Life in the Multiverse

If Y/N Had Chosen Charlie

A/N: From now on each chapter will be continued in its own mini story throughout the book, so if you like Y/N being paired up with someone or like a scenario that I write, there will always be continuations in later chapters. At the end of the most recent chapter I'll have either a trivia question or something to pick which of the readers will get to choose the next chapter they want to see. However, occasionally I'll make a random draw to give everyone a chance at getting a chapter they want to see! Enjoy!

Y/N Stark P.O.V
Earth 002
November, 2017
Salvador, Brazil
11:17 am
I slowly lowered myself into the water and relaxed against the back. Charlie lowered down across from me.
      "See? This is nice..." I said.
      "Yeah..."
      I let my eyes slide shut.
      "Nothing, but...simple peace."
      There was a long moment of extended silence, until it was interrupted by the sound of giggling and splashing water.
      I sat up and opened my eyes.
      There were two small children, probably around eight, splashing around and playing with pool toys.
      I frowned.
      "Hey, kids, are you having fun?"
      "Yeah!" they said.
      "Well, that's good." I dropped my smile, "Now scram and have it somewhere else."
      "What?" they said, their laughter stopped.
      "Scram!" I snapped.
      They yelped a little and hurried out of the hot tub.
I sighed and settled back into place, letting my eyes fall shut.
"That was mean, Y/N..." Charlie's voice said.
I cracked an eye open, just a slit, and glanced over to Charlie.
I shrugged and let my eyes fall closed again.
"Seriously, Y/N?"
I sighed and opened my eyes, sitting all the way up.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to go apologize."
I barked a laugh.
"They're kids, Y/N!"
"So?"
"'So?'...'So?!'" he mocked, "They're kids! You're supposed to be the philanthropist!"
I smiled at the memory that word brought.
"What's your point?"
"You just treated them like shit!"
"I'm aware."
"And you don't feel bad about that? Not at all?"
"They were bothering us!"
"They were bothering you."
"I'm not gonna go find them and apologize."
He scoffed.
"I'm sorry, okay? I don't know what you want me to say! Why are you being so stubborn about this?"
He sighed and diverted his gaze.
I looked at him through the steam. His brown hair was beginning to curl on the ends. His chocolate eyes looked distant. I knew immediately that I had struck a nerve.
"I was those kids."
"What do you mean?"
"Look around. There are no parents in sight. They came down here alone. I was alone as a kid, after I lost my dad. My uncle was always so busy that I never had the full experience as a kid. So kids hold a soft spot in my heart."
      "I...didn't realize..."
"Yeah, well, I'm sorry I blew up on you, I just try to defend kids when I can."
      "I get it."
      I scooted closer to him, until we were next to each other. I could finally see him through the steam. He looked down at me, water droplets rested on his long eyelashes.
      "I never felt that attachment to kids, Charlie. I never had a reason the treat them the way you do. But if that's how you feel, then I do too. I do have a reason. If that's how you feel about kids, then that's how I feel about kids."
      He smiled at me, his eyes sparkling and creasing on the edges.
      "You continue to amaze me, Y/N Stark..."
      "It's what I do..."
      We froze for a beat, meeting each other's eyes.
      I could feel his breath on my lips.
      I heard the sound of water moving and a second later Charlie's hand was resting on my cheek.
      Everything became a blur, until all that was left was the sounds of our breathing.
      And then, before I had time to process anything, his lips were on mine.
      It took only a moment for the kiss to become more intense. I swung a leg over his knees, and straddled him in the hot tub. I rested my arms on his shoulders.
      The water immediately grew warmer and the steam seemed to get thicker, most likely a result of Charlie's emotions taking control of his powers.
We kissed for a long time, until finally I heard a chime from my glasses next to the hot tub. My lips immediately left his and my head snapped to where the sound came from.
I looked back to Charlie, who I was still straddling.
      My mind raced for a moment, my thoughts darting to Peter, then to everything that was happening with him. Part of me wanted to run away and go back to him.
But something inside me shifted and I realized that maybe I needed to go down a different path.
      I leaned down again and pressed my lips against his. He moaned into my lips and wrapped his arms tighter around my waist.
      "I never want you to let go," I said. "But what do you say we take this upstairs?"
      He nodded slowly and I climbed off him. He stepped out of the tub and took my hand helping me out as well. He didn't let go of my hand as he led me back to the elevators. We abandoned all our other belongings down here in the lockers, too caught in the moment to care.
      As soon as the elevator doors shut Charlie pinned me against the wall and feverishly kissed me.
      "God, kissing you is amazing," he mumbled as he trailed down to my neck.
      Water droplets still clung to our chests as he pulled our bodies flush, but we didn't care.
      When the doors dinged he pulled away and led me back to the room by my hand and let me go in first. He locked the door behind us, then immediately walked back over and kissed me, slowly backing us towards the bed.
      A half hour later I laid next to him on the bed his arms around my shoulders, one of my arms on his chest.
      "That was amazing..." he said.
      "Ditto."
      "What are you gonna do about Peter?" he asked nervously. "Was...was this just a one time thing?"
      I sat up a little to meet his eyes.
      "No..." I said. "No, Charlie. I really care about you. I wanna be with you. Peter and I...have come to an impasse and I think...I think maybe it's time we called it quits. I thought we might be able to save it, but...I don't know. I don't think we can after realizing what I feel for you."
      He smiled and I leaned down to kiss him, then lowered myself down again nuzzled closer to his chest.
      "Don't worry," I said. "I choose you, Charlie."