castigador | ( OPEN ) Frank Castle

[Elektra, ever dramatic, stares at him while she considers his offer. Tellingly she offers a small smile back and accepts the flowers. She isn't sure what she feels right now, but she does love deals.] I expect dinner too.

[Since she already knows his answer, Elektra heads inside to do what she can to salvage these poor flowers.]

[ he catches her scent as he moves inside the door, closing and locking it behind himself. until now, he hadn't allowed himself to truly miss her but it's all catching up in the moment and conspires to take his breath away. ]

You been watchin' the news? [ he's not sure how much has been covered back here in the us, but he's actually kind of interested in what jigsaw and zemo have done to his reputation. not like it was ever all that glowing to begin with. ]

[Her jaw sets at the question which is an answer in itself. Even if the US didn't cover it (poorly) the other countries she went to while working did in excruciating detail. She heads to the kitchen, making a beeline for the knives so she can cut off the stems. From there, she robotically starts the process of caring for the orchid as she speaks.] Only between jobs.

[She knew it'd compromise her performance. That is never acceptable.] You were nearly spared here. Most think you lost whatever is left of your sanity and murdered innocents and a politician before your death. Only a select few are whispering you were working for HYDRA among themselves before they executed you. You will have to be careful outside of the United States. They ran with the story; expected after what happened with Rogers.

[Evil clone? or not, Captain America had been pushing HYDRA agenda and all that entailed for months. He had camps for Inhumans and Mutants alike. Of course the Punisher possibly being a Nazi too got talked about over there. Europeans especially love a sensational story.]

[ frank laughs, though it's mostly hollow, following her into the kitchen but remaining across the room while he watches her care for the plants. it's only after he's been standing there some time that he remembers her ultimatum about him making dinner and he starts going through the pantry. ]

Zemo used a lookalike, I assume that was Jigsaw's idea. He's always been concerned with my image.

[ obsessively so. he worries his lip, wondering if he should show her the scar... maybe he can work up to that. ]

...Slim pickin's, huh? [ he supposes without someone to cook for her she'd have no reason to stock fresh ingredients. still, he's made meals with less. he's not overly concerned, just trying not to let the silence between them hang too long. ]

[She goes through the process of grabbing a vase and submerging the cut flowers in warm water as she listens.] It's only natural. The ones you wound the most are the ones who feel the most possessive over you.

[Elektra ought to know from her experiences with the Hand and Lester. She brings the vase over to the table and begins arranging the flowers. She thinks over his small talk. The only answers she has for it are biting. She is angry with him, isn't she?] I need little.

[She points out truthfully. Elektra stops playing with flowers to address what she thinks is the source of her anger.] I think I overestimated you.

[ yeah he's lived this scarcely before himself so he really didn't mean anything by it. he starts piling up everything worthwhile on the counter as he goes, trying to keep his easy demeanor about him. all of that shatters in an instant at her words. for some reason, it cuts deeper than he could have anticipated. the look he gives her is hurt even if he knows he can't expect anything from her now. it's enough that she let him in, isn't it? ]

What do you mean? [ he asks it even as he goes to turn the stove on and get a few pots going. he's not sure he wants the answer, but there it is anyway. ]

[It wounds her in return to harm him. For a second she considers not answering the question to spare him further heartache. That isn't who she is. Elektra can't diminish herself even for him. More importantly, she knows he wouldn't want her to.] I took your silence to mean you had control over the situation. The scar on your head says differently.

[ a grim smile overtakes his features at her assessment. it isn't necessarily wrong, but. ]

I didn't exactly have a way to contact you. [ which sounds like he's putting it on her, but he isn't. if he had died in that prison he would blame no one but himself - he just hopes she wouldn't blame herself. frank looks down at his tattoo and swallows, leaving the pots to boil before turning to face her. ] But I made a friend inside. Without her, you're right... I probably didn't have it under control.

[The admission does a lot to calm that simmering anger she refuses to acknowledge. Elektra shuts her eyes briefly, crossing her arms over her chest.] I am grateful you met her.

[And likely track her down to offer some kind of gift. Elektra is relieved he met someone else with sense. She knows that can't be relied on to happen every time.] We will need to fix that in the future.

[She opens her eyes to essentially stare a hole into him.] Unless you are unwilling to accept my help now.

[Things have changed since they first started their partnership. Her tattoo is (tellingly) covered, but she is all too aware of it.]

Yeah... me too.

[ it isn't often frank admits to making a friend or needing someone else's help, but that tough old nun had his ticket from day one. his brow creases as he tries to discern what it is they're "fixing" but then he figures out what she means and he finds himself taking a couple short steps towards her. ]

Come on, you know I love team-ups.

[It's only at the reassurance that her arms fall to her side. Maybe a not so small part of her wondered if he had intentionally cut her out. Elektra has loved so few and most were hot and cold with her at the best of times. It'd be just her luck he changed her mind about having her as an active partner given he already buried a wife.] ... I do.

[She says it is something that slipped her mind versus what she needed to hear.]

What'd you... have in mind? For next time.

[ because they both know there will be a next time. he rubs at his neck and looks at her hopefully. ]

Ideally I should be there to assess the situation from the start. [She'd definitely be formulating a plan on how to screw Fury before he could screw Frank. Elektra has made a small hobby out of making fools out of SHIELD and its ex-employees. They deserve every awful thing she inevitably does to them.]

But, at the very least I think we should both invest in panic buttons. [Elektra smiles.] In the interest of fairness. I won't need mine.

