Chapter 3:

When Natasha said that there was a problem, Stark thought that she had been talking about his armor, the pigeons, and the face of a building...it had been a total accident. But when they reached the communication room, it was filled with S.H.I.E.L.D agents, and in the center was Nick Fury. The intensity in the room was high. Valli silently slipped next to her Uncle.

"Uncle Nick, what's going on?" she whispered. He didn't answer her, only looked around the room before speaking.

"Our Intelligence has reported unusual activity in an abandoned warehouse near the South part of Manhattan."

"Any ideas of what it could be?" Steve asked, his arms crossed across his chest.

"We have a theory, but in all truth we are not exactly sure what is going on. That's where you come in," Fury said, motioning towards the Avengers. "You are to go and expect whatever or whoever is causing this quandary to appear."

"So basically you want us to go in and crash the party," Stark said as snarky as ever.

The Director rolled his eyes, "Yes, Mr. Stark. Is this going to be a problem?"

"Well, it would be if it was my party. But since it's not, then it is going to be for whoever is in that building."

"Just go. Agent Romanoff will inform on everything you will need to know on the way there. You're all dismissed," Fury turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the others to file out of the room towards the hanger. As everyone began to exit, Valli just stood in her place.

"Kid, what are you doing? Let's go," Clint said, motioning for her to follow.

"Umm, no one said anything. What am I supposed to do?"

"You're a trashman now, remember. Or better yet our babysitter," replied Stark. "So get your boots and gloves and let's go!"

"Ohh, alright," she said in realization as she followed them.

X X X

On the quinjet, Valli couldn't stop fidgeting. Was she really going on a mission with the Avengers? No one back home would believe this.

"Stop shaking," Natasha said, putting her hand on her knee. "You're going to be fine"

"Yeah, as long as you stay where we tell you to," Clint butted in.

"We promise, Miss Valli, no harm will come to you," Thor said, with a reassuring smile.

She sighed, "You're right. I mean, it's not like you're gonna have me fighting alongside you guys."

"What's our ETA?" Steve asked.

"Two minutes, Captain," the pilot replied.

"Alright everyone, let's get this thing over with," Tony said, as everyone readied their weapons.

The quinjet landed a klick away from the warehouse. The Avengers and Valli made their way towards the east entrance of the building. It was pitch black when they entered, and not because the lights were off.

"Anyone have a visual?" Steve asked.

"No, can't see a thing even with my suit," said Tony. "It's like the room is filled with a dense smog."

"Then we'll need to split up. Bruce, you take Valli and find somewhere to keep her safe. Stay with her until we call," commanded Steve. "Stark, you're with me. Thor, you cover the air. Clint, you and Natasha secure the perimeter. If there is a problem here we don't need any civilian casualties. Got it?"

"Got it, Capsicle," Stark saluted, earning a slight glare from Steve. Natasha and Clint went back outside to check the surroundings while Thor flew up above as Steve and Tony plunged into the dark cloud, leaving Banner and Valli standing alone in the blackness.

"You ready for this, kiddo?" Bruce asked her.

"Yeah," she said, her voice wavering.

"You sure? You look like you-"

"I'm fine!" she snapped.

"Alright, alright," he said. "I was just checking."

They stood in silence for the next few minutes. Valli wasn't to sure that they should be standing here for much longer. Something in the pit of her being said they should leave, and now.

"Hey Bruce, don't you...?"

A deep rumble emanated from the floor that made each Banner and Valli fall to the floor leading to a loud boom sounding off. Part of the ceiling began to cave in, dropping chunks of concrete near the two of them.

"What was that!?" she yelled, so scared she couldn't move.

"Valli! C'mon, we have to get you somewhere safe!" Banner shouted, pulling her arm to lift her off the ground. They ran until they came to a solid wall. Bruce began to feel for a door. "Ah-ha!" he exclaimed, "Found it!" He wrenched Valli by her forearm, and slightly threw her into the room. There was a scream that came from the distance. "Stay inside this room. Do not move. I will be right back."

