy and ragged.
"Мы потеряем ее. Она умирает, и ее нужно сохранить в живых."
"Мы ударим ее током, если она начнет терять сознание."
"Boris... Я больше не хочу быть частью этого."
"Really?" Boris asks. His English is basic. "Why not?"
Ian sighs. "It does not feel right. Please. Don't make me do this. She's young."
"She is danger!" Boris snaps.
"I know, but she doesn't know anything!"
"She will talk." Boris assures.
"She will die long before she will talk. She's a stubborn bitch, and she won't give up the information we need."
"We beat it out of her!" Boris shouts and Ian shakes his head.
"No, no more." He pushes past Boris and wanders over to Yelena in the cage. "Forgive me?" he asks, crouching by the bars.
Yelena sees the pain behind his eyes and carefully nods her head. He mouths a 'thank you', before getting up and ascending the stairs. He doesn't make it up them, as he is shot in the back of the head by Boris.
"Разговаривать!"
"Мне нечего сказать. Просто отпусти меня. Я вам ни к чему. Я умру прежде, чем ты получишь то, что хочешь."
With one final hit to the face, Yelena is rendered unconscious once more. Boris ties a rope around her wrists and hoists her up onto the meat hook, still naked. The metal presses into the rope and this cuts into her wrists, but he does not care. He wrenches out the knife and leaves her to bleed to death. He ascends the stone steps, kicking Ian in the process, and slams the cellar door shut, with a resounding clang.
"Scorpion, Ian is dead. She will not talk. She bleeds."
"You have done well, my friend. Let us see if she lasts the night. Perhaps bleeding out will loosen her tongue." Scorpion kisses Boris's cheeks three times and the Russian brute leaves the premises.
* * *
Natasha speeds through the streets of Manhattan with Iron Man flying low.
"Tony, how far?"
"J.A.R.V.I.S....?"
"Sir?"
"Where does the blood trail end?"
"Pier 17, sir. Warehouse 84."
"Warehouse 84, Pier 17, Natasha."
"Fuck. Let's hope we get to her in time! Call the police, I want these fuckers to pay by the law, because otherwise, they will pay with their lives!"
"J.A.R.V.I.S., call the NYPD and send them to Warehouse 84. Natasha, I'll fly over there and stop them from entering the premises until you arrive. I know you'll want to find your sister first."
"Thanks, Tony."
Iron Man zips off and his HUD calls the NYPD.
"New York Police Department, what is your emergency?"
"Put me onto Captain Watanabe. Tell her it's Iron Man."
"Iron Man? Wow, the Iron Man? Holy shit!"
"Focus! Captain Watanabe, now."
"Of course, right away."
There is a period of silence as the receptionist connects Iron Man to the Captain's phone.
"Captain Watanabe speaking."
"Yuri, it's Tony Stark. I need you to send some officers down to Pier 17, Warehouse 84. We believe Natasha's sister, who was kidnapped earlier today is being held there. I don't want your men storming the building before she gets there. Natasha needs to find her first. Trust me on this one."
"Hey, Tony. Natasha?"
"Natasha Romanoff. Her sister, Yelena, was kidnapped. Believe me when I tell you to let Black Widow find her sister before anyone else does."
Alright, I'll send a couple of squads down there. I'll tell them Iron Man and Black Widow are on their way. Want me to meet you?"
"Might as well. Oh, call a paramedic. We know she was assaulted and electrocuted first, but we don't know the extent of the damage."
"Jesus, Tony. Who would do such a thing?"
"We're working on it, but it was someone who knows her and knew where she was. She was kidnapped from Stark Tower, whilst we were all on a mission. I'll need to update my security."
"Right, a squad has been dispatched. Do you want me to dispatch S.W.A.T.?"
"No, not yet. We don't know what we're dealing with. Keep them on standby, just in case, Yuri."
"I'll put the call through to them now. I'll meet you outside Warehouse 84." She hangs up.
Iron Man speeds through the evening sky to Warehouse 84. As he reaches it, he swoops down and lands on two feet, powering down his suit. He waits for Yuri, Natasha, and the emergency services to arrive. He leans against the wall and watches a black BMW approach. Hiding in the shadows he sees MacDonald Gargan get into the back seat. He quickly calls Yuri back.
"Yuri."
Tony whispers. "It's Gargan. He just got into a black BMW. I'm sending you a photograph of his plate. I bet you top dollar that he's behind the kidnapping. Although 'why', I don't know."
"Yeah, got it. I'll send an unmarked police car to tail him. We'll make an arrest as soon as we have more concrete evidence."
"Right." Tony hangs up and watches the BMW drive into the incoming darkness. He asks J.A.R.V.I.S. to speed dial Natasha next. "Nat. Kill your lights. Mac Gargan is coming your way. Yuri Watanabe is sending an unmarked police car after him, but I need you to keep to the shadows. Push the bike if you have to. I don't want him to know we're here and there to be a shootout. Police are on their way."
"So, we're letting the asshole get away?!"
"We need concrete evidence that he is involved in the kidnapping. He might be storing something down here, that's unrelated to Yelena's kidnapping."
"I bet you twenty bucks he is orchestrating the whole thing."
"You wanna place bets?"
"Sure do. It's one way to keep me in check. I am raging, Tony, and I swear to God, if I come across any of the assholes who beat up my sister, they're gonna pay!"
"And I don't blame you."
"Black BMW just passed me. I'm in the shadows. He wouldn't have seen me. I'll wait a few, just in case."
...
...
"Alright, definitely not been seen. I'm leaving the bike here and walking in."
"Take your time." Tony jokes.
"Not a good time to be joking!"
"Sir? There is an increase of blood in the area. I have run a scan of the building, and I can't see where Ms Belova is. My sensors aren't picking up any heat signatures from here."
"Alright, J.A.R.V.I.S.. Nat? No heat signatures. But that isn't to say there is nothing underground." J.A.R.V.I.S. gets the hint and runs a full scan.
"Sir, I detect a body under the warehouse, in the North-East corner. The body is not moving, and heat signatures are low. It is possible that she is dying, sir."
"Nat, we gotta move."
"Tell me where to go! You coordinate with the police."
"Underground, North-East corner."
Natasha kicks open the door to the warehouse, and it is eerily silent. She runs through the door, flicking on her flashlight and loading a Glock 26, one handed. She isn't thinking about her own safety, so she is currently foregoing any stealthy approach. Despite this, she's aware of her surroundings, and is listening out for any sounds, in case there is an ambush.
There is a clank as if a paint can had been kicked over, and Natasha swivels to the left to locate the source of the noise.
"Black Widow, какой неожиданный сюрприз. Я искал тебя. Полагаю, вы здесь ради Yelena?" Boris announces, making Natasha's blood run cold. He lights a cigarette in the dark, and the soft red glow of the tip is the only indication of his location.
"Где она?"
О, она рядом. Она, наверное, уже мертва. Она не говорила, поэтому мы пытали ее. Она истекает кровью, прямо сейчас. Итак, у вас есть два варианта... Shoot me or save her."
The sounds of other guns being loaded alerts Natasha to the fact that she is surrounded.
"Tony, now!"
The skylight in the high vaulted ceiling is shattered and Iron Man comes dive bombing at Boris, with New York's favourite Webhead in tow. He shoots webs out of his hands to try and tie them up, but they anticipate this and start shooting at him. Iron Man, pissed that they're shooting at a kid, blasts them away. The sound of pistol fire is replaced by assault rifle fire and despite Iron Man's suit being fully bulletproof, Spider-Man's isn't, yet.
There are shouts at the entrance and S.W.A.T. burst through the doors after hearing the shootout inside. They help the two heroes, whilst Natasha slips off to try and locate Yelena. The shouting and rapid gunfire fades away into the background as Natasha lets the heavy fire door at the end of a corridor thud shut.
Keeping her gun raised, she stabilises her wrist by putting the other one, holding the flashlight, horizontally across the top. She walks down the long corridor and descends the steel steps to the bottom where she is greeted by a water pump and another solid door. She lowers the flashlight and carefully opens the door. Finding a dead man on the stone steps she makes her way down into a cellar and stops dead. She drops the flashlight, knocking the bulb inside and thrusting herself into darkness. She curses under her breath, before picking it up, after it rolled into her boot. She gives it a tap and a shake, and the light comes back.
"Yelena." She gasps. She swings the torch around and the beam lands on a light switch. She flicks it up and the buzzing of the fluorescent light overhead fills the room before it clicks into life. The sight before her is horrifying and gut-wrenching and she cannot stop herself from crying a little. "What have they done to you?" Natasha looks around for Yelena's clothes and finds them, in a drawer. She's trying to reach the rope when Tony walks in the door.
"Did you-oh, shit. I'm sorry!" he immediately turns around again.
"I can't get her down. I'm too short."
"Let me get Yuri. She's 5'9, and it'll be much better for two women to release her."
"Thanks, Tony. But, hurry. She's in a really bad way."
"I'll ask for the paramedics, too."
Ten minutes later, Yuri walks through the door. "Tony said you needed... shit."
"Help me get her down. Please."
Yuri lifts Yelena off the hook and cuts through the ropes binding her wrists. She falls and Natasha catches her. Yuri turns around whilst Natasha dresses Yelena and then, once she is ready, calls in the paramedics. They rush in, take one look at her, carefully put her on an orange plastic back board and rush her outside and into the waiting ambulance. They put her onto a drip, apply pressure to her side wound and the doors are slammed. The lights and sirens are switched on, and they race to Lower Manhattan Hospital.
Yelena is checked in, under a false name provided by Natasha, and is rushed into Intensive Care. Here she will stay for several long months, with round-the-clock care. She has no insurance, but Tony pays for everything. Natasha tries to protest, but he tells her it's "Not a problem. She is family." He is referring to both Natasha and Yelena being sisters and Yelena being a part of the Avengers family. Tony doesn't let her argue and simply pays for everything. The bill is hundreds of thousands of dollars, but to a billionaire, that's nothing.
For now, all they can do is wait.
Six months later...
After Yelena arrived at the hospital, she was put into a medically induced coma to allow her body the best chance of survival and maximum healing. When they weren't saving the city, Natasha was at her bedside, and so was Kate. Both women were worried sick.
The Avengers had thwarted every last terrorist bomb group, Scorpion had been arrested and thrown back into Ryker's and Boris had been shot in a home invasion by S.W.A.T. They had taken down multiple factions loyal to Wilson Fisk, Scorpion and Norman Osborn and finally, there was some peace in the city.
The nurse comes to check in on Yelena (listed as Tatiana Sokolova on her medical sheet, clipped to the bottom of the bed) and she sees her finger twitch. She puts it down as a spasmodic contraction, until another one and another one occurs. She leaves the room to get the Doctor and when they return, 'Tatiana' is opening her eyes.
"Hello, Miss Sokolova. You may feel a little woozy and disorientated, but that is completely normal after a medically induced coma. Everything will take its time to wake up, so you will be slow-going for the time being. Take it easy and move slowly. Your sister, Melina Sokolova is in the waiting room, I'll tell her that you're awake."
He disappears and moments later, the door opens and a nurse walks in to check her responding to pain and speech. Once she is satisfied that Yelena is responding appropriately, she gets the doctor, and 'Melina' walks in, with him. He checks her chart at the bottom of the bed, makes a note that she's woken up, checks her vitals, notes them down, discusses the responses and then leaves.
Once the door is closed, Natasha speaks. "Hey, Yelena. How are you feeling?"
"Shit." She manages to say.
"Sorry, Tatiana was the first name I could think of."
"Is mine already." Yelena replies, her voice hoarse. Her voice pattern is different; it's staccato and broken English. It's as if she's forgotten how to speak her secondary language.
"One of your aliases?"
"Yeah. I hurt."
"Yeah? I'm not surprised сестра. You were near-death when I found you."
"How long?"
"Have you been here?"
"Yes."
"Uh, I don't know if you're ready-"
"He said coma."
"You needed to be in a coma. You were gonna die. I'm being serious about it. You've been in a coma for six months, Yelena."
"Shit."
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm glad you remembered me, though."
"Never forget. You are сестра. Hug me."
"Sure." Natasha leans down and gives her a gentle hug.
"You smell nice."
"Yeah? Chanel No. 5."
"Fancy."
"You smell nice too."
"Blood and sweat?"
Natasha laughs. "The nurses have bathed you, changed your clothes and whatever else is needed. You smell of Axe Ice Chill body wash."
"That's man smell."
"Probably whatever they had to hand. Do you want to see Kate?"
"Kate?" Yelena frowns.
"Bishop."
"Kaaaate Bishooop. I remember the name. Is she my girl?"
"No, not at the moment."
"Why do I not remember her face?"
"Probably because you were only just getting to know her, whereas we grew up together. I will tell you that she is cute. I'm not gay, but she's definitely your type."
"How you know my type?"
"She's quiet, does archery and fencing, loves comic books and she makes you smile. I have not seen you as happy as you are with her, for years. She mellows you out. So, she's definitely your type. Plus, she likes bad girls."
"Bad girls?"
"She told me. She's been by your side for almost as long as I have. I have been here almost every day. She comes two or three times a week. I think she's crushing on you, Yelena. And before all of this, you told me that you had it down bad for her... you 'have the hots for her something fierce' were your exact words to me."
"That's not me. I don't-why don't-" Yelena sighs.
"Kiss her. I'm sure that will bring back some memories."
Yelena scoffs, then complains about it. "That hurt."
"It sounded like it did."
"Is Kate here?"
"No, Yelena. She'll be here tomorrow, but I can always swing by her place and ask her to come and see you?"
"You know her place?"
"Yeah, I traded off with Barton a couple of times, so he could sleep."
"Oh. Go get her."
"Manners."
"Please. I'm tired."
"You sleep. We'll come back later."
* * *
Later that afternoon, when visitors are allowed to come by again, a nervous Kate knocks gently on the door. She waits for a few minutes, but then Natasha opens the door, slings an arm around Kate's shoulder, and guides her into the room.
"Don't be offended if she looks at you blankly. She's only just woken up."
"I wasn't expecting her to remember me, it's okay."
"Hey, Yelena, Kate Bishop for you."
"Kate Bishop. Hiiii." She says, hoarsely.
"Hey, Yel. You look so much better today."
"I am in pain."
"I'll leave you two to catch up." Natasha says. As she passes Kate, she holds her arm and whispers in her ear. "I think a kiss might jog her memory."
"Oh, right." Kate replies, a little embarrassed.
Natasha leaves the room and, closing the door behind her, texts Clint to say that Kate is at the hospital and for him to go home and get some sleep.
"I'm glad you're awake Yel."
"Thanks, Kate Bishop. I don't remember. I am sorry."
"No, don't be. It's understandable. To you, I'm a stranger. You know my name, because Natasha told you, but you don't know me. And that's okay. I wasn't expecting you to jump into my arms."
"No jumping, but a hug."
"I can manage that." Kate leans in to hug her and Yelena softly inhales. Kate smells of vanilla and honey and there is a little bit of a memory. "Vanilla and Honey?"
"Yes, my body wash." Kate straightens up.
"I think I remember the smell."
"It's my go-to for body wash. I like the combination of the smells and the moisturiser it has."
"Don't change it."
"I have no intention of doing so."
"Nat says I have crush."
"Oh, well, that's news to me. But I have a crush on you."
"What we do?"
Kate sighs, contentedly. "We could... kiss? If you want to, that is."
"Okay." Kate leans down and gingerly kisses Yelena on the lips. "Hmm, no."
"No?"
"No good. Be better."
"Oh, yeah, I can do that."
Kate kisses her again, a little more firmly this time and it's just the right amount of pressure. Something inside Yelena's brain clicks at the familiarity of the situation.
"Hello, Kate Bishop." Yelena replies, sounding more like her usual self. Her voice is laced with desire and the EKG machine spikes as her heart rate increases. "I have missed you. Nat said you came to my bedside, weekly."
"Yeah, two or three times a week, twice a day. Mornings and evenings."
"You must really like me, huh?"
Kate chuckles. "Before we kissed... your voice... it was different, like you had forgotten how to speak English. And now? Now you're back to your old self."
"You must have flipped a switch, Kate Bishop. Why do you like me?"
"The reasons I gave before was 'you're hot', but it's more than that. You're a bad girl, Yelena, and I am very attracted to that. Not the killing, that's a turn off, but how you are - you taunt the law, you're charming, probably a badass fighter - I'll need to see it - you're flirtatious and I know you don't follow the rules. You flirt with danger, uhh, me and I like it."
"Miss Goody Two-Shoes dancing with the devil?"
"Hey, I can be rebellious, too."
"Oh, yes, because using a trick arrow on Stane Bell Tower is rebellious, Kate Bishop."
"How do you know about that?"
"I may or may not have done my research prior to us getting asked to join Tony."
"A minute ago, you couldn't remember who I was, but now you're telling me about something I did several years ago."
"Funny how that works, hey, Kate Bishop?"
"Do you say my whole name to point out that you know it?"
"Yes. I know a lot about you. Mother, Eleanor. Lives on Park and 41st. Father, Derek, deceased. Very sad. And you walked into traffic to save a dog, which I'll admit is pretty cool, and you got a few points from me on that. Um... University GPA 3.8. Senior, double major, and..."
"Right, okay. We get it. Thank you. Kinda creepy you know so much about me, to be honest."
"Anything and everything on a person is accessible, if you know where to look. Public records, social media... The Internet is a very useful place to look."
"And what if a person isn't on social media?"
"Public records. Births, Deaths, Marriages all have to be registered, Kate Bishop. There is also the Dark Web. That can access a lot of people's personal history, even if it has been expunged."
"Have you been on the Dark Web about me?"
"No. Your name was mentioned, and I simply Yahooed you and your mother, Eleanor, and your father, Derek came up. It doesn't take much to find information about you, Kate Bishop. Not when your mother is CEO of Bishop Security."
"Yeah, that's true." Kate kisses Yelena again, but the door opens and the doctor walks in. He clears his throat and Kate backs off. "Sorry." She mumbles.
"This is a hospital, not a bedroom." He announces and the two flush a deep scarlet.
Kate nods at Yelena and scampers out of the room and walks briskly down the ward corridor. She walks down to the waiting area, spots Natasha and sits next to her.
"What happened?" Natasha whispers.
"The doctor caught us kissing. I'm so embarrassed, right now." Natasha laughs. "It's not funny!"
"Oh, come on. You have to admit, it's a little funny." Natasha sighs, then speaks in her normal voice. "I'm gonna go home and get some sleep. You gonna stay the night?"
"I don't think you're allowed past 9pm."
"If I talk to them, they will let you."
"How, Natasha?"
"I'm Black Widow, and an Avenger. It comes with a lot of perks and privileges."
"Oh. That's cool."
"Plus, your Mom is CEO of Bishop Security, so she probably pays the security guards' wages."
"Didn't think of it like that."
"Use your surroundings, and your status to get what you want. Honestly, you're a Rich Kid. Use it."
Kate nods and watches Natasha talk to the head doctor (the one reading and writing on Yelena's charts). She points at Kate, who gives a little wave, and he sighs, but nods. She re-joins Kate.
"He said 'Yes, I suppose so, but no funny business. And that includes kissing.'"
"Understood."
A week after Yelena wakes up
"Do I really need a wheelchair? It's embarrassing." Yelena complains.
"The doctor said to take it easy, Belova, so, yes, you do. Also, your sister told me to take care of you today, and I don't intend on pissing Nat off."
"Why, because you're pounding her?"
Barton scoffs. "No, because, honestly, she's a little scary sometimes."
Yelena snorts. "It's because you're pounding her, and she wears the trousers."
"If you say so." Barton helps Yelena into the wheelchair and takes her to the reception, so that she can sign the discharge papers, alongside the doctor. Once signed, he wheels her outside to a silver Kia Sedona Minivan.
"Are you shitting me? A Kia?"
"It's a family car. And big enough for a wheelchair."
"Next time, bring a car with some juice."
"What, you mean like Cherry?"
"Who? What?"
"My 1970s Dodge Challenger." Barton replies.
"Да, much better. Ditch the stupid wheelchair. Do I need to be in it for a while?"
"Yelena, you had your right tibia and fibula shattered. Hence why your leg is in a cast. You need to use a wheelchair for 3 weeks and then crutches for another 3-5 weeks. 6-8 weeks, for the initial healing, then you'll be in a Moon Boot for a few months, before you can put proper weight onto your leg. This is gonna be a long road to recovery."
"Ах, блять. Действительно? A really long time, huh?"
"Yes, Belova."
"Damn."
Clint helps her into the Kia, before folding down the wheelchair and putting it in the trunk. She belts up and he gets into the driver's seat, electronically sliding her door shut. It clicks with the child safety lock, and he sets off, back to Natasha's house in Upper East Side. (Her house is conveniently sixteen minutes via car or subway to the Avengers Tower.)
Forty minutes later, he pulls up and wakes Yelena. "Belova, we're here."
She grumbles to herself, but allows Barton to lift her into the wheelchair. She sighs at the situation and feeling like a disabled person, but says nothing.
Barton wheels Yelena to the steps and knocks on the door, before ringing the doorbell. The clacking of high heels on wooden flooring resounds and the door chain is removed. Natasha opens it. She's wearing a short, slimline black dress, with thin straps, and black tights.
Barton gives a low whistle, and Yelena shoots him daggers.
"Barton."
"Romanoff. You're, uh... going anywhere nice?"
"On a date."
"Oh." He sounds disheartened.
"With you, idiot. Did you not get my text?"
"If it was sent in the last forty minutes, then no, as I've been driving."
Natasha sighs. "Go home, dress smart and meet me at Osteria Brooklyn."
"Um, hello, what about me?" Yelena complains.
Natasha looks at Barton and gives him a look. He knows the look well and leaves the house, closing the door behind him. "I'll get him to take you to my spare room. I've text Kate my address and I will leave her my spare key. Have a good evening. We'll be back around 11, so wrap it up before then."
"Natasha! I am not gonna-"
"If you don't want to, that's fine, but the opportunity is there. We're giving you five hours. It's 6pm now."
"Natasha, I want to... But I'm nervous."
"There is no rush or pressure. Don't feel pressured by me or Kate. Do what you feel comfortable doing. I am just giving you the opportunity."
"Okay, thank you."
Natasha kisses her sister's cheek and then opens the door for Clint. He carries her upstairs (so Natasha doesn't crease her freshly ironed dress) and puts her in the spare room. It's got pale-blue painted walls and a dark-blue carpet, which contrasts nicely. The bed is a double (Natasha's is a King-sized bed), but it's plenty big enough for any activities which may ensue. Clint gives her a quick hug and leaves her to her own devices.
Five minutes later, the house is silent. Half an hour after that, the key jangles in the lock.
"Hello? It's Kate."
"I'm upstairs. Door is open."
Kate removes her shoes, locks and chains the door and dumps the key on the sideboard by the front door. She takes the stairs two at a time and locates the room Yelena is in.
"Well, hello there."
"Hello, Kate Bishop."
"Natasha gave me her address."
"I know, she told me."
"You look comfy."
"I am, but I'm a little hot and bothered."
"Oh, yeah? Want me to help?"
"Yeah. Come over here." Yelena sits up in the bed and Kate helps to remove her hoodie. "If you don't want me to kiss you, please say something now."
"I want you to kiss me. I want you to touch me, too."
"Second base? Third base?" Yelena queries.
"No. I wanna go all the way with you tonight. If that's something you want?"
"I'm nervous."
"I have done some reading on what to do, if that helps?"
Yelena nods. "Yes, but let's go through the other bases first. I don't want to jump in the deep end."
"Oh, of course."
"Now shut up and kiss me." Yelena commands. Kate sits on the bed and carefully kisses her lips. Within a few minutes, Yelena's hands are roaming over Kate's body, tugging at the bottom of her t-shirt. She balls the fabric in her first, waiting for permission to remove it. Kate gently taps the back of Yelena's hand, and she releases her grip on the t-shirt. It's pulled up over her head and discarded on the floor. Yelena's t-shirt follows next.
"Did you lock the door?"
"Yes."
"What if someone breaks in?"
"You're really worried, aren't you?"
"No!" Yelena snaps, although the look in her eyes says otherwise.
"Babe, it'll be fine."
"Did you just 'babe' me?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to."
Yelena lets Kate know that that was acceptable, by kissing behind her ear, and cupping her breast. "Take... Please to take... I need..." Yelena is struggling to speak.
"What do you need?"
"Please can I take off your bra?"
"Oh, please do. Can I take yours off?"
"Mmhmm." Yelena replies, nodding.
Their bras are discarded and they're pressing their bare chests into each other. They keep communicating and asking for consent, and soon enough, Yelena is playing with Kate's nipple - sucking it, twisting it, licking it. The brunette gasps and moans at the contact.
"Shit, Yelena. This is so nice."
"Yeah? Well, it's your turn."
"Is it now?"
"Mmhmm."
Kate sucks Yelena's left nipple and twists the right between her index finger and thumb. The blonde moans and pushes her pelvis into Kate's, before dropping down again. She thrusts gently and softly pants. "Oh, Kate Bishop." She pants. "What are you doing to me?"
"Foreplay. You like?"
"I do. My body wants more, though. Fuck, Kate Bishop. It's like it has a mind of its own. I am definitely aroused."
"Good, I'm glad."
"Is feeling 'hard' a good thing?" Yelena asks, at her normal volume.
"Yes, it is. It means blood is rushing to your genitalia to make you aroused. You are probably wet now, too. That's even better... Cos that means you're ready for penetration."
"But you don't have a dick."
"No, but I have fingers and a tongue, and they can still go inside. Especially my fingers."
"I'm glad you did some research. I feel so stupid not knowing this."
"We all have to start somewhere, babe."
"Hmm."
Kate continues to kiss Yelena and then she touches her lips with her tongue. Yelena allows her in and they're making out, passionately. As they make out, Yelena, who is underneath Kate, moves her hand down the brunette's back, before grabbing her ass cheek. From there she slips her hand between Kate's thighs and rubs at her apex.
"Someone's feeling confident." Kate whispers in Yelena's ear.
"You can tell me to stop if you don't want-"
Kate interrupts her by grabbing her hand and putting it in the waistband of her purple Sablyn joggers, leaving them on the outside of her panties. Yelena continues to rub her and soon she can feel Kate's arousal through her underwear.
"You're wet, Kate Bishop."
"Can I sit on your face?"
"Um, I guess."
"I don't have to, but I read that it helps to stimulate the clitoris the most. I can help you; by rotating my hips and you can just lie there and lick me."
"You do all the work? Now where's the fun in that?" Yelena laughs and suddenly gains confidence. "Sit on my face Kate Bishop. I'm gonna try my best to make you feel good."
"Trying your best is good enough for me. Especially since this is our first time." Kate strips off her joggers and underwear and Yelena moans softly.
"I don't know the correct etiquette, but I like what I see. Very much so."
Kate blushes, then moves up the bed, positioning her vagina over Yelena's mouth. She lowers herself and Yelena takes her time to lick her most sensitive part.
They don't last long, before they get too sensitive, but the desire is there, and the fire is stoked. They take a break for an hour and a half, and by half past eight, they're going at it again.
* * *
Yelena's moans are high pitched and more frequent now. They've worked out the best rhythm, speed and pressure for each other and now they're reaching climax quicker. She claws at Kate's back and pants, as she reaches the peak.
Downstairs, the door is unlocked and Natasha walks in after having said goodnight to Clint on the doorstep.
"Oh, wow, they're really going at it, huh?" Clint asks, rhetorically, as Yelena moans loudly.
"I told her we'd be home by 11pm."
"Yeah, well it is 10:55pm."
Natasha scoffs. "Do I walk in quietly or do I slam the door?"
"No, don't slam the door. One, you'll wake up your neighbours, probably and two, by the sounds of it, they're having fun, and you don't wanna interrupt them. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be interrupted right before you hit climax? It's soul-crushing, Nat."
"Kate! Shit! Ohhhmyyygooood!" the moaning and panting upstairs (which was incredibly loud) returns to a normal volume.
"Now that is embarrassing. We just heard my sister orgasm. Jesus Christ!"
"Nat, you're forgetting that she doesn't know you're here. Don't bring it up. You'll kill her soul."
"I need to rip my ears off."
"Hey, at least you didn't walk in on them doing it."
"That's true. Goodnight, Clint."
"Goodnight, Natasha. I hope Yelena's leg heals quickly."
"Thank you, me too."
Natasha shuts the door, carefully, but firmly and places her keys on the hook. She removes her heels, takes a deep breath and calls out.
"Yelena, you awake?"
There is a thud as Kate falls off the bed and scampering footsteps as she hastily gets dressed. Natasha doesn't move from by the front door.
Upstairs, Kate kisses Yelena, and says goodnight, before rushing down the stairs, cheeks flushed, sneakers in hand and Sablyn sweatshirt on back-to-front.
"Oh, hi Natasha." she begins, slipping her sneakers on. "You have a lovely home. I'll, uh, I'll see you. Goodnight." She rushes out the front door and Natasha puts her hand on it to shut it after her. She watches as Kate hurries down the stairs and rushes down the street, before bumping into Barton, who offers her a lift home. She blushes at him, nods and gets in the Kia. Natasha waves from the steps, then turns and heads inside, before shutting the door, a little louder this time.
"Yelena, I'm coming up. Are you decent?"
"Да, На мне одежда."
Natasha ascends the stairs and raises an eyebrow at Yelena's discarded clothes. "Did you... have a good evening?"
"Yeah, yeah. We, uh, we watched movies all night."
"Uh, huh. And... what had an invigorating workout?"
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, just the room... smelling musky and sweaty."
"I did some cardio."
"Hmm, I bet you did. Was it a good workout? You're looking flushed."
Yelena cottons on to Natasha's subtle hints. "It was so good. Oh, my God. Now I get it. I get why people have sex."
"Good. And, do you, uh, think you'll be doing it again?"
"I don't know. Probably. Hopefully. I don't know."
"Do you know what time it is?"
"Nope."
"It's 11:05pm. Why has Kate only just gone home?"
"I don't know. No reason I can think of."
"That is strange."
The silence is palpable.
"I know you came home early and heard me. That's why I was so loud. I didn't want Kate to realise you were home and stop. I was so close, and you would have ruined it."
"How did you know I was home?" she asks, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I heard you drop the keys outside, and talk to Clint. And I heard the door bang into the frame, after you closed it. You're not as subtle as you think."
"I'm sorry I got back sooner."
"I'm sorry you heard me cum. That's shit timing. But, damn, Nat. She's goood. She's more than good. I came 8 times tonight."
"Jesus! I don't need to kn-wait, did you say eight times? Holy shit, Yelena."
"I can die a happy woman." Yelena chuckles, raspily.
"Uh, please don't joke about that. I almost lost you twice over the last six months. I don't want a third scare."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. You look like you need a hug."
"No, I don't."
"Hug incoming!" Yelena announces, throwing the duvet off her lap and leaning forward, with her arms outstretched.
"Yelena-"
"Too late!" Yelena announces, wrapping her arms tightly around Natasha's folded arms.
"Okay... one hug."
"I think I'm gonna ask her to be my girlfriend. Is it too soon?"
"That's a hard one to answer. You've known each other for half a year, but at the same time, you were in a coma for all that time, so she's basically a stranger to you."
"A stranger I want to see, and трахать, again."
"You're so crass, Yelena."
"I know, but she said she likes it when I talk dirty to her."
"How dirty?"
"Pussy... cunt... fuck... I told her to 'lick my pussy' and she told me that it was hot hearing me say that."
"Yelena! I don't need to know the details. Fucking hell!"
"Oh, don't be such a prude. You can't tell me that you Не любите, когда твою киску лижут?"
"I'm not discussing this with you."
"Yes or no: Тебе нравится, когда тебе лижут клитор?"
"Why are you so interested?"
"Because I want to talk to my big sister about it!"
"I'm not having this conversation with you. You're my baby sister, it's weird. But yes, I do and yes, it's normal, okay? And don't let anyone tell you any different, okay? This is America. It's okay to be gay. Different rules in Russia, as you know. But you're safe here... for the most part. You're safe with me and the other Avengers. You both are. We're supportive of everyone."
"Aren't most of you straight?"
"Tony, me, Clint, and Steve are, yeah. Bruce? Carol? No idea. But you... Keep being your queer self and I will still love you, no matter what."
"Okay, good. I'm sorry you had to hear me, by the way."
"You better be." There is a tense silence. "Mom and Dad would be proud, you know?"
"Of what?"
"Of you. Becoming independent, growing into your own, becoming confident... falling in love. We should FaceTime them!"
"What? No. Not when I'm looking like this! You said it yourself; I'm looking flushed. They're gonna know!"
"Too late." The tinny ringing of Nat's iPhone connecting to her Mom's on FaceTime, fills the space.
"Natasha! How are you? Oh, it's been so long! Alexei! Natasha is on the phone. Come quick!"
"Little Natasha, all grown up!"
"Yelena's here too."
"Hiiii." Yelena says, brightly and waving a little.
"Ah, my girls. How nice to see you again! How are you both? Yelena... you're looking a little... flushed? Sunburnt? Are you okay? Are you drinking enough water?"
"I'm fine, Mom."
"No, no I know that glow. Your mother has the same glow after we-"
"Ew!" Natasha snaps.
"Yelena Belova! Have you been engaging in sexual intercourse? Who with? Natasha, why are you not condoning this?" Melina chastises.
"Uh, I'm an adult, I make my own decisions."
"You're still my little girl, no matter what age you are!"
"Mom, she can decide for herself." Natasha interrupts.
"Yeah, Nat is having sex with a guy..."
"Yelena!"
"What? We can talk about me fucking, but can't talk about you fucking? How is that fair?"
"Yelena Belova! Don't you dare say that nasty word in front of me, I am your mother!"
"Melina, they're not little girls anymore. Natasha, who are you fucking?"
"Gah, Alexei, you are such a bad influence."
"I'm not having this discussion with you. It's my private life! Ask Yelena who she's sleeping with."
"Why am I the target?"
Natasha scoffs. "Because you are the one who is flushed and have a post-sex glow."
"You're the one who insisted on calling Mom and Dad, ten minutes after I had sex!"
"Natalia Alianova Romanova! Ты не имеешь права сплетничать о своей сестре. Если у вас есть права на неприкосновенность частной жизни, то и она тоже."
"Wow, Mom full-birth-named you! You're in troouubleeee!" Yelena singsongs. "Ha!"
"You're a dick, Yelena."
"You're the bigger dick, since you called Mom as a way to tell on me. Natasha is sleeping with Clint Barton!"
"You fucker!"
"Not so high and mighty now are you?"
"Yeah, well, Yelena is a lesbian and is sleeping with Kate Bishop!"
Yelena's mouth falls open and she scoffs. "Seriously? You're gonna out me? I don't even know my sexuality and you're gonna decide that for me? I've slept with one person, and it happened to be a girl, and you're gonna decide that I'm a lesbian? Wow. Fuck you, Natasha!" Yelena punches Natasha in the arm, so hard it goes dead. "Fuck! I can't storm out; cos my fucking leg's broken. Get out."
"Yelena, this is my house..."
"Get out!" Yelena screams at Natasha, who jumps off the bed pretty sharpish. The guttural scream reminds her of their fight in Budapest, and she certainly doesn't want to relive that. She leaves the room in a hurry and slams the door shut.
"Nataashaaa." Alexei begins. "I cannot believe you would out your sister like that. That is not very nice behaviour. We did not raise you to behave like that."
"You didn't raise us at all."
"I am offended by that. What did I do? I only ever loved you girls."
Natasha scoffs. "We've heard this one before."
Melina tuts. "Natalia, I am disappointed in you."
"My name is Natasha."
"Okay, fine. I am sorry. But why did you do that to Yelena?"
"She pissed me off."
"That does not give you the right to decide her sexuality. It is a big decision that only she can make. You cannot tell a butterfly it is a caterpillar."
"What?"
"Something already made and established as one thing, cannot be told it is another. She has yet to discover who she is. You cannot decide that for her. Remember: you might be sisters under this ruse, but you are individual people. You must remember that, and she must learn who she is, separate from you, from us, from Dreykov. Do not control her, like he did. He manipulated her more than you or I."
Natasha nods, understanding. "I know. She told me."
"Then you will understand how much he took from her. Not just in mind, but in spirit. He broke her, in more ways than we can ever imagine. You got out, you went West, you became an Avenger. You decided those things for yourself. You choose to date, because you can. You know, in your heart, that you are whatever you are. She needs to find that out by herself. We can only guide her. We cannot tell her she is one thing or another. She is a woman, with compassion and understanding. She might have been hardened on the outside, and formed into a warrior, but behind the mask, lays my inquisitive, kind, gentle, compassionate little girl. The same for you. Deep down, I still see my fierce, strong-willed, determined, yet kind, and compassionate little girl. You are more alike than you realise. You took care of Yelena when you needed to. This might have been a ruse orchestrated by Dreykov, but you became sisters. You are not blood related, but you are, spiritually... your souls are connected. You found each other again, after twenty-one years, because you were meant to find each other. Don't lose her again by being stubborn and hot-headed. She is very influential and always looked up to you. There were so many times when she was little, that she said she wanted to be like you - strong, independent, fierce, yet loyal, caring and loving. She loved you, the same as we did. Our family was centred around love and as much support as we could give you, without smothering you. We did our best to make sure you would succeed to achieve your fullest potential, and everything worked out for you. You know all this, so I won't go through it again. But, please, just take a moment to put yourself in Yelena's shoes. Respect her boundaries and help her if she needs it. Love and romance is a big step for us... Dreykov removed all feelings and emotions that would make us weak; you know he did. I am proud that she is learning who she is. And for the record, if she is gay, then I will not love her any less. Your father and I will always be proud of you and will always love you girls. Whilst I do not approve of her nasty language towards you, I will let it slide. Go in there and apologise to her and then give her the phone. I want to talk to both my girls this evening, before it gets too late. Can you do that for me?"
Something in the way Melina asks that question, hits home and Natasha gets a lump in her throat. For the first time in years, she feels like she is eleven and Yelena is six. She feels like her mother has just told her off for being mean to Yelena, but instead of being angry about it, she is being calm, whilst expressing her displeasure and disappointment. Natasha nods her head, and responds in a small voice, as if she truly were eleven. "Прости меня, мама. Я заговорила невпопад, и мне не следовало так расстраивать сестра."
"Good. I forgive you and I'm sure she does too."
Natasha gets up from the upholstered backless bench, situated on the landing, and crosses to Yelena's room. She knocks gently, but there is no reaction. She knocks louder.
"Fuck off."
"Прости меня, сестренка."
"Why should I?" Yelena snaps.
"Melina wants to talk to you. She told me off..."
"I can tell. Your voice has changed... It's softer and a little bit higher than normal..." Yelena says, frowning at the closed door.
"Remember how she used to do it so calmly, that we could feel her frustration, even if she never raised her voice?"
"Yeah, I do."
"She did that. I feel like I'm eleven again. I don't know what power she holds, but I feel like a kid coming to tell you I'm sorry for being mean to you."
"Well, are you? Sorry, I mean?"
"I wouldn't ask you to forgive me, otherwise."
"You really hurt my feelings, you know. And I don't talk about my feelings very often, but when you outed me," there are uneasy footsteps to the door, and it's opened, "it felt like a punch to the gut" she finishes, standing in the doorway, with her arms folded.
"I shouldn't have said that, or 'decided' anything for you. I was pissed that you mentioned Clint... it's supposed to be a secret."
"You keep going back together. I don't see why it needs to be. I think all of your friends know at this point, especially when you're always together. You stand next to each other; you look at each other... you're like teenagers in love. You look at Clint Barton how I look at Kate Bishop. What is it with them? He's Hawkeye and she's Hawkeye... Why the fuck are the two Black Widows going after the two Hawkeyes? Spiders and Hawks don't mix."
"I dunno. I just like how caring and patient he is. What about you, for Kate?"
"I just like how she's a nerd who does archery... that's pretty cool."
"Yeah, archery is cool. Maybe that's what has drawn us to them?"
"Ha! Good pun!"
"What?"
"You know... 'draws'? In archery, you draw the string, and you said we are drawn to them."
"Oh, I see."
"Natasha... it's not funny when you have to explain it. Anyway, gimme de phone, I want to speak to Mama."
"You forgot how to say 'the' then."
Yelena gasps and squeaks. "I did not!"
"You did. You said, 'de phone'."
"You know we sometimes say, 'dis' and 'dat'. Don't mock me. I find it hard to say words, sometimes, okay? You do realise dat my accent is stwonga dan yours, right?"
"What the fuck is 'stwonga'?"
"Ah, сука. I cannot say certain words. I sometimes cannot say 's-t-r' words. Or de little grey rodent... those are hard for me. I never learnt dat in Engliish."
"Wow, you are really forgetting how to speak English, aren't you?"
"Mama, Natasha is making fun of my English." Yelena says, whining like a child.
"Natasha! Stop making fun of your sister!"
Yelena pokes her tongue out at Natasha, who narrows her eyes, and shakes her head. "You little shit."
"Ha!" Yelena replies, before actually laughing. Soon, Natasha joins in, before handing her the phone.
"Привет, мама." Yelena says.
Melina smiles warmly on the video. "Привет, мой маленький ангел. Не обращай внимания на Сестра, она дразнит. Я горжусь тобой, ты знаешь. Горжусь обоими вами."
"Спасибо, мама." Yelena continues, before effortlessly switching to English. "I really like Kate Bishop though. I know it's hard to find out your daughters are having sex, but I promise you that Kate and I were safe and communicating. We made sure we were both comfortable, okay? It was our first time, but I made sure it was someone I really cared about, okay?"
Melina nods, as she listens, before continuing. "It's hard to hear this because I want you to always be my girls, but I know that you are both adults now. I'm glad to hear that you were safe and had sex with someone you care about. I don't understand how lesbian sex works because I'm straight, but as long as you're happy, I'm happy. I know you will treat her right because you have a good heart."
"I tried to keep a good heart."
Natasha chimes in "Pain only makes us stronger. Didn't you tell us that? What you taught me kept me alive."
"It was the same for me too, Nat."
"You both have good hearts and didn't let them take it. Thank you for trusting me."
"Why would we not trust you?" Yelena starts.
"You're our Mom." The girls say in unison.
"Yelena, tell us about your broken leg." Alexei states.
"Ah, fuck. Thought I could avoid that question. Uh, I had an accident." Natasha shoots her a look. "I don't know if I should tell them the truth, Nat." she whispers.
"Yeah, but 'an accident' leads to all sorts of questions, Yelena."
Yelena sighs. "I was kidnapped. Natasha told me that I was kidnapped and assaulted and left for dead. I've been in a coma for the last six months."
"And you didn't tell your mother or I? Why?"
"I didn't want you to worry. C'mon, you're prone to overthinking."
"Natasha, that isn't fair, I am your mother. Of course, I'm gonna worry. Who was behind this heinous crime?"
"Mac Gargan... goes by the alter ego of Scorpion. A nemesis of Spider-Man and John Jonah Jameson, actually. He's kidnapped the Daily Bugle's publisher and radio host a few times. He had been thwarted many-a-time by Spider-Man, but he broke out of Ryker's recently. He kidnapped Yelena, as he was after 'Natalia Romanova'."
"I told him Natalia Romanova was dead... he was having none of it."
"So, he tortured you for information?"
"Yeah, but I resisted."
"That's my girl. See, the Red Room taught you well."
"It taught me not to break under pressure."
"Good. What methods did he use?"
"His cronies assaulted me in the Avengers Tower and used Stun Batons, but not before I stabbed two and then they assaulted me some more and dragged me to their lair. In the lair, I remember more attacks. They came in the form of punches, kicks and headbutts. I had my shin shattered - hence the cast. Then Boris went further. He threatened to remove my fingernails, but he didn't. Instead, he waterboarded me, electrocuted me, gassed me with pepper spray, and hung me from a meat hook. I was unconscious two or three times, maybe more. He had stabbed me... where my uterus would be... and later stabbed me in the liver. I'm just glad I wasn't shot dead, like his accomplice. He also stripped me naked and left me to bleed out. And, before you ask, he stripped me, starved me, and dehydrated me as a form of humiliation. There was no rape involved. I was conscious for most of it."
"But what about when you were unconscious?" Alexei asks.
"I was never out cold long enough. I was out for about two to five minutes, each time. I was punched unconscious and then punched back into consciousness - don't ask me how that works. I'm alive, and I didn't give up Natasha's location. That's all that matters."
"I am glad you are alive, my little one." Melina replies, choking up as she speaks. "You are a brave girl. I am just sorry none of us were there to help you."
"Natasha was with the cool kids, saving the city. They knocked out Kate Bishop, so she couldn't have helped."
"Don't forget, she called me." Natasha reassures.
"Oh, shit. I forgot she did that. She's a good one. I really like her."
"So, ask her-" Natasha begins.
"Ask her to be your girlfriend." Melina interrupts.
"Yeah, but I was in a coma for six months."
"Honey, I loved your mother from the day they staged our marriage. Our marriage was staged, but my love was not. I have always loved your mother, and I always will. If it feels right, then it is right."
"You really think I should ask her?"
"Yes." Came three voices at once.
"But for now, it is time for bed. Goodnight. I love you. We love you."
"Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad." Natasha says.
"Goodnight, Mom and Dad." Yelena says. "Oh, I'm sorry for shouting and swearing."
"It's okay. I forgive you."
"Yeah, me too." Natasha agrees, as she ends the FaceTime and pulls Yelena in for a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, sooner."
"I'm alive because of you. Never forget that."
Natasha kisses the top of her head. "You're my everything, Yelena." They hold each other tightly for a few minutes, until Yelena yawns so widely, her eyes water and her jaw hurts. "Goodnight, Yelena."
"Goodnight, Nat. Shit, I should text Kate to see if she made it back okay."
"Barton gave her a lift. She'll have been home hours ago."
"Oh, alright then. I'll text her in the morning."
They separate and Natasha tucks Yelena in - more so to be playful than anything - before leaving the room. She makes sure the front door is locked, before switching on her burglar alarm, switching off the lights and ascending the stairs to her bedroom. Within a few minutes of getting comfy, both are sleeping soundly.
Chapter 4: Four
Chapter Text
Kate wakes up, breathing heavily and in a cold sweat. She had had a bad dream, and wasn’t afraid to admit it. She grabs her phone and texts her close friend. When she doesn’t immediately get a response, she ends up pacing her room for a good twenty minutes and then tries again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate:
Yelena!
I had a nightmare about you. I just
wanted to check in with you. Are
you okay?
Yelena?
Okay, look, I'm not trying to sound
clingy and desperate, but since you
almost died, I'm a little worried
about you and your health. I'm sorry
if I come across as overly
protective, but you're my close
friend. I am worried about you. I am
just going to assume you're
sleeping, but please let me know
your alright.
*you're
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She paces again, and wants desperately to call her, but also, she wants to give her space and not come across as being obsessed with her. She takes her phone off silent, leaves it on the dresser, and heads down the steel steps to make herself some breakfast. She feeds Lucky, then sits on the sofa, but isn't really comfortable. She's getting more and more anxious. Deciding that a distraction is the best course of action, she throws on yesterday's clothes, leashes Lucky, pockets her phone and takes him for a walk. As she is walking through Central Park, the incoming text alert startles her. She sits down on a bench, and pulls it out of her jeans. Lucky whines at having to stop, but he soon sits down and watches her carefully.
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Yelena:
Kate Bishop.
You text too much. I am fine.
Thank you for your concern.
Come to Nat's and tell me
about your nightmare. Bring
the dog!
Kate:
Will Natasha be alright
with Lucky in the house?
I'm in Central Park now.
He needed a walk.
Yelena:
I will ask her
She wants to meet the
"goodest boy".
Kate:
She's a goofball. Like you.
Wait... is that rude?
Yelena:
She laughed and said "You
are a goofball, but I'm the
serious one. Okay, fine,
we're both serious AND
goofballs."
She also said that she is
inviting Clint Barton over.
We will have lunch.
Kate:
Dude, it's like half 10 in the morning.
Why are we talking about lunch?
Yelena:
SHE is talking about lunch...
Mentioned needing to shop.
I think she wants us to be
alone. We need to talk.
Kate:
Oh no. Should I be worried?
Yelena:
That depends, Kate Bishop.
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Kate continues to walk Lucky around the park and after an hour, she lets Yelena know that she's heading to the Upper East Side. She first takes Lucky back to her apartment. "Alright, boy. You can't ride the subway without being in a bag... I just gotta find one that's big enough for you... Okay," she hunts around for a bag and comes across her archery one "definitely not. Okay, what else... gym bag. Eh, it's old. I can either cut holes for your arms and legs, or just pop you in and leave your head out. Whatcha think, boy?" He wags his tail. "Cut holes?" he tilts his head. "Just chuck you in there and leave your head out?" He wags his tail again. "Alright, good choice. In ya get." She zips it up, leaving his head exposed and slings it over her shoulder. "This has got to be one of the dumbest rules, Lucky, but we gotta abide by them. Sucks I can't drive, yano." She switches off the lights, locks the door and makes her way to the subway.
One hour later...
Kate and Lucky get off the number 5 express line and now that they're topside, she takes him out of the bag to walk him to Natasha's. Conveniently, as she arrives, so too does the mailman. He sees her, hands her the three envelopes, strokes Lucky's head and gets in his van. Kate knocks and waits... before ringing the doorbell and waiting.
Natasha is quick to answer. "Morning."
"Morning. Hey, uh, mailman handed me these." She gives the letters to Natasha.
"Bill, bill, shit... what's this one? Uh, come in." She seems a little distracted by the one letter, but Kate still enters her residence, wiping her feet and removing her shoes.
"Lucky, sit." He sits. "Good boy. Stay." She unleashes him, and he remains where he is, until he is told to move again. She had trained him to 'sit', 'stay' and 'come' and he always did as he was told.
"Blah, blah, blah, Sokovia Accord, uh-huh, yeah, blah, blah, blah, warrant for my arrest, outstanding... Nick Fury... S.H.I.E.L.D... Uh... Right. Okay, so, I gotta call Barton. You kids have fun, m'kay?" Natasha says, not looking at Kate. She pulls out her phone and speed dials Barton. "Barton? ... Yeah, hi. Didja get a letter discussing the Sokovia Accords and there being an 'outstanding warrant for arrest'? ... No? ... Yeah, I just got one. It's 2017. You were in the Raft... yeah, I broke you out last year ... Yeah, I know, but it mentions Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., so I dunno ... I mean, yeah, it could be fake, but it has the Official Seal of the United States, so it looks pretty real to me, and I know a thing or two about counterfeit documents. ... Uh-huh, but what if it is real? Why would they need to arrest me again? What the hell have I done this time? ... Want me to bring it over? ... Alright, see you soon. Thanks, Barton." She hangs up and turns to find Kate sitting on the bottom step. She frowns at the brunette. "You still here?"
