(Attendance please…)
….
Matt's internal alarms were ringing. A figure this big, this unpopular, this… problematic, coming to their small, struggling firm? It wasn't cause for celebration; on the contrary, it felt like a massive, unforeseen complication.
The last time a "big shot" had come to them when they could have hired any major firm in the city, it had been Wilson Fisk's right-hand man, James Wesley. That hadn't ended well.
"So," Matt asked, cutting through the pleasantries, his tone sharp and focused, "you're saying that you did kill everyone who was on that part of Sokovia?"
Gojo sighed, the playful energy momentarily leaving him. "I didn't do it willingly, Matt," he said, his voice a little softer. "Can I call you Matt? Well, anyway, I'm going to call you Matt."
Didn't even wait for my response, Matt thought, a flicker of annoyance passing through him.
Gojo continued, leaning forward slightly. "So, in the very, very, very short version of the story, that part of Sokovia was about to hit the surface of the Earth. The Avengers, they tried to save everyone, they really did. But it was just impossible with the timer they and I were running on. Even as it was falling, they saved some, but saving everyone was impossible, even for me. And I had to destroy it. Otherwise, it would have been like the dinosaurs all over again, but with less cool fossils left behind."
He leaned back, stroking Mochi's fur. "I won't really go into all the other important bits, as they aren't relevant to this case, but I would like your reputable law firm's help in getting my picture and my name out of the media and the newspapers. It isn't really doing anything to me personally, except… well, I'm being treated as a public menace, and I can't even buy sweets in most stores because they refuse to sell them to me. It's not very professional at all, from my perspective."
"Sweets?" Karen asked, a little taken aback by the sudden, almost mundane complaint.
"Yeah," Gojo confirmed with a nod. "I have a sweet tooth."
He then looked from face to face, his expression now one of earnest appeal. "So, would you help innocent little me? I mean, they're putting all the blame on me for a choice no one else could make. If I hadn't done what I did, everyone on the surface of Sokovia, and likely far beyond, would have died." He spread his hands. "And I mean, I am innocent, legally speaking. As you can see, I haven't been arrested or charged with anything. And the video itself, it doesn't even show my face clearly. Whatever is happening, this whole media frenzy, it's being fueled by some unknown third-party source I don't know anything about."
Throughout Gojo's entire explanation, Matt was listening. Not just with his ears, but with all his enhanced senses. He focused on the rhythmic, steady beat of Gojo's heart, the even cadence of his breathing, the subtle shifts in his body temperature. And the conclusion was undeniable, and deeply unsettling. The man in front of him, for all his bizarre mannerisms and immense power, had not lied about a single thing.
Foggy, ever the cautious one, cleared his throat, buying them a moment. "This is… a lot to take in, Mr. Satoru," he said. "Can we maybe give you an answer at a later time, after we've had a chance to discuss it among ourselves?"
Gojo's smile returned instantly. "Oh, no problem at all!" he said cheerfully. "Take all the time you need. And just to be clear," he added, "I will be paying, so you don't have to worry about the money at all. Here…" He handed Foggy a small card with his number on it. "…my number. You can call me with your answer, or, if I don't hear from you, I'll just come back myself tomorrow."
"Thank you," Foggy said, taking the card. "We'll let you know by tomorrow morning."
Gojo stood up, gently scooping Mochi into his arms. With a final, charming nod to the three stunned lawyers, he exited the conference room and then the office, the small bell on the door chiming his departure.
Once outside on the bustling Hell's Kitchen street, Gojo took a deep breath of the city air, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.
The moment the door to their office clicked shut behind Gojo Satoru, the fragile professional facade shattered like glass.
Foggy Nelson, who had been holding himself ramrod straight, slumped into a chair, letting out a long, wheezing breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Karen just stared at the door, her hands trembling slightly, her mind replaying the impossible encounter.
Matt remained silent, his head tilted, still processing the cacophony of sensory information the unnervingly steady heartbeat, the strange energy, the sheer, overwhelming presence of the man who had just left.
Foggy was the first to speak, his voice a frantic mixture of abject terror and wild, avaricious hope.
"A multi-million-dollar defamation case," he whispered, his eyes wide.
"With his backer as Avengers… against every major news network in the country…" He would have been ecstatic, jumping for joy, if he weren't so utterly petrified. He got up and began to pace their small office, running a hand through his hair.
"Did you guys see him? Just… poof! In our office! The guy the news says erased a city! And he wants to hire us? Matty, are we certifiably insane for even thinking about this? Because I am thinking about it. A lot. I'm thinking about paying our rent for the next decade with the retainer alone!"
….
Outside, Gojo took another deep breath of the city air, a satisfied smile on his face. He pulled out his StarkPhone and dialed Tony's number. After a few rings, the call was answered, not by Tony, but by Jarvis's calm, synthesized voice.
"Hello, Satoru," Jarvis said.
"Oh, hey, Jarvis," Gojo replied cheerfully. "Where's Tony?"
"Sir is currently in his lab, experimenting on something, and has given strict instructions not to be disturbed," Jarvis explained.
"Well, whatever," Gojo said with a shrug. "You up for a gaming session later? At my apartment? And hey, I have a new friend I want you to meet… maybe she'll like you."
There was a slight, almost imperceptible pause on the other end. "A new friend? And… 'she'? Am I correct to assume, Satoru, that she is your girlfriend?"
Gojo laughed. "Come on, Jarvis, I'm not a playboy who just picks up any girl I meet, like your boss Tony. Though," he added thoughtfully, "I might think about getting a girlfriend later. But no, that's not it. You'll like her, I promise. My apartment, this evening, okay?"
"Okay, Satoru," Jarvis replied. "I will be there."
"Well then, see you at the console," Gojo said with a grin. "And be ready for a thorough trouncing." He didn't wait for a reply, ending the call with a final, decisive tap.
….
That Evening, Gojo's Apartment:-
Gojo returned to his new home, a high-end, minimalist apartment in a discreet, upscale building all paid for with Tony Stark's seemingly bottomless black card.
The space was mostly empty, reflecting Gojo's lack of interest in material possessions, save for a few key items: a massive, top-of-the-line television, the latest gaming console, a very comfortable-looking sofa, and now, a small, plush dog bed and a few chew toys for Mochi.
He decided to do something mundane, something normal. He called a local pizza shop. "Hi, yeah, I'd like to order for delivery," he said. "Three large pizzas, all with extra cheese and pepperoni. And a couple of large bottles of cold drinks. Thanks."
A short while later, there were three soft knocks on his apartment door. Gojo, who was lounging on the sofa with Mochi, didn't even get up. "Yeah, get in, man!" he called out. "It's open!"
The door opened, and Jarvis stepped inside, looking for all the world like a normal human being in casual, well-fitting clothes, his crimson skin and the Mind Stone on his forehead the only giveaways that he was anything but.
"Right on time, man," Gojo said with a grin, gesturing towards the gaming console. "So, what do you want to play? Call of Duty? Or maybe something else? I've got a bunch of new games."
Jarvis looked at the screen, then back at Gojo, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his synthetic face. "Anything is fine, Satoru," he said, his voice as calm and polite as ever.
….
A/N: So, How was it? Next would be gojo finding daredevil on a rooftop shot at his head like in daredevil s2 ep1.
And as always thanks for demicatoru/loadedDemigod for suggestions.
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