Chapter Three
A/N: Hello, and welcome back! I love writing this story so much, that I feel I'm neglecting my others, but oh well. This one is fun. So we get to meet two other Avengers in this chapter, read to find out who! And please feel free to tell me what you think! Enjoy :)
It felt like her head must have only just hit the pillow when the alarm clock began to blare. Her eyes opened weakly as the sound continued to pierce her ears.
Charlie reached out and slammed the machine off, giving it a push off the bedside table for good measure. She slowly sat up, and rubbed her eyes, before examining the mess of her bedroom.
She didn't have a great deal of possessions, yet somehow, her new bedroom looked like a bomb had gone off. And the same went for the rest of the apartment. She slowly staggered out of bed, despite her body pleading with her to return to stay within its warmth, in nothing than an oversized old band t-shirt and her underwear. Mindful of the boxes, but still tripping over, she left the room and headed to the kitchen, in desperate need of some caffeine.
She looked around the different utensils in the kitchen to make the coffee. She was simply used to instant powder and a kettle. Now there was a fancy espresso machine and all sorts. She frowned at the machine as it did not have a simple button that said ON or OFF.
"Fucking great," She mumbled. Instead, she decided to grab a quick shower, and grab a coffee on her way to work. The hot water managed to wake her up somewhat, as she stood under the spray, and she was conscious enough to wriggle into some pants, a button up shirt and blazer. She pinned her hair up, and grabbed the kit bag she'd left by the front door last night.
Agent Romanoff had told her to bring a change of clothes for a gym session. The last time she'd actually done any exercise was when the lift broke in her London office; climbing five flights of stairs nearly finished her off. Sitting in front of computers all day didn't motivate her for the gym; after work she either wanted to go to sleep or get drunk.
Locking the door, she headed down the stairs of her apartment building, figuring she'd have to get used to stretching her legs more now.
Thankfully, the apartment Fury had procured her was right across the street from a coffee shop.
"Nick, you know me so well," She smiled as the barista passed her a steaming cup with her name scrawled on.
It was not every day you started a new job in New York city, and Charlie was dumbstruck by the vast buildings around her. She probably looked like the easiest tourist to mug. Sipping her coffee, she followed the directions on her phone towards the correct subway. It was almost like home, with the Underground. Buskers played their music, people pushed and shoved, not caring for personal space whatsoever. Clutching her bags and coffee, Charlie was smushed into a corner on the train as it spurred its way into the city. She could see Avengers Tower from the grimy glass of the subway train. She followed the bustle off the platform and back down onto the street. For the first time, she finally felt awake enough to feel the nerves.
She was going to be working with actual superheroes. Like the kind from comic books and films she'd watched as a kid. She raised her eyebrows as she neared the tower. It's glass seemed to shine brighter than the other buildings in New York, and she could see a unique looking jet land on the platform high at the top.
She glanced at her watch and saw it say three minutes to seven. She stood outside the impressive building as she slurped the last of her coffee, draining every last drop of caffeine. She would need the fuel today; Agent Romanoff had hinted the workout session would be intense, and she had to learn all the new computer systems today, as well as meet new people, which was always a joy. She frowned slightly as she thought about the redhaired agent from last night. She was cocky, and clearly experienced in her job.
But Charlie could feel they were going to clash at some point.
She deposited the cup in a trash can and waked to the glass front doors. They opened automatically, and she approached the desk on the wide spread floor.
"Um, hi?" She said slowly. The receptionist stopped typing on her computer, and looked at the newcomer. Charlie noted there were several armed guards walking the floor, each of them looking her up and down, either assessing if she was a threat, or that her pants were too tight.
"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist sighed, clearly not having had any coffee herself this morning. Charlie scrambled into her bag looking for the pass and lanyard Nick had given it.
"It's alright, I've got this one," A familiar voice called. Charlie could almost hear the smirk in her voice. Here she was, flustered and looking for her pass as Agent Romanoff walked out onto the floor, smirking slightly. "You're on time," She smiled lightly. "Nick told me to not expect you to be conscious until noon,"
"He has such high expectations of me," Charlie drawled, swinging the lanyard over her neck.
"He told me you'd most likely have been exploring the bars in your neighbourhood all night." Charlie rolled her eyes. If she hadn't been exhausted and dealing with jetlag, she may have gone exploring.
