"you're everything
a big bad wolf could want."
- Little Red Riding Hood, Valen

╳

In the morning I wake, still wrapped up in Frank.

His scent floods my nostrils.

His face smooth with sleep, I stare at him in wonder. Then I close my eyes as I breathe him all in, trying to ingrain his smell to memory, as well as the sound of his heartbeat. He's truly a gorgeous specimen.

It will be hard to walk away from him.

I hear a change in his breathing and look up at his face as he wakes.

"Mornin'." he says, his voice even huskier than usual. He's sexy as sin, without even trying. I can't get enough of him.

"Good morning, Frank." I purr.

He leans in and kisses my lips. I grab his face and roll back onto the mattress, pulling him on top of me. His body hovers over mine while we make out.

We finally break apart and he looks down at me warmly, stroking his finger down my cheek. A gesture from him I've quickly come to love.

Frank climbs off the bed and moves about the room and my green eyes watch him intently. His body, the movements of all his muscles, his mannerisms.. I commit him all to memory.

He heads to the bathroom, sending me an inviting smirk before he enters. I smile wickedly and crawl off the bed, prancing to the bathroom to join him for a round of shower sex.
His body dripping with water is a whole other sight to behold.

"Where are you headed next?" Frank asks me as he sits on the edge of the bed, putting his shoes on.

"I don't really have a destination. Just.. west." I answer, buttoning my jeans. "What about you?"

"South." he replies. "Do you have to go west right away? I don't know about you, but I could eat."

"Food?" I clarify, teasingly.

He smirks, laughing under his breath. "Yes, food."

╳

Climbing out of Frank's van, we head inside the local diner and order breakfast.

Frank orders pancakes and coffee, and I get the same. If it's good enough for Frank, it's more than good enough for me.

I'm thankful that this diner is quiet in the way of patrons. I feel a little conspicuous sitting in the window in the daylight, but every time I look at Frank or hear his voice, everything feels okay.

Our food soon arrives and we dig in.

I watch Frank, as he goes about eating his pancakes, pouring the syrup, drinking his coffee. Then my eyes fall on the chain around his neck. The chain that dangled in my face multiple times last night. The chain with a wedding band hanging from it.

"You know, I couldn't help noticing.. that ring." I say, gesturing to the necklace with my fork. "Are you married?" I ask, more curious than accusing.

A subtle sadness enters his eyes and I'm quick to regret bringing it up. But he finishes chewing his food so he can give me an answer.

"I had a wife.." he answers lowly. "Kids.."

My eyebrows furrow at his words and his tone. "Had?"

He nods softly. "They're dead."

"I'm so sorry.." I breathe, eyes glossing almost instantly. "..Was it an accident?"

"..No. They were taken from me."

I press my lips together and look down at my plate. "H-how long ago? If you don't mind my asking.." I slowly bring my eyes back to his.

His eyelashes flutter. "Two years.." he whispers. "You know, there are times where it feels like yesterday.. Sometimes, it feels like a million years ago."

I'm very familiar with the pain of losing family, but I'm unfamiliar with the pain of losing your partner and your children..

Thoughts of my mother and brother try to make their way to the front of my mind for the first time since meeting Frank, but I refuse them entry, putting all my focus on Frank and his family.

"..What were they like?" I ask.

Frank graciously tells me about his family. His sweet boy Frank Jr, his lovely little girl Lisa, and his beautiful wife, Maria.

They sounded truly wonderful.

What a terribly heavy cross for him to bear..

Afterwards, we lighten the conversation. Try to at least. Frank asks about my family, to which I quickly skirt over the subject, telling him I have none. Then we share a few of our more pleasant war stories, before eventually moving on to lighter topics.

Unfortunately, I can't contribute too much to any recent topics, but given all our conversations this morning and last night, I seem to find Frank very relatable. And the more time I spend around this man, the harder it's going to be to leave him..

Because I do need to leave him.

After we've eaten our fill, we leave the diner and I walk with Frank to his van.

"Can I drop you off anywhere?" he kindly offers.

"Thank you, but no. I don't really know what my next move is." I confess. "I might hang around town a bit longer, figure it out."

He keeps his feet planted and fiddles with his keys.

Looks like neither of us want to go..

We embrace in the tightest, most comforting hug.

"Take care of yourself, Frank." I say over his shoulder.

He leans back and cups my face. "You, too." he says before kissing my forehead.

I give him another hug, breathing him in one last time, before I step back from his van as he opens the door.

I feel like a magnet has been planted in my stomach, and Frank holds another, leaving me to fight his pull.

He holds his door open and looks back at me. He hasn't even left yet and my longing for him is so strong. We've shared so much of each other in a small amount of time, it's a true shame to walk away. And he looks to be waging the same war, which makes me want to give in all the more.

But it's for him that I mustn't.

Frank sighs, hops into the van and shuts the door.

When he winds down his window, I give in just a little and go to him. He smiles at me but it doesn't reach his eyes. They look as sad as I feel.

"You know, the band's playing again tonight.." I say out of no where, my mouth working of its own volition. "Just sayin'.. you know, if you don't get too far south.."

I grab the door frame and pull myself up on tip toes. He meets me halfway and we kiss through his open window.

With my eyes closed, I rest my forehead against his. "Goodbye, Frank."

I plant my feet back on the ground and step back as he starts his engine.

He stares at me for a long moment, before finally reversing out of his park.

We wave to one another as he drives away, out of the car park, onto the street and out of my life, forever.

I blink back the threat of tears and remind myself to be grateful for having the time I did with him. Because for that, I am immensely grateful. He's the best thing to happen to me in a long time.

That is why it hurts so much to watch him leave.

I wish we could've stayed in that hotel room, forever. In delightful bliss, just lost in us. Our room was warm and bright and heavenly.

Out here, it's cold and dark and harsh.

But it's where I belong.

He deserves so much more than I can give him. And he deserves honesty at the very least. He wanted this to be honest, and I can't even do that. So I watch his van disappear from view, telling myself it's for the best.

Frank made me feel good, in more ways than one. And he satisfied a sexual appetite I didn't know I possessed. Rather, an appetite I don't think I possessed, until him. An appetite he created.

And it wasn't just about the sex, no matter how deliciously exquisite it may have been. There was a reason it was so exquisite. There had been something there, a deeper connection that I don't want to leave behind. Not yet. I want to explore it.

Selfishly, I want more of him. Because I like how I felt when I was with him. We had something, I know it. Not just anyone can make me feel all the things he did, physically or emotionally.

So, as night falls, I find myself back at the bar. Searching the crowd for him, like a meerkat, to see if he feels the same way.

I selfishly hope he shows, but for his sake.. I truly hope he doesn't.

I down a couple drinks while the band starts up. They begin to play their first song and I recognise it to be the one I heard last night, the one that drew me into the bar.

My thoughts begin to drift back to last night, but are abruptly interrupted by a shift in the atmosphere around me.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach and I hold my breath.

I snap my head up and glance across the bar until my eyes lock onto those dark brown eyes that ignite a warm spark in my lost soul.

A/N

references:
- adapted dialogue from episode 1 of The Punisher, Season 2, 'Roadhouse Blues.'

- K