Hellcat

Chapter Thirty-Six

Movement underneath me pulled me out of my dreamless sleep. Cobwebs clouding my mind, I gave a small groan as someone moved me gently. "Matt?" I mumbled out. It barely sounded like his name to my own ears, but he knew. "I'm just getting some water. Go back to sleep," he whispered, taking a few strands of hair and brushing them behind my ear. I hadn't even bothered to open my eyes; I was too tired. Humming in acknowledgement, I settled back into bed. His lips pressed feather-light against my forehead before he slipped away.

I heard the creek of my bedroom door closing; the click of the door knob latching. I sort of drifted then, half asleep and half awake. Voices floated to my ears, fading in and out like radio stations. I couldn't tell what they were saying, but I recognized them both. One was a man – Matt – the other a woman. The foreign accent didn't click at first, but when it did, I forced myself out of sleep. By the time I was alert enough to focus on listening, the voices were gone.

I heard the window by my fire escape slide shut. Waiting a few more seconds, I listened for a sigh or footsteps coming towards the bedroom. But there was nothing. "Matt?" I called out hesitantly. No answer. Springing out of bed, I tugged open the bedroom door to see his suit was no longer scattered on the floor with my pajamas.

It all clicked in my head as I spun around and fumbled for the wooden box underneath my bed. The woman's voice with the foreign accent. Elektra was here, in my home. A part of me wanted to find her and kick her ass just for that. But Matt had said they were working together to take down the Yakuza in Hell's Kitchen. He'd also said that he hadn't told me because he wanted to protect me.

I got dressed faster than I ever had before, barely securing the mask to my face before climbing out of my window and heading straight for the roof. I spotted the two figures easily. Who else would be running from rooftop to rooftop? I stayed far enough behind them that I hoped I wouldn't get caught by Matt. But with how fast they were moving, I knew they were in too much of a hurry for him to focus on anyone following them. Besides, they had no reason to think they were being followed.

Bounding after them, I stayed a few rooftops behind. Just far enough back that they wouldn't easily notice me. As I ran though, I noticed something strange about myself. While it took effort for them to jump from roof to roof, it was easy for me. Easier than it had ever been before. It was almost like I was floating from one roof to the other. And every time, I landed on my feet. Sometimes I would see Elektra or Matt have to land at a roll. But I never had to. Not anymore.

I didn't have time to think about this new development because they stopped at the edge of one roof. "I hate this," I heard Matt grumble as the two of them peered over the edge of the building. Well, Elektra peered. Matt just listened to what was happening below. "Why? You like hurting the bad guys, don't you?" Elektra asked in her seductive, yet belittling voice. "It's not that," Matt growled, turning his head slightly towards her.

I was crouched down at the edge of the building behind them. Elektra turned her gaze onto him for a moment. In the darkness, I could barely make out the confused scowl on her face before the features flattened and she grunted in annoyance. She even rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me it's about your little girlfriend. It's pretty clear you two have made up," she commented, shaking her head slightly. Her ponytail swung against her shoulders with the movement.

Matt's movement was so sudden that I almost jumped from my hiding spot. He spun on her, gloved hands gripping her upper arms tightly. "We wouldn't have had to 'make up' if it wasn't for you." The rage bubbling underneath his growl reminded me of what his grandmother used to say. Be careful of the Murdock boys; they got the Devil in them. In that moment, it wasn't hard to see that her words were true.

"Yes, and she would still be living in the shadows, not knowing that you're running around with me at night. Do you really think that's a healthy relationship, Matthew?" Elektra asked, barely phased by his tight grip and harsh tone. "You don't know anything about healthy relationships. Besides, my relationship with Allison is a part of my life, remember? You don't –" Elektra cut him off. "I don't get to meddle in your life, I understand. Is she really that important to you?" she asked, her own tone taking on hints of anger. Underneath, I thought I even heard jealousy. Matt released her arms and took a small step back. "Yes," he said without hesitation or doubt.