Chapter 13: The Age of Heroes Begins
---
Tony Stark's final sentence echoed across every television screen, radio broadcast, and live stream in America.
"I am Iron Man."
The press conference erupted. Camera flashes exploded like a sudden lightning storm. Reporters shouted questions over each other in a chaotic wave of noise. Microphones were shoved forward desperately, as if physical proximity could somehow extract more truth from the man who had just turned the entire world upside down.
Tony Stark — billionaire, genius, playboy — had just admitted to being a superhero.
Not a consultant. Not a weapons designer operating remotely. Not someone funding heroics from behind closed doors.
He was Iron Man. Personally. Publicly. Irrevocably.
The implications were staggering.
Rhodes stepped forward immediately, "That's all for now. Mr. Stark will not be taking further questions at this time."
Phil Coulson moved in from the side, gesturing subtly to the security personnel positioned around the perimeter. Within seconds, Tony was being guided back toward the waiting car. Happy blocked the path of several particularly aggressive reporters, his broad frame and uncompromising expression doing more than words ever could.
"Back up! Move! Give him space!"
Tony slid into the backseat of the car without looking back. Pepper followed immediately after, pulling the door shut behind them. The vehicle pulled away smoothly, leaving the press conference behind in a cloud of shouted questions and frantic camera flashes.
Inside the car, silence.
Pepper stared at Tony, her expression a complicated mixture of exasperation, concern, and reluctant admiration.
"Tony," she said finally. "You just told the entire world you're Iron Man."
Tony shrugged, looking entirely unbothered. "Yeah. I did."
"That wasn't the plan. Phil Coulson gave you a script. You were supposed to say the armor was a prototype security system operated remotely —"
"I know what the script said, Pepper." Tony glanced out the window at the passing cityscape. "But that script was a lie. And I don't lie well."
Pepper opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. She knew Tony well enough to recognize when a decision had already been made — not impulsively, but deliberately. This hadn't been a moment of reckless ego. This had been a choice.
Tony turned back to her, his expression calm and surprisingly serious.
"The world already saw the armor. They saw the fight. They saw the destruction." He paused. "If I hide behind excuses and corporate double-speak, someone else will figure out the truth eventually. And when they do, they'll use it against me — and against everyone around me."
Pepper considered this. She couldn't argue with the logic. The battle at District 16 had been too public, too visible. Videos were already circulating online. Speculation was running wild. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.
Better to control the narrative from the beginning.
"Alright," Pepper said quietly. "But you realize this changes everything, right? Your life will never be private again."
Tony smiled faintly. "Pepper, my life hasn't been private since I was born. At least now I get to decide what people see."
Pepper shook her head but couldn't suppress a small, reluctant smile. "You're impossible."
"I prefer 'visionary.'"
---
The news spread like wildfire.
Within an hour, every major media outlet in the country — and most of the world — was running the story. Tony Stark's press conference was replayed on loop, analyzed frame by frame, and dissected by experts, commentators, and random people on the Internet who suddenly considered themselves authorities on superhero ethics.
Headlines dominated every platform:
TONY STARK DECLARES: "I AM IRON MAN"
BILLIONAIRE GENIUS REVEALS SECRET IDENTITY AS ARMORED HERO
STARK INDUSTRIES CEO ADMITS TO BEING VIGILANTE — LEGAL IMPLICATIONS UNCLEAR
THE WORLD'S FIRST PUBLIC SUPERHERO: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NATIONAL SECURITY?
In this world, Tony Stark was already a household name. He was rich, famous, controversial, and endlessly fascinating to the public. Even top-tier Hollywood celebrities couldn't match his level of visibility.
But now? Now he was something else entirely.
He wasn't just a billionaire or a weapons manufacturer or a genius inventor. He was Iron Man. A real, tangible superhero who had fought a real battle in the middle of a populated city and won.
The Internet exploded. Social media platforms crashed under the weight of simultaneous traffic. Memes, fan art, and conspiracy theories flooded every corner of the digital world.
