Control (Kilgrave x reader)

Primal Expectations and a Flickering of Love

After watching Kilgrave pace around outside for a few minutes, I stood up. The moment I stepped out of the dining room it bustled like it had before his command for silence. My head turned slightly. No one seemed fazed by the command. They went about their lives like business as usual. My feet hesitated to carry me out to the sidewalk. But when I arrived Kilgrave waited impatiently by an idling car. He opened the door and I got in before him. The door shut as the driver was instructed to ignore us. Even though Kilgrave had given that order, he didn't say anything for half the drive.

"So," Kilgrave started, while turning his attention to me, "is that how you really feel about me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't realize what you did? That's interesting."

"No. Is that why you've got such an attitude?"

"You showed me what you thought of me."

"I've also told you what I have thought of you. Why would it be different now?"

"Because I felt it."

"I wasn't aware you could feel."

His face twisted into a sour expression. Our normal banter was not going to fly this time. He looked ready to strike with a command, or violence. It was lucky that we were only a few blocks away from my cafe. The car halted at the cafe. I looked down to see Kilgrave's hands shaking at his side. He pushed the door open, waiting for me to get out next. A detective was waiting at a table inside. A button up shirt was stained with coffee. He dabbed at it trying to remove the stain. Kilgrave kept a snarl on his lips. We walked inside. The detective looked up at me. His tie was crooked. A mug of coffee at the table was half drunk. Like him it had been at that table for awhile.

"Detective, I am sorry about the delay in my arrival." I waved someone over for a refill for him. "I came as soon as I heard from my employee that you were here. What is happening?"

"Miss ____, glad you could come. I figured this would be a bit more informal than meeting me at the station."

"Am I in trouble for something?" Kilgrave pulled out a chair and sat in it. If I wasn't aware he was mad before, I knew it now. "I was out with my friend. He's from out of town we were seeing the sights for his first time in New York."

"Welcome to New York. Listen I won't take up much of your time. One of your employees," he slid over a picture of the very man I saw shot in cold blood, "was found dead."

"Luke..." my voice became timid reliving that moment as tears filled my eyes, waiting to break, "...what happened?"

"We're still piecing everything together. Him and a few others were found shot in an abandoned building. We have a man in custody who confessed. We are trying to figure out if this was a random attack or planned."

"I will be more than happy to comply with the police. Tell me what I can do."

"Did Luke have any enemies?"

"None that I know of."

"How did he become employed with you?"

"Luke," I paused for a moment, "was struggling. He had a drug addiction and he used to dumpster dive for scraps. I offered him help finding a rehab facility. He came to me just after Christmas two years ago. He was finally ready to get clean. He went through the program. I often visited him while he was in rehab. When he got out, I helped him by giving him a job and getting him his own place. He was truly a kind soul that deserved better than this."

Kilgrave showed a momentary twinge of frustration. My eyes moved between the picture of Luke and the detective. If Kilgrave thought empathy was bad when I showed him my fear for him; he wasn't ready for Luke's tragic backstory. Another employee brought me a cup of tea. She had tears in her eyes. I stood up, wrapping my arms around her. I brought her closer for a heartfelt hug. Her body shook in my embrace. I told her to go take a break and if she needed more to let me know, I'd cover her shift.