Matt feels the first hint of calmness he's felt in days. He runs his hand along Frank's arm, gently working his thumb into the tight, stiff muscle of Frank's bicep.
"No... stay," he says almost immediately, enjoying the touch along his arm. It's gentle but firm in a way that eases the tension his body is holding, Frank not even realizing. He's just so used to holding pain.
His arm stretches and flexes, then relaxes, holding it looser around Matt's waist. "Feels good."
Well, really, what else do either of them have to do right now besides lie here together? Matt can think of worse ways to spend a morning. He wiggles his thumb in between the muscles, pressing to loosen up a tight knot, one of many he knows Frank has.
"You should have a hot shower at some point. Loosen all this up a bit. Maybe you can try stretching now and then," he adds, as a gently teasing point.
A soft groan escapes when Matt pushes into the knot more, the aches from bruises melding with the pain of the knot, but it feels better than getting punched in the face again. There's a lot of swelling and Matt's right, a hot shower would definitely help... in many ways.
"I'd say join me but I don't have a fancy-ass shower the size of a pantry," he jokes lowly, lips pressing to Matt's forehead. The thought of stretching makes him laugh quietly. "What, like your yoga shit?"
The comment earns an amused snort because, yeah, that is a funny mental image, even for Frank. The thought of bending into any yoga pose feels like an impossible feat, though Frank hears him when he says he should stretch.
"Mr. Flexible over here telling me what to do," he huffs out, though he's always appreciated just how flexible Matt is, of course.
Frank's eyes open blearily just in time to meet Matt's lips in a soft kiss. His face is still swollen but not as bad as last night, and any pain is worth it for a moment like this. His arm curls around Matt's waist a little stronger, dragging him closer into his body, even though the contact makes him tense all over again.
Close like this, Matt can feel how beat up Frank's face must be, and he feels the tension come back to Frank's body. He knows putting up a fuss about it isn't going to do anything, because Frank's a stubborn asshole at the best of times, so he lets himself be drawn in.
"Just offering suggestions," he murmurs, giving Frank another kiss. "I don't want to spend a week listening to you complain about how much pain you're in."
They're going to go stir crazy together and he can sense it already, wondering how Matt will be handling this transition while they figure out where to go from here. Frank doesn't mind having here but he also recognizes how Matt's constant presence will be affecting his own mission and work, and that's something he's going to have to come to terms with.
Here and now though, he likes this. These moments aren't so bad to have every day.
"I'll take a shower and see how I feel," he offers in return, fingers drifting along Matt's back, palm warm and heavy. "And you can show me some of your damn stretches. Wouldn't mind feeling more of your hands on me anyway."
It's too bad, now Matt's starting to feel tiredness settle over him, warm and at ease under Frank's touch. He'll power nap during Frank's shower. For now, though, he lets out a little laugh.
"Can't think of a better way to spend a morning."
Even though he knows Frank will hate the idea of stretching, because Frank's probably never stretched a day in his life. It'll still give them something to do, at least for a short amount of time.
"If only there were some of your famous blueberry pancakes."
Frank hums out another quiet sound, feeling lazy and wanting to roll around in bed with Matt, but he knows he can't. He needs to get up and get the day going. Little does he know how much excitement Matt already had all evening.
"I'll have to go shopping," he says with a smile, pressing another kiss to Matt's lips for the pleasure of it. God, when did they become this casually affectionate anyway?
Frank sighs before rolling himself away so he can sit up. His body is in agony for his efforts but he barely makes a sound as he hauls himself up, rolling his shoulders.
"You stay here and get your beauty rest, pretty boy," he says affectionately, fingers pushing back at some of Matt's hair before he gets up to haul his ass to the bathroom in the hall outside.
Matt can't deny the strange juxtaposition of it all, their circumstances versus this pocket of domesticity. They're the top wanted men in the city, without question, and here they are exchanging lazy kisses in the morning. It almost makes Matt laugh.