People loved it. People hated it. People argued about it endlessly.
But everyone, without exception, was talking about it.
---
At Midtown High School the next morning, the atmosphere was electric.
Every hallway buzzed with excited conversation. Students clustered around phones, watching and rewatching the press conference footage. Debates erupted spontaneously in classrooms, cafeterias, and locker bays.
In one corner of the cafeteria, Peter Parker sat across from his best friend, Ned Leeds. Ned was practically vibrating with excitement, his hands gesturing wildly as he spoke.
"Peter, did you see that?" Ned's voice was loud enough to draw glances from nearby tables. "Tony Stark is going to be a superhero! Like, actually saving people and fighting bad guys!"
Peter nodded, grinning. He was excited too, though not quite as explosively as Ned. "I saw it. It's pretty crazy."
"Crazy? It's insane!" Ned leaned forward conspiratorially, lowering his voice slightly. "Do you think there are other superheroes out there? Like, people we don't know about yet?"
Peter thought about the mysterious figure from the highway incident — the one who had stopped the SUVs without touching them. That video was still circulating, though it had been somewhat overshadowed by Tony Stark's announcement.
"Maybe," Peter said. "I mean, if Tony Stark can build a flying suit of armor in his basement, who knows what else is out there?"
Ned's eyes lit up even more. "Dude. What if we could be superheroes?"
Peter laughed. "Ned, we can barely pass gym class."
"Details." Ned waved this away dismissively. "All I'm saying is, the world is changing. Maybe it's time we start thinking bigger."
Peter smiled, shaking his head. "Sure, Ned. Whatever you say."
Ned grinned back, then glanced at his phone. "Oh! Speaking of thinking bigger — don't forget, next week we're visiting Oscorp Industries for the field trip."
Peter's expression brightened. "Right! I almost forgot. That's going to be amazing."
"I know, right? Genetic research, cutting-edge tech, all that stuff." Ned paused, then added with a sly grin, "And after the tour, we should hang out and relax. Maybe grab pizza or something."
Peter nodded. "Yeah. Sounds good."
Neither of them realized how significant that field trip would turn out to be.
---
At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Nick Fury stood alone in his office, watching the press conference footage on a wall-mounted screen. His single good eye was fixed on Tony Stark's face — on the confident, almost defiant expression as he made his declaration.
Fury reached forward and paused the video.
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he let out a low, frustrated sigh.
"Tony," Fury muttered to the frozen image. "Do you think you're the savior of this world?"
He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of his face.
Tony Stark voluntarily acknowledging that he was Iron Man was a game-changer. It meant the age of secret heroes operating in the shadows was effectively over. The public now knew that people with extraordinary abilities existed. They knew that battles could be fought in the middle of cities. They knew that the world was more dangerous — and more interesting — than they had ever imagined.
And they would want more.
Fury's mind turned to the Avengers Initiative — the plan he had been quietly assembling for years. A team of extraordinary individuals, brought together to face threats no single hero could handle alone.
"It seems," Fury said quietly, "that the superhero situation can no longer be concealed."
He thought about Leo Azmith — the young man with impossible abilities who had refused to join S.H.I.E.L.D. Leo had cited HYDRA infiltration as his reason for declining, but he had also made it clear he would help when necessary.
Fury believed him. Leo's actions so far had been consistent with someone who genuinely wanted to protect people, even if he didn't want to be tied to an organization.
"Leo refused to join because S.H.I.E.L.D. was infiltrated by HYDRA," Fury mused aloud. "But the good news is, he'll choose to help when necessary."
That would have to be enough for now.
Fury turned off the monitor and stood. There was work to do.
---
In Manhattan, on a quiet street corner near Hell's Kitchen, a blind man stopped walking. He tilted his head slightly, listening intently to the audio playing from a nearby storefront television.
Tony Stark's voice echoed clearly through the open door.
