Chapter 4

By now the news of a house burning down with two people inside had spread to everyone, mostly because authorities decided to release the identities of who died. Needless to say I got lots and lots of attention at work.

"I'm so sorry to hear about your parents..." everyone kept saying to me, its the first and basically only thing that came out of everyones mouth the second they saw me. I plastered fake, small smiles on my face and politely thanked them while I died a little bit more inside each time someone said that.

"Funny how I was right about your parents huh?" Axel's voice sounded from behind me. As much as I hate hearing his existence, it was a tiny breath of fresh air not being apologized to for something no one here did.

"I never said they weren't dead. I just said I didn't lose them." I smartly stated, refusing to look at him.

"Where did you take English class?" He snorted.

"At the university of fuck off my dick. I know "I lost my parents" has multiple contexts. But lost also implies I can get them back. Thus, I did not fucking lose my parents. They were fucking taken from me and if I ever find out who the fuck is responsible I'll send them to hell myself with my bare fucking hands." I snapped, whipping around to glare at him. 

"Well damn, don't look at me like that. I didn't fuckin do it." He snorted, sounding a little amused.

I glared daggers at him and spat, "don't fucking laugh as if I'm incapable of whooping your ass."

"I'm not, I'm laughing at trying to imagine you killing someone. From the anger you clearly keep pent up, I can tell you'd definitely handle yourself just fine in a fight." My heart oddly skipped a beat as I blinked a few times, unsure how to respond to that. "Anyway, I'll let you get back to your festering and brooding. Have a nice salad lunch." He waved, heading outside. I continued to sit, blinking in shock at him. The fuck does he mean I obviously could handle myself in a fight? Nobody thinks or believes that. What the fuck.

I shook my head and packed up to head out for lunch, deciding on getting pasta from one of my favorite restaurants. Their shrimp alfredo is to die for, it's so good.

Later, after work, I happily went on my way to my hideout, continuing construction on it. I finally had the walls out as far as I wanted and started pouring the concrete, which will be an incredibly tricky task since normally concrete walls underground are built without a roof of any kind. I managed relatively okay though, just pouring the first layer before adding to it so it all dries evenly and won't end up screwed.

While that begun the drying process I hauled my dirt mountain upstairs to dump it a little ways from here, don't want to leave a random dirt pile right outside my hideout. That'd just be asking others to find this place if anyone else comes out here. After that I started on the floor, digging it out a bit more so the cement floor would be the height I want it at. When I did the base of the walls I stuck the support beams in, doing one small chunk at a time.

It's been a few months and I had completed my underground shed. On top of finishing that, I finally built my first disguise suit. I had originally tried making a whole helmet but quickly learned it would get severely irritating dealing with my hair and tucking it in all the time. Assuming of course I have to put this thing on all the time, it has to be as time efficient as possible as well as taking up very little space to easily keep it near me. I made a necklace that when I push the button it forms around my neck and a mask goes over my face. A metal band goes around my head to help keep it on while not having my hair in the way and the mask is complete with a voice modifier. I bought a leotard to wear underneath the suit to hide my normal clothes. The suit I built was truly a work of art in my opinion, I'm beyond elated that I got to do something with all the schooling I went through. The chest plate is kind of boring and heavy, but if it saves my life... then obviously it'll do its job. My gloves and boots are sort of like Iron Man's, well... actually they basically are Iron Man's seeing as I modeled them off those. I don't have a Jarvis though, so building in specific movement combinations is what I have in order to use everything they can do.

Now it's time for my first full suit test run. I've adjusted the boots several times just to get it right with flying in general, but now they need to be calibrated to count in the extra weight of the chest plate.

I flew and stopped a couple times to adjust, then flying went really smooth. It went so smooth I decided to see if Mystery Guy was screwing around in the city and lo and behold he was. This being our first meeting and all I should make some kind of entrance that's intimidating, but what should I do? I haven't done much practice shooting a target, might've been smart to do that before taking myself into the field... *facepalm* whatever, here goes nothing.

