𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬

༻ ❁ ༺

May 16th, 2012
3:11 AM

NOTHING COULD SEEM to cheer Charlotte up since her dad told her the unfortunate news about Phil Coulson's death.

When she met him back when she was seven years old, he was just a stranger that wanted to speak to her dad. When her father became Iron Man and Obadiah tried to assassinate him, everything changed.

Phil Coulson has been in and out of her life since those events, as directed by S.H.I.E.L.D. She didn't see him on a regular basis, perhaps just three times a year, but that didn't mean they couldn't communicate.

And then she saw him again, four days ago, and it was fine. He even gave her a few copies of his precious Captain America vintage cards collection - which Charlotte now regretted not taking the time to ask Steve to sign them - and for a moment, the little girl was happy to see him again.

But then Loki killed him, and Phil Coulson was gone.

Her dad and her mom hugged her for five minutes when Tony told her the news. Charlotte was a very emotional girl, and that made the child think, for the first time, about death.

She came to realise that her parents would not live forever and would die before she did. This resulted in a nightmare in which she was standing in front of everyone's graves. Wherever she looked, she would see everyone's names marked on the graves, her dad, her mom, her godparents, and the Avengers - even Nick Fury and Maria Hill were there.

Strangely, Phil Coulson's was not there. His grave was the only one missing.

The cemetery around her then darkened, as if a huge cloud had descended from above. Charlotte panicked as she saw one of those huge monsters emerge from a gateway in the sky and dive right towards her, Loki's laughter booming throughout the room.

She tried to flee, but she suddenly saw her own grave in front of her, with an empty hole in front of it, and she felt someone pushing her into the darkness from behind. Charlotte leapt on her bed with a tiny gasp after being startled awake by her nightmare.

She looked around, and even though she relaxed slightly when she realized she was inside her bedroom in Stark Tower her eyes still seemed widened as she reached for the cup of glass on her nightstand.

"Miss. Stark, you seem to be having a mild panic-attack, would you like me to call someone?" J.A.R.V.I.S asked.

"No, uncle J.A.R.V.I.S, I'm okay!" she quickly told the A.I., even going far to reassure him by using his nickname.

As she sipped from her cup, he continued, "If you're so sure. But I'd advise trying to control your breathing to avoid any further stress and anxiety."

"I'm okay, J.A.R.V.I.S. Thank you for caring," she told the A.I with a smile.

"Always, Miss Stark."

Placing the now half-empty cup back on her nightstand, Charlotte turned on her lamp and got out of her bed. She then walked towards her floor-to-ceiling windows and stared at the city below.

New York City was alive and thriving even in the dead of night. Even though the light pollution prevented her from seeing the starry night sky, she trembled as flashes of the gateway opening in the blue sky flashed through her head.

Whining, she turned her back from the windows and stalked towards her door. Now outside, she sighed heavily as she decided where to go now, Charlotte wasn't feeling tired so she decided to go to the kitchen to eat a snack.

As she arrived at the kitchen area, she was surprised to see the LED lights that surrounded the counters of the massive kitchen turned on. Then she noticed her father, who was seated by the island with a bowl in his hand. Charlotte had no idea what he was eating since he kept probing it with his spoon and his face was weary and stern, as if he was deep in thought.

She frowned as she approached him, "Dad?" she called with a whisper, the bedrooms were far away from the kitchen but Charlotte mentally wanted to be as quiet as she could, not to startle her dad.

But Tony's shoulders jumped and looked at her eye-wide, like a deer caught in headlights. "Honey, what are you doing up?" he calmed down his voice into a whispering tone as well.

Charlotte approached him with a sorrowful expression on her face, inhaling through her nose. "I had a nightmare," she said quickly, used to not holding secrets from her father. Charlotte climbed up onto the counter next to her father's stool, sat down, and stared at his bowl while Tony groaned and wiped his eyes at her response.

"We have ice cream?" she meekly asked, her tone implying she wanted some.

Tony grinned at the notion, part of him wanting to know more about her nightmare, but the other half of him knew she was shifting the subject for a purpose "God, you're a lot like me at times. It's frightening. " He took his spoon and dipped it into the chocolate ice cream.

