Chapter Text
Intro Music: Spider-Man TAS 1994 Theme Song
New York City
Nighttime
BGM: Persona 3 Reload - Color Your Night Instrumental
The city had shifted once again. The bright energy of the day had softened into the glow of night, and now New York shimmered beneath a blanket of lights and moonlight.
After a long first day of "hero training," Peter and Felicia moved through the skyline together—him swinging with practiced ease, her gliding alongside him with her grappling line, matching his rhythm more naturally than she probably realized.
For all the doubts she had that morning, things had gone… surprisingly well.
As they swung, Peter stole a glance at her. The moonlight traced along the edges of her suit, catching in her hair as it flowed behind her. For a moment, he wasn't thinking about crime, responsibility, or even training. Just her.
Felicia noticed. Of course she did.
She turned her head toward him, a teasing smirk already forming. "Like what you see, Spider?"
Peter chuckled mid-swing, not even trying to dodge it. "Yeah… I do, actually."
That made her laugh, the sound light and warm against the night air. "Adorable," she teased, though there was something softer underneath it. Something genuine.
Not long after, the two landed on the terrace of her penthouse. The city stretched endlessly behind them as they stepped inside, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around them.
Peter pulled his mask off, running a hand through his hair before looking over at her with a tired but proud smile. "You did great today."
Felicia raised an eyebrow slightly.
"No, seriously," he continued, stepping a bit closer. "You're already on your way to being a better hero than me."
She rolled her eyes at that, though her lips curved into a small smile. Taking a step toward him, she shook her head. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, sweetie." Her tone softened just a touch. "I'll never come close to you when it comes to being a hero, Peter. You're the best there is."
Peter smiled at that, warmth spreading across his face, but of course, he couldn't resist. "Careful," he said lightly. "Don't let Logan hear you say that."
That got a laugh out of her. "Noted," she replied, before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.
It lingered just long enough to feel real before she pulled away.
Felicia turned and started walking off, which made Peter blink in confusion. "Uh… you coming to bed?"
She glanced back over her shoulder, smirking. "Eventually. I've got something to take care of first."
Peter gave an exaggerated pout. "Wow. I thought we were gonna get sticky tonight."
That broke her completely—she laughed, bright and unfiltered. But even as she tried to keep moving, she found herself stepping back toward him instead.
Her hand rested gently against his chest, her touch warm. "As tempting as that is," she said softly, "I might have to pass. For now."
Peter raised a brow, clearly surprised. "Whatever you're doing must be really important. You never turn down late-night fun."
Felicia smirked, her confidence slipping right back into place. "Normally? You'd be right. But this is important."
She turned again, heading further into the penthouse.
Peter watched her go, unable to help himself. With a playful tone, he called after her, "Hate to see you go… but love to watch you leave."
Felicia paused just long enough to laugh again. She turned slightly, smacking her own butt playfully before shooting him a wink. "Enjoy the view, lover."
Peter laughed, shaking his head as she disappeared into another part of the penthouse.
Left alone, he exhaled and moved to change. He peeled off his damaged suit, piece by piece, tossing it aside before pulling on something more comfortable.
But as his eyes fell back on the suit—torn, stretched, barely holding together—his expression tightened.
"Yeah…" he muttered to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. "Definitely need to work on a new one."
He sighed, the weight of reality creeping back in, even after a good day.
Still… for the first time in a while, it didn't feel quite as heavy.
Morning Time
BGM: Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower Instrumental
Morning arrived quietly, the sunlight filtering through the tall windows of Felicia's penthouse and casting a soft glow across the bedroom.
Peter lay in the bed, still asleep, his breathing steady—peaceful in a way that had been rare for him lately. Slowly, he began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light, and instinctively, he turned toward the other side of the bed.
Empty.
A small pang of worry tightened in his chest.
"Felicia…?" he called softly, his voice still groggy.
Before that worry could grow any further, the door opened, and there she was—standing there with a warm smile.
"Good morning, handsome."
Relief washed over him instantly. He let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding, a small smile forming.
"For a second there, I thought you left me," he said playfully.
Felicia raised an eyebrow, repeating his words with amused disbelief before letting out a gentle laugh. "Left you?" she echoed. "Oh, please."
She stepped closer, her voice soft but confident. "You don't have to worry about that. Once I cross someone's path—especially yours—I'm not so easy to get rid of."
Peter chuckled, warmth spreading across his face. "Good to know."
Before she could say anything else, he reached out and gently pulled her down on top of him. She let herself fall into him easily, smiling as their faces drew closer. Their lips met in a soft kiss—nothing rushed, nothing overwhelming. Just enough to feel right.
When they pulled apart, Felicia lingered close, her eyes locked onto his, a soft smirk playing on her lips.
"I've got something to show you," she said.
Peter tilted his head slightly, curiosity flickering in his expression. "Oh yeah? What is it?"
Felicia smirked wider. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."
He chuckled, and for a brief, quiet moment, they leaned in, gently rubbing their noses together in a simple, affectionate gesture.
