calltoaction | ( closed to thegoodbad. )

[ A contrary son of a bitch. That's what he told Claire he was once. At least he's consistent. He thinks Sister Maggie is in the room again. Probably to give him more medicine, and check on the bandages.

He's tired of all of this. He knows he called for them thanks to the taxi driver, and he owes them for sheltering and healing him. But he's tired of the feelings associated. Arm's length. Distance. He stopped waiting on help from them years ago. ]

Okay. [ Is all he manages at first, trying to get his bearings when the ringing in his ears starts up again. It takes a few shallow breaths, and he hums before he trusts himself to speak. ]

I think they're ready to push me out the doors in a wheelchair, so yeah.

[Keep it together, Castle. Focus. He's got tunnel vision at this point, focused on Matt and making sure he can get to him. Nothing else matters. With the state of his voice Frank can already tell that Matt's still... fucked up. It's a wonder how he survived at all.]

It's getting late. I can come by and pick you up in 45 minutes.

[ He's pretty sure it isn't a miracle to how he survived, just another smack in the face. His expression, tired as it us, brightens a little when he hears the time frame.

Maggie speaks next: "I need to change your bandages,
if you'll let me." ]

I'm not going anywhere. [ He manages before a sound of protest at the phone being pulled away. ]

Edited 2018-11-03 21:39 (UTC)

[Before he can respond at all the line goes dead and Frank frowns. Probably one of the nuns there taking care of him. He doesn't know if Matt is happy or not to be there but at the very least he's safe. For now. Frank doesn't know if he's better off coming home with him when his own life isn't the most stable. There was a time when it felt stable with what they had going on.

Right now though he's a man on a mission, his mind set on one goal, and he's quick to act. He makes sure the real Max has some food and water before grabbing his boots, a hoodie, and keys, out the door of his small apartment and into his van. It'll take him a while to make it to the city again but Matt will be there waiting for him. He has a lot of thinking to do on the road there.

By the time he reaches his destination the sky is darker, yet he still pulls up his hoodie on his way inside. When's the last time Frank Castle stood inside of a church like this one? Memories from his own childhood come flooding back, good and bad, and he can feel the omnipresent judgment all around him, staring at him from the stained glass windows. There's silence around him save for one or two members of the community muttering their quiet prayers. A door opens from the side and out comes Father Lantom to greet him. The expression on his face is more than telling - he knows who "Max" is.

Even so, he's greeted and led down to where Matt is apparently laid out in bed. There's a nun in there with him, tending to a wound on his back, and the mere sight of him is enough to stop Frank dead in his tracks, having more difficultly breathing as his heart skips. He's alive. Breathing. Looks like shit, but alive.]

[ Matt hates being back there. He hates the silent treatment from Sister Maggie, her quiet condemnation of his being there that he doesn't need extraordinary senses to be able to pick up on. He hates that Father Lantom keeps trying to speak to him about this all being for a reasona nd a purpose. God's plan. Right. Still, he doesn't want to impose on Frank, but he doesn't want anyone else right now.

He's still in the orphanage, the nuns content for now to wait until "Max" came to retrieve the broken Devil of Hell's Kitchen. Father Lantom explains his injuries as best he can, he's not a medical man, but he and the sisters have some experience with such things. After all, they run and orphanage as well, and children will be children. They have a wheelchair out, ready to help Matt and his friend out when it's time.

He doesn't hear Frank approach from where he's laying on his left side, but he can feel Sister Maggie stop briefly. It's telling enough, but confirmation comes in her tone, warbled and soft from where his head is on the pillow.

"This must be Max. I should be surprised." Which is to say she isn't at all. She continues, finishing up with the bandage, and starts to put her things away. He lifts his head a little, eyes searching, but he can't focus enough to tell exactly where he is. ]

Where?

[The icy judgment from Sister Maggie is palpable but Frank is used to it, more irritated that it's aimed toward Matt as well, especially in his current state. He's never seen Matt so physically, literally broken before. It makes sense why he couldn't reach out sooner.

