Relatively faster update but the last chapter didn't get much reviews. Not surprising since it was mostly filler. Next chapter will be Gwen and Lana focused for the sake of balance and to get the plot moving again.
This is a Mary Jane chapter. I considered adding a Gwen segment to the end but I wanted to keep the tone consistent. Having Gwen ask for advice on how to play femme fatale would've jarred heavily considering what happened. Hopefully this chapter gets a bit more feedback considering I'm trying to tackle the Matt/MJ thing.
Side note - Peter has a slight lead on Matt in the voting so far. Also, I highly suggest reading the fic 'Spider-Gwen: On with it'. It updates very fast and is very well written :)
Hopeful_Pessimist: So my friend wants to join the Avengers. How would she go about doing that?
Reply from Dig-bick: Um...are you serious? That's like asking how you sign up to be part of Seal Team Six.
Reply from AviationQUEEN: Yeah, 'his friend'. Speech 100. Stealth 100.
Reply from Hopeful_Pessimist: She's very serious. Hey, the Avengers have to accept members, right? Can't just be six of em forever.
Reply from Dig-bick: And what makes her think she has what it takes? I mean does she have powers or...?
Reply from Hopeful_Pessimist: No powers, but she's got a 3rd degree black belt in judo. I mean Hawkeye's got no powers besides a bow and arrow and she's one of the core members.
Reply form Hidinginahole: If your friends wants to sign up for the Avengers maybe she should try going for the Initiative first? Here's a link to the sign up procedures. I heard that really good recruits will get drafted as different Avengers branch members.
Reply from Hopeful_Pessimist: She doesn't want to join the Initaiative and be a glorified beat cop. She wants to help with the big leagues.
Reply from Dig-bick: 'I don't wanna join the police, I wanna be SWAT!' is essentially what your friend's saying. Doesn't work that way dude.
Reply from Hopeful_Pessimist: And yet Kate Bishop gets in with no problems? Gotta love those 1 percenter perks. SMDH.
Reply from Hidinginahole: Dude, you do know she's estranged from her family, right? She was working as a PI over in Hell's Kitchen when she joined. Also, I wouldn't call helping save the city from the Carnage Killer 'no problem'. Not unless your friend was out there judo flipping those monsters.
Reply from Hidinginahole: Lol he blocked me.
Reply from Noobmaster69: Off topic but I'm confused on the requirements to sign up. I mean some of these guys have powers, but others don't. One of the Initiative members in Houston is Shooting Star and her skills are she can shoot and lasso real good and ride a horse. Couldn't any good enough police officer sign up?
Reply from Dig-bick: I dunno either. Honestly I just figure it's how good your costume looks in posters.
Daniel Brito - better known to his associates as Fancy Dan - had been at the business for years. He started off like a lot of em: poor kid on the street who decided if he was gonna be a taker or a victim. Dear old mom and dad, bless their poor souls, thought a high horse was better than keeping their kids fed so eventually, like anyone else would have, he decided he'd had enough.
Joining a gang was easy. There were dozens of em around in Hell's Kitchen, which everyone now attributed to some kind of demon pullin' the strings. He didn't buy it. People didn't need an excuse to take and do what they do best, demon or no demon. Look at him. He didn't need no devil pulling his strings to do his job as a legitimate, off the books businessman.
After joinin' up moving through the ranks was child's play. It was a balancing act - be loyal enough that the bosses trusted you but not too much that they thought you were just a yes man. There were some morons who thought bein' a lapdog was the fast track to success. He wasn't one of em. He knew when to make friends and when to stab someone in the back. He didn't feel bad about it; it was an occupational hazard in this line of work. If someone stabbed him in the back and he died it would've been his fault for not seein' it comin'.
Those years of experience served him well. He'd done it all - protection rackets, loan sharking, body disposal, birthday parties and even the occasional hit for those complicated individuals. Sure he didn't have any of em fancy powers like that albino freak Tombstone but he did his job and he did it well. 'Sides, no powers meant them fancy Superheroes didn't think he was goin' after. He was just fine being a big fish in a little pond.
Speakin' of work.
"Now, now, now, Philly. What are we gonna do with ya?" Dan sighed and tapped the end of the bloodied baseball bat against his gloved hands. It took em a few days to find the slippery old bastard after Merry Mary decided she didn't wanna pay his bills anymore. Dan didn't blame her. Even he was surprised he had the balls to ask for 10 grand after his daughter bailed him out. Personally he didn't want to give him anything - seemed like a bad investment - but bossman said he wanted it and what the boss said goes.
