Archive of Our Own

"When is your next performance?" Kate hears the question behind her as she prepares with her upgraded Barden Bella outfit in front of the mirror.

"In a month, do you think you'll be free?" A small smile appears on the raven-haired girl's face as she feels hands wrapping around her waist from behind. Unconsciously, she leans back, resting her weight against her girlfriend. The archer's smile widens a bit more when she notices in the reflection that the other girl's body is not fully visible, except for her hands and a small cluster of blonde curls on her shoulder, due to their significant height difference. It was sometimes challenging to adopt this position, even when her girlfriend stood on tiptoes.

"I hate it when you do that, Kate Bishop. If you don't bend down a bit in the next five seconds, I'll feel compelled to climb onto your back," the fake threat is marked with a distinct Russian accent.

The blue-eyed girl releases a small laugh as she bends her knees a bit so her girlfriend can rest her chin on her shoulder. "Better?" asks the Bishop heiress when she finally sees in the mirror the most beautiful shade of green she has ever seen in her life.

"Much," the green-eyed one deposits a kiss on the taller girl's neck, prompting the latter to reach her left hand towards the blonde curls, intending to bring those pink lips that drive her crazy as close as possible. "You know well that we'll both be late for our affairs if you don't untangle your wonderful fingers from my hair."

"And you know you shouldn't kiss me there if you don't want to end up back in our bed," the raven-haired girl turns, still in the other girl's grip, to face her. A mischievous smile forms on her girlfriend's lips as she is led to the bed.

The archer doesn't waste time getting on top of the blonde. "Don't do it, Kate Bishop, or..." The other girl knew she wasn't speaking seriously, as the green-eyed one took her hips to bring her closer as soon as she got on top.

"Or what, Belova?" Kate asks innocently, without waiting for an answer, she plants a short, hot kiss on the lips she loves so much. "What will you do to me?"

"You will be my death, moy malen'kiy sokol (my little hawk)," Yelena says before connecting their lips again in a gentle kiss. They are aware that they cannot escalate this or they would never leave the apartment. As if it were a sign from fate, the blonde's phone rang after two or three minutes of kissing; both reluctantly pulled away.

"Belova, I hope you're not kissing Katniss girl," Maria Hill warns from the other end of the line, causing Kate to blush a bit and hide her face in the shorter girl's neck.

"Hello to you too, Hill. I know I sometimes take my time... but according to my calculations, I still have half an hour to get there."

"Change of plans, the team will leave earlier. You have 5 minutes to say goodbye; an agent is already waiting outside your building." With that, the call ended, making it clear that there was no time for delays this time.

The archer lifts her head disheartened to look at her girlfriend. "Duty calls." No matter how many times they take separate missions, both always feel a sense of sadness when they are apart.

"It's just a week and a half; I'll try to be back sooner," Yelena gently takes the heiress Bishop's chin. Kate looks at her with love; she trusts her girlfriend completely, and she has never been disappointed in three years of their relationship.

"I know, but if something goes wrong, I want you to call me, and I'll be there in less than a day."

The spy smiles at her girlfriend's words, knowing she will. "I know. Strange told me you have him on speed dial." The blonde joins their foreheads; the blue-eyed one learned over time that this was one of Yelena's most important ways of showing love, something special she had with Natasha and now with her since her sister sacrificed herself for the universe. "It's a simple mission; I'll be back before you know it. Besides, I have to finish my design project."

"You have to finish it. I can't wait to wear that suit to the office." When Kate gets up from the bed, she quickly misses the feeling of having the green-eyed one against her. After helping her girlfriend get up, she takes the black gloves from the corner of the bed to slide them over the blonde's small hands, adjusting them to the Black Widow bracers she already has on her wrists.

The spy's heart races as the archer kisses her hands, making her want to stay here forever instead of going out to hit criminals. But both promised to protect people when they joined the new Shield and the new Avengers.

Yelena takes the yellow scarf from Kate's jacket pocket; it became a habit to tie the piece of fabric around her wrist before each performance. While initially, it was just an approach mission for the archer, she stayed in the acapella group, loved singing and dancing; it helped her a lot as a distraction from all superhero things. In the group, she wasn't Kate Bishop, the successor to Hawkeye, just another college student who sang well.

"I wish I could see you sing today, but I'm sure you'll be great," the blonde mimics the taller girl's action and leaves a small kiss on her wrist. "Answering your question from earlier, I'll try to make sure Hill doesn't assign me any mission on the day of your group's meeting."

"I believe you, and don't feel bad if something comes up; we know how this job is." The blue-eyed one places her palm on her girlfriend's cheek, caressing her slowly with her thumb. "Besides, you can make up for it the same way I did when I didn't make it to your final semester presentation last semester."

Yelena smiles at her girlfriend's words, knowing she will. "I know. Strange told me you have him on speed dial." The blonde joins their foreheads; the blue-eyed one learned over time that this was one of Yelena's most important ways of showing love, something special she had with Natasha and now with her since her sister sacrificed herself for the universe. "It's a simple mission; I'll be back before you know it. Besides, I have to finish my design project."

"You have to finish it. I can't wait to wear that suit to the office." When Kate gets up from the bed, she quickly misses the feeling of having the green-eyed one against her. After helping her girlfriend get up, she takes the black gloves from the corner of the bed to slide them over the blonde's small hands, adjusting them to the Black Widow bracers she already has on her wrists.

The spy's heart races as the archer kisses her hands, making her want to stay here forever instead of going out to hit criminals. But both promised to protect people when they joined the new Shield and the new Avengers.

Yelena takes the yellow scarf from the pocket of Kate's short yellow jacket; it became a habit to tie the piece of fabric around her girlfriend's wrist before each performance. While initially, it was just an approach mission for the archer, she stayed in the acapella group, loved singing and dancing; it helped her a lot as a distraction from all superhero things. In the group, Kate Bishop wasn't the successor to Hawkeye; she was just another college student who sang well.

"I wish I could see how you sing today, but I'm sure you'll be great," the blonde mimics the action of the taller girl and leaves a small kiss on her wrist. "Answering your question from earlier, I'll try to make sure Hill doesn't assign me any missions on the day of your group's meeting."

"I believe you, and don't feel bad if something comes up; we know how this job is." The blue-eyed one places her palm on her girlfriend's cheek and caresses her slowly with her thumb. "Besides, you can make up for it the same way I did when I didn't make it to your final semester presentation last semester." Yelena smiles at the memory of that night; Kate had an emergency mission with the new Avengers, trying to stop a guy in San Francisco who had stolen Pym technology. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make it on time for the runway of the pieces the blonde had worked on for half the semester. She felt so bad that she rented a private beach just for them, modeled lingerie, and even cooked. It was three days of relaxation, sex, and good food without anyone bothering them. The green-eyed one would have forgiven the heiress Bishop instantly if she had just kissed her, but she doesn't complain.

"Compensation or not, we'll definitely do that again."

The sound of a horn interrupts their small bubble; the agent must have grown tired of waiting. The couple leaves the room to take the elevator, saying goodbye to Lucky and Fanny on their way.

"Don't get impatient, Walker, I'm coming. Just give me a minute," the spy comments as she leaves the building hand in hand with the archer. The agent nods and returns to the polarized van. "Well, I don't need to tell you, but you're going to shine, have fun, and dedicate me a song, okay?"

"Okay," the blue-eyed one responds with a small laugh. Yelena knows that all the beautiful songs she sings are for her, even the ones she writes. "I love you," says the raven-haired one after briefly connecting their lips.

"I... love... you... more," says the green-eyed one between kisses. The shorter girl bites her lip as she gives a final look to the outfit Kate helped create. It's strange not to see her in purple, but she still looks very sexy. The black top reveals part of her abdomen, and the short yellow jacket, as well as the black jogger, give it a nice touch. It looks hot and is comfortable for dancing. "I'll leave before that outfit makes me take you back to bed." Yelena starts walking backward slowly, wanting to have the view of her little hawk for a little longer.

"I say the same with that outfit, Lena; be careful, and try not to make criminals fall in love with you," comments the heiress Bishop, biting her finger, running her gaze up and down. That tactical suit perfectly envelops her girlfriend's figure, even making her rear look a bit more prominent. She loves seeing Yelena in her Black Widow suit; it's something she will never tire of, but she likes it more when she's on the floor of their room.

"I always take care," Yelena says as she gets into the car, completely stealing the phrase from the archer. With a final wave of her hand, she said goodbye, leaving Kate alone on the sidewalk of her building, but not for long, as the Barden Bellas' bus arrived for her shortly after.

If you had told eighteen-year-old Kate Bishop that the 20-year-old Black Widow hired by her mother to kill her mentor would be the love of her life and the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with, she honestly would have laughed loudly. But now, she can't imagine a life without Yelena Belova. She wouldn't change the time they fought on that rooftop or the girls' night with macarons and threats; it led them to meet and become the new Hawkeye and Black Widow duo in honor of Clint and Natasha. But it also led to a relationship deeper than friendship and this new life they were forming when both decided to enter college, a perfect balance between the superhero life and normal life.

"Isn't your girlfriend coming this time?" the driving girl asks.

