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Post by Nomz on Oct 8, 2024 3:39:39 GMT
Damian ducks under the blow meant for his face, moving under the extended arm and delivering his own punch to the would-be mugger's ribs. The man sucks in a gasp, turning and delivering his elbow into the spot between the vigilante's shoulders. Pain spikes down his spine, shaking him with the force of it. The bruising from his last duel with Lady Shiva hasn't healed just yet.
He catches the knee that comes up, twisting and knocking the man down to the puddle-ridden alleyway. The mugger's hands reach for his jacket, searching for a handhold to yank Damian by. Not for the first time, he is thankful that he gave up the cape in favor of a black jacket with a built-in hood. Even if it makes him look like a League of Assassins member. He manages to slip his forearm under the man's chin, leaning forward and pressing down on his throat. It is the safest way to knock out the man in his position.
The sharp, familiar burn of a blade slicing across his ribs is a surprise. Damian made sure to disarm the man early in the fight and feels stupid for not checking for a secondary weapon. He shifts, delivering his palm to his nose, shattering it without much effort. The man screams, throwing Damian off of him and the young hero rolls with the motion in order to put distance between them.
Damian kneels on one knee, pressing a hand to his ribs and trying to assess the damage despite the rain falling all around them. Later, he'll cite the rain and moaning man as the reason for him not hearing the second man until it is too late. The unfamiliar feeling of a gun touching the back of his head takes all of his attention.
"Get on your stomach, nice and slow or I'll pull the trigger." The second man pushes with his weapon and Damian lets it bow his head, wondering if he can spin around fast enough to avoid being shot. His hands raise slowly as he considers his options. The reality of being a solo act seems to finally settle in and he almost wishes he had a partner in this instance.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 9, 2024 11:29:48 GMT
There was the feeling of rushing wind, and a noise that could be described as thwip. The hard barrel of the gun was suddenly no longer pressed against the back of Damian's head, accompanied by a confused exclamation by the second man.
"Does it really take two of you to beat someone half your size?"
A figure descended from a fire escape above them. It was upside-down, hanging from what looked like a white twisted rope. The mugger cursed as he took in the second advisory that had appeared. It was clearly a Spider, but not the usual red-and-blue Spider-Man who was infamous around New York. Same webbing, similar outfit, but this one was white and black, extenuated by pink highlights and with a hood framing their head. Ghost-Spider held the gun in one hand for a moment, shaking her head and tutting before crushing it with an effortless movement.
"Who brought a gun to a fistfight? That's amateur hour."
Then Ghost-Spider moved. She swung out her foot as she flipped through the air, catching the man on the jaw with a swinging kick that send him flying with a crunch. She landed gracefully as he reeled back, then lunged forward, fists a blur. The man doubled over with a grunt of pain, as Ghost-Spider shot him in the face with webbing, then lassoed him with a confident experience before pulling him off the ground with the other end of the web-rope.
Ghost-Spider dusted her hands as the man hung above them. Less than fifteen seconds. Could do better, but she'd just blame the rain later if Roy found out about it. She could be better, faster, more efficient. If she had, then maybe she could have been here for the first guy, too.
Ghost-Spider turned to the individual they had been fighting. She was surprised to see how young he looked beneath the thin black mask. Not much younger than her, but that meant a lot considering she wasn't even legally allowed to drink. She took a step towards him, smiling under the mask which was apparent in the way her mask's eyes softened.
"Close one! Are you alright? Your moves were, like, super cool. Sorry if I stepped on your toes, but I never like to take risks when it comes to guns! Ik Ghost-Spider, one of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-People. We're workshopping a new catchphrase, it stopped rolling off the tongue after the second one of us showed up."
Ghost-Spider pointed at the wound which he gripped with one hand. She barely paused for breath, her thoughts and words tumbling out like a verbal waterfall.
"Need a hand, or a web? I can fix your wound up, no problem!"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 9, 2024 15:26:45 GMT
Damian stares into the water soaking his knee, trying not to move or draw attention to himself. He knows that the gun is no longer held against him, but he does not see where it has gone. It is Red Hood's advice that he heeds, choosing not to try to fight. Even the worst shot can hit at close range.
