Chapter 4-4

David helped his mother settle into their new apartment. It's been about four days since their fire burned down and Eddie had the kind heart to call his uncle, a landlord, to talk Misa into renting an apartment in Manhattan. It was within walking distance of Midtown and Misa could still work as a receptionist for the hospital; the drive was shortened.

It's also been four days since the Green Goblin had been spotted and David continued his double life as Spider-Man. He hasn't killed a criminal since the Devil's Arsonists duo and his urges were starting to bubble at the surface. He wanted to take another human life and the urge was getting powerful. He could barely contain himself but he kept telling himself one thing:

The taste of killing the Green Goblin will satisfy me for a whole year. Contain yourself, Davey.

There was a knock on their new apartment door. David answered it. "Felicia," he said in surprise, "This is unexpected."

She was holding a plant in her arms. "It's a housewarming gift," she said, "That, and I wanted to get a look at your new kingdom."

A plant as a housewarming gift. Good, another occupant in this apartment that needs water to survive. Dogs are fun to kill. Insects, eh. But plants... if I'm going to keep getting plants as a housewarming gift for the rest of my life... I think I might go crazy.

"Well," he smiled, "I don't call this 'David's Kingdom,' it's more, 'David's Dungeon'."

"Does this mean this poor plant is in for a bruising by being left here?"

"No promises." He welcomes her in. "Put that any place you want, I won't mind."

Felicia looks carefully before choosing the table. She places it in the center and opens curtains to gain the nutrients it needs.

Her silhouette from opening the curtains showed off her curves.

She has such a curvy body.

"Where's your mother?" she asks

Does she want to be alone with me?

"At work," he answered, "She works at the hospital. More often than not, I'm home alone. Not that I don't mind of course, because she's a single mom raising her son."

Who's a psychopath, of course.

"How did you even find this place?"

"Eddie told me." She turns to the fridge and opens it. "May I?"

He shrugs.

David admires her ass as she reaches down into the fridge. She takes out a carton of milk and pours herself a glass.

She looks so sexy drinking milk. Maybe I just have a weird fetish after spending so much time around a woman dressed up as a cat.

He heads for the fridge himself when he accidentally hits his hand against the countertop. He winces in slight pain. "Owch." He rubbed his hand before his eyes fell on Felicia. She had a guilty look on her face like she caused him to hit his hand against the counter. "I've survived worse."

Her guilty expression faded. "Like what?"

"Bad girls shooting dirty looks at me."

She smiles mischievously. "Am I a bad girl shooting a dirty look?"

David's eyes widened in excitement, "Did I say 'girls' as in plural? I'm sorry, I meant, 'a girl'.'

Felicia blushed. She turned around but David caught onto her face.

I made Felicia blush, I've still got it.

"Is the room temperature making you blush?" he asked. "Aww, is someone so off in their own world that they heat up from room temperature? If you want, I can help cool you down."

"How?"

"I've been told that I'm cold-blooded so... that should take away your blush."

She approached him slowly. She stood but could not meet his eye level as he was taller than her by afoot. She playfully slapped him across the face with a smirk. "You are such a tease."

David groans with excitement. "It comes with the package. All-inclusive."

"And free?"

David smirks. "Only the preview of David Dante is free. Everything that comes after... well, we can discuss that later."

She is just like Black Cat.

"Can I see your bedroom?"

David's eyes brighten. He has a mischievous look on his face and dirty thoughts swimming in his mind. He licks his lips in excitement before he nods towards the stairs. "Of course, they're right up there. Last room on the right."

"Thank you," she said, "I brought a housewarming gift for your room as well."

I wonder what it could be.

She spotted the mischievous look on his face and she wished that she could smack it playfully off his face. "Don't get your hopes up, Davey."

"Yes, ma'am," he saluted with a chuckle.

He follows her up the stairs and he points to her room. She walks in and observes. His bed was to her right against the wall, a dresser set across, and a window overlooking Manhattan beside his bed. The curtains were closed and Felicia took it upon herself to open them. It made him think back to his neighbor who he watched get undressed.

Too bad I won't get a free peepshow anymore. Those Playboy magazines serve their purpose but it's never as good as the real thing.

