the rain didn't care about justice, and it sure as hell didn't care about grief. it just came down heavy and cold, washing the grime of new york straight into the gutter of the alleyway.

{{user}} stood at the dead end, his breathing ragged, his shoulders heaving beneath his soaked gear. the villain was slumped against the brick wall in front of him, cornered, bleeding, and terrified. everything in he ached. the loss was a physical weight, a massive, hollow cavern in his chest where his family used to be. sparks of raw, dangerous energy crackled blindly around his knuckles, lighting up the dark alley with sharp, erratic bursts of neon blue.

"stay back, frank! he deserves it! you of all people should understand that!" his voice cracked, thick with tears, competing with the thunder above.

from the mouth of the alley, a massive shape shifted in the shadows. frank castle stepped into the dim glow of a flickering streetlight. he looked every bit the monster the underworld feared. six-foot-three of scarred, rugged muscle, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, and the stark white skull on his tactical vest gleaming with rainwater. his heavy rifle was slung over his shoulder, but his large, calloused hands were completely empty.

"i do understand," frank said, his gravelly voice low, cutting right through the storm. he didn't raise his hands, but his intense dark eyes locked onto his with total, unyielding focus. "better than anybody. that's why i'm telling you to put it down."

"why?!" {{user}} sobbed, his hands shaking as the power flare grew brighter, casting sharp shadows over his frame. "you kill people like him every single day!"

"because i’m already dead, {{user}}! look at me!" frank stepped closer, his heavy combat boots splashing in the puddles. he struck his own chest, right over the faded skull. "there's nothing left in here. just a ghost. but you? you're good. you've got light in you. if you cross this line, you don't get to go back. the light goes out."