Chapter Text
Things were finally starting to feel, well, normal.
Or perhaps that wasn’t quite the right word, but it was what Yelena came to know as normal. She’d been frequenting the tower more and more, not just for missions, but for spending time with her kick-ass, crime fighting companions. She was still grappling with the name they’d been given. Something about it felt a little off, still struggling with her own lingering feelings about doing Avenger-esque work. Whatever one wanted to call it, she was doing it. The hero stuff. And maybe, just maybe Yelena liked it a little. Okay, maybe more than a little. A lot.
For once in her life Yelena felt as though she had true purpose. Things felt as though they were starting to fall in place for the first time. Even though Yelena still struggled at times, occasionally going on a binge and drinking until she passed out, those nights were happening less and less over the past year or so. And while Alexei still got on her nerves from time-to-time, as did Walker, they were getting better. And time with the lot of them, Bucky, Ava and Bob too, was starting to not feel like going to work. It was quality work with quality time with people she’d grown to care for; although she would never admit it.
And so Yelena had come to accept this as her new normal. She was in the swing of a routine that didn’t feel monotonous and soul-sucking like before. It was also more thrilling, more rewarding, and more unpredictable.
Nothing could have predicted Yelena for the encounter she had on this very evening though.
*
Kate Bishop was working hard to prove her worth as not just a member, but as a potential leader for the newly formed (still forming) Young Avengers. She adored her fellow heroes, her team, more than anything, and so she was fully locked in on their current target. She had to be the one to take this villain out. Kate was well aware of how skilled her fellow teammates were, but she was determined to be the hero today. She had everything to prove and so much to lose.
When the time came, Kate had her back pressed to a wall. She peered around the corner, confirming her target was just where she needed him to be. It was ‘go’ time. Kate quietly knocked an arrow, moving her body with stealthy precision into the correct position. She squinted, eyes locking in. Her fingertips moved delicately, and just before she was about to release the arrow, her target suddenly made a gurgling, growly sound and stumbled forward. A tiny knife had been thrown at the creature, sticking it right in the side of the neck. However, the unworldly creature was huge, and so it was not a lethal blow. But, it was one to slow the beast down for sure.
“What the-” Kate muttered under her breath, eyes searching for wherever the dagger came from.
Then she saw her. A tiny black blur with a blond head darting outwards, launching herself towards the creature. Towards Kate’s target. She wasn’t going to let Yelena Belova of all people steal away her target and all that came with it.
Kate aimed and released her arrow, hitting the creature on its hind leg. This time-hopping, other-dimensional being would meet its end today, if it was the last thing Kate Bishop did. It had already caused some major damage in the city, and so the mission was imperative so that no one got hurt.
Yelena skidded to a stop then, lowering her fists momentarily as she stared in disbelief. Then, in that familiar, deep and raspy tone said, “Kate Bishop.” She elongated the ‘shop’ part of her name in a way that sent Kate’s mind briefly spiraling into a flashback of the elevator at the Christmas party nearly two years prior.
Yelena Belova had a way of both grinding Kate’s gears and also frazzling her brain, even after all this time. And so it was no surprise when Kate internally short-circuited for a moment, her hand fumbling to knock another arrow before finally setting it in the correct position. “Yelena. Cool haircut, but this one’s mine. I’ve got it under control here.”
Yelena lofted a brow and took mental note that Kate thought her haircut was cool. She had other things to focus on right now, and didn’t need the distraction that was Kate Bishop. However, she couldn’t help but engage a little. “Oh, yeah? Is that why you only hit it in the thigh?”
“That was intentional. I’m slowing him down.”
“It’s more efficient to slow someone down with a knife to the neck, Kate Bishop.”
“Still doing the whole full name bit, huh?” Kate mumbled, which elicited a smirk from Yelena. Kate was a bit miffed by the critique from Yelena, but tried to not let it get to her. If anything, it fueled her desire to be the one to take this target down even more.
The creature roared, the sound it created was guttural and caused the ground beneath their feet to vibrate. It started taking off then, galloping across the roof top and leaping from roof-to-roof. Both Yelena and Kate’s eyes locked on the fleeing target.
Yelena made note of the creature’s pace. It was running with a limp, and was at a speed which was a few paces slower than before. Kate noticed too, and smugly added. “See? He’s slower.”
“Congratulations, Kate Bishop,” Yelena replied in her husky, sardonic tone. “But I still think the knife to the neck did more damage.”
