Hellcat

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Frank Castle, the gunman wanted in connection with the Metro-General shooting and linked to dozens of recent gangland-related killings throughout Hell's Kitchen was apprehended just hours ago outside Saint Michael's Cemetery," the news anchor said. The four of us were at Josie's, having a beer. I couldn't stop myself from watching the screen, listening to the report. "An NYPD spokesman says, "tonight, New York has Sergeant Brett Mahoney of the 15th Precinct to thank"," the reporter continued.

"Gotta hand it to Brett," Foggy said. But he and I knew the truth. Matt had given Brett the credit for the arrest. "I'm glad people like him are looking out for Hell's Kitchen," Matt commented. "Yeah. And I'm glad someone was looking out for him," Foggy added, sharing a knowing glance with Matt. "Press are calling Castle "a cold-blooded psychopath". DA's gonna have a hell of a time using his prosecution to turn herself into a hero. It's all working out perfectly," Karen grumbled, taking a sip of her beer. I didn't say anything. Frank Castle wasn't a cold-blooded psychopath. He was shot in the head and his family was nowhere to be found. If I had to guess, they were dead.

"Wow, way to bring us down," Matt commented. "I'm..." Karen trailed off with a groan. "Hey, Josie, would you mind turning the TV off? It's upsetting some of the regulars," Matt called out to the owner with a small chuckle. She did as he asked and I sighed. "I think we've had enough Punisher for one evening," Matt suggested. "I'll drink to that," I sighed, holding up my beer. Matt raised his bottle, too. "To Brett and... a safe Hell's Kitchen," he toasted. "Hear, hear," Foggy agreed as the four of us clinked bottles together before taking a drink.

"I'm gonna get us another round. I hope you three saved room for shots," Foggy said before getting up from the table. "Oh, no," Karen chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, shots," Matt said almost as if it was a curse. "I should help him. No way he carries four shots without spilling," Karen said before getting up from the table, leaving me and Matt.

I sighed, taking another sip of my beer. "Hey, you okay?" Matt asked me, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah," I replied. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Allison, you know that I know when you're lying," he reminded me teasingly. I sighed, but couldn't stop smiling. "I don't know. Just... days like today – they remind me how precious life can be, you know?" I told him with a shrug. Matt reached forward then, resting his hand on my arm. His thumb brushed over the skin, feather-light. It sent a little jolt through me and my heart skipped a beat.

"Tell me something I don't know," he said suddenly. I let out a small, shocked chuckle. "You know everything about me," I reminded him, shaking my head. His smile grew. "That can't possibly be true," he said. Sighing, I took a moment to think. Then something popped into my head. Leaning slightly towards him, I whispered an answer. "I have a knife strapped to my thigh." Matt raised his eyebrows at me in shock, letting out a chuckle. "Really? And what's that for?" he questioned me, teasingly. I shrugged.

"A girl never knows when she'll need to defend herself," I told him. His smile grew as he shook his head. "You don't need that, and we both know it," he said. I nodded once more. "Yeah, but call it a security blanket," I offered. He just laughed again. "I don't know how a knife can be a security blanket," he teased me. I smirked. "In case you've forgotten, I'm kind of violent at times," I reminded him. His smile was so bright in that moment that it lit up the dingy bar. "At times," he repeated before he was interrupted by Foggy and Karen returning with shots.

About an hour later, we were leaving the bar. Rain poured heavily outside as Karen and I paid off the tab. Matt and Foggy were already outside. "Godspeed, Matt Murdock," Foggy said as we pushed through the door. "Hey, where next?" Karen asked, hoping to keep the party going. "Home. I'm gonna sleep for a week. Someone had the awful idea of doing shots," Foggy said, a folded newspaper in his hand. "Yeah, someone," I said, giving him a pointed, playful glare. "I think I've had enough excitement for one evening," Foggy said before unfolding the newspaper partially.

