I spend the next few weeks distracting myself with training. In the morning, I work with the team, teaching each of them to play to their strengths. Afternoons, I run until I can't keep going, and evenings, I go to the shooting range. Johnny seems to finally be warming up to the idea that I'm just here to help, and I've actually convinced him to train with me tomorrow. The girls needed no convincing, and were super excited to learn from me, and Quint will take any excuse to learn new combat skills. I can tell he and Yelena will be fast friends once she's able to help me. Of course, that's assuming we'll stay here with the West Coast Avengers. When It's time for training, I have to force myself out of bed, my legs tired from the absolute torture I put myself through yesterday. I drag myself down to the gym and wrap my hands while Cassie and Quint start warming up together. They're already improving, Cassie holding herself more confidently than she did just a few weeks ago. It's incredible how quickly they learn. America learned how to throw me over her shoulder faster than anyone, and she was very excited to show off to Kate.
When we start sparring, it's pretty much the same, me staying on the defensive, evading every hit. After Cassie relents, I notice Quint calculating his moves better and better. We've been going for about ten minutes when Quint lands a punch in my side, and I'm momentarily stunned. Cassie cheers from across the room, and Quint smirks at me. "I can read your thoughts, you know?" He throws another punch, which I grab, turn, and throw him over my shoulder.
"Then you know I was impressed." I reach down to help him get back up. "I think I'm gonna call it for today." He jumps up next to me and grins. I start cleaning up from our training session when Kate walks into the gym. She's in a tank top that's riding up a little bit, showing a strip of skin that might be a little too distracting. She gets on the treadmill, and I can't help myself from stealing glances at her.
"Y/n, could you possibly stop thinking what I'm overhearing?" Quint teases me from the other side of the sparring mat where he's talking to Cassie. He shakes his head disapprovingly. I just leave the gym. I find Yelena in the living area, attempting to do some sort of yoga. I think. I sit quietly on the couch as she slowly stretches into a different pose, sticking her tounge out at me when she sees me in the room with her. After a few minutes, America joins us. She sits close to me on the couch, fiddling with the cuffs of her jacket. When Yelena finishes her workout, she plops down on the other side of America.
"What are your plans for today?" Yelena asks her, and she lights up.
"I'm going with Cassie to get a squishmallow and convince Johnny to use his powers to be all squishy!"
"You have to tell me what happens," I request. I can only imagine how funny that'll be. "Have either of you eaten?" I ask, suddenly hungry from my training session.
"Yeah, I had breakfast. Cassie is supposed to meet me in a few minutes to leave," America informs me. She looks up to the other kids so much, it warms my heart.
"I could eat," Yelena says, standing up. She sways slightly, and I shoot up to support her.
"You're pushing yourself too hard, Lena," I chide, guiding her to the kitchen.
"Well, it is taking forever, and I am bored." She sits at the counter, allowing me to start cooking us some eggs. "You don't have to do that."
"Do what?" I ask, cracking a couple eggs into a bowl.
"Take care of me so much," she gestures at the bowl I'm holding. "You're getting annoying."
"You're recovering from a bullet wound to the chest. I'm going to take care of you." I keep cooking, and we're eating in silence when Kate saunters in, still sweaty from her workout. She's vibing to music in her headphones, and her tank top is still showing just a little too much midriff. My eyes linger on her waist as she reaches into the fridge to get a smoothie, and Yelena snorts. Embarrassed, I tear my eyes away and shake my head at myself. Kate waves at us and walks back out of the kitchen, oblivious to my ogling. I'm cleaning up the dishes when Yelena finally says something.
"Are you sure you're in love with me?" The abruptness of the question catches me off guard, and I have to take a second to formulate an answer.
"I've been in love with you for a long time, Lena. I told you that." I finish the dishes and turn to look at her, still sitting at the counter.
"You're not in love with me, Y/n. You're in love with the idea of me," she states, her eyes boring holes into mine.
"What?" I can't formulate any other words. Is this because I'm attracted to Kate?
"You're in love with the version of me you build up in your head," she reiterates.
"No, I'm not. Yelena, you're funny, and smart, and deceptively kind, and absolutely gorgeous. None of that is built up in my head." I cross my arms.
"I saved you from chemical subjugation. I'm your hero," she dramatically retches at the word. "I'm not what you want from a partner."
"If you're just pushing me away because you don't do relationships, I'm not-"
"I'm not pushing you away!" She cuts me off. "You don't love me! Not the way you think that you do," she pauses, looking at the shock I'm sure is written all over my face. "You're attracted to me, and you love me as a friend, but you are not in love with me." The assertion sticks in my chest. My mouth drops open, and I stand there, stricken. "Someone will give you what I can't. Stop wasting time convincing yourself I'm what you want." With that, she stands up and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me to digest her speech. Son of a bitch. She can't be right, can she? When I finally regain my composure, I follow her. She's gone back to her room, so I knock softly. "Lena?"
"Come in," she calls. I open the door slowly and poke my head into the room. She's on her bed, and when she sees me, she sits up instead of lounging.
"I do love you, Yelena."
"Y/n-" She starts to argue, and I fully enter the room.
"Let me talk," I command, and surprisingly, she doesn't keep going. "I love you. And I know that you deserve to be loved. You deserve happiness. You are worthy. It doesn't matter how much you insist you're not what I want. I know what I want. And I know you. I want you." Before I can elaborate, she launches herself up to stand in front of me and grabs my hips roughly.
"You don't know me as well as you think you do. The things I've done- I am nothing." She tries to push me away, out the door, but I stand firm.
"You are everything." My voice is soft. Without thinking, I put my hands on either side of her face. "Everything," I repeat, tears welling in my eyes. How can she think so little of herself? And then she kisses me.