Father Lantom had mentioned Matt's senses being "off" or blocked, so at the hesitating recognition, Frank is quick to snap out of it and walk up to his side, crouching so he can be level with Matt.]

Hey... right here. I'm right here.

[He's almost afraid to reach out and touch any part of Matt, as if he'll crumble beneath his fingers.]

[ Matt vaguely picks up some vibrations, but it's hard to hold on to. He shifts a little bit more, away from Maggie as he senses a slight change in the air density around him. He reaches out a hand, feeling a moment, but finding nothing in immediate reach.

His hand lowers a little. ]

I can't---see you.

[Frank knows Matt well enough to understand what he means by "see" and that's... concerning. He's really bad off, isn't he? Despite the constant stare from the nun boring into the side of his head, Frank reaches out to grasp Matt's hand gently, bringing it back down between them so he can at least have that touch. Fingers carefully lace together and he holds on, bumping the back of Matt's hand against his chin.]

Can you hear me okay?

[ Matt's eyes stop searching for any kind of input to make sense out of, and he squeezes his hand when their fingers lace together. When he feels the warmth of skin that isn't his hand, a finger comes away from where their hands are together, and brushes against Frank's chin. His head tilts at the question, making it out when he raises his head away from the pillow a little. ]

Only on one side.

[Normally Matt's eyes would try to look his way, even if they never quite manage to land on him directly. Frank can tell something is seriously wrong just by the way they wander in the wrong direction, and how lost he looks. Confused. It breaks his heart a little.]

It'll come back to you, probably just need more rest.

[Or something. Frank doesn't know, he isn't a medical professional. Already he's wondering if he should get Curt involved even if the sisters here have taken good care of him. Frank is tempted to lean in and hug him or something more than just this but they're being watched... and he's still so upset that Matt's in this state at all.]

I'll take you home, alright? [Well, his home. That seems to ruffle Sister Maggie's feathers and suddenly she's upright again, starting to argue: "Now just wait a minute..."]

Yeah, rest. [ All he can do is lay in bed. He hates it. He was able to move around a little bit more earlier with a cane for support, but not for extended periods of time. His relief at the mention of "home" is palpable. His pinched features relax a little, that lost look smoothing away some as well. ]

Please. I want to go.

[ Matt shifts with the hand that Frank doesn't have, and tries to get into a sitting position. It's slow work, especially with one hand, but he wants to try at least. He sounds miserable doing it, the small effort leaving him winded, and slouching as much as his bruised and battered body allows.

He laughs a little bitterly at Sister Maggie's interjection: ]

Concerned now? You asked me if I had anyone to call. Friends or family. Now you don't like the answer?

[ "You trust him to look after you?" ]

He's my family.

[Frank's grip on him remains strong, something to hold onto even as Matt tries to sit up on his own. Frank won't coddle and insist on helping him up, knowing he needs to do some things on his own. Still, even Frank can tell that Matt's body is well beyond forcing through some actions. His spine and leg are injured, his senses dulled. He isn't the same man who walked into Midland Circle that day.

There's tension here between Matt and Maggie that Frank can't understand and doesn't know. Bits of Matt's past are still foreign to him, still unknown. All those thoughts are put on pause the moment he hears the word family. Frank's heart does a skip and he looks over to Matt with a clear gaze of surprise, even if he can't see or sense it. Maggie can, along with the softness that follows. Fingers squeeze Matt's gently and keep that grip steady.]

You can't keep him somewhere he doesn't want to be, even if you've been taking care of him. That... is still something to be grateful for. Thank you.

[Because despite his defensiveness, Frank is a polite man who is genuinely glad they saved Matt from a worse fate. He lowers his head against her stern expression.]

I can keep him safe.

[ Matt uses that stronger grip to focus on and get to where he needs to be. It's not much, but he brings his other hand up, once sitting, to feel along to find the other man's shoulder. He's a long way from where he was when he was certain he was walking to his death. He's still not certain he knows how he feels that he didn't.

