Arson

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alexandria's P.O.V

The days went on.

Frank and I were growing closer and closer. He was quickly becoming the one person I couldn't live without.

And Castle knew that.

I sat at Frank's gun rack, dowsing the rifle's spring with gun oil. The liquid rolled down the coils, and made the entire contraption all slick. Usually, I let Castle take care of his guns, and just mind my own business with mine...but I was feeling a little generous today.

There's been a lot of development in New York. Madani, the head of Homeland Security in this district, has a little...accident, with her team. All were killed, except for her. So, Frank and I would be going out to monitor her.

Putting the rifle back together, I raised it up to my left eye...perfect. He'd be satisfied with it, or, I hope he would.

The gun hooked onto the rack. It clicked and settled into place, the cleaning now complete. Time for the next gun.

I reached for a slender necked sniper rifle, the smooth black exterior slipping on my palms. As I went to remove it, a pressure suddenly came down on my wrists. The gun dropped back onto the hooks, my attention now focused on a more important priority.

"My girl? Cleanin' my guns...?" His lips pressed into the back of my shoulder, sending chills and fire down my being. "What a blessin'."

"I told you, Castle," I purred. "No more until I hear that song."

"It'll take me a few more days, at least," He let my wrists go, but didn't leave me. Frank moved my hair behind the ear, and gently rubbed his knuckles down the jawline. "Can you blame me for tryin'?"

"No."

"Didn't think so. Well, are you ready to go?"

"Got my pistols and ammo. You?"

"Sights, and," The rifle I had just cleaned was removed from the rack, and slipped seamlessly over his shoulders. "Weaponry."

"Alright," I pulled on my hood, my focus now on the mission at hand. "Matt! David! We're leaving!"

Daredevil gave us an acknowledging nod, but went right back to the call he was on. Foggy, most likely.

Micro didn't look up from his monitors, but held a thumb's up.

Punisher opens the passenger side door for me, but me being such a stubborn girl, I slip over to the driver's side.

"I'm driving."

"Aw, c'mon! I hate ridin' shotgun...makes me feel useless." He grumbled, obviously annoyed at the turn of tables. However, he said it himself: I'm incredibly stubborn.

And I'll hold and keep that reputation until the day I die.

"Too bad, Frank. Now get in, before I drive off without you." The seat sunk down as I crashed down into it, and the door whinned shut from the sudden close.

He snarled, but reluctantly got in. The door closes, a much quieter click than mine.

"I'm drivin' on the way back."

My grasp on the keys roughly snapped it to the side. The engine roared to life, followed by the screech of the garage opening.

"I promise."

My lips softly pressed on the center of his jaw. He smirked, and lifted his own hood over what little hair he had on his head.

Hey, I had to keep him on the line just a little bit.

"Just drive, girl."

The car shifts in gear, and slowly started to roll out.

As you wish, Punisher.

_____________________________________

We sat on a far off roof, taking turns looking through the scope. Madani was completely and utterly grounded, a mess. Understandable...I knew what it was like to be the last one standing.

"How's she doin' over there?" He flipped a bullet around his knuckles, letting it glide between each finger with ease.

"The same since five minutes ago. She's actually getting worse, I think..." The chill morning air blew down my clothing, making me shiver intensely for a few seconds. It dies down, but doesn't go unnoticed. "Maybe we're wrong about her. She wouldn't set something like that up if she knew it would get her entire team killed."

"Maybe she would. If it meant drawin' me out." The footsteps on the concrete echo.

"You didn't know about it," I turned to face The Punisher. He knew I was cold. "And I don't think she'd be this distraught about all of her men dying if she knew it would happen. Meaning..."

"It wasn't for me." His breath fogged in the air come every few seconds.

"Then, that begs the question...who was?"

"My guess," He grabbed my hands, the fingerless gloves indicating that I was freezing. All it took was to see that drain in the color. "Our enemy is also her enemy. It's our best lead."

Forcing them to close together, he pressed his lips in the center. The air that left him warmed the center of my hands...Frank was everything I needed to survive the cold.

Walk through the unknown.

Live through this broken and troubled world.

"I keep tellin' you to get a plate over your stomach before you get shot or somethin'. It's drivin' me crazy...and now it's lettin' you freeze to death."

"You worry too much..." I smiled, my face red from the windburn. And a small blush.

"I have reason to, now. You know, before you walked into my life, I didn't fear anythin'. But here you are, keepin' me on my toes and makin' my mind run wild." The Punisher hesitantly lets go of my hands. I pressed onto him, taking some of the heat for myself.

"So I do make you nervous..."

"Oh yeah," Frank smirked. "Big ti-"

BOOM!

We both snap our heads to the sound. Smoke rose from a neighboring building just a couple of blocks down...a bomb.

Papers and ash flew in the wind, and for a moment...an eerie calm settled in. Apart from shocked screams from below, and the crumbling weight of buildings, it was...a moment frozen.

He looked towards me again, the smoke and chaos rising behind him - a beckoning.

"We need to go." He snarled.

"Right behind you."

We had to leave, and leave fast. The sound of helicopters and sirens were already closing in...

Agent Orange, the Homelander's on our tails...and now a bomber. What's next...?