We're friends, right?

by Sorrelish

Summary:

Kate tries to get in contact with Yelena after the events of thunderbolts, but ends up talking to Valentina instead. Will she get in the way?

 

Set after the Thunderbolts movie, minor spoilers?
Kate is placed in New York during the events of Thunderbolts

AND THANKS TO ALL MY FRIENDS FOR PROOF READING AND GIVING ME TIPS BC I HATE WRITING

Chapter 1

The moment Kate saw the blonde woman on tv, she knew she had to get in touch. It had been over a year since she had last seen the black widow assassin, but from the looks of it, she has turned a new leaf. Maybe, maybe this time she could actually reach out and get an answer this time, not just pathetically text the obvious burner phone that Yelena has revealed her mother's secrets on, and wait for an answer. Yelena probably ditched the phone the moment she sent Kate that video, so Kate had probably not been in the greatest headspace when she messaged the burner.

But that was irrelevant. Her feelings towards Yelena were, irrelevant. But she was going to try to get in contact again anyways, because she'll admit it, she was lonely. Sure she had her mini team, currently Kamala, Cassie and America, but they were kids, and sometimes it felt like Kate was actually almost a babysitter. A lot of people thought Kate was immature, especially in the hero sense, but these girls were far worse than Kate, because they were actually children. So Kate will be damned if she didn't try befriend Yelena again now that she had a real chance, because she was certain, certain they had a bond.

Hell, Yelena had said yes to getting that drink and it hadn't sounded like she was lying about it. So maybe that was why Kate was slightly hurt when she never heard from her again. But again, her feelings towards the dangerous woman were irrelevant. Totally. Irrelevant. It's not like she was absolutely captivated by Yelena's strong energy and beauty, because she wasn't. That's what she told herself anyway as she walked up to what she had discovered was the base of operation for Yelena's new team.

What she hadn't expected when she walked in, was to be met with the former CIA director, now manager of the new so called avengers.

"Uh, Hey! I'm just, I'm just looking for Yelena, is she around?"

Valentina had been idling in the lobby waiting for a package to arrive when a long haired brunette walked in. It took her a moment, but she managed to recognize the girl as Eleanor Bishop's daughter and from what she had heard, this very girl was responsible for the powerful woman being in jail. Her own daughter, Kate Bishop. It almost scared the older woman how righteous one must be to send their own mother to prison.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

Valentina almost laughed, stepping closer to Kate. She was well aware who this young woman was, but she couldn't care less about helping her get in contact with Yelena. She had never once heard Yelena even mention her, so what business did she even have with the former assassin? Surely with how good she seemed to be, she had no business with Yelena, who's spilt so much blood that Kate should send her to jail 5 times over.

“Oh! I'm Kate, Kate Bishop. You'reeeee Valentina, right? “

Kate was trying to be patient, she really was, but it was hard knowing she was so close yet so far from Yelena.

“Of course, you're the daughter of Eleanor Bishop. How brave you must have been to put your own mother in jail.”

That was not what Kate wanted to hear right now.

“Yeah well, it was the right thing to do.”

She could almost scoff at how much she was disliking this woman's attitude and energy. She just wanted to see Yelena, why was she engaged in conversation about her mother? The last thing she wanted to think about was the woman who murdered a man, manipulated Kate, hired Yelena to kill Clint and framed her own fiance.

Besides, she had done plenty of forced thinking when she had been voided. She didn't need to relive it in real life while her mind was still trying to forget the scenes she saw in there.

Valentina could tell there was a slight edge to Kate's voice, knowing she must've hit some sort of nerve. Her goal wasn't necessarily to hurt the young woman, but she couldn't care less about her business with Yelena when she was still trying to keep their public faces from facing scrutiny. That and for all she knew, this was secretly someone trying to infiltrate their new base of operations and get insider info on Valentina herself. She couldn't trust her, even if she was Eleanor’s daughter. She had met Eleanor a couple times and although Kate didn't quite seem like it, she could be just as much of a snake.

“Then I'll cut to the chase. Why are you trying to get in contact with a former assassin who has far more blood than your mother will ever have?”

Ow. Okay that one hurt Kate a bit.

“I just want to make sure she's okay.”

She was starting to sound almost.. Desperate, at this point, but she didn't think she was getting anywhere.

