When Hawk got home, he was pulling a twenty-inch carry-on suitcase, but he also had a courier envelope in his left hand.
The delivery driver had just given it to him, explaining it was an overnight delivery sent from New York University that afternoon.
NYU??
Hawk pushed the suitcase aside, sat down on the sofa, and examined the envelope. A moment later, he ripped it open.
Inside was an official acceptance letter to the NYU School of Law.
With a full-ride scholarship.
Hiss.
Hawk drew in a sharp breath. He stared at the document—fully accredited and stamped, valid for enrollment next September—and blinked, a deep frown creasing his brow.
So, this really was a 'gift with no strings attached, huh?
He thought to himself, his eyes still on the freshly printed letter. He pulled out his phone, went to his recent calls, and dialed the last number.
The call connected almost immediately. The voice on the other end was tinged with a pleasant surprise. "Mr. Hawk!"
"I received your gift."
"Excellent—wait, Mr. Hawk, the letter from NYU wasn't the gift. That was merely a... professional courtesy."
"Oh?"
"I've just checked my records. It seems you haven't viewed the actual gift yet."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
Anna's voice continued, "Have you not logged back into the secure forum to view my message, Mr. Hawk?"
"One moment," Hawk said. He stood, walked over to the folding table, activated his phone's hotspot, and opened his laptop.
It was the same encrypted forum, the same chat window. But now there was a new message, timestamped just after eleven o'clock from Anna.
Hawk's eyes narrowed as he read the new line of text.
["New Jersey. Culver Lake. Bruce Banner and Betty Ross will be spending their Christmas holiday there."]
"..."
HULK!!!!
The name hit him like a physical blow. After processing the information, Hawk's breathing became noticeably heavier.
"Is this information accurate?"
"As of this moment, their itinerary has not changed. The cabin was booked by Ms. Betty Ross herself, and the reservation is still active."
Anna's voice was still laced with a smile. "Do you like your gift, Mr. Hawk?"
"Call me Hawk."
Hawk's voice was low, his eyes still fixed on the message. "I like it very much. Now, what do you want from me?"
Anna smiled. "Mr. Haw—"
"Just Hawk."
"Alright, Hawk."
Her voice now held an even brighter note of delight. "The letter was a courtesy. This is the gift. And one doesn't expect something in return for a gift given to a friend... unless, of course, Hawk doesn't truly consider us friends."
Hawk slowly pulled his gaze from the screen. His voice was deep and serious. "If this information is solid, then from this moment on, you have my friendship, Anna."
He didn't care who she was, or what organization she represented.
Whoever helps him is his friend.
It was that simple.
Besides, the most likely candidate behind her was Hydra. And so what? After what happened with the Hulk, he'd lost all respect for these so-called superheroes.
The great villain, Hydra?
Heh.
What did Alexandre Dumas say? "The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates." Hydra had simply lost. And history is written by the victors.
Hawk's answer was deliberate, a solemn vow. This was the first time he had ever made such a promise.
"I repay my debts, Anna."
"Tell me what you want. If it's within my power to give, it's yours. As long as this intel is good."
"It is a gift. A gift between friends requires no repayment."
Even in the face of his solemn promise, Anna insisted it was nothing more than a token of friendship.
Hawk didn't press the issue.
Then, a thought occurred to him. A slight smile touched his lips. "Actually, I have a proposition. If you can help, perhaps we can make a trade."
Anna paused for a beat, then recovered smoothly.
"Please, go on."
"I require iron meteorites."
"How many?"
"As many as you can get."
"By when?"
"Before Christmas." Hawk's tone was even. "But I have no money to give you. In exchange, you can name your price. If it is something in my possession, our deal is made."
His Phoenix constellation was still in the process of refining the Gammanium.
The process required the constellation's power to imbue the material with the potential for life. Hawk estimated it would be complete by the Christmas holiday, at which point he could move on to refining the meteorites.
His original plan had been to acquire the meteorites over the holiday, and then, after he turned eighteen and could legally leave the country, go to Wakanda and take the Vibranium he needed.
He couldn't fly, and he had no way of getting there illegally.
But now?
An opportunity had just presented itself.
Whether Anna or whoever was backing her was trying to win favor or set a trap—it made no difference.
He was satisfied with their gift. And the more they insisted they wanted nothing, the more he felt compelled to give them something.
He didn't care who his friends were, only whether they were useful.
After Hawk stated his terms, the line went silent again.
No doubt Anna was consulting with the power behind her—the one who could actually make the decision.
Hawk didn't rush her. He put the phone on speaker and pulled up a satellite map, searching for Culver Lake in New Jersey.
A moment later, Anna's voice returned, though this time it was laced with caution, as if she were afraid of overplaying her hand and angering him.
"Mr. Haw—"
"Hawk. We're friends now, Anna."
"Alright." Hearing his interruption, Anna chuckled, some of her earlier confidence returning.
"Is anything truly on the table?"
"Of course. Anything in my possession."
"Then..." Anna paused, as if steeling herself, before she made her request. "Could we... have a sample of your blood?"
Hearing this, Hawk simply raised an eyebrow.
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