Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[siobhancan99]

Monica flew back to the apartment, risking getting pretty close. She ordered some crutches on amazon overnight, then made her way back through her window painfully. She limped into the kitchen and got a bag of ice, putting it on her knee. She tried her best to not wake Gabi, knowing the other girl would fuss and not sleep at all taking care of her. She also grabbed a cider from the fridge, pressing it to her face before draining the bottle.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica had a few texts from Zoe on her cell phone: “Hey! If you’re finished with exams and aren’t too busy, do you have a couple minutes to chat? Nothing urgent. Just got news (good news?).”

“I thought I heard someone creeping in my kitchen,” Gabi said, emerging from her bedroom in dark purple pajamas. “Does some—” The dark-eyed girl caught Monica’s face in the dim lighting over the kitchen sink. Her mouth fell open and she slipped a hand in front of it.

“Querida.” She rushed to Monica’s side, looking for a place to touch her to console her but evidently afraid of hurting her. “Oh my god. Are you…We need to get you to a doctor,” she said, softly touching the uninjured portion of her girlfriend’s face. “Sweetie.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica shook her head "no, Doctor's report shit like this to the police. We can't have a girl my height reporting these kinds of injuries right after millions of people watched the Nighthawk take a few good hits." she sighed and sat at the table, gesturing for Gabi to sit "I'll live. It isn't anything life threatening." She threaded her fingers through Gabi's "I'm taking uh. you know. some time off. I'll go to my dad's where I can hide away. Honestly its sort of fortunate that the fight was so public, it will explain my absence without people associating it with holiday break."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi nodded, still a bit dazed. As she kissed Monica’s forehead, the older girl noticed that her eyes were slightly moist. “Watched…? You were on TV?” She sat beside Monica, taking her hand. As expected, Gabi was doting on her all night, a look of constant concern on her face. “Were you…wanting to go back tomorrow? Or did you still want to hang out here together until Saturday?” she asked, it being Wednesday night currently.

It soon became evident that if Monica wanted to get any sleep, she was going to have to do so alone, not being able to position her leg optimally when curled up with her lover on the small-ish bed. “Um…Zoe called. She’s coming home—to Cottersville. She’s going to take a few online classes here this spring and try to officially transfer for next fall. She sounded pretty happy.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"oh, hon if you don't mind it being just us and hanging in the apartment... I'll stay here with you as long as you want" Monica threaded her fingers through Gabi's and held her hand. "i just can't go out and we probably shouldn't have people over. I mean, at a certain point our friends have got to figure out how I saved Hadley and maybe they're just being polite about not knowing but... " she laughed "so yeah, I'll wait till the weekend to go home. We can watch movies and you can wait on me hand and foot and make me feel better. and good for Zoe. She texted me but... I had stuff. I'll text her here in a few."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi stroked Monica’s hair. “Of course, baby. I…I wanted you all to myself for a couple of days anyways,” she says, smiling momentarily. “No worries. I think everybody’s gone home except Porter’s leaving sometime today he said.” She wrapped Monica up in a hug, though still being careful to not squeeze too hard. “Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

Sleep was difficult, as Monica found it complicated to get comfortable in her bed. Gabi had left her with a standing order to call or text her at any time if she needed anything. Eventually, Monica fell asleep.

“Saw the video online,” her father texted. “Are you okay??? Can I do anything for you? Please let me know. Love you.” A similar message of support came from Detective Knapp.

At one point, in between movie screenings, Monica caught video footage of the head of Vigil, Russell Katis, a grey-and-black haired, weather man possibly in his 40s or early 50s, praising the Nighthawk for saving him and several of his security personnel. “I owe the Nighthawk my life,” he stated. “Time and time again, she has put her life on the line to defend the people of this city. We are truly fortunate to be under her protection.”

Gabi massaged the back of her neck. “Yay! I’m glad someone is saying it.”

The day also brought a steady stream of information about Killstreak, revealing that he indeed an Australian killer-for-hire who became notorious for streaming his killings to the dark web once he became an international assassin, doing work across eastern and western Europe and South America. Not long after their fight last night, he had posted another video.

“So, I hope all you Streak-Heads out there caught Part I of my epic battle with the notorious Nighthawk! Nightie, if you’re watching out there, I want you to know, I ain’t mad atcha. In fact, I wanted to thank you delivering my biggest audience ever!” He blows kisses through his helmet. “I am a little, tiny bit peeved about you getting in the way of me and my target, especially considering the insane bank I was supposed to make, but he can wait. I’m all about you now, baby!”

