The Cat's Meow
Chapter Two, Confirmation
Peter continued to process the information Connors had given them. His mind turned over the possibility of the reason behind these abductions. He paced a lot through the evening. He paced so much, that Aunt May told him to stop unless he wanted to wear a hole in the floor.
"Peter, you're going to make a hole in that floor. Stop that!" She shouted from the couch in the living room. Peter had stayed in the dining room after dinner. Immediately, Peter stopped in mid pace and went to sit down. She turned to him just as a commercial came on," What were you pacing about?"
The others turned to him, looking for him to make an excuse. He relaxed on the floor near the couch and shrugged," Just thinking." He answered and noticed her pointed look at him. Luckily, she took the bait and went back to watching television.
Peter went upstairs, knowing that Sam would be back from patrol soon. Even though his shift didn't end for another ten minutes, Sam would arrive early. His excuse was that he had a date with MJ. Nevertheless, Peter knew it was because Sam hated going on patrol.
Peter quickly changed and swung out the window in his room. He grabbed his Spider Cycle just as Sam arrived. He didn't watch Sam's expression as he zoomed away.
On the streets of New York, his eyes scanned for any action. So far, the city was quiet. Not much was happening. Peter tried to think of where Black Cat would be. Or where she might be, considering she was a cat burglar.
Robbing people's cats? Peter asked himself as his eyes continued to scan the horizon. Suddenly, his ears picked up something near him. He stopped and listened for a while until he heard someone coming up from behind.
"Hi there, big boy. What's your name?" asked a sweet feminine voice curiously from behind him. Peter parked his Spider Cycle and turned to see Black Cat. She had a sly grin on her face and a hand on her hip. Peter shuddered, trying to get control of the situation when he felt he had none.
He gulped nervously," They call me Spider-Man and you must be Black Cat I presume?" He said, trying to stay on topic. Nonetheless he couldn't help but look at the way her body curved underneath her suit.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she moved closer to him," That's right. What can I do for you?" Peter's brain scrambled around for ideas as she closed the distance between them.
"Tell me, are you the one who's been stealing from S.H.I.E.L.D?" He asked, trying to stay on subject. He noticed she paused as soon as he said S.H.I.E.L.D.
She shrugged as she stopped," Who wants to know?" She asked a bit defensively. Peter also noticed that she seemed to tense up. He kept going hoping to make real progress.
Peter shrugged as he leaned against his Spider cycle. He knew he could use it as a quick get away," They know you're stealing from them, but they don't understand why. You've never messed with them before."
He felt the atmosphere tense up when Cat responded," You don't understand." She said her voice on the verge of cracking. Even though he didn't know her very well, that didn't sound like a Black Cat thing to do.
"I would if you would just tell me." Peter said as he crossed his arms over his chest at a lame attempt at nonchalance.
"No you wouldn't. Especially if your mother was was being kidnapped by Doctor Octopus," She said and as soon as she did her eyes widened in shock. That was the key that Spider-Man needed to know. He jumped onto his Spider Cycle but before he could go he felt Cat's hand squeeze tightly on his arm. He turned to see a look of desperation on her face, an expression that didn't look natural on her," Please don't tell anyone. Promise?"
He nodded in agreement," I promise. Just promise me something too. Don't continue to steal. I'll find a way to help you. I've fought Octopus before. I can bring in my team and we can help you." And without another word, he sped away on his Spider Cycle.
As he left, he thought he heard her yell," I don't need any help!"
He knew exactly who he had to report to. He hoped Cat wouldn't make any more stupid decisions before he had a chance to save her. She seemed genuinely nice, even though she was a cat burglar. He kept turning over their conversation in his mind as he made his way to Midtown High.
The window to Principal/Agent Coulson's office was open. Swinging in, he noticed Coulson bent over a computer screen. As if on cue, the screen turned off and Coulson turned to face Peter. Peter made his way inside Coulson's office just as it began to rain.
