AN: Thanks to Neo-Tyson, Highlander, VladImpaler, AkiraHyama, Mallus6, CRUDEN, Jakeros, and Celgress for reviewing the last chapter. Just as a another reminder for those who were still uncertain, this is the Caucasian Nick Fury Sr. The one that inspired the movie with the character played by David Hasselhoff. I got a few questions about that in the last chapter. I'm not certain if y'all were being serious, or being smart asses, but i hope that it's clear now.
Chapter 2
Spider-Man landed on top of, and looked down from the gargoyle to the city below. The stone beast stood as a watchful guardian, ever vigilant. The rising sun over the Atlantic Ocean put one entire side of Manhattan Island in bight yellow light, and left the rest in a damp shade. From his position on the beast's back, watched the light creep across the land. Despite the early morning hour, New York City was already alive with the people and movement.
"Good morning Bob." Spider-Man said in a cheery tone.
The statue just maintained its stoic snarl.
"I'm doing all right. Thanks for asking. Cat's still a handful. But she had her very own Superhero Team Up recently. Stopped an international theft ring, just her and White Queen." He explained. "What d'you think 'bout that?"
The statue just maintained its stoic snarl.
"Yeah. I'm pretty proud of her too Bob." Spider-Man said as he leaned back, positioning his legs on Bob's neck, and supporting his weight on his hands.
A voice came over the earpiece in the MK III Spider Armor Helmet. "I'm surprised that you would rather talk to a out of the way inanimate object, than a AI with you almost all the time." Karin said. The AI said it was a surprise, but it came off as a strange combination of curious and sarcastic.
"You know what they say about the voices in your head Karin?" Spider-Man asked as he perched forward in onto his hands and feet.
"No. What do they say?"
"They're never a problem until you hear them talking back to you." Spider-Man said.
"This voice in your head is saying that there's and accident six blocks away." Karin responded.
"See, if Bob said that, I would have to start to question my sanity. Instead, I just worry if I'm gonna have to deal with a computer taking over the city in the future."
"Don't tempt me." Karin threatened sarcastically.
Spider-Man laughed and jumped off the gargoyle. "Later Bob!" he said as he swung away.
The statue just maintained its stoic snarl.
Felicia typed away at her computer. Her office wasn't a corner one, it didn't have a breath-taking view, and it wasn't really hers alone, but it was good enough to do the large amounts of paperwork that came with her job. Stopping the Jade Syndicate had resulted in the recovery of her clients Tomb Guardian. Good for her profile in the company, but bad for her wrists. Felicia had been typing all morning, and she though she might get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at this rate.
Felicia took a second to set her elbows on the desk and rub the numbness out of her eyes. She sighed and looked back to the computer screen to examine all of the paperwork needed for the case. Report for theft of object, report for theft police investigation, report for police contact, report for police recovery, report for remuneration of initially disbursed funds from client, accounting paperwork, legal paperwork, and lastly a statement for the police so they could fill out their reports. Felicia groaned once more.
As she continued to type a notification from her email appeared. Felicia looked at the sender. It was from the owner of Southeast Homes, Infrastructure, and Land Development. Felicia silently prayed that they weren't filing a claim just days after she got assigned to their account. She really didn't want to do more paperwork at this moment. Never the less, she opened the e-mail, and started to read.
Ms. Felicia Hardy,
I'm throwing an employee party. It's good for morale and I can use it as a business write off. In all seriousness, I would like you to come. It I would be a great way to meet the lawyers, accountants, and other personnel that you might have to meet with. I encourage you to bring a plus one, since it is a party and all. Please tell me when you would like to be picked up, and I'll arrange a car to pick you up. I look forward to seeing you tonight.
Nicholas Frank,
Southeast Homes, Infrastructure, and Land Development
Felicia sent a quick response to the business man. She was excited by the prospect of spending a night out. This may not be the type of party she was accustomed to, but it was food, drink, and social hour on someone else's dime. Hard to argue with that. After sending the response she pulled out her phone and dialed her boyfriend, Peter Parker.
