Totally Platonic (Kate/Yelena)

Me? Marry Kate Bishop?

"I honestly don't think I've ever seen you like-" Natasha watches Yelena pace back and forth, worried thought, murmuring quietly in Russian "This."

Yelena ignores her sister and continues her pacing, turning around to make the same few steps as before, only for her to turn back around and repeat the process.

How the hell did she get to this point?

Wanda chuckled from beside Natasha as they sit on Yelena's bed in her bedroom at the compound, watching the blonde spiral. Yelena never used her own room anymore, so it was the spot that guaranteed the utmost secrecy "Yelena, darling, there is nothing wrong with the way you're feeling. It's completely normal."

Yelena stops and whips her head to glare at Wanda "Normal?" She lets out a bitter laugh and restarts her pace. Wanda and Natasha follow her back and forth once again with their eyes "I am not normal - We are anything but normal. It is more likely for this relationship to fail miserably, rather for it to progress to the point where I have ever considered, that me, Yelena Belova, forced child assassin, would actually propose." She scoffs at the word alone, facepalming her forehead feeling the clamminess of her palms rub against her skin "Who do I think I am? Marry Kate Bishop? It's insane- The idea is insane!"

Natasha shrugged "Maybe you don't have to worry. Maybe Kate will propose since she's the one who talked to you first, kissed you first, asked you out first... Etcetera~ Etcetera~"

"Kate Bishop will not propose." Yelena scowled "She already told me that if I ever wanted to take that step, I would have to be the one to do it."

Natasha stares back with amusement tracing her brows as they arched up "And how did that come up?"

Wanda also stared up at Yelena with curiosity, prompting Yelena to roll her eyes. It wasn't a grand story to think back on, or even one Yelena was fond of "We were in the city, and we happened upon someone proposing in public. According to Kate, I seemed 'off' after, and we had a long and serious discussion about it." What she failed to mention was how insistent Kate was on telling her that marriage wasn't important as long as they were together. But Yelena knew better than that. She saw the way her blue eyes seemed to dim ever so slightly at the thought of never marrying the love of her life. Afterall, announcing Kate as her girlfriend was a high on its own. Now imagine introducing her as her wife.

"Romantic." Natasha sarcastically quips, earning another glare from Yelena.

Saying it out loud was one thing, but the thought of proposing to Kate has been in the back of her mind since the first time she's said those three words for the first time to the archer. Now that was a memory to worship.

-//-

Kate had said it multiple times by now.

Yelena, however, had not allowed herself to say those words because she sometimes still felt Kate deserves someone better. Of course, Kate can annoyingly read Yelena's mind now, constantly putting those doubts to bed, but she was sure that her doubt would always be an ember deep within her soul, no matter how many times Kate reassured her.

Three easy words she's been trying to figure out how to say.

Three words she's been dying to say ever since their relationship started.

Why has she been holding out for so long? Well, there's an answer and...

It's called fear.

Ridiculous right? Yelena Belova, afraid?

Yes.

It was a perfect day in the middle of April, when Yelena looked at Kate, attempting the incredible feat of teaching a New Yorker to drive. It was that random act Yelena agreed to help with, did she conclude that there was no more holding back those three words anymore. Kate was hers and the archer wasn't going anywhere. If she were, then Yelena would be right next to her - presumably in the driver's seat – but in this case, in the passenger's spot.