There were some things in the world - most of them bad things that other people would frown on - that Joseph just knew. Like the face that Daisy made when she was trying not to cry out. And he knew what she was doing to stop it, chewing her cheek and likely making it bleed. He was also pretty sure that the response he was going to get out of her was the one he ended up getting at first. A question instead of an answer. Sometimes he honestly wondered if Daisy would be capable of having an independent thought in that head of hers. And there we go. 'You wanted this?' I wanted anything other than that pathetic thing that was dragging itself around the house. "That's not what your behavior this past week suggests," Joseph reminded her, not letting go of her shoulder, but lowering the temperature that he had been simmering at. Right then he did not want to burn her, not when she was actually going ahead and doing what he wanted her to for a change. He would have added more, but she turned too fast and he had to grin in a completely different way at the spark in her eyes. There it was, a spark that he could feel reflected in her. A flickering that was uniquely Daisy and everything seemed so much better when she had it. Otherwise she was just... how could he want to keep someone around him when they were a shell?
"I'm not a-"
"No one's talking to you." Joseph did not even bother to look away from Daisy. "Sit down and shut up, we'll get to you." He did not look to see if she was listening. "I brought her back because I want something in my bed that isn't going to just curl up there and practically cry to sleep. Or whatever you're doing, it's not what you always do and that's not back to normal." Joseph's grasp on Daisy's shoulder tightened. His hand may not have been flaming hot anymore, but the pressure should be enough to at least get a wriggle or a whimper if Daisy was not trying to play the tough girl for Marie's benefit. "What the hell didn't you understand about going back to normal? How am I supposed to do it when you're being this hollow shell of a Daisy, huh? There hasn't been a spark in you until about a minute ago and that's just sickening." Part of him, a pretty large one, wanted to slap her for taking that tone with him, but he restrained it. If he wanted what he thought would happen to happen, then he needed Daisy to keep that feisty side up. A beaten puppy just did not have the same snap as a pissed off one. "She's really here for you. All yours." He waved one hand carelessly over his back in the direction of the woman who was slowly starting to edge for the door. Joseph's grin was crooked this time and he reached up to tuck back a piece of Daisy's hair, enjoying the feel of her skin against his fingertips more because he had not done this in awhile. "This is your chance to fix yourself. Your moping stops when this is over or else I'll take you to that church myself and leave you for him." Like she was a puppy who could change ownerships just like that, or like he was capable of doing that. No, Joseph was used to having Daisy around and if the time came that she wanted someone else more... he was not adverse to using fire and underhand tactics to correct and keep her. "Got it, Ember? You get your spark back with whatever happens next or we're done. Fire elementals don't play with burned out candles." No one had ever accused him of being understanding about the emotion's of other people. When he wanted something he got it.
Or he left a charred and smoking thing in his wake. He just really hoped the next one would not be Daisy-shaped.