20 ANYTHING for an interview...

Viktor rubbed his forehead and smiled "Sure, it's a bit slow today…" Eddie smiled happily and sat down, holding the Microphone and placing the device on the table as he smiled "Don't be nervous and answer the questions as you wish, Doctor. I'm not here to embarrass you, just to get the latest scoop."

He paused and smiled happily "If you don't want to answer a specific question, that's okay. Everything is up to you!" Viktor nodded and Eddie nodded back, putting up his fingers and saying "Starting in 3, 2, 1…"

Eddie smiled "Eddie Brock here with another Eddie Brock Report! Hope everyone is doing well! Our guest today is the Angel in human skin, Doctor Gardens of Hell's Kitchen!" the microphone turned over and Eddie asked "How are you doing today, Doctor?"

Viktor smiled and replied "Good. Uh.. It's a bit slow but I'm glad people are healthy. Hehe~" Eddie chuckled and replied "Not so good for business though." Viktor spread his hands and laughed "No but it's better than seeing people hurt."

Eddie gave him a thumbs up and started for real "Last night there seemed to be an attack, is that true?" Viktor nodded and said "Yes, that's correct. My bedroom turned into swiss cheese. Good thing I wasn't home at the time!"

Eddie nodded, agreeing "It's true. If we lost the Angel, where would we get our treatment? Doctor, recently there was a scandal at the Middle School not too far from here, it seems a Counselor named Ralph Marsh was found dead in a warehouse on the East side of the city. What are your thoughts on this?"

Viktor looked shocked and said "Really?!" Eddie nodded, adding "He was found with a group of inhuman monsters, in addition his tongue was stuffed into his mouth after being ripped out with stitches over his lips."

Viktor was 'shocked silly' and replied "Gangsters sure are ruthless, nowadays…" before sighing "That's really unfortunate. Did he have any family members?" Eddie flipped his notes and said with a nod, "A wife, two siblings, and a baby on the way."

Viktor's eyes flashed with a vicious look for a split second before he sighed, replying sadly "My condolences to his family. I hope they can live in peace after his passing." Eddie nodded and agreed, asking "What are your thoughts on this? I mean, it's no surprise to everyone that Hell's Kitchen is a snake pit! Do you think there's any hope of the situation turning for the better?"

Viktor rubbed his chin and replied thoughtfully "Well, to be quite honest with you, Eddie. Crime and Criminals won't stop just because we say so." he sighed and continued "We can only hope that criminals spare the normal people like you and me."

Eddie nodded with a smile, asking sharply "My sources say that you treat anyone who walks through the door, is this true?" Viktor nodded with a smile, replying "Yes." Eddie suddenly asked "Even criminals?"

Viktor paused before grinning, "Of course." Eddie asked in a 'shocked' tone, "Why? Aren't you attributing to the crimes by doing this?" Viktor shook his head and said seriously "For a Doctor, he must have a heart of gold. Saving a life is a very noble thing, although they are criminals, they are still people! If I turn them away, isn't that equivalent to me killing someone with my own hands?"

Viktor paused and asked Eddie instead "We have police and laws, though I hope these criminals can turn over a new leaf when they leave my clinic, I won't refuse them because I am not above the law. As for whether they live or die after they leave here… It's out of my hands, I tried my best to save them. Do you think I should be the judge whether a person lives and dies?"

Eddie retorted "Aren't you already, Doctor? You have the power to judge whether someone lives and dies already. Once they're on the table isn't it up to you?" Viktor clicked his tongue and replied "Do you go to the hospital and wonder if you'll make it out alive? You trust the Doctors because they will try their best to save whoever comes through their doors. The more people I save, the less number of families that are broken up because of deaths and accidents…"

He paused before adding "Though I don't agree with Criminal activities, I won't kill them on the table. Nor will I refuse them treatment. If they can pay, then they get treatment… Of course at a higher price."