“Look I'll just be honest with you, I'd never heard of you until you sent your mother to jail, Yelena has never spoken about you, I mean I doubt she even knows who you are. When did you meet?”

Her attitude made Kate's blood boil but maybe that was simply her own hurt trying not to get the better of her. Yelena remembered her, right? Kate didn't think she was a forgettable person, but if Yelena had never once even briefly mentioned her, maybe she was wrong in thinking they were friends.

What was she thinking? Yelena was just a closed off person for very good reason, Valentina probably just hadn't heard of her yet.

“Christmas 2025, but I don't see how that matters.”

It was almost too quick of a reply

“Have you heard from her once since then?”

The question was harsh and for a moment Kate didn't have a snarky thing to say because the truth was, no, she hadn't. But it was something she saw in her “shame room” as people were calling it. Herself checking her phone every damn day and texting Yelena repeatedly at first in hopes of a response. That lasted about a week before the texts turned weekly, which then turned monthly. She finally gave up at the year mark, but even then she'd occasionally just stare at the phone and wish she would receive anything.

The saddest part in her eyes was that Yelena could reach out, because Kate never gave her number to the woman. So she clearly had the capabilities to find it again if she had forgotten. Or maybe Valentina was right and Yelena had forgotten her, or worse, didn't care about her. Fuck, why was Kate even so attached in the first place? This was why it was one of the shame rooms, it felt, pathetic.

Finally, she managed to gather her voice after luckily not actually spending too much real time thinking.

“No, but! That's why I want to see her! She's good now, so I thought maybe it was worth another try. Could you just, pass on a message for me? That's all I ask.”

Kate waited for a response almost eagerly as the woman almost seemed to size her up and down for a moment before shrugging.

“Sure, sweetie, why not. Yelena is very busy at the moment but I'm sure I can pass a message over from, what, a fan?”

“A friend! A friend.”

The older woman sighed and almost pitied Kate at the way she was looking at her and nodded.

“A friend. What did you want me to say?”

Oh. Shit. She didn't think this far. She blurted out the first thing she could think of.

“Uh, tell her I still want to get that drink, she will know what it means. Hopefully.”

A polite smile crossed Valentina’s face, more just pretending to care about the message the girl wanted her to relay. She truly just wanted her package to arrive and get out of here, away from this far to energetic Bishop woman. If there was one thing for certain, Kate was not personality wise, like her mother. She had her mother's looks, but the bubbly girl was far too much for Valentina right now.

But Kate only had this excitement because she thought she had a chance to get in touch with Russian blonde again.

“Yeah, sure, now I'm going to have to ask you to leave, you're disrupting mine and Yelena's time, okay?”

Silly words like that shouldn't have affected Kate, but her psyche was so damaged recently that even then smallest implication that she was bothering Yelena hurt her.

“Right, of course, you've got very important things to be doing I'm sure, just, let her know to text me?”

Valentina almost rolled her eyes at the request, but nodded and hummed before turning away from Kate and giving her a flick with her hand to signal her to leave. So Kate turned with a sigh and left, feeling weirdly rejected, but she had hope. She had to have hope.

She returned home and collapsed onto her bed, not even wanting to think about her responsibilities right now. As she once again impatiently waited for a text from Yelena, she considered calling Clint about what happened with the void, but with him being with his family on a vacation they probably didn't even know something happened in New York yet. Actually now that Kate thought about it, she was sure the Barton's would reach out on their own if they were worried about Kate. So she just lay there, thinking. But, the more started thinking, the more she started overthinking.

Her thoughts drifted to Yelena, the Barton's, her mother, her old friends, Jack, the larpers. All people who had no idea she was even struggling or ever struggled, because they either didn't care, or stopped asking when Kate would swear she was fine. She had to prove she could rely on herself. Which was ironic that she thinks that she's relying on herself while stupidly waiting for a response to come from a woman who hadn't tried contacting her in over a year.

She was grateful that she at least had Lucky to keep her company while the Barton's were away. They usually looked after him, the one thing Kate admitted she couldn't do the best job doing while tackling everything else in her life at the time. But at least Lucky was company at the moment while she had time off after the void incident. It kept her from being truly lonely.

So she called Lucky up onto her bed next to her and just, waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Chapter 2

Summary:

Yelena finds out Kate has been looking for her

Valentina didn't tell Yelena. In her eyes, it was a stupid request and didn't have time for silly fan behavior, because friends talk to each other and she was sure she would have heard of Kate from Yelena by now.

