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New York City still reeks of the same pungent injustices that it had always smelt of. The scent fills the nostrils of Frank Castle viciously. He is home, back in the city, back for what's left of the city to reclaim, back for who is left in the city to put down like a shaken race horse after a particularly strenuous run of the track.
He doesn't knock. He just enters the office of Nelson and Murdock as calmly as he possibly can. A startled face snaps up from the desk. Karen. Soft and sweet Karen, far too pure and gentle for the world that she had been thrusted into. "Frank-" She starts, her voice wavering.
"Where is he?"
Karen swallows, stammering her words. "I...I think you should go," She starts. "He...he's not here and you should leave before Foggy sees you," She urges, perhaps a part of her will always see the purity in him and Frank can not hate her for that, for wanting to spare him.
Frank shakes his head. "He's not here?" He repeats, grunting a little. "Fine. Alright," He mumbles. "He at home?"
"Frank...he won't want to see you. You have to know that," Karen trails, brushing a lock of fine blonde hair behind her ear as she rummages through the files that he has disturbed her from. "I have a lot of work to do, so you should leave. I...I think you should leave," Karen says firmly.
A new person enters the office. Foggy Nelson, Matt's best friend. His shaggy blond hair sits neatly on his shoulders. Frank watches as Foggy glances between Karen and him, his mouth opening and closing slightly, as though he can not find the words.
Apparently, the words are within further reach for Foggy than Frank had anticipated. "Karen," Foggy clears his throat, not taking his eyes off of Frank. "Karen, what is he doing here?" He snaps a little.
Karen stumbles over her words. "He was just leaving, Foggy," She asserts herself calmly.
"Yeah," Foggy chuckles bitterly. "You're good at that, aren't you, Castle?" He snarks. "Always moving from one place to the other, no matter the destruction you leave behind yourself,"
Frank snaps right back, rising to the temptation. "You wanna cut the crap, Nelson, and tell me what the fuck you think you're saying?" He grits, his jaw clenched.
"You left him," Foggy seethes. "You...you left Matt!" He adds. "And...and you just come back here, waltzing into our office, asking to see him? No. No fucking way, buddy. You're not seeing him, not after leaving him,"
Frank glares at the shorter man from across the room. "I said goodbye to him, he knew I was leavin', we said our goodbyes. There isn't much more to it," Frank says through his teeth. He is sure that Matt has been fine without him, Red always is fine without him. Frank must keep himself reminded of that.
Karen eyes him before snatching up a piece of nearby paper, sighing. "I'm...I'm...here, just take this. It's his address, but I'm gonna assume you already know that," She stands, rising to her feet and shoving the slip of paper roughly into Frank's grip. She looks sympathetically to Foggy. "Hey, we...we can't trust that Matt ever gave Frank the full story here, Fog,"
"What the fuck is going on?" Frank demands quietly.
"Just go. Go see Matt. Even if he kills me for sending you,"
Frank swallows back a sigh as he knocks on the heavy door of Matt's apartment. He waits, almost far too patiently for Matt to open the door. The lock twitches as Matt unlocks the door, his face appearing tired and pale when he finally reveals himself. He halts, suddenly, when he realizes who his visitor is.
"Frank." Matt says simply, swallowing.
Frank takes Matt in. His skin appears pale and ashen, gaunt, even. He wears grey sweatpants and a loose blue t-shirt, his feet sock clad, his glasses perched over the bridge of his nose. But most alarmingly, is his slightly pudgier belly, his t-shirt loose apart from where it seems to clench inwards at a small curve.
"Red-" Frank breathes, all the air escaping his lungs as he repeatedly looks Matt up and down. "Red, you're fuckin'...you're knocked up," He utters, his voice low.
Matt opens his mouth to speak before adverting his gaze, then looking back to Frank with a weary expression. "You should go," He says. "Frank, go," He adds. He tries to block the doorway but Frank trudges inside regardless, his head spitting thoughts at him at a rapid pace, his heart pounding in his chest, his breathing becoming uneven.