"Yeah, well, you said you wanted to meet Lucky."
"I did, didn't I?"
"Lucky, come." Kate says and Lucky, gives a doggy-smile and trots over to Natasha. "Lucky, meet Natasha. Natasha, meet Lucky."
"Can I stroke him?"
"Yeah, course you can!" Kate exclaims.
Natasha proceeds to pet him and talk in a baby voice to him. "Oh, who's the goodest boy? You are. Yes, you are! Oh, Lucky, you're so cute. Hey, what happened to his eye?"
Kate shrugs. "Dunno, I found him on the streets like that. Guessing he had a fight or something."
"Aww, poor baby. I know. But you're so handsome. Look, Kate, I gotta go out. Yelena's upstairs. She's still in PJs, so, uh, do what you gotta do to help her out." She claps Kate on the shoulder. "Have fun." She calls up the stairs. "Lena! Kate's here, I gotta go out! Be good!"
"Eh? What is this 'Lena'?"
"It's your name, dumbass."
"My name is Yelena."
"Yeah, and Lena is short for Yelena! It's a cute nickname! Y'all call me Nat, so I'm calling you Lena" And Kate is...?"
"Katherine."
"Katherine?"
"Yeah, I'm Katherine Elizabeth Bishop. Kate is short for Katherine."
"And Katherine is Kate. Just roll with it."
"Okay, fine. Have fun, Nat."
"I won't, but I can wager you will! Bye! Seriously, I gotta go."
"We'll be fine."
"Yeah, I know you will." And with that, Natasha leaves her house, locking the front door behind her.
"Lucky, stay. Good boy." Kate climbs the stairs and knocks on the closed-over door.
"Come in, Kate Bishop."
Kate enters the room and closes the door properly. "Hey, so, what didja wanna talk about?"
"No, you first. Your nightmare."
"Oh, yeah. That. Uh, just, you, uh, you, you, uh, y-you died."
"And that's a nightmare?"
Kate scoffs. "Well, yeah, cos you're my friend. And I'd hate for something bad to happen to you. I mean, it already did, but yano, I, I, I, I just don't want you to die on me. That's all. I care about you. More than I care about myself, actually."
"More than you care about Clint Barton?"
"Hey, he's a good man."
"Hmm."
"Look, I don't have to be here. If you're just gonna dismiss my feelings and stare at me with contempt, then I'm leaving you alone and I'm going home."
"Kate Bishop. I am not good with feelings. The Red Room-"
"Yeah, I know. The Red Room stole your emotions. But that's in the past."
"That was a year ago, Kate Bishop. I was freed in 2016, aged twenty-four. It is now 2017 and I am twenty-five. I cannot just get my emotions back in a year, after I lost them for over two decades. It is not that simple, my love... uh, friend. Sorry, slip of the tongue."
"Mmhmm... and I bet you wish that tongue slipped elsewhere."
"Kate Bishooop. What are you insinuating?"
"Kiss me and find out."
"Ah. That is what I want to talk about."
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry."
"Eh? No, no. Don't be sorry. I just want to... establish something. Look, Kate Bishop..."
"Just call me Kate."
"Kate Bis-sorry, Kate... I know I was in a coma for six months, but I really like you. I find myself thinking about you more and more frequently. Every time I wake up, your face, your grin, your laugh, your voice... it... infects my brain... okay, not 'infects'... it, ah, it... I don't know what word I need. It's... you're in my head, all the time. I cannot..." she sighs.
"I can't either. You're all I think about... well, and Lucky and archery and my Mom..."
"This is losing its appeal."
"Sorry. Go on..."
"That is it."
"Oh. Okay, I'll just-"
"Stay." Yelena pats the space next to her on the bed. "Look, I don't want sex or kisses or anything like that... I just want to share the same space as you. Is that okay if we do that?"
"Yeah, that's fine." Kate replies, sounding disappointed.
"What? You sound disappointed."
"Do I? I wonder why."
"Kate. Talk to me. Why? Why are you-?"
"I was just... no, it doesn't matter."
"Hoping for something more exciting?"
"I guess so."
"Oh, well, you will have something more exciting. Trust me. Just not right now. I'm not in the mood for anything more adventurous than cuddling."
Kate nods and joins her on the bed. "Okay, so, what we just lie here, or we talk?"
"Sshhh." Yelena answers.
Kate hums a soft note, as Yelena closes her eyes. Kate doesn't even feel tired, but she copies the blonde. Soon, however, she is asleep.
It's well past midday by the time the two women wake up. Natasha had been home for about forty minutes. She had come home, fussed Lucky, gave him a bone and gone upstairs. Hearing Yelena's gentle snoring, she had poked her head around the door, smiling at the two with their arms wrapped around each other, and ventured back downstairs. She is currently watching Moonraker. (Arguably, Bond's worst film.) She's sipping a beer and saying the dialogue at the same time as Roger Moore. She had taught herself English by watching a variety of English-speaking movies, and this included the classic Bond films.
Yelena wakes up to Kate with her arm across her chest. She feels safe and cosy inside. Turning her head, she kisses the tip of Kate's nose, who hums in reply.
"I'm sleeping." Kate mutters.
"I know you are. I need a wee."
"Okay." Kate moves her arm so that Yelena can get out of bed.
"I need help."
"Are you still in a wheelchair?"
"Yes."
"I'm not awake yet. Gimme five."
"I'm gonna piss myself, Kate."
"Oh, shit. I'm awake." Kate rolls off the bed and wheels the chair around the side of the bed and helps Yelena into it. She then wheels her out of the bedroom, along the landing and to the bathroom.
"I got it from here." Yelena announces, not wanting Kate to help her. The brunette nods and watches Yelena hoist herself out of the wheelchair and push the door closed. Kate takes a seat on the backless bench.
After a few minutes there is a thud and an "Ow" from the bathroom and Kate rushes to the door. Natasha, beer still in-hand, runs up the stairs, two at a time, at the sound.
"Yelena, babe? You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm... My leg gave out."
"Which one, Lena?"
"The good one."
"Do you want me to help? Or Kate?"
"No, no, I'm go-oh, shit... Nat! There's blood."
"I'm coming in!" Natasha announces and Kate disappears into Yelena's bedroom again. "What happened?" she asks, shutting the bathroom door.
"I took a piss, got up, leg gave out, I fell." She replies, holding her head.
"You must've smacked your head on the sink. Are you okay?"
"Do I look like I'm okay?"
"It's you Yelena. You could have a broken bone and you'd still say you're fine."
"What? You mean like my leg?" Yelena asks, before chuckling.
"Unintentional. But yes."
"My head hurts."
Natasha checks her over, before spotting the culprit - a broken soap dish and a piece of glass in Yelena's temple. "You're in the wars, girlie. Can you please stop getting injured? You broke my soap dish, and you've got glass in your head."
"Oh, I'm so sorry about your precious soap dish." Yelena remarks, sarcastically.
"Want me to pull it out? It's pretty big, but I can stitch you up."
Yelena shrugs... and Natasha yanks it out.
"Сука." Yelena replies... surprisingly calm.
"Seriously, Lena, please can you stop getting injured? You're worrying me."
"Don't you get injured when you're off saving the world?"
"Yeah, sometimes I do."
"Okay, so you can't say much. I have been hurt twice in the last six months."
Natasha sighs, she knows that Yelena is right... technically. "How did your leg give out?"
"I don't know. It just did."
"Well, did it go to sleep?"
"Um... yes? I couldn't feel it when I stood up."
"You're a moron. It went to sleep." Natasha rolls her eyes, before face-palming. "You trapped a nerve, which is why it went numb, and you couldn't feel it. Couple that with a broken leg, you had no balance and stability, so you fell down. It's not rocket science."
"Thank you for that(!)" Yelena replies, sarcastically. "I'm on super stengf meds, I can't work shit out... brain isn't braining. Don't say shit about me not saying that word right."
"'On super strength meds, can't work shit out...' well, that's a lie."
Yelena frowns. "How?"
"You worked out how to have sex... if you were really that spaced out, you wouldn't have been able to-"
"Shut up."
Natasha snorts. "I'm just sayin'."
"Yeah, well, don't. You gonna stitch me up or what?"
"I'm done."
"What?"
"While we were talking, I stitched you up. I keep a first aid kit with sutures in the bathroom cabinet. Just in case."
"Oh, alright. Well, thanks."
"Uh-huh." There's an awkward pause, before Natasha continues. "Uh, did you actually finish?"
"Yes, I took a piss before I fell." Yelena rolls her eyes. "I'm not a child. But I do need to wash my hands." Natasha backs off. "Uhh, why you got so many towels?"
"Little white one is for hands, blue one is mine, red one is yours. I washed the other."
"Oh, okay. Thanks." Yelena dries her hands and Natasha helps her back into the wheelchair. "This is so embarrassing."
"Yeah, well, you gotta just suck it up and get on with it. You wanna be able to walk again, you gotta go through this shitty stage. Even I have been on crutches before."
"But I'm in a wheelchair." Yelena pouts.
"I know, Lena, but you've got no choice. Wheelchair, then crutches." Yelena 'hmphs' and folds her arms. "Knock, knock. Special delivery - a broken Russian." Natasha announces, pushing open the door to 'Yelena's room'.
"Hey! I'm not broken."
"You're not Russian around anymore. You can actually take your time now." Kate jokes.
"You too, huh? Tag team."
Kate and Natasha exchange a look and smirk at each other.
"Aw, she's sensitive." Kate jibes.
"Well, I'll be downstairs making lunch. Pasta okay?"
"Ooh, yes, please." Kate announces, sounding genuinely happy.
"I could put hot sauce on it?"
"Sure can." Natasha agrees.
Soon, Natasha is bringing the food upstairs for the three of them. She 'threatens' to beat up Yelena if she "gets so much as a drop of sauce on the bedding", but hands her the bottle of hot sauce. Yelena takes it, gleefully, and pours a shit load over her pasta.
"You didn't even taste it beforehand."
"It's pasta. It tastes like pasta. Now, it has a kick. Seriously, you should try this."
Natasha rolls her eyes, but takes a forkful of hot-sauce-smothered pasta. She takes a bite and feels the kick right away. "Goddamn it. That's hot."
"Yes, but it'll clear your sinuses."
"I'd like to keep my tongue from burning, thanks."
"Pussy." Yelena mutters.
"I heard that." Natasha confirms.
"You heard? Good. You were meant to."
"Then why whisper it?" Natasha asks, raising an eyebrow.
Yelena tuts. "Because I am a lady."
Natasha snorts. "Yeah, good joke."
"Natasha, you're a pussy."
"I may very well be, but I'm happy with Clint, and you're happy with clit. Now shut up and eat your food."
Kate chokes on her mouthful.
They continue to eat, and Yelena brings up the topic of her coma. Kate and Natasha exchange a look and then tell her of how often they visited, and retell a lot of their stories. They talk for hours and hours and Natasha offers for Kate to stay the night.
* * *
"Apparently I'm volatile, self-obsessed, and don't play well with others." Tony announces as he swigs a beer.
"Yes, I know, babe. Sometimes, Tony, you treat your friends badly."
"It's not my fault they can't follow my train of thought."
"Tony, your train of thought is erratic to say the least. You're impulsive, too." She points at one of the suits in its display case. "What is that? Like Mark 15?"
Tony, knowing it's the 42nd version of the Iron Man suit, shrugs and drinks some more beer. "Something like that", he says casually.
"Why do you have to make so many?"
"Well, you know everyone has to have a hobby, Pep. Mine just happens to be a suit of armour... give or take a few more."
"How many is 'a few more'? Tony, don't lie to me, how many suits do you have?"
"Forty-two." He mutters.
"Tony?"
"Forty-two. I have forty-two Iron Man suits."
"Why?"
"Why not? The Iron Legion made up for thirty-five of them."
"Yes, and you destroyed the Iron Legion in 2012."
"I did... and then I made more. What's the big deal?"
"You're obsessed."
"And that's a bad thing? Look, hon, would you rather me be addicted to drugs or to building Iron Man suits, which are better and more technologically advanced than the last?"
"If it means you're less volatile and self-centred, I'd rather you were on drugs."
"Right, well, starting tomorrow, I'm gonna be on LSD, ecstasy, cocaine... and weed. Might as well make it a party. Where's Happy? I'm sure he can get me an ongoing supply. Happy? Happy!"
"He went home. Anyway, quit joking."
"Who said I was joking? You said you wanted me to be on drugs, so I intend to be on drugs."
"Yeah, and all those drugs will create... performance issues."
"See, there, now I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, really? So, if I did this..." Pepper begins, before touching his crotch over his boxers, and giving it a gentle squeeze... "you wouldn't understand what I meant by 'performance issues'?"
Tony clears his throat. "Oh, see, when you put it like that, I, uh, don't wanna take drugs."
"No? Hmm, well good. Well now... seems someone's pleased to see me."
"What can I say? You're a very beautiful woman, Miss Potts." She smirks, before taking the beer bottle from his hand.
"Hey, I was drinking that."
"I know, but we have some business to take care of." She whispers.
"Pepper, I have no business meetings. It's 8 o'clock at night and I-" he stops mid-sentence, as she rubs his crotch languidly. "Damn it."
"Want me to stop? You can tell me to stop."
"No, no, absolutely not, Mrs. Tony Stark."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I'm serious. We should get married. Would you be Pepper Potts-Stark or Pepper Stark-Potts, or just stay as you are?"
"Virginia 'Pepper' Stark, I should think."
"Um, your first name is 'Pepper'." Tony replies, jokingly. "But Pepper Stark is good."
"Then I shall be Mrs. Pepper Stark." Pepper laughs, before removing Tony's boxers and getting to work.
* * *
"So, then he straight up said to me 'You do know why it's called a 'cockpit', don't you?' and I mean, of course, I do. I'm not some dumb blonde. But in that moment, he really thought that he was better than me. So, I took a couple of pool balls and threw them at his head. I don't remember much after that, and I can't say if I was kicked out or if he was kicked out of the bar. It was such a blur. I mean, I forgot who I was for decades. I was known as Vers... then, I later discovered that my name is actually Carol Danvers and the 'Vers' was the remainder of my dog tag. Yon Rogg basically brain washed me. It was a simple, but clever trick and I believed it for years. Finding out you are someone else to who you believed you were, kinda sucks, y'know?"
Bruce looks at Carol and nods slowly. "Yeah, I've been there. The Hulk... he became a different part of me; made me unstable. To the point where I didn't know if I was him or if I was me. I hit a low point... couldn't see a way out, tried to end it all... I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit it out."
"Yikes! That sounds... tough. Sorry."
"Hey, it's alright. I can manage my anger, and stop myself from turning involuntarily. It's taken years for me to master, but I'm glad I did. I'm much more stable nowadays."
"See, that's good! That's progress!" Carol claps Bruce on the shoulder.
"So, tell me, Carol, what are we doing here?"
"Having a drink, getting to know one another."
"Yeah, but why us? Why not Thor or Steve or anyone else?"
"Because those guys were busy, and you looked like you needed time to relax."
Bruce scoffs. "So, you took pity on me. I'm a scientist..."
"And I'm an Air Force pilot. Tell me, how does a scientist end up working for Tony Stark?"
"Let's just say, I'm ambitious."
"Alright, fine, don't tell me."
"And you? How did you?"
"Nick Fury used a Transmitter Pager to contact me. That's all I know."
"A pager?"
"Upgraded with Kree technology. Able to reach me, even if I'm in a different galaxy."
"That's... some distance."
"Well, it worked, so..."
The barman rings a bell. "Last orders, everyone. Last orders!"
Bruce puts his hand on Carol's arm. "I got it. I have a sneaky suspicion you don't even own a wallet."
"Then your suspicions would be correct."
Bruce chuckles. "I'll pay for the drinks. How you getting home? Uh, where is home?"
"Kree. I just have to travel from C-53, to one of the jump points and then once I reach that, travel at sub-light speed for twenty-two hours, to reach home."
"And is this C-53?"
"Yes, Earth is known as C-53, to the Kree. It's just what it was assigned."
"So, what? You travel, daily between Earth and Kree?"
"Yup."
"And that's... easy for you?"
"Well, I can fly, so... yup."
"Why don't I just set you up on my pull-out couch? Don't want you to get an Intergalactic drink-flying ticket... if there's such a thing."
Carol sighs. "Alright, couch will be great. Thanks, Bruce."
* * *
"You're a lab rat, Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle!"
"Well, if it isn't 'the star-spangled man with the plan.'"
"You don't get to give me orders, 'Captain.'"
"Sorry, son. You'd be ineligible on your asthma alone."
Random conversations fill Steve's head, as he goes a few rounds on the punching bag. He doesn't know why these voices from his past are haunting him. He punches harder and faster, trying to drown them out with the thuds of his punches. They seem to dim down, and Steve allows himself to think of Agent Peggy Carter - a beautiful British woman who joined the Army... And later became his wife. One of their first encounters floods his brain.
1938
Steve rides in a black sedan next to Peggy. He stares out of the window and makes comments. "I know this neighbourhood. I got beat up in that alley... and that vacant lot... and behind that diner."
Peggy looks at him, before asking a question. "Did you have something against running away?"
He looks at her, briefly, but continues to look out of the window. "You start running, they'll never let you stop. You stand up, you push back... they can only tell you 'no' for so long, right?"
"I know a bit what that's like. To have every door shut in your face."
Steve frowns. "Who'd shut a door on you? I figure guys would be climbing over each other to hold them open."
"Depends which door you're trying to go through."
"I guess I don't know why a beautiful... agent... why would she want to join the army anyhow? She could do whatever she wanted."
As she drives, she briefly looks at Steve and regards him for a moment. "You don't know an awful lot about women, do you?"
He tries to be smooth, with his next line. "You got me all wrong, Agent Carter. I don't know anything about women." He pauses, and swallows. "This is probably the longest conversation I've ever had with one." This causes Peggy to laugh, the smallest amount. "I wish I were kidding. Think about it; I don't have any money, so I can't take them to dinner. I'm... kinda short. That doesn't help. Ever. And I don't dance, so that's off the table."
"You must have at least danced."
"Standing on my Mom's feet when I was seven. I don't know. Asking a girl to dance seemed so terrifying, and then in the last few years it didn't seem so important. I figure I might as well wait."
"For what?" Peggy asks, frowning at him again.
He shrugs, looking out the window. "The right partner."
The memory shifts. Steve is in a Suborbital Bomber, over the ocean. He speaks to Peggy over a radio, and explains the situation and the predicament he is in. Peggy speaks over the radio. "Give me your coordinates. I'll find a landing site."
"There isn't going to be a landing. Schmidt's locked the navigation system. And there's more than enough power to reach the East Coast."
"I'll get Howard on the line. He'll know what to do." Peggy listens to Steve as he tells her the plane is loaded with explosives and that the only way to survive is if he crashes the bomber into the ocean.
She knows the implications and when she speaks again, her voice is grave. "Steve, don't do this. We've got time. We can figure this out."
"I already did. Right now, I'm in the middle of nowhere. If I wait any longer, a lot of people are going to get hurt... Peggy, this is my choice."
"We'll send out rescue ships. We'll find you."
"I don't think there's going to be much left to find." Steve forces the plane, which has had its engine cut, into a nosedive. Peggy listens to the sound of the plane falling. "Peggy?"
"I'm here."
"I'm going to need a raincheck on that dance."
Steve can hear her holding back tears. Her voice wobbles with emotion. "All right. A week Saturday. The Stork Club."
"Okay. You got it."
"8:00 on the dot. If you're three minutes late I'm leaving, do you understand?" She asks.
"I still don't know how to dance."
"I'll show you. I'll show you everything. Just be there."
As the plane plummets, clouds whip past and Steve pockets his compass, with a picture of Peggy. He pulls his mask down over his face, as Arctic ice rushes up at the cockpit window. "Maybe the band could play something slow, I'd hate to step on your-" the radio cuts out.
Present Day, 2017
Steve continues to punch the bag, harder and faster, until he breaks it. It's not the first time he's punched a hole in a bag, and it, undoubtedly, won't be the last time, either. He sighs and picks it up from the other side of the gym. Slinging it over his shoulder, he pushes the bar on the fire exit, and takes it to the dumpster. He looks up at the stars and thinks of Peggy, one final time, before discarding the bag and heading back into the gym. Every time he sees a shooting star, he thinks back to just after their first dance and he remembers her. It was one year since he lost her, but it wasn't always easy for him. He'd never admit it, but he'd often cry himself to sleep.
* * *
Clint attaches the fletching to the shaft of his arrow and smiles. Another trick arrow is complete. He wants to test it, but equally, he doesn't, because he only made the one. He makes a note of all the necessary components, so he can make more (with any necessary adjustments) and goes outside to the alleyway by his apartment. Once there, he loads the arrow into his bow. He aims downrange to the target at the end of the alleyway, and draws back the arrow with two fingers. He touches the corner of his mouth, inhales, exhales and releases the arrow. It embeds itself into the target and within a few seconds, green acid spreads across the paper target, dissolving it instantly. He smiles at the 'Acid Tip' arrow, but as he continues to watch, he realises that it is eating away at brick wall the paper target was attached to. Half of him thinks it is dangerous and the other half thinks it's fantastic and he can use it to his advantage. He records the effects of this new arrow, and then grabs his 'Sonic Boom' arrow, before repeating the process.
The noise is deafening, and he clutches his ears in pain. Feeling blood trickling down them, he realises that he has ruptured his ear drums, and needs to make appropriate adjustments. He grabs the now-useless arrows and heads back into his apartment, before carefully placing his bow against the wall, and taking a seat at his desk. It is adorned with a soldering iron, magnifying glasses, wires, a pair of needle-nose plyers, spreadsheets, blueprints and a few more important documents.
Clint spends the next few hours working on the two arrows and eventually, he falls asleep at his desk. His alarm goes off, but he turns it off and very quickly goes back to sleep again. It isn't until his phone rings with Ace of Spades as his ringtone, that he finally wakes up. He groggily answers.
"Hello?"
"Barton, you were meant to be in work two hours ago. Where are you?"
"Sorry, Tony. I was up all night, making trick arrows. I'll be there soon."
"Okay, well, drive safe."
"Um... thank you?"
"Don't mention it."
* * *
"Good morning, everyone. So, it's been brought to my attention that I don't play well with others, and I treat you like shit. I want to formally apologise and from now on, I'm going to try and be more respectful to you all, and your feelings, and listen to you more."
"Who are you and what have you done with Tony Stark?" Steve asks, frowning and folding his arms.
Tony briefly gives him dagger eyes, before resuming his spiel. "I want you to know that each and every one of you is someone I would consider a friend. I know, in the past, we've had our differences and our grievances, you and I, especially, Rogers, but I am going to try and treat you all with respect and make you feel comfortable here. Any and all hospital trips will, henceforth, be paid for, by me, no questions asked..." he looks at Natasha, and gives a small, but curt, nod. "If any of you needs to talk, about anything, then my esteemed secretary, Pepper, will be available to listen."
"Tony, I'm not a therapist."
"But you can handle me, and if anyone can handle me, then they can handle the team and if anyone can handle the team, it's you."
"I can hire a therapist, should it be required."
"Right, well... Okay."
"Where's this all coming from?" Bruce asks, frowning.
"Well, uh, last night, Pep made it clear to me that my behaviour has been somewhat... erratic an-"
"And that's been like that since the Avengers formed in 2012." Steve interrupts.
"Quite. But, it's a new year, so a new me."
"We're in June... You're six months late to the whole 'New Year, New Me' trend." Rogers announces.
"I know, I know. I just... I want... No, I have to be better. You're my friends."
"And how long will it last?" Barton asks.
"I give it three months." Banner says.
"Three months? More like three weeks." Rogers corrects.
"Come on, why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt?"
"No offence, Danvers, but you don't know him like we do." Rogers answers.
"Are you boys really that dense-"
"Three hours is probably more like it. I bet you ten bucks; he goes back to his old self in three hours." Rogers states.
Barton's ears perk up. "Ten bucks? You're on!"
The Avengers bicker amongst themselves, and Tony, knowing himself better than anyone (other than Pepper knowing him better than he knows himself), decides to not get involved in the argument. For a change.
"Danvers, Romanoff? You in?"
"I'm not placing bets." Danvers confirms.
"You boys need to grow up." Romanoff chastises. "You're just as bad as each other! How many of you-shut up and listen-how many-" Natasha growls, frustrated at not getting a word in edgeways. She sighs and heads towards the door. "Thanks for the apology and for paying for Yelena's hospital bill." She says, placing a hand on Tony's shoulder.
He repeats the action, and gives her shoulder a little squeeze. "You're welcome. Like I told you, she's family. You all are. And yes, I know in the past, I've gone back on my word... multiple times... but I really do intend on treating you all with respect and not bickering with the team."
"So, why doesn't Mom and Dad step in now then? Wrangle all the kids." Natasha jokes.
Tony, who is not sure if she is joking or not, looks at Pepper. "We are basically Mom and Dad, and these are our kids..." he begins.
"Tony, she's just joking... I think."
"Think about it. You founded the team, so you're the boss. If their bickering is getting too much, then tell them off."
Tony chuckles, dryly. "What and 'fire' them?"
"I wouldn't go that far, but-"
"HEY! That's enough!" Tony shouts, too close to Natasha's and Pepper's ears. They flinch at the sound.
"Hey, that's my line." Steve jokes.
"C'mon, guys, be nice. Please. Give me a chance to prove myself."
"Boys, if Tony was as arrogant as he used to be, he wouldn't have paid Yelena's medical bills. She has no insurance... I need to talk to her about that, actually... But Tony paid the bill in full. It was hundreds of thousands of dollars, because we know how shit the healthcare is here. If it wasn't for Tony, Yelena would have not had the treatment she needed... she'd've, yano... she'd be dead. So, we need to give credit where credit is due. Thank you, Tony. From the both of us."
"It's no trouble, really."
"Yeah, well, it's a big deal to me, so thank you. But none of you bothered to visit. It was me and Kate and Clint. You don't know her like I do, and that's fair enough, but not one of you asked after her. Except for Carol. She told me to go to her. I had no choice but to leave the mission... I wasn't gonna abandon her. Not again."
"And you did the right thing." Carol comforts.
"Did you?" Steve begins. "Did you abandon her?"
"Well, yes and no, she was taken by Dreykov for the Black Widow Programme, just like I was... But I never went back for her. I couldn't... I'd have compromised myself and her... We'd have both been killed. I couldn't risk that. She'll never know that, because I'm not gonna tell her. Plus, I thought she got out and was living a normal life and didn't wanna see me ever again. We naturally became estranged, but regardless, I'd do anything for her... for any of you... because she, and you, are family. I know families argue, and boy do we argue, but if we could just all get along, and play Happy Families, for once, then I think we'd be alright. And stop thinking about one-upping or killing each other."
"Yeah, I agree... not about playing 'Happy Families', cos that's a stupid card game, but I'm happy to try and not argue and stop trying to be better than anyone else." Tony agrees, surprising everyone.
"Right, well, since there's no threats in the city... and Thor's not with us, so I'm assuming everything is handled in Asgard, then... what the hell do we do?" Clint asks.
Everyone shrugs.
"I could just head back to Kree. Nick Fury has a Transmitter Pager, to contact me, even across different galaxies, so if you need me, I'll be there. Otherwise, as much as I am enjoying our little group discussions, I'm not really needed, so, I'll see ya!" Captain Marvel announces, before heading towards the exit. No one stops her, so she ventures outside, runs and jumps into the air, in a beam of white and pale blue light. She zips through the sky, looking like a comet to anyone unaware, and disappears into space.
"Right, so that's two Gods from Space down. Now we've got: a Hulk, an Iron Man, a Star-Spangled man, a Black Widow and me." Pepper clears her throat. "And Miss Potts. So, uh, vacation anyone?"
"You're a funny man, Barton." Tony says. Barton just shrugs.
"He's right, maybe we should take a vacation. Tony and Pepper, Natasha and Clint... you're all shacked up. That just leaves me, Bruce and... well, that's it."
"How did you know we're dating?" Clint and Natasha ask in unison.
"Guys, you always end up together."
"Damn it!" Natasha exclaims.
"So, what? You're suggesting that they all take a couple's vacation and... what, we do as well? No offence, Steve, but I'm not gay. And even if I was, I'm not your type. Guys like you don't like nerdy guys like me."
"I'm not gay, either. I was married to Peggy Carter, if you recall."
"I do. And she was a fine lady."
Steve sighs. "She was, wasn't she? What about Thor and Jane? Are they still a couple?"
"I believe so," replies Tony and Natasha.
"What about the kids? The teens?"
"Yelena and Kate? Uh, first of all, they're young adults..." Natasha starts.
"Compared to us, they're kids. I mean, I was frozen in ice for 70 years. By all accounts, I should be 100 or so years old... but I look 30s. So, compared to me, they're kids."
"Right, well, that is true, but what's your question?" Natasha asks.
"They're a couple, right?"
"Uh, no. As far as I'm aware."
Steve frowns, and hums. "Yeah, but they're courting each other, correct?"
"Courting?" Tony asks. "Buddy, this isn't 1945. We know they've kissed. Kate told us. Beyond that, it's a guessing game. Nat, have they, y'know? Sealed the deal?"
"I'm not willing to discuss that."
"So, yes. That's a, that's a yes. They're hooking up. They're probably had a few more kisses than just the one in the elevator. Okay, so, what are we thinking? Belovshop? Hmm, no. Doesn't roll off the tongue, does it? Cap? What you got?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, meshing their names together. Pep and I are Pepparony. Natasha and Clint and Clintasha. It's what the kids would call a 'ship name'. 'Ship' being short for relationship. So, what you got?"
"Katena?" Steve suggests.
"Guys, come on, we can't speculate about their status, but if we're coming up with names, then Bishova. Bishop, plus Belova, equals Bishova."
"Ohhhh. That's really good." Barton, Stark and Rogers all agree, and in unison.
"They're definitely shagging." Tony laughs. "You know... 'shag'. Like Austin Power's The Spy Who Shagged Me."
"Yes, thank you, Tony. But I really don't need to discuss my sister's pre-marital status." Natasha replies, exasperatedly.
"Woah, hol' up. Who said anything about 'marital'? I doubt they'd even be thinking that. Kids these days just wanna hook up, kiss, and shag, and maybe stay together long term. Millennials are so fickle." Tony jokes.
"You do know that Yelena is an early 90s kid, and I'm an 80s kid, right? There's no 'Millennial' about her."
"Natasha, Natasha, Natasha..."
"Tony, Tony, Tony?"
"A 'Millennial' is a person born between the years of 1981 and 1996. When was she born?"
"I don't know... Between 1991 and 1993. She's about 25 years old."
"Right, so, Yelena is about twenty-five and Kate is twenty-two years old, since she was born in 1995. They're both Millennials, Tash."
"Please don't call me 'Tash'. Not a nickname I ever liked. It's Nat, or Natasha... or Natalie..."
"Natalie Rushman... God, I remember that name. And that model photograph..." Tony whistles, much to Pepper's and Natasha's disdain.
"Model? You never told me you were a model." Clint says, sounding hurt.
"Oh, my God. I was a model, between 2004 and 2007. It's no biggie."
"No biggie? I beg to differ." Tony replies. "You were a commercial model between 2004 and '05 and a fashion and runway model in Japan, Italy, France, and the United States, between '05 and '07. I remember your profile. Says you went to Harvard Law School. Pretty impressive."
"Yes, but I had to, as part of my cover. I do actually hold a Law degree, but Natalie Rushman was an alias. Part and parcel of being a spy."
"And a model?" Clint asks.
"A way to pay the rent... And to also get close to some HVTs."
"And these High Value Targets were...?"
"Rich businessmen, of course. You know how it is, Clint. You were a spy for S.H.I.E.L.D. You know what needs to be done."
"I was never a lingerie model." He complains.
"Well, maybe you should have asked."
"Now I want to see these photos..."
"No, c'mon, we don't-"
"J.A.R.V.I.S.? Bring up Natalie Rushman's modelling photos and put them on the big screen, please."
"Certainly, sir."
A photograph of 'Natalie' appears on the screen. She's dressed in a lacy black bra and panties and is lying on a silken white sheet, with faux fur under her right arm, which she's propped up on. Her red hair falls down in delicate waves, and she's wearing red lipstick. The men wolf whistle, and even Pepper looks a little jealous.
"Barton, you're one lucky son of a gun!" Steve announces, delighted. Natasha shakes her head and rolls her eyes, as Clint just stands there and blushes.
"Why is there a half-naked photo of my sister on the biggest screen in this lab?" Yelena's voice cuts through the silence making everyone jump.
"I tried to keep her home, she fought me... literally. I have bruises to show for it." Kate announces.
"Yelena, what are you doing here?"
"I was bored at home. Uh, why are you in your underwear?"
"It was back when I, as Natalie Rushman, was a lingerie model. It was undercover work."
"Looks less 'undercover' and more 'front cover of a magazine' to me."
"Are you mad?"
"Mad, at you with your tits and ass on show? No. I'm not mad. At little jealous, cos my tiny tits would never be on the cover of a magazine..." she pouts, before continuing "but that's not the point. I'm going insane being stuck in the goddamn house. Oh, you're out of vodka, by the way."
"Out of-Yelena, I just bought a brand-new bottle of Smirnoff last week!"
"Yeah, and I drank it."
"Straight, I might add." Kate announces.
"Yeah, and that's about the only straight thing I can manage." Yelena jokes. The others look at her, feigning surprise. "What? You can't tell me none of you know that I'm hooking up with Kate?"
"Yel, I thought we weren't gonna-"
"What? Tell them? Well, when we come in looking rough, we can't lie about not sleeping 'because of my leg' anymore. They're gonna figure it out, eventually."
"Yeah, but-"
"But nothing... it's obvious, Kate."
"Wait, so you are, or you aren't a couple?" Steve asks, sounding genuinely confused.
"Uhh... Kate?"
"It's complicated."
"What? No, it's not 'complicated', doofus. It's just... undefined."
"Ya, so 'complicated'."
Yelena sighs. "Kate... what is so complicated about us? I make you happy, you make me happy, why is that-"
"Because you haven't asked yet!" Kate snaps, a little too loudly.
Yelena is taken aback. "Well... why did... you not ask? Why do I have to?"
"I mean, you don't, it's just that I, I'm a-I'm the younger one."
"So? Doesn't that mean you're more... I dunno... attune to your feelings and know what you want?"
"Yeah, I do, but... it's you."
"The fuck does that mean?"
Kate stammers, trying to think of how to explain herself. She falls short. "Can we not do this now?" she finally asks.
"No, I want to do this now. What the fuck do you mean 'it's you'?"
"You're intimidating!" Kate blurts out.
"I'm intim-what? How? What, because I'm Russian?"
"N-no...? That's, that's not-"
"It sounds like that's the reason!" Yelena snaps.
"You intimidate me because you're a fucking assassin, okay?! It scares me... and I'm scared that you're gonna... I don't know... lose it on me or something, and I'm gonna end up in a body bag at the bottom of the Hudson river!" Kate snaps, her voice breaking and tears threatening to fall.
An uncomfortable silence fills the room, and the Avengers don't know where to look, but none of them want to leave, either, because they're nosey.
"Kate Bishooop. I might be an assassin, but I am a contract killer. That's very different. And I don't get violent, unless I have to. If we had an argument, my first instinct wouldn't be to pull my gun on you-Natasha, shut up-I would talk to you first. And, look, I have no intention of ever hurting you... I would kill for you. Is that the only thing that scares you? Or is it the accent? Cos-" Yelena suddenly switches to a flawless 'posh' British accent "I can talk in a different accent if that makes you more comfortable. It's up to you how you want me to be."
"Uh, that was weird as hell." Kate announces, and even Natasha looks surprised.
"What? I spent a year in Oxford. Or..." she switches to a Hungarian accent. "I can talk with a Hungarian accent. I can also speak Hungarian. I'm fluent in native Russian, as well as English and Hungarian. Ez történik, ha titkoltan élsz Budapesten."
"Wait, what?" Kate asks, frowning hard.
"I said: This is what happens when you live secretly in Budapest."
"I mean, the British accent is, kinda... sexy." Kate admits, blushing a little.
"Yeah? I can save it for the bedroom, if you'd rather?" Yelena whispers in Kate's ear.
"Oh-kay."
Yelena switches back to her natural Russian accent. "But seriously, I don't want you, or anyone else, enemies not included, to be afraid of me. Natasha knows I'm an idiot, and she knows how much I love hugs... and," she sighs, "I hate to admit this, but she knows how much I just want to be loved, you know?" Yelena's cheeks burn red. "Soooo, if that means I gotta disappear, lay low for a while, so you can yano, figure out what you want, and how I fit into... your life, then just say the word and I'm gone."
"Yelena, I don't want you to leave. God, you really are an idiot, aren't you?" Kate chuckles. "Just... promise me that you're never gonna hurt me."
"I swear it. On my life, I swear, Kate Bishop. You mean the world to me... I mean, so does Nat, cos she's my sister, but, that's not the point. I like you... a lot okay? And, Jesus Christ, I never thought I could like someone as much as I like you... myself not included... let alone... a girl, but you know..." Yelena stammers, and waves her hands around, trying to think of something, anything to add.
"Just ask her out already!" The Avengers goad, in unison.
Kate laughs and Yelena's cheeks go red, again.
"Oh, my God, this is painful to watch." Natasha breaks the second awkward silence. "Kate, do you wanna be Lena's girlfriend, yes or no?"
"Uh, y-yeah, c-course I do." Kate stammers, having been put on the spot.
"Lena, do you wanna be Kate's girlfriend?"
"Yes." Yelena replies, sharply.
"There we go. You're now girlfriends. Happy fucking days. Let's go. Beer, beer, beer, beer, water, beer and two vodkas, for Lena and I. Tony?" She states, pointing at each of her friends, and Pepper, as she announces what they'll drink. (The water is for Bruce.)
"Yup, on it."
"Con-fucking-grats!" Natasha exclaims, raising both her hands.
Yelena, who looks dazed, turns to Kate. "What just happened?"
"Natasha hooked us up."
"Oh. Cos I feel like I blacked out."
"Yeah, it was a little... I don't wanna say 'forced', but it was a little forced. But, yeah, I guess you're my girlfriend, then."
Yelena, whose eyes are wide, nods brusquely. "Okay, cool. Can we, you know?"
"Talk? In your room?" Kate asks to which Yelena simply nods. "Okay, thank you."
Natasha sees them disappearing down the corridor, with Yelena now on crutches. "Use protection!" she shouts after them and Yelena responds by holding up her middle finger, causing Nat to laugh.
Yelena shuts the door behind her and makes her way over to the bed. She groans as she sits. "I feel like we were ambushed," she begins, "and I don't like that. I was planning on asking you, but I didn't know when would be the right time, since I've spent the last six months in a coma, so you don't know me."
"On the contrary, I do know you. I like you a lot, too. I'm sorry I snapped at you in front of everyone. That's why I didn't wanna have that conversation out there."
"Okay, that's on me. My ego got in the way and for that, I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted. So, uh... girlfriends, huh?"
"Who'd have thought it? Also, if you need me to stop being a contract killer... I guess I can, but I don't know what else to do."
"Private contractor? Security guard? Firearms Instructor? I don't know."
"I mean, I could, but it would be a serious pay downgrade."
"I have to ask... how much is it to, yano...?" Kate asks, drawing a finger across her throat.
"Depends on the contract. Varies from a few thousand to half a million dollars. But, uh, seriously, if you want me to stop... it'll take some getting used to."
"I mean my Mom's worked with Wilson Fisk, and he's a dangerous criminal, and then you've got Uncle Jack... I guess I'm just used to violence. Just... don't bring it home."
"Sure. Like I said, I'd kill for you. I'd never lay hands on you... okay, that's a lie... I would never lay violent hands on you."
"Well, thanks. So, uh, does that mean I can call you 'babe' now?"
"Sure can."
Kate smiles and they share a small, delicate kiss.
Chapter 5: Five
Chapter Text
16 August 2017
Yelena is back to full strength and walking again. She's grateful to be back to how she was before her 'incident'. She was getting bored being stuck at home and resorted to throwing paper balls at the wall, since she couldn't go to a shooting range. Even on crutches, she didn't want to try balancing on one leg and fire live rounds.
At 3am, her phone vibrates with an alarm she had set to go to Kate's apartment for, as Kate had put it, "a booty call". She silences her alarm, and gets out of bed. She throws on her yellow plaid pants, and a black tank top (sans bra) and grabs a black hoodie. She's not deliberately trying to look like a spy in all black, but she smirks at herself in the mirror, because that's exactly what she looks like. She texts Kate to say she's getting ready and pockets it, before creeping out of her bedroom and down the stairs, strategically stepping over the creaking stairs. She grabs her black combat boots, and is about to put them on, when the kitchen light flicks on. "Shit," she whispers to herself. She stays absolutely still and listens to Natasha get a glass of water and head towards the stairs. Leaving her boots where they are, she ducks into the dining room and hides behind the wall the stairs are against, to avoid being seen. As Natasha's footsteps draw nearer, Yelena steps further back into the shadows and accidentally backs into the drinking glasses cabinet. She holds her breath, but the dining room light is flicked on.
"Going out, are we?"
"No." Yelena lies, although she needn't.
"Uh-huh, so why you dressed up?"
"Because a. It's none of your business, and b. I'm an adult"
"Okay, well, a. You're my sister, I wanna make sure you're safe, b. I know, but I care about you."
"If you must know, I'm going to Kate's."
"At 3am?"
"Yes."
"For a booty call?"
"No."
"If it's after 2:30, call is for the dirty." Natasha announces.
"Urgh, you're so annoying."
"I'm your big sister. It's in the Sibling Handbook."
Yelena sighs. "Fine. I am going for a booty call."
"She's your girlfriend, why do you need to sneak about?"
"Asks the woman who was sneaking about with her boyfriend."
"Touché."
"I dunno... It just kinda seemed fun to sneak out after dark."
"Yelena, did you never sneak out after dark?"
"No, because Dreykov's soldiers always scared me."
"Okay, well, if you're gonna sneak out, do it properly, and go out the window."
"I'm gonna climb in her window... But I'm going out your front door."
Natasha scoffs. "Alright, well, you kids have fun. Tony expects you to be at the Avengers Tower for 8am sharp. I don't care how tired you are, you make sure you're both there."
"You're such a mooom." Yelena states, rolling her eyes, before grabbing her black combat boots and heading out the door.
* * *
Yelena reaches Kate's building, and rings the buzzer for her apartment. "You're late."
"You said after three, it's after three."
"It's closer to four."
"Yeah, well, Nat caught me."
"Oh, shit. Okay well..." The door buzzes and Yelena opens it. She takes the stairs two at a time and stops outside Kate's door. Raising a fist to knock, Kate unchains and opens the door, cutting her off. "Get in here." Kate pulls Yelena in by the front of her shirt, and closes and locks the door.
"Yes, ma'am." Yelena jokes. "We gotta be in work at 8am. Nat says: 'I don't care how tired you are, you need to be at the Avengers Tower at 8am sharp'."
"Oh, she's, uh, really crackin' the whip, huh?"
"Hmm."
"Skip the foreplay?"
"Uh, hell no! I'm drier than a Soviet in the desert."
"Oh, wow. That's... wow." Yelena gives a dirty chuckle, then leans in to give Kate a kiss, but Kate stops her. "I'm sorry, I just..."
Yelena sighs. "Drier than a nun's sandal?"
"That's even worse."
"Okay. Well, you're not going in dry, so, arouse me, or we just cuddle."
Kate scoffs. "Oh, it's like that is it?" She too chuckles dirty. "Maybe you should try begging for it?"
"Pfft, begging? For what?"
"How much you want me?"
"You know... I can go a long time without... I think you are gonna start begging me."
"No, I really don't think I will."
"Oh, Kate Bishop. You've been a bad girl. And bad girls get spanked."
"That's not nearly as sexy as you think it is."
"Ah, damn it. American films lie."
"Then don't kiss me like an American."
"Eh?"
"Kiss me like a Russian."
"That's just three kisses."
Kate sighs. "Okay, make out with me, like one of those American movies you're talking about and then... take me like a Russian would."
"Oh, you wanna get rough? Why didn't you just say so?"
"Because I—" Yelena cuts her off by capturing her mouth with her own. The blonde slides her tongue into the brunette's mouth, quickly and is already rubbing over her sweet spot, trying to get her off. Kate moans into Yelena's mouth and within seconds, Yelena's hand dips in the waistband of Kate's PJ bottoms.
"Hmm. No undies. Someone was ready."
"Less... for you... totakeoff" Kate replies, breathily, slurring the last word. "Oh, God." Yelena smirks and stops playing. With a gasp, Kate manages to squeak out a question. "Why did you stop?"
"I told you... you need to beg for it."
"Tease."
"That's the point, Kate."
"Babe, I've been ready for hours. I had to fight the urge to masturbate in anticipation of you making me feel good."
"Then you can wait a bit longer."
"Babe, don't give me girl blue balls."
Yelena withdraws her hand and walks away from Kate and the front door. Kate's mouth falls open, and she watches her girlfriend walk away. "You gonna make me a coffee, or a nightcap?" She asks, sitting on the couch.
"No!" Kate exclaims, before her mouth falls open again. "What was that?"
"What?"
"You just sto—oh, I know what you're doing. Fine." Kate sighs, and then pulls 'puppy-eyes' at Yelena. "Please, babe? Please touch me. I need you to. I need you to take charge and tell me how much of a bad girl I've been." She says, trying to sound needy.
"Yeah, you're right, that doesn't sound sexy."
"Gah, Yelena, please. Fuck. I need you." Kate tries again, but this time, her genuine want and desire laces her words and they come out breathy and full of passion.
"Yeah, you do, don't you?" Yelena asks, rhetorically, before getting up off the couch and kissing Kate again. As she does so, she pushes her against the pole connecting the mezzanine above to the ground floor. Her back thunks into the cold metal surface, and Kate inhales sharply through her teeth. "Bit of pain never hurt no one."
"That's a... double negative."
"I don't care. I'm in charge."
"Yeah. Sorry."
"Hmm. Good girl."
"Oh, God. Fuck." Kate's moans fill the space as Yelena deepens the kiss. "What... about... Lucky?"
"He's a dog." Yelena states.
"I don't want him to see..."
"Do you let him upstairs?"
"He's a dog." Kate repeats. "Of course, I do.
"He's gonna see, he's not gonna know. Now shut up, so I can make you feel good."
"But Yelena..."
Yelena growls softly. "What?"
"I was just gonna say that this isn't comfy for me. This pole, it hurts."
"You think I'm gonna fuck you against a pole? What am I, a stripper?"
"No, of course not."
"Right, so... sshhh. If you wanna be in charge, you'll have to wait your turn. If not... I could just stop."
"Oh, God, no, please."
"Didn't think so. We're talking too much. If I wanted to talk so much, I'd've rung you."
"Sorry."
Yelena resumes kissing her girlfriend and soon after, they're heading to the mezzanine which makes up Kate's bedroom. Yelena makes short work of undressing Kate and pushes her onto the bed before she strips herself. She straddles her girlfriend, and continues with the foreplay. Again, Kate's moans fill the space.
By the time they get down to it, they're both flagging. Yelena yawns and Kate copies her. "I'm sorry, I am exhausted."
"Yeah, me too. Wanna call it quits?"
"Well, since I only had two hours sleep before I came here, and we have to be in work soon, yes."
"Is there any point in sleeping?"
"Yes, otherwise I'll be grumpy."
"Alright, grumpypants. I'll just lay here, since I'm not tired."
"Says the girl who yawned."
"I only yawned because you did, Yel."
Yelena scoffs, then rolls onto her right side. She gets comfy... and is out cold.
After an hour of 'just laying' in the bed, Kate acts as the big spoon and cuddles Yelena. Shortly after, she's asleep.
Just before half 7, the two wake up again, and with renewed vigour, have a quickie before they need to leave for work.
* * *
The cab pulls up outside the Avengers Tower at 8am and the two women, scramble out of the backseat. Kate pays the fare, and they run towards the door. "We are so late, Yelena."
"Yeah, well, this morning was fun."
"I didn't even have time to brush my hair."
"Just stick it in a ponytail, you'll be fine. Me, I'll braid it in the elevator."
They get in, Yelena hands Kate her to-go cup of coffee and starts braiding her long blonde hair. Despite using her fingers to comb out the knots, she manages to get it to look neat. She adjusts her clothes, pulling down her crop top, properly and takes the cups from Kate, so she can do her hair and sort out her clothes. The elevator doors slide open and the two women, who had just shared a kiss, step through them. Pepper looks up from her desk and, saying nothing, points towards the stairs, which lead down to the lab. They nod in unison, and rush down them. Kate, dressed in ripped jeans, black Doc Martins and black-and-white Raglan shirt appears at the console a second ahead of Yelena. Yelena throws her yellow-and-black plaid jacket over the back of a chair, and adjusts her choker.
"You're late." Natasha announces.
"By five minutes."
"I said 8am sharp."
"Yeah, well... traffic."
"Lena, if your relationship is gonna cause you to be late for work..."
"No, no. It's not gonna happen again. Okay, I take that back. But there really was traffic. That's a lie also."
"You were never very good at lying."
"Oh, and you were the master?"
"Yeah, well, it helps me to be a spy."
"Look, I'm sorry, we're five minutes later, mother, but... we were busy."
"Yelena!"
"Doing taxes!" Yelena lies.
"Lena, that's a blatant lie. You don't know how to do taxes."
Yelena squeaks. "I do too!"
"Really?"
"...No."
"Morning, lovebirds. Getting laid were we?"
"Yes." Yelena answers.
"No." Kate says, attempting to be louder than Yelena. Unfortunately for her, everyone heard Yelena's answer. "Babe. That's private."
"Oh, come on. Nat and Clint do it. And everyone knows."
"No, we don't." They fib, in unison.
"Wanna try that again?" Yelena asks, tilting her head to one side and raising an eyebrow.
"I lied. There was no traffic. We were getting laid. That's why we're late."
