flower lady in the first place. You got secrets, Aerith?”

He looked up over his shoulder at the guy on the balcony.

“You little shit! Most people don’t think twice about this thing. Which makes YOU the one drawing attention.”

He was about to continue walking, but he paused and looked back again.

“You look like your mom dressed you this morning!”

close to him.

“That’s right! You heard the lady! Boyfriend bodyguard. Buzz off, ya damn ginger!”

The priest’s face cycled through several emotions until it landed on shock.

“Your WHAT?! AERITH!”

It took him a minute, but he looked up at the redhead in the helicopter and leaned into the lie despite his original protest. He wrapped an arm around Aerith’s shoulders and pulled her in-

“Dammit! I figured that would’ve got rid of all of ‘em. What now?!”

He was shockingly quick on his feet even with the weight of The Punisher over his shoulders. He spun it once more and aimed for the loudest guy. He was done playing games.

“Any final confessions?”

pulled off the buckles and cloth in one fluid movement to reveal his weapon; The Punisher.

He grasped the center of the green glowing cross in his right hand, primed it, and spun it onto his shoulders. He waited a beat just to see the reactions on their faces. Then he opened fire!

How would I know that? Would you leave me a note?

Then what the hell is this?!

wouldn’t hit a defenseless priest, would ya?”

“You always this excited about visiting shady places?”

He let out a snort, “Hell, why not all of the above? Seriously, though. I DO have an old buddy to meet up with. Troubled guy. Needs a little…cleansing of his sins.”

“What makes you say that? Is it the sunglasses?”