They did for a bit. Kinda had a bad attitude and a temper. Plus being a teenage kid with dumbo ears didn't really put me in a good space. Needed to come into my own. Maybe for the better, you know?
[See. He can be a shitty person in his own ways. Another bite and his cheek is full. Give it a few moments. ]
Kinda felt, I dunno, forced. Not a natural connection.
[ She shook her head again, taking another bite. The guys she had sold to could get that way and even her ex had hit her a few times. It hadn't happened when they were sober and she had hit back. He also defended her from other guys. She hadn't considered how toxic the relationship actually was until it was all too late. ]
[His mouth forms a tight line. She could tell him anything and everything or nothing at all. Frank has greasy pizza hands but he spreads his knees to knock against hers.]
No matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets... I'm here for you however you want me. I'd never hurt you.
[Keeping his voice low because he is respecting this knowledge and her story.]
[ It's the same argument they keep coming back to but at least this time her voice and expression are softer, sadder. Because she wishes he could give her such a thing. ]
[ She purses her lips at that, about to call him out on it. But then she doesn't. Her expression softening again and she reaches forward to pull on the front of his shirt, pull him in close. Her legs move apart to give him the room and he's between them again. ]
[Food is not interesting anymore. Anything that's not in direct relation to Karen has his attention as he welcomes her back close to him. Leaning in with eyes lightly shut. He'll initiate a kiss only because she didn't just go and leave the room in him for saying for the unnumbered time that he's going to be deployed and that he honestly, truly cares for her.
It's been a short amount of time. It's almost unfair how caught up they are. Except that's just how it is, isn't it?]
[ Running has been her answer for a long time now. Separating herself from pain, trying to move beyond and away from it. She didn't expect to find someone like Frank that she... feels such a pull towards. Like gravity and longing mixed in one. Even while a part of her still says there's nothing but pain down this road.
She returns the kiss and her lips brush his when she speaks. ]
Too good.
[ She kisses him this time, stopping herself from voicing how he's more good than she feels she deserves. ]
[How is it that he's too good? Just some guy. Really at the end of the day nothing great or remarkable. Just some so and so who is trying to find his way in life. He believes in his country and wants to do something to help. and while that might be the most conservative point of view he's also has a clear head about misogyny and injustice.
Their lips meet and he forgets his confusion because the way that her soft lips push against his, Frank feels himself falling all over again for the natural way Karen makes him feel. Fingers comb into her hair and he rubs at her thigh.]
[ He's more than that. Much more. At least from what she's seen so far. He treats her like she's special. Like there's no one else and they aren't even "official" yet.
Her tongue slips into his mouth and she tastes the pizza they were eating, the tang of sauce and herbs. The hand on his shirt rubs at his chest through the material before she's moving it downward and slipping it under to touch at the skin of his stomach. ]
[All that he is in this moment is a man so full of want for this woman. Not just sexual though that is rapidly coming to the foreground. Irony being he promised they didn't have to do anything. Ah well. He lightly cups the back of her head as he tilts his head to one side. The clothes she decided to wear for a night out are eye catching, and it is no contest to how her skin feels. Frank knows first hand and makes a soft noise as their tongues dance.]
[ She hadn't been planning to do any of this, either. She hadn't been planning to even talk to him again before tonight. But here they were, once again talking, once again kissing. They really couldn't stay away from each other, could they?
She had on tight black pants, the material soft, breathable, her top sleeveless and button-down. She hadn't felt attractive at all for weeks since breaking things off with Frank. Now, she just wanted to press herself against him and not stop. Her hands move to tug on the waistband of his jeans and she breaks the kiss to catch her breath.
Sounding as out of breath as she feels in that moment, ]
Sorry, I...
[ She hadn't planned on doing this again. She ducks her head, laughing softly, ]
[ Her grip on his pants doesn't change and she looks back up at him, half teasing and half really wanting to know. How can he be so sure of something like that? ]
I got this feeling, this voice in my head. I don't believe much in signs or fate. That's some corny bullshit. The same thing told me to move on out of the building and get myself a life in the city. If that wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have met you.
[And their run in has been deep, profound. Frank gives her a small smile.]
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[See. He can be a shitty person in his own ways. Another bite and his cheek is full. Give it a few moments. ]
Kinda felt, I dunno, forced. Not a natural connection.
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You had a bad attitude and temper?
[ So far, Karen had seemed the more volatile out of the two of them and she knew it. But she laughs a little, ]
We would've had a knock-down-drag-out fight if we had met back then.
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[He ruefully shakes his head.]
Probably a bad one. I didn't hit women then and I won't now.
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[ She shook her head again, taking another bite. The guys she had sold to could get that way and even her ex had hit her a few times. It hadn't happened when they were sober and she had hit back. He also defended her from other guys. She hadn't considered how toxic the relationship actually was until it was all too late. ]
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No matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets... I'm here for you however you want me. I'd never hurt you.
[Keeping his voice low because he is respecting this knowledge and her story.]
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I want you to stay.
[ She looks back up at him, ]
But I know you won't.
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[Since they're directly addressing that big, ol' elephant in the room.]
I will be out of the country yes. Ain't no way I'm staying out there.
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[ It's the same argument they keep coming back to but at least this time her voice and expression are softer, sadder. Because she wishes he could give her such a thing. ]
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I can't promise that, no. But if I got any say or any--any means to help the odds you better believe I'd do it.
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[ She bumps his knee back with her own. ]
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[More knee bumping. The pizza slice is gone and he is feeling around for a napkin.]
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I said what if you meet someone else, wise guy!
But good to know your priorities.
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[This would be eyerollingly cheesy if he wasn't so sure of himself.]
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You're something else, Frank Castle.
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It's been a short amount of time. It's almost unfair how caught up they are. Except that's just how it is, isn't it?]
Hopefully something good, Karen Page.
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She returns the kiss and her lips brush his when she speaks. ]
Too good.
[ She kisses him this time, stopping herself from voicing how he's more good than she feels she deserves. ]
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Their lips meet and he forgets his confusion because the way that her soft lips push against his, Frank feels himself falling all over again for the natural way Karen makes him feel. Fingers comb into her hair and he rubs at her thigh.]
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Her tongue slips into his mouth and she tastes the pizza they were eating, the tang of sauce and herbs. The hand on his shirt rubs at his chest through the material before she's moving it downward and slipping it under to touch at the skin of his stomach. ]
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She had on tight black pants, the material soft, breathable, her top sleeveless and button-down. She hadn't felt attractive at all for weeks since breaking things off with Frank. Now, she just wanted to press herself against him and not stop. Her hands move to tug on the waistband of his jeans and she breaks the kiss to catch her breath.
Sounding as out of breath as she feels in that moment, ]
Sorry, I...
[ She hadn't planned on doing this again. She ducks her head, laughing softly, ]
We keep doing this.
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No, no. It's--it's cool. We're both are running hot.
[Frank laughs a little at himself and bites his lip.]
I wanna do right by you. We go around and around. I'm asking a lot. I know that if we can stick it through, we'd make something beautiful.
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[ Her grip on his pants doesn't change and she looks back up at him, half teasing and half really wanting to know. How can he be so sure of something like that? ]
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[And their run in has been deep, profound. Frank gives her a small smile.]
Nothing involving you could be ugly, Karen.
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You say that now...
[ Her voice quieter when she adds, ]
I've done some pretty ugly things.
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I can handle whatever you throw at me.
[He's going to be a Marine after all.]
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