Frank runs a hand through his hair. "No...no I ain't going anywhere, Red," Frank shakes his head. "Not...not until you talk to me. About...about this," He gestures to Matt, to his body, to his swelled belly. "You...you're pregnant, Matt," So rare and so few does he call Matt Murdock by his given name.
Matt let's out a shaky breath. "Why are you here? In...in New York again," He questions.
"Doesn't matter. Why...who's baby is it?" Frank staggers over his words.
"Frank-"
"Who's the daddy, Red? Is...is it me? Am I that baby's father?" Frank manages through strangled breathing. He perches on the edge of Matt's couch, sitting on his armrest as he gathers his thoughts. "Tell...tell me, Red," He orders quietly.
Realistically, he shouldn't need confirmation. He knows in his heart and soul that the baby inside of Matt is his. But he needs Matt to say it.
Matt exhales before, "You. You're the daddy, Frank," He reveals in a quiet voice.
Frank makes a small noise, coming from his chest. He shakes his head, breathing quickly. Matt must take this as a sign to step in. "Frank, I-"
"I don't wanna hear it, Red," Frank snaps slightly. It is a weak snarl, far less vicious then he intended it to be. "I...Jesus Christ, you're pregnant,"
"I..I am," Matt agrees. "I...Frank, they're yours,"
"Of course they're mine!" Frank grunts, defeatedly. "S'been five months since I saw you, Red, you've...you've gotta be at least five months-"
"Six," Matt intercepts. "I'm at the six months mark,"
Yet another indistinguishable sound slips past Frank's parted lips. "Six?" He echoes. "You're six months gone?" He whispers. Matt nods. "You...you knew the day I told you I was leaving. You...you already knew," He realizes slowly. It hits him so slowly yet so suddenly, so harshly. He doesn't ask. He doesn't need to question Matt. He already knows. It all makes sense now.
Matt clears his throat. "I...I knew, Frank," Matt admits. "I was five weeks along then," He adds gently.
"And you kept that to yourself,"
"Frank, I...you were leaving," Matt curses. "Leaving it all behind. This city, whatever we had, everything. Who was I to stop you?"
"The one carrying my baby, that's who, Red," Frank utters, his voice shaking. He runs a hand down his face. "I...I wouldn't have left," He pauses. "If you had told me, I wouldn't have left you to do this alone,"
"I know that," Matt whispers. "I know you're too good of a man to do that, too much of a family man," He continues. "But I was...I was scared, y'know? I...I didn't know what to say or do or how to even tell you-"
"So you didn't," Frank grimaces. "You...you let me miss out on six months, six while months, and who knows how much else I would've missed if I didn't come back now? Huh?" He winches.
Frank takes a shaky breath in, trying to compose himself. "You know, I was there, with Maria, every single step of the way, every bit of morning sickness, every single tiny kick, every weird craving, held her hand the entire time each one of my kids came into this world, was by her side when they were both born. I...I was there, I was ready to be a father, Red. I was ready," He mutters faintly. "It wouldn't have been any different for you. You think I would've just up and abandoned you and the kid? Thought I didn't have it in me to do it all again? I'm a better man than that,"
"I thought you didn't have it in you to do it with me, Frank," Matt confesses, his voice weak and raspy. "I'm...I'm not Maria. I...I didn't want to fucking push you, alright?! This baby isn't Frank Junior or Lisa, and I didn't have it in me to be a replacement for the family you lost,"
Frank bites his lip at the mention of his family's names. He slams his hand against the coffee table, frustratedly. "Damn it, Red, I know that shit," He barks. "They're gone! Alright! My family is dead," He yelps. "They're gone and...and I never thought I'd have a baby again and you took a lot of that away from me-" Frank cuts himself off with a shaky cry. "I've...I've missed all of it-"
Matt shuts him up by approaching him cautiously. He swallows, standing in front of Frank. Slowly, he takes the taller man's hand, bringing it to his swollen baby bump, firmly pressing the palm of Frank's hand against his abdomen. "You feel that?" He questions, his voice filled with unshed tears.
Frank is still, tiny thuds hammer against his flat palm. He curses wetly. "They're kicking," He chokes out.
