oorah | ( OPEN ) Frank Castle

I've got plenty of those.

[ most of them have cheesy patterns, too. no two the same. his favorite has a big chip in it and declares Go Indiana Hoosiers! but he has quite the random collection (what even is a hoosier?) the way she indulges his silliness doesn't go unnoticed either and he bites into his lips as his eyes track down to her mouth automatically to watch her tongue dart across. his tummy flutters, fighting back the urge to lean in and taste the sauce off her lips himself. ]

Did you just admit I impress you?

[ a teasing challenge as his fingers brush hers against his glass as he immediately takes a sip to hide how affected he is. ]

Go on, go sit down. I'll bring everything over.

Your cooking, at least. Everything else is still up for debate.

[ she's been taking a note of all his touches, trying to decide what to do with that. it makes her feel silly, that simple things like that even get her excited, which is why she doesn't really do anything with it.

her eyes fall on the table and she laughs when he says that because god this is so corny. bringing a hand up to her mouth she shakes her head a bit before turning her attention back to his direction. ]

Come on, this is dumb. [ she says that, but that big smile hasn't gone off her face as she backs herself in the direction of the table. ] If anyone should be doing all the work its me. [ she gives a small little head tilt to her arms. ] Super hero, and all.

[ god, she's... gorgeous when she smiles like that. radiant even. his expression turns softer than ever as he takes another sip before moving to deposit his wine across from her at the rickety table. ]

Oh, you're a superhero now? Gonna apply for the A-team?

[ he shakes his head as he spins to plate their dinners, a heaping portion on each since he hasn't eaten himself today either and a part of him is curious to see if she'll eat it all. fresh parmesan and bread he warmed a few minutes joins everything, and he whips up a quick bowl of olive oil and garlic for it before finally sitting his ass down. it feels like the first time today, even if technically he'd been on a stakeout earlier. that was work. this is— as yet undefined.

frank smiles at her a final time before picking his fork back up and shifting the flowers on his table out of the way so he can watch her instead. this time it's just a few peach-colored peonies, they're much fresher than the last bouquet was even though it's a sparse sampling. ]

I'm thinking about starting my own team, actually. Wanna join?

[ she says this while raising a brow and her glass up to her lips, taking a big sip before looking at his preparations in front of her. it's the nicest and freshest thing she's eaten in... god, who knows how long. it actually looks really good, and she wants to ask him about it and where he got his cooking skills from but she doesn't really want the conversation to have the potential to sour. ]

Great benefits to working for me, too. [ she's trying to maintain this confidence, but his stupid smile makes her smile again and she shakes her head one last time while setting down her wine glass and picking up her fork. bless her heart, she's trying so hard to swallow her pride and enjoy this but she's so out of her comfort zone right now--being cooked for, waited on. she doesn't need any of this, but... when she looks up and sees his smile again, suddenly everything doesn't feel so out of place. she might not need it, but that doesn't mean she can't try to enjoy it.

after a few jabs into the noodles she takes a bite, savoring the warm and homemade food. there's a 'mmm' sound she makes in between chewing, and she waits until most of her food is swallowed before saying anything about it. ]

It could be because I haven't had anything that hasn't been delivered to my door in months, but this? Incredible, I don't even care if I'm giving you a compliment. Take it.

[ who needs pride when you have pasta? she goes in for another bite. ]

No one wants me on their team. Besides, I don't have cool powers.

[ he sounds really amused, forgetting to eat as he gets caught up watching her instead. it's obvious she's enjoying her meal already and then she says as much. it shocks him enough that the barest hint of color rises on his cheeks. ]

I'll cherish it. [ frank sounds glib, but he's serious, taking a long drink of wine to hide how much her praise is getting to him. once he puts it down, he'll finally go for his own plate, the fork scraping against the bottom of it as he stabs noodles aggressively and pops them into his mouth. then he's sprinkling some more cheese on before going for another bite and offering the container to jessica in question. ] I haven't made anything in a while either, it was due.

[ and making this for her is even sweeter. ]

Mm, I don't think I'd ask you to be on my team if I didn't want you on my team.

[ after she swallows she takes another drink of her wine. the second sip really makes her miss her whiskey. ]

So its just some big coincidence that I happen to be coming over the night you make food? Lucky me.

[ she takes the container and thinks that the food doesn't really need it, but she does anyway, caught up in the moment. picking up her fork again she mixed the food a little bit before taking another bite. safe to say she'll probably finish this bowl.]

Well, in that case... I graciously accept.

[ how could he not, right? frank takes a long drink of the wine, seeming to appreciate it for what it is moreso than her. he goes for a piece of bread and starts to scoop sauce and veggies onto it. ]

You texted me on accident. Even I'm not that good.

[ he had no way to know she'd accept his invite too... right? ]

[ that response gives him a brow raise and a slight head tilt, too busy putting another bite in her mouth to really respond. it isn't until she's had a few more chews and she goes down to stick her fork back in the pasta that she pauses and looks back up at him. ]

Did you ever think about it? Texting me, I mean.

