Collateral Damage

Chapter 4; Mac and Cheese

December 22, 2024

After I leave the pizza place Kate and I go our separate ways, still with plans to meet at her apartment with the new suits. Instead of going back to my hotel I head towards the place where I get super suit materials. It wasn't super far away, but I was in there forever catching up with the lady at the front desk. I've known her forever, but I hadn't actually been into the shop in some time.  

I look around the shop slowly filling my cart with materials. It was a lot of purple, grey and black. I had to get enough for two suits and room for Kate to play around. 

By the time I got out of there it was almost time for me to head to Kates apartment, so I placed a takeout order and went on my way. The walk to Kate's apartment from the takeout place wasn't long, but by the time I got there it was dark. 

Y/n: Hey, I'm here!

Kate 🏹: ...

I didn't get a response, but I caught someone going out and went up to her apartment. What I definitely did not expect to see when I walked in was Kate, sitting at her dining room table, with the girl that we were talking about at lunch. As soon as I opened the door both of their eyes are on me. My mouth drops open. 

"Kate tell me you did not spend the day tracking down this girl." I say 

"You're joking. This is the girl you were talking about earlier?" Kate says with disbelief.

"The girl? Kate Bishop you were talking about me? With Y/n Y/l/n? Who I have yet to formally have a conversation with." The blonde girl says with a smirk on her face.

"Kate I am literally so confused right now."

"Me too. Y/n you should probably sit down." Kate replies. 

I walk over and sit beside of her.  As I walk I can feel the other girl still watching me. 

"We've not met, I'm Yelena Belova, I know who you are, so no need for that. Would you like some macaroni?" She says calmly, "or we could go back to the conversation involving me you apparently had earlier." 

"I- no- " 

"Why does nobody want any macaroni? I think it is quite good." 

"How do you know who I am?" 

"It's my job to know." 

"Wow, that answered literally nothing, but okay." Kate replied for me as I sat there with my mouth agape, still in awe of the situation, and also the fact that she knows and has known who I am. I know I should probably be freaked out, but I cannot stop thinking about how fucking beautiful she is. I'm starting to realize why Wanda always called me a useless gay.  I soon realized I was staring and that she was staring right back at me. 

"Come on, take some Mac and Cheese. I already put hot sauce on it, I hope you don't mind." 

I quickly pull myself together to say, "I'm good, I- I actually brought takeout, you can have some if you'd like." I end up stuttering through that though. 

Kate leans over to me and whispers, "Stop poorly attempting to flirt, she is quite literally an assassin." 

I roll my eyes and lightly slap her on the shoulder and lean in to whisper, "that didn't seem to be an issue earlier."

"You guys do know I am right here, right?" 

I just glare at Kate, still wondering if I had been wearing one of my Stark Industries t-shirts yesterday when I saw her so many times. I don't think I even brought a Stark shirt to NYC.