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Yelena doesnât pack.
She sits there, fists clenched on her thighs, jaw tight, every muscle in her body screaming at her to follow Kate and fix this before it spirals further out of control.
But sheâs tired. God, sheâs so fucking tired.
For once, she wants to be the one walked toward instead of always being the one doing the chasing.
But the minutes stretch. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. The silence outside Kateâs office is oppressive, settling into Yelenaâs bones like lead. No footsteps. No hesitation. No coming back.
And she knows...Kateâs not easing up.
That realization sends something sharp and dangerous slicing through her chest. Fine. If Kate wants to be stubborn, then Yelena can match her.
She heads to the door, grabs her keys out of the bowl, and heads out. She doesnât rush. If Kate is listening, she wants her to hear every deliberate footstep, the soft click of the lock as she pulls the door closed behind her.
Let her know that Yelena isnât bluffing.
She makes it as far as the car. Keys in hand, fingers curled around the driverâs side door handle. And then she justâŚstops.
Her pulse is a dull, steady thud in her ears. The weight of the night...the fight, the accusations, the sheer exhaustion of being caught in this cycle...presses in on her.
She should go. She said she was going. And Yelena isnât the type to walk back on something once sheâs put it out into the universe. Sheâs stubborn like that. Always has been.
But she's still here.
Kate is right here.
And maybe maybe this is the moment. The test.
If Yelena gets in the car and drives off, does Kate let her? Does she come outside, bang on the window, demand she come back inside? Does she call in ten minutes, or an hour, or tomorrow morning when she wakes up and realizes Yelena actually left?
Or does she do nothing?
That last thought sinks claws into Yelenaâs chest. It sits there, heavy and festering, refusing to let her go.
She releases the car handle and pivots on her heel, marching back toward the garage elevator before she can talk herself out of it.
Inside, the lights in the hallway are dim. The office door is still wide open, her chair pushed back from the desk exactly how she left it. The fight sits in the air, thick and suffocating, but the house is quiet.
Uncomfortably so.
Yelena makes her way down the hall. Thereâs a sliver of light coming from the guest room at the end of it.
She hesitates, foot hovering over the carpet leading there, then she moves past it entirely. Instead, she veers toward the kidsâ rooms. Sheâs not sure what sheâs looking for. Some reassurance, maybe, something to anchor her in the mess of tonight.
She stops outside Alexia's door first, pressing her palm against the wood for a second before carefully pushing it open just enough to peek inside.
The room is dark, save for the faint glow of the nightlight in the corner. Alexia is curled on their side, one arm flung over the stuffed owl Kate bought her last Christmas. Yelena watches her chest rise and fall, slow and even.
She shouldâve been here earlier. Shouldâve said goodnight, shouldâve been the one to tuck the kids in instead of leaving it to Kate again.
She shuts the door as quietly as possible and crosses the hall to the little one's room.
Maks is sprawled across the mattress in the most chaotic sleeping position imaginable, tangled in the sheets, one sock barely clinging to his foot. In the crib, Sonny is neatly tucked in, her tiny hand curled under his cheek.
Yelena lingers in the doorway for a long time.
She loves them. Of course, she does. That was never up for debate. But it still stings, the way Kate threw it at her earlier, like Yelena being a good mother was somehow optional.
Like Kate thinks sheâs failing.
Like she thinks sheâs failing.
She swallows hard, backing out of the room.
When she reaches the guest bedroom, the door is cracked open. A lamp is still on inside, and Yelena can just make out the shape of Kate sitting on the edge of the bed, one leg tucked up, fingers pressed to her forehead.
She doesnât knock, just pushes the door open wider and steps inside.
Kate doesnât look up. Doesnât say anything.
Yelena exhales slowly, crossing her arms.
âI didnât leave.â
Kate snorts, the sound dry, unimpressed.
âWant a medal?â
Yelena clenches her jaw.
âI donât want to do this anymore.â
That makes Kate lift her head. Her eyes are red, tired, but sharp.
âDo what?â
âThis. Fighting. This stupid back and forth. I donât want to keep hurting you.â
Kate watches her carefully, searching for something. Then, with a quiet scoff, she shakes her head.
âThatâs nice. Really. But you donât get to say âI donât want to fightâ like that fixes everything. You did hurt me. You keep doing it.â
âI know.â Itâs the only honest thing Yelena can say. She shifts on her feet. âBut youâre hurting me too.â
That seems to land. Kateâs jaw tightens, and she looks away.
Yelena takes a careful step forward.
âWe canât keep doing this. I donât want to lose you.â
Kate laughs, but itâs hollow.
âYou sure about that? Because every time shit gets hard, you disappear.â
Yelena shakes her head. âI donât...â
âYes, you do.â Kate cuts in sharply. âPhysically. Emotionally. Take your pick.â She lifts her hands, then lets them fall limply onto her lap. âYou think I donât know what itâs like to feel like youâre fucking drowning? I do. Every single day. But I donât get to check out. I donât get to decide itâs too much and justâŚstep back.â
âI donât decide to do it.â Yelenaâs voice is quiet now. âItâs notâŚitâs not something I want.â
âBut itâs what happens,â Kate mutters, shaking her head.
Silence stretches between them.
Then, Kate exhales and leans forward, pressing her face into her hands for a moment before lifting her gaze again. Her voice is softer when she speaks next.
âWhat are we to you?â
"What?â
âIts a simple question,â Kate says, watching her. âIf this...â she gestures vaguely between them â...is something youâre only holding onto because itâs familiar, or because leaving would be too hard, then we need to stop pretending.â
Yelena doesnât answer right away. Because wanting something and knowing how to make it work are two different things. She exhales, crossing the room until sheâs close enough to kneel in front of Kate, resting her hands lightly against her knees. Kate doesnât pull away.
âYou and them are the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you,â Yelena says, voice steady. âAnd I donât want to stop trying.â
Kate studies her for a long, tense moment. Then, finally, she sighs.
