QUANTUM~Billy Butcher

Becca Butcher

The journey from Manhattan to West Virginia was just over eight hours, and it was six hours from Fort Wayne where Homelander had dumped Billy. It was around halfway into the drive that Athena received a call from Annie, "Hey sis." Athena greeted, the phone call coming from the speaker in the call, "Hi Tia..." her voice was off, the tone sad and hurt, "What's happened?" the older sister asked concerned, "Homelander threatened me..." that was enough to make her blood boil, wait until she got her hands on the bastard "and Hughie and MM are going to check out some Supe called Liberty. It's in North Carolina where I said you were going to see my cousin, so I've told them I'm going with you." Well that lie worked out in both of their favours, "Be careful out there Annie "You too."

Athena turned to Butcher, "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch." She referred to Homelander, gripping the steering wheel so hard it dented, it reminded Billy of their first car ride together, when he told her about Becca and she nearly did the same thing to her other car. "Why don't I take over driving for a while, love?" Billy offered and she nodded, pulling over and letting the car come to a stop. The both exited the car, their paths crossing, but Butcher stopped her, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him, taking her by surprise, "Is everything okay? She held his hand back, looking up at him, "I just wanted to say 'thank you'" he rubbed his thumb over her hand comfortingly, "I don't think I would've gotten this far without you." Athena smiled, leaning up slightly and giving him a soft kiss on his cheek, "Well it's a good job I'm here isn't it then?" She lowered her sunglasses to flash him a wink before she climbed into the passenger seat. Butcher held his hand on the part of his cheek that she kissed for a moment before snapping out of his trance and getting into the drivers seat, setting off to complete the journey with Athena directing him.

"Do you know a band called 'The 1975'?" Athena asked trying to start up a conversation as she scrolled through her phone looking for something to play on the AUX, "Aint he that birds son on the telly? Denise Welch?" Athena laughed, "Yeah that's the one." She started to play the band, "I actually met the band on one of my tours in the UK. I even was a special guest at one of their shows."

Butcher went quiet for a moment before answering, "Yeah I know...Becca was actually a big fan of yours, we actually went to one of your shows-even after I said no a million times I still took her-and she was always trying to meet you at events at Vought but always seemed to miss you. She said you'd usually be talking to some important corporate people, then at the one event I did go too, a Christmas party, you were busy with your partner at the time, Kaylie was it? So she didn't want to intrude" Now it was Athenas turn to go silent. No one had mentioned Kaylie to her since she had died. Kaylie was Athenas fiancé, they were together four years, she wasn't a supe, she was just a normal woman, who got sick. It was cancer, the doctors found it too late meaning there was nothing they could do to help her except make her comfortable. Athena was torn to pieces knowing she couldn't t heal her, she wanted too, so badly, but Kaylie wouldn't let her, fearing that the woman she loved would absorb her cancer and die. "I'm sorry I completely forgot-" Butcher began to apologise, realising what he had brought up "No, no, its fine. I've just not thought about her in a while is all."

The rest of the drive was silent, with only the music in the background. Athena didn't feel like talking much after the mention of Kaylie, and Butcher felt guilty for bringing her up since it had clearly struck a nerve. They were nearing their final destination when Athena finally spoke, telling Billy to drive the car off Road and hide it in an area of forest, they were going to have to make the rest of the journey on foot. "I'm guessing we're about a forty five minute walk from the base, it's too risky getting too close, we're also better off waiting until nightfall until we sneak in." For the next few hours until night-time rolled around the pair planned how they were going to get in, Butcher suggested scaling the wall with some rope he had brought with them, but Athena had a better idea.

"I don't know how this is gonna work." Butcher stressed as the pair stood next to the wall, "You'll be fine, just trust me." Athena knelt down and put her hands out for Butcher to step on, the plan was for her to hoist him over, well not hoist, more like throw him to the top of the wall, she feared leaving a rope over the wall would be too obvious. "Ready? one, two, three." Athena channeled all of her strength into her arms, giving Billy enough force to get to the top of the wall, he gripped it and pulled himself to the top of it, looking down and seeing the drop on the other side, "How do you suppose I get down then?" she chuckled at his question, flying up to join him, she sat next to him and shoved him off the wall, his heart dropped, but was relieved when he realised she was manipulating the air to slow his fall down. "Crazy Bird." he muttered to himself as he reached the ground. Athena jumped down after him, not needing to assist herself, "Told you, you'd be fine." she smiled and began walking through the woods.

They reached a small bridge and Athena stopped walking, "Why've you stopped?" Billy questioned, trying to gesture for her to carry on, "I'm not gonna go any further, go try get Becca out of her house, this is a good point for you to come back too. I'll wait here." She felt it was too risky for both of them go, but also a bit inappropriate, Butcher was her husband he should be the one to go and get her. "I'll be back as soon as I can okay?" Billy came closer to her and placed a kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the night. Athena could do nothing else except sit in the tree line and wait for him to come back, pulling at daisies on the ground and manipulating them into a daisy chains. She rarely used her element abilities considering they were very limited, it wasn't as if she could move the earth, she could just dabble in the elements, air being her strongest ally. 

Athena had created about ten daisy chains from boredom when the sound of a car came into earshot, and some headlights. She crept closer to the tree-line, still being hidden by a few bushes as she watched and waited, and sure enough, who she assumed to be Becca stepped out of the vehicle, opening the back door to let out Billy. She watched as the pair embraced and spoke, clinging to each other with a desperation which was to be expected after all these years since her disappearance. Butcher looked around, trying to spot Athena, but she didn't come out. "What are you looking for...?" Becca asked, following his eyeline, but nothing could be seen in the darkness. "Nothin'" Butcher answered, "Just making sure there's no one about." he returned his attention to her as they discussed getting Becca out and taking her son with them. Athena watched on in silence, as they bid their goodbyes, but nothing could've prepared the feeling her heart felt as they kissed, goodbye.