When Clint and Natasha find out the big secret, it's only six days after they had moved into the Tower.
Really, Tony expected it to be sooner as had Caroline, but what they hadn't counted on was the way they found out.
It was a normal work day for Caroline, she only knowing it was going to be a bad day when she couldn't shake the tiredness from her mind or limbs. She had gotten up, made her mother breakfast, and sipped some blood with orange juice while eating bacon and eggs as well. The amount of blood usually held her over until after work but she couldn't curve the craving.
So since three out of six (Bruce was finally back from his trip) knew about Caroline's thirst for blood, and the three who knew were the ones she spent a majority of her time with, she figured she was safe with dumping the remainings of a blood bag into a styrofoam cup once more and securing a lid on it.
She had gotten in contact with JARVIS and asked who was lingering about since she was heading to Starbucks for their usual drinks. Pepper, Tony, Steve, and Bruce wanted their usual while Natasha and Clint declined. So after ordering, picking up their drinks, and parking in the underground garage, she makes her usual rounds of dropping off drinks before finding Steve on the communal floor chatting with Natasha and Clint at the bar.
She walks over to them, smiling as she places her own drink in front of her and handing Steve's his.
Ever since New Year's, Clint had been more at ease around her but they never really chatted. They don't really have that comfortable friendship where you can drink from your friend's drink so she's a bit shocked and terrified when Clint's passing by and picks up her drink as if he'd been doing it for ages.
She's far away from her drink that she can't reach out and grab the drink from him without raising suspicious, and it's like everything's in slow motion as the straw heads for Clint's parted lips. Steve catches Caroline's horrified gaze just as Clint pulls a drink from the straw, nearly cringing when there's an audible gag from his teammate.
Clint splutters and gags some more, spitting out whatever he's managed to put in his mouth and looks up with widened eyes. "What the fuck? Why are you drinking blood?!"
Natasha's gaze turns stony as she settles her sights on the now terrified Caroline, and Steve's slowly standing from his seat; ready to diffuse whatever situation that occurs next.
Caroline's frantic gaze falls to the cup in Clint's hand, his stomach churning as he eyes the cup still in hand before he lets it fall with a scowl. But in the blink of an eye, Caroline's crouched right in front of him and catching it before it can hit the ground.
"I- I can explain," she pleads and slowly straightens up just as Natasha whips out a gun from thin air, aiming and firing.
The bullet hits Caroline in her right shoulder, making the blonde stumble back in shock and drop her drink; the styrofoam cup breaking and splattering the red liquid at Clint's feet. He steps back in disgust, Caroline's hand coming up to grip at the wound in her shoulder.
"Stop. Stop!," Steve yells, hurrying to Caroline's side.
However, when Caroline peers back up at the two agents, she's fully vamped out. The whites of her eyes have gone blood red, black veins pulse angrily beneath her eyes, and her fangs are on full display as she hisses in displeasure.
Startled, Natasha fires twice more, hitting Caroline for the second time in the same shoulder while the second bullet grazes Steve's arm after he pushes his friend aside. "Enough," Steve finally shouts, ignoring his wound and guarding Caroline. She's still vamped out, hissing, but not attacking. "She said she'd explain."
"You have a monster at your back, Rogers. I doubt she can speak," Natasha deadpans, gun still aimed at Caroline.
"I can speak just fine," Caroline grounds out, nearly spitting in anger. "If you wouldn't have shot me, you wouldn't have had to find out like this."
"You attacked-"
"I attacked no-one," the blonde cuts off the redhead, earning a glare from said redhead. "He dropped the cup so I caught it. There was no attacking but, of course, you shot first and now are expecting your questions answered second."
Caroline's left heavily panting as her vampire visage fades away, Clint's calmed down some though he's now hip-to-hip with an on edge Black Widow, and Caroline's brows finally pull together as her gaze darts down to Steve's bleeding arm.
"You're hurt," she voices which earns a scoff from Steve.