"Yel, babe. Some things need to stay between us."
"Are you ashamed?"
"No, but—"
"Then who cares? We have sex, Clint and Nat have sex and probably so does Tony and Pepper. It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Yeah, but, no."
"Wait... is this like a taboo subject? Do we not talk about sex in the workplace?"
"No." Kate, Clint and Bruce say in unison.
"I knew Americans were prudes, but goddamn. I think you need to be exposed to Russian culture. We talk sex, alcohol, drugs, violence, smoking... Nat?"
"What?"
"Help me out."
"I'm more American these days."
Yelena scoffs. "I have had conversations with the other girls in the Red Room about anything and everything. I am not shy. We've even traded torture tips." Yelena snorts. "Oh, you think I'm joking? No. I've given torture techniques, interrogation techniques and how to resist interrogation tips to, uh, fourteen-year-olds, sixteen-year-olds and eleven-year-olds."
"You helped them in the Programme?"
"Yup. I mean, I was caught a few times, 'playing nice', but that didn't stop me."
"What... what happens when you're caught?" Kate asks, apprehensively.
"Ooh, where to start...? I have the scars to show for it."
"You have scars? I didn't notice them this morning."
"No, because you were too busy in awe of what my tongue can do." Kate flushes a deep red. "Take a look at this bad boy." Yelena lifts the small sleeve of her crop top to show off a small scar on her shoulder. "Knife. Anton Dubochev. Dreykov's top soldier. He's a douche. Glad that fucker is dead. Glad they all are, to be honest." She sniffs. "Right, so, yeah, that's what happens if you get caught. Still, I didn't care. What I taught them kept them alive... mostly."
"You scare me sometimes." Kate admits.
"Sorry. But, hey, if you ever want tips on how to resist capture and avoid caving under the pressure of an interrogation, I'm your man... uh, woman."
"You think I'm gonna be kidnapped?"
Yelena shrugs. "It's the States. Can't be too careful. Speaking of... do you know how to use a gun?"
"No!"
"We might need to amend that."
"I use a bow, with trick arrows."
"That's cute."
"Well, okay... and you really think a gun, which jams, is better than a bow?"
"It's faster."
"Really?"
"Yes. I can load in two seconds."
"Woah, big man. So, can I."
"Can you shoot, reload, and shoot again one handed?"
"Uh, well, no."
"I can."
"Show off."
"Highly skilled. Can you use a knife?"
"I'm sure, if it came down to it, I could."
Yelena scoffs. "Try having to use a knife, and a Glock, at the same time. And using a knife on one dude, whilst you reload said Glock one handed, and avoiding being stabbed and shot at the same time. You've seen Natasha fight, right? Five guys at once? I'll admit is pretty cool. Try eight at once... Well, technically six."
"There's no way."
"Ha! Wanna bet. 'Scuse me, Tony. I need to use your computer."
"Okay, now, normally, I'd say 'No, hands off', but I'm curious about you showboating." Tony replies, bringing up the holographic keyboard on his metal desk.
Yelena cocks her head, then navigates to the Dark Web. She switches the language to Russian, and brings up old Red Room records, navigating to herself. "Training Room, Field Ops, oh, Hostage Situation. Ah! Here we go." She clicks on a video and they all watch as it plays.
"Is it on?" A man asks. "Good. General Dreykov, conducting a Field Test with Subject 8156, Belova, Yelena. Aged 16. Bring in the men." They watch as eight built men enter the warehouse. They're all well over six foot and broad, with rippling muscles, and black t-shirts stretching over their biceps. They look mean and angry. "Subject 8156 is using live rounds, Widow's Fangs, Stun Batons and Widow's Bites. The enemy forces will also be using live rounds, real knives and metal baseball bats. Belova...?" a young Belova steps in front of the camera. She's skinnier than she is now, but that means she's quick and wily. She cracks all her knuckles and both sides of her neck.
"Yes?"
"Don't die."
"No, Dreykov. Dying is not in my blood. You made me the best. Better than Natalia Romanova."
"And what do we say about her?"
"She was weak. She was good, but I am better."
"Remember, I have complete control. If you so much as step out of line, my device will kill you. Instantly. Got that?"
"Yes, General Dreykov. I won't let you down."
"Good. Men, positions please." They move in a semi-circle and Kate feels her heart beginning to race in anticipation of what will happen next. "Begin."
One of the men steps forward and slashes at Yelena with a knife, but she easily ducks. As she ducks, another man tries to stab her in the stomach, but she jumps out of the way, before bringing her knee up and catching him on the wrist making him drop the knife. He picks it up as she rolls out of the way of a boot. She does a kick up to her feet and immediately slams a fist into the one guy's stomach, he doubles over and she headbutts him, throwing up her right arm to block an incoming punch, and throwing her left elbow into the stomach of a third man. They stumble back and she's got the advantage. She blocks, kicks and punches the men effortlessly, until one of them grabs her from behind. She screams with rage, drops her hips, twists, and flips the guy over her shoulder. He lands with a sickening thud, and she aims a knockout punch to his face. At the last possible second, he moves his head, so she whacks concrete. Shaking it off, she gets back to her feet, and withdraws her knife. One man, who's slightly faster than her, grabs her wrist and bends it backwards. Yelena drops to her knees, and whimpers, in pain. The guy holding her thinks he's got the upper hand and chuckles, but Yelena is crafty. She drops the knife into her left hand, catches it and stabs him in the stomach. His eyes widen at the realisation of what's happened. She twists the blade in his stomach, with both hands, and in a last-ditch effort, he pistol whips her in the side of the head. This takes her by surprise, so she doesn't finish with a killing move. The guy pulls the knife out of his stomach, with a grunt and flings it to one side.
"Belova! Too slow! Faster!"
"Yes, General Dreykov."
Two guys throw punches, and she blocks them easily, dodging another knife attack and slamming their heads together. She's not strong enough to knock them out, but she dazes them.
"I can't watch!" Kate exclaims as one of the men pulls out his gun and loads it.
"This is the best part." Yelena chuckles, forcing Kate to look.
On the screen, Yelena somehow dodges the bullets he fires, ducks under a fist, trips one with a leg sweep, launches her knife at the one shooting her, rips open the stomach of the guy she had previously stabbed and rolls out of the way of a boot slam aimed at her face. She grabs two metal sticks from the side and comes back into focus. With two dead, she can focus on her attention on the other six guys. She speaks to them in Russian, and in the lab, Yelena translates "Come and get me boys. Party's not over, yet." Sixteen-year-old Yelena slams her batons into the faces of the two closest guys, electrocuting them. They step back in shock, and she swings wildly. One of the men grabs her from behind, pinning her arms behind her back and forcing her to drop the batons. To make it a 'fair' fight, Yelena gets punched in the face. So hard that her nose breaks. This stuns her, but all she does is laugh maliciously. A punch to the stomach doubles her over, but she uses it to her advantage and flips a second guy over her shoulder, before pulling her gun and shooting the one in the kneecap, taking his leg out from under him. He howls in pain and curses at her in Russian. As the guy she flipped tries to get up, she slashes his wrist with a throwing knife and shoots the incapacitated guy in the head. She was only given two magazines containing two bullets each, to test her skills, under pressure. She presses the button to release the magazine, letting it drop to the floor, pulls the magazine out of her belt, slams the gun on top of it, slashing the same guy again, and uses her thumb to house the magazine, and reload it, before pulling the trigger and shooting the guy with a slashed wrist in the head, followed by another, without even looking. Now there's six dead, and two left alive. She throws her gun at the head of the one guy who had mostly stayed on the side-lines, and takes up her batons again, connecting them to make a staff. She spins it around overhead, before tucking it under her arm, with her left hand under her armpit and her right hand in front of her. "Wanna play?" she asks, coldly. There's venom in her eyes, and she snarls at them. This is a completely different side to Yelena and it's clear, just by the way that she speaks, and moves that she is both brainwashed and highly skilled.
Without warning, Dreykov presses a button on a tablet, which shocks Yelena. She cries out and her body goes rigid. He does it again. Clearly, he isn't happy with how well she's handled herself and he's trying to weaken her. She drops to a knee, panting. Her nose begins to bleed, but Dreykov shocks her again. "What do we do, Belova, when we are down, but not out?"
"We... fight!" she spits, pushing herself to her feet and pushing forward. She uses her Stun Staff to attack the final two men. A vein bulges in her temple, and she pants with exhaustion and pain, but still she presses on. She cannot give up. She must not give up. The Staff is shot from her hands, but she knows she's got one weapon left. "Goodbye." She says, before zapping the last two with her Widow's Bites. They drop dead in unison.
"Subject 8156, Belova, you have passed this field test." Yelena breathes heavily, her face red and sweat dripping down it. "However, there is one thing left. To test your loyalty, I want you to shoot me." He loads his gun and hands it to her. "Go on, shoot me." She tries to pull the trigger, but something stops her. "Is the safety on?" he takes it from her and shoots the ceiling. "No. You can't hurt me, Belova. None of the Widows can. There's a pheromonal lock, so, smelling pheromones prevents you from committing violence against me. On top of the devices I've implanted in all of your brains. I can kill you all with a touch of a button. Does that scare you, Yelena?"
"No. My duty is to serve you."
"Good. You're better than your sister." He suddenly raises his hand as if he's going to backhand her across the face and she flinches, which is a far cry away from how violent she just was. "Good. In here, I am a God. Out there, my Widows are perfect little assassins. You're my best candidate yet. Better than Romanova. How does it make you feel to be better than your sister, Belova?" Yelena swallows, but takes a 'too long' to answer. "ANSWER ME!" he yells, an inch from her face.
"It feels good, sir."
"No, no, no. I need to hear it. HOW DOES IT FEEL?!"
"IT FEELS SO GOOD!" Yelena yells.
"Get angry! You're better than Natalia, HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?"
"SO FUCKING GOOD! I HAVE LIVED IN HER FUCKING SHADOW FOR TOO LONG, SO IT FEELS FUCKING AMAZING TO BE ON TOP FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE!!" Yelena shouts, her voice echoing around the warehouse.
"Good. You're a good girl, Yelena. Now... GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Yelena gives a curt nod and runs from the room.
Dreykov forgets that the camera is rolling. "That Belova. She's good. She's my special project. Anton?"
"Sir?"
"Make sure she eats, then send her to my office. She and I are... gonna have a little chat."
In the lab, Yelena lifts her head and frowns at Dreykov, clenching a fist. "I didn't know he told Anton about..."
"Lena, we don't need to watch any more of the video."
"No. I need to know what that monster said." She slaps the desk and keeps watching.
"She's loyal that one. She does whatever I tell her. She's a good sport. Whatever I command her to do, she does it. Whether alone with me, or out on the streets. Once she reaches eighteen, I'm gonna keep her for myself. I can't let anyone else get their hands on her. Not the KGB, not the United States. I can't lose her, like I lost Natalia... that traitor." Dreykov spits on the floor. "Belova is mine. She always has been, and she always will be. Make sure she knows that, Anton."
"Yes, sir." Anton confirms, off-screen.
Dreykov walks past the camera, to switch it off, but he stops to mutter something, which is picked up by the microphone. "She's my special little girl. The others are not good enough, but Belova..." He licks his lips, and everyone hears the suggestive tones.
In the lab, Yelena looks at her boots and holds back tears. She starts to pout, and Natasha knows that look all too well. "Turn it off. It's done. Destroy that fucking file." Yelena snaps.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Destroy that file."
"Sir, I cannot, it is encrypted. I need fingerprint access. It appears that Miss Belova is the only person alive who can access and terminate that file."
Yelena sighs, and deletes the file. She then empties the trash can on Tony's computer. As she goes to walk away, she types something on Tony's computer, and wipes her records from the Black Widow Programme's system. There is no trace of her; she never existed. "Пизда." She says, under her breath. "No, don't translate it, J.A.R.V.I.S.." Natasha looks at her, with genuine sadness. She knows exactly what the word translates to and who it is aimed at and why. Yelena's bottom lip wobbles, and without so much as a second thought, Natasha pulls her in for a tight hug. "No, don't—"
"Too late." Natasha announces, as she squeezes her sister. Yelena grips Natasha's sleeves and pulls her in close, holding her as tightly as possible. She cracks Natasha's spine. "Ow. That was my back."
"Feels good, though, right?"
"No, that hurt."
"Well, tough. I need this."
"I know you do, that's why I'm not letting go."
"I'd hate to break up—"
"Then don't." Steve scolds. "Let them have this moment. That was hard to watch. Granted, Yelena is extremely skilled, but what was said after she left, has obviously struck a chord, so we should let them hug it out."
Yelena lets go of Natasha, and Natasha gets the hint. "Struck a chord? Ha! That's putting it mildly. I was Dreykov's 'pet'. His 'special project' translated to being groomed and sexually assaulted by him when I was a kid. I thought it was a normal part of the Programme. It wasn't until years later, that I found out it wasn't. It pisses me off that even after Mom told him to stop, he still planned on keeping me for himself. That disgusts me! What sort of monster takes defenceless girls? What sort of monster fucks a nine-year-old girl, and keeps on doing it until she's fourteen? And then plans to continue, when she's of age? Isn't it enough that he stole us and took our childhoods? No, for him it was never enough. He wanted us to be these perfect little soldiers, but I guess he had a thing for blonde-haired, green-eyed kids. Fucking Commie! He's just as bad as the fucking Nazis! Born in the wrong fucking country, but just as fucked up and disgusting as Hitler." Yelena fake-spits on the floor, cracks her knuckles, and bangs her fist on the metal tabletop. "I don't want a pity party." Yelena states, folding her arms.
"I think a topic change is in order." Natasha announces and nods at Tony. "Uh, well, I called us in, because we've been called to help with a Human Trafficking ring, but, uh, given your history, I think you'd better sit this one out, Yelena."
"What? In case I get 'triggered'?"
"Well, yes." Tony admits.
Yelena sighs. "Fine, but Kate's off the project too."
"Uh, why?"
"Because you're too young to be dealing with that."
"Don't give me that bullshit."
"Well, then how about I wanna take my girlfriend on a date? I wanna go to Coney Island."
"Ohmygod! Coney Island is so cool! You'll love it."
Tony sighs. "Fine, the kids can have a day at Coney Island."
"Kids?" Yelena begins, "We're not—"
"Babe, let it go. Compared to these OGs, we are kids. We're babies compared to the Avengers."
Yelena lets out a slow exhale. "Fine. Us 'kids' will be busy being... nope, can't do it. We're young adults. Us young adults will be at Coney Island, doing whatever it is that couples do."
"Visit the arcade, ride the rides, eat junk food, including loooods of sugar, try some Skee-Ball, win some prizes, go to the photobooth and—"
"Okay, I geddit. Normal stuff. I can do normal."
"Sure you can. That means no guns, no knives, no Widow's Bites, Yel."
"Damn it."
"Lena, she's right. No weapons, at all."
"What if we get ambushed?"
"Who's gonna wanna ambush you at a funfair?"
"Someone wanted me dead."
"Scorpion has been dealt with."
"Nat, just lemme take my concealed carry."
"Kate?"
"Is it small?"
"I can either take a Glock 26 in a concealed carry holster, or Heckler & Koch P30, which is a little bigger."
"How much bigger?"
"A little."
"Yelena..."
"You really want me to be technical? Alright, well... The G26 is 6.49 inches long, 4.17 inches high, and 1.26 inches wide. It weighs 21.71 ounces. The P30 is 6.42 inches long, 4.57 inches high, and 1.37 inches wide. It weighs 23.99 ounces. While the G26 is longer by .17 inches, it isn't as tall, wide or as heavy. So, for concealed carry, a G26 is ideal."
"I thought a G17 was compact?"
Yelena laughs. "No, no. The G26 is much smaller. A G17 is 8.03 inches to start. It's the same width as a G26, but the G17 is 1.3 inches taller and 3.35 ounces heavier, so, G26 trumps G17. You asked for technical."
"Okay, heaviest gun you used?"
"Easy. Heckler & Koch XM25 grenade launcher. 6.35kg when empty. Longest weapon I've used has to be my sniper rifle in Budapest."
"Oh, so like an M82 or a M110?"
"No. This one was called Accuracy International AW-F."
"What's the 'AW' stand for?"
"Arctic Warfare." Yelena replies, nonchalantly. "It had a folding stock, which is pretty handy."
"So, why were you using an Arctic Warfare weapon in Budapest?"
"Because it is olive coloured, so it helps to blend in with the environment. And 'Artic' is the type. Don't be so pedantic."
"Says the woman who gave me a size comparison of two hands guns."
"You asked me to be technical. You didn't accept 'a little bigger', so I had to be pedantic, so you could visualise the size difference."
"You're so weird."
"No, I know my weapons."
"Okay, what is the standard issue sidearm for agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Kate asks.
"I'm not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
"Smith & Wesson M&P pistol." Clint Barton answers.
"Okay, let's further test your knowledge."
"Really?"
"Yes, cos I wanna see if you're really as good as you say you are, or if you're just lying through your teeth. Let's get a photo of the Avengers in action... okay, ooh, here we go... Natasha Romanoff, 2008 – 2016. Google Images has returned a lot of results."
"Why are we picking on my sister?"
"Because no one else in the Avengers uses a gun. Okay, go..." Kate clicks on a photo, waits for Yelena's response, then clicks on another.
"H&K USP Compact, Walther PPK, G26, G19, ooh, that one's niiice... M203A1 Grenade Launcher, fitted under an M4A1. Come on, this is too easy."
"Okay, what's this one?" Kate asks, clicking on a photo of a tiny gun, with a brown grip.
"Makarov PM. Soviet designed small-calibre handgun, adopted by the Soviet military in 1951. It replaced the pre-WW2 TT-33 pistol. See the handle? In the middle will be the Soviet star. That's a G26 with an extended magazine, I've used the same one... in fact, in Budapest we had the same gun with the same outfit pointed at each other in the apartment. Oh, that's a G43, it comes with an extended mag, too. And that's a P30... One I've also used. Twin G26 pistols with an extended mag are the main weapons of all Black Widows. I have spent years being trained in the art of warfare. I am well versed in armed combat, and I have used a diverse arsenal of weaponry, both white arms and firearms. I am usually equipped with smoke grenades, sleeping cyanide gas and lockpicks. To name a small fraction of spy trade tools."
"What the hell is 'white arms'?" Kate asks, frowning.
"A cold weapon, or white arm, doesn't involve fire or explosions. Think knives, daggers, swords, bayonets, axes, clubs, spears, slings, bows and crossbows. So, you as a swordsman and archer are well trained in white arms, or cold weapons."
"Oh, that's cool... oh, cold because there's no heat, no fire."
"Precisely. Things which generate heat, and use combustion are called firearms and includes explosives, such as grenades, bombs, rockets and missiles, and, well, guns, since they use gunpowder, or some other form of explosives."
"That's pretty neat. And kinda scary that you know all of this."
"I'm sure Nat, any S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and/or spy has the same level of knowledge as me." Yelena shrugs. "I'm hungry." She announces, after a beat.
"Just admit it... you're a nerd." Kate says, playfully. Yelena frowns at her.
"If nerd means 'high amount of knowledge of a specific area of expertise', then, yes, I am a nerd."
"Ha! I knew it! Nerd!" Kate jokes.
"And you are not?"
"No, I am a geek. There is a difference you know!"
"Natasha said you're a 'comic book nerd'."
"She's right... to a degree. Whilst I do collect and read comic books, it is typically geeks who collect things and not nerds. Geeks are fans of something, and nerds are practitioners. For example, geeks may collect things related to their interests, such as box sets, minifigures, memorabilia, comic books, or trivia facts. Nerds tend to only purchase practical equipment related to their interests, but they place a higher importance on the pursuit of knowledge. If we compare jobs, then geeks tend to enjoy a wide array of jobs, such as IT, graphic or web design, selling records, or comics or bartending. We are well suited for jobs which help us to share our passion with others. Whereas nerds typically prefer to do specialised and intellectual jobs – think programming, rocket science, fine arts, engineering, and other technical fields. Many nerds, although not all, are STEM orientated. An example would be, uh... Tony! Tony is a nerd because of his obsession with building the Iron Man suits, which uses engineering and programming and other elements of STEM. Don't forget both Howard and Tony Stark developed highly advanced tech for Stark Industries. Tony, here is an inventor, which helps him to create the Iron Man suits. Doctor Banner would also be a nerd, as he has a PhD in theoretical physicist, and has work in the fields of both nuclear physics and gamma radiation."
"Uh, wow, okay. I take exception to impugning my professionalism." Tony states. Banner just shrugs.
"Okay, what about Clint Barton, or Steve Rogers?"
"Uh, well, Rogers was frozen in ice in 1945, for nigh on 70 years, so... he's a World War II veteran and performed for the USO as 'Captain America'. My research runs a little dry after that. It's all I really know. I mean, there's trading cards for Captain America, and I know Spider-Man has merch, like masks, toy web shooters, comics, etc. I s'pose the Avengers have their own line of comics, action figures and costumes. I mean, I have seen some people Cosplay Black Widow, Hawkeye and a lady dressed as Thor, which by the way, is pretty cool. And Clint Barton... where do I even begin?"
"Start at the start, where it was 'love at first sight'." Yelena jokes, recalling a conversation they had shared about how Kate had seen Clint jump of the side of a building in 2012, when she was ten.
"Wait, no, it's not like that."
"You told me that you saw Hawkeye jump off the side of a building, shoot an arrow into some Chitauri without even looking and it was then that you knew you wanted to be an archer. Tell me that's not 'love at first sight'?" Yelena goads.
"That's admiration, Yelena! I thought it was super cool to see someone launch themselves off a building, shoot an arrow, kill an enemy and then swing into the building, feet-first through a window. I was ten! That was the coolest thing I had ever see. I told my Mom I wanted to be an archer at Dad's funeral. Anyway, in terms of geekdom and nerddom, Stark and Banner are nerds, Rogers, I dunno, Barton is a geek like me, you're a nerd and probably so is Romanoff. I don't really know... no offence, but your sister is a wild card. Her days as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, blurs the lines between nerd, geek, and neither. But that's not what's important here."
"I thought this whole conversation was about who is a nerd and who is a geek?" Yelena asks.
"Yeah, well, it was."
"Until I outed you for having a crush on Barton."
"It was never a crush... it was admiration, as I said."
"Admiration that made you wanna be just like him, have his weapons, his codename and matching purple uniforms. Sounds like a crush to me."
"Okay, it was a little... little crush when I was a teenager." Kate admits, holding up her thumb and index finger with about a centimetre gap between the two.
Yelena snorts. "Just a little crush, huh?"
"Why are you bullying me about this?"
Yelena gasps. "I am not! A. I am teasing you, because it's funny to see you get all embarrassed. And B. I am not a bully. I am way too talented than that. And C. stop being so defensive. Okay? You're so hostile."
"You're infuriating."
"Have you met you?" Yelena jokes, and Kate scoffs.
"You're both infuriating!" Natasha interrupts, as the two girls stare at each other. "You girls really need to read the room."
Yelena snaps her attention to Natasha. "What?"
"Are you really that dense? Nobody cares about your tete-e-tete. We've got work to do."
"So, why did you not tell us to shut up earlier then?"
"I'll admit I was interested in Kate's detailed definitions of nerds versus geeks, but after that, you were goading her, when she asked you to stop."
"She didn't ask me to stop. I would have, if she had asked."
"Yelena, read the room, dumbass."
"Who you calling a 'dumbass'?"
"You, idiot."
"Oh, you wanna keep going... stupid?"
"Moron." Natasha adds.
"Сука." Yelena says in Russian.
"Соплячка." Natasha replies.
"Дурень." Yelena continues.
"Лягушка."
"Козёл."
"Жаба." Natasha ends, before holding her hands up in a truce, and saying "Перемирие."
"Why are you calling a truce?" Yelena asks, frowning and folding her arms.
"Because this is just petty behaviour. And I don't really want to get into another dust-up with you."
Yelena scoffs. "That was one time. And you stole my gun!"
"If I recall, you stole my gun!"
"We stole it at the same time."
"We did, and I tried to get mine back and then you kicked me."
"It was a pretty good kick."
"It hurt. And so did slamming me into the doorframe, both sides."
"You slammed me into the cupboard above the sink! And then pushed me into the sink and pinned me there."
"I needed you to stay down."
"Well, that wasn't gonna happen was it?"
"Wait, I wanna know what happened next!" Kate announces, leaning on her hands.
The sisters look at her and she shrugs.
"Well, I hit Natasha over the head with a plate, to get her off me, and then tried to whip her in the face with a tea towel."
"Which I easily grabbed, and wrapped around your neck."
"That was a good move."
"Thank you."
"Right, so tea towel around my neck, I pushed off the countertop with my foot, and pulled Natasha with me, dropping to the floor, and flipping her over me and through the door."
"Literally. My foot went through the glass. Which hurt, by the way."
"That was an accident."
"Yeah, sure, 'accident'." Natasha scoffs.
"Then what happened?" Kate asks, getting really into their fight (and simultaneously being reminded of her own fight with the blonde.)
"Then Lena grabbed a chef's knife. I told her 'no', but she was raging. I grabbed the only thing I could to defend her, which was a long-arm stapler."
"Which, is a pretty good defence weapon."
"You left me no choice."
Yelena pouts a little, as she cocks her head to one side. "I wanted to kill you. Simple as that."
"Well, I managed to keep you at arm's length... until we gripped each other's arms. And then, I managed to get the upper hand a little, by hooking my hand under your armpit and bending your wrist, to keep that knife away from me."
"That was a good twinge in the wrist. But, that didn't last long, as I managed to flip you again."
"You're good at those body slams, Lena."
"Thank you, Nat."
"Hmm. But then I tripped you with a leg sweep. You gave me a kick to my shin. But, hey, I still went to stab you."
"You did, and I defended you with the stapler. And got you in a headlock. Man, the way you broke out of it – I was pushing your chin and everything! But, somehow you got out of it, slapped the stapler out of my hand and rugby tackled me into the wall."
"And that's when you decided to rip off the curtain and tie it around my throat."
"Well, you weren't gonna stop, Lena. I had to do something."
"That is true. When I am in 'kill mode', you can't easily get me out of it."
"Yeah, I noticed."
"So, how did you guys, like, not kill each other?"
"Well, after Natasha got me with the curtain, I wrapped it around her throat, too, and then she flipped me."
"We tussled on the floor, she put her foot in my stomach, and I did the same..."
"You kicked me in the vag."
"Well, yeah..." Natasha scoffs.
"Well, you had your fist right in my windpipe. I was choking and struggling to breathe."
"It was the only way I could get you to stop. I disarmed you."
"I disarmed you long before that."
"No, as in, I disarmed you... like 'deactivated' as it were. I realised you were suffocating, so I let go and told you Перемирие."
"Sounds intense."
"It was. It really was one of those 'you had to be there' moments." Natasha confirms.
"Yeah, I bet. And by the way, those body slams are very effective."
"Oh?" Natasha queries.
"Yeah, Yelena and I got into a fight around Christmas. That's when we first met, actually. I don't know what she was doing on that rooftop, actually."
"Why were you there?"
"Target practice."
"On a roof?"
"Yeah, you know. Making sure I can account for wind speed, gravity, angle, etc. and adjust as necessary. Same as you with bullets, I s'pose."
"Eh, yeah. I was there, because of the Tracksuit Mafia. I got hired to... take them out."
"From a rooftop?"
"Well, yes. You just happened to be in my way."
"Maya was trying to kill me!"
"And I was trying to kill her and stop you from getting hurt."
"Aw, you really do care about me. Even before we properly met. That's sweet."
"Sweet?"
"Yeah, but the kick to the ribs hurt."
"Oh, yeah. That was a good one. That was good form. But you did the really cool body throw."
"Yeah, thank you. Thank you."
"And then you told me 'stop making me like you' and I told you 'I'm sorry, I can't help it.'"
"Yeah, you can't just beat me up and then compliment me."
"Hey, no, I didn't beat you up. That's an over exaggeration. I stopped you from getting hurt."
"You kicked me in the ribs!"
"You were in my way!"
"Belova."
"Rogers."
"It sounds like you have a knack for winding people up. Why can't you just behave?"
"Oh, so sorry, Daddy." Yelena replies, sarcastically, before rolling her eyes, and scoffing. "Get a load of this guy. Who he think he is, telling me to 'behave'."
"I mean, you do wind people up, Lena. You used to wind me up all the time."
"We are siblings! It is in the Sibling Handbook!"
"Yeah, but that was when we were kids. We're all adults here... or have you forgotten that?"
"I'm a teenager!" Yelena protests.
"No, you aren't! A minute ago you were complaining about being called a child. Look, I love you, but you gotta grow up. Seriously, Yelena, it's starting to piss people off. Now, having said that, go, take your girlfriend to Coney Island, and just be kids... goof off, make out, have photos, stuff your faces with sugar and junk food, just don't puke and don't get too drunk. Here's, hundred bucks, each. Sixty bucks will get you a wristband, with unlimited access to all of the rides and arcades. And the rest is for food, booze, photobooth and anything else you want." Natasha says, pulling out two crisp $100 bills from her wallet and handing them to Yelena.
"You're giving us one hundred dollars? Each."
"Yeah."
"You must really love us."
"I can take it back?"
"No, no, no, no. This is good, this is nice, thank you, thank you, I love you." Yelena replies, eyes wide with glee and nodding her head in thanks.
"Oh, wow, uh, thanks, Nat. I really appreciate it."
"Well, I earn enough, it's no biggie."
"Yeah, but a hundred..."
"Lena, you probably earn way more than that for a contract."
"I mean, I do, but my contracts have been dried up for a while, since I was in a coma, so actually seeing a brand new, crisp hundred-dollar bill is nice. I haven't seen this much dollar for months. So, it's well received."
"Okay, well, just—"
"I know, I know, fuck off."
"I was gonna say 'piss off', but 'fuck off' works." Natasha replies, laughing.
"Hey, dickhead?" Yelena asks.
"What, asshole?" Natasha replies.
"Gizza hug." Yelena holds her arms open for Natasha to hug her. As she does so, she tries to lift Natasha's wallet from her back pocket.
"Steal my wallet, and I will kill you."
"And now you know how easy it is to steal if it is in your back pocket."
"Piss off." Natasha says, playfully punching Yelena's arm.
"You ready, babe?" Kate nods. "Lezz go."
With a smirk and a wink to Barton, Natasha slips him Yelena's phone, which she had successfully lifted from her back pocket, when Yelena tried to steal her wallet. Yelena makes to leave, unaware that her phone is missing, but she suddenly stops and pats her pants. "Okay, Natasha gimme my phone."
"I don't have your phone," she replies, feigning innocence.
"I know you took it, give it back."
"Honestly, I don't have your phone." Natasha holds up her hands to show they're empty. "Didja leave it at Kate's?"
"No, it's been in my ass this whole time... ass pocket... not my actual ass. That would be weird." Yelena sighs. "Okay, I'm gonna count to three, and my phone will be on the table. If not, I'm gonna pound whoever stole it."
"Lena, I thought you were gay?"
"Not that kind—punch. I'm gonna punch whoever stole it."
"Yelena, you need to tone down the aggression and the violence."
"No. Because I don't like my property being stolen."
"It's a phone."
"Natasha, would you like it if I stole your phone?"
"You wouldn't be able to get in anyway. Password protection and iris scanner."
"Well, my Samsung is pretty good."
"Alright, calm down. I did take your phone, but now I wanna know why you're so defensive over it."
"Natasha, don't."
"Don't what? Okay... Texts... Boring... Gallery, okay... Boring, boring..."
"I'm going to kill you. Slowly."
Natasha scoffs. "Oh, stop it."
Yelena snaps. "Don't tell me to stop!"
"If I don't tell you when to stop, then how I'll you know when to shut up?"
Kate's phone dings with an incoming text. "You're welcome." Natasha replies, before laughing.
"Kate, don't open it."
"But what if it's my mom?"
"Kate, it'll be Natasha."
"I'm sorry, I already opened it."
"You are literally the worst person, Natasha!"
"Don't be so dramatic."
"Dramatic? Fuck off! You stole my phone and sent God knows what to my girlfriend. You and me, we're done."
"Oh, come on! It was a joke."
"In what world was that a joke?!" Yelena snaps, her fists balling up in rage.
"Lighten up. It was funny."
"Is not funny! You're a fucking child!"
"I'm not the one having a tantrum, Yelena."
"Chto. Fuck off!" Yelena snaps, turning her back to Natasha and folding her arms.
"Gladly!" Natasha snaps back, also turning around and folding her arms.
The rest of the Avengers had left the lab to discuss the Human Trafficking issue, upstairs, leaving the two youngsters and Natasha to fight it out. They were too busy arguing, that neither had noticed that the room was empty, until Kate points it out.
"Uh, guys, the rest of the team left, just so you know."
"I'm not turning around until she apologies." Yelena complains.
"I don't have anything to apologise for!" Natasha comments.
"Kate, can you please tell Natasha, that she needs to apologise for sending a photo to you, without my permission."
Kate sighs, but complies. "Natasha. Yelena said that you need to apologise for sending a photo without her permission."
"Well, you can tell her, that I thought it would be nice to send that photo to you."
"Yelena... what she said."
"Kate, you can tell Nat—"
"You know what, no. I won't."
"Why?" Yelena asks.
"Because I'm not an owl!" Kate snaps, sounding like Hermione Granger.
"Okay, look, I'm sorry. I thought it would be funny to catch Kate off-guard."
"Fine, whatever. Just don't go through my phone again. Also, it's kinda weird that you sent a photo of me, to Kate, on my behalf."
"Okay, yeah, maybe a little weird. Now go, get to Coney Island. You're gonna be crammed with the crowds."
"Oh, great. I don't do crowds."
"I know you don't." Natasha says, softly, placing a hand on Yelena's shoulder. "Kate, don't lose her."
"I have no intention of."
Natasha nods at the other two, and makes her way upstairs to re-join the others, and apologise for their tiff. Yelena shakes her head and follows after her, with Kate not far behind.
Chapter 6: Six
Chapter Text
Just as Natasha had predicted, Coney Island is horrendously busy, and Yelena is moving closer and closer to Kate. Her grip on Kate's hand is getting tighter, and Kate can feel her girlfriend tensing up. Being in the Red Room, Yelena got used to training with fifteen other girls in one room, but they were at least two metres apart. Small crowds she could easily blend into, but larger crowds made her nervous. It's not claustrophobia, as that would be a weakness in her eyes, it is more the fact that she isn't able to strategize or find an exit route, should she need to. It's not anxiety, per se, it's just a lack of control of the situation, and Yelena likes to be in control. Having no clear exit point makes her nervous, because if an enemy clocks her, she could be boxed in, and the likelihood of a civilian getting hurt and becoming collateral damage was high, and she wanted to avoid civilian casualties as much as possible... unlike the Avengers.
"You alright there?" Kate asks, looking at Yelena, who is currently scanning their surroundings. Yelena is so focused on finding the exits, that she can't hear Kate's voice. It isn't until the taller of the two kisses her cheek, that she is broken out of her trance.
Yelena whips her head around and takes a minute to focus on Kate, because they are so close. "What did I do?"
"Are you deliberately trying to break my hand?"
"What? No." Yelena replies, looking down at her white-knuckle grip. She swallows and lets go. "Sorry," she mumbles, embarrassment taking over.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Yelena scoffs, wearing a fake smile. She chuckles nervously, before speaking again. "Why do you assume there is something wrong?"
"A. You've been squeezing my hand non-stop for the last ten minutes, B. You keep scanning the area like you're looking for someone, and C. I can tell when you're lying, because you fake smile, and you have a nervous chuckle. So, I'll ask again: what's wrong?"
"I am looking for the exits, okay?"
"Why? Planning on ditching me, are you?"
"No! God no." She sighs. "I don't do large crowds, because I can't control the situation, and I am constantly worried about civilian casualties if an enemy clocks me. I have many enemies – in my line of work, I don't make friends, so, sometimes, I gotta lay low. And in crowds like this, anything can happen. Which is why I needed to bring my concealed carry."
"Oh, okay. So, not anxiety?"
Yelena scoffs. "No. More, uhhh... needing to be strategic. I'm not a spy, I'm an assassin, but spies and assassins have two things in common: kill and disappear. So, I'm constantly looking for ways I can disappear, should I need to. It's nothing against you, I promise. It's just how I'm hardwired."
"Well, if you need to ditch, I'll geddit."
"No, honey. I would never ditch you. If anything, you're along for the ride."
"Oh boy."
Yelena laughs. "Enjoy it, girl. You're in for the long haul. Uh, well, I hope."
"C'mon, let's keep moving... assuming you're good with that?"
"Let's get hotdogs and then we'll go from there. I'm making a mental plan."
"Oh. About which rides and activities we should do, or how to escape?"
"Bit of both."
"Ah, okay."
They head further into the amusement park and find a hotdog stall.
* * *
"No, no way, absolutely not. No! There's no way I'm getting on that ride!"
"Come oooonn Kate, it'll be fiiiine, I promise you." Yelena replies, with an American accent. To the untrained ear, one would say that it's a native New York accent, but to Kate, it is obviously fake.
"Noooo, no. It stops and drops."
"Yeah, so cool!"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Yelena sighs. "Fine."
"How are you not afraid?"
"I walk head-first down walls. This is nothing."
The ride attendant looks up. "Head-first down walls? Like rappelling?"
"Yeah, but head-first."
"Uh, why? Sorry, that's rude."
"Stunt double." Yelena lies.
"Wow, that's awesome. Your girlfriend can wait here with me."
"Here... you're taking videos." Yelena commands, handing Kate her phone.
"Well, just... don't die up there!"
Yelena snorts. "Oh, I'll try not to!"
* * *
"I hate you. Why are you making me go on a baby ride?"
"It's not a baby ride! It's a family ride. And it's a lot less scary and it's much slower."
"There's kids."
"Yeah, family ride."
Yelena scoffs.
"Everyone loves the teacups. Look, after this, wanna go on the bumper cars?"
"Sure. Now that sounds like fun."
Kate laughs and looks happily and lovingly at Yelena.
* * *
"Hey! Not so hard!" Kate complains, as Yelena slams into the side of her car.
"It's bumper cars, not dodgems!"
"Yeah, well, don't hit so hard."
"I'm so sorry." Yelena replies, sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, you should be."
Bang!
Crash!
Thud!
Whack!
"Okay, okay, you got me good Kate Bishop."
"Yeah, well, someone's gotta teach you a lesson!"
"I can actually drive, yano."
"God, I hope not. Not with your crash record!"
"Ha!"
* * *
"I bet I can chug these faster than anyone!"
"Babe, it's not a competition."
Yelena points to a sign:
BEER DRINKING CONTEST
"Oh, well, I stand corrected. Gwann, babe, you got this!"
There's a whistle of feedback over the speakers, before the host starts the competition. "Three... two... one... go!"
"No way, that was so fast, Yel!"
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
"That's two down!" The contest host says into her microphone.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
"Three down—ooh, our first elimination!" The host says.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
"That's our second elimination! We've got three left in the competition! Who's gonna—oh, so close! But, that's another elimination. Okay, this is your fifth pint..."
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
"Oh my God! It's neck-and-neck! Who's it gonna be? Oh! And with a last-ditch effort, your winner is... YELENA! Congratulations! Step right up to the podium for your medal, and a photograph for our Wall of Fame! Big round of applause! Well done to our five participants!"
"Hey, winner. How you feelin'." Kate beams.
"Fine. Ferris Wheel?"
"Oh, absolutely. It's about time we took it slow. We've been rushing around all afternoon, and I just wanna relax."
"Hold that thought." Yelena announces, holding her index finger up.
"Aw, man, you're not gonna puke are you?"
Yelena shakes her head... then lets out a long, loud belch, receiving a few whoops, cheers and applause in return. "You were saying?"
Kate scoffs, then turns it into laughter. "I love you, you know. Sorry... uh, I-I shouldn't have said that."
"Ferris Wheel?"
Kate swallows. "Mm-hmm."
They head towards the large Ferris Wheel in silence.
* * *
"Sooo, about what I said down on the ground."
"It's fine."
"Was it too soon?"
"I said, it's fine."
"Yelena, we're gonna be up here for twenty minutes, and I don't wanna be sat in silence."
"We're not gonna. I just—I need to think."
"Mm. Okay." Kate nods and looks out of the side of the cage. They stay sat in silence for the longest five minutes ever, before Yelena speaks.
"I'm sorry I didn't say it back, you just..." she inhales "caught me off-guard" and exhales.
"I can take it back, I just—"
Yelena kisses Kate. It's a warm, slow, passionate and loving kiss (which tastes of beer).
"No. Don't take it back. It's just... No one's really loved me before. Except for my Mom and Dad and Nat, of course."
"Of course."
"So, when we met... I was not trying to hurt you. I was trying to stop you from being hurt by someone else. I saw you and I thought you were so pretty—I still do—and I knew that I wanted to protect you. When I was being tortured, all I could think of was getting back to you and Nat... mostly you, but y'know... sisters. I told Nat that I had the hots for you, something fierce." she blushes "And I still do. At first, I wasn't sure if it was just infatuation, or lust, but the more time we spend together, the more I wanna be with you. I know, I know, t-that's so dumb."
"Babe, no, that's not dumb at all."
They reach the highest point of the Ferris Wheel and look out over the whole of Coney Island and the surrounding areas. Kate takes Yelena's hand and gives it a small squeeze. Yelena looks deep into Kate's eyes, as if they hold the answer to some unknown question, but instead, she sees love, hope, comfort and safety.
As the ride begins its descent, they embrace each other. Still locked in a lover's embrace, tongues entwined with each other, the ride comes to a halt and the ride attendant has to clear his throat to get them to stop. They sheepishly extract themselves from the cage and ignore a few glares, tuts and shaken heads – not because they're two women, as there's plenty of LGBTQ+ people around the park, but because they were engaging in a very public display of affection.
They hold hands and giggle as they walk away from the ride. As they walk, Yelena gives Kate's hand a gentle squeeze and she reciprocates, before stopping in her tracks.
"What? What is it?"
"It's my Mom."
"What? Where?"
"At our two o'clock."
"I assume you wanna avoid and that's why you stopped?"
Kate sighs. "I dunno... I dunno if I should introduce you to her."
"Katherine! Hi! Fancy seeing you here! Kate, Kate!" Eleanor shouting, waving frantically in their direction.
"Uhp, looks like we gotta go say hi."
"Joy(!)" Yelena replies, sarcastically.
They approach her Mom and Kate lets go of Yelena's hand, to give her Mom a hug. "Hi, Mom. What're you doing here?"
"Oh, sweetheart, you think I'd miss this? We've been coming here since you were a little girl. I've got the day off work, so I thought I'd come here, just like old times. It's great that I've bumped into you, actually. Wanna grab some lunch?"
"Uh, Mom, this is Yelena."
"Oh, hi. New friend?"
"Girlfriend." Kate replies, in a monotone.
"Oh, okay. Yeah. Uh, whatever makes you happy, I guess."
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Mom. Okay. I don't need your approval... although, like, I do, cos you're my Mom, but, uh, yeah, my girlfriend."
"Well, do you and Yelena wanna come for lunch? My treat."
"Mm, I think we're gonna—"
"Honey, why didn't you tell me you were into girls?"
"Uh, because I don't think it really matters."
"Katherine, I am your mother, you need to tell me these things." Eleanor replies, sounding hurt.
"Mom, I've known I'm bisexual since I was like fourteen. How did you not know? The plaid, the flannel, the archery, the martial arts... never wanting to wear dresses? Mom, I wore a fu—freaking suit to that charity gala."
"You've worn dresses. What about that lovely slimline black dress for the auction?"
"At your behest! And, akshully, I had my suit on underneath. My... Hawkeye suit."
"Okay, I'm not arguing with you about your clothes. I just... wish you told me sooner."
"Sooner about what? We're... new partners. What, was I supposed to tell you that I was interested in, in, in a, a Russian? Oh yeah, cos that would have gone down well, between me, you and Jack."
"Hey, I am not that backwards."
"You might not be, but Jack is! He would have had a... fucking heart attack, if he knew I was... courting a Russian. You know what he's like, and frankly, that is a conversation I never wanna have, and never wanna expose Yelena to. GOD, Mom! If we're done, we are leaving. Without you."
Eleanor plasters a fake smile on her face. "Let's put all this unpleasantness and misunderstanding behind us and go for lunch. I won't take no for an answer." She adds, passive-aggressively.
"I don't want to sound rude, but I don't have the palate for fancy-ass food." Yelena says, slipping back into her soft Russian accent.
"Well, I have to say, that is a very nice Russian accent. Not as harsh sounding as I was expecting. Come, Katherine, Yelena. How about Pizza Hut?"
"Ohhh, I could murder a pizza right now." Yelena replies pouting in respect and nodding a little.
"Mom, I just wanna say thank you for allowing Yelena to push us to a more inclusive dining experience."
"Yup, sure, sweetie. We'll go to lunch and then go get pissed, how does that sound?" Eleanor replies, sounding as if it takes every ounce of her being to be polite.
"She doesn't like me." Yelena whispers. "Not that I care, but I can tell."
"It's fine. So, Mom, how's work?"
"Wonderful, Kate. Thank you for asking. Have you thought more about joining the company?"
"I have. And I'm not interested."
"But honey, wouldn't you prefer to earn your own money and not have to rely on your Trust Fund?"
"Yeah, when I find a job that I wanna do and is right for me. And working for a security firm is not what I'm interested in."
"Honey, your father would have loved for you to work with him."
"Yeah, well, he's not here. So, it's my decision, and I'm saying no. Okay?"
"You'll change your mind."
"Hmm. Don't think so. Look, Mom, are we gonna keep having this passive-aggressive back and forth all afternoon?"
"What do you mean? I'm being pleasant."
"Yelena, back me up here."
"Look, I don't want to get involved in your family... politics. I have my own shit to deal with, with my own family."
"Babe..."
"Kate?"
"You're supposed to back me up."
"You know I side with you, but I don't wanna look like the bad guy and play favourites, right now."
"What would you say if this was your mother?"
"Uh, I don't know, since I don't know who my Mom is... Melina is not my Birth Mom."
"I meant Melina, babe."
"Well, Melina is not passive-aggressive, you know? ... No, you're right. Uh, Mrs. Bishop, we have things to do, so, if you want to continue to control Kate Bishop's life, then we have two words for you..." she puts up her index and middle fingers, in a V shape, as she says each word, "piss off. Okay? And if you want Kate to have, uh, independent... uh, just independent life, then stop getting involved, okay? I mean this with the most sincere disrespect, because she is not a child. She is a twenty-two-year-old woman, capable of making her own life decisions, and some of those, like this relationship here, don't involve, nor concern you. And, I know what you're thinking, 'Oh, no, shit, you've taken my daughter from me. I have no control.' But, let me tell you something, you are treating her like a child, and fostering a negative and toxic environment, okay? And I don't say this lightly, because I don't get involved in other people's family drama, and I have grown up in the most negative and toxic environment you will ever meet, and I came out really fucking good. But you need to back de fuck off, okay? And dis woman, right here..." she points, with two fingers at Kate, "is the most important person to me, so if you make her life shit, I will make yours a living hell. So, you know, bye-bye. Come, Katherine, let us leave this place," she finishes, clearly mocking Kate's Mom. Kate giggles at Yelena calling her 'Katherine' and the two depart, leaving Eleanor with her mouth agape.
They wander around the amusement park and find a marquee selling alcohol, with tables and benches both inside and outside. Yelena makes a beeline for it. Kate quickens her pace to keep up.
Once Yelena is at the bar, she flashes a platinum American Express and taps it twice on the bar, without even thinking about it. The barman hears the noise and comes sweeping over. "Hey there, welcome to Tipsy Bison. What can I get for you?"
"Your most expensive bottle of vodka." Yelena says, in her false American accent.
"Ma'am, this is an amusement park, we don't carry expensive bottles. You want expensive, go to a wholesalers."
"Okay, well what do you have?"
"Smirnoff. 1.75 litres, $20."
"That's insulting! You don't even have the good vodka!" she exclaims, reverting back to her natural Russian accent.
"What do you want from me?" The guy shrugs and shakes his head.
"Sorry, I just... I just got insulted by my girlfriend's Mom, and I wanna forget that conversation existed."
"Ooh, low blow. I've been there. Here, bottle of Smirnoff. On the house."
"What, because I'm Russian?"
The barman shrugs.
A drunk guy next to her points in her face. "You American or Russian?"
"Russian."
"Cos you spoke with an American accent, and then the Russian, and it was confusing."
"It's a fake American accent. Sometimes, I need to blend in. Bit hard to do that with a Russian accent."
"Well, do-svid-anya!" the guy announces, lifting his plastic beer cup.
"That doesn't mean what you think it does."
He frowns. "You say it before you drink, right?"
"No, do svidaniya means 'goodbye'."
"You made that up."
"I'm Russian."
"Fake Russian."
"Okay, you've had too much to drink. You might wanna slow down."
"Hey. No. I won't have... no bitch... telling me... to slow dooown."
"You're fighting a losing battle, there, dude." She says, snatching up a red solo cup of from one of the tables. The sign behind it says, 'Free Beer'.
"Yo, barman!"
"'Sup, Geoff."
"Didyouknow that dos vindanyeh means 'goodbye' in Russian?"
"I did, yeah. Uh, you might wanna take it easy, there, mate."
"Ifiiine."
"Hey. Do you want me to knock him out?" Yelena asks, sincerely.
"I mean, I would love that, but security wouldn't."
"Where is this 'security'? I see no one." Yelena asks, looking around and frowning.
"Park security. They're everywhere."
A woman, with a thick Brooklyn accent speaks. "Oh my gawd. If you could please, like, uh, knock him out, I'll buy you anything you want, honey."
"Uh, I'm taken."
"Not like thaaaat. Oh my gawd. I'm not gaaay, silly. I'm just, like, I'll buy you a drink, honey. He's like, totally, harassing, peopleeee, and like, nobody is doing anything about it."
"Okay, look, as long as the cops don't get called..."
"Oh honeeey, nobody is gonna call the cops. I mean... not on someone like you." She says, running her hand down Yelena's arm. Kate sees this, as she approaches the tent. She watches Yelena take a step back from the other blonde, and look down at her.
"Again, I am taken."
"I'm not gaaay. Oh my gawd, you're so funnney. Hahaha." She replies, flopping her wrist in a somewhat camp way. Her laugh is just as annoying as her voice.
