Title: What You Owe

Author: dare121

Status: Completed

Relationship: Katelena

Summary: Dreykov wasn't the one who was heading up the meeting. It was never him directly who the husbands-to-be dealt with, not even the very rich and powerful ones. And there had been plenty. In fact, Yelena had never seen Dreykov do much more than count his coins in the backroom.

Today, there was only one suitor that they were entertaining, and Yelena was glad that she wasn't on display.

He stood several inches taller than Yelena and his dark blue military uniform shone with many brass and golden medals. For this one, one of the older wives had handed Yelena the fine porcelain in the kitchen. He had a strong jaw, and his dark hair was cut short. Out of respect for their home, he'd taken off his hat, holding it casually in front of his stomach as he and Melina discussed the conditions of the marriage contract.

***

or, the Red Room is a mail-order-bride-service, and Major General Kane Bishop is in need of a wife.

Chapters: 23

Words: 225,556

Characters:

Kate (Kane) Bishop

Yelena Belova

Clint Barton

Laura Barton

Eleanor Bishop

Jack

Sonya

Ana

Melina Vostokoff

Alexei Shostakov

Natasha Romanoff

Maria Hill

Other minor characters

Minor Relationship(s):

Clint Barton/Laura Barton

Eleanor Bishop/Jack

Friendship(s):

Yelena Belova & Sonya

Kate (Kane) Bishop & Bartons

Kate (Kane) Bishop & Eleanor Bishop

(+ more)

Warning(s): Violence, Eventual Smut

My Rating: 10/10

Fav Quote(s):

"After everything he's done for me, he deserves someone who supports him. And more than anything, he deserves some rest."

"Is there anything that woman cannot do?"

"For being the strangest man that I have ever met,"

"I have never been more unhappy to have arrived somewhere,"

"Don't tell my mother I said that."

"The love I have for you... is big enough to wrap around the entire world."

My Comments/Thoughts: I'm sure everyone knows this story and like me, have been waiting every Wednesday for a new update until finally it was completed. WELL THE DAY HAS COME and I will be leaving my endless stream of thoughts as I reread this one now that it is finished.

as I reread this story, I couldn't help but notice the depth of this storyline and how it is constructed in such a clean way. The pace to build up this storyline (a difficult one nonetheless) the internal turmoil of the characters, the visual imagery the author's words provide, etc.

i find myself in awe with every single one of their stories because they're all so different yet executed so well.

i have been following this story since the first chapter came out and it's been a loooonggg 3-4 months(?) although it was painful to have to wait, it was nice to be able to look forward to something every week. because of it, i feel like so many bishova readers found themselves inevitably interacting because of it. the need to talk to someone about the story and share our thoughts on the story while waiting for a new update. such a beautiful book the bishova fandom has been blessed with.

the dialogue fits the setting and the characters perfectly. it sends me shivers how good this story is, like actually. this deserves to be made into a film

laura barton. the character, the woman you are in this one.

fanny and lucky's entrance to the story?!!!? that entire chapter dedicated to rescuing them <33

the slowburn in this one is so..satisfying. i don't know how to explain it, it's just done so wonderfully well.

Website: AO3

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46783699/chapters/117834412