"I am Iron Man."
The blind man — Matt Murdock — stood perfectly still, processing the words. His heightened senses painted a vivid picture of the world around him: the hum of traffic, the rhythm of footsteps, the distant sound of construction work. But right now, his focus was entirely on that single sentence.
"Matt, are you interested in that playboy Tony Stark?"
Matt turned slightly toward the voice. His friend and law partner, Foggy Nelson, stood beside him with a bemused expression.
The two of them had spent the day searching for affordable office space for their newly formed law firm — Murdock & Nelson LLP. So far, they hadn't found anything suitable. Everything was either too expensive, too small, or in too dangerous a neighborhood.
Foggy sighed, glancing at the television inside the storefront. "If we could be as rich as him, maybe we wouldn't have to run around looking for cheap apartments."
Matt didn't respond immediately. His thoughts were elsewhere.
Foggy continued, his tone lighter now, more optimistic. "But I believe that our law firm will definitely get better one day."
Matt nodded absently. "Yeah. Definitely. It will get better."
They continued walking, eventually parting ways as the evening grew darker. Matt returned to his small rented apartment in Hell's Kitchen — a modest space with bare walls and minimal furniture.
He stood by the window, listening to the sounds of the city. Manhattan spread out before him in a symphony of noise: car horns, distant sirens, the hum of electricity running through power lines, the rhythm of a thousand heartbeats overlapping in the buildings around him.
Matt was blind. He had been since childhood, after an accident involving hazardous chemicals. But in the darkness, he had found something else. His remaining senses had sharpened to inhuman levels. He could hear a conversation three blocks away. He could smell fear, anger, and lies through person's heartbeat. He could feel the vibrations in the air when someone moved nearby.
And in that darkness, Matt had come to realize something terrible.
The entire city — all of Manhattan, all of Hell's Kitchen — was shrouded in darkness of a different kind. Corruption. Crime. Exploitation. Innocent people suffering while those in power looked the other way.
As a lawyer, Matt had tried to fight that darkness through the legal system. He had worked cases, filed motions, argued in courtrooms. But the law was slow. The law was limited. The law could only do so much.
And sometimes, Matt had come to realize, the law wasn't enough.
He thought about Tony Stark. About a man who had chosen to step forward, to take action directly, to put himself on the line.
Matt made his decision.
When night fell, he left his apartment and walked to the nearby church — a quiet, old building that had been part of Hell's Kitchen for generations. He entered silently, crossing himself out of habit, and knelt in the empty pews.
Father Lantom appeared from the side door, recognizing Matt immediately. The two had spoken many times before.
"Matthew," Father Lantom said gently. "You've come to confess?"
Matt nodded. "I have."
The confession was quiet, private, and heavy. Matt spoke about his anger at the injustice around him. About his desire to act. About the fear that if he did nothing, more people would suffer.
Father Lantom listened without judgment. When Matt finished, the priest was silent for a long moment.
"Matthew," he said finally, "there is a difference between justice and vengeance. Be careful which path you choose."
Matt stood, his expression unreadable. "I know, Father. Thank you."
He left the church as the last light faded from the sky.
When Matt Murdock returned to the streets that night, he was no longer just a lawyer.
He was something else.
A shadow in the darkness. A protector without a name.
Daredevil had been born.
---
That same night, Matt heard a cry for help.
It came from several blocks away — faint, distant, but unmistakable. A woman's voice, terrified and desperate.
Matt moved immediately. He ran through alleys, leaped across fire escapes, and followed the sound with perfect precision. His senses guided him through the darkness like a bloodhound on a trail.
The cry led him to the docks.
A group of men — five of them, rough-looking and armed — had cornered two women near a shipping container. The women were terrified, backing away slowly as the men closed in.
"Please," one of the women begged. "We don't have any money —"
"Shut up," one of the men snarled. "We're not here for money."
The implication was clear. This wasn't a robbery. This was human trafficking.
