➶ ｡˚ ° ➶ ｡˚➶ ｡˚ ➶ ｡˚ ➶ ｡˚
(𝐑𝐔𝐍)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE---▹

"In the spirit of the holidays, I'm gonna give you a minute, to think about what you're starting right now," the voice of Fisk came through Kate's phone, all Iskra could do was try her best to show the archer that she was there for her. "I don't need a minute," Eleanor told him. "Who sent this?" Clint asked, "Yelena." Iskra was a little outdone that Yelena still hadn't returned her phone call, but chose to not express it at this moment. "Apparently my Mom hired her to kill you," Kate told Clint. And that bitch tried to kill me herself, Iskra thought to herself.

"I feel like now it's kind of a bad time," Iskra started, "But I'm gonna say this now, so you aren't angry with me later for not telling you." Clint shot Iskra a look, which she chose to ignore. "Eleanor is the person who kind of, um...stabby-stabbed me." Iskra said carefully, Kate stared at her for a beat, "She did what?" Kate asked, before waking Iskra in the shoulder, "Why didn't you tell me!?" she exclaimed, "You try figuring out the time to tell someone their mother stabbed you." Iskra said, "Fair point."

"This...this doesn't make any sense, my mom....this...this isn't who she is." Kate said shaking her head, "And now...and now she's working with the mob?" Iskra held Kate's hand trying to keep her grounded. "She killed Armand?" she whispered, "And...and tried to kill you?" It hurt Iskra to see the usually very upbeat archer in so much pain, Kate stood up quickly, "My God, I need to talk to her." she rushed out, "Kate, wait, You gotta calm down ok?" Clint said, and Iskra placed her hand on Kate's shoulder, "He's right, you've got to think about this." Kate proceeded to call Eleanor who sent her to voicemail, "Kate, just take a deep breath, ok?" Clint tried. 

"Your Mom needs our help." Clint said, and Iskra's head snapped into his direction completely outdone, "сука,она пыталась убить меня" (Bitch, she tried to Kill me.) she said to Clint rapidly, and he gave her a look, "Did you seriously, just call me a сука?" he asked, "Вот дерьмо"(Oh, shit) she whispered to herself, "Я знаю, она пыталась убить тебя, но она все еще мама Kate" (I know she tried to kill you, but she's still Kate's Mom) Clint said, "мы поговорим об этом позже." (we will talk about this later) she said with her eyes narrowed. "Mind keying me into this conversation?" Kate asked, Iskra just shook her head.

"That video Kate, it's...it's not good," Clint said turning back to the topic at hand, "The Kingpin will not take this lightly. He is going to react, and he's gonna do it in a big way." Clint said, and Iskra nodded, you did not want to be on this guy's bad side. "Clint, this is my mess to clean up-" Kate started when Iskra cut her off, "Oh hell no, you have no idea what this guy is like Kate, neither of us are going anywhere." Iskra said, "Your mess is our mess, and I'm not going anywhere until this is finished," Clint spoke in agreement and Iskra stepped forward hugging Kate, she knew the brunette needed it. Kate let a few tears slip holding onto Iskra for dear life, and Iskra just tried her best to comfort her.

----

The trio had taken the subway, before heading back to the safe house, Clint worked to gather supplies setting up a little work station, Iskra didn't know a whole lot about archery, she used to love it when she was small, but at some point she just kind of stopped, shooting arrows. The red head knew absolutely nothing about trick arrows, she would be a total beginner in making them, so she let Clint and Kate do most of the work.

So, she sat back making sure she had enough bullets, and checking other weapons, she didn't so much with her powers, knowing that it would be an absolute last resort considering the fact that she still didn't have most of her strength back from almost dying. 

Iskra's phone went off, it was Maria, she glanced at it, and decided she was already in enough trouble, and then proceeded to send it to voicemail. "So, this uh...this Holiday Party tonight, is it a fancy thing?" Clint asked, and Iskra stepped forward leaning against the table, "Yeah. Formal." Kate nodded, "So, what's uhh...the dress code for this thing?" Iskra asked, and Kate looked at her, "Fancy, very fancy." Iskra nodded, "Got it."

"You know, you don't have to do this." Clint said, looking at Kate, "It is part of the job. It's always inconvenient." he said, "That it is. Heros rarely get a happy ending," Iskra shrugged, "but that's just life in general. So, why not do something good while you're living through all the obstacles the world has throw at you." Iskra spoke, and Kate smiled softly at her.  "Well, I guess we better get ready," Clint said breaking the silence once again, and the two girls nodded in agreement.