"Hey, Yelena. You good? You're looking a little... tense."
"Look, this dude is harassing people... even me, and these guys want me to knock him out, so I gotta do it. I mean, it's for the greater good."
"The greater good?"
"The greater good."
"Why are you asking me for permission?"
"Uh, cos you don't like violence."
"Babe, I'm with you... violence is your middle name.
Yelena chuckles. "Ah, that is true."
"Wait, I know you." A male onlooker says.
"Me, or—"
"Yeah, you. You're Derek Bishop's daughter. It is such a shame what happened to him. How you keepin' kid?"
"I'm twenty-two, so not a k—I'm fine, thank you. Uh, how do you know my dad?"
"He was a huge publisher. I read a few of his works. A mind that like... poof... gone, just like that. Have a drink on me, kid."
"Uhh, um, beer please." Kate replies and the Nice Guy buys her a beer.
"Can somebody pleeease get this guy offa me?" the Brooklyn Girl asks.
"Kate, hold my beer." She passes it to her girlfriend, who takes it, and everyone watches her stride up to the guy and pull him off the girl one-handed. "Listen, you need to back de fuck off, okay? You're the second person I've told that to, today."
"Iain'tgon'do...Shiiiit." He slurs.
"Okay, I am giving you one warning. Fuck off, or I deck you. And I mean it." The guy whirls around, confusion etched onto his face. He swings his fist in a sloppy arc and Yelena steps out the way, sighing. She cracks her knuckles and sniffs. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I move? Did you want to try again?"
"Stay still!" He growls.
"Oh, okay. I'm right here. I'll make myself big," she opens her arms, "so, you can't miss me." He swings and she taps his hand away. "Are you even trying? Oh. This is embarrassing. I'm gonna give you a chance to defend yourself. You've tried, and failed, to hit me twice, so, let's see if you can dodge my fist. Oh, and as an added bonus: I'll punch really slowly for you." Sure enough, Yelena draws her fist slowly through the air, and surprisingly, given the way he is wobbling on the spot, he avoids it.
"Ha! I used to be a boxer. I can do this all day!" he goads.
"Oh, really? Okay." And with that, she knocks his lights out. He thuds to the floor. "До свидания. It means 'goodbye', bitch!"
The tent erupts into applause and two men drag the drunk guy outside and throw him into the grass. The blonde Brooklyn Girl, sidles up to Yelena, biting her lower lip and sticking out her chest.
"Do you need something?"
She twirls a strand of hair around her finger. "Oh, I just wanted to tell yooou, that that was like, so, hot. Girl, you can do anythaaang."
"What is wrong with you?"
"What? What do you meeaan?"
"I have already told you, twice, that I am taken. You need to get your hearing checked out." Brooklyn Girl scoffs. "Look, this is my wooman, so, why are you trying to get in my pants? I'm not interested. And for someone who says she's not gay, the way you keep talking to me, and the way you touched my ahrm, kinda makes me think you are."
"Well, aren't you just a chaaarmeeer?"
"Nooo. I don't know—okay, I see what is happening here." Yelena tries to replicate the girl's accent and vocal pattern. "I am takeeen, and this is my baaae, but I thaaaank yooou, sooo much, for, like, trying so fuckin' haaaard, y'knooow? I'm soooo soooorry, but you're gonna have to, like, take your blonde self, like away from meee, aaand find someone, like, totally, more your speeeed, cos, like, uh... no, I cannot do this anymore." Yelena reverts back to her normal accent. "Let me put it in two simple words. Fuck," she holds up her right middle finger, "off," she holds up her left middle finger.
"Wooow. So, fuckin' ruuude. Whateveeer, you're not even my type anyway."
"You have just spent the entire afternoon telling me you are not gay and now you are telling me I am not your type. There is something really fucking wrong with you."
She bites her lip and deliberately looks at Yelena's chest. "We could have had something special."
"Yo, Blondie! Fuck off! She's not interested."
"Oh! Kitty got claws! Meoow!" Brooklyn Girl adds, trying to sound sultry.
"Do you need me to punch you out, too?" The Brooklyn Girl suddenly doubles over and exclaims in pain. "What the fuck is happening?"
"I should nooot have taken so many drugs, oh my gaaaawd."
"Oh, well, that explains the delusion." Yelena scoffs.
"Whaaat?"
"You. You are delusional."
"What the fuck did you just say?" Brooklyn Girl's voice pattern suddenly changes from whiny and over the top, to succinct and normal.
"You. You're delusional."
"Excuse me, bitch, but who the fuck are you?"
"Someone you don't wanna mess around with, cos 'kitty got claws'." Yelena mocks.
The girl looks Yelena up and down, and scoffs. "You're nothing special."
Yelena smirks and tilts her head. "Really? Cos, I coulda sworn, five minutes ago, you thought I was really special."
"No offence, but like, I don't date foreigners."
"Wooow. You know you're all foreigners at one point, right?"
"What? No. I'm American."
"Yes, and how do you think we founded America?"
"By some American."
Yelena chuckles. "You're so blonde... No, the Vikings from Iceland. Leif Erikson discovered it in the 10th Century, and called it Vinland. Which is now Newfoundland of Canada. It wasn't until 1492 that Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the Americas, and so, we have America. Do you not learn History in school?"
"Yah, American History."
"Oh. But they just left out a very important piece of factual information about how America was discovered. Great. So, tell me... what shape is the Earth?"
"Uh, it's flat, dummy." She scoffs.
"Oh, there we go. We found the dumbass of the breed."
"Who the fuck are you calling 'dumb'?"
"You, bitch, now go away, and stop harassing me. It's not a good look."
She leans in close, and Yelena can smell the stench of alcohol on her breath. She whispers, "I have a gun in my purse."
"Good for you. Do you know how to use it?" Yelena asks, whispering back.
"Yeah, my Daddy taught me when I was fourteen."
"Oh, and what are you now, eighteen?"
"You're so funnney. Nooo. I'm twenty-one."
"You know, you're not the only one with a concealed carry. Difference is, I don't brag about it. And not many other people do, either."
"I've had a handgun for the last seven years."
"That's nice. Have you ever used it?"
"Yeah, down the local firing range."
"That's nice. I've killed people with mine."
"Bullshit."
Kate scoffs and steps in between the two blondes, as they were getting closer and closer to each other, and Yelena looked as if she wanted to head-butt the other.
"Okay, we are done here. Baby?"
"Yeah, go listen to your little girlfriend, since she clearly wears the pants."
Yelena looks at her pants. "Oh, look. I wear pants too. And, uh, there is no 'top' and 'bottom' in our relationship."
"Only a bottom would say that."
"The only bottom here, is yours... on the grass... if you don't shuddup."
"You're so fuckin' rude."
"I'm Russian, you idiot. Being rude is part of our culture... Especially to fuckwits like you. Now shuddup, before I make you."
The girl goes to walk away, and Yelena sighs in relief... only to get clobbered in the head by the girl's handbag.
"What the—?"
She tries to make a break for it, but Kate clotheslines her.
"Ack!" she exclaims before bouncing off her arm and onto the floor.
"Siddown!" Kate snaps, in a moment of fury and determination. "And you—" she turns on Yelena.
"What did I do?"
"Not another word. You wound her up."
"I did not!" Yelena exclaims, squeaking the 'I' again. (It seemed to happen when she was genuinely surprised or even offended.)
"Take your bottle of Vodka, finish your beer, we are leaving!"
"I told you she wears the pants."
"Shut! Up!" Kate gives Yelena a soft shove towards the bar, where she takes up the bottle and pays for it, using Natasha's platinum American Express (which she had swiped from her wallet earlier in the day.)
The two leave the marquee, with Kate making her strides as long as possible and Yelena sheepishly trudging behind her. "Are you mad at me?" Yelena asks, after a while. She already knows the answer, but wants to hear it.
Kate scoffs. "Mad? Mad at you? There's always gonna be drama with you, isn't there?"
"It follows me, okay? And she started it!"
"I don't care who started it! You gotta just walk away. Like I'm doing, right now!"
"Wait, what? Just like that? Please. I am sorry, okay? I get so in my head and so defensive, that I don't always think of the best-case scenario. Please. Don't break up with me. I don't—I'm sorry. Kate? Baby?" Yelena looks on the verge of tears, which is unusual to see, as she's usually far more reserved. Her bottom lip juts out, and she pouts.
Kate closes the gap between them, takes Yelena's hand presses their foreheads together. "Yelena, no, honey. I'm not breaking up with you. At all. I meant walking away from that drama, not from you. Jesus, I didn't explain myself well, did I? I'm sorry."
"You were really hot-headed back there, are you okay?"
"No. I think, just after seeing my Mom and have her be mean to you, it was just pent-up frustration, and it was misdirected at you. That girl was a bitch. God, I just wanna go home."
"Can we go to the photobooth first?"
"Yeah, course we can, Yelena. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I mean, you scared me, but it's okay. Just, please, don't do that again."
"No, I won't, not even jokingly."
They make their way to the photobooth, and have smiling, kissing and silly photos taken of them and printed out.
* * *
"I just wanna pop in here for a minute. Wait outside please, Kate?"
"You're going into Pandora, without me?"
"I wanna get Natasha something, okay?"
Kate smirks. "Okay. Hurry back to me."
"You're so weird." Yelena replies, before giving Kate a soft kiss on her lips.
Ten minutes later...
"Okay, so, what did you get?"
"A Sparkling Heart Halo Pendant Collier Necklace for Natasha. It was ninety dollars. I wanna go in a different shop, too." Kate sighs. "I promise, I'll be quick, beautiful. Just have a little patience." Kate stays put and watches Yelena jog up the street and disappear into another store. She takes a seat on the bench, and waits, patiently.
Another ten minutes later...
"You're gonna have to wait and see, so, please don't ask me what I got you."
"Okay, I won't. Can I just ask—"
"No, cos it'll ruin the surprise."
"I just wanted to know if we were all done and could go home, that's all."
"Oh, sure, yeah! I'll call a taxi."
"Cab."
"Taxi."
"Cab, Yelena, this is New York."
"Then I believe that taxicab is the correct word."
Kate chuckles.
* * *
"Hey, lovebirds. Have a nice time?"
"We did, thank you, Natasha. For the most part. Here, I got you a gift."
"You went to Pandora?"
"Yes."
"How much did you spend?"
"Maybe you should open the gift first."
"Did you steal from my wallet?"
"No." Yelena lies.
"Yelena..."
"I may have... borrowed... I spent my own money in Pandora, and in Macy's, thank you very much." Yelena lies again.
"You went to Macy's? How much did you spend?"
"I'm not willing to discuss that..." Yelena answers, darting her eyes to Kate.
"What did you borrow?" Natasha asks, understanding the subtle cues.
"I may have borrowed... a credit card."
"Oh my God, which one?"
"What do you mean 'which one', how many do you have?"
"I have three."
"Why would you need three?"
"Well, one is purely for the ATM, I've got my Platinum American Express card, which gives me Amex Travel points, up to $500,000 a year in purchases and points for hotels booked through Amex Travel hotels."
"What are these points?"
"Like a rewards scheme. I save them up. You know, in case I wanna retire or have a massively expensive vacation. Then, I have a Mastercard for everything else, like groceries, gas and bills. So, which one didja take?"
"Uhhh, de shiny one."
"What do you mean, 'the shiny one'? You took the American Express card? The one solely for travel?"
"I don't know, it was shiny!" She looks down at her feet, shuffling them awkwardly.
"Oh my God, you're a magpie!" Kate jokes.
"You're gonna need to pay me back."
"The gift, uhh, it might change your mind on that one. Also, I got a gift for Kate, sooo..."
"What did you get me?"
"Wha—I—please don't gang up on me. I, I, I, I don't... I will give it to you later... the gift! Not, uh, anything untoward, although..."
"Yelena!" Kate flushes red.
"What? I'm very fucking innocent."
"Oh, really? And I'm a nun."
"Look, Natasha, I'm sorry I took your card, but mine is lost... or not lost, but it's at home."
"Why didn't you take it to Coney Island with you?"
"Because it's not Stateside."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I accidentally left it in Budapest, when we were fleeing from the Black Widows."
"What?! And you never went to retrieve it?"
"No, because I didn't think I'd need to... I have hard cash with me, almost always. I just forgot to grab any extra cash today. I will pay you back, if you still need me to, but please, just open your gift."
Natasha sighs, but opens the Pandora bag and the red velvet box inside. She pulls out the expensive red heart-shaped necklace and her eyes go wide. "Holy shit, Lena." She gasps. "It's beautiful. What possessed you to buy it?"
"You're my sister. That's the only reason I need. I love you and I wanted to show you how much I love you and appreciate you for everything you've done for me. For finding me, helping me to take down the Red Room, and Dreykov, and for always having my back."
Natasha puts the necklace on, where it sits nicely against her cleavage in her little black dress. (She had changed out of her black battle suit and into civilian clothes an hour before Kate and Yelena arrived at the Avengers Tower.) "Okay, you don't owe me anything. Not for this, not for anything. This covers it. I love it, thank you."
"I knew it. I knew you did."
Natasha pulls her in for a hug and kisses her cheeks, three times. "We should go and see the rest of the team." She announces.
"For what? A debrief?"
"Well, if you wanna be part of it... or you can tell us about your day?"
"To be honest, I just want to relax, make love to my woman and play PlayStation."
"Oh... okay. Yeah, you do that, Lena."
"Babe!" Kate exclaims, cheeks going a deep scarlet.
Yelena shrugs. "What? Am I supposed to just speak in euphemisms?"
Kate stammers. "Y-yes, t-that's what we do in the United States."
"Well, as a Russian, I am not shy about it. I want to have sex with my girlfriend. There. It's out in the open. Me, you, sex, let's go."
Kate, still red-faced, nods slowly. "Um, okay."
"Unless you don't wanna?"
"Oh, no, I do. Very much so."
"Well, let's go then."
"Just... keep it down. Remember that most of the complex is open plan. I don't think you want everyone to hear your business." Natasha warns.
"Oh, I don't know... might want to make the Avengers jealous."
"Um..."
"I'm kidding... kind of." Yelena announces, smirking at Kate, and biting her lower lip.
Yelena kisses Natasha on the cheek, tells her "Я тебя люблю" and leads Kate upstairs, by her hand. They go upstairs, to find the Avengers seated in the Conversation Pit. "Hello, good afternoon, goodbye." Yelena says, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
"Uh, hello?" Tony questions. "Are you not joining us for the debrief?"
"No. We have business to take care of. That's what you people, uh, Americans, say, right?"
"Are you are, or are you not a part of this team?"
"We are, but seeing as we didn't take down the Human Trafficking ring, I don't think we need to be here, necessarily."
"True, but it might be good for you to learn what we do around here."
"Another time, Tony Stark." Yelena replies, keeping a grip on Kate's hand.
"Hey, just let 'em go." Natasha adds, joining them all.
"But we are a team, and this is a team debrief." Tony pushes.
"Babe, I think we should just tell them."
"No! It's embarrassing enough that you told Natasha. I can wait, it's fine."
"You can wait, I cannot. The urge is really overwhelming, right now. If I don't take care of it, I might explode."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Please, Kate..."
Kate sighs. "We would love to join your team meeting, but we have... I need some time. My Mom met Yelena today, and it was singlehandedly one of the most awkward conversations I've had to endure. Jack has the whole thing against Russians, and it's—I just wanna be alone with Yelena, for half hour."
"An hour."
"Sorry, an hour."
"Jeez, that's... wow." Rogers replies.
"Yeah, so, uh... can we go? To—Mr. Stark?"
"Mr. Stark was my father. But, yes, you can go."
"Thank you." Kate replies, squeezing Yelena's hand, gently.
The two run off down the corridor and Yelena stops short of her room, to push Kate against the wall and kiss her. "Hmm. You're becoming a naughty girl, Kate Bishop. My influence is rubbing off on you."
"I prefer the term 'bad girl' to 'naughty'."
"Hmm, well, you're a bad girl, Kate Bishop." Yelena says, pulling Kate with her, and then pushing her into the door.
"Not as bad as you. Now, come on, I want these clothes on your bedroom floor."
"Yeah, you do." They kiss again, as Yelena fumbles with the door handle, behind Kate's back. "Блин... I cannot find de door han—oh, here it is. Hehe. Sorry."
"You're an idiot."
"Yes, but you love me."
"Do I?"
"Yes, you told me that you love me. Don't take that back. Please. Not after today."
"Never. You're mine." Kate kisses Yelena's cheek.
"Oh. Are you claiming me for yourself?"
"Bold of you to assume." Kate jokes.
"I am so confused right now. Are we—"
"I'm teasing, sorry."
"Stop being a bad girl, that's—you're taking my job."
"Oh, yeah? What would happen if I became a bad girl? Broke all the rules? Didn't give a shit? Had a sassy attitude?"
"I mean, it would not be you... And I'd have to call Mulder and Scully to come investigate."
"Mulder and Scully?"
"You didn't watch The X Files?"
"No...?"
"Who are you? You need an education. Dana is so gay, it is... wow. I don't think I can do this now... de sex! I can do us. That, that, that isn't, I, I, I didn't... you know."
"You're so scared, aren't you?"
"Pssh. Me, scared? Of what?"
"Saying the wrong thing and losing me."
"No. I just don't want to ohffend you."
"Ohffend?"
"How you say?"
"Offend."
"Dat is what I said. Ohffend."
"No, you said it like ohfen—you know what? It doesn't matter. Are we gonna have sex or not?"
"Yes!" Yelena replies, her voice echoing off the walls. "That was too loud, sorry."
Kate giggles and Yelena dives in for another kiss. Her lips capture hers with fiery heat, and Kate already feels weak at the knees. They're not even through the door fully, before Yelena is pushing her grey plaid trench coat off her shoulders. "Dis... too... too much."
"Yea, well... so's yours."
"But at least I match."
"Yeah, like a lil bumblebee."
"Silly Kate Bishop." Without even thinking, she flings Kate's trench coat over her shoulder, where it lands in the hallway. It landing on the floor draws everyone's attention.
"Are they--?" Rogers begins.
"Yup." Nat answers.
"Oh, right. That kinda business." Tony concludes.
"Mmhmm." Nat confirms.
"Wow, they're bold."
"Yeah, well, this Tower's got sexual energy." Natasha announces, unblinking. She sips her beer and then forces herself to look away from the coat. She wants, so badly, to pick it up and drape it over the back of a chair.
"Meaning?"
"Tony and Pepper, me and Clint, Yelena and Nat."
"Dude."
"What?" She asks, looking at Clint. He holds out his hands in a 'well' manner. The realisation dawns on her. "Oh, shit. Uhhh... well, now it's out in the open. Clint and I—"
"We know!" Everyone replies in unison, loudly.
"Hey! Do you mind? We're trying to have a very important—"
"They know, Lena."
"What?"
"A. You threw Kate's jacket out into the hallway, which is a dead giveaway, B. You're in your bra and pants, and C. You're young and in love. Having sex all the time is what all new couples do."
Yelena chuckles awkwardly. "We're not having sex." Her tone becomes serious. "We're gonna make love."
"Babe!" Kate calls from inside the room.
Yelena shrugs. "I am an innocent girl. This is my first time. Okay, I take that back. This is my first time here... in the Tower. It's my second time. That's a lie also."
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"What? They're gonna know eventually. You don't know how to be quiet."
"Neither do you, thank you very much!" Kate scorns.
"I—don't want to be quiet. It's gonna get loud in here, just so you know. Maybe just go for a walk for an hour."
"Or, keep it down!" Natasha demands.
"I am not you, Natasha. I am proud of my wooman. I don't go creeping around like you and Clint Barton! Shit! Sorry!"
"They already know."
"What? Before I just said?"
"Mmhmm."
"I didn't say anything. You can't, you can't say that I did. I said nofing."
"Lena..." Natasha sighs. "Should we take this debrief to Central Park?"
Tony regards this for a moment. "I have a soundproof room. Fully soundproof. I use it all the time. Blast some AC/DC. They could use that. It's got a bed, and everything."
"You have a soundproof room?" Natasha and Yelena ask in unison.
"We can fuc—make love in dis soundproof room?"
"Yes, but try and keep it on the bed."
"What you think I'm gonna do? Cum all over the ceiling? I don't have a dick, that is not possible."
Natasha widens her eyes and tilts her head in a knowing way. "I mean..." she begins, then refuses to finish her sentence.
"I don't have a dick, Natasha. What de fuck are you talking about?"
"No... Not that. I'll explain when you're older."
"I am older!"
"Just... put your t-shirt on and Tony will show you where to go."
"It's upstairs. Two flights of stairs. End of the corridor. Can't miss it, it's all black inside. Do not go into the room with the box above it. That is the recording studio, and I don't think you wanna be on air."
"You have a rec—how fucking rich are you?"
"I'm a billionaire."
"Hey, Kate Bishop?"
"Yes?" Kate replies, still fully dressed.
"Uhhh, can you repeat that please? I was thinking about something else."
"Go up two flights of stairs. End of the corridor. Can't miss it, it's all black inside. Do not go into the room with the box above it."
"You got that, Bishop? That was weird. You got that, Kate Bishop?"
"You're gonna have to learn to just say Kate. Not 'Kate Bishop'. You can manage to say Natasha, and not 'Natasha Romanoff,' so why do I get full named?"
"I full name everybody. Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Tony Stark."
"But why does Natasha get just her first name?"
"Because she is my sister. It would be pretty weird to say 'Natasha Romanoff' every five minutes. Or Natalia Alia—no... Why would I full name my sister?"
"Why do you full name your girlfriend?"
"Because up until recently, you were Kate Bishop. Honey... are you mad at me?"
"No, I just—it's weird. I never get called 'Kate Bishop' other than by you."
"At least I don't call you 'Katherine' or 'Katherine Elizabeth Bishop', like your Mama."
"That's true. That would be a huge turn-off."
"Except for today, we, uh, I, uh, de, de, 'Katherine' was a joke. I was, uh, taking the piss."
"I know you were. You're so cute when you get flustered."
"I'm not cute, and I, I, I, I do-I don't get... flustered."
"No, but your stammering says otherwise."
"English is not my first language."
"No, but you are fluent in it."
Yelena changes the subject, but barely. "By the way, my Mama called Natasha 'Natalia Alianova Romanova', on the phone the other day, and that was fucking weird. I have not heard that name since 1995. That is pretty fucking weird."
"Okay. Wow. That was very Russian."
"Да. We like our vowels. Like the US likes it's consomnents."
"Babe, A, E, I, O, U are vowels. What is a consomnent?"
"You know, the, the not the vowel. Did I not say that right?"
"Con-so-nent."
"Comso-conso—I don't hear the difference."
"You're adorable when you struggle."
"I don't struuggleee. It's just, you, you, you made, you make me forget how to speak Engliish."
"Oh, so I'm to blame?"
"Yes, because I like you so much. It's de brain and, and de tongue, they just—ебать..." Yelena sighs. "Я влюблен в тебя, поэтому все время косноязычен. Я хочу говорить по-русски, потому что знаю, что сказать, но ты не понимаешь."
"Ты влюблен в нее?"
"Да. Я знаю, это кажется поспешным, но она сказала это сегодня... Я даже купил ей кольцо обещания, чтобы показать, как сильно я ее люблю и как предан ей."
"Yelena, I—"
"I know, I know you don't understand. I fuck up my words, and it infuriates me that that happens. I don't know why. I'm sorry that I sometimes struggle to say what I want to say in my heart, but I just know that... I just want to be with you, Kate. Whether I struggle to speak, or I just want to kiss you... I just wanna be with you, you know? What I said up the Ferris Wheel is true, and that is why I cannot speak de Engliish so good. You, um, I, um..." Yelena sighs and there is a long pause. The rest of the Avengers are listening intently, and Kate is frowning at Yelena.
"Sooo... can we...?"
Kate smirks and chuckles again. "Oh, yeah, definitely."
"Yes." Yelena replies, doing a small fist pump.
"Are you... really that excited?"
"To have sex with my girlfriend? Yes, yes I am. Come oooonn. Your apartment... oof."
"Yelena!"
Yelena doesn't hear her scorn; she's too busy looking Kate up and down. Her eyes linger on her breasts, and her breath catches her in throat. She licks her lower lip slowly, eyes never leaving Kate's chest. Her breathing becomes shallow, as she mentally undresses her girlfriend.
"Fuck." She whispers to herself, before pouncing on Kate and showering her with hot and heavy kisses. Forgetting where she is, she kisses Kate's neck.
"Babe... we're with other people."
"I don't care." Yelena whispers, into Kate's neck, before kissing behind her ear. Kate loses herself for a minute, and tilts her head, pushing her neck further into Yelena's mouth and closing her eyes. After a beat, she opens her eyes. "Yelena... stop."
"Hmm?" Yelena stops. "What?"
"We have an audience."
"Then let's go to... that room, because I kinda need you, right now." She finishes, whispering in Kate's ear and tickling it.
"Get a room!" Barton and Rogers say in unison.
"We're going now. Sorry for being inappropriate."
"I'm not." Natasha gives Yelena the look, and she sighs. "Okay, yes, I am sorry for being inappropriate. I could not help myself, but I will try to... contain myself." She sighs, as she's becoming impatient. She subconsciously taps her foot. "Kate, are we going to, or not?"
"Yes, sorry." Kate takes her hand, and they walk side-by-side and up the stairs.
Two flights of stairs later, they enter a dimly lit corridor. Yelena instinctively checks for CCTV – there is none, and obviously there's no need for any. There are three rooms at the far end of the corridor. One with a box above it – the studio, which is attached to the sound booth and opposite, the blackout soundproof room. Kate pushes open the door to this one and they step inside. "Wow, this is nice." She remarks, her voice sounding flat, due to the lack of echo.
"Oh, this is fully soundproof. This is good."
"Yes, it is." Kate smirks, before pushing Yelena against a wall.
"Oh, someone wants to be da boss."
"You're always the boss. It's my turn." Kate replies, pinning Yelena's wrists above her head. She kisses her deeply and uses her knee to spread Yelena's legs.
"Oh." Yelena manages.
Kate kisses behind her ear and takes both wrists in one hand, so that she can roam up her t-shirt with the other. She rubs and squeezes a breast, making one nipple erect, before carefully hardening the other one. She briefly lets go of Yelena's wrists, to pull her shirt off.
"Oh, Kate Bishop."
With one fluid motion, Kate unhooks Yelena's bra one handed and lets it fall to the floor.
"You've practiced that move, haven't you?"
"Yes, babe, I have."
"Dammit, Kate Bishop."
Kate re-pins Yelena's wrists above her head, then gently sucks at her left nipple, eliciting a moan from the blonde. "Hmm, can't forget about this little guy." Kate says, gently sucking her right.
"Hey! Don't make fun of my tiny tits!"
"I'm not, stupid. Mine are small too." Yelena goes to protest, but a quick twist of one of her nipples silences her. "You've got too many layers on."
"So do you."
Kate unbuttons her jeans, before unzipping them slowly. She wiggles her hips, and she moves them down her legs – she is giving Yelena a strip tease and Yelena bites her lower lip.
"You're killing me here, Kate."
"I know. That's the idea, Yel." Once her jeans are off, she unhooks her bra, one handed, and removes it, slowly, letting it drop to the floor, at the last minute. Yelena goes to unbutton her pants, but Kate slaps her had away. "Ah-da-da-da. Nope. That's my job."
"Is your job also to move ridiculously slowly?"
"I'm teasing."
"Well, just so you know the more you're teasing, the more I am losing my feeling of arousal."
"Hmm, well, I can rectify that." Kate assures, playing with Yelena's nipples again. A sharp twist of both, makes Yelena suck air through her teeth.
"Ow. That really hurts."
"Like 'stop please' hurts or 'it's also pleasurable' hurts?"
"Like 'I want to keep my nipples, thanks'."
"Oh, sorry." Kate replies, sheepishly. She kisses Yelena's peaks to soothe them and then makes out with her. As she slips in her tongue, her hand goes into Yelena's underwear, and finds her slick with arousal. "Thought you said you weren't aroused?"
"I was becoming less aroused, but I think you can make me way more wet."
"Oh, really?"
"Mmhmm."
"Let's see about that. Now, shut up and kiss me."
Yelena kisses Kate hard on the lips and moans as she has her clit rubbed in circles. She pants into her partner's neck, and this encourages the brunette. Instinctively, Yelena bites down on Kate's shoulder and she winces a little, but doesn't stop. Soon after, Yelena is clawing Kate's back, and the latter moans.
Yelena's knees buckle and bends Kate's wrist awkwardly, resulting in a sharp shooting pain.
"Ow!"
"Shiiiit. What I do?"
"Bent my wrist funny. Let's take it to the bed."
"Please. My legs almost gave out."
Yelena uses this opportunity to playfully grab Kate from behind and pin her arms across her chest, before resting her chin on her shoulder.
Kate turns her head to the left and kisses her girlfriend on the lips. As they kiss, Yelena slips her hand into Kate's panties and plays with her clit.
"Mm. That feels good, babe."
"I know."
Kate's left hand comes up and grips Yelena behind her neck. She pulls her panties down with her right hand and kicks them off. Spreading her legs, she allows Yelena to continue, using her neck and the grip around her waist for balance. She leans into her, and Yelena continues to pleasure Kate from behind, until her legs begin to shake.
"I can't... stand any... more." Kate pants, her grip on Yelena's neck tightening. The rubbing stops and Kate lies down on the bed, so she is the 'bottom' and Yelena is the 'top'. "How do you want me?" she asks.
"Exactly like that. You're perfect. Just maybe a pillow under your bum." Kate frowns, but props it up. "Good." Yelena smirks, before lying on the bed and kissing Kate's thighs. Her warm breath ghosts Kate's clit and she shivers.
"Oh." Kate breathes.
"Want me to continue?"
"Absolute—oh!" Kate starts to answer, before Yelena starts licking her clit. "Do I taste alright? We've been at Coney Island all day."
"A little sweaty, but nothing I can't handle."
"Are you sure? I can shower."
"If I don't lick your pussy now, I won't be satisfied, so I want to taste all of you. When you're clean and when you're sweaty... Just, uh, not when, you know, you're on your period. No thanks."
Kate chuckles. "Yeah, I wouldn't let you lick my pussy when it's my period, anyway."
"If you're horny when you're on, you can eat my cunt as much as you want to."
"Fuck, babe. Keep talking like that, and I may just nut everywhere."
"Nut?"
"Jizz... Cum... It's slang. It's a joke, since it's mostly used by guys, and I don't have a dick. The term is 'bust a nut'."
"That sounds painful."
"It's basically to 'bust a load... of cum'."
"Well, you'll be cumming everywhere by the time I'm done with you."
"Oh, really?"
"Mmhmm. I'm gonna fuck you real good, Kate Bishop."
"Jesus. That's hot."
Yelena dips her head between Kate's thighs again and as she licks her clit, she slides two fingers into her wet pussy.
"Ohhh, my Gooood!"
"You like the fingers?"
"Oh, god, yes. Fuck me hard. Please."
Yelena smirks and pumps her fingers in and out with force. Kate moans loudly and this soaks Yelena further. She inserts two fingers inside her own pussy and matches rhythms.
"Mm, God, I feel good."
As their bodies move in sync, they moan in sync too. They are becoming one in both body and pleasure.
"I need... to taste... 69 me." Kate commands, then guides Yelena into position. Ignoring the sweaty taste of Yelena's pussy, the two lick each other, at the same time, focusing on the other's clit. They moan and writhe, trying hard to not stop and focus on their own needs over the other's.
It's not long before they each cry out that they are close. "Come with me, Yelena."
"If not, I'll be right behind you."
As Kate had been pleasured for longer, she reaches climax shortly before Yelena does. She arches her back, pushing her clit harder into Yelena's tongue. Yelena pushes her hips down, and pushes her clit harder into Kate's tongue.
Both slow their licking down, riding the high, then all at once, Kate comes undone, and has a big and intense orgasm, oozing white cum into Yelena's mouth. A minute later, Yelena follows, with just as big an orgasm and also oozes white cum. She swallows Kate's and moans, the vibrations sending tingles into Kate's pussy. Kate copies Yelena. They relax and lay, still in the 69 position, panting. Kate, who is using Yelena's right leg as a pillow, sighs with content. She has Yelena's left leg hooked over her side, and she has her left arm draped over Yelena's leg, and her right arm across Yelena's stomach, underneath her leg. Yelena, on the other hand, has her left arm resting on Kate's left leg and her right hand on her bare breast, with Kate's left leg behind her head, and her right leg is being used as a headrest. Along Kate's ass and left leg, as well as across her shoulder blade and back are scratches of pleasure. Yelena similarly has these scratches. There are also a couple of love bites in various places – shoulders, hips, inner thigh and neck. They have really done a number on each other, but at least these are all signs of what had just transpired and not anything harmful.
As they lie there, basking in the afterglow and catching their breaths, Yelena breaks the silence. "I really love you, Katherine Bishop. You are the moon to my stars, you are my first, my last and my everything. I love you to infinity and beyond. ... That was a really good line from Toy Story, you know."
"Okay, moment's passed."
"What? I just said I love you 'to infinity and beyond'. Why are you so—? How is the moment passed?"
"Because then you ruined it by saying 'that line from Toy Story was really good'."
"You're so mean, Kate Bishop."
Kate scoffs, gently. "I love you, Yelena."
"I take it back."
"No, you don't."
"No, I don't."
"Idiot."
"I know, but I'm your idiot." Yelena replies, before clicking her tongue. "I really do love you, Kate Bishop. The thing about the moon and the stars is something you would say, so, I thought if I copy, you would like. And as for why it took me so long, well that's because you caught me off guard, earlier.."
"I know, I'm sorry. Okay—" she says, as she inhales, "I need a wee, come on, move ya legs."
"I cannot, they have gone to sleep. You are stuck here."
"Haha(!)" Kate replies, sarcastically. "No, seriously, I gotta pee."
"Okay, okay."
They untangle from one another, and Kate rolls off the bed, stretching a little and throwing on her clothes to try and locate the bathroom. As she leaves the room, Yelena watches her go, then checks the inner pocket of her plaid jacket, for a navy velveteen bag. She grins at herself, and she pulls it out. She throws the bed covers over herself to try and keep warm as she awaits Kate's return.
One eternity later...
Kate returns to the soundproof room and notices that Yelena is dozing. "You okay there, babe?"
"Hmm. Yeah, just restin'..." she yawns, "my eyes. You took your time."
"Yeah, well, I had to go down two flights of stairs to the bathroom. There's probably one, next floor down, but I didn't want to investigate."
"Hmm. Fair enough. Can you come back to bed, please?"
"Yeah, sure."
"I got you something, Kate."
"What?"
"It's something small. Okay, don't freak."
"Yelena..."
"Is not what you think. Okay? Okay, you look really freaked out."
"Yeah, because..."
She produces the small velveteen bag. "Uh, I don't know the tradition for dis. So, if I get it wrong, I'm sorry."
Kate looks both confused and apprehensive, but takes the offered bag. She pulls open the drawstring, and blinks a few times. "Is this a—"
"It's a promise ring. It's to show you how much I love you and want to be with you. I am committed to you, Kate."
"Oh my God." She breathes a sigh of relief. "I thought that—"
"What? That I was proposing? Nooo. Das too soon. But, it is black Zirconia and purple Amethyst, which are your signature colours."
"Babe, it's perfect... like you."
"I do okay?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Kate asks, rhetorically. She beams at Yelena, who realises that she did in fact 'do okay'. They laugh together, and the sound is joyous, and each laugh compliments the other. "Holy shit. How'd you get my ring size?"
"We're about the same size, I think. Is it okay?"
Kate chuckles. "Yeah, it fits really good, uh, well. It fits really well."
"I am getting soft, for you. Just you... and... maybe Natasha."
Kate grins. "I know. Gotta keep that little reputation of yours."
"Little? Little! I'll have you know it's—"
"Mmhmm. Keep telling yourself that." Kate interrupts, by kissing her girlfriend. "Sorry. I need to stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Interrupting you, or cutting you off with a kiss. It's rude, and cliché, and it's not fair."
"I mean, sometimes, it's a little annoying, especially if I'm trying to tell you something. Other times, I like knowing what you want. Right now, however, I want—"
"Sex?"
"Kate Bishop, we just had sex. I don't know about you, but I need to recover after that! I need food."
Kate chuckles nervously. "Yeah, of course, that's exactly what I meant. I was just teasing."
"Mmhmm. Come on. As much as I love being sexy, secretive and secluded, we should probably join the others. Plus, if we have too much rampant sex now, then a year, or two years down the line, we'll be all dried out. Pun unintentional. I don't wanna lose the spark we have now, by rushing through it all and running out of steam, or passion. I've seen it happen. Let's put a pause on the sex, okay? As much as I'm enjoying it, I want to enjoy you more. Being with you, spending time with you... being an us." Kate says nothing for a few minutes, as she's fully absorbing the words. Yelena frowns at her, and wonders if she's upset. "Did I upset you?" The blonde asks, once two minutes has passed.
"Oh, God no. I was really listening to what you were saying, then I was thinking about it... and then, I'll admit, I zoned out."
Yelena chuckles. "Well, at least you're not upset. C'mon. Let's get dressed and head back down."
"Sure. What are you thinking for food?"
"Uhhh, honestly, no idea. Let's see if the others are ordering."
They get dressed, make the bed, but pull back the covers, to let it air, switch off the light and leave the room. With a self-satisfied sigh, Yelena takes Kate's hand, and the two women walk the long corridor and down the two flights of stairs.
Chapter 7: Seven
Chapter Text
NB: The first person parts in bold and italics is present day Yelena 'narrating' the series of events, before we go into her past.
The sound of AC/DC fills the air as Kate pulls open the glass door at the bottom of the stairs. Then the sound of laughter. The Avengers are sat in the Conversation Pit, with the table in its centre and Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, on it.
"But, it's a trick!" Barton exclaims, pointing at the hammer.
Thor, who appeared while Yelena and Kate were busy, looks at him. "Oh, no. It's much more than that."
Barton scoffs. "Uh, 'whosever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick."
Thor gestures to Mjolnir. "Well, please, be my guest."
Tony joins in then. "Come on."
Barton looks between Stark and Thor. "Really?"
Thor smirks. "Yeah!" Barton makes his way over to the hammer.
"This is gonna be beautiful." Tony whispers. "Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." The others laugh at Tony's joke, and Clint just rolls his eyes.
"You know I've seen this before, right?" He begins, before grabbing Thor's hammer... he can't lift it. He turns to Thor and frowns at him. "I still don't know how you do it."
"Smell the silent judgement?" Tony jokes.
"Please, Stark, by all means." Barton replies, semi-judgementally.
Natasha rolls her eyes as she drinks from her beer. "Oh, here we go."
Tony pretends to crack his knuckles. "Never one to shrink from an honest challenge."
Barton drinks his beer and smirks at Natasha. "Get after it." he says, at the same time she says, "Here we go."
"It's physics." Tony announces, trying to work it out.
"Physics!" Bruce repeats.
Tony, who had yet to even try to lift it, grabs the handle. "Right, so, if I lift it, I... I then rule Asgard?"
"Yes, of course." Thor replies, nonchalantly.
"I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta." He announces, much to Natasha's chagrin. Tony tries to lift the hammer, but fails. "I'll be right back." He disappears, and the others shake their heads. Natasha notices Kate and Yelena lingering in the doorway, and beckons them over.
"What's going on?" Yelena asks.
"Trying to lift Thor's hammer." Natasha replies.
"No, I see that, but why?" She asks.
"Because, my Russian compatriot, whosoever lifts my hammer shall be worthy, and he... or she... shall rule Asgard."
"'Russian compatriot'? Really?"
"It is meant as a compliment." Thor announces, just as Tony returns with one Iron Man gauntlet.
"Right..." Stark tries to lift the hammer again, and again, he fails. "Banner?"
Banner steps up and tries to lift the hammer... then he roars, pretending to turn into the Hulk. Some of the group look at him warily, while others simply grin.
"Let's go, Steve, no pressure. Come on, Cap." Tony says.
Steve starts pulling on the hammer and manages to budge it a millimetre. Thor notices it move, and looks a little alarmed. However, when Steve fails to lift it, Thor laughs with relief. He, thankfully, is the only one to notice it moved a little.
"Nothing." Thor announces.
"Widow?" Bruce asks.
"Oh, no, no. That's not a question I need answered. Yelena? Kate?"
"Uh, I'm with you, Natasha. I don't need to know if I'm worthy or not... because I already feel like I'm not."
"I'll try." Yelena grins. Yelena grips the handle, and stands in a wide stance (she had noticed that no one else cared about their stance, or trying to grip it properly. She did, however, see Tony put his foot on the table to act as some sort of leverage.) She sniffs, cracks her neck and pulls. "What the-?"
"Are you even pulling?" Kate jokes.
"Are you on my team?" Yelena asks back.
Kate joins her and also grips the handle. "Just represent! Pull!"
"Alright, let's go!" Yelena barks and they both pull as hard as they can.
Yelena frowns, hard, as Tony speaks again. "All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged."
"You bet your ass." Barton agrees.
"Steve, he said a bad language word." Natasha jokes.
Steve looks at Stark and whispers. "Did you tell everyone about that?"
Tony simply shrugs, before telling everyone his idea. "The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. 'Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints' is, I think, the literal translation?"
Thor laughs, heartily. "Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." He gets up and strides to his hammer, before effortlessly picking it up, flipping it, and catching it, one-handed. "You're all not worthy." Everyone begins to disagree with Thor, and he just chuckles and flips Mjolnir again.
Kate, who is perched on the arm of the sofa, next to Natasha, asks the all-important question. "When did you get here? Last time we saw you was months? Months, is that right? ... A long time ago."
"I got here about an hour ago, Lady Hawkeye. There was trouble on Asgard, which needed my attention. And not just with my brother, Loki. That is why I was away for so long." He pauses, momentarily, and sniffs the air. "Not to draw attention to anyone in particular, but it smells as though some of you have not had a wash. I know Hulk has had his moments, because, well, he's the Hulk. But there is this lingering odour, and I thought that it would be best if I announced it, so that whosever has said odour, can address it." Thor announces, looking around the group.
"Meaning?" Yelena asks, dimly.
Natasha replies, bluntly. "Go and have a shower."
Yelena opens her mouth to protest... but instead, she agrees. "Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't realise that we smelled really bad." She gives a curt nod, then briskly walks down the corridor, to her room, with Kate hot on her heels.
"Did my words cause offence?" Thor asks.
"No, they've just been at it." Natasha confirms.
"I do not know the meaning of this phrase."
"They've been having sex."
"Ah! That seems to be a common occurrence between humans... Sex for pleasure, I mean. Not sex for procreation. Are you sure I did not offend?" Thor asks, trying to gauge the situation.
"Honestly, you said it much more politely than I would have. I would have told them that they 'stink'."
"Oh. Is bluntness the norm with you, Widow?"
"With my sister, yeah."
"I see. Well, I am glad it was I who said, and not you." Thor laughs again, as Natasha inhales silently, and exhales sharply. "I must ask, though. Are Lady Hawkeye and...?"
"Yelena."
"Yelena. Are they lovers or just having sex? It perplexes me when a couple merely has sex, but there is no element of companionship involved."
"Oh, yeah, they're dating. Not for very long, but, yes, they're in a relationship."
"Aha! Well, I believe congratulations are in order. It is always a joyous occasion on Asgard when two people come together as lovers. It is not just when they are engaged to be married, or when they have the marriage ceremony. We celebrate when young couples get together. We can have a feast or just drinking."
"Do you have other... strange traditions?" Barton asks.
"Why do you not celebrate when two people get together? Why only celebrate holy matrimony?"
"I don't know, actually." Barton confirms. "Maybe we should celebrate a couple."
"Well, it's getting late and none of us have eaten, so, we should let the girls decide." Natasha suggests.
A few minutes later, the girls return in clean clothes. Yelena's wet hair is in a braid and Kate's dry hair is in a high ponytail. (Yelena had refused to towel-dry her golden locks.)
"What do you want to eat?" Natasha asks.
Kate shrugs. "I dunno. Pizza?"
"Babe, we had pizza recently. I don't want it again. How about... Chinese?"
"Ooh, Chinese sounds good." Kate agrees.
"Everyone good with Chinese takeout?" Natasha asks, pointing at everyone. They nod or verbally agree, and she pulls out her Mastercard.
"No, no. Dinner's on me." Tony announces.
"Hey, no, you got it the last time." Natasha argues.
"No, Barton got it last time."
"Uh, no, that was Bruce."
"I've got it." Pepper interrupts, appearing out of thin air. "Whatever it is, I got it."
"Honey, Pep. You wanna buy Chinese takeout for nine of us?"
"Ten. Happy is here." Pepper corrects.
"Make that thirteen." Nick Fury's voice ascends the stairs, before he does. "Agents Coulson and Hill are here too."
"Right, so, we're having a party? Security breach. That's on you." Tony jokes, directing his last sentence to Pepper.
"We should invite Carol." Kate adds.
"That's a great idea. I'll page her." He says, pulling out his pager.
"If we are to invite Carol, I want to invite Jane." Thor adds.
"Is that a pager? What is this, 1995?" Yelena asks, condescendingly.
"It's a Transmitter, updated with Kree technology, meaning I can reach her, wherever she is. Even if that's several galaxies away." Nick says, typing quickly.
"You're going to message her several galaxies away, for Chinese takeout?" Yelena asks, emphasising the distance. "Better be good fucking Chinese!"
"Wouldn't want to intentionally leave her out. That's just rude, Miss Belova." Nick replies.
"Who even are you? And how do you know my name?"
"I'm Director Nicholas Joseph Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. But everyone calls me Fury."
"Just Fury?" Yelena asks.
"Everybody calls me Fury. Not Nicholas, not Joseph, not Nick. Just Fury."
Kate frowns. "What does your Mom call you?"
"Fury."
"What do you call her?" she asks.
"Fury."
"What about your kids?" Yelena queries.
"If I had them...they'll call me Fury."
"You know nobody calls you Fury, right?" Natasha and Clint ask in unison.
"What? Now you tell me?"
"Steve calls you Nicholas Fury. And as for the rest of us? We all call you Nick." Barton confirms. "Ask Phil and Maria."
"I call him Director Fury, or Sir." Phil says.
"Yeah, I call you Nick." Maria confirms.
"What's the problem?" Carol asks, appearing out of thin air, making everyone jump and Natasha spill her beer down her chin. She sets the bottle down, and promptly wipes away the sticky liquid, hoping no one has noticed. (Barton does, because her frantic movements remind him of her wiping his cum off her chin, during an overzealous blowjob session.)
"We wanted to know if you wanted to join us for dinner, Captain Danvers." Nick says.
"Captain Danvers? I thought you were Captain Marvel?" Kate asks.
"I am both. Captain Carol 'Avenger' Danvers, former United States Air Force pilot. And my superhero name is Captain Marvel, after my friend Mar-Vell."
"I got the name for the Avengers Initiative from Carol's call sign, 'Avenger'." Nick admits.
"So, Carol was the first Avenger?" Kate queries.
"No, my plan was to find Captain America, to recruit him first, but it was a fruitless task. Instead, I recruited then-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Romanoff and Barton. Romanoff was sent to recruit Banner. Then in 2008, when Tony announced he was Iron Man, he joined the squad, recruited by Coulson, and Romanoff got Banner on side. The World Council gave me funding for the Avengers Initiative three years later. That was the year I found Captain America frozen in ice."
"So, Captain America wasn't the first Avenger, and neither way Tony. But they seem to be the leaders of the pack."
"Two alphas competing for dominance." Yelena replies, nonchalantly. "So, who'd you get to first? Clint Barton, or my sister?"
"They kinda joined hand-in-hand. I got Barton involved, and he told me he'd only join if Romanoff did. I chose the elite agents, due to their unique and incredible skills that ranked them above other agents. I didn't want Captain Marvel to be a part of the Avengers, because Danvers had left Earth and wouldn't be available whenever the next threat arrived, so, I sought to find individuals with incredible powers and abilities just like Danvers in hopes of bringing them together as a team to fight as Earth's protectors."
"I was the first superhero Fury had met. I was the reason he wanted to create a team of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I'm the reason you're all here, so, you're welcome, I guess."
"Was Barton and Romanoff really that joined at the hip?" Yelena announces, pulling a face, and surprising everyone by using their last names, only.
Nick nods. "Mmhmm."
"Oh, come on. We're not that bad. You're exaggerating the story. You recruited Clint, then saw me on the shooting range and showed an interest in my marksmanship. Then you watched some Red Room training video... I know, because I was watching you, for all of five minutes, from the shadows. And you announced, to Phil, that you 'want her on my team. She's got the skills I need. She's impressed me, and I need someone who can adapt to any situation. That level of experience, expertise and resources are what I need. Have Barton go get her. And tell him: don't take no for an answer.' I watch, and I listen, Nick."
"Kinda creepy that you were watching him from the shadows."
"I'm a spy, dickhead, that's what I do."
Yelena scoffs. "Sounds a little... stalkery, if you ask me."
"Nothing about it screams 'stalker', Lena. Fuck off and grow up."
"You wanna go?"
"What?"
"Me and you. You wanna go? Come on, let's go a few rounds."
"Lena, why would I fight you over something petty?"
"Because I'm pretty fucking bored, and I want to knock some heads together."
"You've got issues, Yelena."
She scoffs. "You've got issues. I do not like standing around and talking shit. I need to be out there, putting faces into walls, and fists into faces." She laughs, and the group aren't sure if she's joking or being serious.
Malia J's version of Smells Like Teen Spirit comes on over the speakers, as Tony has a playlist on shuffle. As the lyrics float into Yelena's mind, traumatic, violent and deadly flashbacks of her time in the Red Room, split her vision.
14 June 2003
Load up on guns and bring your friends... She's over-bored and self-assured... With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us. I feel stupid and contagious...
The lyrics fade in and out as Yelena struggles to stay awake. She had gotten into a particularly nasty scrap, and was currently fighting a losing battle with consciousness. She hears the word 'contagious' of the song Smells Like Teen Spirit, before she blacks out.
When she comes around again, a tall, but stocky man is shouting, in Russian, at one of his soldiers. She catches a few words here and there. "Out of my sight!... Unconscious... Best one yet... Did your duty... Happened." She's too tired to try and figure it out, so she closes her eyes again.
* * *
"I love you, like Antonia. You could be sisters. Why do you disappoint me, Belova?"
"I'm sorry, General Dreykov. I didn't mean to get so banged up."
