chewbie51: Thanks for reviewing, glad to know I managed to shock someone, LOL.

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Chapter 1-3

Downtown

The Cat Club wasn't open until nighttime, just as the managers had hoped. It made the perfect time for two associates to meet up. More often than not, when people go to the Cat Club, it is to get eyefuls of eye candy, not to talk business. It was a place for people to let off stress from their 9-5 day job by providing the customers' fanservice.

A black man with black hair and a beard dressed in a purple top with a black leather jacket walked into the Cat Club. He bumped shoulders with a bald man with a five o'clock shadow, a green scarf around his neck, and a scorpion tattoo on his neck.

The two of them grabbed their seats and sat down in front of the stage, waiting for the performers to come out.

"How'd the deal go down?" the black mask asked.

The bald man shook his head. "I got paid only ten cents on the dollar."

"Shit."

The bald man looked at his associate. "I fought for full price but because one of the kidneys shriveled up, the client only paid us ten cents on the dollar."

"Why didn't you check the body?"

"I did; how was I supposed to know the dead guy's kidney shriveled up just moments prior to his death."

The black man looked ahead and took out his wallet.

"You really should start saving up the money."

The two men looked behind them and stared into the eyes of a redheaded man with blue eyes and a blue and yellow varsity jacket. The redheaded man sat down in the chair beside them and held his hand up.

"The pleasure to meet you is mine, Mr. Aaron Davis and Mac Gargan, all mine."

"How the hell do you know us?" Gargan demanded. "You a cop?"

"No." He bites his lower lip. "I don't trust - or like - the cops any more than you. I'm a businessman like you two are, just trying to make a living." He points to the dollar in Aaron's hand. "You might want to start saving up money if you're in financial debt."

"How do you know we're in financial debt?"

The redheaded man smiled smugly. "You just told me but I already knew." He chuckled. "Looks like all three of us already have something in common." He put a hand on his chest. "Where are my manners; I haven't even introduced myself." He held his hand out again. "The name's Roderick Kingsley."

"Kingsley?" Gargan squinted. "Are you by any chance related to Roderick Kingsley of Kingsley's Fashion?"

Roderick clicked his tongue. "I see my reputation proceeds me. A common misconception is that people think that I am the CEO of the company; I'm not. Because I design most of the wardrobe, the company is named after me, how kind best friend to do."

"How can we be sure that you're Roderick Kingsley? There are no images of Roderick Kingsley; he's a reclusive bastard who avoids the media if possible."

"It doesn't matter who I am, it matters what I bring to the table for the two of you, Mr. Davis and Gargan."

Aaron tilted his head slightly. "What have you got? You said we all have something in common, what's that?"

"Financial debt."

Aaron studied Roderick hard. "Is your company not paying you enough?"

"It's not that," he almost hissed. "I'm not in financial debt per se, but I do want my money back."

"What do you mean?"

"Several accountants in my company have been charged with embezzlement. They have been subtly handing money to this old gang that I believe Mr. Gargan used to run with. The Scorpions."

Gargan stiffened. "Yes?"

"I've lost ten million in cash because of those inside men and I would like it if my money would be returned. I called the police but they found out that my money has been hidden in numerous banks across the city and it's practically impossible to find out the exact currency stolen from me. Luckily, with the technology I've implanted in the currency, I know which banks have my ten million in cash."

"So why not tell the police about this?"

"Because the technology that I've implanted in my currency is… what's the word? Oh right, 'illegal'."

"'Illegal? What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's need-to-know and you don't need to know. Unless we strike a deal."

Aaron looked at him with interest. "What kind of deal?"

Roderick looked Aaron in the eyes. "Aaron Davis, I know you're thirty-three years old and you're broke. You've been making deals with drug and organ dealers these last few months. You have a grand larceny charge on your head and you're in desperate need of money. Not only that, but you want to make sure that your brother, Officer Jefferson Davis, has enough money to support your nephew, Miles, tuition into Brooklyn Vision Academy."

He looked at Gargan. "MacDonald 'Mac' Gargan, forty years old, private investigator for the Daily Globe and Daily Bugle, fired from both jobs for unprofessionalism. You wasted all of your money in casinos and took money from several gangs. To protect yourself from their wrath, you joined the Scorpions gang with the hopes of gaining protection but they turned on you when you sabotaged a deal they were making with a cartel and now, they want you to pay back all the money you cost them. You are thirty million dollars in debt, total."

