New Amsterdam Hospital.
Outside the emergency room.
After Sharon Carter had been wheeled in, Gwen sat with Hawk on the waiting benches, unable to hide her worry.
"Sharon will be alright, won't she?"
"She will."
"You're sure?"
"Relax. Even if she dies, her soul won't fall to Hell—it belongs to my Underworld."
"Why?"
"Forgot already? I told you—I made a pact with Mephisto. Any soul that calls my name belongs to me."
"…Fine."
Though not exactly reassuring, his words loosened the knot in her chest. Gwen exhaled softly. "Still, I hope Sharon makes it through safe and sound."
Hawk chuckled, shifting the topic. "You were reckless. You never should've opened that door. We have a panic room in the basement."
After all, a mansion worth over ten million dollars had to come with one. Big enough for three people, its own generator, and supplies for three days once sealed.
Gwen blinked, then smiled slyly.
"Obviously, my method worked."
"…What method?"
"The one where, if I'm in danger, you always show up right away."
"…"
His expression twisted. "So that's why you dared open the door and face three Hydra agents alone?"
She shrugged.
"Tell me it didn't work."
"It worked. Don't do it again."
Hawk's gaze hardened. "I only got back just in time with Peter and Felicia. What if I hadn't?"
Gwen's smile was radiant. "It's fine. You gave me a charm, remember?"
She pulled out the Andromeda Cloth pendant around her neck.
Hawk sighed. "…Right."
She tucked it away, then her eyes lit up. "So—you found Peter and Felicia?"
"Mm."
"That's great!"
"Yes. Felicia's four months pregnant. With Peter's child."
"…"
Gwen froze. Her jaw dropped.
Wait. What? Felicia… pregnant? With Peter's kid? And four months along already?
Her thoughts spun wildly. Peter, two-timing? Impossible. With those thick eyebrows and honest eyes, how could Peter be a scumbag?
Hawk just smiled, letting her stew, until she tugged at his sleeve, eyes wide.
"What happened?"
"Alright."
He laughed and explained everything—Skull Island, the time difference, how Peter and Felicia had ended up together.
Gwen was stunned.
Not just at Peter and Felicia, but that an island like that existed at all—where one year inside was only a month outside.
After a long pause, she whispered, "So places like that really exist…?"
Hawk nodded. "I only realized when I found Peter. I did the math—inside, a year had passed. Outside, just ten days."
"Unbelievable. I want to see it myself."
"Don't." Hawk cut her off quickly. "That place is dangerous as hell. Imagine you spend a week there for fun, then come back and find Helen and George tearing the world apart looking for you. They'd kill me."
She considered that, then nodded. "…Fair point. But Peter and Felicia—was this Peter telling you? No, that's not like him. He's not the type to talk about personal matters."
Hawk smirked.
"I told him this: if Mary learns Felicia is four months along, do you think she'll believe he cheated, or buy some nonsense about time dilation? But if you explain it, she'll believe it."
"Me?" Gwen pointed at herself.
"Of course. If I said it, she'd just think I was covering for him."
"…True."
The logic was ironclad. Gwen sighed. "Still, let's not tell Mary ourselves. When she finds out, I'll help Peter explain."
Hawk shrugged. He only ate melons, never cut them.
Just then, the light above the emergency doors switched.
The surgeon emerged, mask still on, pushing Sharon Carter out on a gurney.
"The surgery went well. But she lost a lot of blood. She'll need two days' observation."
"Thank you, doctor."
With that, Hawk and Gwen followed Sharon into a VIP room—thanks to the "cash, not insurance" express lane.
Inside, Hawk folded his arms, watching Sharon slowly regain color under the transfusion. He shook his head. "Well, there goes sixty thousand dollars I'll never see back."
Gwen glanced at him. "She's our friend."
On the bed, Sharon's pale lips curled faintly. "I'll pay you back."
Hawk laughed. "Kidding. Gwen's right. You're our friend."
"…Sorry." Sharon's eyes clouded with guilt. "I nearly dragged Gwen into this."
Hawk waved her off, smile fading, voice steady. "Once more—friends, Sharon."
"Exactly," Gwen added warmly. "Friends don't keep score. Honestly, if you hadn't come to me, Hawk might still be off wandering who-knows-where."
Hawk raised an eyebrow at her. Gwen ignored him, continuing, "And you saw—he's back. Rest easy. No one's coming to bother you again."
Sharon's smile widened faintly. She nodded, then turned to Hawk.
"Hawk… Hydra—"
"I know."
He cut her off. "Hydra never died. They've been inside S.H.I.E.L.D. all along. And now they've dropped the mask and launched their second uprising, haven't they?"
Sharon blinked, surprised, then nodded. "Yes. They've seized New York's S.H.I.E.L.D. base. Commander Hand's been captured. Hawk, could you…"
"No."
"…Oh."
Her eyes dimmed with disappointment.
But Hawk smiled. "I don't care for your Hydra-S.H.I.E.L.D. mess."
Then his tone sharpened.
"But they struck first. Today they dare knock on my door to probe. Tomorrow they'll dare break in. If I let it slide, the day after, they'll think they can piss on my head."
His grin grew sharp. "And besides—you're my friend, Sharon. And I'm generous with friends. So… describe this John Garrett for me."
Principally, Hawk wanted no part of Hydra or S.H.I.E.L.D.'s feud. Whoever won, it wouldn't matter.
But Hydra had already tested him. Before they'd even secured victory, they'd sent men to his door. If he let that pass, what would they dare once they did win?
No. He would answer.
Sharon wasted no time, describing Garrett's build and face, then added earnestly: "Commander Hand is still inside. Other agents too. If you can… help them."
Her eyes pleaded, like Hydra's men had pleaded earlier—but there was a difference.
This time Hawk nodded.
"Alright."
He turned to Gwen—who beat him to it, smiling. "Go, superhero."
He raised a brow. "I'm no superhero."
"I know. But you're my superhero. Come back soon—I'm not walking home alone after dark."
Hawk chuckled. "I'll be back quickly."
His body shimmered like a fading dream and vanished.
Gwen watched the empty space where he'd stood, then smiled at Sharon. "See? You can relax now."
"Thank you, Gwen…" Sharon whispered, smiling faintly.
"No thanks needed." Gwen shook her head. "Close your eyes. Rest. Hawk's back now—this will all be over soon."
Sharon murmured in agreement.
"…Yes. Hawk… back…"
Her eyelids fell. Sleep claimed her, peaceful at last.
Because Hawk—
Had returned.
…
(End of Chapter)
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