Matt nods, tears sliding down his pale face. "Uh huh," He whispers back. "That's...that's your kid, Frank. Right...right inside there," He shudders. "Inside of me,"
Frank shakes his head. "You're not a fucking replacement, Red," He says, his voice plagued with emotions. He spreads his hand further across Matt's baby bump, his fingers soft against Matt. He looks up to see Matt's tear streaked face. Frank shakenly exhales before, "You and me, and...and this baby. We're family, alright? But...but that doesn't mean you're a surrogate family," He mutters genuinely.
Matt nods. "I'm sorry, I...I shouldn't have let you leave," He utters quietly. "Not...not when there was a piece of you inside of me,"
"I shouldn't have left," Frank counters. He takes a deep breath. "When are you due?"
"December," Matt replies.
"Ah," Frank hums. "A Christmas baby,"
"That's what Karen said too," Matt murmurs softly.
Frank's hands find Matt's waist, pulling him down gently into his awaiting lap. He breathes tiredly before speaking again, closing his eyes. "C'mere to me, Red," He muses softly. His arm entangles itself around Matt, his other hand coming to rest stop Matt's belly, feeling the baby kick. Their baby, their little one.
Frank presses his forehead to Matt's, breathing in the sweet scent of Matt, the familiar aroma of coconut and cologne. "Can...can I be here from now on, Red?" He asks, his voice faint. "You want me to stick around, Murdock?"
"Do...do you want to stick around?" Matt's voice wavers.
Frank nods, eyes still closed. "I wanna stick around, Red," He nods again, running his thumb over the sift curve of Matt's distended belly, making half moon shapes with the pad of his thumb. "Please, God, let me be here,"
Matt takes in a shaky breath. "I want you here, Frank, I do, I do," Matt whispers. "Stay," He adds. "Stay with us,"
"I'll be here, Red," Frank confirms. "For you and the little one," He connects their lips, slowly, feeling his tongue slip into Matt's warm mouth. He feels one of Matt's hands come to cup his face, the other travels down Frank's toned chest. "Good boy," Frank whispers, his voice sharp and raspy.
Matt makes a soft noise, moving his hand to rest upon Frank's inner thigh. Frank moves his hand from Matt's bump to slowly yank at the waistband of those gorgeous grey sweatpants that the blind man wears so well. He tugs the sweatpants down teasingly.
Slowly, Frank hums, beginning to rock his hips as he reaches for Matt's cock, stroking his thumb along the length of him for a few moments before he begins to stroke him properly. A small, strangled groan leaves Matt's lips.
Frank picks up his movements again, stroking Matt steadily, however, this time with a slow thrusting of his hips. He breathes in Matt's comforting smell, sucking at the blind man's neck, biting gently at the skin of his neck. Matt groans. "Just fuck me already, you tease," Matt murmurs against Frank's forehead, his lips grazing Frank's skin.
Frank raises an eyebrow, smirking to himself. "Alright, alright," He chuckles. He doesn't waste anymore time in zipping down his jeans. Cautiously, he enters Matt, apparently, no foreplay is required at the moment. He takes in a shallow breath of air, before looking to Matt's sightless brown eyes. "You alright?" His voice is raspy and low. "That alright?"
Matt just hums in response. "Your words, Red, use your words for me," Frank mumbles.
Matt shudders a breath, nodding quickly. "Feels fine," He replies. He straddles further into Frank's lap, sinking down onto him even more, groaning as he does so. "Need you," He utters. "Need this,"
Frank moves slowly, in a gentle manner, bucking his hips upwards. "Yeah?" He mutters. "You haven't been out gallivanting with another man in my absence, Red?" He smirks wildly. "Not with my baby inside of you, no?"
Matt shakes his head, breathing deeply. "Even...even if I wasn't pregnant, I wouldn't have," He declares softly.
"I'm that good, eh?" Frank's smirk grows wider, the corners of his lips curving upwards. "Couldn't forget about me, could ya, Red?"
"You're an ego maniac, y'know," Matt grins. Frank loves that grin. "Self assured, possessive," He smirks.
