"What did you . . . Pull your fuckin pants up." Frank had his pistol out, aiming it square between Rocky's eyes.
"Hey man relax!" As he grabbed the waist of his pants and pulled them up he was rewarded with a thick punch to the gut.
"What did you say? You a biker? Yeah?" Frank already knew the answer, he saw the vest draped over a chair in the apartment he was dragging Rocky into.
"Frank what are you doing?" Cordelia asked a dumb question, it was clear what he was doing. She winced as Frank plowed his fist into Rocky's face.
"And you?" He spun around his furious eyes tearing her to shreds. "Are you one too?" Frank's guard was completely up. Was the only person he gave the time of day to part of one of the gangs responsible for killing his family. Was she planted there to keep tabs on him? That nonsensical conspiracy theory made more sense than the vague bullshit she had been feeding him.
"No I-"
"Tell me Rocky, and don't you lie to me yeah?" The butt of Frank's gun collided with Rocky's skull. "Huh? She run with the dogs?" Frank spat as he interrogated the dazed flunky.
"What do you want me to say I'll say it! She didn't ride with us she's just a whore that got too old so we got rid of her. Should be thankin us for everything we gave you. Sucking our cocks whenever-" Rocky didn't stop talking so much as he was physically incapable of talking. His throat was held in Frank's vice grip pinning him off the floor and against the wall.
"Anyone tell you . . . you talk too much"

"Frank?!" Cordelia tugged on one of his tree trunk arms trying to keep him from killing Rocky.
"What? You like this? You want this? Letting this pervert jack off to you when you walk by in the morning? Does that get you going huh?" His grip tightened, Rocky was turning purple, clawing in desperation.
" You can't kill him!" And with a thud Rocky was dropped to the floor, gasping sputtering clutching his own neck.
"Go upstairs." Frank would take his aggression out on this unlucky tool. Grotto may have eluded him again, but Frank would use Rocky as a temporary replacement knife holder. He wouldn't kill Rocky in front of Cordelia, she wasn't built for that level of guilt, or whatever blood and guts that would spill out for that matter.

"Please help me." Rocky managed to cough out a plea to Cordelia.
"Oh now with the please and thank yous huh? Second ago you wanted her on her knees right? Now you want her help? She can't help you. Cord close the door, go upstairs!" Frank's patience was wearing dangerously thin.
"You let him kill me, they'll know it was you. They'll come for you and that chink kid of yours." Rocky threw his chips down on the table, hoping a threat would spur Cordelia into action.
"Now!" Frank boomed, he would not wait a second longer. Gun pointed at Rocky daring him to move Frank grabbed Cordelia by the collar and shoved her out of the apartment, causing her to fall on her backside, slamming the door right in her face.

'Holy fuck. What do I do? What do I do?' Cordelia was frozen, useless, just staring at the door hoping this was all a bad dream. 'Run.' She had done it before, she could do it again. Just run upstairs take Dahlia, Mrs. Bell the old woman watching her and run far far away from the unhinged maniac that was Frank Castle. She didn't run though, hell it took her near a century to even stand, never losing eye contact with the door. Reaching out a shaking hand, her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, but much like running Cordelia failed to act, she didn't open the door. She was about to, she really was but her self preservation told her otherwise. The sounds emitting from the other side of the door were horrifying, gruesome, made Cordelia's stomach turn, none worse so than than the low almost unintelligible snarl of Frank's voice.

"What are you . . . what are you talking about huh?" Frank laid a heavy kick into Rocky's ribs.
"What do you want? I'm sorry!" Rocky was still pleading, still mistakenly thinking he had a way out of this, that he could appeal to Frank's humanity, that Frank had any readily available.
"The girl. Did you touch her? How bout your buddies huh? They put a hand on her?"
"I . . . No I never did, we didn't I swear!" Rocky coughed. "She took her, the bitch took the china doll with her right after she came to the house."
"The house?" Frank pulled Rocky up by his collar, fire and brimstone blowing out of his nostrils
"I wasn't there, it was years ago. We don't do shit like that anymore I swear."
"Where's this house huh?"
"I . . . I don't know. It was years ago man! I didn't even know they were here. Hooker with a heart of gold paid for the girl in full, don't know how. They've been gone for years, girl was in diapers last time the Dogs had anything to do with them. I'll leave em alone I swear, I didn't know they were your's." Rocky tried to form a truce, if there were anyway to go about it this was certainly not it. Frank's still damaged face contorted into something not even remotely human.

