The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 254: The Saint's Choice]

Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium.

The bulletproof Mercedes pulled up to the VIP entrance, and Hawke stepped out, accompanied by Dodger manager, Maduke, on his way to the VIP box.

This year, the Dodgers fell short of expectations once more, eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Teams focused on civil rights seemed to reflect the corporate trend, their performance visibly dwindling while still enjoying substantial profits.

Having been ousted from the playoffs, the Dodgers were attempting to gather from last year's lessons, organizing a charity match under the banner of civil rights, and Hawke was their targeted guest.

He had long held one of the premium boxes at the stadium.

Yet, he hadn't attended since last year's charity match.

Maduke escorted Hawke into the box, mentioning, "Steve Nutt will throw the first pitch; he'll be here afterward."

Hawke replied, "You all get busy; I don't need to be fussed over."

Maduke quickly took his leave.

...

The nearby boxes were interconnected. Hawke glanced around, noticing several Hollywood stars in attendance. The entertainment industry had long been at the forefront of championing civil rights.

From a distance, he spotted Tom Cruise and Will Smith, the latter did not make any move, while the former left the box and walked along the back passage to Hawke's side.

He hugged Hawke and said, "I had no idea you'd be here; we could've come together."

Hawke said, "I have some involvement with this place. I am here just to show my respect. I will leave after the game starts."

"The Saint Steve," Tom laughed, "the civil rights movement's current champion!"

Then, he switched tracks, "You always manage to figure out how to resolve conflicts. If it weren't for you, my reputation would still be mud after Kingsley's smear campaign."

Hawke remembered the recent tabloid headlines and responded, "There's one situation I couldn't control."

Tom shrugged, "Can you believe I've suddenly become her cherished one again?"

Hawke explained, "Because Nicole Kidman sensed her own crisis, and as her ex-husband, even if you can't be her backer, you can become her hot spot."

Tom sighed. "She's riding my coattails; what can I do?"

"Nothing," Hawke replied. "You're ex-spouses; if your ex-wife reminisces about her time with you and claims to still love you, should you step in to reprimand her? Or argue with her? That would only deepen public empathy for her."

Tom nodded, "I know that remaining silent is best, but it feels a bit grating to be exploited like this."

Hawke reassured him, "At the end of the day, it's still a compliment, not a smear campaign."

But after comforting him, he plunged the knife in deeper: "Just remember to keep ignoring it; the problems are just beginning. Should Nicole's fortune continue to falter, you will be the 'one true love' she continuously mentions."

Tom reached a crossroads, saying, "You've made your point -- maybe I'll just consider her a stranger now."

Suddenly, thunderous cheers erupted in the stadium as Steve Nutt led the Dodgers into view.

Before the game commenced, they engaged in a kneeling ceremony.

Since last year, the Dodgers had shifted their focus towards community engagement, more than merely on-field performance.

Although Steve rarely played, the Dodgers still maintained a long-term contract with him.

When the charity game kicked off, Hawke struggled to grasp the rules of baseball.

Compared to football, basketball, or even soccer, baseball regulations felt far too complex, especially regarding scoring.

...

Before long, Steve arrived at Hawke's box.

Hawke introduced him to Tom Cruise.

Steve appeared eager to speak with Hawke; Tom took his leave and returned to his box.

Hawke anticipated the conversation but chose not to pry, allowing Steve to share his concerns.

As the crowd settled down, Steve said, "I'm facing quite a dilemma and would like your input."

Hawke inquired, "Is this about civil rights?"

"Exactly," Steve chuckled, his smile seeming a bit off. "You're the only one whose ideas I trust; I can't rely on anyone else."

Hawke recalled the incident with Kobe and said, "Feel free to share, but I might not be able to assist you."

Steve organized his thoughts before continuing, "Recently, I attended a meeting for NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where they launched a program regarding marginalized communities."

Hawke instantly thought of BlackRock.

Steve continued, "They want me to be a part of this initiative."

Hawke asked curiously, "Oh? What do they expect from you?"

"They believe that merely advocating for Black rights isn't enough through me," Steve revealed, the look on his face turning peculiar. "The organization has been swayed by outside influences and wants me to take a more leading role, advocating for more groups, and they've been pushing to have me come out."