[:')]

[ he starts to nod, a panic button... but then comes the punchline and he throws his head back in a loud guffaw. hydra jail was seriously lacking in humor, go figure. ]

I think... that's a great idea. [ framk gives her a once-over that spells longing, but the sizzle of the stove brings him back on task, reluctantly turning away from her to start cooking their rice. ]

[Elektra offers an unrestrained smile at that laugh. She's satisfied they will at least have done their parts to make sure this never happens again. Maybe, just maybe she missed him too.

That look breaks some of the protective shell she's put herself in since he left all those months ago. She silently pads over and rests a hand on his upper back as she slides in next to him. It's not practical. She's going to be in the way soon. It's been months. She wants a second of connection now that the source of her anger towards him as more or less addressed.]

Tomorrow I'll make arrangements. I'd like to stay here today if you have no other business.

[She is her own boss. Safe to say she's not taking another contract any time soon. Elektra wouldn't be surprised if he someone doesn't try to suck him back in immediately. It is how they roll.]

[ her touch has him shifting, not quite a jolt but a movement in surprise. when people come up behind you in prison it's rarely a good thing. but it's only a split second before he's leaning back into her appreciatively, closing his eyes for just a second to let some of her warmth sink into him. a shiver traces pleasantly down his spine and impulsively he lifts a hand over his shoulder to touch at her wrist. the whole moment has him catching his breath and breathing deep for what feels like the first time since he saw her last. ]

No, you know... I came here hoping you'd fuck off. [ he can't even keep the joke out of his voice, he's uncharacteristically cheery really, just for being near her. ]

[It never fails to astonish her that she can pull this kind of reaction out of him. Elektra spent so long being a ghost that it's hard to remember her humanity. Seeing him relax under her touch, seeing her wrist disappear beneath his hand drives the point home clearly. It really sinks in that he's here. How she wishes she could just collapse into bed together and not worry about anything for a while.

Rather than say that she returns the joke with a pleasant smile. Her face will probably hurt from the exertion, but what does she care? They're together again. That's everything.] That's fair. I do hog the covers.

[She could leave it there, but her expression softens tellingly. This her pride will allow her to say.] I missed you.

[ he opens his mouth to crack another joke when she drops a veritable bombshell. frank grabs her other hand suddenly, just on the right side of rough, staring at their tattoos as they line up together only for a second before pushing her palm against his heart so she can feel its heavy beat. ]

El, I... [ but he bites into his lip before he can return her setiment though it's obviously shared between them. ] I need to finish this.

[ she's distracting him from doing what she asked, as pleasant a distraction as it is. frank turns to kiss her on the cheek, resting his temple against hers as if to recharge before letting her go so he can get back to work. ]

[Even months later she remembers to shove down the impulse to put his head into the floor. At some point she adjusted to him. His heartbeat is a solid reminder of what had changed between them and where it started. She did, after all, toss one at his feet once upon a time.

Elektra retreats wordlessly once he pulls back, flexing the hand that felt that steady beat as if it could still feel it. She decides now is a good a time as any to set the table in preparation. It's a quick job for only two people so she tosses in,]

If you have any drink requests, make them now. [She might have become good friends with a bartender. Long, ridiculously stupid story.]

[ it's even worse when she pulls away a second time, but he still has a soft haze around his vision from her standing so close. it makes his work go quicker. at the mention of drinks, he only perks up even more. ]

Is there bourbon? [ god, he's missed booze. though her offering like that does make him curious. ] Wouldn't say no to a Manhattan, since it seems like you're asking for a challenge.

[ not like it's a complicated cocktail, but he can't remember the last time he bothered to drink anything more complex than warm booze in a glass. ]

I did pick up bourbon among other things. [Elektra goes to retrieve it from the small wooden cabinet beneath her wine rack. (She supposes she should get a proper spot once less practical concerns have been addressed.) She's more of a wine girl with few exceptions for harder liquor. Lauren had successfully pointed out a few things she might want to get during their conversations when her man returned as she so indelicately put it. Elektra, needing a distraction, had followed her advice. It's been strange having a normal woman as a friend, but it's been undeniably what she needed.

She sets about moving the liquor and small bottles to the table. To finish she pulls out a new phone and starts scrolling through her messages. There are a strange amount of heart emojis and gifs from whoever she's talking to, but Elektra speeds through them to get to the recipe. She starts following it as if this is a normal part of her routine now.]

[ he sneaks a peek at what she's doing, hiding a smile by keeping his full attention on the stove. ]

What else did you get me? [ he knows she doesn't drink bourbon, so that impulse had to be an expectation of him coming back. at least, he's going to assume so and be smug until he learns otherwise. ]

[She doesn't like that he presumes anything. Elektra has to concede he isn't wrong. Lauren's idea or not, she still chose to do it for Frank. It still annoys her to be called out however subtly.] I could be trying new things.

[She points out defensively as she starts following Lauren's recipe. The actual doing part isn't too hard. She knows how to make poison so mixing drinks isn't too challenging.]

Well, that's apparent.

[ he admits, starting to plate the first component of their meal. it's simple, but hearty. which seems appropriate for the moment. ]

Do you want to tell me what I missed?

[Elektra nods even with her back turned to him. She supposes now is a good a time as any to get into her incident.] There was a lull at work so I went searching for distractions. I picked the most distracting place I could think of: Las Vegas.

[She frowns, finishing the drink as she talks.] There were complications... many complications.

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