fuckin' diabolical.

Lexi can’t help but laugh slightly. “Me either, but if it helps people sleep at night, who am I to judge them?” She shrugs. “I guess people are just looking for anything to keep them sane or to have to blame.” The brunette shakes her head slightly at the mention of Maeve and Homelander’s past. “Doubt it. I mean, odds are that whole relationship was just one fucking great PR stunt. You know, fake dating, sometimes being asked to make it real.” It was really textbook stuff. “Then again, maybe it was real, who knows? But I’m pretty sure it has to do with the plane crash.” She runs a hand through her hair before tilting her head slightly at the man in front of her. She raises an eyebrow at him. “Ordinarily, I’d say no… write it off as him not being able to do such a thing, but…” she trails off and looks around before continuing in a quieter tone, “He’s been…. on edge lately… like, pretty aggressive… so honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he or Essex were behind it, or even both of them together.” She eyes the man, “Why? You know something about it?” 

"JUDGE ‘em if you wanna, it aint nothin’ to do wi’ me. I do me fair share o’ it meself.” Judgin’ the supes, the people that supported ‘em an’ those that helped ‘em become what they are. “People look for anythin’ to save themselves any work. In my opinion, it is a new form of stupidity an’ cowardice in lovin’ supes.” Nobody gunna save ‘em but themselves. “I dunno, I thought they were real or somethin’ but I think nothin’ is real when it comes to them.” Only what Vought constructed to be real. “What would I know ‘bout somethin’ like that?”

Lexi shakes her head. “No, they’re selling the whole chosen by God at birth crap. The public eats it up, so it’s believable, I guess.” She fights the urge to roll her eyes and instead smiles crookedly at the man. She hums slightly. “With the plane? I don’t know all the details, but Maeve was incredibly distraught by something after it was all said and done… and the families who lost people mentioned sabotage, but they could never get out who it was that fucked things up before security escorted them out.” She sighs and shakes her head again. “No, if you mean Homelander, he hasn’t said anything about it. But think about it. The mutants are smart, they’ve got a huge target on their backs. Why would they do something as rash and suicidal as going after Madelyn? It doesn’t make sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone within Vought was behind it.” She admits, leaning on the doorframe. 

CRAP was the right word for it an’ all the supes an’ those that helped shape ‘em an’ be loved were all the same. Full of crap. “I ain’t religious so I don’t believe any o’ tha’ crap tha’ any religious fucker tries to sell. ‘specially with all the shit goin’ on in the world. Aint’ no God.” Maeve bein’ distraugh mighta been why he hadn’t seen anythin’ ‘bout her lately. “I thought her an’ Homelader were close since they use be to together ‘bout eight years ago I think. You think that had anythin’ to do wi’ it?” Billy knew tha’ when Becca was cheatin’ on him with Homelander, the prick was cheatin’ on Maeve wit’ Becca. “I never thought ‘bout it like tha’,” a lie since he was there an’ saw exactly wha’ happened to Madelyn and who did it. “If you think it was an inside job, d’ya think it coulda been the big man himself?”

        Sometimes she thought about going back to Vought just because it would easier but that wouldn’t be right. She was already so heavily involved with them. “No, I wouldn’t go back to Vought. It changed since I left and a lot of I don’t like.” And she was worried about it all but didn’t want to tell Billy that. “I don’t have any assets apart from a house that is miles away that isn’t even mine. Vought property. It isn’t even in my name.” Nothing she owned was because if she had stuff in her name, it could be found when she was meant to be missing. 

WORKIN’ at Vought was somethin’ she might not do but she’d always be tied to ‘em no matta what she did or said. Billy woulda said somethin’ but thought better of it. She musta known. “I was jokin’ ‘bout the assets stuff but tha’ sounds pretty sad that nothin’ is yours. You got enough to get by, Becky?” He couldn't help but feel concern for her.