So, two months later and Yelena never replied, because she had no idea. She was still getting used to being a bootleg Avenger, but she was starting to like it. Admittedly, she had somewhat forgotten about Kate, but when she did think about her, it was mostly regret that she never took Kate's offer up for real. She had wanted to, but she was so over struck with grief she didn't think much of it at the time. She had just disappeared.

But she had not a clue on the effect it was bringing Kate. Not a single clue that Kate even missed her, let alone the fact Kate had cried several times while feeling more and more pathetic by the day. She had simply wished for a friend in Yelena and received radio silence.

But Yelena wanted to be friends. She just didn't know how to approach the archer.

“You guys are starting to develop some fans! How exciting.”

Valentina said to the group of “New Avengers” while they lounged in the recently renovated Avengers tower. The team just groaned and rolled their eyes, not giving a shit about this woman's comments. They unfortunately just had to put up with her since she was the one that showed them to the public. But that did not mean they had to actually listen to her.

“Let me guess, Yelena has the most fans because she's Natasha's sister?”

John Walker, resident asshole to this day.

“Shut up Walker, you don't need to be jealous”

Ava defended, shooting Yelena a small smile to which the blonde smirked and looked at John.

“Yeah Walker, you don't need to be jealous, everyone loooooves you”

The two of them loved pissing John off because it was just too easy sometimes.

“Yeah yeah laugh it up, I get it, people still don't like me, whatever.”

Valentina being the bitch she is then decided to speak up again… for some reason.

“Well, you'll get there, but Yelena has had fans since day one.”

That caught Yelena's attention and she looked up at her with a questioning stare. She knew she was the most popular of the group, but from day one? They were all heroes that day, so Valentina was hiding something. Valentina was always, hiding something.

“What are you talking about?”

She sat up straighter as she watched the woman shrug and walk around like it was the most casual conversation in the world.

“Oh, just some girl wanted to say hi to you not that long after your debut. I had no idea what she was talking about. She probably claimed to have known you, but I didn't have the time to entertain her.”

That had Yelena sitting up straighter. Call her crazy, but there was just a small hope in her heart that it was who she was thinking it was. She needed answers.

“Did she say anything specific? And don't lie to me Valentina.”

The woman in question just rolled her eyes and started begrudgingly making herself a cup of coffee as she spoke. She did not have the time for this, but she also knew Yelena had far more control over her these days. So she reluctantly complied.

“If you must know, she might have said something about getting a drink? But I don't see how that's-”

Yelena stood up and cut her off before she even had a chance to continue.

“You’re a bitch, Valentina. No wonder Mel quit and works for Bucky now.”

Before the older woman could come up with a reply, Yelena had already stood up and started heading to the elevator. As the doors opened and she stepped inside, Bob ran up and joined her just as the doors were closing.

“Where are you going?”

The question was innocent, but with the way Yelena was hesitating to reply, Bob almost thought it was some secret mission stuff.

“To see a friend.”

Yelena didn't want anyone coming with her, but if there was anyone she didn't mind tagging along, it was Bob. Bob was like a little brother to her, almost like a best friend, but that title currently actually belonged to Ava. She thinks so at least. Ava probably didn't actually consider Yelena her best friend, but that didn't bother her in the slightest. They were all still getting used to the whole friends and family thing anyway.

“Ohhh, sounds fun.”

It wasn't even questioned when Bob followed her to the car in silence and they both hopped in. When Yelena said they stick together now, she was serious, even if that meant he followed her to go and find someone she hadn't seen in a year and a half now.

Notes:

Sorry this one was so short, I struggled to even make it this long, but the next one should be decent!

Chapter 3

Summary:

The most hurt/comfort I've ever written where they make up and make out <3

Notes:

This one is literally like 5000 words, do not expect the last chapter to be nearly as long LMAO
I love inconsistent chapter writing

And apologies if it feels rushed, unedited or out of character, it probably isn't the best chapter I've ever written, I just wanted to post it

Driving to Kate's home made Yelena nervous. She was sure the young hero wouldn't be in the penthouse, so she drove straight to the place they first met. The silly apartment above a greasy pizza place on the streets of New York.

For a moment she simply stood there outside the pizza place while Bob sat in the car looking at her. She was contemplating using the door like a normal person, but since when has she ever been normal?