"Wait!" she yelled out, but he was already gone. From the other side of the building, she could hear what sounded like fighting, the scraping of metal against metal, along with what sounded like a roar. Had to be the Hulk, Banner had transformed. Scared and alone, Valli had no idea what to do other than doing what she was told. It's not like she could help anyways.

Another louder boom echoed throughout the whole building leading to a loud moaning sound. Valli looked up to the ceiling, and her eyes opened wide with fear. The moaning became a sudden creak and the whole roof began to cave in on her. She had to scramble to the other side of the room to ensure not being hit by falling debris. Suddenly, all the noise outside went silent. The sediment of the collapsed ceiling slowly floated down, settling on the floor. She crawled over the rubble on the floor, some chunks rather large with metal protruding from its sides. She climbed on top of one of the larger pieces and looked out, trying to see ahead. Suddenly, the earth below her moved. She gave a small cry and tumbled off. Before her, holding the large slab of rock, was the Hulk. His green mass almost seeming to boil with rage. Valli gave a small squeak, quickly scurrying across the rest of the remains of the ceiling. It was a good thing she had, too. A few seconds later the large, concrete boulder that the Hulk had been holding smashed down to where she would've been. Not wanting to be in the middle of the fight that was about to ensue, she rushed out of the demolished room as fast she could. Once she was clear of the film that hung in the air, she saw a door. Another room, she thought. Hopefully this one would be safer. She entered it and silently shut the door behind her, giving a sigh of relief upon realizing that the room was empty. She turned around and faced the inside of the chamber she was in.

It was nearly pitch black, and the thick smog filled this room denser than the other. She could sort of see where a few windows were located as the moon's rays pierced the sooty cloud that filled the room. She began to walk towards it, reaching her hands out in front of her as to not run into anything...or anyone. Her ears suddenly pricked when she heard a faint noise. It sounded like someone had dropped a small, glass trinket on the floor.

"Hello!" she called out. "Who's there!" After she had yelled she felt a foreboding silence creep over her skin, the beginnings of goose bumps rising as her hair stood on end. She should not have called out, she should've kept silent. She took a few steps forward and heard a scuffling noise.

Turning her head towards the scuffle, she saw a whoosh of black smoke, spreading across the room above her. She fell to the floor with a thud, and covered her head, as a loud whooshing noise echoed in her ears. She could see a spark of blue light coming from above her, and the coattails of a dark material. Someone was fleeing the room. Quickly, she got back up and tried to run towards the person, but they exited before she could catch a glimpse of the face. She did see, however, that the person had deep crimson colored hair, very long hair that flowed out behind. Looking out the window where the person had escaped, she saw nothing. Whatever or whoever it was, had totally disappeared.

"Well that was... different," she said.

Stepping back from the window, she felt a sharp of pain shoot through her foot.

"Ouch!" she yelped. Valli lifted up her foot to see what had caused the pain. It was relatively small, only about the size of a small tangerine, and glittered magnificently in the rays of the moon that penetrate the thick smoke. "What is this?"

She knelt down and pick it up, letting the crystal roll gently back and forth in the palm of her hand as she examined it. The more it moved, the more it glistened, throwing delicate flecks of light across her face, the more she wanted to keep it. All other noises in the room seemed to die out as she focused on this one thing in her hand.

"Valli!" the sudden noise made her jump as she quickly clenched the stone in her fist. "Valli where are you!?" it came again. She looked back down at the hand that held the stone, and taking one more long look at the beautiful and enchanting object, she shoved it into her pocket before meeting the others outside the room.

"I'm right here!" she called back out as she exited the room.

"There you are. You alright?" Steve asked breathlessly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, looking over his dirt smudged face and torn clothing. "What happened out there?" She glanced at the others who seemed to be fairly shaken up as well.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not sure" he said, shaking his head.

X X X

The ride back to the mansion was spent in silence. Everyone was dirty, sore, and tired all except for Clint, Natasha, and Valli who was burning with curiosity about what rested in her pocket. She hadn't mentioned it the entire flight back.

"What'd you think of your first mission?" Natasha asked, curious to see what Valli would say.

"Well, it was definitely intense. I mean, I didn't really do anything but run and scream."