"It's only a graze. You were shot. Twice."
"I've had worse," she mutters and then the elevator's dinging open on the floor.
"What the hell's going on," Tony shouts, Bruce jogging up behind him. "Why is JARVIS telling me that Romanoff just shot both Little Bit and the Cap?!"
His eyes dart between everyone facing off, taking in the bleeding wound on Steve and the bloodied sleeve of Caroline's dress, down to the pool of blood sitting beneath a broken styrofoam cup. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tony swears before chuckling at the absurdity of it all.
"You knew?" Clint huffs. "You knew and didn't tell any of us?!"
"Knew what?" Bruce calmly asks.
Pointing at Caroline, Clint glowers. "Little Bit was drinking human blood. She has fangs, Banner. Fangs!"
Bruce startles, his eyes widening. "Caroline?" She smiles sadly at him but it's Tony who speaks before she can.
"Well, we knew this was going to happen sooner or later," he shrugs and then nods at her hand clasping her shoulder where there's blood marring the black and white sleeve of her dress. "You okay, kid?"
Caroline grimaces, letting her hand fall before rolling her shoulder. "Peachy. It's healed," she deadpans.
Bruce's eyes widen once more and Steve smiles reassuringly at him. It's only when the cocking of a gun pierces the air does Tony whirl back around and glare at Natasha. "Stand down, Widow," he demands. "Caroline's a friend."
But Natasha's stare is looking passed Steve and at Caroline who's holding her gaze. It isn't until a hand drops on Caroline's shoulder does she look away and finds Bruce who's picking at the holes in her sleeves. "How is this-"
"Banner," Natasha calls out. "Step away."
"With all due respect, Romanoff, can it," Caroline rolls her eyes. "It's not like I bite." Steve snorts as does Tony and even Clint's lips twitch but he remains on guard. "Well," she then amends sheepishly. "I won't bite anyone in this Tower."
Natasha's finger twitches just the slightest on the trigger but no-one calls her out on it. "Alright, alright, put the gun away, Romanoff," Tony finally sighs though he looks rather amused. "Caroline's a guest here as well as you are and I won't have you killing her. Caroline has her explanation for whatever it is you saw and I'll go get that if you put your weapon away and calm the hell down."
"Get her explanation?" Clint frowns.
"It's a long story," Steve answers him. "A story in which JARVIS recorded and Caroline had put away so when the time came, the rest of you can see it."
"I didn't feel like repeating myself," Caroline shrugs. "It gets repetitive."
The group all fall silent, everyone's gaze ping-ponging between Natasha and Caroline.
It isn't until Clint finally lays a hand on his partner's wrist, gently tapping her twice before pushing her raised arms down does Natasha holsters her weapon and Tony claps happily.
"Great! Now everyone remain calm and I'll be right back."
As Stark quickly takes his leave, Bruce tries to look at Caroline's shoulder once more but she waves him off and tells him to patch up Steve. Steve tries to deny the help but Bruce is more adamant with at least getting it cleaned out with some water.
Reluctantly, Steve rips his sleeve off since it's already bloodstained and torn, and Caroline lowly wolf-whistles to cut some of the tension in the room. Steve rolls his eyes, Bruce chuckles, and Clint barely manages to hide a grin. But the further Caroline walks into the kitchen beside Bruce, the further away Natasha puts herself from them all while keeping her gaze locked on Caroline.
By the time Stark comes back, the blood is cleaned from Steve's arm and he holds his torn sleeve against the graze to keep from bleeding. Caroline had then quickly mopped up the spilled blood very mournfully, sighing wistfully as she threw the bloodied napkins away with a frown.
"Here," Tony hands Bruce a thin USB stick and a laptop. "You, Barton, and Romanoff need to watch this. What you see and hear doesn't leave the room nor do you go after Caroline to put her down," he says directly to Clint and Natasha. "If any harm befalls her after you see this, I'm cutting all ties with S.H.I.E.L.D including the funding I give them, and you can run back to Fury telling him you're the sole reason he's losing consultants. Am I understood?"
