The next day, while Lance was still in Stark's workshop, he received notice that he had been fired.
"Looks like I'll have to make sure I serve my final client well," Lance said, spreading his hands and shrugging at Stark, who was working on Mark II.
"Aha!" Stark poked his head out from behind the workbench. "So our high-and-mighty lawyer has finally run into trouble?"
"Yes, yes." Lance raised his hands in a perfunctory surrender. "So, would you be willing to support a poor lawyer on the verge of bankruptcy? You wouldn't want your attorney ending up homeless because he can't pay rent, would you?"
"Bankruptcy?" Stark scoffed at the sob story. "Isn't two million dollars enough for you to live on for a month?"
"It would have been, based on past experience. Not anymore."
"What, planning to use cash as wallpaper?"
"Of course not. That would be a waste of resources," Lance said seriously, his devotion to money beyond question.
"I'm planning to open my own law firm."
The spray gun in Stark's hand paused. "So?"
"So I need Stark Industries' help."
"Isn't two million enough to open a law firm?"
"Money is only part of it." Lance leaned against the lab bench. "Qualifications are another. I want a legitimate, compliant firm. Not some corner operation scamming people."
"That makes this even more interesting." Stark set down the spray gun and braced his hands on the bench. "Yesterday, JARVIS told me you hold Juris Doctor degrees in at least four states. New York may be your first place of practice, but your win rate is absurdly high. Qualifications shouldn't be a problem for you."
"Maybe not elsewhere. But the place I want to open it has some complications."
"Where?" Stark asked casually.
"Hell's Kitchen."
Tony Stark: "?"
Tony Stark's hand trembled, and the spray gun dragged a glaring red streak across Mark II's leg armor. The unfortunate suit immediately burst into a shower of sparks.
"Easy, easy." Lance frowned, wincing slightly. "Don't wreck the poor thing."
"The way you say that makes it sound like Mark II is yours."
Stark jumped down from the workbench, crossing his arms as he looked Lance over with open disbelief.
"Hell's Kitchen? Even Jesus wouldn't go there to preach, and you, a lawyer, want to open a firm there. What is it? Has the great Mr. Lance Prescott discovered some unique business opportunity?"
Stark circled him, clicking his tongue.
"Or did you suddenly grow a conscience? Planning to save those poor wretches and junkies, dedicate yourself to dragging people out of hell?"
"If that's the case, I'll suggest New York's churches replace Jesus with you."
"Does Stark Industries have that kind of influence?" Lance raised an eyebrow.
"Not before," Stark shrugged. "But if you're serious, I wouldn't mind setting a precedent."
Lance chuckled at the dry humor and waved it off. "Forget replacing Jesus. I need Stark Industries to help me secure the qualifications to operate in Hell's Kitchen."
"Why should I help you?" Stark rolled his eyes. "We're in a simple employment relationship. We've met, what, five times? Why would I do you a favor?"
"Because I'm smart and capable?" Lance shook his head. "Clearly that's not enough to convince you. But what if I could help you figure something out?"
"What?" Stark said with disdain. "There's nothing in this world Tony Stark can't figure out."
"Including how your father, Howard Stark, and Ms. Pepper Potts feel about you?"
Mark II's right leg joint let out a painful creak as Stark, flustered, punched the unsecured hydraulic assembly.
No one paid the armor any attention.
Stark rubbed his face hard, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "What? I have no idea what you're talking about."
For someone that prideful, being forced to confront his own feelings was more unbearable than anything else.
Tony Stark clearly had not reconciled with his father, nor had he acknowledged his feelings for Pepper Potts.
"Don't you want to know whether your father cares about you? Whether he loves you? And whether Ms. Pepper Potts has feelings for you? I can tell you all of that. The former comes from my analysis."
Lance tapped his temple. "As for the latter, well, I have a bit of a lawyer's…"
"Your little psychology tricks!"
Stark cut him off quickly, rubbing his face again. "Forget the first part. Of course Pepper likes me. Every woman in the world likes Tony Stark."
"Is that so?" Lance raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the camera in the upper right corner of the room that had been quietly observing them. "So Ms. Pepper Potts is just one of those women. Ordinary and unremarkable?"
Tony Stark fell silent.
Lance took that as agreement. He picked up his briefcase and prepared to leave.
"I hope that by the time I win your lawsuit, my private firm will be ready as a celebratory gift."
"Fine, fine!" Stark was still flustered, his tone far from polite.
"You vampire. Damn lawyer. A Stark doesn't need you to tell him how to do things. Your precious law firm will be taken care of."
"Thank you." Lance gave a slight bow, almost knightly in form. "Goodbye."
Before leaving, he paused and added one last remark to Stark, who was still pacing in irritation to mask his true feelings.
"You know, you look just like a little princess who's been caught by her crush."
One of Mark II's hands was torn off and hurled straight at the lab door.
"Get out. Now!" Stark roared.
...
A week later, Lance's private law firm was already operating in Hell's Kitchen. The speed was so fast it made him wonder whether Stark had personally walked into City Hall and slammed his hand on the table.
The thought only made Lance picture Tony Stark as a cold-faced young woman washing underwear. It was an image he found difficult to suppress, and he shook his head to clear it.
Choosing Hell's Kitchen had been a deliberate decision.
Despite its reputation, it was far less dangerous than Gotham.
There were no truly notable villains here. Most of the residents were addicts, paupers, and low-level criminals.
Lance had inherited Batman's combat skills, so protecting himself in a place like this would not be a problem.
But simple self-preservation was not enough.
What he wanted was to build a reputation for his firm.
So he set his sights on two heroes closely tied to Hell's Kitchen.
Daredevil and Spider-Man.