Work Text:
frank
Today 22:09
hey, its ydn, my dad gave me your number
in case of an emergency
well its kind of an emergency
theres a guy at my door and he keeps
knocking and telling me to let him in
i dont know who he is
its been like that for the past 15 min
please frank
my dads away on a business trip
Be there in 10.
frank
Today 22:57
thank you so much for today frank i really
appreciate it
You gonna be fine on your own?
yes
i think you scared him off
Good.
frank
Today 15:41
emergency
?
i think my cat has a fever, i dont have a car
and the vet is like an hour long walk
could you please take us there?
You think your cat has a fever.
yes
How would you even know that.
shes been sleeping all day and she keeps
shaking so i took her temp with a digi
thermometer
Huh.
Why don’t you ask your dad?
hes at work
pretty please frank im worried about her
OK.
thank you!!
frank
Today 13:15
my cats doing a lot better now thanks to you!
Is there an emergency?
no
i just wanted to let you know
OK.
frank
Today 17:24
do you have any plans for friday evening?
Emergency?
kind of
i have 2 tickets for a musical but i have
no one to go with
Take your dad.
my dad doesnt care for musicals
What makes you think I would?
im offering you two tickets for free frank
who says no to stuff for free
You’re giving me both of them?
yeah?
I thought you meant you want me to come with.
i wouldnt wanna bother you like that
if you have someone to go with, ill give you
the tickets and you can go
I can just go with you.
no really its okay just take a friend or
something
you dont have to suffer through a whole
evening with me lol
I’m going with you.
are you sure?
Yes.
okay
thank you
frank
Today 23:26
I thought you’d wear a dress.
what kind of an emergency is that
You’re the one who’s supposed to text
only in case of emergency, not me.
right
did you not like my suit
Didn’t say that.
i dont like dresses
OK.
frank
Today 08:33
happy birthday!!
How do you know that.
dad
My birthday is hardly an emergency.
didnt say it was
do you have any plans for today?
None of your business.
cmon i just wanna make sure youre not
spending your birthday alone ):
I’m not.
okay
well
have a nice birthday
👍
frank
Today 19:14
EMERGENCY
📍
What’s wrong?
Ydn?
Shit okay.
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
You're sitting in the passenger seat, looking out of the window. Bruises are starting to bloom all over your neck. The car is filled with quiet tension as Frank parks in front of your house.
"You mind if I come in and have a look at the damages?"
You can only nod curtly. You get out of Frank's car and let him into your house.
Frank pulls out a chair. "Sit," he grumbles. "Do you have a med kit?"
You nod. "In the bathroom cabinet."
"Take your jacket off," he says and heads for the bathroom.
You do as you're told and wait for him to return. You can feel a small cut on your cheek sting where your face hit the wall.
Frank comes back and starts cleaning your cuts. "Who was that jackass anyway?"
"Just some guy," you lie.
"Seemed to know you well enough to call you a slur."
You look down. Heat rises to your cheeks.
He pauses and studies your face. "Listen, if you're... queer, I've got no problem with that."
You look up at him, swallowing. "It's not just that..."
Frank starts applying cream to the bruises on your neck.
"I... went on a date with that guy. He's just someone from a dating app. I haven't had much luck on there and he was the first match I made, so I thought..." You let out a sigh. "But it didn't work out."
"Didn't wor—he assaulted you."
"I'm aware, Frank."
"No, I mean—you have very low standards."
"I don't, really. Part of the reason why I haven't been very lucky. It's whatever."
Frank looks at you for a couple of seconds before turning, putting the med kit away and washing his hands in the kitchen sink. "Your neck might hurt a bit. Just take some painkillers if it does."
"Okay. Thank you. For everything."
"Yeah, yeah, no problem." He clears his throat, putting his phone back in his pocket. "I'll be on my way, then."
frank
Today 23:19
i think you left your jacket here
Don’t touch that shit.
wouldnt dream of it
Good.
just come pick it up sometime
OK.
frank
Today 08:39
holy shit thats the guy
What guy.
the one from the dating app
that i went out with
the one that beat me up
Right.
Serves him right.
frank!
actually ykw i dont feel sorry for him
Ykw?
you know what
OK.