"No, she has a lot of work with her final design," the driver and the few girls who managed to hear were a bit disappointed; it happened often at each performance. The few times Yelena had attended their acapella performances or rehearsals, the group loved her immediately. She doesn't blame them; Yelena has a chameleon-like ability to adapt to any group, even when she doesn't try. Many joked that if she didn't watch out, they would go after the fashion student. "But don't worry, Tara, maybe you'll see her at the meeting." The girls quickly cheered up; whenever Yelena accompanied them, the atmosphere was great.

"All right, Bellas, let's go for our pass to the nationals!" The acapella group cheers at the words of their leader.

—————————————————————————————————————

One month later

"Hello," Chloe greets upon entering Becca and Amy's apartment, taking off her dark purple coat and placing it on the bed.

"Hi, Chloe!" the blonde exclaims, stretching the last syllable of the other girl's name.

"Why aren't you ready?" the redhead asks with a furrowed brow, seeing her two friends still in comfortable clothes.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Becca observes Chloe's Bellas outfit from head to toe.

"What?"

"Did you wear that to work?" the brunette points her finger in the direction of her best friend.

"Yes," the blue-eyed one responds while smoothing her suit slowly. "Under my lab coat."

The other girl doesn't understand, showing a concerned face. Meanwhile, Amy sits on the bed to watch the Bhloe conversation, as she likes to call it. "Sweetie, why?"

"It reminds me that I used to be special," Chloe smiles nostalgically while clasping her hands, adopting an innocent posture. "But also because tonight is... you know."

The former Bella leader looks at her blonde friend on the bed, expecting her to tell her what she's talking about, but the other girl seems to have no idea what's going on.

Chloe can't believe that her former acapella group forgot about today's event; Emily had sent them an invitation about two months ago. "The Bellas reunion... at the Brooklyn Aquarium."

The other two Bellas are surprised; they couldn't believe the date had already arrived.

"Hello?"

"Is it tonight?" the brown-eyed girl asks with strange behavior.

"Yes," the blue-eyed one replies indignantly. Becca quickly starts snapping her fingers, attracting the full attention of her two friends.

"You know what? You know what?" The brunette keeps snapping her fingers as she backs away towards her clothes. "I'm going; I need a distraction." The girl begins to frantically search her closet in desperation for her old outfit.

Amy catches the enthusiasm of the other girl, so she starts cheering her on. "Yes, of course!" The blonde moves her hands in various directions and shouts happily. "Wow!"

This leaves Chloe very puzzled by their behavior.

"What happened?" The redhead loosens the scarf around her neck while looking at the robust girl for answers.

"She got fired today," Amy whispers with a failed attempt for the brunette not to hear, as they are literally less than 70 cm away.

The blue-eyed one sits at the small dining table in surprise, feeling very sorry for her best friend. "No."

After the two Bellas were ready, they headed to the aquarium, completely excited to see the whole group again and sing like in the old times and better days in college.

The aquarium was filled with people dressed a bit elegantly; there were fish and shark balloons floating in the air. The venue's lighting highlighted the huge water views with fish, creating a beautiful and elegant atmosphere in shades of blue.

"How are you, ladies?" Yelena sees a robust woman dressed as a flight attendant shouting, who went with a group in exactly the same outfit, all totally excited to see each other. The spy recognized the woman and the group; it was the old acapella group that accepted Kate into the Bellas, or well, Emily, as they and everyone in college know her. When SHIELD found out they were going to study together in college, they asked them to go undercover for a low-profile mission. They were given new identities; Kate pretended to be Emily Junk, Catherine Junk's daughter, to prioritize entering the group and getting close to Patricia Hobart, while she was simply Paige Rushman, the exchange student. When surveillance was completed, they decided to keep their fake names so that no one would associate them with what happened at Christmas with Fisk or with their superhero jobs.

"I missed you so much, I can't wait to sing with you again," says a redhead as she separates from the group hug, which the spy assumes is Chloe.

"Hello, Bellas!" Kate shouts happily when she sees her old group, followed by her new group, making her look totally like a Mean Girl... just kinder, and the Russian loved it. The blonde hides a bit, hoping the archer won't notice her; her girlfriend thinks she's still on the operation to catch Starkovsky, but she managed to get Maria to give her the night off to surprise the raven-haired one.

"Thanks for inviting us," Becca says when she sees "Emily."

"What do you want us to sing tonight?" the blue-eyed one asks, and Yelena sees the excitement leave her girlfriend's face; she definitely forgot to tell the old Bellas that they weren't there to sing.

"Oh God!"

Kate feels bad and embarrassed; it didn't occur to her to check if she told the former Bellas the purpose of the meeting after all her duties at university, her Shield work, and her missions with the Young Avengers just didn't cross her mind. In search of help, she looks at Tara to clarify things because she doesn't have the heart to do it.

Understanding their leader's look, the African-American girl tries to explain what's happening. "Ummm... we didn't invite you to sing; we invited you to..." Tara fidgets with her hands nervously.

"See us," both current Bellas say in unison.

"To see us sing."

The other blonde, Aubrey, looks completely offended. "Excuse me?" In reality, all the former Bellas are disappointed and sad.

"I thought you were very busy with your... your jobs," the green-eyed one smiles at the lies of the heiress Bishop. "And amazing lives." Given the expressions of the women, it was obvious that what the raven-haired one said was far from their reality.

Kate didn't know what else to say in this awkward situation. "We know you have... good jobs."

The green-eyed spy laughed to herself again when the older Bellas pretended to agree with Kate. "Oh, yes."

"Yes, yes."

"We love what we do."

"Yes..." Kate comments nervously, realizing that she doesn't even believe the lies they've all said. "I'm such a fool, I'm sorry." Yelena wanted to go and hug the archer; her guilty face made her look too cute like a child in trouble with her parents. She put exactly the same face when they were getting to know each other and mentioned something about Natasha, but at that very moment, a voice announced that it was time for their show.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we have to go." The heiress Bishop walks slowly backward; her team was already on stage. "To... to... but we'll see you later. Okay, girls?" The raven-haired one bumps into a fish balloon and retreats to join her group; the Bellas weren't upset with her, maybe with themselves, but the spy doesn't blame them. Kate is too adorable to be upset with her lovely face.

"Goodbye, girls."

"Farewell twice in one day," comments Fat Amy or Patricia before hitting a passing shark balloon. The blonde spy felt bad seeing the group of women sad, but the situation was very amusing from her perspective as a spectator. When the lights went out, she gathered the courage to join the group and watch her girlfriend sing.

When the group's whistles start, a dim light appears on the stage, showing the silhouettes of all the girls, and everyone recognizes "Emily" in the center.

Suddenly, when they move their hands up, the lights come on. Kate starts singing, and for Yelena, it's the best thing that exists. She can't help but look at her girlfriend with pride and love; she looks totally in her element on stage. Apart from that, she looks sexy with that half-braided hairstyle and the new outfit of the group. It's evident that she's confident and happy.

Could dress up, to get love

But guess what?

I'm never gonna be that girl

Who's living in a Barbie world

The Bellas on stage begin to perform doll-like moves that look very coordinated and cool.

Could wake up, and make up, and play dumb

Pretending that I need a boy

Who's gonna treat me like a toy

The audience starts dancing to the song, while the former Bellas haven't moved at all.

I know the other girls wanna wear expensive things, like diamond rings

But I don't wanna be the puppet that you're playing on a string

Yelena can't take her eyes off Kate; they haven't seen each other for about 5 days. Her concentration is so much that her mind only recognizes her voice and the incredible ways she helps with the choruses when she's not the lead singer of the verse.

This queen don't need a king

Oh, I don't know what you've been told

"They look shiny and sparkly," the Hispanic girl, Flo, comments.

"They look well-fed," agrees the African-American girl.

But this girl right here's gonna rule the world

Yeah, that's where I'm gonna be because I wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty

You get off on your 9 to 5

Dream of picket fences and trophy wives

But no, I'm never gonna be 'cause I don't wanna be

The spy almost spits out her drink when she hears Fat Amy ask in general, "Don't you feel like your vagina is loosening?"

No, I don't wanna sit still look pretty

Sure I'm a pretty girl up in a pretty world

But they say pretty hurts

And I don't wanna sit still

I'm a pretty girl up in a pretty world

But no, I won't sit still, look pretty

The blonde thinks maybe she should agree with Amy. She doesn't really know what "loosening your vagina" means; Americans are so weird with their phrases. But definitely, in this part of the song, Kate sounds and moves spectacularly, certainly causing a heat in her center.

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

"Definitely, they all have boyfriends," says Chloe with a tearful voice, and Yelena knows it's a correct assumption. Becca gives her friend a confused look at the comment.

"You're so funny," the green-eyed one comments without taking her eyes off her little hawk before taking a sip of her drink. The group barely notices that the shorter girl has been listening to them the whole time.

"Excuse me?" Becca asks before analyzing the girl. All the women saw her perfect profile; she was wearing a yellow coat that matched her pants, a bunch of brooches that strangely didn't look bad, she had a necklace with a silver arrow, on her fingers she had a lot of rings that completed her jewelry, and on her wrists, she wore bracelets that didn't seem to be the style they bring, but somehow, they fit.

"Oh, nothing." The Russian turns her face to the women after her girlfriend moves to the back of the stage. "It's just that you're funnier than I imagined, somewhat strange, but I think that adds to your charm."