Bruce takes the offered items, nodding quickly even though the threat wasn't meant for him. Sure the Other Guy was on edge around Caroline before but after seeing Caroline and her gentleness, the Other Guy didn't feel threatened by her as much so neither did he. He doesn't know how to explain it but he figured he'd follow his gut instinct on this one and hear her story first before passing any type of judgment.
Natasha and Clint both tersely nod, and Tony nods back before looking to Caroline. "You, come with me while they get caught up. I think Pepper has some clothes that will fit you."
Caroline makes her way towards Tony with Steve still by her side, she picking at the hem of the pleated skirt of her dress. "Man, I really liked this dress, too. Now it's ruined."
Steve chuckles and casually throws an arm around her shoulders, walking leisurely into the elevator after Stark and leaving three very confused and intrigued teammates behind to watch Caroline's story for the first time.
xXx. XxX. xXx
By the time JARVIS has alerted them that Doctor Banner and agents Barton and Romanoff have watch Caroline's life story, Caroline follows Steve and Tony back down to the communal floor.
Pepper had been informed of the day's events, she having been pissed that Caroline was shot but let her anger go just as quickly as it had come. She gave Tony the okay to give Caroline whatever clothing he could find that would fit her which is how the vampire found herself in cutoff jean shorts that Pepper rarely wore, and a Guns-N-Roses sleeveless tee that Pepper refused to wear much to Tony's displeasure.
Pepper and Caroline wore different shoe sizes so Caroline had to tough it out and continue to wear the heels she originally had on. Though when she got a look at herself in the mirror, her heels hadn't looked that bad paired with shorts and a band tee.
Tony had told her to stop ogling herself, and then she and Steve were being led back to the elevator to go see the fallout of her secret coming out once more.
When they step out onto the communal floor, Caroline walks behind the wall of Steve and Tony but no-one is openly glaring at her. Sure, the three of them seem curious and wary- as they should be- but Caroline catches a bit of pity in the redhead's eyes when they lock gazes.
Caroline's the first to look away and nervously places herself at Tony's side instead of behind him. "So.."
Bruce, Clint, and Natasha just glance around at one another before Natasha takes a step forward. "Director Fury needs to see this."
Nothing about her voice is harsh and for that, Caroline's grateful. Still, Tony and Steve tense at their teammate's words but the vampire in question merely shrugs. "I figured you'd want to run to the head honcho," she mutters. "I'll comply but the second he mentions or even suggests I be cut into or mentally examined, I'm leaving."
Natasha nods once and now it's Clint's turn to step forward. "What was with all of Stark's voice-overs when a friend was mentioned? I know your friends are not named after the powerpuff girls or the villain monkey or any cartoon characters for that matter."
Caroline's head snaps up at Tony, his grin turning rather smug as he peers down at her. "You named someone Mojo Jojo?" she asks, barely containing her giggles. "Who?"
"Someone who is supposed to be half wolf and half vampire," Clint answers before Tony can.
And suddenly, Caroline's doubled over in laughter as everyone just stares. "You named him- I can't believe- oh my, God. I need to tell Stefan!"
"You can tell lover boy after," Tony plucks her phone from her hands.
"He's not my-"
"We have other things to attend to," he continues. "And the voice-overs are so Fury doesn't send anyone after her friends. Not everyone is as nice as Little Bit, Barton. You'll be smart to remember that."
Caroline huffs and pouts, crossing her arms over her chest while glaring all in good fun at her boss. Tony only winks back, pocketing her phone and turning back to Clint and Natasha who are under the watchful stare of Rogers. "I warned you when you moved in about hurting Caroline," he tells both agents. "But since you're both calm after having heard her story, I'll let it slide this once. Don't make that mistake again."
Caroline's more than a little shocked with the protectiveness that Steve's showing on her behalf but she's also elated because let's be real. Captain America is protecting her. Her!