He adjusted his camera. “So, Streak Team, keep watching! You are not going to want to miss Round II of our epic battle to end all battles. Later!”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Hanging up my cape for winter break dad. Will need you to come get me Sunday. Spending some time with Gabi so she doesn't you know, freak out." She texted her dad back. "Maybe I can meet your lady-friend. Paramour. Whatever you olds call it these days."

She texted Knapp as well, thanking him for the well wishes. After, she had a thought "Anyone who sponsors killstreak is an accessory right? maybe its time to shut him down by raiding anyone that advertises on his channel. Maybe arrest a few folks for watching too. The watchers are why he does it, so aren't they part of the conspiracy?" She wasn't sure how much traction the second suggestion would get, but the first might just happen.

After Killstreak's callout video, she groaned and curled an arm around Gabi "I need a publicist. I can't just... record shit on my phone and put it on Monica's instagram." She laughed "I really do need a fucking team, but I have no money. I could do a tiktok for free but I'd be worried the Chinese would be able to figure out who I am so we'd have to be careful about what device we use to upload and we'd have to do it off public wifi sources."

 

[Halcyon638]

“That sounds like a good idea,” James Bergenson replied. “Had an idea. Maybe that cop friend of yours could help fudge some reported sightings of the Nighthawk over the break? Help throw people off the scent a bit if they’re looking for a college student.” He texted a few minutes later in response to her messages about his partner, “Girlfriend. Is that still PC? Kat has been asking about you. I think she’s half-convinced I made you up. Sunday is perfect, honey. Tell Sara and Orlando I can pick up the two of you if they want.”

A bit later, Knapp texted back. “The FBI’s been their usual lovely dickish selves and haven’t exactly been tossing out the info to us lowly chucklefuck detectives, but from what I can gather, they’ve been going after whoever’s been bankrolling this asshole for years now, and word on the street is that a certain someone paid him a shit ton to kill Katis and probably you. I’ll give you two guesses as to who that Certain Someone is, but you royally pissed them off when you stopped Chromium from heisting those chemicals.”

He texted back a little later. “Do me a favor and lay low. Spending the holidays alone in this city is already going to be depressing enough. Don’t need you going and doing something stupid and getting yourself killed on me.”

Gabi nodded absent-mindedly at Monica’s discussion of social media. “Oh…yeah.” She snapped to, taking her eyes off her girlfriend’s bruised face for the moment. “Maybe that Morgan guy could help? Or some other reporter, if you’re worried about getting him in trouble.” She took a sip of tea. Letting out a small laugh, she said, “It’s actually kinda too bad that Austin isn’t around to buy us some wine or something.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica texted back "someone with a grandiose name? or you know, named after a butter company. either way." referring to the Imperial. "tell you what, you fake some sightings of me here and there and I promise not to come back for like... 3 weeks." She shifted, knee stiff and swollen, painful but at least usable. She sighed and leaned into Gabi "yeah well. I mean Austin was great at a few things but" she wrapped her arms around Gabi and squeezed her "I think i'm 1000 times better off in this apartment, sober, with you." she curled up as best she could, then dozed till the evening. She woke up around dinner starving. She ordered a large pizza, and some wings and sat back to wait on food and see what Gabi got up to.

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi smiled, returning the hug. “Absolutely, querida.” As they waited on the pizza, the dark-haired girl threw on a science podcast covering the potential of floating sea farms to generate food and fresh water, focusing on a project at the University of South Australia. “Mind if I keep this on while we eat? Professor Fischer recommended this podcast. It’s really cool. Especially when they’re covering how science might, like, save us and not how we’re all doomed.”

Afterwards, they curled up on the couch again. Monica had found a reasonably comfortable position, but still had to get up occasionally to keep it from stiffening up.

By around 11:30, Gabi and Monica were snuggled under a blanket together. “I’m so excited to go Christmas shopping for you this year. Like—I always am, but…this will be different.” She nuzzled her neck against the uninjured side of Monica’s face, kissing it softly. “I’ve never had a girlfriend or boyfriend at Christmas. Cedric doesn’t count because we dated for, like, two weeks.” She leaned into Monica now, her full, warm lips pressing against the older girl’s mouth. “I don’t want to do anything that will hurt you but…you can touch me.”

As Gabi guided Monica’s hand to her curvy form, Monica’s phone chimed once. Then a second time. Gabi smiled. When the phone chimed a 3rd time, Monica glanced down. It was her father, telling her if she’d just seen “the video.”

Within moments, Monica managed to pull it up. It was a video from Killstreak that had just gone viral minutes ago. In the thumbnail, she saw the bruised and bloodied face of Brendan Knapp.

