The Nine Tailed Foxx

Chapter 2

((A/N: No, I haven't forgotten about my other stories. Just waiting on one muse to step back and let others have some time.

A wonderful thanks to my friend Lady Moonhawke, who is also my co-writer, co-conspirator, Idea tester, plot hole finder, monkey wrench thrower, and ghost editor.))

The Setup

Mid December….

One month and over a half dozen 'meetings' later…..

"Hello stranger," came a sultry voice from the shadowy depths of the alley way. The figure approached the dim, flickering ring of light that illuminated the rear of some cheap, run down looking building. "Having fun yet?"

Johnny paused in his work, the muscles across his shoulders tightening making him hunch them even more. He knew that voice. Better than he cared to know it. His lucky never seend to hold for very long. "Not really," he replied as he leaned forward to thump his forehead against the brick wall over the electronic security pad next to the door. "The bastard that currently holds my contract has seen fit to whore me out for the night to a cheap assed idiot. Right now, I would rather be home where it's much warmer and a hell of alot dryer." Honestly, he didn't give a damn about the person who held his contract but as long as the man had leverage against him, there wasn't a whole lot he could do. He felt her move closer as he looked down at the device in his hand. Against lesser security it would work like a charm but this place had, apparently, a higher grade security network. Turning his head, he looked at her, "So.. is this where I get taken in?" he asked, half in jest, half serious. 'Please say yes….'

"Nope," The Black Widow said, popping the 'p' as she slid between Johnny and the brick wall, getting awfully close. So close in fact she was sliding one hand up his chest to his shoulder.

"Aren't you cold?" Johnny asked as he tilted his head slightly as he noted she was not in what could be called a uniform of any type (catsuit included). She was wearing a top that was low cut in the front, showing off cleavage, a snug belt and an indecently short mini-skirt. God he felt practically frozen and he was dressed head to toe and wearing a hooded great coat on top of that.

"Why? Are you offering to warm me up?" Widow asked back in a low throaty purr. Her fingers playing with a few strands of hair that had obviously fallen out of the low ponytail as she snuggled in closer. "And isn't it a little late to be playing halloween dress up?" she commented as she examined the exquisitely crafted fox mask he was wearing. She could see his eyes through the the tinted lenses only because she was so close. It came down to the end of his nose, curving down his cheeks to his jawline, leaving his mouth uncovered. The top curved up and over his forehead to either cover his head completely or just the front have. From the shadows, it looked like fox ears had been included in the design.

He lifted one gloved hand, bracing it above her head as he leaned down, thus enveloping her further within the confines of his coat. "I'm neither insane nor do I have a deathwish. I was merely asking if you are, in truth, cold in that outfit." To any passerby they would appear to be one of the local working ladies and her John. Which struck him as rather funny, causing him to snicker softly.

"Care to let me in on the joke?" Widow asked as she placed her other hand on his hip.

"Hmmm…I'm not sure how slowly I wish to die." His breath hitched as something very sharp pierced the skin just above his hipbone. "Ow," he hissed. He wanted to jerk away but knew better than to move.

The Black Widow smirked. "Oh come now, it's not that bad really. Just a little prick." She turned, putting her back to his chest and pushing her ass into his groin as she got to work disabling the security. A bark of laughter came through her earpiece.

"Nat, you are such a bitch sometimes," Hawkeye said as he watched the goings on from a rooftop half a block away.

"Yep, I know," Widow uttered under her breath. "Oh, trash that piece of crap."

"So," Johnny started as the device disappeared into a pocket, "What's the charges on Murder one? I know of someone I would really like to kill right now for setting me up with this job."

"Depends on your defense lawyer," Widow replied cheekily. "I'm pretty sure you know a good one." A soft click announced the door unlocking. "You coming?" she asked as she slipped through the door.

"Yep, I'm fucked," Johnny muttered before following her in.

Twenty minutes later, the pair were leaving via another exit. They came out of an alley and started walking south west along the street. One sauntering along like she was on an evening stroll, the other with easy strides of someone who accomplished their work.

"You have incoming. Rooftop to your right," Hawkeye said. "Costumed, dark red and black. Masked…"

Lifting a finger to her ear, the Widow responded. "Got it." She turned to look at Johnny but he had already stopped several feet back and was looking up. She watched as he slipped down a side alley, muttering about 'paying the devil his due'. She could hear the faint sound of Johnny making his way up the fire escape. "Interesting," she murmured.

"What?"

"He knew the person was there,"

"Maybe he was expecting them?"