"See to it that you don't, or I will personally make sure you don't get up again!"
20 December 2000
With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us.
"How does it feel, knowing you have taken your first life, Belova? I suspect it feels sad. But it's okay. They were a bad person, and you did the right thing. Bad people deserve to die." Dreykov kisses Yelena's cheeks, in traditional Russian greeting, then hands her a cold, black-steel dagger, as a "token of my appreciation."
10 May 2005
With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us.
"Come, my Widows. Let's see what you're made of! Begin!" Dreykov commands and the eight girls, paired off, begin to spar.
The girl Yelena's with socks Yelena in the jaw, because she was distracted by a tall, slender, woman whispering to Dreykov. She thinks she recognises her, but she isn't sure.
"Belova!" The General shouts, and everyone stares. Her cheeks burn red. "You know what happens if you are distracted. Girls!"
One of them ties a rope around a pole and another shoves Yelena into it, where she is tied up. And then, one by one, the girls come up to Yelena and punch her, as hard as they can, in the face to teach her a lesson.
18 April 2004
With the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us.
Dreykov makes a move towards Yelena, putting a finger to her lips. "This will be our little secret. You're mine, Yelena. Take your t-shirt off, there's a good girl."
After these very specific memories, the rest blur into one, with the chorus of the song being present in each one. She remembers other times she was beaten up, or abused, or killing another girl. All for Dreykov. All for her master.
Present Day
"Turn it off! Turn it off!" Natasha yells, at Tony.
Yelena had collapsed and was currently screaming and rocking back and forth, punching her head, as if trying to get rid of something lodged in her brain.
The music stops, and so does Yelena's screaming, but she is still rocking and punching her temples.
"Yelena, you're safe. You're safe, Lena. Сестра, talk to me. Please." Natasha's voice cracks.
Kate kneels down beside her and places a hand on Yelena's cheek, and the other on her arm, to ground her. She speaks calmly and softly. (Natasha had tried, but her emotions won out.) "Babe, it's me. It's Kate. You're safe. I'm here, and so is Natasha. Breathe, baby, breathe." Kate rubs her back in circles, and this allows Yelena to stop hyperventilating and look Kate in the eyes. She begins to pant and then she starts to cry. "Hey, hey, baby. I gotchu." Kate pulls Yelena in for a hug and feels her rigid body relax, as she gently squeezes her.
"I'm s-sorry."
"No. Don't you dare apologise, Yel. You've got nothing to apologise for."
"I freaked out."
"It's okay, it happens."
"Yeah, to weak people."
"No, I will not have you talking like that. Panic attacks happen to anyone, Yelena, for any reason."
"I did not have a panic attack. That's..."
"I believe you experienced PTSD symptoms. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder happens to a lot of people, for a lot of different reasons. Trust me, I'm a Physician and I was trained in this. A little, but enough to know some of the signs. That song is a trigger. So, as long as we avoid that song... and the original... and any other covers, it should be fine." Carol interrupts.
"It is that version. Dreykov played it on repeat, during our training sessions, and before he would-"
"I would want to tear my hair out and rip my ears off." Natasha interrupts, saving Yelena from finishing her sentence.
"Yelena, I-I'm sorry for upsetting you and triggering your PTSD." Tony says, sounding sincere. "I will delete it from the playlist, so it doesn't happen again. Can I get you anything? A glass of water? Or do you want us all to leave?"
"Tony Stark. Don't apologise for something you didn't know about. I accept it, but you didn't do it on purpose. Please can I just have the girls and Carol? And some water?"
He nods and the men leave the room, as Carol fills a glass with water from the filtered dispenser in the fridge door.
She returns and hands it to her. "Here. Nice and cold. I'm just gonna check you over. You kinda hit yourself on the way down, and judging by the bruises on your head, you were hitting yourself quite hard."
"I'm not concussed. I'm Yelena Belova, I'm twenty-five, born somewhere in Russia, in 1992. Natasha Romanoff is my sister; Kate Bishop is my par-girlfriend and I hate that song. Dreykov would force us to listen to it as we trained, as we killed, and as... as-"
"Yelena, you don't need to finish that sentence."
"They need to know."
"Yelena, don't feel like you owe anyone an explanation."
"Dreykov would play that song as he raped me. There. It's out in the open."
"Ohmygod, babe. I'm so sorry. That's fucking terrible. I can't believe someone who was a mentor would do that to you."
"Mentor? Ha! He was more like our master. Natasha's generation was brainwashed... What she experienced was psychological conditioning. For me? I'm talking about chemically altering brain functions. They're two completely different things. You're fully conscious, but you don't know which part is you. I'm still not sure."
"You're saying that you underwent chemical mind control?" Kate asks.
"Yes, babe, I am. I still flip out now and then, because I don't know what part of me is real... I know Dreykov is dead, thank fuck, but I don't know which part of me is me, and which part is a trained-killer-slash-criminal."
"You're not a criminal." Kate saying, trying to defuse the situation.
"No, I am, actually. I have a list of crimes, and arrests... Well, not me, but my aliases. Let's see, uh, off the top of my head: breaking and entering, arson, two DUIs, two cases of assault, and grand theft auto. I've also, recently, in the last year, killed 614 humans, and one reindeer. However, my total kill count is probably double that."
Kate gulps. "Six hundred... How?"
"I caused an avalanche in Serbia, when I shot a guard tower with a rocket launcher. I killed, uh, Oksana, before that, when I was under Dreykov's control - she freed me. Then, in Serbia, I killed three Russian prison guards with the rocket launcher. The avalanche killed 595 unknown prisoners and guards, as well as some guy Alexei knew, called Mikhail Ursus, AKA Ursa Major. When we got to the Red Room, I stabbed two unnamed scientists, cos they were about to cut open my head, and pull out my brain. I killed eleven Red Room guards, and General Dreykov, when I blew up his jet, after I put my Widows' Staff in the engine. That was fun!"
"Yelena, please don't ever try to sacrifice yourself again. Not for me, not for Kate, not for anyone." Natasha replies, pulling her sister in for a hug. Yelena shrugs, once they part, and Natasha sighs.
"You said you were arrested?" Carol questions.
"Yes. I was arrested for breaking and entering into a house in Moscow, when I was sent there, by Dreykov, when I was sixteen. That ended up with my friend setting it ablaze, but she fled the scene before the cops turned up, so I got the blame. Uh, the first case of assault was in Krakow, when I was seventeen, after I was told to torture a billionaire for my boss... I didn't know the dude had a son, and he walked in, mid-torture, and called the cops. The second assault was in Berlin, when I was eighteen... Actually, it was in self-defence, but given my priors, they didn't believe me. The grand theft auto was in Latvia. My getaway driver had been shot, so I had to bail, during the shootout. I stole a car, because I had to get the fuck out of there."
"And the DUIs?" Kate asks, sounding disappointed.
"Nineteen and twenty-two. At nineteen, I was at a club in Minsk, Belarus, tracking down a target, and got spiked. Still to this day, I am mad at myself for letting that happen. I might have been able to take out my target... I definitely would have, if I hadn't have been spiked... but I couldn't see straight, so I missed her. I was dizzy and puked a few times. I had to get out of there, but I couldn't drive myself to the hospital, cos I had a fake ID, so, I got into the car the agency had leant me, and started to drive back to the safe house in Warsaw. I don't even know what happened. I must have blacked out. I woke up with the front end of the car crumpled by a concrete Jersey barrier, and the airbag deployed. I was taken to the hospital to be treated for accidental drug ingestion, but then I was arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs. And at twenty-two... I had a BAC of 0.22% in my blood, so, I have no excuse, really. Except, it was a really dark time for me. I had lost two of my partners, and friends, on a mission in Belgrade, Serbia. That mission was FUBAR from the start, and Dreykov knew it! He sent us on a fucking suicide mission, and somehow I fucking survived! I fucking wish I hadn't. Maria and Améli didn't stand a chance. They were too young to die. And it was all my fault!"
"Rewind..." Kate begins. "You have been arrested every year, since you were sixteen? And what the hell is 'FUBAR'?"
"Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition." Carol answers. "It's a military term, originating from World War Two. It is when a situation is so damaged, or out of control, or extremely bad, or certain to fail, or be defeated or destroyed."
"Oh. I see. That sucks. How did you get arrested 4 years in a row?"
Yelena laughs. "No, no. I have been arrested once. At twenty-two. When I was sixteen, I was using the alias of Erika Morkanov. At seventeen, it was Cecylia Małgorzata. At eighteen, it was Sofija Abolins. At nineteen, I was Elena Belovanoff, and at twenty-two, I was using my actual ID of Yelena Belova."
"But, don't your fingerprints match the system? Don't they, y'know cross-reference?"
"Poland and Russia do, yes. But that would have taken months, because they had shitty computers in the 90s, and by the time they would have got the information back, I would have already fled the country."
"But you were in prison?" Kate questions.
"Yes, I was. But not for very long. Dreykov would come swooping in, and pay the bail, even if there was no bail... And he'd pretend, every time that he was my father, and he was disappointed and distraught and that he would give me an ass-whooping when we got home. They let him pay, on the promise of sending me to military school, to straighten me out and make me a good citizen. I wish my actual Dad swooped in and saved the day, but you know, he was too busy being the Red Guardian, somewhere, and Natasha? Ha! The last time I saw her, before last year, was when I was six. Do you really think I had the best role models growing up? No. I had a Mother who worked for the Red Room, and who I thought was dead. I had a sister, who disappeared from the face of the earth, only to pop up years later as an Avenger. I had a Father, who was Soviet Union's first and only Super Soldier, but who told me that the three years he spent 'buried' in Ohio, was so boring, and that I was a chore and a job he didn't wanna do. I had no role models. But I had fake parental guidance in the form of daily abuse. You wanna know why I'm such an asshole all the time? Why I'm so tough? You wanna know why I have a short fuse and I'm quick to answer grievances with my fists? It's because he made me that way. His daily abuse toughened me up, of course, it did. But it also made me ill-tempered, cautious, distrusting and suspicious of others. I don't know how to do kind, caring, considerate and to be trusting of others. It's easy with you, Kate. But the first time I saw Nat after twenty years; we tried to kill each other. Deduce from that what you will, but I am tired of being aggressive and distrusting. I'm tired of thinking I'm better than everyone else. I'm tired of thinking I'm untouchable... Arrests aside, I was untouchable. I only needed to utter the name Dreykov, or Widows and people were fearful. I didn't trust others, and they didn't trust me. I was a fucking exemplary child assassin. And that's not me being big headed, my test scores were literally the top 1%. Nat had a 98% accuracy on the shooting range, with pistols, rifles, assault rifles and snipers. Her knife combat was 96%. Her hand to hand was 98%. I had 100% across the board. Sorry. Dreykov forced me to look at your scores so I could 'score hirer and be better than that traitorous bitch.' His words, not mine. Also, I have no idea how he actually scored these tests, but I knew, from a young age, that I was his favourite. And not just because of... y'know, but because if anyone else got arrested, he'd let them rot there... Or he'd bail them out and shoot them. I was extremely lucky in that regard. But, anyway, the mission with Maria and Améli was FUBAR, because it was a suicide mission. He gave us next to no information on our targets, and sent in one twenty-two-year-old, and two sixteen-year-old twins. We had no backup, no transport, other than being kicked out of the helicopter... Literally, I might add... And that was it. I tried to save them. I did. But then the building imploded, and they were crushed. I mean, fucking hell, I was too, but by some miracle, I survived. I wish I hadn't, to be honest. They were my best friends. I had known them since they were six and I was twelve. It was October 2014. Dreykov had told us to go to an old quarry on the outskirts of Belgrade. We were taken in by helicopter, and Dreykov told us to jump. The girls, they were scared. This was their first time in a helicopter and he Spartan kicked them out of the door. He thought they were disobeying his orders, so he told me to shoot them, if they tried to escape. I told him I would, and then he kicked me out of the sliding door."
October 2014
I pulled my chute at the correct time, but the twins, they were panicking. I had to tell them how to do it. They did it, just about...
The canopies open above their heads, slowing the descent of the three Widows. Controlling their parachutes, they land in the dust and limestone of the quarry and unclip their chutes.
"That was terrifying!" Maria admits, in Polish.
"It was exhilarating!" Améli replies.
"Remember our mission. Heads on, girls. You take the rear entrance; I've got the front." Yelena commands, in Polish.
The three of us split up, just as I had told them. They went around the rear of the quarry building, and I took the front entrance. I told them to infiltrate on my mark. I gave them their cue, and we all entered quietly. Something felt off from the start. There were no guards, or workers, but all the machines were on. I told them to keep their heads on a swivel, and to put anyone down, with non-lethal force. They had been given stun guns, because they had performed so poorly in the shooting range, but Dreykov wanted to give them a chance. He could see they had taken to me, so, he let them stay in the Programme. I, however, had been given an actual gun, but no silencer. Of course, that would be too easy.
The girls tread carefully, and speak to each other on Comms. "Where is everyone?" Maria asks.
"I don't know. It's far too quiet for a busy, operational quarry. I don't like this, at all."
As they wander, they hear a clatter and Yelena tells the twins to hide. She feels responsible for them, and so, if there are any bad guys on site, she'd take the brunt of it.
"Ah. Dreykov's Black Widow. Come to take me out, I suppose. Where are the others? You're usually in pairs... or up to four of you." An Asian man asks.
"Where are your others? Don't tell me you've come to a buy alone?"
"Ah. No. That would be unwise. But you? You're outnumbered, little girl."
"And how do you know I don't have the place surrounded?"
"A little thing called CCTV." He holds up a tablet, and shows Yelena footage of her entering the building. "Don't tell me, Dreykov didn't teach you to watch for cameras?"
"I wanted you to see me. It makes it easier to find you. You see someone suspicious entering your building, you come out to investigate, you die."
"It's not that easy, little girl."
"You know, it takes men an additional seven seconds to perceive a woman to be a threat?"
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is. Tell me, how many of you are there?" Yelena coaxes.
"Just me, and Mr. Kovishonov."
"Ah. Stefan Kovishonov. The infamous drug dealer. What are you buying from him?"
"Were you not given a briefing? Oh, no, you were thrown into the deep end without a rope. And you can't swim."
"Oh, really? I could shoot you right here, right now, steal all your money, shoot Stefan and his men and escape with the bag of drugs. It would happen so fast; you wouldn't have time to call any backup."
"I think you underestimate me, little girl."
"Call me 'little girl' one more time and see what happens!" Yelena replies, angrily.
"Hey, Mr Johnny, I found these two hiding in the shadows!" A balding man announces, shoving the twins into the light.
Just then, the squealing of tyres can be heard as a sports car speeds into the quarry building they're in. The car comes to an abrupt stop, and this is just enough distraction to disarm the girls and hold them hostage.
"Fuck." Yelena curses, under her breath.
The car door of the silver Lexus opens, and out steps a tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed tattooed man.
"Why are all the bad guys hot?" Améli whispers, to which she receives an elbow from her sister.
"Заложников? Вы были заняты."
"I'm sorry, I, I don't understand." Johnny says.
"That's because I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to your friend, Black Widow, here. Почему вы находитесь на моей территории?"
"Почему вы продаете наркотики?"
"Я должен зарабатывать на жизнь, как и ты. Хотя, я вижу, вы проделали плохую работу. Разве вы не должны быть хороши в том, что вы делаете?"
"It's ...complicated." Yelena announces, sounding deflated.
"Complicated. Such a funny word, isn't it?" Stefan announces. "You know what's complicated? You, being here, fucking up this deal for me. Kill the twins, make her watch."
"No, no!" They plead.
"No, leave them alone. They're kids! They're not part of this. They're my friends!"
"Even better." Stefan announces, gleefully, before cackling. "Shoot them, then her."
As a multitude of guns are loaded, once again, Yelena senses there is something wrong. Very wrong. There is a moment of utter silence, but Yelena's ears prick up, as, faintly, she can hear the sound of ticking.
"Stefan, you need to get everyone out! If you value your life, you will evacuate!"
"I am not taking orders from you!" he snaps, slapping her across the face.
"Well, don't tell me I didn't warn you." Yelena says shrugging.
He regards this for a moment, glaring at Yelena, then folds his arms. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I can hear a ticking somewhere in this building. So, if you want to keep your life, then you should evacuate everyone here, before the bo-"
She doesn't even finish her sentence, before an almighty explosion rips through the building, imploding it. The walls collapse and a concrete support beam breaks in half and crumbles as it hits the ground. As the explosion happens, the force of it blasts everyone off their feet, sending them flying through the air and landing in various locations. The men who were closest to the hidden bomb, died instantly in the blast. There was no time to react, no time to move.
* * *
A gust of wind blows the dust away, and slowly, Yelena opens her eyes. Her ears are ringing from the blast, and she has dust in her face. She coughs violently, and looks about her. She tries to sit up, but her left leg is trapped under some rubble.
"Over here! We've got some civilians! Move, move!" a man shouts.
"There weren't supposed to be any civilians!" another man shouts in reply.
The first one spoke again. "These two girls are dead. Look for survivors!"
"Dead? No, no, no." Yelena thinks to herself. She tries to push the rubble off her, but a sharp pain prevents her from pushing further.
"Hey, we've got one here! Hey, hey, can you hear me?"
"Yes." Yelena answers. "You said the girls are..."
"Dead. Did you know them?"
"They were my friends."
"I'm sorry for your loss. Come on, let's get you out of here. We're with the CIA."
"Did you blow this place up?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss that."
"Did you blow this place up?" she asks again, through gritted teeth.
The man lowers his voice. "Yes, we had to. The drug deal was with wanted criminals. We had our orders, and we executed them to the letter."
"No! Don't touch them! No! No! Let me say my goodbyes. No, please. No, no, no, no..." Yelena snaps, before pleading as another agent goes to the girls.
"Come on, we have to leave, there is a second charge which is about to go off. We have a two-minute window."
"Let me say my goodbyes! Get the fuck off me!" Yelena snaps, before cursing in Russian, as a different CIA agent tries to pull her away from the bodies of Maria and Améli. She wrestles from his grip, elbowing him in the face in the process, and drops to her knees, in emotional anguish. She crawls her way over to the twins and holds their hand. "I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me. I couldn't save you. I'm so, so, sorry. I love you, and I let you down. Please, forgive me. Forgive me, Maria. Forgive me, Améli." She asks for forgiveness in Polish, before she kisses their cheeks. Once she has done this, she closes their eyes, and kisses their foreheads. She turns to the CIA agent, and in a monotone says: "Take me away." The man nods, and carries her out of the building, as she can't walk.
Once they're some distance away, the building explodes and completely crumbles into rock, dust, and metal shards. Yelena closes her eyes, and cries silently, before being put in the back of a black Mercedes and driven away from the quarry.
I don't remember much of what happened next. I was numb and everything was a blur. I was in the back of an ambulance, getting checked over, but I don't remember the verdict. I couldn't tell Dreykov what had happened. He would have blamed me. I woke up in a hotel room the next day, and didn't eat or drink anything. I just slept and slept. Then the following day, I drank and drank and drank. I don't remember how many drinks I had, but I needed to be as drunk as possible. I got pissed; I drank more. I blacked out, I woke, I drank more. I puked; I drank more. I got into a random car, which I had stolen the keys for and drove it around the city. I don't know where I was going. I wasn't even remotely sober. I don't know how I could drive, but I remember driving... And then I remember wishing I was dead. I remember cursing myself and praying I'd die. I put my foot on the accelerator, harder and harder. I tried to kill myself that night... I wanted to, I needed to. But the police... They spike-stripped the car, before I got into a wreck and killed myself, or anyone else for that matter. I screamed as the car came to a stop. I punched the steering wheel... Then the police ordered me out of the car. I didn't exactly refuse, but I didn't exactly listen, either. So, they dragged me out of the car, and marched me to the pavement. They breathalysed me, and found I had a BAC of 0.22%. I was arrested on the spot, and taken to prison. I should have served a year in prison. But I did eight months. It was the longest stint ever. Dreykov didn't find out for two months - I was presumed dead - and he didn't bail me out either. He told me "Выучите урок!", so, I did. I fucking regret it, of course, I do, but I tend not to weep over that, I'm Russian.
December 2014, Женски затвор у Пожаревцу (Požarevac Women's Prison)
The lights come on in the cell at 5am, just like every morning for the last eight weeks. Yelena rolls over in her bunk bed and faces the wall. She gives herself a small window to wake up, before the buzzer sounds and the guards come around for a headcount. She is tired and worn, and has dark circles under her eyes.
The first two weeks had been terrifying, and the hardest. She had no friends, and because she was Russian, and not from any of the Balkans countries, she was often abused by the other women. Physically, mentally and verbally (thankfully, never sexually, although, there had been some close calls.)
The buzzer sounds and she sighs, as she climbs down the ladder to the cold concrete floor. The four women stand in the cell, with their hands in front of them, palms up and wait for the guards to come around. After head count, they're sent to the cafeteria to get breakfast, before they're given their assigned duties for the morning.
Yelena sits alone in a corner of the cafeteria, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She has done this for the last six weeks as it is safer. A woman with brown hair and eyes strides up to Yelena, but she doesn't realise until her prison shoes come into view. Yelena looks up and swallows. She says nothing and allows the other woman to speak first.
She smiles at Yelena, and speaks in Serbian. "Trebalo bi da se sprijateljiš."
"I don't-"
"Friends. You make friends."
"Oh, no, I'm okay."
"Friends mean safety."
"Well, nobody likes me, because I'm Russian, so..."
"I like you. You very pretty."
"Um, thank you...?"
"Yes, so friends."
"Us?"
The girl nods enthusiastically. "Yes. We friends."
"I don't even know your name."
"Ana. You?"
"Yelena."
"Yelena. Pretty name for pretty girl."
Yelena smiles and Ana sits next to her. "Why you here?"
"Uh, drinking and driving in Belgrade."
"Naughty girl. But I sell drugs. Before here."
"Oh, a drug dealer. How long are you in for?"
"Five years. I have three left."
"Shit. That's a long time."
"I have friends. They help."
"I'm sure they do. My sentence is a year. This is week eight."
"Long time. Goes slow at first. You look tired."
"I am tired. I haven't been sleeping well."
"You want pills?"
"Like what?"
"For sleeping. Natrol. Real sleep pill. Doctor has them."
"For real? Like prescribed?"
"She give you some. I take each night. I promise they safe."
"Uh, maybe. I'll go see the doctor, later."
"We must get work."
"Oh, is it time for our assignments?"
"I don't know that word."
"It's time to get our work jobs now, already?"
"Yes. Yes, we go now."
Yelena stuffs the last piece of toast in her mouth, and chews it as she takes her tray to the tall racking trolley, and slides it in grooves. She finishes chewing and swallows, before getting shoved from behind. She lurches forward, and slams into a redhead. Attempting to apologise, she holds up her hands, and tries to find out who pushed her. As soon as she turns to look, the redhead slams a fist into Yelena's stomach and she's winded. Doubling over, she clutches her stomach and tries not to puke. In this vulnerable position, she's pushed again, and she loses balance, her face hitting the tiled floor. She breaks her nose upon impact, but doesn't just lay there. She gets up, fists at the ready, and gets a cheap shot to the face by a six-foot blonde lady.
"Oof!" she exclaims, clutching her jaw.
"Fight, bitch!" the blonde lady commands.
"No." Yelena retaliates.
"Fight, or die." The six-foot 5lady says, in low tones. She grabs Yelena's shoulders, and in one fluid motion, flicks her head back, then forward, slamming her forehead into Yelena's, causing her head to whiplash. Yelena is stunned and she shakes her head to get rid of the ringing in her ears. As much as she wants to fight, she doesn't want to get extra time added to her sentence, so she just allows the blonde to beat her up in the cafeteria. This is what she has been doing, periodically, since Yelena's first day in the Women's Prison.
Just before the woman is about to knock Yelena out, with her signature elbow-temple-strike, she grabs Yelena's hair and pulls downwards, forcing Yelena to look at her. "Why do you let me beat you up?"
"If I didn't, you'd do it anyway. And I could kill you, but I don't want added time."
"You, kill me? You dumb, blonde bitch. No one can kill me. I'm invincible!"
"Okay, sure. But I could kill you, and I could make it look like an accident."
"What? Y-you're lying!"
"Not so tough now, are we?"
"How? How would you do it?"
"I'm not gonna tell you, cos then you'd do it to me."
"No, no, I wouldn't." Sofija replies, fluttering her eyelashes, in an attempt to look innocent.
"Whatever. Also, you beating me up is not unusual. I've grown up with abuse. This is normal to me."
Sofija takes a moment to register what she's said. "You grew up with... abuse?
"Did I stutter?" Yelena remarks.
"No, it's just I-"
"What? Assumed I was the first person you'd ever laid hands on?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Look, lady, I'm Russian. Domestic violence is common in Russia. And, besides, I grew up in a... difficult environment."
"You were orphaned?"
"More like adopted."
"What happened to your real parents?"
Yelena shrugs. "Dunno. And that's not me avoiding the question, I generally don't know. Anyway, don't you have some beating up to do?"
"No. Not anymore. I'm done with all that."
"What, just today, or...?"
"No. You are like me. I too am adopted. Adopted kids gotta stick together."
"Uhhh... what?"
"I'm saying, let's be friends. Me, you and Weirdo." She points at Ana.
"Ana." Ana and Yelena say in unison.
"Yes. Ana. I will protect you two. I am the biggest, toughest and meanest bitch in here, so I'll protect you. I'll be your Prison Mommy."
"I can take care of myself, thanks." Yelena replies, frowning.
"Really?"
"Yes. Every heard of the Black Widow Programme, ran by General Dreykov, in Russia?"
"Oh, you mean that super-weird, militaristic women-only gang operating out of Moscow, which has been ongoing since Soviet Union was in charge? Nope. Never heard of it." Sofija answers. Yelena tilts her head to the side, and raises an eyebrow. "Of course, I have. Anyone with access to the Dark Web knows about it. Of course, it's so top secret that the Russian Government doesn't want anyone knowing about it. You have to look for it. Like, 'deep-dive-the-Dark-Web' look for it. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. I just... heard rumours, that's all." Yelena lies.
"Rumours?"
"Yeah, that the women from this prison end up going there and working for General Dreykov, as slaves, until they die."
Sofija scoffs. "No, that's a lie..."
"Isn't that what a rumour is? A lie, until the truth is told." Yelena quips.
"Well, yes. But it's all just rumours. No one gets sent to work there as a slave, that's bullshit. But it is very organised and synchronised... or so I read. Of course, I don't have any actual first-hand experience. So, whatever I read could have all been lies."
"No, no, it's true. The women are organised, move in sync, and are militaristic. I know... an inside source."
"Oh, yeah, who?"
"My sister. But that is the only information I am willing to divulge."
"Well, if she was part of the Black Widow Programme, that means she's a highly skilled, highly trained soldier. So, uh, good for her, I guess."
"Yeah, she's my hero. Both literally, and figuratively. Anyway, shouldn't we find out our work assignments for today. Oh, and by the way, I'm Yelena."
"Sofija." She extends a hand, and Yelena shakes it, before squeezing it, and making the tendons slip. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Would you have preferred me to punch you in the stomach, to get even?"
"I would have, actually." Sofija replies, semi-sarcastically.
Yelena punches her in the stomach and winds her. "That's for beating me up for the last eight weeks!"
"Touché." Sofija gasps. After a minute, Sofija straightens up, slings one arm around Yelena's shoulder and one around Ana's, and the three leave the cafeteria to find their work assignments for the morning. These will be different in the afternoon.
After Sofija promised to look after me, things in the prison changed, for the better. Until one day. Sofija had been released early and with Ana in Solitary Confinement, AKA 'SHU', for her own safety, I was vulnerable. Well, you know me, I don't trust anyone as far as I can throw them. I would never have admitted to anyone that I was vulnerable, because I really wasn't, but to everyone else? I just lost my bodyguard, my protection. I'm telling you this, so you know more about me. I don't have to, but I want to. This time in Požarevac Women's Prison really changed things for me, and changed my perspective. Anyway, this particular story is difficult to recall, but I need you to understand why I'm the way I am. Right, so, this is, like, mid-January 2015. The usual morning routine was done and behind us, and I was on duty in the toilet block for Block A. I was alone, because that's just how it had worked out. I was cleaning the toilets, minding my own business, but suddenly felt like someone was watching me.
Yelena stops mopping and slowly turns around. She senses someone behind her, but when she turns 180°, she finds she is still alone. Frowning, she continues to mop, but suddenly, a hand clamps down on her mouth, and something sharp stabs her in the right kidney. She has been shanked, but before she has time to find out who it is, she is hit in the back of the head by something hard. She blacks out before she hits the floor, knocking over the mop bucket and spilling its contents in the process. Blood seeps out of her prison uniform, and mixes with the water, spreading it along the tiled floor.
She wakes up shortly after her head is pulled out of a sink of water, and gasps for air "What--?" she begins before being dunked and held under.
Remembering her torture techniques, she holds her breath and doesn't struggle. When she's brought up again, she elbows the attacker in the stomach and shoulder barges her out of the way. She realises she's in the kitchen, and looks around for a weapon. Finding the knife block nearby, she grabs the biggest knife available and holds it tightly.
"You really thought... it was a good idea... to try and drown... a Russian?" she pants. "Bad move, Princess." She adds to the redhead lady in front. "I don't play by the rules, and I love knives."
"What you gonna do? Chop some potatoes?" asks the redhead, sarcastically. It's clear, she's the one in charge.
"No. I think I'll start with a finger or a toe. Something that wouldn't obviously be missed. Then I'd work my way up to a hand. Or maybe, maybe I'll go straight for the jugular. Big vein. It would be a quick death. So, what's it to be? Finger or neck?"
"You're fucking disgusting! Do you know that?" cries the brunette lady, who waterboarded Yelena.
"I'm Russian. Do you expect anything less?" Yelena shrugs, picking the dirt underneath her nails with the tip of the knife. "Whoever shanked me did a mediocre job. Great plan, I love the part where I almost bled to death(!)" she says, sarcastically, before swiping a hand across her wound. "Oh wait, I'm still here(!)" she says, just as sarcastically. "You want to kill someone? Shanking is slow, yes, but you've got to get deep enough. And I can tell you, you didn't even penetrate my kidney."
"You've got red on you." Whispers a Hispanic woman.
"How can you tell?" Asks the tall brunette-haired lady.
"I've been trained in the art of torture techniques."
"So, you're a murderer?"
"No. Cos you can learn this on the YouTube. But if I was a murderer, I probably wouldn't be in a low security prison. I would be in hell on earth. Straflager IK-14, in Mordovia, Russia. Until you have served time there, you have not served time at all. Be grateful we are not there. It's a modern-day slave labour camp. You work sixteen, seventeen-hour days, and get one day off every eight weeks. So, if any of you want to kill me, I'd think twice about it. Beat me up, fine. Abuse me, fine. Try to kill me? You'll be in hell. Trust me. I've known people who have gone in, but not come back out... And not just because they were serving long prison sentences, but because they died in the prison."
"You just threatened to murder us! So, you'd also be sent there too." The Hispanic woman replies.
Yelena chuckles, one low note. "If it was me, I'd make it look like an accident, with no witnesses. So, if you wanna play dirty, I will fight dirty. If not, I put this knife down, you put away your shitty shanks, and we all pretend this exchange never happened. How about it, comrades?"
The lady at the front frowns, and her two more timid henchmen shake their heads. The brunette lady, who called her "fucking disgusting", drops her shank. "I don't wanna end up in IK-14. I'm out!"
"Me too." Replies the Hispanic woman.
"Really? You're gonna let Russian Barbie scare you like that?" scoffs the redhead.
"Uh, yes. She's Russian. I'm Mexican. I got here because of embezzlement, not because of murder."
"And I got here because of theft, not murder."
"Come on, Princess. Me and you? What do you say?"
"What are you saying?" she asks, as her two cronies leave the room. Once they're out of earshot, the redhead turns on Yelena.
"Ah, ah, ah. I have a chef's knife. I wouldn't."
"What do you mean, 'me and you'? Are you talking about being fuck buddies."
Yelena pulls a face. "I didn't say anything about being 'fuck buddies', but if the shoe fits..."
Present Day, 18 August 2017
Yelena pauses the story. "You remember the prison drama Orange?"
"Orange Is The New Black? Ohmygod, I loved that show."
"Yeah, well remember Alex and Piper? I was more like Piper - new, fresh-faced, prison virgin. And Mikaela, she was more the Alex. Prison for a long time, a reader, and wore glasses."
"Yelena, I don't want to know about you and your prison fuck buddy! Does this story have a point or are you just regurgitating your past?"
"To be honest, I forgot. But the point is, I was in prison for a long time. And me and Mikaela were top fucking brass. You had a problem with a fellow prisoner? You came to us. You had a problem with the food? You came to us. You didn't like the guards? You came to us. You got raped by a guard? You came to us. We were the fucking prison bosses. We gave everyone's grievances directly to the Warden. And then... the power got to our heads. No one so much as sneezed without our say-so. We were fucking power hungry, and tyrannical. If we didn't like you, then Mikaela made up some shit about you and gave it to the Warden, so they would be put in SHU or moved prisons. And in the meantime, I would beat that person up. From bullied, to bully. And just like in Orange, there was a prison riot. And who was leading the prison riot? The Prison Lords. We hated the name 'Prison Queens', so, we adopted two terms: 'Prison Lords', because we lorded over everyone, and 'Стервы-лорды', which translates to 'Bitch Lords'. And we fucking loved the power. I spent decades being told what to do, how to do it, and spent decades being tortured, abused, and assaulted. So, now, it was my turn. That is why I'm so tough. That is why I can be a cunt to people. That is why I can be aggressive. You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I was born into a violent world, I was taught to be violent, and I'll die in a violent world. The prison riot got so bad, that we got raided by Specijalna Antiteroristička Jedinica. We got sent to different prisons. They tried to send me to IK-14, but of course, I got 'rescued' by my 'father' General Dreykov. He pulled me out of there, during the confusion, and as we got to the car, he backhanded me across the face. That stupid signet ring of his cut my face. He threatened to kill me. Told me that it was unsafe for me to be "on the outside", so he brought me back into the Programme, where I spent another two years of my life. By the time 2016 rolled around, I had mellowed out, became my usual self. I was obedient, loyal and submissive. When I got out, I had killed Oksana. She freed me with the counteragent to chemical subjugation. I met up with Natasha and we took down the Red Room, and Dreykov together. After that, I found other work. I became a contract killer. I figured that since I wasn't making money assaulting people, I might as well make money killing them."
"I understood that reference!" Kate exclaims.
"What reference?"
"The Batman reference?"
"What's 'the Batman'?"
"You don't know Batman?" Kate gasps.
"Of course, I know Batman, you silly girl. It's Michael Keaton."
"Uh, no, it's Christian Bale." Kate argues.
"Uh, no. George Clooney? Val Kilmer?" Natasha tries to argue.
The younger two, and Carol, look at Natasha, as if she's 90. "Uhhh, no. It's Christian Bale." They agree, and Kate smirks at Yelena saying Bale, not Keaton.
"Anyway, you gave a Harvey Dent quote."
"The point still stands. I went from scared little girl to villain. And now... I'm... trying to be a hero. But that's the reason I am who I am. Because of Dreykov and because of Požarevac Women's Prison. By the way, I'd appreciate it if that information stayed between the four of us."
The other three nod and confirm that they will keep it to themselves.
"And, um, Kate?"
"Yes, babe?"
"I'm sorry. I know you don't like the killing part of me, so, if, with all this new stuff, you, uh, you wanna... you know... end our relationship, because I'm a psychopath, then I'd understand, and I wouldn't blame you for it, at all. I'd get it."
"No. I mean, sure, it's a lot to understand, but I don't want to split up with you because of it. Not even a break, babe."
"Why? I'm a murderer."
"I've killed people too. I killed Wilson Fisk. And some of the Tracksuit Mafia."
"Yeah, but I'm a psycho."
"Hmm, no. You're missing a word there. And that word is were. You were a psychopath, but you're not now."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I know you, Yelena. Would a psychopath sleep with someone and get them a promise ring and promise them the world?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Manipulative, gaslighting assholes would, yes. And they'd lie about it too. But I am different, and I have changed. Look, Kate, if it came down to it, I'd sacrifice myself so you could live. I'd sacrifice myself, so Natasha could live, too. As I told you: Natasha is my hero, and you're my lover. There is nothing I wouldn't do for either of you."
"Yelena..."
"Babe, don't talk like that."
"Why? I love you. And I love her. No offence to you, of course, Carol, but we're new allies."
"No, I get it. I'm not offended. It would be different if we were friends."
"Yelena, I know you, and I love you. Your past was dark, unstable, and really, really fucked up, but that's the past. The person you are today is kind, caring, and loving. You do have a temper, and you do, sometimes, have waning patience, but I know you'd never harm me. You being here, now, with the Avengers, proves to me that you want you to do good. You want to be different from who you were decades ago. You were the villain, but you can be the hero... If we're using the Batman analogy. Please don't throw away everything you worked so hard to achieve and to fight against by thinking you're anything less than a complicated human. Like all of us. Okay, some of us are superheroes, and/or aliens, but my point still stands. Who you were is not who you are."
"She's right, Lena. We both had a fucked-up childhood, but you were always so kind, so smart, so passionate and so, so caring. I remember when you were really little, you were about three or four. And I came home one day, in tears, you didn't understand what was going on, but I sat on the deck steps and cried. You probably don't remember this, but you saw that I was crying and without hesitation, you dropped your toys, came running over to me and climbed all over me, just to try and cheer me up. I was annoyed at the time, because you were invading my space, but once I sat on the deck and got comfy, you crawled into my lap, and just stayed there. I think you fell asleep. You saw that I was upset, and you wanted to cheer me up. And another time, when you were six, I was upset again. I had just turned eleven and I was getting bullied in school for being a redhead. I came home that day and cried about it, saying I wanted to change the colour. You heard me crying, burst into my room, sat on the foot of my bed and asked me what was wrong. I told you. I said: 'People are making fun of me for having red hair.' And you said: 'I wish mine was red. Your hair is so pretty, and it makes you look so pretty.' And then you hugged me until Mom called us down for dinner."
Yelena smirks, snorts and wipes away tears. "I remember that. You went to the big school and the next day, you came home, and your hair was blue. Мама went nuts cos you did it yourself and made her sink blue! But Папа, he looked at you and said: 'Look at you, my Princess. Your hair is so cool. It's cool like you. Ignore those bullies, ignore your mother. And have fun with your blue hair.' It stayed blue for ages."
"Secret between the four of us. I miss my blue hair, sometimes."
"So dye it blue again!" Yelena suggests.
"Yelena, I'm thirty-two-years-old! I'm not eleven."
"So? Live a little." Yelena replies.
Natasha chuckles. "Maybe, but honestly, Lena, you're not a psychopath."
"You're just saying that because you're embarrassed by your baby sister."
"Yelena, look at me. I swear on my life that I am not lying to you. I love you, and I am so, so proud of the woman you've become. The Soviet Black Widow side of me is so fucking proud that you became the greatest child assassin the world has even known, and you were better than me. The Avengers Black Widow side of me is so fucking proud to see how far you've come, how much you've overcome, how many battles you've fought and won, and how you're in love and happy. And I know Мама у Папа would be proud, also. Мне нравится, что ты влюблена, и мне нравится, как ты изменила свою жизнь в одиночку. You did that. So, be proud of yourself! But, uh, we should probably see what everyone else is doing."
The other three nod, and Natasha pulls Yelena to her feet, giving her a bone-crunching hug, and kiss on her forehead.
Chapter 8: Eight
Chapter Text
6 March 2015, Požarevac Women's Prison
Mikaela sits on the table with her legs spread and her feet on the bench. Her girlfriend, Yelena sits on the bench, with Mikaela's legs pressing into her arms. Both of them are effortlessly cool, and yet, menacing at the same time. Yelena is Russian, and Mikaela is Serbian. And they are in charge.
As their troupe of girls sit on and around the steel picnic table in front of them, Mikaela pushes up her glasses, and runs a hand, slowly through her cropped blonde hair. She leans down and whispers into Yelena's ear. "We've got some rookies in today. Let's mess with them."
Yelena thinks for a moment, but she doesn't want to disappoint her partner. "Sure, let's do that."
"Good girl." It is evident that Mikaela is 'the boss', in their relationship, and it isn't at all surprising, since Yelena is twenty-two and Mikaela is twenty-eight.
The prisoners, who had been there the longest, all wore beige prison uniforms (similar to those worn in the TV show Orange Is The New Black) and the newcomers wore orange. This was so each prisoner, and guard, could tell them apart.
Mikaela sees a group of four girls sheepishly enter into the cafeteria. She kisses the top of Yelena's head and pushes herself off the table, swinging her leg over Yelena's head and barely missing it with her foot. "Come on, Princess." She urges. Yelena nods and follows. They make their way over to the new girls and Mikaela, with her neck tattoos and right sleeve of tattoos, lifts her chin and tilts her head a little to the side, as she sizes up the girls. "Alright, ladies?"
Two of the four nod. The other two speak no English. "U redu, dame?" she repeats in Serbian.
"Prestravljen, zapravo," replies the one woman. A blonde, with grey eyes. "Ja sam nov ovde, i svi izgledaju tako... tvrdo."
"Pa zašto ne ostaneš sa nama? Mi ćemo se pobrinuti za vas. Ja sam Mikaela, a ovo je moja devojka, Yelena."
"Da li uvek govoriš u njeno ime?" The blonde asks.
Mikaela narrows her eyes at her, but refuses to answer the question. When she's not looking, Yelena nods subtly.
"Pa, plavuša, za šta si? Ubistvo? Pronevera? Krađa motornih vozila?"
"Piće vožnje." The blonde replies.
"Ah, baš kao princeza, ovde. ja? Napad i Baterije."
The blonde looks shocked. So shocked, she only manages one word. "Isuse!"
Mikaela leans into Yelena and whispers into her ear. "When they go get their food, trip them up. There's a good girl."
"I know we're gonna mess with them, but can't we let them eat?"
"Are you being a naughty girl? You know what happens to naughty girls? I choke them. And not sexually. So, do.as.you're.told! Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal."
The two older girls let the newbies get their food, and as they return, Yelena, who is sat on the bench, sticks out her foot and trips one of the girls. She launches her tray with the momentum, and spills her food everywhere.
"What the fuck?" Her friend cries. "You totally did that on purpose. Just cos we're new, doesn't mean you can push us around."
"Oh, yeah? You wanna bet?!" Yelena snaps, getting up and standing toe-to-toe with the brunette.
"I'm not scared of you, you know!"
"No? Then why are you pissing yourself?" Mikaela taunts and laughs uproariously. She points and laughs, and soon enough everyone around this woman are also pointing and laughing. Yelena smirks, and takes a step back.
The girl, looks like she's on the verge of tears. "Better go change your pants, Pisser!" Yelena jeers.
Soon, there is a chant of "Pisser! Pisser!" filling the cafeteria and the girl runs off, crying.
"Good girl." Mikaela whispers, as Yelena passes her. "You did well. Humiliate another, and I'll fuck you tonight."
Yelena swallows. In the several months they had been dating, this was the first time Mikaela had suggested sex. She was nervous, but she was equally as excited. She needed to ramp it up, so she would get laid, and laid good. Yelena smirks at herself, and quietly slips out of the cafeteria, when no one is looking. She follows the trail of piss out of the refectory, down the corridor and into the bathroom. She bangs open the door and finds the girl's discarded clothes on the floor. She is taking a shower, so Yelena waits for the girl to close her eyes, before stealing her towel, scooping up her piss-stained clothes in it, and dumping them all in the trash. As she leaves the bathroom, she hears the girl verbally panicking about her missing towel and clothes. She runs out of the bathroom - one hand covering her tits and the other her pussy and runs into Yelena, with a menacing grin on her face.
"Why'd you steal my clothes?"
"I didn't." Yelena lies. "Where are you going?" she asks, stepping in front of the girl, first to the left and then the right as she tries to side-step Yelena.
"Fucking hell! And here I was, thinking you'd gone to apologise. Looking good, there, Pisser!" Mikaela's voice floated down the corridor, and Yelena grabs the girl and manhandles her into the refectory.
"No, don't. Please!" The girl pleads.
She's pushed through the door and Mikaela shouts to get everyone's attention. "Yo! Looks like Pisser is a streaker!" And then she laughs. People turn to look at this vulnerable, naked and defenceless girl. Some laugh, and jeer, others look embarrassed or upset for her. Yelena looks pretty pleased with herself, and Mikaela is looking at her beau, as if she is a meal.
Two of the guards coming swooping in at that point, their White Saviour Complex in overdrive, as Yelena and Mikaela look at each other, and high tail it out of there.
As they run down the corridor, whooping and laughing, Mikaela drags Yelena into the Rec Room, and shuts the door behind them. They duck under the window and hide in the shadows. "Hey, Princess. You did good. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Miki."
"I don't wanna wait until later. See you being a badass and humiliating that girl was hot. I wanna fuck now. C'mon, let's do it."
"Don'tcha wanna wait 'til we're in bed?"
"You sayin' 'no'?"
"No, no. God, no. I've wanted to have sex with you for ages." Yelena confirms.
"Well, had to be the right time, Princess. So, strip."
"Um, yeah, sure." Yelena does as she is told, then watches Mikaela undress herself. Without even kissing her, or starting foreplay, Mikaela forces Yelena to her knees, and pushes her head into her pussy, forcing Yelena to lick her out. Once she's satisfied, and has an orgasm, she gets dressed and commands Yelena to do the same. "Aren't you gonna...? You know? Return the favour?"
"Um, no. Why would I do that?"
"Because I just gave you head?" Yelena pouts.
"You're my bitch. You do as I tell you, cos I'm the oldest. That's the way it's gonna be. Now shut up, get dressed, and fuck off."
"Like, are we breaking up, or...?"
"Princess. Just fuck off outta here. I can't be seen with you, right now. You get caught; you're on your own." Mikaela says, leaving the Rec Room.
"Miki, what the fuck does that even-" the door slams in Yelena face, so she doesn't finish her sentence. "What a bitch" she thinks to herself. "I gotta break up with her... but she'll probably kill me for it. Yel, don't be an idiot, you're a trained killer. You can kill her... but, c'mon, you've also never been popular, so stick with her, and you'll become popular." She sighs, and leaves the Rec Room, just as the guards and the now-dressed brunette girl walks down it.
"That's her! That's the one who stole my clothes."
"Shit."
"Belova, stop." One of the guards says.
She throws up her middle finger, then tears down the corridor as fast as she can. As she runs, the guard who told her to stop speaks into his walkie-talkie, strapped to his shoulder. "Inmate Belova is headed your way! I repeat, inmate Belova is headed your way. Stop her by any means, necessary."
As she runs, the prison alarm blares out and all the prisoners sigh, collectively, across the penitentiary. The inmates immediately cease all activities and lay on the ground, face down, with their palms flat. The new girl, confused, doesn't do anything, until the guard with her tells her to lay down. She obeys.
Yelena skids around the corner of the corridor and sees another guard approaching her. "Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground, now!" He shouts. She ignores him, and continues down the corridor. She runs up to him, grabs his neck with her right hand, and rotates her body, lifting herself off the ground. She uses this momentum to swing around his body, and he tries to stop her arm from choking him, as he spins with her. As she lands, with both feet on the ground, she quickly drops her stance, and punches him in the side of the patella. The impact makes his knee buckle, and she uses this opportunity to do a leg sweep, catching his left leg with her right, and lifting him off the ground. He crashes down onto his coccyx, before smashing his head onto the tile, knocking himself out.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, this little manoeuvre of hers was caught on the prison's CCTV. The guards in the Monitoring Room, are laughing at the guard getting his ass beat by a young woman, and are replaying her takedown over and over.
"Look at the way she swings!"
"Yes, but look, look! She punches his knee."
"That's gotta-Ooh!"
"Play it again, play it again!"
"Oh, shit, the Warden. He's coming this way! Men, to your stations."
The men scramble out of the CCTV Monitoring Room, and run to their various posts. Shortly after, the Warden barges through the door.
"Where is she?! I want her found, stopped and thrown into Solitary Confinement!"
"Yes, sir." The guard speaks into his walkie-talkie. "Guards, get Belova, and throw her into Solitary. Do it, and do it now!"
With the alarm still blaring out across the penitentiary and Yelena still 'on the run', Mikaela smiles to herself in the cafeteria.
As Yelena rounds another corner, trying to lose the guards, she gets clotheslined from the shadows.
"Ack!" she exclaims, as there is sudden pressure on her throat. She falls to her ass, and slides, somewhat comically, backwards, along the tile, a little way, before laying down, and staring at the overhead lights.
"Inmate! Turn around and lay flat on your stomach!" Two guards approach and point their Zastava CZ99 semi-automatic pistols at her. She sighs, and rolls over, before her arms get pulled behind her and she feels cold, metal handcuffs clamp around her wrists. She's pulled up off the floor, and frog-marched to Solitary Confinement.
Once they reach the cold outer building, she is marched down a dimly lit corridor, past the rows of red steel doors and thrown into a cell at the end of the corridor. The Warden arrives moments later and watches the handcuffs being removed through the hatch in the door.
"Belova. You've got a month in Solitary. For stripping that girl and running from the guards. You got anything to say?"
"Go to hell!" She snaps, spitting in his face.
"A month and a half. Forty-five days. Keep going and I'll add more time. Did you have any accomplices?" Yelena ignores the question. "No? So, if I talk to Mikaela, she will say she wasn't involved?"
"She wasn't involved."
"Oh, and you expect me to believe, that one of the two Prison Bitches, who are always joined at the hip, acted alone?"
"I did act alone!"
"Yeah, but she told you what to do, right? Let's face it, Belova. You're not as smart or as cunning as she is."
"You know nothing about the me!" she growls.
"Oh, but, Belova. I do. You're in here, because of your drink-driving incident. 0.22% is a very high amount of alcohol in the bloodstream."
"You're Serbian... You guys drink as much as we do."
"Actually, I'm originally from Moldova. And you?"
"Russia."
"Ah. I couldn't quite tell if it was a Russian, a Latvian or a Ukrainian accent. I'll ask again... Did you act alone? Think about it. Give me names, or a name and you'll get less time in Seg."
"You already think it's Miki, so what good would it do, me giving you a name."
"Because I wanna hear you say it!"
"I acted alone."
