Comic/movie: The Amazing Spider-man

Pairing: Spider-man/Black Cat

Genre: Romance, Humor

Rating: T

A/N: I hope that they put Black Cat in the movies seeing as how she is my favorite of Spidey's girlfriends. I will admit that I really like how they portrayed Gwen in the new movie; Emma Stone did a great job! For looks-wise, since this fanfic takes place in The Amazing Spider-man movieverse, I'm picturing Felicia looking like Carey Mulligan. You, of course, are free to picture her however you want :) I hope you enjoy dear reader.

There will be no bashing in this fanfic of Gwen Stacy or villainizing of her. I feel like I have to say this because sometimes people are turned off to fanfics because of a character being treated unfairly or being handled in an out of character fashion. I like Peter/Gwen as much as I like Spidey/Black Cat (and yes, there is a reason I'm using those names specifically haha).

Stolen

Seven Years Ago

Felicia Hardy had always been "daddy's little girl." In her mannerisms, quirks, habits, personality…she was her father's child. She had her mother's facial structure and eyes though, a striking emerald green that shone out like a predator's from her smooth face framed by her long, flowing platinum blonde hair. There was never any doubt in anyone's mind that knew the family that she was her parents' daughter and they doted on her like she was the only thing in the world and, perhaps to them, she was.

Little Felicia grew up idolizing her father; he could do no wrong in her eyes and nothing that anyone said or did could change her opinion of him. She wanted to be just like him, to be great like he was. She loved him more than anything and would have gladly given up all her material possessions to spend more time with him.

Now, she loved her mother too but her feelings her father were strong. She had a bond with him, had inherited what he called the "Hardy Gene" and that there was something between them, something in their very genetic makeup, that made them understand each other like no one ever could. They were Hardys and Hardys were talented. In what they were exactly talented he would never tell her, even when she begged him to. Whenever he would open his mouth, the explanation on the verge of his lips, her mother would appear seemingly out of thin air and shot him a cross look that would get him to shut up instantly.

Felicia hated it when her mother did that.

Just as she had a bond with her father, an understanding that no one without the "Hardy Gene" could have, there was a bond between her parents. Of course that was only natural, as they were married, but it irritated Felicia to no end that there was something her mother knew that she did not. Her father would always smile and tell her, "Someday…someday you'll know," but when would that someday come? She was ten years old; she wasn't a baby!

Still, she'd accept his answer with a smile and a nod, reading the apology in his crystal blue eyes. Then he'd swoop her up in his arms, making her giggle and laugh until she forgot that she had been mad.

She always figured that he would tell her one day despite her mother's looks. Someday would come sooner than later and then she would be in on the grand secret and wouldn't be in the dark anymore. Someday she'd be able join him in whatever it was he did and she'd be the best at it and make him proud. Someday she'd be as talented as him and show her mother that she needn't have worried…

…But sadly, someday never came.

She would never forget that morning, that morning that she bounced down the stairs at 8 o'clock all ready and chipper for school. He'd always be there at the table, bags under his eyes and a tired look on his face but he was always happy to see his little kitten before she left for school. He always had time for her, despite the fact that his job kept him up all hours of the night. But that day, that morning, had not been the morning she was used to seeing.

As she had skipped into the kitchen, a sleepy grin slapped across her face, her hair still an unruly mess, she had stopped short when she came within range of the front door. Her mother, normally well-kept and composed looking, had frazzled hair and blood shot eyes. Her makeup wasn't on and she looked years beyond her actual age. Her blonde hair was as messy as her daughter's and Felicia, knowing that her mother dreaded looking like she had just crawled out of bed, had felt her stomach plummet and hit the floor as she saw just who her mother was talking to. A policeman.

"Felicia, sweetie," her mother had said, her voice haggard and rough, "go wait in your room, alright? Mommy will be up in just a second, ok?"

Felicia, being the bright ten year-old that she was, had just shaken her head. Where was her father? Why did her mother look like she'd seen a ghost? And why was there a policeman—and here Felicia had narrowed her jade eyes to get a good look at the man, noticing that he had black hair that was graying, was slightly underweight and rather athletic with hazel eyes that spoke of a soul much older than the body it was housed in—at their front door talking to her? "No. Where's Daddy?"

Lydia, her mother, had bit her lip in agitation. Looking once to the officer and then back at her daughter. Rubbing her temple with her right hand in agitation, she had closed her eyes and thought to herself for a minute before opening her eyes again and focusing in on her daughter. Firm resolve shone bright within her, something changing and clicking as she stared at her little girl. Felicia had known right then and there that something had changed forever, that the way things had been had been stolen from her, taken away by some mysterious thief in the night.