         “I never have. This one is rewarding, though. Much more than digital marketing. The hours are longer, the stress is more and the pay is a lot less but it is great to help people in a way that isn’t about corporation profits.” It sounded like she was rambling. “Sounds pretty dangerous. I hope you aren’t in any danger.” She knew he’d been involved in the supes and Vought and wished he’d stop that. Maybe closure would do that? “I understand, Billy.”

BILLY always thought that Becca could do anythin’ she wanted even when they first met he thought that. It was one of the reasons he was surprised she was with him. “If you like it then I’m happy for ‘ya. I just assumed wi’ you bein’ back, Vought would want ‘cha.” Something he was gettin’ a little worried about. “What do we do then, separate our assets an’ all that bollocks?”

Lexi hums before looking at the man. “Beings… you and I both know they’re not human. Or maybe they once were. I know I don’t buy that whole chosen by God gimmick they try to sell.” She shrugs as the doors open and she steps out. “It’s almost as if they’re conditioned to overlook things just because these deities are their saviors or something.” Her lips curl around the word and she lowers her voice as they walk towards the boardroom. The brunette scoffs. “Then that means we did our job well. You really believe they were too late? Come on, we’ve got eyes and ears everywhere for things like that.” She smiles and nods at one of the other employees. “I mean, at least it’s more believable than Madelyn being killed by a mutant.” She shrugs before opening the door for the boardroom. “Here you go.” 

HE was gettin’ more than he wanted an’ was lovin’ it. On his own he could do more than the very first thing he assigned to Hughie an’ was gettin’ info from someone in the fuckin’ place. “They ain’t human, isn’t that what Vought has been sellin’ ‘bout Homelander? Tha’ he came down from another planet to save us all or some shit.” Some bullshit he wanted to say, he saw the lab an’ knew it was all because of the V. “I didn’ think it was exactly like wha’ you lot said but I thought there was a little bit o’ truth in it. Wha’ happened then or has the big man not said anythin’ to you all? If a mutant didn’t kill her, who did?” Billy was there and saw Madelyn when she was killed by Homelander but didn’t want to tell anyone that just yet.

Lexi watches the man out of the corner of her eye, gauging his reaction. “No, they don’t. Shocking isn’t it? But what else are you supposed to do when the very….” she pauses for a few moments, trying to come up with the right word. The Supes weren’t exactly human but they weren’t exactly not human either. “Beings, for lack of a better term, who are supposed to be keeping you safe are the same ones who are getting your loved ones killed?” She looks at him as she continues. “I’ve seen the aftermath of the ones who’ve lost loved ones at the hands of the Seven. I’m sure you heard all about the damn plane crash with Maeve and Homelander. I’ve watched the families walk in, desperate for any justice, anything at all… only to breakdown after being sent away after a brief audience with some suit….” Bitterness wells up in her tone. She’d lost track of how many crying mothers she’d offered tissues and a shoulder to cry on. It was enough to make her sick. A thin, dry smile crosses her lips. “Let me feel bad, okay? Reminds me that Vought hasn’t changed me completely or something… It’s not every day a stranger dumps all of the bullshit related to their job on you. And part of me has come to hate it here… especially with Essex in charge now. But there’s no where else for me to go, honestly. No one  would want a social media handler who walked away from a company like Vought.” She mutters as she turns her focus back to the numbers on the screen slowly increasing. 

DOIN’ his best to keep his reaction neutral, Billy was smilin’ on the inside glad tha’ someone at Vought wasn’t drinkin’ from the supe kool-aid like the rest of ‘em. “It really is. When the very wha’?” he asked with a hunger that he was tryin’ to hide. “Tha’ is a lot to take in. I know there’s a lotta people tha’ get caught in the crossfire but from wha’ I can see, people aint too bothered ‘bout it all. I do find tha’ proper strange, like. If someone killed or did somthin’ bad to someone I loved then I wouldn’t be too happy ‘bout tha’ no matter who it was. I thought the supes didn’t get to the plane on time.” Tha’ was a genuine surprise. He thought he knew everythin’ they did but knew fuck all ‘bout the plane. With her focus on the numbers, Billy acted swiftly and planted the bug.

