An Impervious Few // KateLena Apocalypse AU

Low Tide

A few hours later, the survivors set up temporary camp aside a shallow river. It was not an ideal spot, a bit too open, still a bit too close to the city, but Yelena and Kate simply could not walk a step further, and Wanda reeked of decay. So, as the sun set on that momentous day, Yelena lay bank side with her head on Kate's lap, watching Natasha and Wanda clean their outer garments in the water.

Leg freshly bandaged and Kate's fingers delicately untangling her hair, Yelena could have fallen asleep right then, but she resisted. She could not take her eyes off of Natasha, off of her hair that matched the color of the burning sun, the way her cut up hands washed Wanda's clothes for her. Yelena feared if she let Natasha out of her sight again, she may just disappear. Unconsciously, her hand tightened around Kate's thigh.

The archer's brows knitted in concern. "Are you okay? Is the bandage too tight?"

"Hm?" Yelena glanced upward, Kate's frizzy hair creating the illusion of a halo. She could not help but grin. "Couldn't be better, sweetheart."

Kate softened, tracing aimless little circles on her upper arm. "I couldn't be happier for you, love. I can't imagine how terrifying it's been, not knowing where she was or if she was okay. I can't imagine your relief."

"Still doesn't seem real. After two years of nothing, and then... here she is. Like she never left."

"What were those two years like? Without her?"

"Hell." Yelena's jaw twitched. "It was hell."

"Well," Kate said, leaning down to kiss her cheek, smiling at the way Yelena turned for more. "You won't ever have to go through that again."

"I wish you could be with your family. It isn't fair that after everything you went through... you still aren't."

"I am with my family. I've made my choice." The archer kissed her once more, firm and resolute. "I've got you now. And Natasha. And the crazy one."

Yelena laughed. "Wanda is pretty ruthless."

"Yeah. I like it, though. You should've seen her at the bridge. She had five Lurker's heads chopped off before I could even get my bow out."

"I'm thinking I should invest in a machete," she joked, but with mention of the bridge, of Charleston, her chest tightened. She sobered, face falling. "Kate, that Widow should've killed me. She had me in her sights- finger on the trigger. I shouldn't be the one walking away from that."

Kate tightened her hold on Yelena's midsection. "But you are. I was watching the whole time. I wasn't gonna let anything happen to you."

"I know," Yelena nodded. Are you alright, though? Shooting her couldn't have been easy. I didn't want you to have to do that again."

Kate paused, cracked lips pursed. "Killing is never easy. Not even with Lurkers. The choice, though... the choice wasn't hard. It's you over anyone else, any day."

"Thank you for saving me. For loving me. I wouldn't have made it all the way down here without you."

"I'm no hero," Kate mumbled, fingers lacing their way through her hair. "You saved me too."

"I don't believe that. I basically kidnapped you back in New York."

"No, you saved me from myself. From my pessimism. You showed me there's still people out here worth fighting for... people worth saving."

"You're worth saving. Kate Bishop."

The archer just grinned in agreement, smoothing back Yelena's hair, watching as Wanda hung her jacket to dry on a low tree branch. Together, the redheads started up a small fire, dolling out ancient sticks of beef jerky from Natasha's pack for dinner. With the calming presence of her sister, the soothing hands of her lover, and the warmth of the fire on a crisp coastal night, Yelena felt her eyelids grow heavy.