QUANTUM~Billy Butcher

Traitor

Billy's mother had requested to meet him again later that evening , and he declined at first, until he saw that chilling pissed off look on Athenas face. "Sure mum, we'll meet you there." He hung up the phone to see Athena looking smug as she sat herself back down in the car. "Don't you give me that look." she smiled more, "What look?" tilting her head to the side as she played dumb "The look of 'I just made you do something you didn't wanna do' it's not funny."

"I didn't mean for it to be funny. You do need to speak to her again though Billy...if not for your sake then for hers, she is your mother, she's family." Athena went to speak again but was cut off by the radio turning on with the car, revealing a very chilling news story, "Breaking news, The Sevens own Starlight a traitor, as far as we know now she has indeed been apprehended." Athenas blood ran cold, and her breathing became harsh, they had Annie, Vought had Annie, Homelander had Annie. "Love, calm down." Butcher tried but nothing was slowing her breathing, the panic had settled in, and the she knew the only place they would've put Annie would be in the tower, and there was no way Vought was letting the sister of their prisoner anywhere near the building, let alone in its maximum security cell for supes. "I know you're worried but we're a few hours from the city, when we get there we'll regroup the boys and figure out how to get her out okay?" he held her hand tight, letting her know that he was there for her, before he put the car in gear and set off. "You don't know what they might do to her in there..." Athena mumbled to herself, her eyes lazily gazing out of the window as the scenery slowly changed from scenic fields and trees to the concrete jungle she called home.

The diner wasn't too far from the dark alley where they had decided to hide their car, but of course no walk was simple in this life as Butchers phone rang again, Mallory on the other end with a stressed tone "Butcher? It's me." he stopped in his tracks a smirk on his lips, and Athena kept quiet as to not spoil the surprise of them getting Vogelbaum. "Grace." he greeted, "Everything okay I hope." No, I'm afraid Hugh let our star witness burn himself to death." Athenas eyerbrows furrowed as she heard Graces words from her carefully positioned ear next to the phone as she listened in. "Ah that's no worry love, we've sorted something else out."

That really didnt seem to calm Mallorys nerves, in fact it made it worse, sometimes not knowing what Billy Butcher was unto was worse than knowing, "What do you mean, no worries?"

"I mean, me and Athena got it sorted. Relax" Butcher squeezed Athenas hand as he ended the call and walked to the diners entrance, holding the door open for her to enter first. His mother was sat at the booth closest to the door, a sad look on her face from the incident earlier, but her eyes brightened ever so slightly to see her son again, thankful that he actually turned up. "You're not gonna stitch me up again?" He looked around, half expecting to see his dad pop out from one of the other booths. "He's at the airport.I promise." With those words Billy sat down, Athena promptly sitting next to him. There was a beat of silence before Athena nudged Butcher slightly, urging him to apologise, he looked down in guilt as he did so, "I'm sorry about before mum...I didn't mean for it to get out of hand." Athena nodded at him, his mother deserved an apology even if his father didn't, "You won't have to see him again. He ain't got much longer. Couple of months." At this news it was Billys turn to nudge Athena, silently telling her to get up, but she didn't, she stayed seated, trapping him in a conversation he didn't want to have.  Tell me when it happens. I'll piss on his coffin." Connie rolled her eyes at his words"I didn't do it for him." she sighed "He's a cunt. I just thought, when you saw how helpless he is now...you'd let it go. He wouldn't have this hold over you, and you wouldn't become like...

She didn't want to finish her sentence, but she in reality there was no need too, Butcher got the idea. This time when he nudged Athena to move she did, letting Billy get out of the booth and walk out of the diner, but as Athena went to follow, Connie grabbed her hand lightly. Athena turned, a look of confusion on her face, "Please." she started "Look after my Billy, look after my boy." the look on her face was one that only a mother could have for her son, and who was Athena to say no to a pleading mother. "I will." 

Satisfied with the answer, Connie slowly releasing Athenas hand so she could catch up with Billy. "I think your mum likes me." she linked her arm with his, something she hadn't done before but with the rain slowly starting to come down, she wanted that extra bit of warmth. Besides, it was an excuse to be close to him. "How could she not?" Billy looked down at her, but there wasn't a smirk on his face this time, it was a genuine smile. The pair walked through the night, arm in arm, to anyone walking by they looked like a generic couple, not a pair of murderous wanted criminals. "I was thinking." Athena started as they climbed into the car, "Why don't we stay at my place tonight?" it's much more cosy than the basement and there's nothing we can do about Annie without the others...and I really miss my cat." Butcher didn't need any convincing and nodded, taking them both straight to Athenas home.

Safe to say Prince was glad to see the pair, his only company had been the maid and to him she wasn't good company, if he could talk he would go on and on about how she didnt give him enough belly rubs. "Oh my baby!" Athena announced, scooping the ginger feline up into her arms and snuggling her face into his neck while Butcher triple locked the front door, making sure no one had followed or seen them. "I'm so sorry I've been away." She kept apologising, kissing the cat all over his little face, despite his disgusted look. 

"Hiya mate." Butcher came over to the animal after his checks, softly scratching under his chin, "Sorry I kept your mum away." Prince purred in response, letting himself be consumed by the affection of the two. Athena finally placed it down and stretched her arms out as she wandered to the kitchen, thankful to be home, there was no food in the fridge or freezer, meaning her only option for food was a packet of crisps, "Want some?" she asked Billy, not giving him time to answer as she threw a packet at him, which he caught. "I missed this place." He sighed happily, leaning against the kitchen island while Athena sat, he smirked at her as his eyes darted between her and the Kitchen side, "What?" she asked confused at his behaviour, "Nothing." he answered, "It's just, this is where we first..." she cut him off by slapping his arm lightly, hopping off her chair to bin her crisp packet. "Don't get any ideas, you've already had a piece of me today. You forget you can have too much of a good thing."

Billy came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder, "I thought the saying was, 'You can never have too much of a good thing' " he kissed her cheek lightly, feeling her smile under his touch, before letting her go and nodding for them to go upstairs to bed. 

The king sized bed felt like laying on a cloud to them. They had each engaged in a shower in seperate rooms to save time and to give them some alone time, it was times like this that Athena was thankful that because of her powers she could stop hair growth, because it had been far too long since she had been able to have a long shower. They both changed into some pyjamas before crawling into bed, Butchers arm around Athena as she lay her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat and feeling his chest rise and fall. "This is nice." She smiled, "It is." he agreed, kissing the top of her head as they drifted in a dreamless slumber.