"P-Please, just...just give a chance to pay it back," Ol' Philly Cheese Steak sputtered. He was a mess, face all fucked up with blood and bruises from his bat kissing his face over and over and over. Boss said to work him over for a bit and see if he spilled anything. Just the face, though. If he couldn't pay anything, which was seeming more and more likely, then they could probably sell some of his organs. Drug addicted and drunk on top, but it wasn't like people in the Kitchen were picky. A liver was a liver.
Dan smacked him in the face again. Philly probably would've fallen over if Montana and Ox didn't keep him on his knees, "This is the same old song you been singing, Philly. You actually got any money for us that don't come at the end of a rainbow?" He nudged the end of the bat to his knees, "Or are we gonna move into your two pals here? I gotta tell ya, the crunch is never pleasant."
"W-Wait, I-"
"You look like you're having fun."
Dan looked back and smirked when he saw Merry Mary not too far off, arms crossed over her (pretty big, if he was bein' honest') chest, "Well now, fancy seein' you here, darlin'." He knew he'd see her again. She was one of them good ones and it made her predictable. Even if her daddy was worth less than tits on a scarecrow she wouldn't abandon him. Just didn't work like that for them good girls.
Merry Mary didn't even look at her blubberin' dad, "Take me to your boss. I'm here to make a deal." Dan raised a brow. A meeting with the boss? Well now she was a brave little thing, wasn't she? Dan whistled while Montana and Ox stared at her. He didn't blame em; she was definitely a looker. The red tanktop, black shorts and sneakers didn't leave much to the imagination, if you caught his drift. Hard to believe she was Philly's kid.
"Oh really now?" Dan asked slowly, "And what makes you think the boss'll meet with ya?"
"Cause I've got money." She raised a wad of bills and tossed it to him. Dan counted it quickly and whistled again. There was at least 20 grand in there, "Figured this guy would have some interest considering how much hassle he was.
"Now where'd someone like you get this much money?"
"Let's just say I made a new friend." Heh, most times he heard that from a dame it was after they got a new sugar daddy. Well, didn't surprise him. She was probably sleepin' with that old pervert Kingsley, "So, do we have a deal?"
"Thing is, darlin', I make the deals around here. Bossman don't like to be fussed with the little stuff, you get me?" He grabbed her chin with one hand and raised her head so they could see eye to eye. She just looked up at him without flinching, "Now I admit your savin' your daddy is admirable, but that doesn't get you an invite to the top. We don't hand those out willy nilly."
"I didn't come here to save him. Kill him if you want, doesn't matter to me." Wow, he almost bought that. Them models were good actresses, "You see that money? That's chump change to what I'm offering. My friend knows that you dabbl in some stuff that you wouldn't exactly want on the records and he's interested. The money was just to show we're good for it, not for him." She practically spat at Philly after that.
"And who is this friend of yours?" He let go of her.
"The name Matt Murdock ring any bells?"
Well now, wasn't that interesting, "And here I thought you were sleepin' with Kingsley. Yeah, we know. Who doesn't know the Kingpin? Still, what's it matter? Apparently he was just some demon's bitch and he turned over a new leaf."
"Please, you honestly believe that? You don't think it's just really convenient that he names some names and he's still got a penthouse and immunity to prosecution? The Kingpin was playing the long game. So what if he threw some of those guys under the bus? You think there won't be more to take their place? Kingpin's starting up again and he's looking for good men."
"See, thing is how do we know we won't be the next names he tosses?"
"He already knows your name, Daniel Brito. And your boss 'The Big Man', or as his friends call him, Frederi-"
"Hey now!" He stepped closer to her. She didn't even move, "Them names ain't something you blurt out, darlin'."
"Point is he knows who you are and he could go to the press if he wanted. But he's not, because he knows when to cut a deal. That's all this is. You take me to your boss and I make my offer? You say yes? Then we've got a deal. You say no? Then he looks for someone else who knows a good offer when they see it. Either way it's no skin off my nose."
"Heh, you got a silver tongue on you, girly." He grinned, "Call me curious, but how'd you get involved with the Kingpin of all people?"
"Same way I got involved with you." Ah, daddy dearest. Why was he not surprised? "Look, let's not pretend I'm bigger than I am. You think I'm the only one he sent out to make one of these deals? He's got dozens of people all over the city. He said that if I did this I can consider Phil's debt paid, so can we just do this? I honestly don't care if you say yes or no. I just want this over with."
