After Peter left, Joren returned to his room, removed his coat, and sat at his desk.
He took out his phone and began browsing contact information and quotes from local construction contractors.
The holes left in the wall by the Hand ninjas required professional repair.
His finger paused mid-scroll.
Wait.
Tony Stark's face — radiating I'm rich and I'm annoyed with you — flashed through his mind.
Hadn't that billionaire insisted on "assessments" and promised to handle S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interference?
If so…
Why not let him pay for the repairs?
Trouble caused the damage. Let trouble cover the bill.
Joren put the phone away with quiet satisfaction and picked up a book.
Deep-Sea Fish Ecology.
He opened to a detailed spread documenting deep-sea species behavior. A two-page map illustrated humpback whale migration routes — blue dotted lines stretching from the icy waters of Alaska to the warmth of Hawaii.
Regular. Silent. Ordered.
Perfect.
Unlike this city, where strange things crawled through windows at night.
He turned the page, continuing to the section on blue whale feeding habits.
Night deepened.
Queens settled into quiet, broken only by the distant hum of passing cars.
Warm yellow light from the bedside lamp cast Joren's shadow softly across the wall.
He wore a purple short-sleeved T-shirt today, yet the hat remained — as inseparable from him as his shadow.
The quiet rustle of turning pages filled the room.
Then—
A faint scraping sound outside the window.
Joren paused.
His senses expanded instantly.
On the exterior wall, a humanoid figure climbed upward with fluid precision.
Steady heartbeat. Controlled breathing. Agile muscle engagement.
"Yare yare…"
He closed the book and turned toward the window.
Through the narrow slit in the blinds, he saw a slender black figure pressed against the glass of the second floor.
A sleek black bodysuit hugged stunning curves.
Silver-white hair flowed like liquid moonlight in the night breeze.
Felicia Hardy.
The Black Cat.
Separated by glass, their eyes met.
Behind her black mask, emerald eyes gleamed with playful cunning.
Seeing she'd been discovered, she didn't flee.
She waved.
Joren walked over, opened the blinds, then unlocked the window.
"What do you want?"
"Wow," Felicia laughed softly, bracing against the frame before vaulting inside with effortless grace, landing soundlessly on the floor. "Not even a 'good evening'?"
She straightened and surveyed the room openly, gaze settling on Joren.
His fitted T-shirt accentuated a physique far beyond his age — broad shoulders, defined chest, restrained power.
Even at home, he wore his hat.
"Reading alone at night… while wearing a hat," she said, removing her mask to reveal her delicate features. "Are you bald?"
Joren stared at her.
His eyes clearly said: you are boring.
"And," Felicia continued cheerfully, utterly unbothered by the temperature drop in the room, tilting her head so her silver hair slid over her shoulder, "your parents are American, right? So why is your catchphrase 'Yare yare'? Is it some secret code?"
"If you ask another pointless question," Joren replied calmly, "I will throw you out the window."
"Threatening me? How rude."
Felicia smiled wider.
She glided past him and seated herself at his desk chair like a hostess claiming her lounge, crossing her legs elegantly.
"Still," she purred, "I like men with personality."
Her gaze fell on the book.
"Marine biology? Interesting."
She flipped through the pages.
"Humpback whales. Blue whales. Great whites."
She glanced up. "You like large predators?"
Joren said nothing.
He remained by the window, hands in pockets, watching her with the stillness of a predator studying another predator.
"The golden fireworks last night were beautiful," she said casually.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
His tone remained even.
"Is that so?"
Felicia rose and approached him slowly.
"That's disappointing. I thought I'd found a kindred spirit."
"What do you want?" Joren asked.
His patience was thinning.
Felicia stopped directly in front of him, looking up beneath the shadow of his hat.
"I want…"
She smiled.
"…to cooperate."
Joren's brow creased slightly.
"This city is dangerous," she continued.
"Undead ninjas. A crime lord who thinks he owns the world. Government agents in black Dodges camping outside your house all day…"
She watched him closely.
"You look tired handling all that alone."
She knows about the surveillance.
"I can help with… inconveniences beyond your reach."
Her smile sharpened, like a cat licking cream from its whiskers.
"Finding out who's watching you. Gathering information. Acquiring certain items." She paused. "Even exam answers."
She winked — then turned serious again.
"In return, you provide a little protection when I need it."
Silence.
"Not interested."
Joren turned toward the window and gestured outward.
"The window is there. Try not to break your leg."
"What a cold man."
Felicia sighed softly, but excitement flickered in her eyes.
"That's alright."
She put her mask back on and walked lightly to the window.
Just before leaving, she turned back.
Emerald eyes sparkled beneath the mask.
"See you at school tomorrow, Joestar."
Then she vanished into the night.
The room returned to silence.
But unlike before—
the quiet now held the faint echo of claws scratching at a locked door.