checkingout | [Open] A hunt for a killer

[They were coming. A whole legion of do-gooders who had what? No actual evidence to tie him to anything that they were accusing him. Oh this was going to be good, assuming that they didn't kill him outright, which he was fine with. If this whole 'resurrection' thing worked as it seemed to (though still no definite on that with the little girl), he could come back and cry bloody murder. Everyone here knew they were gunning for him, and he had made certain that it wasn't obvious that he was doing the exact same thing.

Let them bury themselves. This was going to be good. He was going to enjoy it.

Of course, he wasn't that interested in being hunted like a weasel in this place, which forced him to move from his current hiding spot in the basement to head back towards his room carefully. They locks couldn't be picked and no one could break them down as far as he could tell, which meant it was the safest place for the time being. Once they had moved on from the first level hallway, he could sneak down for more food. He had enough to last forty-eight hours comfortably and over a week uncomfortably.

He paused on the main floor, back pressed to the wall so he could peek around the corner to sight the stairs leading to first floor apartments. This was going to be a risk; he was just going to have to take it. He glanced around to survey his surroundings before easing around the corner and swaggering to the stairs like he owned the place and certainly not like he was or had done anything wrong. Everyone knew people with something to hide slipped into shadows.]

[ In her defense, she didn't come out of Coulson's message with the concerted intent to strike Rumlow down on her own. She's still on the disabled list, and unwelcome on the strike team itself. That's what happens when your dad lures you into an alien temple to get uncontrollable earthquake powers.

As he ascends the stairs, Skye comes down the hall, stopping at the top. Her blood chills, and her hands ball into fists at her sides, evidence of how hard it is to hold herself back. A single rumble hums in the stairs, causing them to sigh beneath their feet. Nothing hyper-apparent, as tremors go, unless you know what you're looking for, but she's walking a delicate line between K.O.-ing herself and letting them go unchecked. ]

Oh, look. A rat. [ Her shoulders square, chin lifting in projected fearlessness. ] Prowling for another kid to kill? [ Confrontation flashes in her eyes, as if she plans to make herself big enough to keep him from getting further up the hall. She's not letting him through. Hell, she's not planning on letting him get away. He killed Coulson. ]

[He came to a stop as soon as he saw someone appear at the top of the stairs, not exactly the place that he wanted to be. She had the advantage of terrain, but he had the physical advantage of being male. He considered them even at this point as he eyed her, having seen and investigated her on the network. Now what was she doing out and about when there was possibly a man hunt in the works.

The better question was: how could he use it to his advantage?

His eyes flicked from her to the soft groan of the stairs, a noise he hadn't heard before. He curled the corner of his lip, wondering for a moment if she was going to show him something special. Instead, he tipped his head back and folded his hands neatly behind his back, coming to stand in parade rest.]

I've got no idea what you're talking about, chickie-boo. Would you care to explain? Maybe we can have a sit down and chat like reasonable adults. You are one, right?

[ Snidely, she answers, ] Trying to figure out if I'm your type? What is it these days: kids under twelve, men over forty?

[ There's a tension rippling between them. His casual, almost deferential stance seems to invite the confrontation that's brimming just under the surface of her skin, and it's apparent in her own wide stance that she's only resisting it by inches to begin with. ]

I don't have a type. I'm more of a 'mission-type' guy. Sorry, chickie-boo.

[Casually, he shifted his weight and ascended to the next step. His hands moved out to his sides in a show of not being in possession of a weapon as he began to climb to stairs to even their positions. He was far more interested in getting to his room than tangle with her; he was also curious if anyone else was on the first floor landing.]

Easy now. I've got no reason to tangle with someone as special as you.

[ Skye's mouth twitches on the word special, but she maintains a snide and unimpressed expression. ]

Then you're really not going to like what comes next.

[ Once he ascends a few more steps, Skye takes one, two down and swings her leg up to try and nail him in the side of the head with a crescent kick. ]

'Cause you're not the only one with a mission.

I don't think we know each other well enough to guess what one another likes.