"What's up, Spider-Man?" Coulson asked nonchalantly as an image of Fury appeared on a blue holo screen near the computer. Both looked at the hero as if they had expected him.
"I just ran into Black Cat," He said trying to ignore Coulson and Fury's shared look of concern," I think I caught her heading to the Helicarrier."
"Is that all?" questioned Coulson before Peter could finish his story. Fury crossed his arms over his chest.
"And I think I know the reason why she's been stealing from S.H.I.E.L.D," He continued proudly. He knew he had Fury and Coulson's attention now," She told me that Doctor Octopus kidnapped her mother. We need to help her."
"So where is he keeping her?" Asked Fury and Peter knew he was at a loss for words. Luckily, Coulson saved him from explaining.
"That's okay, Spider-Man. We can track him from here. We'll inform you of her location as soon as we have it. Good work." Coulson said and Peter nodded.
Before he could be lectured to death, Peter left Coulson's office. He had done his job by telling Coulson and Fury. Now it was time to tell his team. They would have to wait, since the Helicarrier was still under construction. However, Peter knew that S.H.I.E.L.D would pull through.
Peter could feel exhaustion set in as he headed home. During the rest of his patrol nothing else exciting had happened. He trudged up the stairs to his room, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. Nonetheless, he knew he had to tell his teammates what he had discovered today. All except Sam, who was still on his date with MJ.
"So, what do you think he's going to do with all this stuff he's collecting?" Asked Ava as the three sat at the top of the staircase after Peter had told them what he'd discovered. They'd been shocked mostly but other than that hadn't reacted much.
"I don't know but whatever it is, we'll be there to stop him." Luke responded, slamming his fist into his hand. The others nodded in agreement around him.
"Well, wake me when Coulson calls." Yawned Peter and trekked his way back up the stairs to his room.
At that moment, Sam had just walked through the door. The three turned to look at him from atop the stairs. He stared right back at them, completely clueless," Uh, what's up guys? Did I miss something?"
Soon enough, the three explained to Sam what Peter had discovered. After some time, all went to bed. Even Aunt May, who normally stayed up until eleven.
The next day Peter felt well rested and ready to find Black Cat. He knew that S.H.I.E.L.D would contact them when they knew something. For now, they had to lay low. Peter wondered how long it would take. Apparently, other people noticed it as well.
"Hey man, what's bugging you?" Asked Harry and nudged Peter lightly on the arm during first hour.
"Hmm?" Said Peter as he started on his homework. Harry gave him a look that said he knew Peter," I don't know. Studying's been kind of crazy lately. I feel like I can't get enough quiet time."
Harry nodded in agreement," Yeah I hear you. Why don't you come over to my house this weekend? You can study and help me study. I'm pretty sure I can have you over."
Peter finished scribbling down the last of his answers," Sounds good. I'll ask Aunt May. The whole weekend, or just part?" He whispered trying to be quiet.
"Whatever you want." Harry responded just as the bell rang. The two packed up their things and left the room.
Through the morning Peter's thoughts wandered to Black Cat and his weekend with Harry. He hoped Black Cat would surface soon. He knew that if she didn't his weekend with Harry would be nonexistent. When they reached lunch Peter figured he was in the clear. That was until Principal Coulson got his attention. Peter left his friends and made his way to Coulson.
"Coulson what is it? Have you spotted Black Cat?" Inquired Peter excitedly with every fiber of his being screaming for Coulson to say yes.
Coulson seemed to think about this a minute before he responded. Peter wondered why he hesitated," Not exactly. Although we have spotted Octopus in Manhattan somewhere near the school. We figure Black Cat isn't too far behind. Suit up, Parker."
Peter nodded in agreement and turned to his team," Should they come or not?" He asked.
"Up to you." Answered Coulson and walked away.
Peter turned to his team, who were enjoying themselves, and ran into the hallway. He figured he would leave them. He knew that if he needed back up they would come. He found his way to the detention room and suited up.
Soon enough he found himself racing through the streets of New York on his Spider Cycle. He kept his eyes peeled for anything suspicious. So far he saw no signs of anything unusual. He went a little farther on and still didn't see anything.