"Thanks... I guess, perfect specimen." The brunette mentally kicked herself; that always happened to her when she had some gay panic. When the girl looked her in the eyes, she was intimidated by her attractiveness. Chloe rolled her eyes completely jealous of this blonde who had panicked Becca. In turn, the Black Widow smiles; Kate didn't lie to her when she told her that Becca tended to make gay comments when she saw a cute girl. Without further ado, she returned her attention to the only thing that mattered to her, leaving some of the group curious.

Sit still, look pretty

Sit still, look pretty

Oh, I don't know what you've been told

But this girl right here's gonna rule the world

Some Bellas with a bad face start dancing to the song; they had to admit that it sounded and looked very good, something they never could achieve so easily. Generally, they had too many obstacles to find their rhythm and harmony at the beginning.

Yeah, that's where I'm gonna be because I wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty

You get off on your 9 to 5

Dream of picket fences and trophy wives

Those last steps were great; the green-eyed one couldn't help but applaud when she saw her movements.

But no, I'm never gonna be 'cause I don't wanna be

No, I don't wanna sit still look pretty

The song ended with a prolonged note from Kate. After a brief moment of silence, the audience erupted in applause, and the Black Widow too. The heiress Bishop approached to hug her singing companions, totally happy and excited about how well their musical number turned out.

The Bellas clapped reluctantly; apparently, the raven-haired one didn't realize that they were greeting her from the stage, very excited for them to see the result she had achieved alone, keeping the legacy of the Bellas alive. If there was a response, she didn't notice it because her eyes focused on her favorite blonde.

"Could you hold this for a moment?" Yelena hands her drink to Fat Amy, who takes it with a strange expression. The other Bellas look at her with a silent question to which the Australian shrugs without having an answer for them.

The former group sees an overly excited "Emily" running straight to their direction, undoubtedly not because of them. When they saw her a moment ago for the first time in years, the girl was happy, but not to the extent she is now.

The blue-eyed one, forgetting the rest of the Bellas, jumps straight into the arms of the blonde. Kate feels her girlfriend burying her head in her neck, automatically squeezing her more against her small but strong body. For her part, the archer buries her nose in the golden curls, breathing in deeply the delicious scent of citrus and chamomile that emanates since she convinced her to buy a shampoo that takes care of her beautiful blonde mane. Being enveloped in each other made them feel secure and at peace; after years of living together, long solo missions become more unbearable.

"The heiress Bishop steps back a bit to see the face that has been on her mind day and night for a week. The spy feels how her girlfriend's right hand prevents her arms from leaving her hips, understanding the message that she doesn't want to be separated at all.

"Vy deystvitel'no zdes'? (Are you really here?)" Kate asks in Russian. She knew that the former Bellas were a bit nosy, and she didn't want anyone to intrude on their private moment.

"YA ne khotel propuskat' vashu prezentatsiyu, ya dogovorilsya s María, no ya ne mogu dolgo ostavatsya (I didn't want to miss your presentation. I made a deal with Maria, but I can't stay long)," replies Yelena.

The taller girl places her palm against her girlfriend's cheek and smiles. "Mne vse ravno, yesli eto vsego lish' minuta, ya uzhe skuchal po tvoim ob'yatiyam, moya lyubov' (I don't care if it's just a minute. I've missed your hugs, my love)." The blue-eyed one is grateful to have learned Russian because she just uttered the cheesiest words of her life. If the other Young Avengers heard her, they would tease her for a lifetime.

"YA tozhe skuchal po tebe, moy malen'kiy sokol (I missed you too, my little hawk)," Yelena replies before the girls press their foreheads together, as they always do. The rest of the new Bellas excitedly approach their leader.

"Paige, you came!" the African-American girl exclaims, pushing the taller girl away from the green-eyed one to give her a hug. Kate chuckles a bit since Yelena still isn't accustomed to displays of affection from other people. Tara was one of the few friends in college who had earned the Black Widow's affection. The fact that Tara had kept their Avengers secret since her sophomore year when she accidentally discovered them in their suits and covered for them every time they had a mission made her trustworthy to the spy. "Are you staying for the party?"

"I wouldn't miss your performance for anything, Ta. You were great, girls," Tara puts her arm around the shorter girl's shoulders to show the new and old group. The latter becomes curious about the girl in the plaid coat.

"So, you're not staying at the party? You promised to teach us how to drink real alcohol," AJ, a new recruit totally enamored with Yelena, asks. The rookie knew she wasn't available, but she had the innocent idea that maybe if she tried hard enough, she could make her leave her leader and go with her. She was so young that it was endearing every time she tried something with the girl. Kate, on the other hand, enjoyed watching her girlfriend politely reject the newcomer and see her frustration when the message didn't reach the girl. It was so funny that the archer couldn't feel jealous.

"Maybe next time, ladies. I sneaked away from work, and I have to go back before my boss notices. Sorry," a bunch of disappointed faces appeared in the new Bellas. The heiress Bishop could swear they loved her more than her, but she knew it was inevitable not to love the spy. "But I promise to be there to celebrate when you win nationals. I'll buy the drinks." The raven-haired one rolls her eyes seeing how her girlfriend managed to appease her team in a second. A charming smile and emphasizing her sexy accent are enough to make the girls willing to do whatever the Russian wants.

The archer notices how the shorter girl's phone vibrates on her hip; that means they have a short time before she leaves. She won't let all the attention be taken by her team.

"Lyubov', ty planiruyesh' prodolzhat' obshcheniye s moyey komandoy ili my mozhem seychas poyti v boleye uyedinennoye mesto? (Love, do you plan to keep talking with my team, or can we go to a more private place now?)" Yelena smiles at her girlfriend's insinuation and nods.

"YA dumayu, kto-to tak otchayanno khochet pochuvstvovat' moi ruki v svoikh shtanakh. (I think someone is so desperate to feel my hands in their pants)." 

"Ne pritvoryaysya, chto ty ne dumal ob etom, kogda uvidel menya na stsene. (Don't pretend you didn't think about it when you saw me on stage)." The blonde knows the blue-eyed one is right; that might have been the most recurring thought in her mind when she saw her perform. Kate doesn't go unnoticed as the spy's cheeks turn a shade of red while innocently scanning her body with her gaze.

"Vozmozhno, no my poka ne mozhem uyti (Maybe, but we can't leave yet)." The green-eyed one takes out her phone and tosses it to the archer. "Hill khochet pogovorit' s toboy (Hill wants to talk to you)."

"Pozhaluysta, ne govori mne, chto u tebya yest' dlya menya missiya. (Please don't tell me she has a mission for me)." 

"Da, no ya dumayu, tebe eto ponravitsya. (Yes, but I think you'll like it)." The heiress Bishop sighs and takes the call before walking to a more private place.

"See you in a few weeks, ladies. It was nice to see you," Yelena bids farewell to the new Bellas and starts walking towards where her girlfriend went. "It was also nice to meet you in person this time. You really are as funny as Emily told me." The old group was a bit surprised when the shorter girl approached them. They thought they were doing a good job pretending not to see and hear everything that just happened, even if they didn't understand most of it. Amy, in particular, finished the drink she had ordered with guilt.

"Likewise, beauty," Becca responds awkwardly, earning a glare from Chloe. "Any friend of Emily is a friend of ours."

Yelena smiles and nods before continuing on her way. "Oh, I almost forgot." The green-eyed one stops abruptly and pulls a small bottle of vodka from her pocket. "I couldn't help but see that you liked it. This is much better than the American pee they serve here." Amy takes the vodka without hesitation; free alcohol is free alcohol. The girl leaves following the path Emily took, not without giving a wink to the former Bella leader, causing a slight blush in her and annoyance in Chloe. The redhead was beginning to generate hatred for blonde foreigners. She admits that this girl is cute, but not enough to have a bunch of girls sighing for her (including Beca and Emily ). It's surreal how an entire group went from being excited and happy to discouraged as if they were at a funeral when the blonde left. It's as if the new Bellas were her groupies.

"We just want you to keep a low profile and stay alert in case Fergus Hobart comes to town. His recent movements seem to indicate that he'll want to meet with his daughter again."

Kate listens attentively to what her boss says, looking towards the entrance of the dressing room in case someone comes in. "I understand, Hill. I'll protect Patricia Hobart as instructed four years ago, but I still have no idea how to do that without raising suspicions."

"They live in the same city and share the same social group. Visit her in her apartment with excuses of reconnection, do night surveillance—whatever it takes to gather information and protect her. I don't want to spend another 3 years behind this target, Agent Bishop." Maria's frustration with this case is palpable. It turns out they underestimated the mobster, and he disappeared from the radar in the last few years. They haven't been able to dismantle his drug trafficking network, and over time, they discovered he decided to up the ante with human trafficking. The man quickly became one of the most wanted in several countries.

Yelena enters the dressing room and leans against the doorframe, having a good view and a déjà vu from two years ago. "We'll catch him, Director. Tonight, I'll start running facial recognition programs from Bishop Security. If he plans to come to the city, he won't even get off the plane."

"I hope so. I want a mission report in a week."

"Alright, see you in a week, and thanks, by the way."

Hill's laughter resonates a bit on the line. "Just tell Belova not to take too long. You two have an hour to finish your business."

"Don't worry, if Lena does her job well, she'll be there before the hour."

The blonde rolls her eyes at the suggestive look her girlfriend gives her. "Hill didn't need to know that."

