Bad For You

7

Lane was floating on a high as she walked the several blocks from Paloma's to where she'd had to park her car. It had been a few days since her first training session with Steve and getting to toss him on his ass but that and an evening getting to hang around with her bestie had her feeling good. That and the music pumping through her headphones.

She had to admit she was a bit sore as she half danced half walked along, the sudden re-addition of training to her daily routine making her muscles ache but overall, it had been having a positive effect on her mental state. When she'd come out of the cave she'd been hiding in seven years ago and started to build a new life for herself everything outside of a somewhat normal life fell to the wayside, including her body. And her jean size could attest to that. It hadn't bothered her though, the change in her weight, hair color, swap to baggy torn up clothes and tattoos all added extra layers of protection to making her unrecognizable to those who knew her before. But moving again, feeling her body strengthen and seeing what it could do, it was nice. Even if it meant she had to spend hours on end with Steve to get his seal of approval.

She turned a corner to cut through a small alley and two steps in her good mood disappeared when a hand slid over her mouth to cover her scream.

Her attacker pulled her into the shadows but her instincts took over before they could get any farther. Her foot came down on theirs and then her elbow connected forcefully with their ribs causing them to let her go. She whirled and sent her leg into the air to deliver a roundhouse to the slimeballs head but her foot was caught just an inch from their face.

"Jesus Christ, Matty, what the actual fuck?" The familiar red mask had her fear melting away instantly and she yanked her foot from his grasp before punching him playfully in the chest. "I nearly peed myself, you ass!"

"Sorry, Marley," Matt laughed as he held his hands up in surrender. "I needed to get you alone and I wanted to see if you remembered anything I taught you after so many years away."

"I hope I passed your sick test," she said pulling him in for a tight hug. "And I would appreciate it if you didn't use that name anymore."

"I mean, I'm not sure what else to call you. From what I hear you've changed it about a dozen times." Matt stepped back but kept a hand on her arm. "Is it Sadie Dunn, Anne Green, Portia Bellaruse, oh wait what was that one I liked, Clementine Monroe?"

"Lane King." She stepped back and crossed her arms. "And I think this one is going to stick around for a while."

"King," he asked, humor dropping from his tone. "That's a bit conspicuous for you don't you think? Especially if you're hanging out a few neighborhoods from Hell's Kitchen."

"Matty, I know your super sight only picks up so much but you can definitely see the fifty plus pounds I've packed on. Between that and the fire engine red box dye and colored contacts I could walk by any of his goons in the light of day and they wouldn't take a second glance."

"And what about him?"

Lane bristled and let out a deep sigh. "He's still locked up, right? I don't need to think about it. Besides I'm not around here all that much anymore. I only popped in to see Paloma for the night. Now why did you need me alone? I know what I'd like it to be but alley ways aren't usually your kink."

He was hesitant to smile at her teasing but his fondness for her won out over his sensibilities. "Four years later and you're still a shameless flirt."

"I learned from the best," she tapped the tip of his nose lightly. "Now come on, I've got a long drive home so what's up?"

"I need you to act as go between for me and Frank."