So with that, she quickly scaled the side of the building and then made her way to the window that was for some reason, still unlocked. Did Kate not care about her own safety? What was she thinking, that woman never cared about her own safety, that was something Yelena was certain of. The inside was dark, but there was a faint light coming from the bedroom upstairs.

Once the assassin’s quiet feet hit the floor of the apartment, she had a chance to properly look around. If she thought Kate didn't care about her safety before, she was even more certain now. Why? The place was a mess. Clothes were thrown on the couch in a pile, trash just lay around everywhere, empty bottles of beer we're stacked up in the kitchen, and miscellaneous items like her archery gear and first aid kit just placed wherever, instead of their usual holding places. It was weirdly reminiscent of what Yelena's home looked like before she got her shit together. The difference was, Kate was supposed to already have her shit together. Even the burnt apartment when they first met, felt cleaner than this. This scared Yelena. The young woman clearly wasn't taking care of herself anymore.

Quickly and silently, her feet found their way through the messy apartment to the top of the stairs. Peeking in, the sight made her heart ache. Kate was just lying in bed on her side with her back to Yelena, but she was curled up and looked so, fragile. Her bedroom was worse than the rest of the house. Pizza boxes lay around, more bottles of alcohol, clothing everywhere, and it didn't smell all that amazing. The broken girl was moving, but it was slight and it wasn't obvious what she was doing. Yelena watched for a moment and just as she felt like she should say something, a sob could be heard. That's when she knew she had to speak up.

“Kate Bishop?”

The moving figure suddenly stopped. It was like Kate was figuring out whether or not she wanted to roll over, but she did after a moment. To the normal eye, it wasn't obvious something had been put down before rolling over, but Yelena was a trained assassin. Her eyes caught the way the woman dropped something and pulled her shorts down, but chose to ignore it for the time being. She could come back to that later.

When she locked eyes with Kate, the recognition in her gaze was obvious with the way her eyes widened and her mouth opened like she wanted to say something, anything to the woman standing in her doorway. But she couldn't. Next thing Yelena knew, the curled up figure started crying, trying to hold back sobs.

In an instant, Yelena made her way to the bed, sitting on the edge next to the crying figure, reaching a hand out to gently move the hairs out of her face.

“Are you, are you really here?”

That question immediately broke Yelena's heart, the desperate tone and pleading look adding to the blonde's heartache.

“Yes, yes I'm here, I'm here now. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I'm so sorry, Kate.”

Kate started sobbing at that, like the words spoken opened a dam of emotions she hadn't let herself feel yet. The hand on her head started threading fingers through the strands of greasy hair, but the blonde didn't care about how it felt, all that mattered was the way Kate leaned into her touch. It was obvious how much the girl craved the affection, making her seem younger and more fragile.

The crying continued, but the older woman didn't care, letting the archer get all the needed emotions out. Her hand continued its soothing motion, eventually helping the crying to stop and let Kate finally calm down to slower breaths. Once all crying had stopped, Yelena finally took the moment to pause her hand movements, but didn't take her hand completely out of the brunette's hair.

“I'd ask if you're okay, but I think I know the answer to that.”

It was hard not to try and crack a joke, knowing how the usually bright girl would react to that sort of thing. Yelena didn't know too much about Kate's personality other than from what she had seen, but during her digging a long time ago now, she did find videos and photos of the archer being the light of everyone's life. Smart, beautiful, optimistic and bubbly. All things Yelena had wanted to protect, but during her own mental break, completely forgot about the young woman she met during her mission to kill Clint.

That night in this same apartment changed the blonde for the better in some ways, making her question things about the people that hired her and in the process, helping Kate discover her mother was behind everything.

Apparently, ‘everything’ had changed Kate. For the worse. Enough so that the hero's mouth didn't even twitch at Yelena's joke, instead having an almost empty look in her gaze.

“Why.. Why are you here, Yelena?”

This time, the answer didn't come as easily. Because what answer did she have to give? She herself wasn't sure why she came, other than she felt the need to. After everything that happened with the void and needing to not be alone, the only reasonable explanation she had was that she wanted Kate to feel the same as Yelena did now. Not alone.

“Because I… I care about you, Kate Bishop. More than I thought I did.”

Tears once again welled up in the still striking blue eyes of the lonely girl, but Yelena couldn't help but not give a shit how red and puffy they were. Her eyes were beautiful, Kate was always beautiful.