"I'll do my best."
He reaches for Frank's hand, letting their fingers brush as Frank walks away. He exhales once he's alone and shifts a bit to comfortable, eyes dropping closed. Matt doesn't really fall back asleep, but just resting is nice, listening to the city moving around outside.
Fisk would have no idea what to do with himself if he knew about the intimate relationship these two shared. Something else he could definitely use against them both, though Frank likes to think it also makes them stronger. He'd do whatever it takes to keep Matt safe.
He uses up the hot water in the shower, standing under it and enduring the pain for the majority of the time, but he also scrubs down and gets the stench of death off his skin. He does feel mildly better when he comes back to the room to get some fresh clothes, making a pit stop at his "kitchen" to turn on the coffee maker.
"You thirsty?" he calls out softly, just in case Matt fell back asleep.
"Hmm?" Matt doesn't open his eyes, but he's very obviously focused on Frank. "I could have a cup."
After a moment, he pushes himself up, scrubbing a hand down his face. He stretches one arm up over his head and rotates his shot shoulder, then he tilts his head a bit.
"How do you feel about going for a walk today? I want to stop by the church."
Frank grabs two mugs and tries not to grunt at every little stretch he makes. Honestly, maybe he should get into the routine of stretching. His body will thank him for it.
"You sure it's smart to get out there so soon?" The way he asks makes it sound like Frank isn't so sure. "You can pray here, I promise it's not cursed."
"No, it's not to pray. There's someone I need to see."
Maybe it isn't smart to go out there, but Matt's never been nothing if not confident. In sunglasses and a hat, moving around like he's got sight, it's unlikely he'll be flagged by anyone.
He wonders if this is code for something else because Frank can't imagine who Matt would need to see at church at a time like this. Matt has a strong connection to his faith but he hasn't looped Frank in on it much at all.
"No, I'll come with," he confirms, not wanting to be left behind, especially when Matt asked him to join. "Need some more information though. Who're you seeing?"
Mostly Matt asked Frank to join because he felt like Frank would bitch if Matt tried to go anywhere alone, but it's good for them to be together in case shit goes sideways.
"One of the sisters there. She helped me when I was an orphan there, and then again after the Midline Circle collapse. She'll want to know I'm okay. I don't want her to worry."
Frank listens to the explanation and has to believe it because Matt would be an idiot to lie to him now of all times, when they have to rely on one another. He feels like something is off though, he just can't quite figure out why.
"Alright..." He's pouring coffee into both mugs, steaming hot, and he walks one over to hand to Matt. "If it's that important. I can keep an eye out I guess."
Plus it'll be interesting to see a part of Matt's past...
He can hear the suspicion in Frank's voice. He feels bad not saying the entire truth. Maybe once this is all over with, Matt will tell him, but the less he speaks it out into the world, the less he brings some sort of karmic danger to Maggie and everyone else at the church.
"I had a hard time sleeping last night," he says, taking the mug with a grateful smile. Also not a lie, technically. "There's a lot on my mind."
Matt takes a sip of the coffee, careful of the heat, and lets out a hum.
"Can't imagine what," he jokes dryly. So much shit happened that Frank doesn't even know where to start, so he can only imagine how Matt feels. He's still glad that Matt is here though and not trying to run off on his own immediately, which is kind of what Frank expected. He's surprised he waited here for Frank as long as he did.
Eyes shift over Matt restlessly, wanting to do more to help him too.
"We could regroup and get breakfast somewhere," he offers, even though he was cautious about going for a walk. They still have to eat. "My mug's still beat up but I know at least one place that won't ask any questions."
Matt takes another sip of his coffee even as he smiles.
"Are you taking me out on a date, Frank?"
It's a playful tease. Matt knows Frank's offering it to keep him from going stir-crazy and to try to maintain some sense of normalcy in Matt's life, and he feels a surge of appreciation and warmth (and love) at that. But it is also the first time they've ever talked about going out somewhere together that isn't vigilante related.