[As she moved to meet him, he dropped his hands again. She wasn't coming down the stairs for a hand-shake that was for sure. She was moving too well and lining herself up too lead with one side.

His hand snapped up to catch her foot with both hands before shoving it backwards hard. He immediately moved to get to the 'higher ground' on the stairs.]

Oh, do kiss and tell? SHIELD is very good at that after all.

You wanna do your best World War II reenactment, SHIELD vs HYDRA, fine. But you brought a kid into it. [ When he pushes her foot away, she lets her weight move with it, landing smoothly back on the step so that when he steps up to get the higher ground, she's ready to crouch and try to sweep his legs out from under him. She's good, but she's not as quick as him, and she lacks the bulk for power, relying instead on speed and flexibility. ] You're not getting away with that.

Wow chickie-boo, learn your history. SHIELD wasn't formed until well after the end of the Second Great War. And I don't know anything about a kid. [That was totally a lie, but he'd play it for now mostly to needle her than anything. He set himself and let her foot hit his ankles which stung, but he held his ground being heavier.

Of course, she was down a little more, which allowed him to move up the stairs further, heading towards the landing.] You'd be surprised what a man can get away with. I mean, I just look at Ward and realize you've done nothing to him.

[ It's a weak point.

She hates that it is, but it is, and the metaphorical knife slips just between her fifth and sixth rib, twisting hard. It's every uncertainty she's cast on herself tenfold, summoned up and spun against her by an enemy. That what happened to Fitz was her fault for not being able to deal with Ward when she first had the chance. Doubts over what she'd done in San Juan: was it right, was it wrong? Trying to kill him, failing. Some days, she's not sure which she's flagellating herself for. The courtyard.

Riled and determined not to make the same mistake with Rumlow, she charges for him, rising up onto even footing on the landing and throwing a punch. ]

[And there is was. A chic in the armour. He had expected it to be harder to find one on her given how little he knew of her, but it seemed that she must wear at least part of her heart on her sleeve ripe for the stabbing.

Now she had something to prove. He couldn't get her too worked up, or he figured that her suppressed powers could emerge. It was still enjoyable with the look she wore.

He lifted his left forearm to block the punch, but he allowed her attack to drive him back a step. On the defensive, he didn't retaliate even if he saw the opening to do so. He just let her drive him backwards, back towards his room number.]

[ She adapts: this time, when he blocks, she unclenches her fist, using that hand to grab the wrist of the forearm he'd blocked with to hold it aside. Stepping in, she snaps her elbow up to try and catch him in his unguarded face, using momentum to try and twist his body and let the blow throw him to the side into the wall of the corridor.

The humming under her skin never stops, but it's louder than usual now. Pain, guilt, regret, hate. Negative emotions have a way of aggravating it, and usually she tries to guard against that, but now— He's digging it all up. Poking his fingers into open wounds, and it's all she can do to keep it simmering just beneath the surface, a low tremble jostling some of the frames on the walls. ]

[He flexed his wrist to get a feel for her grip on him even as he let her elbow impact with his cheek, snapping his head back. Pain and pleasure were so quick to mingle, but he had a good control of himself in that manner, having learned to adapt many many years ago.

Suddenly, he shifted and moved to drive a knee up into her gut as he twisted his wrist in her grip at the same time.]

[ His knee catches her in the stomach, and she doubles over with a grunt, but she doesn't stay stunned long. No agent worth her salt does, and for as green as she is, Skye's good. Hard work and training have paid off.

Unfortunately, Rumlow's from Fury's own personal STRIKE team, and Skye still can't properly beat her own S.O.

He gets her on the ropes and she staggers back for a moment, regrouping, then comes at him with a quick one-two punch, aimed to wear him down. He'd struck back: that's a good sign. It means she's made herself enough of a nuisance that he's not just toying with her anymore, or so she hopes. ]

[As soon as he was free and had forced her a step back, he was withdrawing as if he needed space. He didn't, but he was inching closer to his room where if he got her in then he could just open up on her and let her experience his skill for hand-to-hand combat. Maybe he'd drop her where he dropped Coulson.

