Summary: Yelena and Natasha are having their first sleepover, and Yelena is practically beside herself with the excitement at having a chance to do something they never got to do as kids. It's just the perfect night until an unexpected visitor appears at the door. Much to Yelena's infuriation, it's Kate Bishop and even worse, Natasha invites her to stay with them for the sleepover...
"Rooskaya, can you grab the popcorn? I'm going to go set up the movie," Natasha told her, and Yelena nodded happily as she passed by the redhead, heading over to the counter and starting to reach for the bowls to take them into Natasha's room in their little house.
Yelena was positively thrilled. She and Natasha had been planning this sleepover all week, and Yelena was practically beside herself with excitement. They had never had a chance to have a sleepover as kids, and it was like they were finally getting a chance to make up for lost time.
They had just been talking about it periodically throughout that day in the compound. Even though it was really not that big of a deal since she spent the night with Natasha in her bed most nights anyway, it was still important to Yelena since they had planned to paint each other's nails and do all the stuff that girls were supposed to do for sleepovers.
However, Yelena was shaken from her happy thoughts as she heard a knock at the door. Yelena furrowed her brow, wondering who it could be at this time of night. Yelena approached the door carefully, dropping her hand into her pocket as she wrapped her fingers around the knife she had there.
She hesitantly and carefully opened the door, prepared for anything.
To her surprise, it was the one and only Kate Bishop standing out in the snow, bags in her hands as she goofily smiled at Yelena.
"Hi! I, um... I was just stopping by really quick on my way from the grocery store, and I—"
Yelena let out a small breath, rolling her eyes as she withdrew her knife and sat it on the nearby counter, keeping her eyes locked onto Kate as she listened carefully. Kate's eyes went wide at the sight of the knife.
"Oh... Oh! You must have thought I was some crazy-person knocking on your door at ten-thirty in the evening, huh?" Kate awkwardly laughed, and Yelena just raised an eyebrow, looking at Kate with a completely unimpressed gaze. Kate swallowed a little, nervousness evident in her body language.
"What are you doing here at ten-thirty in the evening, crazy-person?" Yelena asked not unkindly but definitely not overly welcoming either. Kate immediately straightened under Yelena's scrutinization.
"Okay, so I, um... Well, I heard you guys were having a sleepover and it was your first time doing it— I promise I wasn't eavesdropping or being creepy or whatever! You passed by my apartment earlier today and the walls are thinner than you'd think!" Kate defended, panic lacing her tone as she tried to avoid sounding like a complete creep. Yelena just narrowed her eyes a little, unhappy with the brunette's mere presence.
"But I heard all that, and I didn't know if you guys knew, but... No sleepover is complete without snacks," Kate grinned winningly, extending the bags out toward Yelena awkwardly. Yelena took them from her, already thinking of ways to make Kate leave.
This was supposed to be her and Natasha's night together. Not her, Natasha's, and Kate's.
Yelena just looked at her as they stood there awkwardly, staring at each other. Kate shifted a bit in place, a nervous smile on her face as the snow gently fell on her head and hair as she awkwardly gazed at the blonde.
"Okay... So... Um... I guess I'll just... Leave you two to it!" Kate awkwardly declared with a nod and a slight grin. Yelena was about to send her on her way when Natasha suddenly came back from her room.
"Kate! What are you doing here in the snow? Why don't you come in for a little bit? It's cold," Natasha ushered her in as she stepped behind Yelena. Yelena started to turn toward the redhead to correct her and fix this situation to her liking.
"Oh, there's no need, she was just leaving—"
"Thanks, Natasha," Kate expressed, stepping in the doorway and moving inside with them. Yelena narrowed her eyes a little, very unhappy with this arrangement. Kate rubbed her arms and her hands together, and Natasha gently shut the door behind the brunette.
"What are you doing here, kid?" Natasha asked curiously, and Yelena rolled her eyes as she headed toward the kitchen counter to put down the bags Kate brought in.
"Oh, I accidentally overheard you and Yelena talking today, and I heard you were having a sleepover, so I brought that stuff over there," Kate grinned a little, pointing over to the bags Yelena was moving. Yelena could feel Natasha's gaze on her, and she kept her back to the two as she set the things down and started looking through them to see what Kate brought.
"I mean... Sleepovers aren't complete without snacks, right?" Kate said, and Yelena dramatically mimicked Kate from where she could not see her as she faked big, innocent eyes and a stupid grin.
