History Characters / ChildOfTheStormCarolDanvers

* OnlySaneWoman: Subverted. While she usually looks sane and sensible compared to Harry's downright bizarre tactics, she's got a streak of wildness and crazy a mile wide. Fury lampshades this in ''Unfinished Business'', noting inwardly that he'd ''hoped'' that she'd be this to Harry, but instead, "BirdsOfFeather might flock together, but those two maniacs ''deserved'' each other". Given that she'd just distracted the godlike ArcVillain by cold-cocking her in the face, kicking her in the crotch so hard she went flying into the air, and screamed "Meep-meep!" before breaking the sound barrier with the MacGuffin, this was somewhat justified.

* ProperlyParanoid: In the sequel, she's much quicker on the draw when startled. It's usually justified, as demonstrated in ''Unfinished Business'', when she decides to take her enchanted shield on a school trip to New Orleans, just in case. Likewise, in ''Forever Red'', she's planning for what happens if what emerges from the Red Room is not Harry, and that's exactly what happens.

* TomboyWithAGirlyStreak: She likes wearing a PimpedOutDress from time to time, but doesn't explicitly admit it until chapter 47 of ''Ghosts'' - something presumed to be related to her father trying to make her more traditionally feminine and a ProperLady, and her stubborn refusal to give an inch.

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehaviour: Not quite as dramatic example as Harry, but definitely walks the line between this and WiseBeyondTheirYears as a result of her experiences, with Hermione noting that she has a disturbingly old and cynical laugh.
* {{Tsundere}}: Ironically, she's this to pretty much everyone ''but'' Harry, who reliably brings out her sweeter, softer side. However, she is described as spiky and as having 'more prickles than a cactus' for good reason, with a defensive and temperamental attitude being derived from an emotionally abusive father and a good deal of sexual harassment, leaving her with an attitude of 'I get up when I get knocked down, because fuck you, that's why'.

* VillainRespect: Gets this from the Winter Soldier, who classifies ''her'' as the biggest threat during the Mountain arc once Harry and Diana leave the scene. Given that Uhtred (at this point a fully grown Asgardian) and Jean-Paul (an experienced speedster at the height of his potential) are present, this is no small thing.

!![[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Carol Susan Jane Danvers]] a.k.a. Green Lantern II a.k.a. [[spoiler: Spitfire III]]

* DefiantToTheEnd: In ''Unfinished Business'' when at the mercy of Nimue, an easily bored sociopath with [[RealityWarper the powers of a god]]. That particular incident seems to kill her when she's transformed into a tree, though it's somewhat ambiguous - 'Alec' indicates that she's still technically alive, which is why it 'only' takes Monica's powers breaking the spell to set her free. Semantics aside, it is treated as deeply traumatising.
%% Just directs to a different place instead of explaining. ** See the folder quote she gives, from ''Film/DogSoldiers'', when facing down a car sized werewolf. It isn't the end, however, thanks to the hurting children being the Winter Soldier's personal Berserk Button.

** In a non-romantic example, Natasha informs Steve that, once he truly accepts her, about half the Avengers contingent can see that he is essentially her true dad.

* ItsNotYouItsMe: On the receiving end of a non-romantic version of this when a shocked Steve semi-rejects her following TheReveal that she's his great-granddaughter. He comes round in time.

* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Zig-Zagged. She inherited her SuperSoldier abilities from Steve (not that she was aware of the relationship for some time), and is gifted her energy absorbing shield, which later turns into a variation on her comics outfit (albeit after Monica's unwitting intervention), granting her some degree of her canon powers based on how much she has absorbed by Odin. However, she was also chosen by Alan Scott's Green Lantern Ring twice, based purely off her courage and strength of will. Likewise, as the Mountain and ''Unfinished Business'' arcs show, she was entirely willing to get involved in trouble long before she inherited/was given either, and demonstrates a natural head for tactics and strategy that is respected by the world's superhuman heavy hitters.

* DefrostingIceQueen: While she's not especially frosty to Harry to begin with, she does relax significantly and generally defrost over time. The sequel reveals that she's been this offscreen to other characters, such as Peter Parker, who did see the frostier side of her. At first, he barely merits her notice and is a bit scared of her because he ran into her on a bad day, which she feels guilty about and by partway through ''Unfinished Business'', she has ''serious'' BigSisterInstinct going on.

* AntagonisticOffSpring: She really doesn't get on with either of her parents. In her mother's case, it's because Carol doesn't understand her - and once they understand each other, they get on much better. In her father's, it's because he doesn't understand her at all, but she understands him all too well.

** However, Stevie also points out - and Carol admits - that while she's protective of her brothers, previously she'd tended to ignore them, citing her obliviousness to Joe junior (their youngest sibling) acting out/being miserable over his father being KickedUpstairs to a job that means that he's rarely at home (which was done [[spoiler: because he tried to get Harry to alter Carol's mind]]). Later chapters imply that she's trying to rectify this.
** In ''Unfinished Business'', she develops this towards Peter Parker despite her initial exasperation, doing her best to keep him out of trouble, frying the symbiote that tries to absorb him and reassuring him whie they get it off, then pulling him into a tight hug.

