Marvel: The Enlightened One-Chapter 63: [] - Hydra? (Bonus)

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"My blood?"

The cautious, almost timid tone in Anna’s voice was all the confirmation Hawk needed. He raised an eyebrow, a cold, knowing certainty settling in his mind.

So... Hydra?

His mind instantly flashed back to the moment before the Quantico job, just after he’d dealt with the would-be robber. He remembered that faint, prickling sensation of being watched from above, a fleeting but undeniable feeling of being observed.

A slow, dangerous smile touched Hawk’s lips.

Just as he’d always thought, he didn’t care about factions or affiliations. All that mattered was how people treated him.

And right now, HYDRA was treating him with a proposition.

His response was immediate and disarmingly casual. "Sure."

"Ah." Anna sounded like she couldn’t believe he’d agreed so readily.

Hawk smiled. "How much do you need? Don’t tell me you want a bucket. Even if you drained me dry, you probably wouldn’t get that much."

"No, no! Just a vial will be enough."

"A vial??"

Hawk raised an eyebrow again, then laughed. "One vial is hardly worth the trouble. Tell you what, I’ll give you two hundred milliliters. You can have your people draw it themselves when you deliver the meteorite."

Whatever their reasons, if Hydra was going to be generous, he certainly wouldn’t be stingy.

Besides, his true power came from his Cosmo. Especially now, with the Phoenix constellation ignited, his physical body was almost an afterthought.

As long as his Cosmo burned, he could not die. Even if he were struck down, he would be reborn from the Phoenix’s embers the next.

So, what’s a little blood?

But then a thought struck him. In a light tone edged with steel, he added, "Anna, you should know, I’m always very generous with my friends..."

"Thank you!!" Anna’s voice became excited, clearly surprised by his generosity and the offer to have them handle the blood draw.

But then another thought seemed to strike her, and her tone became cautious again. "Mr... Hawk, aren’t you worried about what we might do with your blood?"

Hawk laughed. "What are you going to do? Clone me?"

"What? No, of course not!! We would never."

"Good."

Hawk, who had been studying a satellite map of Calver Lake, New Jersey, glanced at the phone, still on speaker. "As long as it’s not cloning, I don’t really care what you do with it."

It was just as Gwen had said: people are the weapons, not the tools they use.

Anna gives him a meteorite, he gives her his blood. It was a simple transaction. What she did with it afterward was her business.

Honestly, even if they did try to clone him, he wouldn’t be that concerned.

It would just be... annoying. And it would be a shame to have to end their budding friendship so soon.

"Just one rule. Don’t go making any copies of me. If you do, we won’t be friends anymore. And you won’t like what happens next."

"You have my word. You can rest assured on that point," Anna promised immediately.

Hawk grunted in acknowledgment, ready to end the call. "Just let me know when the meteorite is ready. I’m in no rush. As long as it’s here before Christmas."

Anna agreed.

Hawk hung up, picked up the phone, and edited the new contact before saving it.

His contact list now contained exactly four people.

Gwen (Girlfriend)

Mrs. Snow (Counselor)

Peter Parker (The Spider)

Anna (HYDRA?)

That was it.

Honestly, if Gwen ever glanced at his phone, she’d know Spider-Man’s secret identity instantly.

Hawk saved the number, then dismissed the matter from his mind, his focus returning to the satellite map on his computer screen.

The Hulk.

Hawk’s eyes glinted.

During the long days of his training, he had prepared for two possibilities.

The first was that his power-up would be the Cosmo he remembered, which would give him the strength to get his revenge on his own terms.

The second was the Lawyer Path.

If his power had turned out to be a dud, or if it had all been a dream, he would have used the legal system to pursue his vengeance. That was the path he had set for himself—from lawyer to judge.

It would have taken years, decades even, and there was no guarantee of success.

But it would have been better than doing nothing.

Now, that second path was no longer necessary. He didn’t need to rely on outside forces anymore. He had more than enough power to see this through himself.

But the Hulk was damn good at hiding.

After getting the new computer from Skye, Hawk had tried to track him, but Banner was a master at the game.

General Ross, with the full might of the United States military at his disposal, had failed to find him. What chance did he have on his own?

Then again, considering Ross hadn’t been able to find him either, Hawk was starting to doubt Ross’s skills at the game.

But that was no longer important.

He knew where the Hulk would be this Christmas. That was all that mattered.

This time, there would be no escape.

Hawk had actually seen the Hulk during the Battle of New York three months ago. For a moment, he had been consumed by the urge to attack.

But he wasn’t a fool. Back then, he had a newly awakened Cosmo, no Phoenix constellation, and no armor. And the Hulk was surrounded by the Avengers, including a literal God of Thunder.

If Hawk had made a move then, the God of Thunder would have sided with the Hulk, no question.

So, he had suppressed the urge.

Revenge is a dish best served cold...

He had already waited over a thousand days. What was a few more?

...

His original plan had been to wait even longer, to forge his Phoenix Armor first, then go after the Hulk. A suit of Celestial armor that would let him stand toe-to-toe with the God of Thunder himself.

But now, the prey had wandered out of its den before the hunter had finished preparing his tools.

And that...

Was just fine.

When an opportunity presents itself, you take it.

Since you came to me, this is where you’ll be buried.

Hawk stared at the satellite map on his screen, his eyes narrowing to slits.

"Anya..."

"Just wait a little longer. This Christmas, I will send the Hulk to Hell."

"..."

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