Marvel: The Enlightened One-Chapter 66: [] - Saint vs. Hulk, The Show is About to Begin! (Bonus)

Chapter 66: [66] - Saint vs. Hulk, The Show is About to Begin! (Bonus)

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In the small but cozy bedroom, Hawk and Gwen held each other in a quiet embrace.

don’t be a villain. Try to be a decent man...

Gwen’s words echoed in his mind like an angelic whisper.

Hawk pressed his lips together.

"I’ve never wanted to be a villain."

"I know." Gwen’s reply was immediate and certain. She tightened her arms around him, her gaze never leaving his. "So please, keep being one of the good guys, Hawk."

The definitions of "Good" and "Evil" were often decided by public perception.

Spider-Man, for instance, was a good guy because most people loved him.

Hydra, on the other hand, was the definition of evil because most people hated them.

But perception was fickle. For everyone who loved Spider-Man, there was someone like the NYPD who despised the vigilante. And for all the hatred directed at Hydra, there were always those who secretly admired them.

But being a decent person... that didn’t require a consensus. It was about being true to yourself, about being able to sleep at night without being haunted by your past.

Hawk met Gwen’s gaze and gave a firm nod.

"I promise."

"Thank you." A smile bloomed on Gwen’s face, radiant and pure. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest...

Just then, the bedroom door, which had been left ajar, was pushed open from the outside.

"Gwen, dinner is—"

"Oh."

Helen stood in the doorway, seeing the two teenagers locked in an embrace. She blinked, and a smile spread across her face as she watched Gwen spring from Hawk’s arms like a startled deer. "Sorry, carry on. But Gwen, honey, you really should put a ’Do not Disturb’ sign on your door."

With a chuckle, Helen started to close the door.

Gwen’s ears turned a shade of pink.

"Mom!" she groaned, chasing after her.

Hawk couldn’t help but laugh at Helen’s teasing. He followed Gwen out of the bedroom.

Tonight’s dinner was a celebration for Hawk and Gwen finishing their semester, and an official congratulations for both of them receiving acceptance letters from their top-choice universities.

But unlike the first time Hawk had eaten here, things were different.

That first dinner had been formal, with separate plates and a tense atmosphere. Tonight was a relaxed, family-style meal.

The mood was cheerful and lively, mostly thanks to Gwen’s two younger brothers, with Helen and Gwen adding to the chatter.

As the head of the family, George maintained his usual stern, serious expression, upholding his fatherly authority.

The two youngest, nine-year-old Howard and eight-year-old Simon, were excitedly discussing where they wanted to go for their winter vacation.

As the captain of the 19th Precinct, George’s salary was enough to support his large family and still afford a couple of nice vacations each year.

Helen rested her chin on her hand, a warm smile on her face as she listened to her sons’ chatter. Then, a thought occurred to her. She looked over at Hawk. "Hawk, do you have any plans for the holidays? If not, you’re welcome to join us. Right, George?"

George met his wife’s gaze, then glanced at Hawk, his expression unreadable. "I have no objection."

His reservations about Hawk were born from the primal instinct to protect his daughter from the ’animal’ who had captured her heart.

But setting that aside, Hawk was a good kid.

That wasn’t just idle praise.

Being an orphan might have been a disadvantage before, but after securing a full scholarship to NYU, it was no longer a factor.

He was the classic rags-to-riches story: a kid with a hellish start who had, through sheer force of will, carved out a promising future for himself.

A full scholarship meant he wouldn’t have to worry about the crushing debt of law school. Once he graduated and passed the bar, a bright future was all but guaranteed.

Of course, that was unless he had a crisis of conscience and decided to become some pro-bono crusader for the little guy. Otherwise, with the connections from NYU Law, he’d be able to afford a new car in six months, a house in a year, and achieve financial freedom in three. It wasn’t just a dream.

Hawk was about to politely decline Helen’s invitation when Gwen cut in. "Mom, I don’t think Hawk or I will have time."

"Why not?"

"MJ invited us to go on a trip with her over the break. We just haven’t decided on a time or place yet."

"Mary Jane..."

"She’s dating Peter now."

"Peter? Oh, I know him. Isn’t he..."

Helen’s eyes widened. She remembered that Peter was Mary Jane’s neighbor. The topic was successfully derailed, and Gwen and her mother were soon deep in a gossip session about MJ and Peter’s new relationship.

Apparently, gossip was a timeless, ageless pastime for women.

Helen and Gwen chatted excitedly.

...

Soon, Dinner was over. Just as before, Gwen drove him home, since he had to catch the subway.

"I thought you were going to get your driver’s license. Still haven’t done it?"

"I’ll do it after I get back." Hawk said with a smile. The Hulk was the main event of this Christmas break.

Gwen nodded. "Okay. When are you planning on going to New Jersey?"

Hawk shook his head. "I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for a call."

Anna was keeping an eye on the situation for him. The fact that she hadn’t called yet meant that Bruce Banner and Betty Ross were still on schedule.

In a way, no news was good news.

He hoped the Hulk would show up at Culver University as planned. The scenery was nice. It was a good place for an eternal rest. And more importantly, it was remote. The risk of civilian casualties was low.

His own sister had been killed in the collateral damage of the fight between the Hulk and the Abomination.

He knew the pain of losing someone that way.

He refused to inflict that same pain on another family.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Anna.

Hawk raised an eyebrow, gave Gwen a quick look, and answered the call. "Hello."

"It’s time? Understood. Where?"

"I’ll be there."

"See you then."

"..."

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