---

Getting ready was quite the struggle for Iskra, too put it lightly. She winced in pain at every piece of fabric that simply brushed against the bandaged wound, "Put on a fancy dress, they said. It'll be fun, they said." she muttered under her breath, "I've always hated undercover missions for a reason." she added.

After sticking a few things in her bag, she did her hair and makeup, or as much as she could, she exited the room, a smile immediately forming on her face at the sight of Kate, and when Kate's eye met her's, the brunettes mouth parted a little, "You look stunning," Kate noted, and Iskra rolled her eyes playfully, "You don't look to bad yourself Bishop." and light blush spread across Kate's face, "C'mon pretty eyes, we've got a party to crash." Iskra said, "We aren't really crashing it, more so, probably ruining it." Kate said and Iskra rolled her eyes, "It sounded cooler the way I said it."  Kate laughed a little holding out her hand, which Iskra gladly accepted.

Kate, Iskra, and Clint walked along the sidewalk approaching the building where the party was being held, "You ready?" Iskra asked as they approached the door, Kate shrugged, "Ready as I'll ever be."

And so they went in, there were way too many fancy preppy people at this place, Iskra could smell the expensive perfumes, and see all the fake ass smiles, this was going to be a long night. The three of them scanned the crowd, "I don't see my Mom yet." Kate noted, "Why don't you tell me what you do see." Clint suggested, "What are our assets? Our threats?" Kate scanned the room, "Mm, threats, that guy." she nodded her head in his direction, "That's Gary. He fired me from one of the only jobs I ever had." Iskra bit back a small laugh, "Assets?" she paused, "Well, we have those all over the party." she said referring to the LARPERs.

"Wow, Jack's out of jail already. Nothing phases that guy." Kate noted, "So, Jack wielding a sword, just out of jail for aledgedly murdering someone with one." Clint said, "It fits his personality perfectly." Iskra added dryly. "Maybe, it's his way of proving that he really is innocent?" Kate suggested, "It's a weird way of proving it, but sure." Clint said, "He really is something else." Iskra said. 

"Take this, both of you." he said handing them earpieces, "Stay on the comms, Ok?" Clint added, "Yeah," Iskra said, accepting it placing it in her ear. "I'm gonna take a lap." he added walking away from them, Kate nodded, and her and Iskra parted, to cover more ground.

Yelena struted into the party in a full length green coat, and her hair pulled into a fancy braid, "Do you see her?" Clint asked, into the earpiece, "No sign of her over here." Iskra replied, "I haven't seen her yet either." Kate added. 

A few moments later, Eleanor Bishop entered the building handing her coat off, "I found her." Kate said. "Please be careful." Iskra said, "I'm on my way over to you." Of course in true Kate Bishop fashion she didn't wait for Iskra. 

"Kate, hi." Eleanor greeted, "Mom, come with me." she said guiding her away, "What are you doing?" Eleanor asked, "I'm saving your life. Your business partner wants you dead." Kate stated, "What are you talking about?" Kate scoffed at her mother's words. Kate looked down at her phone, pulling up the video Yelena had sent her. 

"How could you do this?" Kate asked, "All these years." the hurt was evident in Kate's voice. Eleanor was shaking her head, "You don't understand," she began, "When you father died, I was blindsided. He owed that monster money." she defended. "There you two are." Jack greeted and Iskra wasn't too far behind him, "Sorry too interrupt darling," he said, and Iskra walked around the woman shooting her a look and taking her place beside Kate. "But I really need to have a word with you." 

"Jack, not now." Eleanor dismissed, "Sweetheart, Kate, don't worry about it, I have everything under control." Iskra scoffed lightly. 

Meanwhile, Clint was still scanning their surroundings finding a spot by one of the windows, "All clear boss." he nodded,reaching over to  accept one of the champagne glasses, but then he saw the reflection of the red light, his eyes widened, "Get down." he urged, using the tray to halfway block the window, and a bullet  hit it, throwing it onto a table.

"You ok?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: 

HIII! WE'RE GETTING INTO THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST BOOK IN KATE AND ISKRA'S STORY! I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT I HAVE IN STORE FOR THE TWO OF THEM, BOTH IN THIS BOOK AND FUTURE BOOKS.