𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

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          CHARLOTTE WOKE TO a sweet scent in the air. The first thing she noticed when she abruptly sat up on her bed was that her door was open - she fell asleep with her door closed, like always.

Feeling hopeful, she shoved her comforter off her body and leaped out her bed after somewhat haphazardly fitting her prosthetic in place. Her pace was quick as she shuffled towards the kitchen; her nose picked up on the sweet notes drifting through the hallways.

She had a grin on her lips as she stepped around the corner into the huge kitchen, when she heard a familiar humming and a sizzling sound - and then there he was, with his back to her, using their trusted waffle maker.

"Dad!" she squealed happily, startling him as she saw his shoulders slightly jump.

"Whoa! Jesus Charlie, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Tony half laughed and huffed as he turned around the receive the hug Charlotte was already charging for him.

"You're home! When did you get here?" she asked quickly as he held her tightly, he smelled like he just showered.

"Five hours ago, and before you ask - I slept on the plane back here, so yes, I am very well-rested. And everyone else is still asleep, so pipe down young lady and eat these waffles," he playfully pinched her cheek and Charlotte stopped hugging him to allow her dad to continue cooking because after all, she didn't want burnt waffles.

She sat down by the island, right in front of the counter were a plate with a knife and form, plus and to her surprise, peanut butter and chocolate sauce bottle, "Dad?"

"Hm?" Tony hummed as he took the freshly made waffles and placed them on a bigger plate, right on top of the pile. He then pulled the cord of the machine from the outlet and brought the plate to the counter where she was sitting, settling it in front of her with a knowing smile.

"Why did you make waffles and my favorite chocolate sauce?" she questioned, looking at him. "You only make these when I'm sad, or poorly."

Tony smiled as he served her, placing two waffles on her plate and putting the sauce bottle near her, "I got a message from JARVIS last night. He told me that you were worried and advised me to cook one of your favorite breakfasts, you know, to cheer you up."

Charlotte was stunned, she couldn't verbally express the warm feeling that escalated quickly within her heart. This, however, wasn't the Extremis, it was love.

"Thank you, JARVIS." she called out as Tony served himself.

"You're quite welcome, Miss. I do hope you're feeling more at ease this morning."

"I am," she giggled. "See? Waffles can fix anything."

"How right you are, Miss."

Tony watched her with an affectionate smile. Seeing his daughter's appreciation for JARVIS still made him happy.

"Thank you, Uncle JARVIS," Charlotte stated with a small sniffle, "I wish I could hug you."

"That would be lovely, Miss. I wish your father was as affectionate as you are," JARVIS quipped, making her giggle and Tony splutter as he chewed on his waffle.

"Excuse me? I am very affectionate with you," the genius grumpily stated.

"Sir, please don't talk with your mouth full. Honestly, I thought you'd be a better example to your daughter." JARVIS quipped, his tone playful.

Charlotte chuckled even more, but when Tony gave her a look with squinted eyes she decided to quickly change the subject, "So, how was the mission?"

"It went well, Bruce had an unexpected Code Green after we were set upon by some of the soldiers - and before you ask, he's fine." Tony thought for a moment before continuing, "We also sourced some information about a HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. It's the last one on our maps, so it's likely that Loki's scepter is being kept there."

Charlotte didn't want to appear bratty and sulk, so she used her fork to guide a piece of her waffle into her mouth, and began chewing with a frown on her face.

Tony hated when she had that expression. He hated making her feel like this, "Mission prep begins tomorrow, and we'll leave the day after that, so I'm yours for the day. We can do anything you want."

Charlotte shrugged, "Can we just stay in and be lazy? Maybe watch a movie later?" he nodded, appreciating her suggestion after a tiring few days, "Also, where is everyone? I wanted to say hi," she added quickly, a little shyer.

"Well, Bruce has been asleep since we got back on the jet. I'm not sure about Nat, but I think Barton is training in the fitness room. And, to be honest, I don't know where Thor is."

"Mr. Odinson is in the communal kitchen, sir. I'm currently assisting him in how to prepare strawberry pop-tarts," JARVIS interjected.

Tony and Charlotte instantly looked at each other with widened eyes and began running towards the elevator. When inside, Charlotte started laughing.