"She knows very well what your intentions are coming here." The archer starts walking towards the back of the dressing room, smiling to herself when she hears the green-eyed one following her. Still, she couldn't help but let out a small gasp of surprise when she was cornered against the lockers.

"So try not to scream unless you want someone else to find out what I came to do." Yelena takes Kate's lips in a hot, lustful kiss that stole the archer's breath. Quickly, the widow helps her girlfriend discard the sweater with golden sequins, ending up on the floor, with the blouse following the same fate to expose her toned abdomen, which had gained small scars thanks to her work.

The smaller girl directs her kisses to the neck she loves to mark as hers. "Damn, you have no idea how much I missed you." The blonde smiled over the pulse of the blue-eyed one, not wasting time, she lightly bit the spot she knew would make the powerful Avenger's legs tremble, then began to suck, eliciting small moans from the raven-haired one.

"I think I can get an idea," Kate sighed, tilting her head back to create more space. The girl feels her panties soaking when she feels her girlfriend's hand slowly moving across her abdomen, stopping at the edge of her blue shorts. "Oh, shit!" The Avenger exclaimed when the Widow's hand unexpectedly slipped into her panties, brushing lightly against her clit and folds.

Yelena rises again to kiss her girlfriend, this time in a slower and hotter manner. Kate responded to the kiss by biting her lower lip a bit hard, but not enough to make it bleed, thus releasing her favorite melody from the green-eyed one. "I see you missed me too, considering how wet you are for me," says the spy as her fingers easily slide into the archer's entrance.

"I missed you too much," the taller girl manages to say, momentarily stepping out of her torment for not being touched the way she wants. " Moya lyubov' , stop playing with me." The blue-eyed one's legs weakened when the blonde's fingers exert pressure on her clit.

"I don't know what you're talking about," says the green-eyed girl with a mischievous smile. She loved having this effect on the powerful Bishop heiress, seeing and feeling how she melted under her touch was as addictive as a drug. "You know very well what I'm talking about."

Kate feels frustration starting to grow in her, so much that unconsciously she stretches the golden curls that were within her reach, Yelena laughed in a husky tone, making it harder for the archer to contain herself. In a desperate act to have some control, she forcefully presses their lips together, swallowing the surprised moans of her girlfriend. "I want you inside me," murmured against the swollen lips of the green-eyed one.

"Sorry, I can't hear you."

The arrogant tone makes the archer explode. "Fuck it, Yelena, I want you to fuck me!" The blonde almost comes seeing the lustful desperation in her girlfriend's eyes, turning the sky-blue into a stormy hue.

"I think I can do that. After all, good girls deserve a reward," whispers the spy against her girlfriend's ear, making her accent heavier, causing the other girl to release more excitement. "Have you been a good girl?"

Kate lets out a guttural sound; when her girlfriend used those words with that tone, she quickly became submissive to her charms. "Only for you." The raven-haired one nods with desperation to feel Yelena inside her.

The spy smiles with satisfaction; having Kate Bishop at her mercy, begging for pleasure, was one of her favorite things in the world. She has no idea how she's going to survive without that for the rest of her mission outside the country. "Alright, detka , try not to scream too much."

The archer joins her lips again, suppressing her moan when she feels the first finger entering, even though, thanks to her excitement, the movements slipped easily. The blonde began with a slow rhythm, waiting for her girlfriend to get used to the sensation before adding the second. That's something the Bishop heiress loved about Yelena—no matter how desperate they were for intimacy, she always took care not to hurt her with unexpected, rough movements. She did this so that she wouldn't feel pain at any moment, always trying to make her comfortable and only experience pleasure.

When Yelena's thrusts began to intensify, so did the sounds coming from Kate. Despite being a couple of spies, sometimes they couldn't help but make noise that would give away what they were doing.

In the aquarium, the Bellas were now alone; the new group had left, and people were starting to move the party elsewhere.

"Well, this damn meeting was a damn failure," says Aubrey, somewhat sad; she just wanted to sing again with her girls.

"Let's go get drunk," suggests Cynthia; definitely, they all need a good drink to forget the embarrassment they just went through. The rest of the Bellas agree with the pilot.

"Shouldn't we wait for the heiress?" Flo asks when they are halfway to the exit.

Amy almost finishes the bottle of vodka and keeps walking, not caring if Emily is with her. This terrible night was the heiress's fault; that's why she's the stupidest person she's ever met. "She's probably still with that sexy Russian. I don't think she wants to go to the bar with us." Besides the fact that the Australian didn't want the girl with them at the bar, she was partly speaking the truth; they were totally ignored by Emily as soon as the Russian appeared in sight.

"Someone should go get her and tell her to meet us at the bar."

"I'll go!" Becca speaks quickly, like a teenage girl in love.

Chloe frowns; there's no way she's going to let her friend get close to another cute blonde foreigner who will make her doubt her sexuality. "I'll go."

The redhead walked in the direction Emily had taken without waiting for the others' response, especially from the music producer. She encountered a new Bella on the way, who told her that the raven-haired one was probably in the aquarium workers' dressing rooms, as that's where some had prepared for the performance.

"They probably don't want to hear that woman having sex," was the thought that appeared in the Bella's mind when she reached the entrance to the dressing rooms. Without a doubt, her ex-singing partner was doing something more than just changing. The singer would never have thought that the shy girl who wandered in any situation would risk doing something so intimate in an area where anyone could enter and certainly hear her curse. The blue-eyed one doesn't judge her; she herself had sex frequently in the university's public showers with her old hookup. But that "Shit, you fuck me so well!" made it clear that years had passed, and Emily was no longer a novice teenager starting out again. Four years is a long time for a person to change, but she'll never know how much Emily's personality matured because she never took the time to get to know her like her other teammates. Come to think of it... No one Bella took the time to get close to Emily , let alone stay in touch with her after graduation. Becca maybe a little, but nothing serious outside of occasional text messages.

As she would for any Bella friend, Chloe stayed near the door to prevent anyone from wanting to enter, thus saving her from a very awkward moment with whoever is inside with her. All she hoped for was that it would be over soon, and it seemed so since Emily's screams were diminishing. After there was silence, the redhead waited a considerable amount of time for the couple to start getting dressed. Still, curiosity about who Emily was with was stronger. Honestly, the singer didn't think someone like Benji would agree to this kind of activity, but... Who knows? The quiet ones always surprise, or Emily's tastes changed after the world competition, come to think of it.

After entering the dressing rooms as quietly as she could, the Bella tried to peek, hoping not to be seen or heard. Obviously, that was difficult when she saw who Emily had fucked, she doesn't understand how she never noticed the gay vibe in Emily when she met her. And, to be honest, now that she thinks about it, the girl definitely looks like a bisexual mess.

"I still don't know how I'm going to survive without this for several weeks," says Emily as she adjusts her black jeans. Chloe couldn't believe how strong both girls looked. Were they obsessed with exercise? She was so focused on her perfect six pack that she almost overlooked her scars, It was definitely weird, but at least it seemed like Emily didn't have as many as Paige.

"I'll try to come back soon, I promise." The blonde smiles slightly as she finished buttoning her shirt and kisses the small pout that was starting to appear on her girlfriend's beautiful face. "I hope it's before the nationals."

"I guess when I take the Bellas to another victory, we'll have our same celebration routine."

The Bella clearly realizes that it's a double entendre comment, judging by the way the raven-haired one raised her eyebrows mischievously.

"Is there another?" Paige pulls Emily by the belt loops of her dark pants, leaving a small trail of kisses on her neck. The shorter girl's phone starts vibrating, making her roll her eyes. "I have to go, detka ."

Emily kisses the other girl so deeply that Chloe gets the impression she's afraid she'll disappear, as if it were the last time they'll see each other. "Promise me you'll be careful." Both girls press their foreheads together.

"I always am, but it's okay. I swear I won't put myself in unnecessary danger and I'll come back to you."

"And also promise me you'll call me before you go off the grid."

"I promise."

Chloe exits the dressing room as fast as she can when she sees the green-eyed one putting on her coat. The only thing she could devise to avoid being seen was to hide among the garbage bins near the entrance. Her hiding spot smells horrible, but at least it's functional, as the other girl doesn't seem to see her when she finally decides to answer the call.

"Maria, always so impatient. I'm about to come see you." The redhead crouches lower when Paige walks slowly towards the only exit path. She tries to sharpen her hearing more; she was curious about the call. "I thought we had already established our dynamic. I disobey your orders, and I apologize with an expensive bottle of wine."

After a silence, the blonde's face forms an offended expression. "First, you know I'm too professional and don't make mistakes in my work. Second, it's too hostile of you to threaten me with that. It makes me rethink whether I should have left the engagement ring with Laura. I definitely won't invite you to the wedding if Katherine says yes."

Chloe was in shock with the new information she heard; she knew that sexy blonde couldn't be faithful. She noticed it when she flirted shamelessly with Becca. Now she can assume that she might even have something with that young Bella who insisted on staying. The thoughts of the Bella returned to poor Emily ; she looks so in love that she will surely be devastated when she finds out it's just a game for Paige. She also feels bad for this Katherine person; her girlfriend is cheating on her with who knows how many women. This only confirms to the Bella that you can't trust blonde foreigners.