* BrokenAce: She's good at almost anything physical that she turns her hand to. Even before becoming a full-fledged SuperSoldier, she had a brilliant tactical brain, NervesOfSteel, was an expert soccer player, and is beautiful to boot. She's also spiky, abrasive and quite defensive with generational family dysfunction and, prior to meeting Harry, about two genuine friends. One is incredibly hard for even a telepath to read, and the other is a KnightTemplarBigBrother who has to be reined in. Add in the [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD-inducing]] events that she gets wrapped up in, and the emotionally exhausting roller-coaster of being Harry's friend, then best friend and psychically-linked confidant, then girlfriend, and several near-death experiences... things do get better for her, reconciling with her mother, and she opens up a great deal, but she's still a bit of a mess.
* BruiserWithASoftCentre: Starts off more reserved and spiky and [[HatesBeingTouched less enthusiastic about physical contact]] [[ShipTease (except for Harry)]], but equally willing to hand out hugs to those who need them or be a CoolBigSis to younger girls (e.g. Mattie Franklin and Diana) and, indeed, later [[TheWoobie Peter Parker]], and provide emotional support to her friends. She's also very fond of her little brothers, though as she acknowledges, she's not always good at showing it.

* FeminineMotherTomboyishDaughter: Carol is a tomboy who is incredibly talented at sports and highly assertive. Her mother Marie on the other hand is - [[HiddenDepths apparently]] - the stereotypical doormat housewife who puts up with her husband's [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusive behaviour]] towards their children with little complaint, [[PoorCommunicationKills without ever explaining to her daughter why.]] Things get much better after they actually open up to each other, and Marie realises just how much of a douche her husband has turned out to be (and it's indicated that it's better for him that [[MamaBear she found that out at second-hand]]...)

* FollowingInRelativesFootsteps: She wants to follow in her uncle/cousin/grandmother's footsteps, most probably at SHIELD or other spooky stuff - later modified to superhero stuff. Her mother is initially rather against this having had to deal with [[FollowInMyFootsteps her mother pressing her to do so]] and seen just what it can lead to - such as her brother's experience of ColdBloodedTorture in Iraq (she comes round, eventually).
* FriendlessBackground: While she's got a small group of casual friends at school, the only people that she's properly close to in her life prior to meeting Harry are [[CampGay Jean-Paul]] [[ObfuscatingStupidity Beaubier]], [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Lex]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist Luthor]], the former of whom is almost always wearing a mask and the latter of whom she occasionally has to play MoralityChain to and her CoolUncle [[Series/StargateSG1 Jack O'Neill]] and cousin ComicBook/Agent13, who it is suggested that she doesn't normally see often because of their jobs.

* GenerationXerox: Personality wise, she's basically Peggy if she traded in the LadyOfWar attitude for DissonantSerenity and [[HotBlooded a fiery temper]]. She even has a peculiarly American variant on the StiffUpperLip. And her looks, ChronicHeroSyndrome, talents as TheStrategist, and inclination towards shields come straight from her great-grandfather, Steve.

* InelegantBlubbering: She doesn't cry often, not wanting to show weakness ([[DaddyIssues especially around her father]]), and her little brother notes that he actually can't remember the last time she cried. When she does, however, it's not pretty. As the narration observes, 'it was not elegant, graceful, or dignified. Pain rarely is.'

* InTheBlood: She takes very much after Peggy Carter (she's got a certain ruthless pragmatism and excellent strategic skills), her great-aunt and her uncle Jack. Her mother remarks on this when she notes that her attempts to keep Carol safe and away from the super-spy world of the weird represented by SHIELD and others like them were ultimately in vain.Additionally, though it's not quite as obvious, she has ChronicHeroSyndrome, a certain charisma, strategic ability, and (of course) the SuperSoldier genes from Steve.

* JerkassRealization: When Stevie calls her out for not being a better sister to her younger brothers, and another during and after the events of ''Unfinished Business'' when she realizes [[TheDreaded the effect]] she's unintentionally had on Peter Parker. In neither case did she intend to be harsh, but in both cases it's justified.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Downplayed version, as she warms up to Harry pretty quickly after the two bond. Also, he's a MagneticHero and (when not traumatised) a genuine NiceGuy, people tend to like him on principle. She's also kind to a young Mattie Franklin and is [[BigSisterInstinct very]] [[CoolBigSis protective]] of Diana and, later, Peter. However, it's later confirmed in ''Unfinished Business'' that she's not so nice to her peers [[AllMenArePerverts (not entirely without reason)]] and until later on in ''Ghosts'', [[AloofBigSister largely ignored her younger brothers.]]

** Ditto for Harry, characterising it as watching his blind-spots the same way he does for her, and warning Hermione about it in ''Ghosts'', (as Hermione's never really seen Harry snap). She helps talk him down after he goes Dark Phoenix and he implies that her death is the only scenario where he'd willingly become the Dark Phoenix again - though if he did, he'd at least avoid risking unleashing Surtur.
** It reaches the point where Deadpool remarks that if she really ''is'' dead in ''Unfinished Business'', then they have a very short period of time before [[ApocalypseMaiden Harry]] snaps and kills everyone. Gambit, who knows Harry and is an exceptional judge of character, grimaces and informs a horrified Monica that Deadpool isn't exactly wrong.

** After TheReveal that she's the great-granddaughter of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, as opposed to the great-niece of the latter, she feels out Steve for this. Initially, he's in shock and rejects her - though not without [[ItsNotYouItsMe an explanation.]] After Tony's [[WhatTheHellHero pointed nagging]] and Carol having a near-death experience in ''Ghosts'', he comes around, eventually becoming her ''de facto'' 'dad'.

* PositiveFriendInfluence: Despite not being the most open and congenial person by herself, her brand of caring BrutalHonesty breaks down the wall Harry tends to put up, cutting through his melodramatic tendencies, and persuading him to open up and take a good long look at himself when necessary.

