We're entering the building, me trailing behind Kate just slightly, trying to appear nervous. She gives me a look and grabs my hand, pulling me a little closer. An older gentleman glares at us from next to the coat check, and Kate sticks her tounge out at him. Several people stop us to say hi to Kate, and I stay quietly at her side, waiting to hear Yelena check in with us. I'm starting to get worried when Kate gets us drinks and Yelena still hasn't checked in. Kate hands me a cosmopolitan and raises a brow at me, and I just shake my head curtly. There are strings playing on one side of the room, and I migrate that direction, hoping to avoid conversation until it's necessary. After a minute, Kate leans close to me and whispers. "It's getting late."
"I know," I mutter, and take a sip of my drink. Kate puts an arm around me and presses her lips to my temple. I know she's just trying to look natural like we're really on a date, but it makes my heart skip a beat. After a few more minutes of waiting and listening to the music, Kate murmurs to me again.
"Something is wrong." Before I can answer her, Jack comes up to us and hugs Kate.
"Kate! Who is this lovely lady?" He reaches a hand to me to shake, and I oblige, smiling.
"This is y/n. Y/n, this is Jack. He was engaged to my mom." She puts her arm back around me.
"Nice to meet you, y/n. Kate, I was wondering if you'd be up to practice fencing later this week," he seems so sweet, I can't imagine going through with the job we were supposed to do. Suddenly, as Kate is answering, I hear Yelena on coms. She's breathing heavily and it makes my chest tight.
"Val knows. She hired another assassin. Get him out of there, now." Kate tenses up when she registers what Yelena said, and I quietly sit my glass down on a nearby table and wrap both arms around Kate.
"Jack, I'm actually really interested in your sword collection Kate told me about. Do you have a favorite?" I interject, before giving Kate a small squeeze.
"Oh my god, yes! This gala is so stuffy and boring, can we go look at your collection?" Kate takes my cue flawlessly.
"I don't know, ladies, I'm supposed to be here to represent my family," Jack starts, but Kate quickly cuts him off.
"I saw your aunt a minute ago, you're fine!" She grabs his arm and starts heading toward the exit, but he's still a bit reluctant.
"Guys. Now! He just entered the ballroom." Yelena warns on coms, and I clock a tall blonde guy that looks vaguely familiar. I give Kate a look, and she pulls Jack closer to the wall. The assassin hasn't clocked him yet, so that's good.
"Jack, you are in danger. If you want to live, you need to come with us," I say softly, and his eyes blow wide.
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'll explain later, just listen to her, please." Kate tells him, and the urgency in her voice must get through to him. He nods at me and keeps his mouth shut.
"Okay. Yelena, where are you?"
"In the back. Send him through the kitchen."
"Jack, Kate and I are going to cause a distraction. Make sure you have eyes on that blonde man, about 6 foot 3 by coat check. Do not let him see you slip through the kitchen. Our associate will meet you outside."
"Your associate?" He looks at Kate.
"Blonde Russian lady. Short," she says, and I hear Yelena scoff in my ear. Kate grabs me and heads away from the kitchen door, and when I'm about to ask her what her distraction is going to be, she stops in her tracks and turns to look at me. "Do you have eyes on him?"
"Yes." I keep Jack and the assassin both in view as much as possible when Kate kneels in front of me dramatically. Several people gasp around us, and the crowd is effectively distracted. I watch Jack slip through the door, unnoticed, and keep my fingers crossed as Kate fake proposes to me. She does a speech that I'm absolutely not listening to, smiling, counting seconds until Yelena says that she's got him. I nod emphatically, feigning speechlessness, and Kate hops up and kisses me, full on the mouth. I tense up in shock for a split second, then find myself melting into her. Damn, her lips are so soft. Her arms wrap around me, and she deepens the kiss, the crowd chorusing 'awe's. I have to force myself not to put my hands in her hair and keep kissing, but I successfully pull away just before Yelena's voice comes through again.
"Your distraction was to make out? You're both insufferable," she chastises us. Kate pulls me through the crowd, feilding congratulations left and right. We finally get to the entrance, and she stops for a second.
"Excuse me, Susan?" She says to an older woman off to our right.
"I said, you've ruined every gala since you turned gay!" The lady snaps.
"Okay, I so don't have time for this," Kate mutters, then to Susan, "One, I have always been queer. Secondly, you're blaming the fact that people keep committing crimes on my sexuality? Get over yourself, windbag." She grabs my hand and starts toward the door.
"You don't have to flaunt it!" This woman is not gonna quit. Kate turns again, looks her dead in the eye, and proceeds to kiss me passionately. I'm out of breath and my whole body is tingling when she pulls away. She has to essentially drag me through the door, I'm so shocked. We get out to the sidewalk, and Yelena is telling us where to meet her before I can catch my breath. I take my com out of my ear as we start walking, and Kate looks at me apologetically.
"Sorry, I should have asked you if that was okay." I don't respond for a second, just keep walking. It is not the time to do anything but work right now. But of course, I'm me, so.
"The next time you kiss me, you'd better ask first," I tell her, and see her face flush.
"Noted."
