See Chapter One for Disclaimer
Excerpts from Charlie's Log
15 June 2011
The Avengers are getting closer. Which is a good thing, I guess, but I feel horribly convinced at times that I'm intruding. But when I try to hide, and give them space, they find me. I think it's time to start looking into moving out.
Which brings me to the reason that I've found myself depressed enough into writing this. I did some research, with the help of Jarvis; and I was right. I don't exist here. None of my family does, not Rhino, not even my brother's girlfriend. Any of them. The Winchesters do, which has actually given my nightmares, seeing as Winchesters existing means that everything that goes thump in the night ALSO exists. Wonderful. And to top off that terrifying news, I'm going to have to create myself.
Which is both a great opportunity and really, really depressing. All of my accomplishments in my previous life; all gone. I have to start from scratch and to be completely honest, my materials aren't all that great. I'm not super, or smart, or even capable of sassiness. How do I fit in a world that; to quote Fury, is filling up with people that can't be matched?
The only thing I really have that's unique is my ability to run interference.
…Which isn't the most horrible idea I've had.
My mere existence has already thrown a wrench in the timeline of things, so why not go all out? Why not go crazy? My interference can't mess things up any worse than they do naturally, not if I take precautions, right? In fact; what if I could save people, the way I did with Coulson?
What if I oust Hydra before they can take down ALL of SHIELD? What if I get to the Aether before Jane, and take care of Extremis before it can touch Pepper? What if I can get to BUCKY? That's just the Avengers too, what about Sherlock? What if I can warn them? What if I can protect John? What about the Winchesters? What if I can stop Cas from doing….all the stupid stuff he gets into?
If I can help THAT way, what would it hurt?
"I need to lodge a complaint."
Tony raised a brow and sent Steve a look. Steve shrugged. He had no idea what this was all about.
Kay stood in front of them, in a full suit, fake glasses on her face, her hair in a bun. She looked very professional. Clint could barely hide his smirk. Thor just looked confused.
Kay pulled a clicker out of her pocket and turned to the TV, pressing the clicker, and a slide show title page appeared.
Tony read it out loud. "Why Y'all Need To Back Off."
Clint could no longer hold himself back. He began to snicker, then chortle, then guffaw.
Kay tapped a foot impatiently, a faintly disgusted look on her face.
"I'm sorry, it's just, your title page is so beautiful." Clint said when he could catch his breathe again. Kay rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure. Anyway, as I was saying, I would like to lodge a complaint. Keeping in mind that I understand you're only smothering me because you care, I will try to be gentle." Kay clicked again.
"There are 24 hours in a day. Seven days a week, 4 weeks a month. That's 168 hours in a week, and 672 hours in a month. I have been in residence with all of you for the last 6 weeks. 1,008 hours. I have left the Tower all of three times. Of those three occasions, I have been accompanied by at least three members of the Avengers, if not more."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Good, then we're doing our job."
"Which is what?" Kay snapped.
"Keeping you safe." Thor spoke up. "You helped us defeat Loki, and he hurt you because of it. This is our way to return the favor."
Kay rolled her eyes. "First of all, I didn't do anything. And second of all, twelve year olds are out there roaming the streets. I'm not saying throw me to wolves, all I'm asking for, is for one day a week, where you don't think about me…at all. I may stay in the tower, I may leave, but do not, I repeat, under any circumstances, follow me. Give me one day to be alone and away from you, and I won't be the only one who benefits. I promise to be back by midnight."
Steve thought it over, nodding thoughtfully. "I understand. What day do you want?"
"Thursdays." Kay grinned mischievously, as if there was a joke hidden somewhere in the day she'd chosen. "I want Thursdays."
Tony nodded. "Fine. Thursdays is your scheduled "me time." Can we get back to watching the movie?"
Kay nodded, removing her slideshow from the screen, and squishing onto a recliner with Clint, who made room for her.
Who said slideshows didn't work?
One of the very best things that Kay found to be true about her "Me Time," was that she could drop her weird nickname and just be herself again…just be Charlie. She couldn't do that right away, though, because the Avengers weren't very good with letting go.
Kay's first Thursday of Freedom; Steve followed her. The second week, it was Tony. Thor she spotted three seconds into the third week, and flew into a rage at him that had him terrified and trembling. After that, no one followed her. That was when she got to work. That was when she became…Charlie once more.
Charlie was bored, and restless, and tired of sitting around and doing nothing, so she'd made a Plan, with a capital P.
Her plan meant she spent a lot of time on the internet; both in this time and in hers. It also meant a lot of roaming the city. That's where she met Ian.