“Hello out there, Streakers! This video actually goes out to a girl who’s near and dear to my heart,” Killstreak intoned, appearing in the background just before the detective, who appeared to be bound to a chair. “Nighthawk, bae, if you’re out there…well, you know what I want, don’t you? Just a little on one-on-one time to maybe get to know you better—your hobbies, passions, blood type—you know, second date stuff.” A gleaming knife appeared in Killstreak’s hands as he positioned the very tip of the large weapon below Knapp’s chin.

“Well, maybe two on one? Not that I’m into that kind of thing, though this guy does have kind of a DILFy vibe going on, am I right? Anyway, I’m worried that you won’t show unless I threaten grievous bodily harm on Mr. Knapp here. I’m sorry. I’ve just been hurt too many times. If you are serious, though, go to the place where you first met Brendan here and look for a red pickup truck. You’ll find further instructions there. Oh, and try to make it by 12:30 AM or the only streaming that’ll be going on is blood streaming from this guy’s neck after I cut his fucking neck open. Get it? See you soon. Love you!”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica tensed. She wasn't ready for this... but she didn't have to be. "I'm going to call in Thalmor." She picked up her phone, holding Gabi's hand "He can take the brunt of this guy." Honestly, it wouldn't bother her if Thalmor killed him. The Centauri pragmatist in her had no qualms about that. Thalmor was better, it was his job to keep her alive, and he could prove his worth. Picking up the phone she called, hoping he'd pick up. The alternative was trying to get a police sniper into the sliver. That could wait till she had a chance to talk to her fellow Centauri though.

 

[Halcyon638]

“Is that…that’s Hadley’s dad,” Gabi said. She covered her mouth with her other hand. “Oh, god. I can’t…”

“Yeah?” Thalmer answered groggily when Monica called him a little before 11:40. “Monica?”

Gabi stared down at her phone screen, replaying the video and then clicking through articles covering the same event.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Long story short, Thalmer. You still in town?" Monica put her hand on Gabi's back, trying to be reassuring. "I'm beat up, and some Australian dickhead kidnapped my friend's dad and wants to fight me. Not really up for it so if you're in town I either need you to come help, or if you have a rifle I need you to snipe him from the sliver." She winced at the thought of getting into her armor "Either way, this guy doesn't live to fight number 3" She hoped the man was still around. If not, she'd arrange for a police sniper if she had to. "I need to send a definitive message to anyone who takes hostages. The end of that road is death. It is not glorious battle. It is not fun banter. It is ruin."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Fuck,” Thalmer said, sounding as if he was just coming online. “I’m in Kentucky. I saw the video from last night, and there’s nothing more I’d like then to break this fuck into itty bitty pieces for you.” He paused. “Saw you took a pretty good hit or two last night. I almost texted you but….” He cleared his throat a bit. “Let me take a closer look at the footage and give you some pointers.”

Gabi was standing in the kitchen now, downing a glass of water.

 

[siobhancan99]

"uh. sure. yeah." She listened a moment "look I really need to call the police and arrange for backup. They're gonna want this guy and honestly. I might just let them take him out." That was the plan for now, though such plans often went awry. "I gotta get out of the building so i can call them from my burner without GPS picking up where I am and giving me away."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Fair enough. You’re not the cops,” Thalmer said, “though I’d maybe be worried about this guy getting antsy and killing the guy if you don’t play his little game.”

A few minutes later, with 40 minutes left until the deadline Killstreak had imposed, Thalmer texted. “Just watched the footage. You had the right instincts. If you do ending fighting the guy, try to get him to get him to bite on a feint or two and go for the knockout blow. He’s tough, but he’s only human. Also, plug up your ears and watch out for those flashbangs.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica suited up, painfully, and took some rope and her crutches in the sliver. She called the police from the air, letting them know where she'd be and that she'd update with information. She left it on 911 and killed the phone after so they couldn't track her. they'd come or not. She'd know more when she got to the truck. For now, she limped over to it on her crutches, looking around to see if anyone was on the street.

 

[Halcyon638]

The vehicle was parked near Zone, the club where she’d first met Brendan Knapp getting worked over by some Russian thugs. Being a weeknight, the parking lot was mostly deserted, and the street adjoining it was quiet as well. A cursory inspection didn’t reveal anything, but pulling herself into the cargo bed, she found a small red pouch. In it was a cheap smartphone.