Matt didn't hesitate.
He dropped from the top of the shipping container, landing silently behind the group. The men didn't notice him at first — they were too focused on their victims.
Then Matt moved.
He struck the first man in the back of the knee, dropping him instantly. The second man turned in surprise, reaching for a weapon, but Matt grabbed his arm and twisted it sharply. The sound of bone breaking echoed across the docks.
The other three men reacted, pulling out guns and knives. But Matt was faster. He dodged the first gunshot, rolled under the second, and came up behind the shooter. A quick strike to the wrist disarmed the man. A follow-up blow to the jaw knocked him unconscious.
The fight lasted less than a minute.
When the last man fell, groaning in pain on the concrete, Matt turned to the two women. They stared at him in shock — at the masked figure who had appeared out of nowhere and saved them.
"Run," Matt said, his voice low and distorted. "Call the police."
The women hesitated for only a second, then nodded frantically and ran.
Matt heard movement behind him — one of the men, still conscious, reaching for a gun with a shaking hand.
Matt moved before the man could raise the weapon. He grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it sharply, and disarmed him in one smooth motion. Then he pushed the man to the ground and leaned close.
"Get out of here," Matt said quietly. "And tell your boss this: Hell's Kitchen is under new management."
The man scrambled to his feet and ran.
Matt stood alone on the docks, breathing heavily. His knuckles were bruised. His suit — improvised and makeshift.
But he had done it.
The victims were safe. The criminals were stopped.
Matt disappeared into the night.
---
The next morning, the story hit the newspapers.
MASKED VIGILANTE STOPS HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING AT DOCKS
"DAREDEVIL" SAVES TWO WOMEN — POLICE INVESTIGATING IDENTITY
NEW YORK'S NEWEST HERO OR DANGEROUS VIGILANTE?
At the local police precinct, Captain George Stacy sat at his desk, staring at the report in front of him. He looked tired — more than tired. Exhausted.
"What the hell is going on in this world?" George muttered, rubbing his temples.
He thought about the past few days. First, the mysterious figure on the highway who had stopped the SUVs without touching them. Then Tony Stark's public announcement that he was Iron Man. And now, a masked vigilante operating at night in Hell's Kitchen.
George took a long sip of his coffee and sighed.
"First that mysterious person who can appear and disappear suddenly. Then a playboy who just became Iron Man. And now, at night, there's another masked man."
He didn't know what to make of it. As a police officer, George believed in the rule of law. Vigilantes operating outside the system made him deeply uncomfortable, no matter how good their intentions were.
But he also couldn't deny the results. The two women had been saved. The traffickers had been arrested. Justice, in a roundabout way, had been served.
George set down his coffee and picked up the phone. "Get me the files on all recent vigilante sightings. I want a full briefing by end of day."
---
In a luxurious penthouse overlooking Manhattan, Wilson Fisk — known to most as Kingpin — sat behind a massive mahogany desk, reading the same report.
His expression was calm, almost serene. But his eyes were cold.
Kingpin was the undisputed king of Hell's Kitchen's underworld. He controlled the drug trade, the illegal weapons market, the human trafficking networks, and a dozen other criminal enterprises. His influence extended into politics, law enforcement, and business. He was, by every measure, untouchable.
But now, someone had interfered with his operations.
Kingpin set down the report and looked at his most trusted advisor, James Wesley, who stood nearby.
"Superhero?" Kingpin said quietly.
Wesley nodded. "It appears so, sir. The police are calling him Daredevil."
Kingpin was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice calm but laced with barely controlled fury.
"No matter who it is, it can't stop my business."
Wesley waited patiently.
Kingpin continued, his tone measured and precise. "Tony Stark is acceptable. He's a playboy and a public superhero. He operates in the daylight. He won't affect me."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"But Daredevil? He exists in the shadows. He operates at night, in my territory. As long as he's active, he'll disrupt my operations."
Kingpin's voice dropped to a low, dangerous rumble.