"Didn't really get much of a chance last night," Charlie said, narrowing her eyes as Romanoff cocked her head to the side.
"Come on, I've got to give you the tour."
"Wow, lucky me. Did you piss Nick off or something?" Charlie widened her eyes slightly as Agent Romanoff laughed. It was a small laugh, but deep and real.
"I don't know a lot of people who call the Director by his first name. There are only a lucky few."
"Yourself included." Charlie raised her eyebrows as they stood before of a lift. She cast her eyes over Agent Romanoff. She wasn't in the same black suit as last night; she was wearing skin tight dark blue skinny jeans, dark boots, a leather jacket, and a white vest beneath. Charlie felt her eyes linger a little too long, before staring straight ahead, waiting for the lift to open.
"Yes, well Nick and I go back a few years, so he asked me to call him that."
The lift doors pinged opened, and Romanoff gestured for Charlie to enter first.
"He asked you?" Charlie raised her brows. "Well, that's a first. I just told him I wasn't playing no stupid spy game and calling him by his last name. He kinda gave up in the end."
"You've known him a long time," It was a statement, not a question. The doors closed, and the two women looked straight ahead and not at each other.
"Yes," Charlie said, not offering any details. She felt as if Agent Romanoff could read her whole story just by looking at her with that intense gaze of hers. She tried her best not to shuffle nervously, but she saw Romanoff smirk from the corner of her eye. Soon, but not soon enough, the lift pinged on the right floor, and again, the agent gestured for her to go first.
Like the outside, the inside of Avengers Tower was impressive. Gleaming and widespread. Charlie couldn't help but gape as she set foot onto the polished floor. As she looked around, a figure walked around the corner, sipping from a coffee cup, wearing an AC DC t shirt.
"Romanoff, are you bringing strays into my tower again?" The man stopped before them, looking up from his phone to peer at Charlie. She couldn't help but stare.
"Tony, this is Agent Miles. Fury has tasked her to be our new intelligence field agent." Romanoff watched as Tony's eyebrows shot up.
"Fury didn't run anything past me," Tony muttered, sipping from his cup. Charlie frowned as she realised where his eyes were going. She realised perhaps she could have buttoned her shirt a bit further up. She shifted on her feet slightly.
"Eyes up here, mate." She scowled, and Tony's eyes shot back up. "Doubt you'd hear anything if you keep letting your eyes wander."
"You're English?" Tony tilted his head. "That's got to be the weirdest London accent I've ever heard." Charlie rolled her eyes.
"We're not all from London, y'know? Country's a bit bigger than the one city." Tony made a look that said he'd never actually considered that possibility.
"Well, we're gonna have fun then, aren't we?" Tony gave her a bit more of a warm smile, before nodding. "Don't give the newbie too much of a hard time Nat," Tony began to saunter away, smiling slyly. "Break her in gently."
Charlie couldn't help but stick her middle finger up. Any other boss would have had her for that, but Tony Stark chuckled and went on his way.
"He grows on you," Romanoff grinned. "Eventually."
"I look forward to it," Charlie grinned slightly, and followed Romanoff through the Tower. She showed her the various floors the Avengers operated on. From the communal spaces, shared kitchen, cinema room, and work rooms. The work rooms had the most amazing views across the city. The agent led Charlie into one at the end of the corridor, which looked over the city, a view of the park not too far. A large desk and various computer terminal lined around the room.
"Fury set this up for you, said you like to play with computers," Charlie stepped into the room, casting her eyes everywhere. She'd never had her own office space before. The office in London she shared with six other agents, and the kitchen was two cabinets with a kettle older than time, and a pigeon problem in the roof. This certainly was an improvement.
"This good enough for you, Angel?" Charlie turned around to see Romanoff giving her a sly smirk, and she frowned.
"What's with the nickname? I would hardly say I'm an angel." Romanoff's smirk just grew slightly.