Eventually, Felicia sighed softly—almost reluctantly—and climbed off of him. She extended her hand down to him. "Come on."
Peter smiled as he took her hand, letting her pull him up to his feet.
Then, without warning, Felicia placed her hands over his eyes. "Close them," she instructed playfully.
Peter grinned. "You do realize your hands are already covering my eyes, right?"
Felicia smirked behind him.
"…But fine," he added. "I'll play along."
He closed his eyes anyway.
"Good boy, Petey," she murmured, her tone suddenly smooth and teasing.
That sent a small shiver down his spine, but not an unwelcome one.
She guided him carefully across the penthouse, step by step, until they came to a stop.
"Alright," she said, her voice laced with anticipation. "You can open your eyes when I move my hands."
Peter sighed, amused. "Yeah, yeah. I hear you."
Her hands slipped away.
Then Peter opened his eyes… and froze.
In front of him stood a brand-new Spider-Man suit. Sleek. Clean. Reinforced. It looked sharper, stronger… better.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Felicia broke the silence, her tone soft but proud. "The greatest hero of all time shouldn't be swinging around in a torn-up suit. So… I took it upon myself to fix that."
Peter blinked, still processing.
"There's a bit more black in it," she added, gesturing lightly. "But I kept the red and blue dominant. Figured you didn't need any… unwanted symbiote flashbacks."
That finally pulled a soft laugh out of him. "Yeah… I appreciate that."
He stepped closer, taking in every detail. The craftsmanship. The thought behind it. The care.
After a moment, he turned back to her, his voice quiet but full of emotion. "Felicia… thank you. This is incredible. You're incredible."
She smiled warmly, though her smirk returned almost immediately. "Wow. Are you getting all sappy on me?"
Peter chuckled. "Don't ruin the moment."
He stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, holding her close. Felicia melted into it instantly, wrapping her arms around him without hesitation.
After a moment, they pulled back just enough to share a gentle peck on the lips.
"Go on," Felicia said, nodding toward the suit. "Try it on. I want to see how it looks."
Peter smiled. "Yeah, I should probably change in the bathroom—"
Felicia smirked, cutting him off. "Or… you could change right here. Give me a show."
A faint blush crept onto Peter's face, though he tried to play it cool. Still… something about him shifted. Just slightly.
He picked up the suit, avoiding her gaze for a moment. "I, uh… need to use the bathroom anyway. So this works."
Felicia blinked, catching that subtle change. That hesitation. Something was off.
She almost said something. Almost pressed him.
But instead, she simply nodded. "Alright. I'll be here."
Peter nodded back and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
At first, everything was quiet.
But then… A sound could be heard.
Soft. Broken.
Felicia's expression changed instantly. She moved toward the door and knocked gently.
"Peter?" she called. "You okay in there?"
No answer.
Her worry spiked. Without waiting any longer, she opened the door.
And what she saw stopped her in her tracks.
Peter… was crying.
It wasn't loud or dramatic. Just quiet, raw emotion slipping through as he tried—and failed—to hold it in.
He turned his face away quickly, not wanting her to see.
But she stepped closer, carefully, gently. Her hand lifted to his chin, guiding his face back toward hers.
"Hey…" she said softly. "What's wrong?"
Peter took a long breath, steadying himself. "You already know this, but… life's just been… really hard for me lately," he admitted. "But now… it feels like things are finally turning around. And it's all because of you."
His voice cracked slightly. "This suit… what you did for me… it just hit harder than I expected. I didn't want you to see me like this."
Felicia listened to every word, her expression softening completely. Her fingers brushed against his cheeks, gently wiping away his tears.
"Why not?" she asked quietly.
Peter hesitated. "…I don't know. I just… didn't want you to see me like this."
Felicia frowned slightly, shaking her head. "If this is some macho-man nonsense, then it's dumb." Her voice softened again as she cupped his face. "You're allowed to cry, Peter."
She held his gaze, steady and sincere. "And whenever you fall apart… I promise I'll be there to hold you together."
That hit him deeply.
Without another word, Peter pulled her into a hug, tighter this time. More emotional. More real.
"Thank you," he whispered.
After a moment, he pulled back just enough to look at her. His tears had slowed, his breathing steadier now.
"There's something I want to say," he added softly. "It's not breaking news or anything… but I mean it."
He took a small breath, getting prepared to say four words that he's told Felicia before.
"...I love you, Felicia."
Felicia blinked once, taking it in. Then she leaned her forehead against his, her voice gentle.
"I love you too, Peter. And every day… I'm glad our paths crossed."
Peter smiled softly. "I would've found you anyway."
That did it.
Her heart fluttered in a way only he could manage. No one else ever had, and no one else ever would.
Their lips met again, this time deeper. More certain. A kiss filled with everything they hadn't said out loud.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were smiling.
Felicia's smirk slowly returned. "So… you ready to try on the suit now?"
Peter shook his head, laughing quietly. "Yeah… I'm ready."
"Good," she said smoothly. "Because I'm ready to see you strip."