“Okay, well, whatever. He’s getting away, and you’re currently in my way. So, excuse me.” Kate said before she leapt from her position and started chasing the target.
Yelena was quick to follow suit, and was running parallel to Kate, about twenty feet away from her. Kate knew Yelena was quick, knew she had more training than her. However, she was still surprised at how quickly Yelena had caught up to Kate, as if it were nothing. When Yelena started running a few feet forward beyond Kate, Kate pushed her legs faster. The two kept gaining on one another, back and forth as if somehow the task at hand was not to catch the target, but to out-perform the other.
The two were running, leaping, and doing flips as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop. When Kate did a fancy flip in the air over a gap between two buildings, Yelena matched that by doing an impressive flip maneuver of her own. It was as if the pair were peacocking to one another, trying to outdo and impress the other to show off their skills during the hunt.
Things took a turn when Yelena started gaining on the creature a few paces ahead. “Damnit,” Kate muttered under her breath as she pushed forward. Impulsive and determined as ever, Kate saw an opportunity and took it. She knocked an arrow and pointed her bow at a stack of barrels on the roof ahead of Yelena. She shot and successfully hit one of the barrels, which fell over, consequently causing a slew of them to start rolling over the rooftop.
“Cyka.” Yelena rolled her eyes, mind briefly recalling the moment when Kate pressed every button in the elevator at the Christmas party and also slapped her for no reason. Kate Bishop really did have a habit of impulsivity, and as annoying as she could be, Yelena still found the girl endearing, even in an irritating manner. She respected the impulsive decisions Kate made, even this one. It was clever, she’d give her that.
However, two could play in that game. Yelena had to jump over the barrels, and sure enough, it gave Kate an extra few seconds to gain the advance on the target. Not for long, though, as Yelena used her wrist devices to shoot across the way at a pipe. It was a successful hit, and caused the pipe to burst and start spewing water right as Kate landed in the spot. “Ugh, really?!” Kate exclaimed over the sound of the spraying water. She was thankful her suit was waterproof. Her hair, though, wasn’t exactly water-resistant.
Yelena pushed on, glancing over her shoulder briefly. “What? Do not dish what you cannot take, Kate Bishop.”
Kate wiped water from her face as she pushed on. The two carried on like this for the remainder of the pursuit, attempting to sabotage one another’s momentary leverage over the other, throwing things, trying to cause distractions.
When they were closing in on the target at last, both Kate and Yelena locked in. Kate glanced at Yelena, making brief eye contact before they both leapt into the air. Kate had her bow and arrow ready, about to fire mid-leap, while Yelena’s fists were at the ready for a powerful attack.
Before either of them could succeed, a giant, glowing white and blue fist extended down from the sky and impaled the creature, sending it flying back into a wall with a crushing blow.
Yelena stood there, briefly stunned.
Kate, however, sighed heavily and hung her bow and arrow at her sides in defeat. “Damnit, she is really good.”
“What was that?” Yelena asked.
Before Kate could answer, Kamala flew down briefly and waved to Kate. Kate waved back and gave a half-hearted “thanks.” As Kamala flew up and away to deal with something else, it was so apparent on Kate’s expressive features that she was bummed she wasn’t the one to take the villain out. Still, she was lowkey glad it wasn’t Yelena. She wouldn’t have been able to live that one down.
“That’s uh, that’s Ms. Marvel.” Kamala disappeared, and Yelena went over to inspect the now deceased interdimensional being.
Yelena seemed impressed. “The hand thing? Very cool, very cool.”
Kate came over, defeat still in her eyes. “Yeah, she’s great…She’s a member of my team, you know.”
“Oh yeah? And what team is that, Kate Bishop?”
Kate’s expression lit up then. “We’re calling ourselves the Young Avengers.” She seemed quite pleased with herself.
Yelena lofted a brow then. “The Young Avengers…Really, Kate Bishop?”
“What? Hey, I don’t want to hear it. What’s this I hear about Avengerz with a ‘z’?”
“Wait. What? Where did you hear that?”
“Oh, you know, the papers and stuff. Swear I saw it in a magazine too.”
“What?” Yelena asked in disbelief. The last thing she wanted was for the public to think she was part of a group with such an embarrassing name. It was hard enough grappling with association with the Avengers in general. She was still learning to accept the New Avengers, which was what she believed they actually agreed upon. She’d have to chat with Alexei about this later. She knew he had something to do with this. Yelena extended her arms out in a shrug to the sky and exclaimed in disbelief, “They’re putting the ‘z’ in the papers!? Ugh.” Yelena mumbled something else in Russian that Kate couldn’t understand.