There was only one thing that came to mind on what could be done to help the current situation. Kate clearly wasn't going to move, so instead, Yelena moved to the other side of the bed while being watched through teary eyes. It was a confusing action for sure, but worth it as soon, one body on the bed became two and a pair of arms wrapped around the younger woman, pulling her head to the other's chest.

Like a dam bursting, the moment Kate's face made contact with warm body, she started sobbing and clinging to the now damp shirt with clenched fists. She had craved this form of comfort for so long that leaving was not an option for Yelena. Not that she would choose to leave anyway. Fingers hesitantly reached up and found their way into the unkempt strands, gently scratching the top of head of the archer in an attempt to help soothe her.

“I'm.. I'm so alone, Yelena, it, it hurts.”

Her words were mumbly, barely coherent from the adding muffling of the shirt she was speaking into, but they reached the desired ears as she was pulled closer. Luckily, the trained assassin was strong, shifting the tall but surprisingly light body to be on top of her, so now Kate was just laying fully on top of Yelena.

“You're not alone anymore. I'm here, Kate. Talk to me. Please.”

For a moment, there was silence, an uncertainty of what to say, but then their gazes met as Kate looked up and sniffled. Once she started talking, she didn't stop, but Yelena wasn't going to stop her. Clearly it needed to be said, to be poured out until it had all been drained.

“You left after trying to kill Clint, my mother is still in jail, I lost all my stuff, I didn't hear from you for years and then I, I find out you're the one thing you told me you hate. I, I.. I-”

She started letting out little hics as she tried to explain everything , but managed to calm down as Yelena pressed her fingers just a bit more into her scalp for more relaxing pressure.

“I wanted to help that day, but, it was too late. The void, it got to me and, and it was awful. I saw the day my dad died, then I saw when my mother scolded me for destroying the clock tower. I kept trying to escape and I saw that night, when I had her arrested for, well, everything you showed me in that video you sent. The last thing I saw? How pathetic I was when I kept trying to contact you after that Christmas. The week I spent with the Barton's was great, but the moment I was home it was, awful. My friends had abandoned me, I didn't have parents, I was alone, and my mother was right. I couldn't handle it, I always had someone to clean up my messes and to do it all myself? Including taking over for her company? Was too much. I had gotten a bit better before the void, being part of my own small hero group and all, but then when I, I tried seeing you and you still never reached out, it was the breaking point. I thought you didn't want to see me, something I spent so long trying to ignore. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out why you are actually here. Why didn't you reach out?”

Every word the young woman said, broke Yelena's heart into pieces. She let the archer pour out all her thoughts and emotions, and to hear herself be referred to as ‘pathetic’, was utterly painful. Kate was anything but pathetic. She was strong, kind, confident, optimistic, anything but pathetic. Yelena only had herself to blame for that. And Valentina.

“I'm so sorry, I should have, I know I should have.”

Her free hand came up while she spoke, gently wiping the tears away from the eyes that seemed to shine in the low light.

“I was still grieving, and I didn't exactly think, I know I didn't think. My father did the same thing to me that I did to you, and for that I am truly sorry, Kate. If I had known that you tried to see me, I swear I would have reached out. I could have stopped, all of this. You just happened to run into Valentina, and I am sorry you had to deal with her. None of us like dealing with her, that I can assure you.”

Surprisingly, her words had some effect, earning the slightest twitch of a smile from the otherwise still crying woman.

“I forgive you, Yelena, I always would have.”

This time it was the blonde's turn to smile slightly, but she couldn't help the pang in her heart.

“You wouldn't have been able to if you weren't alive. And by the looks of it, you aren't taking care of yourself at all, that it would only be a matter of time before something happened to you. I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if something happened to you that I could have stopped, Kate Bishop. You were destined to be a hero, to bring joy and help others. I want to help you be that again now that I am here. No more being reckless and self destructive.”

There was another pause of silence and for a moment a feeling of fear crept on Yelena, wondering if she had perhaps said the wrong thing, but the next thing she knew Kate was shifting, wriggling up a bit so her face was hovering over Yelena's.

“I missed you so much, Yelena. Call me crazy but I think my life would have been a hundred times better if you had just, stuck around. I get why you didn't but, please, don't leave again. Don't leave me.”

