Your Big Sister's Crazy (Smith Family)

There's was only one thing that pissed Charlie off more then her authority issues, and that was when someone harmed her family. Even the sister closest to her, the perfectionist that makes Charlie want to pull her hair off, has the protection of her big sister. Herself would be a better target on account the sight of a wounded younger sibling brought anger that no one will ever witness otherwise. Even worse though, Jaime was attempting to cover it up, make it appear to his older sister that nothing bad has occurred...that only fueled the fire.

Blocking Jaime's entrance to the door, Charlie flung her cigarette before examining her younger brother's face that he was so badly trying to hide. "What the..." Charlie cut herself off, trying to make a point not to curse in the household. "What happened to you?" She asked with a mix tone of anger and concern. It was obvious that he had a run-in with some unpleasant kids at school, this was clearly no accident.

Charlie's first instinct was to figure out who these kids were and go hunt them down for some pay-back, but there was a bloody brother right in front of her that needed the attention first...there would be plenty of time for some ass kicking afterward, it's not like anyone's leaving the district. "Come on." Charlie gestured her head towards the door, leading him down to the kitchen. Grabbing a clean clothe and an ice-pack in the freezer, Charlie was going to attempt the whole motherly thing.

Lets face it thought, she was no mother, but she knew how to simply clean up some blood, and place a cold pack onto Jaime's bruised eyes. "Don't they know not to mess with the Smiths?" Charlie joked attempting to gently place the pack onto his bruise. Now it was time to perform the job that she was actually good at, being a big sister that went around drunk or fighting someone before getting wasted. "So who were they?" She asked turning serious as she put away the first aid kit.
"And where do I find them?"

So the truth comes out, Charlie wasn't a good mother, and probably never will be. She blots the blood away a little too roughly, or wipes too much away it begins to bleed again, places an ice pack on a bruise without being gentle enough. The roles were currently reversed, because it was clear to everyone in the family that Jaime made the better mother. "Sorry." Escaped her lips often, but still she was determined to patch him up, and by the end of it it wasn't bad...right? During this time Charlie listened to the true reasoning to this battle.

As bad as it was Charlie was a bit proud to hear it was three guys that decided to jump her younger brother, but she managed to swallow that part down. Of course she shouldn't be, Jaime is the only truly kind person out of all the oldest siblings, never believing in violence. That was suppose to be the bit Charlie was proud of, a gentlemen, but she felt that in this District you needed to hold at least some power.

"This is still happening regularly?" Charlie asked rhetorically because that was what Jaime just said, she toke a seat next to Jaime's on the kitchen counter. She could remember back when they were younger, and how Jaime was always the target because of his desire not to fight. He'd come home looking identical to as he did now, with a lot more youth of course, and back then Charlie would head straight to who ever it was instead of trying to whole caring thing. Now that they were all orphaned, Charlie could no longer only play the big sister, and had to at least attempt to be motherly...at least while the most motherly one was wounded.

But Charlie wasn't doing that great of a job, because she was unaware that it was still occurring regularly. She wasn't being the good big sister to force this to a stop, with all the working and hunting she hadn't even noticed. "I need to be paying closer attention." Charlie demanded to herself out loud, that was after all always her way of apologizing. At least it was better late then never, because now three guys were wandering around this district needing a good beating. Charlie would certainly make them pay for her mistakes of this going on continuously for too long.

"Yeah I can tell." Charlie sarcastically commented to her younger brother handling it on his own. Three men sounded intimidating, but with fighting being her first skill, it didn't phase Charlie one bit. The only thing she needed was to make sure the right guys got what they deserved. "So are you going to point these kids out for me?" Charlie asked, raising an eyebrow as she jumped off her the counter. "Or do you want to just give me a really good description?" She offered an alternative.

Maybe it wasn't only hunting and performing that was filling up Charlie's precious time to act as the head of the household, but she couldn't completely ignore having fun. Before there was any responsibilities she nearly became addicted to drugs and alcohol, not missing a single day to escape from the misery of her family. Now that her Father was gone though, she no longer had an authority to listen to, she grew responsibilities to handle, and younger siblings waiting for her to make her wrong move. Certainly it had to been understood that Charlie needed a bit of free time to have a little fun. Now though, it was effecting her lack of attention to individual siblings, they didn't only desire food and necessities, they needed protection.

