Maya Stark

Chapter 118: All illusions are down

Peter landed in front of me. He takes cautious steps towards me. I'm sure I look just a tad bit crazy.

'Maya?' He says, concern laced in his voice. 'What... What happened?'

'I...' My throat was raw. Before I could get anything else out my knees buckled, and my legs gave out. Peter was next to me in an instant, catching me before I could hit the ground. 'I'm okay.' He lowered me to the ground and then looked around. We were to out in the open.

'We should get at least a little out of sight,' he said. I nod in agreement.

He wraps my arms around his neck, and we swing further down the bridge. We landed in a spot that's surrounded by cars and rumble. He lowered me to the ground my back against a car. That's when I realized his suit was wet.

'What did I miss?' I say, cracking a smile.

Peter shakes his head. 'I saw the purple and heard you scream. Kinda got a little distracted. Are you okay? What did he do? I'll—'

'Parker,' I said, sitting up and wincing. 'I'm fine. Just... a little spent is all. We have more important things to handle.

'I said I was only a call away,' Peter mumbled, looking at the shin that was slightly throbbing. I looked down to see my suit had gotten cut and I was bleeding. Huh. That's fun. 'Why didn't you call me?'

'I was preoccupied,' I said. 'Come on. We got a job to do.'

Peter looked around. He sees a knocked down drone and grabs a stuffed bear. He throws is and the drone emits a sonic wave sending the bear flying up into a swarm of drones that quickly shoot it down. We share a look. This was going to be harder than I thought. I decide to let Peter handle this one and I close my eyes. The thoughts floated through my brain, and I was exhausted.

'Can you stand?' Peter asks after some time.

I open my eyes to see Peter with something that doesn't look safe, he holds it like a hammer, and the tower bridge sign as a shield. I nod and shakily get to my feet blinking away the black dots that quickly crowd my vision. I move to stand to the right of him. He reminded me of Steve with the hammer and the shield. I almost wanted to laugh.

'Are your powers usable?' I nod, slightly staring. 'What?'

'Have I ever told you I'd follow you anywhere?'

'I think it's been implied,' he said, shock clear in his voice. 'Why?'

I shrug. 'I've only told four people that in my life and it seems only appropriate you're the fifth.'

'Right,' he said, and I could tell he was smiling. 'Trust me?'

'Always.'

'Good,' he said, 'because I need you to stay here until the drones are gone. I don't want to risk your powers not working well enough to protect yourself.'

'Okay,' I say, knowing we would waste time arguing. 'Don't die.'

'Promise,' he said. I could hear the slight tease in his voice.

I watch from my spot as Peter charges forward. Immediately the drones start to fire at him, and I put a force field in front of me just in case. It was hard to do that. I hadn't grown this weak in ages. Peter throws the hammer bomb thing into the air where it explodes getting rid of a bunch of drones. He then uses the shield to jump over the broken drone and gets blasted up by the sonic wave. I drop the force field and take off after him, stumbling slightly. When I get to the upper walkway where Beck was, I see Peter get blasted back by a drone. I slam through the glass, covering my face, and rolling slightly. I land on my feet and help Peter up.

'I saw your little outburst,' Beck said, amused.

I glare at him. 'Those were low blows, asshole.'

'Just give us the glasses,' Peter said, also tired.

Beck pulls EDITH out of his suit. 'You want these?' Drones surround him. 'Come and get them.'

The drones activate their cloaking mechanism and I instinctively grip Peter's wrist. I didn't want to have to do this again. The walkway turns dark and green mist flows over the floor.

Peter takes a deep breath. 'You can handle this?'

The shock runs down my spine and I can locate at least three drones. 'Yeah. I'll be just fine.'

'Come on, Peter-tingle.' I press my lips together so I wouldn't laugh. 'Shut up, Maya.'

'Sorry.'

I squeeze his wrist before letting go and we jump into action at the same time. The drones start to fire the second we move. Everything was a blur. I knew where to grab, shoot, and dodge. Before I knew it we hade made it considerably closer to Beck and the illusion wore off. I put up a forcefield as more drones start firing at us which pushes me back slightly. I drop the forcefield and knock a drone down, Peter doing the same. Not paying enough attention, a searing pain erupts in my arm. I lost my balance, hitting the ground, as I clutch my left arm. I move my hand and it comes back all bloody.

'Shit,' I mutter as I grip my arm again.

Peter takes care of the last drone and I realize Beck had been hit to. I look at my arm. It was a nice sized cut, but the bullet just grazed my arm. It'll heal. Peter walked over to me, unmasked, but I waved him away. He gave me one last concerned look before limping over to Beck. I struggle to sit up but don't dare stand on my own. I'll watch and save Peter from here if I need to.

'You lied to me,' Peter said. 'I trusted you.'

'I know,' Beck said. 'That's the most... disappointing part. You're a good person, Peter. Such a weakness...' he takes the glasses and hand them to Peter. 'Stark was right. You do deserve that.'

Peter grabs something to the right and a gunshot goes off. I flinch, making my whole-body scream in protest. The Beck that Peter had been talking to vanishes and the real Beck is holding a gun, the gun Peter grabbed so it didn't shoot him. I let out a breath. Beck drops the gun, looking shocked.

'You can't trick me anymore,' Peter said. 'And I won't let you trick her ever again.'

He rips EDITH off of Beck's head as he falls. Peter quickly puts on the glasses.

'EDITH, turn off the drones,' Peter said quickly.

'Biometric scan complete. Welcome back, Peter,' EDITH said. 'Shall I execute all cancellation protocols?'

'Do it. Execute them all.'

'Confirmed.'

Peter lets out a sigh of relief as the drones lower. 'Thank you.' He looks at me, his eyes softening slightly. I wonder if he just wanted to make sure I was still here. When he looks at Beck his face hardens. 'How could you do all of this?'

'You'll see, Peter,' Beck whispered. 'People need to believe... and nowadays... they'll believe anything.' Beck goes limp.

Peter puts EDITH back on. 'Is he... is this real?'

'All illusions are down, Peter,' EDITH said.

Peter takes off the glasses and stares at Beck for a couple more seconds. I also stare at Beck, and I swallow hard. I have seen to many damn dead bodies.

'I'm gonna be sick,' I mutter, laying down and clutching my arm. Peter was next to me in an instant. 'I'm fine, really.' I close my eyes tight trying to stop the spinning. 'it's just a cut.'

'Maya, you're bleeding like a lot,' Peter said. I opened my eyes and sat up again. He helped me to my feet, and I blink away the blurriness again. 'You need to get that looked at.'

'We need to make sure everyone is safe,' I say. 'We just have to put pressure on it.'

I remove my hands from the cut and grimace at the blood covered hand. I wipe the blood on my suit and click my ring. I remember I was in Peter's jacker. I take it off, throwing it at Peter, and rip a piece of my tee-shirt. Peter helps me tie the fabric to the cur and I grit my teeth trying not to scream. It was extremely painful. When he was done, he threw the jacket back at me. I shake my head but slide the jacket on, blood loss making me cold.