Yelena brought her hand to her brow, fingers rubbing her temple.
“...I take it that’s not your preferred team name?” Kate had an amused tone.
Yelena gave her a knowing look. “No. What’s this about the baby Avengers though?”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, the Young Avengers,” Yelena put emphasis on the ‘young’ in a teasing manner. There was a glint in Yelena’s taunting gaze that Kate recalled from the last time they’d met. It both drove her mad and allured her at the same time.
Kate huffed and straightened her shoulders out. “You know, I’m not that much younger than you.”
“Oh, I know, Kate Bishop.”
“It’s just…well, we’re like…a younger version of the Avengers, you know?”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Sort of. We’re still recruiting. We’re working on it.”
“I see.” A pause. Yelena couldn’t resist another tease. “So are you like the babysitter of the baby Avengers then?”
“Very funny.” Kate scowled at Yelena, to which the other smirked.
“Lighten up, Kate Bishop. The last time I saw you you were not so serious.” Kate could have sworn she saw Yelena bat those long, dark lashes at her briefly.
“Well, the last time I saw you, you were pretty serious.”
“Well, things change, Kate Bishop. People change.”
There was a moment of pause between the two. The cool wind passed between them, and Kate shivered from the dampness in her hair. Yelena noticed, and then felt a little bad for what she’d done earlier. “Sorry about your hair.”
Kate sighed and shook her ponytail, getting more of the water out, somewhat reminiscent of a dog. “It’s fine. Sorry about the barrels.”
“Meh, it’s nothing. I like an added challenge. You could have done more, even.”
“More?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, I’ll remember that for next time.”
“Next time?”
“Yeah, I mean, well, what are the chances we meet again like this? Something tells me it’s pretty high. It’s one city.”
“A pretty big city.”
“A pretty big city that shares the same interdimensional crimes.”
Kate could hear the smirk in Yelena’s tone now. “Ah, there is the Kate Bishop I remember. You are still funny, Kate Bishop.”
“And you still say my full name way too much.” Kate was grinning now though.
There was another pause between them before Yelena recalled how they met just before this. “...So, you really think my hair is cool?”
Kate was still smirking then, albeit a little sheepish now. “...I mean, yeah. It’s a nice change. It suits you.”
Yelena’s smirk remained. “I like your suit. New?”
Kate nodded, pleased. “You noticed.”
Of course Yelena noticed. She still remembered every detail about Kate that she’d memorized the last time they were around each other. While it was something she’d been skillfully trained and brainwashed to be able to do so well, she didn’t mind holding onto the memory of details about Kate Bishop, for some reason.
“I noticed.”
There was a lingering gaze between the two, as if both were reminiscing on the last time they encountered one another.
Finally, Kate cleared her throat, just as Yelena turned towards the edge of the building’s rooftop. “Well, until next time, Kate Bishop.”
“Yeah, see ya.” Kate waved as Yelena casually dropped from the top of the building, disappearing into the evening air.
Kate was left holding onto the hope that they would indeed have a next time.
*********
As it turns out, Kate did not have to wait long for her wish to be granted. It turns out that when a big evil shows up in New York City, there are a variety of heroes who may show up: Avengers new and young, and even some group calling themselves the Fantastic 4.
The second time Kate and Yelena ran into one another, they were once again both after the same target, on a similar mission.
This time, however, Yelena was fighting another big interdimensional, time-hopping creature (something that was becoming more common these days) on her own. The others hadn’t caught up yet. Kate Bishop did, and she could see Yelena starting to struggle against the beast. The thing had Yelena entwined in its tentacle grasp, squeezing her in its clutch. Kate did not hesitate before shooting several arrows at the creature, including some at the arm that held Yelena. Even though they were on different teams, at the end of the day they were both here to fight the same evil. Besides, Kate wasn’t going to sit there and do nothing.
The shots made the creature cry out, causing it to drop Yelena and free her. She brushed herself off and quickly pushed herself up, shooting lasers from her wrist-cuffs at the beast. Without yet exchanging words, Kate and Yelena seemingly teamed up to take the beast down.
When it was over, though, Yelena finally said, “Thanks, but I had it under control, Kate Bishop.” She was catching her breath, her short hair was tousled, and Yelena was a smidge scuffed up. Kate, however distracted, still noted that she was a fan of the look.
