It was a quiet, chilly night in New York City. But it was too quite, the kind where the silence felt almost like calm before the storm. Spider-Man was on top of a tall tower in Midtown, his eyes scanning the streets below. Patrolling at night had become a routine, but tonight felt... different.
I need something interesting to happen tonight, Peter thought. The last few nights have been nothing but petty thieves and graffiti artists.
As if on cue, his enhanced senses tingled. The rapid adaptibility picking up sounds from far away, even the crimes his PC hadn't detected. If this keeps up,it won't be long before I develop observation haki, Peter laughed to himself.
His head snapped toward the source of the disturbance. A jewelry store on 5th Avenue had its rooftop door slightly ajar.
Bingo.
Peter swung over, landing silently on the rooftop. Inside, a figure dressed in black was moving gracefully, her movements feline and precise. Her silver hair shimmered under the faint light, and the small mask she wore did little to hide her striking features.
"Black Cat," Peter muttered to himself. Recognising her was easy, not many had that silver hair. At least Superman had an excuse that his kryptonian glasses could alter his appearance. The Black Cat mask is even worse than Red Sonja's armour.
She was in the middle of cutting through a display case when Spider-Man slipped in through the skylight, his steps as quiet as hers. Just as she grabbed a necklace, he shot a web onto her wrist, halting her mid-motion.
"Careful, kitten. You almost tripped the alarm," he whispered.
Felicia froze for half a second, then smirked, her eyes glinting under her mask. "Spider," she purred. "Watching a girl steal? Naughty."
He flipped down, landing lightly in front of her. "Keep it back."
Black Cat feigned a sigh. Instead, she looked at him with a smirk, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Spider-Man,are you really going to harm a girl?"
The tension in the room shifted as Peter stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Have you ever seen a wild beast you were sure would not bite?"
She chuckled softly. "Oh, come on hero! I'm only borrowing this."
"Borrowing? That's what you're going with?" he asked, tilting his head.
Before she could respond, her elbow shot out, aiming for his side. Spider-Man dodged easily, but as he countered with a light web shot, she twisted out of the way. Their fight began, a dance of agility and precision as they moved around the store, careful not to trip the alarm.
Impressive speed and skill... For a street level character, that is. Let's see how this goes. She wasn't just graceful, she was smart and with Peter holding back, she kept up with the pace. And she was quick to fire back with flirty remarks, each one leaving him more amused than annoyed.
"Soft hands," he mused. "Didn't take you for the moisturizing type."
Felicia spun, slipping free like silk and sending a sharp kick toward his ribs. He barely blocked it before she flipped over him, landing gracefully.
Just then, BEEEEEEEEEP!
The alarm blared.
Felicia laughed. "Oops."
Security lights flared. Peter smirked slightly,"Really? You had one job."
Felicia winked. "See you outside, Spidey."
She threw a smoke pellet and vanished. Peter coughed, webbing to the ceiling just as the guards rushed in.
"Hah! The night just keeps getting better by the second," he chased, bursting through the skylight.
On a rooftop several blocks away, Spider-Man caught up with her, within seconds. Black Cat stood with her back to him, the city lights framing her silhouette.
"Going somewhere?" Peter asked, landing behind her.
She turned, holding the necklace up. "Just heading home with my prize. Unless you want to stop me?"
"I do," Peter said, stepping closer. His voice dropped an octave, laced with confidence. "And I will."
Without replying, Black Cat sprinted across the rooftops, the diamond necklace clutched in her gloved hand. Spider-Man swung above her, his webs cutting through the air as he stayed effortlessly on her tail.
"You know," he called out, "if you wanted to run rooftops with me, you could've just asked. No need for the grand theft."
Felicia glanced back with a smirk. "Where's the fun in that?"
She suddenly changed direction, flipping off a ledge and landing gracefully on the next building. Peter followed, but just as he reached her, she twisted mid-air and slashed at him with her claws. He dodged, grabbing her wrist before she could strike again.
"Feisty," he mused, yanking her closer.
She didn't resist. Instead, she pressed against him, her lips just inches from his mask. "You like that, don't you?" she purred.
Peter smirked under the mask. "What I like," he said, plucking the necklace from her hand, "is getting what I came for."
Felicia blinked. In that brief moment of distraction, he webbed her wrist to the rooftop railing. She tested the web, but it held firm.
Peter leaned in, his voice low and smooth. "I'm letting you go. This time."
Felicia's smirk returned. "And if I don't behave?"
Peter tilted his head, his voice dropping to a deep whisper. "Then next time, I'll tie you up properly."
Her breath hitched slightly, but when she looked up, he was already gone, the necklace safe in his grasp.
She licked her lips, eyes gleaming. Interesting.
Back at home, Peter barely got any sleep. His mind raced with thoughts about Black Cat and the encounter they'd shared.
She's nothing like I expected, he thought, lying on his bed. Dangerous? Sure. But there's something about her.
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. There was no time for distractions.
The next morning, Peter woke early, his body refreshed despite the lack of sleep. His rapid adaptability seemed to be working overtime, reducing his need for rest.
"Am I turning into a cultivator or something?" he muttered, staring at his reflection. "Next thing you know, I'll be pale, pretty, and glowing with a jade-like skin."
The idea sent a shiver down his spine.
Later, Peter sat down to order raw materials for his new armor. He'd been planning it for weeks, but now it was time to take the next step. However, as he browsed through the list, he realized something important.
Where am I going to keep all this stuff?
He needed a base... a lair, something discreet and out of the way. After some quick research, he decided to contact a realtor later in the day.
Money was also a growing issue. The best way to earn more, is investing.. Investing in something he knew would grow exponentially within years.
Peter had always known Bitcoin's future value, so he started investing early. Using his advanced intelligence, he created an anonymous digital wallet and bought in while prices were still low. He spread purchases across multiple platforms, ensuring anonymity. He bought more, treating it like a long-term investment.
Meanwhile, news about Tony Stark's disappearance continued to dominate headlines. Stark Industries' shares were plummeting, and Peter knew it was only a matter of time before Obadiah Stane made his move.
If I can buy enough shares anonymously, I might be able to prevent a hostile takeover, Peter thought. But to do that, he'd need an offshore company... and a lawyer to handle the details.
Luckily, he knew just the person to call.
"This is going to be fun," Peter muttered, a small smile creeping across his face.
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Thank you for the support. The next bonus chapter will be uploaded in Auxillary, as prologue. Next bonus chapter at 550 stones.