Chapter Text
Gathered in front of the big screen, they tried to get smart from what they saw.
The silver spaceship with the blue giant 4 floated purposefully towards Earth.
The computer analysis had already announced that the spaceship did not come from the current dimension.
But before they could all go to the landing site on the roof, the video call came that they had already expected.
„Sam…“
Bucky grumbled annoyed and like several times before, the rest of the new Avengers fell back to their previous places. They knew exactly what followed, many swollen words that only said that he took over the task with his new team.
Ava fell into the chair next to Bob and started a little discussion about the book he was reading while she was stealing some of his snacks.
In the course of time, everyone had developed his own kind of friendship with the more closed up Bob.
Alexei had disappeared back into the kitchen even if he was briefly tempted to throw himself into his combat suit to demonstrate his willingness.
John started a new round of his current mobile game while listening to the discussion between Bucky, Sam and Yelena with one ear.
„We have it under control Bucky, besides we are closer to the location where the spaceship lands. No need for you to come here from New York.”
Sam smiled but everyone knew that he was annoyed by the Thunderbolts/new avengers. Every time something happened he called to slow them down, after the first getting into each other in a mission that consisted more of mediating disputes between the two different teams than anything else.
Every attempt Valentina’s to unite the two teams into one was strictly prevented by Sam. At such gatherings, Yelena usually sneak away with Bob and they talked to the members of the other Avangers team about everyday things.
She found this whole argument about the name just silly and when Sam pushed for the name like that, yes my God he should have it. She also knew that her team was not surgical cutlery but rather the demolition bulb but it was her people and actually they were first the new Avengers no matter what Bucky’s loverboy said.
But all in all, the young Avengers were nice kids, some were more fearful when she spoke to them but a special young archer completely avoided her.
Somehow she didn’t really know what the problem was but on the other hand she suspected that it was still because of their last meeting and the injuries that went with it.
Ava always liked to picked on Yelena at such meetings when Kate ignored her.
„Ok, Sam, but if you need help, let me know. We are available.”
Bucky ended the video call, breathing heavily he looked around again. Everyone here knew Sam wouldn’t call them. They would all prefer to be on a mission rather than on the reserve bench, and that was reflected in the faces of his team.
„So we’re waiting now?“
John asked with an annoyed undertone. He was tired of always waiting, always 2nd choice never the first. He was aware that he had made mistakes in the past, but everyone here had that. He liked the new troop even if he was the only one with Bob who gave it open and he wanted to help. Everything was better than the long faces of disappointment and endless training hours that were never used in real life.
„You just have to wait until you can tell the kids your war stories again, Taco Captain America.“
Teased him Ava who hid half behind Bob with a smile. As every time, John jumped on it immediately, it went so far that they chased each other like little children across the central and Ava squealed with joy when she always dissolved shortly before. Something she would never admit if asked about it now.
„Haha, I’m not the one here who always talks to the kids. Even if one of the juniors always pretends to ignore them.”
And so quickly the sibling quarrel turned in a direction that Yelena didn’t like at all. She already noticed how her jaw began to tick due to the tension when Ava and John were now staring at her. There was tense silence and even Alexei stopped chewing for 10 seconds.
„That may be, but at least everyone is ignoring you, John.“
Yelena hissed in his direction after an annoyed snort. He knew he had hit a sore spot and leaned forward a little on his taco shield. With his elbow on the shield, he supports his head with his hand. Like the cat who had eaten the canary, grinning, he said to her.
„I still wonder what you did wrong, Be-LOVER didn’t you call her back after the first cramped date or kill her cat or...“
Now Alexei’s attention was packed and he returned completely to the living area with his cornflakes bowl in his hand. His eyes always shone when it came to his little girl and the nice girl with the bow.
„Do you talk about Lena’s little friend, who always plays hard to get? She doesn’t have a cat but only a dog Mr. Lucky the pizza dog. So cute. She always shows me photos.”
