Welcome back my friends! I hope you enjoy this week's chapter <3

Content warnings: Valentina, angst, panic attack

Yelena stares blankly at nothing while the woman talks, a pit of anger opening up in her chest.

"Your mission window time is far overdue, Yelena."

"It's fucking Agent to you, Valentina." Yelena's brow is furrowed, her lips pursed as her hand fists in Fanny's thick fur. The dog is whining softly, looking up at her mama.

The CIA director tsks. "You know I don't appreciate that language."

Yelena says nothing, her mind racing. How did she get this number? How did Melina? What the hell is going on?

Valentina lets out an annoyed sigh. "What are you doing, Yelena? You're past your timeframe, and Clint Barton is still alive and well. You signed a contract."

"You sighed a contract too, Valentina. You're not supposed to lie to me about clients and targets."

"Hmm. When did I lie, exactly?" The woman's tone is mockingly placating, like Yelena is child or some kind of caged, desperate animal.

Yelena's teeth grind into each other, and she stands to pace, Fanny watching her closely. "You told me Barton killed my sister."

"No, I said he was responsible for your sister's death."

"Same fucking difference!" she hisses lowly, one arm wrapping tightly around her stomach. "You used Natasha against me. I cannot forgive that."

Valentina takes a moment to respond, and the silence is contemplative. "Sooo... what now, Agent? You're going rogue? Backing out of your contract?"

"Our contract," Yelena spits out, "was terminated the moment you lied to me about Barton."

"I never technically lied ab-"

"Fuck you, Valentina. Fuck you and your clients. Do not contact me again." Her finger is less than an inch away from the end call button when Valentina's next words make her freeze.

"I will not ask again for you to come back quietly, Agent Belova."

"Excuse me?"

"You have two days to arrive back at your assigned location before I apply force. Think about the people you love. They are the ones who will suffer from your permanent desertion."

"What the fuck does that mean-"

The call ends.

Yelena takes a moment to register what Valentina had said, but once she does, her veins ice over and a terrifying image of being ripped away from her mother and then Natasha flashing in her head.

Think about the people you love.

Kate Bishop.

Yelena's head whips around towards the stairs, and she can hear the archer humming and muttering tiredly to herself as she finishes preparing hot chocolate for the both of them.

Kate Bishop.

Her breathing has picked up, and her heart hammers against its cage of ribs. No. She can't mean Kate. She can't possibly mean Kate.

The monster is back. There is no effort to stop it from digging its claws into the flesh along her spine, teeth scraping her nerves into shreds and gnashing at Yelena's brain until she is hyperventilating, her lungs squeezing painfully and the edges of her vision threatening unconsciousness. Her knees give out under her, and Yelena collapses against the wall, her shoulders jerking awkwardly as her body begins to shake yet again.

Kate Bishop. Kate Bishop was in danger. Kate Bishop was in danger because of her.

You knew this would happen. You KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN YOU KNEW-

Fanny's fluffy body presses into Yelena's chest, her paws and nose urging the woman to lay safely onto her back. The blonde really has no choice but to flop down, her arms twitching as they wrap around the akita's neck.

Her throat is too tight. She's lightheaded. The monster bellows and roars and wails, its crescendo matching the cracks creeping up through her heart.

Kate Bishop. Not Kate Bishop.

Please. Not my Kate Bishop.

Something in the back of her mind whispers urgently that no, Valentina didn't mean Kate. How could she? How could she know Yelena was even with her?

She found your burner phone, the monster screams back. She found you. You're not safe. Kate isn't safe, no one is safe. Not with you. Never with you. NEVER WITH YOU.

The monster wins.

When Yelena sits up a few moments later, Fanny rolls uneasily off of her chest. She's still dizzy and every muscle in her body is much too tense, but there's a strange and morbid kind of clarity as the headache pounding at her temples fades into an afterthought.

Her burner phone is back in her hand in a flash, and the assassin scrambles to her feet carefully. The device rings only once before Melina's voice is back in her ear.

"Yelena, you have a decision for me, yes?"

Yelena wipes the wetness from her eyes, not bothering to grab anything but her combat boots as she prowls to the window of Kate's loft bedroom and silently pries it open. The night air greets her burning cheeks; she reluctantly pulls the archer's hoodie from her body and replaces it with a discarded tank top, and the article of clothing drops to the floor in a dejected puddle.

The blonde looks back at Fanny, prompting the akita to whine anxiously, perched on her haunches and watching oh so carefully. Yelena forces her gaze back to the open window, and out into the city of New York. Away from her dog. Away from the warmth, the comfort, the safety.

And away from Kate Bishop.

"Send me the details, Mama. I'll see you soon."

Duh duh DUHHHH
Sorry?

Ok gang, little life update here- I start my new job this week and Marching Band camp for college is coming up real fast. Plus, to make it even better, the next chapter has been giving me grief for weeks, so I don't know if next week's update will be on time. That being said, me and this story are still definitely not going anywhere!! I'm seeing this one out to the end no matter what. I'll do my best to keep you all up to date on how this book is going and what updates look like in the future.

Love you all so much ❤️

Translations: none

Kate Bishop Counter: 9

QOTD: thoughts on avocados?

This chapter's meme: I'm gonna have to leave you all high and dry this week I have zero brain power I'm very sorry

Comments and votes make my day <333