Rooftops and Invitations ❤️

Chapter 2

Charlotte arrives at the compound in the morning to everyone seemingly waiting for her in the sitting area; everyone except Steve. Tony introduces her to everyone individually, the current Avenger roster was Steve (who wasn't there), Sam, Natasha, Clint, Wanda and her brother Pietro, Vision, Bruce, Thor, and Loki and Peter came and went. Tony and Bruce didn't really go on too many missions anymore unless it was necessary.

Thor walks up to her and pats her on the head, "You're so tiny, little one." Everyone laughed; but Charlotte was used to it. She never inherited the height from Pepper like she had hoped for. She was barely 5'4" and used to people underestimating her because of it. She just rolled her eyes and looked at Natasha.

Clint was the one to speak up for her, "You shouldn't underestimate her. Trust me."

"That's for sure," just then Rhodes walks in. He wanted to be there when they introduced Charlotte. She ran up to him as he lifted her and spun her around. "Uncle Rhodey!"

Steve walks in annoyed, "So did everyone know about her except me?"

Charlotte starts to say something, but Tony stands in front of her. "Of course not, but she is my daughter, my only child. I wanted the fewest people to know about her as possible. Nat, Clint, Rhodes, Fury. That's it. You can't always be privy to everything Rogers."

"She's just a child!" Steve raises his voice and points at Charlotte.

She nudges Tony to the side, "I'm 21, and I know I'm small, but you haven't even given me a chance." Steve just scoffs and walks away.

Steve wasn't sure what it was about Charlotte exactly that irritated him. Was it the fact that he was again, the last to know? He didn't want to train someone new. He didn't trust Tony, or her? Or was it something more?

******************************

"Don't worry about Steve. He has a hard time trusting new people, you'll grow on him. I'm sure of it." Natasha just smirks at Charlotte; it was her idea to help take Charlotte's mind off Steve by putting in a sparring session.

They train for twenty minutes or so and Charlotte keeps up with Natasha the whole time. They were evenly matched. Charlotte looks at Clint who was watching them, "Want to give me a challenge? Join us."

Clint and Natasha laugh, but he joins them. After a few minutes he throws Charlotte a sword, grabbing one for himself. Natasha backs away, "This is where I leave you guys." Clint was an excellent swordsman and he had taught Charlotte how to fight with one as well as with a bow. He wanted her to have as many skills as possible, you can never know the circumstances you will be fighting in.

Charlotte has Clint pinned down with the sword at his throat. She reaches down to help him up, "You're getting old, old man." Then she hears it, the silent ringing of the shield piercing the air. Charlotte pushes Clint back down and is just barely quick enough to kick the shield away from her and Clint. "What the fuck Steve?" Charlotte looks and finds Steve standing in the doorway. She didn't know how long he had been watching them.

Steve had watched the entire interaction between Charlotte and Natasha and Clint. She was fast, faster than both of them. She wore leggings and a sports bra; he could see her lean muscles as she fought them. She was obviously well trained, but how well? He grabbed his shield and threw it at her as she pinned Clint. He didn't use his full strength, but he wanted to see how quickly she could react. She didn't disappoint as she is able to kick it away before it hits her; she even pushed Clint out of the way.

He doesn't say anything as he walks in to collect his shield and leave. Natasha runs after him, meeting him in the hallway. "What was that, Steve? Don't you think that was a bit much?" She grabs his shoulder to make him turn and look at her.

Steve shrugs as he turns around, "I just wanted to test her."

"Well that was a little dangerous, wasn't it? What if it would have hit her?"

He scoffs, "I didn't throw it that hard. She would have been fine."

Steve starts to walk away, but Natasha grabs his arm. He stops but doesn't face her, "Whatever is going on with you Steve, you need to get it sorted. There's no reason for you to be acting this way towards her. Just give her a chance."

Steve doesn't say anything, he just pulls his arm away from Natasha and heads to his room. He didn't really know what was wrong, she just got under his skin for some reason. He couldn't explain it.

**********************

Charlotte does her best to just avoid Steve for the first few weeks she is at the compound. He doesn't seem to like her for whatever reason. She wishes she knew what she had done; she had always looked up to him. Idolized him even. She was disappointed he didn't seem to be the way she had thought he would be. Or maybe he just wasn't that way with her.

Charlotte sits on a table on the roof patio that looks out over the compound. She sat there playing her guitar as the sun went down. Playing the guitar always calmed her. And she needed calm, tomorrow would be her first official mission as an Avenger; with Steve.

One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

She stops when she hears footsteps behind her, she could tell he was trying to be quiet. "What do you want Captain Rogers?" She doesn't turn around, just goes back to quietly strumming on her guitar.

Steve liked to sit on the roof patio before missions. He liked to go over the plan in his head; he didn't like surprises. As he walked up the stairs to the patio, he heard music. He stood and listened to Charlotte playing the guitar. He felt something inside him stir, but he couldn't place what it was. He didn't know she played. He didn't know a lot of things about her; or anything about her really. That was his fault, he had been keeping his distance. He didn't want to get too close to her, he wasn't entirely sure why. He started to approach her, trying not to disturb her when she stopped singing. "I didn't intend for you to stop playing. It's nice." Steve stood in front of her, locking eyes with hers. His expression was softer than she had seen it before.

Charlotte stands up and grabs her guitar. "It's fine. I don't want to disturb anybody, I should go."

Steve hesitates for a moment as she starts to walk away, "You don't have to leave Stark."

She continues walking, "It's Charlotte, and it's fine. I'll see you in the morning."

Steve sighed and turned at looked out at the compound as he placed his hands to lean on the parapet of the roof. How could he lead a team properly when he was alienating his members? He knew he had to work on being nicer to Charlotte, but he didn't if it was too late. She seemed to resent him with each passing day; and he knew it was his own fault.

************************

Steve knocks softly on Charlotte's door, waiting for a response. She opens the door, obviously having just been woken up by him. Her hair down, falling in her face. He sees her green eyes just peeking through. "I'm sorry, I, uh, didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to give you this."
Charlotte opens the door all the way as Steve hands her a box. She leaves the door open with Steve still standing in the doorway as she sets the box on her desk to open it. She notices Steve hovering awkwardly in the doorway, "Please, come in Captain."

"When we aren't in uniform, I prefer if you call me Steve." He takes two steps inside her room cautiously as he waited for her to open the box.

Charlotte opens the box and finds a suit not unlike Natasha's. It was black with purple accents, so it stood out. She turns and looks at Steve, "Thank you! It's perfect."

Steve just nods and leaves the room.

Every time Charlotte thinks he may be opening up a bit, he proves her wrong.