"Like them?"
Serena Calico laid a heaped pile of clothing down at Otto Octavius's feet, in the same way a cat would lay a dead bird before her owner. She stepped back and smiled proudly.
"I could get used to a life of crime," she said thoughtfully.
Otto reached down and picked up the trenchcoat. Serena raised an eyebrow as she watched a tentacle slice the cloth, tentatively at first, but with increasing speed. A few strokes later, the coat had four gaping holes in the back. She watched with great amusement as Otto and the tentacles wormed their way into the coat. She couldn't contain her smirk as he cursed vehemently, the metal arms tangled up with the fabric. When he was finished, his brow creased with the effort, she nodded approvingly.
Otto looked over at her. "I can't wear this hospital gown forever."
Serena looked blank.
"I need to finish dressing. Why don't you go chase some birds or something?"
She blushed, suddenly realising what he was talking about. She'd obviously been staring too ostentatiously. Without a word, she turned and walked over to the far side of the warehouse. She didn't dare turn around and look. When she was sure she was out of Otto's sight, she sat down and breathed deeply.
Of all the people in the world, why did she have to get stuck with Otto Octavius? She'd had a crush on him when she was his student, and it had apparently never gone away. She still felt those butterflies in her stomach when she saw him, his voice still awoke new desires in her, and those eyes ... actually, she preferred not to think about his eyes. They'd never had anything other than a purely professional relationship. He'd been married to Rosie, and she'd been so close to Rosie. She wasn't sure Otto had ever seen her as a woman anyway. He'd only had eyes for his wife. She sighed. She'd hoped it was just one of those student-teacher crushes that would vanish as soon as they were out of contact. Apparently not.
On the other side of the warehouse, Otto Octavius was dressing distractedly. He wasn't quite sure why he suddenly felt so agitated. He'd worked with Serena before, and he thought he'd known her well. She'd always been quiet, almost unnoticeable. She was a very good student, but he'd never seen her as anything other than that. How could he? Rosie had been his world. But now Serena was different. She moved with the grace of the cat she claimed to be channeling, her red hair falling about her shoulders like a cascade of flame. Her smile hinted at her new-found confidence, and her leather outfit covered curves that he hadn't realised she possessed. The Feline Avenger? The name was appropriate, even if it did make him smile to himself. He wondered if she'd take well to him offering some alternate suggestions. He suspected not.
He sighed to himself. Rebuilding. That was what he should be focusing on, not Serena's curves. Not that he'd been thinking about them, or the mischievous glint she got in her wide eyes, or ... no, he definitely wasn't going to think about that.
He looked down at himself. Serena had done a good job finding appropriately-sized clothing. She was good at a lot of things, it appeared. A tentacle chittered approvingly.
"You look ... menacing."
Otto looked up to see Serena watching him, a hint of a smile on her face. He tried to conceal his embarrassment as he wondered if he'd been smirking to himself while thinking about her.
He nodded to Serena. "I'm going to acquire some money. I should be back a bit later."
Serena looked incredulous. "You're going to 'acquire' some money and I must just wait here like a good little girl? What are you going to do, rob a bank?"
Otto smirked. "Precisely."
Serena scowled at him. "You're not going alone. I'm your partner in all of this, not your personal assistant. I don't just organize your wardrobe and your social calendar."
"I know how I work. I don't know how you work. I've seen you move, but I have no idea what you're capable of. You could well be a liability, for all I know. Until I know more about your skills, you're not going with me. And don't think about following me, either. I'll spot you with ease." A tentacle snapped threateningly.
Dark eyes met golden ones for a long moment. Eventually the golden ones narrowed, then dropped.
"Very well", Serena said with a hint of bitterness in her voice. "I'll just have to prove myself to you then."
"As you wish", Otto said, his face impassive and the tentacles swaying silently.
He turned to leave. Serena watched him go with a frown. Damn the man! He'd made her feel as sulky as a teenager. She could feel her face settling into lines of resentment. He was right, after all. He didn't know anything about her abilities. She wished he'd given her a chance to show him what she could do. As she thought about it further, she smiled.
"Showing off in front of your crush, are you, Serena?" she asked herself, shaking her head.
Suddenly she tilted her head to one side, deep in thought. Perhaps there was a way she could indeed prove herself? She also worked better on her own, her stealth and speed her primary assets, and she'd just had an idea that would convince Otto that she was more than she appeared.
Serena straightened up, a gleam in her eye. She brushed some dust off her leather outfit, flicked her hair back and strode forward purposefully.
The Feline Avenger was on the prowl.