survival of the fittest

[advanced]

who: Bucky and anyone!
what: Bucky is a big old thief, tracks down his name twin, and also goes monster fighting with Clark
when: Anytime between March 8th and March 12th
where: Around Quarantine
warnings: Probably violence

[i: Around Quarantine; open to anyone]

[Bucky has chosen to eschew the communal housing gifted to him, as well as all the benefits that affords. Like food, shelter, and access to a shower. The last two aren't such a big deal, but he needs a lot of food to keep him going, the bastardised serum in his veins makes him burn through calories at a ridiculous rate.

Which is why he's ghosting through Quarantine on the look out for empty housing or possible a not very well attended street food stall, in order to snatch a hand out and take something. He can be found shoplifting in the street; or, if you'd prefer, breaking into your character's housing in search of food.]

[ii: Down a back alley somewhere; closed to Bucky Barnes]

[Ever since he saw that name on the network, his own name, Bucky has been in overdrive trying to figure out what's going on. It takes him a day or so to track down who owns the username, and then another day to just follow them around and try and figure out who they are. It's only when he catches the imposter out alone, whatever he might be doing, that he reveals himself by trying to drag the other man down an alleyway in an explosion of movement and bad decisions.]

[iii: Monster hunting; closed to Clark Kent]

[The perimeter is of interest to Bucky, partially because it means an escape from this town and partially because he knows that Stark is going to be making upgrades to it. It's why he's scouting around it today.

He's too focused on the possible security measures, trying to find surveillance equipment or defence mechanisms, that he has completely failed to notice the large monster shaped like a monstrous caterpillar creeping up behind him on silent feet.]

Comments

[advanced]

[A part of him wants to go to Steve. A tiny, tired, hurting part of him that he will ignore and squash down fiercely.

He's not going to heal overnight. He might have a slightly better recovery time than normal people thanks to the bastardised serum in his body, but he still won't be running any marathons on that leg for a few weeks. Or, rather, he shouldn't, but he's unlikely to rest it as it should be rested. The pain, at least, is familiar. Something he can compartmentalise and ignore.

There's a long pause, weighing up just how much trust Clark has gained from his actions matching his words so far.]

Alright.

[There's not much to be seen. The two breaks in his leg, fairly clean, a dislocated wrist, two cracked ribs from his fight with the monster, tearing at the muscles in his shoulder where the metal connects, and ever-renewing pain from the strain of having something that heavy connected to him.

None of which shows on his face, though. Both expression and heartrate have settled back to neutral despite all the injuries, now that some distance has been achieved.]

[signifies]

[ Clark approaches slowly, kneeling down. He doesn't touch Bucky, and he tilts his head at an angle exposing his bare neck. Whatever it takes to help Bucky feel better. Clark doesn't expect him to just be okay with being so near someone who could snap him in two without breaking a sweat. ]

How's your wrist?

[ Clark looks over the leg first. Two clean breaks. The ribs haven't punctured anything. Both should heal fine if Bucky rests. The shoulder, Clark can't do anything about. ]

[advanced]

[It's so very strange knowing that someone is looking inside him. He doesn't move, forcing himself to keep rigidly still until Clark asks about his wrist.]

Dislocated.

[He pulls his sleeve back a bit to reveal slight distended skin.]

I can probably snap it into place.

[signifies]

[ Bucky says he'll do it, so Clark doesn't offer to. He nods, standing up and moving back. ]

Enough proof?

[advanced]

[There's a single frozen moment, before Bucky actually snorts in surprised laughter. The sound is weird and a little repressed, like he hasn't done it in years.]

Yeah.

[Who was this guy?]

Enough proof.

[signifies]

[ Clark smiles faintly. ]

Will you be all right?

[advanced]

[The smile is gone pretty quickly, but he remains slightly more relaxed.]

I've had worse.

[Which is a good enough answer as far as he's concerned.]

[signifies]

[ That's not really what he asked, bro :| his face reflects it. ]

Should I go? Will you be able to make it to shelter?

[ He feels he's done too much, but he can't just leave an injured man in the woods. ]

[advanced]

[He nods once in answer to both questions.]

...Thanks.

[For saving him, for breaking his bones, for not telling people where he is.]

[signifies]

[ Clark nods. He walks some distance away to take off.

Before he does, he turns back to Bucky. ]

Take care.

[ And he's up, up, and away.

He'll keep an ear out for Bucky, just in case. ]

[advanced]

[All he'll hear is Bucky walking, careful not to show any sign of a limp, back to a little alley on the outskirts of town and collapsing behind the bins there to sleep.

Until next time, Clark!]