'Mine?' That notion almost slipped by him but when it registered it sent Frank over the edge. What was his was gone, ripped from him, blown to indescribable bloody bits. He would never say his wife and children were 'his', they were better than him in every measurable way, better than everything, better than life itself. What was his, what he didn't deserve but had lucked into was the ability to love them, to be loved back unconditionally by them. And that love that he held so dear seemed so far away, so badly damaged. He still felt it, it was the stitching that was barely holding him together, but it would never be what it once was. Happiness would never be 'his' again. "Yeah you're going to leave em alone." With a seamless set of movements Frank plunged a knife deep into Rocky's gut, once, twice, a third time. Frank dropped Rocky's body to the floor with an unceremonious flop. His lost frantic eyes struggled to stay in one place, pacing the room, eventually falling on Rocky's vest. His heart sunk, plummeted straight to the soles of his shoes. It was back, the loneliness, the pain, the anger, the war was back at the forefront of Frank's gaze.

The door eventually creaked open, slow and ominous, very horror movie esque. "Frank!" Cordelia found a way to yell and whisper at the same time. "What the fuck did you do?" She watched as Rocky's lifeless dripping corpse flopped with each of Frank's steps, he was heading to the basement. He wouldn't grace that dumb question with an answer. "You didn't have to do that Frank . . . What if someone sees you?" Cordelia had to jog to keep up with Frank as they headed downstairs.
"No one sees shit Ma'am. No one hears shit, no one does shit. City full of deaf dumb mutes." With a grunt he threw a shoulder into the basement door, forcing it open.
"I didn't want you to do this . . . I didn't ask you to save me Frank . . . hell I'm not sure if I'm in more danger now than I was before." She stood back as he powered his way through another door, leading to a back alley.
"Makes two of us." Frank glanced back at her before releasing Rocky into a dumpster. He wasn't decided about Cordelia. Frank Castle liked black and white and she was nothing but the most obnoxious shade of gray.

"That's it?" Cordelia wasn't exactly sure what she was expecting as far as body removal went but tossing Rocky out with garbage was not it.
"People that don't do shit, don't get a say in how it's done." Some trash was scattered above the corpse and the lid closed. "So unless you want blood on your hands just let me be." Frank rubbed his palms against his thighs wiping off said blood, and a little bit of week old mac and cheese. If he thought anyone gave two shits about the cockroach Rocky perhaps he would have given the disposal more than a second's thought.
"I'm trying . . . I really am . . . you're just . . . making it hard." Cordelia sighed as they came back in the apartment, taking one last look at Rocky's impromptu resting place. 'Is this my fault? Did I do this?' looking at her hands she could see they were shaking. '100, 99, 98, 97, 96-'

"So you gonna explain yourself?" Frank needed this puzzle solved, he needed black and white again no more gray. 'If I put her down what about the kid?' His eyes shot up to the ceiling.
"Explain myself? Really? You're the one who just stabbed a guy to death and you want-"
"Explain your connection . . . your connection with the dogs . . . they . . . I can't-"
"I was young alright? I didn't have much of a choice. I'm not proud of it . . . it's not exactly on my resume." Cordelia stared at her feet, preferring fearing for her life over this awkward secret sharing session they were in. "But I'm not young and weak anymore. I'm my own person, I don't need anything from anyone. It's just Dahlia and me versus the world." looking up for a split second was a regrettable choice. Frank's stare could cut diamonds, he was trying to bore through her chest and stop her heart with a look.

He had heard this song and dance before, it's never anyone's fault, the poor decisions they've made in life. This still wasn't clearing anything up, everything was still so very gray. "When? Were you still a part-"
" I was never 'a part' of anything. I was a prostitute for a gang . . . not a gang member."
"Same difference. Really gonna split hairs on that?" Frank's glare broke for a second, into a questioning look. 'Always picks the weirdest things to fall on her sword about.'
"There's a big difference. No one had my back . . .that's the difference, I wasn't a friend a family member, a team player I was just a mattress warmer. You ever been a part of something Frank? You're a loner like me, but not always. You used to be a part of things right? That's why you're so angry-"
"Alright just shut it Dr. Phil I don't need my head shrunk. Don't talk about shit you don't understand." The darkness of the basement made Frank's looming approach to Cordelia seem even more frightening. He didn't appreciate her telling him how he felt. 'She's trying to flip it. This ain't about me.' He closed his eyes for a second, hoping for clarity, hoping for quiet, all he saw was gray. "Ma'am I'm gettin real tired of asking. When did you leave the dogs?" Part of Cordelia wanted to press her luck, ask why it mattered but ever reading people she knew Frank couldn't handle much more conversation, he was about to blow.

"Five years . . . it's what September? Six years, one month . . ." She paused trying to remember what day of the week it was currently. "Seventeen days. Is that the answer you wanted?" Cordelia was growing exhausted, she just wanted this all to be done with. When he continued to just stare at her stone faced, it was her turn to blow, something had to give. "Six years Frank! So I don't need the dogs, I also don't need YOU protecting me, picking me up from work, just mind your own business alright? I've done just fine for six fucking years before you came barging in killing anything that looks at you funny."