"Alright, well, if we're doing this, can we do this now," Caroline steps in front of Steve to block the redhead from his glare.
Clint nods, pulling free a phone from his pocket and placing a call to whoever it is they have to see now. Turning to Bruce, Caroline catches his curious gaze upon her and grins. "Doctor Banner, if there's something eating away at you, just ask."
He startles at her knowing stare, gaping a bit before closing his mouth shut and staring at her shoulder that was bloody earlier. "You healed. You said vampire blood can heal, yes?"
"Yes."
"But how- I don't know- I'm sorry," he says as he shakes his head. "It's just, I'm a man of science and this all makes no sense."
Caroline giggles and steps toward him, sighing in relief when he doesn't back away from her. "After we go visit the one-eyed man, you can run my blood."
His eyes widen. "But you said-"
"I know what I said," she smiles slowly. "But you- I trust you more than a secret agency. You won't hurt me like they would. They'd take without asking because they'd think it's their right especially since they're supposed to know about stuff like this, but you? You would ask because you've been in my position before and hunted down for it." He gulps at her words- at the sincerity he can see in her gaze and numbly nods. "Pepper told me; I hope that's okay. I didn't know until recently."
Again, he numbly nods and Tony cackles. "You should've seen her reaction, Doc. She couldn't believe that her fluffy haired scientist was actually the Hulk!"
Steve and Clint both snort, and Caroline elbows Tony a little too harshly. "I didn't call him mine, you jerk! Stop trying to stir up drama."
Tony rubs at his now sore side with a grimace while everyone watches on in amusement as yet another blonde seems to have Stark wrapped around her little finger.
"Okay," Clint breaks their stare. "Our ride should be here in a few so we should head up to the roof."
Everyone mumbles and agrees, all shuffling towards the elevator but Bruce stops them. He hands over the laptop and USB to Tony, claiming he'll won't be attending the meeting since the Helicarrier still puts him at unease.
They all understand Bruce's dislike and leave him there but not before Caroline assures him that she'll save time for him soon so he can ask whatever it is he's curious about. He smiles gratefully and bids the group farewell.
xXx. XxX. xXx
This is the second time that Caroline's found herself directly across from Director Fury. Only this time, his two intimidating agents are standing behind Tony and Steve on her side instead of the one-eyed man's side.
Fury closes the lid of the laptop, his gaze falling to the USB sticking out of the computer's port before Tony leans forward and snatches up both in his grasp. Fury then plants his elbows atop his desk, his gaze narrowing on the people before him as he steeples his pointer fingers beneath his chin.
"So you expect me to believe vampires are real?"
No-one speaks and Caroline boldly leans forward in her seat, her features shifting right in front of Fury himself. "Yes."
He doesn't seem all that surprised but he does sigh as if this information annoys him. "And you drink blood?"
"Yes. You just heard everything," Caroline gives a sigh of her own. "I drink from blood bags and that one agent whose throat I ripped out was because he shot me in the head and was about to shoot Pepper. I went on the defensive."
Fury nods and then leans back in his own chair. "Does you being a vampire have anything to do with the newbie Hydra agents easily answering your questions and then ours?"
"Again, yes," she answers him. And before he can even ask, she goes ahead and tells him. "Among our talents that you just heard, there's another thing we can do called compulsion. We can compel people to do things that they wouldn't normally do."
"Like mind control," Fury deadpans and the way he says it has Caroline gulping uneasily.
"Like mind control," she agrees with a heavy heart. "That agent wasn't going to talk so I simply compelled him to give me the answers I wanted. And then before we boarded the jet, I compelled them to behave, be quiet, and to answer whatever questions it was that S.H.I.E.L.D had for them."
She can feel the tension rise in the room, her sluggish heart picking up in speed at how everyone is going to view her now. There was a reason why she didn't explain what compulsion was. Not many people were too keen on being close to someone who could easily control them.