—————————————————————————————————————

Kate was sitting on the uncomfortable bar stool, sipping a beer, attentively listening to Aubrey as she shared her enthusiasm for the idea of singing again with the former Bellas on the USO tour. The proposal didn't sound bad at all. For Kate, it was a welcome balm for the constant stress that besieged her, especially regarding the decisions she had to make once she graduated from college. The responsibility of leading the family business, Shield, and overseeing the Young Avengers was weighing on her shoulders. This tour could be the perfect opportunity to take a break from all of that, at least temporarily. Plus, there was the added appeal of being close to Amy without the situation becoming awkward.

Chloe, with her characteristic confidence, stepped forward to ask, "Is there a competition? There must always be a competition." The redhead had an innate inclination towards competitiveness when it came to anything related to singing, and it was hard to imagine the Bellas getting involved in something without a touch of implicit rivalry, especially if there were other bands in the equation.

"No, but let's sing together again," the blonde requested. She really needed to sing with the group again. "And my dad might be there or maybe not because he has something important to do. Or maybe I'm the most important thing in his life this time... maybe."

All the Bellas fell into an awkward silence due to Aubrey's paternal abandonment, but also thinking about the possibility of having a genuine Barden Bellas reunion.

"Who supports me?"

Aubrey's proposal stirred up the group, and the first to accept it was Chloe. Her face lit up with excitement as she exclaimed and raised her beer, "Me!" There was no need to think twice for her; she knew deep down that they all needed to sing together again more than ever. The Bellas had been a fundamental part of her life and identity, and the idea of reliving those moments was irresistibly tempting.

Becca, on the other hand, took an additional moment to weigh the proposal before responding. Her work life had been a whirlwind of stress and disillusionment lately. Perhaps a vacation abroad with her girls was just what she needed to regain control of her life and reconnect with her dreams. After a thoughtful pause, she finally nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, I have a lot of free time now, so... sure."

"I got kicked out of pilot school for killing 300 imaginary people."

"Hate imaginary people," says Amy.

"Me too!" Cynthia Rose exclaims, releasing her frustration for failing that flight test. The Fat Amy hits the bar, giving more emphasis to her comments against imaginary people. 

"Can you fly at 8 months pregnant?"

Stacie's question left the entire Barden Bellas group in a state of shock. Their faces reflected a mix of surprise, disbelief, and astonishment. Pregnancy? How the hell had they not noticed something as obvious as pregnancy in their fellow Bella? The news dropped like a bomb in the room, breaking the conversation and leaving everyone in silence, unable to fully process the information.

The first to break the overwhelming silence was Chloe, with an expression of disbelief on her face. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice slightly choked. Her surprise echoed in the group, and their minds began to spin in circles, filled with insecurities and doubts about the situation. The news that one of their Barden Bellas companions was pregnant had left them dumbfounded.

Stacie, however, seemed in her element, enjoying the impact her revelation had caused. She turned slightly, presenting her pregnant belly with a smile on her face. It was evident that she was proud of her condition, despite the surprise it had caused. Her companions, however, were all still trying to process the news.

Becca, on the other hand, remained incredulous. She still couldn't believe that Stacie was pregnant. Given Stacie's casual relationship history, it obviously seemed more likely that she would be the first person in the group to get pregnant. However, reality was in front of them, and they couldn't deny it, even though it was hard to believe that the years were passing. The former music producer, seeking confirmation, asked somewhat ironically, "Is that 8 months of pregnancy?" Although she said it jokingly, she was still surprised by the news.

"Hadn't you noticed?" Stacie responded with a slight laugh. Apparently, she was also surprised that no one had noticed her pregnancy before. The irony of the situation was not lost on anyone, and laughter began to emerge, alleviating the initial tension about Aubrey's parental issues. The Bellas closer to Stacie hugged and congratulated her with enthusiasm. After all, the news was a great one, and they were genuinely happy for her.

Chloe, unable to contain her curiosity, couldn't help but ask, "Do you know who the father is?" Her excitement to know the father's identity was palpable. She wanted to know who had managed to get Stacie into a relationship serious enough to conceive a child.

Stacie, however, downplayed that question with a casual gesture. "Nah," she responded simply. For her, the father's identity was not a primary concern. She didn't need a man to take care of her baby that was on the way. She was willing to take responsibility for herself and was confident that she could do it.

"Happy accident!" Aubrey exclaimed with a mischievous smile, and the others nodded in agreement. The news didn't surprise them at all, considering Stacie's lifestyle and her very active sex life. It was typical of Stacie to take things lightly, even when it came to becoming a mother.

The music producer thinks for a moment; they can't sing without one less voice. "Well, Stacie is out then, so, Emily..." Becca snaps her fingers as if she had found the answer to a great question. "You'll go."

The other Bellas support the proposal of their former leader; the heiress was their only viable option to replace Stacie.

"Of course, I'll go, for sure..." Kate responds with excitement before realizing what Becca's invitation implied. "Wasn't I going to go?" The girl added with a nervous laugh.

"No, no, of course, yes."

The Bellas, with a hint of hypocrisy, disguised their lack of consideration for Emily when planning the trip. Kate, however, wasn't fooled; her social skills, perfected by Yelena, allowed her to read between the lines. It was evident that she had never quite fit into the group; when she joined the Bellas, they were already a solid team. Although she couldn't blame them for leaving her as the last option, given that communication among them had faded after graduation.

The evening ended with a toast; it was time to have another great experience... and for free, but that wasn't the important part. The best of all is that they would return to doing what makes them happy, singing in harmony.

——————————————————————

The Barden Bellas finally arrived at their hotel after a sound check that had turned out to be a real disaster. During the rehearsal, the other groups had tried to make them appear inferior simply because they didn't play instruments. But the Bellas wouldn't be intimidated. They needed a well-deserved break from jet lag and a refreshing change before going back and showing everyone how talented they were as artists.

Amy, with her characteristic sense of humor, approached Emily as they walked together. "Stay with me because I know a lot of Italian," she confidently claimed. The statement took Kate by surprise, who didn't know that Amy was bilingual.

"Oh, really?" Kate showed intrigue at this unknown facet of Amy, wondering how many other hidden secrets her friend might have.

Amy, however, began listing Italian words with her fingers as they walked. "Gelato, margarita," she said, extending a finger for each word. "Ravioli."

Kate frowned, confused. "Amy, we're in Spain."

Once the Barden Bellas reached the hotel reception and left their bags with the staff, the group decided to venture out and explore the place. The hotel lobby was elegant and spacious, with a relaxed atmosphere that allowed them to feel comfortable after their exhausting journey.

Kate, with her usual curiosity, was examining a brochure detailing tourist activities available in and around the hotel. Despite having visited Europe several times due to her privileged position in a wealthy family, as well as her missions with Yelena to help widows in need, she had never had the chance to sightsee in the country itself. Now, in the middle of the tour with the Bellas, she finally had the opportunity to explore and enjoy what Spain had to offer.

"Hey... Emily," Aubrey drew the archer's attention. "Is it true what you said? You're not writing anymore?"

Aubrey's question caught the archer off guard, and for a moment, she pondered her response. The truth was that she had largely set aside her passion for writing due to the overwhelming workload she had lately at university and everything else in her life. "Well, not for now," she finally admitted, her voice reflecting the pressure she felt. "I'm taking 21 credits this semester, final exams are coming up, they're very close, and... I have two dogs now." Kate hid from her companions the additional responsibilities she had, such as training the Young Avengers, missions with Shield, and executive meetings with the temporary president of her family business as she prepared to take over after graduation. The amount of work she had was overwhelming, and sometimes she felt there weren't enough hours in the day to address everything.

"Oh, great," the blonde responded, referring to the girl's dogs. Although she didn't expect the young woman to share all her troubles, she understood that the last year of university could be extremely challenging, especially when one had the responsibility of leading a new group of Bellas and competing in the nationals. "Don't give up," she quoted her father with a smile, "my dad says, 'Age wrinkles the body, but quitting wrinkles the soul.'"

The young Avenger pondered the phrase before returning to explore the hotel brochures with Lily, that is until Chloe told them that the rooms were ready.

"Girls, we have separate rooms, we won't have to sleep on top of each other," announced the Bella, eliciting a collective sigh of relief from the group. They didn't want to sleep all together again like that time at Aubrey's retreat.

"What?" exclaimed Chicago with wide-open eyes, evidently surprised by the redhead's statement.

Kate approached the reception counter, where they were handing out the room keys. The idea of having her own space and privacy excited her especially. She needed that alone time to catch up on her mission reports and, who knows, maybe take the opportunity to have a sexy phone conversation with Yelena if she had free time.

However, Chloe intervened to clarify any misunderstandings. "Not sexually," she said quickly, aware of the look Chicago was giving her. She wanted to prevent the man from misinterpreting the group's relationship. "It only happened once," Chloe admitted before continuing to hand out the room keys.

While the idea of not sharing a room was pleasing to the entire group, eventually, all the Bellas gathered in Becca and Chloe's room for an impromptu slumber party; they needed to discuss their next moves against the other bands.

"We've never competed against other bands that play instruments," Becca explored the variety of chocolates that the hotel and the USO had left them as a welcome gift. "What's the plan?"

"I think we should stay true to our style, be ourselves, and everything will work out soon," Kate said, speaking in a double entendre about her current issues. She didn't want the dynamics of the Bellas to change; she couldn't handle another change in her life.