So children needed a little more then basic needs and protection, they needed love and a gentle hand, but on account Charlie could of fulfill the first two they'd have to do. Right now the fridge was relatively stocked, and their was a beat-up Jaime in front of her...and the newly found information was weighing guilt onto Charlie's shoulders. She had yet to know that her younger brother was being at the least tormented and fearful to turn the hall, let alone the regular physical abuse. Sure, she couldn't be the motherly figure towards him, but she could at least be a great big sister and make these boys pay.

The majority of District Six citizens knew better then to mess with Charlie, for a tiny spitfire she had certainly proofed herself to actually be strong...but the sick part was that they didn't think her younger siblings were off limit as well. A new goal had formulated in Charlie's mind, the one thing she must do if nothing else, and make it known that her family was not to be messed with. And the first step would be targeting the ones that brought this pain among Jaime.

"I'm going to fix that." Charlie made a promise, as well as a demand to herself. By the end of this day these boys will know better then to mess with any of the Smiths, especially Jaime.

This should of been predicted, of course someone that refused to fight himself wouldn't want someone else to be fighting. A small smile spread onto Charlie's face at his concern. "Awe don't take my hobby away." She joked, though it wasn't sarcastic because anyone who knew Charlie knew she never stepped away from a fight. Hell, she'd be the first to throw the punch if she had to. "Plus how else will I make this stop." She became serious once again because she wanted Jaime to know this wasn't a joke.

The unexpected happens, for Charlie at least, because Jaime refused to give away the information of this boy to prevent her from fighting. "You know I can handle them." She told exchanging eye contact with Jaime to reassure him she knew what she was doing. "Don't make me go around beating up every teen boy in this District." She attempted a different strategy, though it was clear she wouldn't really do that.

With a sigh she was becoming a little annoyed, Charlie absolutely hated when things didn't go as she planned. All she wanted to do was protect her younger sibling, let the District know that the Smiths were off limit unless they wanted to deal with her. "You're going to show me then?" She threatened an alternative, "I'd rather you not witness it though...could get ugly." She advised, all she wanted was to make these boys pay, why would Jaime just let her? Charlie kept a hard stare at her younger brother, one way or another she'd make these boys change.

There was this look in Jaime, like everyday at school a certain fear struck in, the lack of feeling physically safe. Any moment some kids could come around the corner and decided to place all their anger out on him. The same exact look he gave years ago, and it finally clicked into Charlie's brain. People didn't leave this district, nor transferred schools, it had been the same kids tormenting him from day one. "The same kids?" Charlie finally asked, if so this would be easier then she expected.

An attempt to stop did occur, but Charlie couldn't help but laugh at Jaime's suggestion to talk to the guys' parents. "Actions is much more powerful then words." She excused, though it was mainly just the idea of trying to talk to their parents. Did people really do that? Because it sounded cowardly and unrealistic. Even if they did, though Charlie had a sarcastic pitch to everything she said, and knew how to use her words, she did a much better job fighting with her fists. After all the parents of these kids much be messed up in some way to allow their children to continuously torture the same individual. At least that was one thing the Smith's Father held, well raising some of his kids at least. Who knew if the second oldest Elias went around beating up the weak kids. Hopefully not though, as bad as the Smith were it didn't seem like any of the kids were bullies.

It was a bit shameful to see how much more mature Jaime was compared to his big sister, Charlie was far from the type to stay away from violence. If anything she had a craving for it and attracted it from all over the districts. "In your book." Charlie rolled her eyes, she wasn't sure why she was still arguing with her little brother about this. Either way she was going to find these kids and make them pay. "And I wish I was more like you." She tried to correct herself. "But I'm not, so you need to let me do my job." Now she was a little more affirmative.

