Chapter 6: No Hero
Kate held her arrow in place as it pointed at Yelena, her life officially being in Kate's hands. Kate took several deep breaths and tried to let go of the arrow a couple of times. As if she could demean her anymore Yelena started laughing "You're can't do it can you" she said with a ghoulish smile "you scared"
'Come on Kate, end this' she thought to herself 'Ok in 3…2…1…GO' she counted down but still failed to let go of the arrow. Kate started hyperventilating, she had a job to do. She did this to Clint, she took him away from his family. She shed a few tears
"Tears, how pathetic" Yelena insulted
'WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR' Kate mentally screamed at herself. She was at the point of being completely motionless. She was literally frozen, she didn't know if it was from fear or morality.
"Kate" Sam said rushing through the doorway, still grasping his bleeding ear "I knew you'd do the right thing". Sam lifted Yelena on her feet "You're going away for a long time" what was she doing she needed to shoot Yelena now or never. She tried to aim her arrow at Yelena but couldn't even push herself to do that, she was weak, she failed.
"Meet me outside" Sam said as he slapped handcuffs on Yelena and pushed her outside.
Barnes entered the room grasping his arm "are you alright"
She wasn't alright, she was nearly strangled and had a piece of glass in her leg. But more importantly she blew it, she didn't avenge Clint and Yelena got off easy "I'm fine" she told Barnes
She exited the building and there was a helicopter protected by an armed gunman outside waiting for Wilson. He pushed Yelena in and they took off "we'll pick you two up later" he said standing besides the helicopter "alright we had a deal so I won't go after Wanda, but I can't speak for everyone else" he explained before he entered the copter and ordered the pilot to take off
Kate looked around for Wanda and John, she then realized neither of them would want to see her. Wanda will probably hate her for not killing Yelena, and she ruined John's chances of completing his mission. She couldn't stop disappointing people.
Barnes came over to her "I'll ask again, are you alright" he said in a more sympathetic tone
"I said I'm…"
"Trust me I know when someone's going through something" Barnes said sitting next to her
"I didn't 'do the right thing', I choked and then Sam came in and took Yelena away" Kate confessed "what is wrong with me, I should have let go of that arrow". Barnes lifted his finger "If you're about to say I did the right thing and that I should be proud then I'm gonna break your nose" Barnes rolled his eyes "Sorry" Kate apologized
"It's fine" Barnes insisted "but if you did let go everyone would blame you and incriminate you, sadly most people don't look at the story behind something they only look at the result".
A gunman approached Barnes "Sargent we have members of the press on the phone and I doubt they want to hear this story from me"
Barnes started to follow him "ugh be back here by tonight at around 7pm, we'll give you a ride home" he informed. Kate didn't seem less distraught "this is the best outcome we could have had, it's what Clint would have wanted" Barnes said as he walked away
Kate stood there alone. Nothing had been simple since Clint died. But maybe in the future she could find some solace in knowing that Yelena would go to prison and face justice. Right now she needs a drink.
Kate walked over to the nearest bar and ordered a whiskey. In typical Madripoor fashion no one seemed bothered by the fact that a college aged girl was walking around in a purple jumpsuit, covered in scars.
A strange guy approached her "Hey baby you just fight a gorilla or something" the douchebag said trying to hit on her. Kate would have told him off for the worst pickup line in existence but she was too tired.
"Leave her alone dipshit" a familiar voice sounded behind her, causing the douchebag to leave
Kate turned around "John" she said seeing her friend, he wasn't wearing his mask anymore but he was still in costume "I thought I wouldn't see you again"
"Why, we just saw each other like thirty minutes ago, not sure where Wanda is though" he said before sitting down next to her "so I heard Yelena was arrested"
"John I'm so sorry, I know I probably ruined your mission and you'll get into trouble and…."
"Hey hey don't worry I spoke to my supervisor and they said as long as Yelena's not loose to do anything else they're fine, and with a few payoffs they can avoid getting accused of anything if she spills" he said, he still seemed a little distraught
"Are you alright, Yelena's alive I thought that's what you were hoping for" Kate said with sympathy
"Yeah but doesn't change the fact that she's a criminal and I'll probably never see her again" he somberly said "I guess it doesn't matter anymore, she killed your friend and she knew there wasn't any coming back from that"
"Are you coming with us on Sam's ride home" Kate asked
"And spend the all week interrogated about my part in this, no I'll just get a ride from Valentina" he said ordering a beer
"You don't think…"
"No you're probably safe" he confidently said "not too long ago Sam vouched for a literal terrorist named Karli Morgenthau, and actually tried to get her criminal record exspunged. But then again he just desperately hunted down Yelena so I'm not sure what to believe"
Kate went back to frowning "what is wrong with me, I didn't save Clint from Yelena and I couldn't even bring myself to kill her for"
"Maybe you're just a really good person, maybe you didn't think it would be real justice, or maybe you just choked, in the end I don't think it matters that much" he said "do you really want to be a hero"
"Well I never expected I'd be one, it was always more of a pipe dream you know like being an amazing rock star or being president" she sighed "but now I'm not sure I'm actually worthy of being one, I can't do it right"
"I mean you're not great…" he said without thinking "but I think you're being a little too hard on yourself, ever consider you didn't shoot her because you thought it was wrong, maybe Clint wouldn't want that"
There was a moment of silence between them "do you actually want Yelena dead"
"Well she…." she stopped and thought for a second "no, it wouldn't be justice and Clint wouldn't want it"
"HEY TURN IT UP, I WANT TO HERE THIS" someone in the bar said referring to one of the tv's, the bartender turned the volume way up
"The American transport carrying international criminal Yelena Belova, guilty of killing the Avenger Clint Barton, has crashed in the lower city" the news anchor explained "the prisoner was seen being forcefully dragged out by an unidentified female"
The bartender turned around to see two customers left without paying.
Kate and John ran through the streets towards the lower city. They finally made it to the wreckage. "Bishop" Wilson's voice came from their left, Barnes was helping limb over to them "Walker, kinda dejavu isn't it" he said in a snarky fashion
"We need to find Wanda" Kate said
"It's not like I have an entire army on standby" Wilson said "if we split up we can cover more ground"
"...screw it let's split up" Kate said agreeing
They had to hunt Yelena yet again, only this time they might have to go through Wanda. Kate had to end this, and this time she had to end it the right way, Wanda needs to realize that killing Yelena won't avenge Clint and she has to help her realize it before it's too late.