therearenostringsattached

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

facemyenemy

[It didn't take long, did it. He was swinging and she was moving.]

[If she learned anything from him, it was how to dodge attacks. How to fight. To make herself better. As Madame Masque she had learned a lot more then ever on fighting. She learned to tone her gymnastics, to the point that her nimble moves were hard to follow.]

[She trained. And trained a lot. Still did.]

[But winning against him would never be an easy task.]

[Taskmaster knew it all.]

[This? This would just be a fight. To help his memory. Let him learn and erase, maybe? Maybe he'd remember her longer. Maybe he would ca--no.]

[She dodged the first swing, her hands coming up to try and deflect the hit while using his arm to spin around, trying to get away in a strange grace that was signature of Madam Masque. He used to be able to hit her, knock her flat on her ass in seconds. She at least learned how to dodge it for a bit. Until he learned h er moves.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[Let him fight.

Let him be angry, his brain locks onto her ability, files it, catalogs it, and he drops to his knees to kick it out from under her. The way to beat her was -

Melinda May,

Demon in the sack, knife to the throat. You were never on top, she had worn her face for awhile but it wasn't her fault. She'd been hurt and broken. He had seen an opportunity and wanted...what. To help her?

There is a hero making a name for himself, a former villain trying to redeem himself named Quicksilver who can attack in a flurry of blows. His body can't take it, copying human moves but it won't let him stop once it starts.

There's a flurry of blows, punch right, punch left, even as his foot swings out from under him to try and kick her in the chin. It's too fast to be normal and once that's done he's trying to find his footing because...

Kara. Your name is Kara, not Melinda May, you're madame masque.

But that wasn't right either because it was a name and you never give yourself a name because it's just an ego booster...

The moves from Quicksilver have left him exhausted. He needs to draw from a reserve of strength. There are faces to the feelings now. Friendship, people he hurt, people he betrayed

He's panting heavily, trying to collect himself.]

From:

facemyenemy

[She's taken her hits. Taken a few falls, but she always get's back up. Swiftly if she can. the kick that contacted her chin had her fall back into her kitchen table, wine glasses knocked over and spilled. She returned fire with some kicks of her own. An attempt to flip over his head and get behind him.]

[Like she had done before when she got the knife to his neck.]

[There are several other things in this kitchen that has gone and been wrecked, either from falls or hits. She remembers she has to be fast, but he's always faster.]

[Has to get faster!]

[At some turn about, she just barely missed being punched again, diving feet first over the pass over and into the living room. It gave her a moment to catch her breath. Breath she was panting for. There was more space out there anyhow. A large couch, a single chair. She had a feeling that coffee table was going to end up busted.]

[Suddenly she didn't care. She took up a slim profile stance, hand out and flat, ready to move if he followed.]

[Let him be angry.]

[Let him break things.]

[Let him work it out as best he can, and maybe, just maybe... she'd feel better about all this too.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[His body felt like it was going to break. For a second he had mimicked the other man's speed. An inhuman's speed. He's not inhuman he's enhanced.

In the pain he remembers it all briefly and he aims another punch at her, diving forward trying to knock her off her feet. Let it be done, let him forget and slip back into a world of alcohol and cheap sex and trying to pay for all of his crimes literally.

I'm grant ward and I can shoot the legs off a flee from 500 yards as long as it's not windy.

I'm Grant ward and I just jumped out of a plane without a parachute and saved your life.

I'm Grant Ward, I betrayed the only people who have ever loved me. I was abused and manipulated. I fell for it. I built my life on a shifting foundation and trusted the wrong people and I paid for it.

I'm Grant Ward and my revenge cost me everything-

I'm Grant Ward-

I'm Grant Ward-

I'm-

Moving his muscles makes him scream and he can't see if he's knocked her down, he can't see anything. This was not what he wanted, he wanted to forget, to live in the bliss of not knowing.

Rolling away from her he gave himself over to pain. Unaware that he was weeping.

Weeping openly.]

...No, no no...

From:

facemyenemy

[It was a hell of a fight, a blur of movements. She hurt, god did she hurt, and he had got her in the shoulder at one point, slowing her down, but she kept trying. Trying different things, mixing it up...]

[Still landing on her ass as he laid her out.]

[She was just about redy to call for a stop, breath raggid and body aching, when she realized he had stopped.]

[Stopped and rolled away and...]

[Was he crying?]

Grant...

[she called, moving nearer.]

Grant? ...Hey.... [she didn't use Ward, and she didn't remember to use Taskmaster. It was Grant, because it felt right that way.]

[She came up to his side and let a hand reach out to touch his arm.] Jesus, what is it? [she asked in a breath. Was he seeing things? Forgetting? How did it work? DID that work...]

From:

wolfintheherd

I remember.

