The Real Daredevil

The Real Daredevil

Alvin knew who Matt was: the famous Daredevil from Marvel. Every night, he wore a red-and-black suit and moved through the streets and alleys of Hell's Kitchen, fighting crime and protecting ordinary people.

In the comics, he was a powerful, intelligent, nearly omnipotent superhero. But Alvin knew that in reality, he was a battered, obsessive maniac.

As a native resident of Hell's Kitchen, Matt was obsessed with changing its current state. He believed that the countless gangs and endless crimes had turned Hell's Kitchen into the desperate place it was today.

He wanted to change Hell's Kitchen by cracking down on crime and gang dealings, yet he did not realize that everything he did was futile. Gangs and crime would never disappear.

In Alvin's eyes, he was merely an ordinary man with excellent fighting skills, perhaps with an ability that could be called superhuman hearing. But when faced with desperate gangsters backed into a corner, he often could not gain the upper hand completely. Getting hurt was inevitable.

Still, Alvin admired Matt's character and spirit. A man who cared only about the safety of others was worthy of respect no matter what.

Feeling somewhat ashamed, Alvin apologized to Matt. "Sorry, Matt. You know I reached an agreement with Kingpin. I can't interfere in matters involving other neighborhoods."

Matt gave a helpless smile, looking especially lost as he said, "Alvin, we both want Hell's Kitchen to get better. Why is it that you've already changed three neighborhoods, while I haven't changed anything? People in other neighborhoods are still being robbed and murdered.

"And yet there's nothing I can do. Sometimes I hate my ability. Every night, it lets me hear strangers crying for help. I've tried, but I can't help everyone. I don't know what to do."

Alvin poured him another beer, adding two small shots of whiskey before setting it in front of him. He tapped the glass, signaling for Matt to drink.

Alvin continued, "Matt, changing a place's environment has never been a one-man job. Do you know why the first condition I gave S.H.I.E.L.D. was improving the police department's equipment?"

Without waiting for Matt to answer, Alvin continued, "That way, people like Michael and Scott will dare to patrol the streets at night. Not every criminal is crazy enough to attack police officers. As long as there are police patrols on the streets, public safety in Hell's Kitchen will improve."

Matt silently lifted his glass and took a large gulp. "But people are still being hurt, and there's nothing I can do." As he spoke, Matt removed his sunglasses. His gray-white eyes seemed to have no pupils. He rubbed his face hard, looking utterly helpless.

Hearing Matt's words, Alvin said with both anger and resignation, "You're not God. Even God can't save everyone. Matt, you need to let yourself relax.

"We all want this place to improve. We need to work together. Man, instead of going out every night to be a vigilante, why not help the real police get back to their jobs?

"Man, I'll talk to Kingpin and have him restrain his men so they stop causing trouble for ordinary people. And you should stop going after him too. All that'll do is get you hurt.

"Besides, having someone who can keep the gangs in check is better than a chaotic Hell's Kitchen, no matter how you look at it."

Matt drained the rest of his beer in one gulp and said with some anger, "So Kingpin gets to walk free?"

Alvin explained helplessly, "Kingpin isn't frightening, and he isn't the one who created Hell's Kitchen's current situation.

"Getting rid of him would be easy. But what happens after he dies? Hundreds of gangs, large and small, would lose all restraint. What would Hell's Kitchen become then?

"As long as Kingpin is still around, this place will at least have a little order, even if it's underground order."

Matt slumped over the bar, helpless and confused, as though the weight of everything was about to crush him. He said softly, "Alvin, I don't know whether you're right, but at least what you've done has had far better results than what I've done. But that doesn't mean I'll give up on my own way. I'll keep going until I truly can't go on anymore."

Alvin knew that by "can't go on anymore," Matt meant until he died. Alvin respected him, so he would not stop him from putting his ideal of "making the community better" into practice.

Alvin patted him on the shoulder. "I support you, but at least let yourself rest once in a while." Then he gestured for Matt to have another drink. This time, Alvin switched to whiskey.

Before long, Matt was completely drunk. While Fudge was busy boasting and chatting with someone, a thin red vine pierced Matt's calf. A stream of red energy flowed into Matt's body through the vine. It was the Corpse-Eating Vine's ability, converting devoured corpses into life force.

Alvin kept track of the time. Once the energy he had injected was enough to completely heal Matt's injured body, Alvin recalled the Corpse-Eating Vine.

Acting as if nothing had happened, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp. Looking at Matt sleeping with a healthy flush on his face, Alvin muttered, "To noble character! To unwavering effort! Cheers!"

The lively atmosphere lasted until midnight, ending when the restaurant closed. After arranging for JJ to take Matt and Fudge home, Alvin returned to his bedroom on the second floor. He first checked on little Nick and found that he was already asleep. Smiling, Alvin tucked in his blanket, turned off the light for him, and walked out.

When he turned around, he found Jessica leaning against the hallway wall and looking at him. Alvin touched his cheek and asked, "What is it? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Jessica stared at Alvin's face. Her shy, admiring gaze made him feel a little uncomfortable. In his previous life, he had been a thirty-five-year-old man, yet in this life, a nineteen-year-old girl had him at a loss. That really shouldn't have happened. So he made a joke. "Jess, did you leave something with me?"

Jessica shook her head in confusion.

Pretending to be disappointed, Alvin sighed. "Ah, I thought our Jess had left her heart with me and was waiting here to get it back."

Jessica's face began turning red at a visible speed, so red that Alvin started worrying she might catch fire.

Embarrassed and angry, Jessica stomped hard. With a crack, she punched a hole through the wooden floor of the second-floor hallway. Her entire right leg sank into it. Having lost her balance, her upper body naturally tipped backward, making her already modest chest look even smaller.

Both of them froze. Alvin swore that he was only shocked that his house was so poorly built. He absolutely had no intention of laughing at Jessica's embarrassing situation.

Jessica's face went from red to white, the color draining from it almost instantly. One leg was stuck beneath the floor, while the other rested on top of it.

Jessica could imagine how ridiculous she looked. Not daring to look at Alvin's expression, she braced both hands against the floor and yanked her leg free. Because she used too much force, one of her pant legs tore completely apart, exposing her long, snow-white leg and ripping up another piece of flooring in the process.

Jessica covered her face and let out a despairing, muffled scream before rushing into her room and slamming the door shut. She used too much force again, and the entire door, along with its frame, flew out and smashed into the opposite wall.

Looking at the house that now needed major repairs, Alvin silently complained to himself. His mouth had been too loose. Why had he teased Jessica for no reason, especially when she was a girl who was incredibly strong and easily embarrassed? Well, tomorrow was going to be another busy day.

Alvin walked to the doorway and peeked inside. Jessica was lying face-down on the bed with her head buried beneath a pillow, letting out frustrated screams. Not provoking a woman at a time like this was wisdom gained from a married man.

He propped up the door, shoved the frame back into place, sent Nick—who had climbed out of bed to eavesdrop after hearing the commotion—back to sleep, then returned to his own room to get a good night's rest and end this busy day.