( au post ) i become location and you veer towards me.

[calltoaction]

( through darkness,
through silence,
a vector,
a violence.

i labor,
i lumber,
i fumble forward
through the valley
as winter. )

Comments

[calltoaction]

Then I will. At least some kind of armor. Not what I've been using.

[ Which is just shin and arm pads, a black mask half covering his face, thin shirt, cargo pants, combat boots and his banto sticks. Frank would hate the shit if he saw it.

Not like it would stop a bullet. ]

Yeah, she did. [ Kids, too. More than once "Uncle Matt" had ended up in an elaborate fort or playing some elaborate imaginary game with them. ]

[crimewar]

What you've been using--Murdock, what the fuck are you doing? [Frank looks at him so he really feels the heat behind the words because really, what the fuck are they doing?] You're being an idiot again, aren't you?

My point was she's got--she had--great ideas but we gotta do what we have to do. I won't rest until they've all paid. I can't.

[calltoaction]

I'm doing what I have to, Castle. [ He can still feel the heat of the glare, and he shifts, moving to sit up cross-legged in the bed.

The light coming in through the frosted and painted windows highlights new scars on his body, but not his face. ] No more than usual. Well, maybe a little more.

Guess we're stuck this way, then. Until it's done.

[crimewar]

Christ, Murdock. Did you join a blind fight club?

[A hand goes out to touch the scars but he thinks better of it, halfway there, and lets the hand fall.] Yeah. Guess we are. Don't get yourself killed.

[calltoaction]

I've been talking to people.

[ With his fists. He shifts over a little, tugging at his jogging pant legs, but doesn't yet lay down. ] Not planning on it. Can't say the same for the other guys.

Don't worry about me, Castle. I'll look into something. I think I know a guy who can help.

[crimewar]

[His response is gruff, succinct as ever, gaze set on Matt's bruised form.] Do you?

[calltoaction]

Yeah, I do. And if I'm wrong, I've got Claire.

[ She's already patched him up so many times. ]

[crimewar]

That’s how you met her.

You got me, if you need me, Red. When I’m back to my senses anyway.

[calltoaction]

Met is an interesting word for that.

[ She and her neighbor drug him out of a dumpster half-dead. ]

I know I do, but try not to rush it. You need time to heal. These assholes aren't going anywhere.

[crimewar]

Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. [He turns to face Matt fully, cheek against the pillow.] How’d you meet Temple, then?

[calltoaction]

[ Matt gives a rueful smile when he asks that. It was a bad night. That was an understatement. ]

She drug me out of a dumpster with the help of a neighbor and tried to keep me from dying on her couch.

[crimewar]

So, anyone coulda came across you in that dumpster, that right? You think it was divine intervention or whatever bullshit they taught you in Sunday school that made the nurse come across you instead of anyone else?

[Frank’s not yelling, per se. His tone’s quiet, gruff, disappointed.] You’re reckless, Red. What happened to you?

[calltoaction]

Yeah, Castle, anybody could have, but they didn't. Don't do that. Don't use my faith like that.

[ It was always a struggle with him, but he always managed to hold to his faith while serving. He lowers his head, though, letting go a soft breath and his upset. ] The night before the Russians had taken a child from his father. They beat his dad senseless in front of him, and I was the only one that heard it.

No one else was coming.

[crimewar]

[Frank goes quiet for a moment after Matt responds, and he would’ve tipped Matt’s head to get him to look up, up at him, meet his gaze, but now he just sits and breathes and keeps his fingers twisted in the silk sheets. He huffs out a breath, smiles.]

You got the boy, yeah? You’re doin’ the right thing. I just think your heroics, running around in a boy’s pajamas, is gonna get you hurt. More hurt than you already are. Ain’t tryin’ to use your faith against you as much as I’m worried that one night’s gonna be your last because you can be fucking reckless, Matty, we both know it.

[calltoaction]

I got him. I did some things that I'm not exactly proud of to do it, but I got him. He's back with his dad again, safe and sound.

[ His teeth find his lower lip, worrying it and chewing as he fails to let go his frustration. ] It might, yeah. That might happen. But someone has to do something. This city is suffering and her people are afraid. I hear it all the time, Frank.

I can't stand by.

[crimewar]

You never could stand by, Matty. I'd never want you to, expect you to.

[He exhales, wheezy as ever, a laugh escaping.] You do look like shit, though, good intentions or not. Think you need me to cover your ass, like back in Afghanistan. I can do that when I get better.

[calltoaction]

[ Matt offers a tight smile at that. It's not untrue. ]

I could use someone to cover my six, but I can't wait until you're ready. [ He hopes he understands. There's an argument somewhere a few blocks away, and his head tilts as he focuses in on it, tensing a moment. It deescalates and he relaxes a little. ]

Right now I just need you better.