He ducked down and then to the side to avoid the punches, keeping his feet in motion backwards even as his eyes only briefly flicked from her to the room numbers on the doors that he was passes.]

Must be upsetting to have to work so hard and still not be enough.

Enough to stop you, at least.

[ She proceeds after him, seemingly unaware of the way the one-sided battle carries them down the hall. Coming up on him again, Skye throws out one punch, then another, lets him block them, then uses the opening to crack her forehead against his. ]

Show me then. All this pissing around is boring.

[He was still backing off, letting her close the distance, getting a sense of her technique and the way that she lead and from where she threw most of her punches. Most people had a routine, a way of doing things. She was clean and quick, but she could be overpowered and everyone got sloppy when angry.

He blocked each of her punches and finally he stopped dead in his retreat because he was in front of his room. His hand snapped up to seize her forehead as he tsked softly.]

Aim for my nose, chickie-boo. Forehead is a good way for me to break yours instead.

[He shoved her back from his hold, fishing out his key from his pocket.]

[ Staggering back as he shoves her, Skye's eyes follow his hand into his pocket. ]

What are you —

[ She doesn't stop to find out. Two more punches. This time, when he blocks them, she grabs onto his wrist, twists her body, and pulls her arms down hard to try and throw him over her shoulder. ]

[He kept the card in his left hand as he used the right to block her new incoming punches, but he held his ground this time even as her fingers closed on his wrist. The problem with throwing a man with fifty pounds was that she had to work for it.

He moved to ram his fingers into her exposed side as he slid forward, waging his strength with hers as he resisted the throw and instead used the fact his arm was over her to get it back around her throat. At worst, he'd see if she would just back off.]

[ When his hand closes around her throat, she remembers Bucky. This time, he's not going to realize they're on the same side and stop. But Brock Rumlow is also no Winter Soldier. Skye doesn't bother trying to pry his fingers off. Instead, she takes advantage of the distance to drop her arms, throwing one elbow back into his solar plexus, on the side he didn't have a free hand at. Again. And again. ]

[ For days, Trip had been making rounds for Rumlow and Cashmere. One was the enemy, the other a friend.

He'd run into Gamora on her floor who had been kind enough to accompany him. It gave him the chance to talk at least a little about something other than the horrors in the hotel.

The moment was cut short as they arrived to his floor, immediately alerted by the ruckus close to the stairwell. ]

Rumlow.

[ The name was said low, nearly a growl. It was more of a recognition than to gain attention or to inform Gamora at his side.

If asked, Trip had repeatedly warned others not to approach Rumlow without back up but there was no way to follow his own advice with Skye in a fight against the Hydra agent.

Trip instantly dumped his tablet and charged toward the fray. He came up behind Rumlow with a kick at a weak point just above the knee in an effort to knock STRIKE's finest off balance, reaching out with his arms to get Rumlow in a lock. ]

Edited 2015-06-15 01:03 (UTC)

[When Trip mentioned that he was patrolling for the murderer, it wasn't as if Gamora could say 'hey good luck with that'. Naturally, she volunteered to go with him out of concern over what might happen to Trip if he did find the killer. Though Gamora still isn't convinced of who the culprit is. Without evidence, it's a lot harder to determine.

What isn't difficult to respond to though is seeing a man with his hands around a woman's throat. Trip goes running straight in, and hopefully the move isn't foolish enough for him to get himself killed. Gamora follows after, but she doesn't dive right in. That many bodies in a cramped hall could lead to a whole lot of injuries. She's ready to spring into action, but lets her voice be heard first.]

RELEASE that woman immediately!

[The 'or else' isn't stated, but it doesn't have to be.]

[He grunted when her elbow impacted his gut, uncomfortable about the whole thing but willing to bet he could break her ribs before she could do permanent damage to him on the same level. He drew back his fist to make good on that, but his head snapped at the sound of people approaching.

Just great.

