Chapter 6

The Night Life

Blake knew for a fact she wasn't a people person. She still found it funny how she even became friends with Ruby, Yang, and especially Weiss considering her background. Considering how she left the White Fang, they were probably her only friends left… besides Sun and Team JNPR. So, when she thought about it, she figured why she was paired with Noir, a person who seemed, for a better word… direct. What did surprise her was that she attacked him first. Great first introduction.

Blake quickly snatched her fist from Noir's grip. "Who are you?" Noir finally asked still in a defensive stance.

"My name is Blake," she introduced herself. "I'm here to help you."

"Yeah," Noir responded sarcastically. "You helped alright."

"It was an accident," Blake stated. "It was… instinct."

Noir lowered his defense but only a little, but he sighed more exasperated. He then examined her. "I don't think Felicia sent you."

Blake frowned. She didn't know whether to be upset about that or not, especially the way he examined her. "No," Blake finally said. "I'm not from here. I'm from another… dimension."

"Wait," he said now completely out his defensive stance. "That floating head lady sent you?!"

Blake raised her eyebrow. "Floating head lady?" She never saw her as just a floating head lady. Then again, she didn't know that there were other dimensions. So maybe he just saw her as a floating head. "If you mean Madame Web, then yes."

"Why did she send you?"

Blake's frowned deepened. "Excuse me?"

"Why did she send you?"

His voice didn't change. The question wasn't rephrased not even the tone of voice. Either he didn't care or… no, he just didn't care if it bothered her. "My… dimension got connected to your's and other you(s) dimension through a video game we played."

"A game what?" Noir asked genuinely confused.

"A—" Blake quickly stopped herself remembering this was the past and explaining it just wasted time. "It doesn't matter. My dimensions in trouble and I'm here to help you get the fragments back. She quickly got closer to him. "I'm going to do it, whether I do it alone or with you."

It was quiet as the two were, just for a moment, staring at each other. "You'd be more trouble alone."

Blake didn't say anything. He wasn't wrong. She didn't know anything about him or his home and she didn't exactly look like a girl of this time and or dimension, but she was going to say a word.

"How old are you?"

"What?"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen." *

He didn't say anything, and he had to think fast. He didn't have time to really argue and she could be useful.

"Can you handle yourself?"

Blake had a small smirk. "You should know. Ask your stomach."

Noir didn't say a word, but he did scoff. Honestly, she sure wasn't if he was amused or scoffed annoyed. "Come on." Noir then ran off jumped on to another roof. Blake didn't hesitate and started to follow his lead over the rooftops. She didn't dare try and fall behind. Heck, she didn't even have time to tell him her semblance. Granted, he didn't necessarily seem to like her.

"Great first impression."

The two silent heroes traveled the rooftops and even swung from some a couple times. Till they stopped at a rooftop, Blake finally looked around almost having no clue where they were. Granted, he never said. "Where are we?" she asked.

"Night at the waterfront. On the docks, rats scurry about their grim business," he stated.

Blake raised her eyebrow. She didn't know how people talked during his time and she didn't if he was being cryptic for the sake of it. She had to think about it. What she did know about the docks and rats besides the normal is…

"A delivery job."

"Catch on fast," Noir said as he slightly turned back to her. Blake just nodded. Noir turned forward, but something was on his mind. "How would she know what I meant?" Not that he was trying to lead her high dry, but he wasn't 100% sure she would understand. She wasn't too bad getting the drop on him either. What did the floating head lady have in mind when sending her? But that wasn't what had to worry about right now. Right now—

Noir's thoughts got cut off as he heard a bit of commotion down below.

"I hear—" Blake started.

"Yeah, I heard it."

Noir and Blake quickly quiet followed the sound off a ledge and two jumped down and land on the rooftop. Blake quickly laid on her stomach as Noir laid in a crawling position and looked down below. Down below, there were two men both dressed in white sleeveless shirts and some baggy khaki pants wearing brown work boots. One wore a hat and the other was bald. The two were struggling up to carry a carte to the back of a pickup truck.