The girl's voice surprises him and, pushing his luck, Damian turns his head enough to catch sight of her from the corner of his eye. She is small but confident. There is something about her that makes Damian believe she could be a threat to him if she wanted to be. It reminds him of the first time he met Cain, only more vocal and vibrant.
His assessment is proven correct when this Spider-Person crushes the gun as if it is a failing report card she doesn't want her parents to see. Then she is moving and Damian is stumbling forward, away from what he assumes will be a beating. Wet brick scrapes his shoulder as he leans on it, turning to face the potential hero.
Damian doesn't know how to process the mugger hanging above them from the white rope or how the Spider-Person seems so unbothered by it all. He can't get much of a read on her as words pour forth from her mouth at a much faster pace than even Storm. Absurdly, he finds himself wondering who could out-talk the other.
"I'm-" Damian pauses with a little frown, though it is not aimed at Ghost-Spider. He knows he isn't Robin, but what does that make him? "Renegade."
He pulls his hand a bit from his side and opens his jacket, trying to judge the damage without removing his black shirt. A hundred questions buzz behind his eyes as he looks back up at the taller hero.
"Is the web sanitary? I'll need stitches, however, it is not terribly deep." Damian sounds hopeful and doubtful in one, which is quite the feat. He dares to look over at the mugger he put down and then the one Ghost-Spider put up. A voice that sounds like Barbara's encourages him to offer his thanks. "Thank you for the assistance, Ghost-Spider."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 9, 2024 20:05:22 GMT
"Renegade! That's so cool! It's very... dark and ominous. It suits you."
Ghost-Spider noted the reaction of the vigilante before her, ready for a fight at every turn. Jumpy little guy. She had her hands raised in a clear sign of pacifism, but as he calmed down she lowered them to her sides, one hand resting on her hip.
"Sanitary? Well - I mean, I don't have a certificate to prove it, but they're made, like... inside me. Ew. I've never said that out loud. Forget that. Yes, they're so totally sanitary!"
Ghost-Spider shot a web into her opposite hand, stretching it out into a gauze-like creation.
"Super sticky and absorbant, so it'll hold you together until we can get you somewhere to be stitched up."
She looked up at the mugger, smirking under her mask, then back down at Renegade. He reminded her a lot of Cass, of Batsy. Similar withdrawn mannerisms, dark and broody vibe. She grinned. That meant he was fun to tease.
Ghost-Spider stepped towards him, slow and obvious as he did so. The wound beneath his jacket looked bad, enough for him to have to worry in a short time.
"Have you got a secret base nearby where we can get you patched up?"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 10, 2024 2:28:55 GMT
Damian takes her praise at face value. Renegade is a rather good name. "Ghost-Spider is an apt name considering the color coding and your abilities."
His expression is deadpan and his voice is flat as he continues, "You are a spider. Where else would the webbing come from? A poorly made science experiment?" Renegade sighs under his breath as she starts stretching out the web in her hands, nodding once to show he is listening to her.
There are many heroes in the city and Damian knows that any number of them would be willing to chase him off due to his age. She may not know it yet, but Ghost has already earned an increment of respect from him. More so when she approaches him slowly and obviously.
"I do not have a location for stitch work," he answers honestly, mind running through his options. His black gloves creak a bit as he pulls up his shirt enough to reveal the gash along his ribs. Unfortunately, the lighting is just enough to cast shadows over the raised scars that litter his body. Thankfully, it isn't enough to truly reveal the fierce pattern of bruises from training.
He seems to be waiting for her to apply her weird web-based gauze. His eyes drift to the side as he thinks.
"Do you think your webbing could be thin enough for needlework? Are you able to get your hands on a bottle of isopropyl alcohol or even mouthwash?" Renegade's tone is thoughtful as he goes over his options. There's no way he could risk his sister by bringing a girl over. Even if she had saved his life. "I can do emergency stitches in the field. Speaking of field, we should get away from these two before the police show."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 10, 2024 17:27:36 GMT
Ghost-Spider straighted up with pride as he flatly guessed her deal.
