Bad Luck.

It's not bad being the Black Cat. But these nights are just sad. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Jack was taking a break tonight based on orders from Daredevil, which I kinda agreed with.

As long as Jack gets his rest, and as long as I get the intel we need for Mr. Daredevil. Just a quick in and out kind of deal. Just get the financial records from the big bad Rhino and hand them off to the Daredevil. A quick and sweet in and out job where nobody has to really get hurt.

Just get it and go, don't worry about the minutiae of it all. I move out in my usual suit, the bite of the warm air hitting my face and my grappling hooks firing just as smoothly. I don't know why I'm so jittery lately.

Maybe it's because of Jack? I always thought I was good enough on my own, but then Jack, no, Benjy Parker comes bumbling into my life and he's so cute and so innocently motivated. Now that he's involved…

Why the hell do I wanna protect him? Why am I doing this on my own when he got so protective of me when Scorpion knocked me out? Now I land right where the Rhino is. He's not doing much, boorish and dumbly guarding the records, the thing the Daredevil needs to put him and the man who was gonna hurt Dad behind bars.

At least… that's what I thought when I found the place. In short it wasn't a place of business but a construction site filled to the brim with goons and Rhino pacing at the top. Just me versus the goons and Rhino was gonna be tough.

But I got a better plan, rather than fight my way up, I can fight my way down. Or just slip in and slip right on out. Or play hero and take down the Rhino. Three different ways and three different endings. I grit my teeth and swing over to the nearest building to it.

Walls. Thick enough to get his horn stuck into, if I can guide him into them. Just need to stay moving. I land right behind him, seeing him looking down at something.

"Fuckin'... asshole… making me wear dis stupid USB thing…" he grumbles.

"Aww, little constipated, aren't we Rhino?" I chide, dodging the big guy's charge almost like Jack would, landing behind him again as he was trying to remove his horn from the wall.

"Grrah! You fuckin' BITCH!" he roars, unsticking it, "Y'think you can jus' do the same things y'boyfriend can do?!"

Oh crap! I try to dodge but he clips me, tearing a part of my suit off and sending me spinning to the floor. I eat the concrete and he looms over me.

"Ya want the recs, right Kitty?" he asks, lifting the USB, "Too bad. Howzabout you give up an' call yer Spider?"

"Can't, sorry. You broke my phone." I groan, dragging myself to my feet, "Whew… how about you just hand it over, big guy?" Rhino splutters out a bellowing laugh at me and I unsheath my claws from my gloves.

"GWAHAHAHA! Really Kitty? Are ya that dumb?! Askin' nicely might work…" he lowers his head, "OR I MIGHT JUST TRAMPLE YA!" he howls, charging right for me but I throw down a flash bomb and stomp hard on his back, using it as a springboard to twirl to the other side of the room.

He crashes right through the floor on the other side but I dig into the wall to stop myself from falling in, seeing him slam through multiple floors and causing the rest of the guys to fall with him. Dominoes.

Fun!

I slowly descend, hearing the groans and 'Aw fucks!' 'Cocksuckers!' and 'MY LEGS!' from quite a few of them. But… Rhino was far from down, rising like a demented bull he breaks through the crowdcrush of bodies.

"GWARRRRRRRRRRGGGHHH! NOW YA REALLY DONE IT! I'M GONNA TEAR YA TO SHREDS!" he bellows, once I land I barely dive out of the way of a falling piece of rebar, feeling it graze me and tear into my suit.

"Ggh!" I hiss, "Okay! I guess it's time to put you outta commission…" I get down low and he charges right for me, I spring up, bringing my claws slashing down on his faceplate, knowing that Dad gave me the claws and that the suit material was tough because even after falling seven or so stories of a future high rise he was still kicking.

But… when I land, I notice red dripping from my claws, seeing him bunch up, "You… you… YOU FUCKIN' WHORE! THAT'S MY EYEEEE!" he roars, charging right back at me but I cut through his suit like butter, peeling it like an orange, he smacks me into a pile of dirt and falls down, the USB secure in my hand as I lay there, looking down at it covered in dirt and dust and concrete shards.

I dial the police and grapple away towards Queens, having only one thought on my mind. I needed to see Jack. I needed to tell him what I did. I'm strong enough, I'm good enough. I swing with my claws retracted, wondering what the hell did Dad make these out of.

I land outside his window, opening it quietly and just slipping in. His bed is the top bunk, and I undo my hair, landing on one side of it and closing my eyes, mercifully tired enough to ignore him coming in and tossing things into his hamper humming to himself.

I hear him come over, about to hop in himself, but I pop my head up, "Oh hey." He bounds back, looking spooked in the dim light of the room. His body smells really good. He showered and now he looks absolutely adorable.