Spider-Man landed at the scene of the pile up. Three cars, a bicycle, and a hot dog stand. Some of the people had already pulled themselves from the accident, gripping limbs and shaking heads. A number of onlookers were taking video on their phones, or making calls, hopefully to emergency services. Either way, Spider-Man knew that the best thing to do was to focus on removing the remaining victims from immediate danger.
Spider-Man approached the crash. "Everyone get clear!" He shouted.
A man ran up to him, frantic, panicking. "Please you have to save my girlfriend. She's stuck."
Spider-Man quickly webbed the man up to a light pole. "I understand, but I need you out of the way for her sake."
He knew that an individual who freaked out in a life or death situation typically led to the deaths of others. They got in the way, stopped rescuers from doing their job. In the worst case they didn't have enough focus to keep themselves safe and got themselves killed as well. Best to keep them out of trouble.
Spider-Man jumped over to a unconscious man wearing a bike helmet and a messenger bag. His neck was at an odd angle. Maybe he just landed that way, but if it was broken…that was very bad. The hero used his webbing to create a neck brace. He then moved over to the mashed vehicles.
As the hero pulled open the passenger door, the earpiece in his mask started to ring. "Karin, answer that." He said.
"Hey Peter. Guess what." Felicia said over the phone.
"Ummm, Natasha Henstridge and Tricia Helfer are dating." Peter said.
"No…but yeah that would be hot." Felicia said. "I was invited to a corporate party, and given the opportunity to bring a plus one. Get your nice suit out. You have to socialize."
"All right. When?" He asked. The woman in the passenger seat was pinned by the seatbelt, and the buckle was jammed. "Crap." He muttered.
"Tonight…what's going on?"
"Spider-Man lifted the woman out of the car. "Three car plus pile up. Getting people out of the vehicles." He set her down next to the guy stuck to the light pole.
"Is she okay!?" The man continuing to freak out asked.
"She's unconscious. Other than that, fine." Spider-Man said. And jumped to the hot dog cart.
"Saving damsels are we?" Felicia asked.
"Favorite superhero past time." He asked. He webbed the burners of the hot dog car to keep any potential fire from starting. He then moved to the man sitting on the curb next to the cart. He was clutching his arm while grimacing in pain. He quickly molded him a cast from more webbing.
"Anyway, stay safe. Be ready for tonight." Felicia stated firmly.
"I will." He said. "See ya tonight." He finished.
"Love you." Felicia said, and hung up.
Paramedics pulled up to the scene of the accident and started to pull out gurneys. Spider-Man was glad that the professionals were there. Though he was good at saving lives in immediate danger, but when it came to medical triage, best to leave that to the people formally paid to do it.
"Spider-Man. Your work, giftwrapping the presents?" one of the men in the ambulance asked.
"Yes indeed. You want any more help?" The hero asked.
"No thanks. We got another bus coming to take the unconscious woman to St. Johns. We'll take the biker and get his neck looked at." The paramedic said as he lowered the gurney to the ground.
"Got it. Good luck fellas." Spider-Man said as he jumped up and swung away. A few blocks away he got a brilliant idea. "Karin, remind me at 4:00 P.M. to get ready for a party."
"Certainly." Karin said.
"Don't need her getting upset over making a bad impression."
Felicia was pleased with Peter. He managed to get himself dressed all by himself. In a pleasant surprise, when she got back from work, he was already dressed in a black suit with a blue/light blue pinstripe shirt. It was an appropriate outfit for the occasion. She, as always, looked better in a simple black cocktail dress.
As promised, a car had been arranged for them. The Mercedes S450 came with a chauffeur, complete with a uniform. This allowed the two to have a pleasant conversation in the back as they drove to the hotel where Felicia was told the party would be happening.
"So what's this party for?" Peter asked.
"It's apparently from the owner for the employees. He mentioned that it's good for them. Plus it serves as a networking opportunity for the people that he does business with. Meet people, make plans for business. Stuff like that." Felicia explained.
"Sounds like a science conference." Peter remarked. "People meeting together, talking about work, making plans to make more work."