Gargan stood up and looked down at Roderick. "How the fuck do you-"

"Hey, down in front!"

Gargan sat down in his seat. "Sorry, sir." He turned back to Kingsley, his rage returning. "How the hell do you know so much about us?"

"If you can help me steal my money back, I'll let you guys keep some to pay off your debts."

"How can we trust you?" Aaron asked.

Roderick smiled again. "The three of us are thugs, that's why. You, me, Gargan, all of us are a bunch of thugs who want money. I want my money back but I can't do it without your help, you guys need money to survive but you guys can't succeed without me."

"What makes you so special?" Gargan demanded. "What do you have that we don't that could make us consider working with you."

Roderick's smile did not waver. "Guarantees."

Without saying anymore, he sunk back into his seat and stared up at the stage. The voice on the speakerphone came to life.

"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for… MISA-MISA!"

Entering the stage from behind the curtain was Misa Dante, wearing a robe with high heels.

Roderick took out his wallet and three a one hundred dollar bill at her. "Such beauty."

Misa loosed the bindings around her robe and allowed the piece of fabric to drop.

He stared in awe at the woman in skimpy lingerie and corset. "Beauty indeed."

Felicia's Penthouse

This is living.

David finished setting up Felicia's room in her new penthouse. He had moved in a dresser and a chest for her and placed them both in the corner. For extra effect, he panted heavily and tapped the chest twice with his palm.

Helped my girlfriend set up her bedroom like a good boyfriend and made sure that all evidence tying her to the Black Cat is hidden. We're a good ol' Bonnie and Clyde.

Standing in the doorway, Felicia said gratefully, "Thanks for helping, Davey."

David smirked at her while giving her the side-eye. "Anything for you, Party-Hardy." He stretched his back until he heard a crack. "Good exercise."

"You have good stamina, Davey."

You don't say, Party-Hardy. Looks like all those nights we spent together in that abandoned bedroom paid off.

David laughed. "You would know, Party-Hardy, you would know." He looked towards the window, which had a great view of the city and David had to admit that the city looked more alive at night. He approached the giant window and sighed, his breath fogging up the glass.

"Feeling all warm and fuzzy inside?" Felicia asked.

She approached his side and looked out the window as well.

The city DOES look more alive at night. I've never seen snow fall from this high.

David squinted and his eyes started roaming over the city, biting his lower lip as he takes in the sight. He looked down.

This is probably the first time I've been in a penthouse on the top floor of a building. The view looks different from this high but I've swung this high before.

"You want to move in?"

He shrugged at Felicia's question. "Don't think there's enough room."

"What do you mean, there's plenty of room to set up a bed for you and your mom."

"Eh, but beds are so expensive and they are such a hassle to carry down our apartment building. We could always save time and money and I can share a bed with you." He looked at her with his brows wagging. "I'm sure your bed is big enough for the both of us. And to save water, we could always shower together. I'm sure your father will appreciate the two of us saving time, money, and space."

"Heh, I'll suggest that to my father but I'll be expecting a disappointing answer."

"Heh, expect disappointment and you'll never actually be disappointed."

"How pessimistic."

'Expect disappointment and you'll never actually be disappointed'? Where the hell did I hear that from? Sounds familiar.

"Eh, if you say so." He grabs her hands and interlocks their fingers. "You want to go out for a swing?"

She pretended to contemplate. "I would… but Mom is finishing almost done cooking dinner."

Food, the one thing rich people love to brag about. I remember when I was in ninth grade and I planned on exploiting Felicia's taste for certain foods. Now that we're a couple, there's no need to do that anymore.

"Ooh, food. Since you live in a penthouse, it's time you eat fancy. Caviar, figs, other fancy foods I can't think off the top of my head, I wonder if I can stay and have a bite."

"I'll try and convince my Dad. He hates you but Mom and Scott love you."

Just as planned.

He smiles. "Good, cause otherwise, all that time I've gotten to know them would've been for nothing."

Felicia smiles and pats him on the back. "Don't worry, Spider, I'll plead your case."

