Chapter 7

The Shadow's Trust

Blake jumped on top of a rectangular cargo train car. Blake quietly crept over and looked to the side. There was a cargo space, in there was a car with its headlights on. A trainyard worker on his knees in front of those lights. One of Hammerhead's men was guarding him against the front and another was guarding the outside area of the cargo space. She then looked forward to seeing Hammerhead and his men at the gate. Blake frowned. She'd have to wait for them to leave before she did anything.

"So, Osborn…" one of Hammerhead's men started.

Hammerhead scoffed cutting the man off. Blake was surprised. "He's not a fan," she thought.

"Osborn's workin' on my last nerve," Hammerhead stated/ complained. "He's got me, Vulture, all of us bosses collectin' these fragments-runnin' errands for him like bag boys."

Blake raised her eyebrow. "And bitter. Look's like Osborn's knows something is headman doesn't. I wonder..." Soon she heard Hammerhead chuckle, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I tell ya what though," Hammerhead said lowly. "If Osborn thinks he's the only who can appreciate the power of this thing he's not as sharp as he thinks he is."

"No honor among thieves," Blake rolled eyes. Like she could even talk.

One of the men looked to Hammerhead confused. "You gonna keep it for yourself?"

"I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do," Hammerhead quickly said glaring at the man. The man quickly looked down. "Don't worry about it."

"And what about the Spider-Man and that new broad?"

"At least he didn't say, dame. Granted, it wasn't much better. Actually, it's worse."

Hammerhead chuckled darkly once more. His man didn't seem to understand. "What's so funny?"

Hammerhead stopped chuckling as the gate opened wide. "You leave the Spider-Man and the girl to me," he said as he and his men walked through the gate door. "They're not as sharp they think they are either." The men then slammed the gates behind him.

"I resent that," Blake muttered. She then looked over to the side as she looked at the cargo space. "Two guards about 4 feet apart," she muttered to herself. She then stopped as sighed… she was talking to herself. "I've been hanging out with Ruby too much."

Blake looked at cargo space. She took out Gambol Shroud's extended length, threw it, it tied to the light scaffold, she swung in and around and land on top of the scaffold and unraveled her weapon. Blake then quickly dropped down landing a kick in the man's face and then a quick one in the stomach. As soon as she landed on the ground, the man fell to the ground out cold. The trainyard worker gave a loud gasp. Before Hammerhead's man could turn around to the noise, Blake threw Gambol Shroud's extended length around the man's neck and pulled him close and quickly grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face into the ground knocking him out.

She unraveled her weapon from his neck. She then looked to the trainyard worker, who was shivering. "Are you hurt?"

He hesitated but shook his head. "You can stand up now."

The trainyard worker quickly stood up. "W-who are you?"

"I'm—" Blake stopped herself. "Call me Shadow. I'm here with Spider-Man."

"Spider-Man?!" he exclaimed.

"I'm going your to pals out of here. I need you open the gate, get out of here, go home, and don't say a word."

"But—"

"If you don't, I'll have Spider handle you and leave you here and lock you in the car." Blake stepped closer as he looked nervous. "Will you open the gate? The trainyard worker nodded frantically. "Go." The trainyard worker quickly ran to the gate.

"The Shadow, huh?" Blake quickly turned to see Noir standing there.

"I didn't want to use my name," Blake responded.

"You're from another dimension."

"... Still..."

"For someone, who wanted to stop me before is sure catchin' on," Noir said quickly changing the subject.

Blake didn't say anything at first until she heard the gates open. "I'm good at doing a lot of things I don't like." She then ran off through the gates.

Noir frowned underneath his mask but followed her through the gate. "What did this girl to do in her dimension?"

Blake and Noir looked at the warehouse in front of them. "Front door?" Blake questioned.

"Too risky. Might get the drop on us."

"Then the window's out."

Noir then looked to the side of the building to see vent gate open. "There," he said. He then shot a webline on a stack of rectangular cargo boxes and pulled himself on as Blake followed, jumping off each one to the top. Noir crawled on the wall and into the vent. Noir stuck is on head out and held out his hands. Blake nodded and jumped. She grabbed onto his hands. He then pulled her in. The two landed on in large vent system. The two looked down to see they were over Hammerhead and couple of his men with the gun with flashlights on the top. The two silent heroes kneeled down looking down.

