QUANTUM~Billy Butcher

I'll cry if I want too

By Athena and Annies next informal interaction, Hughie had told her what Compound V does, and she was a mess, Annie ended up going to her mother about the whole thing, confronting her about taking Vought money so they could pump her newborn full of blue liquid. As long as they were sharing stories, Athena came clean about Butcher and his whole entourage ambushed her at the premiere, which is where Athene spilt the beans about the rumours she had heard during her years at Vought.

The two women were getting ready for Voughts celebration of Homelanders win against the terrorists after being deployed with US soldiers, and Annie was going a bit too hard on the pre-drinks, Athena knew this was a 'Drink to forget' rather than a 'Drink to have fun' kind of night for her, but she couldn't stop her, with all that she was going through maybe what she needed was too forget. "If you start throwing up, I'm going to laugh, not help," Quantum warned, watching as her friend downed another double vodka tonic. "If I throw up, it's purely so I can fit more alcohol in my body." A hiccup followed the sentence, and Athena had to stifle a laugh. She hoped Annie didn't throw up in her room, she had only ever been in Maeves room in the tower, which was nice, but Annies was all pristine and white, some would say it lacked character, but this was Annies character.

Applause echoed when Annie and Athena walked down the stairs into the grand room. They waved, of course, smiles and waves. Madelyn greeted them a drink in either hand to pass over to them "Ladies" she smiled, "Good evening, Miss Stillwell." Athena responded, taking both drinks from her, Annie had drank enough already she needed to take a breather and eat something too sober up. "Quantum, maybe you'd like to do some sweet talking with Maeve this evening, let Starlight spread her wings." Athene knew she was taking a dig at their closeness and as soon as she had turned her back from the girls, she practically shotted the two drinks and placed them on a waiters tray who was walking past. "Bitch." Annie muttered before looking in shock at the two empty glasses now being carried away. 

"Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone." she squeezed Annies hand before going on a hunt for Maeve, who was stood another half floor up, watching over the party. The redhead spotted her friend walking towards her, giving a nod to acknowledge her approach. "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" Maeve jokingly flirted, clicking her fingers for a waiter to bring Quantum a drink. "A Pornstar Martini? I feel treated" Maeve shook her head smiling at the womans words.

A comfortable silence fell over them as they monitored the room, from Noir taking over as pianist, Homelanders entrance, and Stan Edgar pulling Madelyn for a chat. Athena had only had a handful of interactions with Vought CEO Stan Edgar. Athena was a lot closer to the man than she cared too admit, in the past few years they hadn't spoken as much, but Mr Edgar saved her from an orphanage when she was around thirteen, a horrible place that left more scars than she would've liked, but he took her in for five years until she turned eighteen and was shipped into Vought as an intern, then eventually helped her with her singing and acting career, as well as of course, being a Superhero. He was like a father to her and she was grateful, but he never cared for her like he did his other adopted child, Victoria, who last time Athena heard, was in politics.

 "Starlight looks like she's having fun" Maeve nodded to a table where Annie sat with a Soldiar, table full of drinks and very clearly flirting. This was not a conversation Athena wanted to listen in on. They observed for a few more seconds until Annie abruptly got up from the table and left the solider, running up the stairs, straight past Maeve and Athena towards the bathroom. "Called it." She muttered, dragging Maeve to the bathroom where they heard Starlight throwing up, alot.

"Want us to hold your hair?" Maeve snickered earning a light smack on her arm from Athena, more sounds of vomiting filled  the room. "Honey I know you're upset-" Athena started but was cut off by Annie getting up, a pissed off look smeared across her face "What do I have to be upset about? The Deep apologised for shoving his dick down my throat, I've got a new TV show coming out about living my truth and being strong, the only thing wrong is that my life has been turned upside down." She felt for the girl, Annie was going through so much, and she couldn't find any escape from it. "Well this isn't the way to handle things." So why don't we get you some water and you can do some smiles and waves, if you're lucky we'll make an early exit."

And make an early exit they did, Maeve made an excuse as to why she couldn't go to Starlights room, so here they were again sat on the carpet, heads buried in boxes of take out, a movie playing in the background. "You know I don't get why you hate your movies so much." Annie muffled through a mouthful of food. Unfortunately for Athena, the only thing her friend wanted to watch was a shitty rom-com, which is what she specialised in. "I hate them because I've done them too much, I dread the next script Vought brings to me. Do you want this?" Athena motioned to the last piece of prawn toast from their Chinese, Annie shook her head, letting her take it.

Annie coughed slightly, putting her food down in front of her before speaking, "When I erm, went to my Mom, about the whole Compound V thing, she said something to me." There was worry in Athenas voice as she asked."What did she say?"

Annie took a deep breath before responding, "She said that this wasn't the first time she's done it." What does that mean? That Annie had a sibling that she didn't know about? Athena turned to face Annie fully, encouraging her to continue. "She said that there was another child before me...about 8 years before I was born, and that she sold it to Vought who sent it to -"

"An orphanage for Supes." Athena finished the sentence and looked down, things were all making sense now, the reason Annie looked so similar to her, this connection they felt, how strong their friendship was.

Annie was Athenas' younger sister.