Hawke was not surprised by these words, the so-called external forces were nothing more than the intervention of the Donkeys. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a deep blue organization.

BlackRock and Vanguard International have already begun to promote marginalized population plans, and these organizations will naturally be no exception.

Hollywood led the way in entertainment activism, with feminist and civil rights movements closely trailing behind.

Fighting solely for Black rights was just scratching the surface; more was needed, such as LGBTQ+ advocacy and transgender rights.

The momentum appeared robust, especially combined with BlackRock's efforts, LGBTQ+ rights alongside racial equality seemed to be the next stage in this evolution.

Steve continued, "They want me to come out and develop a relationship with Wilson, my Black teammate."

Hawke future-proofed the name as familiar: "Your son's father?"

"Exactly, the biological father of my Black son," Steve replied, his comments would undoubtedly create quite the stir if ever leaked. "The association plans to launch a social movement advocating for Black members of the LGBTQ+ community within three years, positioning me at the forefront."

He gazed at Hawke, a hint of uncertainty apparent. "I'm not sure if I should accept this."

After considering for a moment, Hawke queried, "Do you desire to identify as a gay man and spend years searching for a Black male partner?"

Steve stood before Hawke without reservations: "Lately, I feel a surge of social movements, the Rainbow Parade in North Hollywood has already happened three times this year, each one bigger than the last."

He candidly stated, "I want to lead these movements and benefit from them, yet I am not gay and hate to be gay."

Saint Steve's influence derived from Hawke's own push.

For anything BlackRock promoted, Hawke had a natural rebuff: "Respect your inner choice. Steve, we are old friends. In fact, I also know about the plan you mentioned. Homosexuality is just the beginning. There will be transgender plans later. You are a pioneer in the equal rights movement. Now they let you be gay, and in the future they will let you change your sex. Do you want to become a monster that is neither male nor female?"

"Absolutely not!" While he could somewhat tolerate being gay, turning himself into a shemale was beyond tolerable for Steve. "I'd rather perish."

Hawke gave Steve a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "Shifting political narratives often breed compromise; however, you're the leader of the national civil rights movement, Saint Steve Nutt!"

Hawke had been scheming: "With your influence, why not step out independently, forming your own equal rights organization? Considering current affairs, the association clearly sees your worth solely as a tool."

Others might have brushed off those words, but given Hawke had single-handedly catapulted Steve to his 'saint' stature, he took the message seriously.

The NAACP is one of the Democratic Party's core bases. According to Steve, it will also be one of the links in promoting BlackRock's marginalized population plan.

Hawke intended to pull out Saint Steve to fight equal rights against equal rights, magic against magic, and perversion against perversion.

Steve pondered briefly and declared, "Establishing an equal rights organization that is entirely centered around me sounds excellent."

Hawke persisted, "You can partner with Twitter; they'll provide media support."

Steve added, "Over the last year, I've also built a network at the NAACP that could support me in constructing this new organization's framework."

Hawke reinforced, "Equal rights is timeless."

Steve had matured significantly over the past year and developed independent analytical skills. "Instead of following in the footsteps of others, I would rather be at the forefront and lead the trend of the times."

"Precisely," Hawke affirmed, "You can set up headquarters in Covina; Mayor Brian Ferguson is a close friend of mine."

If Bryan wants to make it big in a place like California, he must win the support of people of color.

With the state's demographic primarily comprising of Latinos and African Americans, they were crucial to political campaigns.

Hawke's comment lit a spark in Steve, he felt more and more that he should not serve as a tool of an association, but should become independent and lead a force on his own.

He almost gave up his MLB playing career and devoted himself to the equal rights movement, which he considered to be his career for the rest of his life.

The media hailed him as a leader, with some even comparing him to Martin Luther King Jr.

Within such an environment, it was natural for him to perceive himself as a leader.

Steve was no exception.

Furthermore, the invaluable insights Hawke previously shared had positively impacted his journey.

Steve nodded, "What you've said makes a lot of sense, Hawke. I'll discuss it with my team then contact you."

Hawke replied, "Feel free to call anytime."

...

Steve called Hawke the night after the game. 

Hawke helped contact Brian.

*****

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