Silvija waited by Anna's desk, looking fresh in her tactical gear. A pistol sat holstered on each thigh, and a rifle on her back. She looked combat ready.
What caught his attention most, however, was her subtle makeup, especially her fresh deep wine lipstick. She hadn't bothered with any when they'd first met at Smokie's, and certainly not when they'd met again in his apartment.
'She's trying to look good for me?'
He found the thought cute, like any man would. Though he wondered how she'd react when she learned her competition was a cosmic entity.
"Commander," Piotr greeted with a respectful nod before standing by the side. A perfect soldier awaiting orders.
"Piotr. Dante." Silvija's attention shifted to Dante from Piotr, holding a beat too long. "Ready to move out?"
"Almost. Just let me get my angel's blessings." Dante moved closer to Anna's desk and did the classic desk knock. "Hey, Anna!"
"Dante!" Anna replied in a cheerful voice from behind her computer screens. "Piotr too!"
Piotr chuckled. "Greetings, Anna. You are working hard as always."
"You know me." Anna gave a goofy grin before pinning Dante with a glare that was anything but harsh on her little face. "You need to stop stressing Miss Sablinova. She looks like she's lost ten pounds overnight."
"What's life without some risks, am I right?" He glanced back, noticing Silvija giving him a look of disapproval with a hand on her hip. "Anyway, what are you always working on?"
Anna looked at Silvija, who gave a subtle nod of permission. The receptionist turned her screen to show him the full scope of her work. A grid of video feeds filled the main monitor, each displaying different angles of industrial buildings and back alleys rendered in the greenish tint of night vision.
"I'm monitoring the less-guarded areas around both facilities through drones," Anna explained, her fingers dancing across the keyboard to switch between feeds. "These spots don't have regular patrols, so they're potential breach points."
"Our lead tech operators are overworked right now," Silvija added, moving to stand beside Dante. "Anna volunteered and proved that she's good enough to get her own codename. Blue Eagle."
Anna's cheeks colored slightly at the praise. The young lady wasn't very used to praise like Dante. "Those side activities from my university days are finally paying off."
"Codenames?" He looked at Silvija. "When am I getting one?"
Her mouth curved. "You're Wild Pack's trump card. Codename: Hades. As my second-in-command, only I can deploy you."
The codename was a nod to his temporary dominion over Death. Though knowing Marvel comics, there was already a god named Hades in one of the universes.
Just as he was about to say something, Silvija's phone rang. He patted his empty pocket. With everything that happened, he only just noticed that he'd forgotten his phone at the apartment yesterday.
'It's not like anyone will call me.'
He waited for Silvija to wrap up her call with someone named Amy Chen, a member of Wild Pack. He wasn't really familiar with Wild Pack members. Only that the newest cast had become hosts of different symbiotes in the Venom Wars arc. Silvija looked quite badass as Silver Symbiote.
"Silvija, I need to swing by my apartment. Forgot my phone."
She gave him a look that suggested she took his words for a joke, or perhaps had suffered brain damage during his seventeen-hour nap. "Seriously? You're remembering this now?"
"You know exactly why."
A blush spread across her face, clearly having her own misunderstanding. "Why don't I just give you a new one? I have several spares in my office with above military-grade encryption and tracking. You'll need better equipment for Wild Pack operations anyway."
He was tempted to get a new toy. "Thanks, but I'll stick with mine for now. It's precious to me."
A complete lie, of course. The phone was fine. But he already felt a bit conscious of how much Silvija had spent on him. He had some pride left, damn it. He wouldn't let her become his sugar mommy more than she already was. That kind of dynamic created dependency and resentment, neither of which he wanted in this relationship.
Silvija gazed at him as if appraising him. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her, because she nodded with a small smile. "Fine. We'll make a quick stop."
After a quick goodbye to his angel, he settled into the passenger seat of Silvija's trusty SUV. Piotr occupied the back, looking slightly cramped despite the vehicle's size.
"I know." Piotr offered an awkward smile when he caught Dante's glance. "I'm not built for these cars."