Fear had tied her gut into knots and something had begun to gnaw at her stomach. Her heart had sped up and her skin had become covered with a cool sheen of sweat. She had felt sick to her stomach and had known that the next words out of her mother's mouth would rock her perfect little world.

"Felicia…Daddy won't be coming home."

Felicia had swallowed hard, nearly choking. "What do you mean? Is he late?" Her mouth had felt like cotton and even getting those words out had been nearly impossible for her.

Not looking away, not even flinching, her mother's voice had taken on a cool almost sinister tone. "No Felicia. Daddy won't ever be coming home."

Felicia Hardy—Daddy's Little Girl, Walter Hardy's kitten, the Talented, the inheritor of the "Hardy Gene"—had turned around and fled upstairs to her room, tears burning her eyes, not wanting to find out what had happened to her daddy.

Flinging herself onto her bed, she had curled up and cried silently to herself, vowing to the gods above that whatever cruel being had torn her father away from her—be it the police, death itself, or some other tragedy—would pay.

Present Day

Peter Parker leaned back in class, barely listening as his Lit teacher droned on in front of him. It was a boring day, another boring lesson. He'd read the book in particular that she was talking about, mainly because it had been required reading and he didn't want to fail the class, and he hadn't been impressed with it. It had just been so…dark. He was surprised that they had even been allowed to read it; the book, one in the first of a trilogy, had dealt with many darker themes, disturbing ones even. It hadn't been a classic and he hadn't recalled seeing it on the #1 New York Times list either, but perhaps he had missed it. He wasn't really into reading fiction, not when non-fiction and science and logical fact was so much more interesting.

"Mr. Parker!"

The teacher's sharp voice shocked him out of his stupor. His head snapped forward quickly and giggles came from all around him. He felt his cheeks flush a little.

"Uh, yes?" he asked stupidly.

The teacher narrowed her black eyes at him in a threatening manner.

"Pray tell, Mr. Parker, what were Azoth's reasons for becoming a wetboy—an assassin? Was he motivated by greed? Love? Or was it simply Destiny?"

Peter licked his lips, his mind digging up the pages of the novel he had skimmed over. Reasons? What reasons…there were quite a few, but knowing Teach…she's gonna not want the obvious answers, especially since she just listed them…

As his mind worked, the blonde head in front of him shifted ever so slightly, maneuvering just so so their eyes could reach his. Peter couldn't help the small grin that spread its way across his panicking face, giving him a rather comical look. Gwen Stacy peered out at him from under her perfectly-cut blonde bangs, her eyes full of amusement and mirth.

She knew the answer no doubt; she was just as intelligent as he was, with a love of facts and science, married with a fascination of the fictional. He envied her a bit in that regard; oh sure, he enjoyed fiction and fantasy because they inspired the imagination and the imagination was what got things invented and created, but he wasn't really good at diving into the complex and deep morals that their Lit teacher seemed insistent on saying existed in every book. Sometimes the drapes were blue because the drapes were blue, not because the author was trying to say that they character was depressed and the drapes reflected that or some other hogwash.

Sometimes things were simple. Sometimes things didn't need to be complicated. Sometimes things were both. Like his life. He was both Peter Parker and the infamous/famous Spider-man. Maybe having a duel identity would cause some to go insane but he tried to not overthink it too much.

"We're waiting Mr. Parker," the teacher said after a minute had gone by, a minute in which Peter's mind had been anywhere but where it should have been. Sometimes he wished he could just web her mouth shut and let him stay in his land of dreams…

Clearing his throat, he said. "Ah! Yes! Azoth, later known as Kylar Stern," he threw in that bit to show that he had indeed at least read the book, "became a wetboy for the very reasons you gave but also because of…" It was here that he launched into some great explanation that had been borne in his mind out of desperation and out of part of what he'd read. He didn't believe a single word that left his mouth, but all that mattered was if his teacher bought it or not.

With a touch of pride, he noticed that some of the other students in the class—the ones that actually gave a crap about this sort of thing—were taking notes rapidly, nodding their heads in approval as he wove his tale. His eyes flicked down to meet Gwen's again and he saw that she knew that he was bull-crapping. Her eyes were warm and lit up with humor, her pretty mouth curved up in a luscious smile that made his heart do funny things in his chest.