Eddie asked curiously "A higher price?" Viktor chuckled and spread out his hands, asking "Criminals and Normal people, should I charge them the same? Crime has a price, coincidentally the price for treatment is also steeper." Eddie was dumbfounded for real and laughed, "Our Little Angel Doctor has a black heart on the inside! Hahaha!"

Viktor touched his nose and coughed "Hey. Everyone needs to eat, right?" Eddie chuckled and nodded "I agree with your approach, Doctor. Criminals should pay for their lifestyle choices. Speaking of Criminals paying, there have been reports of Vigilantes across Hell's Kitchen. What are your thoughts on them?"

Viktor rubbed his chin and chuckled "It's quite the coincidence, an officer was just here to take a statement and now you ask me this question. To my knowledge, police are also hunting down these vigilantes, right?"

Eddie nodded and explained "Vigilantes are as you said 'above the law', stepping on the NYPD's toes. Naturally, the police want to apprehend these vigilantes as well." Viktor hummed for a moment before replying with a smile "Towards Vigilantes, I find them very honorable."

Eddie asked "Honorable?" Viktor explained "You and me, we're just normal people. These Vigilantes are normal people with hearts of justice. Though they take matters into their own hands, I don't believe they should be hunted by the police. Although Crime in Hell's Kitchen is very rampant, these vigilantes are trying their best to end it! To put it more precisely, they are Heroes and role models."

Eddie asked quickly "You believe this?" Viktor nodded with a smile, adding "If I had the means, I would also be a Hero. Ridding Hell's Kitchen of Crime is a very noble act…" then he chuckled and added "But if I go out to fight crime, who's gonna treat all the sick and injured?"

Eddie chuckled and said "That's true. I also think they're very heroic.. Last question, Doctor. Last night, you were attacked, have you even thought about why they would attack you? Also, the Warehouse incident and the attack on your home happened on the same night, do you think there are any coincidences here?"

Viktor frowned and replied "I couldn't even imagine why they would want to attack my house. As I said, luckily I wasn't home at the time. But even when I got home, nothing was taken! It's really puzzling…"

He frowned and scratched his head as though he was really confused while adding "With regards to the Warehouse incident, I can only say 'I have no idea'. It is quite suspicious that I was attacked at the same time as the incident."

He snapped his fingers and said in shock "Maybe they were trying to kidnap me?" Eddie was startled and muttered "Hm? This seems to make sense… Nothing was taken and you weren't home, but Ralph Marsh was taken to the warehouse and murdered."

Viktor patted his chest with an expression of relief, saying "Although it is sad for Mr. Marsh, I feel fortunate I went out with my wife last night…" he paused and sighed sadly "Perhaps me and Marsh would've been walking to the Pearly Gates together at this moment…"

Eddie patted his shoulder and smiled comfortingly "Don't be too hard on yourself, Doctor. These things are out of our hands." Viktor nodded and sighed, not saying anything anymore. Eddie nodded and shook his hand, saying "Thank you for your time, Doctor Gardens."

Viktor smiled slightly and shook his hand, replying "Not a problem, Eddie. Would you like a tour? Maybe we can give you a check-up as well?" Eddie laughed and shook his head, saying "Thank you, but unfortunately I don't have the time today. Maybe some other time…" he chuckled and added "Hopefully, you won't refuse me at the door!"

Viktor smiled with a chuckle and replied "Definitely not. I look forward to seeing you again." Eddie smiled and turned off the recording device, letting out a breath as he gave Viktor a thumbs up, saying "Great! You were great, Doctor. Really, thank you very much."

Viktor waved and smiled calmly "Don't mention it. If you really need a check-up come to me, I won't charge you for the first time." Eddie collected his things and chuckled "Unless I'm a criminal?"

Viktor touched his nose and laughed "Hey, as long as you don't threaten me…" Eddie and Viktor shared contact info before Eddie left in high spirits.

Viktor sat at the table and muttered weirdly "Isn't this Eddie Brock supposed to be in San Francisco? Why is he in Hell's Kitchen…" he shook his head and sighed "So many weird things, why am I still surprised…"

Time passed quickly and night rolled around.