Light filtered through the curtains as Jessica opened her eyes to an unfamiliar room, and her chest was filled with panic. Last night was a blur — the alcohol plus the head injury she knew had happened combined to a horrible headache and a fractured memory.
"Jessica, how are you doing?" Seriously? This asshole? If Jessica'd had a choice, she would've decided immediately against letting him take her home to take care of her. But at least he seemed concerned.
"Not entirely sure what happened. What happened?" she asked, brushing her hair off her. "Oh my God. We didn't have sex, did we?" That would be the logical assumption following having gone home with him, but she didn't feel like she'd had sex.
"No, but I'm flattered that you think you would've consented to having sex with me." Kilgrave answered.
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Please cut the flirting and just tell me what happened and how I ended up here."
"Well, you tested out whether you had an ability to fly or not. It turned you didn't, but you could jump very high. And eventually you got tired and crashed, and I brought you home. It's not really that amazing." He shrugged.
"Not really that amazing?!" Jessica demanded, standing up fast and making her head spin. "Kilgrave, I have superpowers!" It was all coming back to her now — the bar…getting mad and pushing Kilgrave out of the bar. Literally.
"And now you're remembering how you came to discover your super-strength, aren't you?" Kilgrave asked, wincing.
"Yes, and you're an asshole." Jessica sighed.
"I presumed you'd say that, but how else was I supposed to help you discover your powers? You needed a push to be able to stop holding back your strength and realize how strong you really were." He shrugged.
"But you didn't have to involve Trish." Jessica hissed.
"But that would be the most effective way of making you realize your powers, using your girl — oh, wait, she's not your girlfriend, is she?" He smiled.
In a second, Jessica was off the floor, paying no mind to her injuries, and pinning Kilgrave against the wall. "How dare you. The relationship between me and Trish is none of your business, and certainly not yours to meddle with."
A look washed over Kilgrave's face — perhaps one regretting ever teaching Jessica about her super strength. "Alright, alright! I'm sorry. I did make her forget what happened, so there won't be any awkwardness between you two. Or at least, no more than there already is."
"How did you make her forget it?" Jessica asked with a raised eyebrow, backing off a little
Kilgrave took a deep breath and continued. "I told you. People typically do what I tell them to do. That's my superpower. But I'm not exactly sure how to control it, either. Or should I say — I don't know how to use it for good, and I want to. Good like helping you discover your superpowers."
"What, so you're looking for someone to teach you to be a moral person?" Jessica scoffed. "I think you're looking at the wrong person, Kilgrave."
"I just thought it would be a good idea. I could help you learn to control your physical superpowers, and you could help me use my powers for good…starting with helping me find my parents in hope that they could help me with the superpowers they left me with," He shrugged.
"Why me?" Jessica asked, still skeptical.
"Well…because you're a P.I. A superpowered one," Kilgrave explained, and in response to Jessica's glare sighed and added "…okay. And because you're the only person I've ever met who I can't order around, and I need to know that whoever's helping me is doing it voluntarily. Since I'm doing the whole trying to be a hero thing."
Jessica looked at him skeptically. She could use someone to help prevent further head injuries. "What the hell. It's a deal."