Silvija tossed a water bottle over her shoulder to Piotr. "You're built like a tank, which is both useful and detrimental in our line of work."
Piotr could brawl and carry weapons not made for one man. He also made a huge target on the field. For his normal form, of course. Silvija didn't know her obedient soldier could shrug off anti-tank rounds and charge through any battlefield untouched.
"You won't find a better meatshield anywhere."
"That's right, Comrade. I'll always stand between Commander and danger."
Silvija was baffled at the sight of both men sharing a laugh. "What did I miss?"
"Maybe a lot."
"Nothing in particular, Commander."
The Commander rolled her eyes.
The drive to Dante's apartment building passed by quickly.
She pulled up to the curb in front of his building and killed the engine, her hand already moving to her seatbelt.
He rested his hands on hers, smiling. "I'll be fine alone. It's just a fetch quest."
She still looked worried, treating him like he might faint on the way. It was sweet and heartwarming, but also unnecessary. He wasn't some glass who would break apart; he was a full-grown man with plenty of bullshit powers.
She didn't look entirely convinced. "Don't make me come looking for you."
"Yes, Boss."
He climbed out and headed inside, taking the stairs two at a time. His body felt good, really good. Whatever healing factor came with his enhanced durability worked wonders during his sleep.
Dante pushed the door open and felt a strange sense of dissonance. Nothing looked disturbed at first glance, yet he felt that something was off. Then he spotted a small white note pinned to his new couch cushion with a decorative thumbtack shaped like a cat's paw.
'Felicia?'
He yanked it free. The handwriting was elegant and playful, with extra style on the capital letters.
"Darling Dante,
I stopped by hoping to find you and your mysterious Death, but alas, you weren't home! Such a shame.
I'm absolutely dying to see your gorgeous face again (pun intended). My phone number's at the bottom, Sweetheart. Call me ASAP.
Your not-so-secret admirer,
Felicia Hardy ♡"
Dante's eye twitched from the bright red lipstick kiss on the bottom corner. There was also a small arrow drawn below the mark, pointing to the back. He flipped it over to find more of Felicia's elegant handwriting.
"P.S. - I borrowed your briefcase! Real leather, compact size, and a lovely shade of black. Excellent taste, Darling. It also came with a lot of cash! Do come to retrieve it soon, or I might donate everything to the Feline Aid Foundation. They do wonderful work.
P.P.S. - Your apartment security is tragic, Sweetheart. Get better locks. And don't even get me started on those window latches. You really should upgrade before someone less charitable than me decides to visit.
P.P.P.S. - Your briefcase contained exactly $35,000. I counted on your new couch just so there's no confusion. I may be a thief, Darling, but I'm an honest one. ♡"
Dante stood there, speechless. She'd stolen from him and had the audacity to critique his home security and claim to be an "honest thief."
'Should be an honor to be robbed by Black Cat.'
He crumpled the note and shoved it in his pocket before grabbing his phone from the table where he'd left it yesterday. The screen showed thirteen missed calls from Felicia, time-stamped from yesterday to earlier morning today.
'Felicia.'
He could ignore her and let her keep the money since he wasn't in a tight spot anymore. Or he could do what she clearly wanted and call her back.
The decision wasn't really a decision at all when he considered the bigger picture. Felicia Hardy had skills that could prove invaluable to him in infiltrating Norman's research facilities. He had two Resonance Links in mind to help him with invisibility and scouting, but her expertise with locks and security measures would make things ten times easier.
'Worth a shot.'
He dialed her number and waited. It rang three times.
"Hello, Dante~." A sultry voice purred through the speaker. "I see you found my lovely little note. Did you love it? Of course, you did, Sweetheart."
"Why are you stealing from your benefactor?"
"RedEye. Tell me, are your eyes actually red when you're angry? You seemed so calm at the café. But I imagine you must have a temper hiding under all that charm. All men have one."
"I'm starting to think your fated death won't come from an accident," he said coldly. "It'll be from me strangling you with my bare hands. Slowly. Watching life fade from your eyes as you realize, I shouldn't have messed with this man."
