(no subject)

[wolfintheherd]

[Task Master has been through a lot.

He has achieved many successes and many failures. He's won against SHIELD and HYDRA and they are notable enemies but it's owed to his compatriots. The few people he is worked with, the few people that he trusts in the world.

He's not unmindful of that service which is why he'd broken into Madame Masque's apartment to cook her something nice.

This is something he doesn't remember. He doesn't remember she's a SHIELD agent. Not anymore, that he in essence had not told her (really he could have forgotten but he can't recall). What he does know is that she appears during the times when SHIELD needs him and manages his money and resources. Oh she hates him, he knows that much but now, even if she might be one of the right hand people of the new SHIELD, she's still Madame Masque to him. He does remember fighting her, her with a knife to his throat before stabbing him in the shoulder and running off.

(Her face was not his fault)

The last time he'd seen her though they'd fixed it. When was that? She'd had a face. It wasn't that vaguely familiar disquieting face.

He doesn't ask her any questions. Not anymore. She just appears and reappears and vanishes but he's still here and why?...

(Quake.)

His hand stops chopping.

(The woman.)

It keeps chopping. Muscle memory, what task master lives for. Really he doesn't know a thing about cooking but he saw something about Italian/Asian fusion on TV last night and he wanted to cook it for her because-

(The woman stands straight and stares at him. Her features torn between confused and angry, then just anger. He's knocked off his feet and off the building falling into the abyss while the woman runs and stares after him and he feels...

Loss.)

Terrifying loss.

His hand trembles, but he finishes the last bit of carrots and onions and slides it into the water to boil before he sets out the wine and pours himself a glass (she won't drink it if you hand it to her already poured.)

It's so domestic.

It's when he hears her come in behind him that he keeps is hand on the knife at the cutting board.]

...You know better then to come at me with a gun behind me.

[(You don't know what I've been watching on TV)]

You're not allergic to garlic or carrots are you?

[He pulls out a slab of meat that's been dipped in sauce and begins chopping it.]

Comments

[facemyenemy]

[It's been a long day.

An even longer night is yet to come.

Kara has been on the go for a couple of days now. She's hurt and tired, sore and wants some rest. Coming back from a mission she had a bullet graze aat her shoulder, but nothing too bad. Bruises here and there, but she's survive.

She always did.

Though she showered and cleaned up back at base, she still was considering a long hot bath, lights off, a few candles on for a dim light, and napping in the tub until the water goes cold. The idea appealed to her.

As she came through her apartment door, something felt off almost instantly. Silently she closed the door, pulled her gun and toed off her flats she had on. On soft feet she walked down the wooden floor of the hall way, towards the kitchen.

On the air was vegetables. Carrots, but especially onions. That, didn't make sense...

There was the faint traces of a man she had once thought she knew well. Or well enough to recognize his smell. She had even started to have some form of... feelings... for him. But that was something she had to battle down. Shove away into the deep corners of her mind.

After all, he wouldn't remember it anyhow.

Her hand tightened on the gun as she stepped closer to the arch way that lead to the kitchen. Pointed right at his back. She could pull the trigger easy enough, but she knew he was better then that.

She was better then that too. Pulling a trigger at the back of a target? Disgraceful.

He spoke anyhow, knowing she was there. Perhaps she had been too loud, or, more likely, it was just his perfect senses that seemed to know when trouble was around.

And after their last confrontation, she was trouble to him. She wondered if he even remembered it.

The thought burned as she stared at him. Cooking.]

And you should know better then to show up in my home, uninvited. [She stared at him from behind dark bangs, long dark hair shadowing her face and features. She'd learned how to hide the scar when not wearing the mask. The mask that SHIELD fixed. That they managed to get off, to fix, to let her use as she needed. It only really responded to her properly now anyhow. She didn't wear it all the time, like now. It was with her though, but she didn't need it as much now a days.

She didn't reply about allergies. She had none, but there was no reason to bring that up. She wanted to know: "What the hell are you doing here?"

