"Okay, you can leave," I said, keeping my voice steady. Jessica and Matt both froze, caught off guard.
Jessica's eyes narrowed, confusion mixed with defiance on her face. Matt tilted his head slightly, like he was trying to read something I wasn't saying out loud. I didn't feel like explaining.
From what Jessica had told me, her story mostly checked out. Her past, her powers—it was like an amalgamation of the comics and the MCU, but with a few twists.
The car crash? She was the only survivor.
Her dad? Worked at Stark Industries, which just made her story scream "trouble."
And yeah, people could argue all day about whether her series was canon, but with Daredevil showing up in She-Hulk and No Way Home, we all knew the answer.
Those thighs .
Concentrate.
Her life had been a mess, from her family dying to the second set of parents trying to rebuild her, only for Kilgrave to completely tear her apart.
Jessica Jones was tough, no doubt. A survivor who'd been through hell and back. But for what I needed right now? She wasn't it.
"You're free to go," I said again, leaning casually against the wall.
Matt stayed still, not moving, his silence practically screaming the question he wasn't asking.
Jessica scoffed, her voice dripping with suspicion. "What's your angle?"
"No angle," I replied flatly. "You're not my problem anymore."
Her glare sharpened, but I kept going. "You attacked us yesterday because of Kilgrave. Now that we've got him, there's no reason for you to stay. You can leave now or stick around a bit—it's your call."
She didn't say anything, but her eyes were doing all the talking, trying to figure out if I was serious.
"From what you've told me, most people probably think you're dead," I added. "You've got no one. No safety net. Nothing to fall back on."
Her jaw tightened, but she didn't argue.
"And yeah, you're special," I said with a shrug. "But not special enough for me to need you here. So go, or don't. I don't care."
Jessica just stared at me, her silence louder than any words she could've thrown back.
"Just remember," I added, my tone firm, "out there, most people don't like supers—especially the government. If they spot you, they'll either capture you or kill you, depending on what they need."
Jessica's eyes darkened, but she didn't interrupt.
"If they capture you," I continued, "your life depends on who gets you and what they want. Maybe they'll experiment on you, trying to replicate your powers. Maybe they'll turn you into some loyal agent. Either way, it won't be your choice."
Her silence told me she understood. Her life couldn't go back to what it used to be. Kilgrave had made sure of that. Every crime he committed while controlling her was carefully calculated to leave no trail leading back to him—or to her.
But now? If she walked openly and someone recognized her, it'd be a problem. A big one. And she knew it.
"What about Kilgrave?" she asked suddenly, her voice sharp. Her eyes locked onto mine, full of fire and determination.
"What about him?" I asked back, meeting her gaze.
She didn't flinch. "Why are you keeping him?"
I sighed, already knowing where this was going. "Well, because," I started, letting the words hang for a moment.
Jessica leaned forward, her frustration boiling over.
"Because I captured him," I said casually.
Her expression darkened, fierce and unrelenting, like she was about to rip me apart.
"I'm asking why you've captured him. Why haven't you killed him yet?" Her voice was cold, her anger barely restrained. "Do you even know what he's done? He's murdered people. Controlled them. And raped—God knows how many."
"Oh, I know," I said with a shrug. "He confessed everything—how he controls people, manipulates them, every crime he's committed."
Jessica's face twisted, confusion mingling with disbelief.
She glanced at Matt, her eyes asking for confirmation.
"He did confess," Matt said, his voice calm but firm. "Every murder. Every act of manipulation. How he used you to kill—families, shop owners, anyone he wanted. He even admitted to killing his own parents."
Jessica's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. She believed him now. Kilgrave himself had admitted to killing his parents weeks ago.
Her shock quickly turned to fury. "And you're letting him live?"
Her anger bubbled over, but I stayed calm.
"I've got my own reasons," I said evenly. "You don't have to like them."
Her glare burned into me, but I didn't flinch.
Kilgrave needs to live. At least until I've gotten everything I need from him.
Jessica's fists clenched, her anger palpable. But for now, she didn't argue. She just stared at me, the fire in her eyes refusing to die.
Then suddenly—Gurrrr.
The sound was loud and unmistakable. Jessica froze, her face instantly changing as a deep blush crept up her cheeks.
"Wow," I said, raising an eyebrow, smirking. "Didn't think I'd get that kind of response."
She shot me a death glare, but the redness on her face said it all.
"Relax, Jones," I said, still grinning. "I didn't realize arguing with me worked up such an appetite."
She muttered something under her breath, probably a curse, but her stomach growled again, cutting her off.
"Let her out," I said to Matt, turning to leave. "I brought breakfast for everyone, anyway."
I paused at the door and glanced back. "Just… don't eat like you're trying to fight the food, alright?"
Her frustrated groan followed me as I walked out.