"No, I don't think he was," Widow replied as she followed. By the time she made her way to the rooftop, Hawkeye had joined her. She accepted the small bag he handed her with a nod and quickly slid on the pants and jacket top over her current outfit. When the pair of Avengers moved closer to the pair, Johnny was standing with arms crossed over his chest and his head tilted down, even though the hood made it difficult to be sure. The other person, a man it seemed, was just finishing up speaking.

"Thank you," Johnny said before moving away towards the edge of the roof.

Hawkeye was the one that spoke up first, "So you're the 'Devil of Hell's Kitchen'."

"I like the name 'Daredevil' better, but yes. I am," Daredevil replied, shifting his weight. "Tell me, what are a pair of Avengers doing in Hell's Kitchen?"

Hawkeye glanced to the side at the Black Widow before he shrugged, "Keeping her company while I freeze my ass off in this weather," he said shifting his weight subtly incase there was going to be a problem.

Daredevil huffed a laugh. "Yes, the weather is a bit uninviting right now. But you still haven't answered my question."

The Widow shrugged, "Is there a law against us being here?"

"No."

"Did he ask you to delay us?"

"Yes. He did, though he asked that if it came to it, to avoid conflict. Since neither of you are breaking any laws in Hell's Kitchen then I have no reason to try and stop you from following him," Daredevil answered truthfully. So far neither Avenger had lied but they haven't told the complete truth either.

The Widow eyed Daredevil suspiciously for several minutes. "And what did he promise you if you did delay us?"

The man in black and red smiled, "That he would introduce me to the reason why he asked me to delay you."

"And you believed him?" Hawkeye asked in a disbelieving tone of voice.

"And you don't." It was a statement, not a question.

Hawkeye opened his mouth then shut it and shrugged.

Taking out her phone from her pocket, Widow swiped her finger across the screen then tapped a few moments. "The tracker is working perfectly," she said.

Hawkeye leaned over to take a look at the screen before looking in the direction it indicated. "Hmm.. maybe ten minutes if we take our time."

"Or you can go directly to the meeting spot and be waiting for him," Daredevil offered.

Widow eyed Daredevil a moment. "Let me guess, he told you where it was taking place to sweeten his deal?"

With a laugh, Daredevil crossed his arms over his chest then shook his head. "No. It's not in taking place in Hell's Kitchen. I have enough to deal with here. I don't need to go looking for more problems in the rest of the city." He tilted his head first one way then another. "Speaking of trouble.." he uncrossed his arms turning in the direction he needed to go. "The meeting place is Fort Clinton in Central Park." With that, he took off in a sprint across the roof, leaping across to the next roof over before vanishing into the darkness.

"Eh… not too bad for a newcomer to the whole superhero business..," Hawkeye commented with an easy grin.

The Widow just rolled her eyes. "Come on, I want to look the meeting place over before someone else gets there," she said as she started towards the fire escape, removing the skirt as she did. "Should I keep this?" she asked.

"Depends on if you need to go in as a working girl or not. A little too trashy otherwise," Hawkeye replied as he followed her down.

"I don't know… Bruce might like it…."

Over an hour later, the meeting was finally taking place. Widow and Hawkeye were both in secure, well hidden locations that offered perfect views, and if need be, offer assistance. From what they saw, it would be a meet up with three parties involved. The two other parties were already on location and had the area secure (or so they thought). Two sets of limos and accompanying vehicles. The first set, the person in charge was staying well hidden and guarded in their vehicle. The second group's boss (Widow silently agreed with Johnny's assessment of the man being a cheap assed idiot) was standing outside his limo arrogantly, surrounded by his goons who looked to be nothing more than hired thugs. When Johnny arrived it was via one of the infamous gypsy cabs New York was known for. With him was a younger woman, wearing a slinky outfit that was in no way made for the weather, and the cabby who was armed with a ubiquitous uzi.

The pair of Avengers watched as the exchange went down. The girl went to the second limo to retrieve a briefcase from CAI (Cheap assed idiot). While collecting the briefcase she was pawed over by not only a couple of the goons but the CAI himself. She then went to the first limo, the briefcase taken from her as one of guards removed his long coat and draped it about her shoulders. After the briefcase was inspected, the young woman entered the limo, the door was closed behind her. Johnny was motioned forward by the same guard who offered the woman his coat. The window rolled down slightly, a few words exchanged then the window was rolled up again and that entire party left. Both Widow and Hawkeye agreed the group were professionals.

The second part of the exchange went downhill fast. After Johnny passed over the item in question, the man started bragging about what he was going to do with it. When he finally got done, he signaled one of his goons to hand over whatever it was Johnny was waiting for. A car seat was pulled out of the back seat of the limo along with a bag by one of the goons. The bag was thrown to Johnny, who caught it then dropped it at his feet. The car seat was slung at him, he dove forward and caught it, though the infant strapped into it started wailing in distress.