"Peter please, this is the real estate sector. Not the STEM field. There's nothing remotely like work done at these events. Unless comparing how much money, or how many billing hours you charged counts as work." Felicia explained. She then chuckled at her little joke.
"Please, once the presentations are over, all a scientific conference is, is a series of experiments involving alcohol." Peter laughed.
"Well why don't you ever invite me to these conferences then?" She asked.
"Well. We are scientists, we do go there for the science. The drinking just always seems to happen." Peter explained.
The two laughed a joke for the rest of the ride. The car travel through the stop-and-go traffic. The taxis, buses, a pedestrian moved in and around the streets. Lights from buildings and streetlamps were turning on as the sun set. Soon the car pulled up a fancy hotel in the Flatiron District.
Peter got out of the car and opened Felicia's door. The two walked through the lobby, over to the elevator. Once inside Felicia pushed the button for the top floor which house the Penthouse and Conference Room. The entire building up to this point screamed wealth and influence. Peter felt like he was out of place being a guy from Queens. Felicia was reminded of the parties that she had been going to ever since she was a young woman.
"All the way up I see." Peter remarked.
"Gonna be a great view." Felicia said.
The two exited the elevator and knocked on the door for the room labeled Conference Room. Felicia was smiling when the face of Nicholas opened the door. Peter recognized the man's face from his interactions as Spider-Man. Nicholas was Nick Fury Sr. Spy Extraordinaire. From the beaches of Normandy to the edges of the Multiverse. Peter new this 'Party' was something else entirely.
"Felicia please come in. This is your plus one?" Nicholas asked.
"He is." Felicia said, oblivious to what was going on. "This is Peter Parker."
"Please to meet you formally." Nick said cheerfully. The eyepatch he wore added to the charm in his statement.
Felicia stepped through the doorway and saw that there was no one else in the room. "Are we early?" Felicia asked.
"Nope. But I can explain that." Nick said. He expected that Felicia would be confused, but he expected Peter to be more worried, but it looked like he was going to see what Nick said, and then make a judgement.
Peter rubbed his temples. Whatever was about to happen was about to going to be complicated. "Well this is gonna be an interesting evening."
"Peter…" Felicia started. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"
"Not really, but we're probably gonna find out." Peter said as he sat down in a nearby chair.
"Allow me to start over." Nick said. "My name is Nick Fury. You two are Peter Parker and Felicia Hardy. Also known as Spider-Man and Black Cat." Nick said confidently.
"What!? That's crazy." Felicia said, trying to make it sound like Nick was crazy.
Nick just smiled knowingly.
Peter crossed his ankle over his knee. "Well, I want to say I'm shocked, but not really."
"Peter. How could we be superheroes?" Felicia asked hypothetically, trying to continue the charade.
"Felicia." Peter stated. "Nick's a spy with SHIELD. One of the best. He knows. Don't know how he knows, but he knows."
Nick just watched as Felicia calmed down and sunk into her own chair. He laughed. He always loved catching people off guard. "There's a situation that I'm dealing with that could use your help. If you'll please sit for a few minutes, I'll make some dinner and explain." Nick said as he put on an apron and pulled out a small potable stove from under the table. "How do you both feel about Pad Thai?"
AN: So this chapter had alot going on in it. I wanted an iconic scene of Peter on a gargoyle on a building, I needed Felicia to get the invitation to a party, I wanted to do a rescue scene for action instead of just another fight scene, and as always, I wanted to keep the main plot moving. I feel like it all works, but I'm gonna need some criticism to know how it worked out on the readers end.
Also, I saw the new Venom Movie. In a short review, I thought it was alright. It wasn't bad, but if your a fan of Venom (As I am. I mean for Pete's sake, I wrote a whole Agent Venom story), you could see the potential for a much better movie in there. But I won't subject anyone here to my long form thoughts on how I would fix that movie unless you explicitly ask me.
Any who. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. If you have questions that are along the lines off 'How does Fury know about their secret ID's?' or 'Who else knows about their identity?' or 'What is Nick Fury planning?', don't worry, I'll answer those in the next chapter.
