Butterflies

Chapter 2

Butcher did not say a word as he drove them through the city. He would catch glances at the woman beside him, trying to catch a glimpse if she would attack him at any moment. But she didn't. Violet stared out the window with her hands in her lap. The night settled and it didn't feel like they were driving for as long as they were. The woman beside him was peculiar. She had abilities that could destroy him with mere words yet she sat there without any afflictions. It wasn't a hidden fact that Butcher hated supes, and after reading about this one, he wasn't her biggest fan. Knowing what she could do and seeing her perform on stage as smug as she was, infuriated him. With no idea where they were going, Violet began to sink in her seat. She could feel his eyes on her, sense the scowl he sent her way.

They reached a tech store still running so late at night. It was small with a variety of tech littering the walls and shelves. Completely untouched. Butcher and Violet exited the vehicle and walked together into the store, Butcher holding the door open and violet nodding a thanks as she went inside. There, a tall lanky man dressed in blue was sorting the shelves, eyeing the tv that played an interview with Translucent on the Jimmy Fallon show. Violet grimaced as she saw the show, moving to the sound area and checking out a pair of headphones. noticing their entrance, the man turned and strolled leisurely over to where Butcher was standing in one of the isles. Slowly Violet made her way over to them.

"You interested in a nanny cam?" The man asked before smiling at Violet, "cause we're actually running a special on that. Uh, it's a pretty popular bear. There's cameras in the eyes."

Butcher had been inspecting the bear very closely, Violet rocking on her feet beside him.

"Tell me," Butcher began, "how many nannies shake their babies?"

"Uh, I'm sorry?" The man questioned, looking at Violet who was just as confused.

"You know, a good... Hard shake, like..." Butcher turned around to face him, shaking the bear in his hand, "like tryin' to get ketchup out of a bottle. One percent? Less?"

Violet made a noise trying to interject, seeing the puzzled look on the poor store clerks face. But Butcher only ignored her and focused purely on the man with his hand in his pockets, frowning at him.

"I-I don't really know," The man said.

"Funny that," Butcher put the bear down, smirking at Violets glare, "they sell a billion dollars worth of that shit worldwide... goes to show you, doesn't it? The bollocks people will believe. If you get them scared enough."

"Cool," The man scoffed uncomfortably, "cool, cool. Um... Is there anything I can help you two with today, or...?"

"I'm not gonna piss you about, Hughie," of course that was why they were there, Violet should have known.

She took a stride towards them when Hughie seemed to back up against one of the isles. Folding her arms she gave him a reassuring grin.

"I heard what happened to Robin," Butcher said.

Pulling a face, Violet rattled her brain thinking of who this Robin was. That name had been in the news, for a reason she hoped had nothing to do with this.

"I'm-I'm-I'm sorry, who are you two?" Hughie stuttered suddenly, cowering even more.

"She wasn't in the street. She was one step off the fucking curb, and you didn't take the pay-off," Butcher murmured.

She knew instantly then who Robin was. The girl she had seen on the news, another one of the many collateral those supes left behind. It is said to be an accident, though it never truly is. Exhaling, she wanted to say something, as whatever Butcher's plan was, it would not work the way he going, but she didn't know what to say. Or why she was even there. He appeared to know so much about other people he had never met. He knew about her powers, the ones she didn't share with the world, and he knew far too much about this Hughie for the troubled man to enjoy.