Maya Stark

Chapter 9: A Decision

The next couple of days were pretty hectic. Dad and I had a sit-down conversation. We agreed that I could go to the new compound in upstate New York and train with Nat and Steve. He was stepping out for now. Focusing on the business and Pepper, but he knew I didn't want to. He and Pepper were both cool with me training and staying there. He promised to visit regularly, he was the owner of the building. He did pay for everything. He kept reminding me. We were driving there now. I was in my fixed-up suit, driving to the compound. Apparently, my room was already ready.

    A little while later, after I got all settled in and we finalized everything, Thor, Steve, dad, and I were walking down the hallway to go out to the compound. Thor and dad were leaving.

    'The rules have changed,' Steve said.

    'We're dealing with something new,' my dad agreed.

    'Well,' said Steve, 'the Vision's artificial intelligence.'    

    'A machine,' I agree.

    'So, it doesn't count,' said Steve.

    'No,' my dad said. 'It's not like a person lifting the hammer.'

    'Right,' Steve said pointing at my dad. 'Different rules for us.'

    'Nice guy,' I add, 'but artificial.'

    'Thank you,' said Steve.

    'If he can wield the hammer, he can keep the Mind Stone,' Thor said looking amused. 'It's safe with the vision and these days, safe is in short supply.'

    There was a pause before Steve said, 'But if you put the hammer in an elevator—'

    'It'll still go up,' my dad concluded.

    'Elevator's not worthy,' I say, shaking my head with a smile.

    'I'm going to miss these talks of ours,' Thor said smiling.

    'Well,' I said, 'not if you don't leave.'

    'I have no choice,' said Thor as we get outside. 'The Mind Stone is the fourth of the Infinity Stones to show up in the last few years. That's not a coincidence. Someone has been playing an intricate game and has made pawns of us. But once all these pieces are in position—'

    'Triple Yahtzee?' my dad suggested.

    'You think you can find out what's coming?' Steve asks.

    'I do,' Thor says. He pats my dad in the chest. 'Besides this one, there's nothing that can't be explained.'

    Thor nods to us and puts his hammer in the air. A bright beam of light comes down, leaving a great big mark on the grass and then he's gone.

    'That man has no regard for lawn maintenance,' my dad says as we turn and walk towards his car. 'I'm gonna miss him though. And you're gonna miss me. And I'm gonna miss Maya here. There's gonna be a lot of manful tears.' I roll my eyes.

    'I will miss you, Tony,' Steve says.

    'Yeah?' dad said. 'Well, it's time for me to tap out. Maybe I should take a page out of Barton's book and build Pepper and Maya a farm, hope nobody blows it up. Not that Maya wants it.'

    'The simple life.' Steve said smiling.

    'You'll get there one day,' dad says.

    'I don't know,' said Steve, looking at the two of us, 'family, stability. The guy who wanted all that went in the ice seventy-five years ago. I think someone else came out.'

    My dad gives me a hug before letting me go and getting in the car. 'I love you,' he said to me.

    I smile. 'I love you more.'

    'I love ya, most, kid,' he said, before driving away.

    'Okay, Maya,' Steve said. 'Let's get to training.'

    'First let's find Nat,' I say, taking off towards the compound.

    We find her alone staring at a wall and Steve says, 'You want to keep staring at the wall or do you want to go to work? I mean, it's a pretty interesting wall.'

    She walks towards us, ruffling my hair then looking to Steve. 'I thought you and Tony were still gazing into each other's eyes. How do we look?'

    Steve hands her a tablet and I look over her shoulder. Steve says, 'Well, we're not the '27 Yankees.'

    'We've got some hitters,' Nat says. 'Like Short stack here.'

    'Hey!' I protest.

    'They're good,' Steve intervenes. 'They're not a team.'

    'Let's beat 'em into shape,' Nat says.

    'This is going to be fun,' I say smiling.

    We walk into a room and I fly down towards the others. Rhodey, Vision, Wanda, and unfortunately Sam. I look back up at Steve and Nat and smile again.

    'Avengers,' Steve says. 'Let's get to work.'