She saved his life. So he promised her that at some point, he would do the same.
And all of a sudden, she had a friend.
In her free time: Charlie found a job, and then two. The first three weeks Charlie had been stuck in Stark Mansion Tony had taught her the basics of computer coding. Jarvis taught her a bit more, but the rest she learned on her own. She knew it well enough to apply for a position with Stark Industries, then, because she was STILL bored, Coulson offered to train her. (She'd been in the army, she didn't need training, but what the heck.) Plus, Coulson had been so impressed with her talent, he offered her a part time position with Shield. She agreed, but on a temporary basis. She refused to let Shield own her soul.
Shield in and of itself was a great experience, if not for the money, than for the contacts she made.
Charlie, during her stay with the Avengers, no matter how old they thought she was, was only 19 years old. Perhaps that was older than the Avengers themselves thought, (they never asked otherwise, and she just forgot that they didn't know,) but for her age, her actions weren't as purposeful as they should've been. She was young, and bored, a combination that could've lead to disaster.
As intelligent as she may be, and as much as the army may have hardened her and prepared her for the real world, she didn't go into anything she did with Shield with a clear cut plan. Her contacts she ended up making on accident…but when she realized one of them was Hydra and her Plan could begin right away, she wasn't stupid enough to ignore that. So all of a sudden, "Me Time" turned into something completely different.
One Thursday she sat down with one of her "contacts" and she spelled out a couple of things for him. He wasn't very smart, and it took him a while to figure out where she was going with everything, but when he figured out where his current path would take him….he turned it around. But he did something else surprising as well. Instead of simply switching alliances to the team he'd just been against, he switched alliances…. To her.
That was terrifying in and of itself. Charlie had been in charge of a team of soldiers in her other universe. She wasn't new to responsibility or leadership. But with her men, their allegiance wasn't to her, at least not directly. It was to the Army. Her contacts? They were placing their faith in HER. A 19 year old with only two years of army experience, (albeit it being ranger experience.)
The pressure was intense. And it didn't stop with Ian, or her newest recruit.
No, because her newest recruit had given her an idea, and on Charlie's mother's advice, she went with it.
Of course, that meant that over the span of six months, she owned three buildings, had technically six employees (whom she paid and offered housing to, as part of their employment,) and had contacts all over New York, as well as in Seattle, Indiana, London, California and D.C.
It was a stressful situation, but Charlie handled it, by being as ridiculous as possible in the presence of her roommates, and all her hard work gave her a purpose, and a place to go when things hit the fan.
Because they would hit the fan.
But first…..She had a war to win.
HATE
Charlie: Sometimes I hate myself.
Loki: If it helps…I hate you all the time. -LL
Charlie: …..Thanks.
MONEY AND PRIDE
Loki: You seem to be more….moody as of late. Are you going through your…monthlies? -LL
Charlie: Never heard it phrased that way before…but no.
I got a job.
Two of them.
Loki: Well that's productive of you. -LL
Why?
Charlie: Because I need money to survive.
Loki: Can you not just have the Stark support you financially?
Barton informed me he was quite well off. -LL
Charlie: He is, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind… but I need to support myself.
It's a pride thing.
Loki: Ah. Pride is something I am very familiar with. -LL
Charlie: Yeah…Kinda figured that one out bud.
Loki: Sarcasm does not suit you. -LL
Charlie: Yes it does.
….friend.
Loki: …..Have I told you recently how much I hate you?
Charlie: It's been a while.
Loki:….I hate you. -LL
NUDE
Charlie: *Picture attached*
Loki: ….What exactly are you doing?
Charlie: Enjoying the view.
Loki: and you…what? Thought I would appreciate it as well, so you sent me a digital photograph? -LL
Charlie: Yup!
Loki: ….You do realize you just sent me a shirtless picture of my older BROTHER, correct? -LL
Charlie: Defintely forgot you two were related.
Loki: That happens a lot. -LL
Charlie: ….
This is awkward.
Did you delete it?
Loki: Oh no. –LL
I'm keeping it. -LL
Charlie: …..
MORE NUDES
Charlie: *Picture Attached*
Loki: ….Why? -LL
Charlie: It's Bruce and Tony cuddling shirtless. Aren't they cute?
Loki: …..WHY? -LL
Charlie: Just completing your collection.
Loki: ….Thanks? -LL
Charlie: Are you going to keep it?
Loki: Why would I do such a thing?! –LL
Yes. Yes I am. –LL
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~CLC~