He narrowed his eyes and relented his grip, moving instead to shove Skye aside from him so he could dive the opposite way to spare his knees the kicking. He rolled up from his shoulder to his feet.]

Whoa, whoa, calm yourselves. She attacked me. I'm just defending myself.

[Tim has been around, looking for any signs as to what happened to Coraline. He's kind of been keeping an eye out for the guy Phil described, because someone that's already shown himself to be a killer, adding to the body count doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.

...Which is how he comes across the scene in the hallway. His eyebrows go way, way up.]

Yeah, but was she trying to kill you? I dunno, it seems like choking someone out is a pretty good way to do that.

[ As he released her, Skye stumbled, planted a steadying hand on the wall, and glanced back at where the others were coming. She didn't like needing a rescue, but that didn't preclude the look of gratitude that she gave Trip in the exhale that followed as she rubbed at her throat. ]

He did it. He killed her, just like he killed Coulson.

[ Which didn't answer Tim's question, deliberately. Truthfully? She was. Revenge was ugly, but she wasn't going to make the same mistake she made with Ward. Especially not when, in a one-on-one fight with Rumlow, it would be her life or his. Now, though, it seemed that they might just have a chance to capture instead of kill. ]

[ Trip had immediately moved toward Skye when Rumlow moved out of reach. He stood between his friend and the Hydra agent, keeping her shielded while she caught her breath. ]

Right. [ Rumlow was met with disdain and sarcasm. ] Because fending someone off requires grabbing them by the throat. That must be in the Hydra training manual, right up there with killing defenseless kids.

[ Hatred for Hydra made it something of a struggle for Trip to keep from trying to take Rumlow out. Trip was smart enough to recognize that killing the man didn't mean ending Rumlow when it came to the hotel. In fact, if Coulson was anything to go by then it would give the Hydra agent a chance at escape.

Trip stood in a tactical stance, planting his feet shoulder width apart with hands in front. He was ready to defend or chase should Rumlow attempt either. A scowl had yet to leave his face. ]

Edited (html and I are not friends) 2015-06-15 22:03 (UTC)

[The crowd does make a good point about defending oneself by choking another, but had it been Gamora, she probably would've broken Skye's bones instead. But she tends to just react in situations like those.

When Skye makes her accusation, Gamora moves closer to try to stand between Rumlow and the group. She looks to Skye and asks:]

Did you witness these killings?

[Because Gamora would really like to hear from someone who witnessed it happen instead of more he-said-she-said.]

Probably. Ask her, not me.

[On his head, he knew when someone meant business. He wouldn't be surprised if both her and the big guy wanted to see him dead, which was positively adorable. And really, he would have broken her bones, but he wasn't interested in letting the whole hotel know his location by her screaming.

At the accusation, he just lifted his hands slightly as if in his own defense, but he was shifting his weight all the same, moving to the door to his left.]

I'd like to see the evidence against me with these accusations because you're slandering my name. In the US-of-A, that's a sue-able offense.

Edited 2015-06-16 13:27 (UTC)

Yeah, but I don't think we're technically in Kansas anymore, so I'm not sure that slander is an actionable offense here.

[So this is the Rumlow guy that Coulson was talking about. Tim already doesn't like him for killing Phil, but if he killed Coraline too, he's going to be the top of Tim's hate list. Not that the list is very long around here, but that just means he'll be able to keep an even closer eye on him.

He starts moving toward the same door as Rumlow is, keeping his body language casual for now.]

Going somewhere?

[ Her gaze flickered to Gamora, confusion pervading her gaze. It kicked in a moment later that of the people who'd come to find them, only one was SHIELD and realized that sometimes, in order to do what was right, they had to skip the whole due process thing. People's lives were more important than that, and Rumlow was a threat. ]

Coulson's evidence enough until she comes back to point the finger herself. [ Regardless of whether he'd killed Coraline (and Skye knew he had, she knew it), he was already guilty of one murder. That was enough to put him away and hold him until they got Coraline to affirm it was him.