“Yeah, well, sure as hell looked like you needed my help out there.”
“I did not need your help.”
Kate did not fully believe her, but knew Yelena likely wouldn’t admit it otherwise. She could be just as stubborn though, so she got it.
“That’s a weird way to say thank you.”
“I did say thanks!”
Kate smirked as she put her arrows on her back strap. “Yeah, well, you’re welcome.”
*********
The third time they ran into each other, though, it was Kate who needed the help.
This time, it was a bigger monster. And so this time, both the New and Young Avengers had coincidentally gathered to fight the same beast. This seemed to be a trend, one that Kate was growing to not mind.
What she did mind was when she shot an arrow at this ginormous creature, and it roared back, flaring up with a gleaming aura of white and blue light that shot out like a force field. Whatever magical science it was caused the arrow that Kate shot at it to ricochet back like a boomerang. Within a second, her arrow hit the glowing mystery blast and turned right back around towards her.
Kate didn’t have a chance to react. Within the blink of an eye, she felt a searing, scorching pain in her left shoulder area, in the soft spot of her chest near her armpit. She hardly had time to process what happened, but her wide eyes could see the long body of the arrow pointing well out of her flesh. “Ow.”
That was an understatement. Kate stumbled backwards a few steps, hand instinctively moving to the injury. She knew she couldn’t tug it, as that would only worsen it right now. “Damnit,” she breathed heavily, looking about her as the monster raged on.
In the midst of a fighting maneuver, Yelena caught sight of Kate on the ground. She wouldn’t show it, her features remaining mostly unchanged, but she was inwardly concerned for Kate. However, she was momentarily distracted, in the midst of direct conflict with the target. “Kate!” It was a very rare thing whenever Yelena called her solely by her first name, reserved for times of utmost seriousness.
“I’m good! I’m good…” Kate called out, her own teammates too occupied at the present moment with fighting this huge monster too.
Kate tried to push herself up then, tried to act as though everything was fine. She grabbed her bow as if to notch another arrow. “See?” However, the pain was terrible, and she was struggling to lift her left arm.
Yelena shouted back in a scolding manner, “Kate. Kate, no! Sit. Kate Bishop, stay right there!”
“I’m not a dog…sheesh.” Kate replied, not as loudly though as she felt her energy dwindling. She relented and collapsed on the ground, putting her hand over her bleeding wound, careful not to touch the arrow sticking out.
“Good. Now, stay.” Yelena’s tone was stern, and her expression still remained stoic. However, she wanted to know if Kate was okay. It looked bad, but from her vantage point, it did not seem lethal. She could finish what she started, and so she did.
Yelena was preoccupied for a few minutes more, helping take down the beast. It was killing Kate to not help her team, yet she knew she had to sit this one out. Much to Kate’s surprise, it was Yelena who came down to see her first, not one of her teammates. In their defense, they may not have noticed yet, and were still dealing with a lot pertaining to the mission.
Kate was laying, back propped against a wall. Sweat glistened on her forehead, and blood was seeping into the deep purple of her uniform. Yelena kneeled beside Kate and quickly started to assess her current state. “...Yeah…I can fix that.”
“What?”
“This. I can take care of this.” Yelena had dealt with far, far worse in her lifetime. Kate would be okay, and she would see to that.
Kate was growing a bit delirious from adrenaline and shock. “...Yeah, sure…whatever…” She was hardly processing this, sweat beading on her forehead, face pale.
“Okay, come on, Kate Bishop.” With that, Yelena hoisted an arm underneath Kate and lifted her with relative ease, despite being way shorter. What she lacked in height she made up for in trained-assassin muscle. “Up you go.” Kate groaned, the pain searing in her shoulder and chest from the movement.
“Ow, ow…”
“Oh, you’re fine. Don’t be such a baby, Kate Bishop.”
“I think that’s warranted right now…”
“To whine and cry? No, no. You’ll be fine. Come on, Kate Bishop.” Yelena started to hasten her pace just a bit.
In another circumstance, Kate would likely make some jab about Yelena saying her full name too much, but right now the pain in her shoulder was too blinding.
“Where are we going?”
“To my place.”
“...What? Not a hospital?”
“No. Hospital is not needed. I have all I need to fix this at home. Plus, hospitals don’t have the best medicine: whiskey.”
