Chapter 27 ━━ That Was Fun, Bro

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Dressed to the nines and flanked by an abundance of Christmas decorations, Clint and Kate scope out the Bishop Security Holiday party. They’ve also got additional assets with them, as in the LARP-ers strategically placed around the venue as Grills, Missy, Wendy, and Orville step in to help. 

"Feel free to smile wide at the cameras. You're on everyone's list, old chap." Heather comments, taking a sip of his champagne glass.

"Is anyone else scared?" Kate asks, into her ear earpiece. 

"Not really, I already lived longer than I expected. But I prefer to die with dignity." Heather replies, his eyes briefly meeting with hers, long enough to throw his annoying smirk. 

Kate rolls her eyes and resumes back to scanning through the crowd. "I don’t see my mom yet."

"Why don’t you tell me what you do see?" Clint asks, from his spot. "What are our assets, what are our threats?" 

"Mmm. Threats? That guy." Kate nods her head towards a guy in his late thirties. "That’s Gary. He fired me from one of the only jobs I ever had." 

"Assets?" 

"Well, we have those all over the party." 

"You had me at cherry pirozhki." Heather mumbles. 

"I never said cherry pirozhki." Kate replies, with utter confusion. 

"Well, I was thinking about it." Heather shrugs, walking to the food section to grab some appetisers for himself. 

"Wow. Jack’s out of jail already. Nothing phases that guy." Kate notes, now glancing at her mother's ex fiancé. 

"So Jack wielding a sword, just out of jail for allegedly murdering somebody with one." Clint says. 

"Maybe it’s his way of proving that he really is innocent?" Heather suggests, shoving food into his mouth as if he hasn't eaten for years. 

"It’s a weird flex, but sure." Clint confirms. 

Just then, Yelena enters the party with a full length green jacket and her hair pulled into a fancy braid. 

"Fucking hell. Is it me or is the room getting hot?" Heather's breath hitches at the sight of the former Widow and the food is long forgotten. He adjusts his bow and gulps down the remaining content of his champagne glass, not daring to take his eyes off the blonde. 

"What?" A confused Clint asks from the other corner of the room. 

"Sorry, got distracted." Heather coughs nervously. "I have eyes on Yelena." 

"Sure you do." Kate’s suggestive voice echoes from the earpiece. 

"Do you see Eleanor?" Heather asks, watching Yelena's every move from his spot. She looks extremely beautiful and green suits her. Of course, every freaking colour in the world suits her. 

"I found her." Kate says and in the exact moment, gunshots shatter the glass windows and Heather manages to duck and dodge the bullet, but the damage is done. The Bishop Security Holiday Party descends into chaos. 

"Away from the window, away from the window!" Clint instructs the crowd in the party, who are running around and screaming. 

"What the hell was that?" Kate asks from the earpiece, who is with her mother, away from the gunshots. 

"Shots fired. We’re workin’ on gettin’ these people outta here." Clint replies. 

"Oh, God. Clint, who’s shooting?" Heather asks, taking cover to avoid the nonstop gunshots. 

"I have no idea." Clint responds. 

Heather turns to catch the glimpse of the blonde to find her missing from her former spot. "Shit. I lost Yelena." 

"I’m gonna head downstairs, draw the fire away." Clint announces. 

"Copy that. We’re going position two, guys." 

"Wendy and Missy. Kill the lights." 

"Barney, I want you on the ground. It's Kazi. Track down the Tracksuit Mafia." Clint demands the supersoldier. 

"Copy that, boss." Heather states, swiftly moving to the hiding place with the duffle bag of his weapons. Taking off his tuxedo to reveal a black uniform underneath, which is obviously designed by Kate Bishop. Loading his guns and grabbing his sword. "This is some Christmas." 

Taking the elevator, he patiently waits for it to hit the ground floor. When the elevator chimes he walks out of the building to meet up Grills, Missy, Wendy, and Orville dressed in their LARPing armours guiding the panicked civilians away from the fight. 

"We’re all gonna die." Heather chuckles, shaking his head when he hears Kate’s alarmed voice. 

"Clint!" 

"Was that you?" Clint asks. 

"It’s Yelena. Watch out!" 

Heather looks up to notice the figure sliding down the levels of the building, Yelena takes aim at Clint but misses. 

When she lands on the ground, Heather tackles her into the ground where he lands on top of her, his hands and knees to astride and cage her within. 

He leans in and whispers to her ear. "Déjà vu, huh?"

"Mmm-hmm." Yelena confesses with a smile and flips them over, getting on her feet. "This is going to be fun." 

A Cheshire cat grin spreads over Heather's face as he imitates her. He cracks his neck. Ready for a fight. "Take it easy." 

"This is easy." Yelena says before the two start trading punches back and forth. While Yelena can hold her own against Heather, she's no match for the former Destroyer. 

Yelena is clearly in over her head against Heather, who manages to deflect every punch and blow she sends his way. It is obvious he is holding back his strong punches. 

"Why aren't you fighting back?" She pulls out two metallic batons locking in the ends and combining to form one longer staff. 

"You tell me." Heather draws out his retractable sword and offers a sword salute with mock seriousness. 

Yelena returns it, sloppily, grinning. They circle in high guard. Her eyes are calculating his moves and there's that unusual expression glued to her face. It's very familiar to him. 

"Trying to read me, Lena?" Heather speaks first, cutting lazily at her. Yelena parris sharply, frowns, and thrusts at him, pulling off-line at the last moment to slap his cheek with the staff. 

Startled, Heather steps back, sword holding out to keep her at bay. She slaps his blade aside and thrusts. Heather parris and tries to counter-thrust, only for the two of them to meet face to face, arms and weapons high, each surprised. 

Heather reacts first, using hands and sword grip to pry Yelena's staff from her hands. She lets it go and grabs him about the shoulders and drives her knee up. Heather twists just in time, taking the blow to his thigh. It is surprisingly gentle. 

He grabs her hands, and with main strength, spins her and pins her against his chest. She struggles in vain, but cannot best the supersoldier in a grapple. 

Smirking at the obvious ploy, Heather bends his head forward and seductively bites her earlobe. "You're fucking annoying, Lena. Be grateful that I love you." 

He lets her hands slip loose, and she turns herself around to face him, his arms still about her. 

"You remember." Yelena asks, realisation flushed to her face. 

"Maybe I do." He bends down to her level, trying to kiss her. "Or maybe I don't." 

"That is not fair. Play by the rules." Yelena says with a smile forming on her face.

"I thought you didn't believe in rules." Heather mumbles, connecting their lips to form a distraction.

Somehow the former Widow sees through his plan and jabs a punch into his stomach. But Heather is faster than her and knocks out her in cold whilst she collapses into his arms.

“You were right, babe. That was fun.” Heather tells, holsters his sword back and scoops her unconscious body in his arms in a bridal style and walks towards the car park. With a little struggle, he unlocks the door of Clint's car and carefully lays her on the backseat. He turns on the heater before pulling out a hoodie from his bag and using it as a blanket to warm her body from the freezing temperature outside. 

"Now stay there." Heather presses his lips on her forehead. "I'll be back for you." 

"Yelena is down." Heather informs Clint using his earpiece, locking the car and strolling back to the fight.