"Yup, that's me! The one and only, except not the only one. I've got all the powers of a spider, which sounds super lame but is, like, actually very cool when you think about it."
She pondered his question for a bit. Could she? With the right needle, it wasn't impossible. The young vigilante was right though, the alleyway wasn't the best place to hang around.
"I don't see why not! I know a place we can lay low to do it as well. Think you can hang onto me? I'll get us there quick!"
Ghost-Spider stepped back from applying her web-gause. It would feel weird, but it was extremely sticky, and held his wound shut as well as absorbing the blood still leaking out. She offered an arm.
"Trust me yet, Renegade?"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 11, 2024 3:35:56 GMT
"Spider powers are not lame. Even small spiders have been observed to lift objects nearly 50 times their body weight."
Damian's body tenses, expecting her webbing to be cold as she presses it into place. Oddly, it only feels sticky on his skin and he takes care to lower his shirt over it to not get stuck at a strange angle.
"I can certainly hang on to you," he says even as he accepts her offered arm. While Damian is a proud creature, he knows when to let it suffer in favor of the mission. It helps that Ghost-Spider does not seem the type to make fun of him for it. Not yet, at least.
"I do trust you." And isn't that something? Renegade has only known the heroine for all of 5 minutes and he's already putting his trust in her. Something is compelling about her, but he cannot put his finger on what. Damian tightens his grip, adjusting himself as if expecting her to grapple them out of the alleyway.
After all, it is what he would do in her shoes.
"Where are we going?"
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 12, 2024 15:33:45 GMT
"Okay, then up we go!"
Ghost-Spider wrapped her arm around Renegade. He would feel her strength, the power beneath those tiny arms. She stretched out an arm, and shot a web into the sky. It hit a building, and they were lifted off the ground as Ghost-Spider began to swing through the streets.
"We're going to a little safe house of mine!" she said over the rushing wind, "somewhere I keep some supplies just in case Doc Ock or Vulture get the better of me! It's not far, just hold on!"
The journey didn't take long. It was a semi-abandoned apartment building in Hell's Kitchen, run down and dark. Ghost-Spider swung them both through a window on the sixth floor, into an empty flat which smelt like must and damp.
Ghost-Spider gently let Renegade down, and then began to rummage through the cupboards.
"So, like, what made you take up vigilante work? I know I'm not one to talk, but you're, like... kinda young, right? But you've got more moves than a lot of old vigilantes and heroes around. What gives, Renegade?"
She turned back with a green first aid box held in her hand, placing it on the table and beginning to take out equipment. Bandages, gauze, antiseptic cream, needles,
"and look! Stitches, so I don't need to use my website after all!"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 13, 2024 1:29:39 GMT
His eyes widen behind his domino, not having realized just how strong Ghost-Spider is until those tiny arms are supporting his full weight. He's sure that she can carry him even if he lets go.
Renegade leans his full weight into the Spider, closing his eyes as he takes mental note of his injuries. Nothing seems particularly damaged outside the cut along his ribs and he is grateful for it. There is no doubt in his mind that Shiva will take advantage of his injury upon their next meeting.
"Thank you," he says as she sets him down with more care than needed. Damian looks around the empty flat they reside in, taking note of the smell and lack of lighting. "Can you see in the dark?"
Damian shrugs off his jacket as she asks her questions, revealing a head of black curls when his hood is removed. Somehow, they make him look at the younger.
"I have been training since I could walk," he says as if that is the only answer needed. His black undershirt is removed and folded as he puts it aside. "I come from a long line of fighters and it was my purpose to continue that line." A thoughtful frown pulls at his lips, revealing where one is split. "I found myself needing a new purpose and a new family. Being a vigilante seemed appropriate considering my skill set."
Damian snorts at her last comment, amusement easing his expression.
"Do you know how to do stitches? If not, I can do them. I just need this web removed." He gestures at his side with a gloved hand and it becomes apparent that he doesn't just have the moves of old vigilantes. Damian has the scars of old vigilantes as well.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 13, 2024 14:36:28 GMT
"I can't see in it, but I guess I'm used to working without much light! There's a light somewhere, hold on..."
