you threw your keys onto the table, arms draping at your sides as you dragged your tired feet along your hardwood floors. you rubbed your drooping eyes with your fist, yawning as you shuffled into the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water.
you'd had a long day, work troubles, vigilante disputes, all of your few close friends seemed to he struggling in one way or another. you had the unenviable habit of taking on the woes of the people you cared about most and trying to solve them. it often meant your own concerns were pushed to the back of your mind. like how the accused serial killer you'd wound up defending somehow under your joint legal team, would stare right through to your soul every time your eyes met. it was really sending you into a spiral.
except he threw the trial, got himself convicted, thrown in prison and then escaped in no less than 48 hours. deep down, though you would never admit this to your legal partners ever even if your life depended on it, you had to admire him. he didn't go down without a fight.
but that was enough thinking about that. you gulped back your water, ignoring the odd feeling in your chest that had been lingering since you met said serial killer, frank castle. you had worse things to worry about, like how your job was basically no more and neither foggy or matt wanted to tell you why. or how karen and matt had some kind of falling out, now karen was running off on another tangent and matt you hardly ever saw around anymore. and foggy, poor foggy had taken the worst of it all, only getting shot earlier today.
you had just returned from visiting foggy in the hospital, it was late and you couldn't wait to hit the hay after the day you'd had. you opened your fridge to find in practically empty, nothing but an old banana and a half empty carton of milk. you sighed, shutting the fridge door again, deciding your bed really had to be the best option right now.
you frowned, pausing when you thought you heard what sounded like a soft knock on your door. before you could investigate though, you were suddenly being yanked backwards, material wrapped around your neck that was tightened and knotted. your eyes bulged, hand quickly moving to the noose around your neck that was sucking the air out of your lungs. you thrashed yourself around, trying to fight the attacker hidden behind you, when you were forcefully thrown into the kitchen counter. the wind was knocked out of you, your forehead slamming into the counter top with a thud. your head was feeling lighter, your throat tightening as you kicked again and again at their legs, arms flailing behind you trying to get the attacker to relent.
nothing seemed to be working, when you caught sight of the kitchen knife lying across the counter from you. you stretched out, eyesight blurring a little from the lack of oxygen and tears welling. your fingertips grazed the handle of the weapon, choking out as you lunged and grabbed hold. you didn't hesitate to throw your arm behind you, knife in hand as you sunk it into the back of the attacker. suddenly the noose was loosened and you let out a gasp for air. our hands moved to the burning skin of your throat, your body collapsing against the countertop. a man you didn't recognise, lifeless against your hardwood floors, knife securely fastened in his back.
your breath hitched, eyes widening when you grasped what you had done. you felt sick, a burning sensation building in your throat when you jolted, spotting a figure out the corner of your eye. you let out a yelp, not even thinking as you bent down, yanking the knife out of the strangers back and aiming it at the intruder standing in the shadows.
he stepped forwards, a small stretch of light coming from the streetlight outside your window illuminated his face and you clutched the knife even tighter. "you really shouldn't've pulled the knife out sweetheart," his voice was low and gravelly. his face black and blue, but you'd yet to see him in any other state. "he's gonna' bleed out and make a nasty mess."