"Emily, take this in the best possible way." Amy couldn't stand the cheesiness with which the heiress spoke; it was so annoying that she couldn't help but insult her all the time. "You're a very stupid person."

The archer was left speechless; Amy had always been very direct in insulting her, but she was still surprised that her entire existence was enough to draw aggressive comments from the Australian, and she didn't understand why.

Chloe intervenes in the awkward silence. "You know what? Maybe it doesn't matter if we win because they'll like us so much that they'll invite us to continue touring with them." The redhead is very confident in their talent; someone has to be the positive person in the group. "It doesn't matter if I don't get into veterinary school because we'll be together as a supportive family. Isn't that what it's all about?"

"Yes!" Kate finally feels that someone understands the whole point of the trip; the words of the redhead had really touched her, and in a way, that could apply to her other personal problems. But that doesn't matter because Yelena is her family, and she will be there supporting her, as they have done since they met.

The group's positivity didn't last long, as Amy intervened with her inappropriate comments. "Yes, but families break apart, and the only person you can trust is yourself." The Australian gracefully raises her hand for Aubrey to give her a high five, but Aubrey completely ignores her.

After that, the hefty Amy went to the bathroom, leaving the girls talking about nonsense, trying to relax before their next performance.

"Who is Moya lyubov' and why is she sending you this hot photo?" Cynthia asks; she was watching a funny video on Emily's phone while talking to Becca about some forgotten songs that needed musical production. The Bella didn't want to intrude, but the message notification opened automatically, displaying the chat.

Kate blushed and snatched her friend's phone while the group made squeaky sounds like hormonal teenagers. The archer didn't know if it was possible to blush more than she already was, but she was surely as red as the lingerie Yelena was wearing in the photo she sent—a picture showing her collarbone, bra, and part of her toned torso; the scars made her look more attractive.

Soon, another message arrived:

About to go undercover, thought you might like this. I have time for a call tomorrow.

Don't let your target see more than he should; that's only mine.

Sometimes I forget, would you like to help me remember that when I return from the mission?

Can't wait 🔥

Good luck; I hope that beautiful face of yours doesn't get hit.

You know I'm very skilled, and that won't happen.

Love you; have fun on your mission.

Love you more; come back home safely.

The girl ignored the entire group while responding to her girlfriend; communication opportunities between missions were very few, so she made the most of every moment to check that Yelena was still alive. The good thing about having a company specialized in security software is that they could manufacture personal phones with completely private lines impossible to hack and detect. That's why they had so much confidence in sending spicy things in their chat when they were away from each other.

"Emily, we didn't know you were so daring," Flo comments, looking at some of the conversation over the shoulder before the girl blocks the device.

"You have to tell us all the details about that," Aubrey insists. "Who is the lucky person who got you to sext?"

"It's my girlfriend," the heiress finally admits; she just realized that she never introduced Yelena as her girlfriend that night at the aquarium. Hill's call and her eagerness to be alone with her distracted her from formally presenting her girlfriend to the group. "Her name is Paige; in fact, you met her at the aquarium."

"The blonde with the sexy accent?" Becca asks, remembering very well that sensual foreigner who made her panic gay.

Kate nods with a shy smile.

"All right, heiress, I had no idea you were a lesbian, but I must say you have great taste," the African-American girl high-fives Emily.

"I'm bisexual, actually. But thanks... I think."

Chloe doesn't feel good about keeping the secret that Paige was cheating on her fellow Bella. Emily seemed so in love; her eyes were so bright right now when she talked about her. "How did you two meet? How long have you known her?" The redhead interrogates her friend, trying to find out more information about Paige. She hoped it wouldn't be too long; maybe then the news about the infidelity would be less painful.

"Five years ago, a mutual friend introduced us," Kate lies a bit; she couldn't tell them that she and Yelena met because her mother hired the blonde to assassinate her mentor when they were 17.

"Hopefully, we'll see her soon; she seemed nice," Becca says. Chloe frowns, trying to hide the annoyance that girl caused her; if only Becca knew how much of a player she was, she wouldn't still think she's nice. The redhead needed to talk to Emily soon; she still had time to save her from Paige.

—————————————————————————————————————

Things didn't go as Kate expected after a day of relaxation; their performance had also been a disaster, humiliated by the speakers' trumpets. It didn't help her mood that Hill was bombarding her phone with messages for a new mission report. Bishop Security's satellites and recognition program had detected Fergus Hobart at the ports of Spain. Fortunately, he hadn't had contact with Amy, or Kate would have failed in her mission.

"No, Hill, there have been no sightings of Fergus near the area since yesterday. I intervened in the hotel's security, and you'll receive an alert in case facial recognition detects him."

"You're lucky Fergus hasn't tried anything against his daughter. From now on, I don't want you to lose sight of Patricia Hobart. She's what he needs to disappear again."

"I know. There won't be any more problems, I swear," the girl promises.

"I hope so, Agent Bishop. If you have a chance to catch Fergus yourself, try it. He'll have his guard down if he thinks you're just another member of his daughter's singing group."

"Understood, boss." With that, the call ended; this undercover surveillance mission was going to be more challenging than she thought.

The raven-haired girl is taking advantage of the alone time to catch up on her multiple responsibilities. Her laptop screen blinks at the number of unread emails awaiting her attention. Among messages from the family company and legal matters related to her mother's appeal trial, there was a notification that made her frown: an email from Valentina Allegra De Fontaine. Yelena usually leaves her email open on the blue-eyed girl's computer since it has a better security system.

Dear Yelena,

I am surprised that given our history, you have considered my offer, and I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for your decision to lead the Thunderbolts team. Your leadership will take effect immediately after your university graduation.

Even for me, it is undeniable that you possess exceptional skills and leadership that have proven valuable to SHIELD and all our numerous work occasions. Your commitment and dedication are admirable, and I am confident that your leadership with the Thunderbolts will be equally impressive.

While I understand that you have been busy with your responsibilities to the inexperienced little ones of the Young Avengers and other commitments, I can't help but think that your potential is too great to limit yourself to just that team. Your talent and experience are an invaluable asset to the government, and I am convinced that your influence on the Thunderbolts will be transformative.

I am looking forward to seeing the achievements you will reach with the Thunderbolts under your leadership. I have no doubt that you will exceed all expectations and lead the team to a bright and successful future; even your sister would be proud of what you are going to achieve with us.

Please feel free to reach out if you need any support or additional resources in your new role. I am here to help in any way I can, without secrets this time, just as we agreed.

Director of the CIA, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine.

Kate doesn't know what to feel. From what Bucky mentioned, the Thunderbolts' headquarters will be in Washington. Her girlfriend was thinking of changing her life plans, and she didn't plan to tell her soon.

Kate was in a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't avoid. The news that Yelena planned to change her life plans and continue her career as an agent and a widow beyond college had taken her by surprise, and not in the best way. The archer remembered clearly the promise Yelena had made that her time as an agent would end once she graduated from college, a promise that now seemed to have crumbled.

How could Yelena have hidden such an important decision from her? Was her girlfriend really willing to move to Washington and work for a woman who constantly lied to her in the past? She wondered silently, feeling hurt and frustrated by the lack of communication.

The archer was angry, and rightfully so. The situation felt like an unexpected twist in their relationship, and she struggled to understand why Yelena had chosen to keep this decision a secret. After all, they had shared so much together and had overcome numerous challenges as a couple, but this lack of transparency made her question everything.

For Kate, this was simply too much at a time when she already had enough on her plate. The recent disastrous performance with the Bellas and the almost-ruined surveillance mission had left her confidence shaky. She needed distraction and, above all, the feeling of having control over something in her life.

With determination, Kate picked her best dress and started getting ready. She knew it was time to get the Bellas moving to fix the performance fiasco. Despite her own problems and frustrations, she was determined to lead the group and ensure they could recover from this situation. Maybe by taking control of this part of her life, she could find the stability she craved amidst the uncertainty.

"Should we use instruments, or is that crazy?" Becca asked in general, from her curled-up position with Chloe on the bed.

Aubrey let out an ironic laugh, as if the question were the funniest joke in the world. "You're so funny," she said, switching from irony to a more serious attitude. "I'll pretend you didn't say that to keep our friendship," she added, leaving the brunette surprised by her companion's response.

"With a drum, we wouldn't need Lily; with a bass, I wouldn't have a place, and we don't know why Jessica and Ashley are here," Chloe commented, as if it were the most obvious thing in the universe.

Jessica looked up from her playing cards. "Did they say our names?"

"Don't be silly," Ashley replied, still looking at the cards in her hands.

"You know what? I have an idea," the blonde announced as she extended her arms, grabbing the attention of the entire Barden Bellas group. Her determination shone in her eyes as she spoke. "We should show DJ Khaled that we are different and better than all the other bands, right?"

The blonde's idea caught the attention of the others, and soon they began to discuss the previous performance and the reasons behind their performance. Cynthia was the first to respond, commenting, "I think we did well, but the trumpet confused us.”

"It's true," another one of the girls added, showing her agreement.

At that moment, the door swung open abruptly, and Emily walked in as if she owned the place, trying to look confident and determined, just as she does when entering Bishop Security. "Alright, ladies, lift those boobs because we're going out!"

Chloe furrowed her brow at the sudden interruption, asking, "Go out? Like, how?"

