UNMASKED

#16

Eli watched as Matthew got ready to head out. Not his favorite thing to do, but he couldn't really be expected to be happy about his boyfriend going out to possibly get the crap beaten out of him.

Still, Matthew was committed to finding the guy so dedicated to killing them and Adria had just called them with some news about the guy's whereabouts. At the very least, she had provided Matthew with some things to make it easier before tossing him to the wolves. Which didn't mean all that much to Eli, honestly. He still regularly felt like tossing her out the window.

"This is some really good quality stuff," Matthew said, happily admiring his new stab resistant vest as he tested out just how much mobility it allowed him. "You know, she said it actually had some ballistic resistance," he added. Eli wasn't even surprised at how absolutely pleased Matthew was about it.

"Great, but don't test it out too much," Eli said drily.

"It's not like I'm going to get stabbed or shot on purpose," Matthew said. Eli just stared, very unimpressed. "I'm not!"

"Well, just try not to get shot or stabbed in general." Matthew just gave a little half smile as he walked over to Eli.

"I'll do my best. But only because you asked so nicely." And then, he winked, and Eli just barely kept himself from rolling his eyes.

"So, what's the plan? You're just gonna swoop in, beat some poor unsuspecting asshole and then throw them in jail?" It was, after all, how Matthew did things in general.

"Unfortunately, no. Adria said there will be plenty of security, considering a bunch of organized crime leaders are meeting up for tea and cookies at the docks," Matthew said, still too cheerful for Eli's liking. If it weren't for his stupid outfit, one woud never guess the idiot was about to go infiltrate a freaking meeting between what was literally everyone who wanted him dead.

"And what if the guy you're after isn't there?" Eli honestly kind of hoped he wasn't. If only because Matthew was exponentially less likely to get murdered that way.

"He will be. At least, according to Adria's informant."

That didn't inspire a lot of confidence in Eli. Especially when he recalled that said informant was one of Fisk's men, who'd joined up with the new guy to keep an eye on him for Adria. At least, that's what he claimed. Personally, Eli thought it was just as likely that he was trying to play both sides to stay alive until things settled down. Apparently, some of his disbelief must have shown on his face, because the next thing he knew, Matthew was wrapping his arms around him and looking down at him with that damn expression that always made Eli's face heat up.

"I'll be fine," Matthew said, a soft smile on his face. "I promise."

Eli really wanted to believe that.

But then, he remembered the time the asshole promised to come back soon before he went off for a year without so much as a note. Honestly, Matthew didn't have the best track record when it came to promises.

"Just, don't do anything stupid," Eli said with a sigh. Matthew snorted, probably because it was a pretty ridiculous request to make of someone who routinely did a plethora of stupid things.

"Well, that'll be tough, but I'll do my best." Eli didn't look too impressed at that. "Don't worry, I'll be in contact with Adria in case anything goes wrong," Matthew added, tapping the earpiece he'd been provided.

"Oh, well then., thank God you'll have the daughter of the crook you stuck in jail looking out for you. I feel so much better now." Sometimes, Eli impressed himself with the levels of sarcasm he could reach.