"Do you compel people often," Clint quietly asks.
When Caroline turns to face him, his form is way too tense and she feels bad for making him feel that uncomfortable. "No. I only compel if it's a life or death situation. Or if someone sees something they're not supposed to." She can practically feel the unease wafting off of him as he holds her gaze, she being the first to fidget and then frown guiltily. "Okay, so I compelled a girl once. But it was her fault," she's quick to defend when Natasha takes a step toward Clint to put herself between him and Caroline. "She was hitting on my boyfriend at a party and I was newly turned. I couldn't tone down the jealousy, I didn't know how, so I simply told her to go away."
Natasha, as well as the whole room, freezes and then the russian's lips twitch faintly that no-one sees it except for Caroline. Clint finally snorts, Tony starts snickering, and Steve mumbles about Caroline being the most innocent other he's ever come across.
When Clint and Natasha are at ease once more, Caroline turns her attention back to the Director. "But if you're at unease with my kind because of that one talent we have, there is a way so you won't be vulnerable."
"What is it," he demands.
"Vervain. Given the right amount, it can be lethal to my kind," she explains. "It's a plant that my friend- who's also a vampire- grows in his basement. And if you're wondering why a vampire is growing it, it's because while we can't compel each other, the Original of our kind can. So with that said, we put a bit of vervain in what we drink even if it pains us to do so and work our tolerance of it up."
"When I lived back in Mystic Falls, since humans can't smell or taste it, we put vervain in the town's water supply so other vampires couldn't try to compel or snack on our people since the vervain would eventually enter their bloodstream."
"And how can we get our hands on some of that," Tony asks. "As much as I adore you, I don't want to be mind whammied."
"No worries, Boss," Caroline sadly grins at him. "I'd never mess with any minds here unless you wanted me to. And as for getting some, I can have some delivered to the Tower since apparently Johnny Bravo grows it."
Caroline can't help the laugh that escapes her, she having heard the nicknames Tony had added over her voice of saying her friends' true name, Stefan being Johnny Bravo in this case.
"And us?" Fury asks. "I don't want my agents being vulnerable."
The vampire purses her lips in thought, peering over her shoulder at the agents standing there and waiting for an answer as well. "The two of you still going to bunk at the Tower or was that just an excuse for the main man to figure me out?"
"We're staying," Clint answers.
"Good. I'll place a call to my friend and have him come to the Tower. I'll have him show you how to keep up with a garden of vervain only if the garden is at the Tower. If anyone aboard this ship needs some, you can deliver it yourself. I don't want everyone finding out about me or my kind."
Clint nods but Fury scowls. "This is too big of a secret to keep, Miss Forbes. People should know."
"Excuse me," she whirls on him and yep, there's that tension again. "People shouldn't know, Director. My kind and the others make sure to keep their lifestyle a secret and should someone find out, well then that's were compulsion comes in. The only reason I didn't compel Steve, Tony, and Pepper is because I've come to value their friendship. If others find out, it'll cause a panic. You'll pin people against people and let me tell you, Director, that'd be a very bad idea."
"Is that a threat?" he suddenly straightens up.
"No, it's a fact. Right now, witches and werewolves and vampires are only worried about each other. They could care less about what else is going on around them. But the second you- the humans- target the other kind, they'll put aside their differences and band together. And let me tell you, they will come out on top."
"So you just expect us to sit around like lambs waiting to be slaughtered?!"
"No, I expect you to put some trust in the one vampire you already have on your side," Caroline grits out. "I can share all my knowledge with the people present in this room and have them started on vervain. When you get a shipment in, you can start spiking the drinks of everyone else here for all I care. But should you run into something other, then you call in the Avengers or have someone call me. I'm not the only good vampire out there but right now, I'm the only one willing to give a helping hand."
Fury can only stare, his jaw clenching tightly as he fights off the urge to let his eye twitch at being told what to do by someone who wasn't even human.
"Fine.. but the second this goes South, it's on you."