13429/On the road again - Ohio: Let's go!

On the road again - Ohio: Let's go!
Date of Scene:	03 June 2021
Location:	Skye's appartment / On the road somewhere
Synopsis:	Skye and Clint embark on an impromptu road trip, with trouble in tow
Cast of Characters:	Hawkeye (Barton), Quake

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Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The following events happened six months prior.

On that day, Clint Barton had returned from a mission overseas, which - even if he didn't mention it - didn't go as planned. Although he had returned unscatted, the constant frown on his figure convinced his companion, special agent Skye Johnson, that something wasn't quite right with him.

If that wasn't enough, Hawkeye had returned using one of the top-notch black SHIELD motorcycles, fully equipped. As soon as he had stepped in their apartment, Clint had started packing a sport bag with bare essentials for what seemed to be yet another stay away. Oh yes, he had taken time to kiss Skye - and nothing more. Which, in itself, raised concern on Skye's side. Despite him being focused on packing his bag, Clint could notice the puzzled look on her face and, sighing, stopped his task for a moment. With a decided look on his face - the one Hawkeye often displayed when facing daunting tasks or fighting foes - he looked at Skye and announced.

"Going away for a time," he says, then adding, reassuringly, "No, I'm not in trouble. Just need a break, from it all, work, ops, reports, all that shit. Road trip! You in? No goal, no map, no plan other than to drive away. What d'you say? The two of us, and Gretel? Don't worry about the cats, I've got it covered, some agent owes me one, he'll look after them. Not to mention, they might like a break from us!"

Yes, Gretel, Skye's ol' faithful home/van she used to live in, long ago. But it's still running perfectly, and can accommodate two travellers if they don't mind the promiscuity. And both agents don't mind it, actually. Even better, Gretel can tow a small trailer for the bike.

Quake has posed:
Skye was definitely concerned. Usually they had a way of talking about SHIELD, or the Avengers, that let the other one know 'I'm okay; I can't talk about this.. yet; I'll be safe and home soon'. Skye had made it imperative that they needed to use this when she had 'broken' out at the Triskelion and been on the run (under cover) and Clint nearly broke down. They'd learned. Boy did they learn.

This was something else.

But what it was, was a surprise.. But he had thought about the cats, so he'd thought about her.

She grinned. "Are you kidding me? A vacation?! Hell yes." Skye had not thought about it, but something told her he needed it. So.. "Gimme five minute to pack a bag, and start Gretel" Besides, the more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The smile appearing on Clint's face shows how happy he is that Skye accepted to come along, on this journey to somewhere, the somewhere being still unclear, as far as it's a good distance from anything work-related.

"You can take ten minutes if you want, don't forget your computer, cables, all that jazz. We'll need access to watch movies!"

And yet, already, his features seem less somber. This impromptu road trip starts well! While Skye rushes to pack her own bare essentials, Clint finishes with his own, and then grabs one of the archery bags to pack some equipment. He's really wanting to stay away from trouble, but also knows that trouble has a way of finding him. Better safe than sorry!

Once he's done packing some clothes and archery equipment, Clint drops the two sport bags by the door, and turns to the kitchen. They will need food on their journey, at least for the first meal on the road. There will be plenty snack bars and grocery stores on the road, but being used to limited means of living, he's not a man to waste food. So he quickly grabs essensial edible such as popcorn, pops, chocolate, beef jerky, bottled water. Everything contains in a single bag, for they will be travelling light. Not like some super-duper rock stars or millionaires, nope, just as they are, normal people (if you set aside the fact that they are SHIELD agents and Avenger, with highest levels of security and best equipment that money can buy).

Quake has posed:
Okay, it takes fifteen.

She made certain to bring her laptop, cables,etc, as well as her bows and arrows before she threw a bunch of stuff into an overnight bag to wear

Grabbing up Ward, she warned him "You be nice, got it? And no slipping out the door. I am on to you!" Damn she was going to miss him and Grant.

Putting him down she took everything down at the door. "All ready!"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
That Skye would take time to say goodbye to the cats, is no surprise to Clint. Once everything's in order, the agents grab their bags, step out, lock the door and are on their way! Packing Gretel takes about ten seconds, time to throw the bags in the rear.

Clint takes the wheel. Gretel roars to life without hesitation, the sound of her seldom used engine calling the SHIELD agents toward the new, unplanned, adventure. And then, they are on the road!