Soon one of Hammerhead's men came running through the front door. Hammerhead turned him to with guns still in his hand and he his men turned too. "Don't me you haven't killed them yet," Hammerhead said lowly.

"They-They've been tearing the place apart. Freeing hostages, ripping the gates up, knocking out the guys," the man responded nervously.

"That so?" Hammerhead responded.

Hammerhead quickly walked towards him and his gun him hit so hard he fell to the ground unconscious and bleeding from the side of the face.

The men stepped back in shock. "Holy—"

"Told him not to tell me." Hammerhead turned away and started moving forward. "All right now. Time to step it up." Hammerhead started to go to the next room as the two men followed, leaving a bleeding man on the floor.

Noir and Blake stood up and started to walk carefully and slowly on top following Hammerhead.

"Spider!" Hammerhead yelled still walking. The two heroes just keep silent and followed. "You out there? You hear me? Hear this: it's war now." The two remained silent as they carefully followed from above. "After tonight, you're gonna need a pallbearer- and I'll be at your service. And your girl…" Hammerhead chuckled. "She'll be right beside me."

Blake quietly scoffed as she glared down and continued walking carefully. "Bite me." She muttered quietly.

Hammerhead finally stopped in front of the door to the next room. "You two stay put. they'll be coming through here after me. Your job is to stop them. And if you don't-you'll wind up like that jerk. Believe it."

"W-where you are going?" One of the men asked a bit nervous.

"Me? I gotta put something together for when he gets when he gets past you guys." Hammerhead then opened the door and shrugged nonchalantly. "Not that I don't have faith in you… but I don't." He then walked through the door and slammed it shut as the two men stood guard… not happily.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," one said sarcastically.

"Yeah, thanks Hammerhead. Go climb up your thumb."

"Sorry fellas," Noir said almost amused. "I'm about to prove them wrong."

Noir and Blake started to look around. "We just need to get out."

Blake to the control system in the corner of the large vent. It was sparking. "System broke down. That means a panel is offline." Blake looked to the over the side of the broken controls to the panel. "There,'' Blake said gaining Noir's attention. Blake quickly took out her weapon and quickly sliced the four corners of the panel. As soon as she put her weapon away, the panel fell to the ground.

Noir gave a small chuckle. "Nice work."

Blake just nodded and walked through the vent as Noir followed behind.

The two entered the room and down below and even on the platform, were some of Hammerhead's men. "Enjoy creeps," said Hammerhead's voice PA system. "I got my toughest men and they won't stop till stop suckin' air."

"Yeah," Noir muttered. "Let's see how tough they are."

"I'll take the bottom," Blake stated. "I need to be alone anyway."

"Alright, I'll take the top," Noir responded. "I need to be alone anyway."

Blake jumped down from the bottom of the platform to the area below and Noir shot a webline and pulled himself on to the scaffold above.

Blake leaned her body against train part to avoid Hammerhead's men. Blake frowned and not because of Hammerhead's men. Ever since she came here, she didn't feel like she knew nothing about the partner that was forced upon her.

Blake's ear twitched. She quickly dashed to the side leaving a shadow behind. The guy turned the corner inch closer. He saw the shadow but it vanished instantly. "Wh—" Before he could finish, Blake covered his mouth with one hand and her other hand grabbing the back of his head and slammed it in the train part. He fell to the ground unconscious.

Blake jumped on top the train with thoughts still in her heads. It all felt similar. She had one mission… her partner had another. Things about Hammerhead and this Osborn person, he knew more than he was letting on. This was all too familiar.

Down below, another man was walking. Blake threw Gambol Shroud's extended length, it tied around him, she quickly pulled the person up slightly in the air and jumped on that person and slammed him face first into the ground knocking him out cold.

She then leaned against another train car. Her head was swirling. He was fighting for the right reason. Granted, so was she. Madame Web's word echoed in her head. 'You are stick to shadows to avoid enemy detection, but not your ally."

"There a problem with that..."

Blake jumped behind the man. She quickly swept kick man and feel to the ground. Blake left a shadow behind and the man fell through it. Blake ended up in front kicking him in the face. He fell to the ground out cold. Blake stood tall, still hidden in the shadow.

