Ghost Stories

[notyourrookie]

WHO: Agent Washington
WHERE: A bit outside the South village
WHEN: April 5th
OPEN TO: Natasha Romanoff
WARNINGS: Violence and injuries

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He's been keeping to himself since the fight. Well, even more than usual. Hasn't visited the South village in a few days. He wouldn't call it embarrassment exactly; it's hardly a grappling hook to the balls, but he hates the thought of having been vulnerable, that people might know more about him than he wants them to. He really hates that North had seen him like that. Strangers weren't as bad, but people he knew? What if they thought he was crazy?

But there's only so much time he can remain scarce for before he really needs to go to the South Village to pick some things up and remind the few people who care that isn't dead.

The weather is warming up a little, and he slows down as he approaches the village, dropping to a slow jog rather than a pace that makes it seem like he's got a drill sergeant after him, and taking time to pause and stretch out.

He sees it then - someone just approaching along the road from the other direction. Their clothes look torn and they're dirty, like they've been in a fight. He knows that look well. He thinks he recognises them. Not personally, but from spending time in the village - there's few enough people there that you become familiar with the sight of most of them.

"Are you okay?"

Comments

[tothefly]

It's not unusual seeing Bobo in the streets of the South Village, but what is strange is seeing him coming from this direction. From the south. After all, he lives up in the North Village, and he's never looked quite like that.

Natasha's on her way back from the springs, soaking ribs that are mostly healed after the last month's sudden vacation when she sees him. Part of her wants to say hello, but there's something about the way he's moving towards that blonde guy she doesn't know that pings a warning bell in her head.

So she says nothing. She just moves forward slowly, silently, watching and ready to act if she has to. Things haven't been what they appeared at all around here lately, if they ever were.

[notyourrookie]

Wash thinks he recognises the guy. Someone from up in the North village. Not that Wash has spoken with him. None of the people up there are living there to be making friends. It seems like everyone there is just... trying to keep to themselves. But still, he looks terrible. Ragged and pale and there's something decidedly... off.

Still, injury is a thing. And he's not stupid, he doesn't walk right up there. He keeps paces back, weight held so he can move if he needs to. He takes a step or two towards him. "You here me?"

[tothefly]

Bobo doesn't answer. In fact, the longer this goes on, the less certain she is that it's actually him, no matter what he looks like, and that finely honed sense of danger that's kept her alive so many times before means she recognizes what's going to happen right before it does.

"Look out!"

The shouted warning gives away her position, and as she yells the person that isn't really Bobo breaks into a run, charging towards the blonde guy in the middle of the road. Before she can even move herself into action, though, there's a noise from the brush behind her, and another figure is launching itself at her.

Hopefully Blondie can take care of himself for a minute; it looks like she's gonna have her hands full here.

[notyourrookie]

No... something's wrong. They're not answering, don't even seem to have noticed him. But he has to have. Wash is right here.

There's a shout from behind him, and Wash doesn't have time to think before he's being charged at. The guy is big! Big like Maine. Wash throws himself to the side, rolling out of the way and then hauling himself to his feet so he can defend himself now the momentum is gone. he can hear other movement but doesn't turn to pay attention. Sort of got his hands full here.