The tears in her eyes threatened to fall on Yelena's face, but neither of them seemed to care as they just stared at each other, the tension and emotion able to be cut with a knife. After a moment of just staring, it was almost like a ‘fuck it' went off in the older woman's head, as the hand in Kate's hair pushed her down, crashing their lips together in a frenzy of overwhelming feelings. Admittedly, Yelena wasn't good with feelings, she truly wasn't, but she could also admit that Kate had captured her with her beauty and confidence. From the moment they met, she knew the young archer was special, and clearly vice versa as the kiss was quickly reciprocated.

Tears did end up falling from one woman's face to the other's, but that didn't stop the kiss and emotions they both poured out until they couldn't breathe anymore.

“So, we are friends, right?”

Yelena almost couldn't believe the question she was hearing from Kate after the kiss they just shared, letting out a small huff of amusement that was very needed in the moment.

“Of course we are, Kate, we always were, I just forgot in my grief. I will spend however long it takes to make up for all the lost time and pain I caused, I promise. And I'm going to make sure Valentina never forgets who you are.”

For the first time in a while, Kate truly smiled, unable to ever stay mad at the woman who didn't have a normal life. Their levels of need for each other may differ, Kate having spent most of time unable to erase Yelena from her thoughts, while Yelena had mostly forgotten about Kate in her own emotional turmoil, but that didn't stop them from equally needing each other.

When the archer had said most of her problems could have been solved by just having Yelena around, she couldn't help but think it would have been the same if she had just had the cute girl around too. They could have helped one another. It wasn't until she saw Kate again that she realized just how badly she wanted her around, but hearing just how desperate Kate was to not be alone and to have Yelena by her side, she knew she could never leave. She wasn't sure what love was, but she was sure if she was going to love anyone, it was going to be the brave, cocky, utterly stunning woman on top of her.

“Prove it, kiss me again.”

Obviously, Yelena complied.

—------------

Kate woke up the next morning to the smell of pancakes wafting up from her kitchen. Eyes slowly blinking open, the events of the day before slowly processed, causing her to bolt upright. Immediately, she reached down beside the bed and dressed herself, standing up and looking in the mirror. Yelena had certainly proved the night before that she was going to make it up to Kate. Not even just the activities that had occured, but looking around, she had clearly woken up a while before the archer.

Everything was clean. The dishes were washed, trash was all taken out and the washing had all been folded or taken to the laundry room. To say Kate was stunned would be an understatement. Yelena had shown up the day before, taken care of the broken woman, kissed her, made her dinner, and cleaned up her room.

As she stepped out of the bedroom and prepared to walk down the stairs, she noticed it wasn't just her bedroom. The Russian woman had cleaned up her whole apartment. Even the alcohol had been moved, or removed. That was something Kate couldn't blame her for doing if she had decided to just take it away, so it wasn't something she was going to question.

Leaning over the rail, she glanced into the kitchen, managing to spot a certain short blonde Russian woman, humming some sort of tune as she made breakfast. For some reason, it made Kate's heart flutter, despite the fact Yelena had been back in her life for less than 24 hours. She tiredly made her way down the stairs and when she got to the bottom, a low voice called out.

“Good morning Kate Bishop! I hope you do not mind, but I took it upon myself to help you. Sometimes all we need is a little support, yes? And do not worry, I simply put your alcohol in the fridge. I'm not going to make that decision for you, though I am willing to help if you want to get rid of that habit. I've been there.”

Not once did Yelena actually look up from what she was doing while talking, but it was like she could read the tired archer's mind. Admittedly, seeing her apartment cleaned up did make Kate feel better, but also worse at the same time that she didn't do it herself. She was supposed to be independent.

“Yelena, you didn't-”

“Hush now, Kate, I did it of my own choice. It was something I wish had been done for me and I truly do not like seeing you like this. If I can make things just a little easier for you, then maybe you can pick yourself back up. And in the circumstance you can't, then I will continue to be here until you succeed. I will continue to be here regardless, as I said I will never leave you again and I mean what I said. Now sit.”

Finally, the woman talking turned around, pointing at the table for Kate to sit down as she plated up the pancakes. Yelena knew that the broken hero just needed a break, a helping hand, one that the blonde wanted to provide. Since becoming part of a team, her life had improved significantly, because they were a family that loved and supported each other now. Mostly. Ava and Yelena's favourite pastime was still bullying John.

