Hellcat

Chapter 43

I woke up to a gentle shaking. A small gasp escaped me as I tensed up, blinking away the sleep. Matt hovered over me; blind eyes turned in my direction. "I'm going to do something stupid," he muttered to me, a small smirk spreading over his lips. I blinked, looking around to see it was already night – and Matt was in his suit. "Going to, or already did?" I asked, voice rough from sleep.

"I just went and got this," he explained before lifting a wooden box from the floor and placing it in my lap. "Figured you might need this if we're going out," he added with a shrug, his nimble fingers brushing over the carving on top of the box. "What does it look like?" he asked me after a moment. "Uh, it's a black jaguar," I started, stretching my arms above my head with a small groan. "And it's surrounded by flames." Matt smirked. "A Hell cat," he said, just moving his fingers over the face of the jaguar.

"My old boss had it made for me after my ninth mission," I explained, shifting the box from my lap to the couch. Matt's hand fell from the lid, resting on my leg as his eyebrows stared in confusion. "Why ninth?" he asked as I opened the box and examined the contents. My suit, my knives, and my mask. "Tradition. He'd said it was for good luck for my tenth mission, back when I still thought they were the CIA. After I found out who they were, I figured out the truth," I explained. Matt's frown made me sigh. He knew I didn't like talking about that time in my life, especially after learning everything I did was based on a lie.

"I'll change quick, since you're ready to go," I spoke up, changing the subject as I stood from the couch and instantly started stripping. Matt let out a startled chuckled before getting to his feet and turning away in search of his helmet. I think he took his time finding it since I put my mask on just as he grabbed it. "I'm following your lead, Daredevil," I teased him as he started up the stairs to the roof access. I have to admit, I was enjoying walking behind him. "Stop staring at my ass, Hell Cat," he shot back teasingly.

I didn't even try to hide that that's what I was doing, letting out a chuckle instead. "I swear you could bounce a quarter off that thing," I countered his teasing as he reached the door and held it open for me. "You keep talking like that, I'm gonna have to leave you here," he threatened even though he was smirking. "Forgive me, Saint Matthew, for I have sinned," I taunted, letting out another chuckle before stepping out into the night air. "Yeah, yeah, just try to keep up," he shot back before taking off across the rooftops.

I kept up with Matt until we reached out target. Hiding in a covered construction area near the street, we waited. I heard the suitcase wheels rolling along the sidewalk just before the figure passed in front of the small opening. Matt launched out, grabbing ADA Tower by the back of his jacket and dragging him into the darkness. Shoving Tower against a section of chain link fence made him shriek like a wimp.

"Shh! Take it easy. Breathe," Matt hissed into Tower's ear, earning a small sob. "It's better us than Frank Castle," I called out, keeping my voice low. "But he's not your only problem right now. Give me everything you have on the Blacksmith," Matt ordered. "How did you hear about him?" Tower questioned. I almost forgot we were in our suits because I wondered why he didn't remember mentioning it.

"All you need to know is that Frank Castle wants him. And he's gonna turn this city into a war zone to find him," Matt dodged the question expertly. "Okay, what do you need?" Tower asked, his voice still quivering with fear. "Whatever you have. Nationality, source point, known allies, anything," I spoke up. "We don't have it. We never had more than his code name. That's what makes him so high value, he's elusive. Look, I'm telling you, three government agencies couldn't find him. The only lead we have..." Tower stopped himself, eyes closed tight as if to hold back tears.

"Say it," I hissed at him. "Look, it's thin. Reyes was looking into the Blacksmith's competition. There's a new rival on the scene. Mov – doesn't move half the product but... but it's still more than everyone else. Look, Reyes figured if anyone has –" Tower was getting too comfortable, turning his head towards us. "Keep your eyes forward," Mass ordered him. Tower snapped his gaze forward again. "If anyone has a clue about the Blacksmith's identity, it would be his worst enemy," Tower said, stopping there. "Give us the name," I growled, reaching forward so my gloved hand was on the chain link. "We don't have one. But out intel gave us a source point."