       Relief came over her just a tiny little bit. They had talked enough and she was exhausted from the emotion of it all. “I’ve been a social worker for the past couple of years. It is so hard and there are people that have been let down so much that I just help them out. Sometimes its just listening or being an advocate but it does take its toll. What about you?” It was civil but not like husband and wife. More like friends or acquaintances that hadn’t seen each other in years. “No, it wasn’t. I don’t have a reason for you, Billy. I could try and make one up but I don’t want to lie.”

A social worker, tha’ wasn’t wha’ he expected for her at all. “Bloody Hell, you don’t pick an easy job do ‘ya?” Not like he could talk given wha’ he’d been doin’. “Bit ‘o this, bit o’ tha’. Mostly just doin’ shit for the CIA in a very private matta’.” He nodded at her answer, feelin’ a little better about it tha’ it wasnt anythin’ he did. “I do love ‘ya Becca but I don’ think I can be wit’’ ya’.”

        “I’ve talked about this enough. I don’t want to do it anymore. You asked what happened and I told you, the rest you obviously know.” She just didn’t want to get into it when it wouldn’t be anything. “I know that. I haven’t blamed you for what happened, not once and I  never would.”

SHE wasn’t the only one tha’ had enough of talkin’ ‘bout the whole thing. He did as well. It was enough. Livin’ through her goin’ missin’ was bad enough an’ this whole shit show was harder. “The rest I know,” he repeated but calmer than before. “What is it you been up to then? Can’t imagine you just doin’ the stay at home mum thing. I just wanna know one more thing for now. Is it ‘cos I said I didn’t want kids?” They’d had that talk in the past. A kid wasn’t somethin’ he could ever want. 

Annie couldn’t help it, she blushed. “Yeah, that was…um…a bit of a misunderstanding.” She said and gave him her bright sunny pageant smile. “But everything worked out for you didn’t it.” Getting shot in the chest hadn’t exactly been fun and Homelander was effing terrifying but…she and Hughie were probably good. “And you were trying to take down my place of work. Well trying to.” She smirked. Not that she disagreed with him but it was a tit for tat situation. 

Originally posted by vcugifs

MISUNDERSTANDIN’ was the very least of wha’ was goin’ on with everythin’ ‘bout Supes and his boys. Misunderstandin’ or not, the Seven looked more together and like a team than his own. “Yeah, everythin’ worked out just peachy for me which I’m such a chipper prick.” Billy kept his face neutral, he knew he was no match for Starlight an’ her powers. “Still got time for tha’ one. Thought you was meant to be the good one, why you still at Vought?”

    “Nothing,” she didn’t shout back or raise her voice to him like he did to her but tried to keep as collected as possible while fighting back the tears she could feel at the back of her eyes. “Nothing happened there. I just saw him and he saw me but we didn’t even talk.” It was the truth but she thought he wouldn’t believe her. “You don’t think I know that? I do. You didn’t deserve that and I can’t change what I did.”

NARROWING his eyes, Billy searched her face for any sign she was lyin’ to him. There was a time when he knew everythin’ ‘bout her an’ could trust her but tha’ was all gone. “Then you got back to work an’ couldn’t wait to fuck him.” Sharp and cruelly said with spite dripping on every word. “I didn’t deserve it.”

Translucent was like the Deep, he didn’t pull his own weight with his powers but he brought a lot to the group even if his main concern had been money. The Deep had more than enough money set aside, mostly in offshore accounts but he wasn’t the worst supe around. “From what I hear, I’m going to be in The Seven for a while.” He said with a cocky grin. “You think I’m one of the shittest heroes around but I’m still an elite hero. People will either love me or hate me but so long as there is press, they’ll keep me in.” 

