(Bloodwraith POV)

I sighed to myself, sniffing deeply into Jason's shirt that I "borrowed" from his room when he wasn't in there. It was much more difficult than usual, not having my powers. With them it's easier to steal-

AHEM! Borrow one of his recently worn shirts.

Ah, truly the greatest smell~!

How incredibly wonderful! This scent is something that I don't think I could live without anymore! It's just so addicting...

Oh, Jason~!

"Ehehehe..." I giggled to myself, rolling across the roof as I continued to huff his scent into my lungs, taking up as much as I could.

All mine~!

"And what are you doing?" A voice entered my ears.

FUCK!

"What do you want?" I glared at Foxfire, holding the shirt close to my chest as I sat up. She was clad in black, wearing her ninja-like attire.

She gazed at me with a disapproving stare, bags under her eyes.

"Did you forget we were meeting here?" Foxfire questioned.

"Of course not!" I grinned. "But I'm surprised you actually saw me!"

"It's hard not to when you're rolling across the roof like that..." Foxfire sighed. "...did you forget that your power has been temporarily disabled?"

"I didn't forget." I rolled my eyes at her foolishness.

Her eyes trailed down to the shirt in my hands, thoughts going through her mind. Immediately I knew what this little skank was up to-!

She lunged forwards at a surprising speed. I barely rolled to the side, keeping the shirt in my safe clutches.

"Hand it over." Foxfire ordered.

"Why should I?" I spat.

"We're working together, aren't we?" I could feel the smile in her words. "You should share if you'd like to keep my support."

I grit my teeth in frustration.

THIS LITTLE-!

"You better hope you don't make me have to kill you." I frowned, tossing her the shirt. She caught it in one hand, using the other to pull down the mask covering the lower half of her face. "Because I will make it VERY painful."

She pulled the shirt up to her face, taking in a deep sniff. She sighed in bliss, standing there for a few seconds with closed eyes as if she had just entered heaven.

I bit on my nails, glaring at her with jealousy and anger as she continued to take in all of Jason's scent.

It should've been me!

Not her!

How dare you steal this from me! I'm the one who did the work in acquiring that incredible find!

"So this is his smell..." Foxfire smiled to herself, clutching the shirt closely to her chest. A blush could be seen across her face despite the night as her legs started to lightly shake.

"...this confirms that you are living with Checkmate then." Foxfire frowned.

Stop being smart. Because I will not hesitate to slit your throat if needed be. I don't need my powers to teach a person a lesson.

Don't cross these boundaries if you value your life~!

"Are you sure about that?" I grinned, leaning my face onto my head. "Maybe I snuck into his house?"

"Don't try to trick me." Foxfire frowned. "I also assume you know his real name, then?"

You've stepped past the line.

"I am not telling you." I spat, pointing my umbrella at her, feeling my eyes becoming empty as I threatened her. "In fact, why don't you-?"

"Jason." Foxfire stated.

I froze.

"...what?" I questioned.

"I know his name too. I'm not some random stranger to him, you know?" Foxfire started to chuckle strangely.

She pulled down her hood, revealing a cute girl around my age with long brown hair tied into a ponytail.

"The reason I'm helping you is because it'll help him, you know?" She crookedly grinned, extending her arms. "So that he'll praise me! So that he'll accept me!"

She giggled to herself, tightly hugging the shirt to her chest once more. "It doesn't matter what stands in the way...surely, you understand? Don't you?"

She stared into my eyes, and once again I was reminded of why I agreed to this deal in the first place.

I laughed as my own crooked grin came to my face.

Who knew it'd be sooooooo nice to have a kindred spirit~!

"I perfectly understand~!" I happily hummed, dropping my umbrella as I skipped over to her. "I think I was right. We really will get along swimmingly, Foxfire~!"

"I'm glad. But don't call me Foxfire." She replied. "After all, I'm still doing hero work during the day."