"Don't shoot the messenger, eh? I get that. Still, you're gonna have to make it worth our while. Boss doesn't meet with just anyone."
"What do you want? More money?"
"Nah, somethin' a bit simpler. See, boss has been hankerin' for some company of the feminine kind."
She raised a brow, "Thought your boss didn't do those kinds of thing?"
"Nah, I said we weren't allowed to do that. The Big Man can do whatever the hell he wants. So, we got a deal?"
"Fine. Anything to get this guy off my back." He leered at her. He had to admit, he felt jealous of the bossman right then and there. If he was just a bit younger (tough he personally thought he was still at his prime at 39) he would've gone for her himself. But now he was focused. No time for spread legs when you got work, "So, are we going or what?"
"Not so fast. Gotta make sure you ain't wearing a wire."
She sighed and raised the sleeveless shirt up till it reached her chest before spinning around. Montana's eyes looked like they were gonna pop out, "There, I'm not wearing a wire. Happy now? Can we go?"
"Sure, sure. What do we do about ol' Philly Cheese Steak here?"
"I don't care. I'm not here for him, remember?"
The four of em left Philly down at the alley. Ox and Montana were up front while he and Merry Mary took up the backseats. For someone who was walkin' into the lion's den the girl looked damned bored. She just looked out the window and completely ignored Ox giving her that ol' hangdog look. Boy was thicker than a sack of bricks but he was good at his job.
"Watch it there, darlin'. Looks like Ox got a little crush on ya."
"Oh good, that's just what I needed." She sneered and crossed her right leg over the left. Montana looked up from the wheel to the rearview mirror to look at her too. Either the dame knew exactly what she was doing or she was dumber than ox after he got some booze in him.
They stopped in front of the old office building, "This is the place?" She stepped and closed the door behind her. The men keeping watch outside gawked at her. They were used to ladies of the night wanderin' in for the boss' daily fuckin', but she was different. Looked like a college girl who made a wrong turn somewhere. Already saw some of em lickin' their lips and undressin' her with their eyes.
"Hey John, bossman in?"
"Yeah, he's upstairs. Who's this?" He eyed Merry Mary.
"Someone makin' a deal. No one touch her." He led the way to the second floor. Marylooked around as they walked down the hall and up the stairs, "Ain't nothin' fancy, but it gets the job done."
"Low profile too. No wonder I couldn't find you." She smiled at that. Looked off on her.
"Well, here we are." He knocked on the door to the bossman's room, "Hey, boss, ya there? Someone here for you. Business and pleasure."
"Get in here then."
He opened the door and was met with the sight of the big man himself leaning back on a his personal couch. Usually he would've had a dame on each arm but instead he was sitting across from a big man in a white suit, A business deal, "Ah, Mr. Reilly. Pleasure to see ya again." Dan smiled. James Reilly, head of the upcoming Irish mob in the kitchen with a stranglehold on the drug trade. He respected the man, even if they'd crossed more than once."
"Daniel," he said back, accent thick and rich, "Who's this little thing?"
"Mary Watson. Came here to make a deal, and other things." He grabbed her butt and nudged her forward. The bossman leaned forward and eyed her up and down. He liked what he saw, "Figured you'd wanna hear what she said." Wasn't like he had to be worried. There was half a dozen of their boys in the room plus him, Ox, Montana and Reilly's guys. If she tried anything she wouldn't get far.
"So...you're the boss, huh?" Mary crossed her arms and stared at him. He didn't blame her. The big man drew your attention, good or bad. He was tall and lanky, kinda like a scarecrow accordin' to the police files, with pasty white skin like barely hidden by his black suit; just like that freak Tombstone. He was strong too. Saw the man pull a knife out of his gut and stab the dumbass stupid enough to try and attack him with it. Apparently he got lucky with the mists.
"Yeah, and you're my...entertainment for tonight?"
"You could say that." There was that smile again, "Before we get down to business I'd like to ask if you dabble in selling products with fingers and toes."
"Heavy question to start with, doll." He laughed, "Since nothing's leaving this table, sure. I dabble in it. It's not my main source of income, but anything that makes money is fair game."
"I see. So...does the name Madelyn Turner mean anything to you?" The boss' eyes narrowed while Dan looked at Mary warily. What the hell was she playing at? "Cause I heard from a friend of yours that your little group here was the one who sold her to that piece of shit Arcade." Her smile got wider, "Tell me if I'm right cause I get the feeling I am."