The Warden chuckles, slyly. "Even in Seg, you'll defend your mistress."
"She's not my mistress."
"No? But you're at her beck and call. You do what she says, when she says. If she asked you to jump, you'd ask 'how high?', or you'd jump anyway."
Yelena scoffs. She knows the Warden is right, but she's not about to give up her partner. "Fine. Stay here for sixty days, I don't care."
"What happened to the forty-five days?"
"You didn't give me any names. That's all I wanted. You want more time?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Close the hatch. No one comes in or out, unless it's a guard with food. You hear me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, sound the 'all-clear' alarm, and get back to your normal routine."
At long last, the 'all-clear' alarm sounds, and the inmates, who had all been laying down for at least thirty minutes, sigh in relief, before getting back up to resume their activities. Breakfast is long over, but due to the alarm situation, the guards yell that they've got five minutes to finish their food, before their work assignments start.
Day 12, SHU
Yelena is pacing her cell. She has not slept in... She doesn't know how long, since the lights are kept on 24/7... She can smell herself and her mouth tastes rank. Inmates in SHU are only allowed to shower once every two weeks. They're fed through a hatch in the door, which is bolted and locked after every use. Due to the lights being on all the time, the inmates have no sense of time, which further increases their stress and distress. Having no contact with others has caused many inmates in SHU to go completely insane. Constant screaming is heard 24/7 as inmates try to let out their anger and sadness. Yelena is fed up with the screaming so tries to block it out with her pillow, but to no avail.
Day 30, SHU
Yelena is done. With Solitary, with the screaming, the unhygienic conditions and the constant light. She strips her bed and rips her sheet up. She has finally cracked.
Wrapping the sheet tightly around her knuckles, she inhales deeply, and slams a fist, as hard as she can into the wall. Gasping with the pain, she repeats it with her other fist. Again and again she punches the wall, screaming with rage and pain, but still she punches. After ten minutes of constant force, her knuckles, now with micro fractures, and shredded skin leave blood stains on the wall. She yells "FUCK!", then leans against the wall and slides down it. There she weeps.
Day 45, SHU
Yelena refuses to eat. It's been two days, so the guards have to call the Warden to come down from his office to talk to her.
He arrives, in a too-crisp suit, and talks to her through the hatch. "Belova, you have to eat."
"No, I don't."
"It's been two days."
"I'm not hungry."
"This could have all been over fifteen days ago, but you had to spit in my face. You might not believe this, but I actually care about my inmates. I want the women here to feel safe, and I want to make sure they're healthy, and eating. I have a duty of care to my staff, and the inmates."
"Ha. Bullshit." Her voice is hoarse.
"You want to kill yourself?"
Belova shrugs. "I can't sit here for another God knows how many days. It's driving me insane. And Miki? She'll be fucking some other bird by now. One who isn't a pussy and who isn't in SHU. You really think she'll welcome me back with open arms?"
"You know your relationship is toxic, right?"
"Yes, I know that. I do what she tells me, when she tells me, no questions asked. But that's my life. It's all I've ever known. Control, manipulation, deceit."
"So, you actively seek out people who will mistreat you?"
"Hey, screw you, man, I ain't telling you shit!"
"You want more time?"
"No. Look, I'm sorry I'm such a jerk, but I don't wanna be here."
"Nobody wants to be in SHU, Yelena."
"No, I mean, I don't wanna be here. In this life. I can't take it anymore."
The Warden frowns as Yelena slips into silence. He realises that he can no longer see her directly, but he senses something wrong. He unlocks the door, and bursts through it, right as Yelena slips the bedsheet noose around her neck.
"Wait, stop!" She ignores him and slips it over her head, pulling it tightly, and holding it in place. "Let go, and I'll let you out of SHU. Place you in Psych. I can't let you try and commit suicide. Yelena, stop!" he rushes over and yanks her hand away from the sheet noose, pulling it over her head. She gasps, falls to her knees and into his arms.
"Fuck."
"I have to place you on Suicide Watch, but it'll be in Psych." Yelena gasps for breath, and wheeze, her cough sounding bad. "Hey, Belova. Are you okay? That cough sounds deadly."
"I have tracheomalacia. It's fine."
"Doesn't sound fine."
"Well, I'm not dead from it."
"That's a good point. Come on. Get up, on your feet. You'll spend fifteen days in Psych."
"Does Psych have windows?"
"Yes, it does. Guess you really wanted out of SHU, right?"
"Warden, we're not friends. But I did act alone."
"Let's just say I believe you."
Day eight, Psych Ward
"Yes, I'm fine. No, I'm not gonna kill myself. Can you please stop asking me now?"
"Belova, I have to ask you every day, multiple times a day. That's why you're in the turtle suit. So, you can't try anything again."
"Doc, you spend forty-five days in SHU, and tell me you've not lost your mind or want to kill yourself." Belova scoffs, sighing with frustration. "This is bullshit."
"Well, you need to convince me and the Federal Government that you aren't a danger to yourself."
"I'm not."
"I have to conduct these tests. It's a requirement."
"Well, while you are testing me, please can you give me something for the insomnia? It's killing me... Okay, no, sorry, poor choice of words."
"I'll see what I can do."
The female doctor scribbles on a chart and leaves the ward. Soon after, Miki and two of her cronies enter the room.
"Hey, babe. How you feelin'?"
"Fine."
"I heard what happened. That must be so rough for you."
"It was, but thanks for dripping with sarcasm."
"Ann, Gabrielle, leave us." They depart, and Miki gets uncomfortably close to Yelena. "If I find out you squealed, I will squeeze the air from your lungs while you sleep! You hear me? And no, this ain't no empty threat, that's a promise."
"Mikaela. You have got to stop trying to manipulate and gaslight me. I'm fucking fed up with it. You think you can walk all over me, cos you're older? Well, listen up, punk, I got news for you: I know how to kill people. You wanna try and kill me? Fucking be my guest. I already tried to kill myself, that's why I'm here, but just so you know, if you fail, and you will, I can kill you and make it look like an accident. Remember?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, babe. It's a promise, we're done."
"No, no. Nobody breaks up with me, I-ack!"
"Feel that? It's a scalpel in your liver. You wanna test me... babe?"
"No, no, I... Look please don't break up with me. Truth is, I am incredibly unstable, and I have low self-esteem. I am bipolar and so I need you to balance me out. I'm sorry I threatened you. Yelena... I... I love you."
"Prove it. Confess to the Warden that you orchestrated the whole thing with that new girl, and I'll consider maybe... Maybe forgiving you and forgetting all of this."
"You're blackmailing me?"
"Yes, and I have a blade."
"Okay, fine, fine, you win! I'll confess."
"And stop treating me like your goddamn slave!"
"Got it, got it. We're equals. I'm sorry, babe."
"You better be. Now please, I'm tired. I need to sleep." Yelena puts the scalpel back on the bedside cabinet, where she grabbed it from.
"Sure, I'll leave you be. Check in with you tomorrow." Miki says, hearing the door open. Yelena kisses her and the doctor clears her throat, making them part. "Sorry, Doc. Got caught up in all the romance. You know how it is." Miki replies, shrugging.
"Uh-huh, sure." She dismisses Miki and she leaves.
One week later (Day 15, Psych Ward)
"Alright, Belova. You're free to be integrated in with the rest of the inmates. If you have any more... episodes... you'll be right back here. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Off you go. But, uh, before you do, you gotta sign this paperwork."
Yelena sighs and signs. She leaves the Psych Ward, handcuffed and escorted by two guards and gets taken down the corridor towards General Population (Gen Pop). The one guard shoves her towards the electronic cell door separating the Psych Ward from Gen Pop. When it buzzes, the gate slides open and she's shoved through it, before her handcuffs are removed, and the gate slides shut, ending with a clang. It's lunch time in Gen Pop, so it is loud and busy and smells good. However, as soon as the gate had clanged every conversation had stopped, and every head had turned towards the sound. She gulps anxiously. Then the whispers started. The ones closest to her began muttering about her and soon, this was passed, like Chinese Whispers, between the tables, to Miki, who was still deep in conversation.
"Hey, Miki. Yelena's back." A redhead whispers in Miki's ear. She stops talking, looks at the messenger, and slowly turns her head to her left, and then behind her. She slides off the bench and strides over to Yelena, who's looking like a fish out of water. Standing directly in front of Yelena, and trying to look imposing, she folds her arms.
"I confessed and I got extra time, thanks to you. You're lucky we're dating, otherwise I cannot guarantee your safety. A lot of these women want your head, and I've been spending the last two months trying to convince them that you had a mental breakdown, which is why you humiliated that girl and then vanished."
"I didn't have a mental breakdown. You told me that I should humiliate her!" Yelena announces, loudly. "You're the one who came up with the idea to mess with the noobs and I, stupidly, went along with it! You know, SHU, gives a person time to think. A lot of time to think. And you know, I'm done playing games. I'm done being manipulated, gaslit, coerced and bullied by you. Find yourself another submissive bitch, cos it ain't me."
"Careful, Belova."
"Or, what? You'll shank me and waterboard me, like you did months prior? Bitch please, I'm Russian." She lowers her voice to threaten her. "Anything you can do; I can do ten times worse. I am literally a trained killer." She says, accidentally letting slip her past.
"Are you threatening to kill me?" Miki mock gasps.
"Nah, Princess. I'm promising it." Belova says, barging past Mikaela and deliberately slamming her shoulder into hers.
"Hey, get back here! I own you!"
Yelena stops, scoffs and turns around. "You 'own' me? This isn't the 1950s, sweetheart. I'm my own woman, and this toxic relationship that we're in? It's over."
"I told you in Psych that nobody ends a relationship with Miki. Miki's the best."
"God, you're so pig-headed and obnoxious! Do you really think that works? How many girls have fallen into your trap, Mikaela? I fell into it, because I was in a pretty fucking dark place. I lost two of my closest friends and you came along at the right time! I'm not mistaking your fake concern for love, because it's bullshit. Everything about you is a lie! You're manipulative, condescending, coercive, narcissistic and a gaslighting bully. Enough is enough! You might have been in prison the longest, and you might have built up a reputation, but underneath all that is just a scared little girl, craving attention! I have worked with people like you, my whole life! My fucking father-figure is exactly the same as you! Of course, that means I have a type! But no more. I'm done playing games, and I'm done being a victim of your abuse."
"Honey, no, there's no abuse, I love-"
"Save it! You've tried to shank me, waterboard me, you've made me humiliate a poor, innocent young woman, for your self-gratification, which by the way, if you're here, I am really sorry I did that! I've been in SHU, for forty-five fucking days, and while there I tried to kill myself, and then, I ended up on Psych Ward, because of it. This isn't me. I'm not a patsy! I've been controlled all my goddamn life, and I'm fed up with it!"
"Honey, you're making a scene."
"Mikaela, just fuck off! You're not the biggest bitch in the prison, and you're certainly not the toughest. If anything, I'm bigger, badder and tougher than you. And maybe you should be my bitch! But I don't operate like that."
Mikaela scoffs. "There is no way you're tougher than me. You're a little bitch who is adopted."
"You really think throwing the adoption card at me is an insult? Get over yourself!"
"I swear to God, if you walk away from me now, I'll kill you in your sleep!"
"Fucking try it! If it means I don't have to spend another fucking waking minute with you, then fucking try it. In fact, go on, fucking do it now! We get cutlery for lunch. Look, here's a knife-" she swipes one off the table next to her and forcefully shoves it in Mikaela's hand. "Look, here... Jugular. Beautiful, sweet, thick, juicy vein. Go on, take a crack at it. I dare ya!"
"I'm not gonna stab you."
"Why, cos you're chickenshit?"
"No, because... I don't wanna lose you." Mikaela replies, remorsefully, dropping the knife, where it hits the floor with a clatter. Yelena scoffs. "Okay, you're right. I'm not big, I'm not tough... Hey, ladies! Everything I am, is a lie, okay? I'm so fucking insecure, it's unreal. I do have narcissistic personality disorder and bipolar disorder, okay? Ya happy now?" Miki snaps, aiming this last question at Yelena.
"An apology would help."
"Ohmygod, seriously?"
"Apologise to me, to the girl you humiliated and everyone else you've bullied, and I'll drop it."
"I ain't apologising for shit!"
"Have fun sleeping with one eye open!" Yelena growls, before storming off, past Miki again. As she wanders to their usual table, Yelena suddenly thinks of Sofija and wonders if she ever made it out of SHU. (Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Yelena, Sofija Adoblins had died the same month Yelena had tried to kill herself.)
6 May 2015
"You know that was a fucking bitch-ass move you pulled yesterday, Belova." Miki announces, as they eat breakfast together.
"Yeah, well, it got you to change your attitude didn't it?"
"We shall see."
"You know General Dreykov is my father-figure, right? So, if I tell you I'm tougher than you, it's not me bragging, it's me being serious."
"Dreykov is your father?"
"Father-figure. My father is Alexei Shostakov, AKA Red Guardian. He was Soviet Union's first and only Super Soldier, and an answer to Captain America."
"Your dad is Red Guardian. The Red Guardian?"
"Well, adoptive dad, but yeah."
"Holy shit! I had his action figure growing up! He was so fucking badass!" Mikaela beams at her childhood memory.
"Do you have superpowers and shit?"
"No, but I am a Black Widow."
"As in Black Widow assassin?"
"Yes, Mikaela." Yelena confirms.
"No wonder you're such a bitch... I mean, badass bitch." Mikaela tries to keep as neutral an expression as possible, as she rubs the inside of Yelena's thigh.
"What are you doing? We're at breakfast."
"So, no one can see."
"Until I start squirming."
"So don't squirm, Yelena."
"Miki, I've given you head, once and you never repaid-I can't guarantee. Oh, God, that's my... you're on my pussy."
"Yes, yes I am. Now, hold still while I go in your pants."
"Miki, you can't just finger me at brea-shit." Yelena gasps as softly as possible.
Mikaela's cronies collectively look towards Yelena and Miki as Yelena gasps a second time. The circle around them pulls tighter, as if they're the Secret Service. They all know what's happening, and as much as it is uncomfortable for them, they're also too loyal to these hot-headed women, so say nothing and shield them from view.
"Miki... this... is... oh, God... Это неуместно. Мы не можем заниматься сексом на глазах у всех этих людей."
"I have no idea what you said..."
"You speak... Serbian... it's basically... the same... thing." Yelena pants, as Miki focuses on her clit. "Okay, stop. Stop." Yelena hisses. Miki stops, with a sigh. "Not when people are eating. We need to do it somewhere we're not gonna get caught."
"The library? The chapel?"
"No, neither of those are appropriate."
"Hey, ladies, Warden is coming this way. If we can distract him, you can steal his keys and fuck in his office. He's on the fourth floor of this building."
"What if we get caught?"
"Yelena, live a little." Mikaela coaxes.
Yelena sighs, and nods, leading, immediately to a distraction. Whilst two of the girls talk about their problems, a third steals his large ring of keys and hastily slips off the key to his office. (How she knows which key it is, is anyone's guess.) She hands it to Miki as Yelena wanders out of the canteen, towards a guard.
"Where are you going, Belova?"
"I need a shit."
"Make it quick."
"Kinda hard, when I've got constipation from the food, but I'll try my best."
"On second thoughts, take as long as you need." The guard replies, grimacing at her bluntness.
She nods and skips down the corridor, ducking into the toilets, as he is watching her. She leaves the door open ajar and watches the guard get called over by the Warden, to help him with the inmates. The corridor is empty, and there is CCTV on this side of the corridor. Yelena slips out of the door, keeping to the wall and under the camera's view, before striding off with purpose. She makes it to the stairwell and waits for Mikaela to join her. She does so, and she steals a kiss, before taking the stairs two at a time.
On the fourth floor, the corridor is empty and there are no CCTV cameras here, because the inmates are not allowed up here. They can walk more freely than before, and stroll hand-in-hand towards the Warden's office. Yelena looks through the keyhole and confirms the office is empty, before Miki unlocks the door and they step inside. She locks it from the inside, and immediately undresses Yelena. Yelena helps Miki to undress, and the pair make their way to his black leather couch.
"Hmm, so where was I?"
"I think you were about to give you head." Yelena suggests.
"I take. I don't give. You should know this by now."
"You made me lick you out, once. How was I supposed to know?"
"Don't worry about it, Princess. I'll make you feel good, just this once."
"Well, that's not fair." Yelena frowns and pouts.
"Take it, or leave it. The choice is yours."
"Fuck's sake. Alright, yeah. Make love to me."
"'Make love'... are you eighty? I'm gonna fuck you, Yelena." Again, with very little foreplay (except for what happened in the canteen), Miki gets straight to work, licking Yelena's pussy. However, she ignores her clit, as she doesn't want to get her off properly. As she licks, Miki fingers herself, focusing on her own pleasure, rather than her partner's. After five minutes (because Mikaela masturbates often, so she's become a 'pro'), she has an orgasm and gets off Yelena. "Okay, I'm done."
"Well, I'm not. Fuck me properly."
"Let me think about it... uhhhh... no." She replies, pretending. She gets dressed as she answers.
"You're the worst, Miki."
"And you love me for it. Okay. We can't be seen together, so I'll go down first, you catch up." Yelena doesn't even have time to protest, before Mikaela has gone.
Yelena curses Miki under her breath, and begins to masturbate on the Warden's couch. It's doing nothing for her, so she gets dressed, and leaves the office, locking it as she goes. Throwing the key into a plant pot along the corridor, Yelena makes her way down the stairwell and freezes as the Warden's voice echoes off the stone walls. She panics and pushes through a door on the third floor. She listens for his footsteps to pass and then enters back into the stairwell and takes them down to the second floor, where she can duck into the library.
She waits for a few minutes and then sneaks back into the corridor. She hurries down it, and runs straight into Miki.
"Oof!"
"Watch it! Oh, shit. Hi, Princess. Come on, let's go back to Gen Pop, before we're reported as missing." Yelena nods and the two head back to the main area.
As the months go by, Miki and Yelena become closer than ever, and they soon begin to take over the prison. They were the Voices of the Voiceless, and the Givers of Punishments, and this earned them various titles, including Bitch Lords.
* * *
Present Day, 20 August 2017, two days after Yelena's PTSD incident
The Avengers Tower is unusually quiet for 11am on a Saturday morning. It was a full house, so to speak, and yet, there was next to no noise. Steve was sparring with Tony in his boxing ring, Bruce was in his lab researching something scientific, Clint was in the kitchen, making brunch with Natasha, Thor was flexing his muscles in the mirror, in the hallway, much to Carol's chagrin, and Yelena and Kate were in the library, reading. Only Pepper and Happy were not present, as he was driving her to pick Tony's suits up from the dry cleaners.
"One more round, big guy." Tony announces to Steve, huffing.
"Too much for you?"
"At this time on a Saturday, after drinking too much last night? Yes."
"Alright, we can stop. Next time." Steve nods, dropping his fists to his side.
Tony removes the focus pads and helps undo the Velcro of Steve's boxing gloves. "Want some green juice? It's supposed to be healthy for you."
"Yeah, alright, sure. Thanks, man."
"No worries. Let's go see how brunch is coming along."
"You go ahead, Tone, I wanna shower first."
"Good plan, Batman." Tony laughs.
"Morning, you two." Steve remarks, as they pass Thor and Carol.
"Can you please tell him that flexing his muscles is so egotistical, and not something I'm interested in?"
"Thor, buddy. You heard the lady." Tony states.
"I'm not flexing for her; I am doing it for me. I think I am losing shape."
"Uh, buddy? You're good. C'mon. You two head to the kitchen, and Steve and I are gonna shower."
"Not together!" Steve hastens to add.
"Now, now, big guy." Tony jokes, slapping Steve's arm. "We just can't tell Pepper."
"Uh, I'm not into all that."
"I know. Neither am I. I'm joking, of course."
"'Big guy'?" Thor asks. "A pet name for him, already?"
"Sounds romantic." Carol jokes.
"Sounds weird." Steve replies. "I am going to take a shower alone. I'll see you three in the kitchen."
The four split up and Steve heads to his room on this floor, while Tony ascends the stairs to his room, with an en suite.
"Morning lovebirds," Carol quips, "what's for breakfast?"
"Brunch is a charcuterie board, bread and butter, fruits, fruit juice and tea or coffee."
"And for those who are less ostentatious, we have bacon, eggs, sausages and toast."
"I think more people will want a charcuterie board for a Saturday brunch, than a heavy, greasy meal, Natasha."
"I think more people want grease, after drinking so heavily, Clint."
"Ah, bickering like an old, married couple, I see," laughs Thor. "I want to try the meats and cheeses."
"Bacon, sausages and eggs sounds heavenly." Carol states.
"Look, why don't we leave both out, on the side, and people can choose and help themselves?" Natasha suggests.
"That's... actually a good idea." Clint agrees.
Soon after, the adults are in the kitchen, helping themselves to the food. Instead of arguing with each other, there is banter and laughter, until Carol gets serious.
"Where are the youngsters?"
"I suspect they're still in bed. I'll go check." Natasha says. She gets up from the barstool and makes her way down the corridor to their rooms. She first knocks on Yelena's door, before listening out for any suspicious sounds. Hearing nothing, she slowly opens the door to find Yelena's room a pigsty, but no occupant. She closes the door and tries Kate's room - which is immaculate, and also sans occupant. She returns to the kitchen and shrugs. "Not in their rooms. Where else would two young adults be, Tony?"
"What about the soundproof room?" Steve suggests. Natasha grimaces, but knows she must be the one to look.
She disappears upstairs, only to return five minutes later. "They're not there, either. They've got to be around here, somewhere. Kate! Yelena! Breakfast time! Come on, get your asses up, come out from wherever you're hiding, and come get some food!"
Silence.
Natasha yells again.
More silence.
"Okay, Barton and I will stay here, in case they come back. Split up and meet back here in thirty minutes." Natasha days, trying to keep a level head.
With a few tuts and sighs at an interrupted breakfast, they split up and begin hunting for youngest of the group. After about twenty minutes, they return empty handed. All except Carol.
She returns about five minutes after the rest, with a confused Kate and Yelena in tow and each with a book in their hand, using a finger as a bookmark. "Found these two in the library. They were actually reading and not canoodling."
"You read?" Natasha asks.
"Yeah, I love to read. I find it so therapeutic." Kate replies.
"I'm sorry, but I wasn't talking to you. Since when do you read?"
"I read all the time!" Yelena announces.
"Every time I read as a kid, you'd make me put it down and play with you. You told me 'books are for grown ups'."
"Yes. And I am a grown up."
"But you know you have a low reading age."
"That's because I couldn't concentrate. Prison changed me. I'd often spend hours in the library, reading with Miki, or alone. I had to... entertain myself when she wouldn't."
"In the library? Ew."
"No, not masturbation, Nat! I mean literally entertaining myself, since she was too busy with her posse. I swear she was cheating on me, but you know how fucked up that relationship was." Kate clears her throat. "Are you jealous?"
"No, I just... I don't want to hear about your toxic, abusive ex-lover."
"Oh, there was no love there. Did you not pay attention to the parts of the story where I said I'd give, but never receive... apart from once in the Warden's office, but even then, it wasn't proper."
"Yeah. Unfortunately."
"So, you know as well as I do, that there was zero sexual or romantic feelings from her towards me. I was a puppet."
"And yet you stayed."
"Do you have some beef with me this morning, Katherine Bishop?"
"No, I'm just tired of hearing the same crap. Miki this, Miki that. Just fucking give it a rest already! It's all you've talked about over the last couple of days."
"I'm trying to do right by you, you know? But I don't know how to not compare myself to who I was before."
"We get it. You fucked up, you nearly died, she was toxic, get over it!"
"Why the aggression, huh? Is it your time of the month?"
"I just don't want to hear you talk about your ex when you are in a goddamned relationship with me! It doesn't make me feel good, okay?"
"Kate... You're a million times better than she ever was."
"I know that. It's you I'm concerned about!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Your stories... How quick you are to change into a bad person. You can be aggressive, and toxic, a bully and a manipulator... That's all I got from the story."
"That was two years ago. I have changed."
"And yet you still want to knock heads together if someone upsets you."
"I'm trying my best, Kate. I'm not perfect, not by a long shot. I'm not even good, but I am trying. I don't know what more I can do. Other than not mentioning Miki ever again. Why are we even arguing about this? We've been fine, in the library, for the last two hours, so why are we suddenly at each other's throats."
"You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
"What? Slit your throat? No! Why would you even think such a thing?! Are you that paranoid that I'm gonna flip the switch and go all psycho on you and murder you? Honey, you're not a contract kill and even if you were, I'd refuse to do it. I'm not a serial killer for pleasure. I'm a serial killer for money. There's a difference."
"Wow. Poor choice of words there, Lena."
"Shut up, Nat! I'm done with this stupid, pathetic argument. Take all the time you need to cool off." Yelena shrugs Nat's hand off her shoulder, and storms to her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Natasha asks, frowning.
"Doing what I fucking do best! Running from my fucking problems."
"Yelena, don't be such a baby!"
"Fuck off, Nat. I'm not in the mood. I can't be dealing with this shit today. Prima fucking Donna over there needs to sort out her problems and her fucking contempt towards me! I'm out!"
"Where is 'out'?"
"Anywhere but here. Just everyone shut the fuck up and leave me the fuck alone!" Yelena slams her bedroom door shut and knocks a picture of her and Kate off the wall. She sighs, and leaves the broken pieces on the carpet. A mirror of her feelings.
Ten minutes later, Yelena has a backpack full of clothes, a wallet, with fake IDs, a wad of cash, and a burner phone, with its charger. She leaves her Android, with Kate's and Nat's numbers saved into it, alongside To Kill A Mockingbird on the bed, and storms out of the room, and away from the group, pulling her hood up as she walks.
Downstairs, she ignores a greeting from Pepper, who carries Tony's dry cleaning, and walks through the open door, leaving it wide open. As she walks, dark clouds roll in, thunder rumbles overhead and rain begins to lash down. She doesn't care about getting wet, but still, she quickens her pace to the subway.
"Stupid Kate talking stupid shit. She doesn't know what she's talking about. Well, fuck her, and fuck the rest. You don't need them, Yelena, you're better off alone." Yelena mumbles to herself. She makes it into the subway and gets on a random train. She has no idea where it is going and frankly, she doesn't care.
Back in the Avengers Tower, a confused Pepper carries Tony's dry cleaning and hangs it in a hidden closet in the hallway. "Is Miss Belova alright?" she asks, genuine concern in her voice.
"She is just being a baby." Natasha replies.
"Okay, well, she was headed towards the subway."
"She can take care of herself. She has done for the last twenty years, so, she will survive."
"So, we don't need to intervene?"
"No, thanks, though, Pepper. She'll just have a huff and I'll probably find her back at my place, so I wouldn't worry too much."
"What if she leaves the country? That'll be my fault, wouldn't it?" Kate asks. The implications of their argument hitting her.
"Well, then, that makes her-"
"Natasha, before you finish your sentence, there have been a few instances where you have run away from your problems."
"Oh, shush, Steve."
"I'm serious. She takes after you. You run away; she runs away. You sulk; she sulks. Blood related or not, we can tell you're siblings, because you're the mirror of the other. The point is, we let you run away and didn't call you a baby. So, I don't think it's fair to call her a baby."
Natasha scoffs. "Name me one instance where I-"
"Post-Sokovia Accords. You were on the run." Tony interrupts.
"That was on the run, not running away."
"Technically it was both. You were on the run from the law, because you were running away from your responsibilities. We needed to be held responsible for the damage we did in Sokovia and in New York City."
"But in doing so, we would have been regulated by the government. And if you remember, Tony, we were no longer allowed to operate as a private sector. We had to operate as part of the government, and even S.H.I.E.L.D. disbanded.
"Yes, but we needed to prove to the citizens that we are able to take full responsibility for the collateral damage we caused. Especially Hulk."
"Collateral damage, which you paid to rectify. You basically swept it under the rug by quickly and quietly paying for the damages."
"Because I am a billionaire. I have the funds to do so. Would you rather I left it to the City of New York to pay for damages that the big guy did? That we all did."
"I take exception to impugning my professionalism." Bruce interrupts.
"No offence, Bruce, but the Hulk isn't exactly 'professional'." Tony shrugs.
"No, but I was for the Sokovia Accords. The other guy would have been against it. You can't control the Hulk. No government would be able to control him."
Soon brunch dissolves into arguing, and Kate, who is out of her depth, slips away from the group and towards her room. On the way, she pauses outside of Yelena's, and finally steels herself to go in. The crunch of glass underfoot makes her look down. She brushes it aside with the toe of her Doc Martins and bends to pick up the photograph. It's of her and Yelena from Coney Island, which she had taken on her phone. She sighs, and leans it against the books on the bedside cabinet. Then she notices Yelena's phone. She picks it up and leaves the room again. The others are still arguing.
"Hey, is this... HEY!"
The increasing volume cuts them all off, immediately, and they all turn to see Kate holding Yelena's phone. "Is it normal for her to leave her phone behind?"
Natasha closes her eyes, and exhales slowly, before opening them again. "It means she doesn't want to be found. She's gonna go off-grid."
"But she has a spare phone, right? Or, or a, a, a burner? Something we can contact her on."
"Kate... She doesn't want to be found. She's gone."
"But we have to stop her! We can go to the airport, stop her getting on the plane!"
"You've watched too many Hallmark movies, kid." Tony says.
"So, you're saying we do nothing?" her voice squeaks.
Natasha sighs. "When a Black Widow wants to go off-grid, there's no chance in hell you'll find them again, until they want to be found. We've been trained extensively in the art of disappearing and laying low. Yelena spent years hiding out in Budapest, and I didn't even know. I thought she got out, was living a normal life."
"So, what, that's it? No more Yelena. No more, no more us?" Kate is trying to hold it together, but her bottom lip begins quivering. "I'm sorry, I'm not hungry right now. I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I don't exist." She swallows her tears and rushes down the hallway, Yelena's phone in-hand, and tears streaking down her cheeks.
"I just wanna analyse their argument for a minute."
"Oh, my God, Tony, now?" Natasha scoffs.
"Yes, I want to find out who was right and who was wrong, because from my point of view, they-"
"They were both in the wrong." Natasha sighs, again. "Yelena was in the wrong for mentioning her ex so many times over the last two days, but she was hurting, and going through a shitty PTSD period. So, it's not like she could have helped it. But Kate was in the wrong for shouting at her for that, instead of helping her through it. I get how it's not nice to hear about an ex, but when people have gone through a traumatic event or an abusive relationship, they can't help but to talk about it, because they have nothing to compare it to. Miki was Lena's first. Kate's her second. She is walking on eggshells around Kate, because she's scared of slipping up. She was in a coma for six months, so, to her everything is new and exciting and scary. I doubt Kate has been in a relationship before, either, because there's a lot of nervous hand shaking and avoiding eye contact. They're both as nervous as each other, and with Yelena's past, not just in the prison, but who she has been shaped to be, being 'good' is not something she is used to. We didn't have a proper childhood. The difference is, I got out when I was nineteen, twenty ish. I learnt to be 'good' through S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. I have an extra five years on her, in terms of age, and in terms of being in the real world. She's been out of the Black Widow Programme for a year. She is still a baby. She's finding her feet, discovering emotions and feelings she would not have had before, and she's undoing decades of misdemeanours, negative, toxic and 'bad' behaviours in the span of... however long those two have been dating for. She hasn't had any breathing room. And no, that's not me saying that Kate is smothering her, that's me saying literally, in the span of a year, she has been kidnapped, assaulted, left for dead, in a coma, and now, she's in a relationship. She's not had time to stop and think and breathe and feel and have an attitude adjustment. This world is a helluva lot different to the world we grew up in. We were forced to be 'bad', and 'evil' and trained killers. Think of how long it took me to realise S.H.I.E.L.D. are the good guys. Think about how long it took me to have to unlearn everything I had learnt since I was six. Now, think about how little time Yelena has had in comparison. She was out of commission for half a year, so, she's only had half a year to change her life around. That's a lot of pressure for anybody. Let alone someone who is so desperate to seek approval from her friends and family. She won't tell you any of this, so don't repeat it, but she's vulnerable. And I don't mean in the 'woe is me' sense, I mean in the literal sense of being underprepared for any of this. We need to give her space and time. If that means she leaves the country, then so be it, but I know she loves Kate too much to stay away for too long."
"Natasha? Do you think she will ever forgive me?" Kate asks, in a small voice, but loud enough that they all jump.
"Jesus! You scared me. Don't creep up on people."
"Sorry."
"I'm sure she will forgive you, but you have to understand that she-"
"She's not had a chance to change much. I know, I was listening. I'm sorry."
"Now you understand why she's stormed off? She thinks you don't understand and don't care."
"I do care, I just don't want to hear about Miki. I feel like I'm being compared to her, and I don't like it."
"She's not comparing you to Miki, she's comparing how she was, to how she is now. She's trying to remember where she went wrong, so it doesn't happen again. Things with Miki were more than complicated. You heard the stories. You heard the way she was treated like a slave... You know what happened in SHU."
"I need to be kinder to her." Kate replies, sniffling.
"You're already kind to her. You just need a little more understanding. When she is talking about Miki, she's not doing it to wind you up. She is doing it as a reminder of how not to be. Give her time to get out of the funk... to realise that she is in control now, that that was a completely different time in her life and that she is valuable in your eyes. We were never valuable to Dreykov. We were dispensable and we were pawns. We were given to him, we served him, and we died for him. That is how he ran the Black Widow Programme. It also was during Soviet Russia, so if we didn't fear the President, we feared Dreykov. Until the fear was brainwashed out of us, and we became these 'perfect little soldiers'."
"How do I make her see she's valuable to me? Like, what do I need to do for her, so she can see how important she is?"
"Right now, give her space. She'll come back when she's ready. She loves you too much to stay away for too long."
"And you know that, how?"
"She looks at you the same way Mom and Dad look at each other, even after all these years."
"What if she leaves the country?" Kate sighs.
"Then she will come home when she's ready."
"Okay." Kate replies, nodding quietly.
Downstairs there is bang and everyone whips their heads around towards them. They're on high alert. They wait for any intruders, but there are no sounds following the initial one. There is a second bang and the sound of scurrying feet. The glass door reveals Happy, and everyone sighs in relief. "Tony, I, uh, found this one coming back from the subway." He steps aside to reveal a sheepish-looking Yelena.
"Hiiii. Uh, I may or may not have dented your wall, by the front door, in a hurry."
"It's fine, I can fix that." Tony says shrugging.
Yelena and Kate speak at the same time.
"Kate! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-" / "Yelena! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"You go." / "No, you go."
"I should have been a bit more understanding. I'm sorry." Kate says, looking glum.
"I get it. Talking about exes is uncomfortable. And I'm sorry."
Kate pulls Yelena in for a hug. "Oh! You're all wet!"
"It's stormy outside. Totally mirrored my feelings."
Kate cocks her head to one side. "So, are we good or...?"
Yelena cuts her off by kissing her passionately.
Natasha scorns them. "Kate! Yelena! You should behave!"
Yelena answers her, by sticking her middle finger up in her direction, before momentarily pulling away from Kate. "You're not our mom. Now... Katherine Bishop, will you..."
"Oh, God, you're not gonna propose are you?"
"What? No. Not yet, anyway."
Natasha sighs. "Oh, boy."
Yelena drops her backpack. "Noooo, I was gonna explain my actions. I left, because I felt underappreciated by you, Kate. I did not mean to keep mentioning Miki, but I am scared of fucking it up with you. I keep mentioning her, because of that stupid song, and it reminded me of the stupid time I was in prison... and how I tried to kill myself... I don't wanna ever be that low again. It hurt me to my core. I am scared of losing control. I want to be able to think for myself, make mistakes and learn from them, but I swear to God, if I ever treated you like Miki treated me, I would never, ever forgive myself. So, I need you to tell me if I am doing something wrong. Be straight up and honest, and don't pussyfoot around the subject. You're not gonna hurt my feelings. I am more worried about hurting your feelings, my love."
Everyone watches as the couple embrace, Kate crying softly into Yelena's shoulder.
Tony interjects. "Right, I've been put off my breakfast."
Pepper punches him in the arm. "Shut up, you soppy asshole. Or, come to the bedroom."
Tony clears his throat, apologises and takes a bite of his sausage and egg sandwich, as Carol and Thor, who have already forgotten this morning's activities, sip their coffees in unison. After a few minutes, Kate frees herself from Yelena's tight grip and picks up a pair of plates. She is now very hungry, and passes one to Yelena, who accepts slowly. Kate helps herself to toast, an egg and some sausages, before passing Yelena a bottle of Sriracha. She surprises everyone, by saying, "Not today" and just wolfs down a bacon sandwich. Kate is taken aback, and just stares at her girlfriend, in a mixture of shock, revulsion and amazement.
Kate stammers in disbelief. "Bu...wha...n-no hot sauce?" Yelena shakes her head, and yams a second bacon sandwich. "Remember to chew, hon." Yelena shrugs.
"Sorry I told everyone to 'fuck off' and 'shut the fuck up'. I'm gonna go do those things, now." She picks up her discarded backpack and makes her way to her room, where, as soon as she drops onto the bed, she cries to herself. Soon after, she falls asleep. About thirty minutes later, a bleary-eyed Yelena pads softly out into the kitchen. "Kate?" she mumbles.
"Yes, baby? Aw, honey, what's happened, have you-"
"I need cuddles." Yelena cuts her off - she doesn't want them all to know she's been crying.
"Okay, sure, I'll be there now. You get back into bed. Lemme finish my green tea and I'll be there, okay?"
Yelena pouts and nods like a small child, before trudging back to the bed.
Shortly thereafter, Kate is back in Yelena's bedroom, this time ready to provide her with cuddles and love. The blonde reaches out, and, interlocking their fingers together, Kate holds her hands, bringing them to her chest. Sitting down, she leans in and gently kisses the top of the Russian's head. This relaxes her, and she smiles, half asleep. Kate notices this and slowly unclasps her hands to reach down and untie her boots, which she has kept on all the day since they first entered the library. Once she has done this, she moves to lie behind Yelena. Re-joining their hands, she also brings the two of them together again as she holds her close, determined not to lose the most important person in her life.
A few hours later and the young couple must have fallen asleep together as they both wake up, one sooner than the other. Kate's arms have made their way to her sides but her legs are intertwined with Yelena's, and her head is halfway down the pillows. This, and the half open mouth makes Yelena laugh, a deep but husky chuckle which surprises Kate as she hasn't heard such a thing in a long time, and it makes her smile as she remembers. Now the two are both up again, they hear a knocking from outside. Stretching, Kate gets unsteadily out of bed, opening the door to find Natasha there. She doesn't look unhappy, but nor does she look in the best of moods. "Are you alright, Nat?" Kate asks, stifling a yawn, which gains a raised eyebrow from their visitor.
"I'm fine. Are you?" Natasha replies, glancing at Yelena and then back to Kate.
"You look grumpy, Nat. Wassup?"
"Nothing. I'm just fed up of keeping tabs on you two all the time."
"So, then don't," replies Yelena. "We're big girls, we can take care of ourselves."
"I know you can, but that scares me." Natasha shrugs. "You disappearing... Yelena... It made me think... I've not been the best role model for you. I've not even been there for you, and I'm sorry."
"Ew, don't get all soft on me, it doesn't look cool."
"Stop being a dickhead and take this seriously, would you?"
Yelena sighs. "Nat, it's okay... We all fuck up. You couldn't come back for me, cos we'd both be dead. I get it. You did what you had to do, in the moment, so, I forgive you. Just know that you two are the most important people in my life, okay? Never forget that."
"Ditto," replies Kate.
"Same, kiddo." Natasha says, crossing the room to scoop Yelena up into a bone-crushing hug. "And, by the way, Yelena, if I'm soft, you're a teddy bear."
"What? No! I'm no teddy bear! Kate, tell her."
"I have to agree with your sister." Kate chuckles.
"Aww, I don't wanna be soft." Yelena complains, pouting.
"Face it, sis, you're in a relationship, you're gonna be soft. You complement each other." Natasha replies.
Yelena huffs, and continues to pout.
"Hey, Yel, were you actually gonna leave us? I mean, forget the others for a minute... But us?"
"Yes." Yelena replies, bluntly.
"But you love us!" Kate replies, shocked.
"What did what's-his-face sing... If you love her, let her go."
"Artist is Passenger. And that song is about a breakup."
"Oh. Well, point still stands. I love you too much to hurt you, so I was willing to walk out of your life, so you wouldn't be hurt. And Nat doesn't like me anyway. She loves me, sure, but she doesn't actually like me."
"That's bullshit сестра! I like you and I love you. I just wish you wouldn't act so tough all the goddamn time."
"I have to act tough... I have a reputation to uphold."
"Oh, be quiet, Lena. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. You're already valuable in our eyes. More valuable than you give yourself credit for."
"I have nothing but love for you, babe. You know this."
Yelena cocks her head to one side. "That is true. Look, Nat, we'll come out when we're ready, okay? But I want some more sleep. And that's code for... I want some more sleep."
Natasha chuckles. "Okay, goobers. Sleep well. Come find us when you're ready." She squeezes Yelena once more, kisses both cheeks and her forehead and presses their foreheads together. Yelena touches the tip of her nose to Nat's and then the two separate. Kate's space is also invaded by a hug, and single cheek kiss, and the two are left alone, once more. It isn't long before they're fast asleep in each other's arms again.
* * *
Yelena's phone dings with an incoming text message.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unknown
Hey, my Little Russian
Whore.
I know it's been a while
since we last spoke, but I'm
back in AETHER Club, and
wanted to see if you were
around for a bang. I'm single
again now, so I'm back
working my old job.
Call me when you get this!
Your Little Budapesti Slut
Kei xx
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Her phone begins to vibrate, with an incoming call, but Yelena, who is sound asleep, doesn't hear it. Kate, on the other hand, does. Yelena had recently removed her password lock, to change it to a pin code, but currently, it has no security on it, so Kate answers the call.
"Yelena's phone."
"Oh, hi. Is my Little Russian Whore available, please?"
"Uh, who is this?"
"This is Keisha from AETHER Club. She and I used to hang out when she was 21. Well, she used to hang in, if you get my drift."
"Uh, no, I do not. Why are you calling my girlfriend?"
"Since when does she have a girlfriend? She never told me this."
"I hate to tell you, but I don't think she really cares about you, since your number isn't even saved. So, I'll ask you again... Why are you calling my girlfriend?"
"Babe? Why are you shouting?" Yelena asks groggily.
"Can you please explain to me who the hell Keisha is and why the hell she is ringing you?" Kate asks, putting the phone on loudspeaker.
"Keisha? I don't know any Keisha."
"My Little Russian Whore, how are you?"
"What the fuck? Keisha? How the hell did you get this number?"
"I never deleted it, fuckwit! Why are you being rude to your old fuck buddy?"
"Kei, that was three fucking years ago. You ran off with Izzy! Why are you calling me?"
"I'm back at our old haunt, and wanted to know if you were around to bang."
"No, I'm not. I live in America now."
"Ew. You traded greenery for pollution."
"It's where Natasha lives and my girlfriend. I understand you've met."
"Since when did you get a girlfriend?"
"Since... It's none of your business. Delete my number."
"Why?"
"Because I am in a relationship and I am not about to lose the only person I've ever truly loved, other than my family! So, delete my fucking number and have fun fucking half of Budapest!" Yelena hangs up, angrily and stomps to the door. She flings it open, stomps down the corridor and pounds on Natasha's door.
She pulls it open with a book in-hand. "Hey, Lena. You look pissed, what's up?"
"Fucking Keisha just rang me. You remember Keisha?"
"Uh, no, sorry. Describe her to me."
"Black girl I used to fuck back in AETHER Club, Budapest."
Natasha gasps. "No!"
"Yes. She wanted to know if I was around for a bang! Kate told her she is my girlfriend and she still wanted to bang me. I am so angry!"
"I'm not surprised. She stole that nice waitress from you."
"Izzy."
"She stole Izzy from you."
"Wait... You told me you were a virgin." Kate says frowning.
"I know. I'm sorry, I lied. I just didn't want you to know that I was a whore before. Rhyme unintentional."
"I mean, it made me feel safer knowing that it was your first time."
"Kate. I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm really sorry. I just figured you would find me disgusting for sleeping with a stripper. I was 20, for fuck's sake. I also smoked weed and did drugs and drank a lot of alcohol back then. It was a whole phase."
"Wow. I'm learning more and more about you every day."
"Look, I was a low-key druggie and alchie. If you knew me back then, you probably wouldn't have been my friend. And I can tell by your face, you don't wanna be my friend now. Guessing we're over then? I can't go back to Budapest, knowing Keisha is back in the city, so, looks like it's back to Russia."
"Lena, why are you so dramatic?"
"Look at Kate's face and tell me she doesn't wanna kill me."
There is a silence, and Natasha can't deny how furious Kate looks.
"I'm sorry. I knew I was gonna fuck up. I always do. Thanks for some great times, Katherine. I guess I won't see you around, because you will probably try and kill me in my sleep."
"Yelena, you can't leave the country. You need a visa to enter Russia."
"No, I don't. I have a legitimate Russian passport. And some fake ones. For me, though, no matter where it is that I am living... I am still Russian. And like many Russians, though I am welcoming what it is our leaders do to make us strong... I am not so much wanting to take orders from them. My loyalty is to Russian people. And Russian people we understand there is no Russia if there is no world."
"What?"
"I am Russian, Natasha. I am loyal to Russia and her people. Not our leaders, our people. Russia is the Mother Land."
"If you go back to Russia, you will be stoned to death for being a lesbian."
"Then I will go back to living in the closet."
"Then you're not being true to yourself."
"Well, maybe they'll find out that I killed Dreykov, so I will be shot for treason against the Russian Government, and then I will become a martyr."
"It doesn't work like that."
"Maybe I'll die at sea!"
"No, cos you'll take a plane!"
"Well, then... Maybe I'll shoot myself here and now, so you don't have to put up with me any longer!"
"Stop it! Both of you! I'm sick and tired of you two constantly bickering. Yelena, I am not breaking up with you, but I need space. It's getting too much for me to sleep with, date, and work in the same place as you. It's stressing me out. And all this new information is fucking with my head. It's affecting my mental health. We need to take a break. Put a pause on the relationship for a bit, okay? I love you, so fucking much, but you're hurting me. I need to take a step back from the Avengers, too. I'm not cut out for this world. I'm only 22. I've never been a hero before. Apart from one time, and I had my ass saved by Hawkeye. Please, just stop fighting. And you!" She rounds on Yelena. "If you dare try to kill yourself, I will kill you, resurrect you, and then kill you again! Do I make myself clear?"
Yelena chuckles, nervously.
"Я серьезно!" Kate shouts, surprising the two native Russians. Whilst the pronunciation isn't accurate, Yelena and Natasha know exactly what she said. "Я тебя люблю." She adds in a soft voice.
"Kate... You can't tell me that you need a break, and then tell me you love me, in my native language."
"Why?"
"Because you're learning Russian! That's so hot to me. You have no idea how it feels when someone you love learns your language. Please... don't walk away from me."
"Oh, so it's alright if you do it?"
"That was before I knew how much you're trying for me. It is not okay, but I feel like a failure." Her eyes fill with tears. "Я люблю тебя и прости, что причинил тебе боль. If you still want a break, I'll respect that, but I don't want to lose you. I can't. Please give me another chance. I'm begging you." Yelena screws up her eyes, purses her lips and clenches her jaw to fight her tears.
"Yelena... I... can't." Kate walks down the corridor to collect her things and Natasha and Yelena watch her leave. They hear the thud of the door hitting the frame, then Yelena drops to her knees, and weeps. She is immediately hugged and rocked by her sister.
Outside, Kate wipes away her tears. She is determined not to cry in public, not least because others may see her.
Chapter 9: Nine
Chapter Text
Three years ago, AETHER Club, Budapest.
"Hey, we have some pills, do you want them?"
A blonde woman was nodding her head along to some techno music, but the guy, and his wife she was with, took her nodding as a 'yes' for the drugs. He handed her one, and told her to "just take it with your beer."
The blonde, who was a little drunk, but loving life, took the Ecstasy pill and dry-swallowed it.
"Wait, what did you take?" a ginger guy asked, but his friend shrugged.
"Get on this level, Rome. C'mon, dude, join us." The blonde demanded, eyes really wide, and unblinking. She had a soft Russian accent. He sighed, and popped a pill too.
The two who were giving the pills were called Cara and Callum, and they were on holiday to Budapest, from Britain. They had already taken their third pill of the evening and it was only 11pm. They were intending to have "a bitchin' night."
Darude's Sandstorm came over the nightclub speakers, and the Russian whooped, before breaking out into rave dancing; something which Roman had never seen her do before. It was evident that the combination of Ecstasy and Russian Snow marijuana had kicked in, fully, and had put her so high up on an imaginary pedestal, that she did not want to come down from it. Roman, Callum, and Cara took turns to load her up on Moscow Mules, Vodka, and Rum and Cokes. She needed one night to get "fucked up so hard" (as she had put it).
Roman pulled Callum to one side, and asked what exactly were in the pills.
"It's an Ecstasy tablet, mate. Probably has other shit mixed in. I dunno, I just bought 'em." Callum replied, smirking.
"I asked the guy, and he said this MDMA tablet has a bit of Ketamine in it."
"Are you shitting me?!" Roman demanded.
"No, we're gonna have a fucking epic night, mate. Chill out, enjoy yourself. We've taken three of the little fuckers already. C'mon, stop being a fucking Nazi and take another."
"I'm Russian, not German." Roman shook his head, but then saw his friend take a second pill from Cara. He held out his hand to Callum. "One more. Do not offer me or Yelena more!" He demanded, growling the words.
Callum nodded, knowing he was being deadly serious, and relayed this information to his wife. She nodded, and understood.
Roman pulled Yelena close to him, and she smirked. Holding the pills up together, they tapped them, in a sort of 'cheers' and took them together.
"Enjoy yourselves. Maybe you'll get lucky and score tonight." Callum whispered in Roman's ear, before clapping him on the shoulder. The four of them stayed together and continued to dance in their little group. The girls only leaving, together, to visit the bathroom.
Once Yelena returned, Roman handed her another Rum and Coke. She nodded and accepted the drink. She downed it and danced provocatively, and super closely, to Roman, who gulped. He caught Callum giving him a thumbs up, out of the corner of his eye, but ignored him. He let Yelena grind on him, and dance seductively with him.