Charlotte looked confused but she opened her mouth when her dad fed her the cold, sweet treat, "Frightening?" she managed to ask as the ice cream melted on her mouth.

He offered her a lopsided smile as he inclined his head "Yes. I want you to be better than me." He said, this time placing more ice cream on the spoon and devouring it.

Charlotte looked at him affronted, "Dad, I hate when you talk about yourself like that. I wish I was more like you, you're smart and brave." she accepted another spoonful of ice cream that Tony led to her mouth. "You're my hero."

Tony felt his heart swell with pride - those were words that every father wanted to hear from their daughter. "And you're mine. There are sometimes when I wonder what I ever did to deserve a daughter like you." He sighed happily as he brushed his free hand on her silky, auburn hair.

Charlotte noticed the somewhat sad smile that flashed across his lips. "What's wrong?" she asked, licking the chocolate from the corner of her lips.

He stared at her for what seemed a long time before finally answering with a sad smile, "I couldn't sleep either. I had a nightmare too."

She immediately hugged him, and Tony dropped the spoon inside the bowl to instantly hold her. He squeezed her tightly but Charlotte didn't complain.

"About what?" she asked with a quiet voice.

"Ah-ah, you tell me yours and I'll tell you mine," he whispered, taking in the scent of her hair and closing his eyes to better focus on her touch and voice.

Now hiding her face on his chest, Charlotte felt more confident in confessing about her nightmare. She told him about the cemetery, the graves, the portal, and the beast, but she couldn't stop staring at her own tombstone. Tony sensed her reluctance but chose not to press her to tell him, assuming she'd tell him when she was ready.

"I'm so sorry honey, it must've been scary" he comforted her, kissing her head.

She nodded, "It was, but I think I somehow knew I was dreaming. But after seeing the monster it became too real it was like I could feel it was there."

"Loki's gone, the portal is shut and we won. You're safe," He assured her, but inside his mind, he wanted to add 'for now', because how long until another threat shows up

What if Loki was just the beginning?

"It's your turn, dad," she stated quietly, pulling back from the hug to give him an earnest look, "What was your nightmare about?"

Tony pursed his lips and then decided to look at the bowl of ice-cream, "I, uh, dreamed about the portal," he began, swallowing dryly as he vividly remembered the nightmare through his haunted eyes, "It was about me not making out of it."

Charlotte let out a small gasp. He nodded, dropping the smile and just giving her a sad expression, "Yep, it's terrible I know. All I could hear was your screaming, begging me to stay and then there was nothing but the darkness of space. And I couldn't hear you anymore."

She shuddered, thinking about it, "You're okay dad, you're here with me. You saved us, we won," she retorted his own words back at him while reaching for his hand and grabbing it, "I feel you, do you feel me?"

Tony had to bite his lower lip to keep it from trembling, but at his daughter's sweet words his eyes immediately teared up, "Oh, honey," he sobbed out, giving up on trying to hold a normal expression, "Y-Yes Charlie, I feel you. And I love you."

When Charlotte saw her father tear up, she did also, and the two silently held one other again, staying in that position as long as they wished. They comforted each other through the night, where no one could see the private, bonding moment between father and daughter.

"Time to go back to bed, squirt," he prompted as Charlotte began to yawn, tiredness suddenly overcoming her.

She grumbled, but when he reached for her with his arm, she softly complied and grasped his hand for support as she hopped away from the counter.

He walked her to her bedroom and after closing the door behind them. Charlotte led him to her bed before letting go of his hand and climbing to the middle of it. She lied down and Tony covered her small body with the comforter.

"Dad?" she suddenly said.

"Yes, honey?" he smiled as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Can you stay with me tonight?"

Tony glanced at the alarm clock on his daughter's bedside; it was already ten to four a.m., and his body and mind felt exhausted, even though he didn't feel asleep.

"Sure can. Scoot over, squirt," Charlotte eagerly obliged, sliding to the left of the bed to make way for her father.