"You weren't wrong," Blake whispered not taking her eyes off the scene. "But are you sure this is right?"

"A tip from Felicia Hardy brought me here," Noir answered in a whisper also not looking at her. "Looks like she was on to something. That's why I figured she sent you. Seeing the way, you're dressed." Blake at that turned and glared at him though he didn't seem to even notice.

"Whoa! It's slippin'! Crash!

Blake quickly turned back to the scene down below. The two men had just dropped the crate breaking it to pieces and inside was the fragment piece that needed.

"Hey! Look at this!" The man in the hat yelled to his partner.

The bald followed to what his partner was looking at the fragment. "It's just a hunka rock? What's all the extra protection for?" he questioned aloud.

"The Goblin payin' you to ask questions now?" said a voice with a thick (New York) accent.

Two men looked to see a large man walking towards them. The man had a mean look on his face that wasn't just for show. He also had a large forehead with wrinkles in the middle that looked like it kept the head together. He wore a black suit thin white lines running down the suit jacket and pants. Underneath the jacket, was a red button shirt, a black tie around his neck and black almost fancy shoes. In both his hands, he held a large Tommy gun. Blake didn't have to question it: he was the boss of this operation.

"Who's he?" Blake questioned in a whisper.

"Hammer-head, one of Osborn's head men," Noir answered.

"Hammer-head?"

Noir scoffed quietly in an amused way. "Let him slam his head into ya and you'll see why he' gets the name if he doesn't shoot you first." Blake didn't bother to respond just gave a small wince at the idea.

"N-no Hammer-head," the bald stuttered shaking his head and the man in the hat followed the same gesture.

"Then shaddap," Hammer-head said as he walked over to the two men, who were pretty nervous as he did. "Goblin sez the Spider's comin' after the Tablet and he wants all measures taken to stop him gettin' it."

"I'm flattered," Noir whispered in sarcastic deadpan tone.

"Now load it in before lose my cool," Hammer-head order as he headed back the truck. The two men didn't dare question Hammer-head as one of the men grabbed the fragment.

"Your gonna lose your cool alright," Noir muttered.

"What's the plan?" Blake asked.

"We're leaving with the truck." He bothered to explain more as he jumped down as the truck's doors slammed shut and Blake quickly followed.

The two landed on the ground just as the truck started to reeve up the engine. Noir quickly shot two weblines one on each rail of the back of the pick-up truck. Before he could tell Blake to grab on to him, Blake took out Gambol Shroud, threw its extended length and wrapped around the bumper. The two started to skid across the road at a rapid pace.

Blake wasn't going to lie this was… slightly uncomfortable for 3 reasons. 1. She could maneuver very little without getting caught. 2. If they are caught, she couldn't exactly use her semblance if they started shooting. 3. Being in small heels skidding across the pavement street was a little rough.

As the truck sped across, Blake and Noir started to swerve to the side. Unfortunately, it was in the site of the trucks' rear-view mirror.

"It's him!" one of the men yelled.

"The Spider-Man!" The other guy yelled. "And, there's-there's some girl with him!"

"Then stop gawkin' and start throwin' lead! They heard Hammer-head's voice yell.

On command, the man the passenger side took out his gun and started firing at the two. Noir quickly grabbed the two webline with both hands to stay centered better. Blake didn't really have that luxury, the best she could do was duck slightly.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Blake winced and groaned as a bullet had grazed but she still held on. Noir noticed but he didn't have time to worry. She didn't look too bad but, bring upon the subject, it was better to go back to the shadow. "Blake!" he said loud enough over the engine and screeching of the tire. Blake turned to him. He just looked at her. It didn't take much for Blake to understand just the look: 'follow my lead'.

