"Sister."
"The two of us were found by the Priest at the entrance of Saint Paul's Community Church in Queens."
"At that time, all we had on us was a note with our birthdates."
"Hawk and Anya, these names were given to us by the church's Priest."
"Anya really liked her name."
Hawk, leaning against his sister Anya's tombstone, didn't question Gwen about how she found the place.
It was a stupid question.
When Hawk narrated, his tone was gentle, as if afraid to disturb his sister Anya.
"Anya was very happy."
"She was happy from childhood up until now, even though she had a heart condition and needed frequent hospital visits."
Fortunately, he and his sister were orphans, so even with Anya's frequent hospital stays, he didn't have to worry about medical expenses.
Because the Federation and the state government covered those.
When Hawk reached this point, he turned to look at Gwen, who was imitating him by leaning her back against Anya's tombstone while sitting on the ground, and couldn't help but laugh, "Sometimes I wonder if we were abandoned because we became orphans who could enjoy free treatment."
Hearing Hawk's words, Gwen couldn't help but twitch her lips, then shook her head.
"Didn't they have any birth records when they found you?"
"No."
Hawk shook his head, "Back then, the church sought records at New York City's hospitals, but no hospital could provide them. Later, a doctor said Anya and I might have been born at home instead of a hospital."
Home births without hospital visits aren't rare in this country.
Especially in families with strong religious beliefs, some even go to extremes where they don't go to hospitals even in life-threatening situations.
"But it doesn't matter."
"I never thought about finding them; they've chosen abandonment, so let's not disturb each other."
"Anyway, Anya and I have no issues with our nationality."
Hawk shrugged at this point, then continued on.
"Initially, someone wanted to adopt us."
"But due to Anya's heart condition, most families gave up."
"Father Moses was a good man; he didn't want to separate my sister and me, so we stayed at the church until we were four, with Father Moses as our guardian."
"But later, when Father Moses passed away, Anya and I went to a children's home."
"Then we grew up there."
The so-called children's home is a residential facility resembling a family, housing a dozen orphans with staff from non-profit organizations to take care of them.
Upon hearing this, Gwen frowned slightly.
"Still no adoptive families?"
"Who would want that?"
Hawk chuckled lightly, looking at Gwen, "Once Anya leaves the system, we'll have to cover medical costs on our own; I wouldn't want to give up on my sister. Foster families wouldn't need to worry about medical expenses, but their environment, well."
Adoption and foster care are fundamentally different.
Realistically, most adoptive families act out of kindness, whereas most foster families aim to profit from federal and state subsidies for orphans.
These foster families use orphans to acquire subsidies meant for the orphans' care but end up spending it on their own expenses.
As for the orphans?
As long as they survive.
Gwen had heard about some foster care cases from George, so when Hawk scorned foster families, she nodded in agreement.
"Then later..."
At this point, Gwen looked at the dates on Anya's tombstone.
1995.5.20-2009.9.10.
Retracting her gaze, Gwen glanced around the surrounding tombstones, then looked at Hawk: "I remember most buried here were the collateral damage from the Hulk and Abomination's battle in New York City back then..."
A flash of coldness flickered deep within Hawk's eyes but quickly faded. He looked at Gwen and nodded.
"Yes."
"Anya didn't die from her illness; she died from the aftermath of that night's battle."
Just as expected.
After hearing Hawk's confirmation, Gwen thought to herself and realized something.
"So you've been working hard these years for..."
"Revenge!"
Hawk turned to Gwen, and as he forced the words from between clenched teeth, the flames of vengeance burst forth from deep within his eyes: "My debts must be paid, and my vengeance must be met!"
In his previous life, he was an orphan. In this life, although also an orphan, he had a sister who grew up with him, so even when thrown into a new world, even here in the Marvel Cosmos, without a system, he never felt too lost.
Hawk always felt content.
He never thought of causing a stir after entering the Marvel Cosmos; his dream was consistently to be content with simplicity.
No system, fine. It doesn't mean he stops living without one.
Hawk consistently worked hard, maintaining his academic edge even in public schools, which caught the attention of Midtown High School's admissions officers, earning him a scholarship that took him from a public school focused on happy learning to a private educational institution.
His goal was simple: study hard, land a good job, and earn money for his sister's treatment.
So on September 10th, 2009—the first weekend after entering Midtown High School—he took his sister to Times Square, snapped a picture, hoping it would be a memorable turning point for them.
The result...
It indeed was a turning point.
But what a damnable turn.
That day, after wandering with Anya, Hawk planned to leave by bus when an accident occurred.
Abomination appeared, and then Hulk showed up.
The two instantly clashed.
Previously, watching movies, Hawk found their fights thrilling, but only in it did he realize what lay behind those thrilling scenes.
Screams.
Cries and howls, ordinary people had no defense against the risk in these two monsters' battle.
Hawk was in it, holding on to Anya, trying to flee with the crowd.
But...
Hulk slammed Abomination onto a building, causing it to collapse and fall from the sky toward them.
That night!
Hawk lost his sister.
At that moment!
Hawk's cheat activated.
Jealous?
It's thanks to his sister's life.
A sister-killing vengeance, irreconcilable!
This vengeance!
Hawk must repay!!
...