"Thank you. That's really sweet of you," Natasha expressed, her voice warm as she addressed the other girl, and Yelena gritted her teeth unhappily, feeling the red-hot jealousy rising within her.
"Kate Bishop, didn't you have something to do tonight? Like with Hawkear or something?" Yelena suggested loudly, spinning around to face the other two with an expectant expression. Natasha shot a scolding glare in her direction, and Kate suddenly looked uncertain, chuckling a little as she fiddled with her gloves a bit.
"Umm... No, actually."
"Are you sure? I thought you said something about hanging out with him or something," Yelena unashamedly continued. She felt only slightly bad about running Kate off, but Kate should not have overstepped Yelena's boundaries in the first place, despite how well-meaning that she was.
Kate just chuckled slightly.
"I'm probably actually going to go home and I guess watch a movie with Lucky or something," Kate admitted uncertainly, somehow managing to pull off that innocence and pitifulness way better than anyone Yelena had ever witnessed. Yelena started to narrow her eyes a little, but Natasha quickly spoke up.
"Well, why don't you stay here with us? We have room for one more, don't we, Yelena?" Natasha suggested, looking over at Yelena in a manner that was definitively not a suggestion in the least. Yelena just stared at her sister for a long moment before finally sighing unhappily.
"Fine," Yelena agreed somewhat grumpily.
"Oh, you guys don't have to. Me and Lucky will be fine by ourselves like usual," Kate protested largely unconvincingly. She seemed much too thrilled with the whole thing to be genuine in her argument, and she already had started to unzip her coat. Natasha nodded with a large smile, reaching out and squeezing Kate's shoulder affectionately.
"We want you here, Kate. The more, the merrier," Natasha reassured her, getting the popcorn she had made just a little while ago and starting toward her room. Yelena was quick at her heels, hoping to get a moment alone with her to express just how unhappy she was with this newfound arrangement.
"Do you have some pajamas?" Natasha suddenly stopped, looking at Kate quickly. Yelena paused abruptly just before running her over. Kate grinned widely as she raised her hoodie. Yelena's eyes widened in horror, terrified of what clothing or lack thereof would be underneath.
"Yeah! I wore some here. Y'know... Since I was getting ready to snuggle with Lucky before watching our movie by ourselves," Kate declared, quickly trying to cover up for herself since she had obviously wore the pajamas in hopes of joining the two. Natasha just nodded happily, not letting on if she suspected anything. Yelena, however, narrowed her eyes skeptically.
"Oddly convenient, don't you think?" Yelena spoke up, and Kate shrugged nonchalantly, trying not to look guilty as she obviously was as she kicked her shoes off at the doorway.
"Come on. We were about to start watching Frozen for the thousandth time," Natasha playfully commented, shooting a sly eyebrow raise in Yelena's direction. Yelena just pouted unhappily, and Kate grinned widely as she bounded after them in that ridiculous, clumsy manner she had.
"Oh, my gosh, I love that movie! I've watched it like a million times!" Kate declared, excited to the maximum.
"Cool. You and Yelena can serenade me with the songs, then," Natasha playfully commented, and Yelena growled underneath her breath as Kate laughed awkwardly.
"No, I couldn't... I'm not that great at singing," Kate self-deprecatingly argued, and Natasha just huffed, raising an eyebrow.
"I heard you at that talent show the other day. You sing beautifully," Natasha informed her, and Yelena felt her hackles raising at all of the praise that Natasha kept showering on Kate. They entered Natasha's room, and Natasha sat the popcorn bowls on the bed before heading out of the room.
"You guys get comfortable. I'll be right back," Natasha expressed kindly, and Yelena wasted no time in following her quickly, leaving Kate alone in the room as she started to take her outer layer off so that she would be in her pajamas.
"Why did you invite her?! This was supposed to be our night," Yelena emphasized with pure infuriation, her voice passing between her lips in a whisper-yell.
"Rooskaya, the poor girl was going to watch a movie with a dog," Natasha told her as she paused before the counter island. Yelena stopped with her, gazing at the redhead determinedly as she waited for the remainder of her explanation. Honestly, she thought Kate should have just stayed home and watched the movie with Lucky. This sleepover was none of Kate's business.
"Sweet girl, she doesn't have too many friends here, and I wanted to help her out. We'll have another sleepover tomorrow with just me and you. I promise," Natasha told her softly, reaching out to cup Yelena's face in her hands and Yelena begrudgingly leaned into the affection, keeping her eyes locked onto Natasha's light greens.
