Marvel: The Enlightened One#61+62: The One and Only Gwen, From This Moment On, You Are My Friend

Gary Cooper didn't stay long.

He explained that he had another potential scholarship candidate to evaluate at Trinity School in Manhattan that afternoon.

Mrs. Snow enthusiastically walked him to the door.

Hawk followed, though his mind wasn't on the departing admissions officer. It was replaying Gary Cooper’s parting words...

"Don't thank me. It was my colleague, Anna..."

Hawk connected the dots in an instant, remembering the woman from the cemetery.

"I have a gift for you. I hope you'll like it."

So... this is the gift?

Hawk thought to himself.

...

As soon as Gary Cooper was out of sight, Mrs. Snow returned to her office, her face beaming with pride for Hawk. "This is fantastic, Hawk! I honestly thought they'd take your file back to committee for review. I never imagined he'd offer you a spot for next September on the spot!"

Hearing the joy in Mrs. Snow's voice, Hawk momentarily pushed his thoughts of Anna aside and offered a smile.

"I didn't expect it either."

"This is huge. You know how competitive NYU Law is this year. They have so many exceptional students to choose from. That's why I wanted you to be so prepared. For him to make a decision after the first interview is incredible."

Mrs. Snow let out a visible sigh of relief, then looked at Hawk. "But this isn't the time to relax just yet. Gary said he's going to prepare the paperwork when he gets back. We can't truly celebrate until that official invitation is in your hands."

Despite her words of caution, her expression was completely relaxed.

A college recruiter backing out at this stage was virtually unheard of—

The relationship between private high school counselors and university admissions officers was a symbiotic one, built on professional trust.

Counselors identified promising students and connected them with the right recruiters. It was a system of mutual benefit.

For a recruiter to give their word and then break it would be professional suicide. No counselor would ever recommend a student to them again.

So Mrs. Snow's warning was merely a formality.

But—

Hawk had a feeling that whether or not his invitation actually arrived depended on a phone call with the new "friend" he'd made this morning.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

What did this Anna want??

As he left Mrs. Snow's office, Hawk's mind was racing. He didn't feel threatened, as if she were holding his future hostage.

The fact that she could influence the scholarship selections at NYU was a testament to her power. It was how the world worked. He didn't see it as some dark conspiracy. The real world was far darker than this.

Hawk preferred to see it for what it was: A Transaction.

It was no different from the parents of those rich kids using their money or connections to buy a letter of recommendation for a prestigious university.

There was no fundamental difference. At the end of the day, it was all just a deal.

But a deal had to be a two-way street.

He would hear out his new friend Anna's terms, and then he would decide whether or not to accept the transaction.

...

Stepping out of the school building, Hawk pulled out his phone. He looked at the most recent number in his call history—unsaved—then slid the phone back into his pocket. He'd deal with it tonight.

A smile touched his lips as he saw Gwen walking toward him.

She had clearly already heard the news. She rushed forward and wrapped him in a joyful hug.

"Wow, that's amazing, Hawk! Congratulations!"

"Thanks." Hawk returned the hug briefly. As they separated, he said, "Mine came through. Yours should be here any day now, Gwen."

Gwen beamed. "Berkeley already called. I had my virtual interview yesterday. They said my official invitation should arrive in the next few days."

Hawk was genuinely stunned. "And you didn't tell me!"

"You weren't at school today," Gwen retorted with a grin, then added, "Besides, that was yesterday. This is your day. It's obvious Anya is looking out for you."

Hawk raised an eyebrow.

Gwen explained, "Think about it. Why would NYU, after all this time, suddenly call Mrs. Snow on the very day you go to see Anya? It's a sign. You were thinking of her, and she was thinking of you!"

Could that be it?

...

That afternoon.

Because of the suitcase full of cash, Hawk didn't bother with the school bus. He got a ride with Gwen back to his apartment.

On the way, Gwen asked curiously, "So, you have a million dollars now. What are you going to do with it?"

Hawk looked at her. "Get my license, buy a car, and then get a suit to take you to the prom."

Gwen stared at him, surprised by his immediate, unhesitating answer. After a moment, she asked, "And...?"

Hawk smiled. "My whole plan was to sell that stuff for the prom. I didn't want you to have any regrets about it."

Call him old-fashioned, call it chauvinistic if you want. But that was exactly what he was thinking—and it was his plan.

As for everything else?

The penthouse apartment, the meteorite he was still hunting for, the Vibranium in Wakanda—a million dollars wasn't going to be nearly enough for any of that.

Gwen met his gaze, her sky-blue eyes shimmering. "Hawk..."

"You're not mad that I sold those weapons?"

"Weapons don't kill people, Hawk. People do."

Gwen's expression turned serious as she met his gaze. "Besides, they were your spoils of war. You have every right to decide what to do with them."

Hawk listened to her words, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Soon. They arrived at the Queensbridge apartment building.

Hawk stood on the curb, watching as Gwen's yellow Corolla drove away. Only then did he turn, rolling the suitcase inside.

But just as he was about to enter, a voice called out from behind him.

A young man in a courier's uniform was jogging across the street, waving to get his attention.

"Mr. Hawk, wait a second!!"

"..."

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

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.