( it is the first time he's celebrating frank's birthday with him in years, so he is going to do his best to make it as enjoyable for him as possible. it won't make up for what had happened to him and his family, and it certainly won't wipe his own slate clean or make him feel any less... guilty for his involvement in it (as indirect as it was). billy has no intention of making a confession or asking for forgiveness here, but duplicity is almost like a second chance for him to do right by him.
maybe it's cowardly; maybe it'll eventually come back to bite him in the ass, but he knows frank too well. if he ever finds out, he will have hell to pay and let's just say he isn't ready for that. he doesn't think he'll ever be. at the same time, he knows he can't keep it from him forever. it'll be better for frank to hear it from him than somebody else, yetβ why stir the pot when there is no need for it? he can keep being his best friend and that suits him just fine.
billy figures frank would appreciate a more low key celebration for his birthday, so aside from a long overdue shopping spree, he has kept the day's events on the more relaxing and casual side of things. now, they're back at his apartment where he has just finished cooking dinner. time to kick back, crack open a beer and enjoy themselves. )
Grab a plate and help yourself. ( unsurprisingly, he has whipped up all of frank's favorites for the night. ) Cherish this moment, Frankie, 'cause you're gonna have to wait another year before I cook this much for you again.
[ There's nothing promising about the city; it's only been a short number of weeks since he's been stranded here, but there's been a full lack of presence of anyone involved in his family's murders and little hint on how to leave in order to return to the original mission he'd been entangled into with Lieberman back in New York. And aside from the taunts and deceiving games the people in charge have tossed in their direction, the days have been fairly quiet in between, silence that leaves Frank restless, fingers consistently tapping at his sides, wanting to take up arms, to break the skin of his knuckles, to do something that keeps him moving forward towards something.
But if there's any benefit at all, it's the company he's found himself keeping. Frank has long since shifted gears to move primarily on his own, to make his own schedules and keep himself at a secure distance from everyone else. Teaming up with Lieberman had been out of necessary rather than choice, and while there's usefulness in his skills, he felt more at ease when he only had his own back to look over. And yet here, he finds himself with the very man who guarded his back for years, a man he'd trusted his own life with time and time again.
It wasn't the ideal situation, and while it'd be difficult to vocalize the ease he feels in having his own friend stand by his side again, he does show it in his cooperation through the day that's meant to be his birthday, a day he hasn't felt the need to celebrate in years. Yet, he strolls with Bill through the markets like they aren't in the midst of a terrorizing city, his friend making reckless pointless purchases in clothes stock that he doubts he'll even wear. At the least, it's the drink in the end and the promise of a hearty meal that drives him through it. ]
Shit, Bill. Ain't even gonna cook for me on Valentines? [ He cracks a smug grin, getting a few scoopfuls of eggs over easy slid onto his plate and snatching a strip of bacon to crunch between his teeth, mouthful when he speaks again. ] Kind of offended.
( as reckless and pointless as frank might have found his purchases, billy at least made sure the clothing would be to his taste. he can't wear the same outfits everyday. it helps to have some variety. besides, he could use some more seasonal clothes, especially since the weather is getting colder.
he also got him some much needed items for his place in the down, whatever essentials he saw he was lacking on his visits. his birthday is really just an excuse for him to help a bro out without having him feel the need to repay him for it.
helping himself to some pasta, a wide grin breaks out over his face as he looks over at frank. )
Of course not. ( he reaches for a piece of garlic bread. ) Valentine's your turn. I expect to be pampered that day.
[ If there's anything beneficial to Billy's spoiling gesture (even if not to Frank's accepted acknowledge), it's the additional of a color palette to Frank's wardrobe, variations of navy and soft greens adding a flavor to his closet mostly composed to muted dark tones, typically any variation of black he could get his hands on β easier to move about at night without drawing attention.
That's not to say that Frank doesn't appreciate his friend's insistence; owing someone just never feels right by him, even if it is Bill. ]
Shit. [ He murmurs with a layer of mocked concern, as he works his way around the couch, slumping into the cushions. ] Is it me? Gotta update my calendar. Had you working up dinner for me for the next six months.