"It's not funny! The last time we left the big guy unsupervised in the kitchen, he almost set the whole tower on fire." Tony looked anxious as the elevator took the two to the floors above them, where it was a home for the rest of the team.

"Sir, he is doing quite well this time." JARVIS insisted. "There has only been a small amount of smoke."

"JARVIS. Don't make me reboot you" Tony warned, not caring for the AI's sarcasm.

However, JARVIS was correct. When they found Thor, the God was innocently enjoying his plate full of pop-tarts while sitting on the large, round sofa that could accommodate at least ten people. He was mid-chewing when he noticed Tony and Charlotte, and an immediate grin was sent to the thirteen-year-old.

"Little Lady! How good it is to see you!" he rose to his feet and left the plate on the couch as he walked up to them, "My God, you've grown, child!"

Prepared for the bear hug that was ultimately about to happen, Charlotte grinned widely and spread her arms to allow Thor's to wrap around her torso and pulled her up to his height, making her giggle with delight as a deep laugh rumbled in his chest.

"I'm not a child, Thor!" Charlotte told him through short giggles, earning a confused look, "I'm thirteen now, remember? I'm a teenager."

"I do not know what a teenager is." Thor stated, mildly confused. "I hope nothing is ailing you, Princess."

"Oh, there is," Tony muttered to himself, arching his brow as he approached the two, "Unless I say so, you're still a kid, Charlie."

Charlotte stuck her tongue at him, amusing Thor.

"Child or not, I have missed you all the same." the blonde said as he put her down. Grinning, he ruffled her unkempt hair and she only had time to grab his arm and try to push it away, shrieking with surprise as Thor used his strength to lift her off the floor as she held on for dear life.

"Alright, that's enough, children. Jeez, I don't know who's the bigger kid." Tony nipped the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "Thor, didn't I tell you that you were banned from the kitchen?" He crossed his arms and glared at the God.

Thor shrugged, pouting casually as he swung his arm around, playing with Charlotte as she continued to dangle from his bicep. Neither of the adults appeared to notice that the girl was only using one hand to hold herself up. "You cannot ban me. I am a God."

"You almost –"

"Yes, I know, I almost burned the entire building down. But everything worked out in the end, didn't it?" smirking smugly his way, he finally allowed Charlotte to touch the floor and she let go, out of breath from laughing so much.

"Yeah, it did work out. After I paid for the repairs."

"Dad, we get it. You're a billionaire. It's not like you lost much money," Charlotte remarked, giving him an eye roll.

Tony gasped, "There it is, again! The constant eye rolls and back chat! Oh, God! I am not prepared for this teenage thing that is happening!" he dramatically took a step back and pointed his finger at her.

"You better get used to it," a new voice said, and everyone turned their heads to see Clint walking inside, with a towel covering the back of his neck and a bottle of water in his hand, "Teenagers can be tough, but your daughter? Now you'll see what it's like to deal with you."

"I don't act like that!" Both Charlotte and Tony complained at the same time, pointing at one another.

"Good morning, Barton! How was your training?" Thor greeted him with a smile as well, he was already making his way back to the sofa, grabbing his plate of pop-tarts before sitting down.

He nodded at the god, "Good. It was good," then, his attention was on Charlotte, "Hey, kid," he greeted as he ruffled her hair while passing by her and Tony, towards the fridge.

"Why is everyone calling me a kid?" She muttered jokingly under her breath, using her hand to straighten out her hair.

Charlotte liked Clint. Whenever she watched him train he'd always give her some advice about how to shoot a good arrow. And while she was not all that interested in archery, she'd let him talk.

He made her feel comfortable, like a father would his daughter; he knew how to talk with her without making Charlotte feel like she was being patronized for being a 'kid'.

"Alright, how come he can do that but if I touch your hair, you complain about it?" Tony protested as Clint sauntered over to the refrigerator, chuckling.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and walked over to Thor, flopping herself down on the sofa beside him. The God gave her a wide grin and brought his plate closer, offering her a pop-tart, she smiled and silently took one, nibbling on it and resting back on the sofa.

Taking her phone from her robe's pocket, she unlocked it and pointed the camera at herself, ensuring to catch Thor in the picture too. "Thor, smile!" she called before taking a bite of her pop-tart while Thor, who seemed confused at first, soon took a bite of his with a wide-grin and eyes on the camera, she took the photo and chuckled, chewing on the sweet treat, "Thanks!"

