See Chapter One for Disclaimer
Excerpts from Charlie's Journal
4th September 2011
The Avengers and I are in a good place right now. I wouldn't go so far as to say we're this great happy family. We're good roommates, I think. They've gotten used to me, if not grown to like me. Maybe I don't need to rush out and make my mark on the world alone?
Maybe I actually have people who care about me in this world?
It was a Tuesday about three months into her stay with the Avengers when she realized that that specific Tuesday was a very important one. It took her awhile to remember what it was that was so important about that day.
It was another twenty minutes and a stop at a craft store before Charlie had a proper game plan for the day. While it wasn't technically "her" day, she nonetheless decided that the circumstances being what they were, Kay went Charlie mode, leaving the tower with no one the wiser.
The first step involved Charlie attempting to glitch somewhere she'd not ever thought about glitching to before, forget having actually attempting it.
She was marginally surprised when she succeeded on her first try.
Who knew she'd be able to glitch into heaven!?
Charlie had successfully glitched about ten feet behind the person she was looking for, right at the beginning of the telling of his story.
"You know, I've been here for a very long time. And I remember many things.
I remember being at a shoreline. Watching a little gray fish heave itself up on the beach, and an older brother saying, "Don't step on that fish, Castiel. Big plans for that fish."
I remember the Tower of Babel, all 37 feet of it, which I suppose was impressive at the time. And when it fell, they howled divine wrath. But come on, dried dung can only be stacked so high. I remember Cain and Abel. David and Goliath, Sodom and Gomorrah.
And of course, I remember the most remarkable event - remarkable because it never came to pass. It was averted by two boys, an old drunk, and a fallen angel.
The grand story.
And we ripped up the ending, and the rules, and destiny, leaving nothing but freedom and choice. Which is all well and good, except... well, what if I've made the wrong choice? How am I supposed to know? But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you my story. Let me tell you everything."
Charlie settled in to listen…it might be interesting. And interesting it was. The story of two hunters and their angel friend was a sad story littered with small moments of humor amidst continuous tragedy. It was a story of endurance, a story of hope. The angel Castiel told the story with sincerity and spoke of his plan with an air of rightness…it hurt, to know exactly how wrong he was.
"So, that's everything. I believe is it what you would call a... tragedy from the human perspective. But maybe the human perspective is, limited, I don't know. That's why, I'm asking you father; one last time. Am I doing the right thing? Am I on the right path? You have to tell me; you have to give me... a sign. Give me. A sign. Because if you don't I'm going to cho- I'm going to do whatever I... whatever I must."
Charlie sneezed. She'd been feeling it well up for a while now…but had held it back, not wanting to interrupt. It exploded at that exact moment.
Castiel whipped his head around, and Charlie winced, hands coming up on reflex. "Don't kill me! I'm a friendly! And er, not dead."
Castiel tilted his head. "You are human?"
Charlie nodded.
"Not entirely, though," the angel mused, and Charlie looked worried at that, but Castiel continued speaking. "Why are you here?"
Charlie shrugged. "You asked for a sign." Charlie held up the white poster board that had made the trek with her, and the angel of Thursday read the black letters he found there.
Castiel squinted. "I was not expecting a sign in the literal sense." He read the words written on the posterboard out loud; "Do not do the thing."
Castiel shook his head. "it's rather vague."
"It's a multi-purpose sign." Charlie hedged. "This," she gestured to herself, "is your actual sign."
Castiel frowned. Charlie rolled her eyes.
"I'm from the dimension that Balthazar sent Dean and Sam to; you know, to keep safe from Raphael but really as a distraction so he could steal a weapon for your benefit?" Charlie reminded.
"Did an angel-" Castiel began urgently, and Charlie laughed. "No, no angel. Quite the opposite, in fact." Castiel looked alarmed and Charlie winced. "Right, Demons are real, I keep forgetting. Not a demon either. Just a jerk with a lot of power at hand, that's all."
Castiel looked closely at Charlie, who allowed him time to observe. "You come from the dimension where Dean and Sam and I are actors on a televised show meant for entertainment, aptly named Supernatural?"
Charlie grinned. "Yup!"
Castiel's eyes narrowed. "Has the show advanced in similar standing to this universe?"
Charlie nodded. "But the reason I'm here, is because I want to change that."
"So you know the results of my quest?"
Charlie shrugged. "I may or may not have come from the future as well, but who's keeping track? To be honest, Castiel; I've seen everything. In the show, you don't get a sign, you continue on this path, and you succeed. Your plan works." Castiel's eyes brightened. "But you kill your family, thousands of them; slaughtered at your hand. The Winchesters talk sense into Balthazar, your buddy angel, and because you feel betrayed, you kill him as well. You double cross a demon, and instead of splitting the souls of purgatory, your entire plan, you consume them all, and because you forgot one little thing, they turn around and consume you."
Castiel looked progressively horrified as Charlie continued to list what happened. "What did I forget?" He asked.
"Leviathan."
At that, Castiel was reeling backwards with a horrified groan.
"And that's just the next five episodes."