Sometime later just as Peter was about to head back he heard something. It was quiet at first and grew in volume. He heard someone scream then several people. He turned to see Doc Ock chasing Black Cat. Peter tried to think of what Cat had done to piss off Ock.
"I told you to steal that piece for me. Now your mother will suffer the consequences." Ock said with a malevolent smile on his face. His mechanical arms in tow, Ock reached for Cat as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop with grace and speed.
"I'm not going to let you manipulate me any longer." She shouted as she stopped on a nearby rooftop. Her body was tense and looked ready to strike if necessary.
Peter made his way towards the two on his Spider Cycle. He saw Cat turn to him," Spider-Man I need your help." Ock too turned his attention towards him.
Peter snorted, knowing it was obvious," I noticed. Next time, call," Peter turned to Ock," And you. Why are you having you steal from S.H.I.E.L.D? Why don't you get just it yourself? Or were you too scared to face S.H.I.E.L.D all by your lonesome."
"I needed someone with the skill. Someone who knew what they were doing." Ock responded simply.
"Then why kidnap her mother?" Questioned Peter as he got off his Spider Cycle and closed the distance between him and Ock.
"As motivation, to make sure she stole everything I wanted her to." Ock responded as he shot forward one of his octopus arms.
Peter dodged it and one of Ock's other arms came towards him. He was very thankful that his spider sense directed him in fights. However, his spider sense began to vibrate hard. Peter searched until he found Octopus's arm behind him.
Before Peter could react the octopus arm smacked Peter around on the rooftop. Eventually Peter was thrown across the rooftop. He landed on the ground as Ock laughed. He watched Cat's vague form move towards him. After that everything went black.
A few moments later Peter heard someone call his name. It sounded distant as if he were underwater. His eyes slowly opened and he was lying on the ground. Surrounding him were Ava, Luke, Danny, Zara, and Sam in costume.
It was Luke who spoke," Hey man, how are you? Coulson sent us to find you." He held out his hand and helped him up. Peter rubbed his head and he looked at his surroundings. They were on the rooftop of a building near the school.
The team looked at him expectantly," Actually, I found Black Cat. She was running away from Doc Ock, who only kidnapped her mother to manipulate her into stealing for him."
"Well that makes sense. What now?" Asked Ava as Peter began to pace back and forth, his mind deep in thought.
"I don't know. Right now we should probably get back to school." He suggested and the others nodded in agreement. They followed his instructions quickly and Peter turned towards Midtown High. His eyes scanned the crowd as he searched for a specific person. So far, he couldn't see her but that didn't mean she wasn't there. After some time he shrugged and got dressed.
Back inside Midtown High the students were getting back to class. There was one specific student that hung away from the others. She had long, straight platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a teal blouse with white skinny jeans and black flats. The student was Felicia Hardy. For the most part she kept to herself but occasionally she would reach out to other social groups.
From parts of the hallway she heard boys calling her name. She ignored them, grabbing some books and a large purse out of her locker. Accidentally, she bumped into Principal Coulson. She mumbled an apology but stopped when she saw the expression on his face.
"Principal Coulson is everything all right? You don't seem like yourself." She said trying to stay out of the other students' way. He looked concerned as if he were searching for something or someone.
Principal Coulson looked at her, his blue eyes giving off a fake look of content," Of course. I'm just worried what with all the robberies by Black Cat." Felicia looked down at the ground and narrowed her eyebrows then looked back at him.
"I don't think there's much to worry about. I heard Black Cat stopped stealing from S.H.I.E.L.D. It's all over the Bugle network." She responded, trying to fake joy.
If Coulson's going to play this game then I can play it ten times better, damn it! She thought as she plastered a smile on her face. She slung her purse over her shoulder and walked away. Out of her peripheral vision she saw Coulson check his phone.
"Hey you're right." He said and looked up just as the hallways emptied. He pocketed his phone and went to his office.