âWe have to try differently then,â she says. âBecause whatever this is? Itâs not working.â
"We'll figure it out. All we have to do is choose not to give up."
///
The next morning is quiet. Too quiet.
Yelena wakes to the sound of muffled voices. The house is awake without her. The kids are up. Kate is up. And Yelena is still in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling like sheâs an outsider in her own home.
She drags herself up, pulling on a sweatshirt over her sleep shirt as she pads barefoot toward the door. Their bedroom feels wrong when Kate doesn't sleep in it. Foreign. Without Kate in here, Yelena feels sheâs intruding. The space between her and Kate has never felt this wide.
Hearing them out there...it feels like they're already moving on without her.
Yelena makes her way to the kitchen. Kate must have said something hilarious because she hears Alexia and Maks cackle. She turns and corner and, the second she steps inside, she knows sheâs walked in on something.
Kate, who stands by the sink, tenses the moment her and Yelena make eye contact. A few feet away, Alexia sits at the table with Maks and Sonny. Sonny is in just her diaper, swinging her legs under her chair, oblivious to the tension that just thickened the air. Maks is staring down at his half-eaten cereal like it might give him an answer to whatever the hell just happened here. Alexia, however, is bristling.
âYou should have woken me up,â Yelena says, voice rough with sleep.
Kate doesn't say anything.
Alexia glances up, eyes flicking between them, and suddenly, Yelena realizes what this looks like. Kate slept in the guest room. She wasnât here when they woke up. She walked in late.
Like a stranger.
âMama, are you living with Deda and Babu now?â Maks asks, tilting his head.
Yelenaâs stomach twists. âWhat? No. Why would you...â
Yelena glares at Kate. Before she knows it's happening, she's crossing the kitchen and walking straight to Kate.
âWhat did you tell them?â Yelena asks barely above a whisper.
"The truth." Kate turns, leveling her with a stare. âWhat was I supposed to do? Pretend like nothing is happening? Theyâre not stupid.â
âTheyâre also kids.â
Kate scoffs, dropping a spoon into the sink with a clatter.
âRight. And what do you think is worse? Talking to them about it or letting them figure it out on their own while we keep playing house?â
âThis isnât something they should have to deal...â
âThey already deal with it,â Kate snaps. âEvery single time you put your work first. Every time you miss a recital or a game or a school meeting. Every time I have to make excuses for you...they already know. So maybe, just maybe, donât act so fucking surprised.â
Alexia chair scrapes backwards and she storms off.
"Alex..." Yelena pleads after her daughter.
But she's already gone, storming down the hallway and up the stairs. Maks looks like he wants to follow, but he stays put, chewing his lip. Sonny, blissfully unaware, bangs her little hands on the high chair and gurgles.
Kate sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. âThis is exactly why I told you to fix your priorities.â
Yelena sets her jaw. âYou told me? This isnât just on me, Kate.â
âReally? Because Iâm not the one whoâs always gone.â
The words slam into her, harder than sheâs willing to admit.
Before she can respond, Maks slides off his chair and follows after his big sister, leaving only Sonny at the table.
Kate watches them go, then turns back to the sink, gripping the edge of the counter like sheâs holding herself together.
âI donât want to fight in front of them,â Yelena mutters.
âThen donât start shit at breakfast.â
Yelena's eyes flash. âStart shit? You told them I was going to stay with my parents.â
âThat's what YOU said,â Kate hisses, stepping closer.
âI came back.â
âAnd you want me to give you points for that?â
âNo. I want you to stop acting like Iâm the only one responsible for all of this falling apart.â
Kate laughs, but itâs sharp, humorless.
âYouâre really going to stand here and act like youâre not?â
âThis isnât fair...â
âWhatâs not fair is that I have to be the reliable one while you get to be at work. You get to show up when itâs convenient for you. You get to skip the hard parts. You get to waltz in late because youâre Yelena Belova, the brilliant scientist whoâs too important and too busy to actually show up.â
âThatâs not...â Yelena pauses. "Why did you call me that?"
"Call you what?"
"Yelena Belova."
"That's your name."
"It hasn't been for A LONG time."
âDonât change the subject,â Kate warns, voice dangerously quiet. âDonât stand there and pretend like you donât see it. You have no idea what itâs like to be the one who has to hold it all together.â
Yelenaâs chest heaves. âAnd what do you think Iâve been trying to do?â
âTrying isnât enough anymore.â
There it is. The final nail in the coffin.
Yelena shakes her head, throat burning. âYouâve already decided, havenât you?â
Kate doesnât answer right away. Her gaze flickers, like she wants to take it back. But she doesnât.
âI canât keep doing this,â Kate says finally. âNot when nothing ever changes.â
A thick silence swallows the kitchen whole.
Yelena swallows around the knot in her throat. âSo thatâs it? Youâre done?â
Kate exhales slowly, but thereâs no satisfaction in it. No relief. Just exhaustion.
âI think I have to be.â
Yelena takes a step back, like sheâs been hit. She doesnât realize sheâs shaking her head until Kate sighs and looks away.
âYelena...â
âNo,â Yelena breathes. âNo, this isnât...we arenât...âShe canât finish it.
Because Kate isnât stopping her. Kate isnât walking it back. Kate isnât saying 'I donât mean it' or 'I just need space' or 'Weâll figure it out'.
Sheâs just standing there, watching Yelena unravel.
âWhen are you moving out?â
And that...Thatâs the moment it all falls apart.
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âł â§ a thread of recent completed bishova stories (mostly oneshots) to check out for the weekend
The Donor by Axinite25
Boredom is the mind killer by Axinite25
that which makes you feel safe by Axinite25
Itâs Totally Under Control by gayasawindow
The Safehouse by Changedmyname
iâve seen heaven, but i ainât never felt this way by rmjpugh
Black Widow Coffee by ooga_94_booga
Meet the Parents byMistysGatorTeeth
i want more landmarks, less landmines by lazyfish
Cook Me Dinner (So I Can Taste it in Your Mouth) by Mentalashday
With a Little Help from Big Sister by ChocolateXMyMouth
Wrong Number by 19harmony
I Can See You by TheBleedingPearl
i'm so afraid i sealed my fate (no sign of soulmates) by mayadrinkswater
Touch by NeverQuiteLogistical