There was an app with a single notification on the home screen. Opening up and hitting play, she saw a recorded video of Knapp, still bound and gagged, with Killstreak looming nearby. “Well, hello, love” he said, idly balancing the knife handle on his outstretched palm. “If you’re viewing this special, personalized video message, I’m about to send you some directions to follow that’ll take you to a place where we can really get to know each other—you and me, no pesky coppers or federal agents. And make sure you come alone, too—I’ve got plenty of cams watching—like in that lot, for example. Wave ‘hi’ to the blue SUV across the way! I still need to be strict about that 12:30 deadline—a literal deadline for this oldie,” he said, digging the very tip of the knife into Knapp’s shoulder, “to be sure we can be on with it before anyone interferes or you get some sneaky ideas into that head of yours. Click on the ‘files’ app when you’re ready. See you soon!” It was 12:05 now.

She found the instructions a moment later. They were leading Monica into a section of the city’s abandoned subways (which had recently been undergoing rebuilding efforts), deep underground. From the sounds of it, she would have to hurry.

 

[siobhancan99]

"great. no sliver" that meant walking, which was not great. She called the police and gave the location as best she could. That way if shit went south there might be some cavalry in tow. maybe, maybe not. She couldn't leave Knapp to this though. She made her way down into the tunnels. Being on crutches ironically let her go somewhat faster than walking at a normal human pace, though it could be awkward on the tracks. She'd make it as far as she could before she had to hobble. She made sure not to dawdle, heading into the dark, paying careful attention so as not to get off track.

 

[Halcyon638]

The trek downward was taking longer than Monica expected. It had fortunately taken the Sliver only about 12 minutes to zip over to the entrance to the tunnels, but even with her using the crutches to compensate, there were many stairs to traverse. The clock ticked onward—12:22. 12:24. 12:27.

The musty, bleak tunnels opened up into a vast, cavernous space, looking like a ruined Grand Central Station, just as the digital display showed 12:29. An abandoned but surprisingly not decrepit subway car stretched out, two pillars that held up the massive vaulted ceiling framing it neatly between them. Through one of the windows, Monica could see Knapp, tied up and gagged, but no sign of Killstreak.

“Oohhh, that was a close one!” she heard him declare as he appeared, swinging from the entrance to the subway car and then landing on his feet. He began walking toward Monica as she surmounted the final batch of stairs, casually twirling his club now. “You had my followers on the edge of their virtual seats.” He was about 20 feet from the car now. “What do you say, love? Shall we get to it?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Leaning on her crutches she shook her head "get to what? you beating up a girl on crutches? That's what your six million followers pay to see? ooooh you're so bad ass kidnapping a middle aged cop and fighting a girl with a broken leg. what's your next trick? taking on two six year olds at soccer? I mean football. or whatever. I guess you have football too. " she wanted him to come at her, and thus away from Knapp. "Does it bother you you're not even man enough to use your fists? later when you take viagra to get it up so you can fuck the hookers you have to pay for for sex, will you wonder if they know you couldn't even take on an injured woman with your bare hands? that you're too much of a pathetic loser?"

She shook her head "For all you watcher's out there, there's a guy that does fight me and fight me well with his bare hands. his name's metallo or some shit. He's the real deal. That guy fucks."

 

[Halcyon638]

Killstreak tilted his helmeted head from side to side as Monica taunted him. “Now hold on. First of all, this is a Christian stream, so I’ll ask you to refrain from the filthy talk. Secondly, you dented a bloody car with your bare hands, lady. Not exactly fair.”

He flips the clubs out horizontally, then just as rapidly sheathes them. “Lucky for you, beating up a girl on crutches with my bare hands, is, coincidentally, the only thing that can get me hard any more.” The assassin took a few quick steps toward Monica now, preparing for the attack, but even in her hobbled state, she saw the first opening.

 

[siobhancan99]

"So what you're saying is that you want people to murder you. You know, do unto others. You also want them to do it while sounding like the old guy from 'Fisk' then? I mean at least he's the best character on the show." She feinted with a crutch, as if she was going to try to use to sweep the leg, then dropped both of them and threw a hard blow for his chest, looking to break through the armor encasing him. This fight had to end fast if she was going to have any chance. "Crikey? that's something you say right?"

 

[Halcyon638]

“Ohh, I see how it is,” Killstreak said as Monica’s crutches clattered to the ground. He didn’t seem thrown by the feint and kept his defensive stance, but as he went to parry her fist with his open hand, it slipped by him, crashing against his sternum. He let out a groan of pain. “Unnhh. That’s…racist,” he managed, though his tone was less performative than before.

He came back with a feint of his own, teasing a low punch before attempting to smash Monica with his elbow, but missing badly.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica leaned as if she was going to come in with her right, then stepped in and threw a hard jab with her left. She couldn't really kick with her leg in as bad shape as it was, so she had to get in close and try to use her fists. He was taller and had a longer reach, so she had to be careful "Killstreak is ending tonight, buddy."