More rummaging, then Ghost-Spider is illuminated by a camping lamp, casting shadows into the corner of the room. She placed it on the table, taking in the network of scars that crossed the boy's chest. Ghost-Spider frowned. So many for someone so young.
"Trained by a pack of angry housecats? Jeeze, Renegade, you look like you got into a fight in a knife factory against the cheese wire man and lost. Ever thought about being a bit more careful?"
Ghost-Spider motioned him to a chair, and removed her webbing carefully, tossing the bloody material into a bin by her feet. She picked up a stitch and needle, which she threaded in a single fluid motion.
"I've been shown how. Just hold still and don't scream. I need to, like, fully concentrate so I don't add another scar to your collection."
She spoke about his scars like a concerned older sister rather than someone poking fun. Ghost-Spider was starting to think this kid didn't even have powers. He was... just a boy, trained to be a man, fighting on his own in the streets of the city.
"Do your new family know what you do?" Ghost-Spider asked as she began to carefully stitch together the knife wound, "or are you, like, totally solo? Which I get. I've not really got a family, so most of my work is solo, but it gets lonely, right? Especially in messy situations like that. You gotta have someone to watch your back, right?"
Not that Ghost-Spider did, most of the time, but... it sure felt good when she did. She frowned again as she focused on the needle, in and out, closing the wound and mopping blood up as she went.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 14, 2024 0:31:53 GMT
Renegade chuckles at the absurdity of Ghost-Spider and her quips. His throat aches from disuse, making the sound airy and deeper than his speaking voice. Like a forgotten door in an old manor finally being pushed open. He moves to sit where she guides him, lifting his arms out of the way as she removes the webbing. Damian can't recall the last time he laughed at anything. " I doubt anything you do would make me scream, شبح. I am also unafraid of another scar being added. It is just tissue on skin." His shoulder twitches in an aborted shrug. Damian's head tips down as he watches her work from behind the white lenses of his domino. " My family is broken. Out here, it is just me and my sister. She used to be like me until an accident put her out of commission. I know she wants to come back out here and it is not just because I am on my own now." He is not sure why he is answering her questions as honestly as he can and he reaches out to pick at her hood if she lets him. He's curious about the material. Damian does not react to the needle in his skin as Ghost works. " I was raised to work alone and I have worked alone almost my whole life. There was a time when I tried to belong to a bigger group, but I-" The words stop as he huffs a little breath, looking over her shoulder and getting lost in the middle distance. " I am not like them. I did not fit. So, I am alone again and that is alright. I'm not scared." Damian looks down at her hands again and offers very quietly, " Well, after this, I'll have your back if we come across each other again. Fair's fair." Word: شبح
Pronunciation: shabaH
Meaning: Ghost in Arabic |
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 14, 2024 11:41:24 GMT
Ghost-Spider glanced up at Renegade's casual response to being scarred. What kind of family was he from? One so used to fighting that getting stabbed was a normal Tuesday night. She frowned, focusing on getting the stitching right. He might not mind a scar, but she didn't want to leave a bad one if she could help it. For a rare moment, Ghost-Spider let him speak. It sounded like he had a lot to say, but never had any way to get it off his chest. His final words resonated with her. She didn't fit either. Ghost-Spider was trying her hardest to be a good member of the Champions, to vibe with the group, but... well, it was difficult, being from another world. The only person who really got that was Wally, and that was great, but it still left her with a hole inside of her that yearned for comfort. Her hood was soft under his fingers, but durable, light and flexible. Ghost-Spider only inched back for a second when she thought he was going for his mask, but didn't recoil. "Ultra lightweight, breathable, kinda stab-proof, kinda bullet-proof. I made it myself."
