This week's chapter is on time! Yay!! Everybody say good job London!!! (Please lol)

How are you all? How was your week? How is your summer going? Anybody want a kiss or need a hug?

Content Warnings: angst??? Valentina being a loser idk

Six days Ago

In all honesty, Eleanor Bishop had not been expecting any more visitors. Not even from Kate. Her daughter's presence over a week ago had been a surprise she hadn't seen coming, and maybe if Eleanor had known of it beforehand, she would have been better prepared to receive her.

Not that it would've made any difference.

Eleanor squints her eyes at the guard who comes to retrieve her outside of visiting hours, something suspicious stirring in her gut. "Can I help you?"

He grunts elegantly, waving his hand to indicate that she stand and follow him. Eleanor rolls her eyes but complies- there's not exactly anything better to do.

"This isn't where we meet visitors," she mutters to herself, glancing around as she's lead through the prison and to a secluded room with a single table and no windows.

A woman sits at said table, my posture relaxed and her smile just wide enough to be staged.

"Eleanor Bishop, a pleasure to finally meet you," the woman beams, not standing when the guard sits Eleanor down in the chair opposite her.

"I'd say the pleasure is all mine, but I don't know how you are, so."

The woman lets out a laugh, one of her gloved hands pushing a nonexistent hair from her face. "No, no, you wouldn't. I'm very careful with who I mingle with. Not exactly a fan of the rabble."

Eleanor silently tilts her head, studying the woman with a careful eye. "What do you want?"

"Why do you assume I want something from you?" the woman replies, leaning back in her chair with her palms up.

The Bishop woman doesn't reply, just stares.

"Tough crowd, but that's alright," the woman mutters, her smile straining as she folds her hands together on the table. "My name is Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and I know it's a mouthful, so just call me Val. I'm the director of the CIA."

Eleanor straightens up at this, her eyes narrowing. "My trial isn't for another year. All details of my charges are already laid out."

Valentina tilts her head, lips pursing as that damned smile finally falls away. "So defensive, and I haven't even explained why I'm here. Yet you immediately assume you're important enough for someone like me to come down and visit you for such a thing."

The woman across from her bristles, but stays silent.

The CIA director watches Eleanor for a moment, her eyes careful and lips thin. "Do you know the name of the assassin that you hired to kill Clint Barton, Mrs. Bishop?"

Eleanor keeps her glare strong. "Fanny Rushman."

"An alias," Valentina says, her voice clipped as she tilts her head. "And a stupid one at that, if you ask me. The woman you hired is under my command. Every one of her assignments goes through me."

Eleanor is silent for a moment. "I don't understand."

"And I wouldn't expect you to. We have all our enemies. I have my soldiers to eliminate them."

"Why does this concern me?" Eleanor bites out, eyes narrowed.

"Because my agent has gone rogue, Mrs. Bishop- and your daughter is in danger because of her."

"What? Kate?" The former CEO's voice is suddenly thick, her eyes wide. "What do you mean?"

"Agent Belova -the assassin you hired, her name is Yelena- hasn't reported back since she was supposed to eliminate her target. My network found her through facial recognition during a disturbance in the city just recently. A disturbance that involved your daughter, Katherine," Valentina tells her, digging into her bag to pull out a laptop.

"What happened? Is she hurt? Why wasn't this brought to my attention?"

"Because I only just now decided to even mention it to you," the director tuts, opening the screen and flipping it around for Eleanor to see. On it was a dark, grainy video of an alleyway, several figures all clearly fighting. "Your daughter was attacked by a group of low-life criminals. Agent Belova appeared and took out said thugs before they could kill your daughter, then knocked Kate out and disappeared with her. We haven't seen either of them since."

"What are you saying?" Eleanor huffs, eyes strained on the screen, "That- that she kidnapped Kate? Your agent?"

"That is a possibility, yes- but more likely, Yelena is using Kate's apartment as a safe house. Hence why your daughter is in danger. Even being in close proximity to such a lethal personnel can bring trouble."

"And what, exactly, am I supposed to do about this?" Eleanor seeths, tears brimming in her eyes as she stares at the video on loop.

Valentina studies the other woman for a moment, her gaze dissecting her as she thinks. "I came here to warn you of the possibility of Kate being in danger, and request your help in this matter."

A shiver runs down Eleanore's spine, and she narrows her eyes.

Something isn't right.

"What, exactly," she repeats, "can I do from a prison cell?"

"That's the point, Eleanor. You're completely useless behind bars. But I can get you out of here."

The woman's spine straightens, but the twist in her mouth doesn't smooth out. "Why would you do that?"

Valentina's grin is wolffish. "Because you can be of use to me. Agent Belova will not come back willingly. She must be thoroughly convinced. And that's where you will come in, Mrs. Bishop."

Next week's chapter is already complete, so no worries on being on time there, but after that I will continue to keep you guys updated on update schedules. Thank you all so much for the patience and the love!! Any thoughts on where the story is going? I would love to ear any theories you may have.

Translations: none

Kate Bishop Counter: 0

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This chapter's meme: I am really struggling with this one rn yall I am so sorry

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