[It hurts so much. How the hell didn't he see. It's like being Budapest, Paraguay...Puerto Rico. Puerto. Rico. Skye shot him. He can feel it all over again. And He deserved it. He deserved each bullet and faced, with the enormity of his crimes all he can do is look at her.]

I was supposed to forget.

But I can't. [His chest heaves] Melinda May, Phil Coulson, the birth of inhumans - [Skye. Skye. Fighting her had brought it all back because her moves were a copy of Melinda May's and the things he'd done to them...

The things he had done to her in retribution for what they had done to him. He sobs then.

A loud real human noise.

Moving everything hurts and he's lying there on the remains of her coffee table sobbing openly]

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry. [For everything, May, Skye, Kara.] ...Kara.

From:

facemyenemy

[She's never seen him this way. So... human. Emotional. Broken. Broken in a different way then how she knew him at first. This was proof that he still had his humanity somewhere.]

[She came closer, crouching beside him as he said all that. said he was sorry. Called her by name.]

[Reaching down she let her fingers run over his forehead, pushing at strands of his hair, before letting the palm of her hand rest to his cheek, her thumb swiping away tears.]

Shh, It's okay. It's all in the past now. All in the past.

From:

wolfintheherd

[I fucked up so bad. He tries to say. I fucked up so bad. I ruined everything. I ruined you. I destroy everything you should just kill me, kill me now, let me die please oh please...

He moaned and reached for her but there's a crack from his fingers and he stifles a scream. He pushed his system to the breaking point.

Moving hurts.

But there is...a sense of self there that he normally doesn't have. There's so much he wants to say.]

...For all of it.

All of it. Every single piece and I - [Killing is all he knows how to do. Kill SHIELD's enemies, turn over his data to her, forget, forget...not now.

So this is weakness.

He tries to move his leg and winces. The tears increase in frequency.]

...Please don't leave me.

I need help.

[Medical, mental, it's very unsure which.]

Edited Date: 2014-12-19 06:48 am (UTC)

From:

facemyenemy

[She hurt a well, but no doubt not as badly as he did. He pushed himself so hard. She was sure she would be black and blue by morning, but he'd be far worse if he had put that much strain on himself.]

[He was laid out on her coffee table. If she could get him to the couch he could rest there. Damn bastard.]

[Her hand touched his face again, trying to sooth a bit more.]

Shhh, it's alright. You don't have to be sorry to me. I won't leave you. Not like this.

[she leaned over him as she said it, staring at him. Then leaned down and kissed his forehead, giving a hushed Shhh sound after it.]

I always took care of your wounds before. I'll take care of you now. Just... don't forget me.

From:

wolfintheherd

[And that's the tragedy.]

I'll try.

[He can only manage to barely hold her fingers. Wavering in and out of consciousness.] ..I'll try I-

[His stomach rolls and when he tries to stand, tries to sit up he groans in pain.

He can play through that with her help. He can get to the couch and manage a little more strength.]

If-If I can't heal fast you need...you need to tell them I attacked you. [He can taste blood. Never copy Quicksilver again. Never, ever, ever...] You need to tell them I came after you. Just in case.

They have to trust you, you deserve a place. Please.

From:

facemyenemy

[She's helping him move, as best she can, helping him get just a few steps to the couch.]

[He'll try. Try to what? Remember her? Is it too much to ask tht he remember her? She felt it wasn't much.]

Idiot. [she hissed, sitting beside him where she got him to lay] Take... a moment to look at me. They wouldn't believe anything other then you attacking me.

[she was all banged up, hair a mess, partly hiding her face again. She still took slow painful breaths, and her scarred eye is partly closed partly open. nd yet she's still trying to HELP. She calls herself stupid.]

What the hell did you do back there anyhow? Never seen you more that fast.

From:

wolfintheherd

[His smile is weak. Fair enough.

But.]

I just don't want you to get in trouble. Or hurt. Not if I can help it. ...Not you.

[The other stuff is easier to talk about. He leans back.]

What I see, I copy. No matter who. Even if I can't. Even if it'll kill me.

Sometimes...it does it of it's own violation. It's been happening ever since I was hired...to teach people Steve Rogers's moves. I've gotten good with a shield.

[There are still dried streaks beneath his eyes. He reaches for her hand again.] ...Makes me feel almost like the hero I could have been.

From:

facemyenemy

I'm already hurt. [she had been for a while. She hurt when they split, no longer partners. No longer able to stand working with him. Hurt to fight him. Hurt to leave. No one to protect anymore. To take orders from.]

[She had grown independent though, but she still felt the loss of it.]

[Letting him take her hand she frowned softly, watching his face. Such an idiot, Grant Ward. God how she hated you.]

You could do something with that, instead of killing. Why not train metahumans? Go be that hero you used to be.

From:

wolfintheherd

[He looks away] I was never a hero.

...Never the hero I wanted to be. I had everything and I destroyed it. [He shifts back to look at her, sniffling - before he breathes deep.] I ruined it. I remember it all.