"…and then…"

"Alright! That's enough Mr. Parker!" the teacher suddenly cut him off, eyeing the clock. "You made some very interesting points, points that we, as a class, will discuss in depth tomorrow."

A collective groan rose from the wearied souls in the seats as they gathered their things. The bell rang and their efforts suddenly doubled, not wanting to be late to their next class.

Pushing a satisfied smirk off of his face at his save, Peter had deftly swung his backpack onto his shoulder, reaching down and picking up Gwen's as well. She flashed him another smile, showing her pearly white teeth and the two walked to the front of the room together.

"I'll see you all later," the teacher called out as her students fled out the door. "Don't forget! Discussion! Tomorrow! Put some thought into what you're going to say tonight or prepared to be grilled!"

-o-o-

"Sheesh!" Peter exclaimed once they were well out of earshot of their psychotic Lit teacher. "That women! You'd think that the lessons of history were implanted in those books she makes us read!"

"Stop it Pete!" Gwen said, playfully smack his chest. "You know how passionate she is about that stuff. Be nice."

Peter shrugged. "To each his own I suppose."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Come off it Pete. You're no better when it comes to your passions."

"Well, yeah, but my passions are totally different than hers," he remarked a bit arrogantly.

"Oh? And how so?" Gwen asked, looking up at him curiously, a thin eyebrow arched.

Peter grinned, his eyes twinkling. "My passions are way cooler."

"Oh you!"

The two walked together to where their lockers were, laughing and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. It was mindless prattle, the words of young people in love. What they really wanted to discuss, what they really wanted to do, couldn't be discussed or done in a public setting. It was nothing devious or immoral, but there were things that were not suitable to be overheard by other ears and public displays of affection weren't welcome during school hours on school grounds.

They were still relatively new in this little game of love, still fresh and raw. There was an excitement to everything they did, only enhanced by the secret that they alone shared. They were unlike most couples their age and they knew it. They had something more, something deeper. What they had was more than physical attraction, it was more than airy words thrown about carelessly and with reckless abandon. There was more to the flirting, more to the actions, more to everything they did.

Unlike most people their age, they had seen tragedy, witnessed it with their own eyes and tasted its life-draining poison. They had drunk from a cup overflowing with sorrow and nearly drowned in it, only to be rescued by the other. They wouldn't go so far as to say that they were soul mates but they came pretty darn close to it, at least they thought so.

"Well Peter," Gwen sighed, unlocking her locker and shoving in her Lit books before grabbing new ones. "I'd love to stay and chat but I've got class on the other side of the building."

Peter nodded his head, leaning against the locker next to hers. "Yup. I know. I've got a free period next, so I suppose I could walk you there. 'Cause you know…you need the protection," he half-joked. It hadn't been that long ago since Dr. Connors in his lizard form had rampaged through the school, determined to end Peter's life before he became a bigger threat to his plans. The memory was still fresh in the young man's mind, as was the danger Gwen had put herself in helping him. Of course Dr. Connors was behind bars where he somewhat belonged (and he only somewhat belonged because he had lost his mind as The Lizard) and no bad guys that were smart enough to put two and two together or even knew who Peter was had found out his identity so Gwen was more than likely perfectly safe but that didn't stop Peter from worrying.

Closing her locker, Gwen gave him one of her looks. Peter winced a little.

"Peter, I'll be just fine," she chided him gently. "We don't want people thinking that we can't bear to be apart now, do we?"

"Oh! You wound me!" Peter clutched at his shirt where his heart was located. "You can exist without me?"

Gwen laughed, the smile reaching her eyes and lighting up her face. "Sorry Bug Boy but I can. Besides…" and here her eyes moved to look over his shoulder. "It looks like your best buddy Flash needs you for something."

Peter frowned, still not used to the fact that Flash Thompson was now his friend. Just a few weeks ago they had been at each other's throats but ever since Uncle Ben had—

Peter brushed the thought aside forcefully as his throat tightened. No. He wasn't ready to think about that night yet or the week following that horrible tragedy. It was nice to know that he had made a friend out of an enemy though, and he had been grateful for Flash's sympathy.

Turning around, he saw the grinning face of Flash.

"Yo! Pete!" Flash waved.

"Hey…Flash," Peter said a bit awkwardly, still finding it weird that he was not running for his life.

The athletic teen was at the couple's side in a few strides, a silly smile slapped across his face. "Hey Gwen, mind if I borrow your boyfriend for a bit?"

