Three Times Valentines ¦ Kate x Yelena

Year Three

Whoever said the third time's the charm was a big liar. At least, when it came to Valentine's dates. Kate wasn't sure why she kept giving in to the peer pressure but even in her young age, she felt herself growing older and getting more desperate for a state of comfort. She hated the idea of needing someone else for that but she could tell something was missing, or rather, someone.

This year, she wouldn't fall for the same red flags, though. She had been sure about that. She was ready to explore the part of her identity she had been too nervous to. Over dinner, she had spent a long time talking to her colleague and new friend, America. She'd been embarrassed to open up to another much younger Avenger but she had to admit–it helped. A lot. She explained how she kept dating these total douchebags that weren't even worthy of a date with her and how she's also interested in women but she had never dated one. Something about women made the thought of approaching them much more intimidating, as if she wouldn't be able to blame a bad date on them, just her own faults. How wrong she would be.

America had been supportive, a tad overly enthusiastic for having been right about Kate's queerness. 'I could sense something from multiverses away,' she joked. She gave her some tips, told her to stay away from the clichés and she would be fine.

In truth, she was pumped for this third date. Her date was gorgeous: a curvy blonde with the most mesmerising eyes she had ever seen. She expected to be catfished but lo and behold, she actually got to stand eye-to-eye with the angel in the pictures.

Wanting to keep things more casual this time, her date would pick her up at her apartment and they would go get ice cream, like she did with Yelena that night two years ago. When she opened her door, she felt confident. She was wearing her favourite plaid shirt and her hair was done up in an intricately braided ponytail so she could show off the ear tattoo she got a few weeks back. A tiny bullseye now accessorised her skin. She hoped her enemies wouldn't think to use it as an actual target.

Despite Kate's confidence, she felt her knees going weak when meeting her date. The woman looked strangely familiar as if they'd met in another life somehow.

'You– You look stunning,' Kate stammered.

'Thank you!' Her date replied enthusiastically. 'So do you. Love the outfit.'

'I–' Kate struggled to find her words. 'I'm totally obsessed with your face. Or, like, makeup. Or something. Sorry. I'm really nervous.'

'No need to be. You ready to go?'

Things were already going so much better than they had on both of her last dates combined. Had she been missing out on this type of energy all this time? 'Almost. I have a surprise.' She headed back in for half a minute and came out beaming, her hand holding Lucky's leash.

Before she could even yell out surprise, things soured. She could tell by the way her date scrunched her nose and took a step back, then another. 'I thought we were going for ice cream.'

'We are. They offer pup cups and everyone I've ever met loves Lucky so I thought ...'

She had completely lost her date's interest. The blonde started looking everywhere but Kate, her hand on her phone, turning it on and off and on again, checking for God knows what. 'Can't you leave it at home? I can't do dogs.'

'I'm so sorry! Are you allergic?' She tried to keep Lucky closer to her, wondering if she would have to change clothes now that she had got dog fur all over her pants.

Her date shrugged. 'Sort of. I'm totally not a dog person.' Kate frowned, torn between the beautiful woman in front of her and the all-too-excited Lucky in between them. Her dog moved closer to her date who immediately took another step back, then a few to the side. Upon watching Kate hesitate, she said: 'Maybe this won't work out. But we can totally be friends, though. I just need to go ... somewhere. Goodnight.'