Friends Bar Gathering

Lake didn’t stay in Forks Town for long.

After all, the Cullen family were all vampires, and he was just a very ordinary, normal person. So, after spending about five or six days with his little cotton-padded jacket in Forks Town, Lake returned to New York.

He planned to save some more money, and once he had enough, he would use up all his first-stage lottery chances.

To that end, he even used his credit card to get twelve thousand US dollars, specifically to boost his credit rating at The Continental Hotel.

Tony Stark called because Lake’s Stark credit card had been used to swipe twelve thousand US dollars at a fried chicken joint. Stark Bank’s risk management department had detected it, and then Jarvis had informed Lake.

And so it was.

Tony Stark called, teasing Lake about whether he was planning to cash out and run. Of course, it was a joke, but he asked in a teasing tone if Lake was having financial difficulties.

Lake naturally said no.

In fact, Lake paid off the money he’d cashed out in full the very next month.

That month, Lake took on five jobs at The Continental Hotel in one go. None were in New York, but they were all nearby.

What?

Principles?

When people were already teasing him about being short on cash, why would he care about principles? Could principles put food on the table?

The total amount for the five jobs was around six hundred and seventy thousand. After paying off the twelve thousand US dollars to Stark Bank, Lake estimated that, not counting the over one hundred million US dollars he had deposited in a certain bank waiting for the recharge lottery, the money he could readily access was enough for Skye’s tuition and training courses. So, he stopped after that.

The FBI and S.H.I.E.L.D., which was impersonating the FBI, missed their mark once again.

Soon.

Another new year arrived.

It was 2004!

Washington Airport.

Lake, with Skye, just like last year, after spending Christmas with Karen, Betty, and Ross, returned to New York on January 4th for the New Year.

Cassel and Alexis were there to pick them up, as usual.

Downstairs at Starlight Tower.

Cassel said to Lake, "Oh, right, Lake, don’t forget, tonight, at the 8867 Bar, Owen is leaving."

Lake nodded.

Owen, full name Owen Strand, was the captain of Fire Station 252 in New York, and similarly, a mutual friend of Lake and Cassel.

Tonight was Owen’s last day in New York.

The Lone Star State, also known as Texas, had a Fire Station 126 there. Half a month ago, while rescuing people from a fire, they unfortunately encountered an explosion they had no time to react to. Only one person survived; the rest perished in the inferno.

So…

Owen had accepted an invitation from there and planned to take his son to the Lone Star State to rebuild Fire Station 126. Therefore, Owen intended to invite Lake and Cassel for one last drink before he left.

Back home.

Skye, who had turned fifteen this year, threw herself onto the sofa. "I don’t want to get up. When can I stay home alone?"

Lake walked to the bar and got a drink. "That, when you have your driver’s license, so, next year?"

At sixteen, Skye could get her driver’s license, which meant she could stay home alone for short periods without much trouble from Child Protective Services.

Skye rolled over on the sofa. "Do you know Betty is dating someone?"

Lake took a sip of Bourbon and looked at Skye. "No."

Skye rolled her eyes. "You promised you wouldn’t run off this year, but what happened? You stayed home for Christmas Eve and Christmas, then you went to find your girlfriend and left me at home."

Lake laughed heartily.

Before, he had no choice. After all, Lake didn’t have an apartment in Washington D.C. But this year was different. Lake spent most of his time with his girlfriend in the Special Administrative Region, Rachel.

Of course.

Lake also saw Rachel’s daughter. She was eight years old this year, adopted by Rachel and her ex-husband, Ray.

Rachel also seemed happy to see Lake getting along well with her daughter.

Lake didn’t have any objections either. Let’s put it this way: as long as it was a girl, whether someone else’s or his own, Lake quite liked them.

The reason?

It wasn’t his offspring, so he didn’t care what she looked like or who she would become. Naturally, he didn’t care at all, so how could he get angry because of it?

Skye was staying at home directly with Karen and Betty.

Lake shrugged. "I think this is quite good, after all, you’re all girls."

Skye rolled over from the sofa and sat up. "Are you serious about that Rachel?"

Lake chuckled. "I refuse to answer that question."

He had already passed that stage.

I’m not getting married.

As long as Lake wasn’t married or in a relationship, he was free, perfectly solving any issues of playing the field or having a scumbag persona.

Skye shrugged and walked upstairs.

Lake raised an eyebrow. "Don’t forget you start school in a few days. Stop staring at the computer and protect your eyesight."

Skye waved a hand without looking back.

Lake sipped his drink, watching Skye ascend the spiral staircase, and smiled wryly.

Skye was different from Rachel’s son. After all, Lake was Skye’s legal adoptive father, so naturally, Lake cared about Skye.

