"I think we should take a break," I heard someone say after they had argued for a few minutes more. I nodded my head and sat down for a moment with my father. At that point almost every one of the avengers had been on their feet.
My father sighed and folded his arms over his chest. His eyes were riddled in frustration. My father could be set in his ways but he took others opinions into consideration. He also took their point of view and their feelings. Even if he was upset with them. My father's gaze softened a few moments later when he looked over at me. He had been looking straight a head for the past few minutes and I could only imagine what was going through his mind.
"I heard the remark one of the other children said." my father spoke softly to my. He reached out and held my arms in his warm hands that were ruff from his many hours in the gym. It had never bothered me, the calloused and broken skin of his hands, they had never struck me and they always made me feel safe. Even if I could defend myself, it still felt good to know my father was there. But right now, though I felt safe with his hands on my arms, I couldn't bare to look into his eyes.
"Look at me, sweetheart." He said, taking my chin in his hands so that I was now looking him in the eyes. "You are nobody's puppy dog. You will never be anybody's puppy dog. You are strong, and intelligent, and brave. You have more guts than some of the people in this room. And you are my daughter. You are nobody's puppy dog to drag around. Especially not mine."
I blinked away the tears that pricked in my eyes but I couldn't keep my emotions inside. Just hearing my father say that. He believed in me. He knew I was above them. Above the names. My lip quivered and the tears poured out. They were happy and sad tears. I nodded as he pulled me into his embrace. I rested my chin on his shoulder and let his strong breaths calm me down. My father knew what it meant to be a real dad. I could never repay him for that.
After a while I calmed down, wiped the tears away and set my jaw. I pulled away from my father and he let go of me. I adjusted my clothes looked up at my father and nodded. We stood up at the same time and my father walked behind me. As we approached the other families that had all gathered in the kitchen my father clasped a hand on my shoulder and guided me in.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "That's my girl." before he went over to the other avengers. Leaving me to socialize with the other kids.
