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]

[So... Clark can fly. He's not human, then. Or, at least, he's definitely not wholly human. Bucky contemplates bolting while Clark is gone in the forest, but he decides to wait.

He's leaning against a tree, deceptively calm, with the gun nowhere to be seen whenever Clark reappears.]

What are you?

[signifies]

[ Somewhere in the forest there's the smell of burning flesh. Clark hit it hard enough and severed its ability to heal. It'll be carrion for the others, and all that's left to say he was there are flattened trees from the impact.

He lands some distance from 'Simon', and walks towards him. His body language is loose, trying to be unthreatening. ]

My name is Kal-El. I'm from another world.

[advanced]

[He doesn't move from his position against the tree, but Clark will probably hear the shifting of metal plates under his hoodie as he tenses with that approach.]

We're all from other worlds here.

[Deceptively bland.]

You want to be more specific, "Clark"?

[signifies]

[ The last thing he wants to do is scare the man. 'Simon' has enough cause to be wary. He doesn't need to think Clark is here to hurt him too. ]

That's also my name. I was raised by human parents.

[advanced]

But what are you really?

[From another world doesn't really cover it. Bucky's trying to assess what sort of threat Clark might pose if it came to a fight.]

[signifies]

[ He's really loathe to say more than 'alien'. Krypton is a dead world and it belongs to only him now. Selfishly, he doesn't want to share that.

Also, 'I shoot lasers from my eyes and none of the weapons you have will work against me' isn't going to defuse the situation. ]

Do you have aliens, where you come from?

[advanced]

[It's so strange how only a couple of years back everyone would have said no, and now the whole world is almost used to the idea of other worlds beyond their own.]

Yes.

[He's not volunteering more than that, if Clark isn't going to volunteer more either.]

[signifies]

[ They're from different worlds, since he didn't recognise a Metropolis. 'Kryptonian' might not have meant anything to him even if Clark had been forthcoming.

This is a better point of reference. ]

What kinds of aliens?

[advanced]

[There's a moment of hesitation where he weighs up how safe it might be to reveal, he's trying to keep information about him and his world concealed, but eventually he decides that this much is probably safe enough.]

Asgardians. But there might be others.

[There probably are others.]

[signifies]

[ If that's what he says first, it's probably the nearest equivalent. ]

From the Norse myths?

[ Matt had mentioned that. ]

Can they fly?

[advanced]

[He nods in answer to the first question, it's still sort of bizarre that an actual Norse "God" is fighting on a superhero team.]

I don't know if they can fly, I haven't met any of them.

[This isn't getting him anywhere, he still has no idea how much of a threat Clark is.]

You can. What else can you do?

[signifies]

[ Having been so careful in a world of cardboard, Clark doesn't even know his own limits. He didn't even know he could fly until recently. He swallows. ]

I'm a lot stronger and faster than humans... I can also hear you from a long way away.

[ He nods to the left shoulder. ]

[advanced]

[That's still so vague. Bucky is also stronger and faster than pretty much any other human, bar Steve, but how much stronger and faster is Clark? He's distracted from that hen the implications of that second revelation hit him like a solid punch.]

You can hear my arm.

[It's not a question, more an accusation. He rolls his shoulder almost subconsciously, and winces slightly. He wrenched where the metal meets flesh during the fight.]

[signifies]

Yes.

[ Clark nods. That other sound of tearing and healing is still there, and it's bothering him that he doesn't know what it is.

He speaks softly, with concern. ]

I can see inside it, too.

[ There's oil deposits on some of the gears that'll need to be cleaned soon. As well as something small and blue that seems to be an energy source. ]

[advanced]

[He'll likely be able to see that the electronics seem to be connected to the nerve endings of what's left of his real arm, allowing some sensation in the prosthetic and also for it to hurt a hell of a lot more than is necessary.

Bucky is quite obviously tensing ever more with each passing moment now.]

Stop it.

[He doesn't want some random person, no matter how kind they've been, looking at his inner workings.]

There's nothing there to look at, it's just my arm.

[signifies]

[ It's pain.

He's hearing the muscles and bones trying to cope. Clark's mouth twitches unhappily. ]

I'm not looking.

[ He's only glanced at it, and looks away quickly. Clark remembers a lot of what he sees, and he had enough time during the storm. He'd been more concerned about the weapons 'Simon' had been carrying. ]

Are you all right? That creature didn't hurt you?

[advanced]

[He's still carrying most of those weapons. At least four guns and six knives, none of which are visible to most people passing by, but all of which are within easy and quick reach should he need them.

Part of him just wants to go, get out of this uncomfortable situation, but something about Clark bothers him. Despite what he can do, he hasn't made any inappropriate comments or made any attempt to hold Bucky against his will, and he could so easily have done so on more than one occasion now. That fosters at least a tiny amount of trust.

Enough to push him into a tiny nod.]

It'll heal.

[He's had worse.]

[signifies]

[ He says it'll heal just like that. Clark's even more worried, but he nods. It's his choice.

He has one more question. Clark is at this man's mercy, and asks hesitantly. ]

Are you going to expose me?

[ He would have showed himself as Superman, but Clark isn't ready to blend both of his lives here when he doesn't know the others here. Some people have expressed being familiar with aliens in their world but it won't mean they're all right with him.

If that hammer's falling, Clark's ready. ]

[advanced]

[Of all the things he might be asked, that's not what he's expecting. A tiny amount of surprise registers under his usual blank expression. Perhaps a part of him will remember this as leverage should he ever need it, but that's not what he's intending when he shakes his head.]

No.

[Clark saved him, has been kind to him, and hasn't tried to trap him. Bucky owes him something.]

Who would I tell, even if I wanted to?

[It's not like he's the most sociable of people.]

[signifies]

You never know who might be listening.

[ Clark smiles briefly, and cants his head, showing his ear. ]

... Thank you.

[ He's not being outed for now. The relief is palpable. ]

[advanced]

[Some of the tension leaks out of him, he's not been thanked in a very long time.]

You're not going to tell anyone about me?

[He doesn't mean his arm, he more means that he's trying to be an anonymous hobo ghost living out of public view.]

[signifies]

[ It surprises him. He knew 'Simon' was living outdoors, not once did it occur to him that he might have wanted to stay away from people for similar reasons that Clark did.

He ponders. ]

Not unless you're in trouble.

[advanced]

[His eyes narrow, tension returning again.]

What's your definition of trouble?

[Because he's pretty sure it'll differ from his own.]

[signifies]

[ He points deep into the forest. ]

If another one of those was after you.

[ The rest it seems 'Simon' can handle. Clark knows now it's probably not a real name, but that's okay.

He might have to think about that arm some other time. Nobody should just have to live with it. ]

[advanced]

[He shakes his head and finally pushes himself off the tree he's been leaning on, only just managing not to stagger a step. The creature did more damage than he thought.]

Not even then.

[It's an order rather than a request.]

It's better for everyone if nobody comes near me, no matter what.