As soon as he lay down next to her, Charlotte rolled over to him and wrapped her arms around his own arm, and Tony instantly relaxed about how comfortable he was. The two cuddled before Charlotte closed her eyes and tried to let sleep consume her.

"J.A.R.V.I.S, shut down the light, please," Tony whispered, knowing his loyal A.I would hear.

J.A.R.V.I.S switched off the lamp Charlotte had earlier turned on without saying anything, and Tony swallowed dryly before shutting his eyes. He was relieved to know that he could feel his daughter next to him, and that she was secure and breathing - they were both okay.

Tony, on the other hand, could not sleep. He lay still in her bed for the next two hours before slipping out without waking her. He decided that since he was awake he'd go to his workshop and maybe make a new suit - a better suit. A new Mark.

After all, it could be useful to have a spare suit around in case something happens to the one he currently uses during battle. Maybe he could create a Mark specialized to protect Charlotte. One that it could be with her within seconds.

What if another Loki shows up and takes her again? What if she runs away from him again but this time never appears? What if one Mark wasn't enough to protect them all?

༻ ❁ ༺

November 2nd, 2012
Malibu, California

Even though the Battle of New York ended five months ago, the nightmares that Charlotte had almost every night didn't.

She couldn't get away from the terrifying beasts flying towards her, the cemetery graves, or the image of her father going through the portal and never coming back. Charlotte would wake up sweaty and weeping almost every night, if not three times a week, from the vivid images that her nightmare had left in her brain.

However, she had noticed that numerous times throughout the week, her dad would remain awake until the early hours of the morning - or at least until he physically could not stay awake any longer. Were her dad's nightmares truly worse than hers?

Charlotte found out the harsh way that her suspicions were correct when she saw her dad inside his workshop, working on many Iron Suits. He called them the Iron Legion. And even though it was impressive, Charlotte knew her dad was only making them because he was scared that another attack would come.

But there was something else wrong with Charlotte's father; for example, he began to get overworked, and Charlotte would rarely see him during the day; the little girl was saddened that her dad barely spent any time with her.

He would lunch and dine with her, but that was it. Charlotte's only alternative to spend time with her father was to go downstairs to his workshop and watch him work while listening to his music in silence.

She did fall asleep there once, but she subsequently awoke in the middle of the night in her bed from a nightmare. When she returned to the kitchen that night, her father was nowhere to be found - he was in his workshop, hardly having moved.

Now, nothing has changed.

Her mother had noticed her father's behaviour, and despite her efforts to persuade him to pay attention to his daughter, Tony merely claimed that he was nearly through with his legion and that it was all for a good cause.

Charlotte sighed, today was her eleventh birthday. And for the first time, she wasn't excited about it.

She couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened five months ago, or that her dad was becoming a completely different person every day. Charlotte couldn't get excited about anything nowadays.

She would tell everyone she was fine. So today she will be fine. She would have a smile on her face for her parents and friends.

The now eleven-year-old had awoken at five past four a.m. from a recent nightmare and stayed in her bed till 10 a.m. to make sure it was time for her to get up. Charlotte hoped she had homeschooling today because it would at least divert her and make the day go quicker. It was a tradition that she wouldn't have lessons on her birthday, but Charlotte wished she had homeschooling today because it would at least distract her and make the day go faster.

She got out of bed and put on her slippers. It was a warm morning, and the sight of the pure, blue sky over the tranquil water gave her a tiny grin. It was pouring in New York City right now, and the weather in her nation never ceases to surprise her.

Charlotte emerged from her bedroom and proceeded to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She didn't bother expecting her father to show up with a birthday meal because she knew he was either in his workshop or passed out someplace in the house.

And even though her expectations were low, Charlotte was still disappointed when the kitchen was empty. Her mom had already left for work, having left a note for her daughter, only to apologise for not being there on her birthday. She did, however, promise to make it up to her that evening with movies and ice cream.

"Happy Birthday, to me, I guess," she sighed while making her way around the counter island towards the fridge. "I hope dad is actually sleeping, he needs it." she mumbled to herself.

"Your father is currently sleeping inside his bedroom, would you like me to wake him up?" J.A.R.V.I.S suddenly asked.

