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Cindy crossed her legs, “What do you like to do in your free time?”

”Hm…I like to play games.”

”What kind of games?”

”I like Tournament of Heroes!” Cindy’s happy face made Ryan continue, “I also like UNO, but I have to make sure not to use my powers, to be fair. And I’m good at Connect 4, I used to play that with Butcher a lot, but I haven’t in a while.” Ryan continued to rack his brain for games he liked. He glanced over at Cindy who had been quiet for a little too long.

Cindy’s brows were furrowed in a way that made Ryan pause. Did he say something wrong? He quickly thought back through what he had said and it dawned on him right as Cindy opened her mouth again.

”I’m sorry? Butcher, you said? Who’s Butcher?” She leaned forward in interest.

Oh no. He was not supposed to say that. Ryan felt a shiver of panic run through him as he tried to think of a way to explain.

At Ryan’s silence, Cindy continued, “Is a friend? Is Butcher a nickname?”

Ryan still didn’t know what to say. No no no. I messed up again. I messed it all up again.

”He’s- um… he…” Ryan thought about what to call Butcher in his mind. Ever since what happened, he's been trying to not think about Butcher at all. But—he did miss him. As much as he didn’t want to. He missed Aunt Grace too.

“Is he one of your dad’s friends?” Cindy reminded Ryan of a dog that had a treat in front of its nose. Maybe she actually would bite him.

Ryan tried to think desperately. Butcher was definitely not his dad’s friend, like Cindy had suggested. He remembered how his dad ranted about Butcher sometimes. Saying stuff like he was a terrible person for taking Ryan away and bringing his grampa into ‘their deal’ wasn’t fair. Ryan wasn’t completely sure what ‘their deal’ was but he knew it meant Butcher and Homelander weren't friends. Maybe Butcher was like an uncle to him? Like Aunt Grace? But the title ‘Uncle Butcher’ didn’t feel right. Butcher taught him things. Butcher took care of him. Aunt Grace did that stuff too, but it was kind of like how Ashley did it all the time. Butcher was more like Homelander, with Ryan only seeing him sometimes.

And that’s when it clicked.

Cindy had opened her mouth to speak again but Ryan beat her to it, "He's like my dad.”

Cindy froze. The whole room froze. Everything went silent, save for the faint buzzing of lights and beeping of computers.

“But- uh…like my other dad.” Ryan further explained to get his point across. “Butcher is my other dad. I don’t see him that much anymore, though.”

Cindy’s mouth fell open and made a perfect ‘O’. Ryan glanced at the other people in the room, behind the camera, and they were all making similar faces.