"Thanks, Cat."

Felicia smiles at him before walking out of the room, leaving David alone to his thoughts.

It's been a few years since I met Felicia's family for the first time, but over one year since I OFFICIALLY met them for the first time. I had dinner with them and I could see them all eying me with suspicion. I busted my ass off to look like a great boyfriend in their eyes. Felicia's mother, Lydia, was, at best, a somewhat hard target to dance around. I had to make sure everything I said was consistent with the personality I was adopted in front of her.

Felicia's younger brother, Scott, is six-years-old. Six-year-olds are stupid and easy to manipulate.

Felicia's father, Walter Hardy on the other hand…

After a few minutes have passed, Felicia comes back into the room bearing good news.

"Mom made an extra plate for you."

He feigns excitement like a happy five-year-old. "Yay, food!"

David and Felicia sat together at the new family kitchen table, the main course tonight was Beef Wellington. David held up his knife and fork like a happy child and began digging into the dinner.

Sitting across from him was Felicia's police father, Captain Walter Hardy. "You really like Beef Wellington, huh."

He is the only one I haven't gotten on the right foot with. Whether it's because I'm a boy dating his eldest daughter or his bullshit detector is going off around me, I have no clue but I'm not going to stop trying.

David stopped himself from eating to nod respectfully at the older gentleman. "Yes. I'm a fan of any dish your wife makes." He looks at his girlfriend. "Think she can cook my meals from now on?"

The family chuckled.

That's it, David, play that David Dante Charisma.

"You can eat my food," Scott said and pushed his plate of broccoli towards him. "I hate these green things."

"Green foods are healthy for you," David told. "They give you strength and energy."

"No, they don't."

"Yes, they do. Watch this." He took a piece of broccoli and popped it in his mouth. "If I didn't eat broccoli, I wouldn't be able to do this." He got out of his chair, backed up a few feet, and did a backflip.

"Wow!" Scott clapped for David. "Can broccoli really make you do backflips?"

"It gives you the energy to do so. So maybe you should listen to your mother and eat your broccoli. If you do that, I'll teach you how to do a backflip."

"Okay." Scott picked up a piece of broccoli and ate it.

Six-year-olds, child's play. I will admit, there is a part of me that likes children; mostly because I don't have to make too much of an effort to wear a mask around them. Just be happy and jittery and they're happy and jittery.

Felicia's mother, Lydia, laughed. "Those are quite some moves you got there. You take gymnastics?"

Yeah. Gymnastics: Spider Edition 101.

He shrugged. "Eh, your daughter teaches me a few tricks here and there."

"He's a quick study," Felicia chimed in, "a fast learner."

Walter, however, remains unimpressed. "You really shouldn't be doing backflips after eating. I heard it's bad for your stomach."

David salutes him. "Duly noted, sir."

The family went back to eating their meal with a conversation breaking out about how Walter's day at the office way.

"How's Spidey doing?" Scott asked. "Did you catch him yet, Daddy?"

"Not yet, son." Walter dug into his food, quickly avoiding looking at his son.

"Can I help catch Spider-Man, Daddy?"

But if you catch me, Little Scott, how am I going to teach you how to do backflips?

"Maybe when you're older, you and I can be a father-son duo, how does that sound?"

"Cool!"

"Finish your meal."

"Then I can have dessert?"

"Then you can have dessert."

"Okay."

David chuckled and shook his head.

What a regular family this is. I forget how regular humans interact from time to time.

He looks over at Felicia. She was looking at David with a stern look on her face. She reached over for her cup of soda and put it in her mouth.

What a sexy sight that is.

David's eyes drifted to her lips as she began gulping down her soda. His eyes focused intensely on her lips and neck as she gulped down the drink, his eyes nearly going wide before he closes his eyes and looks away but replays the image of Felicia drinking a soda multiple times in her head.

"So,' Walter started up, "how's school been for ya, David?"

David already answered, "The usual. Got better things to do."

"You got a job?"

He shook his head. "I used to work at Sbarro but I quit."

"You're seventeen, almost an adult, now's as good as any to get a headstart on a job."

