[ the ok sign has his lips twitching, remembering how he'd taught everyone here that in his first weeks. he holds up a mirroring one of his own before making the painstaking journey back to sitting up. frank slots in next to david like second nature, their elbows brushing. even if he'd told mike he didn't want this, even if he'd been terrified of david having to undergo more pain because of frank castle -- he couldn't be more grateful in this moment; or feel more whole. his gaze tips to the side, knowing he doesn't need his device to say i've been worse. he shrugs a shoulder. ]
[ he doesn't need it and david gets it. he scoots over a little to make room for frank to sit up, leaning against him to offer support if he needs it. there's a brief quirk of his own lips at the shrug, a nod that says probably. but the lingering shadow in his gaze suggests the same old thoughts he has on it: just because frank has been through worse doesn't mean it's really okay.
and maybe that's what eases the dread a little. that despite the bruises that have disappeared, despite the lingering fear and doubt he feels, a part of frank is still there. they'll get through this somehow, like they've always had.
after a moment of silence, he takes out his device. ]
[ he tips his head back against the wall and lets the full length of his arm comfortably rest against david's. he feels some of the tension in his chest begin to break up, and he folds one leg so he can get at his device. if anything could make him want to talk-type quickly it was one of the kids, maybe most especially mike wheeler. ]
stubborn as fuck too [ his expression spells out all the fondness in the world. mike is so much like he was, like zach is. it's a comfort to him in this place. ]
[ there's fondness in his expression as he types it, something in his chest aches whenever he thinks about his kids. there's so many children here that he can't help but be reminded of zach and leo all the time, and he's back to missing them all over again. perhaps even more than when he was still in hiding. ]
[ the picture. though everything recent is fuzz, he remembers the first sunday meeting with crystal clarity. mike had sat next to him and made him open up about the liebermans and the service. he really was smart as a whip, that kid. he'd also made frank promise to watch over eleven, who he hasn't seen for a minute he realizes then. unless he's forgotten. he makes a mental note to check on her soon. but not... not while he's still near kilgrave, jessica's warning making his face pale for whole seconds before he can get a grip again.
act normal. don't raise suspicion. he smiles warmly, no hint of anything wrong in his gaze as he searches his pockets. they, of course, come up empty. this is a new jumpsuit and the memento the natives had given him must be in the garage. slowly, he gets up with the intention to retrieve the item. something micro should have and not him. ]
wait here [ he puts out a hand, not sure if he expects micro to listen or not, before silently moving through the house towards his room. ]
[ frank gets up and david's stomach drops, cold settling in his skin, his bones and he just barely reaches out to grip frank's jumpsuit with his fingers to stop him.
when frank looks back david reaches into his pocket, carefully taking out the photo to show him. the same exact one the natives gave frank, the same one he'd showed mike and tucked into a novel afterwards, only to return it to its owner after david arrived. he doesn't say anything for a good few minutes, not entirely sure what to say, but he swallows and sets his jaw, slipping the photo back into his pocket again.
he closes his eyes, tugs on frank's jumpsuit again. just sit down. ]
[ he frowns when david tries to stop him, his expression opening up into something vulnerable and almost fearful at the look the other man gives him. what? but he stops obediently and waits -- brow furrowing when david produces the photo he was about to go and get. oh... as ever, he reaches out, tracing the faces in the picture, before quickly yanking his hand back to his side and letting micro put it away.
