NOVEL WEB Arc Four. Chapter One Hundred Sixteen. The Path Of Least Resistance
Herman watched as the two costumed heroes dropped down at the front of the junkyard. He swore as he recognised them.
Black Cat had been all over the news, and it was not a stretch to recognise Elektra. Everyone knew of her hunt for Bullseye.
Shit, he thought to himself, if they're together then that means that the Kingpin rumour was right.
Herman wasn't an idiot. He knew Bullseye was the hammer to his scalpel. They worked in different circles but it always paid to know how to kill someone who might knock on your door one day.
It meant they probably took out Aleksei as well. Right then he wished he had his suit. It was a custom job, armoured and could run for days. He liked to get up close and personal with electricity. It let him feel the muscles twitch and contract as his victims were fried. It was too late though, they were here and he was in trouble.
As the pair approached the office Herman nodded and went inside. Following they saw the sparsely decorated interior. They had to stand as he sat in a broken office chair, stained and missing its wheels.
“Yeah, things aren't so good right now,” he motioned around him, “but that ain’t why I'm here. Business. You took over Kingpin's patch,” he waved a hand at the scrapyard, “can I assume this was you as well? If so, you owe on his debts, and I'm here to collect.”
Black Cat stood impassively, while Elektra stared at him. "You know who we are, and what we do. You could have just emailed."
Black Cat smirked and shook her head, "if you mean Fisk leaving New York and Aleksei’s death, then yes. I am responsible.” She figured that someone would have to take the blame for the death. The Cats were already on their radar, Peter would just owe her one.
As the man stared at her, a hard stare trying to figure out the young woman. He breathed out through his nose and leaned over to grab a cigarette. “Aleksei is ten, and Fisk is fifty, payable over time, the families aren't monsters.” He paused for a moment, “Elektra Natchios. Sorry but that ain’t worth a discount. Money. Payable in instalments. Fisk owed another two-three hundred mill in loans. Equipment, buildings, men, and a few other expenses. We didn’t ask but happily paid. If you’re his replacement, then those are added to the debt. Now, do we talk, or do I get my ass handed to me and you talk to the next guy?”
Herman leaned back. He was happy this was going this route and not the way he heard Elektra normally negotiated. Plus, now he had a name and names had addresses and family, friends and pressure points he could squeeze. So far, this was looking good. She even admitted to killing Aleksei. His job was done and he could throw that back up the chain and let them send someone else to deal with it.
Felicia took a breath, this was it, “Aleksei was ten, that's fine but we didn't kill Fisk, he just left. Go chase his ass for his fifty-plus. Debts on the buildings and equipment I’ll concede to, as long as you provide an itemised accounts book. I'm not paying cause you feel like skimming Mr Shultz. His men scattered, so go chase their assess for what they stole. I'm not a charity and not about to roll over for you. I will, however, play ball and no, We won't ‘hand your ass to you’. You seem like a reasonable man and as long as you obey my rules then we can work things out.”
Herman frowned, “rules huh? Let's just say I do. What rules?”
“Nothing major, drugs are checked for impurities and kept at a reasonable price. No selling to minors, or getting a girl on smack so she hooks for you. Nothing to stop business from being run. Just things to get those who want to work to work and those who don't walk away.”
Herman nodded his head back and forth while frowning. “If I say yes, what guarantees I get that Black Cat and Elektra don't come to kill me? They were scraping Aleksei off the sidewalk, and well, we’ll check if Fisk is alive or not.”
“Same deal Fisk got. I don't care. I run this the way I run it, say no and it’s war, say yes and we play nice. I took out Aleksei as he didn't want to play nice and was up Osborn’s ass. Fisk played ball and was allowed to leave. Where he went I have no idea but let's face it, if you can't find Fisk then, then you can’t find your ass with both hands and a map.” At which Herman laughed,
“You can prove that right? Aleksei worked for Osborn? That goes a long way to clearing some of the mess but Fisk? I’ll make enquiries.”
Black Cat nodded, “I’ll have copies of my files emailed to you,” and as she looked around the office, “I’ll send a courier.”
Herman shook his head. “Ain't good enough, I need the originals, 'cause.” Black Cat raised an eyebrow, and he shrugged, “ain’t no matter, we mark our files, so we know if they’re real or not. If they ain’t real, then it's war, cause you don't kill two guys.” Felicia raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms. “Yeah, two guys without paying. If what you say is true, the Fisk ain't your business but you still gotta pay for Aleksei.”
“I can do that. We have a side business we’re willing to split off, but I want a contract. In writing and guarantees it goes to the debt, plus I want the paperwork for that too.”
Herman frowned and shrugged but agreed. “Sure, but uh, it ain't chocolate bars, is it? ‘Cause the Girl Scouts, yeah even we leave them alone.”
Black Cat laughed. “No, it's not cookies, Mr Shultz,'' and the atmosphere between the two relaxed, at least to cordial levels.