"I do get paid. I don't have a job but I get paid. I write my own comics and do my own drawings that I post on this website. Every time someone pays coins to read my story early, I get paid and for those who support me on my , I will draw fanart for their entertainment. It's not a job but I do get paid."

Man, I am good. I loot money off of the violent criminals I kill but if anyone asks, I can easily tell them that the money came from my fans and supporters and they'll believe me. Such a beautiful cover story.

"Glad to see you're making money, David. What are you going to do with this money?"

"Save up and put it towards college."

"Still looking into forensic psychology as a career?"

"You know it, Captain Hardy. Can't keep me away from profiling criminals." He pointed his fork at Walter. "Speaking of which, you know that truce the mayor proposed with Spider-Man?"

"The Spider Act? Spider-Man is not to be detained when there's a supervillain in town until said supervillain is dispatched by either the police or Spider-Man?"

"Yeah. As an officer of the law, what do you think of the Spider Act?"

Walter clenched his jaw and tightened his grip around the fork in his hand. "Why would you ask me about the Spider Act while we're having dinner? Huh?" He looked at David with a glare behind his gaze, his grip around the fork tightening with each passing second. "The dinner table is my one safe space from the Spider Act."

I clearly wasn't expecting this reaction. Okay, I've offended him, pretend to act scared and intimidated.

David pretended to stutter. "I-I'm sorry, M-Mr. Hardy. I didn't know that the Spider Act was a sore subject."

Walter's knuckles turned white. Before David thought he was going to have a cow, Walter's grip suddenly softened as he exhaled like a balloon. "I'm just yanking your chain," he said with a soft smile.

David put a hand to his chest and sighed heavily. "You almost scared me, Captain Hardy."

He wagged his eyebrows. "Almost? Guess I'll have to try harder next time." He took a sip of his drink before he turned back to David. "To answer your question, as an officer of the law, I don't have an opinion. When I put on my uniform and go to work, I am the law."

David pointed his fork at him. "So, in a way, you're freedom of opinion is taken away?"

"Well, that's one way to look at that but in my personal opinion, I don't care about Spider-Man. He's just another criminal for me to hunt down and put in jail. If there's a new supervillain in town, I have no choice but to obey the rules of the Spider Act. It's disappointing but it's part of my job description."

Good. Glad to know Captain Hardy won't act irrationally in trying to capture me. Don't want the FBI creating another supervillain to catch me, like Octavius.

David nodded. He turned back to the Beef Wellington on his plate. "Such a calm and rational person. Let's hope other polices officers aren't stubborn and try and detain Spidey." After taking a bite of his food, he washed it down with soda. "So, Captain Hardy, you've been a police officer for a long time."

"Going on twenty years. Retirement's around the corner for me."

Captain Hardy's already retiring? Maybe all I got to do is outlast him. He's sixty or so, I'm seventeen, and I have superpowers; the choice of who has a better chance of outlasting the other is obvious.

David furrowed his brows. "Retirement already? Dontcha think that forty years warrants retirement rather than twenty years?"

"I don't have another twenty years in me. I'm fifty."

"I don't know. I can picture you as a seventy-year-old man, walking out of the police precinct in style, everyone applauding and giving you farewell speeches. I'll be thirty-seven in just twenty more years and raising your grandchildren with Felicia."

He chuckled with an almost humorless tone. "You're going to marry my daughter?"

If that's what it takes to blend in and lessen my chances as a Spider-Man suspect, yes.

"I would love to." He turns to Felicia, smiling at her. She returns the gesture.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, S-" She silences herself. "Sweetie."

Hold your tongue, Cat, you almost called me 'Spider'.

David held his hand up. "Look at that, she already has a term of endearment for me. I feel special, hah."

David moves his hand over to grab a napkin when he accidentally tips over his glass of soda. He 'sheepishly' grabs the back of his hair. "Sorry," he apologized before reaching for the napkin. As he cleaned up the spill, he noticed Walter looking over at Felicia with a fierce look.

What's with that look? I spilled the soda yet he's looking over at Felicia?

David quickly cast a side-eye at Felicia, who was looking at her father with slightly wide eyes.

Holy shit, does HE know about Felicia's bad luck powers?

He looked ahead and pretended he didn't see anything. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," Felicia's mother reassured. "Accidents happen."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess so. Where would we be in life if everyone was so perfect?"

