But First Coffee…
27 hours ago…after her world turned upside down…
“Please tell me you brought real coffee.”
Karen tries to keep her voice calm, tries to laugh, but the swell of emotions makes her voice crack.
Frank Castle is standing in front of her, looking more like a lost puppy than the fierce Punisher she’d seen aiming his semi-automatic. Offering her cover fire. Letting her get that shot at Bullseye.
Foggy…Matt…
Her best friend is gone.
Truthfully both her best friends are gone…because there’s no way Matt is coming back from this the same person…she’s alone now.
And yet…
Yet Frank is here. Frank who’s been in the shadows for so long. Frank, who’s face she’s imagined every time she sits down to order coffee in a diner.
She should be furious with him. She should…Oh god. She feels like she’s going to cry again.
Frank open’s his mouth.
“Karen…I know this is all crazy…but I gotta ask you something and we don’t have much time…”
The sound of footsteps silences the rest of Frank’s answer.
*
Two months earlier, on a rooftop high above Hell’s Kitchen…
“So, what are we looking at Mr. Castle?”
Frank practically jumps out of his skin. He catches his trigger finger before clicking the weapon off safe. Cursing, he tucks the M16 behind a wayward pile of loose bricks. Rolls up to a sitting position and just glares.
“Goddamnit kid! What did I tell you about sneaking up on me like that?”
‘Mr. Castle’. Jesus. He’s about the age Frankie would have been.
If Spiderman notices the shadow cross over Frank’s features, he doesn’t act remorseful. Not that Frank could see the teen’s expression anyway. Not with that ridiculous webbed mask of red obscuring his face. How the hell does the kid see anything with that thing on?
“Sorry Mr. Castle! I was just on my way home from tutoring and I noticed you in your stakeout spot again. Figured it must be something important.”
Again.
Frank tries not to feel insulted that the kid is basically calling out his bullshit. That the Punisher’s “spot” for spying on Karen Page it’s a well-known fact in the superhero community.
He glances across the street, a sudden movement causing his heart to skip a beat. Foggy Nelson is stepping off of the small brick steps leading to Nelson, Murdock, & Page. The Counselor looks good; nice suit, tweed coat, a smartly trimmed beard. His lawyer wife must be the one who does the shopping. Frank almost smiles thinking of how Maria used to lay his “we have to go out in public clothes” on the bed. Good for the Counselor.
He waits, knowing all too well that Karen is coming out next.
She steps outside, adjusts her brown leather coat and – god - it’s good to see her smile.
Ever since David alerted him that some psychopath named Benjamin Poindexter was making threats about Karen on the dark web, Frank’s been on edge. Weird dreams. Them back at the diner, black coffees in hand. Yet this time there’s blood splattered across Karen’s face.
Red steps out of the building next and the goofy little dance he does brings Frank back to the present. He feels irritated. Almost jealous - watching the man puts his arm through Karen’s.
“Why are you flirting with the DA’s assistant when you could have her? You’re an idiot Red. Naïve. How could you let this Bullseye freak walk away? He’s coming for your family. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Mr. Castle?”
He forgot he had an audience.
“It’s nothin’ important kid,” he mutters. Karen and her lawyer pals make their way down the street. Heading to Josie’s or maybe Proof Coffee – if they still have casework to go over.
“You should go home,” Frank adds.
“But…”
“Go.”
“Okay,” Spiderman sighs, picking up his book bag. “Just thought I’d offer to help.”
*
Now…above Metro General
Peter Parker scans the horizon, counting the fleet of black SUV’s parked at the front of the hospital.
Two burly men in all black stand outside one, sipping coffee. The rest of the team has gone inside. Gone for Frank. And Karen.
“Oh boy…” he murmurs.