Good.
kinda ironic that he called me a faggot
and now theyre saying he was gay
He got what he deserved.
i suppose
frank
Today 10:25
could you take me somewhere
Where?
i have a doctors appointment out of town
its kinda embarrassing so i really dont
wanna go w my dad
But you don’t mind an old guy you barely
know going with you.
youre not old
plus youve been around for as long as i can
remember
well that kinda makes you sound old lol
regardless
youre not a stranger
Fine.
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
You get out of Frank's car and walk up to the building Frank stopped at. He's walking right behind you.
"You don't have to come with, you can just wait in the car."
"Yeah, well, tell you what, this place looks shady as hell, I ain't lettin' you go in alone."
You nod. "Okay."
The clinic does look shady. This is supposed to be the best gender clinic nearby, but you're starting to doubt that. The posters that 'decorate' the halls are outdated, to say the least, and it's clear as day that the building hasn't been renovated in at least 50 years.
You swallow nervously and look over at Frank, who is eyeing the walls sceptically.
You get back into Frank's car after the doctor tries to make you undress and perform a 'physical test' on you. You stormed out of the office before he could assault you in any way.
You buckle up and look out of the window.
Frank sits there for a while, his hands on the steering wheel. "You okay?"
"I don't wanna talk about it," you mumble.
He nods and starts the engine.
The ride to your house is quiet and goes by fast with you dissociating most of the time.
You stay in the car even after Frank stops in front of your house.
"We're here," he says, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
"Hm? Oh. Right." You make no moves to get out of the car.
"What was that place?"
You look down. "A gender clinic."
"Gender clinic? What's that?"
You take a deep breath. "I'm trans, Frank."
Frank looks over at you questioningly. "So you...?"
"Feel like a guy, yeah. I mean, it's not just a feeling. It's... complicated. I just... I've been waiting for an appointment for two years and I finally got it. It was supposed to be the best clinic nearby, but..." You sigh.
"What happened?"
You swallow and look at your hands in your lap. "They sometimes do this thing where they... connect gender and sexuality. They... make you strip and put a machine on your private parts and measure the level of your... excitement while you look at different erotic pictures."
Frank grips the steering wheel with one hand. "Did they do that to you?"
You shake your head. "No. They were going to, but... I left. I just really want to start transitioning. This pushed me back possibly a couple of years."
He's silent. You have no idea what to make of his reaction—or, well, the lack thereof.
You inhale deeply. "Anyways, thank you for the ride." You reach for the handle. "I'll get going now."
"Wait," Frank calls out.
You turn around, raising an eyebrow.
"My jacket is still at your place."
"Right," you say. "Well, come get it, then."
Inside, Frank puts the jacket on and looks at you. "You gonna be okay?"
You nod. "I'll manage."
"Alright, well, if you need anythin', just text me, alright?"
"Thank you, Frank."
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
frank
Today 17:08
holy shit
have you seen this??
thats the clinic i went to
jesus christ we couldve died there as well
do you think it was actually a transphobe
or something
No.
A transphobe would let them continue
to torment trans people.
okay you have a point
frank
Today 13:17
emergency!!
You okay?
which tie should i wear
That’s not an emergency. I thought
you were in trouble.
it is an emergency!
im having a crisis!
What’s it for?
company event
What are you wearing it with?
the suit i wore when we went to the
theater together
The first one.
you didnt ask which one it is
I remember what it looks like.
Plus, I’ve only ever seen you in one suit.
right
also
i can bring a plus one
actually im required to bring a plus one
So bring a plus one.
i was kind of hoping.....
No.
pretty please?
i promise itll be fun
i dont have anyone else to go with
You gotta get some friends.
yeah yeah i know
but i cant really find a new friend for an
event happening in 6 hours now can i
Fine.
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
Frank picks you up twenty minutes before the event starts. He's wearing a dark blue suit and a single-color tie whose shade of blue matches with your own.
You get in the car. "Thanks for picking me up."
Frank nods curtly. "You look nice," he mumbles, and before you can respond, he turns on the radio and starts driving.
You arrive at the hall your company is renting for the evening and feel Frank freeze beside you.
"You forgot to mention this was a dance."
"We don't have to dance, don't worry. I don't wanna stay too long anyways."
You spot a couple of important people you need to make a good impression on and make a few rounds.
Frank is waiting for you in the corner where you left him. You return to him after talking to everyone you needed to.
"I should be done here, so if you wanna go, we can go," you tell him, pouring yourself a cup of water.