Scott decided to speak up. "If everyone is perfect then nobody is perfect."

David laughed and patted the six-year-old on the back. "I'm pretty sure that's from The Incredibles."

"I like that movie."

Walter grabbed a napkin and wiped food stains off his lip. He checked his wristwatch. "Ahh, would you like at the time; it's almost eight-thirty."

David caught the subtle message and put his utensils on his now empty plate. "I'll call a taxi and drive home."

"Oh, no need. I'll drive you home."

"Are you sure, Mr. Hardy? I don't want to be of any inconvenience."

"The only way you could be of inconvenience is if you refused my offer."

He contemplated for a second. "Eh, who am I to deny a gentleman's generous offer to drive me home."

Seeing her boyfriend and father rising from their chairs, Felicia quickly picked herself up and wrapped her hands around David's shoulders. She pulled him into a kiss.

David licked his lips after the kiss ended. "Felicia and steak, my two favorite foods."

"Have fun getting home. And I apologize in advance if my Dad tries to give you the shovel talk."

Aware of the six-year-old in the room, he leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Better the shovel talk than the talk."

Felicia laughed. "True. See you later S-sweetie. Merry Christmas."

David clicked his tongue. "Merry Christmas to you too, Party-Hardy."

After grabbing their coats, Water drove David home in his car. He turned on the radio and switched to a station playing Christmas music. There was a tune that was playing that appeared to catch his ear.

'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away'

Walter turned the volume up.

'This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special'

David bops his head to the beat. "You have good taste, Mr. Hardy."

"This is quality Christmas music I grew up listening to, boy."

"You know, when you think about it, one could argue this is a breakup song."

"Whether it is or not, Wham wrote some good music."

"If you have Spotify like people do nowadays, why not hook it up to your car so you can listen to Wham all day?"

"Because people don't appreciate the fine quality of people playing Christmas songs on the radio."

David nodded. "True, true."

Back in the penthouse, when I spilled the soda, Dear Daddy Walter looked at Felicia rather than me, as if SHE was the one who caused the accident. Felicia does have a tendency to accidentally cause misfortune but the question isn't if he noticed me, the question is: does he know that Felicia has bad luck powers?

If he does know, then it changes everything I know about him. It means he is not a so honorable cop he makes himself out to be and, at the very least, he might know that Felicia is Black Cat. Does that mean he knows about Spidey and Cat being a couple if he does know? If that's the case, then what does he think about me? Does he suspect I'm Spider-Man? There are so many questions that desperately need answers. I have to find out what Walter Hardy knows as soon as I can

They pulled up to David's apartment area. David unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Thanks a lot for the ride, Mr. Hardy. I'll be seeing you later and Merry Christmas."

"Hold on." Water puts his hand on David's shoulder and pulls him back to keep him from moving. "This has been a long time coming. There's something I have to know, boy."

David looked at him with a confused look but kept his composure calm. "What would that be, sir?"

"What is my daughter to you?"

"What?" He chuckled with a nervous tone. "What are you talking about sir?"

"What is my daughter to you? Is she an object for you to lust over, what is my daughter to you exactly?"

David's lower lip quivered. "She's my girlfriend, that's what your daughter is to me."

And my partner-in-crime whom I have sex with from time to time.

"For some reason, I don't trust you. We've known each other for a year or two and there's still something off with you. What are you hiding?"

I remember Felicia warning me that Hardy was the one who taught her how to detect bullshit from a mile away. This must be his bullshit detector at work.

"I'm not hiding anything, sir."

"That just proves that you are hiding something." He takes his hand back and puts it on the steering wheel, all while keeping his gaze focused on David. "I don't know what it is but I'm going to find out. I recommend you tell me right now instead of having me figure it out later. Oh, and if you're going to keep acting like nothing's the matter, my daughter has a sharp eye and a built-in bullshit detecter."

Jokes on you, captain, Felicia warned me about your bullshit detector like a year ago. You just lost your advantage. Not only that, but we have no secrets, therefore, her bullshit detector has no reason to go off.

"In that case, if I was bullshitting her, why didn't her bullshit detecter go off?"

"Because she either figured it out or you came clean with her. If the latter is the case, then that means you both are hiding a secret."