She turned around to face him. "So, you said Valentina was looking for you. What was she doing in Moscow?!" She asked, shouting above the thumping and pounding techno music.
"Looking for you."
"Yeah, but why in Moscow? She rang me when I was in Ohio..."
"I don't think she knew you were in the US when she came to see me. I didn't tell her about your Budapest home, don't worry. I just said, 'she's not here, I haven't seen her for a few years'."
"And she believed you?"
"Well, I'm not dead, am I?"
"True." She replied, resuming her grinding. Her ass was currently inches from his dick.
"Yelena?"
"Yes, Rome."
"Am I gonna get lucky tonight?"
"No, why?"
"Your dancing, it's, uh, very, um, sexual."
"Oh." Yelena stopped grinding on Roman, and went to join Cara and Callum, a little way from them.
Roman swallowed, but stayed put.
"'Sup, Yelena?" Cara asked.
"Roman thinks we're gonna have sex tonight!" She shouted above the music.
"No chance?" Cara enquired.
"No, I don't like him like that. He's like a brother to me."
"Ooh, shit. Brother zone! Worse than the friend zone."
"Cara, I've known him since we were 18, and I'm 22."
"Ah, yeah, well then he practically is your brother." Cara confirmed, hugging her new friend. "Me and my husband are sooo glad we met you two. You've literally made our trip to Budapest so much better!"
"Budapesh." Yelena corrected.
"That's what I said. Budapest."
"No, it's not 'pest', it's 'pesh'."
"Huh? I never knew that. Hey, Cal, we've been saying this place wrong for, like, forever."
"How? It's Budapest."
Cara smirked. "No, apparently it's Budapesh."
"Oh, shit! For real?"
Yelena nodded. "It's like, technically, you saying Moscow is incorrect."
"Wait, how is that said?" Callum and Cara asked in unison.
"More like Mos-kow. Like, you say the 'cow' like a moo-cow, not like 'co', like, yano, 'co' short for company."
"So, Mos-cow." Callum said, saying the name of the bovine creature.
"Yeah, but you get away with saying Moscow. It's not gonna make too much of a difference, but the Hungarians, uh, they get real pissed if you say 'pest' and not 'pesh'. Okay?"
"Yeah, good to know, thanks!" Cara concluded, kissing Yelena on the cheek. Callum gave her a kiss on the opposite cheek.
They continued to dance, and rave, and drink until the small hours of the morning.
They gathered around a circular table, and it was a little quieter here. They didn't have to shout as much. "Hey, Yelena?" Cara asked.
"Yeah?"
"There's a redhead staring at you, over there. I think she's into you."
"What? Where?" Yelena followed Cara's pointing finger, but was looking in the wrong direction, so Cara cupped Yelena's chin, and gently pulled it to the left.
"There."
"Oh, yeah, I see her. Oh, shit, she's coming over. Everyone act casual. Rome, pass me my drink."
"Hey there." The redhead said, when she reached their table.
"Hi yourself. You're gorgeous!" Cara giggled, and Callum gave her a nudge.
"Heh, thanks." The redhead replied, before leaning down into Yelena's ear and whispering, "Привет, младшая сестра."
Yelena's eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open, before she turned so sharply her elbow caught a glass and knocked it off the table.
"Oh, my God! Natasha! What the fuck, man? Holy shit, I've not seen you for years. Years!" Yelena squeezed Natasha tightly.
"How you doing, Lena?"
"I'm fucked!" Yelena announced, before laughing – a deep and husky laugh, and one Natasha knew all too well. "This is Cara and Callum, they're from Britain, and this is my good friend, Rome. He thinks he's gonna get laid tonight... By me, I mean! Sorry, buddy, but you're like a brother to me. I'm sure there's some other chick out here who'd like to bone a Russian."
A dark-haired girl walked past. "Did you say 'Russian'?"
"Uh, yeah. You gay or straight?" Yelena asked bluntly.
"I'm straight, darling."
"Okay, so, uh, this is my very good Russian friend, Roman."
"Hi, I just adore the accent. What do you do?"
"Uh, I'm an artist. Uh, a coffee artist... Like, I make the art on top of coffee."
"Ooh, wow. So, you're good at drawing then?"
"Uh, yeah, I s'pose I am."
"So, you wanna have sex? I'm Emily, by the way."
Roman chokes on his Rum and Coke. "S-sure. Yes. I'd like that very much."
"Okay, well, I have a private booth, just over here."
Roman follows her, like a lost puppy, and the others crane their necks to watch them make their way through the crowd.
"You don't think they're—" Cara begins.
"Oh, yeah, they're totally gonna fuck in the nightclub."
"Isn't that against the rules?"
"Only if you get caught. You do know that this is a Gentleman's Club in the daytime, right?" Yelena asks.
"Really? This place is a strip club?" Callum asks.
Yelena nods. "Oh, yeah. I, ahem, come here a lot. Both during the night and the, uh, the, um, the, the day. What? Don't look at me like that, Nat! I like tits." Yelena says, suddenly nervous.
"Uh, hello? Since when were you gay?"
"Since I was 19. And I'm 22 now. Which you'd knew if we kept in contact. Oh, shit... Excuse me..." Yelena bounds over to a Black girl she recognises and hugs her. "Hey, Keisha. How you doing, girl?"
"Yel! My favourite customer! I'm doing so good. Especially seeing your ass in tonight."
"Aren't I in every night?"
"No, my pussy is missing some good fingering action."
Yelena laughs huskily again. "Come meet my sister and my new friends."
"Sure, honeybee."
"Cara, Callum, Nat, this is Keisha. Keisha this is Cara and Callum from Britain, and Natasha, my sister."
"Well, now I know you've got great genes in your family, because this one's a looker!" Keisha says, walking two fingers up Nat's arm.
"Hey, Kei, uh, Nat's not gay." Yelena whispers.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Nat. My apologies. I can call you Nat, right?"
"Yes, that's fine. So, uh, are you and Lena, uh, dating?"
The two exchange a look and laugh. "Datin'? Oh no, honeybee. Yel here is my favourite client. She pays for the gold service, and tips extra well."
"Uh, we may or may not have hooked up a couple of times. But, uh, Kei was caught kissing me and was told she had to stop seeing me, outside of work, or she'd be fired."
"Is this not 'outside of work'?" Natasha enquires.
"No, Yel means getting her cunt licked by me."
It's Callum's turn to choke on his drink.
"Hey, my sister hates that word."
"Sorry, I meant pussy. Getting her pussy licked."
"Yeah, I understood the first time." Natasha says, and she and Yelena blush in unison under the neon lights.
Yelena leans into her sister's ear. "Don't tell Mom and Dad, please? They know I'm gay, but they don't know I like to... sleep around... Okay, well that is a lie, since I've only fucked Keisha twice... But... Just don't tell 'em, 'kay?"
"Okay, I won't. But does she not sleep with anyone else?"
"She's not a prostitute! Fucking hell, Nat! She's an exotic dancer... A stripper. She fucked people before me, cos she's 28, but the last time she had a girlfriend was when she was 24, when she started this job. We've only fucked twice over the last two years. She's so fucking busy, it's unreal."
"Okay, so, just as long as you're staying safe."
"I am, старшая сестра, stop worrying. Okay, so Nat doesn't do d-r-u-g-esses, and I am fucked, but this is boring... The static is boring. C'mon, let's dance!!" Yelena whoops again.
"I can spell, you know!" Nat shouts over the music as they begin to split up.
"Yel, I gotta go. Call me tomorrow, after noon. It's my day off, you know the drill!" Keisha yells, before rubbing Yelena's crotch hard and fast, leaving her wanting more.
"But, my pussy...!"
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow, my Little Russian Whore!" Keisha says, blowing Yelena a kiss.
Yelena laughs, and flips off Keisha, watching her walk away. She turns to find Natasha giving her a look. "What? She's my Little Budapesti Slut. It's just shitty nicknames we've given each other. Don't look at me like that, Tash!"
"You're gonna have to reschedule your little rendezvous!" Nat announces.
"Uh, no, fuck off!"
"You need to."
"Why?"
"Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow for 1pm."
"Is that why you're here in Budapest?"
"Hey, can't your older sister come and visit without some ulterior motive?"
"I mean you can, but why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
"Lena, I've been trying to contact you for days!" Yelena pulls out her phone, and sure enough, she's got plenty of missed calls and unread text messages from an unknown number. "You didn't save my number?" Natasha scoffs.
"I didn't know who the fuck it was. Look, Mom and Dad are gonna have to wait. I'm dying for sex and Kei is phenomenal. She doesn't get that much time off."
"You're telling me she only gets one out of 365 days off?"
"No, but usually when it's her time off I'm... busy."
"Doing what?"
"Studying."
"Studying? Ha! Likely story."
"No, literally, I am studying Graphic Design at Budapest Metropolitan University."
"Finally putting your drawing talents to good use, I see."
"Yeah, I am!"
"Good for you, Lena. By the way, how long will it take for you to be sober for tomorrow?"
Callum answers. "Uhhh, we usually come down off two pills and weed by about 2, maybe 3pm. That's what she's had... And looooads of booze. She'll be fucked all day tomorrow."
"What did you take?!" Natasha asks, aghast.
Callum chuckles. "Russian Snow weed, and the pills are a beautiful concoction of MDMA and Ketamine."
"So, how long?"
"For a noob, uh, about a day, usually. Water ain't gonna help. Just gotta let the cocktail leave the system, naturally. MDMA sits in your system for about 8 or 9 hours, Ket is about 3, so combined, prob'ly 12. But she's had booze too, so call it 24 hours at most! Good luck with your parents tomorrow, though, bro! Cara and I are gonna bounce... Like, dance floor. We ain't outie, until the sun comes up! Nice meeting you, Natalie!"
"Natasha!" she and Yelena reply in unison.
"Oops, sorry, dude!" Callum shrugs and disappears onto the dance floor.
"I didn't know that you like to take drugs. This is new information сестра."
"It's only a few times a year. I don't do it when I'm at Uni. Just during Spring Break and Summer Break. Loadsa kids do drugs on Spring Break, Nat. You ever see the film Spring Breakers? They do drugs in that."
"And rob rich people's houses. Please don't tell me you're into that, too? Drugs is bad enough."
"No! I'd never. Look, I'm not a junkie. Spring Break is like two weeks, I pop pills maybe twice over the entire period. Summer Break is 12 weeks. I pop pills maybe four times over the whole period. It's fine. I drink and smoke weed more."
"So, you're an alcoholic and a stoner?"
"Low-key, Nat. Look, don't get all up in my face about this, okay? I've been doing this for the last year. Just don't tell Mom and Dad."
"Act sober tomorrow, and I won't."
"Nat, if there's one thing I'm good at, it's pretending I'm sober. Oh, shit! Roman's got kicked out. Think it's time to bail."
"Ayo, Yelena! Is that your mate?" Callum yelled over the speakers.
"Yeah, think he got caught. We're gonna have to go. I mean it's... what time is it?"
"5am." Natasha announces.
"Shit. It's 5am. You gonna be around much longer?"
"Yes, we arrived yesterday. We're here for two weeks."
"Hey, look, lemme grab your number and we'll go for brunch or something. Maybe get fucked up another night? Nat, how long you in the city for?"
"About a week."
"A week? Off savin' the world again, huh?"
"Somethin' like that."
Cara gave her number on account of the fact that she, being the jealous type, did not allow Callum to have any other female's numbers in his phone – other than his mum, aunts, cousins and grandma.
Roman was escorted by security past the group and he gave a sly thumbs up to Callum and Yelena. Natasha rolled her eyes, as Yelena laughed.
The group hugged each other, Yelena nodded at the Brits, and took Natasha's hand, so they wouldn't be separated.
Once outside, the cold morning air hit them in the face, and, almost immediately, Yelena threw up.
"Euuurgh!" One lady said. "That's fucking disgusting."
"Better out than in, I always say!" Yelena replied, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, causing the woman to look at her with disgust.
"Did you just quote 'Shrek'?" Natasha whispered.
"Yup." Yelena nodded, before being handed a tissue and a breath mint by Nat. "Roman! Romey! Rome! Hey!" she whistles at him. "Roman, buddybuddybuddy! Where you goin'?"
"Home. I feel sick."
"Yeahyeahyeah! But tell me... How was it?" Roman shrugs. "Aw, come on, don't be such a cock tease!"
"Cock tease? You spent all night giving me mixed signals, let me hook up with someone who only gave me a half-assed blowie before she fell asleep on me, and then I get kicked out of the club for having my wang out!" Yelena snorts. "It's not funny, Little Dove."
"C'mon, Fox. It's a little funny."
"Yelena, it's an embarrassment. You're an embarrassment!"
"Whoa! Hey! That's not fair. How am I an embarrassment?"
"I didn't wanna take drugs, but you forced me to!" Roman yells, causing onlookers to stop and stare.
"No, I didn't! I didn't hold open your fucking mouth and shove them down your throat! And for the record you're a sloppy drunk."
"And you turn into a whore!"
Yelena gasps. "Roman, I'm your best fucking friend! What's gotten into you? Are you pissed because you didn't screw me?"
"No... I'm... It's..."
"Oh, my God. You aaaare! Get over it, man! I'm gay. And even if I wasn't, you're like my brother!"
"You know I've liked you since forever."
"That's great! Truly it is. I'm happy for you, but get the fuck over it. Or, if you can't, you can't be my friend anymore!"
"Wow. You're gonna—wow. Okay. Thanks for four great years, Little Dove. I guess I'll see you around."
"I didn't mean—"
"You clearly did, because why else would you say it?! Go home, Yelena, and don't fucking speak to me again!" He turns on his heel and storms off down the street.
"Roman! Roman!" she runs after him. "Roman, wait!"
"No!"
She grabs his wrist and pulls him towards her. "Roman, wait. Why are you so desperate to sleep with me?"
"Because you're my best friend... And... I've never had sex." He admits in a low voice.
"Oh. But you're always bragging about—"
"They're just lies. I want my first time to be with someone I trust and feel safe around. I trust you and feel safe around you."
"Oh. Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I knew you'd reject me. Even if you weren't gay, you would have said no." Yelena closes her eyes and sighs. Roman uses this opportunity to kiss her cheek. "Go home, Yelena. Text me when you get in, and when you wake up. Hope you have a great time with your parents. Then we'll talk, okay?"
"But you said you were done?".
"I know what I said. I can't not be your friend. Yel... That would kill me. I just need time. My head is all over the place, because of the drugs and the alcohol, and I just—" Yelena cuts him off by kissing him, quickly, on the lips. "Why'd you do that for?"
She shrugs. "I dunno. Just... don't make a fuss. Nothing's gonna happen between us, I just... I'm sorry. For calling you out like that, for dumping my best friend, for, for kissing you."
"It felt weird."
"Probably because it was so quick and meant nothing. And no, I'm not gonna do it again."
"Good, cos I don't want you to."
Yelena chuckles. "Message me when you're home, and I'll do the same, yeah?"
"Course."
"See ya later, Little Fox."
"Later, Little Dove."
They hug and end it with a fist bump, and Yelena watches Roman walk away. Natasha quietly walks up to her.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"Don't worry about it."
"And that kiss?"
"Don't ever mention it."
Natasha snorts. "Okay. Come on, my car's around the corner."
"Hey, uh, how'd you find me, anyway?"
"There's a tracking device in the back of your neck."
"What?!" Yelena asks, looking horrified.
"No, we have that family location app Life360, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that."
"I just checked the map, and saw you were here. I watched you slut drop with Roman and grind on him."
"Please don't ever say 'slut drop' again. That was—"
"Gross?"
"Yeah, gross."
"Come on, drunkie. BMW's just up here."
"Euuurgh, you're a Beamer driver?"
"Yes, why?"
"Well, it's better than a Prius. Just, BMW drivers tend to be absolute cunts... I mean dicks on the road."
"Yeah, I've noticed everyone glares at me, or flips me off."
"That's cos Beamers and Mercs are notorious for shit driving and even shitter parking."
"Well, you know I'm excellent at both."
"Show off."
"Yeah, but it's me, Lena. So, you let it slide."
Yelena scoffs. "'Kay, if you say so."
* * *
"Hey, Lena." Natasha says, nudging her little sister.
"Hmm?"
"We're here."
"How'dya know where I live?"
"I used to live here. Rick Mason gave it to you. He told me he had someone renting it out, so I pestered him, until he told me who that someone was – and it's you."
"Oh, okay. I dunno where my key is."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Yes. I always keep it in my bra. Here..." she hands it to Nat.
"Oh, God, it's sweaty."
"Well, ya, it's been there all night."
"Gross."
"Just unlock the door. I need a piss."
"Ever the charmer."
"Shurrup." Yelena scoffs.
* * *
"I'm gonna sleep on the couch." Natasha says, dumping her boots by the door.
"M'kay, if you want. Or you can sleep in bed with me. It's big enough for two."
"Didja brush your teeth?"
Yelena pokes her head around the bathroom door with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. "Mhurking ohn iht."
"'Kay."
Shortly thereafter, Natasha brushes her own teeth with the spare, unopened toothbrush, claiming it as her own. Yelena kisses her cheek and disappears into the bedroom to get "ready for bed" (this, in actual fact, is just passing out, in her clothes, on top of the bed).
When Natasha walks into the room, she chuckles softly at her sister, shakes her head and gets in the other side.
Hours later, and Natasha is laying on her back, with Yelena's left arm and leg over her. For some reason, Yelena is holding Nat's boob, but she is passed out and Nat doesn't want to wake her. Ten minutes after Natasha wakes up in this position, Yelena farts and giggles to herself. Natasha pulls a face at the slight smell, but ends up falling asleep rather quickly.
* * *
Natasha wakes up again, and picks up her phone from the nightstand. It's 12:45pm.
"Shit! Yelena, wake up, wake up!" Natasha calls, rotating to shake Yelena awake... but she's not there.
Yelena, who had heard Nat's panicked voice, comes running into the bedroom. "'Sup, Nat? You okay? Had a bad dream?"
"You're up?"
"Yeah. And hungover to shit. Wassup?"
"Didja know it's gone 12:30?"
"Uh, no. What's wrong with that?"
"We're meeting Mom and Dad in fifteen minutes!"
"So?"
"So, get dressed, do your teeth, grab your key, and get outta here! I'm driving."
"Not the motorbike."
"You have a motorbike?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well, I am taking my car. So, do what you gotta do to get outta the house."
"Apartment. Or, as your friend Rick Mason calls it, 'flat'."
"Babe, I'm not arguing with you, just move!"
"Did you just—"
"Yes, get over it, move."
"I'm ready, bitch! It's you who's gotta move."
"Where are my keys? Yelena! Where are my—"
"Bowl by the front door."
"Oh, thank you."
"Also, stop shouting, bitch."
"Why are you calling me a 'bitch'?"
"Don't ask, cos I don't know. Anyway, lezzgo. Pun fucking intended."
Natasha chuckles and Yelena pushes her out of the apartment, before locking the door behind them.
They reach Nat's car, and she drives quickly, using defensive driving.
"Nat, I'm gonna puke! Stop with the defensive driving! I'm sure Melina and Alexei aren't gonna care if we're late. They'd rather us be alive."
Natasha sighs, but stops the aggressive driving... Until she gets to the street the restaurant is on, where she expertly drifts around the corner.
"You're a dick. You did that on purpose."
"Yes, I did."
"I wanna hate you, but also, that was so cool!"
"Thanks. C'mon, let's go. Ooh, you're looking a lil peaky."
They leave the car.
"No shit. I just need five minutes to get back to my normal state. Or at least looking normal." Natasha locks the car and puts her hand on the long, gold door handle. "Nat... wait with me."
Natasha sighs, but waits, nonetheless. After exactly five minutes of bent-over deep breathing, and some sighing, Yelena straightens up, clears her throat, and pushes her way into the restaurant. She stops and waits for Natasha to speak to the server. "Hi, table for four. It's under the name Romanoff. Our Mom and Dad should already be here."
"Ah, yes. Right this way."
Natasha and Yelena follow the server, and Nat puts her silver-rimmed aviators on the top of her head. Yelena keeps her round rose-tinted shades on, to dim the brightness of the indoor lights (and the sun outside).
The server directs them to their table. And pulls out a chair for Natasha, and then Yelena. She fills their glasses with water, from a pitcher and then leaves them be.
"You're late." Melina announces.
"Hey, don't blame me. I was up well before Nat was." Yelena shrugs, picking up a breadstick from a glass jar.
"Yelena, take off your sunglasses. We're indoors." Melina states.
"I have light sensitivity?"
"No, you don't. Try again."
"Uh, because of the fluorescent lights?"
"She's hungover." Natasha announces, and receives a swift kick to the shin, under the table. "Ow."
" Сука ."
"Yelena, really? A party?"
"Well, it wasn't so much of a party... It was a few drinks... At AETHER Club."
"Isn't that a sex club?" Alexei asks.
"No! It's a strip club."
"You went to a strip club?" Melina asks, horrified.
"No, no. During the day it's a Gentlemen's Club, and at night, it's a Nightclub."
"But you're not a gentleman..."
"Yeah, but I'm gay, Mom."
"Still? I thought that was a phase."
Yelena scoffs. "Wow. Seriously?"
"We haven't spoken to you for years, darling girl. You told us you were into girls, when you were 19 and that's the last we heard of it."
"Your mother and I are totally fine with you being gay. It doesn't bother us. We just wish you spoke to us more. Both of you."
"Yelena? Is that you? Oh, my God. How are you feeling today? I thought you would be in bed with a wicked hangover!"
"Callum? Oh, shit. Look at you! How the fuck are you so fresh-faced?"
"You look like shit. But I'm not surprised after the drugs you took."
Yelena glares at him, but he doesn't notice.
"Drugs? Yelena."
"Uh, what? No, no drugs, Mom."
"Oh, shit. Uh, I'm gonna go. I'll get Cara to text you, later." Callum says, realising his mistake and running back to his table.
"Please don't tell me my daughter is a drug addict." Melina sighs.
"Uh, no, no, nothing like that. I just tried Ecstasy for the first time." Yelena replies kicking Natasha again, so she doesn't spill her secrets. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm an adult. I tried it, but I—"
"You're lying."
"Huh?"
"You always look down at your feet when you're lying. You got that trick from Natasha."
"Mom, I—Are you mad?"
"No. Just disappointed." Melina sighs.
"Are we still gonna have lunch, or are you gonna go?"
"If you tell me the truth, we can get you help."
"Mom, I don't need help! I take pills twice over Spring Break, and four times over Summer Break. And that's it, I promise. It's only when I'm out clubbing. I swear to you. My grades are so fucking good in Uni. I'm not lying to you. I never take them during Uni. I only take them during those two breaks."
"Yelena Belova, look at me, dead in the eye, and swear to me."
"Мама, I swear on my life. That's the only two times."
"When did it start?"
"Last year. I swear to you."
"Anything else?"
"I occasionally smoke weed when I'm stressed."
"And how often are you stressed?"
"Like four times each semester. But that's not really a drug. It's an herb. It comes from the ground."
"And your Professors know this?"
"Мама, I smoke weed with the Anthropology Professor. That's the only drugs I do... Weed and Ecstasy. But the Ecstasy is not during my studies. I like to blow off steam. I drink too much, but I'm gonna quit."
"You don't quit. We're Russian. You two have been drinking shots of vodka since you were young children." Alexei announces, and Melina sits with a hand on her mouth.
"Мама? Пожалуйста. Я тебя люблю. Не отрекайся от меня. Я не хотел тебя расстраивать. Пожалуйста, прости меня. Mom? Look, I'll go... I'll leave now. I don't wanna make things worse for you."
"How could you be so stupid?" Melina hisses. "Do you know what drugs do to you?"
"Mommy, all of us have been part of the Black Widow Programme. We've all undergone brainwashing, except for Daddy. You know those agents you chemically subjugated around the globe? That was me. I know that is me repeating myself, but I chose to make a shitty fucking mistake. But it's so fucking nice to make my own decisions for once! I get that it's not what you want for me, and I am so sorry, but sometimes I remember the horrors... And the drink and the drugs help. It makes me feel like a normal fucking 22-year-old. So, please, Mom... Don't disown me. I will stop. I won't take Ecstasy again, okay?"
"I'm not gonna disown you. I understand. You want to be normal. You didn't experience a normal childhood. You're going through a rebellious phase, like a teenager. You know... I used to smoke weed back in the 80s." Melina replies. "I also tried Speed. But that was once, and I didn't like how fast it made my heart race. Your father and I spent many summers getting high. Whilst I don't like you popping pills, I will allow you to smoke weed, but only when you are stressed. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I would thank you, but I doubt—"
"Let's just have a nice lunch, hmm?" Melina interrupts, putting a hand up.
"Yeah, sure. And I really am sorry."
"I know you are, which is why you'll be paying for us."
"Wait, what? I didn't bring my wallet."
"Do you not have a banking app on your phone?" Alexei asks.
"Uh, I do, but I'll need to check my funds."
"Mom, I'll pay, and Lena can just pay me back."
"No. I want her to learn her lesson."
"Oh, fuck." Yelena announces, sounding deflated. "I'm in my overdraft."
Melina sighs. "Fine, Natasha can pay. But you're grounded."
"Mommy, I'm 22. You can't ground me."
"Do you want me to drag you back to our house, so you can live with us, and abide by our rules, like a kid again?"
"No, Мама."
"Right, so, you're grounded. Which means no more parties, and no going out with your friends for a week. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Мама." Yelena sighs, then pouts.
"Natasha, I take it you're staying with Yelena?"
"Oh, I was gonna pay for a hotel."
"Well, don't. You can stay with Yelena, and keep an eye on her, and make sure she doesn't go out. Or you're grounded, too."
"Yes, Мама." Natasha replies, copying Yelena for once.
"Right, so, Yelena, I suppose you will be having the all-day breakfast?"
"Uh, yes!"
"And Natasha?"
"The same." She turns to Yelena. "Funny how that mate of yours remembered you and not me... There weren't many redheads out."
"Yeah, well I did spend all night getting high with them, so that's probably why. You just showed up, unannounced, said very little, then left with Roman and I."
"I'm not like you, Yelena. I don't make friends as easily, and I certainly don't do drugs."
"Yeah, but you drink. Why weren't you?"
"Because I was driving, idiot. And I don't drink and drive."
"Oh, yeeeaah."
"Girls, stop whispering."
"Ah, the waitress is coming over. Excuse me, Miss. We're ready to order." Alexei says.
The young lady frowns. She doesn't speak English, so Yelena speaks to her in Hungarian. "Hé. Készen állunk a rendelésre."
"Ó, igen. Mit adhatok neked?"
"Két bőséges reggeli, de nem kérek se paradicsomot, se gombát. A nővérem megteszi. Anyának és apának... Mom, Dad, what are you ordering?"
"I will have the double burger and fries." Alexei announces.
"Mom, a salad?"
"A salad? The nerve of you. No. I will have a chicken and salad sandwich."
"Apa dupla hamburgert és krumplit akar. Anyának csirkés és salátás szendvics lesz."
"És inni?"
"A cup of coffee, everyone?"
"Yes, but milk and sugar separately."
"Egy csésze kávét mindenkinek, tejet és cukrot külön, kérem. Mellesleg remek munkát végzel."
"Igazán? Gondolod?" The waitress asks, smiling a little.
"Természetesen. Nem könnyű szervernek lenni. 17 éves lehetsz?"
"Nem, valójában 19."
"Nos, baba arcod van, úgyhogy élvezd."
"Pont mint te." She answers, smiling widely, and showing perfectly straight and white teeth.
"Tudom, hogy igen. És nézd azt a mosolyt! Olyan gyönyörű."
"Flörtöl velem, kisasszony?"
"Lehetek. Attól függ, mit szeretsz." Yelena replies, smirking at her. "Köszönöm, Izabella." She adds, reading the girls name tag.
"Természetesen. És hívhatsz Izzy vagy Iz."
"Oké, Izzy. Yelena vagyok. A nővérem Lena hív, a barátaim pedig Yel."
"Van egy barátaim, Lena. Yel foglak hívni. Na jó, szia."
"Viszlát."
They give each other a small wave, but Natasha is the only one who notices.
"Megpróbálsz bejutni a nadrágjába?"
"Huh? Hogy érted?"
"Te flörtölsz azzal a lánnyal. Hány éves?"
"19 éves, Izzynek hívják."
"Mi van a fekete barátoddal?" Natasha questions, furrowing her brow.
"Nem randizunk. Szó szerint szexelünk, ez minden." Yelena shrugs.
"Még szerencse, hogy anya és apa sosem tanultak meg magyarul. Mindezt oroszul is elmondhattam volna."
"Ne..."
"Мама, Папа..." Natasha begins, effortlessly switching to Russian.
"Да?" Melina asks.
Natasha quickly glances at Yelena, who mouths the word "Please." Natasha smiles at their parents and proceeds. "Я тебя люблю. Вот и все."
Yelena exhales a sigh of relief. "Thank you" she mouths, and Natasha quirks an eyebrow.
"Я люблю тебя, дорогая девочка. Даже ты, Yelena. Несмотря на то, каким... непослушным ты был в последнее время. Я все еще так сильно люблю тебя. Я собираюсь оставить это на этом, но, пожалуйста, я не хочу говорить о наркотиках в следующем месяце или в следующий раз, когда мы увидимся. Да?"
"Да мама. Мне очень жаль. Я тоже тебя люблю."
"Я знаю, детка. Natasha... по крайней мере, ты не пойдешь по стопам своей младшей сестры... Я надеюсь."
"Нет, Мама. Я никогда не принимал наркотики. Если только меня не одурманил враг."
"Это не в счет. Мы все были там."
They talk a little more in Russian, before their food comes out. Izzy serves their food and as she moves Yelena's plate, the blonde reaches up to grab it and their hands brush. They smirk at each other, as subtly as possible, then Izzy is on her way again.
* * *
Yelena goes with Natasha to the bar, so she can see Izzy one final time, before they leave. "Here, give this to her and your number." Natasha says, noticing that Yelena is fiddling with a piece of paper in her hand. She hands Yelena a 10,000 Hungarian Forint bill, (which is roughly the equivalent of $28) as a tip.
Izzy comes out and Yelena stops her by gently touching her arm. She smiles at the blonde. "Szia Izzy. Ez a tied. És nem, nem szeretném, ha megosztanád a barátaiddal. Ez csak neked és neked szól. És ha van kedved, találkozzunk valamikor..." she fumbles over her words.
Sighing, Natasha finishes her sister's sentence. "Ez Yelena száma, hívd fel."
Yelena rubs the back of her neck, sheepishly. "Sajnálom. Csak azt feltételeztem, hogy meleg vagy és egyedülálló."
"Meleg vagyok és egyedülálló. Írok neked, ha ma 3-kor befejezem a munkát."
"Nos, most 2:30 van. Tudok várni."
"Biztos vagy ebben? A családoddal vagy, nem akarlak zavarni."
Natasha looks at Izzy. "Izzy, beszélsz oroszul?"
"Nem, miért?"
Natasha puts her hand on the outside of Yelena's right bicep. "А как насчет твоего приятеля из клуба?"
"Я сказал ей, что сегодня был со своей семьей, и она сказала, что мы можем встретиться в другой раз. Я могу сказать ей, что встретил кое-кого, если ты думаешь, что это поможет?"
"Я бы подождал, потому что вы двое можете не ладить вне работы. Просто посмотрите, как пойдет дело, а затем расскажите об этом своему другу из клуба."
Yelena nods, but hands Izzy her tip money and her number. Izzy takes both with a smile and then their Mom and Dad interrupt them.
"Come on, you two. We've got things planned for this afternoon."
"Mom, I was hoping to—"
"Whatever it is, the answer is no. You owe us a day out, since we've not seen either of you in so long. No ifs, no buts, apart from getting yours into gear."
Yelena inclines her head at her Mom. "Sajnálom, mennem kell. Anya elég kitartó."
"Nem, ez rendben van. Nem bánom. Írok neked, ha végeztem, oké?"
"Biztos. Az tetszene."
"Esetleg elmehetünk egy kávéra?"
"Úgy hangzik, mint egy randevú... úgy értem, egy terv."
"Ez lehet egy randevú."
Yelena quickly looks around them, gives Izzy a soft peck on the cheek, to which she blushes, and runs out of the restaurant after her family.
"Yelena, my shining light... I am proud of you." Alexei says in hushed tones.
"Why?"
"Because, my little dove, I saw you flirting with the server. It's nice to see you exploring your sexuality."
"Exploring? No, dad I know I'm gay."
"I didn't mean... Look, stop." He grabs Yelena's wrist and flops it around as he speaks. "I'm sorry, that wasn't the right word. I just meant it's nice to see you talking to someone attractive. I've never seen you in a relationship, but I miss that smile of yours. I don't see it... or you... enough, and I miss you girls. I know your mother does too. As for the drugs, please be careful."
"I meant what I said, Daddy. I'm not gonna take them again."
"I'm proud of you. I always am. And you, Natasha!" He holds out his hand, as he shouts after her.
"Chto, go see what he wants. I don't want him shouting down the street. And tell him so." Melina scolds.
Natasha nods and retreats back to her father. "Mom said she doesn't want you shouting down the street."
"Of course, my little Avenger."
"'Little'? I'm a big deal, you know!"
"Little, because you'll always be our little girls. You're all grown up now, but we'll always love you, like we did when you were small. Anyway, I am proud of you, too. Both of you. I see you on the news, Natasha, and... I cry. I get emotional. Not because you destroyed the city of New York... Although, could you please stop doing that? It doesn't look good. But I am emotional because you're saving lives and being a superhero. And you, Yelena, you're going to University. I dropped out of University, but I see your potential, and I don't expect you to quit. I mean, if you do, then so be it, but don't quit. Please. Don't be a failure and a loser, like your old man."
"I can't promise I won't drop out. It's stressful."
"And I can't promise not to destroy New York. Which, by the way, I don't do. It's Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. The big guys, with superpowers. Me and Hawkeye, we're basically the babysitters and I'm always picking up after the boys."
"They're boys, Natasha, and you're a woman. It's in your DNA to pick up after boys. We have a blindness to mess. Your mother is always picking up after me."
Melina joins the conversation. "I was always picking up after Yelena too. Natasha, you were more like me: Neat, tidy, organised. And Yelena you were more like your father: Disorganised, messy and dirty. I don't mean dirty like not washing... I mean you would frequently get muddy. Natasha did too, but she would always allow me to hose her off, whereas you, young lady, would scream at the hose and run away."
"Because it was cold!"
"So was the mud."
"Natasha tried to drown me!"
Natasha gasps. "I did not!"
"Yes, you did. When we were down by the creek in Ohio, you pushed me in the water."
"You tried to push me first! It's just I was stronger."
"Yes, and I was 3 and couldn't swim. You left me to flail around!"
"But did you die?"
"No, but...?"
"So, shut up." Natasha says, giving her a small shove.
"No, you shut up." Yelena replies, shoving Natasha a bit harder.
Natasha shoves Yelena back, harder again. Yelena shoves Natasha as hard as she can, so she has to take a step back. Just as she think she's won, and a smile creeps over her face, Natasha gets Yelena in a headlock. She tightens her grip, but Yelena drives her elbow back into Natasha's stomach. She's winded, but doesn't let go.
"Say you're sorry!"
"For... what?"
"Telling lies about me."
"I... didn't. You... admit—ack!"
"Natasha, let go of your sister!" Melina shouts.
"Not until she apologises!"
"Honey, how can she apologise if you're choking her?" Alexei asks.
"She has to tap out." Natasha snaps, pulling tighter.
Melina steps forward, and Alexei pulls her back. "Alexei..."
"No. I want to see how Yelena will get out."
Yelena's arms are free, so she brings her left hand up and grips Natasha's shoulder. As she does this, she brings her right arm through Nat's legs, as she has a wide stance. She pulls down with her left arm, and simultaneously lifts up with her right arm, hooking it under Nat's right knee, so she's brought off-balance. Natasha crashes down onto the concrete pavement, but despite being caught off guard, she retains her tight grip.
Yelena quickly releases Nat's shoulder, to press her forearm into the side of Nat's face, with her fist clenched. As soon as she is pressing down into Nat's face, she holds her own wrist to act as leverage, and pushes up with her body to open up and release Nat's grip. As she pushes up, Nat's right arm gets trapped between Yelena's shoulder and neck. Yelena doesn't care too much about this, especially when she digs her knee into Nat's ribcage, to help her get up off the floor, and to hurt Nat more. For extra pain, and to show that she's having none of it, Yelena punches Natasha in the face, and storms off.
Alexei strides off after Yelena, whilst Melina helps Natasha to her feet. "You alright?"
Natasha massages her jaw where Yelena struck her. "Yeah. She's got a mean right hook."
"I'm going to be honest with you. I want to be mad at the both of you, for fighting, but I am impressed with how effortlessly you did that headlock and how efficiently she broke free. You have been trained well. Whilst I don't condone fighting, I can see how the Programme has helped you both, in self-defence."
"That was nothing. I usually get shot at. I will admit though, I was caught off guard by her, and I'm also impressed with the way she bested me and got free. But don't tell her I told you that. Wouldn't want to inflate her ego."
"No, of course not." Melina replies, before gently kissing the bruise which is already forming on Natasha's face.
Yelena stands with her hands on her hips, and breathes deeply. She groans and rubs her throat, and then her knuckles.
"You okay, kiddo?"
"I'm fine."
"It's okay to not be fine. You don't have to act so tough, you know."
"I'm pissed she choked me. But I will admit it was pretty quick. I wasn't expecting it."
"I don't think she was expecting you to drop her like that."
"Her headlock was a slick move. Don't tell her I said that. Wouldn't want to inflate her ego."
"No, no. You two are just as important as each other. Just as good as each other too."
"Although, I'm better."
"Really?" Alexei asks, pretending to be surprised.
"Yes, I'm younger, more agile, and I'm the greatest child assassin the world ever knew."
"The greatest child assassin the world ever knew." Alexei says along with her. "You two should apologise to each other, though."
Natasha and Melina catch up with them, as Alexei mentions an apology.
"She started it!" the two say in unison, pointing at the other and narrowing their eyes in disdain.
"You both started it. Now apologise to each other, or you're grounded for two weeks."
"But—" they begin.
"No. I won't tolerate this behaviour! You both outdid the other, and you both won, in some form, but enough is enough. I'm ending this. No more fighting!" Melina gets stern then, and crosses her arms.
"Yes, Мама." They say in unison.
"Aww, look, still getting told off by their Mommy!" exclaims a Hungarian teenage boy to his friends.
"Babies! Babies!" a second one replies.
The group of four laughs at the two women being scorned by Melina. Until Alexei shouts at them in Russian.
"Oh, shit! They're Russian! Never mind. Sorry!" The first lad shouts, apologising.
"Why are you so scared of a family of Russians? It's just a country!" A third boy announces.
"Bro! Russians can kill you with their bare hands!"
"So can anyone."
"Okay, but have you ever seen a Russian Babushka kill a bear with her bare hands?"
"No."
"I have; Russian Babushkas are badasses! And if you want to live long enough, you don't take the piss out of the Ruskies!"
"Boo!" Alexei says, loudly, from behind them. The teenagers all scream and run away, as fast as they can. Alexei laughs at them as they go.
Melina scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Come on, we have been standing around here for far too long now."
"Szia, Yelena." A familiar voice from behind says.
Yelena turns around and smiles at Izzy approaching them.
"Szia, Izzy. Befejezett munka?"
"Igen. Szabad vagy, vagy kimész a családoddal?"
"Nem igazán tudom. Egy másodperc."
"Biztos."
"Мама...?"
"Это не наша официантка?"
"Она была, да. Слушайте, я люблю вас, ребята, но я хочу пойти с ней выпить кофе. Можно мне, пожалуйста?"
"Почему?"
"Потому что я думаю, что она милая. Ей 19. Мама, я думаю, что она привлекательная... Я хочу..."
"Yelena хочет пригласить ее на свидание, Мама."
"Свидание?"
"Да, Мама. Свидание."
"Очень хорошо. Да, ты можешь идти. Но я хочу, чтобы ты завтра потусовался с нами."
"Обещать. Ладно, люблю тебя, пока! Прости, что ударил тебя, Nat."
Yelena turns to Izzy. "Oké, kimehetek. Hova akarsz menni?"
"Nem jut eszembe sehol. Sétáljunk egyet a folyó mentén?"
"Oké, ez jó ötlet."
The two of them leave together and as they fall into step, Izzy's fingers brush lightly against Yelena's, but she doesn't pull away. They talk animatedly as they walk down the road towards the river. And twice, Yelena's husky laugh bounces off the cars.
"Our little girl is growing up." Melina announces.
* * *
As they walk along the river, Yelena and Izzy are deep in conversation, but Keisha, from the club, is out for her afternoon run. She stops and removes her headphones, before pausing her workout, and tapping Yelena on the shoulder.
"Hey, Yelena. Who's your friend?"
"Oh. Hi, Keisha. Uh, this is Izzy. She was our waitress this afternoon."
"What, and you're just casually out with her?"
"Are you jealous?" Yelena asks, furrowing her brow.
"Well, no, since we're not dating. But we have slept together..."
"Do you have feelings for me, or something?"
"I have some feelings for you, I'm not a monster."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because in my line of work, we can't date our clients. So, why should I risk my job over some Russian whore?"
"Hey! That's not fair."
"Oh, it's just your nickname, honeybee." Keisha replies, dripping with both sweat and sarcasm.
"I'm going for a walk; with someone I've just met. We slept together the first time we met. I'm not dating anybody."
"No, but looks like you're getting cosy."
"What?" Yelena follows Keisha's gaze to Izzy's arm linked in hers, and Yelena pulls away.
"Does she speak Hungarian?"
"Yes, but—"
Keisha lets Izzy know that she and Yelena have slept together, which makes her Keisha's 'property.' Yelena pulls a face and tries to deny this, which leads to an argument between the three women. As far as Keisha's concerned, Yelena is her fuck buddy, and hers only. As far as Izzy's concerned, Yelena is single, so she can choose who she sleeps with. And as far as Yelena's concerned, she is trying to stop the argument from escalating further, by shushing them. The two women take umbrage to the fact they have been told to "shush", so they each slap one of Yelena's cheeks.
"Hey!" she cries. "What was that for?"
The women yell at her in Hungarian, and then Keisha tries to argue her case that she can't have a relationship, because she is a stripper and therefore would lose her job. Izzy, who is now turned on by the prospect of Keisha being a stripper, simply ignores Yelena, and begins flirting with Keisha. The Black girl is enticed by the spicy words Izzy is whispering in her ear, and finds herself reaching out for Izzy.
"You know what? Fine. Have at it. You two can date each other, I'm out!" Yelena snaps, just as the two begin to kiss passionately in public. Yelena grumbles to herself in Russian, stuffs her hands in her jeans pockets, hunches her shoulders, and storms off. Once she's out of earshot and sightline of the two women, she pulls out her phone and texts Nat.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yelena
Ran into Keisha from the club.
Izzy and her bickered about
me, slapped me, then began
making out. I'm coming back.
Where are you?
Ran into Keisha from the club.
Izzy and her bickered about
me, slapped me, then began
making out. I'm coming back.
Where are you?
Nat. Dickhead. Answer the phone!
Nat
What's up?
Yelena
Read previous message. Sorry.
Didn't mean to send twice.
Nat
Ooh, that's a low blow. I'm
sorry sis. Come to Gelarto
Rosa.
Yelena
Oh, shit. I LOVE that place. Is it bad
that I wanna cry?
Nat
Ice cream will fix it. I love
you. Even if no one else
does, I'll always love you,
младшая сестра. Xx
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yelena locks her phone and puts it away, before wiping the tears from her cheeks and quickening her pace to Gelarto Rosa.
"Hi, Mommy." Yelena says in a voice smaller than her personality.
"Hi, baby girl. What happened to your date?"
"I don't wanna talk about it. I just want ice cream and then I wanna go home and cry on the couch and cuddle Natasha."
"Baby girl." Melina cups Yelena's cheeks. "Is it that bad?" Yelena's bottom lip begins to quiver, and she looks distraught. She lets herself be pulled in for a hug and cries softly into her mother's shoulder, whilst Melina rubs her back. "Okay, baby girl. Okay. I got you. You're okay, you'll be okay."
Yelena shudders as she catches her breath. Then, as quickly as she started, she stops crying. Wiping her tears away and sniffling, she disappears into the bathroom to wash her hands and splash her face with cold water. She plasters a fake smile on her face, and re-joins the others. When they're up next, Yelena interrupts her mother. "Hey, Pat. Can I have my usual?"
"Sure can, Yelena. And, hey, I couldn't help but noticing you seemed upset. Have an extra scoop on me."
"Pat... Thank you. You just made my day!"
"Don't I always, Yelena?"
"Well, you do, every time I come in here."
"Which is every Saturday!" Pat chuckles, handing her a three-scoop mint choc chip ice cream cone, with a chocolate Flake, (for the price of a two-scoop).
"Which is every Saturday." Yelena echoes. "Thanks, boss." She takes the ice cream and eats the Flake first.
"You got it, superstar!" They fist bump and Yelena finds a table for four.
The others join her shortly afterwards. "How did you manage to snag a three-scoop for the price of two?" Natasha asks.
"First of all, I'm a regular, second of all, that's the manager, and a friend of mine, because I'm a regular, and third of all, he saw that I was upset. So..." she shrugs, "you do the maths."
"Math."
"Maths."
"Math."
"We're in Europe, it's Maths. Short for Mathematics."
"It's Math. It's an abbreviation for Mathematics. Same as gym is an abbreviation for Gymnastics."
"Yes, but it's Mathematics, not Mathematic. So, it should be plural."
"Whatever, I'm not arguing. I say it the American way."
"But you're European."
"I'm an American citizen. It was part of my defection to S.H.I.E.L.D.. You three are European, I am not."
"You don't even have a dual citizenship?" Alexei asks.
"No. I was proud to be Russian, but it's a past I need to forget. I am an American. Hence why I have an American accent. Being Russian... It's not me anymore. By blood, yes, by nurture, yes. But I feel safer being an American."
"Russians are safe, too."
"They are now, but being a Commie in the US was pretty fucking unsafe. Do you know how many times I got threatened by an American citizen when they heard me speak? It was crazy for a 20-year-old. By the time I was 21, I had learnt to speak with a Manhattan accent, so I could blend in. I'm happy that you three own your Russianness and have retained your accents, but that's not me. That world I knew was too traumatising."
"The world has changed, Natasha."
"I know it has. Yelena would be safer in America, even with her accent, because it's soft enough to be mistaken for Serbian, Croatian or even Bosnian. If the person wasn't really that smart, they could even say it's Latvian. We three know the truth. You two, especially you Alexei, have stronger accents, so, people instantly know you're from Russia. Melina sounds softer than Alexei, which is undoubtedly where Yelena picked up her soft accent from. Saint Petersburg seems to have a more sophisticated and refined grasp of the Russian language, whereas us from Moscow do not. Alexei and I were born in Moscow. Melina, you're from Saint Petersburg, are you not?"
"No, not originally. I was born in Serov. I moved to Saint Petersburg for a job when I was a young adult."
"And I was born somewhere in Russia."
"Honey, you were born in Moscow."
"I was?"
"Yes, Малыш. You were."
"But my birth certificate was destroyed."
"Yes, but Dreykov assigned you and Natasha to us when you were three. I had a copy of your birth certificates, so I knew your names and ages and then when you were assigned to us, they destroyed yours, Yelena. I 'lost' Natasha's and I have it somewhere at my farm. I am not going to be looking for it."
"It's shame mine got destroyed, but it's nice to know I have an official place of birth." Yelena chuckles.
The quartet continue to reminisce about their time in Ohio, and soon laughter fills the ice cream parlour, and Yelena forgets about her heartache.
Unfortunately for her, today was just the beginning of rejection and heartbreak.
Chapter 10: Ten
Chapter Text
Present Day, 3 September 2017. Two weeks after Kate had left the Avengers Tower.
The Avengers had been sent on a mission to Norway to recover some ancient artefacts that Yelena wasn't told much about, and Yelena opted to stay, and sulk, at Natasha's house. She desperately wanted to text Kate, but knew it was fruitless, so she had chosen to leave it locked in the Avengers Tower. She had, however, taken her PS4 to Nat's, and hooked it up to her 47" TV (which was the average size in American households). Currently, she was playing Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, on Hardened difficulty again.
"C'mon, move... Jump! Jump!" She gets sniped by the enemy. "Fuck's sake! Damnit, Jack Mitchell." She growls and tries again.
The house phone rings, and makes Yelena jump. Pausing her game, she gets up from the couch and picks up the phone from the holder. "Romanoff Residence," she says as brightly as possible.
"Hey, Lena. How are you surviving?"
"Urgh, don't ask."
"I just did. Talk to me, while we have an evening to ourselves."
"I feel like shit big sis. My head hurts and my heart hurts."
"Why does your head hurt?"
"I'm hungover."
"What did you steal?"
"Nothing. I bought myself a 1.75L bottle of Russian Standard Gold Vodka. About three days ago. I finished it at 4am this morning."
"Have you slept?"
"Here and there. I'm getting about two hours, and then I wake up in a sweat or hungry."
"Lena, don't kill yourself over this girl."
"We're Russian. We drink vodka like it's water."
"I know, but take it easy, okay? I know the average Russian quaffs 180 bottles of vodka per year, but please take care of yourself."
"I can't stop thinking about her. It's driving me insane. She is on my mind when I'm awake, and then I fall asleep, and wake up thinking about her. I'm fucking dreaming of her, Nat. She isn't here and I need her to be. I am hurting. And I know I hurt her, I'm not saying I didn't. But I am struggling to imagine my life without her. I know I survived before her and I'll survive after her, but right now, I feel like I'm dying and it's the end of the world. I know that's an exaggeration, but I love her, Nat. I have only ever loved you, Roman and Mom and Dad before her."
"I know, little sister. The first time me and Clint broke up, I felt the same way."
"Why did you break up?"
"We were on opposite sides of the law."
"Oh."
"Do yourself a favour. She's obviously the jealous type, so, just don't talk about any exes. I don't know how she feels about the drugs, but I know you're clean now. Just stay that way, baby girl."
"I know. I'm sorry for being a failure."
"No, nuh-uh, not a failure, you just had a rebellious teenager stage at 22."
"Do you think she'll ever forgive me?"
"Probably, Yelena. Look, it's 5:30pm, and we have a dinner reservation for 7pm, so I'm gonna have to get ready.
