Chapter Text
Falling out of the trance was like waking up from a bad dream.
A really bad dream.
But the dream seems to have been a wonderland when he begins to notice he can’t remember a thing.
They ask him questions he can’t answer. They call him “Ralph Bohner”, a name he has never heard before and a stupid one on top of that.
The last weeks (or months?) were a blur and every time he tried to gain clarity it got blurrier. So he just said things that would make it easier for him to leave early. They told him he had been under “magic mind control” and that “everything is going to be fine, Ralph”. But he stopped to listen after he answered every question within 15 minutes.
When he turned out to be useless in their investigations they let Ralph go, even tough they told him that they “would call him when new information is available. They asked for a number they could call and an adress and because he didn't know what his other options were he gave them the adress of the house "he has been held captive" in, as he heard some agents of S.W.O.R.D say.
Ralph thought it was a weird thing to say, considering it was his house (even if he has no memory of living in it). Can you even be held captive in your own house? Who would even do that? A robber, probably. But a robber would want to get out of the house as fast as possible so that makes no sense. What if the police is there? Then the robber couldn't escape and would need a hostage. But if the robber can't escape wouldn't he be held captive in the house? No, because...
"Mr. Bohner!"
His train of thought was stopped by a woman calling his (stupid) name.
"They said I could go.", was the response he thought was appropriate.
"I know but that is beside the point. I wanted to talk to you. In private.", said the woman in a serious manner. He looked at her for a moment and recognized her. It was the woman that kicked his ass before pulling him out of the mind control thing.
"Hey, you're-"
"Monica Rambeau, yes."
He wanted to say something along the lines of "the amazon that beat my ass" but was glad she cut him off. While he was being questioned, Ralph couldn't keep his mouth shut for even a minute. When something came to his mind he had to say it (well except the part where he couldn't remember anything). Part of him thinks that this is one of the reasons he was able to leave this quickly. Apparently people don't like it when you tell them that they're going bald or that they aren't very bright when they ask you something you already answered three times.
"So?", Monica asked impatiently.
"Uh, yeah sure, we can talk. But I am hungry. Do you know where we can get any good Hamburgers?", he said quickly
Monicas smiled softly like she relived a happy memory.
"I do, actually."
The place Monica leads him to is pretty unimpressive. No one seems to go there anymore and Monica appears to have noticed as well because her face drops the moment she spots the “closed” sign.
”Maybe it’s only closed today?”, Ralph tries to reason. Monica’s sad look made him feel uncomfortable and he wanted to try and cheer her up.
”No no. It was dumb of me to assume that it’s still in business. The last time I’ve been here was with my mom and...”, she trailed off consumed by nostalgia. Ralph couldn’t help but notice the twinge of jealousy he felt in his gut.
”Must be nice to remember your past.”, he didn’t mean for her to hear it but of course she did.
”What did you just say?”
”Nothing.”, he said quickly, relived she didn’t understand anything. “You-wanted-to-talk-right? Let’s talk!” With that Ralph took her by the arm and lead her to a bench so they could sit. Which was a bad idea, considering now it’s harder for him to escape.
“Sooooo...what is it you wanted to talk about?”,he asked feeling nervous. She could ask anything and the last thing he wants is someone being suspicious of him.
Monica looked at him confused for a moment and then says “Didn’t you want to eat something first?”
He had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”
”You wanted to eat. That’s why we’re here in the first place.”, she explained to him.
“Oh right! Yeah I’m not hungry anymore so ask away.”, Ralph said happily.
Monicas seemed to analyze him but he withstood her dark and piercing eyes. He remembered the way they glowed when she was on top of him and shuddered. Strangely Ralph knows that’s not the weirdest thing he has seen.
“Where are you from Ralph?”, Monica suddenly asks.
Ralph
He doesn’t like that name. Who names their kid Ralph anyways?
”Born and raised in Westview. If that’s what you wanted to know you could’ve just looked into my file. You know, the one where I already answered these questions.”, he couldn’t keep the annoyance out of his voice but one thing he learned about himself in the past day was that he was anything but patient.
”That’s not what I meant. You are not from this world. I can feel it”, she said matter of factly.
”While I do feel flattered and you’re in no way unattractive I think I have to pass.”, he joked to cover up his confusion. Monica has started to stare at him again and it was beginning to make him nervous. He wanted to run. Ralph had no idea where to but it didn’t matter as long as he didn’t have to sit still. They may be outside but he feels like he is trapped.
This is a bad dream. All you have to do is wake up Ralph.
”I’m sorry am I making you feel uncomfortable?”, Monica asks with a worried expression.
Without saying a word Ralph stands up and runs down the street.
All you have to do is wake up Ralph.
You have to wake up Ralph.
Wake up Ralph!
Ralph!
But he isn’t Ralph.