* WantedAGenderConformingChild: Believes this of both her parents, until ''Ghosts'' - her father most definitely does, wanting her to be a ProperLady or a GirlNextDoor. Her mother doesn't care about her being a {{tomboy}}, she's just terrified (and with good reason) of where danger-seeking ambitions might take her - though eventually she just resolves to be proud of Carol.

* WantedAGenderConformingChild: Believes this of both her parents, until ''Ghosts'' - her father most definitely does, wanting her to be a ProperLady or an AllAmericanGirl. Her mother doesn't care about her being a {{tomboy}}, she's just terrified (and with good reason) of where danger-seeking ambitions might take her - though eventually she just resolves to be proud of Carol.

* BerserkButton: Feeling her up and trying to hurt her friends or little brothers, the latter in particular putting her into a borderline homicidal rage.

* DefiantToTheEnd:
** See the folder quote she gives, from ''Film/DogSoldiers'', when facing down a car sized werewolf. It isn't the end, however, thanks to the hurting children being the Winter Soldier's personal BerserkButton.
** She's similarly defiant in ''Unfinished Business'' when at the mercy of Nimue, an easily bored sociopath with [[RealityWarper the powers of a god]]. That particular incident seems to kill her when she's transformed into a tree, though it's somewhat ambiguous - 'Alec' indicates that she's still technically alive, which is why it 'only' takes Monica's powers breaking the spell to set her free. Semantics aside, it is treated as deeply traumatising.

* BigSisterInstinct: As Harry points out in ''Ghosts'', she's prone to this, demonstrating it towards Diana, Mattie Franklin, and especially her little brothers, particularly towards Stevie ''Bloody Hell'', coldly threatening to behead a vampire on Dracula's strike team if he even breathes the wrong way towards Stevie. The leader of said strike team takes this threat seriously and when the leader in question ''does'' breathe the wrong way towards Stevie, she winds up beheading him and remarking, "Can't say I didn't warn you. Asshole."

* BruiserWithASoftCentre: Starts off more reserved and spiky and [[HatesBeingTouched less enthusiastic about physical contact]] [[ShipTease (except for Harry)]], but equally willing to hand out hugs to those who need them or be a CoolBigSis to younger girls (e.g. Mattie Franklin and Diana), and provide emotional support to her friends. She's also very fond of her little brothers, though as she acknowledges, she's not always good at showing it.

* CombatPragmatist: As best demonstrated when fighting Nimue in ''Unfinished Business'' - even with a massive power-up via the Green Lantern Ring, she's no match for an experienced witch with all that power and then some. So divides, distracts, ambushes, and not only makes it a physical fight but makes it as ridiculously and brutally dirty as possible, not giving her enemy any chance to gather her wits. It starts with a GroinAttack, progresses to an EyeScream, and only gets more vicious from there.

* CryIntoChest: With her grandmother in chapter 11 of ''Ghosts of the Past''.

* DefiantToTheEnd: See the folder quote she gives, from ''Film/DogSoldiers'', when facing down a car sized werewolf. It isn't the end, however, thanks to the hurting children being the Winter Soldier's personal BerserkButton.

* DestroyingAPunchingBag In the sequel ''Ghosts of the Past'', she's already done this to one and nearly a second before she sprains her wrist with a misaimed punch. The reason being she's really, really upset about hearing Belova sexually assaulted Harry, and can't do anything to [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend help]] him.

* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Her {{UST}} with Harry reaches the point where supervillains who have seen them interact for ''a few minutes'' already assume they're dating.

* FeminineMotherTomboyishDaughter: Carol is a tomboy who is incredibly talented at sports and highly assertive. Her mother Marie on the other hand is - [[HiddenDepths apparently]] - the stereotypical doormat housewife who puts up with her husband's [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusive behaviour]] towards their children with little complaint, [[PoorCommunicationKills without ever explaining to her daughter why.]] Things get much better after they actually open up to each other, and Marie realises just how much of a douche her husband really is (and it's indicated that it's better for him that [[MamaBear she found that out at second-hand]]...)

* FriendlessBackground: The only people that she's close to in her life prior to meeting Harry are [[CampGay Jean-Paul]] [[ObfuscatingStupidity Beaubier]], [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Lex]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist Luthor]], the former of whom is almost always wearing a mask and the latter of whom she occasionally has to play MoralityChain to and her CoolUncle [[Series/StargateSG1 Jack O'Neill]] and cousin ComicBook/Agent13, who it is suggested that she doesn't normally see often because of their jobs.

* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend: Repeatedly, where Harry is concerned, something he echoes. [[RunningGag No one, not even supervillains who have only seen them interact for a couple of minutes, believes them.]] Finally, in chapter 46 of ''Ghosts'', they get together.

* InformedAttribute: She is said to be very spiky and aloof towards guys (seeing as AllMenArePerverts) in high school, especially before meeting Harry. However, since the only guys her own age she interacts with outside Harry and her own family are [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Lex]], [[GayBestFriend Jean-Paul]], and later [[LikeBrotherAndSister Uhtred]], this is never shown. In fact, she's very polite to Draco Malfoy when she meets him early in ''Ghosts,'' and enjoys playing ThePrankster along with Fred and George. This might be because none of them show any romantic interest in her, and because Harry has softened her personality somewhat.
** This is confirmed to be Harry's influence and implied to be partly situational in ''Unfinished Business'': Monica Rambeau remarks that when they first became friends, Carol had "more prickles than a cactus", and Carol and Peter elaborate a little on why he was rather scared of her even before ''Bloody Hell''. Ned even says that until recently, he didn't think she liked anyone, and she's still more withdrawn and prickly around her classmates than Harry - though she [[BigSisterInstinct notably softens around Peter, though only after they become friends]].