Emily didn't waste time explaining her plan. "Well, we made fools of ourselves in front of DJ Khaled," she said honestly.

The Fat Amy, who had been lying on the bed until then, raised her face with interest. "I'm listening," she said, showing, for the first time, her willingness to hear a proposal from the raven-haired girl.

Emily continued explaining, "He's staying at the casino hotel across the street. I say we get up, go over there, and show him that we're not a joke."

Emily's suggestion surprised all the other Bellas, and the Australian couldn't help but express her disbelief. "Emily... I can't believe a halfway decent idea came out of your dumb mouth," she admitted with surprise. It was rare to see Emily proposing something useful.

"Thanks."

Kate, on the other hand, felt relieved that the Fat Amy didn't criticize her idea this time. After some odd comments, all the Bellas got to work and dressed in their best dresses, in the most striking and attractive way possible. They knew that night was a unique opportunity to impress DJ Khaled and show him that they were the real Barden Bellas, and they were willing to do it in the best way possible.

"Alright, ladies, we need to split up," Aubrey ordered once they were in the hotel lobby. "Divide and conquer," she added, expressing the strategy they had in mind. The group nodded confidently, ready to put their plan into action.

"Let's do it," they agreed in unison.

The Barden Bellas quickly dispersed in search of DJ Khaled, each determined to do whatever it took to impress him. As they walked through the hallways and entered the hotel, they were completely absorbed in their mission, unaware of what was happening at the main entrance.

None of them saw Yelena, entering the hotel in all her splendor. She wore a beautiful tricolor sequin-strapped dress, with golden, orange, and dark blue sequins that highlighted her figure. The dress had a slit in the leg that gave it an extra touch of elegance. Her golden curls flowed like a cascade, and her presence radiated confidence and beauty.

While the Bellas worked to impress DJ Khaled, Yelena was about to arrest a general she had been following for months. They had tracked him across much of Europe, but a reliable contact had informed her and her team that Strahovsky would meet in Spain with a child and organ trafficking supplier.

"I'm heading to the VIP area. Stay alert for any movement," the blonde says through her communicator.

"Understood, Agent Belova."

The widow spotted a fellow Bella of Kate's at the location, a coincidence she couldn't ignore. To blend in, she decided to take a seat at the same table as her.

Placing several betting chips on the table, Yelena immersed herself in her role, adopting the appearance of a carefree gambler. With elegance, she accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, while her eyes analyzed every corner for any sign of the target.

"All on 23," Yelena announced, skillfully sliding her chips on the table. Next to her, the Australian was not far behind, extracting money from her bra with a defiant smile.

"I bet everything on 21."

"The minimum bet is $1000," the worker explained to the woman without trying to sound classist.

"Well... do you have seven ATMs?"

A man sits next to the Bella, escorted by two large men. "I'll cover yours." Yelena knew that man very well; he was supposed to be the one Kate had to prevent from getting close to her surveillance target. Hill definitely wouldn't be happy with that. "Hello, sweetheart."

The surprise paralyzed Amy, who didn't expect to meet her father that night. "Dad?"

"The supplier for our target is next to you; maybe Strahovsky will make contact soon." The blonde pays attention to her tactical team's instructions and nods her head. A considerable problem was looming, and she just hoped Kate would arrive in time.

In another part of the hotel, Kate and the rest of the Bellas found Chloe groping Becca's breasts behind a large plant. As strange as it looked, it was very normal to see Bhloe being extremely gay in inappropriate situations. Without wasting time, they follow the guy who works for DJ Khaled to an exclusive elevator. Kate seems to be more focused on her own affairs than on the surveillance mission.

"Patricia, do you have any idea how worried you've had me?" The widow tries to listen to the conversation while pretending to be interested in the table game to avoid arousing suspicion. "You shouldn't have run away; you should have talked to me."

"About what?" The hefty Amy asks, incredulously. "The explosives I found in the cereal, or when you hid drugs in Mr. Bouncy and I had to watch customs agents destroy it in front of me?"

"Darling, that was my profession."

The Australian squints in disbelief at the man's words. "What? Being a criminal?"

"That's a good way to describe it." The man takes his daughter's hand gently, conveying trust. "Well, I was a criminal, but now I'm different."

"How did you find me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've been hiding."

"Darling, I've known where you are for years. It's impossible for you not to stand out in a crowd."

"Yeah, why am I so brilliant at everything I do?" The woman says with guilt.

Even in the midst of the current situation, Amy's grace didn't go unnoticed by Yelena. The peculiar dynamic between the Hobarts was so unexpected that suddenly, Amy was trying to escape while her father joined the casino band to sing. The widow takes advantage of this distraction to discreetly place a tracking microdevice in Fergus's jacket.

"The target is in place. Strahovsky is heading towards the supplier and the civilian."

"I'm on my way." Yelena adjusts her widow's bracelets and heads in the direction the Hobarts took a moment ago. If all goes well, tonight they could put an end to an operation that has lasted for months and, at the same time, help her girlfriend complete her own mission. It would be perfect to then enjoy watching Kate sing with her old Bella group and spend leisure time in Europe during the rest of their vacation before returning to the last months of their final semester. Perhaps it was the right time to set her plans in motion to propose to Kate.

The blonde follows the Hobarts at a safe distance, close enough to hear their conversation without being seen. "Target confirmation: I see Strahovsky. He has two bodyguards with him and three more in the area. Bravo Team, prepare for interception in the northwest zone once the deal is made," the widow whispers as a large old man appears, greeting Fergus. Where the hell was Kate? It seemed like she would have to carry out both missions on her own. The coincidence that both targets were connected was another sign that it was the perfect time for a romantic trip across Europe.

"Understood, Agent Belova."

"Who is this beautiful lady?" Strahovsky asks, showing confusion at the new addition accompanying his contact, something that was not agreed upon.

Fergus gestures toward hefty Amy, who seems flattered by the comment. "This is my daughter, Patricia," the man says as he kisses the woman's hand. "Sweetie, why don't you head to the bar? Dad needs to discuss a business matter quickly, and don't worry, this time it's legal."

Yelena hides as Amy passes by; this time, the nearly empty area forces her to keep her distance. Fortunately, the tracker includes a microphone.

"We agreed you would come alone," Strahovsky expresses, showing his displeasure, strongly marking his accent, making him completely intimidating.

Fergus's body language betrays his fear of the man, but thanks to his lighthearted attitude, he manages to disguise it a bit. "Don't worry, my daughter is harmless. She's the key to financing this new business."

"I hope so. I don't want to remind you of what happened to the last man who ruined my businesses," Strahovsky threatens, making Fergus swallow hard. "So, when does the shipment of dolls arrive? Ten million for the initial delivery, does that sound good to you?"

Yelena feels disgusted; "dolls" is the code word for child trafficking. "Bravo Team, prepare for intervention; they're about to close the deal."

"Bravo Team in position. We await your signal."

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the place. The hotel security, along with Strahovsky and Hobart's bodyguards, intervened quickly, separating the men and taking them to a safe place. In no time, the fire alarm blared loudly, causing a stampede of people trying to escape.

"Miss, this way," a hotel guard says. "There's an incident in the lower area; you must leave with the others."

"We lost him in the crowd," the team leader reports.

"Extend a perimeter, secure ports, hangars, whatever it takes. We can't let them escape," orders the blonde, completely frustrated. This wasn't happening. What the hell ruined her months-long operation in just a few seconds?

"It'll be another day," sighs the agent. "All we can do is follow the trail before it cools off and wait for another meeting."

The spy sighs, hoping that whatever Kate is doing is unrelated to the commotion, which she is sure is probably at the epicenter of the chaos.

"Oh my God!" Kate shouts; the curtains in the place are on fire, spreading the flames even more. People start running and falling like dominoes, knocking everything in their path.

"Someone open a window!" Chloe shouts as she struggles with the swarm of angry bees.

Kate tries to help a guy trying to open glass door windows, but they won't budge. They're locked, forcing her to act with whatever she can find in the place. The archer sets her sights on a guitar that is surely too expensive.

"Everyone, back off!" warns the raven-haired, throwing the guitar through the glass doors. The chaos persists; emergency sprinklers begin to flood the place, causing more falls among the guests.

The sound of the elevator makes the blue-eyed girl more nervous. DJ Caleb is witnessing the disaster they caused; they'll never win the damn competition.

"Checkmate, Bellas," exclaims Calamity and his band, enjoying the horrible situation. "Checkmate."

—————————————————————————————————————

"That went horribly," Chloe is practically spitting fire. Becca tries to calm the fiery redhead, but only receives more shouts and questions about where she was all the time. "It seems like no one cares about winning this damn competition."

Kate, like the other Bellas, is wet and tired. The night was a disaster; not only did they embarrass themselves in front of DJ Caleb, but they were also banned for life from the casino hotel. "I need a drink." The raven-haired girl is followed by Chloe, Becca, and Aubrey to her room. The others decided to go to their respective rooms, even Amy, which is rare for her.

"I don't think it's that bad, Chloe. We've done worse things on national television; at least this time, Amy's vagina wasn't exposed to the whole country," Becca tries to see the bright side of the situation; nothing will be as bad as the national disgrace they were in their last year of university. "And Cinthya's head didn't end up in flames."

