Manav stood up from his bed, stretched, and walked cautiously toward the iron trapdoor. He stopped a few steps short, wary of Black Cat's potential tricks. Raising his head, he tried to peek through the gaps in the iron doors.
"Oh, hello, Black Cat. So… do you have a tail?" he asked with a teasing grin.
Black Cat raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Pervert, huh? Come closer, and I'll let you find out for yourself." Her voice was laced with seduction as she leaned against the trapdoor.
Manav raised his hands defensively. "Sorry, I'm not falling for that. Cats are natural schemers, and you're no exception."
"Smart boy," Black Cat purred, her smirk growing. "But what about a date? I might consider if you let me out of here."
Manav ignored the offer and changed the subject. "By the way, those blue eyes—are those contact lenses? Why not take them off? Let me see your real eyes."
She laughed softly. "They're not contacts. My eyes are naturally blue."
Manav crossed his arms, his tone turning serious. "Look, I'll consider letting you out, but only if you tell me who you really are and why you're here. You clearly did your homework before breaking in, so don't play dumb."
Black Cat tried to redirect the conversation with a sultry tone. "Why ruin the fun? Let me out, and I'll make it worth your while. Maybe even show you what a cat's tail can really do."
Manav rolled his eyes and stayed firm. "Not happening. Spill the truth, or you're staying in there."
Her expression hardened. "Fine. Don't you want to know who really killed your parents? I can tell you, but only if you let me out."
Manav's gaze darkened. "Don't bother. They died in a plane crash. And you're not leaving until I say so."
As his eyes drifted downward, something shiny caught his attention near the trapdoor. He crouched and picked up the broken half of a USB, crushed between the iron doors.
"What's this?" he muttered, examining the damaged device.
Before he could react, a grappling hook shot out from Black Cat's glove, latching onto the back of his T-shirt. The sudden tug pulled him forward, slamming him against the iron doors.
"Okay, enough games," Black Cat said, her voice icy as she tightened her grip on the back of his neck. "Now, tell me how to get out of this contraption."
Manav groaned, wincing as her sharp nails pressed into his skin. "Alright, alright! The trapdoor works with a pressure plate. If you can lift your weight off the plate, the doors will open. But—" Before he could finish, Black Cat had already jumped off the plate.
The trapdoor snapped open with blinding speed, launching Manav backward like a ragdoll. He smashed through the window, hurtling toward the street below.
Black Cat stared, momentarily stunned. "Good thing I let go in time. That could've been me," she muttered, quickly leaping out of the trapdoor. She grabbed the remaining piece of the USB and vanished into the night.
---
Manav was about to crash onto the pavement when a web shot out, yanking him back into the air. Gwen Stacy, donning her Spider-Ghost suit, swung him back through the shattered window and into his wrecked room. She landed gracefully, while Manav tumbled onto the floor.
"So, what's the story here?" Gwen asked, surveying the scene. She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "And how are you not even scratched after being flung out of your house like that?"
Manav groaned, brushing off the dust. "Just my own trap backfiring. Nothing serious."
Gwen's eyes narrowed. "What's with the giant hole in your floor? Are you digging to the center of the Earth or something? Do you even have a permit for this? My dad's going to flip if he finds out."
"Can you not?" Manav interrupted, rubbing his temples. "Why do you spider-people talk so much? It's like a condition. Put on a mask, and boom—chatterbox mode."
Gwen crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll stop. But seriously, who threw you out like that?"
Manav hesitated for a moment before shrugging. "It was just me testing a new trap design. Things got... out of hand."
'Black Cat, you're going to pay for this,' he thought bitterly. Memories of the trapdoor slamming into him flashed in his mind, making him shudder.
Gwen wasn't convinced. "Uh-huh. And the crushed USB? Care to explain?"
"I don't have to explain anything to you," Manav retorted, his frustration boiling over. "Just leave me alone."
Gwen sighed and turned to leave, pausing briefly at the broken window. "By the way, don't tell anyone about my identity, okay?"
Manav waved her off dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Your 'fallen hero's revenge' spiel or whatever. I don't care. Just leave me alone."
She hesitated, watching him for a moment. "Why are you so weird?"
"Why are you so nosy?" Manav shot back. But then his expression softened slightly, and his voice became more thoughtful. "Actually… since we're talking, how about teaming up? We could build a secret base together. I'll help you fight crime, and in return, you date me. Think of it as an adventure—saving the world and getting to know each other."
Gwen blinked, surprised by the sudden shift. "You're kidding, right? All that effort, just for a date?"
Manav gave her a half-smile. "Dead serious. Life's too short not to take a chance."
Gwen shook her head, laughing softly. "You're something else, Manav. But I think I'll pass. Maybe another time."
With that, she leapt out of the window and disappeared into the city. Manav stood there for a moment, staring at the broken window, the silence of the room settling around him.
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping. "Guess I'm not charming enough after all," he muttered to himself. A pang of sadness tugged at him, but he forced a small, self-deprecating smile.
"She's right—why would anyone waste time with me?" he thought, glancing around his wrecked room. Taking a deep breath, he shook off the gloom and resolved to focus on cleaning up. "There's always another chance," he murmured, clinging to the hope that someday, things might be different.
"Fine. Why should I cling to her only? There are plenty of fishes in the sea—Wanda, Carol, Natasha, Jean, Susan…" He started listing Marvel heroines in his mind before stopping abruptly.
"Okay, first things first: clean this mess and call someone to fix that window." He sighed and got to work, plotting his next move.