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Kate Bishop & Yelena Belova Vampire!AU
"She looked so pretty like the Devil."
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favorite bishova aus? Can be in your own work/concepts/fic recs
I know this is a trope and not an au but I am SUCH a sucker for enemies to friends to lovers and anyway I just wanted to restate that
-I have recently discovered that ABO/Omegaverse aus are a guilty pleasure of mine. No I will not be elaborating. Go read Oh Alpha, My Alpha by DoomTheShroom on AO3
-really really love fantasy/medieval aus! Havenât read very many but Iâve loved the ones I have. Quiver and Crown by @lauready comes to mind most especially, Iâve probably read it like five times. Itâs Knight!Kate Bishop x Princess!Yelena Belova and I would highly recommend :))
-who would I be if I didnât mention the classic college/high school aus? I know this wasnât asking for fic recs but I donât care :DDD The Poet and the Quarterback by @steinpughhawke on AO3 (@ is angstydisaster over there) is an adorable Quarterback!Kate Bishop x Artist!Yelena Belova highschool au that is currently in the works and Iâm a little obsessed, and That One Time We Kissed by @lauready on Wattpad (sorry friend idk if you have it posted on ao3 too but I read it in good old glitchpad so) itâs really! Freaking! Good!!! Yelena is in a sorority! Kate is a skater girl! Itâs a good time!!
-Some other favorites are post apocalyptic, fake dating, band, etc etc
I have so many that I love but I canât keep yapping forever because unfortunately I need to sleep- but I will say I have some very interesting aus in the drafts/brain rn, including but not limited to:
â˘Marching band au because I am a big fat band nerd/kid (Drumline Instructor!Kate Bishop x Colorguard Captain!Yelena Belova)
â˘Ex-Mormon!Kate Bishop
â˘Angel/Cupid!Kate Bishop x Archangel/Demon!Yelena Belova
â˘DnD au (Fighter!Circus Performer!Kate Bishop x Rogue!Assassin!Yelena Belova)
And of course I will never shut up about Autistic!Yelena and Genderqueer!Kate
Tell me about your favorite tropes/aus!
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âł â§ Chapter 6 of The Poet and The Quarterback out now! Thank you to @lizzieblopaz24 for the edit đŤś