Charlotte smiled, both because her mother had definitely placed a plate of rainbow frost chocolate cupcakes inside the fridge and because the A.I. always knew what to say. She pulled it out and set it on the counter, where it rested against one of the cupcakes, along with a little note.

'Happy Birthday, my darling girl! Where has my little girl gone? I'll see you later tonight and we'll have movies and ice-cream! - Mom'

"When did he go to bed?" she asked J.A.R.V.I.S while smiling at the card.

"One hour ago."

Charlotte's smile dropped, "How long has he been awake before?"

"Thirty-eight hours," J.A.R.V.I.S hesitated, "He actually asked me to wake him up in two hours."

Charlotte sighed and placed the card on the counter, "Well, whatever," she mumbled, tiredly, "Please warn me when he wakes up. I'll be in the living room," she stated while grabbing the plate of cupcakes and making her way out.

"Of course, and happy birthday Miss. Stark," J.A.R.V.I.S replied, adding a more happy tone.

It made her smile, she couldn't help it, JARVIS was just as part of the family as DUM-E and U, "Thank you, Uncle Jarvis."

"You are most welcome."

༻ ❁ ༺

Charlotte was sitting on the steps just outside the door of a wooden cottage, gazing quietly at a lake on the front yard. A smile crept over her lips as she was surrounded by forest, a welcome break from her nightmares.

She didn't know why she was in the woods, but she was at ease and calm. It appeared to be summer since the bees were buzzing and the sun shined brightly overhead.

Then almost suddenly, Charlotte felt a prickling sensation on her right leg, and when she looked she saw that the fixings of her prosthetic had begun to squeeze around her thigh tightly, and it was getting tighter each second passed. She winced and quickly tried to take it off, but the lock was nowhere to be found. Struggling, she began to panic when trying to pry it out turned out to be futile.

Charlotte let out a cry as it began to cruelly burn her flesh, her eyes widening as she battled the sizzling sound as it melted into her skin. It couldn't be much worse until she heard footsteps approaching from behind her.

It was her dad.

"Dad!" she yelled, out of relief but still in pain, "Help me!" she begged him, crawling towards him only using her left leg and forearms. She looked up at him when she reached his feet and raised her left arm at him in hopes he'd knew how to take the contraption off of her.

But all Charlotte saw was her dad smiling down at her, "It's okay Charlie, it's all for your own good."

"W-What?!" she exclaimed, "What do you mean-!" she choked back a sob when the prosthetic melted further into her skin, completely fusing to her body.

He shushed her gently and crouched down to level up with her, "It's all for your own safety. Can't you see? It will be over soon."

He was ignoring her tears and agonizing screams while maintaining a serene expression, "Help me..." she screamed out, but all he did was stroke her head while humming a lullaby.

Before she could feel any more anguish, her eyes gently opened, and she was back on her father's knee, with only a sliver of sunshine penetrating the room through the blinds.

She didn't move; all Charlotte felt was a tear sliding down her cheek very slowly as she touched the lump of flesh where her prosthetic normally sat. She didn't know what it had meant, her dad would never let her be in pain.

Charlotte knew this had to mean something psychological; she was sure that maybe the dream represented what she truly felt about the prosthetic. For almost a decade it had been a heavy responsibility for her - it had become a part of her everyday life, and in a way, made her who she was.

Charlotte had no idea how long it had been since they started napping, she could hear her dad's slow breathing indicating that he was still sleeping.

She chose to close her eyes once again and concentrate on his heartbeat. Charlotte would keep this nightmare to herself for reasons she didn't understand, but it seemed like a personal attack.

She'd rather have the graveyard nightmare than this one - it was too personal, too direct, and far scarier than giant monsters coming for her.

༻ ❁ ༺

author's note

hey guys!

three chapters in one day? at last, we've reached the end of avengers!

one a slightly sadder note, this will be the last update for a couple of weeks. i've put an announcement up on my profile wall that explains things in a little more detail.

don't worry, this story is not abandoned - i'm simply taking a small break for my own well being.

i love you all 3000 x