Loki's Daughter Book 3

A broken leg and Tony Stark

'Can I do anything for you?' Val asks as she enters my room a week later. Sighing, I can't even look at her.

'You can leave me alone. Please. Just leave me alone.'

'Why Raven? What's wrong? You can talk to me you know.'

'I don't need you. I don't need to talk to you. I'm fine.'

'Stop shutting people out!'

'I'm not. OKAY!'

'What's wrong with you?'

'Nothing.'

'Don't lie to me. You're quite than usual and you're not even trying to lie or make mischief. Something is wrong. What's wrong with you?'

'Nothing,' I snap back as I think, it's just that a long sleep where I never wake up sounds good right about now.

'Why aren't you smiling anymore? In fact, you're never happy anymore. What's wrong Raven?'

'Happy?' I sneer. 'What is this strange word of which you speak about?'

'Oh Raven,' she sighs and sits down on the edge of my bed. I lift my head up from where I hold it in my hand and glance at her.

'You know...you have to die a few times first, till you can really live,' she says.

'Who the fuck said that?' I sneer at her as I get off the couch and pace over to the balcony, my skin prickling with her presence.

'Charles Bukowski,' she replies calmly.

I shoot a look over rather. 'Oh yeah and what does it mean? Quotes don't work. They're just sill things people say, pretending that they know what they are on about.'

'What's wrong Raven? Why are you so sad? Do you need someone to give you a hug?'

I glare at her.

'Why do you hardly ever talk to me? You always shut yourself off whenever I'm around.'

'I will never say the things that  I want to say to you. I know the damage it would do. I love you more than I hate my loneliness and pain.'

She flinches a little at the words. I turn back to the open window.

'I am the worst,' I whisper.

'No, you're not.'

'Yes, I am! Have you fucking seen me?' I spin around.

'Yes, I have.'

'Actually no you haven't. How well do you really know her Valarie?' my father asks her as he appears.

'She's strong and that there is nothing wrong with her. She's just taking her time to get over things that happened in the past.'

'But is she really strong? Is there really nothing wrong with her?' My father shoots back. I remain silent, watching them.

Valarie looks away unable to answer.

'For Odin's sake. You don't know her Valarie. You never really knew her. You're just as much of a stranger to get as any of the Avengers.'

'I am not. I do know her. I know everything about her.'

'Enough to know that she isn't really that strong? That she really isn't fine?'

'She is strong. She never cries for god's sake. She is finer than I will ever be.'

'She only comes off as strong, but maybe she falls asleep crying. She only acts like nothing is wong, but maybe she's just really good at lying.'