#kate bishop#yelena belova#bishlova#bishova#katelena#hawkeye#kate bishop x yelena boleva#kate x yelena
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âł â§ A short thread of Omegaverse aka A/B/O bishova stories
A guilty pleasure for many people! I added ones that are not full on đ˝ but have a plot. If this is not your cup of tea, thatâs okay. Just keep scrolling, itâs not hard!
everything i can remember (i remember wrong) by dare121
Down On My Knees by Aiden1999
But Time Makes You Bolder (Even Children Get Older) by Mars_GoW_2020 (super underrated! incredible world building)
Pillow Talk by agentramsey
this is the fate you've carved on me by dare121
I See You by Whitadw (hope the author comes back)
Oh Alpha, My Alpha by DoomTheShroom (iâve recommended this in like 3 threads already)
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âł â§ Chapter 5 of The Poet and The Quarterback out now!
#kate bishop#yelena belova#bishlova#bishova#katelena#hawkeye#kate bishop x yelena boleva#kate x yelena
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âł â§ a thread of enemies to lovers bishova stories that iâve read đŞâ¤ď¸
Sister of the Bride by Changedmyname
Shattered innocence by Hawkshot
In Another UniverseâŚShe Waited For Her In Every Lifetime by NeverQuiteLogistical
and the earth died screaming by polarkai
it surprised me, the depth of your love by upfront_DW
In Another Universe... They Met in Night City by NeverQuiteLogistical
Parent Trap by Onthemain_08
Best shot by 19harmony
Happily by 19harmony
tear the stars out from the sky (all iâve come to realize) by karaslance
everything was beautiful and nothing hurt by nataliaswifey (the cliffhanger in this oneâŚauthor come back pls. the bishova children miss you, I MISS YOU)
Loving and Leaving by sapphiremoonlight_witch: (i ate this one up)
Collection of Stories by pepperbrook_99 - Family Ties
Collection of Stories by pepperbrook_99 - Pirates Tale
The Coldest War by BlackChickenSoup
Could We Forget All the Ways We're Broken by Adimnos