Family was something Kate didn't have anymore. There was the Barton's and there was the ‘Champions’ as they called themselves, but clearly the new Hawkeye was still struggling with where she truly fit in. More so, someone to fit in with. Clint could be a father figure and love Kate, but he couldn't always be around and her friends that were basically kids couldn't be the best support maturity wise, something that the brunette seemed to understand. But that didn't mean she had to be entirely independent, alone.

Yelena didn't want her to be alone. She wanted to be there for her, care for her and see that bright, charming smile she had witnessed that Christmas almost 2 years ago. She wanted to be the one to bring that Kate back, no matter what it took. Old Yelena may have struggled, but even in the last 2 months since the event with the void, she had grown stronger mentally, enough to be able to be someone's support instead of just needing it herself.

Besides, she had a feeling that Kate would have done the exact same thing if she had stuck around all that time ago. It went both ways, that was obvious, even if it was something Kate wouldn't be able to show for a while. The admission that she never stopped yearning for Yelena, was enough for her to know that when the time came, Kate would be there for her. They would be there for each other, even if their history was so complicated.

Kate was almost in awe as she sat down, wide doe like eyes just watching every movement Yelena made, but not making a sound after being told to sit. She wasn't in a place to argue, especially not with the Russian that had taken so much time to help her already. That and the fact that Yelena could make Kate fold far too easily for her own liking. Something about the woman's powerful presence and aura that just made the younger weak whenever told to do something, instead of being sassy and annoying about it.

She will forever be grateful for everything Yelena has done and will probably continue to do, already feeling lighter from the help she had received. Maybe she will be able to pick herself back up after all, maybe all she did need was a shoulder to cry on. Or in this case, have a hot Russian hero as a girlfriend. But maybe she was having wishful thinking that it would go that far.

Soon, the food was placed in front of her and the minute it was, she started gobbling it down, making it unfortunately obvious how little she had been eating. It fortunately wasn't obvious if it was on purpose or just neglect, but it was more neglect than anything else.

Once she was finished, Yelena took her plate away after finishing her own, then walked back over to her and looked down at the no longer hungry woman.

“You need a bath, because of both last night and because you clearly haven't washed your hair in a while. Also, we need to address your legs later, okay? I've already removed the obviously sharp objects in your room, but your legs need cleaning too. After that, I'm going to go back to the tower and have a little chat with Valentina.”

A small and almost shy nod is what she received as confirmation, but Yelena couldn't blame her, knowing what she had been doing to her legs was a sensitive subject. Something Kate clearly was embarrassed about.

Around half an hour passed by the time the bath was prepared and ready, during which the two of them just cuddled on the couch while the water filled up. Yelena knew she needed the comfort, so she was more than willing to give it to her. One thing she quickly realized was Kate loved having her hair played with. In a way, the young woman was almost like a dog herself. Clingy, talkative, and liked being petted on the head. Not that she could really blame her, she was clearly touch starved and craved validation with the way she lit up from the smallest of praises.

Just like when Yelena said in the apartment that Kate earned a few points for saving Lucky, her face lit up when the blonde said she was proud of her while cuddling on the couch. She was so fucking cute.

In a moment of weakness and affection, the shorter woman carried the archer bridal style to the bathroom, to which she placed her on the edge of the tub and turned the water off. Kate had this adorable look in her eyes as she stared up, almost begging for Yelena not to leave, but the woman just kissed her on the head and assured her she would be right back. Stupid pretty archer and her adorable eyes, it made Yelena absolutely weak in the heart.

When she returned, Kate hadn't moved an inch, patiently waiting like a lost puppy, which in a way, she was. She was a lost and broken girl and though she didn't usually listen to instructions, it was hard to argue with the hands that guided her from the dark place she was in.

Yelena placed the items she had retrieved down, a towel and some clothes, before kneeling down so she was face to face with the puppy eyed girl. Her hand reached up and cupped her cheek, immediately feeling Kate lean into it. The action made the blonde's heart melt.

It didn't take long to get the girl undressed and into the bath, followed by Yelena who couldn't help but stare just a little bit at Kate and the marks left on her body from their intimate experience. She slipped in behind the body already in the water and wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling them flush together, back to chest.

“You're so beautiful, solnyshko, so beautiful.”

Smiling, Kate tilted her head back, allowing a kiss to be planted on her forehead. Call her crazy but she was so happy she had held out waiting for Yelena to come back for so long, because Yelena was perfect. When Kate needed her most, she was there, taking care of her, even in such intimate circumstances. In her arms, everything felt like it was going to be okay. She was going to be okay.

