A few days later.
Hawk drove the black Audi A8 that was repaired by Glory Insurance and brought Gwen to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Today is the day Gwen flies to California to visit Berkeley University.
Originally, George wanted to send her off.
During dinner last night, George specifically mentioned this, but the proposal was immediately rejected by Gwen on the spot.
After Hawk parked the car, he took the suitcase out of the trunk.
Gwen naturally took Hawk's arm, and the two walked towards the entrance not far away.
"Is there someone to pick you up over there?"
"Don't worry, there's a representative from Berkeley University to pick me up."
"Alright."
"If you're worried, you can come with me."
Gwen looked at Hawk and blinked, saying, "Who knows, maybe there's a kidnapper trying to abduct me over there too."
Hawk, hearing this, didn't say anything and quietly looked at Gwen.
After a while.
He looked away.
"There isn't."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
Hawk's tone was very determined.
This incident with Betty Ross is the first time, and it will also be the last time.
It is well known.
The same trick doesn't work on the Saint Warriors.
So…
After accompanying Gwen to pick up her ticket, while waiting for her flight at the gate, Hawk took out a note with a phone number from his pocket and handed it over.
"Here."
"What's this?"
Gwen took the note, turned it slightly, saw the series of numbers on it, and curiously looked at Hawk: "What's it for?"
Hawk smiled and said, "It's the person responsible for protecting you in California, but you should see her as soon as you get off the plane."
Gwen widened her eyes and then broke into a laugh.
"I was joking, Hawk."
"I'm not."
Hawk had a serious expression and a earnest tone: "Although California is not far, just in case."
Gwen slightly frowned.
"I thought this kidnapping case was over."
"It is over."
Hawk smiled slightly: "But there's still an uncertain factor, might as well resolve it in advance."
Betty Ross is dead.
But Bruce Banner is not dead yet.
And Bruce Banner is the uncertain factor he mentioned.
Gwen looked at Hawk with flickering eyes, furrowing her brows.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"Promise me, don't let your heart get agitated."
Gwen held Hawk's hand gently, looking at him softly as he sat beside her while she boarded the plane, speaking in a soft voice: "At least for now, Bruce Banner is still innocent, isn't he?"
The New York Police Department has also closed the case.
To be precise, it wasn't the New York Police Department that closed it themselves, but the FBI stated that while they were capturing a police hater, after killing him, they discovered his connection to the kidnapping of Gwen, which led to the case being closed.
In short, the mastermind attempting to kidnap Gwen was shot dead on the spot by the FBI.
The New York Police Department looked baffled when they got the news.
George was the same.
But Gwen knew the inside story because Hawk didn't hide it from her, so Gwen also knew about Betty Ross's plan to enter the game.
When Gwen heard it at the time, she had an indescribable feeling.
However…
There were many feelings, but none were sympathy.
It's still that saying.
She's kind, but not a saint, at least not so saintly as to ignore someone who wants to kill her.
In the end, the whole thing, from start to finish, Hawk was always defending himself and counterattacking.
If Thaddeus Ross hadn't attacked Hawk, would Hawk have run to Quantico?
The same goes this time.
If Betty Ross hadn't tried to kidnap and assassinate Gwen, would Hawk have killed her?
The answer is no.
If she hadn't been lucky enough for Hawk to save her in time back then, it would have been her turn to die.
So Gwen didn't sympathize with Betty Ross.
In a word.
She deserved to die.
But Bruce Banner?
When Gwen heard Hawk talk about Betty Ross's plan to involve herself in the situation, especially about Betty Ross's scheme against Bruce Banner, she had only one comment.
"Bruce Banner is really pitiful."
Yes.
Pitiful.
Because in Gwen's view, if Betty Ross truly loved Bruce Banner, then she should hope for Bruce Banner's happiness.
Rather than like now, where the so-called marriage and love are merely to scheme against Bruce Banner.
Hawk, back then, regretted it as he spoke, wanting to take Bruce Banner along.
It was Gwen who stopped Hawk.
The reason Gwen used then is the same as now.
"Betty Ross deserved to die."
"But Bruce Banner is just a pitiful person trapped in Betty's scheme."
"Don't let your heart become restless, Hawk. Once again, try to be a person with a clear conscience."
"Of course."
"If Bruce Banner really gets schemed against by Betty Ross, at that time, I definitely won't stop you."
"I promise you, once I get off the plane, I'll make that call."
