[Video] Time Ripples Event (CW: child abuse)

[addvancetovictory]

[The omnicomm comes on and...well, it's not obviously a member of the Legion. For one, he's obviously too young. But there's obviously reason for concern as there are obvious tear tracks on the boy's face and he's reached over, holding his arm.]

[There's also a bruise on his cheek and a bit of blood coming from his nose. But that last could actually have more to do with the slight purplish-blue aura cast over the camera.]

[He huddles back into a corner, eyes wide as he swallows and opens his mouth, speaking with a fairly strong New York accent.]

Well. I'm not sure where I am, but I don't think it could be much worse than where I just was.

[He shifts and hisses, omnicomm bobbing as his concentration is shaken.]

Umm. I don't suppose anybody out there could give me a ride to the hospital? Mom was gonna, but...well, I doubt she's taking me now.

Comments

video

[thebiotickid]

Holy crap.

[Uh. Jane looks shifty for a second. Nobody heard her say that, okay.]

They can send a medical team to get you, I'm pretty sure.

[addvancetovictory]

[There's a startled look on Vance's face, too, and he glances around as well, before looking back.]

Where even are we?

[thebiotickid]

A big space station in Earth orbit that I am completely sure didn't exist yesterday.

[No one's solidly explained the "multiple universes" thing to her yet, mostly because she's been avoiding adults on the assumption that they are the fun-ruiners. However, since the new kid needs help, maintaining her cover would now be wrong.]

[addvancetovictory]

Seriously? That's...actually really cool. I mean, the Avengers have a space station, but I never thought I'd actually be on it.

[thebiotickid]

Yeah, uh, is that other guy gonna help you, or should I figure out how to call the hospital?

[People who are immune to the bystander effect: Jane Shepard, at any age.]

[addvancetovictory]

I think he's going to help me. I mean, he seems to know who I am.

[thebiotickid]

That makes it sound like you don't know who he is.

[Does she need to call the cops, too.]

[addvancetovictory]

He says it's some sci-fi problem. Which I've been in before, so it's not a stretch. Also, kinda just happens back home sometimes.

[thebiotickid]

He probably just checked your comm ID.

[She's good with tech. Also with not being overly impressed by weird stuff.]

[addvancetovictory]

This thing has an ID on it?

[Okay. That's...actually a bit more worrying, now.]

[thebiotickid]

Unique identifiers are kind of important on a comms network?

[Duh.]

[addvancetovictory]

Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I haven't had a lot of access to the internet and things like that. Still too young to be able to sign up for things without parental permission.

[thebiotickid]

[Wh...at.]

Did you sleep through intro to tech? Or whatever they called it at your school.

[video]

[walkingballpit]

[ Robbie delays a good 20 seconds before he opens up the feed. Any doubt he might have had after weighing the voice and the face and the energy signature against the present Vance Astrovik doesn't really hold up with the added confirmation of this broadcast coming from Vance's omnicom.

He needs that 20 seconds to curse a blue streak and punch a wall. Robbie does his absolute best to not sound furious or too familiar with the situation.]

It's not worse than where you were, but where are you now? I can help you get to the medbay.

[addvancetovictory]

I'm not...I don't know where I am. Just...in a room with a bed and a desk. [A pause and Vance cranes his head over a bit, looking past the omnicomm.] Though somebody has a really cool collection of action figures.

[walkingballpit]

They're your action figures, Vance.

[ Robbie's voice is soft, and he runs a hand through his hair, trying to figure out how to approach this. ]

You're kind of caught in one of those huge sci-fi problems right now. I'll be down in a minute. Don't teke me when I open the door.

[addvancetovictory]

[Vance's brows pull down as he frowns.]

How do you know my name?

[Though the rest of it makes a bit of sense. After all, he kinda got his powers because of a weird sci-fi problem, right?]

I wouldn't...teke you when you open the door. [He looks a little ashamed.] I'm not supposed to use it at all, but I couldn't hold this thing and keep my other arm still at the same time.

video -> actionspam?

[walkingballpit]

Because you've been here for months. You just don't remember how pro you are at this. OoooOOOooo sci-fi time whammy problems.

[ It's information overload, Robbie decides, to even attempt to summarize the last ten years to an already overwhelmed kid. Especially since Robbie's doing his end of the feed as he quickly walks through the halls. It's no one else's business, as far as he's concerned. ]

But if you don't use it, how will you get better at it?

[ The feed ends when Robbie palms the lock to Vance's room and the door opens. Rob moves just far enough inside to let the door shut behind him. Now that he's here... he has no idea what the next move is. He doesn't want to answer any awkward questions. ]

Can I come over there and get a better look at your arm?

video -> actionspam

[addvancetovictory]

I'm not supposed to get better at it. I'm supposed to be normal.

