Marvel: The Enlightened One#165+166: Mary Jane's New Boyfriend, Wakanda's Rebellion

"Aunt May doesn't think Peter and MJ are a good match?"

"What else could it be?"

Hawk shrugged.

That was also why, after meeting with Aunt May, he hadn't seemed particularly concerned about Peter's disappearance in the first place.

MJ's panic had been genuine.

But Aunt May's worry?

Not so much.

Well, it wasn't completely fake. But compared to MJ—who had been completely in the dark—Aunt May's concern hadn't felt all that urgent.

The moment Hawk saw Aunt May, he'd suspected she knew more than MJ did.

And like he'd said before—

Other people's business was generally none of his concern.

What if Peter's disappearance was part of some elaborate surprise for MJ?

Stranger things had happened.

So Hawk had chosen to stay silent.

Now, knowing the truth, the reason why Aunt May hadn't told MJ was probably exactly what MJ had said earlier.

This was Parker family business. And Mary Jane Watson was an outsider.

"But MJ is Peter's girlfriend."

"Yeah, she is."

Hawk nodded, watching as Gwen defended her best friend. "I can guarantee that MJ was Peter's first girlfriend and will be his last. But can you guarantee the same for MJ?"

Gwen turned to meet Hawk's gaze.

Her mouth opened instinctively. She had the urge to vouch for her best friend MJ the same way Hawk had just vouched for Peter without a second thought.

But—

The words wouldn't come out.

Because she honestly couldn't make that promise. She couldn't guarantee that MJ would stay with Peter until the end the way Hawk had just guaranteed it for Peter.

Peter was a great guy.

MJ was a great girl.

That was the truth. No question about it. But compared to Peter's reserved, introverted personality, MJ's was bold, expressive, extravagant.

MJ studied dance. She'd always dreamed of performing on Broadway, standing on that spotlight stage and showing the world what she could do.

And she was actively working toward that goal.

But Peter was a quiet kid. The kind of guy who wore a mask even when doing good deeds.

Gwen's mind raced through the analysis, then she made a quick decision and gave up. She shook her head. "You know what? You're right. This is their private business. We shouldn't get involved."

Hawk smiled faintly. "You figured it out?"

"What else am I supposed to do?"

Gwen rolled her eyes, then noticed the expression on Hawk's face—somewhere between a smile and a smirk. "Wait. You said 'also' just now. Does that mean you don't think Peter and MJ are a good match either?"

Hawk shrugged. "A guy's first love usually ends in failure."

Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"I'm your first love."

"Uh..." Hawk froze for a second, meeting his fiancée's increasingly dangerous emerald-green gaze. He immediately scrambled to recover. "We're different."

Gwen hummed skeptically, continuing to stare at him with those dangerous eyes.

Hawk's mind raced.

The next second, he made a sharp U-turn on the spot.

Gwen blinked in confusion.

"We're not going home? Where are we going?"

"Las Vegas."

"...What for?"

"You can legally get married at eighteen there."

Hawk's expression was completely serious, his tone solemn.

He couldn't help it.

This was the only solution he could come up with to dig himself out of this hole.

See?

This was exactly why he tried not to get involved in other people's business. One wrong move, and the fire spread straight to him.

Just like right now.

In the end, they didn't make it to Las Vegas.

Not because Hawk changed his mind.

But because Gwen was worried about the chain reaction that would follow if they came back with a marriage certificate.

For example, an enraged father-in-law showing up at their door with a shotgun.

After all, running off without telling anyone was called eloping.

George had already grudgingly accepted that the two of them were engaged. If they eloped to Las Vegas without a word and came back married, George would lose his mind.

And Helen probably wouldn't be too happy either.

Plus college starts tomorrow. If they drove to Las Vegas now, they'd never make it back to New York in time.

Most importantly, Gwen had only been testing him.

She couldn't make promises for MJ, but she was absolutely certain she'd walk with Hawk to the end. Because Hawk was the future she'd chosen with her own hands.

Still, seeing Hawk ready to drive straight to Las Vegas and get married without a second's hesitation made her incredibly happy.

Because Hawk hadn't hesitated.

That was enough.

She would be Mrs. Phoenix.

The one and only. Just... not quite yet.

...

The next day.

Hawk and Gwen woke up early. After finishing breakfast, they left the house just like any other school day. Gwen drove her Toyota Corolla in front, Hawk followed in the Audi A8, and the two cars pulled out of the garage one after the other, heading toward New York University and Empire State University, which sat right next to each other.

