Making a Friend
It was stupid and unnecessary. He should have left it alone. Why didn’t he? Frank scoffed was he prowled across the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen. He knew why, he just didn’t want to admit it. Karen Page was a Good Person. There weren’t many around nowadays. He barely knew her, and yet, he instinctively knew. Frank had always been able to read people. This skill saved his ass more times than he could count. And his gut told him Karen Page was someone worth protecting.
Though for a man that wanted to keep her safe, maybe breaking into her apartment to leave a note sent the wrong message. The poor woman was probably terrified now. But what’s done is done, he couldn’t change it now. Then why couldn't he focus? He had his objective tonight, following the trafficking ring and the next stop was James Berndic. And yet she just keep slipping into his mind. Your getting soft Frank, he thought to himself. He shook his head in hope of dislodging these thoughts from his head. No luck. Frank sighed, Mr. Berndic was his target and his thoughts should be on how this was going to go down. He slowed to a stop. Here would have to do. He dropped his heavy bag against the low wall surrounding the roof top. Berndic was meeting with his other low lives to discuss their next shipment. Frank was going to stop by for a little chat is all.
The warehouse where the meeting was taking place was large, grey, and abandoned. Four other men would be showing up tonight, but none would be leaving. Berndic was already waiting, he was an average looking man, about 5’9 with brown hair and eyes. His nice blue suit a contrast to the shit hole they were meeting in. That was the problem with these guys. No one could tell they were part of this crap show unless they dug far enough. Luckily, this meant they were getting cocky. There were no guards posted to look out for men like Frank. Frank opened his bag and slowly started assembling his sniper rifle. Once the last man arrived, the meeting began, but it wouldn’t last for long. His first shot rang out and it was a head shot, clean through and through. The second and third men both were hit in the chest about two inches from their hearts. The fourth was a messy shot in the throat, where he would slowly choke to death on his own blood. Berndic stood in shock for exactly 30 seconds and then turned to run. Frank hit him in the right leg, enough to slow him down, but not to kill- not yet. The other man dropped with an anguished cry. It was goddamn music to Frank’s ears. He climbed down the building’s fire escape and headed over to have a one-on-one with the scumbag.
Frank strolled into the warehouse and watched the asshole try to crawl his way to safety. His heavy boots beat against the concrete like a war drum. The man was crying to himself and, by the looks of it, had actually pissed his pants at one point. A few strides later, Frank reached him. He grabbed the man and flipped him onto his back. The man shrieked as his back slapped the ground. Frank pressed his black boot into the mans chest to hold him down and shoved his rife into his face.
“Shut up.” Frank growled. Berndic immediately shut his mouth with an audible click. His eyes blown wide were filled with tears and snot dripping down his chin. How this man was in change of anything was beyond Frank. “Tell me about the girls.” The man shook his head slowly. “Good,” Frank ground out, “I was hoping you would do that.” Then Frank shifted and shot him in the other leg. A scream tore from Berndic as he tried to clutch his leg.
“Got anything to say now?” Frank asked, pressing harder onto his chest. His wheezing sobs became more distorted as Frank cut off his airway. The man nodded his head quickly and Frank eased up. He took gasping breathes as he stared up at Frank.
“What … do … you… want?” He panted up to Frank. Frank tilled his head at him.
“Where are the girls coming from? Whose in charge? And when is the next shipment?” Frank asked him. He didn’t have high hopes for most of these questions. These organizations worked on need to know basis and this man probably barely knew who his higher up was let alone how they operated.
“Look, I don't know much okay?” Mr. Berndic said. Frank raised his eyebrows and pushed down on his chest once again. “Shit, stop okay, stop! The next shipment is going to be late that’s why we were meeting.” Frank paused. That was odd. Most times these people worked like well oiled machines. They had to or else they were dead, it was a simple fact.
“Why? And who gave you that information? Hurry it up, I’m looking my patience.” Frank was using borrowed time. Soon the cops or Red would show up with questions and he didn’t want to deal with that tonight.
