Chapter 72 - A New Adversary

Felicia was dressed in her black outfit. It covered her body and head entirely, but it was far too uncomfortable. She would have to get Ethan's help in making something far more permanent. Especially now that she had her new codename, or rather inherited her fathers codename.

Black Cat, it was actually very feminine from the start. She wondered how her father stood having that name. She took a glance at the black plastic cat figurine she had brought with her. She was also going to make sure she made her mark.

As she quietly moved across the rooftop she found her target. An art museum. It was actually displaying a fake painting. Either they knew or they did not check thoroughly enough. She knew because she picked up being an art connoisseur as a hobby.

She saw this portrait the other day and realized that there was something off. So after a bit of research she realized that it was a fake.

She moved quietly through an open second floor window. Apparently the security here was relaxed for some reason. But considering that they were displaying a fake painting, they probably could not afford it. In a way she was doing some good. The museum would end up with the money from insurance.

She carefully snuck past a guard and moved up next to the painting. The painting was not even set behind a glass protective shield. It was just hanging on the wall. She looked behind it and noticed the pressure trigger.

Black Cat clicked her tongue in annoyance as she pulled out a knife, which also gave her an idea for another tool. Using the knife she cut the painting out of the frame, being careful not to put any added pressure to the painting.

It was only a minute before the painting was out of the frame. Then she quickly rolled it up and shoved it into the container she brought with her. She carefully placed the plastic figure on the frame. Then she quietly moved to another window, opening it and climbing out before the next security patrol came through.

It would only be a matter of minutes before they noticed the painting was missing and triggered the alarm. But she was already a few rooftops away when the sound of an alarm ringing could be heard. She smirked and jumped to another rooftop, she was not that far from her point of extraction. At which point she would change back into Felicia Hardy and head home.

But as she moved she heard a distinctive sound she had heard only two times before. But before she had a chance to react.

THWIP!

Mid-jump she felt her legs wrapped up and her body was pulled to the sky. She looked up to see her captor in his red and blue outfit. He held the web while crouching on a water tower on the building she was jumping onto.

Black Cat smirked and her eyes gleamed with mischief as she worked out an escape plan. "Well hello there, what colorful pajamas you have on." She pointed out as she sneakily pulled out a knife.

"You… are a woman?" The young vigilante asked in surprise.

"Well yes," She brought her hands to her breasts and grouped them, "these are a good indicator." Then brought her hand to her crouch, "so is this!" When her hand went near her crotch she produced the knife and quickly leaned up and cut her feet loose.

Then with some quick acrobatics she was moving through the air as Spider-Man was recovering from his shock. But then he started shooting webs, she tossed a few knives in response while flipping out of the way.

"Ah!" He jumped away as knives dinged off the water tower, "you are very dangerous. Besides what is with that outfit? Are you a ninja or something?"

"Mhmm… Or something." Felicia walked backwards for a moment before backflipping onto the next roof. "But let's just say I wanted to figure out what exactly I need for an outfit." Then she brought her hands up to her breasts, "considering your reaction, I would say I need something that shows off my feminine nature."

"I…" Spider-Man was at a loss for words. But she could tell why with her keen senses. Whoever he was talking to, a girl from the sound of it, was laughing hysterically.

"Oh, don't worry kid." She told him as she threw down two devices. One was a smoke bomb, and the other was a sort of jammer that she had Ethan whip up for her.

She was down the side of the building in a matter of seconds and in the sewer just as quickly. She clicked her tongue in annoyance as she moved along the sewer and tried not to throw up from the smell alone.

She really had to start coming up with her own escape plans. Ethan's plans always for some reason involved the sewers.

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"MJ, it is not that funny!" Peter complained as he stood on a building next to Bruce, one of the many gargoyles in this city. Underneath his mask he was blushing like a tomato. After that first interaction all he could think about was how her body moved in a seductive way. Which was a distraction he really was not used to. She was afterall his first female criminal.

"It is hilarious, she used your own raging hormones against you! But did you actually collect those things she threw?" MJ asked over the communication device. She was pushing his buttons because he is the one that insisted on coming out tonight, but she was more reluctant because of the test tomorrow.

Peter looked down at his hand, "yeah… one smoke bomb and… I have no idea what this is." He looked it over, "but considering what it did to my HUD I would guess it was some type of jammer."

"Okay, I think we have had enough excitement for one night. Especially after helping Doctor Connors, you may have not got him arrested but you did get rid of the Lizard." MJ pointed out as she yawned. "It is not like your next super villain is going to pop up tonight."

Peter yawned as well, "fine." He patted the gargoyle on the head, "night Bruce." Then he swung away intent on grabbing some sleep tonight.

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"It was awesome!" Felicia spoke with excitement after explaining her thrilling theft and then encounter with Spider-Man.

"But?" Ethan asked as connected another piece for his machine.

"But… I need an outfit that screams me. Or rather screams Black Cat. I am also going to need tools. I can't do it with throwing knives, smoke bombs, and other pieces of tech that you put together on the fly." Felicia explained as she approached him and gave him puppy dog eyes.

Ethan sighed as he pushed aside what he was working on and pulled out a pencil and a pad of paper. "Okay, I am going to need descriptions. Nothing too generic but try to avoid anything too specific as well."

Felicia nodded and started pacing around his workspace. "Well I need claws to both defend myself and help me climb vertical surfaces and to steal." Ethan nodded and started writing on his notepad. "I will need an array of tools and ease of access to them. Then I need an outfit that is not bulky and will accentuate my hips and breasts without surrendering protection."

"Claws, tool belt, seductive yet protective outfit. Anything else?" Ethan asked as he looked over the detailed notes he was making.

"I need a ranged weapon as well." She seemed to think, "maybe something that could assist if I fell down. A whip or a grappling hook?" She turned to Ethan and asked.

Ethan just frowned and shrugged, "I will make both for your outfit. Give me at least a week to work out the prototype then we can figure it out from there."

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Peter was frowning as he analyzed the smoke bomb. "It's the same." He declared, interrupting whatever MJ and Harry were talking about.

"What's wrong Peter?" Harry asked.

"It is the same smoke bomb as the one from the night that Harry's Mother's Journals were taken." Peter explained and he could already see MJ was about to point something out, "It is not the same gas, but the container is the same."

"What about the other thing?" Harry asked.

"That is just it, the thing is ingenious. There is no reason she should be stealing if she can make tech like this." Peter explained in exasperation.

"Maybe she did not create it." MJ pointed out, causing Peter to get an idea.

"You are right, give me a few days. I just got an idea." Peter smirked. He knew just the person to talk to. He did after all offer to answer any questions if he had them. He pulled out and looked at the card with Ethan Hilt's number on it.