As they sat peacefully while Yelena started to wash Kate's body, she couldn't help herself from questioning the woman cleaning her.

“What does that mean?”

“What does what mean?”

Yelena couldn't help but play innocent, knowing exactly what was being referred to.

“Yelenaaaaa!”

Kate whined, followed by a huff and pout, shifting slightly so the side of her face was resting against the soft skin that was Yelena's chest.

“It means sunshine.”

Water splashed everywhere as Kate swirled around to face the other, revealing a flushed face and open mouth. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she wasn't expecting that.

“Sunshine?”

Yelena laughed, wiping the water off her face with a towel on the side.

“Yes, solnyshko, sunshine. Because you are as bright as the sun.”

The way she saw Kate's face light up had her heart fluttering. God this woman was so so cute sometimes, she was so easy to make smile when you know what you're doing. Fortunately for Yelena, she knew Kate's weaknesses. That wasn't the archers fault of course, she just happened to be extremely easy to read to a trained assassin, so she could easily figure out what makes her happy.

Praise was the biggest thing. Saying she's doing good at something, or saying she's proud of her, and Kate would immediately smile like it's the greatest compliment she's ever heard. Yelena definitely was going to use that whenever she could.

“You're just saying things, Yelena.”

The dismissal in her tone had the blonde shaking her head, tilting her head with a slight smile.

“No, I am not, Kate. When I met you in that apartment, you were brave and funny. In the elevator, you were adorable and bright, proud of the way your suit was revealed. You changed me Kate, for the better and so yes, you are a piece of sunshine and light. I don't want to see that light fade. I will do anything to see that version of you again.”

Kate definitely had tears in her eyes again, but this time they were from the comfort and happiness she felt hearing the woman's words, having to restrain from throwing herself at the blonde in the tub with her.

“Since when were you so good with words?”

That made Yelena snicker, leaning forward, cupping Kate's face and pulling her in for a sweet kiss. It was quickly reciprocated, the two of them sharing an intimate and loving moment as the archer shifted so she was on Yelena's lap, not caring about being in a tub. The shorter pulled away, looking up with a raised eyebrow at the flushed girl sitting on her.

“I've always been good with words Kate, now let me finish cleaning you.”

This caused the cute girl to pout, not caring about getting clean and simply wanting to be close to the strong, beautiful, short haired woman.

“Fine, fine, you can continue.”

Water splashed around again as Kate turned around, once again pressing her back against Yelena's chest in order to let them finish washing her.

They got most of the way through it, the archers eyes happily closed and relaxed, when the woman cleaning her disturbed her by placing a kiss to her head.

“Kokhana, I need to clean your legs, can you let me have a look?”

Fortunately, despite the sensitive subject, Kate complied, turning around to face her again and moving her legs to be on either side of the other girl. It was embarrassing, but Yelena was gentle about it, starting with the bottom of her legs before working her way up. Grabbing Kate's knees, she pulled her closer, making the archer's knees stick out of the water in order to reach her thighs.

There was hesitation, seeing the almost scared look in the bright blue eyes, so she whispered sweet praises as she tenderly began to wash the injured areas. Kate's breath hitched as she tried not to wince at a particularly sore and recent area, but she couldn't help the small sound that escaped her lips. Obviously, Yelena noticed, pausing to give Kate a soft look. Receiving a nod of encouragement, her work continued until eventually the woman was completely clean and relaxed.

After another half an hour just relaxing in the tub and deciding not to talk further about the archer's legs, Yelena unfortunately had to get out and go have a talk with Valentina. To nobody's surprise, Kate protested, immediately trying to keep her in the tub. Unfortunately she had to leave, so she came up with a different solution for the clingy hero.

“Would you like to come with me instead?”

“... Yes.”

She wasn't sure how, but when Yelena looked at Kate clinging to the edge of the tub and looking up at her, she could see the familiar fire in her eyes. She had something to prove. Prove to Valentina she was worth something to the short, strong, beautiful and sassy ex-assassin.

“Then let's go.”

Notes:

YES I FORGOT ABOUT BOB, YELENA TOLD HIM TO GO HOME, HE CAN DRIVE HIMSELF
BC I DON'T WANT TO FIX IT 😭