Chapter Text
If Yelena hadn’t paused for just a moment, just to pat Pizza Dog on the head, she might not of heard Kate. But she did, and it felt worse than a stab wound to the stomach. Every sob felt like someone was pushing that knife deeper, forcing a hard lump to form in her throat. Her breath shook as she closed the door, stepping back inside the apartment. She approached Kate slowly, avoiding looking directly at her. She didn’t think she could handle seeing the brunette that distraught, that broken down and shattered.
“Kate, Do you want a hug, or just to sit?” Yelena thought back to that conversation she had with her father, where he told her the gross story about his father and then sung her their song until she felt even just a small bit better.
“Lena? Hug.. please. I’m sorry.” Kate’s voice sounded so strained, and when Yelena pulled in her close she found tears falling quietly from her own eyes.
“Shhhh, it’s okay cолнце, it’s gonna be okay.” Yelena tried to keep the shutter out of her voice. She began to rub Kate’s back comfortingly, leaning over to kiss her forehead softly. “I’m not going anywhere, I can stay with you.”
Kate began to cry harder, not tears of sadness, but tears of joy, tears of warmth and love and safety that she needed so badly. “T-thank you, lena. I never meant to disappoint you, I just wanted to be strong.”
“I know.” Yelena hummed quietly, reaching her hands up to gently run through Kate’s hair. “Kate Bishop, you are one of the strongest people I have ever met. You are brave and precise and talented, and most of all you find family everywhere and you protect them with everything you have. That’s what strength is, not fighting or jumping off buildings or being a superhero.” Yelena’s words flowed smoothly, a slight smile evident on her lips.
Yelena smiled a little brighter when she felt Kate’s lips curl upwards against her chest. Her breathing settled, and Yelena began to sing, the words rolling off her tongue without any thought put into them.
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry. And them good ‘ol boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing “This’ll be the day that I die. This’ll be the day that I die.”
Yelena sat there on that floor for as long as she could. The smell of Kate’s shampoo was burned into her brain, and her hair felt so soft and addictive. This moment would never die in her brain, she knew she would keep coming back here, keep feeling this feeling. That thought was the only thing that finally convinced her to stand, carrying a sleeping Kate carefully in her arms, and take the both of them to the much more comfortable bed, where Yelena held Kate tight until the sun rose, and she knew that her world would never be quite the same.