"Oh my~, that gave me shivers." She giggled, completely unfazed by his threat. If anything, she sounded more excited. "Darling, you can choke me to death. I'll still have eight more lives in the bank."
"Felicia, what do you really want?"
"Many things. From you and Death," she said, her tone shifting to a little more serious. "I'm feeling awfully lazy right now. Why don't you come to my place? I'll text you my address. We can discuss the return of your briefcase over drinks. Or coffee, if you're more civilized, or," she lowered her voice into a sweet whisper. "We could skip the drinks entirely and move on to whatever else you'd like to do with little me."
The line went dead before he could say anything.
"Does she never feel tired?"
His phone buzzed with a text message.
240 West 46th Street, Midtown Manhattan, near Theater District. It was one of the upper-class areas around Manhattan.
'Crime pays pretty well.'
He pocketed his phone and headed downstairs. Silvija wouldn't appreciate another detour, especially one involving the opposite of her client's interests. He could only endure the guilty feeling and lie to her.
Silvija looked up as he knocked on her side window and then lowered the glass. "You know you can use the other side, right?"
"I gotta go somewhere. Send me your location once you get to the facility. I'll be there ASAP."
Silvija's expression shifted from confusion to suspicion in an instant. She could obviously tell that he was hiding something. "Can I ask what happened?"
"I have to meet someone," he said calmly. "Business related."
"Dante." Her voice took on that gentler tone that made him feel ten times guiltier about not being honest. "You don't have to take other contracts anymore. Money isn't an issue for me."
He could see where this was going, and he needed to get it out of her head before she made plans to relocate him to a nicer apartment and make him feel like a kept man.
He reached over and ruffled her silver hair, earning a surprised squeak.
"What are you doing suddenly?"
"Not everything's about money, silly girl." He let his hand linger, giving her his most gentle smile. "It's important business. Why don't I explain it later?"
All the concerns from her face melted away under his touch. She batted his hand away, though she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. She quickly turned to face the windshield so he wouldn't see her red face. "Don't be late. We have work to do and… I need you there."
"Yes, Boss."
She shot him a harsh glare. "Stop calling me that. I don't separate professional and private. You're my boyfriend, period."
"You're both cute," Piotr interjected from the back seat. "Reminds me of those young couples back in Mother Russia."
"Shut up, Piotr," Silvija and Dante said in unison, which just made the big man laugh harder.
With one last look, she drove away. He called a cab. Within minutes, his ride pulled up to him.
***
Apartment 8C.
The door swung open almost immediately after one knock, like Felicia had been waiting right behind it. Nothing about her wavy platinum blonde hair suggested laziness. The designer jeans and the fitted emerald blouse matched her striking green eyes perfectly.
Even in their second encounter, he still felt a bit awestruck. She just had this different type of charm from Silvija and Death, one that any man would appreciate.
"I'm not letting you steal the spotlight, pretty boy," she commented, noticing his stare, and then peered past him into the hallway. "Where is my best friend Death?"
"She isn't my babysitter," Dante replied. "I'll let you meet her when she returns from the business trip."
Visible disappointment flickered across Felicia's face. "Shame. How will I know if I've cheated fate without her?"
"Suffer in suspense."
He was also suffering in Death's absence for a different reason.
She rolled her eyes and then stepped aside. "Come in before my neighbors start gossiping."
Dante entered, scanning the room for some material to tease her with. The apartment was smaller than his. But what it lacked in size, it made up for with sleek furniture and classy finishes. The place also smelled pleasant. It would've been weird if it didn't, given Felicia's obsession with appearance.
Unfortunately, there was nothing to tease her with. Not even a family photo frame.
"Cozy place,"he said, immediately making himself comfortable by sitting down on her bed without any permission. "Nice mattress too."
Felicia looked amused, closing the door and leaning against it. "You're quite different without Death. Does she like your mystery man act?"
He shrugged. "I'm always like this. We just met under strange circumstances."
"Strange indeed." She laughed and moved to sit in a plush armchair across from the bed. "My woman's intuition tells me you aren't here for the briefcase."
"Yeah. Let's talk about you first. Why were you dying to meet me?"