The gun still trained at his back, steady as steel and out of arms reach.]

[wolfintheherd]

I was watching a food network special. [He finished with the meat and slid it into the fire by route, looking over his shoulder at her - eyes blank, expression blank.]

I'm sorry. [For what it's worth.] I wanted...

(Why won't you die?!)

His hand shook.

[He kept cutting while looking at her. What some people would need to watch he did by route. He could have prepared the whole thing blindfolded.]

You can come and check everything if you want. It's not poisoned.

I wanted to find out how you were.

[facemyenemy]

[She stepped just inside the archway, pressing her back to the frame and lowering the gun, keeping it OUT, but keeping it down too.]

Breaking and entering is a great way to check how someone is.

[her tone was flat, unamused. Her eyes were unsure as she stared at him. He was cooking? Her house didn't.... cook. She had things, but they went unused for the most part. Now he was there, cooking dinner.]

[Her eyes narrowed for a moment, remembering watching him fall. Remembering the fight, the knife to his neck. She could have killed him. She wanted to, hadn't she? He'd trained her up to be who she is now. With some memories of her past there too.]

[And yet she was still angry at him.]

I'm surprised you even remember me. Why are you here, Task Master? [she'd given up on calling him Grant some time ago.]

[wolfintheherd]

I've been recording you coming and going from my base. [He pulled the meat off the pan and dropped it into the pan. It should smell good.

It does smell good. Still.]

I have my people write it down and I know that SHIELD is taking money from my criminal operations and using them to fund work around the world.

[He doesn't care. He sounds bored even.]

I'll ask again. Are you allergic to garlic?

[facemyenemy]

You've been watching me? [She said with out surprise in her voice. Still a bit surprised anyhow. Why?]

[And yes, it does smell good. It reminds her that she hasn't eaten in a while. Too tired to bother once she got back. Clean up, debriefing and then going home.]

[To relax, damn it.]

She moved to sit the gun down on a counter, near her, away from him. Maybe not the smartest idea, but she wasn't going to use it just yet. And she had a knife at her hip anyhow.]

[Her arms crossed over her chest and she leaned there, staring at him.] No Allergies. But you should know that. Grant... [maybe it would catch his attention. The annoyance in her tone of voice used with his original name.] ...What... are you doing here? Because I have a sinking feeling you aren't here to talk about SHIELD jipping you

[wolfintheherd]

[He flinches, looking back at her confused before he flips the meat with one hand, then pours more wine into his glass with the other.]

I need information.

I'm willing to trade you dinner for it. [He stifles a burp and gestures to her] Try the wine. It's French.

...Did you used to like French wine?

[facemyenemy]

[She just stares at him still, looking to the wine offered, and the questions about it. He's here for information. Trading for dinner. Must not be too important of information if the cost is just dinner.]

[She rounded the kitchen, staying at it's edge as she comes over, looking at the wine.]

[She used to love a good french wine. Then again she just loves wine.]

[She stared at it, then him. Before taking out a fresh glass, one he didn't set up for her, and poured a glass.]

Are you guessing, or do you remember if I like French wine? [No mercy. She knows how his powers work. His mind works. She knows he loses things. It got frustrating when he's lose her though...]

[She didn't take a sip of her wine, waiting for him to take a sip of his while she was in the room. You can't be too cautious.]

What kind of information do you need?

[wolfintheherd]

I remembered. Vague hints.

[he looks amused. Then he looks distant.] the last time I saw you...that stays with me.

It's been a slow year.

[No abilities. No one he's been hired to copy.]

I think I met up your boss. She seemed familiar to me. ... I wanted to know if I'd met her before.

[He pours himself another glass of wine. He doesn't get drunk as easily as he used to but the food is almost ready. Italian stir fry (fusion) and Gordon Ramsey probably wouldn't be able to tell he himself hadn't prepared it]

[facemyenemy]

[She's a little surprised, but then again... if it's been a slow year, maybe she shouldn't be.]