"What the hell is this?" The big man stood and pointed a gun at her. The boys looked around warily then followed suit while Reilly and his guys just watched, "You're not a mole, Dan wouldn't have let you in here with a wire, and you're not even trying to hide. What are you? Some kind of wannabe Superhero?"
"Heh...you wish."
And then she sliced the boss' arm off. It was so fast if he blinked then he would've missed it - one second the boss was pointin' a gun at her and the next there was nothin' but a bloody stump. The big man looked at where his arm used to be then he screamed, "Fuck! Kill this crazy bitch! Shoot you-" Mary's arm - a blade - stabbed him in the gut and pinned him to the wall before slowly, tortuously moving up to his head.
The boss screamed again and they finally got their bearings.
"Shoot! Shoot, god damn it!" Dan screamed. He shot his pistol and kept pulling the trigger till he was out of ammo. Everyone else around him did the same, even Reilly and his boys. Pistols, sawn offs, uzis; they unloaded it all on her and kept firin till there should've been nothin' left.
Emphasis on should've been.
"Are you done?" She twisted her head around and Dan near on pissed himself when he saw her face. Gone was the pretty redhead and instead there was some...thing where her head should've been. Not entirely. There were still parts of her face that looked like the Mary from before, but it was nothing compared to the pulsating red flesh and teeth that covered the rest of her.
Dan fumbled to reload his gun when she sliced his stomach open. He looked down at gaping wound for a second before he dropped the pistol and stumbled back. There was a lot of screaming after that, everyone either trying to fight or escape. Dan didn't pay attention to any of it. He managed to stumble out the door, hands trying to hold his guts in, and whimpered when Ox tried to run past him and got impaled through the back of the head for his trouble. He couldn't even see Montana.
Insane. This was insane. It wasn't supposed to be like this. He told the boss getting involved with that crazy assassin would would be trouble but he didn't fucking listen! The money was good, he said, and besides what did it matter what happened to that brat? Might as well get a pretty penny for her 'fore she spoiled.
He could still hear the screaming behind him. Dan stumbled down the turn in the hallway and stopped when the pain became too much, "Damn it..." He slowly pulled his hand back and almost threw up when he saw the guts spilling out. He needed a doctor, fast. Hell, he'd throw himself to the nearest boy in blue if it meant getting away from this.
And then it became quiet. No screams, no gunfire, nothing. Dan shut his eyes tightly and continued down the hall. He just needed to-
Footsteps. He heard footsteps.
"No. No, no, no, no, no...!" He had to move. Dan raised one hand against the wall and pushed himself as fast as he could. The footsteps got closer and closer till they stopped again.
When Dan looked back he found Mary standing at the end of the hall. She was covered head to toe in red - blood and that fucked up skin of hers. He could see more of her face now, but the veins that pulsed up her jaw up to her cheeks wasn't a reassuring sight.
And then when her eyes met she smiled.
She walked towards him again. Slow, trying to drag it out. He knew it was pointless, that he couldn't get away, but he still continued on and kept walking, "H-Hey now, Mary, let's make a deal, huh?" She didn't stop, "I-I dunno what you want, but I'm a businessman. You want it, I can get it for ya. We can all be reasonable here, huh? C-Come on, let's deal! Please!"
The first slash cut across his back. Dan fell to the ground and screamed as she cut across his back again and again and again. Dan screamed till his voice grew hoarse and he cried, begging for someone, anyone to help him, "How's it feel?" The monster hissed, "This is what that little girl felt in that last minute. So tell me, how does it feel, Dan?"
All this...because of that damn brat? Dan opened his mouth and nothing came but pained, bloody gurgles. His body twitched and convulsed and he used what little strength he had left to try and crawl forward before a feeling of cold seeped over him and he lay still.
'He's dead.'
'Tell me something I don't know.' Mary Jane looked down at Dan's bloody, cut up corpse and felt...nothing. She thought she'd feel happy. Justice served, right? These bastards wouldn't go after anyone again.
Instead all she could think about was how disappointed Gwen was going to be.
She threw up. It was an odd feeling, going from calm to so sick she could barely stand, 'Don't tell me you're feeling guilty now!' Crimson groused, 'We got more than we bargained for! First we killed that guy's boss and then the guy he was talking to. That's less people they'll hurt! You should be happy!'