"See you three in the morning," he added before heading off into the rain. We shouted out good-byes after him. Karen sighed, shaking her head. "Guess I should head home too. Maybe take some aspirin," she said with a shrug. Then she reached forward and hugged me. I hugged her back as she whispered "good luck" into my ear. Then she pulled back, said good-bye to Matt, and ran into the rain, flagging down a taxi.

"What was that?" Matt asked me when we were alone under the awning. "The "good luck" from Karen," he clarified when I didn't respond for a few seconds. "Isn't eavesdropping a sin or something?" I asked him, chuckling softly. He smiled and shook his head. "No, it's not," he explained. I shrugged in response. "It's nothing," I said before I glanced out at the rain pouring down around us.

I stepped forward, reaching my hand out into the quickly falling drops of water. "You mind the rain?" I asked him, still watching the water fall. "No," he replied softly. Feeling something strange and powerful grip my stomach – alcohol, probably – I turned and reached back, slipping my hand into his. "Then I'll walk you home," I offered. He didn't protest as I stepped out into the rain. He came with me, moving down the wet sidewalk by ourselves, hand in hand.

It was a few blocks to Matt's place from the bar. By the time we reached the building, we were both soaking wet. I thought I should be cold, but Matt hadn't let go of my hand, and it kept my whole body warm. I started for the door, but Matt stopped walking, his hand giving mine a small squeeze. Confusion filled me, making me turn back to face him. I don't know why, but I started laughing at us just standing in the rain. Matt chuckled along with me.

Then his head turned up towards the rain. It was almost like he was watching something. The rain fell down my body, beads collecting on my skin. Matt's hand released mine slowly, one finger sliding up my arm. The water collected there ran down my skin in a little river. His finger trailed up slowly, finally reaching my shoulder. I felt my body shudder at the small touch. And then his hand was higher, caressing my cheek. My eyes fluttered shut at the soft touch and I pressed my cheek into his touch.

I forced my eyes open when I felt him take a step closer. My heart thumped in my chest so loud that I was sure he heard it because I could hear it. Every part of me felt hot, even in the freezing rain as Matt leaned in. His lips brushed against mine, so light and sweet. Then they pressed to mine just a little harder, and I kissed him back. Then he pulled back, but his hand didn't move. His body didn't move – he was still so close.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have –" he started to say, but I cut him off. I knew he was thinking about what I had said months ago – that I couldn't be with him. That there was no way for us to be together. But there was now, because as terrified as I was to get my heart broken, it yearned for him. It wanted him more than anything else in my life. It was like he was water and I was dying of thirst. It was like he was oxygen and I was suffocating.

"No. You should have," I heard myself whisper to him. His eyebrows crinkled slightly behind his glasses, but I didn't give him time to ask questions. Reaching up, I gripped his collar loosely before meeting his lips with my own. It didn't take him even a fraction of a second to react. He kissed, slowly, deeply, passionately. He kissed me like I was his water, or his oxygen. He needed me and he wanted to cherish it.

When we broke the kiss, foreheads pressed together, my eyes didn't want to open. I was frozen in that moment, with Matt kissing me in the rain. "Can I take you to dinner?" he asked me, an urgent undertone to his words. "Yes," I replied without hesitation. "Tomorrow?" he asked, earning a small giggle from me. "Yes," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

He pulled his forehead away from mine and my eyes finally fluttered open. My skin felt hot and my stomach was full of butterflies. I saw his small smile. "Good night, Allison," he whispered to me. A smile of my own tugged at my lips. "Good night, Matt," I whispered back. My hands dropped from his collar, eyes flickering to his pink lips once more.

Then, forcing some self-control, I stepped back from him and started down the sidewalk. I froze a few yards away, glancing back to see him still standing in that same spot. I couldn't help the grin that passed over my lips. Shaking my head, I glanced around just in time to see a taxi headed my way. I waved my arm and he came to a stop in front of me. Climbing in, I gave him my address before we took off. I peered out of the back window, watching as Matt moved into his building, a little pep in his step. I bit my lip, smiling at the fact that I was the one to give him that little pep. Dinner. Tomorrow. A real date with Matt. God, how did this happen? Please don't let me screw it up.