"But this was our first one together," Yelena pouted, and Natasha's gaze was gentle as she moved forward to kiss Yelena between the eyebrows. Yelena closed her eyes for just a moment with the contact.
"I know... I'm sorry," Natasha expressed, and Yelena reopened her eyes to look at her older sister.
"She needs to get to know some people here that aren't Clint," Natasha expressed, her tone changing a bit as she referenced the girl's crush and how Clint and Kate always hung out with Clint remaining clueless. Yelena smirked a little at the thought.
"I think it's funny," Yelena expressed, and Natasha huffed a little, shaking her head.
"I think that he's unintentionally leading her on because he doesn't even know she has feelings for him," Natasha argued, and Yelena rolled her eyes a little, bringing her hands up to grab Natasha's arms gently as she held her face in her hands.
"But besides the Clint situation... I think it'd be good for you to have some friends your own age," Natasha expressed gently, tilting her head slightly as she looked at Yelena. Yelena immediately felt a rise of multiple emotions in her chest. Most predominantly, indignation, insecurity, and a sudden clinginess rose within her.
"What are you talking about? She's not my age! She's a child! I'm a mature adult," Yelena pouted defiantly, her voice a harsh whisper, and Natasha just smirked a little as she poked Yelena's bottom lip with her thumb playfully.
"Sure," Natasha unconvincingly agreed. Yelena huffed in aggravation, pushing closer to Natasha as she bumped their foreheads together gently in the barest of headbutts.
"Besides... The only friend I need is you. You're all I need," Yelena argued firmly, the words ringing true and feeling so right on her tongue. Natasha's eyes softened as she grinned a little in spite of herself, moving near and delivering soft kisses along Yelena's cheeks and nose.
"You're the sweetest, and I adore you. You're all I'll ever need, too, little one," Natasha whispered to her, squeezing her cheeks gently before releasing her. Yelena felt a flood of adoration run through her as she looked at the redhead.
"But please give Kate a chance and be nice. If not for yourself, do it for her. She needs some people to talk to even if you're not going to be her best friend or anything," Natasha told her as she grabbed the bags in her hands firmly. Yelena let out a deep, dramatic sigh, but nodded her head hesitantly.
"Fine," Yelena agreed, and Natasha grinned proudly at her. Yelena then felt as if her compliance was almost worth it despite the fact that Kate had successfully crashed their night together.
They headed back into Natasha's room, and Kate was sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed, looking down at her phone. As soon as Natasha and Yelena came back in, Kate brightened considerably, smiling widely as she looked up at them.
"Do you guys want any hot chocolate? I can make some if you want? Or whatever you want," Kate offered eagerly, and Yelena felt the smallest twinges of sympathy at the girl's desire to help. Natasha just shook her head, crawling up and onto the bed as she settled in the middle. Yelena wasted no time in taking her place on Natasha's right side.
"No, don't worry about it, Kate. Just scoot up here and let's watch the movie," Natasha warmly addressed her, and Yelena tried to ignore the jealousy prickling at her as Natasha invitingly patted the empty area at her left side. Kate looked at her with a ridiculous smile as she hesitantly approached Natasha's left side and brushed shoulders with her just barely, preparing to watch the movie as she shot a slightly nervous glance in Natasha's direction. Natasha smiled at her gently and reassuringly.
"Go ahead and hit play," Natasha told Yelena, and Yelena reached over to the nightstand on her side and grabbed the remote, starting the movie.
They watched the movie for quite a while, and Yelena grew increasingly sullen as Kate started to get more comfortable with Natasha and began to ease more contentedly against her side. Natasha was hardly touching her in response, but she was holding fast and allowing Kate to lean into her little by little.
Eventually, "Let It Go" started to play, and Yelena felt herself starting to sing despite her best wishes. It was just one of her favorite songs and she could not help it.
To her surprise, Kate started to sing along as well, and Yelena almost clammed up immediately. However, she remembered her promise to Natasha and she also saw the hopeful manner in which Natasha was gazing at her. So she just kept singing quietly.
Once they finally finished the song number, Natasha had to put the movie on pause because she had to go to the bathroom terribly. Yelena remained unhappily slumped against the headboard, a Natasha-sized space between her and Kate as she grumpily waited for her sister to return so she could hide her face in Natasha's side and pretend that Kate was not even there.
"Yelena... I'm sorry I crashed your sleepover with your sister," Kate expressed hesitantly, and Yelena looked over at her with some surprise, shocked that Kate was actually acknowledging it. Kate was not looking at her as she inspected her sleeves as if they were the most interesting thing she had ever seen.