Noir let go and was thrown and around the corner. Blake quickly looked around and did the same. Blake quickly left a shadow clone taking a little of the damage. As she got up, she heard…. she quickly looked behind her to see Noir on his feet. Before Blake could say or do anything, Noir pulled her back further in the shadows as they heard screeching tires come to a halt. "Keep your voice low." Blake didn't even bother to respond to that. This wasn't her first time. He then did a quick look over of her arm, that was grazed. "Not a scratch."

"No," she responded still low. "My aura protected me from… whatever that was, and my semblance protected me when I fell on the road."

"Your semblance? Let me guess, your power?"

Blake gave a small nod. I was a bit more complicated, but he got the gist. "I can leave a shadow behind to takes my some of the damage I should have. And aura is… a long story but the short one is it's a shield I can feel it but it keeps from getting any real damage." She did start to rub her shoulder. "Though that didn't feel like dust."

Noir stared at her for a moment. "Right," he said sarcastically. "Dust."

Blake glared at him. "Not what you think. It's—" She stopped. "I hear talking."

Noir looked around and stopped seeming to hear it too. He quickly shot a webline at the lamppost and used it to get a boost up. Blake quickly looked around and saw a flagpole on the side of the building. She quickly got out Gambol Shroud and once again threw the extended end, it rewrapped around it. She used it to boost herself up. She the clung to the wall in shadow. Then next to the lamp post Noir was on top of.

Down below, Hammerhead and some more of his men were looking for them. Blake looked around to see they were at their destination: train yard.

"I think we lost' em," one of the men finally said.

"Get the spider. But who was the dame?!" another one asked.

"I swear I saw her slam into the road and she vanished like some phantom!"

"Shut it," Hammer-Head ordered, and the men did it instantly. "Keep your eyes peeled. You see somethin' shoot first and ask questions never. We're not takin' any chances' read me?"

"Loud and clear, boss," the man answered as smug as he was. "Loud and clear."

Blake could just feel herself lean in closer. "This is where it beings."

The two silent heroes to stick to the shadows as the group of gangsters still looked around a bit. Till a man, one of Hammerhead's men came running into the group from the entrance of trainyard. "Welcome boss! We got everything set up for ya..."

"Save it, Montana," Hammerhead cut him off. "No time for gab. I got a real important delivery for Mister Osborn."

"That's right Hammerhead," Noir whispered. "And I'm gonna follow you right to him."

Blake gave a light scoff. Maybe he was just used to talking to himself or being alone, but Blake felt she might as well been a 'phantom' to him. "What do you want to do?" Blake asked though she honestly saw no point in asking.

Noir hummed not bothering to look at her. "Too many Tommy guns for my taste," he responds. "Better hug the shadow for. Less you and I wanna get filled full of holes."

Blake did want to remind him that honestly, he would get filled with holes before she did, but it was nice he… somewhat cared… in his own way. "I'm on the train." Before Noir could question it, Blake quickly tugged on Gambol Shroud as it uncoiled itself from the flagpole, Blake quickly jumped down on the wall and landed on the ground and slightly ran. Not even the gravel crackled under her feet. Blake then quickly jumped in and on top of a train next to the gangsters still in the shadows.

Noir gave an amused scoff. Now, he never thought she was incapable. All people are capable of a lot of things. A lot of good and a lot of evil. Look at him. Hell, look at Osborn. She may have been a teenager, but she was no rookie. If anything, she was close to an ace. But that begged the question: What did, or does she do in her dimension? But again, that was a question for later,

Noir, getting out of his thoughts, he shot webline on the scaffold and pulled himself toward him it and landed on top above them, still in the shadow.

"Montana, you're with me. We got business to discuss," Hammerhead ordered.

"Right, boss."

"You and you watch my back while we're on the move. Savvy?

"Right, boss," the two men replied in somewhat unison.

"And Ox—"

"Yes, boss?" the man known as Ox replied.

