The faucet kept running, water splashing into the sink.
Hawk frowned, staring at the stream as if lost in thought.
At first Gwen didn't notice. But once she set down the pasta and saw him still standing motionless at the sink, she sensed something was wrong.
"Hawk?"
"…Yeah."
He lifted his head at her voice, eyes distant.
"What's the matter?" Gwen asked, puzzled.
"Japan is thirteen hours ahead of New York."
"What?"
Gwen blinked, then said, "Well, yeah. It's past midnight here, so over there it's already tomorrow afternoon. What's the problem?"
Hawk muttered, thoughtful: "But when Anna called me earlier at S.H.I.E.L.D., she said good evening."
Gwen frowned.
"Well, it was evening here. Why's that strange?"
"Anyone else, fine. But not Anna."
"…Huh?"
"Something's wrong with Anna."
Hawk's eyes sharpened. "I think someone played me for a fool."
Gwen tried to follow. "Just because she said good evening instead of good afternoon, you think you were tricked?"
"Yes."
He nodded firmly. "Because every time Anna and I talk, she always greets according to her time, not mine."
He hadn't called her many times.
But every time she'd stuck to her own time zone. That was her habit.
Yet earlier, when supposedly in Japan, she greeted him with his time.
That wasn't Anna.
Gwen listened, then asked cautiously: "So… why not just call her again?"
Hawk shook his head.
"No. I think that wasn't Anna at all."
"Then who?"
"I don't know." His eyes flashed. "But when I get to Japan, I'll find out."
Gwen raised a brow. "Japan? Right now?"
"Yes." Hawk recalled her strange greeting, along with Zola's cryptic last words. He smiled at Gwen. "Of course, after supper."
He wanted to go immediately. But Gwen had just cooked. Running off straight to another woman? That might actually drive her crazy.
But Gwen wasn't that petty.
Soon, she watched him demolish the late-night meal she'd prepared, sighing in defeat.
"Go. But come back soon."
"Promise."
Without hesitation, Hawk vanished from the stool. The next instant he streaked across the night sky, shooting toward Japan like a rainbow of light.
There'd be no phone calls.
If that voice wasn't Anna's, the only proof would be seeing her in person.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Gwen blinked at the empty seat, then sighed and gathered dishes to clean before heading upstairs to bed.
But as she rinsed a plate, the doorbell rang.
She froze, glancing at the clock. Nearly 12:30 a.m.
Who could it be?
Then came Sharon's voice outside.
"Gwen!"
"Sharon…"
Startled, Gwen wiped her hands and hurried to the door. She opened it, eyes lighting up at Sharon—and at the two figures beside her.
The woman she recognized: Natasha.
But the man at her side made Gwen's jaw drop.
"Captain America!"
She stared in disbelief at Steve Rogers standing on her doorstep. "Jesus… it's really you."
Indeed.
Captain America's old Brooklyn home had long since become a packed tourist site. If he ever ran for president, his approval rating would be insurmountable.
Gwen wasn't the starstruck type. But this was different—this was a living piece of history. And now that history was standing in front of her.
She was thrilled. She quickly ushered them inside, then bolted upstairs. Moments later, she returned with a copy of Captain America, a biography written by a famous author, along with a pen.
"Captain, could you sign this for me?"
"…Of course."
Steve blinked at first, then smiled and signed the inside page with practiced ease. Clearly, this wasn't the first time.
Gwen's eyes shone. "My dad's going to be so jealous when he sees this."
That book had been George's gift to her as a child—her very first. Like most American kids, her first biography had been about Captain America.
Orphans, of course, were an exception.
Books weren't cheap in the States. Most families rented rather than bought them.
Hawk's first book had been the Bible.
If the priest who'd raised him knew his "Bible child" had grown into someone nicknamed the Devil King, he'd probably lock himself in the confessional begging forgiveness.
After carefully stashing away her signed book upstairs, Gwen returned, curious. "So why are you here this late, Sharon?"
"Because of the Captain." Sharon explained. "He came to ask Hawk for help."
Back at the hospital, she hadn't fully grasped Hawk's words—From here on, it's up to you.
But later, at S.H.I.E.L.D., it became clear. Hawk wasn't getting involved further. He'd already done enough. Now it was their turn.
Victoria Hand had agreed. Hawk had saved them; they had to stand on their own.
Then Steve and Natasha arrived with what they'd learned from Zola—the truth of Hydra's plan. And news soon broke: a missile had destroyed the abandoned base.
So Steve had come here, hoping to recruit Hawk to join their march on Washington and help stop Hydra's world-domination scheme.
But…
Gwen shook her head after hearing their request. "You're too late. Hawk's not home."
Natasha's eyes narrowed. "He hasn't returned?"
"No, he did." Gwen corrected. "If you'd come ten minutes earlier, you'd have caught him."
"He left again?" Sharon asked.
Gwen nodded.
Steve spoke up. "To Washington?"
"No. Japan."
"Japan?" Sharon blinked. "At this hour, what's he doing there?"
Gwen shrugged. "He said he thought he'd been tricked, so he went to check."
"…I see." Sharon couldn't quite follow. But bottom line—they'd missed him.
Natasha turned to Gwen. "Could you call him?"
"Ha!" Gwen gestured at Hawk's phone lying on the sofa. "He left it here. Said it's useless abroad without roaming, and he hardly ever uses it anyway."
Sharon nodded. That tracked. Hawk had once lived practically invisible in the digital age—no license, no phone, no trail.
Natasha looked at Steve.
"Captain…"
"Alright." Steve sighed. He stood and shook Gwen's hand with a warm smile. "If he returns, could you tell him we came?"
"Of course. I'll let him know right away."
"Thank you."
Steve nodded to Sharon and Natasha. Together, they headed for the door.
When Gwen opened it—
Rows of black S.H.I.E.L.D. SUVs lined the street.
She gaped, then looked at Sharon. "What's all this?"
"New York's S.H.I.E.L.D. base is secure again. But D.C. headquarters is still under Hydra's control. Tomorrow morning, they plan to launch their world-domination scheme. We're going to stop them. The Captain came to invite Hawk."
Sharon's smile was calm.
Danger awaited them.
But they were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
And they had Captain America.
One by one, the SUVs rolled away into the night, jammers active to mask their movements from Hydra.
Gwen stood in the doorway, watching until they vanished.
Then she slowly turned her gaze east, toward Japan.
…
(End of Chapter)
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