Stealing Winter

Chapter Five

Late the next morning, Charlie found herself in the living room with Reese as he spewed out a bunch of questions she had no definite answer to. Mom laid on the couch, muttering things in her sleep while Hans was attempting to tidy up the clutter. Charlie checked the clock on the wall.

"I've got to go, Reese," Charlie sighed as she took one last sip of the sludge that Hans like go call black coffee. "I promise I'll come home," She smiled at him. "Because I always come home."

"You're too confident." Reese mumbled, latching onto her in a long and stinky hug. "If you die for real, I'll never forgive you." He tells her.

"Right back at yah kid." She messed up his hair again, and for once he didn't mind. Charlie sets down her coffee and holds Reese tightly. Travis was still asleep, and his snores could probably be heard in China.

"I'll tell 'em that you left." Reese pulled away from the embrace and took what was left of Charlie's coffee.

"Just remember kid," She said as he walked out the living room. "Coffee might just stunt your growth!"

"Yeah, whatever." He waved her off and was out of sight moments later. Charlie shook her head and grabbed Travis's now empty bag. She slung it over her shoulder and waved Hans goodbye before walking outside.

The air was cold, so Charlie had tossed on the SHIELD hoodie to keep herself warm (and so she could give it back to Steve). She walked half way, until she decided she would get a taxi to take her to the tower. When it arrived, an older man with a thick moustache stuck his head out the window.

"Taxi for Miss For-man." Charlie smiled at him before getting cautiously into the back seat. The cab wasn't very clean, but she never did expect much from public transportation. "Where to, Miss?"

"Avengers Tower, please." The older man looked at her for a moment like she was joking, before realizing she wasn't and cleared his throat.

"Of course," he nodded, brushing his hand over his mustache before turning on the meter and driving in the towers direction. The moment they arrived, Charlie handed him some money and muttered 'keep the change'.

She stepped out of the taxi and rushed into the tower. The receptionist raised an eyebrow at her appearance - an oversized SHIELD hoodie and dirty jeans. She almost felt embarrassed enough to cover up, but instead straightened her posture.

"I'm here to see the Avengers." She said casually, before realizing how crazy she sounded. She smiled nervously at the lady who quickly, and quietly called for security.

A few minutes later, Agent Raae exited the elevator followed closely by two armed guards.

"Good morning, Miss Foreman." Charlie bit her tongue. "Please follow me, Captain Rodgers and Mr. Barton are waiting for you in the training room." She motioned to the elevator. Charlie didn't bother to give the 'ha ha' look to the receptionist. She understood how the lady could have been mistaken.

"You know, I didn't think that training would begin immediately." Charlie said as they all entered the elevator. The guard stood one on each side, and Agent Raae stood to Charlie's left.

"Well, Miss Foreman, the Winter Soldier has been MIA for almost a year now. And Captain Rodgers and all of us at SHIELD would like to find him before Hydra does." Agent Raae selected a floor, then stepped back beside Charlie.

"You know, I thought Hydra no longer existed." Charlie got a far off look. "I thought SHIELD dissolved it." She clenched her hands. Calm down, Charlie, she told herself.

"We learned that Hydra was still around, around the time Captain Rodgers found the Winter Soldier." Charlie nervously tapped her fingers against her leg as the elevator slowly climbed floors. She could still see the cracks in the sidewalk.

She was quiet the rest of the way up, and so was Agent Raae. Once they reached the correct floor, Agent Raae led Charlie down the hall to a set of double doors. The guards did not follow.

Charlie realised that when Agent Raae said training room she meant training room. There were advanced treadmills, multiple benches to press on, a boxing ring, and a plethora of old-school punching bags. Steve was currently working one of the bags while Clint and Natasha spared on a large mat in the corner of the room.

Clint spotted her, which gave Natasha the change to flip and pin the unsuspecting archer. He let out a string of curses until Natasha yielded and helped him back up. Charlie set her bag down, and Agent Raae showed herself out. She was left alone with the three Avengers.

"Okay," Natasha began. "How are you on hand-to-hand combat?" Charlie smiled nervously, and prayed that she would make it though the day without getting herself killed again.

"Well..."

---

Charlie groaned as Natasha flipped her onto the floor for the twelfth time in a row.

"I'm starting to think you're enjoying my immortal pain." She moaned into the mat. Natasha rolled her eyes and pulled Charlie forcefully back to her feet. Charlie swayed slightly, but stood her ground as beat as she could.

"Your stance is all wrong, your punches are weak, and you smell like you haven't showered in months." Natasha pointed out. Charlie glanced at Clint with a raised eyebrow as if asking if this was what Natasha was always like. Clint simply nodded.

"First of all, thanks for being honest." Charlie cracked her aching neck with a satisfying pop. "Second, I haven't been in a hand-to-hand fight since the sixties, and third," She sighed, sniffing her armpits. "I haven't." She huffed and crossed her arms out if embarrassment.

Steve and Clint watched from the sidelines while Natasha tried many different approaches to the situation. An hour went by, and there was still no progress.

"I feel like we are getting..." Charlie yelped in pain as Natasha landed another hit to her stomach before throwing her to the ground, and began to cough again once she hit the floor. "Nowhere."

"That's because you're not." Natasha said. Clint threw her a look which she ignored. Steve stood, watching so closely that Charlie felt exposed under his gaze.

"Your honest is brutal." Charlie muttered, trying to ignore all the eyes that were on her.

"I know. Now get up, try again." Natasha instructed. Charlie rolled onto her back and looked up at the female Avenger. They stares at each other for the longest time.

"Pushy much?" She picked herself off the ground, only to be flipped over a moment later. A small foot was pressed into her back. Charlie struggled to try and throw her off.

"Yes, I am." Natasha replied with almosy an amused tone as Charlie squirmed on the ground. A loud inhumane sound came from Charlie's arm, and her suddenly hand grabbed Natasha's foot, yanking it out from under her. The redhead fell onto her back, letting out an 'omph' in surprise. Charlie sighed in relief.

"Did I win?" She asked, popping her arm back into place with a short cry. "I'm pretty sure I won that." Charlie looked up at the boys with a lazy smile and squinting eyes. Steve was still watching her intently while Clint rubbed his temples.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Charlie." Clint sighed, shaking his head. Steve helped both females back onto their feet, and Charlie stretched out for a moment, nearly hitting Steve in the face while pulling her arm in an unnatural direction.

"What do I have to do now?" She asked tiredly. "Because I think we should schedule a long, three and a half hour nap." She mumbled. The others rolled their eyes.

"You need to work on your stance, and how to use momentum to your advantage while punching." Steve explained. Charlie stared blankly at him for a few moments.

"I need to what the what now?"

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