I shot two plasma balls at his feet to knock him out of the air, I would've just done one but the second was a back up in case I missed the first. Thankfully I succeeded in hitting where I aimed and he did in fact fall out of the air. I flew over to where he fell so he could know who was responsible for his face meeting the cement road below him. It looked like he somersaulted when he reached the ground though, so he instantly stood up with clenched fists.

"Who the hell was that?" He snarled, voice sounding a little robotic, looking around since I stayed slightly hidden.

I checked to make sure my voice modifier is on, then I came out now that it was the perfect moment and cooed, "aw... you don't like getting beat by a girl?"

His head snapped in my direction, mask obviously hiding his expression, but his voice radiated rage, "being a girl has nothing to do with it. You seriously had the audacity to shoot me?"

I feigned thinking about it for a second, casually stepping closer before humming, "mm yeah, yeah I did."

"And why is that, hm? What made you come out of the wood work to try and stop me huh?"

"I've been planning this for months now, I just finally finished building what I needed to. I grew sick of no one else bothering to even lift a finger, just letting you run rampant doing as you pleased. So I stepped up. Clearly no one else here has the brains or balls to do it so here I am."

I was expecting him to be infuriated, annoyed, come at me to try and kill me, what I did not expect was laughter. Whole ass cackling, head thrown back laughter. Opening my mouth to say something, he said between laughs, "are you—*laugh* are you serious? *more laughing* sweetheart, nobody has faced me because they all wound up dead. You're not the first to attempt standing up to me—"

"Don't call me that, I have a name. Not that I'll ever fuckin tell you what it is." I interrupted, annoyed.

He stared at me, possibly contemplating but what would I know, then sweetly asked, "something triggered you to build things to fight me with, what was it?"

"Nothing did. And even if there was something what the hell makes you think I'd tell you?" I scoffed, glaring from behind my mask.

"Hmmm.... months now... let's see, what all have I done the past couple months... not much was news worthy, except... aw, I didn't kill your parents did I?" 

How in the fuck did he guess that so fucking fast, how did he guess at all!? Ignoring the sting in my chest I snarled, "no, you didn't actually, my parents don't even live here. I was in fact triggered by you killing innocent people though. You have no right to kill anyone, especially not people who were just going about their day minding their own business."

"Ah... well in that case you should know I wasn't the one that started the fire, someone else did and was just framing me since they haven't been caught by police."

"... why do you say that as if he has been caught?"

"Oh cause I'm the one that caught him and made him pay for it, you're welcome." He sounded like he was smiling, which was slightly unnerving. This guy makes no fricken sense, he destroys city property and yet went after the dude who he says was responsible for that fire. Is he a bad guy or is he just some vigilante? I don't get it. "I know I know, I'm easy to be in awe of but please refrain. I'm not interested. I will give you points for being able to build Iron Man's suit though, you're the first woman I've met with that much brain power. Alas I have to go now, before the cops show up. See you soon." He spoke up, dramatically putting his hand on his chest and raising his head a little. His voice snapped me out of my thoughts, remembering I'm trying to capture this guy, but he quickly flew away.

"Damn." I muttered attempting to fly after him, but he was too fast. Not long after starting this chase, I gave up and flew back to my shed. He never shot at me, which is odd for someone who's done the things he's done, but maybe I don't need this chest plate after all... it's weighing me down and making me slower. So.. I ditched it and went for another test run, freaking myself out at how much faster I was. Checking the time I realized I should be heading home.

With a sigh I packed my stuff up, hiding my suit in my trunk. Maybe I'll work on trying to make Black Panthers suit... that would be so fuckin sick. In combination with the Iron Man bits... ho man, cue geek freak out.

I also need to come up with a better hiding place, because if I happen to forget that stuff is hiding there it will be ridiculously easy for someone to come across it. As much as I hate keeping secrets from those in my life, I really don't need to be trying to explain that. Plus, I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to be hard enough trying to explain having to dash at random moments depending on what that mystery guy does. He sure is a mystery all right... and damn I'm screwed if he really is a good person...