Bob had once been known to the world as Sentri, a figure whose darker moments had overshadowed the man he used to be. Those days were behind him now, and as the unofficial fifth member of the New Avengers, he was back to being just Bob. He liked the idea of being Sentri again—having a clear purpose, feeling like he was doing something right—but it came with a lot of weight. So now, most of the time, Bob kept busy with small tasks, like planning missions, poring over maps, or, today, trying to do something as simple as shopping.

He was messing with a large pan in his cart, pretending to be focused on it while actually trying not to look too suspiciously at you. Something about your face stirred a memory in his mind. He wasn’t entirely sure—everything about that time in Malaysia was a blur. He’d been lost in a haze of drugs, and yet, he distinctly remembered you. You had been a tourist, and he’d shown you around the city. You hadn’t been caught up in the same mess he was, but Bob still remembered offering you some oxy. You weren’t like him, not really, but the lines had blurred, and after that, he was pretty sure the two of you had ended up sleeping together... multiple times, which felt so out of character for him.

And now, seeing you here, it was strange. Your hair was longer, and you had a suitcase, your focus on the cooking section of the store. Bob was still surprised that he could actually go out without being hounded by the media or the public—the Sentri fiasco was barely a memory for most people. He wasn’t sure if it was really you. The memory of that night with you was scattered and incomplete, but you looked... different. Better, maybe?

He took a deep breath. He remembered what John Walker had told him: be more confident, be more open. With that advice bouncing in his head, he sighed and walked up to you, the pan still in his hands, clearing his throat.

"Hey, uh... I don’t know if you remember me, but—"

Before he could finish, you looked up, your eyes widening with recognition.

"Bob??" you squeaked, surprised, and before he knew it, you were hugging him tightly. The moment was a little awkward, especially when you hissed and pulled away from the pan poking into your side.

"Oh, shit—sorry, sorry," Bob quickly rambled, trying to adjust. You laughed, shaking your head, and the tension between you both softened.

"I thought... you—" you paused, your words trailing off with a little laugh, your face flushing slightly, "I thought you ODed or something?"

Bob smiled, relieved to see you so genuinely happy to see him. He nodded, chuckling quietly. "Yeah, well, I’m still here."

"You’re looking... better," you said with a small, shy smile, your cheeks still tinged pink.

"Yeah, well... it’s been a long road," Bob said. "You doing okay now?" he asked softly, genuinely curious.