I gotta take control of the situation; give a big speech like they do in movies. Here's a speech the teen boy gives to his girlfriend's father, let's hope it works.

"Sir, if I may make an assumption here, is it possible you're trying to justify pecking me apart because you don't want your daughter to date? I completely understand; no father wants to see their baby girl date a boy but I can assure you, I treat Felicia with nothing but the respect she deserves. If you don't believe me, ask your daughter yourself. If your own flesh and blood can't ease your mind then I don't know what can."

Walter continued to stare at him with a stern look on his face. After some pondering, he nodded with his jaw clenched. "I will be talking to her and if she says something that isn't true, my built-in bullshit detector will go off." He gestured to the door. "Now get out of here, son, you bother me."

Without hesitating, David got out of the car. He was halfway from closing it before he paused and stuck his head in the doorway.

"You can scare me with the shovel talk all you want, Captain Hardy, but nothing, not even the threats of jail time will stop me from dating your daughter. I love your daughter."

Without saying another word, David shut the car door and headed through the front doors of his apartment building. As he called an elevator, he looked through the windows at Walter Hardy's car as it took off.

Okay, so he is suspicious of me, but he doesn't know anything beyond that. He's like Felicia when we first started interacting. The only difference is that I'm not in uncharted territory this time. I've trodden this path with Felicia AND won. I found out she was Black Cat long before she found out I was Spider-Man and like father, like daughter, you'll be a step behind, Captain Hardy.

I don't know what secret you're hiding Hardy, but I'm going to find out. You'll never have the upper hand over me, even when I'm out of my Spider-Man costume. I have to find out what Captain Hardy knows about the Black Cat fast.

The elevators were finally called and David rode the lift up.

Felicia had helped her mother put the dishes away and clean up the kitchen. After they finished cleaning up, Felicia tucked her little brother into bed before kissing her mother goodnight. She went into her bedroom and fell flat on her bed.

She rested the back of her head on her hand as she pulled out her phone and searched for nearby museums. She scrolled through a few collections before searching up infamous tycoons in New York.

She found an article that caught her eye.

'Museum Bought Out By Wealthy Lawyer' it read.

She searched for more info on this lawyer.

"'Jakob Bradley Gets off of Embezzlement and Insider Trading Charges,'" Felicia read. "Well, he certainly deserves to have his loot stolen from him."

She jumps off her bed and heads quickly heads to her dresser. She sets her phone down and was about to open the bottom drawer when the door suddenly opened. Felicia didn't have to turn around to know who was there.

"Don't you ever knock, Dad? What if I was changing; you could've walked in on your daughter naked."

"Sorry. I came here because I was curious about something."

Felicia takes her hands off the drawer. She stands and faces him. "You know what they say about curiosity."

"Curiosity's going to have to try harder to kill this cat."

Felicia bit her lower lip in an attempt to suppress herself from giggling. "Good to know. So what were you so curious about, Daddy?"

"Does David know?"

Felicia tilted her head like a cat. "Does David know what?"

"About your little condition?" He enunciated the last word. "Him knocking down his drink at the dinner table, that sure as hell wasn't me. Was it you?"

She shrugged. "Maybe he tipped over his drink on accident. Pure accident."

"That doesn't answer my question. Did you tell David about your condition?"

Felicia kept a calm composure as she answered with quick haste, "No." She looked her father in the eyes this time. "I did not tell David about my condition. I like him, but I would never show off my powers in front of David."

Walter stared at her, no emotion on his facial expression. He looked her up and down, contemplating something before nodding solemnly.

''Good to know." Looking away, he closes her bedroom door, the door slamming shut with a soft thud.

Felicia chuckled softly at a barely audible volume that only she could hear. She widens her smile before turning back to her drawer. She opens the bottom drawer and digs around. She moves some clothes out of the way as she finds the lever to open the false bottom to the second drawer at the bottom. Once she pulled the lever, she opened the second to the bottom drawer and moved the false bottom out of the way.

There was her catsuit and goggles.

Her smile abruptly dropped when a flash of light shined outside in the distance. She quickly tucks her costume away and slams the drawer shut as she edges closer to her window.

"What the fuck?"

The sky was lit up by a burning airplane heading straight towards New York City.