Maya Stark

Chapter 125: I'm a really good lawyer

'Stark Industries was caught in the web of the Spider-Man/Mysterio controversy today, when federal agents opened an investigation into missing Stark technology. The agents wanna know exactly what was taken...'

Happy, May, Peter, and I sit around a table watching the news. We were meeting with our lawyer, Matt Murdock, but he was taking a very important phone call right now. A picture of Happy comes up on the screen subtitled with, "No comment at this time," and I glare at him.

'At least they used a good picture,' Happy said.

'What did you do?' I ask. He avoids my gaze. 'Happy, what did you take?'

Before I could get any sort of reply Matt sits back down, still on the phone but smiling. His cane strikes the floor with a loud thud, making me jump slightly. Any loud noise seems to be making me jump recently. I see Peter glance at me, but he doesn't mention it, he knows not to.

'That's great. Thank you,' he hangs up the phone and look to Peter. 'Well, I have some good news, Peter. I don't believe any of the charges against you are gonna stick.'

'Wait, seriously?' Peter said, clear relief on his face. I smile a little.

'Oh, I knew it,' May said with the same amount of relief.

'Oh my god,' Peter said. 'Mr. Murdock, thank you. That's—'

'Thank you, Matt,' May said.

'That's amazing.'

'You're welcome,' Matt said. 'Now Maya you aren't facing big charges, if any at all. They may question you about the missing tech, but you weren't an employee, just a legacy. You and Pepper don't have to worry about you going to jail.'

I thought that would make me calmer, but I just kept watching the news and the fact they shut down Stark industries. It was only temporary, I know, but still. Matt was right, I was a legacy, that was my legacy. That's Pepper's job, her livelihood.

'Thank you, Matt,' I say quietly. 'You've been an incredible help.'

He nods. 'Of course.'

'Perfect,' Happy said, making me glare at him again.

'However... Mister Hogan?' Matt said.

'Yes?' said Happy, blissfully unaware.

'The feds are actively investigating the missing technology,' Matt said. 'I understand you're loyal to Mr. Stark and his legacy, but if you were involved...'

'If I was involved?' Happy said.

'I might secure a lawyer,' Matt said.

My eyes roll and I put my forehead against Peter's shoulder to close my eyes. Missing Stark tech. Closed Stark industries. Legacy. More fighting. Happy may go to jail. Missing Stark tech. When did we lose any tech? That doesn't make sense. Peter kisses the top of my head and a slight smile breaks through my face.

'I need a lawyer because I'm um... I'm under invest... I thought, you said, there's no charge,' Happy stuttered. 'I could say under advisement of counsel, I refuse to answer the question respectfully because I... the answer could incriminate me. There's a saying in Goodfellas. What did they say in Goodfellas?'

'I know that's what you think,' May said. 'Calm down. Let's hear what he has to say. Matt?'

I look up to see how this was going to go down.

'You're gonna need a really good lawyer,' Matt said before turning back to Peter. 'Peter. We may have dodged your legal trouble, but things will get much worse. For both of you. There is still the court of public opinion.'

A shock runs down my spine and in less than a next second a brick flies through the window. Peter's reaction time is much better than mine, and he was closer anyway, so I don't even try to stop it. Peter's hand goes up, but before the brick can even reach him, Matt is faster in catching it. He didn't even flinch. My eyes narrow as he slowly hands the brick to Peter.

'How did you just do that?' Peter asked, hesitantly.

'I'm a really good lawyer.'

I put my chin on Peter's shoulder so I can see the brick. It's encased in newspaper with ink of a red sharpie, reading, "WE BELIEVE MYSTERIO". Peter and I share a look.

'We're going to need a safer place to live,' May says.

I look over at Happy, keeping my chin on Peter's shoulder. My safe place. 'The tech stealer has a place.'

'Huh?' he says, looking at me. 'Oh, yeah, yeah, I have a place.'

Happy had a condominium on Long Island that is the most secure place I have ever seen or even heard of. He was a very paranoid person. I helped him move Peter and May in. I carried most of the things in front of me with my powers. May and Peter were in front of me and when they got the door open, an extremely loud security alarm started blaring. May turned it off immediately.

'Alarm systems, deactivated.'

'It looks nice... and safe,' May said.

I move all the stuff in and put it in the middle of the kitchen, it being like the only free spot.

'Welcome to the spiritual oasis,' Happy said appearing from the door. 'You like Donkey Kong Jr.?'

I scan the surroundings before I notice Dum-E in the kitchen. It was my dad's old robot arm that I messed with all the time when I was younger. Dad took care of his robots and I forgot Happy had it now.

'Dum-E,' I say, clear excitement in my voice. It beeped and I walked over patting it. 'Long time no see.'

'Is she talking to a robot?' I hear May whisper to Peter.

'Dum-E is special,' Happy said. 'This robot was in Tony's workshop in the very beginning. Helped her learn how to build stuff the couple months he was... taken.'

I smile slightly at the memory. 'Dad was always respectful to his robots.'

'He named it Dummy,' Peter said.

I shrug. 'That's beside the point.'

'You are a weird family,' May decided, still looking around.

I smile again. 'Parker, if you need help cleaning your suit, or just need a new one, just call me. I got to get home though.'

Some guy threw green paint at Peter's suit a couple days ago. It stained bad, but he insisted he would be able to get it out. I had my doubts.

'It'll be fine,' he says.

I roll my eyes. 'Sure it will. Happy we will talk about that missing tech at some point.' I start walking to the door, squeezing Peter's hand when I pass him. 'I'll see you guys later. I'll text you when I get home, Webs.'

He smiles and nods and I say my goodbyes before I walk out of the security-enclosed apartment. The hood of my sweatshirt went up the second I got out of the building. I always wore one now, ensuring I could hide my face as I get into my car. It was going to be a long drive. A very long drive.