[ frank's life goes on pretty much as usual. the cold has shut down work almost completely, but he fills the gaps with the liebermans and elektra. and her new dog, more to the point. he thinks of jess often, but doesn't call or stop by though it's all he can do not to some days. instead he turns to his routine, he works out too much he eats too little and everything else is really just a time killer.
the orchids he bought for elektra's visit still sit in his vase, though they're starting to wither. there are dishes in his sink like he's been cooking for more than one. but everything else is exactly the same as she'll remember, down to the hidden picture of his family that frank knows she knows is there.
he had only just nodded off properly when the knock at the door startles him. his whole body tenses like he's taking fire, blinking panic and sleep out of his eyes as he slowly comes back to reality. he checks his phone for the time even while getting up to put pants on, realizing who it must be the second he does. the bars just let out too so he can guess at the state she'll be in.
steeling himself, he makes his way to the door in only his jeans, racking his brain for what the right thing to do here is. as usual, he's drawing blanks. the door opens swiftly to reveal him, and his eyes soften with palpable relief to see her there, standing in his doorway. swaying, actually. in the interest of expediency and not freezing his balls off, frank takes gentle hold of her free arm and tugs her inside the warm(ish) apartment. maria definitely never showed up like this, so it's easy to only think about her. though truthfully in this moment, he would be even if he had the comparison to draw. ]
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the orchids he bought for elektra's visit still sit in his vase, though they're starting to wither. there are dishes in his sink like he's been cooking for more than one. but everything else is exactly the same as she'll remember, down to the hidden picture of his family that frank knows she knows is there.
he had only just nodded off properly when the knock at the door startles him. his whole body tenses like he's taking fire, blinking panic and sleep out of his eyes as he slowly comes back to reality. he checks his phone for the time even while getting up to put pants on, realizing who it must be the second he does. the bars just let out too so he can guess at the state she'll be in.
steeling himself, he makes his way to the door in only his jeans, racking his brain for what the right thing to do here is. as usual, he's drawing blanks. the door opens swiftly to reveal him, and his eyes soften with palpable relief to see her there, standing in his doorway. swaying, actually. in the interest of expediency and not freezing his balls off, frank takes gentle hold of her free arm and tugs her inside the warm(ish) apartment. maria definitely never showed up like this, so it's easy to only think about her. though truthfully in this moment, he would be even if he had the comparison to draw. ]