It's doubful neither SHIELD nor the Avengers will notice them being away. Fact is, both organizations can find them rather easily. Even more, both agencies also know Hawkeye and Skye to /run away/ at times, without advance notice. If the couple /really/ wanted to go underground, Clint would not have asked a fellow agent to look after the cats. So if anyone would express any worry about the couple, there would be plenty of old timers around to reassure them. It's just a Clintscape. Or a Skyescape. Something that just happens, and you don't question it.

Although he's not driving like a maniac, Clint sure hits the gas, hurried to leave all troubles behind him. Their destination? For now, generally Westward. They'll stop whenever they are tired to drive, or find a relatively quiet spot for the night.

"You know," Clint muses, "I don't think I've watched the sun go down, quietly, over the mountains, for years. Bonfire, marshmellows, whad' ya say?"

Quake has posed:
Heck, Skye hadn't been on the 'official' schedule for sooooo long now. She did her job.. well, nobody was quite *where*. Usually in the break room. Usually. But not always. And always she got it done. Fury didn't seem to mind.

Skye took the shotgun side. She figured Clint was in more need of driving than she was. She'll take the second shift.

"And beer. Root beer. You know, I haven't had s'mores before. Really." She nods. "We could park by the side of the road in those things you stay at overnight when you're travelling?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint is a good driver, eyes on the road, hands on the wheel. But when Skye mentions she never had s'mores before, he can't but glance at her, a puzzled look on his face.

"Ah c'mon, you never had s'mores? Ye're kidding me."

Eyes back on the road, Clint stays silent for a moment. Think of it, he never had many 'smores himself. This was a special treat at the Barton's, for special events only, because money was scarce and usually used more to provide the father with booze than to procure treats for the kids.

Shaking his head to chase these unfound memories away, Clint then nods decidedly. "We'll find a quiet place for the night, in the woods. I'm thinking of the Tuscarora State Forest, you can give me the directions." He then laughs, adding, "First, we'll stop to get bug repellent, and all we need for a hot-dogs and 'smores fest!"

Quake has posed:
Skye had to shake her head no.

"I wasn't in the foster homes long enough to do anything. Camping. Beaches. S'mores. None of that. I was fairly young when I was abandoned for foster home and put in an orphanage." Where she met Matthew Murdock. "And even then I still was moved around until I left." She means she ran away.

She grins at the forest. "Have van, will travel. After all that's why you asked me to get to Gretel." She's joking.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Exactly! And Gretel is not your ordinary van, it's well equipped with all the essentials - minus the bathroom area. Ah! They'll survive this. So maybe Clint wasn't totally improvising when he started this impromptu adventure, and caravaning was already on his mind for a while.

Right, sometime when you're all focused on your own problems and circumstances, you forget too much about the others. It's not that Clint didn't know about Skye's hardship as a yougster, but sometimes he too gets lost in his own. Listening to her, reminds him of the many points they have in common.

"Yeah, I bet," he finally says, "Probably the same diet that we had at the orphanage. Funny 'nough, I too decided to "skip" the next morning roll call. Ah, t'was the not so good ol' days." The last is said in a tone which implicitly invites to change topic.

And then, the choice of a highway becomes imminent, "Hrm, Pensylvania. Sounds ok. I think we'll make it to the forest before sundown. Can you find a store nearby on the map, to get what we need?"

Quake has posed:
"It's alright. I've forgiven SHIELD for their part in my past." Most of the time. At least they had the right part of their hearts engaged. Most of their friends didn't know the part SHIELD had played; very few did. But Clint did.

"According to this map, there is a gas/store/restaurant in about half an hour. Follow the signs." Skye pored over the map. "Most of this region is parkland."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
And verily, signs directing to the nearest gas/store/snack bar appear along the way, and Clint exits the highway to find themselves on small roads, leading into the countryside. The forest isn't far now, and the store quickly comes into view.

It's really a hole in the countryside, but the only hole around with gas and other things they need. At the edge of the four spaces parking lot, a couple guys sit on top of their pick-up, already eying Gretel as Clint parks the van to fill it up.

Eyeing the guys outside the store, Clint nods at Skye. "Alright. I'll take care of refuelling, I'll join you when I'm done. And, yeah, check the guys. Let's try to stay out of trouble, I don't feel like breaking bones just now."

Quake has posed:
"Come'on, what are the odds of that?" Skye stretches her body and gets out of Gretel. "Anything you want while I'm there?" She had her heart set on a few chocolate bars, and chips, as well as the ingredients for s'mores. And root beers. Don't forget the root beers!

At first it was okay. She wandered around picking out things she thought were good. She paid, and stepped out of the store, and one of the men was following her. Probably thought she was easy pickings given her van.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
And the stupid guy follows Skye outside, a cheesy smile and leering eyes on her as he tells her, "Hey, if ye're getting hungry, me and m'pal can fix it."