Was it embarrassing to have your big sister fight for you? No, that wasn't it because Jaime didn't ask for her to do so. Charlie just decided completely on her own since her first glance at her beaten up family member. The thing was that Jaime clearly couldn't handle it, there other guys were probably bigger, and certainly out numbered him. It wasn't fair and Charlie's job was to fix that. "And how's that working out for you?" She questioned with an eyebrow raise, obviously it wasn't working. But as a smile slipped onto Jaime's face, Charlie couldn't help but have an identical one. "I try." She accepted her looking scary as a compliment, and pride filled her voice.

A surge of pain went up Charlie's spine, filling her heart with guilt. Her words were verified, and it had been the same kids from day one. "Of course." She commented in a low voice, thinking to herself of what these guys most now look like. It wasn't until Jaime grabbed her hand to snap her back into reality. She could feel his palm shaking around hers, and everything it world had vanished except for making sure this doesn't happen again. "I do have to." Charlie corrected, she wouldn't be able to sleep until she had done everything in her power. "And I promise it'll make it better." She guaranteed, giving a quick kiss on Jaime's forehead as in celebration for being closer to this fight.

Now all Charlie had to do was find these guys, and the rest a piece of cake. After all the last time she had taken revenge on these boys they were tiny and completely weak compared to Jaime's big sister. This was going to be too easy. "I'll be bake soon, make sure everyone eats, and the little ones get to bed." Charlie informed Jaime, the last thing she wanted was for him to witness this fight. After tonight everyone in the District will know if you wanna mess with the Smith, only go after the oldest. "If I'm not home in three hours, then you can get worried." She had to give one last joke before slipping out of the room, only thing was this fight will be over within one hour.

The best estimation was to head straight towards the town, that's where all the kids hang out now a days...right? Sure enough Charlie's guess was right, because teens were crowding the only sort of city this District held. Most became offended by the smoke escaping Charlie's lips, brought from the cig she had to have before this fight. She didn't care though, that was there problem. The three boys came into view, looking exactly as they were years ago, just bigger and a bit more buff. So Charlie was slightly hoping for the tiny kids that were younger then her, but now these boys had grown up. It'll just making it all that more interesting she thought as she put her cig out beneath her shoe and began making her way over to them.

Father had taught each of the Smith family one particular thing that made them all unique. For instances the second oldest daughter never went without looking her best, and though she wasn't a physical fighter, she could destroy anyone with her words. The oldest boy was such a leader he could convince anyone to follow his ways. As for Jaime, though it didn't seem like it he received the best trait of them all, because he was taught how to caring and nurture anyone back to health. The one who received the bad end of the stick was Charlie, because she was taught how to fight from the very beginning. There was one exception/benefit that effected if this ability was right for her, and that was that she was awfully tiny. Muscles consumed her arms and legs, but that didn't make them extend at all.

Standing at a short 5'1 wasn't completely bad for fighting, Charlie managed to use it to her advantage and could easily escape from anything with it. A major plus was also that it toke a bit from her intimidation, seeming weak until the first punch was thrown. By now though, everyone in the District simply knew to just stay away from Charlie. The three boys in front of her didn't get this memo though, they knew who she was from past fights years ago, but now they have grown taller while she stayed the same. She approached them casually, and as if they fought yesterday they all knew what was coming. They better have after what they had done to her younger brother.

"Dummy, Dum, and Dummer, right?" Charlie greeted with automatic insults. Before they even had a chance to respond, she was giving her explanation for these names. "Didn't I tell you boys years ago not to mess with the Smiths?" She questioned giving them a serious look, this wasn't going to end with words, but it was an entertaining start.

"We figured you stopped caring about him, or shipped off to the DC with your father." The tallest one came back with a jab. The second part was a bit humorous as she probably should of been, but the first part hit home. Especially because Charlie had been doing a fail job taking care of Jaime, and that was the only person they mentioned. Well she hadn't been caring for any of them, but the rest weren't picked on, and the ones who were knew how to fight back.

"Well we're back, so I'm going to need you to lay off." Charlie gave an eye roll as they all began to laugh, see she knew that just talking wasn't going to cut it. To tell the truth, she was hoping for this to happen. "Actually our Father is on top of one of these buildings with his weapon of choice, he wanted to surprise me so he didn't say which." Charlie threatened, pretending to look around herself as if to make out her Father. These boys might have grown taller and bigger, but they certainly lacked growth in their brains, because all began searching around up high.