She smiled, then moved back to inspect her work. "It'll do! Not something I've had to do often, if I'm honest, but I'm quite proud of those stitches."Ghost-Spider rose to her feet, a hand on her hip as she looked at Renegade with her head cocked to one side. "I get that. Truly. I feel alone, like, all the time. Nobody is gonna get me, I know that. But it's nice to know I've got a friend out here on the streets."Ghost-Spider smiled beneath her mask again. She tossed him a towel that had been soaking in a bowl of warm water after wringing it out. "Mop up that blood. Your suit might need a run through the wash, but those stitches should hold for now. Did your sister get injured doing the same thing you do?"Ghost-Spider spoke with a tinge of worry for the young vigilante. It felt like she was back with Peter, before... everything. She had worried for him, protected him against the bigger boys and bullies of school. Until she'd killed him. But enough of that. Ghost-Spider tapped a finger to her masked chin. "You need a partner, and I reckon we'd work together really well. Renegade and Ghost-Spider! Had a nice ring to it, don't you think? Though I can't have you piggy backing on me whenever we swing into a group of criminals, I think we'd lose our street cred a bit. How do you usually get around?" |
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Post by Nomz on Oct 14, 2024 22:11:35 GMT
"Is your suit made of your spider silk? It feels durable." The hood slips from his fingers as she moves back to inspect her work and a thought forms in the back of his mind. Perhaps it's time for him to get an upgrade of his own.
"Thank you, شبح." The towel is caught easily enough and he sets to work cleaning up the tacky trails down his side. Damian looks over her stitches, impressed with the quality despite her proclaimed lack of practice. Thankfully, the little med kit Ghost provided has a few bandages to work with, and in a few quick movements, he is applying a self-adhesive gauze pad.
"My sister was attacked in her home years ago. I was not part of The Family at the time, so I do not know all the details. She-" He hesitates, bites his tongue, and pushes on. "We've never actually worked together. She took me in when I fell away from the rest."
Renegade uses the edge of his jacket to dry his skin before slowly easing his shirt back over his torso. The movement pulls on the stitches enough to hurt, but not enough to break them. He snorts and slouches when Ghost keeps speaking. He likes it when she talks.
"I have a grappling gun. While it is not as natural as what you do, I can swing between buildings and I prefer to stick to the rooftops when I can." As if to prove his point, he reaches into one of the pouches hanging from the belt on his hips and pulls free a little gun. It looks a lot like a pistol except for the hook resting in the barrel.
"If I need to evac, I usually drop a smoke bomb and disappear into that. However, since I left the family, my supplies have dwindled to almost nothing." Those dark curls shift when he tips his head in thought. "I suppose I should find a way to make or purchase more."
Damian lifts his gaze to Ghost again. "How good are you at fighting?"
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 15, 2024 20:09:38 GMT
"It's kinda... like spider silk? It's a synthetic material that I came up with. I need a lot of flexibility to swing round the city, and you wouldn't believe how often my old outfit used to get ruined on the job."
She smiles at the nickname. Was it Arabic? Ghost-Spider worked with a lot of the community in Hell's Kitchen who spoke it, and picked up enough to get by. She would have to remember that one.
Sad stories aside, Ghost-Spider feels happy. Renegade is another like her, which gives her hope that maybe... maybe there's more. She has strived for so long to return home, thinking that's where her people are... but perhaps... perhaps...
"Sounds like you're pretty resourceful, Renegade. You wanna know how good I am in a fight?"
The mask contorts, eyes scrunching up as a wide, wicked grin crossed Ghost-Spider's face beneath it.
"Wanna find out yourself?"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 16, 2024 18:57:37 GMT
Damian smirks at the obvious challenge, pushing himself to his feet and attaching his grappling gun to his hip. He has never been one to turn down the offer to duel and he knows that his opponent is, at the very least, stronger than he is. His shoulders roll as he shifts into a brawler's stance, mindful not to outright give away his assassin training.
"No webs or weapons and we stay in here," he offers to her and his tone turns cold again. It is clear that he means to test what she is worth and perhaps measure himself against her. "When you're ready to stop, just say 'Pineapple.' Try not to break my bones. They take a while to heal."
Nodding once to ensure she agreed to the terms, Renegade lifts a hand and waves her on. The first move is hers. Damian is curious about how she will attack first and mindful to be ready to evade if needed. He doubts Shiva will heal his wounds if he comes to her with a broken arm. More likely, she will make him fight with it.
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