'Why the hell did I act like that?' She could've just killed them quickly, impaled each and every one of them in the head before they could do anything. Instead she dragged it out and stalked Dan the hall like a damned slasher villain.
'Part of the exchange,' Crimson said, 'You change me, and I change you, remember? This is a give and take, Red. If you being a goodie two shoes means I don't want to kill Stacy anymore me being the fun one means you'll let loose every now and then.'
'Let loose?! This wasn't a freaking bender, Crimson!' She shook her head and stood up straighter. Much as she wanted to keep arguing she couldn't stay here for long. Eventually the gunshots would be reported and the last thing she needed was to be here when the cops showed up, "Where the hell is Daredevil...?" He said he'd deal with the lower floor. She didn't bother to talk him out of it.
Footsteps came up the stair. Mary Jane morphed her fingers to claws till he saw Daredevil limping up the stairwell, "...You look like shit." She looked him up and down. There was a noticeable wound at his left side. Buckshot maybe?
"A charmer as always, Ms. Watson." He grinned, showing off his bloodstained teeth, "I made sure no one else below is breathing. No one will remain to testify of our presence here and the police will assume it was a gang war gone wrong."
"Seriously? Last I checked most gangs don't eviscerate people."
"You haven't read up on Leland Owlslely then." He laughed under his breath, "It doesn't matter if it's true or not; it's the conclusion the police will rush to in order to come up with a convenient explanation. It helps that Mr. Foswell was one of the Gifted. They'll find some way to pin the odd state of the bodies on him. So easy to distrust what you fear, isn't it?"
"Whatever you say..." She pursed her lips, "Are we done here?"
"Not yet. I want to search through Foswell's files. If he's any kind of meticulous then I imagine he kept a list of his contacts, buyers and other such things for insurance. This was just one part of a tangled web, Scarlet Spider."
"Of course it is..."
They ended up getting the files (no, she didn't question how a blind man could read ink) and swinging away just in time for the cops to check over the scene. Mary Jane didn't look back and just followed Murdock. She tried not to dwell on what she'd just done. Because of what they did there wasn't any proof they were there - no witnesses, no fingerprints, nothing.
Eventually Murdock stopped at a far enough rooftop and sat on one of the vents. He pulled his mask off and hissed as he pressed both hands against his sides, "You dying or something?" she snarked.
"Would that we were all so lucky." he laughed, "No, I'll survive for a while yet, though I'm afraid I pushed myself beyond my limits tonight. Sometimes I forget I don't have a demon in my corner anymore."
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
"A grim one, but yes." He stood up shakily and put his mask back on. It didn't do much to hide the pain he was in, "It pains me to say it but I would like to ask for your help. I've reached the limitations of my limited chi abilities." Chi? What was this, meals on wheels?
"Seriously? You think that's a good idea?" She raised a brow.
"I simply need to make sure that I don't collapse before I find sanctuary. You have good reason to share that sentiment as well - wouldn't want these placed in the wrong hands, would you?" He gestured to the stacks of files attached to his non-bleeding side. A list of people - targets, prey, meat - for her to go after.
"Could just take it from you..."
"And search for them on your own? I know Miss. Winters is an adept journalist but it'll be far slower in comparison to Karen. So..." He raised up a bloody hand, "Would you help me. Please?"
"...Fine."
As expected he didn't want to be taken to a hospital. Instead she swung over to the church she only vaguely remembered from last year's shitshow, "Really didn't wanna come back here..." She knew Norah came back to help the nun who ran this place but all she thought of when it came to this place was being attacked by ninjas, terrorists and ninja terrorists. On Murdock's orders, by the way.
'That was a fun day.'
"Hello?" She opened the door and dragged Murdock inside. The place was dimly lit and looked like something out of a horror movie, "Any nuns here who care about devils? Cause I got one who's dying."
"Not dying..." Murdock muttered.
The door to the back opened and the nun - Sister Maggie, if she recalled correctly - rushed out and and gave Murdock a pained look when she saw him, "Oh, Matt..." She almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Mary Jane had nothing against the woman, she didn't really know her, but she did know she was Murdock's mom and that meant she didn't really trust her. At least she kept Tiger safe.
Mary Jane followed her to the back and dropped Murdock on the bed. The nun immediately got to work and started to peel off the poorly designed armor, "Oh my boy, you need to stop doing this to yourself," she whispered. He didn't say anything, though whether it was cause he was unconscious or something else she didn't know. Those wounds definitely looked nasty.