He then remembered, "Where's my housewarming gift?"

Felicia turned and reached into her jacket. She pulled out a wallet.

Is that my wallet?

"I think this fell out of your pocket when we had dinner," she said before throwing the wallet on his bed.

"My housewarming gift was my wallet?" He said it like he was accusing her of stealing but he considered the possibility that he may have lost it. Then he changed his mind. "You pickpocketed me?"

"I told you, Davey, I just found it when you left the house."

"Bullshit," he snapped.

I don't care about my wallet, there wasn't much money in it. But the regular human would be upset if his wallet was stolen so I have to play the part.

"I don't see why you're so upset," she rebutted, "There was no money in it."

She did go through my money; she stole it.

"It's not about whether you stole it or not, what matters is-" he stopped. "Wait a minute, I dropped my wallet when you were over for dinner and you left. My house burned down the same night so there's no way you could've gotten into the house without me inviting you in, which I didn't or you breaking in, which seems more likely. The one thing I can conclude is that you either pickpocketed me or my wallet fell out and you stole it. Either way, you're a thief because you walked out of here with my wallet."

She was shocked, speechless to say the least. She thought she could get away with it but she ended up losing both times: No money in his wallet and she failed to slip through him. She should've just kept the wallet to herself or not even mentioned it as a housewarming gift. She just wanted to see if there was something in his room that she could steal but he was so ordinary; nothing special could be found in his room.

"It's not my fault you live such a boring life," she said, "Where's your sense of fun?"

In the form of a costume in a suitcase under my bed.

David cocked his head. "What are you talking about?"

"I noticed that there is nothing special in your room. You've been moving here for four days and from what I can tell just by standing in this room you have an average, or at the very least, below average taste."

How did she know I spent four days moving here? She must've been stalking me or Eddie told her. Either way, if she was a threat then my sixth sense would've gone off.

"Why do I fail all those tests in school on purpose?" he asked with a shrug, "Because flashiness attracts attention and I hate being the center of attention. Although, you must love being the center of attention."

"Why do you say that?" she asked, looking at him with an observant gaze.

"Why do you bother showing up to hang out around me?" he asked and placed his hands on his hips, "It's because you like my attention. I can tell."

"What do you know?"

I think I'll just dig under her skin like a prospector.

"What I can tell," he begins in a sassy voice, "Judging from what you told me about your father, how you left that night to meet up with your boyfriend after getting in an argument with him, you like unpredictable boys. Because your father is a police officer, I'm guessing that he is firm and strict when parenting you. He teaches a strict code of what's right and wrong and it gets on your nerves. You don't like boys who are too good or bad because you specifically told me that you like mysterious boys. You like mysterious boys because you never know what you're getting into when you're around them. They can be either extremely boring or extremely fun. From what I'm guessing, you like to take risks. If a boy is chivalrous, you'll walk away. If he is too much of an asshole, then you'll also walk away. You want a man who is somewhere in between those lines."

"How are you making these assumptions?"

"Eddie is chivalrous when around Anne and you show no interest in him. Allan, he is a total asshole and I could tell that you have no interest in him. You weren't even around him, to begin with, which means that assholes don't attract you. I, on the other hand, am mysterious as you're constantly making observations around me that you normally would around regular people. You know that I'm hiding something and that is what's getting you interested. I have a secret that you know about but you don't know what that secret is about and it has interested you."

"You're just spitballing."

He laughs under his breath. "I'm mysterious so how can you be sure I'm not spitballing?" He waited for an answer but he didn't get one. "One of the things I've always wanted to be when growing up was a forensic profiler. I'm profiling you right now, from every gesture you make and what kind of boys you like. I'm reading you like an open book."

Felicia's eyes widened before she narrowed them forcefully. She turns away from David, turning her back to his. She rubs her right chin with her right hand using her fingertips. David caught this and he licked his lips in approval.

"I got through to you," he said with confidence, "I made you turn away to consider the possibility that I might be right."

"You're wrong," she said, "You know nothing about me," she insisted, "I'm a closed book."

Humans love to believe that they are hard to read to strangers but very few actually are. The only way to be a closed book is to pretend to be an open book. Pretend that you're easy to read and that way, you are hard to read. That is how I survived and how I hid my little ASPD side from the world.