[ he freezes mid swallow to meet her eyes, a bit of a deer caught in the headlights though he's quickly bringing lucidity back to his gaze by force. how honest here is too honest? likely any degree will just make him sound pathetic and he's not inclined to lie to her as it is so... here goes almost nothing. ]

Of course I thought about it. I just didn't think you wanted me to.

[ his voice is clear and even, it's obvious there's no deception or hesitation here. ]

That's fair.

[ it's spoken softly, because she expected as much. she's not good with people and feelings, so mix the two of them together and it's basically a recipe for disaster with her. running away and ignoring her problems is kind of her thing.

she gives him a small deflated smile before following in his previous actions by grabbing a piece of bread and dipping it into her own sauce. ]

For what it's worth I thought about it, too.

[ oh. that gets a tiny smile that he quickly hides behind another sip and by the time he takes another bite the mirth is only reflecting in his eyes. ]

Guess I should thank Nelson for needing your expertise.

I think the bottle of Teacher's deserves most of the credit, but. Be my guest.

[ she's sure they'd all be super interested to hear from him, anyway. she resumes eating, finishing off that piece of bread she just dipped. ]

[ he snorts at that. ] Yeah, that guy deserves a vacation from me. Probably for life.

[ foggy earned that shit, poor boy. ]

Is that what you say about people who spend a lot of time with you?

[ she reaches out and takes another drink but this time it's more of a knock back to wash down her food. she can drink this shit like it's water. she sets it back down, with little liquid remaining.

she has absolutely no class, sorry. ]

Uh, yeah. Pretty much.

[ but he'd been especially hard to handle in that trial, as he well knows. and matt was absolutely 0 help, big surprise there. on the wine front it's okay, he's noticing and getting up to grab the bottle since he's more than halfway down himself. ]

This shit is pretty good. [ frank blinks at the label like it means anything to him before bringing it back over and setting it between them where the flowers used to be and reclaiming his seat. ] I've got this friend, she loves that- the pink wine, rosé. It's not bad either.

[ god that even sounds weird to him in his own voice, enjoy jess. ]

[ same, man. same.

when he stands up she goes in for another bite, glancing up at him when he returns with the bottle of wine. his comment makes her laugh mid chew and she brings the back of her hand that's holding her fork up to her mouth and finishes swallowing.

he is so unreal. ]

Friend, huh. You drink wine with other women often, Frank?

[ there's not even the slightest bit of jealousy in that tone. she's more impressed, than anything. like, good for you, man. each time he opens his mouth he blows away any preconceived notion she had of him. being around him is a fucking trip. ]

Edited 2019-02-14 19:24 (UTC)

[ oh... that was definitely not what he meant, but coupled with the wine that flush is climbing up his throat all over again. ]

It's not like that, she's my buddy's wife. [ hE HAS MULTIPLE FRIEnDS, actually. god. he doesn't even realize how out of control his life is. ] She did kiss me once, but she thought he was dead, so. It was a whole... thing.

[ frank you didn't have to tell her that part. he's just going to go back to his meal like he didn't say any of that. ]

[ damn, he is making her laugh tonight. she's following him up until that last part and then she just kind of stops, brows furrowing as she looks to the side and frowns. okay, dude... what... is she supposed to do with that. there's so many questions, but all she can do is laugh at him in the mean time.

she's pouring herself another drink after that because boy does she need one, but it's not like she can drink it though because she's still laughing. ]

Jesus Christ... [ his life is so much more interesting than hers?? she chuckles once more. ] You wanna talk about it?

[ the sad thing is, she doesn't even care if he does or not. this is enough for her, just listening and laughing at whatever it is he's talking about. he's really funny, she thinks, smiling to herself as she brings her glass up to her lips for another drink. ]

[ he can't eat while she's laughing at him like that, feeling on the spot but... it's not unpleasant. at all, like. at all. he's actually kind of vaguely turned on right now. ]

You have a good laugh.

[ AGAIN not what he meant to say. someone just save him... he clears his throat though, sitting up a little and dropping his elbows to the table, clasping his hands as he levels her with his stare. storytime then. ]

This was when I was still on the run, you know. Makin' headlines, you might remember. [ she's a p.i. and... he's kind of gleaned she's been following his story since well before they met. oops. ] This guy reached out to me, he disappeared himself to save his family - faked his death.

For a while, I was jealous, you know. Wish I'd thought of that. [ of course, he didn't know he was in danger at the time, like david had, or he wouldn't be galivanting around central park like everything was cool. he wonders then, how much she knows about the whole conspiracy. probably more than was released to the public, but not the whole truth. he's not supposed to, of course, but he'd tell her if she asked anyway. ]

Anyway, I would drop in on 'em from time to time, just to make sure they were okay. Now he's back to life, all above board. Happy bastard.