"Yeah, well...Hulk did that too. But he also smashed things in the process, so I think you're catching on," said Stark. He sounded happy, but he looked utterly exhausted.

"Uhhh... thanks, I guess."

"Sure kid, any time." He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.

Valli rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Natasha. "So, when are we going to get there?

"Ah, the famous question," replied Tony with closed eyes. "Y'know, I'm beginning to think you lied about your age."

"What? Is that supposed to mean something, Mr. Stark," she asked, growing more irritated. Natasha raised an eyebrow at the billionaire, but he didn't see.

"Leave her alone, Tony. People who interrupt others tend to disappear under mysterious circumstances." She turned back to Valli. "Now what were you saying before that philandering jackass interrupted?"

"I resent that," said Stark indignantly as he sat up, pointing a finger at Natasha.

"Do you ever shut up!" Valli exclaimed, grabbing everyone's attention. She became slightly embarrassed once she saw everyone's eyes on her and the looks they were giving her.

"Yes, usually when everyone else stops talking." Tony paused for a moment to lean back again. "Oh, and uh..careful not to step out of line," he teased.

"I'll show you stepping out of line" she mumbled angrily under her breath

"What was that sparky?"

"Agh! I give up!" exclaimed Valli as she threw her hands up in the air. The rest of the ride back to Avengers Tower was taken in silence.

X X X

The first thing Valli did when they arrived at the tower was rush to her room and lock the door. She pulled out the dark diamond out of her pocket and twirled in between her fingers, observing it closer. The inky gem started to light up from the movement and suddenly it was as if nothing else mattered but the object in her hands. She had never held such power in between her fingers. The trance was broken when someone unexpectedly knocked on the door.

"Valli? You are alright?"

Throwing the diamond in a drawer first, she then went to open the door only to reveal Bruce on the other side.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey."

"Look, I just wanted to apologize for...crashing through the ceiling on top of you back there. Whatever it was we were fighting, I tried to steer it away from the room you were in and I guess it just got-..."

"It's okay Doctor Banner. Thank You," she replied shortly.

"And I know you probably couldn't see anything since it was so dark in there and you were so focused on hiding, but did you so happen to come across anything in there? Anything weird or suspicious?"

"No, not at all," she said, hoping he didn't suspect anything from her.

"Eh...okay. Can't blame a guy for asking, right?" he said, with a small smile as he walked away. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Dr. Banner." She started to close her door, when a hand pushed it back open. It was Stark's. "Oh my gosh! Do you ever go away, Mr. Stark?"

"I just wanted to let you know what time we wake up for breakfast 6:30 on the dot, and if you don't hurry Thunderboy will eat everything for you. He has the most amazing appetite I've ever seen," he smiled at her.

"Okay. Thank You. Now will you please go somewhere away from me?"

"Is there something I did to upset you? You were perky this morning."

"I didn't exactly plan on my summer being spent following you guys around and almost getting killed, Mr. Stark. I didn't ask for any of this!" Tony looked into her eyes, slightly hurt. She regretted what she said. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just been a very long day and I'm tired and cranky. I just want to sleep this off. I apologize"

Stark gave her a soft smile. "No problem, Sparky. I wouldn't wanna spend my summer with those idiots either, but I can't just kick them out," he joked. "Sleep well."

She shook her head, smiling back at him. "Goodnight, Mr. Stark." He gave her a wink and walked off. Gently she closed the door and slipped the lock into place.

After a shower and a change into comfortable clothes, sleep started to overcome her. Before she climbed into bed, she looked over to the drawer that held the enchanting gem. Looking at it one more time, wouldn't hurt. She walked over to the drawer, opened it, and picked up the gem once again. It began to light up again at her touch. Sleep suddenly eluded her as she felt that feeling of raw power in her hands all over again. Valli began to twirl the gem in between her fingers as it grew brighter. She was unable to put it down, so entranced by its power and beauty, until it became so hot that it started to burn her flesh. With a yelp, she dropped it and the entrancement ended. She looked at her fingers, small blisters were beginning to form.

"Great," she muttered to herself. Now she would have to explain those to Stark, "JARVIS?"

"Yes, Miss Valli?"

"Got anything for minor burns in this room?"