Summary:Spider-Man meets the Black Cat for he first time. It does not go well. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Sunday night is usually quiet. People are usually trying to get themselves un-intoxicated after the games on TV, so they can go to work without feeling like they got sacked by the quarterback. So, since Spidey doesn't watch games…or drink…he is able to handle the rogue drunkard making stupid decisions. They are usually easier to handle than the sober ones…who make stupid decisions.
He's moved into Midtown, relaxing slightly but keeping an eye on things as he passes over alleys and city streets.
The security system is good. But she is better.
The masked woman confounds the security camera with a tiny paint can, having already circumvented the security system. Right now, she is busy pouring finely-cut diamonds into a black velvet pouch, but has not forgotten the secondary prize—a special 85-carat diamond meant for a local Arab prince. It is in the safe, of course. But the safe is only another hurdle to overcome.
She gazes fondly at the gemstone, putting it in a different pocket. She looked around. A little broken glass. Nothing too messy.
She steps out onto the roof, walking over to the fishing line attached to the small black box attached to the external security panel. She grasps it, then smiles.
Now the fun REALLY begins.
She YANKS, the box pulling free, and the security system realizes it has been hacked and sounds off.
The pinpoint of light in the HUD displays the alert suddenly appearing, and it is fairly close. A diamond exchange two blocks away.
So much for quiet.
Spidey wheels around and heads towards the signal. The cops would be a few minutes, unless private security was nearby. Stop the crooks first. That's the main thing.
Spider lands on the roof of the exchange, looking around to find any sign of the thieves. Small group, a duo? Maybe even one?
Only one…but one is enough.
The masked woman isn't bothering to hide. She is simply standing at the edge of the roof, a smile on her face. She wondered if lowering the zipper on the front of her catsuit was too much. But the intel had been good, and he was here, in all his physical glory. She could not quite conceal the catch in her throat before she spoke. "Well, well, well…if it isn't the Amazing Spider-Man."
Okay…WOW. He can't help it. The shapely, alluring woman in the tight-fitting costume with the tufted white fur and the zipper that is DEFINITELY too low for HIS comfort. So, YEESH. But she knows who he is. He, however, has no clue who this is.
"Okay…this is different. So tell me, are you a spectator in this act of grand larceny, or do you have skin in the game?"
*OH MY GOD DID I SAY THAT?*
The woman laughs. It is a silky, amused laugh. She holds up the large diamond, letting it catch the light from the street light. "Isn't it beautiful? An exceedingly rare gem. Just like me. And YOU can call me…THE BLACK CAT."
Geez, THAT is a rock of note. Thousands…maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"Well, Miss Black Cat, people frown on other people who take stuff that isn't theirs. So maybe you might want to put that down and leave it, and we can just chalk it up to vandalism?"
The Black Cat smiles widely, stepping back once to stand on the ledge of the building. "How about…NOT?"
And then she drops off the ledge, falling backward. There is a sudden hiss of gas, like a tiny hydraulic sound, and then Spider-Man can see her swinging away on a grapple line.
Ahhh, CRAP.
Spider-Man runs to the roof and fires a webline, moving to follow. She has a few seconds of a head start, but if he can just keep track of her, he can catch up.
At the top of his swing, he can see her landing on another building's roof and stage-dives to try and intercept her.
She can't help thinking that he is more than she expected. Words and pictures are one thing, but he moves in ways she wished she could. Even with her training, he makes it look so…easy.
He was also gaining speed. She had glimpsed the webshooters, and was seeing them in action.
"Have to go faster," she whispers under her breath as she leaps off the building, firing the grapple gun again to swing in a low arc to build speed…
Spider-Man swings up, looking at the Cat below him…
And then the Parker Luck hits him.
The left web-shooter suddenly gums up as the last of the web-cartridge empties all at once instead of warning him. It makes a 'SPLUT' sound as he finds his forward momentum dwindling as his downward velocity increasing. He quickly fired another webline to avoid becoming street pizza, but he angles away in the resulting swing, losing a few precious seconds as she increases the distance. He has to resort to using the right web-shooter.
Hopefully THIS one is still good.
She glances behind her and sees him getting farther away. Well, that's what happens with a Black Cat crosses your path, Spider-Man…
She is getting close to her escape vehicle, and sees the helicopter with the Stark logo on it. Just as she was told. It is refreshing to have your faith validated by your sources.
The distance is a little long, but the grapple gun is still within range. She fires, and the grapple clamps on the runner of the helicopter. She smiles back at Spider-Man, then calls out, "CATCH!" and suddenly throws the diamond to her left.
It's just not fair. He was CLOSE. But if that diamond hits someone, it could hurt them seriously.
He abruptly shifts direction, angling towards the glittering object, trying to figure how close he can get versus how long he can wait before it hits something…or someONE.
He leaps forward, firing a webline to snag the diamond. He hits the side of a brick apartment building HARD, but doesn't lose his grip on the brick or the line leading to the diamond.
He smiles as he reels the diamond in…but the smile fades as he looks at the large diamond.
There is a CHIP in it. Probably when it bounced against the brick. And if brick can chip this diamond…
"It's not a diamond. It's a fake," Spider-Man says quietly.
The Black Cat waved to the forlorn Web-Slinger as she flies away, taking out the large diamond to gaze fondly at it before putting it in the pouch with the others.
It was true about New York. If you can make it here, you can make it ANYWHERE. And Spider-Man was…
She sighed deeply. MUCH more impressive in person. She had such good taste.
Spider-Man sighed, then dropped the "diamond" to land in the dumpster 30 feet below him. He had a bum web-shooter, got tricked by a female thief, and didn't recover anything.
Of all the rotten luck.