At this rate, they were going to give him the chance to get away with it. ] It's his room. [ She thought back to the key. ] Don't let him get inside, he'll have the advantage. [ Who knew what was waiting in there, but close-quarters would make it easy for a HYDRA assassin to funnel them and take them out one-by-one. The possibility of him getting away had a tremor rumbling through the hotel hallway within ten feet of her, including Rumlow and the door he was inching toward. ]

SHIELD doesn't attack unprovoked, Gamora. That's all Hydra. He's Hydra. There are a lot more murders on his head outside of here. Not surprised he picked up old habits in this place.

[ His words were all to the woman he considered a friend since arriving to the hotel. He didn't like how she had positioned herself--more worried at having her back more toward Rumlow and exposing herself than Gamora picking a side. Trip knew the truth would come out and she'd see it for herself. However, he wouldn't take his eyes off Rumlow. ]

We're taking him into custody. Like Skye said, one accusation already stands. It won't be long before we have another. If he's so innocent, he won't mind going along peacefully. [ Trip rushed toward the room Rumlow inched toward. ] He sure as hell ain't going in there.

[Gamora didn't like the way this was going. These accusations still seemed mostly two men's words against each other, and Gamora doesn't know who she should necessarily trust. Sure, Rumlow had the mark of a shady individual, but that didn't mean Coulson was an angel.]

Where do you intend to take him?

[Gamora still positions herself between Rumlow and the mob. If anyone tries to push her, they won't like it when she pushes them back. And if Rumlow tries something behind her? Gamora will figure the charges are true, and he is probably smart enough to know that she makes a hell of an enemy.

The tremor of the hallway is also noted, and she figures Skye the most likely reason for it, based on the timing.]

Let him be under house arrest in his room, then. If he's confined here, he won't be able to hurt anyone else until this is figured out.

[Because as far as she knows, this hotel doesn't have a jail.]

Edited 2015-06-17 01:19 (UTC)

His word against mine. No witnesses, and I'm betting no actual solid evidence. Is this how far SHIELD has fallen? I remember a SHIELD that believed in more than finger-pointing.

[He raised his hands a little defensively again when everyone made a rush to intercept him like he was about to pull a gun or something. Geez, people clearly thought he was a threat. That was good because he planned on doing far, far worse to them when he had better laid plans. One-by-one, he'd let them feel how deeply ingrained his mission and loyalty was.

He still made certain to put himself close to his door, his key held up his sleeve with a neat sleight-of-hand.]

Oh, I don't mind going peacefully. That's what I'm all about. Peace. For everyone. Hard fought and well-earned. [The survivors anyway.]

[ Skye's sneer didn't seem to buy Rumlow's nice-guy act for a minute, but since he was going to walk himself straight into it, she invited him to keep it up. ]

Sure you don't. In that case, just hand over your key, surrender to SHIELD custody, and we'll keep guards posted until this is all sorted out.

[House arrest sounds like a good idea, actually, even if there's a large part of him that's itching for a real fight. But justice isn't about revenge--not really, for all of Bruce's 'I am vengeance' stuff. That's just for the bad guys' benefit. Bruce believes in justice almost as much as Clark does, and Tim... tries.

Even when he doesn't want to, like now, because Coraline is his friend and he's pretty sure that this guy is behind what happened to her.

He keeps his arms loose, in case this turns into more than just a serious conversation.]

We don't know what he has in that room. [ That answer was to Gamora's suggestion.

Not even the beard over his cheeks could hide his disgust with Rumlow's response as Trip's jaw clenched and muscles flexed. His facial expression went from distrust to utter disbelief with a heaping scoop of annoyance thrown on top. ]

You really think anyone believes the bull you're spewin'? There's at least the word of five or more who can testify you're Hydra. And the last thing Hydra's for is peace.

[ Trip hadn't stopped staring down Rumlow and moved to shove the man away from the room door after his last inch closer. ]

[Trying to be diplomatic was a lot harder than her old ways. Were this the old days, she might've just ended this with a cut of her blade and walked away without a second thought. But that was the assassin she was, not the person she is now. After Xandar, Gamora came to value life more than she did all those years she was under Thanos' rule.]