"Right...well, I should probably-"
"I need your help." Well, so much for that early exit... "Do you have any first aid experience?"
"Uh, not really? I know how to slap on a band-aid, does that count?"
"It will have to do." Sister Maggie sighed and pulled out a (sparse) first-aid kit, "Hold him down please. I'll disinfect the tools then we can pull the pellets out."
"Yay..."
Murdock almost shot up as soon as the sterilized tweezers pushed through the skin. Mary Jane held him down and resisted the urge to smother his mouth to keep him from groaning. She watched with morbid fascination as Maggie pulled out the pellets one by one and dropped them on a nearby basin. She didn't even try to look away. It depressed her somewhat that the first thing she felt was a morbid sense of humor at the sight. Crimson had fucked her up and she didn't really care anymore.
'You love me, little red.'
'...Parasite.'
She ignored its impotent screams and pushed Murdock down to the bed as Maggie dropped out another pellet, "That's the last one." She breathed heavily wrapped a bandage around his midsection. It was odd seeing a nun so good with tweezers and bandages, "Hmm..." She put a hand on his forehead and frowned, "Fever. I told Matthew not to push his body too hard. He never listens to me."
Mary Jane almost laughed. She was acting like Murdock wasn't a former Kingpin turned vigilante who helped her kill an entire building full of people, "I'll need to buy more supplies and get medicine. Could you stay here? I don't want to leave him alone."
The words 'hell no' were at the tip of her tongue before she saw the look of fatigue on the older woman's face, "...Sure." So sue her she wasn't completely heartless. Mary Jane huffed and sat at the nearby chair, placing one foot at the edge of the bed as she shifted Crimson to the same outfit she wore before. It was nothing special, but she knew it'd make her look harmless; exactly what she needed for Dan and his cronies to think.
10 minutes of merciful quiet passed before Murdock shot up with a flurry of coughs, "Easy there, Daredevil." She made no move to actually push him back down. If he wanted to tear out those bandages then that was on him.
He tapped the wall to his right twice then heaved a sigh of relief, "Hm." He lied back down and stared up at the ceiling, milky eyes unblinking. He looked like a hot mess - blood on his skin and hair, bandages clotted and skin so pale he looked like a ghost. She breathed in slowly through her nose and brought a hand through her hair, trying to ignore the smell of blood and disinfectant in the air.
She was hungry.
"Anything to eat around here?"
"Maggie keeps perishables in the rightmost cabinet. You can probably find a few twinkies there."
'We're not desperate for chocolate like Stacy's tether.'
'Food's food.'
She got the bars and, just cause she was nice, made sure to grab one for him, "Head's up." She was mildly impressed when his right hand shot up and caught the thrown bar, "Your mom went out to get meds." She sat back down and opened the first pack. Nut flavored, her least favorite, "FYI she said you had a fever too."
"Yes, that would explain the coughs and chills." Or maybe it was the gaping hole in his gut. Either or, "I have to thank you for bringing me here."
"Can't die yet. You still have that list."
"Ah but of course. A mutual need." He laughed quickly before he suddenly coughed again. She saw him spit out blood, "I suppose this is my own fault. Maggie'd warned me that pushing beyond my limits so soon would only end badly."
"Mhm." Where the hell was the nun of the hour anyway?
"I'm curious about something. Would you answer my question?"
"Just spit it out."
"Why the charade?" She didn't reply, "I'll admit your plan to pretend to be an agent to not-reformed Kingpin was clever, but there were too many ways it could've failed. If this Fancy Dan hadn't been so blinded by pride, and his companions with lust, they would've pried deeper into your story."
"I doubt it. From what I heard from Gwen you were exactly the kind of fucked up asshole who'd make people pay back gambling debts by making them run errands."
"Give me some credit, Ms. Watson. I do have a sense of pragmatism." He laughed. She didn't, "Though, I suppose I can't fault you for your course of action. You had to save your father, after all."
"You think I did it to save that waste of skin?"
"Alright, riddle me this then: why bother with the charade?"
"Uh, to find out where his boss was? He didn't exactly advertise his place."
"So why not make the offer after your father expired? It certainly would've saved us the trouble of having to procure funds." She didn't reply, "Or why not simply cut out the middleman and simply follow Mr. Brito back to his boss? It would've taken longer, certainly, but we're both adept enough in tracking that it would've been less risky than a gamble that might well put the entire gang under a lockdown."