"Always a pleasure to show my face on your Midgardian technology," the blonde said, engulfing his breakfast.

Charlotte quickly locked her phone and placed it down, grinning at him, "I'll hold you to that one."

Clint, who watched the exchange while he made himself a sandwich, smiled. Charlotte has been growing more comfortable around the team and everyone seemed to be very fond of her, especially Natasha.

"I'm gonna get dressed, see you guys later!" Charlotte announced after eating her pop-tart. Her eyes on her phone's screen as she walked out, and he saw Tony shake his head at his daughter.

"I think it was a mistake giving her a phone. She spends too much time on it," Tony commented when she was gone.
  

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April 29th

5:00 PM

It had been almost two hours since Maria Hill had informed Charlotte that the Avengers latest mission was a success, and they were on route back to the tower. The teenager made her way to the upper floors to the landing platform where she found Maria in conversation with Dr. Cho, and a delightful but surprised smile crossed Charlotte's lips.

"Dr. Cho! It's nice to see you again," she greeted them, making herself present.

The geneticist turned in her direction, and gave the girl a soft smile and a small wave in return.

Maria stepped closer to them, "Charlotte, Dr. Cho was called to the tower by your dad," she began, wasting no time with her explanation, "They've located Loki's scepter."

"Oh." Charlotte sighed, relieved. "That's good, right?"

Maria and Helen changed a look before the geneticist excused herself, "I'll talk with you later," and when she walked away, Charlotte gave Maria a quizzical glance.

"Barton was injured." Maria informed her, holding a hand up as she saw the teens expression change to instant worry, "He's stable but he'll need Dr. Cho's undivided attention once he returns."

"If you say so," Charlotte mumbled, deeply concerned about the archer, "Is there anything else?"

Maria nodded and showed the screen of the tablet she was holding, "I'm sure you're father will explain everything in more detail, but two new individuals have appeared on our radar. They're enhanced. Very dangerous and unpredictable."

"Enhanced?" Charlotte repeated, seeing two figures, a boy and a girl. They were young, not teenagers yet not adults. There was a striking resemblance between the brunette girl and the silver haired boy. "Siblings?" She asked, noting how they both had the same intense look in their eyes.

"Twins. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff." Maria confirmed, slightly impressed with the girl's keen eyes. "They're from the base in Sokovia, apparently Strucker conducted experiments using Loki's scepter. Wanda has neuroelectronic interfacing, telekinesis, and mental manipulation. While Pietro has increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis," Maria looked at the confused girl.

"I understand half of those words," she declared with a shrug.

Maria tried to hold her smirk, and explained briefly, "He's fast and she's weird."

Charlotte nodded, but she couldn't help but look at the twins with a sad expression, "So HYDRA kidnapped them for experiments?" 

"They volunteered." Maria warned. "Apparently, they view themselves as HYRDA's foot soldiers."

Charlotte now looked surprised, "Why would anyone volunteer for this?"

Maria's jaw tensed, "I'm still figuring that out, but all I can tell you is that they managed to escape but at least we were able to apprehend Dr. List and Strucker."

Before Charlotte could make any more questions, she saw Maria attentively listening to her earpiece and nodded, "Got it. We'll be there in three minutes," she told the voice on the other side before looking at the girl, "They'll be here soon."

And with a nod, the two started walking together towards the landing pad – and Charlotte just wanted to see her dad.
  

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When the Quinjet landed, Charlotte watched as Dr. Cho and her team immediately carried Clint on a stretcher towards Bruce's lab. 

She smiled at him when he passed by and he managed to smile back, despite being in terrible pain. Natasha was following on their tail, briefly nodding at Charlotte as a quick greet.

She walked to the Quinjet with Maria and saw Thor making his way out, holding the scepter inside a container. The God grinned and ruffled her hair as he passed by, and she giggled, pushing his arm away. Inside, she saw her dad sitting by the cockpit, turning the chair around to look at them.

"Lab's all set up, boss," Maria professionally informed him as Charlotte made her way towards him.

Tony instantly rose up to his feet and accepted his daughter's incoming hug gladly before replying, "Well actually, he's the boss," he said, referring to Steve, who Charlotte now noticed, "I just pay for everything and design everything and make everyone look cooler."