"What the-" he squeaks. I quickly dart down and smack a hand over his mouth, hissing at the scrapes I had that I stuck up before coming here.

"Shshshshsh! Don't freak out, okay?" I beg him, gently removing my hand when I see him calming down, "Just…" I segue. I reach out my hand and he takes it, hoisting him into bed is surprisingly easy for me, the Spider didn't make him any heavier.

"I… I need…" I mumble, "I need you, Jack." I see his face light up into a happy little grin but I find myself looking down at his rather muscular chest, seeing the tight and compact body of my boyfriend up close just makes me blush in the darkness.

"Uhh…" I hum. Feeling his muscles pressed against me, I try not to lose my mind or my train of thought. Just

"Oh! Oh, sorry. I uh, just got out of the shower!" He cries, "I uh, didn't know you were coming-" He's so cute when he's so flustered like this. I move closer, my lips hitting home on his, pressing into it, almost desperate.

God, I was desperate?! What the hell was I thinking? I'm the Black Cat, stealer of hearts and shinies the world over! That's cheerleader talk, Felicia!

"Hm…" I cup his face with my hands, "You're even more handsome than I'd thought."

"What did you think at first?" he continues, "Please don't tell me you thought I was just a scrawny geek…"

"What? No!" I hiss, "Not at all, just… I never thought you'd be a shredded badass," I smile and lean in close. I was also tracing his chest with my finger, but I kiss him. His entire body jolts as I wind my arms around him and pull him close.

"How about when Prom gets here, we get… a little busy?" I ask, my confidence rising, "Or… maybe sooner rather than later?" I settle him against my chest, chin on top of his soft brown hair, rubbing his back calmly. He barely moves other than to cuddle against me, I can feel his breath ghosting along my chest and neck.

He falls asleep and I stay up,watching him sleep. He's so innocent, his chest rising and falling slowly, his arms locked around me, or maybe he's still awake? But… looking at him now… I can fight off Rhino, I can outfight him, but… right now?

I can just hold him, listening to the soft beat of traffic, listening to his soft and even breathing. Something in him makes me soft. Something in me makes me want to be with him. He… he makes me feel as though I'm doing the right thing. I look at my boyfriend and then back up at the ceiling.

Whoever's listening, whoever's watching… Thank you. Thank you so much for Benjamin Jackson Parker, thank you so much for letting him into my life. I know it's not a lot from me, but I love him so much. His laugh, his smile, the way he always tries to do the right thing even if it's wrong in the moment.

I don't ever want this to end. I don't want to ever say goodbye. If I do, please. Please, whoever is out there looking out for me, please don't let me forget him. Please don't make me let him go. He's too important. He's too special. He's… he's mine.

I begin to drift off, feeling the sleepiness take me over and send me off to dreamland. I wake up early, feeling Jack still wrapped around me as I sit up, I chuff softly and unhook him from me. Just seeing him sound asleep makes my heart do a little flutter in my chest.

Just leaving him fills me with dread. As if I'll get to school and he'll just ignore me. As if he'll find another girl that's better for him than me. I grapple a line and swing away from his apartment, the thoughts of him moving on still fresh in my mind. Is it wrong to be scared of that?

I see him looking at me in class, and I jolt back around to face the front, focused more on what I'm working on rather than him. I twirl a few strands of hair around my fingers and think about it even more than usual.

Just the thought of me and him together just… feels right. But at the same time I can't help but have the same lesson replay in my head from Dad that I shouldn't settle. That I should always take what I want and never settle for second best. All I want is for me to have it both ways.

My mind keeps drifting whenever I see that messy maskhead bobbing around. Is it normal to feel like this about a guy? I shouldn't be going gaga over him. But come on, it's not that bad, right?

I sit alone at lunch and stew about it, seeing Jack cheerily bobbing around Eddie and almost buzzing with energy. That same bright glow that I always liked to see. I stare at him, not noticing Gwen park herself right across from me.

"Hey, Felicia…" she urges, waving her hand in front of my face, "Feliciaaaa… Earth to Felicia…"

"Hm?" I grunt, blinking and looking at her, "Oh, hey Gwen." Gwen grins and looks over at Eddie and Jack.

"So… you and Jack Parker, huh?" she asks.

"Yeah. What, do you think you're gonna steal him from me?" I chide, "Or are you gonna ask how I got him?"

Gwen blushes, looking away and tucking her golden hair bhind her ear, "What?! No…" she sputters, "No, no. Not at all, just- Can… can you give me advice?"

"What kind of advice, Gwen?" I wonder, leaning forward.

"Well… it's about… being confident." she says, "You make it all look so effortless!"

