maybe they ran into him a few times and tried to get him to join up, but he didn't want to be a full time team player? honestly they could've used a healer, and val might have resented him a little after the team broke up because their leader died and she wonders if he could've saved them. but it's been over a decade since. now she's completely out of the hero game and works as a paramedic, so they could've had some run-ins on the street where he took care of business before the ambulance arrived. if they didn't know each other's real identities, he might recognize her by seeing her use her powers at some point?