Charlotte types furiously at the keyboard of her office computer. Files and papers lay scattered around her work desk. The room was fully illuminated by the sun, with a glass wall that looks down onto the busy streets of New York.
It's been almost seven decades since 1945. Charlotte had been recruited into SHIELD after word of her quills and regenerative mutation reached the government. Since then, she has been working as a trusted level nine SHIELD agent. Thanks to the distraction of her work, the pain of losing Steve and Bucky was only a scar. She was the best agent in the business, and she was valued in her workplace.
Taking a break from writing her report on her latest mission, she leans back into her chair and rubs her temples. She hasn't slept in over 18 hours because of the amount of work Fury laid on her.
The lack of coffee in her system was starting to take a toll on her. Charlotte's eyes began to get heavy, the call of sleep reaching her ears. She starts to doze off until-
"CHARLOTTE WILSON! I HAVE A NEW MISSION FOR YOU! WIL- WAKE UP CHARLOTTE!"
She bolts up in her seat, her quills emerging from her skin because of the sudden surprise. When she sees it's just Agent Coulson, she sighs in relief. Rubbing her eyes, she mumbles curses under her breath.
"Walk in screaming one last time and we'll see where my quills land," she threatens.
Agent Coulson chuckles, walking towards her desk.
"Remind me to get you some coffee before I leave."
He stands in front of her then drops a thick manila folder onto her desk.
"They've found Captain Steve Rogers' body in a block of ice. He's currently down at the labs and you need to go over there to supervise."
At the mention of her "dead" best friend, Charlotte's heart skips a beat. Her eyebrows knit together in confusion, not fully understanding how this could be possible.
"Phil, I swear, you better not be fuc-"
"Don't finish that sentence. Honestly Charlie, do I look like I'm messing with you?"
Coulson looks directly into her eyes, letting her know that he wasn't joking. Coulson was the first friend Charlotte had in the new century. He considered her a sister and promised himself that he wouldn't let any harm come to her. He did, of course, know of her relationship with Steve Rogers.
He looks down at her and meets her green-eyed gaze. Sternly, he explains why she has to fulfill this mission.
"Look, I know this might be hard for you, but Fury wants you on this. You're one of our best agents and you have control over your mutation. You've been assigned as his guardian and I can't change Fury's mind. Romanoff's on a mission at the moment and Barton's away as well."
She stares at him silently. She takes a deep breath in, trying to calm her nerves. Even if this is her best friend, she can't allow him to compromise her emotionally.
Abruptly, Charlotte stands up and walks around her desk, towards the door. Coulson stares at her with a grin, knowing that she wouldn't turn down a mission.
Charlotte looks over her shoulder to steal a glance at Coulson. Unamused, she speeds ahead of him.
"Hurry up and walk me to the lab. I'm ninety-two and I'm obviously not getting any younger."
[ … ]
"Agent Wilson, Captain Rogers is currently in a stimulated 1941 setting. We have an agent in there to explain what's going on."
Charlotte nods, looking into the set from behind a one way mirror. She clenches and unclenches her fists, trying to keep from running into the room and explaining the situationto him herself. Her green eyes focus entirely on the event unfolding in front of her.
Steve wakes up and looks around the room, confused. He sits up, trying to remember what happened before he got here. The radio broadcasted a baseball game that he, Bucky, and Charlotte had gone to back in the 40s.
The agent walked in wearing a uniform that fit in with their era. She smiles kindly at Steve, trying not to surprise or scare him. She greets him and stands several feet away from the bed he is in.
"Where am I?" Steve asks.
"You're in a recovery room in New York City."
Steve looked hesitantly around the room, eyeing the radio specifically.
"Where am I really?"
The agent seems to panic for a second before regaining her composure.
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Where am I? That game, May 1941, I was there."
From where Charlotte stood, she saw how Steve was starting to realize that this wasn't real. The agent began to back out of the room, unsure of what to do. Making a quick decision, she pushed a panic button on the outside of the set and a security team came bursting in through the door. They charged towards Steve but were easily taken down by him and his muscles. Nothing the guards threw at him seemed to phase him. Steve throws one of the security guards against the wall. The plywood set fell to the ground, creating an escape for Steve. Quickly he darted out of the confines of the room.
"Call Fury and Coulson pronto!" Charlotte ordered, starting to dash out of the door. Her heart as pounding as she raced to get to Steve before anyone hurt him, she heard her name being called over the intercom in the building.
"Code 13. All agents code 13. Agent Wilson needed A.S.A.P."
Out of the corner of her eye, Charlotte sees Steve shoving other guards and agents out of his way. She races to catch up to him, suddenly regretting her choice of footwear. Kicking off her heels, she runs barefoot out onto the streets of New York.
Steve is sprinting out of the building quicker than the speed of light, making it harder for Charlotte to keep up. Pushing herself to get to him before anyone else, she runs as fast as she possibly could.
She loses sight of him until she notices him stop sharply. Steve stands in the center of the street, looking around Times Square. He seemed to be in a state of awe. The lights of Times Square had him distracted as SHEILD cars surround Steve. They skidded to a halt,cornering him and keeping him from getting away.