“Look, the guys who are suppose to watch over the shipment got shot up last night. Their gang is out for blood before they handle their business. They are delaying the whole damn operation.” Berndic said. Alarm bells went off in Frank’s head. No, there’s no way, he thought.
“What kind of gang? Who are they looking for?” He shifted his rifle closer to his eye. This seemed to encourage him to answer quickly.
“This biker gang called The Dogs of Hell. They were at some bar talking to a pretty blonde thing when her boyfriend shot them to hell. They want to get the girl and her boy, make them pay for making the Dogs look weak.” The words spilled out of the man almost running into each other. “I can help you, just plea-”
The shot cut off his desperate plea. Frank had what he needed and was going to get the hell outta dodge.
It was only a matter of time before Red would come to chastise Frank. Still didn’t make it any better expecting the damn thing. He was only a few streets from the warehouse when Red found him. At least the roof tops offered some privacy to these lectures. There was only so much he was willing to live through.
“Frank, you can’t keep doing this. It’s wrong.” Ah, the age old beginning. He had heard the speech so many times he probably could have recited it by memory. Red folded his arms, look like a disappointed mother scolding her child. It was antagonizing as hell.
“Oh shut up Red. We already now how this argument is gonna end. Let’s just skip to the important part.” Frank dropped his bag and pulled up his fists. Words weren’t his strong suit- his hands, however, were.
“I don’t want to fight. I wanted to warn you to stay away from Karen Page.” Red shifted dropping his arms to his sides. Karen Page. She just wouldn’t leave him alone would she? Frank almost didn’t mind.
“Oh really? How do you know Miss Page? She your girlfriend or somthin’ ?” He asked. For whatever reason the thought bothered him. Red and Page. She was too good for him. Not that it was any of his business. Karen seemed like the girl that deserves the partner that would support her decisions, not make them for her. Like Red was doing right now.
“No s-she’s… a friend. I don’t want her getting hurt. People seem to get hurt when they hang around you.” Red finished. Frank tightened his fists. His words hurt because they were true. He failed those that he was suppose to protect. The ones closest to him suffered and died because he couldn’t save him. Now he was stuck, alone, trying to save an entire city.
“Look, she’s a grown adult, she can make her own decisions. I doubt she cares what I’m doing anyways.” Growled out Frank. It was none of his business what she did or who she was “friends” with. He still needed to talk to her tonight. She at least should know that she was in danger.
“Well, she can be too trusting too. I’m trying to protect her from all this,” he gestured to the city behind him, “the crime and pain. She has already seen too much.”
“At least we can agree on that.” Frank mumbled. Last night was probably on repeat in her head. One of Frank’s lesser moments, streaming constantly, causing her terror each time she relived it. She deserved better.
“I need to get going, but Frank please leave her out of whatever your dealing with. It’s for her own good.” With that Red hopped off their roof and ran off into the night. Frank sighed. The man was full of himself, with his religious ideals and controlling nature. He thought over there little conversation. Leave Karen Page alone? Nah, he didn’t take orders anymore.
Her lights were still on. It was nearly three am and her lights were on. He shook his head. He climbed up the fire escape up to her window. The thing was still unlatched even after his little visit earlier. Frank shook his head. She was gonna have to change her habits if she was going to live through the next couple weeks.
He slipped through the window into the dimly lit room. It was almost exactly as he last saw it. The small rickety table with one chair topped with a black plastic bowl. Her couch facing the window, where he stood, next to the small television set. Her bed was off to the left with currently unoccupied rumbled sheets. Her back was to him as she poured herself a cup of coffee in the kitchenette. The sweet smell floated through the air and brought a sense of comfort to him. Her blond hair fell in natural waves down her back. She was as beautiful as he remembered. He cleared his throat to get her attention. She yelped as she turned to face him, spilling coffee onto the floor in her haste.
“HOLY SHIT! What the hell! How did you get in here?” She yelled as she placed her mug back onto the small counter. Her blue eyes blazed with anger as she grabbed a nearby dishrag to clean up the coffee.
