Author's Note: Hey everybody. I know this one is pretty short (and probably a little boring) but it's just something to keep you guys reading until I get to the next chapter, which (hopefully anyways) will be better. Also, thanks to red lightning and Ratdogtwo for your reviews. I usually reply to them individually, but I just never got around to it this time. I hope you guys enjoy this, and remember, more reviews equal faster updates.
The Return
Chapter Seven
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"And good morning to you too."
"Don't play games with me Stick; I'm not in the mood. What exactly is going on?"
Elektra threw her arm in the direction of the training area they were standing over. Abby, bow stick in hand, was currently sparring with a group of six men, none of whom seemed to be faring very well.
"Much as this may shock you, I had no intention of resuming Abby's training, at least not this soon after Mr. Miller's death. She was the one who insisted I do so."
"And you agreed?"
"What would you have me do?"
"Say no! Mark hasn't been dead twenty four hours yet. Do you honestly believe that she's thinking clearly right now?"
Stick remained silent for a long time, keeping his eyes riveted on what was happening below them. Finally, after Elektra had given up on getting a response, he said "Look at her. Tell me what you see."
She tossed a quick glance at the combatants, then returned her gaze to Stick, glaring at him impatiently.
"What am I supposed to be looking for?"
"Just watch."
She grudgingly obeyed, cursing her mentor's inability to provide straight answers. At first, she saw nothing unusual. Abby was down to four opponents now and appeared to be doing well. It wasn't for a few moments that Elektra realized what Stick was talking about. Abby had just taken down another man, but instead of moving on, she slammed her bow stick into his midsection.
The match continued with more of the same. When Elektra had witnessed this scene the previous year, Abby had shown the same amount of skill and potential, but without the rage and violence that was there now. Watching the fight was like seeing herself right before Stick ordered her to leave. It wasn't a comforting thought.
Elektra shook her head, wanting desperately to deny what was so obviously true.
"It's normal to be angry after someone close to you dies. Maybe that's all this is, just a normal reaction."
Even as she said this, a loud snap could be heard, mingled with a scream of agony from the last man to fall. Clutching at his ribcage he curled into the fetal position, attempting to both ward off the pain, and protect himself should the girl try to attack him again.
Abby meanwhile seemed to have come out of a daze, and was looking around at what she had done with a mixture of horror and confusion. Suddenly, her gaze fell on Elektra. The two made eye contact for about half a second before Abby tossed her stick to the ground, fleeing in the opposite direction.
"Still think its just normal reaction?"
Elektra juerked at the sound of Stick's voice, having almost forgotten he was there.
"This can't happen; I can't let her become what I did."
"Then you'll need to speak with her."
"And say what, that she shouldn't be angry, that she shouldn't want revenge? Think about who you're talking to, Stick."
"My point exactly."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you're the only one she has left, the only one she trusts. She'll only hear this from you."
Elektra laughed humorlessly. "Trust me; I'm not the person to talk to her about the pitfalls of revenge, especially not right now."
Stick nodded as though he'd been expecting that. "So you intend to kill Bullseye."
Having grown accustomed to Stick's ability to know things he shouldn't, Elektra was only mildly surprised by the remark..
"Let me guess, you're going to tell me how wrong it is."
"I'll do nothing of the sort. I will however, remind you that your thirst for vengeance has cost you a great deal in the past."
"I'm a thousand times better then I was then. Bullseye won't be able to take me out a second time."
"Really? Well that is reassuring. Tell me, how is Mr. Murdock this morning?"
Elektra read the meaning behind the seemingly innocuous question and it took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to either burst into tears or punch Stick. As if she didn't feel terrible enough about stabbing Matt without having it thrown in her face.
"That was a low blow, old man."
"Perhaps, but I think it got the point across."
Elektra hated the fact that he was right almost as much as she hated the fact that she was about to agree with him. However, both were true and she saw no way around them.
"Fine, I'll talk to her."
She turned to walk away, only to be stopped by Stick's hand on her shoulder. When he spoke, it was one of the rare times when Elektra couldn't detect a single note of sarcasm lacing his words.
"You should know that despite what you think, there are worse people in the world for Abby to look up to."
Her lips twitching in the ghost of a smile, Elektra replied "Is that your way of paying me a compliment, sensei?"
"Not at all, I'm simply stating a fact that you, in your infinite stubbornness, have continually failed to grasp."
There were a lot of things she hated about Stick. He was an arrogant son of a bitch who liked to jerk people around. He also had an annoying habit of being right a ridiculous amount of the time. Most of all though, Elektra hated the fact that she always had, and always would respect him