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âł â§ Chapter 4 for The Poet and The Quarterback is here!! earlier than usual? yeah i couldnât wait. lemme know your thoughts?


#kate bishop#bishova#kate bishop x yelena boleva#bishlova#katelena#yelena belova#kate x yelena#black widow#hawkeye#marvel#katelena fanfic
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âł â§ a thread of bishova AU fanfics inspired by existing media (movies, shows, video games, etc)
I canât wait until I can add all the future âWe Live In Timeâ inspired stories to this
Happily by 19harmony (The Proposal)
My princess from the stars by falling_upwards_slowly (Dune)
and the earth died screaming by polarkai: (Pacific Rim)
Beat It! by Flopikkan (Harry Potter)
In Another Universe..They Met in Night City by NeverQuiteLogistical (Cyberpunk)
I Am Divergent by yellow1jellybean: (Divergent)
In Another UniverseâŚThey Were At War With The Gods by NeverQuiteLogistical (Elden Ring)
donât worry darling by clarkedarling: (DWD)
I will love you in every life by LizzieBlopaz: (Dickinson/Little Women)
L-UCKY by antclaykiwi: (WALL-E)
The Egg is Just the Start (of Breakfast and Life) by StoicLastStand: (Red Notice)
Wedding plans by Inniscarlet: (The Wedding Planner)
everything was beautiful and nothing hurt by nataliaswifey: (KillIng Eve)
tear the stars out from the sky (all iâve come to realize) by karaslance: (WWE/Fighting with my family)
a howl of romance..by FoulBearObservation: (Mr & Mrs Smith)
The Arrows of Kate Bishop by Lord_Ghirahim: (3 part series - Percy Jackson) [third part is incomplete]
Can't Fight the Moonlight by SleepyHead24: (Coyote Ugly)




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âł â§ a MASTERLIST of all my bishova fafic rec threads đđđ
all credits go to the rightful author. thank you to every single bishova author out there. you are appreciated so very much. thank you for feeding us!
[transferred from twitter]
Green - Completed
Purple - Ongoing
100k stories
high school/college au
jealous!yelena
5+1
fake dating au
underrated stories
underrated oneshots
soulmate
havenât been updated in year(s)
outsiderâs POV
pitch perfect crossover
sad/angsty
enemies to lovers
18+ stories
top!yelena
top!kate
omegaverse
recent completed (9/28/24)