Frank chuckles, moving a hand to press against Matt's baby bump, his fingers touching the skin lightly. "Take off that t-shirt, I wanna see that gorgeous bump of yours," His voice is husky yet soft.
"Did I mention possessive?" Matt rolls his eyes, tugging off his t-shirt and Frank feels his breath hitch in his throat. He allows his hand to smooth over Matt's warm skin, taking in the soft baby bump. Matt wears a few stretch marks across his hip, Frank thinks that Matt looks beautiful like this; his skin smooth and soft.
"You look beautiful," Frank mumbles, rocking his hips as Matt let's out a yelping moan. "Really, Red, you wear pregnancy well,"
Matt laughs, half heartedly. He wraps his arms around Frank's neck, intertwining his fingers. "Well-"
"Don't correct me on this, Red," Frank interrupts, kissing at Matt's cheek. "Just...just let me appreciate this," Appreciate you.
Frank thrusts deeper and deeper into Matt, their bodies clinging together with Matt's rounded bump between them, his back arching as he presses his bump against Frank's chest, groaning in a strangled fashion.
"One thing about...about not having sex for months, I...I'm not gonna last long, Frank," Matt utters breathlessly.
"S'alright, baby," Frank rasps. "Lemme take care of you," He speeds up and the sounds that Matt makes ring in his ears, provoking a smile across his face. "How's that feel?" Frank asks. "Tell me how it feels, Red,"
"Feels...feels so good," Matt mumbles, dipping his head into the nook of Frank's neck, nibbling at the skin of Frank's neck. "Don't stop, God, don't you dare stop," He whispers.
“That’s it, baby,” Frank breathes, the shakiness gone from his voice. "Good boy," He praises as Matt rocks himself in his lap. He runs a hand down Matt's shivering spine, feeling every inch of his warm skin.
"Mmh," Matt grimaces. "I...I'm not gonna last much longer,"
"You close?"
Matt nods quickly, swallowing back a moan. "Y-yeah," He manages. "Really close, Frank,"
At this, Frank increases his pace, grippng Matt's body close to him, holding them both up. Really, in hindsight, they should have moved to the couch, or Matt's bed; rather than the edge of the couch, on the arm rest; but somehow, in spite of this, Frank manages to hold both of their weight steady.
"Good boy, good boy," Frank whispers lowly, pulling Matt in for a kiss, tilting his chin upwards to meet his lips. He nibbles at Matt's bottom lip, groaning into the other vigilantes mouth. "God, you're gorgeous, downright gorgeous, Red," Frank mumbles against Matt's flushed lips. "So good for me,"
Matt breathes shakily, his mouth hanging open as he finishes, his back arched beautifully, his jaw clenched tightly. "Fuck, oh, fuck," He groans. "Shit, shit," He is breathless, his lips quivering as his shoulders tremble from orgasm.
Frank finishes quickly, grunting as he clenches his eyes shut tightly, his arms still wrapped around Matt. "God, Red, Jesus," He rasps.
They fall against one another, both gasping for air, trying to quickly fill their lungs, Matt pressed against Frank. They collapse backwards onto the couch, Matt laying atop Frank, panting for air. Frank wraps his arm around Matt's body, pulling him even closer, pressing a peck to Matt's bare shoulder.
"Thank you...thank you for giving me this," Frank sighs, his strong arms wrapped around Matt, his free hand lingering on Matt's bump, fingers dancing lightly over the stretched skin.
Matt nods, composing himself. "A family?" He hesitates quietly.
Frank nods. "Yeah, Red," He breathes. "Another family," He pauses. "That I can take care of, protect properly this time. I...I won't make the same mistakes twice, y'know," Frank adds. "I...Red, let me stay, let me be here, won't you?" He asks, his voice tender, quiet and soft.
Matt bites his lip, allowing Frank to hold him. He rests his head against Frank's chest. "You're...you're here," He whispers lowly. "Frank, you're here," He repeats.
Frank isn't a particularly religious man by any mean or standards, but he does take a small, silent and quick, second to thank whatever God that reigns over them for his second chance at salvation; at family.