"What's the word on Strucker?" Steve asked Maria.

"NATO's got him," she replied.

"The two enhanced?" Steven inquired, grabbing the tablet when Maria gave it to him, and then the two just walked off from the Quinjet and continued their conversation.

"Hello to you too, Mr. Rogers," Charlotte mumbled as she began feeling her dad's grip on her hand tighten. She looked up at him and saw him looking at her with a haunted expression. Widening her eyes, she quickly unwrapped her hands from his torso and cupped his cheeks, "Dad? Are you all right?"

The vision would haunt Tony for the rest if his life.

Hulk's body shivered as the weight of three iron spikes impaled his back, pinning him to the ground.

Natasha's lifeless eyes as she stared at him. Her skin, ashen and cold.

Clint's sitting with his back slumped forward, his bow broken and his expression also lifeless.

Thor with open and bloodied wounds on his face as he lay, unmoving, Mjolnir discarded at his side.

Steve lay with his shield broken by his side. Tony had kneeled by him and tried to feel a pulse on his neck but Steve had grabbed him.

"You could have saved us." Steve gasped, his voice raspy and full of pain. "You could have saved her." Those were his final words, before giving his expiring breath, his body slumping back down onto the dirt and ash.

Tony's breath escaped in short, panicked pants, as he took in the battlefield around him, which had now turned into a graveyard for his teammates. 

"You could have saved her." He muttered under his breath, his eyes flicking around the area, desperately scanning for any signs of her.

"Charlie?" He spoke tentatively, as though he was praying that she was not here. She had no need to be here.

"Charlie!" His calls were desperate now. He shakingly rose to his feet, hands cupping his mouth as she called out for his daughter once more. "Charlotte!"

Just as his voice being drifted off into the seemingly endless void of wasteland, a voice so feeble that it was almost unaudible, came from a muddy mound nearby.

He began to sprint, running full pelt towards his daughter's pitiful cries. Tony came to a halt, skidding down onto his knees as he reached her, his chest tightening as he took in her current state.

She was older, somehow - she must have been around seventeen or eighteen. Her features were fuller now, yet still soft and rounded as they once were when she was a child. Her once bright eyes were darkened with the horrors she had surely seen.

As he cradled her head in his hands, her usual lively auburn hair was sodden and stained with a deep crimson; he could not find the source of the bleeding.

Deep bruises littered her face and any skin that was left visible by the dark combat style gear she was wearing.

Her prosthesis was discarded, lying mangled a few feet from where she lay. Almost as though she had been thrown across the ground with force.

"You promised me that you would never leave me." She cried pitifully. Each breath was a struggle, her chest began to heave; her voice cracking. "You weren't here. Why weren't you here?"

"I'm here now, honey. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Tony attempted to calm her, gently shushing her as he ran a open palm atop her head. "I'm here now. I'm going to get you out of here."

"Not this time." She whispered, groaning as she removed her hand from her abdomen, revealing a vast and still spreading dark stain. In her other hand, she held the offending weapon - it had to be the sharpest blade that Tony had ever seen, angled as though it was designed to torment and kill.

"I put up one hell of a fight, dad." Her voice was weak. Barely coherent.

"Of course you did, sweetheart." Sniffling, Tony wiped his face with his hand, ignoring how he was now smeared with his daughter's blood.

"I tried to protect them - I wasn't strong enough."

A hush left his lips. "Enough of that. Try and save your breath."

A sudden cough broke through her cracked lips, blood spilling into the broken skin, staining her teeth; her chest began to convulse as deep coughs ripped from her lungs. Tony pulled her close, cradling her body close to his in a desperate attempt to sooth her aching and quivering body.

The teen raised a hand and brought it to her father's tear stained cheek. Their eyes looked briefly, and Tony took the moment to silently apologise for for inhaled the pain and hardship he had caused in her short life.

Almost poetically, she inhaled sharply, the breath then exhaled in a quiet and drawn out breath as the last remaining ounce of life drained from her eyes.

Then everything disappeared. Charlotte's body was suddenly gone from his grasp and instead had been replaced with Loki's scepter. His new obsession.

"Dad?"