#kate bishop#yelena belova#bishova#kate bishop x yelena boleva#katelena#bishlova#marvel#hawkeye#black widow#white widow#kate x yelena#katelena fanfic
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âł â§ a thread of my fav Top!Kate (đśď¸đĽđ) bishova stories
Kate Bishopâs WNBA Fantasy by CelticKitten25
Your Body Doesnât Lie by Shacam (G!P)
I love the way you F..me by JediCaligula89
Language Barrier by Shacam
Stakeout by Shacam (G!P)
The beginning
Ending Number One
Do As I Say by Shacam
Von Dutch by Axinite25
love, comfort, and safety in your arms by cherryess
But itâs Better if You Do by Sk1nofthelamb
Kitten by Suicide_Wolf
And they were...Friends? by Suicide_Wolf
Such a Brat (Series) by Suicide_Wolf: (G!P)
Wants and Needs by lauready
Bottled Rage by KurosakiIchigoat
This Is Why You Don't (or Do) Fuck a Werewolf During a Full Moon by Suicide_Wolf
But itâs Better if You Do by Sk1nofthelamb
think of this as a bonus: (Switch Stories)
Absence Makes the N*pples Grow Harder by Neda5555
Adore You by Neda5555


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âł â§ a thread of my fav Top!Yelena (đśď¸đĽđ) bishova stories
again, be mindful read the tags before reading!
Matched by arrowsandbows
smittenâs a bad look on me by arrowsandbows
The Ride Up by BurdenedWithPointlessPurple
rockefeller state of mind by duri
two truths and a lie by JobethDallowsy
Pose by the balcony by JediCaligula89
with your fingers in my mouth (please donât let me fall) by pocketfulofarrows
Damn Arrowheads (Series) by Suicide_Wolf (G!P)
two truths and a lie by JobethDalloway
Oh Alpha, My Alpha (Series) by DoomTheShroom (G!P
Just Smut by Hollistein (G!P)
With the lights out, it's less dangerous by luscious_words
Drunk & In Love by Suicide_Wolf (G!P)
Yelena Doesnât Like to Share by Suicide_Wolf: (G!P)
An Omegaâs Full Moon by Suicide_Wolf (G!P)


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âł â§ a thread of bishova fics that have made me cry / sob / curl on the floor / numbed me
three words you can never say byoctbrslippedaway
With Bleeding Hearts and Lovely Daffodils by Immapunk
Wanted by JustPartners
If the World was Ending Youâd Come Over (Right?) by 7hourdrive
I'm Good At Letting It Get To Me by bugs2kill
If Love Were Enough by TheBleedingPearl
if you're bad odds, then i'm a luck pusher by polarkai
shattered
i didn't know i was lonely till i saw your face by Aiden1999
Not A Date by NeverQuiteLogistical
are you coming home by Axinite25
How to Make your Crush Jealous? by BergReaderWriter
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me by DoomTheShroom (MIND THE TAGS)
Finding a Reason by Suicide_Wolf (MIND THE TAGS)
trace


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âł â§ a thread of the very few bishova x Pitch Perfect crossover stories you can binge this weekend đ¤âĽď¸
She Tried To Kill Us by thegayjay
Who Hits You by thegayjay
Wake Up by thegayjay
The Wrong Time by thegayjay
But You Got Some Really Nice Clothes Out Of It, So by sadeggie:
This life isnât ours by LizzieBlopaz


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âł â§ my fav đśď¸đĽđ with a plot bishova stories đŤŁ
for the most part these have some sort of..plot. i have more that are a lot more plotless and wilder but I decided that could be a separate thread (if wanted only so uhh yeah let me know!)
Wicked Games by thenerdherdalert
Of Hawk and Widow: deleted but I have the pdf if you want it dm me your email
Down On My Knees by Aiden1999
Chasing Shadows by Aiden1999
Life Changing Phone Message by Daughter2Artemis
rockefeller state of mind by duri
Hawk in Headlights by Saltybaltic
With the lights out, itâs less dangerous by hcbtaenyc
The beginning
Ending Number one (part 2 to âThe beginningâ)
All I do is crave her by SaveGrisham
For real, for real? by aijin99
love, comfort, and safety in your arms by cherryess
Absence Makes the N*pples Grow Harder by Neda5555
About Damn Time by Neda5555
Oh Alpha, My Alpha by DoomTheShroom (SERIES):


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