starving [hailee steinfeld one-shots]

kissing in the crossfire [K.Bishop]

pairing: kate bishop x anti-hero!reader

summary: you and kate are better off apart. unfortunately, you can't stay away from each other long enough to realize some puzzle pieces aren't meant to fit together.

warnings: mentions of blood + injuries; so much bickering; sprinkles of important backstory stuff; kate and R are exes and it's complicated; technically angst but there's humor :) [kate does aim her bow at R though so...yeah]

wordcount: 1.9k

a/n: GUESS WHO'S BACK AFTER SAYING THEY WERE BACK AND THEN DISAPPEARING PRACTICALLY ALL MONTH? ...did you guess right? anywho, this is a long-awaited request made a LONG while ago. i...got a little carried away with this so do with that information what you will. i'll probably come back with some fluff to make up for this later. anyway, hope you enjoy, sending you love <3

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"You can't be serious."

"I wouldn't be here if I had anywhere else to go, Bishop." You offer her a smile from your spot on her kitchen counter. "By the way, you should probably hide your spare key somewhere else, that plant is too obvious."

She opens her mouth, ready to say something witty back, but she stops once she fully notices your appearance. The torn-up clothes, the bruises scattered across your face, the blood trailing from your busted lip. She crosses the space between you in an instant, concern written all over her features despite how hard she tries to hide it.

"What happened?"

"Had an unfortunate run-in with some old friends of ours," you explain. "I think they're still holding a grudge."

She sighs but you can't tell if it's because of your injuries or the ones you've inflicted tonight. "Stay right there. I'll be right back."

"Where else would I go?" you reply, the slightest hint of sarcasm in your tone.

Kate either doesn't hear you or pretends not to in favor of walking away to find her first-aid kit. You could tell her most of the blood on your clothes isn't yours but that would only serve to start up the same old argument with her.

An argument that cost you the only healthy relationship you've ever had.

Although, in your defense, it's not like the archer is entirely blameless for what happened...not that she'd ever admit that out loud when it's so much easier to blame all your mutual problems on your lack of self-restraint.

"How bad is it?" Her voice brings you out of your thoughts but, unfortunately for you, your reality is just as bad as the memories attached to those blue eyes.

You shrug. "I've had better days."

"Yeah, no kidding, idiot."

It's impossible to stop yourself from rolling your eyes at her words even if you know there's nothing but concern under her sarcasm. Concern that's evident in the way she approaches you, soft and hesitant and nothing like the impulsive archer you know her to be.

It's exactly the care you want, the care you need. You need Kate like the oxygen you breathe but you can't bring yourself to let your walls down again. Maybe it's stupid or petty or maybe you just like arguing with her a bit too much.

"You're a terrible nurse," you complain as she stands between your legs, a silent question shining in the depths of her eyes.

You send the smallest of nods her way despite how ridiculous her nervousness is. You've had more intimate moments than this and yet she lifts your shirt out of the way with the shakiest hands you've ever seen. You'd make fun of her if you weren't just as nervous as she is right now.