This isn't what it looks like... [Spidey]

[beck]

It was after midnight when the small figure dressed all in black stood in the alley next to the small bank. The head was tilted to the side as if in thought. In truth it was checking over the security of the building. From out there the figure could already see several things wrong with the set up. The cameras were placed wrong, there were no trip alarms, and the alarm system itself had already been on the market long enough to be hacked several times over. The person was getting paid a decent wage to tell this guy that his security sucked.

The last few nights she cased the joint and found the one security guard was also a severe weak point. In about ten minutes he was going to nap for the next three hours. If a person was quiet enough, he'd never know they were there, especially since he sleeps in the camera room. The vault itself was old and way to easy to get into. This was going to be way too easy, Beck didn't like that. It always meant something was going to go wrong. Always.

With a sigh she pulled the ski mask over her head and fired off the grappling line. As she scaled the building she kept her eyes and ears open. There were so many meddlers around here and this looked bad for her. Really bad, but then in her line of work it was to be expected. Carefully, she pulled herself up over the roof and landed softly. The easiest point of entry was the roof door, since it hadn't been able to be locked properly for the last five years. She wondered how the hell this bank never got hit before. Then she realized the crooks probably didn't think there was much worth taking. She never would have considered this place, it was too unkempt. Now that she thought about it, she wondered what was inside. Well it was time to go find out. Quickly she made her way to the door and stopped. Something didn't feel right, her neck rolled and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Something was definitely wrong here.

[Spidey]

Something was indeed wrong. New York City was a busy, bustling place at all times of night. But the rooftops were almost completely isolated. However, there was one man who constantly swung from building to building on thick lines of web fluid. This webslinger caught sight of the young woman from up above. However, she had yet to actually enter the bank...Spider-Man felt fairly certain that she would do this, but for now he swung around to a higher vantage point and waited there, perched on the side of the building.

"Looks like a little after hours withdraw..."

Now Spidey had to wait...and then came the unpredictable part of the young woman's reaction.

[beck]

Beck rubbed her side that was itching from where the stitches were. She probably should have waited until she was fully healed to take the job, but she needed the money. Gold eyes narrowed as the feeling of something wrong persisted. Her head turned and she tried to find the source of her discomfort. The girl was being watched and she knew it, the problem was locating the source. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to do so. Well, if it was one of these would be heroes then she knew exactly how to get them to come out and say Hello. She tested the door and shook her head. She reached into her bag and got some WD-40 out to make sure the thing didn't squeak when she opened it. Then she silently pushed it open. It really hadn't had a working lock in god knows how long. After the door opened she slipped in and closed it again. Then she waited. "Come on, whoever you are. You know you want to bust me."

[Spidey]

Spidey shook his masked head and sighed in disappointment.

"Another night, another felony...Ah well!"

The webhead swung down from his perch and landed silently on the rooftop's entrance. There was a faint tingling warning him that danger was nearby, but not exactly imminent.

"They can't ever be harmless Grannies that love knitting, cats, and a rousing game of Bingo can they?"

Spider-Man hopped down and waited for a moment, before shoving the door open. He turned the corner, paying close attention to his Spidey Sense.

[beck]

"Spider-Man, right? Before you do the hero thing, at least ask me what the hell I think I'm doing. And please, please, please, don't make me lose what small amount of respect I have for the heroing community. I'm begging you here." Her run in with the Tween Titans had seriously left her in fear of her safety. Not to mention the dork that sort of redeemed himself with the robot chick. Still, she has not had very comforting experiences, save for that one time she met Mari, with the heroes of today. Her arms folded over her chest and golden brown eyes looked out from behind the mask. She wasn't doing anything illegal since she was getting paid for this. What she was wondering if she was going to have to start carrying the signed contracts around with her when she did a damn job.

[Spidey]

"Why else would I be wearing all this spider themed gear and swinging from web to web, patrolling the neighborhood? That's going a little too far even for the most hardcore, dedicated Trick or Treater!"

Spider-Man watched the young, masked woman closely. He felt that she meant him no harm, but could prove to be dangerous if pressed.

"So are you going to tell me you were just breaking in to make an after hours deposit for your church's Haiti Charity Fund?"

[beck]

"Ah but not for the hardcore wannabe's who might idolize you." She nodded her head at that statement and sighed softly. Seriously, she doubted if she did what she was about to do he'd do the same. But this was going to take awhile, because there was a very real possibility he wouldn't believe her. So, she slid off the ski mask and stuck it in her back pocket. There he could see her fully now, that should make it easier for her, right? Honestly, if she was really the bad guy here, she wouldn't want him to see her face. But she's here on legitimate business, though the chances of that being believed were slim to none.

