The First Time
The first time he does it she nearly jumps out of her skin. She's getting a breath fresh of air just outside the newspaper’s offices. He appears silently out of the shadows beside her with no warning.
She yelps, covering it up almost immediately, hand flying to her mouth. “What are you doing here?” She hisses out the question, pushing him back into the shadows so no one sees.
It's been weeks since she last saw him, towering ominously on the rooftop while sirens whirred and lights flashed. As of now, he's still officially dead, but there are murmurs rippling through the air. Until he does something bigger he's just a ghost story criminals pass along by word of mouth, a cautionary tale. Karen honestly prefers it that way. It means he's safe.
“I brought coffee.” He holds old the paper cup to her, a token of his good intentions. “Sugar and cream?”
She takes it from him, squinting in the ambient light to see his face. The bruises have faded, cuts and scrapes taking just a bit longer. It's the first time she's seen him without black eyes. Taking a sip, she glares at him. “I prefer it black.”
One corner of his mouth twitches up, the expression in his eyes softening. “I should have known.”
“You didn't answer my question, Frank.” She's still semi-whispering, but somehow manages to infuse a little bit of command into her voice.
He concentrates on his own coffee, taking a big gulp before looking back at her. He holds the cup like it’s delicate, like he might crush it if he used anything other than his patented three finger grip, thumb on the back, two in front. “You always stay here this late?”
Typical deflection, she thinks. The fact that he's here at all means that he knows she always stays here late, that he's become acquainted with her schedule. She raises one eyebrow. “Stalking me?” She's staring him down. The intensity of this little exchange, the inexplicable aura of flirtation, gives her a little thrill, and she takes a step closer to him.
“Someone's gotta make sure you don't get kidnapped on the way home.” He drains his cup, and looks directly at her. “I read your piece.”
Suddenly all of her confidence flees, mouth dropping open as she stares. She’s blushing, damn it, the heat of it cascading across her face. “Uh, so…” She clears her throat, nerves making her more jittery than the coffee ever could. “W-what did you think?”
He squints, glancing up at the lights overhead, pretending to think about it. “Let's just say, that's one article that I wouldn't line a hamster cage with.”
And there it is, that elusive smile. It's so quick she almost misses it. Her heart flutters, drumming in her chest like the wings of a butterfly. She's standing directly in front of him, breathless with something she can't even put into words. Why is she drawn to him? It's like a moth fluttering toward a single light in an oppressively dark room. There's so much darkness.
She opens her mouth to tell him that she wanted to write about him, to tell the world he is a good man, that everyone has equal measures of darkness and light. Hell, if she could just blurt out “It was about you!” and see his reaction that would be enough.
Instead she just stands, transfixed, clutching a cup of hot coffee and staring into his nearly unreadable expression. She opens her mouth to speak and nothing comes out.
Frank closes the space between them, and her heart nearly stops in anticipation. The feel of his hand slipping beneath her short jacket sends a shiver through her, and it is only belatedly that she realizes he's tracing the leather strap of her gun holster.
She purchased the daintiest one she could find, hoping to hide it beneath short jackets and the occasional bolero. She doesn't exactly have a conceal/carry permit. The pistol rests just beneath her left arm.
Close now, he whispers in her ear. “Locked and loaded, safety's on.” Just a comment, but it's full of pleasant approval, and she feels a corresponding pleasure wash over her.
Karen nods, unable to stop him from withdrawing slowly. He presses a chaste kiss into her temple before turning and disappearing into the shadows. “Take care, ma'am.”