"I'm more of a closed book than you are," he said, "You'd never be able to guess when I'm around you."

David's eyes widened and he had an epiphany.

Of course...how could I have missed it? Hamilton knows that I have to act a certain way around regular humans and that the emotions I put on are a facade. But when I behave around people in my alter-ego persona, he'll be more inclined to use that person as a form of psychological warfare. The only person I interact with regularly as Spider-Man is Black Cat, which means if Hamilton catches me with Black Cat as Spider-Man, he'll target her because I'm more open and honest around her.

David licked his lips.

I want to kill Hamilton no matter the costs and if that means using my superhero girlfriend as bait then so be it. Once I explain the circumstances to her then she'll understand. We'll make up and continue with our dates. If not, I'll web her to the wall and leave her for the police, assuming she's still alive of course.

Felicia studied David's blank face staring off into space. "Are you drifting off once again?"

He snapped himself out of his planning.

"You always do that," she said, "You always think like that."

"I do a lot of thinking in my head; you should try it sometime." He had another though. "You know, Felicia, I would be more than happy to take you out to dinner sometime.

She turned to him in confusion this time. "What are you talking about?"

Time to reel her in like a spider trapping a fly in its web.

"Go on a date with me," he said with more confidence than before. "If you don't then I'll just stalk you."

She scoffed and laughed. "You're asking me on a date?"

"Yes," he said firmly with a nod, "I'd be happy to take you out to lunch."

Felicia, I'm using you as well.

"I gotta say, David," she said with a nod of approval, "You've got some guts, Davey."

"I'm unpredictable," he said, "But I'm sure that's what you like about me. I'm perfect for you and I doubt that you'll find someone remotely close to me. If you say no, then I'm going to pursue you. I'm persistent, remember?"

She studied him carefully, trying to read him. She wondered how he was able to read her easily while she knew nothing of this boy. She kept going over possibilities in her mind before she subtly nodded.

"I like a man with a strong arm," she said, "But you're paying for the check."

"You've already seen my strong arms," he said and flashed his muscular arm for a brief second, "But we're splitting the check two-ways."

"Why, you don't have a job?"

"I'm too good for a job."

I have no money, didn't you see my wallet?!

"That and your wallet is empty," she said.

Thank you for finally remembering.

"We'll go out for lunch on Sunday. Today is Thursday after all."

"What time on Sunday?"

"Seven o'clock."

If I was a human, I would feel regretful for using you but I need to take out Green Goblin right now. Don't worry, Spider-Man will save you.

"Sunday," she said, "Seven o'clock but where?"

There's only one place I can think of and they make the best steaks there.

"Texas Roadhouse."

She flinches. "What?"

"A couple of years ago, my parents took me to Texas. We had ourselves a table at this small restaurant called Texas Roadhouse. Fortunately, it's a nationwide chain - somewhat - and I found a location for us here in New York. I loved their steak there so..."

Saturday, I have dates with Black Cat as Spider-Man every Saturday. I can use this to my advantage as well. While the night is still young, I'm going to swing out and I'm going to tell Black Cat that we're going to do something special on our date at ten o'clock. I'm going to take her for a swing around the city and I'm going to make sure that our swinging date is visible to anyone watching. Hamilton knows that I have to act a certain way around regular people as David Dante but when I react to another superpowered person, especially a criminal, he'll be inclined to use Black Cat for sure.

"You get us a reservation, and we're ordering cheap food," she said.

"Of course," he said, "We'll order food that can fit in your wallet."

If this kleptomaniac starts stealing wallets, then I should find a way to make her pay. I'll turn on my charm and I'll make her pay.

He looked at his watch and pretended that he needed to be somewhere. "Sorry to tell you this but I think it's time to leave. I gotta clean this place up before Mom gets home and she is a clean freak."

"Walk me out," she demanded.

David walked beside her down the stairs. He wrapped his elbow around hers and she revolted in disgust. He chuckled at her discomfort.

Wrap your arm tight around her but not too tight; don't want to accidentally break her arm with my super-strength.

He opens the door for her and lets her out.

"Wait," he called before she was out of reach. "A parting gift."

