Valen: A Collector's Item

Healing

Valen walked around the construction sight as the team decided to take a break after hours of debating and planning. Tony had Friday searching anything and everything of the three men after her to find any kind of information that would be useful. Steve was on his way to meet Fury. Nat was using her resources to see if they knew of anything.

There wasn't much to do when there was no idea where anyone was and Valen sure as hell was not going anywhere other than where her team was.

The girl stopped right where she landed not too many days ago. She mindlessly played with her two bracelets as she recalled the emotions of that day versus now. So much can happen in so little of a time.

"Is it okay if I join you?"

Tony's voice startled her as she nearly jumped out of her skin. She didn't realize he had followed her out here. It just hit her that her ear still hummed with an incessant bell that she must not always register anymore.

She didn't respond to the man with a purple growing underneath his eyes. She only gestured with her arms that he could take the empty space next to her.

Tony was also at a loss of words as he joined Valen. He crossed his arms as he stared at the eye level of emptiness that surrounded them.

He pointed at her arm. "You're not translucent anymore."

Valen picked up her arm to look at the tan her body was holding onto. "Probably the most vitamin D I've had in my entire life."

His lip picked up in a quick quirk. "Did they feed you well over there?"

Still staring straight ahead she nodded. "Yes."

"You have muscles."

"I've always had muscles."

"But they're more defined now."

Valen threw her hands in the air and finally faced him. "Tony."

"Dad." He faced her too.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to apologize."

"That's not why I'm here." Tony took one more look around the place that used to be something. That is turning into something but not what it was. "Am I mad? Yes. Am I irritated beyond capability? Yes."

"Same adjective, isn't it?" She asked under her breath as she crossed her arms for another fight.

"Am I petrified? More than you know."

The confession made Valen take a step back. Her arms dropped to her side. Her grey eyes filled with concern instead of defiance. "What are you afraid of?"

Tony gestured to the welcome center where most of the team remained. "The Avengers are my family. But you-" He jabbed his finger right into her forehead. "Are my daughter. You mean more to me than what I thought the Avengers ever could mean if that's possible. And only last year, I almost lost you twice."

He held up two fingers in her face. His face was struck with grief as he laid himself out vulnerable in front of her. "Twice. And that second time-"

"I'm sorry." She whispered unsure of how to respond.

"No, listen to me. That second time, when I had to take your limp body in my arms, I thought for sure you didn't have a chance."

Valen stood there staring up at the man she loved as her father. Blood or not, he was her family and it distraught her to see him so emotional because of her.

"What I did to keep you safe was unfair to you. But you returned home and it was like the protective bubble wrap I put you in all popped and deflated. I am petrified because your life is on the line. I don't care if this hoarder wants you alive, he will not have you. But I am struggling because it seems like every effort I make is not good enough and you're just one step away from being gone."