SANTORUM SANCTUM
Like the rest of his fellow Defenders, Luke wasn't exactly thrilled by how Matt handled his offer for Peter to join the team. And while Stephen and Lin conversed, a stone-faced Luke walked over to Matt, who was still troubled by what had just transpired. "You know you just basically blackmailed the kid, right?" Luke inquired. "Which makes your 'offer' sound more like an ultimatum?"
"I know!" Matt shot back sternly but regretfully. "But regardless of what Parker chooses, he is still a teen with powers he barely understands and could get himself and everyone around him killed whether he intends to or not. He needs to know that we won't let that stand, which is why he's being watched."
Luke only gave Matt a skeptically raised eyebrow as he folded his arms. "Uh-huh. Well, when we watched the kid, he showed that he's pretty clever when he needs to be. So, what makes you think he won't try anything to slip out of the city without us knowing?"
It was here that Stephen decided to join in the conversation, both Peter's defense and out of his secret urge to correct someone, a trait he possessed even before his days as a surgeon. "Well, for one thing, he has an aunt that he loves dearly and won't abandon," Stephen explained as he supervised Peter via a spell that some would say gave him an 'out of body experience.'
Lin took a moment to nod in agreement to Stephen's statement before making one of his own. "Not to mention saving all the people he saved from muggers and other catastrophes that occurred," Lie pointed out, as he also witnessed Peter's deeds via a giant crystal ball that Stephen would often use when the team was present.
After letting Stephen make his point, a steadfast Matt made his. "Which reaffirms my faith."
Luke couldn't help but be confused by Matt's explanation, especially given the suit that he wore. "Faith?"
"Back in Hell's Kitchen, when the Enforcers ambushed us. Parker could've high-tailed it out of the left me to fend for myself, but he didn't. He stayed to help me fight them off and even saved my life in the process." As Matt continued, he turned in Luke's direction with a serious expression. "I have faith that Parker will be smart enough to come back and accept our help. And he'll do it not for his own gain but for the sake of the city's people and the people he loves."
The rest of the Defenders sided with Matt on this one, for they knew all saw firsthand Peter's selflessness in being a hero, despite being rough around the edges. However, Luke remained unconvinced about this kid on the team. Mainly because, throughout his career, he came across a few destructive people who did horrible things for the sake of their loved ones. Despite that, Luke knew everyone appeared to be on board with Peter being part of the team, and he was clearly outvoted. As such, the sighing Hero for Hire gave a slight shrug as if to say he was done arguing. "Fine, whatever," retorted the indifferent Luke, but his expression soon changed to a serious one as he said this. "But if the kid doesn't show up here, we go through with Plan B and find him and take him down!"
"All right, fine!" Matt replied irritably, for he knew that Luke was the none-trusting type, his doubts on having Peter on the team were now needlessly unfounded, given what he just said. But given the night that he just had, courtesy of the Enforcers, he did not want to argue and wanted to go home and rest.
As he heard Luke walk away from Matt, Moon Knight looked at Luke with an uneasy expression behind his white mask and decided to let his opinion be known to Stephen, who was standing right next to him. And, oddly enough, with a Brooklyn accent. "Geez," Moon Knight whispered to the Sorcerer Supreme. "And guys say I've got issues?"
Stephen couldn't help but look at Moon Knight with a baffled expression. "Normally, I'd say you're one to talk," said the Sorcerer Supreme, then turned his attention to Luke and was overcome with disappointment over the Hero for Hire's attitude. "But you do have a point."
As for Matt, he just stood there, mentally exhausted and only half satisfied with the night's results. On one hand, he was glad that he let Peter know of his existence, as well as the Defenders, and offered the chance to help him. But on the other, some of that positivity was diminished by Luke's hesitance to be on board with the young man on the team. Not to mention that there was some truth to Peter being clever, and the possibility of him refusing and leaving town unnoticed was there. All that Matt had left at this point was hope. A feeling that he quietly kept to himself. "Don't let me down, kid."