(Sequel to my Ghost Rider OC story)
After the Avengers' victory over Thanos, Jake Castle left New York, jaded and heartbroken with the loss of his beloved wife. After giving up his Spirit of Vengeance, and with only his and Wanda's puppy as a source...
Somewhere in Florida, in the middle of a lone path, a matte black 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge rolled up into an unassuming gas station, just next to the tanks. Its engines shut off and a man walked out, wearing a ragged brown jacket with a cap and shades on.
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As he promptly started refilling his gas tank, the man looked into his car as a dog came into his view from outside.
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In the middle of the man's soft tapping of his foot on the pavement, arms crossed, another car came into the gas station from the opposite direction, more specifically, a white 2013 BMW 750li xDrive blaring loud pop music.
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The music shut off with the engine as four people, though one woman was shown holding the hand of one of the three men, who acted as the leader of the other two.
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"You sure you don't want anything, Rosie?"
"Like I would want anything in that store."
"Alright then..."
The woman, Rosie, played around with her feather boa as the three men entered the convenience store. She turned around to see the Pontiac and its owner.
"...You prefer that old shit for a car?" Rosie asked.
"...It's nostalgic for me." The capped man answered softly, not even turning her way.
Rosie scoffed, arms crossed, not bothering to say anything to the capped man as he waited for his car to fill up. By that point, the three men from earlier exited the convenience store.
"I'm back, Rosie!" The leader of the trio beamed before noticing she was staring at the man with the Pontiac. It didn't take long for his jovial demeanor to turn into irritation.
"What's wrong, Johnny?" Rosie asked.
"Was that guy bothering you, Rosie?" The leader, Johnny, asked back.
"No, he didn't say much to m-"
It was too late as Johnny strode past her to walk over to the man.
"Hey!" he called out, to no response. All he got was the puppy in the Pontiac letting out high pitched barks at him, which made Rosie chuckle for a bit.
The man in the cap didn't look at Johnny and said nothing as he put the gas pump back to where it was. The little dog kept barking.
"Tell your mutt to shut up!" Johnny roared.
Hearing a light sigh, Johnny watched as the man entered his car to take the dog in his arms and rock it back and forth like a baby. The barking continued on for a little bit until it stopped.
"...He doesn't like you." The man said as the Pontiac zoomed off from the gas station.
Johnny was still fuming as he watched the Pontiac leave as Rosie stopped herself from chuckling.
"Papa would love to hear this story. Come on, Johnny, let's go." She told him.
That wasn't enough to get him to stop looking at the Pontiac's way, but he followed the others back to the car nonetheless.
Later...
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Still keeping to himself, still making sure that no one recognized him, Jake Castle continued with his work in an auto shop. It was small and looked unorganized, but it was situated in an unassuming corner in the city and the lone owner didn't know any better about him, so he was safe.
During his breaktime, Jake went to the corner and pulled his phone out, headphones on. He scrolled through a litany of old photos and videos until he tapped on one.
It was of the day he got married.
"Jake, are you recording this?" That familiar voice rang in his ears.
"It's special day. Why not?"
"Using your phone for a video? Isn't that a first for you?"
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In the video, Wanda Maximoff gave him a wide smile, still in her wedding dress, hands clasped to one another.
"Did you really mean it when you said you missed my Sokovian accent?"
"Heh, in a way."
"Hmm...shall I try using it again on day two of us as husband and wife?"
"Haha! I'd like to hear that."
"It's a deal then, love. Come on, we should go. The reception's quite a drive away. No hellfire, though."
"I think even Zadkiel knows that."
Jake's teary-eyed state was interrupted as he heard the faint sound of an alarm clock. It was back to work for him. He put his phone away, wiped the tears on his face, and set out to go about what was yet another uneventful day for him.
It has been weeks since he disappeared from the lives of the other Avengers, being the only Avenger to be labeled "missing," and though he didn't want to be found, even with Sparky to keep him company, Jake Castle was truly alone.