"It's just that I don't know anybody around here except you, Natasha, Clint, and Peter, and Clint and Peter are guys, so obviously it's not quite the same. And when I heard you two were having a sleepover, I guess I just missed my friends from back before I was kicked out of college, and I kind of wanted to join in. I don't know," Kate rambled in her typical fashion, and Yelena felt a stab of guilt at being so unwelcoming and rude toward the brunette.
It was true. Yelena was not a fan of Kate, did not want to be her friend, and did not particularly want her to be there with her and her sister in the first place. But she did have a heart and she did feel bad for the kid.
"But I mean... I can leave if you want me to, and I promise, no hard feelings at all. I totally get that you wanted your first sleepover to be with just your sister, and I got way too carried away like I always do, and—"
Yelena quickly interrupted her by smacking her face with a pillow. Kate let out a squeak as the pillow fell away from her face. Kate just gaped at the blonde, and Yelena smirked a little as she gazed at her.
"What was that?" Kate questioned, and Yelena shrugged smugly. If Natasha wanted Yelena to include Kate, then she would in the manner that she knew best.
Pillow war.
"I don't know," Yelena confidently replied with a self-satisfied smile. Kate narrowed her eyes just a little with the barest beginnings of a grin on her face as she stared Yelena down. Just as she started to get a pillow of her own, Yelena started aggressively slamming into her with her own pillow. Kate raised her hands, attempting to defend herself as she laughed, and Yelena cackled wickedly.
Granted, this pillow fight was not entirely with innocent intentions of trying to make Kate feel better. Yelena was also doing it because she felt like beating up Kate a little. But either way, it was accomplishing both goals, so Yelena figured it was ultimately worth it.
"Stop it! Let me at least fight back a little!" Kate laughed loudly, and Yelena just shook her head, moving up onto her knees as she attacked relentlessly.
"Oh, Katie, mercy is not how you win wars!" Yelena argued gleefully.
"Don't call me Katie!" Kate argued in the midst of laughter, and Yelena just continued hitting her.
However, Yelena was suddenly stopped as she was assaulted with pillows from behind. Yelena started to duck, trying to avoid the hits. She quickly felt someone climbing on top of her legs as they flipped her over effectively, sitting on her lap as they assaulted her torso.
She caught sight of a flash of red, and she immediately knew it was Natasha. She tried her best to hold her pillow up in defense, and the pillow barrage stopped for just a moment.
"Grab her pillow, Kate!" Natasha yelled, and Yelena clung to it tightly. However, as Natasha brought the pillow down on her again unexpectedly, Yelena accidentally released her pillow. Kate snatched it from her, and Natasha threw one of her pillows behind her as they both looked down at Yelena, the both of them armed.
Yelena glanced at Kate but primarily settled her gaze on Natasha. Natasha's eyes were sparkling as she held her down, and Yelena's was just gaping at her blankly.
"So you thought you'd just attack poor Kate when she wasn't even armed, huh?" Natasha asked, and Yelena just bared her teeth in a challenging smirk. Kate grinned widely at Natasha, thankful for her defense and assistance.
"All's fair in love and war, sestra," Yelena replied, and Natasha nodded slowly, looking over at Kate before returning her eyes to Yelena with so much love that it almost took her breath away. Yelena quickly came to the conclusion that Natasha must have overheard Kate and understood what Yelena had been doing. Yelena smiled back at her a little, allowing momentary softness in her gaze.
"Well, if all's fair in love and war, sweet girl, then I suppose me and Kate double-teaming you is perfectly fair, too, huh?" Natasha asked before grinning over at Kate. Yelena opened her mouth to start to argue but was soon assaulted by Kate and Natasha smacking her like crazy. Yelena laughed in spite of herself, trying to hold her hands up and block the two from attacking her.
Everyone was soon laughing happily, enjoying the fight way too much. Finally, Natasha had mercy on her, and Kate stopped as well, falling back against the bed as she laughed breathlessly. Yelena's chest was heaving, and Natasha looked down at her lovingly before bending down to press her head against Yelena's.
Yelena closed her eyes with a wide smile in spite of herself. Natasha moved her lips over to Yelena's ear as she whispered to her.
"Ya tak tebya lyublyu. Ya tak gorzhus' toboy,"1 Natasha whispered, and Yelena squeezed her arms just barely with a slight grin.
"Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu. Spasibo." 2