[Turning the wine glass in hand, she sniffed t, head still down enough to let her hair hand over her scar, hiding it. Eyes sharp and watchful. Talking behind the wineglass she said:]

You should remember her. You knew her. Before you were Taskmaster. [She says it flatly, trying to mask the sudden feelings of annoyance. He had been so hung up on Skye before. When she was Skye. Now she was Quake, or Daisy Johnson, Director of SHIELD. Kara didn't mind working for her, but Grant's obsession with the woman, even as he was forgetting her, always irked her for some reason.]

[(It shouldn't bother you, Kara. It's not like you fell for him or anything.)]

[She changed it, sipping her wine, approving silently.] Worked with her before.

[wolfintheherd]

[He nodded slowly, pacing back and forth.] It didn't go well did it?

[His hand clenched at his side.]

First time I've ever felt like I deserved to have my ass kicked since you and I last...talked.

[Not that he could tell. Meeting her gaze he spoons food onto her plate and offers it to her before he spoons some onto a fork and eats it.]

Try it. It's delicious oh my god.

[facemyenemy]

Does it ever go well for you?

[When he hands her a plate she takes it, sitting her wine glass down on the counter. She eyed it, then him. Clearly untrusting. Which is sad, because he was the one person she trusted most in the world, for a while. After Whitehall died.]

[Now she barely trusts her SHIELD co-agents.]

[Or anyone.]

[Burned one too many times.]

[Taking a taste though she couldn't help the small mmmm that escaped her lips. Yeah, okay, this was good.]

So you remembered her. But not the details?

[Of course he remembered her. Why wouldn't he. She was just his obsession for as long as she can remember.]

[wolfintheherd]

Nothing. Just...[He wonders if this was a bad idea. That notion is sudden, leaning against the counter and staring at her. At one point she was his right hand woman, his partner, his confidant.] sadness.

Loss.

[Like looking at her.] There's nothing I can't do in the long run.

[He almost says Madame Masque. Almost. But she's not. His mouth twists into something pained before he starts spooning food onto his plate] What do you want me to call you?

[facemyenemy]

[It's a bad idea. It's a bad idea. She KNOWS it's a bad idea, because she's still mad at him.]

[(Still scare he's going to forget you completely.)]

[She thought it would be easier, someways, if he did just completely forget her. Then maybe she could pretend she didn't think about him often.]

Loss. Sadness. That's because she was someone important to you. At one point of your life. [Why is she telling him that? She's still mad at him!]

[When he asks about her name she frowned more. Why was he here. Did he forget her name too? Her heart twisted at that and her eyes went a bit more blank. She took another bite of food to let herself consider her words.]

You used to call me Madame Masque. You helped me come up with the name. [she should tell him that he can't call her anything. She feels cross again. She hated his stupid face. Both behind the mask and the mask itself Only she didn't... damn]

Kara. You helped me find my name. It's Kara. [(Not that he will remember, and that's what bothers you most. That he wont remember you.0 She wanted to always be remembered.]

[wolfintheherd]

[Ward, nodding to her, reaches into the pocket of his flack pants, pulling out a small note pad and writing down something.]

It's getting worse.

[his tone is lost for a moment. A woman he'd forgotten. Someone who he'd cared about]

I knew you were Madame Masque. And now you're not. You still have a right to chose what you'll be called.

[He'd just forgotten.]

Try the food Kara, Trust me.

[facemyenemy]

[as he said 'it's getting worse' there was a small ping of guilt. She should be helping him, but she didn't know how to.]

[Giving a sad nod, she moved, taking her plate and wine glass, and moving to the kitchen table, her bare foot kicking out a seat for him to join her. Then she plopped down in a seat of her own, a legs distance apart, but conversational.]

I am glad I left a lasting impression, even if it was only because of a slow year. And I am trusting you, against all my better judgement. But, let me ask you the same. What... would you rather me call you? Taskmaster, Ward, or Grant?

