"J.A.R.V.I.S., is Tony in?" Frank asked the AI for Stark Tower.

"Just a moment, Mr. Castle." A faint crackle buzzed from the panel on the wall.

"Hey, Frank! Come on up," fizzed the cocky voice of Anthony Edward Stark, the Iron Man. The door slid open.

Frank took the elevator and leaned against the shiny gold wall, his gun clacking on the metal. He ascended to an 8-bit rendition of "Call Me Maybe".

The doors opened and Tony Stark stood in full Iron Man armor. "Agh!" Frank growled and ripped the gun from his back to aim at the Golden Avenger.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Stark fairly shouted. "No need for the gun in here. I'm not gonna arrest you, or anybody for that matter. I'm dropping all charges. I only have the suit cause I just got back from an Avengers mission."

The Punisher re-holstered the rifle. He instead pulled out the glove full of puke.

"So Frank, are you going to consider my offer to be the new Captain America?" Tony tapped his metal fingers on his leg, clicking like a dog's toes on vinyl.

"No one could replace Steve. Not Sam, not that Bucky Barnes, and especially not me." The two both fell silent and somber for a few seconds until Frank said, "But I could use your lab. And a mug of coffee. Black as night, if you got it."

Tony's face brightened. "As long as you don't blow the lab up, sure."

Frank's face hinted at a smile. "How d'ya know I haven't changed? It's been months since I've been--"

Tony slapped his back. "You, change?" Punisher immediately frowned and growled. Tony was oblivious to this. Instead, he turned to a wall panel and called, "Hey, J.A.R.V.I.S. Can you pull up a diagnostic for...," he turned to the Punisher and asked, "What do you have?"

"It's vomit."

"Ooookay. Vomit."

"Initializing biological scan," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. A table whirred and lit up with a holographic display. "Insert organic matter."

Frank flipped the glove and deposited the puke on the table. Iron Man strolled back over with a steaming cup of coffee. Frank took it without a word.

A wave popped into the display. "High levels of natural hydrocarbons and hydrochloric acid. Moderate levels of Mutant Growth Hormone."

"MGH." Tony Stark stroked his beard. "Last time I dealt with that was in the War. Nitro."

"As in glycerin?" Frank asked, still analyzing.

"No, as in villain. I'm surprised you never faced him before." Tony remarked. His helmet formed on his face.

Punisher flinched. Tony had never seen him do that before. "Don't do that again. I hate that Extremis crap you've shot up. It's so...creepy. And I've seen enough in my life to judge that for myself." Punisher pushed a holographic glyph. If he was right--there it was. Criminal hotspots across the states.

"See, right there. Chicago, Des Moines, Salt Lake City. Most of all, L.A. These are the biggest areas of MGH concentration." Frank poked another glyph and the holotable charted a line through the cities.

"Better than Mapquest, am I right?" Tony grinned cheekily.

Frank grunted something that sounded like "go dig a hole", and Tony didn't press it.

After he finished his last course adjustment, Punisher turned to Tony and asked, "Can you call ahead to the Initiatives in these states and tell them that I will be on the area?"

Tony stroked his beard. "Yeah, I suppose I could. Just don't shoot the local heroes. Doorman and Squirrel Girl already have enough to worry about."

Punisher packed up his rifle and rose to leave. Iron Man put a firm hand on Frank's back, which he grabbed and squeezed. "Don't touch me."

He walked solemnly to the elevator. Tony tapped an interface on his arm and an 8-bit version of the "Imperial March" followed Frank down to the bottom floor. The crisp nighttime air made Frank shiver, just a bit.

The Punisher shut his van's door and started the engine. Tonight's ride was to be a long one.