He dived in before she could react and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was long and intimate between the two, at least, that's what David made it out to be.

Thanks to all those kissing sessions with Black Cat, I know how to kiss someone on the lips and make it feel intimate.

Felicia lets out a soft moan.

I never understood the concept of moaning. Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean I don't love hearing it. Such a beautiful, hot, sexy, unnecessary sound that I can't wait to make Black Cat make underneath me.

He was the one who ended the kiss. He pulled himself back and stared into Felicia's soul through her eyes. He saw a sparkle in her eyes and a smile stretch across her face.

"Am I your first?" he asked, "Kiss, I mean."

"You've got skills," she said.

Oh shit, I told her that I have a girlfriend at the fundraiser, what if she brings that up?

"You must've been practicing on someone," she said, "Don't you already have a girlfriend?"

Think, Lie, Deceit.

"You remembered," he said, "Bethany, it turns out she was cheating. The other guy...was me."

"Tough," she said.

"And what about your boyfriend?"

"He's a pig," she said, "I don't want to talk to him. Anyway, I'll see you later Davey."

"See ya, Felicia, and thanks for both housewarming gifts." He shuts the door and locks it tightly. He presses his back to the door and rubs his forehead with both hands, wiping the sweat away.

Alone at last, where I can think properly. I've trapped myself between a rock and a hard place. I got myself a date with both Felicia and Black Cat, it's unprecedented. I don't care about dates right now, I have to find Black Cat ASAP.

David picks up his phone and dials a certain number.

"Dr. Hamilton," he facades his voice with a cheerful tone, "How has the seminar been?"

Hamilton answered.

"Well," David hesitated, "I'm going out on a date on Saturday. I actually have a girlfriend for the first time. I know that because I'm not a human, I'm supposed to blend in but there's something about this girl that attracts me. She's a bad girl, not afraid to break the law and whatnot."

That's it, David, reel him in.

"Do you like this girl?" Hamilton asked.

Yesss…

"I think I'm...in love."

Hamilton pauses on his end. "You're... in love?"

"Well, as love as someone like me can be."

"Wow, this is interesting. Who is the lovely young lady? Wait, let me guess: Felicia."

David chuckles. "What gave it away?"

"You were looking at her one too many times during dinner."

"But isn't that normal for human beings to do?"

"Yes, a normal human being. But you..."

"I am not a human being."

Man, knowing Hamilton's dirty green secret makes almost everything he says sound fake. Like a politician.

"Ahh, don't be so hard on yourself. You're a human being; just... abnormal."

Yep, he's sound like an asshole with every word spewing out of his mouth.

"Unique," David challenges. "I consider myself to be, unique. A unique pseudo-human being."

"If you say so. What is it about this person that you are infatuated with?"

"Almost everything," David smirks. "There's plenty but I love her humor and her feistiness."

In case for some reason, Green Goblin doesn't notice Black Cat, I'll use Felicia as a backup plan, no matter how less likely it is. The next time I see Black Cat and or Felicia, I'm going to put a tracker on them. Maybe I'll make one, put it in my mouth, and then put it down their throat the next time we tongue each other.

"You're going to have to tell me all about this, David. As soon as I get back from my seminar."

"And I can't wait to tell you all about it," David smirks before hanging up. All alone in the apartment, David sits on the couch and looks up at the ceiling.

If I knew where Green Goblin was at all times, I could sneak up on him and catch him off-guard. While I do possess a sixth sense, I do NOT have omnidirectional awareness or whatever it's called. I am not all-knowing so I am going to have to figure something out. I need to make a GPS tracker of some kind. I could go homemade but I'm going to need the materials first. My suit is homemade but I still had to buy some items. Okay then, I think I know what I'm going to do.

David sits up and heads to the balcony. He rests his forearms on the railing and looks down.

Tonight, I'm going to head out and get some materials to make a GPD tracker. I'll tracker my cattle's movements wherever they are and when Green Goblin kidnaps them, I'll have a headstart on him. But... there is something else on my mind.

When I kissed Felicia, it felt oddly similar to Black Cat. Either all women taste and feel the same during a kiss or...

He closes his eyes.

No, no. Don't go there, David, no.