Pulling Me

Part Thirty-Four: I Understand

"Hey, you doing okay?" Wanda asked, taking a seat next to Kate on the couch in the main living area. She'd been there for about thirty minutes since the meeting ended, unable to move. Part of her was sulking while the other part was doing its best to stay away from Y/N as much as possible.

After the meeting, Y/N had continued talking to Clint about Yelena. They learned about Natasha and her past. He told them more about the Red Room, what all Yelena has been through, and more about who she really is.

Kate had tried sticking around to listen. She knew that her presence helped Y/N ease, but Clint was doing enough. Listening to him tell those stories while Y/N watched in awe just continued piercing holes in her heart.

"Not really if I'm being honest, but it's fine," she responded, smiling softly.

Wanda's head cocked to the side slightly, sifting through the thoughts in Kate's head. She knew it was an invasion of privacy, but something about Kate was intriguing to her. Luckily, she was focused on the tv as Wanda did this.

Little snippets of Y/N passed through. Some looked like memories, some looked like still pictures. She saw the first date they'd had, the movies nights, the kisses. The corner of Wanda's mouth ticket up seeing how happy Kate had been in these memories. This wasn't the person she was looking at now.

Resting her elbow on the back of the couch, she leaned on her hand and continued gazing at Kate. Sifting through more memories just for fun at this point. There were other ones about Clint, one that even went back to her childhood. Wanda assumed this is when her idea of becoming one of them started.

As she was sifting, Kate finally looked over and noticed her staring. In a normal situation, someone would stop staring. They'd probably get slightly embarrassed, even. Not Wanda. She was starting to see what Y/N had taken interest in. It was upsetting to see someone who probably normally had so much life in her be so despondent.

Instead of sifting more, she smiled and made conversation. Y/N took notice as they continued their conversation with Clint. "What do you think they're going on about?" He asked.

Looking over them both, Y/N smiled. Kate's face had lifted for the first time since they arrived as she talked to Wanda. The same was happening on the other end as well. All they wanted was for them to be happy because Y/N knew the two women had feelings for them but their heart was somewhere else.

Even if Yelena turned out to be exactly the opposite of what they wanted, the feelings wouldn't fade. It would put Wanda or Kate in second place. They would be a consolation prize and that's not fair.

There's been something about that damn blonde-haired woman since the day they laid eyes on her. It was like she jumped inside their head and locked the door behind her, never allowing Y/N to forget.

"I have no idea. I'm just glad they're smiling. I feel like I haven't seen either of them even remotely happy and I know that's because of me..." Y/N trailed off.

Clint looked over their demeanor as they watched the two women continue to hit it off. Their laughs could be heard across the room and though he could see Y/N's smile, it was clear how much pain they were in. They'd wanted to go over, to join the conversation, but they knew it would just ruin it.

Wanda and Kate were okay right now and that's what Y/N wanted because their focus was Yelena. That's all they cared about and worrying more about how they were making either of them feel was just not in the cards right now.

"Hey, they're going to be okay. I know they might be upset at the moment, but they'll come around," Clint stated as he tried to grab their attention, noting that they continued staring at the two but nodding as he spoke. "But I have to say, you must really have some deep feelings for Yelena if you're willing to give up either of them for her."

Y/N sat up a bit, glancing over at him, "What? What do you mean by that?"

The way the side of his mouth ticked up into a smirk irritated Y/N as they waited to hear his explanation. Something about it rubbed them wrong, because who wouldn't choose Yelena? If he really knew her, then he should understand.

But then again, his partner is Kate and they know how much he adores her. Maybe he doesn't show it because she very obviously gets on his last nerves, but he thinks the world of her.

Kate and Wanda are great people, great women... They're just not Y/N's person and that's totally okay.

"I mean, those are two incredible women sitting over there and both are basically head over heels for you. I've seen what they're capable of, I've seen their hearts, but you're drawn to Yelena-" Y/N had gone to cut them off, but he stopped them, "Hold on, I can see you getting defensive. Just let me finish."

Sitting back, Y/N's eyebrows lowered, trying to figure out what he was getting at with this conversation. "I understand that as well. Natasha, her sister, was my best friend. The things she told me about Yelena... I was so lucky to meet her last month. I wish it had been under better circumstances but-" he laughed a bit.

"Yeah, I wish I'd met her under better circumstances as well," and now they were both laughing. She'd been contracted to take them both out and look where that left them. Alive.

He smiled, trying to bring the conversation back to what he was talking about, "Yes, exactly. What I'm saying though is I know she's incredible but so are they. So, what you're feeling must be very strong to stick so fiercely to someone who was contracted to kill you."

Y/N nodded as they thought. He was right. They'd been thinking about that recently anyway. Things would be easier if it was Kate or even Wanda. They had a history with Wanda, they knew her. Kate was a sweetheart, genuine. They were both Avengers, meaning they'd definitely never try and take them out.

But they weren't Yelena. All Y/N wanted was for everyone to see her the way they did.