As the pair continued to talk, Black Cat phoned the office and had a courier bring over the original files. Matt had taken photocopies before packing them back up, and he was going over them at his own pace. They had already moved them in an attempt to keep the illegal activities there to a minimum. Even Gwen had begun to mention moving the workshops out as well.
No one minded the noise but the smell of burning metal or solder was irritating to their enhanced senses. While her brewery was fine, it was getting cramped and it was time to get Peter to build more homes.
Venom had followed. Back-up was never a bad idea. He could hear their conversation. Shultz must have been unaware of their capabilities or he would have set up a white noise generator. As he heard the trio laugh he wasn't worried. This was her world and he just stuck a toe in every now and again when she needed him.
This was their life. He didn't object to any of their lives. MJ worked on her scripts and would be gone if filming took her across the globe, and even if it didn’t a press circuit would. Gwen was happy to help make the cream, attend college and head down the scientist route. Liv was at a loose end right now but once she recovered she would find her place in the world again.
Strangely enough, it was Peter who found himself at a loss. He enjoyed everything, the lab work, the fighting and taking out villains, and most of all, being a landlord. Working with his hands gave him a sense of peace. It grounded him that no matter how big and powerful you got, that a blocked toilet still needed a plumber. Even if you didn't do it yourself, life needed organisation. Sighing to himself, he just needed to find that spark.
The CLS needed a manufacturing facility. Roughly fabricated parts were fine but to really get it up and running he needed a backer. Preferably one with a steel mill and a huge workshop. Sadly, he knew that unless he sold out to Stark or Hammer, such a place wasn’t just going to fall into his lap. The warehouse had been a fluke and one he knew wasn't going to be repeated anytime soon.
It was an hour before the pair came out. Venom had been lounging on a rooftop nearby. Letting his thoughts wander while keeping an ear on the conversation.
“It's settled. I’ll tell you more when I can.” Black Cat looked at Elektra, who made sure nobody was nearby and gave her a goodbye kiss.
"I will see you both later," she added with a wink before Hades shimmered and vanished.
Venom huffed in annoyance. Sure, Elektra was a ninja, but he was still salty that he couldn't do it.
As they swung, Huntress smiled to herself and swung closer, letting go and holding onto Venom. It had been a lifetime ago that he had saved her, chided her and then swung through New York. One of her fondest memories was being attached and thrusting. This time she just wanted the closeness. Resting her head on his shoulder he aimed high and found a nice overhang for them to sit on.
“Everything okay?” and she nodded, letting her face cover pull back, as he saw her smile, he had an idea. “Give me a minute okay?” and as she nodded, confused, he dived from the building, only to appear again a few minutes later with hotdogs.
“Got you one with everything,'' he said, handing over a very stuffed-looking hotdog.
His was missing the sauerkraut as he hated the vinegary taste, but Felicia loved it.
As he handed them over she smiled, “why?”
Sitting down next to her on the ledge, “you know, it's nice up here and we don't do this often enough.” As he took a bite of his dog she nodded and bit into her own.
After swallowing she stared at him, “still not an answer,” and he looked over at her,
“I love you, do I need an excuse?” As she blushed, he smiled and leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. As he leant back, she nudged him with her shoulder and took another bite of her dog,
“wuv u oo,” she said, hoping the mouthful would hide her admission.
“How romantic,” he fawned and fake fanned himself and as she laughed he smiled, “it's okay, you know, to be loved.” She nodded. “I heard you take the rap for Aleksei, and well, thanks,” but she shook her head and stuffing the last of the dog into her mouth finished it before speaking,
“Then I don't need to repeat anything?” and he nodded, “look, Aleksei was going to cause problems, and you did it for us anyway, so why not. I mean, you owe me 10 million, so it's all fair right?”
He laughed. “Well, since I paid for your crime empire to begin with, you don't pay rent, and you steal all my snacks. I think we can work something out, right?”
she batted him with the back of her hand, “I pay rent asshole, not my fault Gwen keeps stealing mine.”
He laughed, pulling her over into a hug. As she slid an arm around him she rested her head on his shoulder. “Seriously Pete, I know you don't want the bad guy life, so it's no biggie. Money is good and Shultz is easier to deal with than the cops. The Black Cats are becoming a force for good, and yeah, it's all good.” She looked up at him, “and I really do love you, even if you make me feel stupid sometimes.”
Peter looked down at her, knowing she meant emotionally and not like an actual idiot. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head and then lifted her head for a proper kiss.
“Well, Miss Crime Lord. How about we figure out how you're going to repay me by scaring pigeons and avoiding helicopters?” He whispered.
As Felicia gave him a quizzical look, he raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a bright and very cheeky smile.
“Ohhh,” She lifted herself onto his lap, and Huntress split at her waist. Once more, they began to swing, connected and in each other's arms, around New York.
