chutzpah | ♪ so take a look at what you've done ♪

[She chuckles at both Matthew and the idea of a team-up. God she'd love to watch that with a bowl of popcorn and some tequila. That would be true entertainment.] Too late. All the imaginary people outside heard my excuse for sticking around. There's no getting out of it.

What, two white knights running around saving this city? [Matt just smiles and shakes his head. Maybe in another life, Frank, where they didn't need to both be having good days to be able to tolerate each other. Moreover, Frank's war is over. Isn't it time for the soldier to find some peace? Matt doesn't want to be the one to pull him back into the fight.]

I don't know. Maybe we should- stop running around. For a while. [Having cheated death, it's made Matt stop and think if he really wants to go down swinging. If the choice was to get into fist fights or have waffles with friends and lovers...]

Only room for one white knight in this city. [ because even if his war is over... he's still frank. he flashes a smile for elektra's comeback, but then... is matt really going to quit? didn't he try this (at least) once before? ]

Are you suggesting... a leave of absence? [ a vacation? really? he tips his head to the side curiously ]

[Elektra smiles at Frank's comment. Matthew's suggestion though.... She frowns in response to that. She doesn't buy he can stop nor should he. It's what he loves. If it's for a while, well, she can support that.]

It wouldn't hurt to make the most of your recovery time, Matthew. There must be something you've wanted to do.

[With the implication being she can make it happen. It's the least she can do for causing so much trouble even if it was largely against her will.]

[It's a world of difference talking to these two compared to the likes of Foggy and Karen, who were trying almost too hard to get him to stop. He could understand why they thought this was bad for him and bad for the city, but it's so much less exhausting not having to be on the defensive all the time.]

You know, I just- [He shook his head and sighed.] Just want a day or two. Where it's quiet. Can't hear the sirens or... gunshots, people getting hurt or anything. [He's not had a quiet day since the accident. Surely he's earnt one?]

You're talking about a weekend, soldier. [ even he could have a break. frank would surely allow it, if no one else would. ]

There are quiet places to go too. [She tries not to think she learned of them during her training with Stick. It's yet another thing she can't get into.]

I can arrange it.

[A weekend's long enough for silence - much longer and it'll drive Matt crazy. He can't do silence and he can't do rural or big open spaces either. But he's probably going to hang up the mask for a bit longer than a weekend. He's not sure. It's not like he needs the pat on the back nor does he feel like his city should be 'someone else's problem'. Really he's on other peoples' schedules, and when they decide to make a mess.]

Roadtrip? [Semi-hopeful smile.] I can drive. [No, he can't. Bad idea. Funny, but bad idea.]

I'll drive. [ look at that he invited himself along. ur welcome yet again. ]

[She rolls her eyes. She'd make a joke about dying, but #toosoon.] He'll drive. You're already injured enough.

[Cue: The Pout. One of several deadly tactical weapons up Matt's sleeve, deployed only on special occasions. If he spent a fraction of the time everyone else did studying their expressions in the mirror working on his poker face, he might not have a whole arsenal of smiley or frowny faces at his disposal.] You don't trust me. [And probably for good reason. He can drive, sure. He can stick a key in the ignition, turn a steering wheel and step on pedals. But he's also easily distracted by sudden noises or movements, he can't figure out whether the lights are green or red, and he's not always the best at sharp turns where roads abruptly end.]

Fine. [Slow blink.] Frank can drive.

Damn right we don't trust the busted up blind guy to drive. [ stop it with the pouting!!!! ...frank relents. ] Maybe around the parking lot.

[Elektra isn't falling for that one.... again. It took a while to hone her resistance to the pout. She's not going back to- God damn it, Frank. She shoots him a look for being soft before relenting herself.]

An empty parking lot. Very empty.

[Sad puppy look wins every time. Even if it's a half win. He's going to enjoy ~~making them suffer~~ giving the two of them multiple heart attacks in the empty parking lot. He's quietly satisfied and tries his best not to grin.] I accept your terms.

[ he shrugs and mouths 'what?' come on!!! matt's pathetic right now what was he supposed to do. besides it should be entertaining while also raise his blood pressure dangerously high c: ]

You're damn right you do.

[Be stronger!! Is what Elektra's glare says back. Elektra is half-agreeing for the thrill of it. Congrats on getting the psychos to let you joy ride.] Please. You're spoiled rotten and you know it.

[How Frank never gives in to his dog giving him puppy eyes will remain a mystery.] Thwarting our double-suicide does not count as spoiling.

Hey. We just got over this bullshit. Save it for the car. [ okay now he definitely sounds like his dad. ]

[She sighs loudly. That's not going away any time soon, is it? He's not only a sore loser, but a sore winner as well. Typical, Matthew.] Fair enough. I'll buy you new silk sheets to go along with saving your immortal soul from damnation. How does that sound?

[Elektra adds as an afterthought,] You can have some too, Frank.

[Matt would have scowled like a kid but, you know. New sheets! He's easy to please.] I think you need a lot more than just sheets, if you're planning on settling down here.

[ silk sheets, it gets an eyebrow raise. a luxury he would certainly never accept for himself... unless it was a gift. because he knows elektra wants to spoil her friends, relishes in it in fact. it almost seems cruel to refuse. ] Fine. But we're not going furniture shopping. [ so stop right there matt!!!!! ]

[She smiles. She does in fact love using this money for something useful (e.g. buying things for people she likes) so this is a win in her book.] You heard the man. We can't force him to buy nice things. I always furnish my places ahead of time.

[He ought to know by now she picked up a building or two before she ever returned to New York for exactly this reason. You always need a nice place to hide.]

Well I wasn't going to offer to pick out a colour scheme. [Of course, driving he can do but he knows his limits with interior design.] I don't know how tables and chairs count as 'nice things'. I'd rather you stay on my couch if you're going to sleep on silk sheets on the floor.

I have a mattress. I'm not an animal. [ what is even happening here he hates this conversation so much -- wait ] Did you just offer to let me stay on your couch? [ he's made a huge mistake ]

[She chuckles. As always Matt has the biggest heart. It's impossible not to be endeared by it.] Matthew, he isn't a stray dog. You can't just put him your couch like one.

[She can't help pointing out to Frank:] I will say from experience it is a very comfortable couch.

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