Gwen smiled. "Knock yourself out Flash. I have to get to class anyway." She looked at Peter before he could protest. "I'll leave you boys to your devices. Just try not to get into too much trouble. See ya Bug Boy." And with that, she turned and walked away, her ponytail swishing with the movement and her hips moving in an almost hypnotizing manner.

Peter watched her as she went, mesmerized. How had he gotten so lucky?

"…I will never understand why she calls you Bug Boy," Flash said after Gwen was out of sight, no doubt also having been mesmerized by the beauty on legs.

Peter felt a flash of irritation but suppressed it; Flash wouldn't make a move on Gwen. He respected Peter enough to not want to come between the two and Gwen wasn't really his type. While she was pleasing to look at, she was more cute and girl-next-door than what Flash was interested in. The only reason Peter knew his type was because he himself was a quiet, stay-out-of-trouble type and was content to observe others as they went about their business. Flash's type of girl was more sassy and sexy than Gwen was; all curves and attitude.

"Whatever," Flash shrugged his shoulders. Looking directly in Peter's eyes, he said, "Look buddy. I got a class next period that I can't have any…um…distractions in," his face flushed a little. "I've been showing this new girl around school today and I need you to take over for me for a couple of hours."

Something like danger buzzed up in the back of Peter's mind and he shook his head and blinked, clearing his vision as the numbing sensation spread throughout his body. Normally his Spider-Sense (as Gwen had so dubbed it) only acted up when there was something dangerous in close proximity to him. Why had it started tingling at the mention of this new student Flash was showing around? Was it some new bully? A potential enemy?

Peter let out a breath. Well, whatever it was he supposed he should meet it head on.

Eyeing Flash warily, he said, "Uh, sure."

Flash smiled, his pearl white teeth dazzling. "Thank a ton man," he said cheerfully, patting Peter roughly on the shoulder. Turning around, he called down the hall. "He'll do it! Told ya you wouldn't have to use your gorgeous looks to convince him. My man Pete is made of gold!"

A shiver shot down Peter's spine as a watery, musical laugh responded to Flash's voice. The sound of heels clicking down the hall reached Peter's ears and the smell of vanilla wafted towards him. He sniffed appreciatively, enjoying the heavenly scent despite himself.

Ok. So. This new student is obviously a female. He thought to himself. So maybe my Spider-Sense is going off because she's one of those female fatales…?

"Oh Flash, you're a dear," came a smooth, rich voice full of seduction hidden beneath innocence. "Although I'll miss your company. Don't stay away too long now."

Peter couldn't help the lump that formed in his throat. Whoever this was, she was unlike any female he'd met before. Not even Gwen was like her. His Spider-Sense was going crazy and this weird vibe was radiating down the hall from this woman. Just the way she spoke suggested that she knew how to handle her way around a man, the sweet purr of her voice luring in and snaring even the most stoic and stony.

Flash's face went dreamy-eyed and it almost seemed to Peter as if the hulk of a man had gone to mush on the spot. "Oh I won't. But I promise Pete here is just as entertaining as me."

"Oh, really?"

The heels stopped moving and Peter swallowed hard. She was right there, around the corner, just waiting to pounce out and play with his wild teenage emotions like they were a ball of yarn and she was a cat.

"Yeah, he is," Flash reassured her. "Why don't you come out and say hello? I'm sure the suspense is killing the little nerd."

Peter, despite the fact that he wanted to turn and high tail it out of there before he was ensnared in the clutches of this female, had the presence of mind to send a quick glare Flash's way. Little nerd? Flash, too focused on the hiding girl, didn't notice Peter's irritation.

Her laughter sounded again, echoing down the now-empty hall. Most students had fled to their classrooms already, afraid of serving a detention or suspension for being tardy. Peter wished that this wasn't his free period all of a sudden, which was saying something because he loved his free period. Why couldn't Flash just cut class like he normally did and show this girl around more? The dumb jock (and that was retribution in Peter's mind for being called a little nerd) was sure to get an athletic scholarship so why sweat about grades?

"Alright, I'm coming out. Be prepared to catch him if he falls over out of shock."

Peter clenched his teeth, his mind screaming at him, his muscles burning as the flight or fight instinct kicked in. He didn't want to be rude but he also wanted to stay in one piece. He couldn't imagine how he'd be able to explain away his actions to Flash and then later to Gwen if he bolted right then and there. What kind of man was he? To be afraid of a…of a…

Wow.

Peter's jaw dropped open as the mysterious woman walked around the corner and came down the hall towards them. His Spider-Sense flared up even more and the sensation of nausea swept through his body.

He was in trouble.