Funny. You been working on your sense of humor, Frankie?
( joining him at the couch, billy sets down his plate and a pack of beer on the coffee table as he sits down next to him. ) I don't remember the last time I've cooked a meal for someone though.
( he reaches over to pull out a can for frank and then himself, handing it to him.
got the cheap stuff. just the way frank likes it. nothing too fancy. ) It's kinda nice, you know. ( he cracks open the beer, holding it toward him. cheers, y/y? )
[ There's a casualness in his tone that would almost surprise him on account of it being so foreign these days, but with the presence of his own friend, he recognizes the familiarity of it. They'd always been like these, exchanging banter, each draped on their own bunks at the base, shared laughs easing the tensions of their responsibilities there. ]
Yeah. [ He mutters a bit more quietly, his eyes locked upon the food on his plate, taking in another bite to fill in the space of that pause he finds soon after.
His own cooking had been more recent, just before his arrival here, throwing together a few ingredients between him and Lieberman on account of them being stuck together for a time while Frank took care of the things he needed to. Things he was kept from doing here. ]
Sounds like you need to make a better habit of it. Eggs ain't bad, Russo.
( he's used to being alone, used to only having to take care of his own needs. he found a family in the army, but after what had happened to frank, he was back to where he'd started. so, he threw all of his focus on anvil, on helping those who needed to find a way to readjust to life after the military.
it didn't fix the loneliness, but at least it distracted him from it.
taking a slow sip of his beer, billy picks up his plate as he sinks back into the couch. )
[ He chuckles, easy on his throat as it shifts into a muffling hum with another large forkful of food lodged in his mouth. ]
Yeah, alright. Guess I can throw together something next time.
[ The city's still shit, the whole scenario they've been thrown in is shit, but there's something in this that's easing. Having Bill here, someone who knows him as he does, not just one side of Frank Castle, but multitudes of layers that have long since been seen.
He falls silent for a time before he speaks again, quieter this time. ]
You, uh, you handling this okay? This whole, you know, the shit they want us doing. [ They hadn't really talked about it, but something still tugs at him, still leaves him anxious to figure out his own next step in dealing with it. ]
( is he handling this okay? that's a loaded question if he's ever heard one. )
You know me, man. I can roll with the punches. ( it... hit a particularly rough patch for him not too long ago, so the answer is actually a no from him. but there are some parts of his life that he doesn't even want frank knowing and he doesn't want him asking questions he can't answer by bringing it up. ) I don't like it any more than anybody else here, but I can adapt. It's what we have to do right now. Adapt.
( forking some of the pasta into his mouth, he takes advantage of the brief silence to regroup. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
backdated to 11/15;
maybe it's cowardly; maybe it'll eventually come back to bite him in the ass, but he knows frank too well. if he ever finds out, he will have hell to pay and let's just say he isn't ready for that. he doesn't think he'll ever be. at the same time, he knows he can't keep it from him forever. it'll be better for frank to hear it from him than somebody else, yetβ why stir the pot when there is no need for it? he can keep being his best friend and that suits him just fine.
billy figures frank would appreciate a more low key celebration for his birthday, so aside from a long overdue shopping spree, he has kept the day's events on the more relaxing and casual side of things. now, they're back at his apartment where he has just finished cooking dinner. time to kick back, crack open a beer and enjoy themselves. )
Grab a plate and help yourself. ( unsurprisingly, he has whipped up all of frank's favorites for the night. ) Cherish this moment, Frankie, 'cause you're gonna have to wait another year before I cook this much for you again.
no subject
But if there's any benefit at all, it's the company he's found himself keeping. Frank has long since shifted gears to move primarily on his own, to make his own schedules and keep himself at a secure distance from everyone else. Teaming up with Lieberman had been out of necessary rather than choice, and while there's usefulness in his skills, he felt more at ease when he only had his own back to look over. And yet here, he finds himself with the very man who guarded his back for years, a man he'd trusted his own life with time and time again.
