It was a day like any other. It was also my birthday. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were having beautiful weather in D.C.: blue skies, bright sun with a slight breeze. I had spent the morning at my brother's grave. His name was James. He died of leukemia when I was seven. He was older than me by two years. When he was diagnosed, my mother cried every day until he passed and my father spent his nights drinking whiskey from the bottle. After the funeral, everything turned out okay. My mother and father both looked on the brighter side of things: they still had little 'ole Charlotte.
Everyone called me Charlie and I was okay with that. I like when girls can go by guy names because it's unique in a way. Anyways, I never told my parents about what I could do. The only person that knew was my brother. But that day, my sixteenth birthday, was the day I was going to tell them. I had kept it from them long enough and I decided I would tell them. I had no idea how they would react. I just hoped they wouldn't see me differently than the Charlie they loved and knew so well. Like I said before, I spent the morning at the grave talking to my brother. I told him how excited I was to turn sixteen and I told him how I was finally going to tell mom and dad.
Before I left, I had put fresh flowers on his grave. When I got home that afternoon, I took a walk around the peaceful neighborhood I used to live in. My parents were at work- they worked for the FBI- and I didn't feel like being alone in the house. I remember that I was thinking about how cool it was to have parents that worked for the FBI. Whenever people asked what my parents did, they would always say something like 'that's so neat, Charlie' or something like 'Don't you ever get worried?' If they said that I would respond by saying, 'Nah. My parents are like superheroes.' Little did I know back then that I would follow in their footsteps. My dad was the one who taught me how to shoot a gun. I'll never forget that.
Anyways, after my walk, I had gone up to my room, grabbed my copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns and sat on the front porch. We had a love seat swing that we all loved to sit in. My Mother, Father and I would sit outside for hours upon hours at night, looking at the stars. I remember feeling the warm sun on my skin, the breeze blowing my curls and the noises of everyday outside activities. I had to have sat out there for at least two hours. When I had looked at the clock, I thought to myself 'they'll be home soon!' My heart had started to race in my chest. I was nervous about telling them but this was what I wanted.
An hour passed and I my parents had not arrived home. The sun was setting and the warmth from the day was fading. But I still waited outside for them to pull up and when they would get out of the car they would yell 'Happy Birthday, Charlie!' It wasn't like them to be late though. I remember that I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, when a black SUV pulled up in front of my house. Like the one my father drove. I stood up with a smile and stood on the top of the steps. But when the door opened and a man I did not recognize stepped out, my smile faltered a little. Another man got out of the passenger side and they both walked the path to my front porch.
"Can I help you?" I had asked.
They two men wore suits and stood at the bottom of the porch steps as they looked at me. Their faces were filled with an emotion I did not understand at the time. I do now. It was anguish. Pain. Emptiness. A mixture of the most horrible sentiments.
"Ms. Charlotte Anderson? Daughter of Harry and Selena Anderson?" I nodded my head slowly. "I'm sorry to inform you that your parents have been in an accident. They were both killed instantly. Unfortunately, it looks like it was intentional." My world had crashed right then and there. I knew my life had taken a turn for the worse. The FBI had informed me on some details but did not disclose everything. Two days later, I was sent to live with my Aunt Linda in Pennsylvania. I shut people out. I was too afraid to let anyone in. Afraid to lose more people I cared and loved about. I finished my high school years there and in my first year of college, my Aunt passed. The emotional toll was terrible and I felt cursed. So cursed that everyone around me left me alone and cursed that I couldn't tell anyone about my ability. So I decided to join the military. I used my ability in the Marines and it felt good for a while. Then I left. Joined the FBI. That was when my life began again for the first time since my parents were killed.
(******************)
Charlie gnawed at the end of a plastic pen, staring at the computer screen. Her feet were crossed and propped up on the table. Her eyes hurt because she had been doing the same thing for hours now. She clicked through photos and videos and looked at the different time stamps. She wrote down locations and cross checked them to see if any were frequently visited or were a one and done kind of deal. Charlie wasn't wearing the uniform. She couldn't after the failed mission. Today she had on a black long sleeved turtle neck underneath a red leather jacket. She paired it with dark skinny jeans and of course, her black combat boots. Charlie was so focused on her work, she didn't realize Dr. Banner had been standing next to her until he cleared his throat. She stopped chewing on the pen but kept it in her mouth as she looked up at him.
"Hungry?" He said smiling a little and pointing to the pen. Charlie took the pen out of her mouth and examined it. There were bite marks in the plastic and it had begun the split. Charlie let out a sigh and placed the pen down by the keyboard.
"Now someone asks. I already ate the cap." She joked and got a laugh out of Banner.
