Chapter Text
Two weeks away from Frank is a long, long time.
Karen paces the length of the living room and strains her ears for the familiar sound of heavy boots outside the door. She’s been imagining them all day, running to the door and throwing it open only to find an empty hallway. Frank has been off doing some recon on a new gang that has sprouted off from the old Kitchen Irish and she knows he’s safe from the constant string of texts and calls, but she’s still anxious to see him. Still anxious to put her own hands on him, make sure he’s not hurt.
As Karen waits, she think about what two weeks means. In that time, she’s written dozens of articles; she’s interviewed countless people; and drank her own weight in coffee. She’s slept alone in her (their) bed for fourteen nights, and has crossed off each day on the calendar with painstaking care.
A year ago–or maybe even six months ago–two weeks would have been nothing. Karen would have been shocked after seeing him after only two weeks. She would have been suspicious, anxious to know what kind of trouble he’d gotten into to seek her out.
Now, she trails into the bedroom and remakes the bed, if only to keep herself busy. Two weeks is plenty long enough–and she’s starting to let her mind get the better of her. As she fluffs her pillow, there’s a noise from the other room. The sound of keys in the lock. Karen hurries out just in time to see the door swing open.
Frank’s eyes meet hers immediately, and Karen is endlessly thankful that he doesn’t look the slightest bit injured.
“Frank,” she breathes, relief filling her from head to toe. “You’re home.”
Frank steps inside and shuts the door. His bag hits the floor and he gives her an easy smile. “Miss me?”
Karen doesn’t answer. She runs across the room and throws herself into his arms. When she kisses his cheek, the stubble prickles at her in an achingly familiar way. She presses her lips to his cheeks, nose, temple, and then finally kisses him until they’re both breathing hard.
“Shit,” Frank says when she pulls away. “I oughta leave more often.”
“Don’t you dare, Frank Castle.” Karen yanks him down for another kiss. “Don’t you dare.”