"There a problem with that... I've always stuck to the shadows… with everyone."

Noir carefully walked on the scaffold and above one of Hammerhead's men. Noir frowned. Now he wasn't the smiling type of fella, but he had a lot on his mind. Ever since that girl came here, he didn't feel like he knew nothing about his… partner that was forced upon him.

Above, Noir quickly webbed the man 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. He jumped down and landed on the platform and remained careful, he had to be with her.

What did he know about her? She came from another dimension and she had powers of leaving shadows behind…. Okay, the name Shadow made since now he thought about it. BUT this was all he knew about the girl. He wasn't blind… this girl had baggage and skills to go with it. Granted he wasn't one to talk.

Noir walked carefully till he was behind that man. He quickly shot a webline, that covered the man's mouth. Noir quickly pulls him towards, grab's him but the collar slams him to the ground. The man unconscious as Noir webbed the man to the ground. He walked carefully to his next target. However, his head was raddling with questions.

She heard things and things even better than he could even his spider sense. Granted, he didn't really have time to ask and he wasn't plannin' on being buddy-buddy with her. That's the thing about being in the shadows….

Noir quickly shot a webline, that cover's the man's mouth. Noir quickly pulls him towards, grabbed him by the collar slammed him into the wall a couple of times before webbing his unconscious body to the wall.

The thing about being in the shadows… you don't just hide from enemies.

As the heroes, stayed in the shadows, the door to the next room slammed opened and one of Hammerhead's man came running through. Before he could say something, he looked around to see that nobody was in there. "Whoa?!' he exclaimed. "Where'd everybody go?!" He quickly ran out the door, leaving it open. "Eh, this doesn't look good!"

As soon as he was out of site, Noir jumped down to the ground as Blake came out her hiding spot. "He has no idea." He turned back to Blake "Come on." He ran through the door and Blake followed.

As they ran into the room, it was filled with crates and boxes and no men. Blake sighed. It was now or never. "Who's Osborn?" Blake asked as she stopped.

Noir stopped but started walking again and Blake followed. "What do you know?"

"Osborn knows something about these fragments more than Hammerhead does. I doubt you don't know nothing about that."

Noir hesitated but stopped and looked at Blake. "Felica did give me tip about the docks and something more. She told Osborn was bringin' up some headmen looking for some rocks. She's bets that Osborn has one. No way I can know for sure unless he comes out. And no way he'll come out unless I make him desperate."

"Great plan," Blake said sarcastically. "Would've been better if you told me the plan."

Noir frowned as he turned to Blake. "Why?"

"Because you're not the only—"

"That's not enough! What do I know?"

"Excuse me?!"

Noir pointed to himself. "I've gotta a lot of pounds and bruises that I'll be feelin' for a week with people I don't know and let slide. Last time that happened. I wind up on the lamb." Blake just glared. "So, we may have the same goal but that doesn't mean anything."

"You wanna know about me?!" Blake said in anger. "I have a semblance that leaves shadows behind to take my damage," Blake began to list in anger. "My aura protects me from things that should hurt me. And I'm from a world where a lot of people want to hurt me or want me dead for just living!" Noir eyes widened a little, but he didn't say a word. "So, at this point, I want someone at least from another dimension to trust me for two minutes!"

Blake even surprised herself at the outburst. Even Weiss had to say a lot to get her to snap. This… it took not knowing a plan to tell… how she felt most days… even with people like Yang, Ruby, Weiss, and everyone else. Blake turned to the side embarrassed.

Noir groaned. "Look I—" he stopped as his head started buzzing. He then looked to see Blake look up and around and her… her bow was twitching. "What?"

"Look out!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Whoa!"

Rapid gunfire sounds and bullets filled the room. Noir flipped out of the way as Blake dashed and flipped; each time leaving a shadow behind. And each disappeared as each one got hit with a bullet.

"Hit?" Noir asked not looking back at her.

"Fine."

"You think you take me?!" yelled Hammerhead's voice. "Come on and have a go if you think you're hard enough!" Hammerhead soon ran out the door leaving it open.

"Let's go!" Blake and Noir said in unison to each other and both ran followed each other out the door.