"To say thanks for giving me that heads-up." She grinned, but there was a genuine softness in her eyes. She was truly grateful. "I ran into a situation that definitely could've killed me."
"An accident?"
"Oh no, Darling. I'm too lucky to die in an accident." Her grin widened, becoming almost mischievous. "Two gorgeous women. I'm talking supermodel-level stunning. Too bad, they came with bad intentions."
Dante's interest was piqued immediately. In a universe where most female characters ranged from attractive to devastating, Felicia's description didn't narrow things down.
"Care to elaborate?"
Felicia pressed a finger to her lips playfully. "That's a secret, Sweetheart. They made me promise, and I always keep my word. Mostly. Okay, maybe only when it suits me."
"You're no fun. I also want to meet dangerous beauties, who might kill me." He leaned back on the bed, letting his head rest on her pillow. The lingering sweet scent tickled his senses, then he felt something crinkling under the pillow. Curious, he reached underneath and pulled out a folded piece of paper. As he unfolded it, his eyes widened slightly.
Blueprint schematics showing detailed floor plans and structures. He'd seen these exact layouts earlier today on Anna's computer screen.
Oscorp Research Facility.
"Felicia," he called, still studying the blueprints like he was admiring someone's vacation photos. "Was one of them Emma Frost?"
Felicia's playful smile froze for barely a second, a micro-expression that most people would've missed. Fortunately for him and unfortunately for her, Dante had the best eyesight among humans.
"I can't say~." She tried to recover with her usual teasing tone, but the damage was done. She cursed under her breath, "Damn it."
A slow smile spread across his face. "Emma Frost asked you to steal something from Oscorp's Research Facility. Considering your eccentric personalities, the meeting might've started on a hostile note. Then she threw the bait to reel you in. A fish so delicious Black Cat couldn't refuse."
All the playfulness drained from her face, leaving behind a shocked young lady. "How... How did you reach that conclusion so quickly? Do you also have mind-reading powers?"
He mimicked her gesture from moments ago, pressing a finger to his lips with a smirk. "That's a secret."
"Touché, Darling." She shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips despite the situation. "Yes, Emma Frost approached me with this very dangerous and very beautiful swordswoman."
He knew too many sword-wielding female characters from comics, but those associated with Emma narrowed to a small list. "Was her name Psylocke?"
The mutant Psylocke was on top of that list.
"Emma called her Psy, so probably yeah." She crossed her arms. "You really do know everything, don't you? Are you and Death also mutants or whatever they call people with supernatural powers? Hehe, can I also sign up to be like you?"
"Not exactly. Death and I are the furthest thing from mutants. And no, you don't learn superpowers."
She gave him a thumbs down. "Hmm. Since you're being honest, I'll tell you about the trade. I get her whatever she's after in that facility, and she gets my father out of prison. He gets to spend his final year with his family instead of rotting in a cell, dying alone without anyone who loves him." Her eyes glistened slightly as if remembered the happy memories with her father and then contrasted them with his current lonely life. "It's your turn to answer my question. How do you know the Oscorp Research Facility layout like the back of your hand?"
"Oscorp is the client of my new boss, Silver Sable. I work for Silver Sable International now."
Felicia's eyes widened, then she burst out laughing. "Congratulations. Though honestly, still beneath someone who's best friends with Death herself."
"Only doing it because Silver Sable is my girlfriend."
She blinked in surprise and then chuckled with a hand on her mouth. "Dating a queen is your only worthwhile accomplishment."
"Starting to fear me?"
"Never in my life." She pointed to the blueprints in his hand. "Shouldn't you be telling me to stop? Your girlfriend is literally protecting what I want to steal. Weirdest conflict of interest I've seen in my life."
"Actually, I have a better option that benefits both of us." Dante's grin widened slowly. He had the expression of someone who'd realized the most mischievous idea of their life. "We steal it together."
Felicia's face lit up like a kid who got everything from her Santa's wishlist. She pointed to her face. "A girl cursed by Lady Luck." Then pointed to him. "a man blessed by Lady Death. I'm so down to using—working with you, Darling."
Random Art
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