She should've expected something like this, after all, they are married. She just didn't expect it to hurt this much. Becca drove off and Butcher retreated into the shadows, where Athena was waiting for him, he noticed how she was refusing to look him in the eyes as he asked, "How come you didn't come out?" he crouched beside her, she inhaled deeply before responding "I didn't really want to get in the way of the marital reunion." that's when it clicked for Billy that seeing him and Becca's exchange was definitely the cause for this drastic change in attitude towards him. She didn't say anything after that, just lay herself down on the ground and turned over to face away from him, he went to say something but decided against him, this was his own doing he knew that. Athena didn't know what to think, one minute he is kissing her forehead saying he cares, and then the next he is kissing his wife, but that was it, she couldn't compete with a relationship with so much history, even if for nearly a decade of it they hadn't seen each other. And above all else, Becca wasn't a supe, but she was, and that was something she couldn't think to compete with.
It was cold when morning came, and by the time Athena had woken up, Butcher was already awake and pacing, anxiously waiting for Becca's car to come down the road. "Where the hell is she?' Athena heard him mutter to himself, Becca was running late, and this escape was time sensitive, there wasn't a moment to waste
The car eventually came rolling down to them and came to a stop, Athena stayed in the shadows of the forest while Butcher stepped out, "Your'e late! Where's the kid?" Athena noticed that the boy was not with Becca when she exited the car, and the look on the woman's face was worrying, "I'm-I'm not leaving." The woman looked down sadly, unable to see Butchers face go from concern to stress, "What do you mean? Of course you are let's grab the kid and go." Athena watched as the couple argued, Becca reasoning that Billy doesn't want Ryan to come with, but the boys mother wasn't having any of it, defending her son that he needs a mother or they were going to have another Homelander on their hands. Athena knew she was right, but she also knew that Butcher was not going to see it that way, "He's my son!" Becca pleaded with her husband.
"He's a fucking supe freak" "Butcher! enough." Athena finally stepped out, he had gone to far saying that to a mother about her child, too fucking far. Becca's eyes widened as the woman emerged, "Who the hell is she? " her eyes narrowed trying to decipher who the woman who had placed her hands on Butchers shoulder was, "Is that fucking Quantum?" Athena gave an awkward smile, not really knowing how to respond in this situation, "She helped me get in here. She helped me find her" Billy told her, turning to look at Athena, a sort of guilt in his eyes at his words, she took her hand off his shoulder, folding her arms. "Pleasure to meet you Rebecca, I've heard a lot about you." Becca still looked stunned, "Same goes, but I don't understand- why are you helping him?" She shrugged in response, "Hell if I know."
Athena kept quiet as they kept arguing, Becca letting out what Athena could only guess was a very long overdue rant to Billy "You put me on this pedestal, and the truth is, I never knew how to save you. You were always one-one bad day away from pounding someone to death in a parking lot." Butcher tried to protest "That's not true." But it was, he just didn't want to admit it, trying to do whatever he could to try and change Becca's mind "Billy. He raped me, and when I found out I was pregnant, I went to Vought. I didn't come to you. I didn't come to you because I was scared, 'cause I knew that you'd chase after him and you would seek revenge and it wouldn't be good for anybody." Athena really felt she shouldn't be present for this conversation, but she was there and couldn't do anything about it, she could practically feel Becca's heart rate rising, as she spoke "The hate that you carry and the warpath that you're on, it started so long before me." Rebecca then turned to Athena "I can see how you've both been looking at each other, but I'd be careful, I wouldn't put it past him to try and get rid of you too." her heart dropped and she looked over at Butcher, who was looking back at her. The fear that Butcher would try and kill her in his war on Supes had admittedly been playing on her mind for some time, but having someone else say it to her, brought it to a whole new light. Becca stepped back into the car, Butcher trying to go after her but she held a sort of remote in her hands stating, "Every guard is gonna be here in about 60 seconds, you need to go." She had tears in her eyes as she shut the door and drove off, leaving Butcher and Athena standing there.
Athena gripped his arm, pulling him towards the forest, "We gotta go Butch." she said softly, he took a minute to move, he didn't speak, he just allowed Athena to pull him along until they reached the wall. "Ready?" She asked resuming her position from earlier so he could hoist himself up onto the wall, again she lowered him down, and she saw him give a finger to one of the cameras alongside the wall. Athena kept her face down not letting it see her as she lowered herself down and started running after Butcher towards the car. They needed to get of there fast.
Butcher had hopped in the drivers seat this time, taking off before Athena had time to even fasten her seatbelt, "Butcher slow down you're gonna get us caught!" She scolded, but he didn't listen, he kept going faster and faster, to the point that Athena had to use her powers to slow down the car, Butcher huffed at the resistance the car gave and eventually gave in, driving at a reasonable speed. "I know that this isn't what you wanted to happen, but it did, It's Becca's decision, its her son-" she shot forward her seatbelt saving her from smacking her head on the dashboard as Butcher slammed on the breaks. She looked over at him in shock, but he kept his eyes forwards, she noticed how they started to gloss over, tears fighting to get out."I just wanted to-" he choked, "I just wanted to save her, then maybe I could move on with my life." Butcher turned to look at the woman next to him, the woman who had taken him in and tended to him, the woman that he had grown to care for. Athena grabbed his hand, running her thumb over his knuckles, "I know...."
"And this isn't fair on you love, I think it's best if... I just take you home and that's the end of it." Athena couldn't believe her ears, and she thought how could she be so foolish as to think that anything would come of her, and Billy Butcher.
YOU ARE READING
QUANTUM~Billy Butcher
Fanfiction"Well, don't you look absolutely breathtaking, love." "I know you're not planning to take me out, so what are you doing stalking me down a dark alley, Mr Butcher?"