"I'll let you get settled in here. Meet me downstairs in the gym in half an hour. Need to see what I'm working with," Romanoff closed the door, and Charlie stared after her. The woman was…peculiar. Charlie didn't know what to name the feeling when the woman was looking at her. It was almost like she was being x-rayed, making her feel a little too exposed and weak at the knees. She shook the feeling off as a lack of caffeine and strode to the window to admire the view. It wasn't London, but it was a damn sight better. She couldn't help but grin to herself.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
Agent Romanoff hadn't taken her into the gym, but they had passed it on the tour, the redhead pointing the door out to her. Charlie grabbed her kit bag and headed back down towards there. But of course, she must not have been paying attention, as she ended up lost in the vast corridors of the Tower. She'd probably starve to death trying to find the right floor, or the right room for that matter.
As she tried one door and found it locked, the next one opened, and a man walked out. He was dressed in sweat pants and a black t-shirt, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh god, sorry." Charlie said, nearly bumping into him. He peered at her curiously, as if wondering why she was there. "Sorry I-well, I think I'm lost." The man peered at her again, before his face split into a grin.
"You must be the new kid,"
"Guess the getting lost aspect gave it away, right?" The man chuckled.
"You're Miles, right?"
"Yeah, well, Charlie." She stuck her hand out and he shook it.
"Barton, well, Clint."
'Right, you're the arrow dude right? Um, Hawkeye?" Clint's eye crinkled as he smiled.
"Arrow dude?"
"I'm bad with names. Sometimes. Sorry."
"It's fine." Clint chuckled. "Where you trying to go?"
"The gym?" Charlie shuffled her feet. "I'm supposed to be meeting Agent Romanoff there," Clint's eyebrows raised.
"Nat's training you? Wow, they don't go easy on you new ones do they?" Charlie didn't want to think what that sentence meant.
"She's going to kill me, isn't she?"
"Well, not at first." Clint tried to hide his laugh at the young agent's fearful look. "I'll take you to the gym. I'll tell Nat to go easy on you,"
"Think she'll listen?"
"Probably not." Clint showed her the way to the gym. Which was a good thing, as she'd been on the wrong side of the Tower. He scanned his pass and the door opened. The gym was huge, open plan like the rest of the tower, with one wall pure glass, overlooking the city. Machines of all kinds were across the floor. Some she'd never seen before. If anything, it looked like a very expensive and sleek torture chamber. On the far left of the gym was a boxing ring. Charlie's eyebrows scrunched up as she saw Agent Romanoff pacing the ring like a caged animal. She had changed from her leather jacket and pants to a red tank top and black yoga pants. Charlie found her eyes trailing down the curves, before she mentally kicked herself.
"Look who I found, all lost and confused." Clint chuckled as they stepped into the gym. Charlie gave him a prod in the ribs with her elbow.
"You're late," Agent Romanoff smirked. "You'll have to pay for that," Charlie felt her palms sweat.
"Go easy on the kid, Nat. She's new." Clint crossed his arms, but was smiling.
"I promise I won't break her," Romanoff smirked again, and Charlie glared at her. "Go get changed. Quickly." Charlie thanked Clint for his help before she jogged towards the changing rooms. She dumped her kit bag into a locker and quickly changed, swapping her clothes for a pair of grey sweatpants and long old white tee with a beer brand splashed across the front, which she was pretty sure she'd won in a drinking contest. She tied the bottom of her shirt up to her stomach, so she looked a little less homeless. She stepped out of the changing rooms to see Clint leaning over the ropes of the boxing ring, grinning. His smile got even larger when he nodded in her direction. Romanoff turned around and gave her a sly grin.
"Oh shit, what have I got myself into this time." Charlie muttered to herself, stepping up to the ring, clutching her water bottle a bit too tightly.
"Have fun, rookie. I've told her not to kill you just yet." Clint slapped her on the shoulder before departing. That just left Charlie with the redhead, who was still smiling at her.
"Come up here, Angel, and we will get started." Romanoff stepped back towards the centre of the ring.
"Stop bloody calling me that," Charlie squeezed between the ropes and stepped into the ring. Her palms were sweating more so, and she bounced foot to foot. She watched as Romanoff did a few arm stretches, and Charlie noted her toned figure, and her small but firm biceps. She was in for it now. What the hell had Fury signed her up for now?
Agent Romanoff had her do some basic stretches to warm her body up. She would demonstrate, and Charlie would copy. The young woman unconsciously took the opportunity to examine Agent Romanoff as she stretched her arms and legs, and Charlie was sure she was turning red in the face. If the Avenger noticed, she didn't say anything. But she kept her word – Charlie paid for being late.