Again, no answer.
"I suppose you leaving him in that alley was a way for you to deny this thought. If he dies then it's not your fault but if he survives then he will have learned his lesson-"
"Shut up." Her hands clenched into tight fists, "You think I did to to save him? I already tried that. Again and again and again. Every time he just goes back." She scowled and looked away, "This doesn't change anything. If he survives he's gonna pick himself back up and once he can walk again he'll find another bookie to get into debt with. And next time I won't save him."
"But you saved him this time."
"Yeah, and I'm sure that makes up for me killing a building full of people. Gimme the key to the city, huh?" She sneered down at him, "Know what, let's turn this around: what the hell's your deal? Cause I don't buy for a second that you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart."
"Do recall that half the bodies in that building are because of me. Goodness hardly factors into it." He took a deep breath and, with some effort, managed to sit up. Mary Jane didn't bother to push him down, "I'm well beyond the point of redemption, Ms. Watson. I'm going to hell, I've known that for years and I accept it. I'm simply trying to drag as many people down with me."
"Jesus..." Mary Jane brought hand down her face and took a deep breath. Why did she almost get where he was coming from?
"Misery loves company, or so the saying goes." He laughed under his breath, "The better question would be why you're doing this. According to Ms. Stacy's posts on social media she's trying to mold you into a Superhero. Why jeopardize that and go on this baseless crusade?"
"Baseless cru- those bastards sold a little girl and god knows how many people!"
"So it was for justice, then? Fighting for the nameless masses that would no doubt be horrified by your actions tonight?" No response, "Even as we talk now thousands of people suffer the same indignities Madelyn Turner had. That's the thing about justice - always so hard to enforce when free will gets involved."
"I didn't come here to debate. I did what I did, there's no point thinking about it."
"Hm...I wonder if Ms. Stacy would feel the same if she knew."She almost lashed out and cut his throat. Murdock looked down at her clawed hands and smiled wryly, "If you kill me now I won't fight; I'm incapable of it."
"I need you alive, remember?"
"So you do. You and Peter both are stuck in rather undesirable positions." For a second he looked disappointed. ...Must've just been her imagination, "Well, I suppose we'll see each other soon. This list is rather...extensive."
"Really wasn't planning to make this a partnership..." She could kill well enough on her own. She didn't need his help.
"We don't always get what we want." She was about to retort with something biting when he slowly twisted his head to the door, "My warden is coming to check on me. I suggest you take your leave."
The door opened and someone who most definitely wasn't Maggie Murdock stepped into the room. Mary Jane stood and backed away warily as Karen Page took slow, measured steps to the bed, "Bedridden again, Matthew?"
"You know me, Karen. I love to disappoint."
The blonde's eyes shifted from one redhead to the other. Mary Jane stiffened as the district attorney's gaze washed over her fully. It was like she was being judged. She knew there was something up with her, but not exactly what. Peter was tight lipped about it for some reason, "You're Ms. Watson, correct? A pleasure to finally meet you." She smiled, almost but not quite reaching her eyes. Like someone trying to be friendly but didn't know how, "You my thanks for watching out for this idiot."
"You wound me, Karen."
"From what I see you don't need help in that regard." She sighed, "I'll watch over him. You may leave."
It was brief, but she saw a look pass Murdock's face. He didn't want her to go; didn't want to be alone with the D.A, "Sure, thanks." Mary Jane paid it no mind and walked out, shifting herself a jacket over her tanktop. Whatever drama the two had was none of her business. She had enough troubles of her own without adding some kind of twisted love affair between the D.A and the former Kingpin.
She found herself walking down a familiar route. Gwen buzzed her phone but she didn't answer; didn't know what to say to her now, 'Let's find something more substantial to eat,' Crimson said suddenly.
Mary Jane didn't bother arguing and beelined for the closest corner store, "Good eveni- Oh, Mary Jane." Mary smiled slightly when they made eye contact.
"Yeah, hey." Mary Jane smiled back as best she could and started packing whatever food she could afford; which was a lot. She kinda had twenty grand burning a hole in her pocket now.
She stepped up to the counter and Mary frowned, "Are you okay? You look kinda sick."
'Yeah, totally fine. Just hating myself for the fact that I'm so fucked up that I don't hate myself.' Mary Jane plastered on a grin and shrugged, "Just one of those days. Surprised you're still here. Modeling gig not paying enough?"
"Money's money. Need all I can to pay up that mounting student loan."
