If I fall short, if I break rank

[sarafina]

ALWAYS COME BACK smut meme; They may be a rambler, a gambler, always on the run, a wanted criminal, someone with a higher calling, or just not the type to spend time with you (which may be fine by you), yet somehow, they'll always find their way back to your door. And they'll, again and again, find themselves wanting you, for support, for healing, for feeling alive, for venting frustration and anger, for anything and everything at all. You'll welcome them with open arms...and an open bed, because you want them, too. Comment: prefs, info, preferred role, etc. Reply: to others. Thread: with them.

Comments

Eren Jaeger | Shingeki no Kyojin | M/M

[preciousbrat]

Evelyn Trevelyan - Dragon Age: Inquisition - F/M

[lastgreathope]

(Either role works well for her.)

Qrow Branwen | RWBY | M/F

[thats_unfortunate]

Clint Barton | MCU or 616

[weekend_avenger]

[with or without the smut option.]

Henry Sturges| ALVH and The Last American Vampire [Books]

[whichisit]

Bucky Barnes - MCU / 616

[not_a_commie]

Clint Barton / MCU-616

[nexttarget]

KD6-3.7 / BLADE RUNNER 2049 / OTA

[wantasoul]

devon forrester | oc

[justlikejezebel]

Karen Page | MCU

[howbraveyouare]

[ Punisher compliant. ]

Frank Castle • MCU • OTA

[class307]

Hawke | Dragon Age

[questionablewit]

[OTA for gen, M/F for shipping/smut]

Clark Kent | DCEU

[birth_right]

[ Justice League compliant! ]

Frank Castle | MCU

[ex_one_shot695]

[Castmates preferred. Punisher spoilers are fine.]

[startdigging]

[Karen's lost track of how long it's been since she saw Frank. Months. Years. She really doesn't know anymore. Not with her reporting job and dealing with other things, like fallouts with friends. Like people she thinks are dead.

So it's on one of the long nights where she gets agitated with her work. Gets agitated with life that she decides a walk is in order. What she doesn't expect when she opens her door is one Frank Castle. She feels like she can't breathe anymore. Feels like someone just pulled the rug out from under her.

She also doesn't know if she wants to slap him, hug him, or both.]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank knows it isn't fair to Karen to come in and out of her life. He appears, then he disappears, and she never knows when she'll see him again. Frank couldn't stop doing what he was doing, though. There was always another reason to pick up a gun; maybe he just didn't want to have a real reason to put the gun down. She was that reason, and as usual, he couldn't choose between the two worlds.

After a long time away, he was drawn back. He let himself into her apartment and waited. When she got home, he stood from the couch and turned to face her. Maybe she'll pull a gun on him or tell him to get out. He wouldn't blame her.]

Hey.

[startdigging]

[She doesn't expect anyone to be in her home. Doesn't expect anyone, if she's honest with herself. Not when she's been by herself this whole time. Her breathing quickens a bit and she narrows her eyes at the man who was in her living room.

There is definitely a gun drawn and pointed at Frank before she realizes who it is in her home.]

What're you doing here?

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank is glad that Karen is careful enough to have her gun out if someone is unexpectedly in her apartment. He just wonders how long she's going to point it at him.]

I came to see you. Wanted to know how you were doing.

[startdigging]

[Too much has happened in her life for her not to be wary. To not want to be safe whenever she walks around town. Her own home should be a safety zone and this... it was proving otherwise.

However, her gun stays on him just in case something goes wrong. Though she should know that nothing would. Didn't mean something or someone didn't follow him.]

You could've picked up a phone, Frank.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank was starting to think this was a bad idea. Did she think he would hurt her? He'd never do that. And he's no the kind of guy who's easily followed... unless the follower were Micro, who could follow just about anyone.]

I wanted to see you, Karen.

[A phone call wouldn't have done enough for him.]

[startdigging]

[A part of her wanted to shoot him where he sat. Wanted to scream, yell... something. But she decides not to. For a moment she just stands there before putting the gun away.]

So you decide what? I'll go see her and then I'll just leave again. Is that it?

[She doesn't mean to let her voice break but it does.]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank sighs, frowning to himself. He doesn't like to see her upset, and he hates being the cause of it.]

Would you rather I didn't come?

[Maybe it would be better that way.]

[startdigging]

[She'd of been upset even if he hadn't of showed up. Though, right now, she's not sure what to do or make of him being there.]

I'd rather you never left at all, Frank.

[ex_one_shot695]

I had business, Karen.

[The kind only Frank can take care of. She knew who he was. The kind of man he was.]

[startdigging]

[She knows how he is but she'd thought...]

And if you had died out there?

[ex_one_shot695]

Then I'd of died.

[That sort of came with the territory.]

[startdigging]

You and him seem to think I can handle that.

[She can't.]

[ex_one_shot695]

Him?

[He didn't know Karen had someone else on her mind right now.]

[startdigging]

It doesn't matter. You don't realize that I can't lose you.

[That's the thing going through her mind right now. She already lost one friend. She can't lose Frank.]

[ex_one_shot695]

[She can't lose him?]

Why?

[Does he mean that much to her? It's a mistake. But it's a mistake Frank has already made.]

It's not your call, Karen.

[She was fond of telling her 'protectors' that. In this case, what happened to him was not her call.]

[startdigging]

Maybe because I give a damn about you, Frank Castle.

[She clenches her jaw and shakes her head.]

I can't lose you. I can't.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank sighs, able to see that she's upset. Not just because he hasn't contacted her in so long, but because she cares. He takes a few steps toward her and reaches out to touch her arm.]

Okay. Okay. I hear you.

[startdigging]

[She stares at him when he moves over to her and touches her arm.]

Do you? I mean really, Frank?

[ex_one_shot695]

Yeah. You give a shit about me.

[And she doesn't want him to die on her.]

[startdigging]

Somehow I'm not sure you really get that. You're too bull-headed and want to go out there and die. I don't want you to. I'm not saying give up on what you believe in, but you're all I've got.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank tilts his head to the side and rubs the back of his neck. He's not sure what to think of all that. She did just call him bull-headed in the mix of all that. Not that she's wrong.]

I'm gettin' kinda... mixed signals, Karen.

[He should do what he wants but she gets pissed about it?]

[startdigging]

[She crosses her arms over her chest and starts pacing the floor.]

There's nothing mixed about the signals, Frank. I don't want you to die on me and if you keep being so damn bullheaded then that's what will happen. Then I lose everything.

[She feels like she's going to break, fall apart.]

I can't lose you, Frank. I can't.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank scowls and rubs his hand against the back of his neck. He was getting frustrated with all of this.]

What is it you want from me, Karen? Not to be bullheaded? What does that even mean?

[startdigging]

[He wasn't the only one that was getting frustrated.]

I want you to LIVE, Frank! I want to know that you're not going out there to fight just to die because I can't do it. I can't lose you. I need to know that you're safe. I need to know that you're coming home.

[ex_one_shot695]

Home? Where is home, Karen?

[Was this home? He doesn't live here. Can't live here.]

You want me to stay in touch more? Okay. I can do that if that's what you need.

[startdigging]

Home isn't a damn place.

[It's never been a place.]

Can you? You didn't stay in touch before.

[ex_one_shot695]

I'll try. I'll really try, Karen.

[That's the best he thinks he can offer her.]

[startdigging]

[It's not something that she thinks will happen. In fact, she's not sure of anything right now.]

That's all I can ask.

Jyn Erso | Rogue One | OTA

[wherehopegoes]

[ooc: Either / Or!]

Rey | SW: TFA | OTA

[thesefirststeps]