After the first class of the new semester ended, Hawk slung his messenger bag over his shoulder and walked out of the lecture hall while answering a call from his fiancée, who was attending class at the neighboring university.

"Hey, Gwen."

"This morning, Felicia's assistant came to the school and filed a leave of absence for Peter. She said Peter's helping them with a research project."

"How long?"

"One semester."

"Damn."

Hawk drew in a sharp breath, genuinely curious. "Does MJ know?"

Gwen sighed on the other end of the line. "That's what I really wanted to tell you. MJ said she and Peter broke up over the phone last night."

Hawk's eyebrows shot up.

"They actually broke up?"

"Yeah."

Gwen nodded, then added, "Don't come over at lunch today. I'm worried seeing the two of us together will just make MJ feel worse. I'm hanging up now."

Hawk listened to the dial tone and fell into silence.

Great.

Collateral damage.

MJ and Peter broke up, and somehow he and Gwen were catching the fallout too.

Wait—no, scratch that thought. He and Gwen weren't breaking—

Nope. Stop right there.

Hawk immediately shook his head, cutting off that train of thought before it could fully form. He put his phone back in his pocket and headed toward the lecture hall for his second class of the morning.

...

That evening.

Gwen set down her textbook, tied her blonde hair back into a ponytail, and started preparing dinner in the bright, well-lit kitchen.

Just like usual.

Hawk had initially tried to help, but in Gwen's eyes, he was more of a hindrance than anything. So once again, she banished him to the table, where he sat perched on a high stool.

Hawk idly toyed with a smooth onion in his hands, watching his future wife bustling around in front of him while asking about MJ and Peter.

"They really broke up? No chance of getting back together?"

"Peter said the reason he didn't tell MJ the truth was because he didn't want her to worry. And he did tell her he was leaving New York."

"He did tell her."

Hawk spoke up in defense of his best friend Peter. "MJ said it herself, didn't she? She said Peter told her he had something to take care of for a few days, and she didn't want to bother him, so she didn't call."

Gwen pulled the roasted beef out of the oven, grabbed a carving knife, and turned to face Hawk. "MJ said the main reason for the breakup wasn't that. It was Aunt May."

Hawk's eyes lit up. He pulled the knife and the roasted beef toward himself, slicing the meat while looking at Gwen intently.

He didn't say anything, but his expression spelled out two words loud and clear.

Tell me everything.

Gwen laughed, wiped her hands, grabbed a plate, and poured a bag of pre-washed salad greens onto it. She squeezed some salad dressing over the top and began tossing it while recounting her lunchtime conversation with MJ.

"Who do you think is more important to Peter? Aunt May or MJ?"

"Aunt May."

"So if the two of them actually got married and Aunt May and MJ got into a fight, who would Peter side with?"

"Aunt May."

Hawk answered without hesitation.

Ever since Uncle Ben had died—partly, in some ways, because of him—Aunt May had become the most important person in Peter's life.

So in Peter's heart, without question, no matter what happened, Aunt May would always come first.

Not just for their Spider-Man either. In every version—Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, whatever—Aunt May or Aunt May-equivalent was always the number one priority.

Gwen continued, "That's exactly what MJ said. She said that Aunt May hiding the truth from her showed that Aunt May didn't see her as part of the family. MJ said it's better to end things now while they're still on good terms than wait until later when things get messy. It's better for everyone this way."

Hawk thought about it, then looked at Gwen. "MJ's really clear-headed about this."

Gwen shrugged.

"MJ's always known what she wants."

"What about Peter? Did he just agree to it?"

"MJ didn't say."

Gwen set the finished salad bowl to the side. "Peter probably agreed. Even if he didn't, it wouldn't matter. MJ already pulled herself together this afternoon and went to the school's welcome-back dance."

Hawk nodded, genuinely impressed.

"That's impressive."

"That's just how she is."

Gwen glanced at the neatly sliced beef on the cutting board, then noticed Hawk was about to start slicing it even thinner. She quickly stopped him. "Wash your hands. Let's eat."

Hawk hummed in acknowledgment, set down the carving knife, and headed toward the sink. As he walked, he asked with amusement, "Want to make a bet? How long before MJ starts dating someone new?"

Gwen gave him a flat look. "That's my best friend. Why don't you bet on your best friend instead?"

"Fine by me." Hawk shrugged, completely unbothered.

Gwen let out a dry laugh. "Peter's lucky to have a friend like you."

Hawk turned to look at Gwen, his expression dead serious.

"I think so too."

"..."

Gwen stared at Hawk's completely earnest face, utterly speechless.

Still—

Even though the two of them never officially bet on when Mary Jane would start a new relationship, when she actually did start dating someone new two months later, they were both completely stunned.