** It reaches the point where Deadpool remarks that if she really ''is'' dead in ''Unfinished Business'', then they have a very short period of time before [[ApocalypseMaiden Harry]] snaps and kills everyone. Gambit, who knows Harry and is an exceptional judge of character, grimaces and informs a horrified Monica that he isn't exactly wrong.

* MuggleBestFriend: To Harry, at first. Then, she gets sucked into his world. And in chapter 46 of the sequel, [[RelationshipUpgrade officially becomes more than just a best friend.]]

** After TheReveal that she's the great-granddaughter of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, as opposed to the great-niece of the latter, she feels out Steve for this. Initially, he's in shock and rejects her - though not without [[ItsNotYouItsMe an explanation.]] After Tony's [[WhatTheHellHero pointed nagging]] and Carol having a near-death experience in ''Ghosts'', he comes around, eventually becoming her ''de facto'' 'dad' in chapter 60.

* PopCulturedBadass: She makes a lot of ''Franchise/StarWars'' references, among other things. This culminates in the final battle of ''Unfinished Business'' when she uses the Green Lantern Ring to conjure fully functional and fully colour-palette accurate (this Ring isn't limited to HardLight) X-Wings and a copy of the ''Millennium Falcon'' which works perfectly, in the words of Jack O'Neill, "in blatant defiance of the laws of physics, god, and man."
* PositiveFriendInfluence: Despite not being the most open and congenial person by herself, her brand of caring BrutalHonesty

* ProperlyParanoid: In the sequel, she's much quicker on the draw when startled. It's usually justified, as demonstrated in ''Unfinished Business'', when she decides to take her enchanted shield on a school trip to New Orleans, just in case.

* SexuallyTransmittedSuperpowers: While there's no actual sex involved, and the two aren't even together at the time, in ''Ghosts'' she gets a massive blood transfusion from Harry via machine designed for blood-magic derived SuperEmpowering. It's indicated to be magically significant as an ActOfTrueLove - especially since, as is noted, a) it saved her life, and b) he transferred over at least four pints, he'd already donated at least half a pint to someone else, and he'd lost a ''lot'' of blood after a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown including being [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice skewered with his own sword]]. It should have ''killed'' him. Its effects are initially unclear, though it's later shown to allow her to channel truly massive amounts of energy without burning up.

* SuperSoldier: By inheritance, as it turns out, though it only fully manifested thanks to a temporary PlotRelevantAgeUp[=/=]enhancement in chapter 60 of book 1.
* ThereWasADoor: In chapter 76 of Book I, she disregards it entirely. Under the circumstances, this was not exactly wise.

* {{Tsundere}}: Ironically, she's this to pretty much everyone ''but'' Harry, who reliably brings out her sweeter, softer side. However, she is described as spiky and as having 'more prickles than a cactus' for good reason, with a defensive and temperamental attitude being derived from an emotionally abusive father and a good deal of sexual harassment, leaving her with an 'I get up when I get knocked down, because fuck you, that's why'.

* BigSisterInstinct: As Harry points out in ''Ghosts'', she's prone to this, demonstrating it towards Diana, Mattie Franklin, Peter Parker, and especially her little brothers, particularly towards Stevie ''Bloody Hell'', coldly threatening to behead a vampire on Dracula's strike team if he even breathes the wrong way towards Stevie. The leader of said strike team takes this threat seriously and when the leader in question ''does'' breathe the wrong way towards Stevie, she winds up beheading him and remarking, "Can't say I didn't warn you. Asshole."

* ChromeChampion: In ''Unfinished Business'', it's revealed that her shield can be repurposed to make this, in a skin-tight suit of near impenetrable battle armour that can grant her her canonical power-set.

* CovertPervert: Has, shall we say, ''noticed'' Clint's arms and the prospect of topless pics of Rhodey is sufficient to induce InstantWakingSkills when she's half asleep. And she's a bit DistractedByTheSexy when Gambit's around - though this is [[ChickMagnet Gambit]], so it happens a lot. It's also mentioned that she's been checking out Harry from time to time.

* DavidVersusGoliath: Ends up on the David end of most of her fights, including twice against demonic, super-sized werewolves (first time, she wins. Second time, the Winter Soldier bails her out), and in ''Ghosts'' versus the Beast of the Red Room. She doesn't win that one, either, but [[CurbstompCushion she does hurt him badly.]]

* MoralityChain[=/=]MoralityPet: She serves as both of these to [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Lex Luthor]].

** It reaches the point where Deadpool remarks that if she really ''is'' dead in ''Unfinished Business'', then they have a very short period of time before Harry snaps and kills everyone. Gambit, who knows Harry and is an exceptional judge of character, grimaces and informs a horrified Monica that he isn't exactly wrong.

* MustHaveCaffeine: She's ''really'' NotAMorningPerson. It becomes a RunningGag, with her grandmother complaining that no mug of coffee is safe when she's around, and that she's even worse than ''Tony'' (if only because she's much, much faster).

* SexuallyTransmittedSuperpowers: While there's no actual sex involved, and the two aren't even together at the time, in ''Ghosts'' she gets a massive blood transfusion from Harry via machine designed for blood-magic derived SuperEmpowering (she was targeted for her SuperSoldier blood), in order to save her life. It's indicated to be magically significant as an ActOfTrueLove - especially since, as is noted, he transferred over at least four pints, he'd already donated at least half a pint to someone else, and he'd lost a ''lot'' of blood after a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown including being [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice skewered with his own sword]]. It should have ''killed'' him. Its effects are initially unclear, though it's later shown to allow her to channel truly massive amounts of energy without burning up.

