Chapter Text
‘Left, right, shuffle, duck! Punch, move back, duck, rush forward, pun- oof!’ Valencia’s thoughts were interrupted as she was tackled to the ground by her mother.
“God Valencia!” Rebecca exclaimed, her fist stopping just short of Valencia’s face, “Stop thinking so hard.” She helped her daughter up from the ground. The two were currently in a private training room at a gym in Old Towne.
It had been two months since Valencia had return home and several things in her life had changed. She had stopped going to school, she’d gotten braids in her hair and colored it a light brown, and she now worked at her mother’s real estate company as a receptionist. After a month of being Valencia Fury, daughter of Nicholas J., she was now back to being plain old Valencia Smith, daughter of Dan and Becca.
“Square up, Valencia!” Her mother’s voice brought her out of her thoughts, “That was sloppy as hell, do it again.”
The bronze girl sighed and did as she was told. The two circled each other, taking slow steps around the matted gym. Suddenly, the sound of a bird taking off distracted Valencia and her eyes left her mother for a beat, but that was all Rebecca need. The older woman chopped her daughter in her throat, making the young girl grab at her neck and choke. Rebecca then punched Valencia in her stomach, making the young girl’s hands dart to her abdomen, with Valencia’s guard down, Rebecca elbowed the girl in her back, making her fall to the mat.
“Get up!” Rebecca yelled at the fallen girl. Valencia groaned but got back up, raising her fists once again.
“You think I give a damn that you knocked out Natalia Romanov?” Rebecca let out a crude snicker, “That redheaded russian bitch ain’t got shit on me. AGAIN!”
Valencia’s nostrils flared and her brown eyes were fixated in a glare as she circled her mother. Once again it was silent all around the two women and sunshine was streaming in through the windows. The sound of their soft breathing echoed throughout the silent room.
Valencia’s fist jutted out towards her mother and as expected, her mother smoothly move to the side of her fist, jutting her own toward Valencia. Valencia ducked out of the way and grabbed her mother’s outstretched arm toward her, bending her knees and flipping her mother over her shoulder.
The two were now back to back and Valencia was still holding on to her mother’s arm. Rebecca elbowed Valencia in her back and pushed her hand out, pushing Valencia away from her. The two quickly turned to face each other and ran toward one another. Rebecca threw the first punch and Valencia blocked it, throwing a punch of her own. The hit landed, but Rebecca quickly retaliated by hitting Valencia in her abdomen.
Knowing this was a common trick her mother used to knock her off her defenses, Valencia moved her hands to her middle, pretending to cradle her stomach, causing Rebecca to begin to bring her elbow down on her back. But Valencia quickly moved back and cupped her hands together, bring them down on her mother’s back with a thump, causing the older woman to fall to the ground with an ‘oomph’. Valencia used her foot to roll her mother over and straddled her, launching her fist towards her mother’s face before stopping just short.
“I win.” Valencia said with a smirk, getting off her mother. She held out a hand to Rebecca and she took it, getting up from the matted floor.
“See what happens when you start thinking smarter?” Rebecca noted, out of breath, “You started playing defense instead of offense. Always dodge hits as much as possible first, make your opponent think they have you. And when they get tired...BAM! Knife to the throat!” The auburn haired woman exclaimed.
Valencia snorted and took a sip of water from her water bottle, “Yeah okay. Can we go now? We have work tomorrow.”
Rebecca laughed and wrapped an arm around Valencia as the two walked out the gym. They walked to the garage and got in Rebecca’s car, an Audi A8, and drove out of the gym’s parking garage.
“So,” Rebecca started, taking a left turn, “Tell me more about this ‘Sam’ guy. Was he cute?” She asked glancing at her daughter with a grin.
“Adorable.” The braided brunette replied, smiling to herself.
“Uh oh.” The curly haired older woman said, “Adorable is a word used for friends, not lovers. What was wrong with him?” She inquired.
Valencia shook her head sadly, “Nothing was wrong with him.” She paused, biting her lip. “I just met someone else.”
“Mhmm.” Her mother muttered, now getting on the highway. “Is that where the captain comes in? I swear that man could fold my flag anyday.”
“Mother!” Valencia exclaimed. “Please stop, he was almost my boyfriend.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes, “Lena dear, he’s at least 95, old enough to be your grandfather.”
The younger woman crossed her arms, “Says the woman who dated someone twenty years her senior.”
“Twenty, not seventy fucking five.” Her mother quipped back. “And what’s the deal with him, you never told me. What happened when you went to the hospital?”
Valencia bit her a lip, “I left him a note.”
Rebecca smirked, “Oh, how me of you. What did it say?” She asked, taking an exit of the highway.
“It’s a secret, Mom.” Valencia said, then followed up with a smirk, “I’ll tell you in eighteen years.”
“Cute.” Her mother remarked, rolling her eyes. The two then rode in silence for the remainder of the ride home.
Rebecca pulled up to the house and parked the car in the driveway. The two women padded up the walkway to the front door and were startled when the bright red door suddenly opened, making them go into defensive mode.
“My girls!” Daniel exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Valencia and Rebecca. The two instantly relaxed and laughed, hugging Daniel back. The tall man stepped back and let the two women in, closing the door behind them.
“How was Zumba class ladies?” Daniel asked as he led them to the dining room. “I made spaghetti!”
“I was fun, Dad.” Valencia answered as they all took a seat at the dining room table. “Very invigorating, right Mom?”
