"Hey, you lurking outside the door," Noah called out, his tone casual as he twisted his arm nonchalantly, "why don't you just come on in and join the conversation?"
Peter looked towards the door in surprise, eyes widening as he focused his senses. Sure enough, the distinct heartbeat coming from the other side confirmed Noah's hunch—someone was eavesdropping.
"You've got a good sense for trouble," came a deep, steady voice from beyond the door. The figure stepped in, revealing a man clad in a dark T-shirt emblazoned with a skull. The man's gaze was stern as he studied Noah with cautious admiration.
"Daredevil told me to check on you," the man finally said.
Noah sighed, eyebrows pulling together in frustration. "Seriously? Did Daredevil send you to crash my quiet life? I'd prefer it if you all just stayed out of my business. Is it a superhero requirement to stick your nose where it doesn't belong?"
The mere thought of Daredevil irked him—especially since that guy still managed to attract trouble despite being down for the count. And now, this Punisher character had taken the hint.
"Noah—he's a superhero? You know Daredevil?" Peter asked, his curiosity piqued as he took in the man standing before them.
"Of course," Noah replied, throwing his arm around Peter's shoulders as he half-introduced, half-mocked, "This guy's the Punisher, a so-called vigilante and crime-fighter who's been kicking around New York for years now." Noah shot the Punisher a sarcastic grin. "But hey, it's been four or five years, and yet, Kingpin's still thriving. Pretty inspiring, huh?"
The Punisher's brow furrowed as he took in Noah's blatant sarcasm, but his voice remained steady. "Kid, don't you think you're being a bit cocky? A peaceful life is earned, not handed out. Great power, great responsibility, all that."
Noah rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Is that superhero mantra all you've got?" He gave a dismissive wave. "I'm not buying what you're selling. If you have something worth saying, say it—otherwise, get out."
The Punisher's jaw tightened, clearly irritated. "Before we talk, I need to test you. See if you're actually worth my time."
The words were barely out of his mouth when Noah launched his fist towards the Punisher's midsection in a flash. The Punisher barely had time to cross his arms defensively, but even his block couldn't absorb the full force.
The room seemed to freeze for a split second. Noah smirked. "Did you really think a lecture would impress me?"
The Punisher staggered, blinking in disbelief as Noah's next move turned from a punch to a firm grip on his head. Within a heartbeat, Noah had him pinned to the floor, using just enough strength to keep him from moving.
Peter watched, his admiration for heroes slightly shattered as he observed the scene. He leaned closer, wondering out loud, "Are superheroes…not that strong after all?"
The Punisher lay stunned, unable to move, feeling the weight of Noah's index finger pressing his forehead against the floor. He couldn't shake the words Daredevil had fed him earlier, about Noah being "only a little stronger, not skilled." That information felt ridiculously off. To the Punisher, Noah was more like an unstoppable force than an ordinary street-level fighter.
The stat panel sprang up for Noah, giving him a good look at the Punisher's numbers:
[Stat Panel]
Strength: 1.4Agility: 1.4Constitution: 1.4Spirit: 1.4Charisma: 1.1
Noah smirked as he read the stats. For all the Punisher's bravado, his skillset was only a hair above average, especially against Noah's own stats.
The Punisher was still stunned as Noah shifted his finger, allowing him to sit up. He could only manage to stammer, "That was…unexpected."
"Now, what exactly did Daredevil tell you about me?" Noah's tone dripped with amusement as he crossed his arms, looking down at the Punisher.
The Punisher exhaled, regaining his composure. "Right. The truth is, we've been dealing with some pretty strange stuff lately. Seven bodies, drained of blood, have been found just this month alone. I suspect there's something big going down, maybe even a whole army of these…things. I was going to get Matt's help, but he recommended you instead."
"Vampires, huh?" Noah mused, barely fazed.
"Right," the Punisher said, trying to gauge Noah's interest. "So, are you in?"
Noah couldn't help but laugh at the directness. In his mind, a familiar notification appeared:
[Side Quest Request: Vampire Riot]
Do you accept? Yes | No
Without hesitation, Noah selected No, shaking his head as he pointed at the door. "Not interested. Whatever you've got going on with the undead, keep it there. Now, if that's all, feel free to leave."
The Punisher's face hardened, clearly not expecting the quick rejection. "Noah, we're talking about innocent lives here. You really don't care at all?"
A small laugh escaped him. "Oh, I care about innocent lives," Noah replied, voice tinged with irony. "But here's the thing—I didn't sign up to be some kind of vigilante guardian. You've got your way of handling things, I've got mine. And right now, my way means not joining in on your vampire hunt."
The Punisher's shoulders sagged slightly. He'd met countless individuals in his time, but there was something both maddening and intimidating about Noah's casual dismissal.
Peter, meanwhile, couldn't hide his grin. "I guess heroes aren't exactly what I expected," he admitted, stealing a sideways glance at the Punisher. "Noah's doing just fine without all that responsibility stuff."
Seeing Peter's almost gleeful realization, Noah chuckled. "Don't be so harsh, Peter. Being a superhero just means they're good at giving speeches, right?"
The Punisher's mouth twitched, and for a moment, Noah thought he might actually try to argue back. Instead, he shook his head, muttering something under his breath. With a last, resigned look, he stepped back and turned towards the door.
"Fine, Noah. Enjoy your quiet life." With that, he was gone, leaving only silence behind.
Peter exhaled, crossing his arms as he looked up at Noah. "So, what now? Do we just ignore the whole 'vampire' thing?"
"Yup," Noah replied with a shrug. "That's the beauty of free will."
Peter tilted his head, thoughtfully mulling over everything that had just gone down. After a beat, he said, "I guess that makes you, like, the anti-hero of all this?"
Noah chuckled, patting Peter on the shoulder. "Kid, anti-hero, hero—it's all just a matter of perspective. Now come on, let's grab something to eat. You know, before any more 'heroes' come knocking."
As they headed out, Peter gave one last look back at the door, a faint smile on his face. In his mind, superheroes might have just gotten a little more complicated—but that didn't make them any less interesting.
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So, this is my first time doing this. I hope you guys can help me improve by providing your feedback. Some stones would be nice. (づ ◕_◕ )づ