* BadassInDistress: Is nearly killed by the Slendermen, and is kidnapped twice in ''Ghosts'', once by [[spoiler: Sinister and Maddie]] (as a by-product of being around Harry when ''he's'' grabbed) and once by [[spoiler: Dracula's henchmen]].

* BestFriend: Evolves into this by ''Ghosts'', being Harry's key confidante and companion, effectively his right-hand woman, understanding his combat-related stuff and traumas better than even Hermione. As she notes, though, this is partly because she has the advantages of a deeply emotionally intimate MindMeld, and of having seen him in combat situations in a way that Hermione hasn't, adding that on the day to day stuff, Hermione still probably knows him better.
** It reaches the point where Ron's genuinely worried that she's taken his place. Carol herself tries to reassure him, but isn't sure whether she has or not - even with a psychic connection, Harry isn't always easy to read. It's implied that she has, though [[spoiler: the fact that they've got together in chapter 46 theoretically shifts her into a different category.]]
* BetterAsFriends: Has decided this about her and Harry, for the time being. [[spoiler: She changes her mind in chapter 46 of ''Ghosts''.]]

* BigSisterInstinct: As Harry points out in chapter 49 of ''Ghosts'', she's prone to this, demonstrating it towards Diana, Mattie Franklin, and especially her little brothers, particularly towards Stevie in chapters 29 and 30 of ''Ghosts'', coldly threatening to behead a [[spoiler: vampire on Dracula's]] strike team if he even breathes the wrong way towards Stevie. The leader of said strike team takes this threat seriously [[spoiler: and when the leader in question does breathe the wrong way towards Stevie in chapter 30, with Harry's help, Carol winds up beheading him and remarking, "Can't say I didn't warn you. Asshole."]]

** In ''Unfinished Business'', she develops this towards Peter Parker despite her initial exasperation, doing her best to keep him out of trouble, frying the [[spoiler: symbiote that tries to absorb him]] and reassuring him whie they get it off, then pulling him into a tight hug.

* BrokenAce: She's good at almost anything physical that she turns her hand to. Even before becoming a full-fledged SuperSoldier, she had a brilliant tactical brain, NervesOfSteel, was an expert soccer player, and is beautiful to boot. She's also spiky, abrasive and quite defensive with generational family dysfunction and, prior to meeting Harry, about two genuine friends. One is incredibly hard for even a telepath to read, and the other is a KnightTemplarBigBrother who has to be reined in. Add in the [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD-inducing]] events that she gets wrapped up in, and the emotionally exhausting roller-coaster of being Harry's friend, then best friend and psychically-linked confidant, [[spoiler: then girlfriend]], and several near-death experiences... things do get better for her, reconciling with her mother, and she opens up a great deal, but she's still a bit of a mess.

** Also comes up with this immortal line when he's getting particularly histrionic as [[spoiler: the Dark Phoenix.]]

** In ''Unfinished Business'', [[spoiler: Nimue turns her into a tree. She comes back, and this time, and uses the help of the Parliament of Trees and her shield-suit to replace the broken Lantern and tap into the true potential of the Green Lantern Ring, without its many {{Restraining Bolt}}s]].
* ChargedAttack: Via her shield, if she's absorbed energy into it. ''Unfinished Business'' gives this a whole new significance when it reveals that [[spoiler: her shield is not 'just' a shield. Sometimes, it resembles a suit of armour - much like a very particular super suit...]].

* ChromeChampion: In ''Unfinished Business'', it's revealed that [[spoiler: her shield can be repurposed to make this, in a skin-tight suit of near impenetrable battle armour that can grant her her canonical power-set]].

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: While she's already a SuperSoldier by this point, in ''Unfinished Business'', [[spoiler: her shield]] can turn her into a ChromeChampion that grants her her canon power-set (albeit one almost entirely dependent on [[spoiler: the shield-suit's energy absorbing properties]]).

* CombatPragmatist: As best demonstrated when fighting [[spoiler: Nimue]] in ''Unfinished Business'' - even with a massive power-up via the Green Lantern Ring, she's no match for an experienced witch with all that power and then some. So divides, distracts, ambushes, and not only makes it a physical fight but makes it as ridiculously and brutally dirty as possible, not giving her enemy any chance to gather her wits. It starts with a GroinAttack, progresses to an EyeScream, and only gets more vicious from there.
* TheConfidant: Develops into this for Harry, because she usually has the inside track on what's happened and they have an increasingly close friendship that eventually evolves into an AnchoredShip [[spoiler: then a full blown relationship]]. Crucially, after the first chapter of the sequel, as a side-effect of some well-intentioned but inexpert psychic therapy, they wind up with a PsychicLink, meaning that he doesn't actually have to say things, as such.

* DavidVersusGoliath: Ends up on the David end of most of her fights, including twice against demonic, super-sized werewolves (first time, she wins. Second time, the Winter Soldier bails her out), and in ''Ghosts'' versus [[spoiler: Blob!Dudley]]. She doesn't win that one, either, but [[CurbstompCushion she does hurt him badly.]]

** She's similarly defiant in ''Unfinished Business'' when at the mercy of [[spoiler: Nimue]], an easily bored sociopath with [[RealityWarper the powers of a god]]. That particular incident [[spoiler: seems to kill her when she's transformed into a tree, though it's somewhat ambiguous - 'Alec' indicates that she's still technically alive, which is why it 'only' takes Monica's powers breaking the spell to set her free]]. Semantics aside, it is treated as deeply traumatising.