Especially after finding out who MJ's new boyfriend was.

"Flash Thompson?"

"Flash?"

"Are you serious?!"

"..."

<><><><><><><><>

Just like any other school day, Hawk—who never ate at the NYU cafeteria—headed over to Empire State University at noon to find his fiancée. And that's when he heard the latest bombshell news.

"MJ's new boyfriend is Flash?"

"Yeah."

"Holy hell."

Hawk sucked in a sharp breath, staring at Gwen, who looked equally shell-shocked by the revelation. "What is MJ thinking? Is she trying to get back at Peter?"

Flash.

Or rather, Flash Thompson. Same year, same school, same class.

Sure, Thompson's grades were nothing to write home about, but he had his own strengths.

As the guy who'd helped Midtown High secure second place in the National High School Championship, Thompson had easily scored an invite to Empire State University. He was now the vice-captain of ESU's football team, fighting for the school's honor.

But—

Besides that identity, Thompson had another one.

School bully.

Sure, after Peter's Uncle Ben died, Thompson had stopped picking on Peter. But that was mainly because he couldn't bully Spider-Man Peter anymore. At the end of the day, Thompson had bullied Peter in the past.

And now MJ and Thompson were together.

"Does Peter know?"

"How would I know?"

Gwen shot back. "I only found out this morning. I'm just as shocked as you are."

Hawk made a low whistling sound.

Gwen looked worried. "When Peter comes back, he's not going to do something crazy, is he?"

Hawk snapped out of his thoughts. "Definitely not."

Gwen looked at him curiously.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

Hawk nodded with a slight smile. "At worst, he'll just go a little dark. For most people, that'd be a big deal. For Peter? That's nothing."

After all, the worst thing Dark Peter ever did was demand a raise from J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle and buy himself a discounted suit.

That was about it.

Actually—

He wondered if Venom had made it to Earth yet.

Hawk mulled over that thought.

The news that MJ had a new boyfriend—and that the new boyfriend was Flash Thompson, the same bully who used to torment her ex—shocked both Hawk and Gwen.

But it was just shock. Nothing more than that.

The two of them didn't dwell on it.

After having lunch with Gwen, Hawk left early.

He'd promised someone he'd take her out for afternoon tea.

...

Sharon was back. Not from her vacation in Texas. She'd come back from Wakanda in Africa.

At a café not far from NYU.

Hawk accepted the tablet Sharon handed him—marked "view only"—and listened to her explanation while asking curiously, "Weren't you on vacation in Texas? How'd you end up in Wakanda?"

That was why he hadn't bothered calling her.

Sharon had already promised to call him when she got back to New York. The woman was on vacation. Interrupting someone's time off was just rude.

Sharon took a sip of the coffee she wasn't paying for and couldn't help venting. "The day after you called me, my vacation got cut short. I was pulled into an emergency deployment to Wakanda. And it wasn't just me—basically every SHIELD agent Level 5 and above got sent over."

Hawk glanced at Sharon.

"Level 5 and above?"

"Yeah."

"Something happened?"

"T'Chaka died. The new king, T'Challa, launched a rebellion. The UN peacekeeping personnel stationed at the palace were killed, and he also attacked the workers extracting Vibranium. The coalition forces took heavy losses."

"...Wait."

Wasn't the Wakanda situation already wrapped up?

How was there a sequel?

Hawk listened to Sharon's explanation, feeling genuinely confused. "Didn't T'Chaka die a long time ago?"

Sharon shook her head. "No. He only died recently. Before that, he'd been in a coma. While T'Chaka was still unconscious, the Golden Tribe had already accepted the agreement. But then this new king, T'Challa, took over and immediately tore up the treaty."

Hawk's expression cleared.

"And then?"

"The rebellion happened on the night of the thirty-first. The Security Council didn't realize the Golden Tribe had hidden a stockpile of Vibranium tech and weapons. By the time the Council got word, the coalition forces had already been driven out of the capital. And some of the soldiers were captured by Wakanda."

"The Security Council was furious."

"So yeah."

"One phone call to my hotel while I was on vacation, and next thing I know, I'm hauling ass to Wakanda."

"..."

Hawk fell silent.

He understood every word Sharon said. But somehow, when he put them all together, the whole thing felt completely surreal.

What did she mean the coalition forces had been driven out of the capital?

What did she mean some soldiers had been captured by Wakanda?

Good lord.

If he remembered correctly, when he'd spoken with Maria Hill, the coalition forces had been steamrolling Wakanda. Completely dominant.