[ she enjoys getting his shit as much as he enjoys getting hers, probably. they're both masochists like that. ]

I am, actually.

[ some of his story she knew, some she didn't.

it should be funny, and it probably would be to anyone else, but it just makes her sad more than anything. she imagines being in his position, comforting a woman and her children through the loss of a family member while he was still battling his own demons about losing his own family. then to have to watch the happy reunion... watch someone else have the ability to walk back into the arms of their family.

she doesn't want to talk about it anymore, and maybe it's the combination of the whiskey she drank before coming here and the wine now, but she's feeling a lot less cautious and a bit friendly. she stands up with her glass still in her hand and moves to sit sideways on his lap. ]

I like you. [ she admits freely, after taking another drink. ] I shouldn't, [ god knows she has the worst luck with men. ] but I do.

[ he nods, it doesn't surprise or bother him. which is the opposite of what her heading over to him does, shock writ plainly across his face even as he pushes his chair out a bit to receive her, turning and catching a hand around her waist out of instinct more than anything. ...oh. okay. his heart goes fast, looking into her face and biting his lip. ]

You're right. [ she shouldn't at all, but he definitely can't find it in himself to complain. ] I probably - shouldn't either.

[ his voice is tellingly breathy, eyes darkening a fraction as he keeps up his stare. yeah, he could get used to this arrangement for sure. ]

You're right.

[ both hands are grasping her glass now as she stares at him, their lips daringly close. her brows lower for a second. she turns to look down where her hands are. ]

I don't... Expect anything from you. [ a commitment, any kind of official terms. ] All the people I care about have a habit of going away, so. Admittedly, I'm not really great at this. Feelings, and everything. Freaks me the hell out.

[ she lips her lips and swallows and nods, almost like she's trying to convince herself, too. it's a lot for her, doing this. talking about it. it makes her stomach churn. ] It's why I acted the way I did and... I just thought you should know. You deserve that, at least. [ she guesses? she doesn't know. ]

[ his eyes dart from her lips and back to her eyes as he licks the wine off his own, swallowing dryly and trying to focus on her words and the conversation. it's something he wants to talk about, she's just... distracting. he might have a lot of them, but that doesn't make feelings any less scary for him. he doesn't blame her for feeling skittish. frank leans a fraction of an inch into her, their foreheads brushing so that maybe he can talk without looking into those big eyes, but it just highlights her mouth for him that much more. ]

You probably shouldn't. Expect anything from me. [ he's flighty in his own way, even if situations like this are a little easier for him to navigate. ] But I do... appreciate that.

[ frank had meant to say he had feelings for her, and instead chickened out. it's not like she doesn't know, but still. she's putting herself out on a limb for him. something he knows she doesn't do. his fingers sink into the line of her waist, his chest teeming with all the unspoken things he thinks should probably stay that way even if his heart has different ideas as it nearly knocks against his ribcage. ]

I'm just glad you're here. [ that's safe to say at least, right? and he pulls back a little so she can see the real-life relief sparkling in his eyes. it had been scary, thinking he'd lost her forever. he'd been paralyzed by it, which is probably why he hadn't tried to contact her, honestly. he was so scared of this being officially over - even if he still has no idea what "this" entails. ]

It's stupid, isn't it? Hearing you confirm it, knowing it's supposed to be like this... I still feel sad, for some reason. [ but it's not as if she's lost anything. she's still right here, close to him. next to him. where she's wanted to be ever since she left his side in the first place.

she offers a pathetic laugh, sliding her glass on the table. it's surprisingly vulnerable for her, to be so vocal about her feelings. but what else has she got to lose?

the logical part of her brain is trying to tell her to be smart, get up before they get tangled up in this web more than they already are. but as she looks at him in the eyes when he pulls back and she slides a hand up against his cheek, she's knows already locked into this situation, fully willing to throw herself into this rabbit hole. ]

People like us don't get happy endings. [ just passing moments, like these. take what you can get because in an instant it could all be over kind of thing. so she seizes the moment like she's supposed to and kisses his lips softly, leaning her body into him. ]

[ he's not sure what she means really, but he feels sad too. that laugh cuts right through him, his other hand gently grasping at her glass to help her set it aside. frank nods his head, agreeing with what she says while turning into her touch the same. his heart is still jackhammering loudly as he anticipates what comes next. anything else is quickly forgotten when her lips touch his and frank's hand climbs up to the small of her back, encouraging her to lean against him that much more as he steadily kisses back. there's nothing urgent about the exchange this time, something he's grateful for as it allows him time to explore her mouth and memorize the feeling of her slight chest against his. frank is happy to prolong the moment until he absolutely has no air left in his lungs, panting softly against her lips as he reluctantly pulls himself back just a fraction. ]

What about beginnings? [ he questions her, seamlessly picking up the conversation she'd abandoned by initiating the kiss in the first place. or so he assumes. ]

Edited 2019-02-15 05:23 (UTC)

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