[log] M-M-M-M-Monster! [closed]

[averytinyparticle]

Characters: Steve Rogers and Quark
Location Northwestern Park and Convenience Store
Date: Starting Day 80 and possibly through the duration of the event.
Summary: Event post! Steve and Quark meet their monsters in the park and seek shelter.
Warnings: Grotesque monster horror descriptions and whatnot.

Comments

[averytinyparticle]

W-What? But...but we can't just...

[We can't just leave my Grandpa he wants to say, but the words stick in his throat as he stares at those gaping holes-for-eyes that seem to get bigger and bigger the closer he--no, the thing gets. Maybe it is his Grandpa, or...it was his Grandpa. But...it can't be him now, not anymore. It looks too different. And then the other monster, the one Steve called Bucky...that one looks even scarier.

There's a hint of reluctance, or maybe it's fear, in his movements as he backs up, quickly scooping up his own packs.]

Okay!

[But where are they going to go? And how can he stop staring?]

SAVE THE WEE CHILD, STEVE

[starsandtights]

[Steve's happy to see Quark moving, but he's still dragging his heels, still drawn to—God, what must be as sick of a perversion of his grandfather as the other monster is of Bucky. Steve darts forward to grab one of Quark's hands, tugging lightly on his arm to try to get him into gear.]

There's shelter over this way, we gotta get there, c'mon buddy, we gotta move!

[HE WILL PICK HIM UP IF HE HAS TO.]

YOU'RE HIS ONLY HOPE!!!

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark lets out a yelp as Steve grabs him. He clings back to that hand as they begin to run, squeezing his eyes shut so he isn't tempted to look back at the monsters. He tries to keep up, he really does, but his legs are so much shorter than Steve's. Despite his best efforts he starts to trip and stumble over his own feet. He holds on tighter, determined not to fall.

Yeah you might want to pick up the child, Cap.]

[starsandtights]

[Quark stumbles a few times; Steve slows down, just a bit, trying to make the pace easier for Quark, but—he looks over his shoulder and the monsters are too close, they're not going fast enough.]

All right, I gotcha—

[Steve scoops up Quark and swings him up to one hip, where he can hold on tight to the kid with one arm and Quark can put his legs around his waist if he wants to, for stability. Steve shifts Quark once, making sure he's got a good hold on him, and then puts his head down and runs, putting every ounce of his strength into pushing through the drifts of snow as fast as he can.

His lungs are burning, his legs are burning, he's got a stitch in his side and he doesn't feel like he's going fast enough. Since waking up in this snowy Godforsaken hell-scape he's missed the serum more than once—usually when he's freezing his ass off—but he's never missed it as much as he misses it right now. He keeps pushing, though—he can't afford to fail. He can't let Quark down.

A building appears through the blizzard, and Steve pushes harder. The convenience store; he's never been in there, and he hopes to God it's good shelter. They'll only have time for one try at this.

Steve practically collides with the building, turning his body so Quark is shielded from it. He hauls the door open and throws himself inside, turning to look at the door—it opens outwards, they can't wedge it, there isn't even a handle on the inside he could put his fireplace poker through.]

Damn it!

[He looks around frantically and spots an open door leading to another room—opening inward. He sprints towards it, snow-caked boots skidding slightly on the tile floor. He hears the monsters behind him, coming through the main door—and he's there. He practically tosses Quark to the ground—carefully, so he can probably land on his feet—and turns, slamming the door shut and bracing his shoulder against it. A moment later the monsters hit it with a BANG and the door jolts alarmingly. Steve digs his heels in and looks around frantically; he's not going to be able to hold it for long, he needs—]

Quark, a chair, bring me one of those chairs!

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark feels terrible. Steve sounds like he's going to fall apart into little pieces, all because he wasn't strong enough or fast enough or big enough. And he knows that when they slam through the doors of the store and he's finally on his feet again, he can't even ask if there's anything he can do to help. There's no way he can hold the door. He stands, small and scared and unsure, until Steve mentions the chairs.]

Got it!

[He bursts into action, dropping all his things and grabbing the closest chair all in the same movement. He can tell where Steve is going with this, so when Quark gets the chair to Steve, he already angles it so they can wedge the top beneath the doorknob. It's not until the door is safely jammed that Quark says anything else.]

Do...do you think it'll keep them out?

[starsandtights]

...Well, I guess we'd better find out.

[Steve stays braced against the door, getting a feel for how often the monsters through themselves against it, how long the gaps are in between. And—God, it's like people have said, his head aches and he starts to feel nauseous; that chair better work because he can't keep this up. Once he's got the timing down, he waits for a gap before pulling back from the door and kicking at the chair to make sure the legs are good and properly wedged, and then he holds his breath. The monsters pummel the door—again, and again, and again—and the door shudders, but it holds. The chair stays firmly where it is. He lets out a long breath of relief.]

I think it'll hold. I think we're good.

[Steve drops his packs, taking quick stock of the room; there's a window, and he moves swiftly over to it, making sure it's latched and un-openable. There's another door; he goes swiftly over to it—a small bathroom. No other exits. He lets out another long breath.]

OK. I think we're safe here. If they start coming through that door somehow, we go right out the window, all right?

[Well, Quark will go out the window. It's a bit of a squeeze for Steve, and if the monsters break through he doubts he'll have the time. But Quark doesn't need to know that.]

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark offers Steve a solemn nod. Still, he can't keep his eyes off of the door. He finds a place against the opposite wall to get comfortable and slides down, pulling his bags close to his legs.]

This is going to be a really long night, isn't it?