---

Shit.

It was the first thing that crossed your mind when you opened your eyes and recognized the ceiling above you.

It wasn't your room.

And it definitely wasn't a place you were supposed to be.

A second later, the memory hit you like a brick.

Asher Voss's apartment.

AKA Black Cat.

AKA one of the most irritating criminals in the entire city.

AKA your enemy.

You let out a long sigh through your nose and covered your eyes with one hand for a few seconds.

Because honestly, how exactly were you supposed to explain this?

You were Spider-Man, for God's sake. Your job was to chase him down, catch him, and bring him to justice every time he decided to turn some impossible heist into his personal source of entertainment.

And yet...

Well.

One thing had led to another.

And now you were here.

In his bedroom.

Trying to ignore just how much this complicated absolutely everything.

You slowly sat up and glanced around the room. It was surprisingly neat for someone like him. Strange tools were scattered across a work desk, a few blueprints lay spread out nearby, and several stolen—or at least suspiciously acquired—items decorated the shelves.

You shook your head.

Of course they did.

Grabbing the first shirt you found nearby, you started pulling it on absentmindedly.

But before you could finish...

— "That's mine, you know."

The voice made you turn your head immediately.

There he was.

Lounging against the pillows as if he didn't have a single concern in the world.

Asher rested his cheek against one hand while watching you with a smile that seemed impossible to wipe away. Gray hair fell messily over his eyes, and the amused expression on his face looked exactly like a cat that had just knocked something off a table purely to see your reaction.

The worst part was that he knew it.

He knew exactly how insufferable he was.

And he enjoyed every second of it.

— "So?" you replied, crossing your arms. "I don't see your name on it."

Asher's grin widened.

— "Because I don't need to write it. It looks better on me."

You rolled your eyes so hard it almost hurt.

— "Insufferable."

— "And yet you're still here."

Damn it.

You hated when he was right.

Asher let out a quiet laugh and shifted comfortably against the bed, watching you with that mischievous look that always seemed to promise trouble.

— "You know, for a hero, you seem pretty comfortable stealing clothes."

— "For a criminal, you talk way too much."

— "For my enemy, you keep coming back surprisingly often."

You didn't have an immediate response to that.

And judging by the victorious expression that appeared on his face, Asher noticed right away.

Like a cat that had just found something new to play with.