The redhead just grumbles, reluctant to reminisce about those terrible episodes of their musical careers. Chloe couldn't believe she could get angrier until she saw Paige in Emily's room. The blonde was sitting provocatively, holding a champagne glass and accompanied by a bucket with ice and various drinks. The confidence emanating from the girl was simply annoying; she seemed to believe she was the most powerful person in the room. In Chloe's eyes, it was entirely unfair that the Russian looked so sensual without any effort. Literally, the girl wasn't doing anything, and Becca seemed to be drooling over her.

"She's right, her night wasn't as bad as mine," says Yelena with a smile. While the Bellas had interfered in the culmination of a mission she had been working on for months, it was still funny what they caused in the hotel's private area. Releasing a swarm of bees was surreal, which was quite comical.

In other circumstances, the widow's presence would have been enough to reassure the archer after how badly her night went. However, after seeing that email and discovering her hidden plans, all she could feel was anger. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought that after tonight, you'd need a drink as much as I do," Yelena responds as she raises the champagne bottle. "Don't worry; I made sure there was nothing sweet and flammable in the hotel.”

"I'm not in the mood for your jokes. Why didn't you tell me you were in Spain?" The blonde notices a serious expression on Kate, far from her usual Golden Retriever personality. Definitely, the raven-haired was upset with her. "It seems like lately, you don't want to tell me what you're up to."

The green-eyed girl frowns, unable to believe that her girlfriend is genuinely accusing her of being a liar. "Firstly, I literally arrived in Spain a few hours ago. I had no idea we were in the same area. Secondly... Are you implying that I hide things from you? Because I assure you, I've never lied to you."

Tension in the room rises; the three Bellas stand awkwardly, watching as the couple is about to argue. Becca and Aubrey don't dare to make any move to avoid drawing attention, while Chloe seems a bit happy about the impending confrontation. "Please, you're cheating on her with someone named Katherine. From my point of view, that's lying."

The place fills with Yelena's laughter. If only they knew that Katherine and Emily are the same person. "Red, you have no idea how wrong that accusation is... but could you not meddle in this? This is something private."

Becca covers Chloe's mouth with her palm before she says anything else; they definitely should let the couple argue without interference.

"No, Chloe is right," says Kate, crossing her arms. The archer was about to explode. "Not about cheating, but you've been lying to me."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I do know you're angry because their little plan to impress a stupid DJ went terribly wrong, and you want to release all your frustration on me," comments the spy as she elegantly stands up and adjusts her dress. "So, I'll leave, and we can talk about this tomorrow when you've thought things through, so neither of us says something they'll regret."

That was the last straw for Kate's emotions. "Sure, Yelena, run away. It's the best thing you know how to do when things get serious."

Yelena stops a few inches from the door. "Fine, do you want to argue? Because I'm the one who should be upset with you for your little fire in the hotel." The green-eyed girl turns around determinedly.

"Valentina did worse things for you to be upset with her, but that's not an obstacle for you to join her team." The archer laughs dryly. "Do you really plan to work for the woman who lied to you about your sister's death? And you didn't think to discuss that with me before accepting."

"I guess you only read an email, but believe me, Kate, I tried many times to talk about that with you, but every time I mentioned what would happen after graduation, you changed the subject." Yelena knows that Kate is afraid of graduation coming; it just means that the years of pretending to be normal people are coming to an end. It means no more music, taking the responsibilities that come with her Bishop surname, facing her mother, and eventually, it means the blonde would return to her Widow life.

"If I recall correctly, I think we already had plans for after college, but I think you didn't, since you didn't bother consulting me that you changed the course of our lives."

Yelena laughs ironically. "No, Kate, you simply assumed I would follow you to San Francisco to join that group of super idiots."

Kate couldn't believe that her girlfriend was turning things around. "So, I forced you to join?! If you didn't like it, why have you been working with them?"

"To protect you, idiot!" The shouts made the Bellas shudder; they had never seen Emily like that, but now they were very sure they didn't know her at all; the couple was calling each other by different names, confusing them. "Do you really think that bunch of kids will watch your back? They still don't know what they got into wanting to play Avengers. All this time, all I've done is protect you from their inexperience and the tough decisions that life brings."

The blue-eyed girl can't process the words, "inexperienced kids." It seemed like she was talking to Valentina and not her girlfriend. Her anger is winning over rationality, so she only feels that Yelena is following Valentina's words and still sees her as a child, underestimating her team. "Protect me? I'm not 18 anymore; you have to get over your traumas, Yelena." Kate approaches the blonde cautiously. "You think you're taking care of me, but you're just projecting your fear and hatred for the Avengers onto me and my team. I'm not going to die like Natasha. Do you think your sister would like to see you return to the life she didn't want for you?"

Kate almost buckles to apologize when she sees Yelena's sad pout. Definitely, she touched a very sensitive point for her.

"That was a very low blow, even for you, Katherine," the blonde sighs heavily, holding back the feeling of wanting to cry. "But since we're having an impromptu therapy... Why don't you get over the fact that all this is fake? This life isn't ours; stop playing the action-loving college girl. Get over your fear of growing up and take the responsibilities you have. You keep hiding behind this facade and ignoring the real world, ignoring your mother, your legacy, and that I'm not what you want me to be. I can't be normal, and neither can you. Ordinary isn't for us."

"We could, but you don't want to, because you're afraid of not being more than a tool for dirty jobs. You just switch Dreykov for Valentina."

Yelena tries to keep her facade stronger, but deep down, her heart is broken because the woman she loves still sees her as a killer. "Yes, well, I guess we're still the same people from that roof. I'm a Widow, and you're still the same spoiled girl who throws tantrums when her plans don't go well.”

"Is that really what you think of me?" Kate snorts in disbelief.

"It's the only thing I can see now," the green-eyed girl nods, reaffirming her comment. The entire discussion has turned into a dagger war where both are deeply wounded, but their pride is more significant, so neither will give in or retract.

"Well, if you think so poorly of me, then I think we should end it." Kate's brain and mouth were quicker than the feelings in her heart. The archer wanted to take back what she said the moment it came out, but there's no turning back.

An involuntary tear ran down the spy's cheek. Once again, someone she loves chooses the Avengers over her. She knew something as good as Kate wouldn't last in her life. She supposes that, after all, her fate is the same as Natasha's: to be alone. "If that's what you want, then it's okay with me."

The Bishop heiress holds back her own tears and the urge to wipe Yelena's cheek. She didn't like being the reason she cried. Without thinking, she had broken the promise not to hurt her, but, after all, she had also broken her promise to leave her life as a Widow assassin behind... What if the decisions leading them down separate paths are a sign that their relationship has come to an end? "We have different plans; it's the most logical thing."

Yelena makes another small pout and lets out another sigh. "Okay," she says in a low tone, giving Kate déjà vu of their first conversation in her old rundown apartment. "I guess I don't need this anymore." The green-eyed girl takes a small box from her handbag. Hill had returned it to her a few days ago at their meeting in Portugal, and it's evident to everyone present that it's an engagement ring.

Kate's heart stops; the impulsiveness of her emotions just ruined a life with the person she loves most in the world.

"Give it to someone who shares your plans, Elijah perhaps? He has your same death wish." The blonde began heading towards the exit; her phone was vibrating, and her mission wasn't over yet. Surely there was already a lead on Strahovsky that they couldn't miss.

"Oh, and Kate Bishop," Yelena says from the door. Kate is still frozen, looking at the small purple velvet box in her hands; the room has an eerily quiet silence. "Remember, this is a business trip. This time, I covered for you, but I don't want your disasters ruining the operation my team and I have been working on for months, or I'll have to report you. Check the tracking system; very soon, your target will notice the microtracker."

The archer follows the widow, regardless of the fact that practically three of her fellow Bellas now know her true identity. "Yelena, come back, please!" The three singers feel bad for their desperate and shaky-voiced teammate.

"Alpha team, we're leaving in 5 minutes!" Yelena says as she puts on the green vest given to her by her second in command. It took a lot for her to ignore Kate's call, but everything was said, everything was over. If she turned to look at her one last time, she'd probably break down and wouldn't be able to leave.

An agent prevented the raven-haired from catching up with the green-eyed girl. "Let me through, Walker," Kate warns. The Bellas' skin tingles at the intimidating tone of their friend; however, the man remains unfazed.

"I'm sorry, Agent Bishop, it's orders from Agent Belova. We have to leave before the trail goes cold. You'll only distract her."

"Please, I can't let her go," the archer pleads, almost crying.

Agent Walker sighs. He couldn't break protocol. "You didn't hear it from me, but the clues lead us to France, and you definitely won't receive an encrypted message with the exact coordinates tomorrow."

Kate didn't know if it was luck or fate that the last stop of the USO is the same country where the love of her life is going. Now she was a little more at ease. "Thank you, Adam." The guy gives her a slight smile. "Take care of her, don't let her do something stupid."

Adam squeezes her shoulder with empathy. "Don't worry, Kate. Nothing will happen to your spider."

Without further ado, the guy leaves, leaving the four Barden Bellas in the hallway of the rooms. The archer no longer had the strength to deal with the questions her singing companions wanted to ask. "I'll explain later; I ask that you don't tell this to the others. They'll know the whole truth soon." Kate doesn't wait for a response; she simply returns to her room, squeezing the engagement box burning in her hand. Without a doubt, that night is the worst of her life.