Yelena knew it was irrational to be jealous of her father because of a few dog photos of a one-eyed golden retriever. But she could push thoughts that she had somehow unconsciously screwed it up hard with her. Kate talked really friendly with everyone except her and after about 4 months it really gnawed at her.
So she decided the day was lost anyway what should she wait here and listen to even more sayings about the lack of communication between her and Kate Bishop. Maybe it had really all been just a show and Yelena had been naive enough inside to believe when they see each other again that they would meet amicably.
Maybe not friends friends but at least a hello and bla bla bla, exchange the usual phrases, maybe Go drink the promised drinks. Even if it was one without alcohol for her. Maybe coffee. But nothing, that hurt her even if she would never admit it in front of the others.
„Why is he called Mr. Lucky the Pizza Dog?“
Bob threw into the room and looked at Alexei questioningly.
Before anyone could answer, a portal opened above the counter in the back of the room, which not only threw through a small explosion out but also 5 people who were knotted into a fighting bundle.
On closer inspection, there were only 2 people who really fought with each other and 3 others who wanted to separate the 2 fighters.
„Stop! Stop it,“ roared a slender boy with dark curly hair. He shot a flash between the 2 fighting which was only of short effect and now shifted the fight towards Bob and Ava. This made the two jump up and move back from their armchairs.
Fists, feet and knives flew through the room while the fighting ball fought back towards the center of the room. Bucky and Yelena briefly debate quietly whether they should intervene. When one of the fighters pulled a katana out of nowhere.
„Peter do something!“ Shouted a young girl who pulled a back strap of a fighter. Spider webs flew through the room and the two brawls were separated for a short time.
Only now did the newcomers really perceive their surroundings. Everything came to an abrupt stop. The young muscular man who was spun to the back of Ava’s and Bob’s armchairs seemed familiar to everyone, he was part of Sam’s new team. Eli. With a jerky movement he freed himself from the cobwebs and raised his hands surrenderedly.
He fervently hoped that the fight was now over.
The Second fighter slowly looked around and skillfully cut the few spider webs with a hidden blade. Now he slowly took off the hood and the mouthguard. After another look into the round, she was frozen.
Yelena could hardly believe her eyes it was Kate Bishop covered with new and old scars, the hair was a little shorter and the eyes a little lost without the usual radiance.
As if they had suffered terrible pain. It was Kate, but not Kate. More a Mad Max Survival Kate in Clint’s old Ronin suit as it looked.
„Äääh...Hi.“
Said the curly boy, hesitantly taking a step in front of all his companions.
„Um sorry about the counter and so that was not planned that way. Oh, I’m Billy and these are Cassie, Eli, Peter and Kate.”
Kate felt like she was underwater. All that was said was dull muttering around her. As if rooted, she stood there and stared at Yelena.
It sounded like Billy was explaining where they came from and why they were here, even though it wasn’t planned. But Kate couldn’t focus not with Yelena in the room, not when she was here and she didn’t break her eye contact. It was like a little fight who looked away first had lost and that would be exactly Kate’s starting signal.
The small group was on high alert as they followed Kate’s gaze and as everyone stood still around Kate as if they wanted to calm a wild animal.
But Yelena frowned, looked questioningly at the others and Kate sprinted off. Unbraked.
Followed by their companions.
As if indulged, she dodged Eli’s grip and Peter’s net. Unstoppable.
„Kate STOP!“
But she didn’t listen, quickly made her way like hot lava and finally wrapped her arms tightly around Yelena.
She only froze for the first moment, when she fought against her trained instincts. In Kate’s gaze was something desperate that did not scream for bloodlust, which probably led to the rest. Therefore, Yelena completely let her defenses sink, prayed that her instinct was right and now hesitantly put her arms around the somewhat trembling Kate.
This in turn whispered somewhat hastily into her shoulder, while she clawed harder on Yelena’s back. The warm scent of leather and knife polish mixed with something so original Yelena she greedily sucked in.
“Just a moment...please...just a moment. I know you’re not HER but ...Please...Детка.“