Marvel Imagines and One-shots (Requests Closed)

Though She be but Little... - Frank Castle

The first thing Frank noticed about you was your size. You were tiny. There really was no other word for it. Of course, he wasn't exactly a small man so you just looked that much littler in comparison. Some guy had been hitting on you at a bar where he'd stopped to have a drink with Curtis. You just ignored the jackass no matter how persistent he was, but Frank's protective instincts kicked into overdrive. Almost before he realized what he was doing, he was by your side and showing the asshole the door.

When he returned, he found you and a beer waiting at the table with Curtis. You smiled as your gaze fell on him and his heart sped. Just a little. Enough to remind him that he still had one. His steps faltered slightly but he recovered quickly. The two men fell into easy conversation with you. You were smart with a bright personality and a quick laugh. It was fair to say that Frank was smitten well before he walked you home that night.

The more time he spent with you, the more he found to admire. You owned your own business, though you just called it the shop, so Frank wasn't sure what exactly you sold but he knew you worked hard and never complained about the time you put in. And when he'd found the courage last week to confess his real identity, you'd simply looked at him and said, "I know."

Apparently, you'd known since the night you met him, but figured it was his secret to keep. And you'd still spent time with him and let him into your life despite knowing what he had done. You also seemed to understand him in a way that others did not. Unfortunately, he'd also discovered that you had some skills as a makeshift medic. When he'd asked you where you'd learned to make such clean sutures you'd simply smiled and said, "Around."

The memory had the corner of his mouth curling up in a smirk as he sat in the dark. He was waiting along the path you took home from work. You also liked to keep your secrets and Frank had heard for the first time yesterday about the asshole that kept giving you shit on your walk home. He'd offered to walk you home on multiple occasions but you always turned him down. He scratched the back of his head as his smile slipped away.

There was something you were hiding from him and he was determined to discover it. You had let enough slip in the story last night that he knew the guy would come out to have a cigarette anytime you walked past the bar across the street. Frank had been in place for an hour, waiting for you to walk by so he could see this guy for himself and take care of him later.

Then he spotted you, that stride unmistakable. Sure enough, as you walked past the bar, a guy came outside and called after you. "Hey, sweetheart. Why you always in such a hurry?"

Frank rolled his eyes. He was ready for you to disappear around the corner of your next turn so he could have a talk with this guy. His brow shot up when you came to a stop and turned to face the moron. "You really want to know why I'm always in a hurry?"

Frank stood on the fire escape he'd been watching from and gripped the rail in front of him. What the hell were you doing? Were you trying to get yourself hurt? His knuckles turned white from the strength of his grip.

"See, I knew you'd talk to me eventually," the douchebag said, putting his arms out to the side while he leaned back. As if he had anything worth putting on display. Frank's eyes stayed glued to the idiot, reading his body language. Ready to intercede if he caught even a whisper of a threat.

Later he would figure that's why he failed to notice you pulling anything from your jacket pocket. You tilted your head as you stared down the man. "I hurry past here because of you. Because every time I pass by here you have a comment to make. I don't know you so what would make you think that I enjoy you calling me baby or sweetheart or doll?"

"Well, it's not like you ever told me your name." He took a step toward you.

Frank couldn't wait any longer. He started down the stairs on the fire escape doing his best to keep you in sight as he went. He could no longer hear what was being said, but he did see the guy grab your arm and Frank picked up his pace. When his feet hit the pavement, he slid to a stop. With wide eyes he watched you bring a baton down on the man's arm.