It was perfect because these three tall boys, looking up, and Charlie's height gave her the perfect advantage. In a swift moment she brought her knee straight to the guy in front of her, to hit his stomach and force him forward. That's where Charlie's upper-cut punch could hit anywhere on his face and leave him a few minutes to pull himself together. That one wasn't finished, but gave her enough time to finish one of the other boys before he recovers onto his feet. Of course as soon as this happens the other two jump to help their friend. A side kick to the left hit one of their stomachs that must of knocked the wind out of him.

That left only one, but not for long because in no time the other two will be back in the game soon enough. Before even realizing it Charlie was tackled by the other kid for them to both tumble to the ground. He must not have good coordination because by the time they hit the ground Charlie managed to come out on top, and began whacking her fists at his face. The feeling kicked in, the confidence, the rush, she was on top and completely winning against three guys. It felt amazing, but arrived too soon because she forgot the other two boys would be joining back in. One of them suddenly lifted Charlie from the beaten-up kid, who looked worse the Jaime, and kept her arms pinned behind her back. It was now only two against one, but she wasn't in the best position.

This gave Charlie a moment to look around, and find a crowd of teenagers had circled around them to witness the fight. Cheers were going on, along with chants of pursuing the fighters to continue. But all Charlie could think about was the mess she had brought herself into, at any other time losing a fight wouldn't be horrible, but she wasn't fighting for herself this time. If she were to lose, that would make everything even worse for Jaime. Thinking didn't last long though because the first guy she attacked was in her face for a small chat before the torture began. Fine it'd give her more time to think of something.

"You screwed my friend over there." He stated the obvious while his filthy hand clenched Charlie's jaw. Even in this position a smile spread to her lips, which probably wasn't the best idea. But of course she couldn't help it.

"Eww no, he's not my type." Charlie commented with pure sarcasm, and within two seconds a fist met her gut. Instead of a shriek from the punch, she covered it up with a laugh that probably still had a hint of pain in it. "At least I can take all three of you without you boys being tied up." Another swing for her sly words, this time straight in the eye that caused everything to go blurry for a few moments.

"Yeah I can tell." He repeated a sarcastic sentence that Charlie had told Jaime just earlier. Something snapped it her like nothing else, because even without any of her family members around, a survival instinct to protect her family kicked in. After a few more punches to her, the boy holding Charlie's arms had very sweaty palms, and the boy in front of her needed some serious ass kicking. The grip was now loose enough and as the boy in front brought his hand back for another punch for Charlie, it was blocked by her non-stop kicking to him. It'd be difficult for him not to fall back, and the other boy was unsure what to do but knew that Charlie would soon be free from his grip. That certainly couldn't happen.

Without expecting it at all a punch knocked Charlie to the ground, where a hard kick met her back. It was now one against one, but she felt completely defeated. Only one more she repeated in her head, forcing herself up, she swung her legs below the last one, who just gave her a brutal hit, and brought him to the ground. At first Charlie once again pulled off being on top and giving the swings, but they did a few rolls and each taking turns giving the blows. Just as Charlie was about to give up, instead of the boy attempting to give punches or be on top, he pushed her off of him. Then just laid there, defeated.

So was Charlie, exhausted, with her muscles feeling weaker then ever, and pain consuming all her. The fight didn't turn out how she expected, as she was just as hurt as the three boys, but the only difference was it was one against three. A smile spread across the weak girl's lips, as she pushed herself onto her feet to claim her victory. The crowd had already began disappearing, and the three boys were still struggling to get themselves together. Charlie was used to being beaten up, as it happened often before she found her strength, and surprisingly that gave a serious advantage. The three boys looked destroyed, and though Charlie shared the same amount of cuts & bruises, she knew how to handle herself.

"No more messing with the Smiths, right?" Still Charlie couldn't help a joke spill from her lips. Well, actually it wasn't a joke, because though her tone didn't say so, she was being completely serious. "And if you do this will happen again." She threatened, before turning around and walking away from the boys who had yet to even get on their feet. Certainly she felt like dropping as well, but now wasn't the time.

