after the shot

It was a particularly difficult night in New York. Spider-Man's latest mission ended quite differently than usual. Peter tried to stop armed criminals, but one of them managed to fire. It all happened too quickly: Peter felt a sharp pain, lost his balance, and collapsed onto the roof.

Luckily, Frank Castle was nearby.

Frank quickly subdued the attackers and called for help. He stayed by Peter's side until paramedics arrived, even though Peter repeatedly tried to tell him he could handle it himself.

• You're not going anywhere now, spider,
  — Frank said briefly.

After the hospital, the doctors insisted that Peter rest for a few days and avoid getting into trouble again. Peter himself, of course, found this terribly boring.

But the most unexpected thing was something else: Frank decided to stay and look after him.
Peter woke up in the morning to find Castle sitting in a chair by the window. A glass of water and the medications the doctors had left behind sat on the table.

"Have you been sitting here all night?" Peter asked sleepily.

• Yes.

• For what?

Frank looked at him completely calmly.

• Because you don’t know how to take care of yourself.

• Hey! I'm actually a superhero.

• That's exactly why.

Peter tried to get up, but Frank immediately stopped him.

• Lie.

— I just wanted to get some water!

Frank silently handed him the glass.

Despite Castle's stern nature, Peter gradually realized that Frank genuinely cared about him. He made sure Peter got enough rest, ate, and took his medication, and, most importantly, didn't try to run away on another mission.

This was unusual for Frank. He was used to fighting alone. But now there was a guy next to him who somehow managed to make him stay.
And for the first time in a long time, Frank Castle allowed himself to simply be there - not as the Punisher, but as a man who decided to protect another.