Meanwhile, Clint finished filling up Gretel and witnesses the guy moving on Skye. For a moment, the archer hesitates, then shakes his head. Of course, trouble found them right there. Knowing that Skye can easily handle the guy - hey, she's trained by SHIELD - Clint moves toward the rear of the van, opening the door to check something in his bag, always keeping an eye on Skye, in case things got out of hands.

But then, the other guy joined his pal, and - to Clint's dismay - put his dirty hand on Skye's waist. Right, some guys /do/ have a death wish.

Frowning, Clint walks toward Skye and the two guys, ready to break some bones, if she doesn't do it first.

"You hillbillies morons," Clint says in a menacing voice, "Walk away while you can. I won't warn you twice." But he's still a good thirty feet from Skye, ready to fall into a sprint if the shit really hits the fan. Which it usually does.

Quake has posed:
What. the. fuck?!

No, she must have heard it wrong. But for her, she tried to be polite. "Sorry, not hungry." And began to turn away. No go. His buddy was upon her, and had her waist. "I said, get lost."

That time she wasn't nearly as polite.

The first man laughed. "Whatch'you gonna do about you, honey. Gonna get angry? Ooo I'm shaking in my boots. Good thing I like my ladies feisty. That your boyfriend?" The two of them laughed. "He can watch. We don't care. Do we Joe?"

'Joe' pulled her in. "Nope. I like an audience."

"Come on guys, you really don't want to start this now. Really." One more time to give than a chance. Skye locked eyes with Clint.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
All it takes, is for Clint to lock eyes with Skye. A single nod, an understanding between them. Whatever guy she decides to take care of, Clint will manage the other.

Skye might not have an option, as Dirty Hands Joe starts pulling her with him. That's enough, and now Clint sprints on the second guy, bent on incapacitating him before he can help out his pal.

Hawkeye also has years of experience, not only trained with SHIELD, but also with Captain America and the Black Widow, facing the strongest weirdoes Earth and the Galaxy can offer. So really, the hillbilly finding himself pinned against the wall of the store, a strong large hand around his neck, might have wanted to know this before messing around with Skye.

"Arm or leg?" Clint asks the moron, "Cuz I'm going to break it, like you broke my good /vacation/ mood two hours in. Not really a record, but still pisses me off, cuz I was hoping for at least five hours trouble-free."

Quake has posed:
Dirty Hand Joe never knew what hit him.

Down went the bag of groceries. Unlike someone else who would be afraid to drop it, Skye had lots of practice of doing just that. And she went after him.. He wasn't prepared. Instead of a regular person resisting, she came with him, making him over balance. Then, she somersaulted and threw him to the ground, leaving her following until she landed upright. With two steps she was at his side.

"See, my boyfriend doesn't like his vacation ruined. And I don't like how you were to me. I don't like touchy and feely, you grok? Now you're going to say sorry, and back the fuck off. Really, you couldn't have picked a worse couple than us. This will not look very good on the After Action Reports."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Despite his menacing and all, Hawkeye isn't a killer deep down. The guy pinned against the wall unable to answer a single question - hard to speak when you're half chocked - Clint decides to answer for him.

Stepping back quickly, Clint pulls the guy and, twisting his arm in a swift movement, forces him to flip over in the air, the moron ending up with a broken wrist on his right hand. Hopefully for him, the man stays on the ground, having enough already as he holds his broken wrist. "I hope you ain't right handed, jerk, cuz you'll feel lonely for a while."

That said, the archer turns toward Skye to make sure she got the other man all managed - which she has - and grabs the bag of groceries, "Want me to break his neck?" he asks, matter of factly. Of course, Hawkeye would /not/ kill, but the moron doesn't know it.

Quake has posed:
Skye laughs to herself, and then answers Clint. "I really don't want to be bothered with all those reports." In triplicate. Ugh. She leans to Joe. "Be glad I took you. You got both hands working."

And left him in the mud.

The root beer was surprisingly untouched. "You ok, Hotshot?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Since the guys finally understood that there was no gain to be had by fighting the nice looking - but lethal - couple, Clint offers his arm to Skye, in a gallantry move, and turns to return to the van, groceries in hand.

"Serious, Keyboard, I was hoping for at /least/ five hours of peace. You think we should consult about it? How trouble finds us just like that?" He grins at that, and hops on the passenger seat after dropping the bag to the back. "Your turn to drive."

Glancing one more time at the morons still on the ground, he points his thumb toward their truck, "Oh, no need to speed up," he says, grinning, "I took care of their tires."