But Frank is here and he feels something tug at his heart, battered and broken as it is, and maybe the brunt of that bitterness was from being back here. Being the helpless blind kid all over again. The other man is right, though, he doesn't want to stay.

He lets the other man do the rest of the talking, nodding a little out of rote when they mention calling if they need anything. It's laughable that suddenly everyone is so concerned. At first, Sister Maggie didn't even want him there. Using his shoulder for a guide, though, he carefully leans his head forward, hoping to press foreheads together. For more contact. ]

[She disapproves but it seems she disapproves of everything about the situation, whether Matt stays or not. Frank nods as well and gives another thanks before his focus turns back on Matt, sitting up a little more when noticing him trying to get his attention. Frank foregoes any insecure feelings at having a small audience and cups the back of Matt's head with his free hand, leaning in to press their foreheads together properly.]

Hey, it's alright. We'll go soon. You got any stuff here?

[All the contact he needs, he'll get right now. Frank can only imagine how disorienting it must feel to not have his usual strong senses to rely on.]

[ So nothing at all changes. Him there has the same effect as him not. Matt's grateful for the shift when Frank cups the back of his head and presses their foreheads together. Everything is warbled and dizzying right now, but he's easy to focus on. He can feel the warmth of his skin, even if he can't make out much more than that. ]

No.

[ Frank's been there before when he's had episodes where his senses had overloaded and the rest of the world had faded into nothing. It's just as frustrating as that, but with the distinct possibility of being very permanent. ]

[He'll do whatever it takes to help Matt. He'll write in his palms again if he has to. Anything. If this is permanent then his whole life has changed and that's... another hurdle to cross. He needs to see a real doctor.

Right now though his goal is getting Matt in his van and taking him home. His thumb brushes along the side of Matt's neck, taking a moment to really appreciate the fact that the man before him is alive, warm, and breathing. Frank swallows roughly, his voice threatening to stay quiet, but he knows he has to speak louder for Matt to hear him now.]

Let's get up. It's fine if you wanna hold onto me but I'm not letting you fall on your ass, alright?

[With that, Frank begins to straighten up on his feet, reaching around Matt's middle to carefully help him up. How fragile is he right now?]

[ Very few people have seen that particularly vulnerable side of him, Frank being the main one. Stick, a time or two, but he wasn't exactly the sort to show him the ropes, but put out obstacles why he tried to figure it out himself. Matt's head tilts a little at the quiet start to his voice, but then nods when he mentions getting up. ]

Such a gentleman.

[ It's said weakly, but a smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. More emotion than he's demonstrated since being under the care of the church. Bruised hands and fingers grip at the fabric of Frank's hoodie where his arm is looped around his shoulders, and he nods, slowly standing up with him.

He's shaking from the minimal effort, face pinched with pain, and breathing harsh through his nose. There's no hiding that even this elicits no small amount of agony, but it's worth it in the end.

And maybe he just wants to see how much he can take right now. How bad it really is. If the shaking and shooting pains are anything to go by? Pretty bad. ]

[Frank hauls him to his feet carefully, noting the pinched, uncomfortable expression. He can tell the Sister wants to comment but instead she decides to be helpful, hurrying the wheelchair over to the side of the bed.]

Thank you, ma'am. [Frank nods, even if his politeness isn't earning him any points right now. He leans in to Matt's good ear to talk clearer:] Chair's five steps forward. It's just until we get you to the car, okay? Unless you'd rather I carry you out...

[His voice carries a tease at the end there, a lightness Frank hasn't felt in weeks.]

[ Matt's still trembling, an all over body thing, just from the exertion of standing and the weakness that crowds in from it after. ]

Five? Yeah I think I can manage. [ He hates admitting that he's not certain that he can get that far, but he'll give it a shot. He manages a couple of steps, failing to swallow back the pained noise the movement brings, even with help.

But the comment about carrying him out earns a laugh on a hitched breath, and a groan after. ]

Could I take you up on that later?

