Butterflies Volume II

Chapter 6

Violet watched her TV screen wishing she had popcorn. She wanted to see just what Maeve meant about Homelander, and so that unfortunately meant watching his birthday special right before she was going out for the night. Through the cringe worthy performance by Supersonic that was definitely outdated for his age and other Vought promotions, she saw him. Her brother, fake smile he always wore, acting for his Oscar, next to Starlight. Violet could admit Starlight becoming cocaptain shocked her, mostly due to Homelander's insistence to be in power. Although, it was enjoyable having someone who could make proper change be in the main seat.

But the fear that comes with Homelander makes anyone back away, and Violet then saw just what Maeve meant when she said Homelander was losing it.

"I don't make mistakes," he preached, cutting over Starlight, "I'm not just like the rest of you. I'm stronger. I'm smarter. I'm better. I am better. I'm not some weak-kneed fucking crybaby that goes around fucking apologizing all the time. And why the fuck would you want me to be? Don't you dare stop rolling Roger!"

Violet sat forward in her seat, her mouth agape as Homelander shouted over the crowd. The fear everyone felt stopped them from stopping him. It gave him all the space to talk, all the room to spout his privileged nonsense as though he was the one being downtrodden.

"All my life, people have tried to control me," he continued, "my whole life. Rich people, powerful people have tried to muzzle me, cancel me, keep me impotent and obedient like I'm a fucking puppet. You know what? It worked. Because I allowed it to work. And guess what. If they can control me, then you can bet your ass they can control you. They already do. You just don't realize it. I'm done. I'm done apologizing-"

He was cut off as the screen went blank, Violet shooting her head around to find Lola standing there, bag under her arm confused. She wore her same sparkling silver dress, and Violet was reminded that she was not meant to be gaping at Homelander. She was going out.

"What was he banging on about this time?" Lola chuckled as she threw the remote on the sofa.

"Just the same old shit," Violet said as she stood up, grabbing her bag.

"That why you were watching so intensely?"

Lola was joking but Violet wasn't. She tensed as her friend judged her, wondering why she was so skittish. If he could take complete control what did that mean for her? Amongst it all there was still the young woman terrified of her brother. Violet would look down at her hands and all the memories flooded back, locked in her palms which she would carry forever. If he got complete power he could take her and make her do as he wanted. Was that what he wanted, a good little sister?

"I wanted to see what Maeve was on about, and she was right," Violet headed for the door, "but that's irrelevant right now. We're going out."

Lola grinned as she walked over to her, her curled blonde hair gliding with her, "yes we are."

There were hundreds of bars across New York, if not thousands. Violet believed she'd been to them all before she met Lola, but suddenly there were even more than she thought. Sure, Butcher opened her eyes to some that were hidden for good reasons, but those weren't the type she was after. Lola took her to places that made her feel younger and feel alive, where her powers weren't shamed but also not expected to be everyone's saviour. They'd hop from place to place, same short sparkly dresses making them unmissable. It was their uniform, like how The Seven only wore their suits, when you saw the pair of them you knew who they were.

It was 80s night at the Gold Flamingo, their favourite club. If Violet could get trapped in one decade of music it would be the 70s, but the 80s comes closely second. It was Lola's favourite decade for music, though she liked the 70s for Abba. They pursued the tall building arm in arm when Violet felt a prickling up her shoulder, as though she was being watched. She always was, that came with the short dress, but it felt different. Abruptly, she felt a different aura surrounding them she hadn't felt in months. Checking her shoulder she saw nothing, and soon enough they had reached the door to the club.