A slow song starts playing then. Frank places down his own cup and puts out his hand. "We're here already, the music isn't too awful. Might as well."
You look at his outstretched hand, then at his face, and you're surprised to see a slight smile resting on his lips. Embarrassingly enough, that's all it takes for you to accept his hand and let him lead you to the dance floor.
You sway from side to side slowly, neither of you saying anything. You don't let yourself hope that there could be anything between the two of you. You don't think Frank is queer. You don't think he could ever like you like that.
An all-too-familiar voice sounds from behind you, calling on you by your dead name and you tense a bit in Frank's arms.
You swallow, let go of Frank, and turn around to face one of your colleagues. He's not alone, of course. There are two of his disciples standing behind him, staring down both you and Frank. These three have been making work pretty difficult for you ever since you started at the company, and you really don't want to deal with them at the moment.
"Still pretending to be a guy, I see," your colleague says, eyeing your suit.
One of the other guys chimes in: "Who's that?" He tips his chin toward Frank. "You got yourself a sugar daddy or something?"
Frank grips your arm. "We're done here," he says to the three men and pulls you away from them. "Are you okay?"
"I think I wanna go home now."
frank
Today 21:51
thank you for coming with me
and for helping me with the companys mean
girls hah
Are you okay?
been better
ill be fine
I wanna ask you something.
yeah?
Is there a name you want me to use?
I imagine you don’t like ydn anymore.
yeah
ive chosen yn
Okay then.
Yn.
I like it. It suits you.
thank you
you looked really good tonight
Thanks.
So did you.
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
dad
Today 12:01
dad what does frank do for a living
He’s a veteran
okay but he has to have a job right?
I guess
But he’s never mentioned one before
okay
thanks
Why do you ask?
just curious
👍
frank
Today 12:07
what do you do for a living
This an emergency?
yes its a fucking emergency answer
the question
Jeez.
I’m a bartender.
what bar
What’s with all the questions?
what bar, frank.
Rudy’s Bar & Grill.
prove it
Prove it?
yes prove it.
How do you want me to prove it?
a picture of you behind the bar at
rudys bar n grill
Why should I do that.
if i went to rudys and asked for frank
castle, would they know you?
Not sure. I’m not very social with
my co-workers.
frank castle are you lying to me right now
Why would I be lying?
did you do this?
Don’t know what you’re talking about.
read the fucking article frank
did you or did you not kill 3 of my
colleagues
oh my god
you totally did
and the dating app guy
that was you wasnt it?
and
holy shit frank did you blow up the
fucking clinic?
Clinic is hardly the right word for that
place.
oh my god
so what so youre a serial killer or
something?
No.
I don’t kill.
youve killed tens of people over the past
two months
I punish.
what?
I punish people who deserve to be punished.
Rapists, abusers, homophobes, perverts, murderers.
I wouldn’t hurt an innocent person.
Yn?
i need space
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
frank
Today 23:42
my place
now
please
im scared
The door gives way after about a minute of the man barreling into it, and you're met face to face with a guy probably in his thirties. A smirk makes its way onto his face when he sees you crouching in the corner.
"I was starting to worry you weren't gonna let me in," he sneers.
You clench your jaw. "What do you want from me?" you ask through gritted teeth.
"I heard," he starts, "from a friend—a co-worker—that The Punisher has a new... girlfriend." He pulls out a long blade from his jacket. "You see, he... murdered my brother. My poor baby brother Nick." He takes a couple of steps toward you.
He leans down and holds you by your chin. "Left him behind a gay bar for everyone to think my brother was some kinda... faggot. Everyone in this fucking town is making fun of Lil’ Pansy Nick."
Your eyes dart to the blade in the man's other hand. "What do you want from me?"
The man lets out a chuckle. "I'd like to see The Punisher's reaction to his girlfriend getting tortured. I want him to suffer the same way I did when he killed my brother."
"I'm not his girlfriend." You try to knock the blade out of his hand when he gets distracted momentarily, but you fail to hit his wrist hard enough for him to let it go.
The man growls, holds you by your neck and slices across your forearm once.
You scream in pain only for him to tighten his grip on your neck.
"Stay. Still."
"Pl... ease..." you rasp, struggling to breathe.
"Get away from him."
The voice surprises the man; he lets go of you and turns around to face Frank.
