Butterflies Volume II

Season 4

The parasite consumed him like a raging fire. No longer was there a cough, an ache in his chest, a wobble in his knees. He found himself standing straighter, seeing clearly. It burned the sickness out of him, puncturing all his weaknesses and striking them away. All that was left was the rage he believed he had left behind. What the parasite, the voice, brought when it took control of him, was the familiar taste of anger he had forced away with love. Love was waning as he made it to the warehouse. The medication had been replaced with its lusting sickness, making him believe he could do anything.

And on the drive over, he convinced himself. That Violet was going to succeed, and he was going to enjoy the blood painted across her. That he would do all the rest to ensure that she stays the monster she belonged as. They both were it, they both were what everyone feared them to be. They were a deadly combination, and Billy felt himself ignited thinking over exactly how she was going to do it. It was so exciting, life felt invigorating again. No longer did he feel the shame and guilt for wanting what he wanted. Homelanders cracked skull was so tasteful, it was so perfect.

The parasite raced through his fingers, and he no longer cared that he had basically lost Ryan completely, there was just one goal. Destruction. Death. It faded into one, and all he wanted was Vought and Homelander destroyed. She was going to give that to him, and he was going to aid her in being what the world so desperately needed. It felt so good, the thought of the red hot blood dripping down him. He was itching for it. His love would react so well to it, yearningly wishing for it all to swallow him and drown him, wash away any possible guilt. Guilt was for weak men, men who couldn't handle what they truly were. Billy accepted it. All the horrible things they had called him, he made it come true.

"Oi," he walked through into the warehouse, finding the team with Victoria Neuman and Zoe.

The woman who betrayed them over and over, contributing to the same pain he had swallowed for far too long. She caused Violet to be put in the position she was in, forced into the spotlight for all to scrutinise. She wasn't worth forgiving, Billy couldn't forget what she had done. All those she had killed. Why should he have to forget and move on? That wasn't what he was supposed to do, not any longer. His glare knocked them all a step back, Hughie looking confused.

"Butcher? Where's Violet?" He wondered.

Billy stepped round him further into the room, "she's doing what she should have been doing a long time ago. Killing Homelander. No deals."

The group all shared shocked and concerned expressions. Particularly M.M., who faded somewhat into a scowl, knowing his words did nothing to convince Violet, and the man stood across from him wasn't the same as the man he spoke to days ago.

Hughie stepped towards him, "wow... Okay. Look, I can explain, all right? It's all good. I know what this looks like, but with everything that we've been through together, I've never once asked you to trust me. I am asking now. Like the way you used to trust Lenny."

Lenny was dead. Gone, just like nearly everyone else Billy loved. The last remaining person was out fighting, and Billy should be by her side. The only reason he wasn't, was because he had to clean up their loose end. He had to finish Victoria just like Violet wanted. He glanced at Hughie, and Hughie pleaded, but what was meant to be a moment that reached through to him, hit the shield of the voice that was hovering over him. Billy placed his hand on Hughie's shoulder, but quickly a gentle touch turned into a grab, as he shoved him out of the way.

Billy tilted his head, and suddenly tentacles shot out of his chest, wrapping around Victoria's arms and eyes. He threw her up into the air and down onto the equipment Frenchie had been tinkering with. Everyone gasped, Zoe screaming her own snakes at him. But the child was just a child, and Billy launched out another tentacle that sent her flying into the cabinet behind her. Victoria's security tried as well, but they were quickly dealt with. No one could stop him, not even Annie and Kimiko. That must have been what Violet felt, and how he wished she was there with him, to see the power they could share together. Let their rage and their love blend into one, the parasite dreamt of her.