Marvel: The Awakened One

George hadn’t worked late last night, so he’d received the news at home and had his assistant clear this morning’s schedule accordingly.

Which meant if there were any leads, George’s study should have them.

But... Hawk couldn’t leave just yet. After all, a son-in-law is like half a son.

True everywhere.

Gwen watched Hawk finish his phone call and walk over. She threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

”Hawk, my dad...”

”Don’t worry. George is going to be fine.”

Hawk held Gwen, comforting her. He looked down at her reddened eyes and spoke softly. ”Did you forget the gift I gave George when we came back for Christmas?”

Gwen looked up at him through her tears, remembering the present Hawk had given at the family dinner after they’d returned from Forks.

”A feather?”

”The Phoenix Nirvana Feather.”

Hawk’s lips twitched slightly. ”That’s my Divine authority manifested. The Phoenix doesn’t die—it’s reborn.”

Anyone holding his Phoenix Nirvana Feather, no matter who they were, would undergo Nirvana upon death and be resurrected on the spot.

Because ’Nirvana’ was his divine authority.

When the Phoenix Heart had first gone all-in on him, ’Immortality’ and ’Nirvana’ could only be used on himself.

Granting ’Nirvana’ to others should have required waiting until his Phoenix Universe fully manifested in reality.

But he’d cheated.

Even though the Phoenix Universe hadn’t fully materialized yet, Hawk had used the Reality Stone to place his Phoenix Universe in a quantum state between ’reality’ and ’illusion.’

Because of this, he could barely manage to bestow blessings on others.

But—

’Nirvana’ was a manifestation of divine authority—incredibly precious. Even after obtaining the Reality Stone, his Phoenix Universe had only produced two ’Nirvana’ slots.

When Hawk returned from Forks and heard George’s case still wasn’t closed, he’d thought it over and decided to swap out the tie he’d originally planned to give for the Phoenix Nirvana Feather instead.

George had been momentarily stunned but accepted it with a smile.

After all, the Phoenix Feather containing ’Nirvana’ was quite gorgeous and beautiful to look at, even from a purely aesthetic perspective.

So—

George wouldn’t die. He’d just undergo Nirvana.

”But...”

”What?” Gwen had also remembered Hawk mentioning the Nirvana Feather’s function when they’d gotten home. Her heart had just started to relax when she noticed Hawk’s hesitation, and anxiety flooded back.

”What’s wrong?”

”George probably won’t need to use it.”

”What?”

Gwen froze, then seemed to realize something. ”Mom put that feather away, said it could be preserved like a specimen. Is it because he’s not carrying it?”

Hawk quickly grabbed Gwen, who was about to run home to retrieve the Nirvana Feather. ”What I mean is, there’s a prerequisite for the Nirvana Feather to activate.”

Gwen blinked, then seemed to understand.

”Dad has to... die first?”

”Yes. You can’t undergo Nirvana without dying first.”

Hawk shrugged.

’The Phoenix doesn’t die...’ That didn’t mean the Phoenix was truly immortal. It meant that after death, the Phoenix entered the Nirvana process and returned anew.

Just like when Hawk had fought the Dark Elf Malekith at Stonehenge in London.

He’d died.

Mephisto, who’d offered him a drink between life and death, could testify to that.

But then he’d been reborn through Nirvana.

So, To undergo Nirvana, you had to die first.

But while George’s injuries were severe, Hawk hadn’t sensed any summons from the Underworld. So George most likely wouldn’t need to use the Nirvana.

Gwen blinked.

”The Underworld?”

”Yeah.” Hawk looked at Gwen’s confused expression. ”Remember, I took jurisdiction over the life and death of everyone connected to me from Mephisto and transferred it to the Underworld. George is your father and my future father-in-law. His soul naturally falls under the Underworld’s authority now.”

Speaking of which, Hawk raised an eyebrow at Gwen. ”So look at the bright side. Even if something did happen to George, he’d go to our Underworld, not Hell.”

Gwen listened to this particular form of comfort and opened her mouth, feeling something indescribable.

Hawk shrugged. ”If George went to the Underworld, it’d be like coming home. I’m not about to throw him into one of the Prisons and make him share the Frozen Prison with Alexander Pierce to experience what cold and merciless really means.”

Gwen listened to Hawk comfort her by talking about throwing her father’s soul into prison to suffer, and despite everything, she laughed.

”Hawk.”

”Yeah?”

”If you dare throw Dad into a prison, I will bite you to death in your sleep.”

Gwen laughed through her tears, glaring fiercely at Hawk. Then she took a deep breath and looked at him seriously. ”So Dad’s going to be okay?”

