riverview | [ text | un: anonymous ]

[He likes this platform, it's not used as often as the others and it gives him a good view on all sides to keep from anyone sneaking up on him. He still isn't comfortable inside the perimeter at the moment, but at least he's not so stubbornly sticking outside any longer.]

Come and sit down, kid.

[This will probably take a while.]

Why don't you start by telling me about it?

[ Jon wavers before dutifully taking a seat next to Bucky. He keeps his gaze on the ground, as if Jon'll crumble if he looks someone in the eye. ]

It's a really long story.

I have time.

[It's a neutral sort of encouragement, he's not going to push because he knows how impossible it is for him to talk about much of what happened so he has no reason to assume it would be easier for Jon.]

[ He shuffles his feet. ]

So my family has to hide a lot. Because of me. So that people don't find me and . . . [ Jon trails off. It's self explanatory. ] But this guy — one of my dad's villains. He knew and he was watching me. My teachers, our police, the mayor — [ Kathy. Mr. Cobb ] — they were all in on it. Trying to make me into a different person than my dad.

[It's not the same, but it sounds very similar to HYDRA at the moment. A secret and manipulative network of people who should be able to be trusted, altering someone for their own gains...]

How did they try and make that happen?

Batman said it was the food. There were also incidents. We had monsters come in and attack us.

[ The malfunction. The squid in the Arctic that reappeared once more. Jon is naive, but he's not stupid by any means. The pieces came together. ]

[The monsters are more of a side issue in Bucky's mind, at least right now.]

They controlled you using something in the food?

We used to get our milk from . . . one of the farmers. Someone we trusted. It held back my powers and . . . he did the rest.

[Very hesitantly, he reaches out and sets a gloved hand onto Jon's shoulder.]

What happened?

[ Jon doesn't shrug it off, though he stiffens. ]

Because we were investigating, he — he took and tied me to a chair. Then I watched as . . . everything burned. I thought my mom was gonna die. I thought my dad couldn't fix it.

[That's horrific and definitely not something a young kid should have to deal with. He's silent for a moment, giving Jon a second to gather himself, before he pushes on. Better to get it all out now, ripping off a bandaid.]

So what happened then?

Since Dad had figured it out and I wouldn't do what he wanted, he settled for just taking over.

[ Jon should be proud he stood up to Manchester Black, even when things were dire. That he wouldn't execute people. But it's hard to be proud when you were rooted to the ground as the control slowly crept into him. He begged for his father to help. ]

There was this . . . black goo. It was on me and I — I wasn't me anymore. I was someone else.

[Poor kid.

Bucky's hand has fallen back to his lap again, and he has a moment where he wishes he could provide the sort of comfort that's needed here. But he's too awkward and too full of sharp edges.]

That proves you're not a bad person.

Doesn't it?

I wanted to be strong like my dad. And for a moment, I was.

How can anyone say it's not me?

Because you fought it.

[It's the only reason that he's still alive to deal with the things he's done, knowing how hard he fought it.]

Even when you were scared, even when you thought terrible things were happening, you fought against it until it had no choice but to control you completely. A bad person never would have done that.

[He shrugs slightly.]

Your Da isn't a strong person because he can lift a car, he's strong because he's the kind of idiot that stands up for what's right no matter what.

[ Jon sniffs, trying not to cry. ]

I don't feel much better.

It's not that easy to feel better.

[He hesitates, but he did promise Jon that he understood because of similar experiences.]

Trust me, I still struggle with it. You've just gotta find a way to keep going.

I'll keep going.

[ Jon knows this. He won't quit. ]

I'm not gonna give up.

Mm.

[There's a moment of hesitation.]

That thing that controlled you, it's not here?

[ Jon shakes his head. ]

We broke the connection. Manchester Black is . . . gone.

Then you just have to try and keep going, you're not a danger to anyone any more, that's all you can ask for.

[Maybe that's a bleak sort of view to give a child.]

[ No less bleak than Batman. Jon nods before looking at his shoes. ]

Sorry for yelling at you last time.

It's fine.

[He glances sideways at the kid.]

Guess now you know why I'm so 'twitchy'.

[That was how Jon put it, right?]

[ Jon winces. ]

Sorry.

I said it's fine, you didn't know.

[He shifts a little, glancing out at the ruined city beyond the perimeter.]

Do you have any questions?

[This was a one time deal, this honesty and openness, but he did say he'd help Jon with their shared experiences.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject