bob reynolds @therealbobreynolds - Tumblr Blog

bob arrived at his house a little after dinner time, a bag of chips in his hand. despite the heat, he was dressed in a bulky blue sweater and a pair of corduroys. on a day like today, he was in desperate need of his comfort clothes.

“hey clay,” he said, giving his brother a hug. “happy fourth.”

- @therealbobreynolds

"Happy fourth, Bobby." Clay gives Bob a tight hug.

He isn't a fan of the holiday, but he figures Bob feels the same way too.

"I tried to sound proof my apartment. Only kind of worked." He kicks away the towel he had shoved under the crack in the door.

bob nodded, grateful for the chance at a bit of silence. pulling away from the hug, he followed clay inside, taking a moment to admire his place.

“it’s really nice in here. it’s so you.”

The place isn't a total mess, but it definitely could be cleaner, and Goggle's tank sits in the corner, though the snake isn't inside of it.

The snake is on the couch.

Just chillin'.

"Thanks, Bobby. It ain't as fancy as the tower, I think."

bobs eyes went wide at the sight of Goggle. “you just let him sit there? what if he gets away?”

he glanced around again, smiling. “definitely not as fancy, but that doesn’t matter. it’s home!”

"Bobby, he's 12 feet long. I don't think he's escaping unnoticed." Clay chuckles, going over and allowing the snake to slither up his arm, gently maneuvering to carry the reptile over his shoulders. "It's more of a home now with you in it."

“oh, yeah, that’s true. i’m thinking about getting a pet. maybe a cat?” he shrugged, smiling a little. he admitted Goggle, intrigued by the animal.

his thoughts, however, stuttered to a halt at Clay’s next words. “oh.. you mean that? i’m not really… i’ve never been home to anyone.”

he shrunk in on himself, father’s voice immediately returning to his head

“You would do good with a dog. Something to cheer you up when you’re sad, Bobby.” He gives Bob a pat on the shoulder. “You’re always welcome here, Bobby.”

bob nodded, eyes brightening at the thought. “i’d love a dog,” he agreed. “maybe i’ll talk to valentina about it. she’s been good to me.”

when clay patted his shoulder, he smiled, only to flinch when the first firework rang out. he squeezed his eyes shut, fists digging into his sweater

Clay shuts the window in his living room, trying to muffle the sound. “Hey, it’s okay. We’re safe here, Bobby.”

bob’s gaze snapped to his, eyes wide with fear. he wanted to reach out, but he could feel the shadows creeping up his legs, ready to consume him

Clay doesn’t understand the hesitation, so he just takes Bob by the arm, pulling him in for a tight hug. “Bobby?”

bob gasped, fear spiking through him the second his brother pulled him in for a hug.

suddenly, they were back in their parents house, the lights dim, a smaller version of bob shaking as he stood in front of his mother, squeezing his eyes shut as his father approached.

current bob stiffened, shame staining his cheeks. he didn’t want clay to see this. there was a reason clay had run away, and he didn’t want the other to feel any guilt

Clay watches, jaw clenched, wishing he could jump in and protect his brother like he used to.

But he can’t. He made a choice, and he can’t take it back now.

out of instinct, bob curled into his brother when his father hit his younger self, the sound echoing through the room. he clamped his hands over his ears, trying to regain his breathing.

“we… we have to get out of here clay. please.”

Clay holds Bob against him, feeling guilt swirl through his chest. He quickly looks around, taking them towards the door, trying to get them out and away from the horrifying scene. “Bobby. Bobby, how do we get out?”

bob’s eyes blinked back open once they were away from that place, looking around in confusion at the new scene. he gripped clay’s hand, dread crawling up his spine.

“where are we? what… what is this?”

Clay’s eyes widen a bit, the two of them standing in the back of a warehouse, and two men pass by then in tactical gear, one of them being Clay. Maybe around 20 years old.

He tries to shield Bob’s eyes before it happens, but it’s far too late. The gun doesn’t even shake in Clay’s hand, his grip on it strong, not a bit of hesitation as he fires it, putting a bullet through the other’s head.

bob knew he should have been afraid, but though the act might have been gruesome, he wasn’t. instead, he turned to look at clay, reaching for his hand.

“you did what you had to do, clay. it’s ok. i don’t plan on hating you for it

Clay lets out a shaky breath, looking scared of himself. “Bobby…” He squeezes Bob’s hand. “I’m not like your friends. I chose to do this…”

“i don’t care. i don’t care, clay.” he gave him a shaky smile. “you’re my brother. we all do things we’re not proud of. i mean, i shot myself full of meth, and i fully consented to it.”

Clay lets out a dry laugh. “Yeah… Yeah…” He shakily murmurs, looking for a way out. “We should go, Bobby.”

bob nodded, holding tight to his brother as he finally found an exit, only to freeze, the dirty streets around them enough to make him stop. he could feel his fingers shaking, the panic twisting like a vine in his chest.

“you… you can’t…” he swallowed, staring at clay with tears in his eyes. “i don’t.. you can’t see this, please….”

Clay holds Bob close, pushing Bob’s face against his chest as he looks around at the scene around them. “I have to Bobby. This is part of you. Maybe a bad part, but still part of you.”

bob hid his face in clay’s chest, unable to watch as a bob in his early twenties was approached by the dealer he’d been getting his meth from. bob needed the drug, but due to the fact that he had no money, he offered to sell them his body instead.

“i’m sorry,” bob choked out. “i-im so sorry”

Clay gives a sympathetic nod. “It’s okay, Bobby. You didn’t deserve that. Any of that.” He rubs Bob’s back, averting his eyes after a moment. “No one will ever hurt you again, Bobby.” He holds onto his baby brother tighter.

“thank you,” he said softly, his voice slightly cracked. “we should…” he glanced at the edge of the street, where he was sure another room was waiting.

“are you ready to go?”

Clay nods, before guiding them out of the memory, trying to erase what he saw and heard from his mind.

The next room is familiar. It’s tiny and cramped, with a little Bob sitting in the corner of a closet, hugging a blanket close as Clay crouches in front of him, placing a set of headphones over his ears. “Stay. Don’t move, Bobby. Stay.” His teenage voice instructs, pushing a stuffed dog into Bob’s arms, making him hold it tight. “Stay, please.”

bob frowned when he saw the memory. he remembered that day… remembered clay hiding him, remembered worrying about him the entire time he was in there.

he looked to his brother, worry creasing his brow. “clay…” he let his fingers clasp in his. “what happened?”

Clay bites his lip, feeling tears prick at his eyes. “Mom and Dad didn’t take well to… me wanting to be a boy.” The Clay in the memory has longer hair, and that stupid cheerleading uniform he always hated. His dad making him go to “set him straight” after he was caught binding his chest.

Clay doesn’t reach to cover Bob’s ears, the two of them listening to the muffled sounds of Clay being beaten.

bobs heart broke, the sorrow soon turning to anger- not at clay, but at their parents… at the sheer cruelty they’d shown their son. he pulled his brother into a fierce hug, digging his fingers into the fabric of his shirt.

“mom and dad are dicks, clay. they should have respected you. they should have loved you.” he held him tighter. “i did. for one, i think you’re the coolest brother in the world. i’m sorry i didn’t fight for you too.”

Clay sighs, holding Bob close, letting his brother comfort him for once. “You were just a kid, Bobby. You did what I told you to. You were so good. You were such a good kid, Bobby…” He buries his face in Bob’s hair, hugging him tightly.

bobs eyes flooded with tears.

you were good.

no one had ever told him that before. he clung tighter, never wanting to let go. “you were good too. you were- are everything to me.”

as the scene replayed itself, he turned to the door. “should we move on…?”

“We should go.” Clay gives a quiet nod, reaching for the knob on the door, turning it and guiding his brother into the next memory.

bob froze, staring at the lab that came to life in front of him, a pale, fragile version of himself sitting on an exam table as they pumped him full of serum he no longer wanted. he’d already taken the first dose, but after the side effects, he said no.

of course they didn’t listen. why would they, when they were finally going to get what they wanted.

a lump settled in his throat, and he swallowed it down. “i was trying to be better. they told me i could be.”

incorrect-thunderbolts

Yelena: Yo, how much money do you have?

Bob: Sixty nine cents.

Yelena: Ayyy, you know what that means!

Bob: [tearing up] I don't have enough money for chicken nuggets.

official-redguardian

@even-better-john-walker @johnagentwalker @johnwalker-usagent @hydras-agent @usagent-walker @usagent-notcap @us-agent-atyourservice @americas-ass-hole

It’s not what it looks like

wow. cheating on me already?

This is clearly coercion

i think you should prove your loyalty to me

Gladly and vigorously

im waiting

lewis-bob-rhett

Same bby. 🥺🫂

(I think this screenshot is from Pinterest but idk it broke containment 🤪)

@vaporwavesimulator is op of text

@dont-call-me-val

"Bob! come out here, I got you something!"

bob hurried to find her, offering a soft smile when he did. “hey mom.”

dont-call-me-val

she pulls out a flat white box with silver stars all over "open it!"

intrigued, he tore it open, honestly just excited to be given a gift

official-redguardian

@even-better-john-walker @johnagentwalker @johnwalker-usagent @hydras-agent @usagent-walker @usagent-notcap @us-agent-atyourservice @americas-ass-hole

It’s not what it looks like

wow. cheating on me already?

