Here we are, it's the chapter everyone has been wanting since day one hehe. (It's still kind of just a taste, tho.  A teaser, if you will.)
ANYWAY-
Hope you're all doing well! Happy first week of Pride Month. :)))

Content Warnings: mention of injury, depression, a smidge of angst, a smidgen of arguing

Kate's stitches reopening sets her back another few days, and it's evident in every movement that both women and their dogs were anxious to be out and about. Yelena could easily go out for a few hours to run around the city or find someone to punch, but the look in her archer's eyes when she started going back downstairs after helping her into bed the other night was haunting her. She didn't want to leave her.

"Katie Kate!" Clint calls out, his voice ringing through the apartment in the late morning of the seventh day as he carefully opens the apartment door and steps in.

Yelena throws herself down the stairs and frantically shoves a finger in front of his mouth to indicate for him to be quiet- Kate had just barely fallen asleep, and getting that woman to rest was like trying to wrestle Lucky into a chokehold so that she could clip his nails. There was usually whining and maybe even some screaming involved.

That dog was crazy.

"She is asleep," the assassin offers in way of explanation, leading Clint back into the kitchen where she already has some coffee going. "And you're early."

"Sorry, I got bored at the hotel. No kids running around to keep me busy."

Yelena groans and runs a tired hand down her face. "Kate Bishop will certainly keep you busy today."

The archer's chest rumbles with a soft laugh. "Is she that stir crazy?"

"We all are." Yelena prepares two mugs, secretly dumping an unholy amount of cream and sweetener into hers. Nostalgia and missing Alexie be damned- black coffee tasted like shit. Clint takes the offered one with a grateful smile, offering a small 'cheers' before sipping at it carefully, ever the epitomical picture of a tired dad.

"I am sorry about the delay, Clint Barton," the blonde says quietly at some point, staring into her mug and wishing it would swallow her up.

"With Kate?"

She nods. "With her stitches. I..."

"Yelena." Clint sets his drink down and steps closer to her, settling a gentle hand on her shoulder. It feels so natural to look up and meet his tired eyes, to get lost in the kindness she sees there. "It's not your fault that Kate got hurt."

But that's just the thing...

"And it's not your fault that her stitches tore. She slipped. It happens all the time."

"She can be clumsy sometimes," Yelena mutters in agreement.

Cling offers a chuckle, and something sharp in her chest loosens into more of a dull pang.

"She's also prone to recklessness, and jumping into situations headfirst, and punching before asking questions. I'm sure you've noticed."

Yelena nods, but she can tell that the frown on her lips doesn't have Clint convinced of anything. His fingers press into her shoulder.

"She cares about you."

Yelena wilts, cheeks coloring and heart squeezing painfully. "I know," she whispers, the horror in her tone so evident that Clint blinks in confusion, clearly not having expected it. "I know."

"Yelena..." Clint squeezes her shoulder in concern, his eyebrows furrowed. His mouth opens and closes several times as he tries and fails to figure out what to say. "I-"

"Clint!"

Yelena groans as she turns her head to see Kate Bishop very much awake and walking on her own, two things that were currently not supposed to be happening. The archer's smile is bright, albeit a bit strained at the corners, but her cheeks have more color in them than the last time Clint saw her, and the Avenger visibly relaxes at her improved condition.

He steps towards the stairs and takes her hand to help support her weight so she can get to the bottom of them, then scoops her into a careful but very tight hug. "Hey, Hawkeye," he mutters, smoothing down her hair and kissing the crown of her head.

Kate melts into him and wraps her arms around his waist, cheek pressed to his shoulder. "Hey, Hawkeye."

She had missed her dad.

Yelena watches with a mix of adoration and sadness swirling in her chest, desperately aching for her sister and parents. Under it all, a dying flicker of annoyance at Kate for sleeping so little. It fizzled out quickly enough- Kate's smile always melted her insides and made her feel all gooey.

The two archers lean apart and walk carefully into the kitchen, the younger meeting Yelena's eyes as her face softens. "Hi."

The assassin swallowed. Why the fuck were her palms so sweaty? "Hi, Kate Bishop."

Clint helps Kate prop herself up against the bar and excuses himself to the bathroom. "Be ready in ten, okay?"

Kate mutters an affirmative and watches him go, staring at the door long after it's closed, if only to stall.

Yelena clears her throat and moves back into the kitchen. Her coffee sits abandoned on the counter, and she picks it up, even though the thought of drinking any more of it makes her want to empty her stomach.

"Yelena?"

