Butterflies

Chapter 12

Gathered in Frenchie's safe houses, they were going over their next plan of action. Violet had still yet to confront Butcher on what he pulled the previous day, staying clear of him as much as she could. She couldn't shake it, the smirk on his face as she broke down. How she was so convinced he might actually be beginning to respect her. But Billy Butcher was Billy Butcher, and she couldn't change that.

"Samaritan's Embrace," M.M. commanded the room, standing in front of a large map of the United States, "led by Ezekiel but bankrolled by Vought, has been shipping compound V to 53 hospitals across the country since 1971 and gift wrapping it..." He grunted as the female swooped by to snatch pens off the table, "gift wrapping it as polio vaccine. I assume the strand was changed and redevelopment after Violet came along."

Sitting beside Frenchie, Violet sighed as she played with the laces on her shoe. Hughie knew what happened between her and Butcher, Violet regretfully slipping after Hughie saw the tension between them. A different tension than the one they had before. He rubbed her arm encouragingly, smiling the same way he always did.

"Are you telling me God's not reaching up the twats of American girls and blessing babies?" Butcher asked.

"For fucks sake," Violet muttered.

"Butcher can you leave God out of this?" M.M. sighed.

"H-Hold on, hold on. I thought Violet was exaggerating. So no hero was born?" Hughie questioned, "none of them? They're all just kids dosed with the blue shit. I mean even..." Hughie looked to Violet and she nodded.

"Even fucking Starlight," Butcher finished his thought.

"Do you think-- do you think they know... What really happened to 'em?" Hughie then questioned.

Stroking his chin Butcher glanced to Violet who dodged his gaze, opening her mouth as if to answer but faltering.

"Hughie If I didn't I doubt many of them do."

"What about Homelander?" Butcher cut in.

"Homelander's a black hole. Just like Violet he had never had any public records and never will. However every single other Supe-- juiced up lab rats," M.M. waved the vile.

The female came back for more supplies, heading for the paper which she ended up toppling over. When everyone grimaced, she just stood there like they were overreacting.

"My God," M.M. rolled his eyes "I'm trying to give a tremendous fucking TED talk here, and this... Frenchie, can you control her please?" M.M. put his hands on the table, Frenchie looking up from where he was lounging.

"I do not control her," Frenchie said back.

Grabbing the rest of what she needed, the female left, Violet trying to drop her a smile but missing her chance.

"Well spot on M.M.. We got Vought for child endangerment, dug trafficking, and possibly the largest fraud in American fucking history," Butcher walked forward, "and if the world finds out what happened to Violet... Ooo they'd be done for. Raynor's gonna love it."

"The world thinks I'm that Supe that lied about getting into the Seven. You think they'll believe I was tortured and abused for 16 years of my life?" Violet slumped in her chair.

"Aww love we'll get you justice don't worry," he winked at her.

Scoffing, Violet got up from her seat and trailed after Hughie who was checking on the female. She was in a pile of papers on the floor, drawing the same symbol over and over. Standing beside Hughie, Violet stared at the image. A circle with four triangles in a line on one side and then another triangle adjacent. They were in different colours and textures, the female focused like she was writing a secret message. Which by the looks of things she was. As Hughie stepped closer they caught her attention, her whipping her head up at them.