Caress (Karen/Frank)
kastle + caress
He has nightmares, sweat inducing terrors that imprison him in the darkness, that wrap chains around his torso, press the air out of his lungs.
In them he is dying a slow and painful death, watching everyone he’s ever loved get mowed down by live fire, nothing he can do to stop it.
Before, the visions lasted eons, time standing still in the abyss of his dreams, no power on earth strong enough to set him free.
But now there’s Karen, and with one stroke of a cool finger across his damp brow it’s like the spell is broken, cool air rushing into his lungs as he comes back to reality, to her.
He could cry with relief when he opens his eyes, but instead he wraps his arms around her, holding her in a fierce embrace as the clamorous knocking of his heart slows to a peaceful patter.