At the edge of the vast crater, Hawk stood silently. His mind lingered on the Reality Stone—the key that could make his cosmos manifest in truth—while his eyes remained fixed on the pit where the Demon Hulk's body was slowly submerged by the rising waters.
His cosmos gradually calmed.
Behind him, the Phoenix Cloth shone brilliantly, then broke apart, reshaping into a blazing golden phoenix that merged back into his projected cosmos, awaiting his call once more.
Bare-chested, wearing only the remains of torn trousers, Hawk appeared again. The wounds across his body sealed and vanished with each passing breath, leaving him whole once more.
The roar of engines echoed.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command aircraft descended vertically onto the plains.
Maria Hill stepped out, declining any escort. She walked directly to Hawk's side and offered him a folded S.H.I.E.L.D. t-shirt.
"Here."
"…Thanks."
Hawk glanced at the shirt, then accepted, slipping it over his scarred frame. The S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia stretched across his chest made him chuckle.
"So what now—does this mean I'm one of you?"
"If you want to be," Hill replied with a faint smile.
Hawk laughed. "No thanks. I don't have the time. But… I could be a freelancer."
"Then when the world's in danger, you'll show up to help us," Hill said lightly, half a joke, half a test.
Hawk raised a brow. "Funny. Isn't Fury the one who usually makes the deals? Why is it that every time, it's you instead of him?"
"He's suspended. Don't like dealing with me?"
"No," Hawk shook his head. "I thought maybe you'd figured me out—that I don't like Fury's type. So you kept him away from me."
Hill's smile didn't falter. She had studied him long enough to expect blunt honesty.
Fury's fall had been inevitable. After Quantico, Hill had uncovered evidence that Fury himself leaked Hawk's whereabouts to General Ross. She bypassed Pierce and went straight to the World Council. Fury's position had been saved only by Pierce's relentless defense, reduced to suspension instead of termination.
Hill couldn't understand why Pierce fought so hard for him. It wasn't just mentorship—there had to be more.
But she would find out in time.
Shaking off the thought, she refocused on Hawk. "Then I suppose it's lucky Fury isn't here. Things might've ended poorly."
Hawk chuckled. "Just say what you mean. I'm not a tyrant. I don't start fights without cause."
"Fine." Hill's gaze shifted to the crater. "What was that black Hulk?"
Hawk sank onto the grass, stretching his legs. Hill joined him.
"You saw it yourself," he said evenly. "Banner gave his life. What came back was the Demon Hulk—from Hell."
"And Mephisto?"
"The Lord of Hell himself," Hawk answered simply. "The Hulk was just his toy, sent to test me."
Hill's eyes widened. The name Mephisto was in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s deepest files—nightmarish reports of infernal incursions, each costing them dearly.
But Hawk? He spoke of the Lord of Hell like an annoyance.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"Because I provoked him," Hawk said with a smirk. "More than once, I've warned him—look after my sister, keep her unharmed. If even a hair on her head is lost, when I reach Hell, I'll use his skull as a pisspot."
Hill's breath caught. But then she remembered the files. Hawk's love for his sister Anya was absolute. Her lips curved.
"You're a good brother, Hawk."
"Thanks."
He stood, dusting himself off. "So you see—you don't need to fear me. I don't care about your world domination games. I'm not interested in destroying the Earth. I just want to get to Hell… and bring my sister back."
Hill's shoulders eased. She had guessed as much, but hearing him say it was different.
"Understood," she said softly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Hawk stretched, relaxing for the first time in months. The Phoenix Cloth was complete. He had word of his sister. For now, he could breathe.
"Anything else?" he asked. "If not, I'll be going."
"One last thing," Hill said quickly. She hesitated, then looked him in the eye.
"About… the other side. Can you tell me more?"
…
(End of Chapter)
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