"Hi, Karen Page. I'm Jason Todd, a friend of Matt's," Peter said.
Using his enhanced hearing, he heard Matt wake up in the bedroom and immediately turn his attention toward him.
"How did you get in here? The door was locked," Karen asked.
"Obviously, I forced it open. But don't worry, it's still intact."
Peter casually returned his attention to the food.
"And before you start thinking I'm some kind of dangerous lunatic, I came here to give Matt a little present. By the way, do you want something to eat? I'm about to make dinner."
"Dinner? But it's morning..."
Karen glanced toward the clock and realized how late it actually was.
She swallowed the rest of her words.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. It seems a long night really does mess with your sense of time."
Peter raised his voice and teased her slightly.
"And by the way, Matt, stop hiding. I didn't come here to kill you. I came to give you a gift."
A few moments later, Matt emerged from the bedroom, looking completely calm and walking as though nothing unusual had happened.
Peter immediately noticed the detail.
So Karen already knows everything.
That was another development in the story.
"What gift is he talking about, Matt?" Karen asked, maintaining a safe distance from Peter. "And is it true that he's your friend?"
"Good questions. Excellent journalistic instincts."
Karen narrowed her eyes.
"How do you know I'm a journalist?"
She stared intently at him while slowly moving closer to Matt.
"Well, I know a lot of things."
Peter looked toward Matt.
"By the way, I hope you haven't ruined your gift. If you have, I'll need to take it back for adjustments."
Peter deliberately dropped those small hints and allowed Karen's journalistic instincts to do the rest.
Within seconds, her eyes widened in realization.
"The suit is still in good condition," Matt said, confirming her suspicions with a small nod. "Although I'd appreciate a few improvements, if possible."
Karen immediately turned toward him in surprise.
"By the way, thanks for the suit," Matt continued. "It's saved me more times than I can count, and the gadgets have significantly reduced my travel time. Thanks again."
"You're welcome. That's what friends are for."
Peter paused.
"By the way, Wolverine sends his regards."
Then he grimaced.
"And Wade too."
Matt made a similar face.
"If I were you, I'd get used to him. You'll probably be seeing him more often than you'd like."
"I heard you were making dinner," Matt said. "I didn't know spiders could cook."
Karen's eyes widened.
Then her astonishment rapidly transformed into unmistakable admiration.
"You're Spider-Man!"
Peter paused.
"Oh my God, I just saw Spider-Man's real face! Everyone would be so jealous if they knew!"
"Karen," Matt said.
"Sorry. I got carried away."
Peter smiled before responding to Matt's earlier comment.
"I know a lot of things, Matt. Killing isn't my only skill. And you've already seen that I'm very good at creating things."
"Yeah. I've noticed," Matt replied with light sarcasm.
The exchange between Peter and Matt finally broke the remaining tension.
Karen let out a small laugh.
She tried to hide it.
She failed.
"Now, how about you two lovebirds sit down and tell me everything that's been happening while I make dinner?"
Karen nodded.
Matt merely shrugged.
Peter took out his phone, played some music at a low volume, and began cooking while listening to everything Team Daredevil had been through.
Every story Karen told was filled with emotion, ranging from fear and anxiety to relief and happiness.
By the time Peter finished cooking, he had prepared a dish he had only ever seen made in one animated film.
"Well, this is ratatouille....the dish from Pixar's Ratatouille."
Peter placed the food in front of them.
"And before you start eating, I need to tell you a couple of things. More importantly, I need to explain why I'm here."
He looked directly at Matt.
"It's because of you."
Matt tilted his head slightly.
"Christmas is coming up, and I want to give out presents before the actual date because I'll be extremely busy that day and for several days afterward. I'd rather give them now than a month late."
"Understood," Matt said. "So what did you come here to give me? A new suit? A new gadget?"
"No, no."
Peter reached into his pocket.
"I came to give you something you've wanted for a very long time."
His expression became slightly more serious.
"But what I'm about to give you won't be permanent. We both know why."
Peter revealed a pill.
"This pill has remarkable capabilities, but the cost is significant. It shouldn't affect you as severely because of your slight healing factor."
Karen immediately looked suspicious.
"What does the pill do?"
"That's the surprise."
Peter smiled.
"I'm not telling you. I'll only say that it gives Matt something he's wanted for a brief period of his life."
He handed the pill to Matt.
"The effect lasts only twenty-four hours, so make the most of it."
Peter turned toward the door.
"That's all for now. Enjoy the day."
He paused before leaving.
"And no, it isn't poisoned."
Then he left the apartment.
-------
Once Peter left the apartment, Matt held the pill between his fingers.
For several seconds, he hesitated.
From everything he had heard in the vigilante's heartbeat, Peter had not lied about anything.
Even so, Matt did not entirely trust him.
There was one particular reason.
When Peter had first entered the apartment, Matt had been unable to hear his heartbeat.
Nothing.
It was only after Karen screamed that Matt had finally detected it.
That discovery unsettled him.
There was someone else capable of bypassing his enhanced senses.
"Are you going to take it?" Karen asked.
"He said he wasn't trying to kill me, and he said it wasn't poisoned."
Matt paused.
"If something happens to me, I'll tell you I love you."
Karen stared at him.
"Matt—"
Before she could stop him, Matt swallowed the pill.
He waited.
Several seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
Matt frowned.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Karen leaned closer.
"Definitely nothing? No pain or anything?"
"No. Nothing."
"Well, maybe it has a delayed effect."
Karen looked toward the food.
"Let's eat and wait."
Matt nodded.
They both took their first bite.
And then something happened.
Karen suddenly experienced brief flashes of her childhood.
Memories.
Feelings.
Moments she had almost forgotten.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Something similar happened to Matt.
But in his case, it was completely different.
Matt slowly turned his head toward Karen.
His eyes opened.
And then widened in absolute shock.
For the first time in years, Matt Murdock could see.
"You are absolutely beautiful."
The words escaped his mouth without warning.
Karen froze.
A faint blush appeared across her face.
"And I'm a very lucky man," Matt continued.
"Thanks, Matt."
Karen gave him a small, teasing smile.
"But I doubt you'd say that again if you could actually see me."
Matt did not answer.
Instead, he suddenly reached forward, gently grabbed both sides of her face, and pulled her toward him.
He kissed her passionately.
Karen did not resist.
Several seconds later, they separated.
"Whoa..."
Karen laughed softly.
"Hehe... what was that?"
Tears began running down Matt's face.
"I can see."
Karen froze.
Matt stared directly into her eyes.
"I can see again."
His voice cracked slightly.
"And now I know I was right."
He smiled through the tears.
"You're absolutely beautiful."
Karen stared at him in complete disbelief.
Her boyfriend could see again.
Then the answer struck her.
The pill.
"Let's finish eating quickly," Matt said.
Karen blinked.
"I want to see everything I've missed."
His gaze never left her face.
"And I want you there with me."
He smiled.
"I won't stop looking at you until I've memorized every detail."
That comment was more than enough to make Karen blush deeply.
They quickly finished their meal and began making plans for the day ahead.
For the next twenty-four hours, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen would temporarily possess something he had lost long ago.
His sight.
And he intended to enjoy every second of it.