The sucky part was she couldn't go home either. What her siblings would say, how Jaime would feel. That alone gave Charlie a head ace. There was only one place she knew she could go, well actually the one and only place she really wanted to go.

Within five minutes Charlie was sitting at the bar. "Rough day?" The bartender asked getting out a bottle of beer to hand over to her. The owner of the bar, and the only bartender had known Charlie for years, and served her beers after many fights. A long gulp was taken that toke more then half of the bottle, and a cigarette was lit before a response was given.

"Just a little disagreement." Charlie shortly explained with a sly smile appearing on her face. "I toke care of it though." The beer and the cig were the perfect aid, and the only one she need. She even denied an ice pack or wet cloth when the bartender offered, just ordered another round of beer.

For some reason everything just felt completely wrong. Charlie had won the fight, yet because of hardly winning it didn't feel as amazing as always. Usually there was this rush after an event like this, where all the pain went away, and all she wanted to do was celebrate with anyone. Currently though Charlie sat alone at the bar, the bartender being the only small conversations occurring. She felt shameful, which wasn't an uncommon feeling, but this time it was over the one thing she was good at. Charlie's job was to protect, that was her best quality, and her role in the family. It was so close to the edge, one wrong punch and she could of ended on the bottom of the entire thing. This kind of thing shouldn't happen.

The important part was that either way Charlie did come out on top, even if they all had equal amounts of wounds, it was three against one and that has to scare them. As long as they stayed away from Jaime that was all that mattered, hopefully they just don't grow anymore. The worst part was the lack of immunity to the pain this fight, not even being able to pretend to be alright. A shot was ordered with the next round of beer after the first one clearly didn't do it's job. The pure liquor only burned her throat though, and gulp down half of her new one. Certainly in no time that pain would have to subside. If anything she had a while because now was not the time to be returning home.

It's not like showing up bloody and bruised hasn't happened before with Charlie arriving at home, but now was a different circumstance entirely. Not just for the fact that Jaime would see the outcome of everything that happened, like a promise being broken, but Charlie wouldn't be able to hide it. It was one thing if she looked horrible but didn't act like it, currently though she wouldn't be able to fake these pains. Just one more shot to clear her head, stop her mind from running, and the concentration of where each bruise hit. Still nothing had changed excepted a more rapid thought process, she couldn't go through with failing Jaime. He couldn't think this was his fault, after all Charlie went after his scolding of not settling things with violence. Her gut feeling told her it'd be a lot more complicated though.

After finishing her beer, another one with another shot on the side, things were finally beginning to relax. The pain was disappearing, and her mind cloudy with alcohol. Just in time to, because a tap on the shoulder forced her heart to skip a beat. She had completely forgot her deal to be home within three hours, and a family member had gone looking for her. If only it was the second oldest, as horrible as that would be to hear his lecture on how he should of been the oldest, how much of a failure Charlie was blah blah blah, but all that would of been better then Jaime. Turning around it was indeed the little brother she was attempting to protect in the first place, and disappointment consumed his expression.

"Hey little brother." Charlie greeted, at least the alcohol could assist her a tad in trying to act completely fine. "I toke care of those boys." She informed, her words slurred from the previous shots. Still she couldn't bring herself around to looking him in the eye, only glancing at the expression he holds on his face. "They look a lot worse." She felt the need to reassure Jaime that she had won, and make her bruises and whatever else not appear to be that big of a deal. After all it's not like this was the first time any of her siblings witnessed her a bit roughed up.

For some reason Charlie still felt horrible with Jaime next to her, worse then before or ever before for that matter. Like she failed him, or didn't protect him. But she did, and tried her hardest at that. Finishing her beer in one gulp, she ordered another. "Do you want a beer?" She asked with a chuckle. "You don't drink do ya?" She questioned from the disgusted look Jaime's held on his face, clearly the bar wasn't his favorite place. "You should be getting home anyways, don't you have school tomorrow?" Charlie gave him a little nudge that held no power behind it, settling for her refreshed beer and another cigarette.