“Faked his own death, huh?” Frank asked, amused. “Least I know you have a type-“ that came out before he meant it to, and he had the decency to look a little mortified at his comment. “I just mean- people. That you know. Heh-“ he ducked his head in a rare moment of embarrassment, then cleared his throat and pressed on.
At least he’d already faced Karen’s annoyance at his own disappearing act, they didn’t have to go through that in addition to all this chat about magic and shit.
He looked at the hand she was offering, that he’d all but asked for, hadn’t he, and hesitated only a second before reaching out to take it in his own. He couldn’t - wouldn’t - promise anything, he couldn’t trust that something wouldn’t come along and crap all over everything he held dear, as it was so prone to doing, but for now it could be good.