insistingly | | open rp |

...then.

[He exhales through his nose and his arms unfold. Frank steps up closer, eyes locking with Caleb.]

What do I gotta do?

[All the alcohol he consumed tonight is still on his lips and loosening his thoughts. This is no where near the most drunk they've seen each other. No one is swaying or crying or vomiting.]

[ They've seen each other far more drunk and yet still, Caleb is completely taken off guard. He stares at Frank, bewildered and then taking a step back, shaking his head. ]

That's not funny, Frank. I mean, you tell me you're okay with it and everything and now you're fucking with me? Really?

[ He can take jokes made at his own expense but about this? This was hitting a nerve. ]

I'm not joking. Why in the hell would I do that?

[Because he's on his way to being very, very drunk from pretty drunk. And because he's really taking a step outside of himself here. This is coming out wrong, all wrong.]

I don't know how to try and set this right or say something. But the thought of you and that guy together just for kicks when I know how fucking great you are...

[Yep. Still sounding not like he means.]

[ Caleb takes a step forward again, ]

Is this because I'm trying to get with a guy? Would you be saying all this shit if I was after some pussy?

It's because it's with some stranger. Some nobody. Someone that's not me.

[Well fucking there we go.]

[ And just like that, Caleb feels like he's been blindsided and smacked at the same time. He's back to staring dumbly and not really knowing what to say so he says the only thing he can think of. ]

...what?

I don't know how to else to tell you, Page.

[His hands fall slack to his sides and ball into fists.]

Not sure when it happened or if I'm supposed to just shove it aside or if it means anything. I get so caught up in wondering what it's like to touch you. And it's not fair that people can and will and think nothing special about it.

[ It's easier to keep thinking this is a joke. Another prank or something but Frank's never been good at doing those without breaking "character" and giving way to laughing. He's also never lied to Caleb.

Which is why it's so much easier to think this is a joke because the other option brings this crushing pain and realization with it. He tries to keep it together because, goddammit, he is a marine but it's in his eyes, his voice. Caleb Page has always been the worst in the group at keeping his emotions disguised, anyway. ]

Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why--why wait this long?

[He's no actor, no liar and no wordsmith. Right now at least one of those would be great to muddle through this. Frank sucks in a breath and the brow in his eyes furrows. It's impossible to tell what Caleb is thinking. The pain and shock is plain on his face.]

I dunno. I didn't know how to. And I wasn't sure. I thought it was talk. You know me, Caleb. I'm not---I mean. I've never tried.

[Among his peers, Frank is always certain. Always fearless and straightforward. He's not familiar with uncertainty, with hesitation. More than that, Frank Castle and vulnerability are not friends.]

[ Frank has always been the most steadfast of them all and to see him like this... Caleb feels his heart clench in his chest and he looks around them again before taking hold of Frank's hand and trying to pull him around the corner of the bar, off to the side where fewer people would see them should anyone decide to come out. Quietly, ]

C'mon.

[ Once they are away from any immediate line of sight, Caleb gives Frank's hand a squeeze, ]

How long? How long have you... felt this way?

[Open, honest and damn does it not feel too great. Frank sets his jaw and for a split second is ready to just storm off. That would make the most sense. That would be the most in character.

That would just leave him with more of the same for who knows how the hell long.

Caleb's rough hand in Frank's is a revelation and he has very little time to process this because they're moving. Out of sight of the parking lot. Away from the lights of the bar and the streetlights. It's almost too dark to see his face, save for a lamp post in the alleyway.]

Since that time I hit my head and you stayed up with me in case I had a concussion.

[Their hands stay together. He hasn't dropped contact. Even though he's been drinking like a fish his mouth feels dry.]

[ It's at the mention of that time that Caleb's face becomes more open, his expression a mixture of fondness and something more... raw. He has to look away for a moment, squeezing Frank's hand again. ]

I was willing to take what I felt for you to the grave, you know.

[ Especially after that night. There was no way he could leave Frank to go through it alone even if he felt guilty for feeling the way he did the whole time. He shakes his head again, ]

I didn't think you would ever want me in the same way...

