The Iron Woman

In The End

Days after the fight I found out that the energy wave damaged most of the power lines in New York City. I paid for the power lines and took responsibility for the damage. I'd made sure that my family was okay. Morgan was ecstatic. She'd been watching the news from the safe house and saw what I did. Peter was proud of me too. Pepper, May, and Rhodey were just glad I was alive. There was still something I had to do before I could put this behind me.

(Timeskip)

I walked into the hospital as an authorized visitor and went to his room. I leaned against the doorframe. He looked a bit better than he did the last time I saw him. Though he still looked rough.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Klark."

He chuckled. "Hey."

"I've got some questions for you."

"As you should. Well, go ahead ask away."

"I need to know why. What did he have on you that could make you do what you did?"

"You."

"What?"

He sighed. "I..."

He tried to speak. I could tell he was hiding the pain. I took his hand. He let me. I smiled. I really did care about him.

"I inherited my father's company."

"Hammer Industries?" I asked.

He nodded. " I renamed it because I hated him. With a passion. I ran it for a good amount of time, but after a while, my resentment turned to pain."

I chuckled. "My dad used to say resentment was 'corrosive and he hated it'.

He laughed a little. "More or less."

I smiled.

"I just... I wanted a father. So I went to him. He was so understanding and grateful that I came to him. Then he told me why he left. He told me that your father put him away because he was jealous. He told me that he was dead but he had a daughter who was just as bad. He told me taking you down would be a service for this world. When I came into your office, I was so angry. So resentful. I was ready to kill you right then and there. Then I found out about your family. I talked to you. I grew to like you. Then things changed my father began to show his true colors. He got angry. He started to torture me for your information."

"Why didn't you call the cops? Why didn't you tell me?!"

"He threatened to kill you."

I felt awful.

"You have a sister and a wonderful fiancé who loves you so much. A mother and an uncle. A whole family. They need you more than anybody needs me."

I began to tear up a bit.

"He wanted me to make a housing unit. A weapon for a potentially cataclysmic weapon. He said it could cause destruction on a universal scale. So I made it. I'm so sorry Maya."

"It's alright. Darren, it's not your fault. You tried to do the right thing."

"I put everyone in danger. I'm no better than he is."

I looked at the floor.

"I hope that you find what you're looking for. I hope that you find peace and can finally enjoy life with your family. Live your life."

A tear fell and he wiped it away.

"Thanks for coming to see me before I go."

"You'll be in good hands. I'll come to visit you if I can."

He nodded knowing that I wouldn't be able to see him for a long while.

"You should go now... go see your family."

I nodded and stood up wiping another tear. "Goodbye, Darren."

"Bye, Maya." He smiled half-heartedly as I walked out of the room.

As I walked out more tears began to fall. He saved my life and I repay him by sending him to a shield prison for the rest of his life? He doesn't deserve this. He was a victim here. I was angry that I couldn't do anything to help him. I'd begged Fury to let him go, but he said that it was the rules. You do something bad you have to face the consequences. I didn't think that it was fair. I probably never would. I never thought a lot of things were fair. I didn't think Peter dusting was fair. I didn't think dad dying was fair. I didn't think that me having to take his place was fair. But I guess life isn't fair right? I guess some things just happen. I guess... we'll I guess fate is fate and there's no escape.

(Timeskip)
Later that day I went home. Peter, Mom, Morgan, Happy, and May were still in New York. When I got there I threw my heels off and ran straight down to the garage. I grabbed the arc reactor I'd stollen from the autopsy room at SHIELD a day before. I grabbed a screw driver and carefully unscrewed the top. I then began working to open the housing unit.

After a stressful few hours I finally did it. I opened it carefully and looked at the hidden contents. I knew exactly what it was, but I didn't want to believe it. Because if I did, then that meant the rest of them were out there. I wasn't ready for that. No one was.