Dark and Brutal

Replaceable

Vic arrives at the airport and looks around, hoping to spot Rhea and Buddy. When she finally finds them, she hesitates on walking over. Rhea and Buddy are clearly in the middle of an argument.

Well, Rhea's arguing, Buddy is trying to calm her down. When he looks over her shoulder at Vic, Rhea turns her head slightly to the side, then walks away to board the plane alone. Shoulders slumping, Vic walks towards the plane with her head slightly down.

Buddy catches her arm gently as she starts to walk by.

"Let's talk," he says softly.

"She doesn't want to sit with me, right?" Vic says without meeting his eyes.

Buddy sighs.

"She said if I'm picking your side then to sit with you," he says, and holds his hand up when Vic starts to speak, "I'm not picking sides, but I am sitting with you while she cools off."

Shrugging slightly, Vic boards the plane with Buddy following behind her. She looks towards the back and sees Rhea sitting with her headphones on, her head against the head rest, and her eyes closed. They dance around behind her eyelids, showing Vic she's still awake and is avoiding her.

Buddy helps Vic put her carryon in the overhead bin while she sits by the window. He sits beside her and looks over at her while she stares out over the tarmac.

"Rhea seems to think you thought we were all just fooling around this whole time. But with how long it took for you to come around to her, then to me, I don't think that's true," Buddy speaks lowly so nobody around them can hear.

"She said she was my girlfriend. After what happened the last time I called her that I vowed to myself she would never be that again," Vic replies hesitantly.

"I know Demi's messed up-"

"That's a big understatement," Vic interrupts.

"-but she's not the same person she was back then," Buddy continues.

Vic scoffs and shakes her head, looking down at her hands.

"Isn't that what they all say?" She asks.

"Yes," Buddy replies bluntly.

Vic looks up at him with her eyebrows scrunched. Buddy smiles reassuringly.

"But did it come from her? Or did it come from me, the one who had nothing to do with it?"

Vic opens her mouth then shuts it and sighs.

"What do you want from me?" Vic asks.

"Just talk to her. When she cools down again. That's all I ask. If you don't want anything more that's fine. Just talk about it. All of it," he says.

Vic sighs and drops her head back against the headrest. Not wanting to think about that conversation.

When the plane lands hours later, Rhea immediately grabs her carryon and walks off without a word, or even a glance, at either Vic or Buddy. Vic rolls her eyes and the two grab their bags, following her off the plane.

"I thought she would be over it by now," Buddy says.

"I can hear you," Rhea retorts from in front of them.

"She's just being bitchy as usual," Vic retorts under her breath.

She's looking down at her phone and bumps into someone. Gasping, she looks up to find she ran right into Rhea's chest. Vic's eyes widen slightly at the look on Rhea's face. It's not the one she's been seeing lately. But rather the one she saw when she returned to Raw.

The look of hatred.

"If I'm so bitchy, and we're just a fling, why don't you get out of here? Find your own fucking ride instead of following him around like a lost fucking puppy," Rhea spits.

Vic's heart slices in two.

"What the fuck, Demi?" Buddy says in surprise.

"It's fine. I'll go. She clearly doesn't want me here," Vic says.

Buddy grabs her hand and squeezes it.

"That's not true and you both know it. Let's go to the hotel and talk," he says.

"No it is true. I've always been expendable. Replaceable. Isn't that right, Rhea?" Vic asks.

Rhea's eyes turn soft around the edges then harden again. She goes to open her mouth but Buddy steps in front of Vic and glares at Rhea.

"Before you say anything you WILL regret, don't say anything at all," he interrupts.

"Why? She obviously thinks she knows the answer. Why not give her the one she's looking for?" Rhea says.

Buddy groans and balls his fists at his sides.

"Stop being cruel and put yourself in her shoes. What would you be thinking right now after everything? Can't you think about her and not your fantasy of what should be happening?"

Rhea's mouth opens then closes and she looks down. Sighing as she rubs her neck. Buddy turns and sighs.

"Vic I-" he starts.

Only to realize she's gone.