* DestroyingAPunchingBag In the sequel ''Ghosts of the Past'', she's already done this to one and nearly a second before she sprains her wrist with a misaimed punch. The reason being she's really, really upset about hearing [[spoiler: Belova sexually assaulted Harry]], and can't do anything to [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend help]] him.

* EmpoweredBadassNormal: After Chapter 60 of ''Child of the Storm'', which kickstarted her SuperSoldier genes. In ''Unfinished Business'', her [[spoiler: shield-suit takes it up several notches, making her a full FlyingBrick if it's got enough power]].

* EnergyAbsorption: Her shield can do this if she wants it to, and given the comparisons to Mjolnir, it can take ''a lot''. Once absorbed, she can then release it at will, with interest. [[spoiler: In ''Unfinished Business'', Strange reveals that it's far more than just a shield - it can transform into battle-armour, which looks very much like a certain superhero costume... and, if necessary, it can function as a replacement Green Lantern]].

* FlyingFirepower: Temporarily, as the new Green Lantern. [[spoiler: In ''Unfinished Business'', she figures out how to use her charged up shield-suit for this]].

* GroinAttack: Part and parcel of being a CombatPragmatist - not even other women are immune, as [[spoiler: Nimue]] finds out when Carol kicks her hard enough to lift her about six feet off the ground.

* HandBlast: Via the Green Lantern Ring. [[spoiler: Also in ''Unfinished Business'' after her shield transforms into a suit and is charged up by Gambit]].
* HatesBeingTouched: She's not explicitly touch-phobic, but she is touch-suspicious. Harry is eventually the main exception, especially when either one of them feels in need of a hug. By ''Ghosts'', they're actively and regularly snuggling, and she's loosened up a bit with others, to the point where she [[TheGlomp glomps]] Peter in ''Unfinished Business'' after [[spoiler: he nearly got eaten by a Venom symbiote]], and gladly returns it when he glomps her a few chapters later.

* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend: Repeatedly, where Harry is concerned, something he echoes. [[RunningGag No one, not even supervillains who have only seen them interact for a couple of minutes, believes them.]] [[spoiler: Finally, in chapter 46 of ''Ghosts'', they get together]].

* HeroicBSOD: Drops into one in chapter 60 of ''Ghosts'', after Harry had nightmares regarding [[spoiler: what Belova [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil used the Red Son for]] during]] ''Forever Red'', complete with sensations, and [[spoiler: scrubbed himself bloody]] before going catatonic. Worse, she couldn't help him because her passing resemblance to [[spoiler: Belova]] meant he could barely tolerate her presence.
* HeroicSacrifice: In chapter 60 of the first book. It's ultimately subverted, but the intent is there, and it was both noticed and appreciated by the likes of [[ShipperOnDeck Frigga]].

* IndyPloy: She's not as prone to these as Harry is, being a better planner, but she has her moments. The one she pulls early in ''Bloody Hell'' has to be seen to be believed. She's trapped in a subway carriage with a five superhuman [[spoiler: (vampire)]] strike team, all powerful, almost all reasonably experienced, covering every exit. She's got her non-powered and LockedOutOfTheLoop little brother to worry about, and she's only got her football (soccer) gear and her shield. She ''still'' manages to get out of the station and very nearly away entirely, with her little brother clutched under one arm. The strike team's leader, and his commander [[spoiler: (Dracula)]] are both moderately impressed.

* InsultOfEndearment: Affectionately calls Harry a "dumbass" for not asking for help after unblocking [[spoiler: his Red Son memories]].
* InTheBlood: She takes very much after Peggy Carter (she's got a certain ruthless pragmatism and excellent strategic skills), her great-aunt and her uncle Jack. Cousin Sharon shows that she's not the only one who inherited the badassery. As chapter 75 reveals, they all got it rather more directly - Peggy's 'sister' was actually her daughter by Steve, born after he crashed in the Arctic.
** Her mother remarks on this when she notes that her attempts to keep Carol safe and away from the super-spy world of the weird represented by SHIELD and others like them were ultimately in vain.
** Additionally, though it's not quite as obvious, she has ChronicHeroSyndrome, a certain charisma, strategic ability, and (of course) the SuperSoldier genes from Steve.

* IShallTauntYou: Has a razor sharp tongue and sharpens it on [[spoiler: Yelena Belova]] in ''Ghosts'' and [[spoiler: Nimue]] in ''Unfinished Business''. It's not entirely sensible in either case, but she's short on options and wants to goad them into a mistake. In the first case, it works, since [[spoiler: Belova]] is AxCrazy. In the second, not so much.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Downplayed version, as she warms up to Harry pretty quickly after the two bond. Also, he's a MagneticHero and (when not traumatised) a genuine NiceGuy, people tend to like him on principle. She's also kind to a young Mattie Franklin and is [[BigSisterInstinct very]] [[CoolBigSis protective]] of Diana. However, it's suggested, and later confirmed in ''Unfinished Business'' that she's not so nice to her peers [[AllMenArePerverts (not entirely without reason)]] and until later on in ''Ghosts'', [[AloofBigSister largely ignored her younger brothers.]]

* LegacyCharacter: Takes up Steve's mantle, to an extent. Also more literally, as the first Green Lantern of the 21st century.
** Later, she becomes [[spoiler: the third Spitfire]].

* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Discussed in reference to [[spoiler: why they stay JustFriends]] after she becomes this to Harry in ''Ghosts'' after ''Forever Red'' - though sometimes they swap roles, and it fades with time.