[Hazards are a plenty. Frank was sure he had more than a few screws knocked loose. And Caleb sat right by his bed, one point slouched so close that he could feel the other man's breath just talking to him. Gently nudging him awake if sleep was trying to take him.]

You--?

[It's his turn for amazement to dawn on him.]

...shit. I knew you were special to me, I didn't know how. Christ, I didn't know I was about torturing you.

[And himself. Frank shakes his head. The same way. He said the same way.]

[ Caleb moves in closer, moving both hands to cup Frank's face, ]

You couldn't know. I didn't want you to. I thought--I couldn't stand you hating me or pushing me away if you knew.

[ If he knew and didn't feel the same. That thought had been enough to get Caleb to stomp down any notion of such feelings and quick. ]

[They're locked in eye contact. Caleb's blue, blue, eyes to Frank's rich, dark brown.]

If nothing else after all this... you'll always be my brother.

[He reaches out to clutch his shoulders.]

[ He's silent for a long moment, swallowing hard before he allows himself to risk it. ]

And if I want more than that? With you?

More.

[He repeats the word in awe and disbelief and he steps closer, closing the distance even more.]

Please, Page.

[Not too sure of what he wants in this moment aside from a kiss.]

[ Caleb sees it in Frank's face and is just as in awe. He decides to take another chance and leans in completely, pressing his lips to the other man's and hopes he won't get punched for it. ]

[This is the kind of weird, hazy dream Frank had between sleeping and waking all those months ago. It was confusing. But it felt right. That was the part that he had a hard time grasping. What did it mean? What will it mean going forward? What if Caleb knew? Or the Sargent?

The whole sense of rightness out weighs all of it as their lips come together. He's more rough and more solid than a woman and as his eyes slip shut and they naturally fall deeper, the less worried Frank becomes.]

[ His hands go to the back of Frank's head and neck, making it deeper and tasting the beer Frank had consumed. His body feels hot all over and the needy feeling that's been rolling through him all night seems to ramp up immediately to eleven and he's pressing himself, and Frank, up against the brick wall. ]

[His breath catches and a rumble of appreciative sound comes on out. Frank remembers his hands can move, move they do. Down the strong, broad expanse of his back one way to his hip to pull him closer. The other against his short, short hair. The wall feels like nothing. He adjusts his weight to plant himself firmly.

No hesitation. No shyness. Harder, deeper. All the time building up, all those unanswered questions now finally getting a reply. Caleb is with him. Not some random bartender with a good smile.]

[ He breaks the kiss to catch a breath but then he's diving back in, his hands moving down to feel Frank's chest through his shirt. Up and down, feeling every bit of muscle finally. Desire is making his stomach tight, remembering all the times Frank wore shirts too small for him, seeing him in the shower, shirtless in his bed...

Now he was finally getting to touch him. It comes back like wave and Caleb makes a low, needy sound into the kiss before he's breaking it again. Panting against Frank's lips, ]

We can't stay here.

[How can something so profound, so damn world shaking and it can happen more than once? More air in his lungs and the world seems, bigger and brighter. His eyes have adjusted to the darkness and he finds himself grinning and lightly keeping them open to watch Caleb.

This is real.]

...we got one more night.

[His voice is a low rumble and he strokes over Caleb's chest too, bunching the fabric.]

Find a place and uh stay the night?

[Because right here, right now his sense of shame is gone and the way they're clinging to one another this can only go one way. While he thinks about it. He makes a point to kiss the other man's jaw. The smell of his aftershave, the one they all use always smells better on Caleb.]

[ If Caleb thought he had been bad off before he was biting back a whimper now, trying not to sound as desperate as he was feeling. His desire was only being amplified by the recent revelations and now all his attention is on the man in front of him. All he wants, all he needs.

He rolls his head back some to bare more of his neck, ]

As long as it means we can fuck each others brains out, I don't care.

[Now they're both thoroughly riled. Caleb is sure as hell not alone. Frank's shoulders lift and fall with the way that he breathes. All of those thoughts he's been pushing down are right front and center.]

That's exactly what I mean.

[Except they gotta part and keep at a respectable distance. In a second. That's what he tells himself pulling Caleb closer and tilting hip to hip.]

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