"Stand there and look stupid. From what I can see, you've had a lot of practice." Ox didn't bother to respond, but both Blake and Noir would do as he said. An insult couldn't be worse than what Hammerhead could actually do to him. Hammerhead and the rest of his men started walking up. Like Hammerhead ordered, Ox stood there looking around.

Noir stood over Ox. "I almost feel bad for the fella," he whispered. Noir quickly webbed Ox from his leg. As soon as Ox dropped his gun, Noir quickly pulled him up and wrapped the man in a web like a cocoon. Ox didn't have a chance to make a sound. "Almost."

Noir quickly and stealthy ran along the scaffold still in the shadow following Hammerhead and his men.

Blake walked carefully and stealthy on the train making sure she was still in the shadows.

"All right, ya mutts, listen up!" Hammerhead yelled in the back to his men. "Osborn wants us to be ready for anything. And Mr. Osborn always knows what's best, doesn't he fellas?"

Instead of murmurs of confident confirmation, as Blake had expected, it was murmurs of confusion. "Yeah, that's right. So, let's get to it."

Blake slightly scoffed. Either these guys really had no idea why the fragment was this Osborn's main export or they really doing this more out of fear OR …. they weren't smart. Either way, this may make this easier. Blake quickly jumped down behind the train not making a sound. She wedged herself through a small wedge in the slot as the group traveled one was left behind. Blake backed up a little. She then threw the extended around the man's waist and quickly pulled before he could make a sound. As soon as he was in the slot, Blake covered his mouth with one hand and grabbed the man's hair with her other hand. "Hi," she whispered. Before he could make a muffled scream or struggle, she slammed his head twice against the train. She then let go and he fell unconsciously to the ground. "Bye," she whispered.

She slowly stepped over the unconscious man and looked through the slot. On the other side near a warehouse, was another one of Hammerhead's men. She then looked overhead and saw Noir, looking at her. "How did he—" She quickly stopped and rolled her eyes at herself. "That's right. Spider-sense." She saw Noir nudge his head toward the side a bit. It took Blake a minute, but she smiled. Blake quickly scooted out of the small corner, jumped on to the train, jump down and made a quick run in the shadows behind the man and in the warehouse; just as Noir shot a webline and pulled himself inside.

Blake quickly threw the extended end around the man's waist. She quickly pulled and the man let go his gun and was dragged near her but as when he was close to her Noir shot a webline over the man's mouth. Blake quickly pulled gambol off and when she did Noir pulled the man up, punched the man a couple of times, knocking the man out and then wrapping him in a cocoon.

Noir jumped down to Blake's side. "Anymore?"

"Not now anyway," she answered simply.

Noir nodded he the shot a webline out of the to the train. "Catch up." Before Blake could say anything, Noir pulled on webline and swung on the train. Blake rolled her eyes. "And they say I'm not talkative." Blake swiftly and quickly ran out of the warehouse jumped on the train next Noir.

Hammerhead and his men soon stopped at a gate leading into the next part of the trainyard. "Let's go, let's get this open." The men did so and soon from the other side, two men escorted a terrified man through the gate.

Noir started to straighten up. "That's one of the train yard workers," Noir exclaimed as quietly as possible.

Blake raised her eyebrow. "You wouldn't they have it all clear."

Noir just glared at the site. "What's this all about?" he questioned aloud.

Blake had a feeling and Noir probably had the same feeling, but she just kept quiet.

The trainyard worker had struck back as he was under the gaze of Hammerhead and his men. "Why?" he finally asked terrified. "Why are you doing this?"

Hammerhead looked at man causing him to shrink down even more especially holding those Tommy Guns. "Let's just say I don't want anyone stickin' their webbed nose in my business." Hammerhead then turned his men. "The Spider-Man and his dame,"

"Dame?!" Blake exclaimed quietly. Honestly, she was surprised how she reacted. "Phantom is starting to sound nice." She could feel him roll her eyes and… he was.