"Want to go get something? I could go for a bite right about now." Charlie glanced back at the screen and chewed the inside of her cheek. "Taking a break will be good for you, Charlie. You've been here since seven thirty in the morning." He took a second to check his watch. "It's now six thirteen and I haven't seen you eat anything all day."
"But Fury said,"
"I know what Fury said yesterday. But since when do you care about what Fury says?" She looked up at Banner again and he had a small smirk on his face. It was infectious because she also started to smile. He was right.
"Alright. Let's go. Plastic isn't the best source of nutrients, anyways." Banner chuckled and Charlie's smile widened as she stood up. As they walked to the cafeteria together, Charlie's legs felt stiff because she had been sitting at that computer for hours on end. Charlie ended up getting a salad, chips and water while Banner got a sandwich and water. They sat across from each other at a small square table. Charlie tossed her salad as best she could and stuck a forkful of lettuce into her mouth. Charlie closed her eyes and sighed through her nose.
"Better than plastic?" Banner asked, taking a bite of his own food. Charlie swallowed and nodded.
"Much better, thanks." He smiled as he chewed and Charlie reached for her water. She unscrewed the cap and took a sip. Charlie glanced to her right and couldn't help but notice heads turned her way, eyes staring. The table was full of women agents and their heads were bent together and they spoke in low whispers as they full on stared at Charlie. Charlie turned her head away and blinked a couple of times, unsure of what to make out of what she had just seen. Bruce took a drink of his own water before asking,
"Why do you look very confused?" She looked at him.
"Do I have something on my face? Or in my hair? I usually don't wear my hair down but…" She glanced over at the agents who were still staring at her. Bruce followed her gaze and smiled.
"There's nothing on your face, Charlotte. Or in your hair, I promise. Just don't pay any mind to them." He turned his attention back to his food.
"But, Doc. They're staring!" Charlie exclaimed quietly. She watched as one of the women agents got up and started walking over to their table. Charlie whipped her head to look at Bruce. "One's coming over here! Quick, act normal." Banner raised an eyebrow at her as he chewed his food. Charlie ignored him and pretended to look busy with her salad. Charlie smelled the young women's perfume before she even took the seat next to her.
"Excuse me. You're the new agent, right? Agent Charlotte Anderson." Charlie looked up from the salad she was picking at with her fork. The first thing she noticed about this person was her huge green eyes. She was slender, with her blonde hair in a French twist and wore a skirted uniform. Charlie thought she probably wasn't a field agent. She was also very pretty. Charlie nodded in response and took a sip of her water.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?" She continued before Charlie could respond yes or no. "Are you sleeping with Agent Barton?" Charlie spat her water out all over Banner's tray… and him. Charlie whirled her head to look at the agent with wide eyes, mouth agape. The agent looked disgusted but then smiled sweetly at Charlie. Bruce just stared down at his wet shirt front and shook his head. Charlie couldn't be bothered by that now.
"Say what now!" Charlie took a napkin and wiped her mouth off. The agent's false smile never faltered as she asked again.
"Are you sleeping with Agent Barton?" Charlie grimaced a little and stared at the agent in disbelief. That was none of her concern, smart ass bitch! Even if I was, I wouldn't just tell her!
"Why the hell would it be any of your business if I am or not?" Charlie asked, pointing a finger at the women. The agent just gave Charlie another fake smile.
"Oh it isn't. We were just wondering." She said sweetly. She stood and turned to walk away. "It was nice talking to you." Charlie's mouth hung open as the agent sauntered back to her table. Charlie saw as the she said something to the others at her table while nodding her head. They all looked back at Charlie and snickered. Charlie looked away and back at Bruce. She gave him an apologetic smile.
"I'm so sorry that I did that." He chuckled a little and shook his head.
"Don't worry about it." Charlie stood up and pushed in her chair.
"Do you think you could bus this for me?" He nodded. "Thank you. Again I'm sorry and what that agent asked, it is not true. So please don't say anything. Promise?"
"I promise." He said. Charlie smiled.
"Thanks. Again. And I'm sorry. I owe you!" She said pointing at him as she walked away. She turned her head to see the women agents watching Charlie as she walked out. Charlie raised her left hand and flicked all of them off. Charlie watched as their mouths dropped and Charlie smiled sweetly and waved with her right as her left stayed where it was. Charlie heard Banner burst out laughing. Charlie smirked to herself as she walked out of the café and lowered her left hand.