It wasn't the ideal situation, and while it'd be difficult to vocalize the ease he feels in having his own friend stand by his side again, he does show it in his cooperation through the day that's meant to be his birthday, a day he hasn't felt the need to celebrate in years. Yet, he strolls with Bill through the markets like they aren't in the midst of a terrorizing city, his friend making reckless pointless purchases in clothes stock that he doubts he'll even wear. At the least, it's the drink in the end and the promise of a hearty meal that drives him through it. ]
Shit, Bill. Ain't even gonna cook for me on Valentines? [ He cracks a smug grin, getting a few scoopfuls of eggs over easy slid onto his plate and snatching a strip of bacon to crunch between his teeth, mouthful when he speaks again. ] Kind of offended.
no subject
he also got him some much needed items for his place in the down, whatever essentials he saw he was lacking on his visits. his birthday is really just an excuse for him to help a bro out without having him feel the need to repay him for it.
helping himself to some pasta, a wide grin breaks out over his face as he looks over at frank. )
Of course not. ( he reaches for a piece of garlic bread. ) Valentine's your turn. I expect to be pampered that day.
no subject
That's not to say that Frank doesn't appreciate his friend's insistence; owing someone just never feels right by him, even if it is Bill. ]
Shit. [ He murmurs with a layer of mocked concern, as he works his way around the couch, slumping into the cushions. ] Is it me? Gotta update my calendar. Had you working up dinner for me for the next six months.
no subject
( joining him at the couch, billy sets down his plate and a pack of beer on the coffee table as he sits down next to him. ) I don't remember the last time I've cooked a meal for someone though.
( he reaches over to pull out a can for frank and then himself, handing it to him.
got the cheap stuff. just the way frank likes it. nothing too fancy. ) It's kinda nice, you know. ( he cracks open the beer, holding it toward him. cheers, y/y? )
no subject
[ There's a casualness in his tone that would almost surprise him on account of it being so foreign these days, but with the presence of his own friend, he recognizes the familiarity of it. They'd always been like these, exchanging banter, each draped on their own bunks at the base, shared laughs easing the tensions of their responsibilities there. ]
Yeah. [ He mutters a bit more quietly, his eyes locked upon the food on his plate, taking in another bite to fill in the space of that pause he finds soon after.
His own cooking had been more recent, just before his arrival here, throwing together a few ingredients between him and Lieberman on account of them being stuck together for a time while Frank took care of the things he needed to. Things he was kept from doing here. ]
Sounds like you need to make a better habit of it. Eggs ain't bad, Russo.
no subject
( he's used to being alone, used to only having to take care of his own needs. he found a family in the army, but after what had happened to frank, he was back to where he'd started. so, he threw all of his focus on anvil, on helping those who needed to find a way to readjust to life after the military.
it didn't fix the loneliness, but at least it distracted him from it.
taking a slow sip of his beer, billy picks up his plate as he sinks back into the couch. )
I'd still rather you cook for me though.
no subject
Yeah, alright. Guess I can throw together something next time.
[ The city's still shit, the whole scenario they've been thrown in is shit, but there's something in this that's easing. Having Bill here, someone who knows him as he does, not just one side of Frank Castle, but multitudes of layers that have long since been seen.
He falls silent for a time before he speaks again, quieter this time. ]
You, uh, you handling this okay? This whole, you know, the shit they want us doing. [ They hadn't really talked about it, but something still tugs at him, still leaves him anxious to figure out his own next step in dealing with it. ]
no subject
You know me, man. I can roll with the punches. ( it... hit a particularly rough patch for him not too long ago, so the answer is actually a no from him. but there are some parts of his life that he doesn't even want frank knowing and he doesn't want him asking questions he can't answer by bringing it up. ) I don't like it any more than anybody else here, but I can adapt. It's what we have to do right now. Adapt.
( forking some of the pasta into his mouth, he takes advantage of the brief silence to regroup. )
What about you? How are you handling it?