[It's not his own words, of course. But Robbie knows where it comes from. And this Vance is too young to really understand, yet, that normal isn't always a thing that should be aspired to.]

[It's obviously a good thing that Vance had given Robbie access to his room. Though it does mean that the omnicomm falters again in surprise and Vance pushes back into the corner. Which makes the omnicomm fall because his arm jars and he hisses again, clutching at it with his other hand.]

[He lets his head fall back, jaw clenching before he nods, licking his lips.]

Yeah. Yeah, okay. Betting somebody needs to.

[walkingballpit]

[ Robbie hates himself for the panic he caused the kid. He doesn't normally think that he's all that threatening, but he should've knocked first. He's just so used to barging in, especially when Vance is expecting him.

He crouches down and picks up Vance's omnicom, holding it out towards his younger friend after making sure the feed is off. Then he says what he's been holding onto. ]

Vance, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being extraordinary, but if it makes you feel better, you're the dullest, normalest guy to ever live in New York. Trust me on that.

[ He reaches over towards the arm that Vance is babying. He wants to get a better look at the damage before letting him walk anywhere. ]

I'm not going to hurt you, okay? I'm - I'm an Avenger. [ That feels so awkward to say, but there was a moment when it was a heartbeat away from true, and it's probably the only thing he's got to make Vance feel more at ease. ] I know Spider-Man and everything, but my real name's Robbie. I just want to push your sleeve up and make sure it's not an open fracture.

[addvancetovictory]

It's...it's what Dad always tells me. That we have to be normal, not stand out. Not be different.

[Still, Robbie knows Vance well enough to know that claiming to be an Avenger is one way to get the kid to trust him. He always was a fanboy at heart.]

Are you new to the team? Do you really know Spider-Man? Or Captain America. That would be so cool. [He looks furtive for a moment.] I...I can't tell my mom or dad, but I want to be an Avenger someday. When I'm strong enough to make a difference.

[He does shift a bit, though, pulling away from the wall so that Robbie can get to his arm more easily.]

CW: discussion of abuse

[walkingballpit]

[ Robbie rakes his teeth over his bottom lip. It's that or glower at the revelation. He knew, of course, that Vance's father used to beat him up for being 'different' - for being a mutant. Like it wasn't the asshole's own genes that had help make Vance. It's never felt more real than now, though, when the twisted reasoning is coming from someone so young that's obviously been on the wrong side of that logic within hours. ]

Parents... aren't always right. If no one stood out, how'd we get anywhere? No heroes, no Einsteins, no Madonnas. Standing out can be a good thing.

[ He gives him a smile and carefully eases Vance's sleeve up, sucking in a breath when he uncovers the blossoming bruise. How could Arnold Astrovik live with himself? You're supposed to love your kid, not put him in the hospital. Vance, of all people, deserves so much better. ]

I'm ... new to you, I guess. I'm used to you being - I don't know, fifteen years older? But yeah, we know Spidey. And Cap. They're even cooler than you think they are. [ The kid doesn't need to know the bad stuff. ] But you're a better Avenger than they'll ever be.

[addvancetovictory]

[Within hours? Within minutes, really. The bruises are coming up, but they're fresh. These ones, at least. There are darker ones beneath the ones that are coming up, though. This isn't something new, but Robbie knows that already.]

[Vance hisses again when Robbie pushes his sleeve up, eyes watering but not letting the tears fall. But the rest of what Robbie is saying gets his attention off of his pain again.]

You're from my future? Like...like the major was?

[walkingballpit]

[ The wet look in Vance's eyes makes Robbie feel like garbage for insisting on checking the arm out. Again, he wonders how that man could look Vance in the face and hit him. This time, it makes him so angry that he can't find his voice to answer right away, and, instead, he gets up and takes the top sheet off Vance's bed.

Robbie rips a long, wide strip of material free and goes back to wear Vance is still trying hide in the corner. How long was that a coping mechanism? No, don't wonder about it. ]

Yeah, I'm from your future, but I'm not that far in the future.

[ Discussions of future science and questionable inevitability will be left for later. ]

If I put your arm in a sling, you think you could walk with me to Medbay? It's three hallways and a lift. Or I can carry you.

[addvancetovictory]

[Vance reaches up, rubbing at his eyes and across his nose, dealing with the tears and the small trickle of blood that's stopped because he's not using his powers right now.]

[He nods, uncurling from the wall a bit more.]

Yeah. Yeah, I can walk. It's my arm broke, not my leg.

[Vance frowns, watching Robbie.]

You're not just saying that to make me feel better, right? The thing about me being an Avenger?