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

I’m not much for being caged either. And beyond all logical reason, I wouldn’t have dragged you in last night anyhow.

[she stood, limping a few steps over beside him, at hi shoulder, looking over at him.] I wont tell anyone you were here. On my honor. But you need to keep your head low for a bit, hmm? I want to see if we can try recruiting you and not locking you up.

From:

wolfintheherd

[Try recruiting. He tries to breathe deep at that.]

...Only if I work with you.

[He is afraid. Genuinelyafraid of the people that he worked with. Once upon a time]

From:

facemyenemy

I think that could be arranged. Maybe. We need people to train new agents. It could work.

[she leaned in closer, looking up at him. Pressing her lips together she was contemplating something, then... drew back again, back to the counter, looking at the mess on her kitchen floor.]

You really missed me? [because that means he remembered her well enough to miss her]

From:

wolfintheherd

If they pay me. [Probably hard to tell if joking or serious. She's got this, belief about her. Something she never had as 33. Or as Madame Masque. He misses Madame Masque but...Let's see where this would go.

He smiles broadly. Genuine.] Kidding.

...I did.

First small pieces. Madame Masque, emotions. Then I was fighting one of your...I don't know who she was, but one of the people who worked for you before you came back to SHIELD. It reminded me of you.

I held onto that. Refusing to take other assignments beyond what I was capable of.

From:

facemyenemy

[It’s because she’s Kara now. Not 33. Madame masque only came out in bad times. she wasn’t gone, but mostly when the mask came on she changed. Like having multiple personalities. she was still broken, bu nothing like before. now she was just fractured.]

You would get paid. Kidding or not.

So, you remembered by fighting May? A flash of a golden mask maybe? Perhaps you’d remember me better if I wore that again. [she used to wear it to hide her face, and the s cars. Paranoia about people knowing her or their thoughts.]

From:

wolfintheherd

I can't ask you to do that.

To sacrifice your sense of identity for someone else like that.

[It's immeadite and it feels so right all he wishes, suddenly, out of the blue, was that he'd said it before to Skye.

He swallows hard and drops the cooking utensils-before kneeling to pick them up and move to the sink to wash them]

From:

facemyenemy

You didn't ask. I just mentioned it is all.

[when he dropped the tools she frowned, watching him pick them up and wash them. Moving she winced as she hopped up on the counter, sitting on it so to be near but resting. On food swaying a bit.]

Anything I can do? Besides another fight. I'm all fought out. But you've been dealing with a lot of emotions since being here.

From:

wolfintheherd

I remember everything I did.

[He breathes deep, trying to still his hands.] It's... really fucked up that you have to see it completely from the outside to realize what a monster you were. And how much of a monster you are.

[He clutches at the countertop for a moment.] I deserve to die. Not to be ...helped.

From:

facemyenemy

That's not normal, is it? For you to remember things like that.

[but she sighed, leaning back on a cabinet and resting on the counter near by. Watching him sadly.]

Not all monsters deserve to die. You wouldn't let me die after Whitehall did. Wouldn't let me take my life when I started losing it. I was a monster then. Grew to be one again. Got a second chance.

Why does it have to be different with you?

From:

wolfintheherd

No. It's not. [It's probably a mistake. It's probably something he will regret and have to pay for later in a dramatic turn of events.

He feels sick.] I'll have my doctors look into it.

...That I can't tell you. I just know it has to be.

From:

facemyenemy

Well, at least you did one thing right. [she held her hands out to the side, as if to show herself.]

Best student, remember? If you let the monster die back then I wouldn't be around.

From:

wolfintheherd

[His smile is warm at that.] The best one I taught.

Thank you for taking me in.

From:

facemyenemy

Damn right I am the best. [She smiled warmly back, watching him. Leaning sideways a bit on the counter she stared at him, her smile darkening just a bit.]

But Grant? [she crooked a finger at him, asking him to come closer.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[His gaze turned wary]

...What.

From:

facemyenemy

Uhhuh... [she said, leaning out to grab him by the shirt front and pull him closer, face to face, scar fully seen as her head tilted back, prideful, eyes a bit colder for a moment. More Madame Masque then she'd been this whole time.]

You betray me? I'll find a way to finish the job next time. Got me? [She might be softer as Kara, but she's still a tough bird.]

From:

wolfintheherd

[Up close he smells like bad but expensive cologne. his smile turning wolfish.]

We're more alike then you're willing to admit I see.

From:

facemyenemy

[she smells of blood and lavender soap, so really, who's the winner here? She kept a hold on the front of his clothing, staring at the wolfish smile.] There's the Taskmaster I know. I might not admit it, but I know. And I am serious. I don't put up with being stabbed in the back.

From:

wolfintheherd

[His smile curdles and dies]

...Not you if I can help it.

I can't swear on anything. I have nothing left.

[He withdraws.] ...I am sorry about that.

From:

facemyenemy

[as he withdraws she keeps hold of his shirt, her arm extending long for a moment, then lets him go, leaning back into the cabinet again.]

I know you can't swear it. This isn't something that will stick around in that brain of yours, so I don't expect you to remember it, but... so long as you say you'll try, that's good enough for me.

From:

wolfintheherd

[His muscles ache. Standing hurts.] You're serious about trying to help me.

I'm sorry. ....I really wore myself out.

From:

facemyenemy

As serious as I am deadly. They gave Madame Masque a second chance. Don't see why they can't give you one as well.

[she tipped her head to the chair near the table.]

Sit your ass down. You shouldn't even have gotten up. I expected you to sleep longer. I can finish cooking if you're that hungry.

From:

wolfintheherd

Let it not be said I didn't try. [but he looks grateful, shuffling back to the couch.] You have no bacon in the house. That's a crime.

From:

facemyenemy

You're lucky I have eggs at all. Not sure how old they are though...

[she slid off the counter and groaned, pausing there and letting out a hiss, then straightened up again, letting out a breath.]

[She moved to finish whatever he had started. Two plates would be made, and honestly, that's two meals in a row for her. That's a lot.]