[Shit, this is bad. Frank couldn't have believed it unless he saw it for himself like this. Matt's not well. Not at all. Not that he'd expect anything less when he was crushed under a building. At least he's alive and... not worse off.

Frank supports him along the way and by the time Matt's in the chair, he grins and responds:] However much you want once we're home.

[Home. He keeps using that word without realizing it.]

[ There's a tenseness in Frank that Matt can't put a name to. He can't hear his heartbeat, or the way his breathing sounds. He doesn't know how to gauge it.

Once he's in the chair he relaxes as much as he's able to in that position, smiling tiredly at the grin he can just make out in Frank's voice. ] Sounds good.

[ Sister Maggie takes his hand to place a walking cane in it, and Matt's face screws at the unsolicited contact. "That should help, when you decide to stop feeling sorry for yourself." His voice is colored by a scoff. ]

Oh, yes, of course. Thank you, sister.

[There has to be something here between these two but Frank won't ask. He doesn't dare. The tone of her words despite her actions is confusing. Does she care or not? Does she want him to stay or not? Frank recognizes the tough love shtick but it seems a bit much when he's this physically fucked up.

Frank pulls his hood back up, frowning between them, and takes a hold of the chair.]

I'm sure he's grateful for all your help. [Or... something. Frank isn't used to being a peacemaker here. He feels a little awkward but nods respectfully yet again, ducking his head some as he starts to wheel Matt out of the room and down the hall. They'll take the back exit where he's parked, his van out of sight from the main road.]

That was fucking awkward. [He comments once outside, stopping by the door to leave the chair there. He plans on carrying Matt to the car at least, not about to steal a wheelchair from an orphanage.] I get a feeling there's some bad blood there.

[But he really doesn't need to know the details. He comes around, one hand on Matt's shoulder all the while before he leans into his good ear.] Van's just down this ally, I'm gonna carry you if that's alright.

[ Nothing Matt cares to talk about just yet. He'd rather just ignore any of this happened at all, but he doubts it'll be so simple. Matt would try and figure out what she was feeling, but one, he doesn't care enough, and two, he can't use his senses like that right now. Maybe not ever again.

He doesn't bother agreeing with Frank about whether or not he's actually grateful, staring what he hopes is straight ahead and not even acknowledging Father Lantom as he's wheeled out the back toward where the other man has the van stashed. ]

I think that's understating it.

[ He at least agrees to what Frank says, taking a moment to breathe the fresh air once they are stopped outside, and tilts his head on his good side a little to hear Frank better. He nods a little. ] Not sure I can do much more walking right now anyways.

Frank? [ He reaches out, fingers brushing at his arm before he manages to rest it there, squeezing gently. ] Thank you.

[Never did Frank think he'd be in this deep again with... anyone. Not after Maria. Not after he thought he'd found the only love he was ever worthy of. The way Matt relies on him and need him, the way he wants Frank to help him, it breaks his heart and glues it back together all at once. Fuck. He's in so goddamn deep.]

Hey... [Gruff voice is tinged with a gentleness saved for those he cares about in private moments. That display in front of Maggie is the one and only time they've ever made this thing of theirs known. Now he crouches in front of Matt and rests his hands on his thighs, looking up at him to speak clearly:]

You don't gotta thank me for doing something decent. You'd do the same for me. I'm just... [His voice catches. Probably best that Matt can't hear it too well.] I'm still in shock that you're right here in front of me.

[ Matt can understand that. He's gotten close, he likes to think, or at least as close as was possible after being burned as many times as he has been. The way he breaks away from anything that could be soft or have that effect on him---Frank Castle was the last person he thought would ever make it past well laid defenses.

His eyebrows raise a little, focusing on Frank when he hunkers down in front of him. ]

Still it---bears saying. I know it's a risk for you. [ Not just from the authorities. That willingness to open up again. He thinks he hears something in his voice, but he can't--- His head tilts, trying to pick up what he's missed, and gives up, nodding. ] I'm still pretty shocked on that front, too.

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