"Tell me honestly, are you even trying to hit me?" Nearly two hours into their training, and Agent Romanoff teased as the young agent was floored for the fourth time this training session. Charlie blinked away the stars, before leaning up on her elbows.
"Yes I'm trying! You're just a lot stronger than me,"
"Fury told me that you like to fight." The redhead smirked, offering out a hand to her trainee. The girl scowled at her, before clasping the soft hand and being pulled to her feet.
"Pub fights," She grumbled under her breath. She did seem to enjoy fighting. If she'd had a skinful and was in a foul mood, she'd pick a fight with anyone; she'd thrown plenty of bar stools in her time. One of them hitting a particularly shitty ex-partner in London.
"Then show me your aggression, Angel." Romanoff smirked again. That damn smirk. Charlie grit her teeth, and simply charged at the red head, who saw her coming. A swift dodge and kick, and Natasha managed to wrap her legs round the agent and floor her. Charlie felt her head smack against the matt, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of her. Dazed, she lifted her head and looked up to see Agent Romanoff practically sitting in her lap.
"You fight far too much with your heart," Romanoff's smirk turned to a soft smile. "You need to use your head in this game."
"I'm trying, you're just distracting me too much," Charlie grumbled, not realising what she'd said. The redhead cocked her head to the side lightly.
"How am I distracting you, Angel?" Charlie felt Romanoff shift into a more comfortable position on her lap. She was sure her face was going red. "Out there, they're going to do a lot of things to distract you." Charlie felt her heart rate quicken as she felt a hand gently touch her waist. "You need to clear your head of emotions and focus on the moment.
She didn't say it, but she felt like she was very focused on the moment. She shuffled up onto her elbows, and stared Agent Romanoff down as she continued to straddle her.
"Does this make you uncomfortable?" She asked lightly, her cat like eyes wide. Charlie felt her words become nothing but garbled nonsense, and the redhead smiled.
"Ooh what have we got going on in here? This booty bootcamp?" A familiar voice called out in the gym. Tony strode in, towel over his shoulder and water bottle in hand. "Little bit of girl on girl action to get the heart rate up?" Agent Romanoff just rolled her eyes playfully. Charlie was sure the woman would be able to feel her heart beat through her whole body.
"It's training!" Charlie just spluttered out.
"Well, Romanoff you might have to tutor me, you know? Getting the special treatment, hey English?" Tony grinned, sipping from his water bottle as he headed off to another section of the gym. Charlie turned back to look at Romanoff, who was peering at her curiously. Eventually, the red head gave her a smile and stood from her lap. Charlie suddenly felt very cold without her there.
"Another round. At least try and knock me down." Standing up, Charlie raised her fists and lightly bounced foot to foot. She puffed out a breath and tried to focus as she went in for another swing.
She was floored a total of seven times that session.
By the end, she was sore and aching all over. She looked at the large display clock on the wall and found it not even midday yet. She gulped greedily from her water bottle, as Agent Romanoff did her cool down stretches. She turned slowly and looked at the redhead, who may have had her back to her, but Charlie knew she was aware of everything around her.
"Where'd you learn to fight like that?" She braved the question. The agent stopped mid-stretch.
"I've had years of practice, since I was a child. It comes with time." She finished her stretch, and turned around. "Whereas you," She approached Charlie, who was starting to feel like a cornered animal as she approached. "Lack any sort of technique or balance."
"I'm a little clumsy but not that-" Romanoff held up a finger in the air to silence her.
"Your form is sloppy and you don't use your brain,"
Charlie glared at her. "Well then why the hell are we bothering if I'm so bad?"
Agent Romanoff simply smiled. "That's what I'm training you for, you'll get better." Charlie ducked her head, before taking another swing from her bottle. She stared at her feet. "By the end of your training, Angel, you might even be able to top me,' The smirk Agent Romanoff gave her was definitely intentionally, and only grew as Charlie stuttered her words.
"You're going to kill me in this ring, Agent Romanoff." The woman let out a light chuckle as she took her own water bottle.
"You can call me Natasha, if you like." Her green eyes flashed.
A/N: Boom! I was going to have this as a slow burn story, but I suppose I'll go where-ever the writing takes me! Please feel free to review! Until next time!