The Archer-Kate Bishop

Part 42

I looped my arm around Kate's waist holding Kate close to me as we walked through the bar heading towards Yelena. The Russian spun around on her chair a wide smile on her face as she saw us.

"Kate, Y/n!" Yelena said excitedly.

"Hey" Kate and I replied with a cheerful tone.

It was the first time Yelena hadn't referred to us as our full names.

"I see you two moved in with each other, congratulations" Yelena smiled at the two of us raising her glass.

"How'd you know that?" I asked.

"I know everything" Yelena winked.

"Please stop spying on us" Kate chuckled.

"Alright, alright I'll stop with the spying" Yelena chuckled holding her hands up in defeat.

"So how have you been?" I asked taking a seat down in the booth Kate sliding in next to me.

"Pretty good I've been wandering through New York, exploring. Central Park was alright a little overhyped" Yelena shrugged sipping at her drink.

"Been to the Statue of Liberty?" Kate asked.

"No not yet unfortunately" Yelena sighed.

Kate excused herself to go order the both of us a drink returning and handing me a beer while she carried back a vodka lemonade.

"I'll be heading to Ohio in a few days" Yelena said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I want to visit Natasha's grave again" Yelena replied with a sad smile.

"Oh" I replied.

"Have you been?" Yelena questioned.

I shook my head and a pant of guilt hit m chest, I hadn't visited. Ohio was far away and I'd been busy reuniting with family I guess time had slipped away never the less I felt guilty. Nat meant so much to me but I hadn't even gone to visit her grave.

Her grave without a body.

"Why not?" Yelena asked curios.

"I was so busy with my family and then the tracksuits I got caught up also I don't know how to handle it I don't know if I could see it" I sighed.

Kate squeezed my hand ended the table while Yelena gave me a sorry smile.

"I thought it was tough too, seeing the grave all that's left of her being a tombstone but it felt good to get it all out" Yelena sighed.

"Maybe I should go, I mean my dad went but I just couldn't do it" I sighed.

"You should come with me Y/n" Yelena said.

"I'll think about it" I replied bringing the bottle up to my lips.

"You should go Y/n" Kate agreed with Yelena.

"I'll think about it ok" I replied.

Kate shook her head knowing why I was avoiding seeing Natasha's grave. Seeing the tombstone would make her death feel real. Not that I was denying it but I just don't know how I could look at a tombstone of Natasha and not break down. All the feelings would just come rushing back.

Kate and Yelena got into a conversation about well something I wasn't really focusing on their conversation, my mind was reeling and I don't know how long I was zoned out. I had my hand wrapped around the bottle as I stared forward at the empty seat in-front of me.

"Y/n" Kate said my name pulling me out of her thoughts.

"Hm yeah" I replied.

"You zoned out" Kate said.

Yelena was up at the bar ordering some more drinks to us leaving just Kate and I.

"Sorry" I replied running my hands over my face.

Kate gave an apologetic smile and ran her hands over my shoulders.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

"Yeah I'm fine" I replied shrugging my shoulders and bringing my drink up to my lips.

Yelena returned to the table sliding another drink my way I gave her a nod of thanks. We continued the night of me telling stories about Natasha to Yelena as she missed out on most of her adult life.

I'd just finished telling Yelena about the time Natasha pranked Steve and he chased her around the whole compound with whipped cream on her face, I even had the photos to prove it.

Yelena let out a laugh as she looked down at the photo.

"Honestly Natasha doing that does not surprise me" She said amused.

"She loved to tease Steve" I said stuffing my phone back into my pocket.

"Were they ya know together?" Yelena asked.

Now I had no idea, although I personally thought so. Steve seemed to care for her in a different way than everyone else and really was the only avenger who stayed with her after the snap. Also on multiple occasions I saw Steve leave Natasha's room at like 4am barely dressed and sweaty but that's besides the point.

"I think they were" I replied.

"Ah makes sense she would keep it a secret" Yelena replied.

"Although they weren't very good at it you could tell something was happening" I chuckled.

We continued the night with a few drinks and I was already worrying about the hangover I would get tomorrow. We said goodbye to Yelena and left.

Kate leaning on me for support as she was slightly more tipsy than I was.

"Oh I'm so cold" Kate said her voice slurred.

"We'll be home soon" I replied stumbling slightly.

She smiled and nuzzled her head into my shoulder. She placed a few kisses on my neck causing me to smile.