Butterflies

Chapter 30

Separating from the group, Hughie and Violet typed Billy's number into the phone. She wanted to hear his voice again, to tell him what Irene told her. A labyrinth of events she only started to understand, and if he promised to be there, he had to delve through the maze as well. Though his own she hadn't a clue how to divulge. When Billy answered the phone, Hughie put it on speaker and Violet shuffled closer. Obscured by pillars, the two engulfed in darkness, they both smiled to each other knowing he was on the other line.

"Hello. Hello. Hughie?" He grunted into the phone.

"And Violet," she leaned in to say, "we were convinced we were gonna get your voicemail."

"That why you two called five times?" He replied. It was true, they had called... Quite a few times. Though perhaps they anticipated his lack of dialling manners, or his refusal to not be mysterious. Though what Violet didn't know was the smile reluctant to appear on Billy's face as she laughed, not realizing her laugh was to help Hughie loosen up. Miles apart, and all he wished for was to hear more of her.

"No, we just thought you should know, Liberty, that Supe that Raynor was looking into, turns out it's Stormfront," Hughie said, "Vought changed her name, they've been moving her around like a fucking Catholic priest."

"Right."

"Um... She probably murdered Raynor," Hughie continued, "Annie's trying to figure out why, but... You know, who the fuck knows," he cringed at bringing up Annie's name. How Billy had addressed her before with distain and unwanted dismissal, like a father to a puppy he didn't want to have.

"Well, as long as Starlight's on the job, we're sorted then, yeah?" He jabbed and Violet scoffed, taking the phone off Hughie an walking away.

"Billy come on now," she leaned on the wall, "she helped you know? You better get your ass back soon, there's a lot to say."

He hummed across the line, "I'd like to see your face right now," she would be blushing if he hadn't said it so quietly.

"How is she?"

"Still the same."

Biting her lips, Violet nodded to Hughie to leave them be, and his reluctance told her that he needed to say more. And he did. Though while the phone was in her hand, she would not let go. Just to hear his voice, however gruff and mellow it was in that moment. There was no clues on how the meeting went, no introductions to the woman he went to save, and that concerned Violet. The lack of another voice, just his, slow and gentle, but not in a soft, pleasant way. There was something wrong. As she heard a squeaking, she tilted her head.

"Where are you?" She asked.

"Heading off grid," he said, "don't worry, I'll nab you before I go. Argentina, maybe, you like that? Early retirement for us."

"Billy?"

"Yeah love?"

"Are you even going to say goodbye? Because I'm not leaving," she took a shaky breath at his change of heart. Something did go wrong, and he refused to face it. He was running again. Was all he said just noise? Was it him convincing her, or himself, and was it enough to keep him around? Violet couldn't leave, not after everything. There was too much to leave behind, "Billy please, not after the other day."

"We've been through some shit together V, and you know... I always considered Hughie like my canary, I suppose," he said, and it pained her for it to sound like a goodbye, "I care for you a lot you know that. I'll find you soon, yeah? I'll fucking take you if I have to," she scoffed and he smirked, "say goodbye to Hughie..."

"Please don't give up, please just-" the phone beeped and the screen went black, "Billy? You fucking dick- Billy?" He was gone, he had thrown it all away for one bad day. How could he forget it all? How could he toss it to the sea like it was merely a bottle of memories and not who he needed the most. Letting her hand flop down, she sunk to the ground as Hughie approached her. He picked up the phone to try and call him again but he didn't get answer.