"You need two and a half hours to get ready?"
"An hour and a half, Yelena. And no. I need an hour; it's a half hour drive."
"I'm hungover, and I've not slept. I can't do math."
"Hey, look at you becoming an American."
"Whatever." There's a knock on the front door and Yelena gets up from the second-to-last step. "Are you going anywhere fancy—" she asks, as she opens the door, "Kate?"
"No, I'm Nat."
"No, I mean Kate's on your doorstep."
"Okay, well let me know how it goes, I gotta get ready."
"'Kay, bye Nat." She hangs up.
"Hi." Kate begins.
"Hi. Uh, come in, come in, or... are you passing by?"
"No, I'm not just passing by. I was hoping we could talk. I, uh, I text you about two hours ago, but I didn't get a reply."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I left it at the Avengers Tower, so I wasn't tempted to message you, cos I was told that a break meant no contact."
"Yes, it does." Kate says, taking off her shoes and leaving them by the front door.
Yelena closes the door and leads the way into the extensive living room. She takes a seat where she has been sat for hours and Kate sits on the armchair. Yelena saves and quits her game, before putting the PS4 into Rest Mode. "Okay, you've got my full and undivided attention. But, please don't shout at me. I'm hungover."
"Actually, so am I. I had one too many Disaronno and Cokes last night."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Yelena replies, sounding genuine.
"Thank you. How about you?"
"Too much vodka."
"Ah, yeah, I should have guessed."
The lapse into awkward silence, before Yelena breaks it. "So, uh, what did you want to talk about?"
"Us." Kate answers, bluntly. "I'm sorry I went off on you. You caught me by surprise, because I didn't know you had had sex before, and I guess I was angry, because I thought I was your first. But you've had sex with Keisha and Mikaela. Is there anyone else?"
"No, apart from being raped by Dreykov..."
"Okay, well I wasn't gonna include that, cos you know that wasn't consensual."
"Yeah, but I'm telling you the truth." Yelena keeps eye contact with Kate. "And you can always tell if I'm lying, because I look at my feet. Well, unless I'm being tortured, then I'll keep eye contact, but since I'm not being tortured, you can deduce that I'm telling the truth."
"So, the drugs?"
"For two years. From 20-22. I lied and told my Mom it was from when I was 21. I don't smoke weed any more and I don't take pills any more. I just drink. I swear to you."
"Okay."
"I'm sorry for lying to you and for omitting the truth. I broke your trust and that's inexcusable."
"Thank you for your apology. I'm sorry I was quick to anger and didn't let you explain. That's why I asked for a break. I needed to analyse the way I was responding to you, as it was unfair."
"Thank you for your apology. So, uh, what now?"
"I'd like to end our break, please."
"I thought you were gonna break up with me."
"No, Yel. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. That's the last thing I want to do."
"So, does that mean we can start talking again?"
"Better than that... Мы можем заняться сексом." Kate announces and Yelena's face lights up.
"We can?"
"Yes, and I've been practising that sentence for a few days."
"You're so hot."
"Why?"
"Because Russian is one of the hardest languages to learn. I'm so proud of you for trying to speak my language."
"Well, you learnt mine..."
"But that was decades ago."
"Let me finish."
"Sorry."
"You learnt my language, so I'm learning your language. It's only fair. I'm using an app called Duolingo. And so far, I have a four-day streak. But I learnt that sentence about sex from Google Translate, so it might not be accurate."
"I just say the word сексом with added inflection. That's sex by the way."
"I gathered, since it's pronounced as sex-om."
"Touché."
"So, do you have anything you want to add?"
"Uh, no, I don't think so. Oh! I'm sorry for the unexpected phone call two weeks ago."
"It's okay. I overreacted."
"No, you didn't. You reacted how I would have in that situation."
"Oh, alright."
"Kate Bishop?"
"Yes, Yelena Belova?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Могу ли я поцеловать тебя сейчас?" Yelena asks.
"I don't know that much Russian."
"Поцеловать... Kiss. Can I kiss you now?"
"Yes, you can." Kate smiles at Yelena, and the blonde captures her lips. It is gentle and tentative. There is a nervousness about it. "Why are you nervous?" Kate asks.
"It's been two weeks. I assumed you wanted me to take it slow and not devour you with my lips."
"Oh. Well... When you put it like that. By all means, my dear, devour me."
"I sense sarcasm."
"Only a little bit of mockery. But please, devour me. Make me come undone with your tongue."
"I've had a lot of alcohol, so, I might not be up to my usual standards. I'm not making excuses, I'm being honest."
"Devour me anyway. I don't want to savour it. I want to lose myself to your wicked ways."
"'Wicked ways'?"
"Sorry. I've been watching a lot of period dramas. Just fuck me, Yel. I don't care if it's good or bad, I just need to feel your tongue on my body."
"You had me at 'fuck me'." Yelena smirks, launching herself at Kate in the armchair. She pulls her to her feet and kisses the brunette's neck, paying particular attention to the sweet spot behind her ear. Kate gasps, and Yelena kisses her again and again. Once she's satisfied, Yelena slowly trails her tongue down Kate's neck, from the mastoid bone, to her clavicle, and then along it, ending with a nip on her shoulder. She kisses back along Kate's clavicle and kisses and nips at the skin of Kate's neck, before meeting her lips, and gently parting them with her tongue. She stops and Kate nods, before Yelena goes full 'Spicy Mode' and makes out with her, passionately, whilst her hands wander Kate's body.
"Let's go... upstairs." Kate pants.
"Okay." Yelena breathes into Kate's neck and takes her by the hand, leading her to the stairs. Yelena goes to kiss Kate again, but she is playfully shoved away. Yelena frowns at her, until Kate giggles and runs upstairs. The last time they were both here, Yelena was on crutches, so it is nice to be able to run up the stairs and playfully chase Kate.
Kate begins to strip at the top of the stairs and Yelena missteps because she's distracted. She doesn't fall, but she does need to catch herself on the bannister.
"You trying to kill me now?" Yelena asks, to which Kate simply giggles.
Throwing her t-shirt at Yelena, the blonde inhales Kate's perfume and sighs contentedly, before throwing it over her shoulder and coming to meet her. "Okay, let's not play at the top of the stairs. I don't want either of us to break or legs... Or worse, our necks."
"Good idea. Just hug me." Sure enough, the hyperactivity stops, momentarily, as they embrace on the landing. As Kate pulls away, she pulls off Yelena's t-shirt and tosses it down the stairs, where it lands, on the step above from her own.
They enter the bedroom and as Yelena closes the door, Kate pins her against it. "Oh, shit. This again?"
"What? You don't like it?"
"Oh, no, I love it. But I thought you would prefer me to 'devour' you, and make you feel good, since I owe you an apology."
"Hmm, okay." Kate says bounding over to the bed, where she immediately takes off her jeans.
Yelena, who had been 'roughing it' for the last few days, removes her joggers and throws them to one side. She picks up Kate's jeans and they join them. She adjusts the ponytail, turning it into a bun and grins at her lover, laying in her underwear on the bed.
"What are you doing?" Kate laughs.
"Just admiring the view, thinking of how lucky I am."
"Maybe this view would be better." Kate says, nonchalantly, removing her underwear.
Yelena licks her lips, and pretends to take a photograph with her index fingers.
"Oh, you taking photos of me now, are you?"
"Just adding it to the 'Wank Bank'."
"The what now?"
"Oh, sorry. Forgot you're not European. The 'Spank Bank'."
"Huh?"
"I'm making a mental image so I can masturbate to it, later."
"Oh! That kinda spank. Thought you meant like smack... And I got confused."
"I didn't want to say 'Masturbation Gallery', cos that's stupid."
Kate giggles. "I actually prefer 'Wank Bank'."
"You're gonna learn European words, you know."
"Well, I already know you say 'trousers' and not 'pants', and you say 'herb' and not 'erb', and you use a magical thing called an 'electric kettle' for a cup of tea."
"Just say 'cuppa'. Like the British do. I might be a Ruskie, but I've learnt some British words."
Kate pulls a face. "The Russian calling herself a 'Ruskie'. I don't like that."
"Yeah, no, I hated it, soon as I said it. We're getting distracted."
"You're getting distracted."
"Shh, don't ruin the moment."
"Do you have your mental picture, yet."
Yelena doesn't hear her, since she's already started playing with herself. She moans at the contact.
"Are you—"
"Mmm..."
"I thought you were going to touch me, first?"
"Thought... ah... you'd... mmm... want... to... oh..."
"Watch? Babe, I'm sorry, but it's not doing anything for me."
"Oh." Yelena says, sounding deflated. She stops what she's doing, grabs a tissue from the tissue box and wipes her fingers, before discarding it. "I'm sorry. I should have asked, I didn't mean to make it about me. I guess I thought you'd find it hot."
"Not something we've done before, and seeing you touch yourself... Kinda makes me jealous, cos I want you to touch me like that."
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. Let's just carry on with touching each other and see where that leads."
"You mean like this?" Yelena asks, before joining Kate on the bed, gently pushing her onto the mattress, and straddling her hips. She kisses her neck again, and nuzzles into it a little, smelling her skin, before kissing it again. "Can I mark your skin?" Yelena whispers into Kate's ear, tickling it and making her giggle.
"That tickles. Mark it how? With a hickey?"
"That seems so immature. With a love bite."
"Hmm, yes please."
"Thanks, my love." Yelena replies before selecting a spot on Kate's neck and sucking and biting at the flesh. Kate wriggles and writhes, moaning in pleasure. Once Yelena is satisfied, she trails hot kisses down Kate's sternum, torso and abdomen, before putting her head between Kate's legs. She rests her head on her hip and looks at Kate's face.
"Why have you stopped again?"
"Because I want this to be consensual."
"I told you to devour me, I thought that was clear, verbal consent?"
"I just wanted to make sure."
"Yelena, please, I need to feel your tongue on my body. Please, baby. Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes."
Yelena smirks... "Well, in that case..." and moves her head between the brunette's legs, licking the length of her vagina, before focusing on the clitoris. She stimulates the clit, arousing Kate, who gasps at the contact. She shudders, once or twice, as Yelena hits the right spot, so she endeavours to find it again, to make Kate shudder again.
When Kate is least expecting it, Yelena slips two fingers inside her. "Ahhhh..." her breathing increases. "Ohshi—ohfu—oh, oh, ohhh..." Kate's breathing is now a combination of quick inhales, quick exhales and moans. She begins to pant, and gasp, her mouth open wide, and her legs even wider. "Oh, oh, oh... okay, ohshi—Yel, shit, fu—fuck... fuck... fuck... mmm, mmm, oh god, oh god."
"Are you okay?" Yelena asks, slowing her fingers.
"Uh-huh. Don't stop. Go, go, go."
Yelena resumes her licking and fingering, and Kate continues her vocalisations.
After another fifteen minutes of working her over (making it a total of thirty, as it had been a while), Kate's legs begin to shudder, and she grips both the pillowcase and Yelena's hair. "I'm cl-ohhh... cl-clo-close."
"Mmhmm."
"Ohhh, Kate...! Wait, I'm Kate. Yelena...!"
"Mmhmm."
Although Kate's moans don't increase in volume, they do increase in frequency. She's talking less, and moaning more. Yelena removes her fingers and focuses on licking her out.
The house phone rings and the answer machine picks it up.
"'Hi, you've reached the Romanoff Residence. I'm not at home right now, but if you can leave your name and a message, I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.' Beeeep. Hey, Lena, it's Nat. We've finished up in Norway and came home an hour ahead of schedule. Debrief is done, so I'm on my way home now. With takeout. And the team. They insisted on seeing my house, so please shower and put on clean clothes. I love you. I'll be home in twenty minutes. Okay, bye."
"Was that the house phone?"
"I don't know and I don't care. I wanna—"
"Fuck, Yelena!" and with that, Kate falls apart under Yelena's tongue.
They stop for a quick pee break, and for Yelena to wash her pussy and make it taste nice, (it had been at least three days since she last washed her entire body, but that wasn't a priority for her at the moment, and Kate hadn't complained) before they were back in the room, with Yelena underneath Kate.
Kate licks and kisses Yelena's neck, from behind her ear, to her shoulder, and gets to work, immediately, on leaving her a love bite. As she does this, she plays with a nipple, making Yelena moan a little. She admires her handiwork, smirks and kisses Yelena's lips and face before copying Yelena and kissing down her body.
With the phone call at the back of their minds, Kate licks Yelena's clit and makes her writhe under the throes of passion. She begins moaning and pulls Kate's hair, before clawing her back. "Kate! Oh god... I've missed... fuck... Ohhh, mmmm!" She pants and moans, increasing in volume and frequency. "Ohhh, ohhh, shiii, fuuuu, mmmm, mmm, Kaa—"
Outside, the luxurious cars pull up on the street, and their engines are switched off. The occupants step out and Natasha beckons the team over to her. "I'm gonna go in, make sure Yelena is decent and then I'll come get you all. Wouldn't want to embarrass her. Kate came over earlier..."
"That's great!" Steve announces, leaning on Tony's car.
"Uh, don't lean on the car, please."
Steve stands upright, and Natasha shakes her head. She walks the two doors down to her house and unlocks the door. The strewn clothes on the stairs is the first thing she notices, and as she closes the door, she hears Yelena speaking. "Тебе так хорошо, любовь моя Заставь меня кончить для тебя. Заставь меня сломаться ради тебя!"
She deliberately makes her presence known. "Yelena?!"
Back upstairs, panic sets in, and Yelena speaks in hushed tones. "Shit, it's Nat. Dammit, and I was so close too."
"How close?"
"Like right fucking there. Nat?! Five minutes... please!" she yells down the stairs.
"Five?"
"More like two, but I wanna... shit... Kate!"
Yelena dials back her vocalisations and bites down on her hand. She breathes through the pain of her teeth clenched on her skin and through the pleasure rocking through her body. With a few more licks on her clit, she moans, muffled by her hand. The pair relax in the bed, coming down from their high.
"Lena, I'm coming up!" Nat's boot steps thud on the stairs and the girls panic, trying to dress themselves. They forget that their t-shirts are outside. "You decent?"
They are dressed, but sans tops.
"Yes."
"I'm not looking, but you might need these. I suggest the two of you splash cold water on your face and compose yourselves, because the boys are here."
"Nat, you don't need to cover your eyes. We're not naked. How did know Kate was still here?"
Natasha uncovers her eyes. "Well, one, there were two t-shirts on the stairs and two, I heard two voices. Kind of a dead giveaway."
"Well, how did you know I was having sex and not just masturbating?"
"Because the last time you masturbated in this house, you left the door wide open, and your moans sounded depressed. And then you sighed, stopped, gave me a death stare and the middle finger and slammed the door."
"I don't remember that. Must have been a long time ago."
"It was last week, before I went to Norway. And also, if you were just masturbating you wouldn't need to say 'make me cum'."
"Oh, you heard that, huh? But how did you know?"
"Lena, I speak Russian, remember? And you practically shouted it. Plus, I just gave you the reasons why I knew you were having sex. You're a fucking dumbass, I swear. Now, please get dressed, splash your faces with cold water, have some mouth wash and come downstairs. I'm going to let boys, and Carol, in now."
"The Avengers are here?" Kate asks.
"Yes, did you not get the answer machine message?"
"We were having sex, so that would be no."
Natasha sighs. "I rang you and said I was on my way home, and would be back in twenty minutes."
"Oh. Well, sorry."
"Mmhmm." Natasha replies, throwing the t-shirts at Yelena and walking out, closing the door behind her.
"That's twice we've been caught right at the end, before you cum."
"Yeah, well be grateful she didn't walk in on us in the middle of sex."
"I shudder at the thought. Can I use your mouthwash?"
"Yes, it's the kids one."
"Uh, why?"
"Because, Kate, it has a unicorn on it, and it doesn't contain alcohol. I have sensitive teeth and gums. And also... it has a unicorn on it!"
"You're so cute."
"I'm gonna be pissing mind."
"'Peeing', Yelena. Why do you have to be so crass?"
"I thought you liked it when I said things like 'cunt'."
"During sex, yes. But not all the time. I challenge you to make it through this gathering without cursing. In English, or in Russian."
"Ah, сука."
"Starting now."
"Megbasz."
"Or whatever language that is."
"Scheiße."
"Or German. You cannot cuss in any foreign language that you know, or English, or American Sign Language, or Morse Code."
"What about Russian Sign Language?"
"You made that up!"
"No. RSL is real."
"I want you to not cuss. I want to see if you can do it."
"What's in it for me, if I don't swear?"
"The satisfaction of not using bad language. Especially around Steve Rogers." Natasha says, handing Kate a spare toothbrush. "You might as well leave that here. You can come and stay over any time. Just, one, or both of you, let me know if you're gonna have sex, please. I don't want to walk in on you midway through."
The two blush and nod in unison. Kate takes the unopened toothbrush, and the pair make themselves presentable, whilst Natasha goes downstairs and lets in the rest of the Avengers.
"So, what were they up to? Sleeping?" Steve asks.
"Yes." Natasha lies.
"Well, this is a nice house." Clint states.
"Thanks. I know it's not exactly a penthouse, but it's big enough."
"You know I can probably make you a bigger TV, right?" Tony announces, obnoxiously.
"It's 47 inches, Tone. It's big enough."
"That's what she said!" Clint and Tony exclaim in unison. Natasha sighs.
"So, I heard nobody shows up to a house party empty handed, so, I, uh, brought Hershey's Minis, with me. I hope that's alright?" Carol asks, handing two packets to Nat.
"Carol, you didn't need to, but thank you." She takes the packets and heads into the kitchen to put them in a large cereal bowl.
"You know your living room looks like a frat house?" Steve calls.
"I'm not surprised. I'm living with a frat boy!" Natasha calls from the kitchen. She carries the bowl into the lounge and as she passes the stairs, she looks up to see Kate and Yelena coming down them. "Garbage bag, living room." Yelena sighs and rolls her eyes. "Now!" Natasha hisses. Yelena nods, and disappears to grab a black bag from the kitchen.
"I thought you were living with your sister?" Steve asks.
"I am. She's the frat boy."
"But she's not a boy...?" Steve begins.
"Or is she now a he?" Tony finishes.
"No, she's a she, but she's messy like a teenage boy." Yelena comes in carrying a garbage bag. "You. Clean up your mess."
"You're such a mooom!" Yelena complains.
"We have guests, and you're living like a teenager."
"It's a few potato chip bags and some empty chocolate wrappers. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that it's them, plus an empty bottle of vodka, and I see four shot glasses – why do you need four? – and over there is... I don't even wanna know what that is—"
"Cheesy topped popcorn! For the record, it's lovely!"
"Then why make it?"
"I wanted to."
"What part of you thought 'hey, I know, let's put cheese on popcorn and see what happens?' Like, how is that normal?"
"I was drunk! Thanks for calling me out, by the way(!)" Yelena adds, sarcastically.
"I gave you enough warning!"
"I wasn't aware of said warning. Otherwise, I would have done it hours ago. I'm sorry I left your house a mess. I really am."
Natasha sighs. "You know you can buy a bag of cheesy popcorn, right? You didn't need to make your own."
"I didn't know that, no. Look, drunk Yelena does dumb shit. We know this, I used to take dru—" she stops, catching both a look from Natasha and a look from Kate. "Never mind."
"Just clean it up."
"Oh, and I needed 4 shot glasses because I was experimenting with making cocktails."
"And where the hell are those glasses?"
"In the dishwasher. I just forgot about the shot glasses. I may be an idiot, but I do mostly clean up after myself. Look, I'm sorry I left a mess. Honestly, I am. But I thought Kate and I had broken up, so I was wallowing in self-pity, and my dumbass decided to play 'Drink Vodka Like Water'."
"You know that's just the average Russian right?" Natasha jokes.
"Yes, but by American standards, I'm probably an alcoholic."
"Yes, but by Russian standards, you're not drinking enough. And, you said it yourself, you're Russian. It doesn't matter where you live, you are Russian, and you are loyal to her people."
"Для Родины!" Yelena states.
"Для Родины!" Natasha echoes.
"Sorry for the mess, everyone. I was... sleeping... so, I didn't know we had guests."
"Hang on, a minute. If you thought you and Kate had broken up, then why is she still here? Don't separated people usually stay away from each other?" Steve asks.
"It's not a divorce!" the two girls answer in unison.
"We talked..." Yelena begins.
"And we're good." Kate finishes.
"We're still together." Yelena adds, to avoid any potential confusion.
"Quick question, but what does... whatever you said mean?" Steve asks.
"For the Motherland!" Natasha and Yelena answer in unison. "Just means we're patriotic." They share a look, because they said two things together. And then they laugh.
Yelena shakes her head, softly, and then busies herself in clearing up her mess. She then goes one step further, and grabs some Dettol spray and a J cloth to wipe down the coffee table.
"Thank you." Natasha says, giving her a kiss on the cheek, once she is done. "Right! Who wants a tour of the house?"
Yelena walks briskly to the kitchen to put away the cleaning products and dump the black bag by the front door and then takes the stairs two at a time to make her bed.
"So, this is the living room, and the hallway. Through here is the dining room."
"Wow, dinner parties at Nat's, everyone!" Clint announces at the table big enough to seat up to eight people.
"And the kitchen."
"Jesus, it's spotless. Do you have a maid?" Tony jokes.
"Uh, Natasha, I think your plant needs watering." Carol says, admiring a potted plant.
"Oh, that's a rubber plant. It's not real. The only real plant I have is the—"
"Ow!" Steve announces.
"Cactus." Natasha chuckles and shakes her head. They go back on themselves, through the dining room, and into the hallway before Nat leads them all upstairs. "This is Yelena's room. I'm sure it's a mess."
The door opens. "Mess? What mess?" She pulls it open wide and Nat blinks in surprise.
"That's a nice size. Oh, you could have a computer desk in that corner." Tony starts, pointing at the area between the window and the wardrobe. "I bet I could make you one. How about it?"
"Yeah, alright. Thanks Tony Stark."
"You're welcome."
Natasha leads them down the long corridor. "Bathroom, and my room down here." She opens the door, to reveal a spacious master bedroom, with a black leather-framed King bed. There are pull-out drawers built into the base, and on the bed, is a pristine white duvet set, tucked in at the bottom. There are four, equally pristine pillows at the top, with a black-and-white geometric throw pillow in between the bottom two pillows, to break up the monotony. The duvet has been pulled back to air the sheet, and a black throw blanket has been folded in half and lays neatly along the bottom of the bed. Yelena had never actually seen Nat's bedroom before, so she gives a low whistle.
"What?" Nat asks, turning her head to look at her.
"Never been in here before. It's very... uniform. And your duvet is tucked in Army style. I see you like your room to be basic. Does it remind you of our upbringing?"
"What, the Soviet Union? If I was still caught up in all that, I think my colour scheme would be red and gold."
"No, I mean, take the girl outta the Red Room, but can't take the Red Room outta the girl."
"The room is too white, and not oppressive enough, so definitely not trying to remember that place."
"Well, your room is very neat, and your bed is tucked military style."
"Because I like knowing where everything is."
"Cos you're a perfectionist."
"Maybe so. And, for the record, I like your room."
"My room?"
"Yeah, the posters on your wall. It's a nice touch."
"I didn't notice any posters." Carol says.
"That's because they're behind the door. Yelena's room is an odd shape. It goes back on itself and the wall across the stairs is part of Yelena's room. It's like an L-shape. Lena?"
"On it." She leads them back to her room.
Opening the door, again, the first thing they see is her double bed, with a black duvet cover, emblazoned with a dripping watercolour print of a gamepad with the words GAMER underneath. Directly in front of them, on the other side of the bed, and a little to the right, is a large wardrobe and the desk-sized-gap Tony pointed out. She leads them inside the room, where a large bay window, complete with built-in window seat, takes up a large portion of the wall at the foot of the bed. To the right of the window, there is a deep nook, which is the length of the room, plus the extension of the wall across the stairs. This isn't as wide, however, but contains a chest of drawers, and some storage boxes (the Christmas tree being in one, after Natasha was too lazy to put it back in the attic). Behind the open door is a mirror. Next to the mirror, and behind the open door, are a bunch of posters. Two of which are from a video game, one is from a band, one is an old, dog-eared Playboy pinup, (to which she blushes) and there is an old string of photos of Nat and Yelena, printed from a photobooth. Next to this, is a Polaroid of the whole family – Alexei, Melina, Natasha and Yelena.
It seems as though there is a lot of potential to the room; given Tony's non-verbal musings, but there would "need to be a lot of furniture-moving-around to achieve a better sense of Feng Sui." Everyone looks at Tony after he mentions 'Feng Sui', and there are a few eyebrows raised.
"I know my stuff." Tony admits.
The others compliment Yelena's well decorated room and she uses this opportunity to whisper to Kate.
"Hey, I don't fancy hanging out here while I'm still horny you wanna take it back to your place?"
"You think Nat'll notice if we just sneak out and don't come back for hours?"
"Nat'll notice that you two are whispering. What are you planning?" She asks, in third person.
"Can we be excused from your little social club?" Yelena asks.
"Why?" Natasha asks, quirking an eyebrow.
"Want to go for a walk." Kate whispers, at the same time Yelena answers.
"Want to have more sex. Oh. Uh... a walk?" She adds, hearing what Kate said.
"You two are impossible. Okay, fine. You have one hour."
"Dude... Kate's place is twenty minutes away!" Yelena replies, a little too loud. The others turn to her, mid-conversation and she flushes scarlet. "Um, hi? N-need to pick up something... f-for—"
"Nat. I have a present for Nat, and I totally forgot to bring it with me." Kate interrupts.
"Uh, huh." Tony replies, disbelieving. "Is that teenage slang for 'we wanna bang'?"
Yelena chokes on her own saliva. "W-what? Hmm? ¿Qué? Perdón. No hablo inglés."
"Mmhmm. Suuure." Tony says.
"Tony, I think you're being mean for teasing them, and you said you weren't going to be mean. If they want to make love, then we shouldn't discourage them because we were all young once, and some of us were clearly more lucky than others. You know I could fly you to Kate's, it would be a lot quicker, and you could spend more time being intimate with one another." Carol says, before turning her attention to the young adults.
"I'm not discouraging them; it's just there's a time and a place. Even flirting is dangerous territory."
"If I remember rightly, Tony, you were flirting with me when we first met, and I sensed there was something going on between you and Pepper. But, of course, you were Mr Stark and I was Natalie Rushman. So, forgive me for calling bullshit on the 'flirting is dangerous territory'. You were very touchy-feely, even if you were just showing me your Iron Man glove."
"Gauntlet. It's a gauntlet."
"You were flirting up a storm, and I believe you tried to kiss me."
"See, no, you lost me there. I don't remember that, so it can't have happened."
"I was there, Tony. And I know Pepper was a bit annoyed, and dare I say jealous, that you were looking at another woman in her underwear, whilst hitting on her, and whilst initiating close-quarters contact with your secretary."
"'Close quarters'? This isn't martial arts, and I'm a Playboy, what do you expect?"
"To show some loyalty."
"Hey, I am loyal. I'm loyal to you, to the team, to Nick Fury and to my wife!"
"We're just gonna go..."
"Yeah, yeah, okay." Nat replies, waving them away in a dismissive manner.
"Want me to fly you there?"
"Um, no, it's okay. This argument is going to escalate and I feel like you're going to be a better peacekeeper than the one they've already got. We'll be back whenever we feel like it." Yelena answers.
"Okay, well, just enjoy each other's company. And if it's your first time, take it slow."
"Captain Marvel... We have fucked multiple times already, we know what we're doing." Yelena replies, confidently.
"Babe... You're not supposed to tell people." Kate replies, grimacing. Yelena just shrugs, and Kate apologises for the embarrassment, before the pair of them leave Nat's house, to travel from the Upper East Side, to Central Park.
* * *
Kate unlocks the door to her apartment and gestures for Yelena to step in. "Welcome to my humble abode."
"Kate Bishop. This is spacious. 'Humble' is the apartment I had in Budapest. This is anything but humble."
"Okay, well, welcome to my spacious apartment. Come in, but take your shoes off, please."
"Right, on it." Yelena removes her sneakers and takes her phone out of her joggers pocket. "Okay, so where were we?"
"Giving a tour to those knuckleheads."
"Uh, I meant with us, but okay." Yelena shrugs.
"Oh, I think..." Kate smirks and slips a hand into Yelena's joggers. "My, my, your panties are damp."
"Stop being weird. Just... go inside already."
"Patience, darling."
Yelena sighs. "Fiiiine."
"Thank you." Kate takes her hand out of her joggers and deadbolts the door, before taking Yelena's hand, her fingers wet from her panties, and leads her to the couch. Yelena is pushed onto the leather surface, and Kate is already on her knees in front of her. She removes her joggers, then pulls Yelena's underwear down, with her teeth. Yelena gasps, as Kate's breath ghosts over her.
"Shit."
"As in, 'that's shit' or—"
"As in, 'oh, shit.'" Yelena confirms.
"Good." Kate guides Yelena's legs over her shoulders and keeping one hand on her abdomen, to hold her in place, leans forward and captures her lover's clit in her mouth.
"Ohhh..." Yelena begins, before her eyes roll back. She's still very horny from earlier, so it won't take long for Kate to work her over until climax. Yelena's moans echo around the hard-walled apartment and they arrive more frequently; her pitch increasing.
"Mmhmm, you like that?" Kate asks, briefly.
"Oh god, yes. Don't stop." With a teasing smirk, Kate turns to licking Yelena's clit again. As Kate continues, Yelena's toes begin to curl and her legs start to shake. Kate knows this to be a very good sign, and doesn't slow down. "Kate! I—Ohhhh! Kate! Ебать! Fuuuuck!" she whimpers and whines at how sensitive she is becoming, but mumbles "don't stop", so Kate continues. Yelena starts to unintentionally hyperventilate, as she's now so close and her body goes limp. Kate thinks she's climaxed, so stops and lifts her head.
"How was that babe? Babe." Yelena doesn't reply. "Hey, have you seriously fallen asleep on me?"
Within a few minutes, Yelena comes around again and looks dazed. "What happened?"
"What do you mean 'what happened'? We were having sex and then you fell asleep."
"No, I didn't."
"Wait, if you didn't fall asleep, then you passed out, right? We should get you to a doctor, immediately. What if it happens again... Just from sitting..."
"...You realise any other person that made their partner pass out during sex would simply feel really proud of themselves, right?"
"I did this?"
"Yes, but is fine."
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry! Baby, I love you, I would never—"
"I know, Kate Bishop. Stop worrying, I'm fine. Anyway, we should get back to the party."
"Party? What party?"
"The one at my sister's, with the Avengers."
"You wanna go back, after I just— yeah, okay. Sure, why not? Get dressed."
Yelena takes her legs off Kate's shoulders and lets the blood rush back to her feet, before she stands up and gets dressed. Kate, who had remained in her clothes, heads upstairs to brush her teeth. "Lena, babe, teeth!"
"No! You don't call me 'Lena'. That's Nat's nickname for me."
"Sorry! Yel, teeth!"
"But I didn't give—" She stops as Kate leans over the mezzanine railing.
"You did at Nat's, so teeth."
"Urgh. Fiiiine."
"Thank you."
Yelena heads upstairs to do her teeth, with the brush Kate had left for her and then the two of them are leaving Kate's apartment, near Central Park, and heading back to the Upper East Side.
* * *
Kate knocks on the door as Yelena rummages in Kate's backpack for her key.
The door opens and Natasha rolls her eyes at the hover-hand from Kate. "You have a key, Lena."
"I can't find said—ah! Here it is! Stuck at the bottom of Kate's backpack, under... Kate! Is that gum?"
"Oh. I was wondering where that went. Thanks."
"No, don't—" Yelena tries to say, as Kate pops the already-chewed gum in her mouth. "I think I threw up a little."
"I'd rather that than passing out."
"Ohmygod, Kate, now?!"
"What?" Yelena gives her a look. "Oh, shit, I didn't...no, I-I'm sorry."
"Passing out? Lena, what happened?"
"It's no big deal, I'm fine." She pushes past Nat, into the living room and makes a beeline for the beer she spots. Twisting off the top of the Budweiser, she frowns at Kate entering the house sheepishly.
"Lena, it is a big deal. What happened?"
"Nothing. I told you, I'm fine."
"Yeah, but you don't just pass out for no goddamn reason."
"It wasn't 'no goddamn reason'... there is a reason, I just don't want to—"
"Lena. I am your sister!"
"Sister, not mother! Stop being such a mom!"
"Kate, help me out here. What happened to her? Does she need to be driven to the hospital?"
"No. No hospitals. Not again."
"Yelena, passing out can be dangerous."
"Shut up, Steve!"
"Hey, don't talk to him like that!" Nat snaps.
"Shut up, Nat! You're being nosey!"
"Yeah, well you passed out and I wanna know why!" Natasha snaps again, folding her arms.
"It's no big deal."
"Well, it is to me."
"Can everyone just back off?"
"Yelena, we're worried about you. Can you just tell us what—"
The volume of the argument escalates, until Yelena is trying to shout over Natasha, who is trying to shout over her sister and Steve is trying to shout over the both of them, in order to keep peace.
"I PASSED OUT DURING SEX!" Yelena yells, suddenly louder than the rest.
"Oh." Steve replies, quietly.
Kate's cheeks turn pink and Yelena's face is also flushed, but more anger than embarrassment.
"How does that even happen?" Nat asks, confusion etched onto her brow.
"I was hyperventilating and then—poof—woke up to Kate thinking I'd fallen asleep on her."
"You just went silent."
"Yeah, I know, but it was so good."
"Babe!"
"You passed out from...?" Carol begins.
"Oral sex."
"Oh, damn. Must be some good tongue action!" Tony jokes. The others glare at him and he shrugs, cradling his beer.
"Tony! Not helping." Steve chastises.
"Don't have a go at me. You were all desperate to know what happened a minute ago. It's happened to me before, and the way Yelena was avoiding the question, made me think it was something like that."
"It could have been serious."
"Serious people don't avoid the subject." Tony announces.
"I also... haven't slept in, uh... three days. So, it could have been that, too."
"Why haven't you slept, Lena?"
"Because I—we—she—"
"Spit it out, Lena."
"Because I thought Kate and I was broken up, so I was trying to—I don't know. I haven't eaten in days, either."
"Babe...? Is that my fault?"
"No, I, uh, it was me. I just... we'll talk about it, later."
"You've gone soft, little sister."
"No... I'm just in love."
"Love makes you do crazy things."
"I know. Now can we please put this conversation to bed and get our jiggle on? Dance. I mean dance."
"Party?" Natasha asks, stupidly.
"Yes, Nat. Party."
Chapter 11: Eleven
Chapter Text
One week later, 10 September 2017
Mikaela wanders down the hallway to the bank of telephones. She picks one up, enters a number and waits. "I need you to find someone for me. I'm getting out tomorrow, and I need you to pick me up, and then I need you to take me where I need to go. Understand? Good. Now, Yelena Belova. Find her and have this information ready for me tomorrow. I will ring again to give you a time to come." She hangs up and walks away from the telephones. Her life just got a whole lot more interesting... and Yelena's? Well, it was about to get a whole lot messier.
* * *
The Nissan Micra pulled up outside of the Požarevac Women's Prison and waited for the tall, muscular, blonde woman with tattoos to show. She arrived a few minutes later, wearing civilian clothes for the first time in years. The clothes she was wearing when she was arrested. They smelled musty, as they had been in a bag, but at least it wasn't the same two beige jumpsuits.
"Good morning, Mikaela. I have the information you requested."
"Not out here. In the car." Her Serbian accent was thicker than usual, as it was laced with tiredness and frustration. The man who had come to collect her - her brother - opened the door for her and waited for her to get in, before slamming it shut, dumping her things in the boot and getting in the driver's seat.
"How are you, Sergei? You look... wired."
"Excited to see my baby sister out in the real world. How long has it been?"
"Too long. Take me back to your place. Let me shower and put on clean clothes. These ones smell, and then tell me everything about her."
"Belova? Yes, I will. She is in the States now, though."
"Then I will pay her a visit. Nobody walks away from Miki. Nobody!"
"Was she your bird?"
"Yes. She left me, got out, and I have a bone to pick with her. A bone... in the form of my fists."
"Just be careful you don't end up back in prison, sister."
"I will make it look like a suicide."
"You plan to kill her?"
"No, she will kill herself. Now, drive!"
"Yes, Miki. Glad to see you on this side of the prison wall."
* * *
The plane touched down on the runway at JFK International Airport. Mikaela disembarked the aircraft and went through to passport control. Once through, and free to roam around the airport, she found out how to get to where she needed to be, via public transport, and headed to the bus station. She rang Sergei to tell him she had arrived and then got on the bus to take her to the hostel. She didn't have much money, so a hostel would have to do.
Reaching the hostel on foot, she stepped through its sliding door and checked in. All she had was a backpack, as she didn't intend to stay in the country for long. Just long enough.
She asked for the nearest Internet Café and headed there to talk to her brother and get a coffee. Once seated, she video called him.
"Hey, sis. How's the States?"
"Warm. Much warmer than Serbia."
"Good. You deserve the sun. I don't know her exact location but I am in touch with some people who are in touch with some other people and-"
"Find her."
"Yes, Miki."
* * *
It is mid-afternoon by the time Kate and Yelena wake up. Kate had left the door to Yelena's bedroom wide open, after her groggy morning trip to the bathroom, and as Natasha walks down the corridor to grab them for lunch, she's greeted by a musky smell. She gets to the door and sees their discarded clothes. Sighing at their rampant behaviour, she knocks brusquely on the open door.
Yelena is the first to rouse from slumber. She cracks open an eye and takes a minute to register her surroundings. She turns her head to the left, receiving a sharp pain from having a stiff neck and locks eyes with her sister. Kate's naked butt is on display, but she can't cover her because the duvet is entangled beneath her. "Nat..." Yelena begins cautiously. "What's up?"
"I came to see if you were hungry, but it looks like we already have ourselves a meal."
Yelena snorts and Kate stirs. She drops her voice low. "I'll have you know that it had been a whole week since we last shagged."
"'Shagged'?" Natasha enquires, with a raised eyebrow.
"British slang for sex. Learnt it when I lived in Oxford for a year, but it's not something I've used for a while."
"Oh, interesting. And, wow, a whole week? I'm impressed. Didn't think you two would last more than an hour."
"We're trying to slow down. Spend more time just being with each other, instead of being in each other."
"Still crass as ever, I see. C'mon, up and at 'em. We've got homemade burgers and fries for lunch. Barton made them."
"Oh, nice." Yelena tilts her head downwards and kisses the top of Kate's head. "Kate Bishop? Kate? Darling? Wakey-wakey." Kate mumbles incoherently, so Yelena tries again. "Babe... love of my life... do you want some food?"
"No."
"You not hungry?"
"No. Too early."
"Kate, Yelena, it's 2:30pm. You should eat."
"I don't wanna." She mumbles into Yelena's chest, not registering the third voice.
"Girls, it's homemade burgers and fries." Natasha confirms.
"Oh. I s'pose I can get up for that. Who made?"
"Your favourite Avenger." Yelena says.
"I don't have a--" she yawns, "a favourite, that's not fair."
"Clint Barton made the food, Маленький ястреб."
"Okay, I'll be there. We're naked though, so we have to get dressed."
"I think my sister can tell."
Kate's cheek redden, as she lifts her head and turns it, so she can look at Natasha, who is still in the doorway. "Oh. Hi, Nat."
"Hello, Kate. You two get showered, dressed and do your teeth before you come join us. Don't wanna offend Thor again."
"No, wouldn't want that." Kate says, remembering the last time he was on Earth, and complained about people smelling badly.
* * *
"Good morning, lovebirds. Or should I say 'good afternoon'?" Clint asks, as the two youngsters arrive in Tony's kitchen.
"You're sleeping a lot, are you getting sick?" Carol asks.
"No, just... not sleeping so well, so catching up." Kate answers. For once, Yelena keeps quiet.
"They're at it again." Tony confirms, noting the way they avoid eye contact and the slight pink of their cheeks - after sex glow.
"It had been a week." Yelena complains.
"Okay, well, starting from today, let's see how long you can go without it." Natasha jokes.
"Why?"
"Because you're like rabbits." She chuckles.
"But that's not fair."
"Lena, even I don't do it that much."
"She has a point." Clint confirms.
"Why does everyone gang up on us? Do you want us to break up, is that it?"
"Woah, hold up. There's no 'breaking up', Yel. I don't wanna."
"I know you don't, but it seems the Avengers want nothing more."
"Lena, we just want you to keep it in your pants. That's all. It's beginning to become a problem. At first, it was fine, because it was new and exciting, but it's been almost a year now."
"Are you saying that because we've been dating for so long, we have to shag less?" Yelena scoffs.
"That's precisely what I'm saying."
"Full ohffence Natasha, nobody asked you." Yelena says, mispronouncing the word again. She gets glared at, looks to Kate for help and is met with a weird look from her, too. "Are you... agreeing with her, babe?"
"No, Yelena. Not exactly. But we did say that we'd spend more time with each other."
"Alright, fine. You win."
"Thank you, Lena. Then at least you might have your head screwed on tightly enough and not fuck up during missions."
"We've not been on missions for ages. I was in recovery for the longest time."
"I know, but that's also why you haven't been coming-you're easily distracted. Which means you, младшая сестра, have gotten soft. What would Melina say? What would Dr-"
"Say his name and I will kill you."
"Sorry, Lena."
"I don't wanna go back to my old ways."
"No one said you have to."
"But if I was to become less distracted, then I'd have to distance myself a little from Kate, and I don't wanna."
"Why would you have to distance yourself?"
"Because we don't form attachments. To do the job properly, I can't form attachments. This is why I am not a spy. This is why I am not a superhero-for one, I have no powers, just really cool gadgets, and for two... I got emotionally invested in you. I'm an assassin, not a hero. I kill people, I don't save them. And all this running around with the cool kids... it ain't for me. Black Widows work alone, in pairs, or in groups of four. I haven't done a solo mission since I was in Budapest. I needed to take out Oksana after she made us, so I went to ground and the others stayed high. I needed to take her down, so I broke off from the pack. But that wasn't really a solo mission; it ended up as one."
"Did you do it? Take her out, I mean?" Kate asked.
"Kate, I have told this story three times before, so yes. I killed her."
"Oh, yeah, you have. Sorry."
"Is funny... this whole time I've been the bad guy, taking out equally bad guys, and I have the chance to do good... to be good... and... I don't want it. I can't. It's not in my DNA. You... you're good. Kate Bishop, everything about you is good. Me? Hmm. I guess we found my weakness, huh? You. I'm gonna take a step back from... this."
"Us?"
"All of it. I need to... breathe and I need to... assess. I cannot be the person you want me to be, Kate."
"You've been doing so well, babe."
"It's lies. My whole life is lies. One on top of the other. I... I don't know who I am."
"You're Yelena Belova. And you are good."
"No." She shakes her head. "Don't say that. If you knew the half of what I've been through, what I've done... you wouldn't call me good."
"Lena, are you having an identity crisis again?" Natasha asks, a little too playfully.
Yelena nods, slowly. "Да, старшая сестра, это так."
"You said you're done with 'all of it'. Does that mean you're breaking up with me?" Kate asks, her voice cracking.
Yelena sets her jaw firmly - she's holding back tears. "I... I..." she exhales, "Kate..."
"Hey, Princess." A woman's voice says, interrupting the heartfelt moment.
Yelena instantly recognises it and hatred burns in her eyes. Her upper lip twitches, like she's fighting the urge to snarl. She whirls around and is greeted by a tall, blonde, muscular woman with neck tattoos and a right sleeve of tattoos.
"You."
"Nice to see you too." The Serbian accent fills the air and the group of onlookers look confused. "Not gonna introduce me, Princess?"
"I'm not your Princess anymore, Mikaela. I haven't been for two fucking years."
"Funny. I don't remember ending things."
"Oh no, I did. When I told you I wasn't gonna be gaslit and manipulated and abused by you."
"No, see, here's the thing. Nobody walks away from Miki."
Yelena chuckles slowly and cruelly, like she's already planning on taking this woman out. "No, see, here's the thing. I did. When I got out of prison and got de fuck away from you. What de fuck are you doing in the States?"
"Looking for you."
"Oh, really. So you come into my house, uninvited, and what? You want me to come crawling back? Is that it?"
"No, I've got something better planned."
"Back off, blondie!" Kate snaps, an arrow drawn at Mikaela's face.
"What is this? American hospitality?"
"No. That's my girlfriend. Aiming an arrow at your face."
"Girlfriend, huh? What is she, twelve?"
"Give me one good reason, why I shouldn't snap and kill you where you stand."
"I came to kill you."
"You kill me? Oh, Mikaela Petrović, you are so funny. That's hilarious. That one is the funniest. What are you gonna do? Shank me, and make me bleed to death? You couldn't even do it the first time! Had to get your cronies to help you! I told you: I'm bigger and badder than you. Kate, I got this."
"I'm not moving."
"Kate! I got this!" Yelena snaps and Kate lowers her weapon. She realises that Yelena does in fact 'got this'. "You know where you are, Miki?"
"New York."
"Hmm. Yes, but this is the Avengers Tower. You've heard of the Avengers, right? New York's answer to Gods like Loki, aliens like the Chitauri, and terrorists. Big superheroes, with lots of powers, right? But you're also in the presence of two highly trained, highly skilled Black Widow Assassins." She sniffs. "I could kill you where you stand, before you can even... what is it you're gonna do? Shoot me? Knife me? Strangle me? Punch me? Kick me? I don't-"
"I, uh, uh, I, I-"
"Ahh. You hadn't thought about it, had you?"
"Suicide. I was gonna make it look like a suicide."
"Even out of prison, you're just a coward. Here..." she hands Mikaela one of her throwing knives, as she was currently in her black uniform. "A throwing knife. I'll stand over here... and throw it. Throw! It!" Yelena stands facing Mikaela, hands behind her back, a nonchalant expression upon her face and waits. "No?" She crosses the room and grabs her knife hand. "How about this? Just thrust it. Come on, I'm right here. Thrust the knife into me. Come on! Kill me! KILL ME!" She laughs maliciously and stares down Mikaela.
Mikaela had planned this - pretend to be scared, get Yelena to let down her guard and then fight her. But what she hadn't planned, was how little of a shit Yelena actually gave about her own life and how much she was enjoying goading Miki. "You're... enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Are you not entertained?"
"No. There's something very wrong with you."
"I know. But entirely not politely, fuck off, or fight me, but you. will. lose! Remember how we used to rule de prison and I was your bitch? Looks like you're the little bitch now. I own you."
"Nobody owns Miki. Nobody!"
"Ah! There's the fighting spirit I got used to."
Mikaela closes her eyes momentarily. When she opens them again, she had channelled her inner rage and swung a fist at Yelena. It came into contact with her cheek and Yelena, briefly, looks surprised.
"Wow. I haven't had a hit off you, like that, in three years. Takes me back to 2014. Okay, let's make this a fair fight. I got no knives..." she takes them off and puts them on the counter, "I got no gun..." she unloads it and puts the gun next to the knives and tucks the magazine into Kate's rear jeans pocket, "and I got no Widows Bites," she takes off her black leather bracelets and hands them to Natasha. "Let's do this. I'll let you hit me first, again, now that I'm prepared."
Mikaela does so, but this time Yelena blocks her with a kick, before grabbing her and slamming her into the wall, face first, and then slams her back against it. Mikaela, who had been training in the prison, and who had set up this prison fight club, grabs Yelena's shoulders and slams her into the wall. For a moment, Yelena is taken back to her fight with Natasha, but she knows that Mikaela isn't trained like they are - she will be sloppy and she will make mistakes.
Yelena, being near the kitchen, grabs a tea towel, spins it quickly, and whips Mikaela with it. She's caught in the back and across the cheek, but on the third flick, Mikaela grabs it and pulls. As she pulls, Yelena lets go, ducks under Miki's arm and slams her shoulder into her abdomen, lifting her up, before slamming her into the hard floor.
Pinned down by Yelena's knees on her forearms, Miki tries to headbutt her former partner. She catches Yelena's nose, and then tries to kick up underneath her. Yelena punches her in the face, twice, and Miki manages to wriggle free of Yelena's knees - as if she had practiced. Yelena gets a fist to the side of the head and that's enough to flip a switch. She's now laser-focused on ending Miki's life and, although she allows Miki to her feet, her plan is to put her down again, once and for all.
The Avengers could get involved, they could break up the fight, but the feeling was that Yelena needed this - she needed to let off a little steam, she needed to assert her dominance and she needed to get angry, so she could realise the goodness within her.
Mikaela is bouncing on her toes - in a boxer's stance, and Yelena cocks her head to one side, before dropping low and sweeping a leg out, tripping Mikaela and making her land on her back. She punches her in the face again, and this time, Mikaela's strong hands clamp around Yelena's throat, before she is flipped onto her back. Mikaela squeezes and watches Yelena's face go red. Kate steps forward and Natasha holds her back, shaking her head, saying nothing.
"I told you! No one walks away from Mikaela!"
"So... you... kill... me... to... prove... it?"
"If I can't have you, nobody can!"
"Jealousy."
"Yes." She squeezes harder and Yelena, struggling to stay conscious, fumbles with the concealed pocket in her belt line. She pulls out a small blade and with one smooth move, thrusts it right into Mikaela's jugular. "Ack!" She withdraws it, then stabs her a second time. Mikaela lets go of Yelena's neck and immediately covers her own, looking at her ex with a mix of horror and fear. She drags herself to the kitchen island and leans against it, blood pouring from her neck.
"I told you... you will lose."
"Yel...ena... I... loved... you."
"There was no love." Her voice is hoarse, but dripping with malice. "Довиђења, Miki." She adds, in Serbian.
The sounds of Mikaela choking on her own blood fills the space and Yelena contemplates leaving her like that, but instead, as a sort of mercy killing, slices her throat, severing her windpipe. The squelch of blood spurting out rapidly, fills the silence and then a blood-soaked Yelena pops up from the other side of the counter. Kate sees her and vomits on the tile flooring. She shrugs at the onlookers, drops the bloodied knife into the sink and heads towards the bathroom, but not before stopping by her room for a towel and a change of clothes.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Tigrenoir on Chapter 4 Mon 19 May 2025 02:06PM UTC
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AbbytheTanksWife on Chapter 4 Mon 19 May 2025 05:40PM UTC
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