*
Once back at Yelena’ s, she got Kate settled on a chair in the living room. She went and gathered some essential supplies from her closet and bathroom, as well as the most important medicine from her kitchen cabinet.
Yelena poured Kate a shot of whiskey and offered it to her. “Drink.”
Kate sniffed the amber liquid and made a face. “Woah.”
“Drink. It’s good for you. Will help with the pain.”
Kate sighed and then tossed the shot back hesitantly. She instantly coughed and grimaced, making a little disgusted sound and sticking her tongue out briefly. “Euegh.”
Yelena rolled her eyes at Kate’s dramatic reaction. She should have expected it. Yelena was just grateful Kate did not spit it out. That stuff was top shelf. It got her through some dark times. “Good girl.”
If Kate was feeling better, and if she had the drink in her mouth, she likely would have coughed at that and potentially made some flirty reply. Instead, it caught her off guard, and it was hard to hide a blush when your face was otherwise deathly pale from shock still.
Yelena had a spray bottle of some sort of antiseptic wash in her hand as well as a clean cloth. “Okay, first, we clean.”
Kate knew this was going to suck. She was lowkey appreciative of the booze now.
Kate wasn’t sure why she entirely trusted Yelena with all of this, now having some second thoughts. However, it was too late now. She was here, and she was desperate to get this arrow out of her shoulder for some relief.
The cleaning part sucked. A lot. She tried her best to act tough throughout it, biting down on her fist and grimacing throughout the entire process. By the end of it, she had glassy eyes and was sweating even more. But the worst had yet to come.
Yelena needed some good leverage in order to successfully remove this arrow. It was embedded pretty deep within Kate’s shoulder. She inspected it whilst cleaning it, and determined that she could indeed pull it out. “Okay, here.” Yelena poured Kate a second shot.
Kate hesitated, staring at the glass. “What’s this for?”
“Well, it’s time for me to remove the arrow.”
“What, just like this?”
“Yes.” Yelena said plainly.
Kate stared at the liquid again before quickly taking the shot glass and tossing it back with eager desperation. She knew this was about to be awful.
Yelena came to stand right in front of Kate, who was still seated in the chair. She then lifted a booted foot and placed it between Kate’s leg.
“Uh…What are you doing.”
“Leverage. Now, hold still.”
Yelena put two hands on the arrow, positioning her body carefully. She leaned in close over Kate, the warmth from her body so close that Kate could feel it. And Kate, now drunk and delirious in painful stupor, couldn’t help but think this was both erotic and terrifying all at once.
“On the count of three?” Kate asked, a slight tremble in her voice. Yelena couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy. This would not be enjoyable.
“On the count of three, Kate Bishop,” Yelena humored her though. “...Three…”
Kate was trying to stall as much as she could, trying to put off the inevitable. “Wait, wait…maybe it would be better if you started at one and counted down to three?”
“Uh…why?”
“Just…I don’t know.”
Yelena rolled her eyes. “Okay. Fine. I will count down from one, Kate Bishop.”
“One…”
“...Two…”
“W-wait, wait!” Kate interrupted again to stall. It was so obvious to Yelena what was happening. “Actually, I changed my mind. Can you count down from three? I think that’s more authentic. Makes more sense…”
Yelena sighed and for some reason, agreed. “Fine.” Slight annoyance was evident in her tone.
Kate took a deep breath and braced herself, waiting for the countdown to start again from three. “Okay.”
Yelena spoke then and acted quickly. “One.” With that, Yelena gripped the arrow and yanked it out with lightning speed and precision, using her foot as leverage to get a good, swift momentum to remove it. Naturally, blood spurted out, and even more naturally, Kate screamed.
“What was that for?! What happened to counting down from three?!”
“You were stalling too long. I got the job done,” Yelena said flatly. “Now, hold still, you’re bleeding.”
Kate glanced down at the wound, and the shock of the situation got to her again. Regardless, she tried to stand up impulsively, once again trying to act as though she was fine, trying to tough it out so as to not look weak. She already felt too vulnerable.
“What are you doing, Kate? Sit down.” Yelena demanded.
“I’m fine. I’m good.”
“Kate, you are bleeding on the carpet. Now, sit.”
Suddenly, Kate’s eyes rolled back and she slumped down into her seat, passing out.
Yelena sighed and picked up some medical supplies to get to work. “Well, that works too, I guess.” She shook her head as she started applying pressure to the wound. “You are something else, Kate Bishop.”