Gasping, he looked down at the real Charlotte. Unharmed, younger and innocent. The one that was safe, and quickly put a smile on his face, resting his palm on her head and patting her gently.

"I'm fine, honey, just a little tired."

Charlotte didn't believe him. She was now old enough to know things, Maria didn't hold back when she gave her the information back then, so why did her father have to coddle her all the time? 

Yet, she remained silent, deciding not to argue. It was not her place to interject. "Okay, dad. Can we go and see Clint?"

"Yeah, sure." Tony held his daughter's hand as both began walking out of the Quinjet, "Oh, by the way, we're having a party to celebrate on Saturday. You're mom is out if town for the weekend, so it looks like it's just you and me, kiddo."

"A party?" she scrunched her nose, but then her expression lit up, "Can I invite Ezra?"

"Sure, the more the merrier," Tony said distractedly.

She was practically skipping now, "Thanks, dad!"

When they arrived at Bruce's lab, they found  Dr. Cho flitting between numerous pieces of equipment. The machine that Clint was currently laid out on had always fascinated Charlotte, and couldn't help but awe at the machine.

Tony made sure she didn't get too close as the machine based on the advanced technology Dr. Cho had developed in Seoul, it was called the Cradle and Charlotte watched as it rebuilt Clint's damaged skin, saving his life in mere minutes.

"This is extraordinary," Charlotte commented with an astonishing tone. Dr. Cho smiled at her, gratefully.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her dad leave the room, trying to go unnoticed. He approached Bruce and the pair conversed quietly with one another.

She didn't know what they were saying but she did notice Natasha glancing at Bruce with an odd look – but once again, she shook it away and decided to pay attention at the lasers re-creating an artificial skin on Clint's torso.

"That's awesome." she mumbled at the scene, making Clint arch a brow at her with amusement on his face.

She saw her dad scanning the scepter while Bruce made his way inside his lab.

"Are you sure he's gonna be okay?" Natasha asked, looking at the wound on the archer's side being healed, "Pretending to need this guy really brings the team together," she quipped while giving Clint a playful smile.

"There's no possibility of deterioration, the nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous," Dr. Cho explained with pride in her voice as Bruce listened attentively, he also had an impressed look on his face as he stood next to Charlotte, "His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacra."

Charlotte understood little of that.

"She's creating tissue," Bruce explained with an awestruck smile as if he had read her mind.

"That's really cool," Charlotte commented again.

"If you brought him to my lab, the Regeneration Cradle could do this in twenty minutes," Dr. Cho told them.

"Can you make limbs with the Cradle?" Charlotte asked.

"Excellent question, it can. But the process is more complicated and it takes more than a few minutes to complete."

"Oh he's flat-lining, call it. Time?" Her dad suddenly said as he walked in with a tray filled with cups.

"Dad!" Charlotte scolded him with a whiny tone as her dad pretended to check his digital wristwatch.

"No, no, no, don't worry Charlie. I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna be made of plastic," Clint joked with a weak tone, he still seemed to be in pain.

"Well, I'm made of metal, and I turned out okay." The teen quipped back, earning a chuckle from the archer and a eye roll from Tony.

"Here's your beverage," Tony said as he handed the archer a cup with a liquid inside that Charlotte could only guess was meant for his recovery.

"You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton. Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference," Dr. Cho explained.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Clint quickly told her before sipping on his drink.

"That I can't fix," Dr. Cho quipped.

"This is the next thing, Tony. Your clunky metal suits are gonna be left in the dust."

He didn't seem fazed and merely shrugged, "That is exactly the plan. And, Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Saturday."

"Unlike you, I don't have a lot of time for parties," Dr. Cho said.

"Oh, please come to the party Dr. Cho, it'll be fun!" Charlotte insisted, wanting her to be present since she has helped a lot during these past few months.

Helen hesitated for a moment, before averting her eyes to her tablet and ask: "Will Thor be there?" she wondered.

Charlotte grinned. Oh, she'll be there.
  
    
  
 

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authors note

so, this chapter is dedicated to my super supportive, lovely boyfriend.

not because he helped proof read it in anyway, but because his sister stumbled across this story and recognised my username. he's been bugging me about when i'd next be updating and is trying to get me to tell him what is going to happen to charlotte further down the line.

he's also started reading my other marvel stories, so let's see if i die from embarrassment lmao