"Ha! Believe me, Gwen, you barely know half of it." I laugh, 'Of course she thinks it's effortless, because it was.' I think as she grins and listens, blue eyes sparkling. I mean, what am I supposed to tell her? Just be herself? That's cliche and really dumb but I suck it up and sigh.

"I guess just try to be yourself? As cliche as that is, it really helped me. Also positive encouragement can help." I suggest, 'Random bullshit, go! I guess…' I think. Gwen nods and I sigh.

"Listen, I'm bad at this kinda thing. I'm even questioning everything about what happened to me, you know?" I pat her hand.

"So, Gwen, you're okay. You're gonna charm whoever you got your eye on, guy or girl." I look back at Jack and Eddie, seeing him balancing a bunch of things between his fingers. His eyes squinted and he's in the Spider Squat.

Of course I know what it was, but also nobody else did. Gwen swivels to look at Jack and he suddenly bounds over, flipping off the table and running over.

"Hey Felicia! Hey Gwen!" he crows, sliding in with a big grin and reaching over to grab my hand, I let him grab it.

"Are you doing okay?" he asks, "You've been acting weird." I bring him closer, kissing him on the forehead.

"I'll tell you tonight, okay?" I mutter.

"Oh, okay!" He exclaims, "Love you!" he pecks me on the cheek and vaults back over the table. Of course that's pretty cute even for me. Gwen sighs and watches him go.

"What? Are you in love with someone?" I ask, "Not gonna ask for specifics." She doesn't exactly react but I don't hold it against her. I palm the USB in my pocket and sigh, knowing that tonight is probably going to be a headache of the highest order.

Not only that but I'm sure Shocker and Wheel are gonna be surging around because Rhino got locked up. At the same time, I know Jack and I are probably gonna be busy. I get to my locker and grab my gym bag, seeing Jack jogging up to me.

His expression is brighter than ever, buzzing with energy like he drank a triple shot espresso and then decided to top it off with coffee ice cream. He hugs me tightly.

"Whoa! What's with you today?" I ask.

"Because I love you! Last night was great, even if you didn't like it…" He exclaims, making me sputter.

"You're making it sound wrong! Sheesh, just… seven o'clock tonight, meet me at our usual spot." I demand, "And… and don't do that."

"Don't do what?" he asks, "Oh right! The uh… last night thing."

"Yeah! That." I state, "Just… see ya later, baby."

"Alright! See ya!" he runs off and I watch him go, putting on my bag and walking towards the gym, of course… How would I handle our relationship? Jack seems really happy about it and all that. But… I had a feeling that this wasn't gonna be the end of it all.

I sit on the edge of the roof, overlooking Central Park. Of course looking for Jack isn't hard, it's just Daredevil that I worry about because he usually doesn't come all the way out here. I see a red spot on the horizon, closing in was Jack, swinging along with his mask on, landing nearby.

"Cat!" he greets, "Good evening!" he lands and sits next to me, legs gently swinging down and onto the edge of the roof.

"So! What'cha got for Daredevil?" he asks, looking at the USB being flipped around in my hand.

"A thing Tombstone trusted Rhino with." I said, "Had to gouge out his eye just to get a hold of it." He gawks at me, lenses widening a bit.

"Really?! No way! Is that why you were shaken up?" he asks, "God, Cat, I'm so sorry," he tries to reach out but I jerk away.

"Don't treat me like I'm glass, okay?" I hiss, seeing him back off, closing his eyes, the lenses mimicking it.

"Sorry." he says as he opens his eyes again, shoulders slumping and he looks at me like I dropkicked a puppy into a burning lake of gasoline. I'm still not used to this. I know he's just trying to help but at the same time… I don't have powers and he does. It's not that I want them, it's just the gap between us. I know he's going to always be the stronger of us, the feeling of protectiveness never leaves me however. We sit, waiting, his legs swinging and mine staying still.

He's buzzing with energy like earlier, probably feeling all kinds of things with his Spider Sense, a small moment passes by. Legs swinging, eyes peeled, wide awake. Sometimes I wonder where he gets all his energy from.

"Uh-" I start, wanting to talk to him about the whole no powers and powers thing and how'd we deal with it. He bursts off the building, suddenly diving down and snapping into a web sling faster than I can follow.

All I know is that he's right on top of something. I shove the USB down into my suit. This was gonna be a long, hard night. I'm not worried about that though, I'm usually the one who drags him into things.

But, the minute we get on the scene we see a very familiar someone. The Shocker back for round five or six, at this point we don't know. He looks at us, blasting back some policemen.

"Awrrrigggghhhht! Let's finish this, kids!" he yells.

Jack and I look at each other and nod.

It's time to go to work.