Perhaps…

Little Cotton-padded Jacket Katherine was above Skye, who was above rebellious son David, who was above Rachel’s daughter.

Yeah.

That was how Lake ranked them in his heart.

Eight o’clock in the evening.

Lake put on his suit jacket, then his overcoat. He took twenty US Dollars from his wallet and placed them on the table. He said to Skye, who was clearing the dining table, "I’m going out. Remember, don’t run around."

Skye collected the twenty US Dollars she earned for doing chores today. "Got it. After I finish cleaning, I’ll go downstairs and watch TV with Alexis."

Lake grunted and said nothing more, turning and leaving the house.

Even though two years had passed, Skye still refused to accept the allowance Lake offered. There was nothing Lake could do but find ways for Skye to earn more through chores.

After all, the last time Lake colluded with Mrs. Akali on the eighth floor, Skye returned looking speechless, holding two hundred US Dollars and asking if any baby sitter could earn that much for two hours of work.

So…

Lake was very happy. At least Skye wasn’t stupid, and when it came to money, she was very much like him – independent. She hadn’t become like those rich and beautiful girls at school who thought a hundred US Dollars had low purchasing power just because he adopted her.

8867 Bar.

As soon as Lake walked into the bar, he saw Cassel and Owen waving at him from not too far away.

He walked closer.

Lake hugged Owen, who stood up, then took off his overcoat, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Is Tyler not coming?"

Owen, who was older than both Lake and Cassel, shrugged. "He failed his proposal yesterday and is recovering at home."

Lake said, "Oh, that’s too bad."

Owen’s son, Tyler, was twenty-three years old. Like Owen, he followed in his father’s footsteps and was also a firefighter. However, there was one difference between Tyler and his father, Owen.

Uh…

Owen was male and liked women. His son, Tyler, was male and liked men.

He was gay!

Lake was well-trained when it came to gay people. After all, in the army, there was a policy of "don’t ask, don’t tell," so Lake maintained the same attitude towards people with orientations different from the norm.

Mind your own business.

The drinks arrived.

Cassel raised his glass. "Cheers."

Lake also raised his glass and said to Owen, "Have a safe trip. Once you’ve settled in over there, Cassel and I will come visit. Be sure to host us."

Owen smiled. "Of course, anytime."

The three glasses clinked together.

They drank it all in one go.

Owen coughed a few times, clenching his fist to his mouth.

Cassel laughed. "Buddy, that’s just the first drink."

Owen waved his hand, put down his glass, and then, after a moment of silence with Lake and Cassel, said, "I went for a check-up at the hospital yesterday, and the doctor told me some bad news. Coupled with Tyler’s heartbreak and overdose, that’s why I decided to go to the Lone Star State."

Cassel wiped his face. "God, Owen, Jesus Christ, what’s going on? Why didn’t you tell us immediately?"

Lake asked, "What did the hospital say?"

Owen shook his head. "Lung cancer. Fortunately, the doctor said it’s currently in Stage 1B and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, so it’s a blessing in disguise."

Cassel exclaimed in disbelief.

Lake was also a bit surprised. After all, everyone he had interacted with had been very healthy, or he had killed them. No one around him had cancer.

Owen smiled. "It’s okay. My doctor told me a very interesting story."

The story was that a person’s good mood could eliminate cancer. It was like someone with cancer decided to let go, do what they wanted, see beautiful scenery, and do things they hadn’t had time for before. Then, upon returning for a follow-up, the tumor had disappeared.

This couldn’t be taken literally, at most, it could be a placebo, to illustrate that maintaining a good and cheerful mood was the most important thing.

Lake nodded. "Technology is so advanced now. You found out early. Who knows, by the end of this year, there might be new medical breakthroughs."

There were many unfortunate aspects to living in this Marvel Universe, but there were also fortunate ones.

At least there was a lot of Black Technology here.

Who knows when they woke up one day to find a company had emerged, claiming they had conquered cancer. This wasn’t an impossible feat.

They continued drinking and chatting.

Especially after learning Owen was sick, it added a touch of sadness to their parting. So, the drinks kept coming, and the words were spoken one by one.

By the time the three of them left the bar, it was almost eleven o’clock.

The trio hailed a taxi. After dropping Owen off at his home, Lake and Richard returned to Starlight Tower.

No doubt about it.

Cassel was met with a barrage of complaints and a cold shoulder from Alexis.

Lake received the same treatment from Skye – complaints and a cold shoulder.

Although Cassel was drunk, Lake was not.

But…

Skye, watching Alexis scold Cassel, felt she needed to do something. After all, Alexis was her good friend, and they needed to stand on the same side.

PS: Owen – from 9-1-1: Lone Star