SUNSHINE ― billy butcher (REWRITE!)

one

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE BRIGHT SUNNY DAY.

It was a stone cold lie when it's ninety degrees outside and I was sweating like a pig, the coffee making everything a million times hotter, and the corporate suit ensemble was sticking to my skin like wet latex glove, but I had to look at the bright side. The sun was shining, the streets were lively and bright, and everything feels... better. I smiled to myself, smiled to the lady walking her dog, and the guy that hands out the mail with a green bit stuck between his tooth.

I'm smiling 'cause I'm glad that not one asshole has managed to ruin my perfect day.

I crossed the street after buying a sandwich from a stand, my eyes immediately glued to the glistening sign of VOUGHT at the very top of a glass building, blindingly outshining everything that stood around it. It was high, built with its own skyscraper, full of people, swarmed by paparazzi's--that are annoying and amusing at all times. I haven't seen such dedicated and forcefully aggravating bunch in my life just for a few photos that wouldn't even make it to the front page. By luck they could actually snap a photo of some Supe mid-sneeze (which would not ever see the light of day, as usual).

My mouth opened to take my first delicious bite when it paused at the shrill voice behind me. "Alice! I've been looking all over for you!" Please, dear lord, not today. Not Ashley's voice. I'm just imagining—"Alice! Where were you? Ms. Stillwell's all over me for that new recruit. I'm honestly going to lose my shit!" She came strutting in front, her brown curls bouncing at the weight of her feet dragging down three flights of steps and to the fake grass pavement. "Alice—"

"She's not my problem, Ashley." I answered wryly. "I'm swamped under ten feet of paperwork, and on top of that, my life is in shambles 'cause I can't make Noir's mask fit!" I was halfway breaking my clipboard apart so I don't see it again, with its scuff and marks from having been thrown at any and all surface I could find out of frustration. There's a reason there's two of us, and I'm just right above the mark of considering myself lucky for getting the sane out of the rest.

"Just for a bit, just after this whole production over Homelander and Maeve. After that, I promise I won't ask you for any favors." Her wide pleading eyes was horrifying against the sight of my cold food. She looked batshit and I've almost drained my bleeding heart, if it weren't for her hands clasping together. "Come on, Alice. All I need is a month to shift stuff around then I'll take her back. I know--I know we don't always see each other eye to eye." Understatement of the year. "But I'll owe you one, anything you ask, I swear."

What the hell. "Don't say I don't do shit for you—" The girl almost jumped in and hugged me, but I took a step back and laid my hands. "That's enough affection for the day." Ashley was gleeful to say the least.

"Okay! Great! I'll go now!" She said, pointing her hands back as she finally stood and disappeared from the view. I watch her cross the same street as I did and made sure she's out of any bright ideas before I leaned back on the warm wall and sighed. I'm finally alone, again, and before I thought about the new recruit, I finally took my firsr bite and the world seemed bright again.

So nice, so light, so fluffy.

"You got a stupid smile on your face."

My chest hammered at the gruff tone that spoke, it was almost too familiar that I choked, coughing relentlessly until my teary eyes darted at the figure that made my body run cold. A mixture of emotion passed through me, it was impossible to pin point where I could even muster to focus first. My teeth gritted, my breathing had stopped and his smirk made me furious.

I'd known anger before, and it taste bitter and vile. But what I felt when he huffed amusingly was much worse. "What? Cat got your tongue?" The audacity to talk to me in broad daylight, right in front of VOUGHT where there's more than a hundred guards watching over with good aim are just waiting for a viable target. I was almost woozy from rage. "Can't even say hi to an old friend, eh?"