You hunch over, trying to catch your breath.
"Him?"
"What do you want?"
"Your girlfriend's a tranny! Oh my, that's hilarious."
In a second, Frank has the man pressed against the living room wall. "You think you're gonna call him names and I'm just gonna let you go?" Frank pulls out one of his guns and rests it against the man's temple. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."
"Neither do you."
When you finally recover, you catch a glimpse of something shiny in the man's hand. "Frank!" you call out, but it's too late. The very same blade that made your forearm a bleeding mess is now nestled in Frank's lower abdomen.
Frank inhales sharply and doubles over when the man pulls the blade out. He swings his arm again, trying to hit Frank's head with the blade, but Frank catches his wrist, puts the gun to his chin and pulls the trigger.
The man's body sags to the ground. Frank turns around to face you, panting. "Are you okay?" He winces, placing his hand over the stab wound.
You disregard your own bleeding forearm and rush to him. "Are you okay?" You place your hand over his on the wound. "That was a nasty stabbing."
He's quiet. When you look up at him, he's staring right back at you, his brown eyes blown wide and full of... something. Concern? You don't know.
You feel the need to look away, so you focus on the wound. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"No."
You shoot him a glare. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"They'd alert the police. I can't have that. I'll handle this."
You sigh. "You literally saved my life. Least I can do is take care of you."
You lead him to the couch and go fetch the very same med kit he used on you all those months ago. You place it on the coffee table and kneel in front of the couch.
"I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing, though, so you're gonna have to talk me through it."
With Frank's help, you manage to successfully clean the wound and stitch him up.
You clear your throat. "Thank you for—"
"You're hurt."
You look down at the long, deep cut on your forearm. "It's nothing."
Frank doesn't say anything while he returns the favor and leaves you with a bandaged forearm.
"Thank you," you say. "For coming. For staying. For patching me up. I owe you."
"You don't owe me shit."
The dead body in your living room catches your attention. "What about him?"
"I'll take care of it."
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
frank
Today 05:38
I think you should come live here for
a few days.
?
wheres here
My place.
what
Just a few days. Till I make sure your place
is safe again.
i have a cat frank
Take her with you.
wait really?
Yes. I’ll come pick you up in a bit.
wait i gotta pack
You can pack with me there.
✮ ☠︎︎ ✮
Saying that Frank is overprotective would be an understatement. He practically doesn't let you leave the house. He insists on driving you to and from work. He does all the grocery shopping.
You can't lie, it's kind of boring. And lonely.
But as lonely as it is, you have a feeling that you and Frank are starting to become… friends. He wouldn’t talk to you much at first but eventually, he started joining you on the couch every evening to watch whatever you had playing on the TV. You know he doesn’t care for it, yet he never misses an evening.
He disappears randomly during both the day and the night without a word. Sometimes he comes back with groceries, other times with a new bruise on his face.
You didn’t know what to think about what he does at first, but after researching some of the people he’s… punished, you’re starting to understand. You might even go so far as to say you like what he does. The world lacks justice and needs someone to provide it. He’s also kinda hot all beaten up.
Sometimes you help tend to his wounds and while you do so, he has this look in his eyes that you can’t quite decipher.
“You eat yet?” he asks one day when he comes home.
You look at the time. “Uh, I had lunch at one.”
“It’s seven.”
“Does that answer your question?”
You’d swear you saw one corner of his mouth turn up a bit. “You like Indian?”
“Sure.”
“Get dressed.”
To this dinner, Frank Castle wears a black button-up shirt.
You look down at your graphic tee, then back at him. “Well, you clean up nice. I didn’t know we’re going somewhere fancy.”
“What, I’m not allowed to dress up a bit every once in a while?”
You smile. “You tryna impress someone today?”
He looks down, mutters something you believe is a “Maybe,” and turns around toward the door.
“Oh, wait, I gotta change.”
He turns back around and gives you a quick once-over. “Why?”
“You’re all fancy, I feel underdressed.”
“Ehh, bullshit, come on.”
You do end up getting changed into a button-up of your own and having a surprisingly pleasant dinner with Frank.
The walk back home is quiet but not awkward. The streets are decorated with Christmas lights already and the night has a cosy feel to it.
“Listen,” Frank starts suddenly. “Your place should be safe. I took care of the mess after… y’know. So you can go back whenever.” He’s not looking at you.
