grounded「peter parker.」

03

𝓲 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓫𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓫 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼

Days passed, Valentina is improving in hand to hand combat. She's far from being as good as Natasha, but she can handle herself when sparring with her, or even Steve. But unlike the Black Widow, Steve's being easy on her, afraid that he might crush the girl with his super strength. Little did he know, Valentina is way stronger than him.

And that was confirmed when Steve was hurled across the room after Valentina dodged his kick and shoved his chest offensively. Her intention was for the super soldier to step back. But clearly, that was not what happened. Valentina gasped as she looked at the blonde clutching his painful back as he landed hard on the floor. Natasha, who was punching the punch bag, was also stunned. But it also confused her. Where did the teenage girl got her strength?

Valentina ran towards Steve, who was still on the floor, groaning. "Oh my god, I'm very sorry! I swear I didn't mean for that to happen! I don't want to harm you, you know I don't. I-I was just going to push you so you'll step back b-but- oh my god, what did I do?" Valentina was already sniffing, her guilt and conscience consuming her. She remembered the day she lost control of her powers that injured innocent lives awhile back.

Tony, Wanda, and even Sam Wilson came barging into the training room. They were perplexed and confused to see Steve on the floor groaning in pain while the young woman was crying, hesitant to touch the super soldier, scared that she might inflict more pain. Natasha went up to them, explaining what just happened. Tony frowned at Valentina. But he isn't mad. It confuses him on where did her strength come from? Tony couldn't push Steve that hard without his suit, so how can a young teenage girl overpower him?

An idea strikes at Tony's mind, but he will need proof to see if what he's thinking is possible or not. And so he approached the weeping girl. "Hey, kiddo. Did you feel anything weird inside you before that happened?"

V wiped her tears before nodding, "Y-Yes. There's like a strength that surged in me suddenly, but I shrugged it off, assuming it was just adrenaline, maybe. B-But then," Valentina sobbed again, staring at her hands. "I'm so sorry, Steve. I don't know what's happening to me."

Steve Rogers, who was now sitting up, his back recovering from the pain, hugged her. "No, it's fine. I know you didn't mean it." He turned to Tony, who was ruminating. "What are you thinking?"

"I've been doing research and," He muttered, looking up at the girl once again. "I think she can absorb powers."

"Wait, what? How is that even possible?" Sam huffed, not believing the genius' words. "That is some over the top crazy level shit."

"Sam, haven't you learned not to speak that language in front of an old man?" Natasha smirked, hinting at the inside joke of the team from years ago during the battle of Sokovia when Tony cursed and Steve reprimanded him.

"Give me a break, Romanoff. That was ages ago," Steve groaned, holding his head in his hands. Not wanting to remember the mistake of slipping and scolding an adult man for speaking a bad word. The rest of the members laughed, except Tony.

"I'm more bothered that there are still things that surprise you, Sam. I mean, aliens invading New York? How about an army of robots blowing up a whole city, aiming for global extinction?"

"Anything is possible when it involves the infinity stones," Wanda muttered, feeling a certain connection with the young girl since day one, because both their powers came from the gem that sits on Vision's forehead- the Mind Stone. "But Strucker only settled on my telekinetic abilities and mind games. Whereas for Valentina's case, the scientists who created her were unstoppable. They were never contented. That's why they did lots of experimentation on her, injecting all the serums they made on her veins."

"I need more proof," Tony stood up from his crouched position beside V and dusted his pants. "I think she won't be absorbing anything from me since my powers technically come from my suit and not directly from my body. Same with Sam and Natasha. Unlike Steve who has super soldier serum in his body and Wanda."

Wanda shook her head, "I doubt it will work on me. We almost have the same capabilities. You won't see the difference."

"I'm still pissed Bruce and Thor's not here with us, but whatever. We won't know, Wanda, if we don't try." Tony convinced the redhead.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Valentina hasn't grasped her powers that well, yet. What if she lost control and accidentally killed Maximoff?" Steve intervened, but Tony silenced him. His guts are telling him that everything will turn out well. And besides, this is the way for them to be aware of V's capabilities.

After a few seconds, Wanda sighed and nodded her head. She turned back to the girl, "Do you know how to do that? I guess you should concentrate and focus on absorbing my powers. Like imagine physically getting my powers from me, but you do it mentally."

Valentina was reluctant. What if Steve's right? What if she drained Wanda's life from her instead of her powers? She doesn't know if that's possible or if she can do that, but at this rate, she's not sure of anything anymore. But with the stares at her from the rest of the team, she felt pressured, so she touched Wanda's hand and concentrated well. Then something flashed inside her. Next thing she knew, a mixture of red and black wisps are coming from her hands, levitating all non-living things inside the room. Because of the overwhelming feeling, she lost focus and all things that were floating dropped on the floor. Both she and Wanda stumbled and lost their balance.

Valentina gasped at the new discovery. First, telekinesis. Then, telepathy. And now this? She can absorb powers now? Should she keep a list or something to keep track of her hidden powers? She looked back at Wanda, her emotions mirrored the younger's. Then, black dots slowly invaded Valentina's vision. Her body was shutting down because of the usage of her powers she hasn't harnessed yet. Steve caught her before she went plummeting down the floor. Valentina has fainted.

"I used to be like that when my powers were new." Wanda tried to catch her breath before continuing, "She can absorb powers, but it will make that person weak. That's why Steve's injury took a long time before it recovers. Oh gosh, I think I'm going to faint too." Wanda's words were slurred before everything went black.

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[a.n]

another power revealed is absorbing of powers. if pietro's still alive, she will be able to run as fast as him. but, like what wanda said, it drains the person she absorbed the powers from. since valentina hasn't harnessed her abilities quite well, it also tires her.

but that doesn't mean she can't touch others anymore. she will be able to absorb the powers only if she has the intention to (but what happened to steve was a mere accident, she didn't know she have it in her and she lost control)

but now that she's aware of it, it won't happen again unless she intends to.

with love, rie