Honestly…
Lok wasn't exactly thrilled about staying here.
But the hospitality of both Mother Gwen and Gwen herself was incredible.
Yet, as he sat down at the table and found himself face-to-face with Sheriff George Stacy, who was looking at him with a stern gaze, he regretted his thoughts from just a few minutes earlier.
And didn't Gwen say that George was busy today?
"Lok, enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Lok took the plate that was handed to him by the smiling Helen and thanked her.
At least he was polite; it was his one saving grace.
Though he was an orphan in this life, he hadn't forgotten the life where he'd been raised by his parents.
"Enjoy."
Helen added, "Oh, and don't call me 'ma'am,' it feels strange. Just Helen will do. You're the first boy Gwen's ever brought home."
Gwen, who was sitting across from Lok next to her father, was at a loss for words. "Mom!"
In fact, Helen was simply being kind.
Helen chuckled quickly and said to Lok, "I hope you like it."
Lok looked at the fish on his plate.
This…
This was the legendary bass in lemon sauce, right?
And he was getting to try it on only his second day in New York?
He thought only the little spider would get such special treatment.
"Ahem!"
George, who was sitting across the table, cleared his throat with clear irritation. "Lok, where are you from?"
Gwen frowned. "Dad."
Lok was an orphan. Wasn't this question just reopening Lok's scars?
Lok laughed and turned to George. "Texas."
In general, Lok decided to be truthful. Although, truthfully, he had only once opened his eyes there, in a new world, but wasn't actually born there.
George took a bite of his bass in lemon sauce. "Have you heard of the Sinner Hunter?"
"Dad…"
"I have."
Lok smiled, deciding to keep the conversation going a bit. "I'm afraid there's not a person in Texas who doesn't know of him."
Of course, he knew who the Sinner Hunter was.
At the same time, he wasn't worried that George would recognize him. After all, the FBI had determined that the Sinner Hunter was a man around twenty-five or thirty. And Gwen's father could never associate him, a sixteen-year-old boy, with a killer.
And after all…
A sixteen-year-old kid was still just a child in his eyes.
George was just asking casually. After all, he had to find something to talk about. Or was he supposed to just watch as some random guy from the street walked into his house and stole his little princess?
How could he allow that?
George asked again, "So what do you think of the Sinner Hunter?"
"A killer," Lok shrugged without a second thought.
George's eyes lit up, and he looked at Lok.
"Hm."
"He's not entirely an idiot!" George thought at that moment.
Lok said, "Although many call him the Judge of Darkness, killing is still killing, and that doesn't change even if the victim deserved it."
George nodded, and for some reason, he suddenly felt less antagonistic towards Lok.
Lok noticed this.
But…
Thoughts about the fact that he was the one they were talking about and that he was now saying so casually that he was a killer didn't affect him in the slightest.
Because he had already accepted it long ago. And he understood something else.
When the law cannot judge a criminal, more radical methods come into play.
However, Lok didn't voice these thoughts aloud.
Gwen had invited him for dinner, not a fight.
Lok wasn't that foolish.
To go against George meant putting Gwen, who had invited him to stay for dinner, in an awkward position and making George and Helen think that Gwen couldn't pick friends or even understand basic manners.
Though opinions could be discussed in a more personal setting.
But definitely not at the dinner table.
By the way…
This bass in lemon sauce, although it looked somewhat odd…
The taste was simply outstanding. Period.
George asked a few more questions, to which Lok responded politely.
And he answered as carefully as possible.
At the very least, judging by George's face, which was gradually relaxing, it was clear that Lok had initially made a not-so-great impression on the head of the family, but during the meal, that impression had changed significantly.
This became especially apparent after Gwen told George and Helen about Lok's test results from yesterday.
Gwen's Room.
After Lok and Gwen had finally finished their homework, Lok was already planning to leave and get on with far more important things.
Since he'd completed his daytime tasks, it was time to start his evening missions.
Tonight, he planned to fulfill at least two orders.
"Thank you, Gwen," Lok said after packing his backpack and was already at the door of the room.
"…"
Gwen was slightly puzzled. "You say 'thank you' way too much."
Gwen could swear that all the "thank yous" she'd heard over the last semester combined didn't even come close to the amount of "thank yous" Lok had said to her over the past two days.
He must've had a hard time as a child.
Gwen doubted it; after all, there was no other explanation for why Lok loved saying "thank you" so much.
"Oh, is it wrong to be polite?" Lok smiled.
Gwen raised her eyebrow and looked at Lok. "Wait, so you're just pretending to be polite?"
Lok looked at Gwen.
Smart move.
Gwen thought about something, then looked at Lok and said, "I think the Sinner Hunter is doing the right thing."
Lok raised an eyebrow.
This was bait.
"Well, I read that Texas has its own Sinner Hunters, aside from the one we're talking about. If it weren't for them, so many evil people wouldn't have gotten what they deserved."
"Oh, really?"
"Is there any other way?"
"Do you actually think the Sinner Hunter is a killer?" Gwen asked.
Lok's answer was the same as at the table, but with a caveat. "In terms of the law, he's a killer."
"And if not from the point of view of the law?"
"…"
Lok thought for a moment. "Well, in any case, he's not a good guy."
Because…
He wasn't a good person.
Lok knew himself well. Although he was kind of a nice guy, he definitely wasn't planning on being the good guy right now. This was the Marvel universe, after all, and only one thing happens to good guys here — death.
For instance, the Stacy family, which was destroyed because of the spider.
George Stacy died because of the spider.
Gwen died because of the spider, too.
This is what happens when you're a "good guy" in the Marvel universe.
So Lok would like to be good, but in such a cruel universe, he only had one choice — not to be good.
"I'm heading out."
Lok smiled faintly at Gwen and left the room, carrying his backpack.
Gwen called after him, "I'll walk you out."
Simple politeness.
In the Living Room.
Lok turned to George and Helen, who were watching TV in the living room. "Mr. Stacy, Mrs. Stacy, thank you for the dinner. The bass in lemon sauce was delicious. Thank you, and good night."
Gwen turned to George and Helen. "Mom, Dad, I'm going to walk him out."
When they walked out of the house, Lok took out his car keys and pressed them, causing the car across the street to flash its lights twice.
Gwen and Lok walked toward the car together, and Gwen was the first to say goodbye. "See you tomorrow."
Lok opened the door and prepared to get into the car, replying, "See you tomorrow."
When suddenly…
Lok's ears twitched, and his brows furrowed as he looked up at the dark sky.
"What happened?" Gwen asked.
And then…
Lok's face changed suddenly, and he grabbed Gwen's hand, running in the opposite direction from the car.