You and Yelena used to be partners

• not officially, but close enough that you trusted her with your life.

Until one mission went sideways.

Orders were blurred, a target escaped, and Yelena thought you betrayed her.

It's been a year since then.

You're both survivors in a post-Red Room world, operating on opposite sides - until a new threat forces you together again.

The first time you see her, she's pointing a gun at you, expression unreadable except for the faintest flicker of pain.

"Funny," she says flatly, "you look good for someone who's supposed to be dead."

You smirk, though your heart's hammering.

"Missed me?" She cocks her head, eyes narrowing.

"Like I miss bullets to the face."

Still - when the ambush comes, she drags you behind cover instead of leaving you.

She curses the whole time, but you can feel her hands trembling when she bandages your arm.

Later, when you're both lying low in a half-collapsed safehouse, the silence between you grows heavy.

Yelena finally speaks, voice low. "I told myself if I ever saw you again, I'd kill you."

You turn your head toward her, meeting her stare. "What stopped you?"

She exhales slowly, eyes softening.

"Maybe... I wanted to ask why first." The room feels smaller.

The air warmer. You realize she's been holding onto that betrayal like a scar

• and you're still in love with the person she became after it.