The blonde looks to the other woman immediately, having very quickly learned her lesson about ignoring her. She nods in acknowledgement.

"Are you okay?"

Another lesson she's learnt- don't lie to her.

"I'll manage."

Sort of.

The archer raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. She shifts a bit closer, hands still on the counter. "Dude."

"Bro," Yelena snaps back, a bit sharply.

Kate stops.

Yelena stops.

God, what was wrong with her?

She turned away from Kate and leaned against the cupboards, collapsing in on herself as she wrapped her arms tight around her own shoulders. Why was she acting like this? What happened? Why couldn't she look at Kate and feel only good things? Why did she see blood and hear a gunshot with every wince on the archer's face, with every strike of discomfort in her blue eyes?

Why am I broken?

Kate, meanwhile, didn't know what to do. She watched helplessly as Yelena seemed to sink into herself and move further and further away, even as she stayed put. She couldn't help but feel a well of panic open up in her chest- Yelena was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time (aside from Clint, of course) and she'd be damned if she let that slip away without trying to stop it.

She needed her. Kate needed Yelena.

They needed each other.

And more than anything, Kate knew that they wanted each other.

Kate limped across the kitchen without a second thought and wrapped her arms around the assassin's waist, pressing her front flush to Yelena's back and leaning her cheek on golden blonde hair. Yelena stiffened and goosebumps erupted over her skin, but Kate screwed her eyes shut and silently pleaded that her actions would convey everything in her head.

Stay.

I'm here.

I...

Yelena slowly relaxes into Kate's hold, her arms coming down to press over Kate's hands on her abdomen. She let herself take a moment to admire the calluses on them, the obvious strength and skill in her fingers, the way her own hands were so much smaller than the archer's.

"I'm sorry, Kate Bishop," Yelena mutters, carefully turning in Kate's arms and melting into the hug, returning it in full force.

Kate doesn't reply, because she doesn't know if she can. She just holds her Widow tighter.

"I know I don't know what's going on," Kate starts quietly after a moment, "but if it would ever help to have someone in the loop- to have me in the loop, I've been told I'm a great listener."

Yelena sniffs softly, burying her face into Kate's hoody and almost losing herself in the smell of dried flowers and cinnamon. "Who told you that?"

Kate blinks, pursing her lips. "...Lucky?"

The blonde lets out a laugh and holds her closer. "Sounds about right."

"But I'm serious, Yelena. I mean it. You've done... so much for me already, in only like, two weeks." She leans back, but Yelena won't open her eyes to look up at her. She hesitates a moment before softly pressing her lips to the blonde's forehead, right above her eyebrows. "I want to help you too." Her words are almost a whisper, and Yelena looks up at this, her cheeks blazing.

There's another moment. Another fucking moment, where all Yelena can do is stare at how beautiful she is, and where all Kate is capable of is blushing like an idiot while her mind races before completely shutting down.

God. What were they even doing?

Kate's eyes flutter, her head leaning down to press their foreheads together. So easy. It would be so so easy-

The lock on the bathroom door clicks, signaling that Clint is done and ready to walk out. Yelena tenses, prepared to pull away even as something in her chest withers at the prospect of yet another frantic circle of catching nothing, but Kate's eyes have a fire in them. She's not going to let Clint get in the way again.

The archer swiftly buries her nimble fingers into braided golden hair, tips Yelena's chin up with her other hand, and presses their parted lips together in a heady, desperate kiss. It's only for a moment- but a blazing, furious, magical moment- before she's grabbing one of the crutches Yelena mustered up from a random cupboard and limping out of her apartment in a panic to wait for Clint outside, shoes dangling from her hands.

Yelena stares dumbly at nothing, pointing to the door to tell Clint where Kate went, and once it's just her in the empty apartment, all she can do is stand there as her lips burn hot with a phantom kiss.

They left her alone.

But the blood recedes, and Yelena can feel a crack in her heart start to seal up.

Yes. Mhm. Correct. The girls are finally getting there. I really do just adore them.

On a different note, I wanted to let y'all know of a possible bit of a wrench in the update schedule. I have surgery on Monday, (the 10th, as in the day after this is posted, as in tomorrow) and it's very likely that I'll be super out of it for at least a week. I don't foresee that this will keep me from posting chapter 32 on time, but if it does, this is a heads up in advance, and I appreciate everyone's understanding and patience.

(PS: keep your eyes peeled for chapter 34- it is a real fuckin doozy😳)

Translations: none

Kate Bishop Counter: 4

QOTD: Do you like to take naps? Personally I'm a whore for them.

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