"I will not tolerate his existence."
He looked directly at Wesley. "Strengthen the defenses. Find this person. I want to know who he is. I want to know where he lives. I want to know everything."
Wesley nodded. "I'll send someone to deal with it immediately."
"Good." Kingpin's expression didn't change. "I want him to understand what happens when someone offends me."
---
The next day at school, Betty Brant caught Leo in the hallway between classes. She was carrying a stack of newspapers.
"Leo!" Betty called, waving one of the papers. "Did you see this?"
Leo stopped, smiling. "See what?"
Betty held up the front page. The headline screamed: DAREDEVIL STRIKES AGAIN — MASKED HERO OR MENACE?
"From the past few days, so many strange people are starting to appear in this world," Betty said, her expression both excited and slightly worried. "Could it be something big is about to happen?"
Leo considered this. He knew exactly what was happening. He had seen it in the comics, in the movies, in the stories he remembered from his previous life. This was the beginning of the Age of Heroes — the point where the Marvel Universe shifted.
But he couldn't say any of that.
Instead, he smiled and said simply, "Maybe it's the beginning of a new era."
Betty tilted her head. "A new era?"
"The superhero era," Leo said.
Betty stared at him for a moment, trying to decide if he was being serious. Then she laughed. "Superhero era. That's kind of dramatic, Leo."
Leo shrugged, still smiling. "Maybe. But think about it. Tony Stark just announced he's Iron Man. There's a masked vigilante operating in Hell's Kitchen. That mysterious figure on the highway. All of this is happening now, all at once. That's not a coincidence. That's a shift."
Betty considered this, her expression thoughtful. "You really think the world is changing that much?"
"I do," Leo said simply.
Betty looked at him for another moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay. I guess we'll see."
She walked away, still holding the newspapers.
Leo watched her go, then turned and headed back to his seat. He pulled out his phone and opened a news app, scrolling through the headlines.
---
Daredevil appeared. And Spider-Man is about to be born.
He thought about the upcoming field trip to Oscorp Industries. About the genetically modified spiders that would be on display. About Peter Parker, who would be bitten by one of those spiders and gain incredible powers.
And about Gwen Stacy, who — if Leo had his way — would also be bitten, gaining powers of her own.
Leo smiled faintly to himself.
I don't know how many people are still hiding in the darkness, ready to move.
---
Leo's guess was correct.
All across the world, people were watching. People with ambition. People with resources. People who saw Tony Stark's announcement and realized the same thing Leo had realized:
The world had changed.
And in a world of superheroes, new opportunities — and new dangers — would emerge.
---
At Hammer Industries, Justin Hammer sat in his office, watching Tony Stark's press conference for the fifth time. His expression was a mixture of envy, frustration, and calculation.
"Iron Man," Hammer muttered. "Of course. Of course Tony Stark gets to be the first one."
He turned to his chief engineer. "I want a suit. I want armor. I don't care what it costs. I want something that can compete with Stark's design."
The engineer hesitated. "Sir, the arc reactor technology is proprietary. We don't have access to —"
"Then figure it out," Hammer snapped. "Stark built that thing in a cave with a box of scraps. We have a multi-billion-dollar research facility. Make it happen."
---
In a small, cluttered apartment in Russia, Anton Vanko sat hunched over a workbench, surrounded by circuit boards, power cells, and half-disassembled electronics.
On the television in the corner, Tony Stark's press conference played on repeat.
Anton stared at the screen with cold, burning hatred.
"Stark," he whispered. "You and your father stole everything from my family."
He turned back to his workbench, where a rough prototype of an arc reactor glowed faintly in the dim light.
"But I will make you pay."
---
At Oscorp Industries, Norman Osborn sat in his private office, watching the same press conference. Beside him stood Dr. Otto Octavius, a brilliant scientist specializing in nuclear physics.
"An arc reactor," Norman said thoughtfully. "Small, controllable, sustainable energy. That's the key."
