Just moments ago, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was sulking on a rooftop about the dangers of his love life from losing Mary Jane, to how he might be falling in love with the Black Cat and what his 'curse', as it were, could bring to her. Yet now he finds himself engaged in a playful game of tag with the enigmatic lady. He smiles widely underneath his mask as he swings after her throughout the city. He didn't realize he much he missed just getting some air until now.
How does she do it? How does she make me feel so calm. We only met a few weeks ago, yet there's something so…familiar about her. Like I've always known her, Spider-Man thinks as they reach the edge of a building with a huge gap between it and the next building.
"End of the line, lady," Spider-Man says deciding to declare himself the victor based on the distance to the next building. But Cat being Cat, decides to try her luck and makes a leap for it. Much to Spider-Man's surprise, she clears the distance and grabs onto a ledge. Spider-Man initially laughs to himself at Cat's show-offy feat, until the balcony she grabbed onto suddenly breaks.
"No!" Spider-Man shouts, an image of Mary Jane falling off the George Washington bridge flashing before his eyes. He leaps after Cat, fires a web line on instinct without even waiting to see if it connected to its target, and catches the reckless super heroine; he lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and feels his heart beating a mile a minute as they soar through the air together.
"You could've been…," he starts to say.
"Not with you around," Cat cuts off, not giving himself a chance to entertain the idea that he wouldn't catch her; her beautiful eyes drilling into his. Spider-Man feels his heart beating even faster and for once finds himself at a loss for words.
I knew you'd save me, Spider. You've always been there for me, Black Cat thinks as she rests her head against his chest; so warm and calming. He looks down at her and the feeling of electricity is unmistakable.
Spider-Man lets go of his web line, the two of them not breaking eye contact once, and they land on the side of a building; her arms around his neck and his holding her waist.
"I want to be as good as you. Instead I pull a damsel in distress. You must think I'm a fool," she shyly states looking away from the web head. Spider-Man places his hand under her chin and tilts her head back up to look at him.
"No. I think you are incredible," he tells her. Black Cat beams at this and feels her own heart do a backflip.
"You really think so?" She asks; hands subtly moving towards his mask. Eager to share their first kiss together. Well, more like a second first kiss. One that would hopefully end better than when she was merely Felicia Hardy. Someone Spider-Man felt duty bound to protect by staying away from her. But, Felicia can feel in the way he holds her that the way he feels is different. That he truly wants her, just like she wants him.
"I know so," he replies, slowly stroking her cheek. He notices that Black Cat is closer than when they landed and can feel her fingers trailing the bottom of his mask. He swallows thickly at the thought of their lips pressing together, but her pulls her even closer to him nevertheless, so there's barely any space between them; the voice warning him about the curse his love could bring Black Cat rescinding into the back of his mind.
"You just keep surprising me, Spider," she purrs.
"A lot of things about me would surprise you."
"Really? I like surprises." Her fingers roll up his mask to uncover his mouth. "See what you think of this one."
Their lips touched and it was magical. Cat pouring every ounce of longing she'd felt for Spidey into that one kiss. Spider-Man letting himself be overcome by feelings of love; curse be damned.
He held her closer. She kissed him fuller. He sighs and her tongue enters his mouth unexpectedly. He in turns surprises her by pushing her up against the wall.
Oh Spider, she thinks and wraps a leg around one of his while he slowly runs one of his hands down her side; a dangerously pleasurable heat rising between the pair. Like this one moment was the single most important thing in their lives…and that's when it hit them.
"A lot of things about me would surprise you," Peter says as he and Felicia finished their dance.
"I like surprises," Felicia says, placing her hands on Peter's chest. Not caring if Flash Thompson's jealous butt was watching them. "See what you think of this one," and her lips found his.
Spider-Man and Black Cat broke apart instantly. Out of breath not just from the kiss, but from what they both just realized.
"You're…," Cat utters, but can't complete.
"Are you…?" Spider-Man asks at the same time.
Neither says what they believe in the off chance they're wrong, but the more they think, the more it all makes sense.
Felicia being missing just when Black Cat first appeared, her determination to save John Hardesky, even their hairstyles are exactly the same. How could you miss this, Parker? A guy with a secret identity, you'd think you'd notice these things.
All the half baked excuses, Spider-Man arriving at places Peter just happened to make himself scarce at, for pete's sake you've even kissed both of them! How could you not tell, Hardy!
The two of them stand in an extremely uncomfortable silence for untold moments as they let the realization sink in. Finally, it's Spider-Man that takes the initiative.
"There's a lot you and I need to talk about, but not here in the open," he says.
"I agree. If you're who I think you are, you'll know how to find me tomorrow morning."
"Until then, it's best we go our separate way for tonight," he suggests, averting his gaze from Cat's as his mind it too occupied by a plethora of questions; Cat doing the same.
Another awkward minute passes before Spider-Man turns around and fires off a web line and prepares to make his leave. This is enough to break the haze surrounding Black Cat and she quickly reaches forward and grabs Spider-Man's free hand; cupping his cheek with the other. She knows things are going to change between them, and if this is the last time they are together, she wants him to remember this last moment. Spider-Man feels like he should push her away and leave now, but can't bring himself too. Unable to resist the unmistakable spark between their eyes; at least just this once more. He lets go of the web line and takes her in both his arms as she pulls his mask up once more, stopping when his mouth is uncovered.
"Thank you for always being there for me," she whispers as her eyes flutter shut.
"Anytime," he replies.
They lean in simultaneously and lock lips. The pair bathed in the serene light of the moon. Unsure of what the future has is in store for them, but content on letting themselves have one more moment in the present.
