The Devil You Don't Know

Chapter 5: Lost

Sunrise found Peter still awake, gazing toward the horizon without actually seeing it. A cup of coffee, long gone cold, rested in his hand. Mary Jane hadn't awakened yet, at least, he didn't think she had. He had hardly disturbed the covers on his side of the bed. MJ won't be happy about that, he grimly realized. It's one thing when I stay out all night on patrol or on a mission. It's another when I stay up all night worrying.

After the building collapse the previous afternoon, the three Parkers returned to the apartment. Peter had been uncharacteristically silent, and that did not escape Mary Jane's ever-watchful eyes…

"Tiger, please. I know that look. Something is really bothering you…" She placed a hand gently on his arm, concerned.

He smiled, that special smile reserved just for her, and admitted, "I can't keep anything from you, can I?"

She shook her head. Peter searched for the words to say, looking for any words that might be easier to hear, but finally settled on the truth. "I'm worried about…" He stiffened his resolve. "…about Felicia."

The look on her face changed from concern to wariness. "What about Felicia?" she asked, thankfully without hostility.

Her reaction encouraged him. "I ran into her the other night again, as the Black Cat…"

"And?" MJ was keeping her expression purposely blank.

"She was with someone, a new costumed hero, on a date. He called himself 'The Dark Crusader.'"

"A date? She has a new guy in her life? Good for her." She sounded pleased, but… "So what's the problem?"

"I don't know… I don't think he's right for her." MJ's eyebrows lowered, but she didn't interrupt. "He showed up at the building accident today. I overheard him talking harshly to one of the people trapped in a stairwell."

"What did he say?"

"Something about getting his 'sorry ass' out of there."

Mary Jane didn't seem concerned. "Maybe he was just stressed out. You said he was new, right? I mean, you were probably a bit of a hothead back then, too."

"Sure, I was," he admitted. "But never with someone I was trying to help. I just can't shake the feeling that there's something not quite right about him…"

Her lips pressed together. "Felicia is a big girl, Peter. She can take care of herself just fine. If she likes this guy, then he probably has a lot of good qualities, too."

Everything MJ was saying made sense, but his two brief encounters with Felicia's new boyfriend had kindled some sort of protective instinct in him. "That may be true. But still…"

MJ sighed in exasperation. "But still, what? She's moving on. Can't you accept that?"

He was shaken from his reverie by the buzzing of the intercom. "Mr. Parker, sir," Jarvis announced.

Peter got up from the table and moved close to the speaker. "Yes, I'm here. What is it?"

"There seems to be a bit of an altercation in the lobby, sir. A man, wearing a black jumpsuit and eye-mask, is here, demanding to see you. He claims that Spider-Man knows him." He cleared his throat. "We tried to politely escort him from the building, but he is… stubborn."

"I'll be right there," he said, already halfway into his costume.


Spider-Man followed the Dark Crusader to where he had last seen the Black Cat. When he had finally managed to calm the Crusader down, the guy explained that Felicia had disappeared during a fire search-and-rescue mission. Spider-Man had agreed to help, if only to learn more about him. He looks really concerned about her, but still, there's something odd about him… he thought as they arrived at their destination. The wallcrawler was surprised to see that the building was still intact, especially with all that fire damage.

"Be careful – I don't think the building's structurally sound anymore," Spider-Man warned.

"No problem, web-head," Dark Crusader answered as he gave Spidey a thumbs up, and took off to look for clues as to the Black Cat's disappearance. But there was an undercurrent of smugness in the rookie's tone that was really starting to get under the webslinger's skin.

With his new, enhanced vision, backed up by his old, reliable spider-sense, Spider-Man started to make his way through the dank, dark building. Here and there, he could still see smoke rising from the rubble. He was thankful that his mask protected him. And the waldo-cams definitely made the job that much easier.

