some say you're troubled, boy

[couldbeavoided]

WHO: THE SENTRY, THE VOID, and THE MIDNIGHTER
WHERE: Around the City.
WHEN: Sunday evening
WARNINGS: UHHH. Probably. Not much?
SUMMARY: On one of Bob's excursions, he runs into a friend.
FORMAT: Whatever!


Each night now, it seemed, Bob lost several hours. He didn't always notice it; sometimes he would be standing in front of the door, staring at it, then suddenly it was much later than he had realized, or suddenly he was across the hall or even in the laboratory without remembering moving. There was simply black space where the time had gone in his thoughts, no recollection.

It reminded him of darker days, the days when the Sentry and the Void were separate beings and he couldn't predict what the Void would do to sabotage him. But had they ever been? Where they any different now than they used to be?

Now he was flying, not to anywhere in particular. He skulked around the streets as if he were patrolling them, a bright shining caped beacon with ichor-black eyes.

Comments

[bringerofwar]

Midnighter shifted half an inch closer, in the relative darkness. He had to wonder if Tony knew what effect the body would have on the Sentry when he gave him the job of standing around in a room with it for hours on end, but really he was just looking for more reasons to think of the man as a blowhard.

"Anything I can do?" Not that he figures he'd be able to help anybody fight a part of themselves, but whatever. Either way, he holds up a hand. "Don't worry about it, Bob. I can handle it." And he sounds sincere, in the same way that he's always been too much of an asshole to lie to spare anyone's feelings.

In any event, the sirens have quieted, but Midnighter can hear that the police have begun fanning out to search for suspects or witnesses. He'd been planning to be a couple dozen blocks away by now, but as usual seeing Bob derailed his brain for awhile. He snorts at himself, before gesturing back the way we'd come. "Well, this isn't my finest moment." A beat. "Don't suppose I can get a lift out of here?"

[couldbeavoided]

"I don't know. I don't know if there's anything anyone can do -- even... well... he's-- if the Sentry can't handle him, I don't know who can. He destroys everything he touches, he undoes everything that I do, hurts anyone that I love. Anyone."

Bob flicked his gaze downward for a moment, before he turns his attention to the sounds of the police, their voices murmuring. He was grateful, honestly, for the momentary distraction. "Yeah. Hold onto me," he said, wrapping a strong arm around Midnighter's waist and scooping his legs up, bridal-style. "Unless you'd rather get on my back."

[bringerofwar]

He was going to comment, really. He's always been arrogant, born of always - always - being able to beat the long odds, so he's still not afraid of whatever threat Bob possesses. It's not that he thinks it's in any way a minor thing, someone with the Sentry's powerset going out of control, he just knows his limits, and those of his team, if he needs to call them in. He was well on his way to working out how, exactly, to say that, but-

"Uh," is suddenly all he's got to offer, one hand flying up to grip the cape on Bob's back. Welp. He'd expected the usual flyer pit-grab, which is only slightly less dignified than this, so he just kind of. Grunts. And decides not to make any comment whatsoever about getting on Bob's back. He clears his throat awkwardly. "No, this is fine, let's just.." He gestures upwards with his free hand.

And decidedly doesn't think about what usually happens after Apollo spontaneously picks him up like this and carts him off somewhere.

[couldbeavoided]

"Are you sure? If you're not comfortable it's no trouble," Bob offered again, although he was lifting his feet off the ground already. They could always reposition somewhere else, best to get out of here as quick as possible, it seemed. His cape makes a flapping sound like giant wings might as he launches them into the air, speeding up miles in seconds.

He slowed down once they reached a comfortable altitude.

"Where are we going?" He asked, deciding to let the subject of the Void -- or whatever -- drop for as long as Midnighter did. The thought brought a clenched, plunging sensation to his chest.