Otto nodded. "It's theoretically possible. But we'd need to develop an entirely new energy containment system."
Norman smiled. "Then let's get started. I want a prototype within six months."
---
In a remote military research facility, Dr. Bruce Banner stood in front of a massive gamma ray emitter, reviewing the calculations on his computer screen.
The goal was simple: recreate the super-soldier serum that had created Captain America decades ago. But instead of using vita-rays, Banner's team was using gamma radiation.
Bruce stared at the numbers, his expression troubled.
"This should work," he muttered to himself.
But something nagged at him. A faint, persistent worry that the calculations were missing something critical.
He pushed the thought aside.
---
Back at Stark Industries, Tony Stark was busy once again.
With Obadiah dead and the board of directors weakened, Tony had regained full control of the company. But managing a multi-billion-dollar corporation was exhausting, even for someone with Tony's intellect.
He made a decision.
"Pepper," Tony said one afternoon, walking into her office. "I'm promoting you."
Pepper looked up from her desk, surprised. "Promoting me? To what?"
"CEO of Stark Industries."
Pepper blinked. "What?"
Tony leaned against her desk casually. "You're already doing half the job anyway. You're organized, competent, and people actually like you. I, on the other hand, am none of those things."
"Tony —"
"I'm serious, Pepper." Tony's expression softened. "I need to focus on research and development. Clean energy. New technology. The arc reactor is just the beginning. But I can't do that and run the company at the same time."
Pepper stared at him, speechless.
"Besides," Tony added with a faint smile, "you'll be great at it."
Pepper let out a long breath, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll do it."
Tony grinned. "I knew you would."
---
Leo's life, by contrast, remained relatively unchanged.
He continued attending classes at Midtown High, developing his relationships with Gwen, Mary Jane, and Betty, and preparing quietly for the upcoming field trip to Oscorp Industries.
He had a plan.
When the field trip happened, he would make sure Gwen was bitten by one of the genetically modified spiders — just like Peter would be. In this way, both of them would gain spider-based abilities.
It was risky. But Leo believed it was the right move. Gwen was smart, brave, and resourceful. With powers, she could protect herself. And Leo could protect her more easily if she could keep up with him.
---
After school one afternoon, Gwen mentioned she was planning to go to the library to study. Leo immediately offered to join her.
"Gwen, shall we go to the library together?"
Gwen smiled. "No problem."
The two of them spent the next few hours in the quiet library, surrounded by textbooks and notes. Gwen had noticed over the past weeks that Leo, despite appearing lazy and uninterested in class, was actually a genius. He could answer questions she struggled with effortlessly, explaining complex concepts in ways that made them seem simple.
She found herself increasingly drawn to him. He was handsome, yes. But more than that, he was kind, patient, and genuinely seemed to care about her.
Gwen was already tempted.
By the time they finished studying, the sun had set. The library was nearly empty.
"It's getting late," Gwen said, glancing at the clock. "I should head home."
"Let's go together," Leo offered. "I'll walk you."
Gwen smiled gratefully. "Thanks."
---
They left the library and began walking through the quiet streets. Gwen's house was on the way to Leo's, so it made sense for them to walk together.
But after a few minutes, Leo's senses sharpened. He heard footsteps — two sets, moving in a pattern that suggested they were being followed.
Leo glanced at Gwen, keeping his voice casual. "Gwen, I think we're being followed."
Gwen's eyes widened slightly. "What? Are you sure?"
"Yes. Don't look back. Just keep walking normally."
Gwen's heart rate spiked, but she trusted Leo. She kept her pace steady.
"Should I call my father?" Gwen whispered. "He's a police officer. He could —"
"I can handle them," Leo said calmly.
Gwen looked at him, disbelief flickering across her face. "Leo, this isn't the time to act tough —"
Leo stopped walking and turned to face her directly. "Gwen, I'm serious. I can handle them, remember that hero on highway, that was me."
