A check-up?
What a joke.
Hawk would never do a medical exam in this lifetime. With his body, that would be an insult—not to him, but to the very concept of steel.
So… he didn't go.
Besides, he had far more important things to deal with—like finding himself a law-firm internship.
For second-year law students, the summer internship wasn't just an academic requirement—it was the golden path to future employment.
Most large and even mid-sized firms treated this period as their main recruitment channel for full-time lawyers.
In short—perform well now, and you'd walk away from the internship with a guaranteed job offer waiting for you after graduation.
That meant—before even earning your degree or passing the bar, you already had a future.
And the pay wasn't bad either.
Everyone knew doctors and lawyers were the golden professions in the Federation. Ten weeks at a prestigious firm could net you around fifty thousand dollars before taxes—plus housing and bonuses.
That, among other reasons, was why Hawk had chosen to study law in the first place.
Not only to avenge his sister—but to build himself a perfect future.
Now that he had both revenge and power, that ambition remained.
As the saying goes: Stay true to your original heart, and you'll reach your end without regret.
So…
After the new semester began, Hawk rarely visited Empire University. Instead, he spent his free hours networking with classmates and gathering first-hand intel about New York's top law firms.
Not that he could've gone to Empire much anyway—Gwen was too busy.
While Hawk hunted for internships, Gwen was preparing for her PhD defense, only two months away.
Yes—her PhD defense.
While Hawk was still a struggling law student, Gwen was about to become "Doctor Stacy."
It sounded unbelievable—but in the Marvel universe, it made perfect sense.
Bruce Banner had seven doctorates before his thirties.
Tony Stark built circuit boards at four, engines at six, entered MIT at fifteen, and earned dual degrees in physics and engineering by seventeen.
By comparison, Gwen earning her first PhD at twenty was practically modest.
Still, one thing made Hawk curious.
Leaning against the doorframe, he asked the girl sitting at her desk after ending a video call with Dr. Helen Cho, "How exactly did Dr. Cho convince Empire University to give you a special doctoral defense?"
Yes—Helen Cho.
Another top-tier Marvel genius. A peer of Tony Stark himself.
An authority in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and biotech.
Honorary professor at multiple universities, and a visiting lecturer at Empire University.
Thanks to Tony, Gwen had the chance to speak with her years ago.
When Helen came to New York to monitor Tony's post-surgery recovery—and to secure funding for her Regeneration Lab—she met Gwen.
And from that day on, she became Gwen's mentor.
She taught remotely and designed an accelerated, cutting-edge curriculum that skipped all undergraduate upper-level courses, placing Gwen directly into doctoral-level research.
As Dr. Cho once said:
"Geniuses shouldn't obey the rules. The rules should bow to them."
Still…
"Even if Dr. Cho's an authority in regenerative biology, I doubt she could convince the board that easily."
"Do you remember Dr. Curt Connors?" Gwen asked.
"Of course."
"I used to work as his assistant. I didn't join his core experiments, but I organized his data. His dream—to let amputees regrow limbs—was noble."
"But Oscorp pushed him too hard. They were unstable financially and ethically, and he never got the time to refine his formula."
"Dr. Cho's regeneration theory shares common ground with his."
"For the past year, she and I have been studying whether the two approaches can be combined."
Gwen stood and walked to Hawk, wrapping her arms around his neck with a smile.
"And… it worked?" Hawk asked, one brow raised.
"Yes."
She nodded, kissed him lightly, then turned back toward her desk. "So the university agreed to let me defend early—as long as I pass the committee review. I still need to prepare the documentation."
Hawk shrugged. "Alright. Then I'll leave you to it, future Dr. Phoenix."
"Thank you, Mr. Phoenix."
Hawk's mouth twitched.
Gwen grinned. "Oh? Are you jealous because I'm about to be a doctor?"
"Hey, law graduates are doctors too. Juris Doctor."
"But no one calls you Doctor, do they?"
"…Good night."
Hawk took a deep breath, turned around, and walked out.
Then he pulled out his phone and texted his academic advisor.
He'd made up his mind—he wanted people to call him "Doctor," too.
Sure, a law doctorate was professional, not academic.
But still—after marriage, people would call him Mr. Phoenix while addressing Gwen as Doctor Stacy.
Unacceptable.
Absolutely not.
Hawk Phoenix did not lose—to anyone.
By late March, he held a brand-new certificate in his hands—Empire University's signature navy-and-gold design, embossed with crests and intricate vine patterns.
It read:
Empire University
To Whom It May Concern:
By the authority of the Board of Regents and the Department of Biological Sciences, we certify that
Gwendolyne Stacy
has fulfilled all requirements and, in recognition of her outstanding academic excellence and research contributions, is hereby awarded the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Biological Sciences
Her dissertation, "Cross-Species Mammalian Limb Regeneration Mechanisms Based on Arthropod Genetic Templates," represents a groundbreaking advancement with profound theoretical and clinical potential.
Signed by:
Dr. Miles Warren, Department Chair
Dr. Helen Cho, Thesis Advisor
Dated March 24, 2015 — New York City, NY
Hawk stared at the document and let out an impressed whistle. Then he looked at Gwen sitting beside him in the passenger seat and smiled. "Congratulations."
Gwen beamed. "You already congratulated me yesterday after the defense. It's just a PhD, no big deal. Let's go—to the hospital."
Hawk laughed. "No big deal? This from the same person who couldn't sleep last night, worried she'd mess up?"
"I was…" Gwen arched a brow. "I had a stomachache. That's all."
Hawk chuckled. "Sure you did, Dr. Stacy."
"Not hurting anymore, Mr. Phoenix."
"…."
He wisely stayed silent, pressing the accelerator as they headed toward St. Sirus Private Hospital.
Last night, Felicia had given birth—to a baby spider.
Peter had called first thing that morning. Hawk and Gwen were on their way to visit her.
It was odd—the due date had been late January. Every test had said the same.
But somehow, the baby had stayed two extra months—perfectly healthy.
They figured it had something to do with time distortion from Skull Island.
At least both mother and child were safe.
"Peter, congratulations."
"Felicia, congratulations."
Carrying a small baby cradle, Hawk followed Gwen into the hospital's luxury suite, where Peter and Felicia were waiting.
Peter grinned from ear to ear.
"Where's Aunt May?"
"She just went home—stayed here all night."
"Alright then. Once again, congrats."
Hawk hugged Peter sincerely.
He meant it.
After all…
Every version of Spider—Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-anything—had suffered miserably.
But the point of crossing worlds was to fix regrets.
And Peter was his friend.
Seeing him smiling now—genuinely happy for once—Hawk couldn't help but feel glad for him.
"Look, Hawk!" Gwen called excitedly from beside the crib. "So cute!"
"…"
(End of Chapter)
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