"Heh, yeah, I get your-"
The next few seconds passed by in a quick blur. She remembered a guy in a balaclava kicking down the door and pointing a gun to their heads. She remembered Mary screaming and putting her hands up. She remembered being too slow to do the same and the bastard shooting her in the side. And then...
And then the bastard was over the counter and Mary Jane was wailing on his face.
She didn't know how long it was before she stopped, but eventually she had enough and tossed the guy to a nearby shelf hard enough to almost break it in half, "...Damn it." She turned around quickly to the other redhead. Mary's eyes were wide and both hands covered her mouth, "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine..." She took a deep, shaky breath and looked at Mary Jane's right side. The side that was conspicuously missing a bullet hole and blood, "H-How did you..."
"I, uh...I was there when the Terrigen thing hit," she said quickly. It wasn't the best excuse, but it made sense, "I've been trying to keep it on the downlow. Didn't wanna make a big deal out of it, you know?"
"O-Oh..." Mary eyed the unconscious would-be robber.
"So...this is kinda awkward, but could you maybe delete the tapes? I don't wanna advertise I'm packing."
"Don't worry about it, those cameras don't work." She finally managed to regain some semblance of calm, "Do you need me to call an ambulance?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm fine. See?" She raised her shirt to show off the very-much uninjured skin, "Does come with some perks."
'You're welcome.'
"I see..."
"Uh, I'll pay for that shelf." She took two grand and put it on the counter, "I should...I should go, okay? Make sure to call the cops!"
And then she ran out before Mary could say anything. The smaller redhead frowned at the mess and made sure to call 911 after nudging the gun out of arms reach. She wasn't worried; the guy didn't look like he was going anywhere for a while.
She made her way to the backroom and checked the security tapes. She lied; the cameras worked just fine, "She's one of the Gifted." She looked over the footage. Despite having lived through it just minutes prior watching the video Mary Jane still looked surreal. She didn't even look like she noticed the bullet and she manhandled the masked man without any effort whatsoever. Super strength and durability, at least.
...It wasn't fair.
Shaking her head, she made a copy for herself before deleting the rest. If the boss asked she'd just say it was a glitch. He wouldn't care, "Mary Jane's one of the Gifted..." she repeated. Her new friend had saved the day while she just stood there screaming and crying.
And once again in her life Mary MacPherran felt small.
CHOOOCOLLLATTTEEE!: Been hearing rumors that Spider-Man and Spider-Woman broke up.
Reply from TOS: Gee, I wonder if this is any different than the other ten thousand rumors that they broke up /s
Reply from Foolkiller: Apparently people saw her getting really close to Will-o-the-Wisp earlier. Still not sure if it's anything, though.
Reply from TOS: Gonna press X to Doubt that one. Fanboys/Fangirls/Fanothers always looking for an excuse to think Spider-Woman's free. It's pretty sad.
Reply from MbNbKb: Yeah, doubting here too. If she stayed with him after one year then I'm pretty sure they're good.
Reply from CHOOOCOLLLATTTEEE!: Uh...just got a hit from Spider-Woman's latest tweet. -embedded link-
[FriendlyNeighborhoodSpiderWoman: Yes, the rumors are true. Me and Spider-Man are no longer together. No, I don't wanna talk about it.]
Reply from TOS: ...Well shit, now I owe Gayle 50 bucks.
Like I said up above the next chapter will focus more on Gwen and Lana and, hopefully, be lighter in tone. If I have enough room I might be able to squeeze in a quick segment of Noir having to deal with Satanna wanting him to investigate a succubus brothel for her now that he's newly single. As expected, Gwen is not amused.
Question:
1. So since people want a date chapter it feels appropriate to ask what kind of date you guys wanna read about. I already did carnival and camping trip so let's pull a few more from the cliche list:
- Casual date to the movies
- Beach trip (though this is more of a group outing)
- Webflicks and chill
- Dinner date at a fancy restaurant
- Patrolling as partners
- Threesome with Mary Jane
...Okay not that last one, but you get my point. Pick from the list or suggest your own cause I'm not good with this romance stuff.
Review Answers:
SpiderGod766 - I have a tendency to let plot threads stew; it's nothing new for me. As for gear, still deciding.
Eragen - They broke up. Such a tragedy.
Raw Prodigy - I can write fast when not distracted by my chronic procrastination
Titan616 - Laura's also kinda turning into a spoiled little thing.
