Maya Stark

Chapter 28: Consequences and Confessions

Unstable flying over a body of water was not fun at all. Sitting on a rooftop next to an idiot, with a pounding headache and overwhelming guilt eating away at you, was also not fun. But that's where I found myself. I was slightly terrified of going home, not that I would make it anyway. I wringed my mask around my hands before wiping some sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. I was exhausted.

'How bad is this going to be?' Parker asked, after a while of silence.

I stayed silent for a second, watching helicopters fly around the ferry. The sun was setting. We had been sitting for a while. 'I don't know.'

My answer didn't seem to calm either of us. I don't know how much longer passed until I saw my dad flying over. All I know is that it was still light out. I grip my mask tighter.

'Previously on Maya and Peter screwing the pooch: I tell you to stay away from this,' he said, 'instead, you hacked two- multimillion- dollar suits so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do.'

'Is everyone okay?' Parker asked.

'No thanks to you two.'

'No thanks to us?' Parker asked. He turned and got off the ledge. I wish I could tell him to keep me out of this. 'Those weapons were out there, and we tried to tell you about it. But you didn't listen. None of this would've happened if you had just listened. If you even cared, you'd actually be here.'

The suit opens and my dad steps out and starts towards Parker, who backs up quickly. I'm pretty sure he was wishing my dad wasn't actually here.

'I did listen, kid,' said dad. 'Who do you think called the FBI, huh? Do you know that I was the only one who believed in you? Everyone else said I was crazy to recruit a 14-year-old.'

'I'm 15,' Parker mumbled.

'No, this is where you zip it, all right?' said dad. 'The adult is talking. What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? Cause that's on you two. And if either of you died, especially you,' he pointed at me and I looked down, 'that would be on me. I don't need that on my conscience.'

'Yes, sir,' Parker mumbled.

'I'm sorry, dad,' I said, getting off the ledge too.

'Sorry doesn't cut it.'

'I just...I wanted to be like you,' I whisper.

'And I wanted you to be better. Both of you,' he said, staring at me. I look down as he turns back to Parker. 'Okay, it's not working out. I'm gonna need the suit back.'

'What—for how long?' Parker asked, stunned.

'Forever.' Parker shakes his head. 'Yeah. Yeah, that's how it works.'

'Dad come—' I start.

'You should not talk,' he said, turning to me. 'Don't think, for even a second, I'm not pissed at you too.' I shrink back a little.

'No, no. Please, Mr. Stark,' Parker begged.

'Let's have it,' dad said.

'You don't understand,' Parker said. 'Please. This is all I have. I'm nothing without this suit.'

'If you're nothing without this suit,' dad said, 'then you shouldn't have it. Okay? God, I sound like my dad.'

  Personally, I thought he sounded like Steve, but I was not going to say that. I'm not that stupid.

Parker sighed. 'I don't have any other clothes.'

'Okay, we'll sort that out,' he said. Then he turns to me. 'Can you fly?'

I hesitate. 'It probably wouldn't be the smartest thing to do right now.'

I felt bad for Parker, I really did. But I was way more concerned for myself. We got Parker home and then my dad flew me back to the compound. It reminded me of the times before I got my powers, when he would just fly me to wherever we were going. This was not as enjoyable, knowing I was about to be screamed at.

When we got to the tower, he told me to go change and take a shower and be downstairs in an hour. I nodded and raced to my room, immediately getting in the shower, and out of my suit. I was in the kitchen in 30 minutes. I was slightly surprised to see both dad and Pepper.

'So, I get a double lecture this time? That's new,' I said as I grabbed water. I need to reel it in.

'You're a lot braver than you were on that rooftop,' dad said. 'What in the world have you been thinking this past week? Ditching detention, the Washington Monument, that stupid party.'

'I was thinking, "Hey, I could do some good in this world" and, "this idiot needs all the help he can get",' I said.

'You expect me to believe that you did that because Parker asked?' said dad.

'No,' I said. 'I did it because I felt like I had to! Dad, I grew up with the biggest role models in the world. You, Uncle Rhodes, Bruce, Clint, Cap, Nat, Wanda! And I know you don't like most of them anymore, but they still helped raise me. They're still my family! My childhood! And I just thought...I just wanted you to be proud of me. I don't know why I've been acting out, okay? I just...I just don't feel like I really belong anywhere anymore. Not with everyone gone.'

Everyone was silent. I blinked back tears that threatened to escape. My head was pounding, and I was nauseous. My eyes were dropping, and I really just wanted to go to bed. My dad opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say.

'We can talk more tomorrow,' Pepper said. 'Maya, you look exhausted. Go on up to bed.'

I nodded and walked into the hallway. I leaned against the wall, where the two couldn't see me, to listen to what they were going to say.

'You could have spoken up a little, Tony,' Pepper said.

Dad stays silent for a second. 'I know she's acting out; I just didn't think that was the reason. I guess I didn't think how much everyone leaving would upset her. But, I mean, that's just dumb. Romanoff has been around her since she was what, 9? 10? They've all seen her pre-powers. And then suddenly they are just gone, and I didn't even consider what that, and throwing her into school, would do. And now she's getting herself into all these dangerous scenarios.'

'Tony, you knew her teenage years were going to be rough. She is a carbon copy of you and that's hard to deal with,' said Pepper. I smiled slightly. 'You just got to give her time to adjust. Maybe since her and the Peter kid are fighting together, they'll become friends.'

'Oh, great, now she's close to a boy, just what I need,' dad said with a sigh.

Pepper laughed. 'You're impossible.'

I smiled slightly and made my way to my room. I was asleep before I even got under the covers.