Law Beyond Shadows

Gutted

It was hard to get back on track after all of that. I was disillusioned; Frank's case seemed incredible and brought me a lot of positive fame, with many saying that I would have truly won if Frank hadn't snapped. But, of course, along with the positive fame comes the negative. After all, why was a lawyer of my calibre so desperate to defend a cold-blooded killer, a damn vigilante, without charging a single dollar?

Later on, I discovered that Matt's law firm came to an end and that he was stepping out of practice, so I offered Foggy a place where I work, he loved it. I was worried, but there was nothing I could do.

I wasn't the same, was ashamed to say but had developed a crush on that handsome guy, Castle. Didn't know how to deal with it. I was on autopilot all along, was sad because I hadn't won that case, sad to think that Frank was in prison. Was terribly sad until the news of Frank escaping prison hit my brain, then I was really happy.

After a usual day, I was home finishing some paperwork when someone knocked on my door. My house was a bit of a mess, my cat's fur all over the place and I was in a sports bra and sweatpants.
F: "Hey."
I opened the door to Frank Castle, fucking Frank Castle was right in front of me, his face all wounded, cut and basically in different shades of red and purple. I do not know any other person who gets hotter when bruised. Wait, what the hell is he doing here? What if the police discover I had contact with a wanted criminal who just escaped incarceration?
I: "Jesus Christ, Frank. What on earth are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in custody?"
F: "Something came up. Can I come in?"
As I was telling him to make himself at home, I tried to find any shirt or hoodie to wear, and it happened to be one three times my size, whatever. When I got back in the living room he was petting my cat, Athena, with her multicoloured belly facing up.
I: "Athena, I don't believe it. If I tried to pet this chubby belly of yours I would lose a finger. I guess she liked you, Castle."
F: "Like her too, pretty cute. Never saw you as a cat person though. Guess I projected my dog-loving preferences over you."
I: "Just when I was starting to warm up around you, you tell me you're a dog person, a shame really." I laughed, though stopped when noticed that Frank was eyeing me down.

I: "So what brings you here?"
F: "Being completely honest, felt like I owe you an explanation."
I: "Damn right you do, happy you realise." He looked sad all of the sudden. I couldn't help but look at him, noticing how the cuts on his face complemented his rough appearance. How the leather jacket hugged his body, not showing his muscles. How his hair fades next to his ears, how the undercut looked perfect on him, even though I tend to prefer the wolf-cut guys.
I: "Why don't you make yourself comfortable, take the jacket off and shit. You drink coffee?"
F: "One thing you gotta know about me is that coffee is not a 'want', it is a 'need', always need coffee." he smirked while doing what I said.
I shouldn't have asked him to take the jacket off, because the long-sleeved black shirt he wore underneath hugged every single muscle of his, fighting not to tear apart when he flexed. Shit, I'm not strong enough to look at that and not drool. I gave him his coffee and listed to what he had to say.

At some point, I had tears in my eyes. I kinda knew what happened to his family, we used it as leverage in trial, but hearing, in detail, how his little girl's face was all blown up was a bit too much. He explained that he needed to go to jail to 'get to know' the guys in the murder of his family. Yeah, he wasn't lying when he said he had a good reason for his outburst. When he finished, I noticed that there was a spot on the right side of his torso that every single time Athena rubbed, he would try to hide the feeling of pain.
I: "What you got there, Castle? You hurt?"
F: "Nah, just a little sensitive, that's all."
I: "You gonna lie to me after all this? Come on, got shot, gutted?"
F: "Kay, yeah. Some guys sex trafficking a bunch of young women and shit. Guy gutted me, but it's fine, I'm used to it, really."
I: "You know, I'm a lawyer but was almost a doctor, want me to stitch you up? Promise I am as good of a nurse as I am a lawyer. Pinky swear."
Laughing when heard my childish choice of words, he allowed me to take a look. He lift his shirt jus a bit, enough for me to see a bloody knife wound, surprised to not have noticed the blood in the fabric, tough since it was black, was kinda hard to spot.
I: "Yeah, definitely needing stitches on that, Frank, give me a sec, I'll get my stuff. I don't have anaesthetic though. But a needle hurts way less than a knife, so I think you're fine. Got cut anywhere else? "
F: "Nah, just the one, doc."

Stitching that man up was pure torture. It should be illegal for someone to be this hot. Getting the skin together was even harder when all I could pay attention to was that damn six pack - more like a twelve pack, because damn, the man is strong. When I finished, gave him an alcohol pad and then bandaged him. He thanked me, promised not to bother me again - something I tried not to look sad when I heard - and I told him that if he ever needed assistance, I'm the one.