Frank Castle(chapter 93)
prevously in chapter 92
Amidst the chaos of bullets that were fired towards Henry, who just got up, the air crackled with the deafening roar of gunfire. Bullets whizzed through the air, tearing through anything in their path. In the heart of this storm of bullets stood Henry, undeterred and unwavering. Each bullet that struck him seemed to vanish into the inferno that raged within his body, leaving only the briefest scorch marks that healed almost instantly.
As he began his advance, a strange phenomenon occurred. His skin started to glow, an ethereal light emanating from deep within, casting an ominous red-orange hue around him. It was as if a living furnace had been ignited inside him, his veins pulsating with molten energy. Each step he took was deliberate and unhurried, yet filled with an unstoppable force, the ground beneath him seemingly trembling in response.
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Chapter 93
The shooter was the Punisher, or Frank Castle as he was known, someone Henry actually admired, from what he got from his visions. Frank's face distorted in disbelief, but he continued to fire in desperation. Yet, the more he shot, the brighter and more intense the glow became. Smoke began to rise from Henry, fiery energy that surged through his being. The smoke swirled around him, a dark, curling shroud that added to the surreal and terrifying sight.
His eyes, twin embers of pure fire, pierced through the smoke, locking onto the Punisher with a predatory focus. The light from his body intensified, casting eerie, flickering shadows that danced wildly across the walls and floor. The very air around him seemed to shimmer with heat.
As he drew closer, the temperature in the room spiked dramatically. The metallic scent of overheated bullets and scorched earth filled the air. The Punisher's guns began to overheat and jam, his hands burning from the searing metal. So he dropped his weapons, backing away before drawing his pistol, which he shot at Henry, who wasn't even fazed.
With every step, the glow within him grew fiercer, the light now so bright it was almost blinding. Flames began to lick at his skin, not consuming, but rather emanating from him. He was a walking inferno, a harbinger of destruction, and the very embodiment of a nightmare. Henry then said, "Hello, Frank," causing all the heat to instantly vanish as Frank stood there, not afraid. The reason why Henry did all this display was actually just because he was feeling bored, not to scare Frank Castle, the Punisher. If frank was truly scared by his little display, then Henry would be disappointed. "I am a big fan, by the way. I just didn't expect you to be here," he said before shrugging as he suddenly grabbed the Punisher by the throat.
"Anyway, you should focus on the others. Out there, you can make a real difference," he sighed before bringing the grunting Punisher closer. "My point is, don't take another shot at me. It's pointless. Plus, I will find you and I will kill you, no matter the time or the distance," he said as he then threw Frank Castle out of the big window and into a car below. Henry was only on the 4th floor, so Frank Castle was fine, as he actually found him amusing and quite pleasing since he gets rid of filth like child predators and child traffickers, which was actually Frank Castle's saving grace. Otherwise, he would have been toast, literally.
[Some time later]
Early in the morning, in Harlem, New York City, sitting on a bench was Henry, nicely dressed in a suit. He was looking at a device in his hand, which showed several images, it was recordings to be exact of events he didn't bother to watch, one of Daredevil tied up in a chain on a rooftop, another of an underground basement where it was the Punisher's turn to be tied to a chair and tortured by an Irish gang, only for Daredevil to rescue him, which ultimately ended with them in a cemetery with the Punisher heavily injured. Henry also read an in-depth analysis on Frank Castle, which contained his military service, the death of his family, and his brief encounter with death, which only fortified Henry's resolve about having a family on his own.
"Well, in this life I can forget about having a family," he thought as he then got up, where a luxurious limo was parked. Getting in the car, which was actually driven by Crow 5, the female Crow with the ability to conjure up psionic constructs, Henry was on his way to meet two people: Mariah Dillard Stokes and Cottonmouth. Mariah was a powerful political woman with ties to the underworld of Harlem, while Cottonmouth was a villain of Luke Cage, someone that Henry saw in his vision along with Diamondback. But he wasn't here to fight them, no, that would be stupid—stupid for them, of course. He was here as a business partner.
-scene change-
In the dimly lit club, the sultry notes of a jazz saxophone wove through the smoky air, casting a spell over the room. The intimate setting exuded an aura of power and ambition, the perfect backdrop for a clandestine meeting of influential figures. Henry, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that spoke of understated elegance, sat calmly at a private corner table. The table was adorned with a flickering candle, casting shadows that danced across the faces of its occupants. Three crystal glasses stood on the table, two filled with a deep, rich red wine, and the third, empty, in front of Henry.
Across from him sat Mariah Dillard Stokes, a woman whose presence commanded attention. Her sharp eyes reflected both curiosity and caution as she regarded Henry. Next to her, Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes exuded a laid-back confidence, his gaze steady and appraising as he sipped his wine, savoring its complex flavors. The flickering candlelight accentuated the contrast between Mariah's polished elegance and Cottonmouth's raw charisma.
Henry broke the silence, his voice smooth and measured, carrying an air of authority. "Thank you both for meeting me. I've been looking forward to this conversation."
Mariah leaned back slightly, her posture regal yet guarded. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the stem of her wine glass. "You have quite the reputation, Mr. Henry. Creator of Orchid, a drug that rivals the Steel Serpent. It's intriguing."
Cornell smirked, his interest piqued. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Intriguing is one word for it. Lucrative is another. But then again, we're all about making money, aren't we?"
Henry nodded, acknowledging their shared motivations. "Precisely. I'm here to propose a partnership that could be immensely profitable for all of us."
Mariah took a measured sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving Henry's. The liquid glistened in the low light, a stark contrast to her dark lipstick. "And what exactly do you envision this partnership entailing?"
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A/N: For those of you who are mad that Henry didn't kill Frank Castle, Frank Castle is one of my favorites, especially in the scene in *Daredevil* season 2 where he is buying a radio and the guy tries to sell him a young girl. We all know what happened to the guy. And although Henry might be a villain, he's not a monster. He does not condone r*pe or p*dop*ile*, especially the latter, so Henry likes Frank. Plus, Frank does not pose a threat to him, so there was really no point in Henry killing Frank. Additionally, Frank is doing God's work out there, something Henry admires. So yeah, Frank stays alive, even if Henry KILLS the MCU.