Hawk met Gwen’s reddened eyes and nodded. ”I promise.”

If it were anyone else lying in that operating room, Gwen would have relaxed after his first explanation.

But it was George. Her father.

Worry clouds judgment.

It was perfectly natural for Gwen to want repeated reassurance from him.

Just then—

Click.

Helen looked up as the operating room lights suddenly went out and instinctively called, ”Gwen!”

Gwen turned to see the operating room lights had been switched off. She glanced back at Hawk, then the two of them walked over to Helen’s side together.

A moment later, The operating room doors pushed open. The lead surgeon removed his mask.

Helen, Gwen, and Detective Hale immediately stepped forward.

The doctor’s expression was relaxed. He didn’t put on any dramatic suspense or keep his face stern.

After all, that was for ordinary patients.

With members of the police department, if he dared put on airs and play mysterious, who knew if some hot-headed cop might just pull out their gun and shoot him.

”The surgery was successful.”

”However, the patient lost significant blood and requires observation. If he makes it through the next twenty-four hours without complications, he should be completely out of danger.”

”Oh, thank God!”

”George!”

”Dad!”

The moment the lead surgeon spoke, Hale exclaimed to God, while Helen and Gwen looked at each other and embraced.

Whether it was Helen or Gwen, the tension and worry on their faces visibly melted away.

Soon, George, lying on the hospital bed with a breathing tube still inserted and still unconscious, was wheeled out of the operating room and transferred to one of the VIP rooms the NYPD had partnered with the hospital to provide.

George was, after all, the captain of the 21st Precinct. While his annual salary wasn’t impressive, he still carried a certain amount of weight in New York City.

Put it this way, In a city ruled by capital, George still ranked somewhere on the list.

The VIP room was packed with various medical equipment.

George lay quietly on the bed, still unconscious.

Helen sat beside him, both hands gripping George’s left hand, her eyes never leaving him.

Detective Hale had already left.

She’d gone to support Detective Mahoney. After communication between the 21st Precinct’s deputy captain and the 12th Precinct, they’d formed a joint investigation with Detective Kate Beckett from the 12th (who was at the scene) and Detective Mahoney from the 21st (also at the scene).

Detective Beckett from the 12th was handling evidence at the scene.

Detective Mahoney was calling in personnel to review surveillance footage, hoping to find some trace of the shooter.

Hawk and Gwen returned from outside, carrying lunch they’d just purchased.

Gwen walked over to Helen’s side.

”Mom, you should eat something. Dad’s going to be fine. The doctor said the surgery went perfectly.”

”Yes, I know.” Helen had gradually recovered from her initial panic. She looked at George, still unconscious, forced a weak smile, and nodded. Then she looked at Hawk, standing nearby. ”Hawk, thank you.”

”Ma’am, this is what I should do.”

Hawk smiled faintly and fell silent as well, his gaze settling on George—unconscious but breathing steadily on the bed.

With his Sixth Sense enveloping the room, he could clearly sense that George’s bodily functions, while slow, were recovering in an orderly fashion. At this rate, after one night, George would probably open his eyes and return to the land of the living.

Just like the lead surgeon had said.

...

With Gwen’s support, Helen sat down at the nearby dining chair and opened the takeout container Gwen handed her. Then she suddenly froze and looked at Gwen.

”Oh, right. Gwen, Howard and Simon.”

”Don’t worry, Mom.”

Gwen smiled, opening Helen’s soup container as she spoke. ”Hawk already thought of it. A delivery rider is bringing food to them now.”

Helen let out a breath of relief, then shook her head. ”Those two still need someone watching them. If you and Hawk don’t have anything to do this afternoon, go home and help me look after Howard and Simon.”

Gwen exchanged glances with Hawk, who was standing by the hospital bed.

Hawk nodded. ”No problem.”

Gwen also looked at Helen. ”Then we’ll come back tonight to relieve you, Mom.”

Helen shook her head.

”No need. I’ll stay here with George.”

”But—”

”It’s fine.”

Gwen was about to say something when Hawk walked over to stand behind her and took over. ”Then tonight we’ll cook dinner and bring you a portion.”

Helen looked at Hawk, smiled, then turned to Gwen. ”See? Hawk understands me.”

Hawk smiled.

Understands what?

That parents are the real love story, and kids are just accidents, of course.

If Helen and George weren’t true love, Helen wouldn’t have chosen to give George two more children—Howard and Simon—eight years after having Gwen.

So, Helen and George were the real deal.

❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

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