taking a shuddering but silent breath, he carefully sits back down on the cot, no space between him and his friend this time. he presses the side of his face against micro's shoulder with no concern for who might walk by the doorway. he's never cared what people thought of him, but even less so now, here. he just needs his brother now. after a long beat, drawing strength from their proximity, frank produces his device and sends out a message reluctantly. ] i don't remember
[ he doesn't remember mike meeting micro, or giving micro the picture. or really even anything after... he's not sure if it's kilgrave related or reset room related, but his mind is damn near blank after the rain day. he doesn't even remember how he got this sweet jumpsuit. ]
[ frank presses against him and david doesn't pull away, curving an arm around his shoulders in a loose half hug. he doesn't know what he's going to do about it; it's obvious they both know about frank's state now and david's read the posts, lurked on the network enough to try and piece together what may be happening. he doesn't know how involved frank is and a part of him is hesitant to ask. ]
[ the other man's arm around him is like home and he shuts his eyes, trying to remember the exact moment his memory failed him. ]
we came back from seeing the monsters and it was raining. we played and worked and fought and got drunk. it was a good day
[ but there are hazy things after that, he sees an arrow go through a deer. he sees micro in his blue jumpsuit. he sees jessica's face in the fire. what's happening to him? ]
did i die? [ that must be it, otherwise how did he wake up in the room with a new jumpsuit and no memory of how he got there? ]
[ david doesn't remember it. it's likely that it happened before he arrived; frank's been here for a while judging from the comments he's seen on the network, so that doesn't surprise him. it's definitely a cause for concern either way and david wonders how messed up his inner timeline is if only bits and pieces are coming through. ]
Maybe. I've started tracking everyone after you gave me the laptop Hacked into the network You went out to meet Jessica the night before I don't know what happened to you after that
[ jessica... then it was related to kilgrave. he remembers wanting to kiss her suddenly, but where did that come from? frank wrinkles his nose and tries to absorb the information he's being given. ]
friday's laptop [ except: ] she's gone
[ very slowly, frank straightens up so that he can face david, narrowing his eyes. ]
do you know anything else? i think this is helping
[ friday. tgif. he remembers seeing her on the network, someone tech savvy if he remembers right. ]
Hold on
[ he reaches over to grab the laptop, opening it up to show frank the screen. there's a rudimentary map of the area overlaid with red dots, lines of code scroll by on another window and a log is pulled up on the side. there's a timestamp of frank meeting jessica, of frank splitting off to meet kara, kara's signal disappearing and then frank's. ]
Kara came back to the room first She left with Jessica Then you showed up again
[ kara. his heart is beating fast, kilgrave's terrible voice in his ear. where's kara? tell the truth. he swallows it down. act normal, don't raise suspicion. he pushes the laptop closed silently, not wanting to know if micro can track where they are now. he can't know. he'll have to tell kilgrave. he'll want to. ]
i forgot about kara how could i forget about kara?
[ his head falls heavily into his palm then, running things backwards and forwards. he doesn't know what to do, kilgrave's orders mean he can't interfere with whatever's about to happen next. but he still is filled with the overwhelming urge to help kara. it feels like he's being torn in two.
he thinks of jessica, falling asleep against this very house the night she killed him. the second night they were here. frank had draped his coat over her after making her a sandwich. ]
[ he could and he knows, so he doesn't stop him when frank closes the laptop. david doesn't even know who kara is, but he knows frank gets attached even when he tries so hard not to. and maybe that's why he's caught in this mess, because he cares even when he shouldn't.
but david had wanted this too, didn't he? you deserve a second shot. start over. he didn't think it'd turn out like this.
he sets down his device and the laptop, fingers curling over frank's wrist as he leans in until their foreheads bump lightly. he doesn't know what to do yet, but he needs to do something. he'll figure it out; they've done the impossible before, they can do it again. ]
[ the physical display of solidarity inspires tears to prickle behind his eyes, though they never come to the surface and he'd certainly never let them fall. frank presses his face back against david's and takes selfish comfort from their mingling, silent breaths. david knows, david knows and he's going to help him. it doesn't matter what he has to endure, though, it never has. as long as jess, kara, and micro stay safe. he has to protect them. but he has to protect kilgrave, too. ]
[ it's not selfish if david is offering it, if he wants frank to take it. they've been a team for so long that this honestly doesn't even feel that different from all the other missions -- the stakeouts, the late night road trips across the states, dragging frank's unconscious body out of the woods because there's no one else; frank bleeding out on his kitchen table as he calls the only other person he can think of who can help, because he's always been useless when blood is involved. he's seen more of it in his lifetime since frank started living with him, and it's funny how that works too.
frank presses his forehead against his and david squeezes his wrist in his hand, lingering for a few more heartbeats before pulling away. they both know; they both know and david will help him regardless of what happens because the alternative isn't an option he'd consider. ]
Trust me.
[ we'll think of something. i'll get you through this. i promise. ]
[ he immediately misses the contact when it's gone, but the message gets a steadily building smile though the situation calls for anything but mirth. frank's head bobs minutely back and forth, an onset of mania david will recognize. so it begins again. his fist stamps a silent beat against his heart, twice, before he releases. a marine's show of brothership and also immediately recognizable.
semper fi, brother. they will get through this, with david lieberman at the helm. and frank castle once again a murder machine, just with a brand new puppet master. ]
[ get that marine code shit out of here. but he quirks a smile in return, a brief small thing. there's half formed ideas in his head, but instead of disclosing any of them, he grabs the blanket off his own cot and shoves it in frank's lap. get some rest, dick. ]
[ frank shoves him gently even while settling down with the blanket and flicking his gaze up to meet micro's. it's heavy and tired, but with a flicker of gratitude buried underneath. then he flips micro off affectionately, and shuts his eyes. goodnight, asshole. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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and maybe that's what eases the dread a little. that despite the bruises that have disappeared, despite the lingering fear and doubt he feels, a part of frank is still there. they'll get through this somehow, like they've always had.
after a moment of silence, he takes out his device. ]
I met Mike by the way
He's a smart kid.