"tries to pull a rescue, you grease this stooge, Savvy?"

The men nodded and the trainyard worker shrunk back and started to whimper in fear.

"Yeah, boss," one of the men confirmed.

"Good," Hammer said. He then gestured to the rest of his men forward through the gate "Let's go," he walked through the gate and the gate closed behind him.

Blake glared as one of the men forced the trainyard worker forward with his gun. "We got our answer," Blake said lowly. "He's a one time bait and alarm."

"He shouldn't have brought innocent people into this," Noir held up his fist and then balled it up. "That just makes me mad."

Blake frowned as she watched Hammerhead's men forcing the man on his knees. Blake frowned as she watched them. The trainyard worker was just baited. He could die even if they weren't there or not. He was on death road the moment they caught him. Now, she was mad. "Then," Blake finally spoke. "Let's talk to them about it."

Noir just looked at her. Blake couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he just nodded. "Man, in the back," Noir simply said. "I'll take the man in the front."

Blake nodded. She quickly jumped off and landed on top of the lamppost and quickly jumped down in the shadows without making out a sound. She quickly extended her weapon and threw it and it wrapped around the man's legs. She quickly pulled as soon as he hit the ground, Blake pulled and he towards her. She then quickly let the extended end unravel held the man's head down to the ground and with the hilt of her sword hit the man over the head knocking him unconscious.

"Ross?"

Blake remained quiet. She didn't dare move. The moment she did. She would get caught and the train yard worker would be dead and so might Noir.

"Ross?"

Blake remained still and quiet despite him starting to hold up his gun.

"Ros—"

Before the man could finish, A webline wrapped around his mouth and was pulled up dropping his gun. As soon as the man was up, Noir punched him a couple of times, knocking the man out as he wrapped him in a cocoon. "Didn't say goodnight?" he asked sarcastically.

He then jumped down to the now whimpering man still on his knees. "They're gone," he said.

The man slowly stood up. "Sp-Spiderman!"

Blake finally moved a stood out of the shadows. The man looked and stepped back in shock. "W-who? Who 's the dam—"

"She's with me," Noir quickly said. "Trust me when I say she doesn't like being called a dame." The man quickly nodded.

Blake rolled her eyes. It was a nice gesture… at least with this. "Just tell us how you're still here?"

"I was workin' the night shift," the man started to explain. "Works been slow and so only few us were workin' the night shift. Before we knew, Hammerhead's came stormin'. If we tried to run, we'd be home filled with lead. They held us in the warehouse, next thing I know, I'm dragged out and on my knees."

Noir and Blake exchanged looks. "More insurance," Blake said plainly.

Noir nodded. He then looked to the gate. He could open those, but so much as a 'clank' and they'd be caught. He then looked to man. "Look," he said. "If you want your pals back home holes free," he then pointed to the gate. "You open that gate and get out of here and tell no one."

"But—"

"Repeat what I just said," Noir repeated lowly.

Blake wanted to stop in, but she didn't know what was on his mind or his plan.

"O-Open the gate, get out, tell no one." As soon as Noir nodded, the man ran over to the gate used his key to open the door. As soon as the key clicked, he pulled out his key, pushed the door open, and ran out passing them.

Blake then turned to Noir. "Any reason, why we don't want police?"

"Dozens, which do you want first?" Noir responded.

"Then give me two," Blake responded.

"The minute the cops come, is the minute the train yard workers come out in wooden boxes. Not to mention our boys in blue not might be so honest."

Blake raised her eyebrow. "Paid off?"

"We need to get Hammerhead down if want we even get a shot of getting info on Osborn and get that fragment."

Blake glared a bit. "Which is first?" Noir was quiet for a minute. Blake shook her head. "We need to follow Hammerhead."