Things have changed drastically from last week to this one, and Frank can't deny that they're in some hot water now, Matt especially. Frank is used to being on the run and living a life no one else would really want or aspire to, but Matt had a whole other world separate from vigilantism and Frank too - something normal. He knows how it feels to lose something like that overnight, even if the comparisons are on different spectrums.
So, yeah, he wants to take his partner out for breakfast.
"What if I am?" he plays along, a pleased sound to his voice. "You okay being seen with my ugly mug in public over eggs and pancakes?"
It's easy to talk about their very obvious relationship status in the context of little teases and jokes. Maybe the reason they've never really discussed it is because they both know exactly what it is, and they've just accepted it. Hell, now they're even living together.
"I wouldn't want to be seen with anyone else."
Matt can't deny that he also enjoys the defiance of it all. Him and Frank, brazenly (but cautiously) stepping out into the city in the broad daylight is nothing short of a big Fuck You to Fisk.
Alright, that gets a quick laugh out of him, because they both know the elephant in the room they refuse to acknowledge (and yet have in every other damn way). Other people would've caved under the pressure after so many years but the two of them stubbornly continue like it's no big deal.
They don't need a "what are we" conversation. They're long past that.
"Maybe you finally did go nuts, Red," he can't help but tease, taking a long drink of his coffee and feeling slightly more human for it now. "Or I shouldn't have waited this long to take you out in the daytime huh?"
Why would he? He's always been at his happiest and most peaceful during those late nights or early mornings together, tucked away into their own little world. Dates are one of those conventional things Matt's done because it's expected. He and Frank have never needed that.
"Can't give people too many opportunities to be jealous that I have the best date in the city."
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Matt feels the first hint of calmness he's felt in days. He runs his hand along Frank's arm, gently working his thumb into the tight, stiff muscle of Frank's bicep.
"Do you want me to get you anything?"
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His arm stretches and flexes, then relaxes, holding it looser around Matt's waist. "Feels good."
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"You should have a hot shower at some point. Loosen all this up a bit. Maybe you can try stretching now and then," he adds, as a gently teasing point.
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"I'd say join me but I don't have a fancy-ass shower the size of a pantry," he jokes lowly, lips pressing to Matt's forehead. The thought of stretching makes him laugh quietly. "What, like your yoga shit?"
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He's not going to get into the technical differences of yoga versus stretching, but he does let out an amused snort.
"Imagine, the big bad Punisher centering himself in pigeon pose."
Matt kneads at the muscle until it feels a bit looser, then tips his chin up a bit to try and coax Frank into a proper good morning kiss.
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"Mr. Flexible over here telling me what to do," he huffs out, though he's always appreciated just how flexible Matt is, of course.
Frank's eyes open blearily just in time to meet Matt's lips in a soft kiss. His face is still swollen but not as bad as last night, and any pain is worth it for a moment like this. His arm curls around Matt's waist a little stronger, dragging him closer into his body, even though the contact makes him tense all over again.
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"Just offering suggestions," he murmurs, giving Frank another kiss. "I don't want to spend a week listening to you complain about how much pain you're in."
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Here and now though, he likes this. These moments aren't so bad to have every day.
"I'll take a shower and see how I feel," he offers in return, fingers drifting along Matt's back, palm warm and heavy. "And you can show me some of your damn stretches. Wouldn't mind feeling more of your hands on me anyway."
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"Can't think of a better way to spend a morning."
Even though he knows Frank will hate the idea of stretching, because Frank's probably never stretched a day in his life. It'll still give them something to do, at least for a short amount of time.
"If only there were some of your famous blueberry pancakes."
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"I'll have to go shopping," he says with a smile, pressing another kiss to Matt's lips for the pleasure of it. God, when did they become this casually affectionate anyway?
Frank sighs before rolling himself away so he can sit up. His body is in agony for his efforts but he barely makes a sound as he hauls himself up, rolling his shoulders.