Spider-Man searched several floors until he spotted an open window leading to a fire escape. I haven't had much luck so far, might as well see if there's anything out there, Spider-Man thought. He had barely stuck his head out the window, when he spotted an object laying on the rickety metal stairway. It was the Black Cat's mask. Oh, my God … What happened to you, Felicia?

He spotted the Crusader on the roof and quickly joined him. "Did you find anything?"

The Dark Crusader replied grimly, "Not a thing. How about you?"

Spider-Man held up the mask. "This," he replied grimly, "on the fire escape."

Dark Crusader silently stared at it, face becoming hard. "Whoever did this to her… they'll regret it…" he said softly. He looked up at Spider-Man fear and anger in his eyes. "But I don't even know where to start looking."

"Let me take this," Spider-Man said reassuringly. "I have access to state-of-the-art forensic equipment at Stark Tower." He could tell right away from the look of anxiety in the other man's eyes that Dark Crusader didn't want to part with it. "Don't worry. We'll find her. She'll be fine," he consoled, though he was not entirely sure of that himself, he managed to cheer the Crusader up a little.

"I hope you're right. Let me know what you find out. Take it easy, webhead." As he headed toward the edge of the roof, he stopped and turned back. "Oh, and by the way, thanks." With that, he leapt away

Lost in thought, Spider-Man stepped lightly down the fire escape steps. At his feet, he caught a glimpse of something sticky and white. I almost missed this…interesting. Taking a small plastic baggie out of his belt compartment, he collected the strange substance. He thought about calling after the Crusader, but the other man had already gone. I'll analyze this at the same time as the mask, and let him know later, he decided as he fired a web-line and headed home.

By the time he arrived, his mind was whirling a million directions. He wanted to take a quick shower and change clothes before starting the forensic analysis

"Tiger, is that you?" he heard from the kitchen.

"It ain't the tooth fairy, sweetheart."

"You didn't come to bed last night. Everything all right?" she asked, concerned.

"No," Peter took out Felicia's mask from a compartment on his costume and showed it to Mary Jane.

"Oh, my God," she said, her eyes widening in shock. "Do you think that that Crusader guy did something to her?"

Peter thought it over very carefully before answering, "I don't think so. He told me she was missing and asked me to help him find her."

She gave him a look that said, You see? You didn't have to worry about him, after all. What do you think happened?"

He handed her the baggie. "I don't really know, but I hope studying this will give me something to go on."

She turned the plastic baggie over in her hands, as puzzled as he had been. "You found this when you were out helping the Crusader, then?" She handed it back to Peter.

"Uh huh. Same place I found her mask."

"Are you going to give it to Tony?"

"Nah. He's busy enough as it is. But I'll ask him if I need help."

MJ's mouth compressed into the same thin line it had yesterday evening. "Peter. I know she's in trouble and everything, but... "

"But what, MJ?" Peter asked, perturbed.

"Well, it just seems like every time that woman waltzes back into your life, you end up in trouble, or worse. I swear, if something happens to you because of all this..."

"Nothing is going to happen to me. She's a good friend. Besides, if she is in trouble, she will need help."

Myriad emotions played over Mary Jane's face. "Why does it always have to be you to come to her rescue?" She turned away from Peter, trying not to be upset.

Peter came up behind Mary Jane, wrapped his arms around her and placed his head on her shoulder. "Can you think of anyone else who would have any luck in finding her?"

"No," she said in a low voice. He could see a tear fall slowly from her eye. "I know you still care about her as a friend." She pulled away from him, and wouldn't meet his gaze. "Go. See what you can find out." She wiped the moisture from her eyes. Without looking back toward him, she said distantly, "I need to get ready for rehearsal anyway..." and she left the room.

He wanted to go after her, but he was torn. Damn, he thought, pounding his fist into his hand. But his worry for Felicia was overriding everything else. I can make it up to MJ later. But who knows how much time Felicia has? He headed for the shower.

A/N: Thank you to our devoted reviewers! We love you! We hope that you weren't disappointed by the lack of Felicia in this chapter, but we assure you, she'll be back!