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stubborn as fuck too [ his expression spells out all the fondness in the world. mike is so much like he was, like zach is. it's a comfort to him in this place. ]
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Like Zach
You too
[ there's fondness in his expression as he types it, something in his chest aches whenever he thinks about his kids. there's so many children here that he can't help but be reminded of zach and leo all the time, and he's back to missing them all over again. perhaps even more than when he was still in hiding. ]
He recognized me
Said you showed him a picture
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act normal. don't raise suspicion. he smiles warmly, no hint of anything wrong in his gaze as he searches his pockets. they, of course, come up empty. this is a new jumpsuit and the memento the natives had given him must be in the garage. slowly, he gets up with the intention to retrieve the item. something micro should have and not him. ]
wait here [ he puts out a hand, not sure if he expects micro to listen or not, before silently moving through the house towards his room. ]
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when frank looks back david reaches into his pocket, carefully taking out the photo to show him. the same exact one the natives gave frank, the same one he'd showed mike and tucked into a novel afterwards, only to return it to its owner after david arrived. he doesn't say anything for a good few minutes, not entirely sure what to say, but he swallows and sets his jaw, slipping the photo back into his pocket again.
he closes his eyes, tugs on frank's jumpsuit again. just sit down. ]
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taking a shuddering but silent breath, he carefully sits back down on the cot, no space between him and his friend this time. he presses the side of his face against micro's shoulder with no concern for who might walk by the doorway. he's never cared what people thought of him, but even less so now, here. he just needs his brother now. after a long beat, drawing strength from their proximity, frank produces his device and sends out a message reluctantly. ] i don't remember
[ he doesn't remember mike meeting micro, or giving micro the picture. or really even anything after... he's not sure if it's kilgrave related or reset room related, but his mind is damn near blank after the rain day. he doesn't even remember how he got this sweet jumpsuit. ]
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I know.
What's the last thing you do remember
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we came back from seeing the monsters and it was raining. we played and worked and fought and got drunk. it was a good day
[ but there are hazy things after that, he sees an arrow go through a deer. he sees micro in his blue jumpsuit. he sees jessica's face in the fire. what's happening to him? ]
did i die? [ that must be it, otherwise how did he wake up in the room with a new jumpsuit and no memory of how he got there? ]
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Maybe.
I've started tracking everyone after you gave me the laptop
Hacked into the network
You went out to meet Jessica the night before
I don't know what happened to you after that
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friday's laptop [ except: ] she's gone
[ very slowly, frank straightens up so that he can face david, narrowing his eyes. ]
do you know anything else? i think this is helping
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Hold on
[ he reaches over to grab the laptop, opening it up to show frank the screen. there's a rudimentary map of the area overlaid with red dots, lines of code scroll by on another window and a log is pulled up on the side. there's a timestamp of frank meeting jessica, of frank splitting off to meet kara, kara's signal disappearing and then frank's. ]
Kara came back to the room first
She left with Jessica
Then you showed up again
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i forgot about kara
how could i forget about kara?
[ his head falls heavily into his palm then, running things backwards and forwards. he doesn't know what to do, kilgrave's orders mean he can't interfere with whatever's about to happen next. but he still is filled with the overwhelming urge to help kara. it feels like he's being torn in two.
he thinks of jessica, falling asleep against this very house the night she killed him. the second night they were here. frank had draped his coat over her after making her a sandwich. ]
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but david had wanted this too, didn't he? you deserve a second shot. start over. he didn't think it'd turn out like this.
he sets down his device and the laptop, fingers curling over frank's wrist as he leans in until their foreheads bump lightly. he doesn't know what to do yet, but he needs to do something. he'll figure it out; they've done the impossible before, they can do it again. ]
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frank presses his forehead against his and david squeezes his wrist in his hand, lingering for a few more heartbeats before pulling away. they both know; they both know and david will help him regardless of what happens because the alternative isn't an option he'd consider. ]
Trust me.
[ we'll think of something.
i'll get you through this.
i promise. ]
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semper fi, brother. they will get through this, with david lieberman at the helm. and frank castle once again a murder machine, just with a brand new puppet master. ]
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