"Fine?" Frank finally broke his silence with a sarcastic chuckle.
"What?"
"You call this fine? Hell you call this living? Scampering through the city, tail between your legs? Letting dipshits walk all over you? Sleepin with one eye . . . nah that ain't even you, you can't even close one eye, too scared. And that's doin just fine? Hate to see you on a bad day Cordelia."
"Don't mock me Frank." She was still afraid of Frank, but if she was going to be murdered she didn't want the last words she heard to be nagging.
"I'm just callin em as I see em."
"For me . . . that's fine . . . it's tolerable ok? Better word choice? There are two kinds of people in the world Frank. Givers and Takers. You're a giver Frank, doling out your street justice or whatever you wan't to call it. I'm a taker, I just suck it up and take whatever life gives me, and my tolerance for less than ideal shit is through the roof."

"And what about the kid?"
"Leave Dahlia out of it." Cordelia was done with this conversation, done with Frank, she was going back to her apartment, leave her past in the past, and Frank in this basement.
"She just supposed to take it too? She gotta suffer for your shit?"
"Shut up! She doesn't have to I . . ." She paused shaking her head. "I don't need to explain myself to you . . . you're insane! You're fucking batshit! They won't hurt Dahlia, I make sure of that and I'll make sure you don't either." She had made it all the way to the stairs but her escape was thwarted.

He had her, forearm across her throat, pinned against the wall gun to her head, staring at her, just completely lost in her. "That so huh?" His voice was coming from the pit of his stomach, deep and coated in bile. "You never mentioned that before."
"Mentioned what?" Cordelia wasn't as scared as she should have been, too busy kicking herself. 'Cosmic pull.'
"That you're bulletproof."
"I . . ."
"What? What is it Super Girl? That must be it right? You gotta be fucking invincible to make promises like that. That you won't LET people do this that and the third? You got the spine of a jellyfish but what the hide of a rhino?"
"I never said-"
"Cause I'll tell you Super Girl, I get it, I really do. I thought I was invincible too, untouchable, shit I couldn't lose and I figured I'll blink I'll take a breath I deserve it right? You know what that got me? Do you?"
"No." Cordelia's voice was solem, she didn't know the details but she could tell where this was headed. 'Maria, Lisa, Frank.' Feeling sad for Frank's loss took her mind off the fact that he was less than inches away from killing her. With every word his index finger jerked, with purpose, Cordelia's only saving grace was that it would always stop right before the trigger.
"A picnic and three headstones." Frank's ears rang with the sound of the carousel, the sound of bullets, the sounds of bodies hitting the ground. 'Black and White.' It was finally clear to him, what he had to do.

"100, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95-"
"What's that? What are you doing?" Frank was torn from the park, torn from the massacre, back in the basement.
"Counting." Cordelia answered simply, then started from the beginning. "100, 99, 98, 97-"
"No shit it's counting. Why?" He had heard people beg, pray, curse and cry but never count. He pulled his gun away from her head, still holding her in place though.
"Metronome . . . it's a trick to get unstuck."
"Unstuck? How's that working out for you?" She still looked pretty stuck to him.

"If you listen to the metronome, focus on the seconds passing, counting them you'll realize you're not stuck . . . in the moment. It's not the same, it's not as bad. It might be better it might be worse, but it's not as bad as that moment you were stuck in because it's a new one, then another, then another." She repeated verbatim how that 'trick' had been explained to her all those years ago. She felt the pressure against her throat lessen, Frank was slowly pulling away.
"I told you to stay out of my head." He sneered as he eventually removed his forearm all together. "I don't need your help, I ain't tryin to be saved. You got that?" Frank didn't want to be unstuck, he didn't want to lose a single moment with his family, even that last horrific handful of seconds.

"Guess we're two people who don't need saving" Cordelia slid down the wall she had been pinned against. "Shit." She buried her head in her hands.
"You're crashing." He could see all the blood leaving Cordelia's body. She had been fueled on fight or flight adrenaline for a better part of a half hour, she had nothing left. "Here, come on Super Girl." He stuck out a hand to help her to her feet.
"You can't be serious?" Cordelia scoffed staring at Frank's outstretched palm. "After all the shit you just pulled-"
"I wasn't going to shoot you." Frank crouched down, getting face to face.
"Not that . . . I knew that. I'm talking about the shit-"
"You knew huh? So you just-"
"Just took it. You're a gun nut Frank, you didn't stab Rocky cause you love it so much, you did it because shooting someone in your own apartment building is slightly dumber than stabbing one." Cordelia chuckled, pushing her palms against the floor she tried to lift herself up, she didn't fight Frank on it this time as he took her waist in his hands helping her to her feet.
"Never said I was smart. I just do what I need to, what others won't do."

