"Aww come on! What the hell is this?"
With game night in full swing, the competitive spirit and nature was hard to ignore among the team. Kate Bishop, known for her perfectionism and need for external validation, couldn't help but feel overly frustrated as the night continued on and she continued losing at every single game she has played. Her usual golden retriever energy is both dimmed and clouded with annoyance as she lets out a huff after losing yet another round of another game.
"Seriously, how is everyone beating me at this?!" Kate grumbles as she tosses her cards on the table, crossing her arms with a small pout on her face.
"Oh, come on Katie, don't be such a sore loser. You know it's just a game." Yelena pokes fun at Kate who has been progressively regressing into a toddler with the meltdowns she keeps having after each round she loses.
Kate shoots Yelena a playful but deadly glare, "Easy for you to say when you're winning every round. Games are meant to be fun, and this–" Kate gestures to the cards scattered around the table as well as the empty beer cans, "–this is NOT fun." Kate grumbles and leans back in her seat, re-crossing her arms over her chest.
Yelena grins, finding Kate's need to be the best all the time cute. "We both know I am just a natural at things. But don't worry, I can give you some pointers if you want." Yelena reaches over and playfully grabs Kate's face, squishing her cheeks together so the pout on her face melts away and turns into a smile. Though Kate does her best to keep the pout for as long as possible, the cute action combined with the alcohol she has been downing all night makes it nearly impossible to stay grumpy in Yelena's presence.
"Oh, please. I do not need or want your pity pointers. Keep your fake help to yourself." Pushing Yelena's hands away from her face, Kate grabs the cards and begins stacking them back up for another round. Too quickly, she splits the deck in half and tries to give the cards a quick shuffle. Unfortunately for her, the speed of her actions combined with the beer residue present on the table creates a sticky yet slippery layer which causes the cards to fly out of her hands and back across the table in various directions.
"Fuck me. I give up."
Throwing her hands up in the air, Kate tries standing up to storm away from the table. Already knowing what was going to happen before the cards flew out of her hands, Yelena was ready to catch Kate when she stood up, knowing her little hawk's natural response to not being good at something was to stop trying. Tugging Kate back down in her seat, Yelena quickly salvages the cards and puts them back in a stack. Splitting them in half, she gives the cards a clean shuffle, further annoying Kate at how good she is at everything seemingly effortlessly.
"I won't give you pity pointers, Kate Bishop. But seriously, it is just a silly game meant for fun not anger."
Kate sighs, leaning forward and taking the small pile of cards Yelena set to the side for her. "I know, I know. It's just hard for me to lose. I really like being good at things."
Kate places a card in the middle of them which triggers Yelena to be able to place down three cards in response. Leaning closer to Kate as Kate tries her best not to rage quit the game they just started, Yelena's tone shifts allowing her voice to come out soft. "You're good at a lot of things, Kate Bishop. You are one of the most talented and determined people I know. And losing at a silly little card game does not change that."
Kate feels her cheeks go flush at Yelena's sincerity, never getting used to these moments where Yelena goes soft and lets her genuineness come through. She realizes Yelena is partially teasing her in her actions, but the genuine warmth in Yelena's eyes makes Kate's heart skip a beat.
"Thanks, Lena." Kate's voice comes off shy, less angry and more flustered than a few minutes ago.
"Don't mention it, Kate Bishop. Now, let's finish this game so I can beat you fair and square."
YOU ARE READING
To Neptune And Back
Fanfiction"My name is Nick Fury, but everyone just calls me Fury. I used to be the Director of SHIELD but as you know that imploded on itself a few years ago. A version of it still exists to this day but I have no part in it." He pauses and takes a sip of the...