I think it's best you let them take you into custody for the time being.

[These words were directed at Rumlow, of course. Otherwise, this was probably going to turn into a fight. Did Gamora trust SHIELD or HYDRA? Not necessarily. This was a fight between them and she had nothing to do with it, but she didn't want to hear of any more deaths.]

[Rumlow shook his head, though he raised his hands in a show of good faith that he would surrender. It helped that no one was currently in his range to grab and make a bit of a mess with, but this situation was not entirely out of his control just yet. Custody was better than he thought would happen if they got their hands on him.

Of course, there was a bit of hitch to this whole surrender plan.]

I'll go quietly into custody, but not SHIELD custody. As it should be obvious to two unrelated members of this merry band, you two are bias against me. There's no guarantee that you won't bring me harm once you take me to wherever you're going to take me.

[He nodded towards Gamora and then the kid. Hilarious really.]

If I'm innocent until proven guilty, I'd rather go with one or both of these two. If you still insist I enter SHIELD custody, I have them as witnesses to my physical state as it is now. [And damn did he know how to injure himself for a good cause.]

[Tim gives him an extremely skeptical look.]

Dude. Just because I'm not part of your psycho grudge match doesn't mean we're pals. I like Phil, and Coraline is my friend. If you had anything to do with hurting them, I will be really happy to see awful things happen to you.

We'll all go. Downstairs. Common area. --The ballroom. [ Trip glanced between Gamora and Skye without losing his focus on Rumlow. ] Gamora and Skye can lead the one flight down while we cover from the rear.

All right.

[ Skye nods, then looks to Rumlow with an expression both snide and patronizing, daring him to disagree as she feigns interest in his opinion on the matter. More realistically, her question is aimed at Gamora, but she watches Rumlow instead as she asks. ]

Neutral ground, under mixed guard. Does that work for you?

[Gamora doesn't look too pleased at how complicated this has become. Well, mostly because she's now more directly involved than she first thought she would be, but it can't be helped. She can hardly walk away from it now.]

Fine, but I will choose the ground.

[She turns to Rumlow and approaches, getting closer to him now than she has since she arrived.]

You will turn your room key over to me and be confined to your quarters.

[Before people start to argue, she looks over to the group.]

Search his room. Remove any weapons that might exist. I think keeping him in his room is the best thing in this situation. The space is smaller than any of the rooms downstairs and there is only one exit. If he tries to escape, he can only go in two directions. Anyone who comes down this hall will not be able to hide from a guard posted here at the door.

[Her hand indicates the hallway passage.]

Should he escape, this space is narrow enough that he can be easily trapped. If he makes it to the stairwell, his chances aren't much better. It would be like running a gauntlet.

[She turns to Rumlow again and raises a brow.]

I assume that's acceptable. [She glances him over.] Now turn around. I intend to search you. [Try not to enjoy the pat down too much, Rumlow!]

[He watched Gamora, but he was more than aware of the odds against him at this time. He would wait, let the situation unfold and plan his way out of it. For now, he'd play nice and keep his limbs intact.

He still flick a wink at Tim.] I still trust you more than them. [Which was barely above 'not at all'.

Rumlow produced his room key into his palm but otherwise gave nothing away to her solid logic on keeping him. Though of course, they weren't allowed weapons here, but that didn't mean he didn't have any. He just didn't store them in his room, that's all. After all of this, he knew better than that.]

More reasonable then I expected when you all came at me. [He turned his back on her, though he was tense. He knew she could hurt and kill him after all.]

Tch. Whatever. [Tim mutters the words under his breath as he moves toward the door to Rumlow's room. He's ready to help whoever's going to do this search. Obviously they need to check for weapons, but he'll be looking for evidence, too.

He's not sure if he's hoping to find something of Coraline's or not.]

[Open] A hunt for a killer

For Skye and Rumlow?

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