"You stay here and get your beauty rest, pretty boy," he says affectionately, fingers pushing back at some of Matt's hair before he gets up to haul his ass to the bathroom in the hall outside.
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"I'll do my best."
He reaches for Frank's hand, letting their fingers brush as Frank walks away. He exhales once he's alone and shifts a bit to comfortable, eyes dropping closed. Matt doesn't really fall back asleep, but just resting is nice, listening to the city moving around outside.
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He uses up the hot water in the shower, standing under it and enduring the pain for the majority of the time, but he also scrubs down and gets the stench of death off his skin. He does feel mildly better when he comes back to the room to get some fresh clothes, making a pit stop at his "kitchen" to turn on the coffee maker.
"You thirsty?" he calls out softly, just in case Matt fell back asleep.
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After a moment, he pushes himself up, scrubbing a hand down his face. He stretches one arm up over his head and rotates his shot shoulder, then he tilts his head a bit.
"How do you feel about going for a walk today? I want to stop by the church."
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"You sure it's smart to get out there so soon?" The way he asks makes it sound like Frank isn't so sure. "You can pray here, I promise it's not cursed."
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Maybe it isn't smart to go out there, but Matt's never been nothing if not confident. In sunglasses and a hat, moving around like he's got sight, it's unlikely he'll be flagged by anyone.
"I can go by myself if you need to recover."
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"No, I'll come with," he confirms, not wanting to be left behind, especially when Matt asked him to join. "Need some more information though. Who're you seeing?"
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"One of the sisters there. She helped me when I was an orphan there, and then again after the Midline Circle collapse. She'll want to know I'm okay. I don't want her to worry."
It's not the full truth, but none of it is a lie.
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"Alright..." He's pouring coffee into both mugs, steaming hot, and he walks one over to hand to Matt. "If it's that important. I can keep an eye out I guess."
Plus it'll be interesting to see a part of Matt's past...
"You look tired," he points out then.
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"I had a hard time sleeping last night," he says, taking the mug with a grateful smile. Also not a lie, technically. "There's a lot on my mind."
Matt takes a sip of the coffee, careful of the heat, and lets out a hum.
"That's good."
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Eyes shift over Matt restlessly, wanting to do more to help him too.
"We could regroup and get breakfast somewhere," he offers, even though he was cautious about going for a walk. They still have to eat. "My mug's still beat up but I know at least one place that won't ask any questions."
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"Are you taking me out on a date, Frank?"
It's a playful tease. Matt knows Frank's offering it to keep him from going stir-crazy and to try to maintain some sense of normalcy in Matt's life, and he feels a surge of appreciation and warmth (and love) at that. But it is also the first time they've ever talked about going out somewhere together that isn't vigilante related.
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So, yeah, he wants to take his partner out for breakfast.
"What if I am?" he plays along, a pleased sound to his voice. "You okay being seen with my ugly mug in public over eggs and pancakes?"
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It's easy to talk about their very obvious relationship status in the context of little teases and jokes. Maybe the reason they've never really discussed it is because they both know exactly what it is, and they've just accepted it. Hell, now they're even living together.
"I wouldn't want to be seen with anyone else."
Matt can't deny that he also enjoys the defiance of it all. Him and Frank, brazenly (but cautiously) stepping out into the city in the broad daylight is nothing short of a big Fuck You to Fisk.
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They don't need a "what are we" conversation. They're long past that.
"Maybe you finally did go nuts, Red," he can't help but tease, taking a long drink of his coffee and feeling slightly more human for it now. "Or I shouldn't have waited this long to take you out in the daytime huh?"
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Why would he? He's always been at his happiest and most peaceful during those late nights or early mornings together, tucked away into their own little world. Dates are one of those conventional things Matt's done because it's expected. He and Frank have never needed that.
"Can't give people too many opportunities to be jealous that I have the best date in the city."
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