Blake walked through the gate not even back at Noir. She knew he was following her. As she walked through a corridor with disconnected shutdown train part on the train rail, she honestly felt… uncomfortable. This all felt familiar, down to the trains. She... she didn't know what his goal was. Sure, she knew what Madame Web told her they were to find the fragment piece. This was Blake's #1 goal, but Noir's… Noir's was starting to become unknown to her. Like… Blake quickly shook her head. He wasn't… She didn't think he… maybe...

She stopped as her ears… her cat ears caught something. She started to pick up something. She held her hand up behind. Noir stopped. "What—"

"Shhh." Blake hushed. "They're close. I hear him. He's on the other side of the gate but close."

Blake rushed to end of the train part. Noir followed but under his mask and raised his eyebrow. "How did she hear them?" But he pushed that thought out of his mind… for now. He and Blake listened to the conversation.

"So, what is this thing Osborn's having you deliver?" one of his men asked.

"I'll tell you what it ain't: just a rock," Hammerhead started to explain. "Nah. It's got some kind of powers.

"How's ya know?"

"How do I explain it? It's like… it's like it almost talks. Y'know? If you listen, to it real close" Hammerheads voice started to change as if he was… memorized. "it speaks to you, like… like a dame. But no dame I ever knew. Cooing or I dunno… whispering."

"Whispering?" one of his men asked.

"Yeah. Soft and gentle… and low…"

It was quiet for a moment then…

"WHADDYA LOOKING AT?!"

"N-Nothing," one his men respond nervously.

"Guy's looking at me like I'm nuts."

"He's not the only one," Noir responded quietly.

Blake looked back at Noir. "That thing talks?"

Noir just shrugged. "How should I know? Never seen that thing in my life until today," he responded a bit annoyed. Blake just faced forward. "Either we get it back for does anymore talking."

Blake nodded as she started to walk toward the end of the gate. Suddenly, she felt wrap around her waist. Before she could respond, she was pulled back with her feet slightly off the ground. She was in Noir's arms and her mouth was quickly covered. Blake struggled a little "Keep still will ya." Blake stopped moving as light shined on the trail track in front of them. The two kept quiet as until the light moved away.

Noir slowly uncovered Blake's mouth and let go of her body. Blake quickly went away as went lookout and the Hammerhead's man had gone it the other direction. Blake looked back to Noir. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Noir went ahead of Blake and looked through the bars of the gate. "Two train yard workers. Looks like two of Hammerhead's men with each train yard worker. Take the right. I'll take the left." Noir went the gate, the pushed gate open and shot his webline on a nearby lamppost. "And don't thank me," Noir said almost startling. "Just don't get caught." He swung off.

Blake was about to follow till, "Trouble Ms. Belladonna?"

Blake near stopped but immediately glued herself to the wall to avoid getting caught. "Madame Web?" She then shook off the shock. "The trouble is… don't understand him at all. Lats I stopped understanding someone... is last time I wanted to see that person."

"Does he understand you?"

Blake was quiet before she could respond. Madame Web continued.

"You are stick to shadows to avoid enemy detection, but not your ally. Unbalanced leads to a dark path."

Blake didn't respond. She didn't have to, and she didn't want to. She went the opened, ran and jumped on to a train part. There was only so many people she trusted. Why trust someone… who, if she was being honest, didn't trust her? She knew her job. What was his? Was the same or not?

A/N: Hello, Sailor Luck here! Yes, I know it has been a long time, but I've had college, anxiety to deal with and issues with my major, which I've had to change. But I am back and god was this hard. Blake and Noir's dialogue is some limited and takedowns take a bit of time as much as the action so I'll most likely split it into two more chapters.

Also, I know it's been tough few days as we have lost a comic book legend, Stan Lee. He wrote and helped right amazing characters. As a writer, his type of writing was one of the few things that inspired me as a writer. A writer who about the struggle with power such as Spider-Man. Rest in peace Stan 'the Man, Lee, you will be missed. Excelsior.

Please, check out my other stories, review, follow and favorite. Until next Bye-Nee!