I missed you
The door clicked softly as Foggy left, leaving Karen and Frank standing in the dimly lit apartment.
Frank didn’t know what to say or do in this situation. She asked for space, but what did that mean?
Frank’s eyes flickered to Karen, guarded but not cold. He was never cold with her.
“You can leave if you want to. You didn’t have to stick around.”
Karen stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
“I wanted to.”
Frank let out a breath through his nose, turning away.
“People who stick around me get hurt, ma’am.”
Karen’s voice softened, but there was steel beneath her words.
“I’ve been hurt before. I can handle it.”
Frank turned back to her, eyes narrowing as he tried to read her.
“You say that now.”
“I say that because it’s true.” Karen’s eyes didn’t waver. “I’m not scared of you, Frank. And I’m not running.”
Silence hung between them, thick and suffocating. Frank shifted on his feet, as though he was battling something inside himself. “I got things to do. Things you shouldn’t be part of.”
“I’m already part of this.” Karen’s voice cracked slightly, emotion creeping through. “I’ve been part of this since the day I defended you in court. Since the day I saw the man you really are.”
Frank shook his head, pacing to the window and staring out into the dark streets. “You see what you want to see.”
“I see you.” Karen took a step closer. “I see a man who’s lost everything but still fights for the people who can’t. I see a man who’s more than just the Punisher. I see Frank”
He believed her, of course he believed her. Karen had seen exactly who Frank was the day they met. Frank was going to try once more. He was going to try to give her an out.
Frank clenched his jaw, the muscles tightening. “You’re not my redemption story.”
Karen’s eyes welled with unshed tears, but she held her ground. “No. But maybe you’re mine.”
Frank’s shoulders slumped slightly as if the fight drained out of him. He turned, and for a moment, Karen thought he might walk away. But instead, he crossed the space between them in two strides, stopping inches from her.
“I can’t promise you anything,” he said gruffly.
“I’m not asking for promises,” Karen replied. “Just don’t shut me out.”
Frank studied her, his dark eyes searching hers. Then, almost imperceptibly, he nodded. “Alright.”
A tentative smile ghosted across Karen’s lips. “Alright.”
———————————
The next morning, they hit the streets, combing through leads on Valdez. They had been slacking since the shooting at Karen’s apartment and it was time to get back to work.
Karen perched on the edge of her desk, papers and notes scattered around her. Ellison stood with his arms crossed, eyebrows raised as he watched her scribble furiously.
“You’re chasing ghosts again, Page,” he said, exasperated.
Karen didn’t look up. “These ghosts are moving guns and people through the docks. And bodies are piling up.”
“How’s the ‘anonymous source’ you have?”
“He’s fine.”
“So you’re admitting it’s a he?”
Karen sighed and turned her head towards him, “You know who it is?”
“Castle.”
She nodded and looked back at her work. “He’s not what you think.”
“Oh he’s exactly who I think. You know I never gave into rumors spreading in this city. Castle handled business. Who am I to judge?”
Karen nodded, but Ellison but a hand up, “But, even if that’s true, you’re not exactly safe running with him.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Karen’s voice was firm, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed her.
Ellison hesitated, then softened. “Just… don’t end up in the morgue, alright?”
Karen gave a faint smile. “I’ll try.”
As Ellison walked away, Karen’s phone buzzed. A text from Frank: ‘Got something. Meet me at 10th and Rivington.’
She grabbed her bag and bolted for the door.
——————
“I found a warehouse not far from here. It’s useless just to wipe the place out so I figured I’d sit on it and wait until something happens.”
Karen nods at that,“What else?”
Frank smiles a little, “That was it.”
Karen looks at him confused, “Frank that could’ve been a text.”
He looks shy for a moment. Frank Castle didn’t get shy.
“I just wanted to see you.” He said, tapping away with his trigger finger by his side.
Karen smiles at that, Frank Castle was so not normal. He was beyond difficult. And yet the thought that he missed her put a warmth in her belly that nobody else could bring out.
“That’s sweet.” She says, moving to wrap her hands around his neck. She waited until the tapping stopped and his arms found there way across her hips.
Good.
She could smile now, knowing he was comfortable. She leaned in a little closer to rest her head on his shoulder.
They were hugging. Karen was hugging the Punisher. But she wasn’t. Because the Punisher wasn’t here right now, Frank was. And Frank, like her, was all heart.
————
Karen was sitting on the couch getting some work done when she got a look at the time. It was passed 3 AM, and Frank wasn’t home. This wasn’t an abnormal experience, when your “sort of boyfriend” is a vigilante you give up the idea of coming home at a reasonable time. But normally he texted. Ever since their conversation a while back, he always texted when he was going to be late.
“Hey, I’ll be on the way back soon I had to handle some business.”
“Sorry I’m late, I’ll bring some takeout home.”
“I’m gonna be out for a while, talk soon.”
But this time she sat for 4 hours and got not one text or call. He could have forgot. Except she knew Frank. And she knew that something was not right.