* MegatonPunch: In the finale of ''Unfinished Business'', after being powered up beyond belief, she ends up punching [[spoiler: Nimue]] all the way to [[spoiler: ''Mars'']].

* MomentKiller: After Harry [[spoiler: snaps and goes on a ThenLetMeBeEvil rant as the Dark Phoenix warms up]], Carol brings him back to earth with a well-timed PrecisionFStrike.

** Ditto for Harry, characterising it as watching his blind-spots the same way he does for her, and warning Hermione about it in ''Ghosts'', (as Hermione's never really seen Harry snap). She helps talk him down [[spoiler: after he goes Dark Phoenix]] and he implies that [[spoiler: her death is the only scenario where he'd willingly become the Dark Phoenix again - though if he did, he'd at least avoid risking unleashing Surtur]].
* MorphWeapon: As ''Unfinished Business'' reveals, [[spoiler: her shield is rather more than just a shield]]. In fact, it's a fully-fledged SwissArmyWeapon.

* MuggleBestFriend: To Harry, at first. Then, she gets sucked into his world. [[spoiler: And in chapter 46 of the sequel, officially becomes more than just a best friend.]]

* MyGodYouAreSerious: In chapter 34 of ''Ghosts'' when "Joshua"/[[spoiler:Jesus]] shows up in person and she's told who he is, her initial response is to laugh... until she realises that the others are serious.

** Her swimsuit in the first chapter of ''Ghosts of the Past'' bears a strong resemblance to her comic book counterpart's most famous costume. On a meta level, it also fits [[WordOfGod the author's habit of referring to said costume as a swimsuit]].
** In ''Unfinished Business'', her [[spoiler: shield transforms into a close-fitting battle suit just like her costume, particularly the metallic MCU version]]. Furthermore, the idea that it [[spoiler: gives her powers]] is a nod to the very start of her comics counterpart's career, when [[spoiler: her costume]] did exactly that.

* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Zig-Zagged. She inherited her SuperSoldier abilities from Steve (not that she was aware of the relationship for some time), and is gifted her energy absorbing shield [[spoiler: which later turns into a variation on her comics outfit (albeit after Monica's unwitting intervention), granting her some degree of her canon powers based on how much she has absorbed]] by Odin. However, she was also chosen by Alan Scott's Green Lantern Ring twice, based purely off her courage and strength of will. Likewise, as the Mountain and ''Unfinished Business'' arcs show, she was entirely willing to get involved in trouble long before she inherited/was given either, and demonstrates a natural head for tactics and strategy that is respected by the world's superhuman heavy hitters.

* NotSoAboveItAll: She often mocks Harry's more dramatic moments, but as the LemonyNarrator notes in ''Unfinished Business'', she's got a dramatic streak of her own, when she decides to throw down the gauntlet by one-shotting the literally mountain-sized [[spoiler: Man-Thing]].

* PhysicalGod: When wielding Alan Scott's Green Lantern Ring, to a potentially [[RealityWarper reality-warping degree]]. In ''Unfinished Business'', she ends up taking it up several notches by [[spoiler: reluctantly reclaiming the Ring and using her shield-suit as a replacement lantern]], channelling half the magical power of the Earth, with the ArcVillain having the other half - explicitly stated to be the power of pantheons, plural. She handles it well, but all things told, she's rather relieved when she gets to give it up again.
* PoweredArmour: In ''Unfinished Business'', it's revealed that [[spoiler: her shield is a MorphWeapon[=/=]SwissArmyWeapon which]] gives her a clothing-like ChromeChampion version of this trope powered by [[spoiler: any energy she absorbs]].
* PragmaticHero: As demonstrated in ''Forever Red'', she's capable of both worrying very much about Harry and planning for what might happen if he ends up BrainwashedAndCrazy and testing if [[CoolBigSis Jean]] is ready for the prospect of facing him (as she's one of the few who could). She doesn't like it, but [[spoiler: it turns out that she was ProperlyParanoid]].

* PsychicLink: Ends up developing one with Harry in ''Ghosts'', after the telepathic therapy incident. The two of them frequently slip into telepathic conversations without realising it, and she's hinted to be able to sense his presence. In chapter 30, she [[spoiler: manages to contact him, while he was asleep, from across the Atlantic after mentally shouting at it. Both of them are rather surprised that it actually worked.]]
* RealityWarper: [[spoiler: When tapping into half the full power of Earth's magic as the unfettered Green Lantern]] in ''Unfinished Business''. She's entirely aware of her limitations in understanding it and [[BoringButPractical mostly keeps it simple,]] just wanting to take the opportunity to punch [[spoiler: Nimue]] very hard in the face. Which she does. Repeatedly.

* SexuallyTransmittedSuperpowers: While there's no actual sex involved, and the two aren't even together [[spoiler: yet]], in ''Ghosts'' she gets a massive blood transfusion from Harry via machine designed for blood-magic derived SuperEmpowering (she was targeted for her SuperSoldier blood), in order to save her life. It's indicated to be magically significant as an ActOfTrueLove - especially since, as is noted, he transferred over at least four pints, he'd already donated at least half a pint to someone else, and he'd lost a ''lot'' of blood after a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown including being [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice skewered with his own sword]]. It should have ''killed'' him. Its effects are initially unclear, though it's later shown to allow her to channel truly massive amounts of energy without burning up.
* SheCleansUpNicely: She's usually an UnkemptBeauty, but when she goes all out as Harry's date to the Yule Ball, she's positively stunning, and compared very favourably with Diana (a young [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman Wonder Woman]]), and Fleur Delacour, who are both literally supernaturally beautiful. Harry is left gobsmacked and barely manages to use his words.