Peter laughed again, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
Felicia grinned proudly. "I know."
Moments Later…
Metro Boomin - Calling Instrumental
A few moments passed, and Peter finally stepped out, fully suited up.
The new suit fit him perfectly—sleek, refined, with subtle black accents woven into the classic red and blue. It looked stronger, sharper… like it belonged to a version of Spider-Man that had made it through the storm and come out the other side.
Felicia took him in from head to toe, her eyes slowly scanning every detail. Then she let out a low whistle.
"Well, well, well…" she said, a smirk spreading across her face. "I see a sexy man in a sexy suit."
Peter grinned beneath his mask, a bit of that old confidence slipping back into place. "Hey, all the credit goes to my amazing girlfriend. She's the one who made it."
Felicia laughed softly, clearly pleased. "Your girlfriend appreciates the kind words."
Then she paused, tilting her head slightly as her tone softened with curiosity. "So… how does it feel?"
Peter didn't answer right away. He looked down at himself, flexing his fingers slightly, feeling the material, the fit… the difference.
When he finally spoke, his voice carried a quiet sincerity. "It feels like… a rebirth. Like a new beginning."
Felicia nodded, a small smile forming. "Good," she said. "That was the goal."
She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, and Peter's hands naturally found their place on her hips. They stayed like that for a moment, just standing there, letting the quiet settle between them.
It wasn't awkward. It was peaceful.
Eventually, Peter broke the silence. "So… you ready for day two of hero training?"
Felicia's smirk returned instantly. "Baby," she said confidently, "I was born ready."
Peter chuckled. "Alright then. Put your money where your mouth is. Time to suit up."
Her confidence didn't waver. "Way ahead of you."
She slipped out of his hold and headed toward her room, disappearing down the hall to change.
But on her way back… she stopped.
Her eyes landed on a familiar frame resting along the wall.
A picture.
Her and her father—Walter Hardy.
The man who had shaped so much of who she was. The reason she became the Black Cat in the first place.
She'd passed by that picture countless times before. It had always just been there.
But now… it felt different.
Her expression shifted, her usual confidence fading into something quieter. Something uncertain.
Was she really doing the right thing?
She had agreed to try being a hero. She meant it, too. She was giving it everything she had. But deep down… there was a part of her that couldn't ignore the truth.
Being a thief—that was what she knew. That was what she was good at. It was in her nature.
Could she really change that?
Or worse… was she only trying to change because of Peter?
Her chest tightened slightly at the thought.
She loved him. There was no doubt about that. And she knew he loved her just as deeply.
But was that enough?
Would she lose herself trying to become something she wasn't?
Or would she lose herself if she didn't figure out who she really wanted to be?
And then there was her father…
If he were still alive, would he be disappointed in her?
The questions piled up, one after another, and for a moment, it felt like they were closing in on her.
"…Felicia!"
Peter's voice cut through the silence, echoing lightly through the penthouse. "You ready to go?!"
She blinked, snapping back to reality.
"Yeah!" she called back quickly, shaking her head as if to physically push the thoughts away. "Yeah, I'm ready! Be right there!"
But before she moved, her eyes lingered on the picture one last time.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, before turning and walking away.
Moments later, she stepped out onto the balcony where Peter was waiting.
He looked at her and smiled beneath his mask, but that smile slowly faded when he caught the look in her eyes.
Concern replaced it.
"Hey…" he said gently, stepping closer. "You okay, baby?"
Felicia hesitated for just a second. Just long enough to be noticed.
But then she smoothed it over with a small smile. "I'm fine."
Peter didn't fully buy it. Not completely. Still, he didn't push—at least not right away.
Instead, he reached for her hands, gently taking them into his own, their fingers intertwining. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" he said softly.
Felicia's expression softened at that. She knew he meant it. He always meant it.
"…Yeah," she said quietly. "Yeah, I know."
She gave him a small smile. "Thanks. For always being there for me."
Peter smiled back, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. She returned it just as softly.
After a moment, they let go.
Peter shifted slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Alright, so… your first challenge today should be pretty fun."
He paused, scratching the back of his head. "Okay, 'should' might be doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Hopefully fun."
Felicia raised an amused brow, crossing her arms. "I have no idea if I should be excited… or terrified."
Peter laughed. "Trust me, you've got nothing to be terrified of."
With that, he fired a webline into the distance and leapt off the balcony, swinging out into the city—his new suit catching the sunlight as he moved.
Felicia watched him for a moment, but then… her mind drifted back.
The picture.
Her father.
The questions.
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Get it together, Felicia," she muttered to herself.
Then, without another second of hesitation, she fired her grappling hook and launched herself forward, swinging after Peter as the city opened up before them once more.
END OF CHAPTER 2: REBIRTH & DOUBTS
BGM: Spider-Man TAS 1994 End Credits
Black Cat: So, what's this challenge that you have for me, Spider?
Spider-Man: It involves pigeons.
Black Cat: …I beg your pardon?
Spider-Man: *Chuckles* You'll be fine, Cat!