After letting out a slow breath, golden brown eyes looked up at him. "Actually, my name is Beck and I was hired by the owner of the bank to test out the security of the place. Much like the movie Sneakers." She highly doubted he even knew what movie she was talking about since she had just happened across it one time at the video store in the bargain bin. "I didn't think to bring the contract with me, but I do have one with the owner. My goal is to get into the vault, take something and bring it back in the morning to prove I had done it. I give it back and then I get paid." Yup, if she wasn't the one doing this she probably wouldn't believe her either. So, the girl waited to see what he had to say about all of this.

[Spidey]

"I think that even for those hardcore fans....that's a bit unhealthy at best."

Spider-Man listened to the young woman and her willingness to unmask did certainly help her cause. He searched her face, especially focusing on those golden browns of hers. She seemed fairly genuine, but he couldn't simply swallow this whole story hook, line, and sinker could he?

"This is gonna be one of those awkward conversations, isn't it? Here you are without a hall pass, contract, or the owner's name? Sounds pretty after school detention hall worthy to me."

This was a sticky situation. Spidey had been implicated by imposters before and he didn't want a repeat of that.

"Aside from having seen an obscure Robert Redford movie, what proof do you have Beckeroo?"

[beck]

"Now, I never said anything about it being healthy. They care called fanatics for a reason." Beck surprised herself when she smiled. It wasn't something that was unusual, usually she was a more of the girl next door type, unless she was teed off or working. Just lately she'd been annoyed. So the fact that she just smiled at him kind of took her by surprise. Also, the fact that she felt herself inclined to flirt a little bit didn't help. She needed sleep or food, possibly both. Funds were running low since her last job was screwed by an actual thief. It didn't help that she was really trying not to fall back on her thieving to keep her alive.

"Donovan Winters. At least that's what he told me and I looked him up. Bank was founded by his great grandfather and had been passed down ever since. And I knew you were going to say that, I do have his number if you want to give him a call. I have my cell phone on me. Trust me, if this was a true bank robbery, I sure the hell wouldn't hit this place. Although I am beginning to wonder what he keeps in here. It kind of reminds me of when someone has a perfect running car, but they make it look like hell. No one wants to steal the junker." Her head titled as she watched him, she knew he was gonna give her a hard time about this. She hated that she was going to have to start carrying the contracts around.

The girl shrugged. "No proof. But I can tell you one thing, the security in this place is horrid. The guard is asleep, of his own accord, and will be until about half an hour to an hour before his shift is up. He sleeps in the control/camera room and wouldn't wake up unless there was an explosion. The cameras are placed in all the wrong spots and over half of them don't work. The vault is so old that it wouldn't take much to get into it. Is there anything else? You are free to come along with me if you want." There wasn't much she could do except be as honest as possible. It sucked when people doubted your word, but then, in this day and age it was understandable she guessed. She sure the hell didn't trust people.

[Spidey]

Spider-Man smiled beneath that mask. It was funny how some of his expressions still got through somehow with the way the red fabric over his face stretched and pulled. Spidey pondered her explanation a bit. It seemed to defy the speed of even the quickest and most experienced, pathological liars. Though he had seem some pretty exceptional liars in his time...

"I'll keep a safe distance in monitoring you. Nothing personal. Just not a big fan of taking the fall for somebody else's crime. Been there, done that...wow, how many times now?"

And Spidey's public image had indeed suffered over the years because of shapeshifters, illusionists, clones, not to mention that blasted symbiote!

"And if you are telling the truth, I really am sorry about hassling you and slowing you down. Bringing home the bacon isn't any easier with me haggling ya...especially if you're not a pig farmer. The whole...bacon reference, y'know?"

After all, Spidey planned on snagging a nearly undetectable Spider Tracer on Beck when he sensed the time was right.

[beck]

It was odd seeing the mask smile. Beck wasn't sure if she was creeped out about it or not. Then decided to just pretend she wasn't and move on. It wasn't one of those horror movie evil smiles, so it wasn't that creepy. Just the question was the intent behind it. It was true she was fairly leery about the heroes at the moment. But then she wasn't really going to judge all of them on the few that she met. Just right now, it wasn't looking so good. However, he had yet to do anything to make her worry about him protecting the city so, until then it was all good. "Well, I'll be walking out of here with something, so just be warned about that. I need proof that I got in. I'm supposed to meet him here at nine in the morning with the item I took. If you want to be here to see the exchange." She still wasn't sure what the hell she'd find here. There couldn't be much, the place looked like it was on it's last leg. How the guy could afford her..... Oh that's right she dropped the price because she needed the money and reputation.