* ShipTease: Recurrently with Harry. Both, however, have epic scale issues and are more than content to be JustFriends at first. [[spoiler: TheBigDamnKiss in ''Ghosts'' chapter 46 finally seals it.]]

** These tendencies resurface in ''Ghosts'', during [[spoiler: her time in the Red Room]] and after [[spoiler: Harry's recaptured]] - see PragmaticHero for the latter - and during ''Unfinished Business''.
*** In the latter, without any real prompting she manages to concoct a plan that is accepted by the likes of Steve, Strange, Wizard Liberty of the Senior Council, and Wanda, without much question beyond clarification. For good reason, as it leaves [[spoiler: Nimue]], no slouch herself, completely flatfooted and grudgingly impressed.
* SuperhumanTransfusion: Gets one from Harry at the end of ''Bloody Hell'', though it doesn't have any direct effects. In ''Unfinished Business'', it's heavily implied to be part of what allows her to [[spoiler: channel the power of the Earth's magic through her shield-armour as a temporary, wearable Green Lantern without burning up]]. She later wonders [[FantasticAngst what effect this might be having on her.]]

* TouchedByVorlons: This happens to her a lot, to the point where she wonders if she's still "me" or "Franken-me" after ''Unfinished Business''. By this point, she's had her SuperSoldier genes activated by a temporary PlotRelevantAgeUp courtesy of a GeniusLoci, wielded the Green Lantern Ring twice (the second time she [[spoiler: used her shield-suit as a stand-in battery meaning that she]] essentially ''was'' the Lantern), developed a PsychicLink with one of the most powerful telepaths ever to exist (who later used it with her consent to possess her), undergone a SuperhumanTransfusion from Harry (who has some very odd things in his blood and is noted as the transition point from humanity to divinity), and now wields a weapon enchanted by Odin that absorbs energy and functions almost as a part of her. With all that in mind, it's a fair question.

* TwiceShy: With Harry. Unusually, they do figure it out by ''Ghosts'', but as both acknowledge when they admit their feelings apart and to each other, they're riddled with issues that would make a relationship problematic (his horrible self-esteem and her twitchy nature, along with [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD]]) and the risks that any relationship would be a co-dependent mess. [[spoiler: They eventually get over them enough to get together]].

* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Towards Harry, even if they aren't actually dating [[spoiler: until chapter 46 of ''Ghosts'']], and though her role is usually more emotional protectiveness, she displays a willingness to glare down gods and goddesses alike. Sif was impressed, while [[SeenItAll Frigga]] merely marked it down as a reason that Carol [[ShipperOnDeck was most probably]] [[EveryoneCanSeeIt going to be her granddaughter-in-law some day.]]

* YouAreNotAlone: Gives this to Harry in chapter 72 of Book I, who returns it to her in chapter 30 of ''Ghosts.''
* YouDidEverythingYouCould: Gives a speech along these lines to Harry in chapter 72.

* BoobsOfSteel: Like her canon counterpart, she's got the MostCommonSuperpower (albeit downplayed) and she kicks butt with the best of them.

* AntagonisticOffSpring: She really doesn't get on with either of her parents. In her mother's case, it's because Carol doesn't understand her - and once they understand each other, they get on much better. In her father's, it's because she understands him all too well.

* BrokenAce: She's good at almost anything physical that she turns her hand to. Even before becoming a full-fledged SuperSoldier, she had a brilliant tactical brain, NervesOfSteel, and she's beautiful to boot. She's also spiky, abrasive and quite defensive with generational family dysfunction and, prior to meeting Harry, about two genuine friends. One is incredibly hard for even a telepath to read, and the other is a KnightTemplarBigBrother who has to be reined in. Add in the [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD-inducing]] events that she gets wrapped up in, and the emotionally exhausting roller-coaster of being Harry's friend, then best friend and psychically-linked confidant, [[spoiler: then girlfriend]], and several near-death experiences... things do get better for her, reconciling with her mother, and she opens up a great deal, but she's still a bit of a mess.
* BruiserWithASoftCentre: Starts off more reserved and spiky than Harry and [[HatesBeingTouched less enthusiastic about physical contact]] [[ShipTease (except for Harry)]], but equally willing to hand out hugs to those who need them or be a CoolBigSis to younger girls (e.g. Mattie Franklin and Diana), and provide emotional support to her friends. She's also very fond of her little brothers, though as she acknowledges, she's not always good at showing it.

* CombatPragmatist: As best demonstrated when fighting [[spoiler: Nimue]] in ''Unfinished Business'' - even with a massive power-up via the Green Lantern Ring, she's no match for an experienced witch with all that power and then some. So divides, distracts, ambushes, and not only makes it a physical fight but makes it as ridiculously and brutally dirty as possible. It starts with a GroinAttack, progresses to an EyeScream, and only gets more vicious from there.

* ContraltoOfDanger: She grows into this throughout the story - both the contralto and the danger.

* FeminineMotherTomboyishDaughter: This is one of the many reasons that the Danvers family is so dysfunctional. Carol is a tomboy who is incredibly talented at sports and highly assertive. Her mother Marie on the other hand is - [[HiddenDepths apparently]] - the stereotypical doormat housewife who puts up with her husband's [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusive behaviour]] towards their children with little complaint, [[PoorCommunicationKills without ever explaining to her daughter why.]] Things get much better after they actually open up to each other, and Marie realises just how much of a douche her husband really is (and it's indicated that it's better for him that [[MamaBear she found that out at second-hand]]...)