Charlie walked back to the lab by herself. She couldn't stop thinking about that agent and her obnoxious question. How dare she ask her something like that? Although…the thought of sleeping with him didn't repulse Charlie. But when he kissed her yesterday, Charlie ran away as soon as they were interrupted. Charlie hasn't even spoken to Clint since then. Now that she thought about it, she hasn't seen him around either. Charlie thought that he had been called off on a mission. She walked into the lab to find it empty. She read the clock and it was seven ten. Charlie looked out of the window that overlooked the flight deck. She could see the setting sun through the huge glass wall in the flight deck. Charlie decided it was time to retire to her room. She gathered up her notes and some files and shoved them into her messenger bag. She grabbed the USB out of the computer and told herself that she would work on it in her room.
Charlie shut the lights off and walked back to her room. She didn't feel like digging around for her ID so she just walked through her door. Charlie walked into her separate bedroom and flicked on the lights. She got the folders out of her bag and set them down on the desk that was against the wall next to the door. Her bed was in the back in the far right corner. Her closet was against the same wall as her bed only in the left corner. Charlie pulled her desk chair out and plopped down in it. She opened her laptop and turned it on. As she waited for it to boot up, she scattered the files on the desk around her. She grabbed her notebook and leaned back in her chair. She skimmed over the hand written notes. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Charlie grimaced at how nasty the thick mass felt and was suddenly desperate to take a shower.
She placed her notes down on the desk and went to her closet to grab a fresh pair of clothes: a grey tank, sports bra and black yoga pants. She walked out of her room and into the separate bathroom. She waited until the mirror fogged up and got into the steaming shower. She scrubbed her hair with shampoo and conditioner and then washed the rest of her body clean. She stood underneath the water for a little while, eyes closed. She couldn't stop thinking about how close she had gotten to Gabriel. Now, she was even more determined to find the bastard. Charlie got out of the shower and dried herself off and got dressed in her comfortable clothing. She ran a comb through her damp hair, which now extended to her upper arm. She hadn't realized how long it had gotten. When she was able to go home for a weekend, she would have to get it cut. The curls sprung right back after she combed them. With a shrug, Charlie left the bathroom and went back to her bedroom. She turned the lights off so the only illumination was from the computer monitor. She sat back down at the desk.
Time flew by as Charlie dug deeper into Gabriel's past and present life. Charlie had her leg bent up on the chair and rested her chin on top of her knee. Charlie's eyelids felt heavy as she stared at the computer screen. She let out an exhausted yawn and she glanced at the time in the corner of the screen. Twelve thirty four A.M. Charlie yawned again. There was a sudden knock on her door. Charlie lifted her head to peer out of her bedroom door and to the main door. She squinted at it, thinking if she did she could see right through it. Unfortunately, ex-ray vision wasn't the ability she was 'blessed' with. There were three more rapid knocks. Charlie rolled her eyes and stood. She stretched her muscles as she walked out of her bedroom and stood in front of the main door.
"Okay okay, you Persistent Percy." Charlie pressed the button on the wall next to the door and it slid open. Charlie sucked in her breath when she saw Barton standing there. He was dressed down in dark jeans and a black cargo jacket over top a grey t-shirt. Charlie couldn't help but notice the dark circles under his eyes and the fatigue he wore on his face. "It's twelve thirty in the morning."
"I know." He ran a hand through his short hair.
"Where have you been?"
"I was called in to do a mission." Charlie nodded her head and nonchalantly looked down the hall. No one was out there. Of course there wasn't. Charlie crossed her arms and looked back at him.
"Well you woke me up." She lied. Barton raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down.
"No I didn't."
"What?" She felt her face heat up.
"Your clothes are hardly wrinkled, your speech is perfectly fine for someone who just woke up and your hair looks like you just did it." Charlie bit her lip and shook her head. That's what I get for lying!
"Okay. Then, tell me Nancy Drew. What are you doing here?"
"To talk to you." Charlie's heart rate kicked up. "Can I come in? It would be better than standing out here." Charlie hesitated but nodded. She moved aside and let him enter. She pushed the button and the door slid shut. When she turned to say something, he wasn't there. She furrowed her brows and looked around. She saw movement in her room. She walked in and saw Barton standing at her desk, looking through the different files. She walked over and grabbed the file from his hand. She set it down on the opposite side of the desk. He turned his head to look at her.
"Okay, did you come to snoop or,"
"No." He said cutting her off. Charlie watched him through the darkness as he turned and leaned against the edge of the desk. He crossed his arms and though it was dark, she could feel his eyes on her. She heard him take a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Natasha told me what you told her." Charlie's mouth fell open.
"You're kidding me." Charlie shook her head and put her hands on her hips. She started to pace.
"No, not by a long shot. God, Charlie. Stop moving!" Charlie stopped where she was, which was an arm's length from where Barton stood. "You should have told me you had feelings for me."