How long had it been since then?

Wait.

Actually, it had been more than half a year.

Hawk recalled that his last conversation with Hill had been in the first half of last year. He gathered his thoughts and continued listening to Sharon's account.

Initially, the coalition forces had been able to maintain their overwhelming advantage and completely dominate Wakanda for two main reasons.

First, Wakanda had just been hit by both Hawk and the Demon Hulk.

The Demon Hulk had gone on a rampage, turning Wakanda's rivers red with blood.

Hawk had also kicked the old king T'Chaka so hard he'd been critically injured—and he'd even helped SHIELD break through Wakanda's Vibranium shield.

Second, the old king T'Chaka had been willing to trust the Security Council, so he'd ordered the Golden Tribe to listen to him and negotiate with the Council.

But that had been over half a year ago.

Because the old king had still been alive at the time, and his attitude had been cooperative, and because half a year had already passed, the Security Council figured Wakanda didn't need that much oversight anymore.

So around Christmas last year, even the field agents like Natasha—who'd been hunting in the mountains—had been given leave and allowed to take vacations outside Africa.

Even the coalition forces stationed there had been reduced to fewer than five hundred personnel. Their main job was just protecting the workers during mining operations.

Who could have predicted that the moment the old king died, everything would change?

The new king, T'Challa, had consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb and gained the power of the Panther God. The moment he became Wakanda's new king and protector, he tore up the signed treaty and, with thousands of Wakandan women forming an army—where the hell did they even come from?—launched a surprise attack on the coalition forces' base in the capital.

And the warship docked in the waters near Wakanda had been sunk too.

After that—

There was no "after that."

The capital's Vibranium defense shield had been reactivated. And when the other tribes saw that, they came crawling out of the deep forests and mountains, using the cover of night to reclaim the lands they'd lost.

"So what happened after that?"

"They sent reinforcements. Luckily, there was an air force base nearby. By the time we got there, the Golden Tribe had already sent out envoys to negotiate."

"And then?"

"They negotiated."

"The result...?"

"No idea. Still negotiating."

Sharon sounded exasperated. "I heard Alexander Pierce pushed for a hard strike, but the Paris and London representatives disagreed. If this situation escalates and word gets out, it'd look bad for them."

Hawk was curious.

"What about the other two...?"

"Abstained."

"...Figures."

Hawk heard the answer and thought about it. That was perfectly in line with those two representatives' usual behavior. At the start of all this, those two had abstained too.

Sharon seemed to remember something. She pulled out her phone, opened a video, and handed it to Hawk.

"Check this out."

"What is it?"

The video showed soldiers in shorts—some completely naked—lining up on a ship's deck and jumping overboard one after another in perfect unison.

"Deck surveillance from the warship. On the night of the rebellion, the soldiers on the ship were under some kind of spell and jumped into the water one by one. That's why they couldn't provide backup in time."

"Really?"

Hawk looked surprised and watched the surveillance footage again, then turned to Sharon. "Do they know what caused it?"

Sharon shrugged. "Still investigating. Plus, we don't even know if this is going to turn into a full war or a peace settlement. That's why I was able to come back from Africa. God, you have no idea—that place is way too hot. I feel like I got a tan."

Hawk chuckled, gave Sharon a once-over, then nodded.

A moment later, Sharon lifted her head and moved past the Wakanda topic. "By the way, why do you need cloning tech?"

Hawk was still scrolling through the SHIELD files on cloning experiments displayed on the tablet. Without looking up, he said, "To resurrect my sister."

Sharon hummed in acknowledgment, nodded, and quietly sipped her coffee without saying anything more.

By now, Hawk had finished skimming the files on the tablet. He handed it back to Sharon.

"How come these are all about cloning organs? Isn't there anything on cloning humans?"

"Hawk, we're SHIELD—managed by the Security Council. Our funding comes from them. The organ cloning experiments are already pushing it. The Council's turning a blind eye. Human cloning? That'd require way higher authorization."

"Fair enough."

"But..."

Sharon paused for a moment, then looked at Hawk. "A few years ago, we did arrest someone running cloning experiments. I think his name was Merrick or something. He's locked up in a black site. I can reach out and see if I can arrange for you to meet him."

Hawk's eyes lit up. He glanced at Sharon. "Thanks."

"No problem. Just buy me another afternoon tea next time."

"Deal."

Hawk smiled, watching as Sharon raised her coffee cup. He lifted his own and clinked it against hers, sealing the agreement.

Just then, his expression suddenly changed.

The next second, under Sharon's stunned gaze, Hawk—sitting across from her—vanished into thin air!