Butterflies Volume II

Chapter 8

Violet wasn't sure how she felt riding in a car with Butcher again. She sat in the back middle seat, a perfect view of him in the front mirror, and refused to speak. It would be obvious the memories that flooded back in, a feeling of anger seeing the car so clean and empty. It was void of anything entirely, and as Violet looked down to the floor she wished something would squeak under her feet just to make the whole experience feel less awkward. They truly have had no time to speak before they went back to the one place they had opened up the most. Though how could she now open up with M.M., Kimiko, and Hughie there? It would be making it all a performance, it would be turning it into a dramatic show. She wanted to see Butcher how she did before.

They pulled up to a house hidden in the middle of nowhere, withering trees and a plain worn house. It did not look livable, though suppose that was the perfect place to hide. As they each got out of the car they saw Mallory step down the front porch, her face the same as every time Violet had seen her. Though she was shocked to see her and M.M., which Violet wasn't sure if she should find surprising with the events that had occurred.

"Marvin, Violet. What are you two doing here?" She sighed as the two of them approached her.

"Poor judgement ma'am."

Butcher was the final person to step out of the car. Maybe he was wanting to make an entrance or maybe he was debating showing up at all, Violet didn't know. He plastered on his usual grin as they then saw young Ryan trampling out the house, running for him.

"Butcher!"

Chuckling, Butcher greeted him as Ryan almost attacked him with a hug. How odd, to watch him play father before she got to play mother. It was selfish, it was jealousy she suddenly felt. Perhaps a sense of pride too, not watching him abandon the boy when he first sent him to Mallory. Violet put a hand to her face to cover a smile almost breaking out as Butcher swung him around.

"Are you okay?" Ryan wondered.

"Yeah. Right as rain."

Mallory said not so enthusiastically, "come on in."

As Butcher followed with an arm around Ryan, the rest looked confused. Violet faked their shared expressions, not wanting them to see how she truly felt.

"The fuck was that?" M.M. questioned the display, "didn't know he had it in him."

Hughie, whose arm was now in a cast, turned to him, "so why did you come back. I mean Violet is obvious-"

Violet made a face but was cut off by what M.M. had to say.

"Soldier Boy killed my family."

He walked away and the three left just stared. M.M. was never the type to talk about himself, for the longest time Violet knew nothing about him or what made him join the boys to begin with. She knew of his ex wife and daughter, though he only talked about them in brief moments, which she wouldn't push for. She had heard about his father only through one story over donuts, other than that he was a locked box. They held back because he wasn't one for consoling, he's not who you chase after to learn more; you take what he gives you and you continue on.

The three of them soon trailed after them, Ryan not understanding the nature of the visit at all. But it was better to see him like that then how she first met him. Butcher kept a smile for him and a scowl for Mallory, but Violet kept a straight face for both. Of course it was obvious he knew something the rest of them didn't, she always saw the look; the short sentences and quick remarks you'd have to know to understand. As Ryan offered a game to him he denied, saying they had to have a chat with Mallory. She offered a smile as Ryan looked disappointed, until Kimiko offered to play. Butcher didn't care so Ryan led her outside with Connect 4 in his arm.