I could have told Coulson. I could have done something, I could have tried...

[I was made to be a monster.

That hurt more then the torn tendons and muscles.

Skye.

Kara. The only person who had ever really understood him.]

...I wanted to make you dinner because I missed you. I missed you so damn much.

From:

facemyenemy

You were a hero to me. For a while. [she said, in somewhat of a mumble, looking away as well. If it wasn't for her she might have killed herself. Having no purpose. Having no one to teach her to be independent. To train her. He saved her, even if he did it in a off color way.]

[she leaned there, frowning down at him though, as he went on about ruining things.]

Grant, it's the past. You can't fix it, but... maybe you can mend it a bit. Start fresh.

I mean... [she stumbled in words now at the last part.] You... you miss me? [she swallowed back her words and looked confused] You shouldn't want anything to do with me.

From:

wolfintheherd

[You were a hero to me, for awhile.

God he scrambles for his pen and pad of paper. He has to write it down, he has to. He has to be able to remember this. He has to, he needs it. You were a hero to me for awhile. It's like balm.

She has to be lying.

He sniffed] My first real student.

[He swallowed hard. Fight to remember this. To remember her.] The best.

[God it hurts to move.] Pain killer?

From:

facemyenemy

[she draws back a bit as he scrambles for the note pad, a brow raised as he does.]

[She sniffed, rubbing at her face a moment when he called her the best]

Damn right I was the best. No one followed through like me. And no one took care of you like I did. Massive idiot.

[She moaned though, standing now.] Get comfy, I'll get some pills.

[she limped off, frowning at the mess they made, pawing through a broken cabinet and finding a bottle. Getting water she returned, battle tired and sore as hell. She took some herself, then offered the bottle to him, to take what he needs.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[It's right there in black and white. Her words. You were a hero to me for awhile. He'll hold onto that. Cherish it.

Then he takes those pills and watches her.]

...I hope you don't hide your face with everyone.

[He wants to say something, to empower her. He wants to try. Lying on her couch, bleeding on it.]

It's a sign of how strong you are.

From:

facemyenemy

[she moved to sit on the edge of the couch, beside his bleeding ass. They were both a mess. She'd need a new couch later.]

[His comment though made her blink, and her head tilted again so her hair fell forward, shadowing again. The way she was sitting, the scar side of her face was closest to him, so her entire face was blocked by hair no]

[Generally she wore her mask. Put on a face and called it good. Sometimes she hid behind her hair. The scar didn't bother her a lot, but she got tired of standing out at times.]

Not always. If I had been stronger, I wouldn't have been scarred in the first place.

From:

wolfintheherd

Don't blame yourself. [He closes his eyes, swooning a bit before focusing on her.] It's not...what happened to you. It's what you chose to do, with the time...that's allotted to you.

[his chest rose and fell and he sighed,.]

It's like stripes on a tiger. It shows you're a fighter and you came out of a hard scrap, "You want to say something, well take a look at this. If you think that's bad you should see the other guy."

[There's a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He wipes his hand across it. The movement's clearly painful.

He's got a lot of scars himself. Ones he can feel.]

Please promise me that my being here won't hurt you in the long run. You fought hard for this.

I don't want to be...responsible for fucking up this for you.

From:

facemyenemy

[she lifted her head, turned back to peek at him. Watch him talk. Watch him swipe away the blood. She sighed, and perhaps she should work on fixing him up. She needed to clean up herself, but that could wait]

If you remember right, the other guy came out the winner.

[she shook her head though. reaching over to pat one of his hands.]

You came over to make me dinner. It's not my fault you had to stay over. Besides, if I'm to start negotiations to see about bringing you in as a new trainer, I'd have to meet with you anyhow.

Rest here tonight. Heal up. We can deal with what kind of trouble you're going to get me in tomorrow.

From:

wolfintheherd

[He reaches for her hand and raises it slowly, shakily, to his cheek. As gently as he can.]

....Those painkillers are great.

From:

facemyenemy

[She snorted at that, which was a mistake cus her face hurt. A hand coming up to rub at her face she shook her head]

SHIELD issued painkillers. Some of the best stuff. Sleep. We’ll talk more in the morning. If you’re healed up by then you’re taking care of me, because ow, fuck...

From:

wolfintheherd

[He was built to take care of others.

So even if she's joking he nods and meets her gaze with something like affection. Something like caring. Something like love.]

Of course.

From:

facemyenemy

[the look catches her off guard and she feels a little startled. moving to stand she reached out to ruffle his hair, and limp off.]

Sleep.

[She walked off to clean up a bit again, ignoring the mess in her house and cleaning blood. Sleeping didn’t happen. She kept thinking he’d leave if she fell asleep. So at some time in the night she came out, blanket wrapped around her, and sat on the floor beside the couch, back to it, propped up and nodded off.]

[When he wakes, he’d find her curled up there near by and sleeping.]