Gwen spoke gently, soothing Hawk's restless heart, holding the piece of paper with the phone number on it, solemnly promised as she looked at Hawk.
Their eyes met.
Hawk opened his mouth, then finally shook his head with a smile.
"Alright."
"Then let's wait a bit, and see if he falls into Betty Ross's trap."
Hearing Hawk's promise, Gwen's face showed a gentle smile.
At this moment, the flight to California began boarding.
Gwen stood up, embraced, and kissed Hawk.
"Alright, I'm leaving."
"Okay."
Hawk smiled as he watched his girlfriend board the plane.
Half an hour later.
The flight to Berkeley, California, taxied on the runway and then soared into the sky.
As Hawk watched the flight disappear into the clouds, he retracted his gaze, took a deep breath, and turned to the airline counter, "A ticket to Paris, half an hour later, please."
He checked online yesterday and found a flight to Paris that allowed him to seamlessly connect after sending off Gwen and then fly from Paris to Africa.
He even pre-booked a vehicle online at the African airport.
Once there, as soon as he gets off the plane, he can drive straight to Wakanda.
Very soon.
The flight 180 from New York City to Paris, after finishing its boarding procedure, entered taxiing status.
Meanwhile.
In a cemetery in Jersey City, a funeral was taking place.
However, not many guests had arrived.
But there's a saying, isn't there?
It's the quality, not the quantity, that matters.
Although there were few guests, none of them were insignificant.
"Bruce."
"Pepper."
"My condolences."
The recently recovered from the Extremis virus, Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries, dressed in a black dress and veil, came to the somber Bruce Banner after the burial. After a hug, she said, "Tony really wanted to come, but you know, his treatment has reached a critical stage, and Dr. Zhao strictly forbids him from going out."
Bruce nodded, forcing a smile.
"I know, Tony called me last night."
"Once again, my condolences."
Pepper said, then, after another farewell hug with Bruce Banner, she left.
There's much to deal with at Stark Industries, and Tony is still in a crucial phase of his treatment, she's very busy.
Sharon Carter followed Pepper to Bruce, also conveying Captain Steve Rogers' condolences.
"My condolences."
Sharon Carter said with a wry smile, "The captain originally booked a ticket to come, but my aunt's condition worsened yesterday."
Bruce said, "It's okay, Steve already told me, I'm fine, really."
Sharon Carter looked at Bruce, who forced a smile, opened her mouth but didn't speak, just gave another hug to Bruce, then took her leave.
Black Widow Natasha and Hawkeye Barton approached Bruce afterward.
They hadn't been delayed by other matters.
But...
Just as Natasha and Barton had barely exchanged a few words with Bruce, a ringing sound was heard.
Natasha and Barton glanced at their phones, then looked apologetically at Bruce.
Bruce understood, forced a smile, and said, "I'm fine, really, you guys can go if you have things to take care of."
Upon hearing this, Natasha and Barton could only hug Bruce, then quickly turned and walked toward the cemetery's exit.
In no time.
The funeral concluded.
The sun set in the west.
Bruce stood alone by the newly erected tombstone, looking at Betty Ross's name and the smiling photo on it, silent, lost in thought.
Suddenly.
A shadow swept in, followed by a voice beside him.
"My condolences."
"..."
Bruce snapped back and looked at the man in a black coat and eye patch next to him, "Nick?"
A second later.
He processed it and looked back at the tombstone in front of him.
"Thank you."
"Too young, too impulsive."
Nick Fury, with his one eye, also gazed at Betty Ross's photo on the tombstone, shaking his head with some regret, "I thought she had let go when she married you."
Married?
Bruce caught the keyword, and with a self-mocking smile, said nothing.
Nick glanced at Bruce, sighed with some pity, and patted Bruce on the shoulder, "It's a shame about the child in Betty's stomach."
Bruce nodded mechanically.
Suddenly.
He abruptly looked up, eyes wide, at Nick.
"Wait, what did you say, a child, what child?"
"You didn't know?"
Nick Fury was slightly taken aback, his expression surprised, "Wasn't it discovered last week when Betty went to S.H.I.E.L.D. Hospital for a check-up that she's been pregnant for a month? Didn't Victoria and the others..."
At this point.
Nick Fury abruptly stopped, an expression of realization on his face, "Right, they advocate peace, naturally, they wouldn't likely tell you this."
Bruce: "..."