This is clearly coercion

i think you should prove your loyalty to me

official-redguardian

@even-better-john-walker @johnagentwalker @johnwalker-usagent @hydras-agent @usagent-walker @usagent-notcap @us-agent-atyourservice @americas-ass-hole

It’s not what it looks like

wow. cheating on me already?

purplglitter

@therealbobreynolds why did you just throw up a sentry action figure.

uh….. science?

@dont-call-me-val

"Bob! come out here, I got you something!"

bob hurried to find her, offering a soft smile when he did. “hey mom.”

Bob.

-@the-white-wolf-actually

yeah? what’s up, bucky?

Nothing is up, I am just here to make sure you were doing fine.

oh. thanks, man. i’m doing pretty good. just, idk, lounging around?

i’m trying to get a restraining order against my parents

Jeez, a restraining order. Need any help with… anything?

uh, i don’t know. i’ve never done any of this before. standing up to them feels weird

Well, let me know if I can help, yeah? With anything.

I mean it, Bob.

ok. thanks for always being there.

how are things going for you? have you been well?

It’s been fine. There’s been a hell of a lot going on though.

I think I need one calm night without anyone catching something on fire

wanna watch a movie? that would be calm

Hey, Bobby. Have you ever thought of… changing who your legal parents are? I’ve changed mine. When I ran away.

- @burnt-out-brother

oh, no, i never thought of that. it’s not a bad idea though. how did you pick who they were going to be instead?

I picked a friend. Who was like an older brother to me.

could i pick you? or should i try someone from the team?

If you want me, I would be honored, Bobby.

i’d like that. you’re the person i feel safest around in my life

I'll always be your big brother looking out for you.

that means a lot to me. you mean a lot to me

People say you’ve been brighter lately, but you’ve always been like… a star baby lmao.

oh. thanks, clay. that means a lot to me☺️

you’ve always been my guiding light tbh. you make me feel like something worth keeping around.

someone's gotta keep your ass from going off the rails

HEY!

i do not go off the rails-

i’m SOOOOOOO stable

Somehow I don't believe you

honestly valid😂 i don’t believe me either

Hey, Bobby. Have you ever thought of… changing who your legal parents are? I’ve changed mine. When I ran away.

- @burnt-out-brother

oh, no, i never thought of that. it’s not a bad idea though. how did you pick who they were going to be instead?

I picked a friend. Who was like an older brother to me.

could i pick you? or should i try someone from the team?

If you want me, I would be honored, Bobby.

i’d like that. you’re the person i feel safest around in my life

I'll always be your big brother looking out for you.

that means a lot to me. you mean a lot to me

People say you’ve been brighter lately, but you’ve always been like… a star baby lmao.

oh. thanks, clay. that means a lot to me☺️

you’ve always been my guiding light tbh. you make me feel like something worth keeping around.

someone's gotta keep your ass from going off the rails

HEY!

i do not go off the rails-

i’m SOOOOOOO stable

Bob.

-@the-white-wolf-actually

yeah? what’s up, bucky?

Nothing is up, I am just here to make sure you were doing fine.

oh. thanks, man. i’m doing pretty good. just, idk, lounging around?

i’m trying to get a restraining order against my parents

Jeez, a restraining order. Need any help with… anything?

uh, i don’t know. i’ve never done any of this before. standing up to them feels weird

Well, let me know if I can help, yeah? With anything.

I mean it, Bob.

ok. thanks for always being there.

how are things going for you? have you been well?

Hey, Bobby. Have you ever thought of… changing who your legal parents are? I’ve changed mine. When I ran away.

- @burnt-out-brother

oh, no, i never thought of that. it’s not a bad idea though. how did you pick who they were going to be instead?

I picked a friend. Who was like an older brother to me.

could i pick you? or should i try someone from the team?

If you want me, I would be honored, Bobby.

i’d like that. you’re the person i feel safest around in my life

I'll always be your big brother looking out for you.

that means a lot to me. you mean a lot to me

People say you’ve been brighter lately, but you’ve always been like… a star baby lmao.

oh. thanks, clay. that means a lot to me☺️

you’ve always been my guiding light tbh. you make me feel like something worth keeping around.

Bob.

-@the-white-wolf-actually

yeah? what’s up, bucky?

Nothing is up, I am just here to make sure you were doing fine.

oh. thanks, man. i’m doing pretty good. just, idk, lounging around?

i’m trying to get a restraining order against my parents

Jeez, a restraining order. Need any help with… anything?

uh, i don’t know. i’ve never done any of this before. standing up to them feels weird

Hey, Bobby. Have you ever thought of… changing who your legal parents are? I’ve changed mine. When I ran away.

- @burnt-out-brother

oh, no, i never thought of that. it’s not a bad idea though. how did you pick who they were going to be instead?

I picked a friend. Who was like an older brother to me.

could i pick you? or should i try someone from the team?

If you want me, I would be honored, Bobby.

i’d like that. you’re the person i feel safest around in my life

I'll always be your big brother looking out for you.