Chapter Text
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!!"
"..."