IT want a question ‘bout thinkin’ Deep was the shittest hero, he knew it. Opinion or not, the other members of the Seven where powerful an’ deserved some kinda place on the team that called itself Earth’s most mighty. “So you keep sayin’. It won’t be long till they find another pr person to pimp out then you’ll be old news.”

Somehow the thought of the man she was escorting up to the boardroom getting starstruck amused her. She wouldn’t admit it though, for fear of coming off as rude. A thin smile forms on her lips at the promise of no trouble, “Can I be honest with you?” She lifts her badge to show the guard as they pass him, motioning that the man with the parcel was in fact with her. Lexi doesn’t speak again until they’re in the elevator. “Not everyone loves them, you know? And let me tell you, sitting that close to the front of the building does something to you… you see it all.” She purses her lips, debating confessing the things she’s seen. “What I’m about to tell you can go no further, okay? I’ve seen people, far too many, walk in here, head held high, fucking driven to get something done only to walk out 15 minutes later depressed and deflated. All because Vought can’t be bothered to make sure the Supes stay in line on rescue missions and shit. And I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do…” She runs a hand through her hair, watching as the numbers climb up. “Sorry for unloading all that on you.” 

SOMEONE bein’ honest at Vought...it was hard to stop the laugh he could feel risin’ in him. Better to keep up the pretense. Plant the bug, get out an’ then listen. It would be tha’ simple. If anythin’ could be simple. “They don’t?” he asked faking his surprise as best he could. “See it all, wha’ is it exactly tha’ you see?” Gettin’ inside info wouldn’t ever be this easy but he thought to try. He thought the woman might ‘ave wanted to get somethin’ off her chest. “Keep it between us, love. I promise.” An’ the Boys but he hadn’t spoke wit’ ‘em since it all went down. “Don’t worry ‘bout unloadin’ on me. I can take it.”

@billybutchur​

Annie felt like she had to get out of Vought Tower. It felt like she had to put on a show whenever she was in there. Either she was in one of her Starlight uniforms and she had to pretend to be little miss perfect or she was in her street clothes and she had to pretend to be little miss rebel because she was wearing her street clothes in her place of work. It was an exhausting way to live. 

She’d just popped into one of the many delis New York was known for, not having many in Des Moines they were still kind of a novelty and bought herself a sandwich and stopped in a park to eat it. As she was biting into the hot meat and bread she saw someone looking at her. She was used to that and waited for the “hey aren’t you…” but it didn’t come. Actually she might know this person and stood up as she dabbed the mustard off the corner of her lip. “Hey…Billy right?” 

ONE thing Billy couldn’t wrap his head around was tha’ normal everyday people didn’t see the supes when they where doin’ tha’ whole secret identity thing. He could see it from a mile off as he looked over at Anne or Starlight. “Tha’s me. Billy Butcher, last we saw each other weren’t you arrestin’ my boy Hughie? Tryin’ to at least.”

   Billy Butcher was the topic of many discussions between Vought and their board and Nathaniel had to refrain from smiling. How someone with no powers could cause so much trouble was fascinating and the fact that that he even had Homelander watching was better. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help but wonder how you’re settling into fatherhood or step-fatherhood.”

HE was nothin’ to do wi’ the kid from Homelander. Much as he wanted to pretend the kid didn’t exist, he couldn’t. It would always be ‘round everythin’ an’ helped to maintain the hatred he felt for Becca. “I ain’t a dad of any kind so you might as well stop wi’ tha’ bullshit.”

     Flinching at the sound of his shout, it was the first time she had been on the end of his anger. The intensity of it always worried her but he’d never got angry with her until now. “I saw him on the vacation we had in Hawaaii but nothing happened till we got back and I was back in work. How long? Not long at all. Is that enough for you?”

NOW he was gettin’ some truth from her an’ it only took years an’ years from here. “What happened in Hawaii, Becca?” Billy growled at her. “Tha’ was meant to be some time for jus’ us. It ain’t enough for me, Becca. You should never ‘ave done tha’ to me. I thought you where happy wi’ me. Tha’ we where happy together.”