Charlotte pushes her way through the large crowd that begins to form around them. Finding him again, she exasperatedly calls out his name, distracting him from running further away.
Steve's eyes widen as he sees her for the first time in seventy years. Her jet black hair, green eyes, and olive skin were the exactly as he remembers them. He stares at her, his chest heaving.
"Charlotte!" he calls back.
"Steve!" Charlotte runs into the circle, yelling and panting. "Steve, I need you to calm down! We're not here to hurt you."
Charlotte stares at him, trying to calculate his next move. As he seems to cool down, she signals for the gunmen around him to stand down. Her shoulders slouch as the adrenaline running through her veins begins to die.
"Lottie… where are we?" Steve asks, still confused.
"We're in New York City, Steve...you've been asleep for almost seven decades."
Charlotte stands there, staring at him, watching his reaction. Director Nick Fury walks up behind her and lays a hand on her shoulder. With the same blank expression, Fury talks to Steve to explain further.
"I apologize for the show back there, Captain. We thought that we should break it to you softly." Fury puts his hands into his pockets. "How about we go back inside to talk about this more?"
Steve nods and hesitantly walks towards Fury and Charlotte. Fury takes Steve back into the building, calling for Charlotte before they go in. She walks behind them, carefully walking along the smoother patches of the road.
"Agent Wilson?" Fury calls.
"Yes, sir?"
"Don't forget to grab your shoes on our way in."
"Of course, sir."
They walk into the building and in the main entrance hall; Charlotte locates her black heels and grabs them on their way. After a few minutes of walking, they make it to Fury's office on the top level of the building.
Charlotte shuts the door behind her and Steve takes a seat on the chair in front of Fury's desk. Fury turns around to face them both.
"Captain Rogers, I'm Director Nick Fury of SHIELD. The woman behind you is Agent Charlotte Wilson, Level 9. Now, I understand that you might be confused about everything that is happening. That's what Agent Wilson and I are here to explain."
Fury gestures towards Charlotte then continues to speak.
"Your body was found preserved in ice. SHIELD decided to take your body in because of your significance in WWII history. You were thawed and then tested for health related illnesses. After that, we put you into a stimulated environment to hopefully explain everything. That obviously did not happen."
Charlotte walked towards the right side of the room and leaned against the wall. Fury eyes her and points in her direction. Steve turns his head and stares at her, waiting for Fury to continue speaking.
"Agent Wilson will show you the ropes of the 21st Century. I've been made aware that you and Charlotte have already been acquainted, so I'll leave you here."
Fury dismisses Charlotte and she walks out of the door with Steve following behind her closely. Charlotte stays silent, not wanting to say anything in front of other agents. She did, of course, have a strong reputation to keep up.
In the elevator that leads to her office, Steve stood next to her. After a few more moments of silence, Charlotte suddenly wraps her arms around Steve, pulling him into a tight bear hug. Without a second though, he returns the hug with just as much force.
"Steven Grant Rogers, I thought you were dead for almost seven damn decades!" Charlotte says, her voice muffled by Steve's chest. "You don't even know how much I hated being alive without you or Bucky… Brooklyn didn't feel like home anymore. Gosh, I missed you so much!"
Charlotte said every word as fast as she could; feeling like if she didn't speak fast enough, Steve would evaporate into thin air. Love this sentence!
She pulls away from the hug, cupping his face. Smiling at him, she admires the way his features haven't changed. Steve's hands caress Charlotte's face and he stares at her as well.
"What am I going to do now, Lottie?" Steve frowns at her.
"Don't worry, Stevie. I'll help you get accustomed to the 21st century."
The elevator doors open and the pair are met with a surprised Coulson. Charlotte ignores him, gently letting go of Steve and walking straight into her office. She rummages through her paper filled desk, trying to find her keys and purse.
"Captain Rogers. Wow, I didn't expect to meet you so soon."
Coulson grinned at him, looking like a jumpy five-year-old who just got to eat the last cookie.
Charlotte looks up at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Steve, this is Agent Coulson. He's one of my superior agents."
"Please, just call me Phil."
Steve nods and offers him a handshake that Coulson gladly takes.
After locating her personal belongings, Charlotte walks around her desk and towards Steve.
"Is there anything I should know before I head out?" she asks Coulson.
"SHIELD made arrangements for Captain Rogers' living quarters. They've rented out an apartment that's directly next to yours. He's officially on your hands now. If anything happens to him, you're liable."
She nods and thanks him for the information. Coulson hands her the key to Steve's apartment, but grabs her hand before she could take it from him. He gives her a concerned look.
"Be careful with him, Prickly Pants."
She sends him daggers before gabbing Steve and walking back into the elevator. Before the doors close, she calls out, "You can start fangirling after the doors close, Philly Cheese Steak."
Steve chuckles besides her, actually finding their relationship funny. Charlotte smiles, feeling happy to hear him laugh.
"I hope you packed an extra pair of underwear, Steve."