“Ma’am, didn’t I tell you to get some real locks?” He asked raising one of his brows. He watched as she blushed while she knelt onto the floor. Damn, he should make her do that more.
“Yeah well I haven’t had a lot of time. And that still didn’t answer any of my questions!” She finished mopping up the coffee and dumped the rag into the sink. He felt another tick in his jaw, trying to keep from smiling. “Well, since your already here, want a cup?” She sighed. He nodded and fell into the single chair, watching her pull out another chipped mug for him.
“I take it black.” He muttered. She mumbled something along the lines of why am I not surprised under her breathe. She poured the cup and handed it over to him. He gently grasped the mug, careful to avoid her fingers. He instinctively didn’t want to dirty her with anything that might be on his hands.
“So, what are you doing in my apartment at three am?” She asked as she took a sip leaning back onto her counter. Considering Frank had broken in and was a know a serial killer, she seemed quite comfortable. A warm feeling filled his gut thinking about it. She was trusted him even after watching him murder six men.
He cleared his throat and took a sip from his mug. The bitter taste helped remind him why he was here. She was in danger. People were out to get her. What did she want to do about it? He placed his mug onto the table and turned to face her fully.
“I talked with some guys tonight,” He started. She scoffed at his word choice. “Long story short, the biker gang members that I killed have friends looking for us. Now it doesn’t bother me knowing someone is after me. You, on the other hand, need to up your security among other things.” Silence filled the air as she contemplated his words. She stared down at her cup, rubbing the rim.
“I’m not surprised really.” She took another drink from her mug. “The Dogs have always been protective of their own. I hoped though… ” She left the thought unfinished. Hoped they would let it go this time, he finished. “I can protect myself you know.” She said, suddenly staring intently at him.
“I don’t doubt you can kick some ass. But these guys, they will shoot you down before you know they’re coming.” He gripped his mug tightly thinking about it. “Let me help you. You can fix up your security and even have your vigilante boyfriend stay over. I’ll take care of it. It’s my fault they’re after you.” He glanced down to his hands. They were covered with dirt, specks of blood, and gun oil. They didn’t belong here, with her.
“Who the hell are you tal-” Karen started, “Wait! Do you mean Daredevil?” She asked him. He looked up at her and nodded. She startled him by laughing. Frank felt himself frown at her outburst. “I don’t even know who he is. He stopped by to tell me to stay away from you, but not much else. He is definitely not my boyfriend.” She sobered up quickly. “Why did you say that?”
Frank shifted in his seat, refusing to look her in the eye. Damn this was getting awkward, he thought. “He- er stopped by to chat tonight. He warned me to stay away from you. He said he cared about you so…” He left the thought lingering in the air. Now it was Karen’s turn to look uncomfortable.
“That’s- it’s- really fucking weird you guys are talking about me behind my back. And why are you guys making these decisions for me? I am an adult, I can take care of myself!” She burst out. Frank wasn’t surprised, he thought the same thing when he was with Red. “Look, you want to help out? Go after those guys, be my guest, but don’t assume I can’t handle myself. I will decide if I don’t want to see you or him, ca peshe?” Frank nodded, looking down at the mug. “Good. I, um, also wanted to thank you. For the pepper spray.” She stumbled over her words in embarrassment.
“It’s fine, I just wanted you to have something. I could teach you to shoot, but that takes time and lots of practice.” Frank stood up. He felt too comfortable here. He was getting too close, but it felt so natural. He reached into his coat pulling out a slip of paper. “Here is my number, it’s for emergencies. I’ll be back tomorrow to check in and update you alright?” She nodded back at him as she finished the last of her coffee. “Thanks for the coffee.”
With that he slipped back out the door heading for his shitty safe house. Each step took greater effort now that he know what her place looked like, smelled like, and what her company felt like. Frank wished he could have a home like that again, but that wasn’t who he was anymore. He was The Punisher and he would do well to remember that.