Castiel was shaking his head. "You could be working for Raphael…"
"And you're an angel and I'm a human and you should be able to read me. I don't have any traces of Raphael's grace on my person, nor am I lying. Believe me or not, but if you don't stop, and right now, everything I mentioned before will happen, and much worse things as well.
"Like what?"
"Your friendship with the Winchesters does not survive your attempt to takeover heaven."
Castiel's mouth gaped open in shock.
Charlie could tell it was time for the kicker.
"Castiel…are you God?"
Castiel shook his head in shock. "No! I would never…." He paused.
"But you do." Charlie forced out.
Castiel stood and began to do something very human…he began to pace.
"This is the only viable option,"
"It's not."
"Crowley and I have spoken at length,"
"Crowley's a demon, he's lying to you-"
"If I don't do something Raphael will take over,"
"Then do something! Just not…purgatory!"
Castiel turned to eye Charlie. "Then what?"
Charlie paused. "Well, if you've got some time, I have a few ideas…"
Castiel tilted his head. "My schedule just opened up."
Charlie grinned. "How do you feel about pie?"
Castiel's face contorted; it took a moment for Charlie to realize that he was attempting something she had not seen before on "Castiel's" face; a smile. It looked good on him.
"You are not busy?"
Charlie shook her head. "I'm completely free."
Castiel smiled wider. "So am I."
"Hey guys."
"Hey Kay! Whoa! We totally forgot about you! What have you been doing all day?" Clint looked up from where the Avengers where seated around the kitchen table, a pizza in the center.
"Hostage negotiation with an angel; for the purpose of a better united Heaven and less trampled Earth. You know. The usual."
Steve frowned. "Have you been in the tower this whole time?" He asked.
"Yeah sure." Kay sent the group a grin and a wave, and booked it to her room, pulling out her phone once she'd reached the safety of those four walls.
Steve sent Tony a look. "Was she lying?"
"Of course she was." Tony didn't look up from his pizza. "You don't hostage negotiate with an angel, it's like negotiating with a terrorist."
Steve sighed.
"Relax, Cap. Of course she was here the whole time. Where else would she go? It's not like she has friends."
Steve relaxed at that, but Clint frowned. Kay? No friends? Well, that wasn't…right. He stood up to go knock on her door, but Tasha arrived from her latest mission at just that moment, and demanded his presence. Clint sighed. He'd talk to Kay later. If he remembered.
Loki: I Believe felicitations are in order. -LL
Charlie: For what?
Loki: ….It is the 9th of August. I believe that is your day of birth? -LL
Charlie: Oh yeah.
Loki: …..Felicitations?
Charlie: Thanks.
Loki: Are you, as is Midgardian custom, doing anything of import to celebrate? -LL
Charlie: That would be a nope.
Loki: ….I am confused. I thought for sure someone would want to make a fuss of the yearly anniversary that celebrates that you are one step closer to the grave. If not you than one of the avengers? -LL
They are aware this date is the anniversary of your birth? -LL
Charlie: IF you want to be technical my mother had a cesarean, so it would be the anniversary of my removal.
Loki: Charlotte. –LL
They don't know? -LL
Charlie: They never asked. They don't care. It's not your concern.
Besides, it doesn't really count because it was June in my world when I glitched, and May when I got here so technically I turned 20 a month ago. No worries. It's just a birthday.
Loki: Are you quite positive? -LL
Charlie: Yup. Are we done now?
Loki: …What transpired over the course of your day?
Charlie: How was my day? It was alright. I made another ally. An angel, this time.
Loki: Stop making Allies! –LL
Charlie: NO!
Why can't I make Allies?
Loki: Should you not first attempting to make friends? I believe you would benefit much from friendly support. –LL
Charlie: Two things.
One: I don't need any more friends. I have you. You won't fail me.
Loki: Ah. Right…. -LL
Charlie: Two: And I hope you understand how long I've waited for this moment…
I.
Do.
What.
I.
Want.
Loki: Your humor knows no bounds. -LL
Charlie: It's better than being depressed all the time.
Loki: There is much truth in that. -LL
Charlie: I know. I'm a genius.
Loki: And for what it's worth… -LL
Happy Birthday -LL
Charlie: ….
Thanks.
Goat
Charlie: Don't think I didn't notice.
Loki: Notice what? -LL
Charlie: Thanks. :)))))))
Loki: I know not what you speak of. –LL
Charlie: I know it was you.
Loki: I am still not comprehending. -LL
Charlie: Literally no one else in the history of ever would have gotten me a stuffed goat….wearing green body armor.
Nor could they have made it just MAGICALLY appear in my room.
On my bed.
Loki: Perhaps you should check your security? –LL
Charlie: You actually got me a present!
You're super weird.
…I'm humanizing you….That's even more weird!
But in all seriousness, Loki, Thanks.
Loki: Happy Birthday. -LL
…I can't believe I'm doing this… -LL
Charlie: Doing what?
Loki: ….my friend. -LL
Charlie: GASP!
I love you too!
Loki: I hate you.
Charlie: ANDDDD he's back.
Review/follow/favorite?
~CLC~