"Me?" Karl leaned back into the chair and crossed one leg over the other, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I have many identities. But to you… I suppose I'm the person who saved your life, Spider-Woman."
He watched her carefully.
He wanted to see how she reacted.
Gwen's eyes widened.
"You… you know?"
Her voice tightened.
"Am I the only one you told? Please… can you keep it secret? If my dad finds out, he'll have a patrol car outside my window twenty-four hours a day."
Karl's smile didn't change.
"No. Many people in this manor know."
Her heart dropped.
He continued calmly:
"You ran out and fought that yellow monster without your father knowing. Did you ever think about your parents? What happens to them if you die?"
His tone was indifferent, almost cold.
Gwen flinched.
Karl continued, his gaze steady.
"This country worships lone heroes. People rush out to fight evil without thinking about consequences."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Power doesn't make you invincible. It makes you a target."
Karl's Warning
"In another timeline," he continued calmly, "a young man gained power and decided to play hero. His uncle died because of it. His enemies discovered his identity. They targeted his family."
Gwen swallowed.
Karl's voice hardened.
"Criminals don't care about ideals. Terrorists don't care about responsibility. If they discover who you are, they won't fight you — they'll destroy everything you love."
Silence filled the room.
"I… I didn't think that far," Gwen admitted quietly.
She thought of her father.
Her mother.
If she had died today…
Her chest tightened.
Karl's voice cut through her thoughts.
"If that creature learned who you were today… if it discovered your address… what would you do if you came home and found your parents lying in a pool of blood?"
The words struck like a hammer.
Cold sweat formed on Gwen's back.
Her breath became uneven.
She had nearly died already.
If she hadn't survived…
Her parents would have been the ones mourning.
And they would have been defenseless.
Gwen's Realization
"I… I acted without thinking," she whispered.
Fear lingered from the battle.
The sound of bones cracking.
The force of those blows.
She had been seconds from death.
"I thought I was helping people," she said weakly.
Karl studied her.
He did feel sympathy for the girl.
But if she chose to walk the hero's path blindly, he would not allow that recklessness near his family.
"Think carefully," he said.
"Your identity isn't hard to uncover. You are the daughter of the NYPD Police Commissioner."
Her head snapped up.
He stood.
"And before you panic — I didn't change your clothes. My wife did."
He nodded toward the wardrobe.
"Your suit is in the closet to your right. You're free to leave."
Without another word, he walked out.
Gwen Alone
Silence returned.
Gwen sat on the bed, staring at her hands.
His words echoed relentlessly.
Her father.
Her mother.
Her choices.
She hadn't planned to become a hero.
She hadn't planned to fight monsters.
But when she saw people in danger…
she moved.
Yet today she nearly died.
And if she had—
She exhaled slowly.
It was late.
Going home now would raise questions.
She slipped on the slippers beside the bed and stepped into the hallway.
The Manor
She froze.
The mansion was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers.
Marble floors.
Ornate carvings.
Paintings that belonged in museums.
She had never seen anything like it.
Tony Stark's gifts hung among the manor's original artwork, blending modern wealth with old-world elegance.
She walked slowly toward the staircase.
Voices drifted upward.
She descended carefully.
At the dining table sat Aunt May, Raven, Wanda, Pietro, Yelena… and Karl.
Her footsteps drew attention.
Aunt May turned and brightened immediately.
"Oh my goodness, you're awake! You must be starving. Come sit, dear."
Before Gwen could protest, Aunt May gently guided her to a chair.
"Thank you… thank you very much," Gwen said awkwardly.
Karl only glanced at her before continuing his meal.
Wanda piled food into Karl's bowl with exaggerated devotion.
Then she casually dropped the vegetables she disliked into Pietro's bowl.
He groaned.
Raven ate quietly, appreciating the chef's Chinese dishes with composed elegance.
Yelena ate silently, observing everything.
Only Aunt May radiated warmth.
She treated Gwen like a guest rather than a stranger.
Sibling Chaos
"Hey! That's my favorite!" Pietro protested. "You already gave Karl the last rib, and his bowl is full!"
"So?" Wanda replied calmly. "I'm the older sister. You listen to me. Eat your vegetables."
Pietro looked like he might revolt.
Karl ignored them.
Aunt May laughed softly.
Gwen watched the scene in stunned silence.
This was nothing like the battlefield.
Nothing like fear.
Nothing like the chaos outside.
It felt…
warm.
Normal.
And somehow, that made her chest tighten even more.
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