[wolfintheherd]

[He sets his own plate on the table, reaches for the notebook.

There is a list, a bulleted list written in clear black ink on the front. It lists his aliases, his locations, the things he can currently do.

He goes through a lot of these. Looking back at her before folding it together and shrugging his shoulders.] Whatever you want.

[He should care.] ...Not...what...that woman would have called me.

[His mouth moved of it's own violation. Speaking. He swallows.]

By the way I raided your first aid kit.

[facemyenemy]

[He should care. He should care about what she calls him. His reply left her frowning. He seemed to care about what her identity was for her, which... he stressed very hard when they first gathered together. But he doesn't care what she calls him.]

[Jerk, she thinks. She should call him a god damn bastard jerk.]

[No. She just frowned, taking another sip of wine and watching him. Not Ward then.] Fine. Which ever gets your attention I suppose.

[then she raised a brow. Looking him over.] Wounded?

[she had her own bandage wrapped around her upper arm and shoulder. The bottom of the bandage barely visible.]

[wolfintheherd]

...Seems to be common in Washington today. [He raised an eyebrow.]

By the way SHIELD arrested one of my students. Please, keep him. He's not paying me nearly enough and he's terrible.

[Useless small talk. His mind is still on the woman, the one he apparently felt for. The one that hurt him and it's a slow burning pain. A warm feeling in his left side. Like something that was forgotten.

He sniffs, clenching his hand]

He adds nothing to humanity.

[facemyenemy]

These things happen. [she shot back, but softly, a hand reaching up to rub at her shoulder.] Have you taken care of it properly? Or just slapped a bandage over it?

[an arrest, huh.] Which one. We took in a few. I'll be sure to knock his head in a few times for getting caught in the first place.

[she too was curious to what was going on in that head of his. Why he was really here. Just because of Skye? is that all?]

[wolfintheherd]

You want to take a look at it? [His tone was passive as he took a bite before snorting allowed]

Benjamin smalls. Calls himself the Cobra.

[Truly, it was just about Skye. About Skye, about something else, something he's lost.]

[facemyenemy]

Is it bad? [She had to ask first. If it’s not bad she won't bother, but if he needs care for it, she’d slip into old habits. Fix him up.]

Cobra, huh. Never cared for snakes.

[She took another bite of food, moving to lean on the edge of the table, watching the other.] What else did you want to know, Grant?

[wolfintheherd]

I'll be fine.

[He studies her] You answered my question. I knew her. Can't a guy make dinner for a former associate?

[He swallows] You planning to arrest me?

[facemyenemy]

[Mmm, she nodded. Fine. that means she can’t shove her finger into the wound. Might be better for them both, really.]

[All he wanted to know was if he knew her. Interesting.] You can, but you can’t blame me for being a bit cautious. After all, I tried to kill you last time we met. [yet she only stabbed his shoulder, unable to hurt him more than that.]

I am considering it. For breaking and entering, at least. But dinner is good, so I’m stalling.

[She doesn’t want to admit that she missed him. Huff]

[wolfintheherd]

[He smirks] being a criminal and having the urge to hold onto something domestic really doesn't jive in my line of work. Can't exactly say "Hey I want to do this" to a bunch of jocks and jarheads who've decided to work out their anger at their parents by hurting people.

[The irony is, that was his backstory. Within reason. The things he doesn't remember.]

Just my luck that I didn't prepare any dessert.

[He'll fight her if he has to, he'll kill her if he has to, but he'll feel bad about it.

That acknowledgement brings his head into his hands for a moment over his meal and he sighs]

[facemyenemy]

[She smiled, faintly, showing from the shadows of her face. Her hair still keeping her scarred face mostly in the shadows.]

You break into my apartment, make me dinner, and forget dessert? Rude.

[a teasing comment, at least.]

[She’d rather not fight. She’s pretty banged up as it is. And he’s always been better than her. his actions make a brow lift...]

What troubles you, old friend?