From the Multiverse with Mild Annoyance

Moving On

*one month later*

"I swear to god it is like worse than living with a child," Yelena had come downstairs one morning before the sun was up as was her usual wake up call. She still wasn't the best sleeper but she liked waking up early and having time to workout and drink some protein coffee without being interrupted by anybody besides the dogs. However this morning she tripped over a basket of laundry Natasha conveniently placed to the right of the steps, causing Yelena to fumbling her footing, nearly stepping on Fanny's tail. "Are you okay my baby?" She asked her dog who seemed perfectly unimpressed as Yelena tumbled onto the ground to avoid another pile of Natasha's shoes. "Seriously she's been back for like two minutes. How did she acquire so much shit so fast? So many things. And where did she get the money?" Lucky quietly barked, "your mother is funding her shopping addiction isn't she? What does Natasha have on her?" Both dogs came and sat next to her as she chucked one of Natasha's sneakers across the room, "maybe this is my fault. Spent too much time not talking to them. They became friends. I do not like this." Lucky picked up one of Natasha's shoes, instantly covered in drool, "yes mama's good boy. Eat that shoe and there's more where that came from."

"Are you enticing my dog to eat a shoe?"

Yelena and Lucky exchanged a look before he
opened his mouth and dropped the shoe, "no?"

"Kind of sounded like what I heard."

Yelena shook her head, "probably a ghost."

"Mmhmm," Kate patted Yelena on the head before bending down to scratch both of the dogs' ears. "Whatever you say, babe."

Yelena scoffed at the pet name. Sure, for the most part they made up. She was still pissed at Kate for putting herself in danger and not considering her feelings. Plus there was the whole Sonya thing. Her arm still remained mostly useless but she was now speaking both Russian and English. They were trying to move on together and that meant Yelena having to be the bigger person and let Kate back in. So, it was baby steps. They hadn't had sex since the whole thing happened and Yelena was holding onto the knowledge that it was eating away at the brunette even though she would never complain. Yelena had to build her trust back up and this was something she could very much control. She wasn't trying to play games with her fiancée and she very much wanted to move on but a part of her was still upset. "What are you doing up so early anyway? Don't you and Natasha usually sleep until noon?" She pushed herself up off the ground to continue making her way into the kitchen.

"Thought maybe I'd get a workout in. I took a bit of time off training and I've become a little squishy," she lifted up her shirt and poked at her abs.

Yelena didn't see anything to complain about. She still looked just as fit as the last time she saw Kate out in the barn chucking hay bales, "I see no squish."

"Trust me, it's there. Plus I need to stay fit for work." Kate sighed. She was pretty sure Maria was punishing her for Vormir. Ever since coming home, Kate's workload magically dried up. No calls from Maria. The widow rescue missions were halted. Hell, even Jack had the company under control. Kate felt like a boat that's lost its tether. She's just floating along without a purpose. Since she sort of made up with Yelena she wasn't feeling as hopeless as she was but she is still lost and doesn't quite know how to get back, "I think I'm going to go into the city for a few days. Jack said there's some stuff at Bishop Security he needs my assistance with," which wasn't entirely a lie. There was a benefit coming up in a few months that he requested her help with but she thought maybe if she showed up to work for a few days she would be reminded how much she hates being needed there. When Yelena didn't automatically respond she asked, "is that okay?"

"You do not need my permission to go take care of your business, Kate," Yelena was making her protein coffee, making one for Kate as well but making hers with decaf cold brew. The archer definitely did not need any extra stimulants in her diet. "What does Jack need?"