"I did, Clint! Not long after I kissed you! But then you… you kissed me yesterday in the training room! What was that about? And don't say 'my thank you, Charlie.' Total bull shit!"
"Fine. You want to know why I kissed you?" He said standing up and walk closer to her. Charlie stayed where she was. She looked into his eyes through the dark. "I kissed you because I have feelings for you. Deep feelings that I want to share. I want to share them with you, Charlie." Charlie's heart skipped a beat as he placed an hand on her arm. His touch was warm and Charlie wanted to feel more. She looked down at his hand.
"I.. I can't." She said, closing her eyes.
"Why, Charlie. Why can't you?" He lifted her head up. She opened her eyes but avoided his gaze.
"Because. I know that as soon as I let someone in, I'll lose them just as quickly." She forced herself to look at him.
"Charlie. You can let me in. I'm telling you to. Let me in." He said quietly. Charlie opened her mouth slightly but closed it and shook her head. "Charlotte. I want you to let me in." She felt his face getting closer to hers and she wasn't pulling away. Something broke inside of her.
"Okay." She said quietly. His hand moved to the side of her face and he dragged her closer. He kissed her tenderly. Charlie closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him right back and she loved it. He placed his other hand on the small of her back, pressing her body closer to his. The kiss became much more passionate and heavy. Charlie took her hands out of his hair and slid the jacket off his shoulders and it fell to the floor. Charlie felt him pull at the hem of her tank. He it slid over her head and Clint threw it on the floor. Charlie's hands searched for the hem of his tee. He smiled against her lips and pulled away. He pulled his tee off and threw it away. Charlie rolled her eyes as he placed his hands on her bare hips and pulled her to him again. Their lips met again and Charlie placed her hands on his chest. She felt the muscle beneath her fingers and trailed up until her hands were on his shoulders. They started to walk backwards until they fell back onto the bed. Charlie felt his hands move up along her sides and it sent chills up her spine. He broke the kiss and his lips moved along her jawline and down her neck. Charlie dug her fingers into his hair once more. His lips found their way back to hers and she welcomed them. She felt his hands reach for her sports bra and….
There was a horribly loud sound that reverberated through Charlie's room. It caught Charlie off guard so much that one minute she was on the bed, making out with a man she so desperately wanted and the next… she was on the floor, underneath the bed. Charlie laid on the floor under the bed for a minute trying to figure out what that noise was. It was some kind of alarm.
"Charlie?" She heard Clint call. She rolled her eyes and wiggled her way out from under the bed.
"Yeah, I'm still here." She got out and stood, wincing at the loud noise. Barton sat on the edge of the bed, covering one ear with a hand. He smiled when he saw her and then broke out laughing. Charlie slapped his arm and yelled, "Shut up!" He stopped lauging and wrapped his arms around her waist. He looked up at her with a grin. "Alright, Romeo. Put it back in your pants for a second. What's that noise?" Just then, Fury's voice sounded.
"Members of the Avengers Initiative report to the flight deck immediately." Charlie heard Clint let out a frustrated moan. He let go of her waist and stood up. He walked over to where his shirt was on the floor and picked it up. Charlie stood and watched him put his shirt back on. Why was it that they were always interrupted?
"Why would Fury be calling you guys so late?" Clint shook his head.
"I don't know." He grabbed his jacket and shoved his arms through the sleeves. Charlie reached for her tank on the floor and put it back on. Clint walked over to her and placed his hands on her hips. She looked up at him. "Maybe we could continue this later?" He said with a grin. Charlie rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Maybe." She said. He leaned down and gave her one last tender kiss.
"I'll see you later." He murmured against her lips.
"Be careful." She said as he turned to walk away.
"Hey, babe. I'm an Avenger. I laugh in the face of danger." He winked at her over his shoulder and left. Charlie laughed and sat on the edge of her bed. She smiled to herself and fell back onto the bed. She rubbed her hands over her face and then stared at the ceiling.
"Things are about to get a whole lot more interesting."
Hey guys! My messege is at the end of the chapter today because I really wanted you all to feel the change of POV. Haha.
Comments: I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Writing in first person POV was a really nice change for me. I thought that I would delve into Charlie's past a little and I wanted it to be a little bit more personal. So I changed it from third to first with the click of a key! Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. So please, leave a review. Tell me what you thought about it or what you hope to expect to see in the future. There are people that have favorited and are following my story and I have not heard from some of them. Much thanks!
Shout outs: miller330, Texas Shewolf and to the anonymous guest (I noticed the whole heal/heel thing like a week after I published and thought to myself, wow. That's embarrassing! I was just too lazy to go back and change it. Haha)
Until next time,
-Koty Lyon
