i think you're a half measure

“Yeah this is what I do now, next to my regular civilian job. I mean, it’s not like you aren’t fighting crime. Judging from that weapon of yours you prefer different methods but in the end we’re doing the same thing.” Clark just preferred not brutality killing people in the process but he wasn’t going to bring that up right now. “You do realise that your gun is scaring the shit out of people?”

“Yeah, we are.” Frank was defensive and his trigger finger itched against his thigh. He would never understand the heroes that couldn’t just put down the people who would strike again. It was weak and in the end, fruitless. He shrugged. “Yeah. That’s what it’s supposed to do. I don’t carry it just for the aesthetic.” 

That name was not one he wanted to be hearing dressed the way Clark was right now. His head whipped around, was that Frank? He shook his head and gave him the ‘wrong identity’ look. He then turned back to the man hunched against the wall, asking him if he was alright. He didn’t seem to need medical attention in fact, the man seemed perfectly fine, which was a relief to Clark. He helped him up and told him to be safe. Clark turned back to Frank. “Frank, long time no see.” He quickly checked on the knocked out criminal, he’d probably have a headache when he woke up. “Or should I call you The Punisher?”

Frank watched the man skitter away down the alley, like  maybe a little terrified of him. “10 years, I reckon.” He adjusted the gun he was holding so that it lay against his shoulder. “Is this what you do now? Superman?” 

There were days when being a journalist got boring and your boss got you stuck on even more boring stories. Today was one of those days for Clark. The hours crept by excruciatingly slow as he stared at the words that he somehow formed into a consistent story. When he was finally done with his day at work he left as fast as he possibly could. All Clark wanted was to go home but apparently that wasn’t going to happen, just as he was about to enter his apartment he heard a scream for help. Guess it’s Superman time. In a flash he was in his Superman attire, he remembered the time when he didn’t have to hide who he was, but that time had ended when he graduated from Queens Academy. He flew out to where he heard the scream originate from and landed.

Frank had been minding his own business, doing as he always did. After he had left Queen’s Academy, he took on the mantel of The Punisher full time. Day in and day out, Frank punished those who were cruel to others for no justifiable cause. 

“Well, I hope the curiosity is gone now. All it is is a tiny space where you can’t fuckin’ breathe for shit.” Frank smiled despite himself as he loosened another bolt. 

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that answer. Sure, there was a long list of people she’d like to see never take a breath again, but she didn’t believe all crimes were on the same level. “So, if someone is stealing for their family, or if someone is blackmailed into killing someone else, they deserve the same kind of punishment? I mean, I know most cops aren’t as trustworthy as a couple I know, but some of the laws make sense, don’t they? Even the ones who steal millions aren’t as bad as the one who kill dozens, right?”

Frank grunted, trying to reword his idea. “There’s a difference between bullshit crimes that shouldn’t qualify as crimes and true, real crime. Someone killing for pure malice, for shits n’ giggles, someone raping, someone stealing from their employees, they just, they can’t be left rotting in prison because they will be let off and they will do it again and again and again. Some people just aren’t redeemable.” 

“I like living on the edge, so Frankie it is. And you can’t get mad, I wouldn’t have thought of it without you,” she warned. Steph was getting pumped until he mentioned “ending” people. She hesitated and slowed her pace to walk beside him. “So where’s the line you draw? I’m always curious to find out, I mean Catwoman is pretty morally ambiguous and we get along pretty well, but I was trained not to kill my enemies. It’s been really hard, I won’t lie. Some people are just too horrible, but others you want to see suffer in jail for the rest of their lives, you know?” she smiled, her memories going to the great moment she got her father locked up. What kind of idiot villain leaves clues on purpose??

“You’re not wrong, I did kinda rope myself into that one.” Frank paused when Steph asked where’s the line? because for him, there wasn’t really a line. If you were doing bad shit, you had to be put down or you would keep doing the bad shit and ruining lives. Villains just had to be put down. “There isn’t a line. World’s pretty black and white to me.” 

“Nice costume, red.” Frank could not believe his eyes, a vigilante here, in the middle of this...whatever the hell it was? Not likely just a passerby, it had to be a student. A professor wouldn’t hide in a costume right now. “Now it’s likely that you are a student, but I have a good feeling about you and honestly, I don’t care enough at the moment. You can go and fight, but if you die, know I will kick your ass, capiche?” 

“It was worth a shot.” The blonde shrugged, seeming completely unfazed by his words or his order to go back inside, she had no plan to do that. “I mean I totally would, but I’d rather not. Can you just pretend you didn’t see me and let me go on and actually help you guys protect the school?”

Frank laughed (bitterly), “I would pretend, but this was the only job I was given. If you could just run along inside now, so I can go back to minding my own business, that would be grand.” 

Stephanie smirked, she worked alone all the time, but a team always made things better in the end. She tilted her head, motioning for him to follow. “Sounds like a deal to me. But I have to warn you, I have the tendency to improvise. And I don’t die easy anyways. I’m Stephanie by the way, or Spoiler. I think you’re going to be one of my favourite teachers after all this is over.” Even though she agreed to follow him, she started walking before he did. “What’s the plan, prof?”

Frank half smile at Stephanie. He knew that this kid would be a pain in the ass, but the good kind. “My name’s Frank, or Professor Castle, if ya wanna be stingy about it. You can call me Frankie if I’m not in the mood to cut off someone’s head.” Frank followed her, easily giving up his control because he felt he could trust her. “The plan is to find whoever the fuck is doing this and end them quickly because I have no idea what I’m doing right now, and would love some instructions on how to be a teacher.” At least he was honest. 

Walking down the now empty hallway, batons twirling in her hands as her blue eyes glanced back just to make sure that behind her was still empty. A few bodies had been left behind her, left for any teacher that was following in her steps. Freezing a second at an unknown voice, the blonde brought her baton ready in a stance to attack, not daring to relax when she realized it was a teacher, most she had been able to easily dodge, her game was obviously dropping. “Me?” She tried, deciding to play dumb first just to see where it would get her, but even Sara knew that was a stupid idea. “I was asked to help.” The lie fell easily through her lips, hoping it was at least believable.

Frank repressed a laugh. “C’mon now, do you think I was born yesterday? Don’t you play dumb with me now, just get back inside before you get hurt.” Frank was honestly pretty tired of these kids just running off into danger, and ignoring his warnings. He did not get paid enough for this.

Steph’s air of confidence wavered as she cursed herself. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.” She knew exactly what six years could do to someone, the past six years of her life had completely changed her. “You’re right though, I got into this business six years ago and I’m definitely not the same. I’m more trained, I know the reasons why I’m doing this now. But what’s never going to change is that I need to help, I can’t sit in the hall and do nothing.” She stared at him with defiance and started to walk past him.

“That’s just fine, kid, don’t mean much to me, anyway.” It did, and he was lying, but Frank appreciated the apology. There wasn’t much of that nowadays. “Okay, here’s the deal. If you’re going out there, I have to come with you. There’s no if ands or buts, seeing as there is clearly no way to stop you. You follow me and you do as I say, because if you die on my watch, I will kick your ass three ways from Sunday. Got it?”