You stop in your tracks and turn to look at him. “Oh, right. Sure, yeah, I’ll get out of your hair, don’t worry.” You give a pained laugh. “I’ll start packing once we make it to your place.” You shove your hands in your pockets and start walking again.
“Home.”
You stop once more, looking at him. “What?”
“You used to call my place ‘home’.”
You swallow. “Well, it’s shorter than ‘your place’, isn’t it?”
He looks away and resumes walking. “Yeah, whatever.”
At his place, he slams the door behind himself and throws the keys onto the cabinet so aggressively that you lose your chill. “We gotta talk,” you say.
He walks straight to the fridge, pulls out a bottle of beer and doesn’t even look at you.
“What the fuck are you pissed about?”
No response.
“We were having a nice evening. The dinner was great, the walk home was great. You told me I should leave and now you’re pissed that I’m leaving!”
“I didn’t say you should leave, I said you can!”
You blink. “What are you saying, Frank?”
He sets the bottle down and swallows—nervously? “Your place should be fine. You can leave. You don’t have to stay in this shithole with me anymore and you can continue to live a normal life.”
“Yeah, you’ve already tol—”
“But a part of me wished you’d stay.”
You’re stunned for a second. “What?”
“Call me selfish. Call me an asshole, call me whatever name you want, I don’t care. But I just… really wanted you to at least consider staying with me.”
You take a step closer to him. “Frank—”
“Don’t bother.” He tries to walk past you but you grab his wrist, causing him to turn around to face you.
“I just don’t want to overstay my welcome.” You look into his eyes which seem so, so sad as they study your face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Frank. I’m so sorry.”
He looks down and nods.
You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him into a hug. “I wouldn’t leave you,” you whisper into his shoulder.
He pulls back just enough to look you in the eye and rests his forehead against yours. “You mean so much to me.” He says it so quietly that you almost miss it.
You freeze and pull back a bit to study his face. “Mean how?”
His gaze falls to your lips for a second before he looks away.
You touch his cheek and turn his head so that he’s facing you again. “How, Frank?”
“I can’t stop thinking about you. Everything about you. It’s driving me crazy. I just… wish I could call you mine.”
You inhale deeply. “Frank—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” His hands start slipping off your waist.
You tighten your grip on him. “Let me talk.”
He stops and listens.
“I need you to understand that I’m not a woman. I will transition the second I get the chance and you’ll be stuck with a guy.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Baby, I was bisexual long before you were even born.”
You look at him incredulously. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
You bite your lip in an attempt to stop the smile making its way onto your face. “Hey, Frank?”
He rests his forehead against yours again. “Hmm?”
“Guess what.”
“What?”
“I’m already yours.” You lean in until there’s only a small gap left between you two, giving him an out if he needs one.
He doesn’t. He closes the distance, pressing your lips together in a hungry kiss.
You pull back a bit. “Wait, what about my dad?”
“I don’t care,” he grumbles and kisses you again, pressing you against the kitchen island behind you.
You laugh against his mouth.
He starts planting kisses down your neck.
“I can’t believe you killed all those people for me.”
He kisses your cheek, your chin, your nose. “They were horrible human beings.” He presses a lingering kiss to your forehead and you feel the mood lighten. “So, about your dad—”
“Oh, now you care?” You laugh and he laughs with you. You hope to hear that sound more often in the near future. “We’re not all that close anyway. He’s not very supportive of me being trans and all. I was more worried about your friendship with him.”
“A transphobe ain’t worth my time.”
You blink at him. “But you’re best friends.”
“We used to be. Way back in high school. We talk every now and then but we’re not as close anymore.”
“Oh. I see.” You think for a moment. “You’re not gonna hurt him for not supporting me, right?"
He kisses your temple. “He’s still your dad. I wouldn’t take that away from you.”
“Okay.”
He presses a kiss to the back of your hand. “C’mon, we’re late for our daily movie night.”
You can’t help the smile that spreads across your face. “Daily movie night, huh?”
He tugs on your hand, pulling you towards the couch. “You wanna watch a movie or not?”
You can’t believe you made Frank Castle fall for you.
You can’t believe you get to lie in The Punisher’s arms and watch Barbie with him while half of Hell’s Kitchen fears the man.
And, most importantly, you can’t believe you get to keep him.
But you know you’ve never been happier.