The two silent… and anger with one another, heroes ran into, what looked like a small coliseum. However, it was part of the train yard where the worked-on train cars and sent to different areas of trainyard or warehouse. "Where—" Blake started.

"Hey Spider, little girl…"

The two heroes faced forward looked to see a train car turner in the middle of the 'Coliseum' face them. On it, Hammerhead had a large rapid power machine gun mounted on ready to fire. "Wanna go a few rounds?"

Blake quickly took out her weapon in a fighting stance and Noir went ito a fighting stance. "Trust me," Noir taunted. "It will only take one."

As soon as he said that bullets started flying, Noir and Blake quickly moved out of the way as Hammerhead started cackling wildly. Noir quickly ran away, and Blake did the same as well as leaving shadows behind. The two both ended up behind a pillar across from each other panting as the bullets were still flying.

"I can't… get closer enough… he's too fast with the trigger", Blake said still panting.

"He's not just…. Osborn's headman for his… 'pretty' mug," Noir countered also panting.

Blake peeked back to see Hammerhead still firing. "Waiting till he runs out of bullets, isn't a great option." she thought to herself. She looked to Noir. "Any ideas?"

"One," he responded not looking at her. "It's risky."

"Why?"

Noir looked her, feeling the serious look under the mask. "Cause it involves trusting each other."

"You know, waiting till he runs out of bullets is starting to sound much nicer."

Hammerhead finally stopped but continued to swerve the train car turner around scanning for the two. "Afraid to face me?" Hammerhead taunted. "Come on and finish it freaks."

"Freaks, huh?" Noir countered as his voice echoed. "Never thought I'd reach your level."

Hammerhead quickly turned train car turner turned around and with the light on Noir. He quickly fired rapidly at him. Noir quickly ran out the way and Hammerhead continued to fire.

Blake, from behind Hammerhead, threw the extended length at Hammerhead. It wrapped around him keeping his arms together. "What the—" Hammerhead exclaimed.

Blake quickly pulled herself forward toward Hammerhead. "You missed." She delivered a swift kick to his stomach. She delivered two side kicks to the head. She then jumped back and unrevealed her extended as it came back to her. "Can you even shoot?" she taunted a bit.

Hammerhead quickly grabbed the gun and turned it to her. "Watch!" He started shooting at Blake. Blake quickly used her weapon's extended end and wrapped it around the top. She quickly used it to climb to the top and avoided the bullets as she did. As soon ass she got to the top, she started running on the top of the 'Coliseum'. She ran and around it as bullets and the spotlight followed her. "Wanna say something else little girl?!" Hammerhead yelled.

Blake pulled out her weapon and fired ice dust into her shadow. As soon as the bullet hit the shadow, ice shards scattered all over the place. Hammerhead stopped firing trying to avoid the shards. Blake quickly jumped back into the shadows. "Now do you see me now?" Blake's voice echoed.

Hammerhead kept turning around with his gun and light. "I'll slice you to bits!" Hammerhead yelled.

"Haven't ya heard?" Blake's voice echoed as tried her best to sound likes she's from this time. Hammerhead turned seeing a shape of her. He quickly fired only for the shadow to fall and vanish. Hammerhead was not happy as he growled and kept turning around looking for her. "I'm nothing but shadows."

"You think I'm 'fraid of you?! A little doll?!"

"No," Noir finally spoke.

Before Hammerhead could react, Noir shot a webline on to Hammerhead's back. Noir quickly pulled himself forward. As Hammerhead turned, Noir grabbed Hammerhead's shoulders. He delivered two punches to Hammerhead's head. He then grabbed Hammerhead's head before delivering a back-flip kick and landing gracefully few feet away. "But you should be of me."

Hammerhead quickly grabbed the gun, once again, and turned it to Noir and started shooting at him. Noir quickly ran out of the way and back into the shadows.

Hammerhead was not happy… at all. He was getting duped by a spider freak and the phantom dame freak. This wouldn't be what brought him down. Not by a long shot. "You two think you're smart?!"

"No," Noir's voice echoed. "But every time you talk makes me a genius."

Hammerhead looked thinking he saw Noir's shape, quickly turned the gun, shining the light, and started shooting. He missed but he kept turning his gun and light and shooting. "I'm going to put you six feet under!"

Blake's scoffed chuckle echoed in the area. "You want to bury a phantom. That's interesting."