Hawkeye was on his feet, bow up, arrow nocked and drawn, ready to be released. A hand on his arm stayed his action.

"No!"

"Please Nat… Please. Just let me kill the bastard," he whispered fiercely.

"No...just wait. That bastard will meet his end soon enough."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

Hawkeye flexed his arm slightly, the bowstring pulling back just slightly before he relaxed and un-nocked the arrow, returning it to his quiver. "Good." He watched as Johnny handed the car seat over to the cabby, the child still crying weakly.

Once Seymour (the cabby) had gotten clear, Johnny rolled his shoulders and neck, flexing his fingers then his wrists. He slid his hands into his pockets, working his fingers into the rings. "Do you know what he said me before he left?" Johnny asked as he looked up. "He told me I was free to do as I saw fit." Slowly he turned on the toe of one foot, gauging where each person stood in relationship to where he was.

The man laughed waving his hand and signaling his goons to do as they please. He turned to the limo, ignoring the sounds of metal hitting flesh.

The moment the man turned his back and the goons Johnny pulled his hands from his pockets. In each hand was what for lack of a better term, were steel butterfly yo-yo's. With a flick of his wrists, the first went sailing out connecting solidly with the first goon's skull, the sharp edges slicing into skin as it did. He spun, twisting his wrist as he sent his other hand out, the yo-yo striking a second goon on the wrist, breaking it as well as drawing blood. Flick, throw, spin and twist. He danced his way through the goons, taking them down with a sharp precision of a well trained Agent. Just over thirty seconds and he'd taken down half a dozen men.

The man turned, his eyes going wide as he fumbled for his own gun. He wasn't able to even draw it halfway before he was slammed into the side of the limo. A hand wrapped around his throat, tightening till he could barely breath. He clawed at the arm attached to the hand, but the material of the sleeve prevented any damage. A second time he was slammed into the limo, his head bouncing against the edge of the roof.

Johnny leaned forward till his lips brushed against the man's ear. "Heh, as much as I dislike the bastard, I'll have to remember to tell him thank you for allowing me this moment," he whispered softly before letting go of the man's throat. Talented fingers removed the silk tie from around his neck, caressing flesh as they did. "Don't like it when you're on the receiving end of unwanted attention?" he cooed before slamming him back a third time, leaving him stunned, sliding down to the ground. He turned back to the goons, checking each until he had what he wanted. Using the tie, he gagged the man, then dragged him around to the front of the limo. Using both hands he threw the man onto the hood. Using the pair of belts he'd stripped from the goons, he tied the man's arms to each of the side mirrors leaving him spread eagle on the hood. The combat knife he'd found was slammed into the hood right at the man's groin, the cutting edge inward against flesh. Humming softly to himself, he located the keys of the limo, which had been left in the ignition and started it up. Shifting it in gear, he tested to see if he would need a something against the gas peddle. The vehicle was heavy enough that it wouldn't move without the accelerator being used. Well he didn't really need it going fast, just moving. Once accomplished, he exited the slow moving vehicle and calmly made his way towards where the cab was parked.

The Cabby nodded, handing the now clean infant over to Johnny. "The car seat was a mess. It's in the trunk."

"Thank you," Johnny said as he held the baby close, checking and rechecking just to assure himself. "I think, it's time to go home."

Seymour nodded once before opening the back door for Johnny. Closing it after the younger man got in, he moved around to the driver side and got in. He made his way through Central Park, joining the flow of early morning traffic, careful not to draw attention to his vehicle.

Back at Fort Clinton, Widow stood in the ring of groaning, semi-conscious goons. She hadn't placed a call for clean up just yet. Crouching down next to one in particular, she placed her hands on either side of his head and twisted just right. It didn't kill the man. No, that would be too quick and merciful. She then slid one of her widow-bites into his pants, nestling it in his groin before activating it.

"Please tell me you are planning on washing your hands," Hawkeye commented as he came walking back from the direction of the stalled out limo.

"I plan on incinerating these gloves.. ew…"

Hawkeye nodded with tight smile and gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. The man would have a very slow, very painful death. "You called for cleanup yet?"

Widow stood up, peeling her gloves off as she did. "No, I thought you called…" She faked searching her belt pouches. "Oops.. seems I've misplaced it. Guess we'll have to find the nearest public phone and place the call."

"Hmm.. too bad. Finding a working public phone in these parts can be a real bitch," Hawkeye said as he collapsed his bow then slung an arm around Widow's shoulders. "I don't ask for much…." he said as they walked away from the scene. "But I think you should back off of the kid some. Leave him be for a little while. At least until after the holidays."

"I'll think on it."

"That's all I ask."