"Trust me, I know. It's pretty damn hard for a former thief to make an honest living. Said thing, no one, but you now, knew I used to be one. All they see is me breaking into a building and BAM I'm a bad guy. It sucks, and of course no one believes that anyone would pay someone to do it. But hell, you have to make sure the security equipment salesman wasn't jerking you around somehow. Preferably, before you get cleaned out." Beck shrugged, they'd either believe her or they wouldn't. If she was truly going in to steal something she wouldn't have gotten caught. As soon as she felt the fact that something was wrong, she would have left.

Beck shook her head and snickered. "You're a smartass aren't you? That's good to know. Just don't be surprised if I'm one right back." She waved off his early apology, he was jut doing what he did same as her. "You sure you don't want to tag along? It could get boring in there. Not curious what a rundown bank is holding that is so important, the dude finally decided to check the security?" She didn't think there was anything here, but one never knew.

[Spidey]

Spider-Man certainly had the knack for emoting through the clinging fabric of his mask. He was trying to roll with the strange concept that Beck had presented him with.

"Well let's see how this goes. I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, because I've known some really good people with...colorful pasts."

The first thought that triggered in his head was Black Cat. Mentioning "thief" around Spidey was a sure way to trigger that old flame's memory. Funny that whenever he thought of Black Cat, he also thought of the symbiote. He met both beings in the same time span, and though they were two very different entities-there was a very similar liberated wildness about them...Wow, Spidey could get carried away when linking one mental image to the next! It was a good thing he didn't begin to consider Venom, Carnage,-whoa, whoa stop!

"Sorry, what did you say?"

Spidey allowed himself to get back on track at this point.

"Somehow I doubt it's very boring anywhere you go, Beck. And what kind of name is Beck anyway? Short for Rebecca? And do you have a last name? Or are you like Madonna and Cher?"


Spidey waved a hand along to usher Beck on with her task. He was still carefully watching and paying immense attention to his Spidey Sense, in case foul play was involved.

"You can come back up here and present...or model whatever you find down there. I'm really hoping for one of those paper party hats."

[beck]

Relief washed over her as she nodded. "Thanks. I probably won't find much. But I kind of need the money from this check. It shouldn't take long." At least he wasn't busting her chops about it. That was a good thing, but at least he was still being cautious, it kind of made her feel better. He didn't go from one extreme to the other. She could almost feel him space out and then shook her head when he asked her to repeat. "Nothing of importance."

Now this was a question she was expecting. The girl just shrugged. "It's not short for anything. It was my father's name. So yeah, I guess it's kind of a Cher thing." Beck chuckled and nodded as she took off. "Be back in a bit." She took off and worked her way quickly to the vault. This was too easy, the more she spent time on this job the less she liked it. It didn't dawn on her that her employer seemed nervous about hiring her. But now that she thought about it, it was like he was willing her to take the job. Like maybe she'd find something he couldn't talk about. Nah! That's just fancy thinking.

Beck worked open the vault and peeked inside. There really wasn't much in there so she looked through the safety boxes for something important. Then she stopped and scanned the room, there was another room? What the hell? She scanned for the trigger to open the door and opened the safety deposit box that was the key. The back of the vault slid opened and she peeked inside. It was filled with weapons, most she would bet were illegal. "Holy..... shit." She needed to get Spider-Man down here. She turned around to find the door blocked by one big ass man. "Crap." This was going to be a long night.

[Spidey]

"Sure thing. Just don't make me regret it, please?"

Balancing doubt and hope was a difficult thing. Balancing sternness and kindness was almost as difficult. It was a tad embarrassing to have zoned out like he did earlier though. Ah well. Worse things happened all the time and likely would before the conclusion of this evening.

"So...exactly how mad do you get when people call you...'Junior'? Heh heh...just kidding. Run along now...Junior. I'll be waiting on ya."

Now came the time to watch with bated breath. Spidey followed, but only to a point of being able to keep an eye...or at least a Spider Tracer on Beck. Something wasn't right. Beck's voice carried enough for Spidey to pick up...something. So...invetsigation time would reveal someone who was not previously there. Whoever this big brute was...something wasn't right. Were these two in league together? Was this about to backfire on the Wallcrawler?

[beck]

"Won't regret it, at least on my end." She nodded to him to let him know she meant what she said. Golden brown eyes rolled at the Jr. comment. "Actually, no one ever has so you get to hit me with that new one." She'd waved him off when she had gone off to do her job. Now staring at the big mook in front of her she'd wished that she hadn't. She wasn't worried about taking the guy, at least she was pretty sure she could, it was all the other things. What had she gotten hired to do? What had she gotten herself into? What the unholy hell was going on here?

She didn't really want to back up into the room full of weapons. "Can I uh... Can I help you, sir?" The big man just cracked his knuckles. Apparently, that was universal for 'You saw something you shouldn't and I'm going to kill you now'. "Look, I'm not here to cause trouble. So, just um... let me scoot on out of here and all is good." There goes another damn paycheck. Why is it always her? It's night like this was her mess up.