Rebecca daintily used a spoon and a fork to gather her spaghetti noodles and replied, “Yes, very invigorating. They even added new songs to switch things up a bit. How was your day, dear?”
“The usual love.” Daniel said with a grin, stuffing spaghetti in his mouth. “Meetings with other department heads and such. How was work with you two?”
“It was wonderful. Ron found some dynamite properties that we can flip and sell. He even….”
Valencia tuned out her mother’s rambling as her mind wandered, as it usually did during the months of her being home. She would think about anything from Steve to her father, or even the people she killed during her week of being a spy. Her mother had told her not to dwell on the lives she took because it was either them or her, but Valencia, being the kind soul she was, could not help but dwell on such things. She had an unimaginable feeling of guilt welled up inside of her and she couldn’t take her mind off of it. Valencia was fine when her mind was occupied, but at times like this when her mind would wander, she would get swallowed by her guilt. Unlike Valencia’s mother, the young brunette could not just let her feelings roll off her back; the young girl wasn’t that strong….yet.
“Lena?”
Valencia was brought out of her trance to her mother looking at her with a worried face, “Huh?”
Rebecca’s eyes skimmed Valencia’s face and after a beat, she shook her head. “Nevermind.” She replied, before giving Valencia a very motherly look that told her that the conversation wasn’t over.
After dinner, Valencia took a long, much needed shower. As the water rolled down the brunette’s back, the sound of sobs bounced of the porcelain walls around her. After an hour of standing under the water, Valencia cut off the shower and dried herself off. She put on a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top then folded her towel and placed it on the toilet seat.
Stepping out of her bathroom and into her room, Valencia was surprised to find her mother sitting with her legs crossed on her bed.
“What’s up, Mom?” Valencia asked coolly, sitting next to her mother.
“I worried about you, Lena bird.” Rebecca said, her hazel eyes scanning Valencia’s face. “You’re always distracted, with this far off look in your eyes.”
Valencia shook her head and smiled softly at her mother, “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Rebecca narrowed her eyes at her daughter and said hardly, “Don’t lie to me, Lena.” Valencia’s smile dropped and her brown eyes looked away from her mother. Rebecca gently turned the brunette’s face back to hers, “Look at your face, babygirl… I know that look.”
Tears started to well up in Valencia’s eyes. “What look?” She muttered, biting her lip.
“Like you’ve lost your only friend in the world.” Rebecca started, lightly stroking Valencia’s cheek with her soft hand. She smiled sadly, “It’s the look I had after I left your father. Lena, you don’t have to go through this alone. Talk to me. Help me understand how you’re feeling, what you’re feeling. Just talk to me please.”
Valencia released her lip from her teeth and frowned sorrowly. “I just feel so empty. Like I’m by myself. All of my friends here are gone to school to start their life and I’m back home halting mine. So much has changed in a month's time. I have a new last name, a new occupation, a new dream. I…” The young woman paused and swallowed thickly, collecting her thoughts. “For two years, I felt like I didn’t know who I was. I felt unsure about my future, I mean sure I was going to school for business but it always felt wrong. But now, I have all the answers to my questions, but I don’t know what to do with them.”
Rebecca bit her lip and thought for a moment before opening her mouth and saying, “The only thing you can do is live, Valencia.” The young woman looked at her mother confusedly. “So sure, you have a new last name now, and yes you helped save the world on one occasion. But that doesn’t change who you are. You’re my Lena bird.” The auburn haired woman stroked her daughter’s cheek with a smile, “You’re strong. You’re smart. You’re amazing and everything I wish I was at twenty. Not to mention your beauty, but that’s only because you look like me.” She winked, making Valencia snort. “See? You’re all the best pieces of me. And I know you hate me for keeping your father from you but deep down inside I knew you would find him eventually because you’re a little bit of both Nick and I, you inquisitive little shit. And I should have known that when you found him you get wrapped up in his mess because that’s your father for you. The bastard always had shit going on…” Rebecca’s eyes narrowed for a moment but then she shook her head with a smile, “My point is Lena, you’re going to be fine. Even though it hurts right now and you’re missing your father, your friends, and your love-”
“I don’t love him, Mom.” Valencia interjected. A smile had begin forming on her face from her mother’s kind words.
Rebecca raised a graceful brow, “Don’t interrupt sweetheart. It hurts now because you’re missing your love but it’s going to be alright, because it will pass. Everything will pass. Even if you never see them again, it’ll be alright, because you have-”
“Please don’t say you.” Valencia interrupted again jokingly, quickly adding, “No offense.”
Her mother glared at her, “I was going to say you have yourself. But since you want to be an asshole to the person who left her comfortable and plush life as a spy for you, married and bought a house, went to real estate school, and laid in a fucking pool naked and gave birth to your chubby baby ass naturally and drug free then fine!”
“Mom-” Valencia started but was interrupted. “No!” Rebecca exclaimed turning away from her daughter with a pout. Valencia rolled her eyes at her mother’s immaturity and bit her lip to hide her smile.
“Mommy!” She cooed, hugging her mother’s back. “I’m sorry. I’m an ungrateful brat who doesn’t deserve a beautiful, caring mother like you, Rebecca Jane.”
“And don’t forget it, Valencia Renee.” Her mother grumbled, turning around and hugging the young brunette. “I love you, Lena bird, and I’m sure that Nicholas and Steve do too.”
Valencia rolled her eyes at her mother mentioning her Captain but smiled nonetheless, “I love you too Mom.”