Hammerhead spotted shape of Blake. Though he knew what happened last time, he wasn't going to leave any chance to l them leaving alive. He fired rapidly at the shape. It was a shadow and created a small explosion. Hammerhead shielded his eyes from the dust and gravel from his eyes. He quickly grabbed the gun and started turning the light and gun again. "You think I'm fraid of a ghost and spider?!"

"No," both voices echoed in unison.

Suddenly Blake's extended end of her weapon wrapped around Hammerhead's body and she pulled him towards her as she stepped into the light. "Ghosts and spiders don't hurt. We do."

Noir then jumped from the shadows and landed on Hammerhead and grabbing his shoulders. "A lot worse."

"No more," Hammerhead said turning away. Blake raised her eyebrow but kept her guard and grip on her weapon tight. "Stop, please, please. I give! I give!" Hammerhead begged.

"Had enough, huh?" Blake said more really asking still holding her weapon.

"I'll give ya whatever ya want!" Hammerhead said in 'panic'.

"Now," Noir grabbed Hammerhead's shoulder. "Hand over that ro—"

Before Noir could finish, Hammerhead quickly reared his head back and headbutted Noir. Noir was sent flying a good distance back and landed on the ground on his back.

"Noir!" Blake yelled.

Before she could do anything, Blake felt a yank on her weapon and was pulled and launched forward. Hammerhead headbutted her. Blake barely landed on her feet and her weapon's extended end unwrapped from around Hammerhead and back to her normal weapon. Blake was so dizzy she could barely stand. Noir wasn't kidding about Hammerhead's head. Before Blake could completely stand, Hammerhead grabbed both her arms and lifted her up despite her little struggle. "Shudda stayed in the shadows," Hammerhead said lowly. Blake didn't say a word. Hammerhead once again reared his head back and again headbutted Blake. Blake was launched into a good distance on the ground and she stayed there lying on the ground.

Noir slowly started to sit up, but his wrist was quickly stepped on causing him to go back down. Hammerhead looked down at him with a smirk on his face. "Sucker," Hammerhead smugly taunted. Hammerhead then quickly ran off.

Noir groaned as he started to sit up again. "Cheap shot!" Noir yelled as best as he got up. Noir stood as fast as he could. "B-Shadow?" he called. No answer. "Not good." "Blake?! Shadow?!" He then heard a small groan. He quickly looked in the direction of the groan. He saw Blake still on the ground. He quickly ran to her side. "Blake! Blake! You with me?" Noir sat her up as he also supported her back. "Blake."

Blake just groaned as her eyes were barely open as she was barely conscious. Noir sighed with some relief. He picked her up best as he could, walked with her to a pillar and leaned her again it. Blake groaned as if she wanted to say something. Noir ignored it. "Take a load off," Noir said softly.

Noir then turned and saw a nearby open window and shot a webline and pulled himself forward going towards it disappearing.

It took a minute as Blake started to shake off a bit of the effect from the headbutts. "What… was… in his… head?" Blake muttered as grabbed her head and started to stand. "Noi…Noir?" she called as best as she could. No answer. Blake sighed. "He… left… me… didn't he?" Blake walked as best as she could to a warehouse. With each step, she walked more steadily. However, she was still not yet there to her do a disappearing act as her head was still sore. It was better than staying in the open.

She managed to get herself into a warehouse. She looked around seeing it looked clear. "Noir?" she called quietly. "Noir? Where are you?"

"Hey!"

Blake did not like the sound of that. Her instincts quickly kicked as face forward and two of Hammerhead's spotted her. And then chaos.

"It's the girl!"

"Shoot her!"

"NO!

"Noir!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Ahhh!"

"ENOUGH!"

A/N: Yes, it's been a minute BUT I have had personal family stuff and this is not as easy as you think. It's fun but not easy. Just know that no matter the time in between I am STILL doing this story.

Side Note: I just saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It was... AMAZING! SPECTACULAR! EXTRAORDINARY! SENSATIONAL! It was great. So for the next, chapter, for those who have seen it, guess which line I got from the movie! WHOA!

Anyway, please check out my other stories if you are new or haven't. Please, review, follow and favorite this and my other stories... which also still need to work on. Besides that, till next time... Bye-Nee!