Before Gwen was confused and before she could respond, four men emerged from the shadows — two from the alley ahead, two from behind. They moved quickly, surrounding Leo and Gwen in a tight circle.
Gwen's breath caught. "Who are you?"
The men didn't answer. They simply moved closer, their intentions clear. They were here to take Gwen.
Gwen's mind raced. These men had planned this. They knew who she was. They were targeting her because of her father.
She looked at Leo, fear and uncertainty warring in her expression. "Leo, are you sure —"
"Yes," Leo said simply.
He stepped in front of Gwen, positioning himself between her and the attackers.
The two men in front moved first, lunging toward Leo with the clear intent to grab him and take him down quickly.
Leo moved.
He sidestepped the first man's grab effortlessly, grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted sharply. The man yelped in pain and stumbled. Leo followed up with a quick strike to the man's solar plexus, and the man collapsed, gasping for air.
The second man tried to grab Leo from behind. Leo ducked under the arm, spun, and delivered a precise kick to the man's knee. The joint buckled, and the man fell.
The entire exchange took less than three seconds.
The other two men hesitated, realizing this wasn't going to be as easy as they thought.
One of them pulled out a pistol.
Gwen's eyes went wide. "Leo —"
The man fired. Once, twice, three times. The gunshots echoed through the empty street.
Leo didn't move. The bullets struck him center mass — and flattened harmlessly against his suit, falling to the ground with dull metallic clinks.
Gwen stared in shock.
The four attackers stared in horror.
"Monster," one of them whispered. "He's a monster."
Leo's expression didn't change. He walked forward calmly, and the men scrambled backward in panic.
"Boss, what do we do?"
"Run!"
They turned to flee.
Leo moved faster.
In a blur of motion, he closed the distance. There was a brief flurry of movement — punches, kicks, precise strikes — and then it was over. All four men lay on the ground, groaning in pain, unable to move.
Leo stood over them, breathing normally. He hadn't even broken a sweat.
He crouched down beside one of the men. "Tell me. Who sent you?"
The man whimpered, shaking his head. "I can't — he'll kill me —"
Leo didn't need the answer. He placed a hand on the man's forehead and activated his mind-reading ability. In an instant, the man's memories flooded into Leo's consciousness.
Kingpin.
Leo's expression hardened. The underground crime lord of Hell's Kitchen. Wilson Fisk. He had sent these men to kidnap Gwen as leverage against her father.
Leo removed his hand and stood.
"I see," he said quietly.
The men stared at him in terror. "How did you —"
Leo ignored them. He turned back to Gwen, who was standing frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.
"Gwen," Leo said gently. "Are you okay?"
Gwen blinked, as if coming out of a trance. "You… you're really…"
Leo gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Let's deal with these people first. They're probably coming for your father. Let him know to be careful."
Gwen nodded shakily. "I will."
Leo pulled out his phone and made a quick call to the police, reporting the attack. Then he stayed with Gwen, keeping watch from a nearby rooftop, until George Stacy and a team of officers arrived.
George stepped out of his patrol car, his expression grim. He saw the four men on the ground, already restrained by responding officers, and immediately moved to check on his daughter.
"Gwen! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Dad," Gwen said quickly. "Someone… someone stopped them."
George looked around. "Who?"
Gwen hesitated, glancing toward the rooftop where Leo had been standing moments ago. But he was already gone.
"I don't know," Gwen said quietly. "But he saved me."
George frowned, clearly unsatisfied with that answer. But for now, he was just relieved his daughter was safe.
---
Later that night, Leo returned home, his mind already turning over the problem of Kingpin.
He had initially planned to leave Kingpin to Daredevil and Spider-Man. But now that Kingpin had directly targeted Gwen, Leo couldn't ignore him anymore.
I'll deal with him soon, Leo thought. But not yet. Let Daredevil and Spider-Man take the lead. I'll step in when the time is right.
For now, he was content to watch and wait.
---