greatexpectations | i had a dream i got everything i wanted

It started off simple. The world was eerily quiet even for a woman who supposedly died twice. She had to find out if her first love was still alive. Elektra had searched and searched until finally confronting a blond who confirmed what she already suspected: Matthew was lost like so many others. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. He didn't even get a proper funeral in the end. Elektra had nowhere to leave orchids for him as he had done for her.

Their meeting had been by chance. Eventually his name went on a monument with countless others. Elektra had done the sensible thing when it happened: get wasted once the crowds started to die down and talk to a ghost. Evidently Castle had the same idea and something was born. Elektra doesn't know what to call it, but it's nice and simple. He makes her dinner while she plays piano. He doesn't stop her from hunting. It does offend her so many bad men live while Matthew does not. Unlike Clint Barton, she doesn't wipe out buildings of nobodies without knowing if they are actually at fault for anything. The truth is most evil is hideously boring. It's schemers at the top exploiting grieving widows and orphans; the ones who create rules designed to casually harm and eventually kill people in the name of money or power. There is an opening for opportunists after half the world turned to dust. Like always hurting people guarantees you get to be the man on top. If those awful people fell out of their pretty offices for failing to do the right thing, well, who will miss them?

He gets her a dog one day between hunts. The poor creature quickly becomes her best friend. She's petting them now as the stress sets in. Suddenly the past few years of healing and working are all for nothing. They're all back including Matthew. That fills her with a dread instead of hope. She should be happy, but time is a funny thing. Elektra discovers she's better off with the world as it was. She looks to Frank as she tries to rationalize their new normal all over again.

"We could run, you know. It's not like he leaves New York." It sounds exactly as bad aloud as it did in her head. Elektra doesn't take a word of it back.

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He's no stranger to loss, but the worst part of it all is surviving. He's always known that, deep down, and he has to keep relearning it every time. When Elektra fucking Natchios of all people sits next to him at the dive bar as they hail the end of the world, it feels different - bearable, almost. There's a new cadence to life, an easier rhythm than he remembers ever having. Elektra and he get each other, there's no judgment between them. There are always fresh flowers in their townhouse though cohabitating isn't something he thought he could manage before. Now it seems like the simplest solution with the rest of the city burned to a husk.

And then it suddenly isn't. On the surface, things are right again, but even Rocky senses it. It was wrong the first time Thanos snapped, but somehow the resurrection is wronger, like an undead horror flick. Of course, she's concerned about Matt, but Frank doesn't even know where to start his list; honestly that jackass seems like the least of his worries. Her suggestion gets a snort even as he tries to suppress the automatic response, he isn't laughing at her but the utter ridiculousness of their situation.

"You wanna leave New York?" he challenges, knowing he won't even have to weigh in if she thinks over her options for half a second. The sick part is he'd probably go wherever she wanted, but running away can't give them their insular little playhouse back.

She knows the answer automatically to the question. Elektra shoots him a dirty look if only for having the audacity of knowing her. It's rude. "No, I don't want to leave New York." She retorts huffily. She wants to escape an unpleasant conversation.

Elektra takes a deep breath and exhales audibly. None of what she's about to say should be surprising to Frank. She'll still admit it anyways. "I never told him I was alive. How am I supposed to mention that I'm also much better at his job too?" That is a thing. She can admit that now. Matt is apparently back so why pretend she hasn't been acting on his behalf for the past five years? And very effectively considering the world lowkey ended.

Frank allows his dumb smirk to die out, leaning over to scratch Rocky's flank as he flops over and seems torn who to accept the most affection from. Elektra feels torn too, he can see it on her face.

"You don't wanna hurt him," he realizes aloud. He can get that, and it doesn't make him jealous the way he thought it might. He pauses, then offers up some rare human advice. "Ask him out for a drink, that might soften the blow, huh?"

El nods, releasing a breath she was unaware of holding. It's still new to be understood years later. It took dying for Matthew to see more in her than the sum of college mistakes. She hasn't done that on Frank's watch. "I don't." Elektra confirms as she withdraws her hand from Rocky. It's bad enough he had to bury her and then fight her as a brainwashed assassin.

She nods at the advice. That may be the only thing that can ease the burden for Matthew. Despite his fuck ups, she'll always love him in a way. She wants this to be easier. "I'll invite him tomorrow assuming anything is open." Elektra is pretty sure everyone had someone come back. It'll be hard for things to be running smoothly.

When Elektra pulls her hand away, the mutt turns around and knocks his head into Frank's knee. He sighs even while obliging him immediately, scratching behind his ears while he focuses on Matt's truly fragile... everything. Something he tries not to think about unless the man is actually in front of him, but if Elektra cares about his feelings, he supposes he'll have to, too.

"Or... I mean, I could clear out for a night. If that's better."

Elektra glances his way sharply. That has to be one of the stupidest suggestions she's ever heard. It is plain to see on her face. "Don't be ridiculous. He's not allowed in our house." She doesn't even try to play it cool. This is their place. She doesn't need the anger or pity party to dirty it up.

"I'd take him to one of my safe houses before that."

That calls back a hearty laugh, nodding his understanding. It helps him know what their boundaries are, something Elektra never has an issue telling him anyhow.

"Didn't know you still had those," he admits, gently fishing as he allows Rocky to scrunch his massive body into his lap. It looks uncomfortable, or it would if the goofy creature didn't look so pleased with himself for managing it.

She's amused at the display and the admission. Stick raised her to assume nothing would ever last. Elektra will always have hundred ways out of a situation at any given time. The only ones she isn't prepared to ditch at a moment's notice are Frank and this silly dog. She doesn't bother making a secret of it.

"Absolutely. You never know when the dead will come back to life or we have another alien invasion. I always intended to have a place to run to with you and our oversized baby."

Frank scratches the dog's belly obligingly and tries to cover over his expression in reaction to her casual admission, but he wears his heart on his sleeve on a good day.

"I didn't know," he manages, keeping his tone light even as his gaze fixes on the dog because he can't look at her face while he considers that she has thought about this. Their escape. "I mean, that you..." Always intended anything.

He swallows and shakily forges eye contact. He's pathetic, isn't he? He feels that way.

She watches him carefully. It dawns on her slowly that this is news to Frank. It endears her to him even more. To Elektra it seems so obvious. They're happy together. Who else would she want to run off with now? She is surprised he can't see it. After all, he always seems like the more emotionally intelligent partner. It's rare she's ahead of in this respect.

Elektra smiles at him fondly as she meets his gaze. "You silly man." She leans forward to gently bump her forehead against his. "Who else is there?" She asks it with a genuine sweetness that's so rarely expressed.

Maybe it should be obvious, but to Frank it feels like an inevitability of his life - her leaving, in one way or another. If she doesn't do so willingly... well, he can't afford that to happen, not to her. He won't survive that again.

"You're the one who brought up Murdock," he teases, not actually feeling threatened by the other man in the least, despite his history with Elektra. He presses his face back against hers, eyelashes fluttering against her cheek as his eyes shut in total trust. "Fine, I guess I'd run away with you, too." Since they're doing the whole confession thing.

i had a dream i got everything i wanted

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