"So what? You gonna carry me bridal style to my apartment?" Cordelia pointed out Frank's hands hadn't moved, he was still holding her.
"I ain't sweeping you off your feet. You walk ahead, I'll make sure you don't fall and crack your skull." His hand went from her waist to her back nudging her slightly. He did just that, watching her dutifuly as she made her way to their floor. He had finally figured out where she fit in, what was her spot in the greater scheme of things, black or white. Maria had placed this woman, that little girl square in Frank's life. She wanted him to look out for them, he had failed her once, this was Maria giving him a second shot to prove himself. 'Keep em alive.' Black and White, there was his mission at hand, and the white noise that was rest of the world. Cordelia and Dahlia had waded from one side to another, from white noise to black permanent ink, a mission.

"Dilly!" Dahlia had been standing in the door way. "Mr. Frank! Oooh stay here!" She squealed with delight before dipping into the apartment.
"You had us worried Cordelia is everything alright?" Mrs. Bell could set a watch by Cordelia's return home from work on most days, any discrepancy was means for concern. "Hello, we haven't met I'm Tracy Bell. Are you a friend of Cordelia's?" The older woman placed a hand out for a shake.
"Neighbor Ma'am." Frank's hands were deep in his coat pockets sticky with blood. "Can I use your bathroom?" Frank turned to Cordelia.
" Go." She pointed at the bathroom door. He nodded first at Carrie, then to the babysitter. "Ma'am"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Bell I won't be late again, I should have called but I-"
"He's cute."
"Huh?"
"Paul didn't tell me you had a boyfriend. Good for you, he's really the quiet type isn't he? Does he have a thing with germs? I shouldn't have-"
"No. Nope it's nothing like that! He is just my neighbor-"
"Don't worry I won't tell Paul, he would be so steamed to know his mother is more in the loop than he is."
"Certainly are Paul's mom, making gossip out of nothing." Cordelia shook her head. "I'll see you tomorrow." She gave up on crushing the woman's hopes and dreams, and simply ushered her out of the apartment.

Cordelia found her indent in the couch, let the furniture consume her, enjoying just a moment to herself. "Dilly?!" That moment of rest didn't last.
"Yes Dahly?" Cordelia closed her eyes as she spoke.
"Where did Mr. Frank go? I drew a picture of him and Max and wanted to give it to him!"
"Whose Max?" Frank walked up behind the child.
"Your horse." Cordelia smirked and slowly reopened her eyes. "We tried to guess your horse's name."
"Dahly guess was cupcake. Here" Dahlia handed over her artwork to Frank.
"Look at that." Frank smirked as he took in the image with awe. His eyes locked with the miniature version of himself. "Like Fucking Frankenstien." He smirked, flashing the picture at Cordelia who simply nodded and laughed at his expense. ''But that dog." The dog in the picture had a smile, not the human being, the dog. "Cupcake?"
"Horses all have ironic dumb names." Cordelia shrugged.
"He's a dog Dilly! Can Max come over? Can we play? I was good last time!" Dahlia spun between Cordelia and Frank.
"Super Girl?" Frank knew Cordelia did not want his dog stomping through her apartment, but he always had a hard time saying no to kids.
"Bring in the stallion Frankenstein." Cordelia sighed leaning her head against her apartment wall.
"Yay!" Dahlia jumped up and down in anticipation. Frank shook his head as he went to go get the dog.

'She's the real dangerous one.' He could hear Dahlia still jumping, the time he got in his apartment. "Hey Max look at this." He showed the dog Dahlia's drawing before putting it on his desk. "Lets go see Picasso huh?" The dog nearly jumped off the wall, brimming with excitement. Frank half walked half was dragged to the apartment next to his. "Relax! You're already on thin ice bud" He tried to cool the dog's energy but once Dahlia locked eyes with the beast that was impossible.

"Shhhhhh!" Dahlia ran up to the dog, hugging him but at the same time sticking a finger to Max's snout. "Look Mr. Frank Dilly's sleeping!" It was a rare sight indeed, Cordelia in her seated position was snoring lightly.
"Hmmm." He nodded. 'She had a long day.' Frank smiled, whether she had fallen to sleep willingly, she did deserve it. "You two knuckle heads keep it quiet alright?" Frank watched as the dog and child rolled around on the floor.
"We will." Dahlia loudly whispered.

Frank sat on the couch next to Cordelia, the weight adjustment startled and woke her up. "Dahlia!" She shouted as she tried to stand. A hand held her in place.
"Sleep." Frank shook his head.
"If I blink, if I breath-" She began quoting him.
"They won't get her, I'll stop them I promise you that Ma'am."
"I don't need you to protect us Frank."
"You do need sleep. Just take it huh? Take a nap it won't kill you I swear."
"What are you getting out of all this?" No one helps anyone in this day and age, Frank's selfless act was unnerving to Cordelia.
"A break." Frank did not elaborate, Cordelia did not pry. "Now shut up and sleep."