"Then what would you like me to call you, hm?" I wondered.

"Let's go with...Kasai." Foxfire decided, pulling her hood and face mask back up.

"Is that supposed to be a ninja codename or something?" I questioned.

"Something like that." A smirk played upon her tone of voice. She passed me back the shirt, which I immediately shoved back into my face once more.

"You're not good at names, are you?" I spoke with muffled words as I refused to stop shoving the shirt into my face.

"Please, at least I'm not Stellar." Foxfire-ahem, Kasai scoffed. "She's the one who first deemed him Ski Mask."

"It works for him~!" I happily hummed.

"Yes, but only he can make it work that well." Kasai replied. "Anyways, I've done my research."

"And?" I replied.

"Wilson Waverson, the CEO of Waverson Corporation, and our target." Kasai continued. "According to an information broker known as Davon, he's come to Champion City because of a new, big project."

"The power suppressors." I muttered.

"He's bought a facility on the edge of the city, where he's started to conduct research." Kasai continued. "Information about what's there is surprisingly sparse."

"Not surprised it's a well kept secret." I stated.

"Yes. However, I was able to obtain this." She pulled out a rolled up piece of paper before unfolding it to reveal blueprints.

"These are the original blueprints to the building. Not sure about what changes to the layout have been made since Waverson's acquisition..." Kasai continued. "...but it can't have been too major, hasn't been long enough."

"So we have a general layout, just not what the rooms are specifically used for?" I bore over the blueprints, taking in all of the details.

"Yes." Kasai nodded.

"Good." I grinned. "This'll be perfect. Until my powers return, this'll be a good warm-up."

"Are you sure?" Kasai asked. "It might be better to wait for your power to return. Then you can just easily assassinate him, right?"

"If it was that easy, I would've done it ages ago." I growled. "No, he's an annoying piece of crap. It's time I finally tell you about that damn Waverson..."

"I'm listening." Kasai nodded.

I took a deep breath, and then a deep sniff of Jason's shirt, before then continuing.

Ah, bliss~!

"...he has an S-Genome. And his power is...very circumstantial but strong." I frowned. "It'll be greatly in our favor if we can use his own power suppressor against him."

"I'm surprised you're saying that." Kasai replied, raising an eyebrow. "The most dangerous assassin and hitman in all of Champion City."

"He has the power to issue commands that can't be refused." I stated. "And long ago, he issued two commands from me."

"My powers would never work against him." I continued. "And my hand could never raise against him either."

"What?" Kasai questioned. "How the hell does that work?"

"His words hold power when used in a certain way." I frowned. "You don't need to worry about him using the power against you. It has a special set of circumstances that needs to be followed."

"But when those conditions are fulfilled..." I growled to myself. "...those commands are practically unstoppable. Stronger the command, the more drain on his body. Let alone the fact he hasn't let go of them over all these years..."

"I can't do anything against him." I spat. "But you can. You can finally rid the world of his miserable presence."

"Why me?" Kasai questioned.

"I can't...bring myself to involve him into this." I muttered, bringing my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. "I will not let my past get him compromised. He's the first one to make me fall like this, I won't forgive myself if I cause his demise..."

Jason...

I don't want to show you this weak side of myself.

I don't want you to know of this past.

You already have accepted this bloody, unforgiving, and unrelenting murderer with open arms.

I cannot risk you getting captured.

Getting experimented on again.

Not by that piece of shit.

I will make sure he is rid from this world for you, my love.

I will do anything for you, my love~!

"...I understand." Kasai sighed. "I don't intend on backing out of my deal. We now know our next step. Now what are those conditions?"

And as I continued to explain to her, at this time, I had no idea of the person that had been secretly listening the whole time.

I think part of it was because I was out of it, the past having finally come to haunt me again.

But part of it is because you're simply so amazing, my love~!

Always two steps ahead, Jason.

No wonder you deemed yourself Checkmate~!