#JUST IMAGINE HUGHIE GETS HURT BY SOME SUPE AND BUTCHER JUSTS

[nonbinary-cupid]

Every now and then I remember what butcher’s aunt said about how Lenny calmed butcher down when he absolutely lost it when lenny got hurt and I just

I need a scene like that with hughie and butcher AND I NEED IT TO BE ANGSTY AS HELL

GIVE ME THE SCENE I WANT

[hughiecampbelle]

The Boys Preference: Lashing Out And Regretting It

Requested: heyya! love how you write the boys characters you got them so well just like how they are on the show. if its okay and if its a good idea, may i request an imagine with the boys and homelander and their reaction after they and reader got into an argument, getting to the point where they told reader some hurtful things and told reader to leave because they dont need reader or reader is nothing to them/is useless. they just say this because they’re angry but reader takes their word to heart and did just as they said. now they cant find reader or finding it hard to locate reader. could be platonic or familial. thank you! - anon

A/N: Screaming I love this!!! I live for the angst!!! I'm so sorry I've been so slow with requests my loves! I hope you can understand! Feedback is always appreciated! 💜💜💜

Requests are open! 🔮

Butcher embarrassed you in front of everyone. Yelling and screaming, calling you useless, all because Samer got away. You were a little too occupied with Kimiko and Frenchie to realize, opting to save your friend than chase after him. Both Kimiko and Frenchie were eager to come to your aid, but he shut them down. He got in your face and he humiliated you, said the team was better off without you. You left without a word, ignoring your friends who begged you to stay. You left your phone behind, knowing they'd call and text, apologizing for him. You were good at your job, the best even. You and Butcher have worked together a long time. This was your first mistake in a long time and he couldn't let it go. You were done. You packed a bag and disappeared. When they realized they couldn't reach you, they split up, looking at your apartment and usual hang outs. No one had seen you. Suddenly Butcher can feel his heart in his stomach. Regret spread through his chest. Everyone was pissed at him, but no one was angrier at him. He never should have done what he did. Now you were gone. Who knows when you'd show up again?

Hughie regrets it immediately. He said what he said because he was angry, and stupid, and awful. You left the night of the Tek Knight party. You were a Supe, a powerful one, but for whatever reasons, your abilities weren't what they used to be. You argued with him, saying he shouldn't go in alone. It came out before he realized, before he could take it back. Right now, he was more powerful than you were. What right did you have telling him what to do when you couldn't do your single job? The look on your face, the horror and hurt, it made him sick to his stomach. He tried to apologize, to explain, but you were done. You threw your hands up, wishing Hughie and the rest a safe mission, but you were done. M.M. assured him it was better to go through with it than run after you, so he did, but the whole time he's thinking about you. He doesn't find you at the office or apartment. You disappeared. They tried to track you, find you, but they hit wall after wall. You'd show up again, they all told him, you just needed time. He'd never felt so guilty in his life.

Annie didn't think you were trying hard enough. It didn't seem like you cared anymore. Not about the team, or taking down Homelander. You seemed like you were just going through the motions. She meant to just talk with you, but things escalated pretty quickly. As soon as she said the words, she knew she was in the wrong. You were becoming a liability to everyone involved. If you were done, burned out, then just say that. Leave. But if you wanted to be a part of this team, if you really cared, you'd stop being so useless. Truth was, you were tired. You were tired of everything. There was no name calling or fighting back. You didn't have it in you. You got up and you walked out, pushing past Butcher and the rest who were just walking in. Annie goes to follow you, but you just pick up your pace. She calls and texts, but you never answer. Everyone says to give you your space, but she can't let it go. She shows up at your place which is completely empty. It fills her with so much shame. She apologizes profusely, asking you to come back, but she never gets a response.

M.M. is reactive and angry and he knows what he's done is wrong immediately after. He's been in charge of this team and so far all you've been is negative. You've lost your faith in the team. He understands, he gets it, but for the sake of everyone involved, he needs you to look on the bright side. If there isn't one, he needs you to make one. He ends up blowing up at you while you're waiting for Hughie as Webweaver. You tell him, Annie, and Kimiko that you have a bad feeling about this, a terrible feeling, but it was too late to do anything. Hughie was already inside. He knows now is not the time nor place, but he loses it. If you can't have faith in the mission, in your teammates, then you shouldn't be here at all. Your attitude problems only hurt morality and it was worse than useless, it was dangerous. Annie and Kimiko try to de-escalate the situation, but you've made up your mind: you're done. You leave without a second thought, wishing them a safe mission. Because they're all occupied, no one can really do anything about it. After his panic attack, Marvin sees just how right you were, but when he calls it goes right to voicemail. When it seems like you disappeared, he does everything he can to track you down. You don't want to be found, though.

Frenchie fights with you after Samer gets away. It was the three of you that were in charge of him and you let him get away. You didn't have any fight left in you. It was your fault. He must've been working on the cuffs for weeks. You trusted him and you let Kimiko get hurt. You know that's the reason he's so upset: because he had to cut off her leg to save her. She could have died. You know what she means to him. And yet, he goes a little overboard. Everyone thinks so, yelling at him to stop when he's gone too far. You were useless. You let Samer get away, you let Kimiko get hurt, you failed at every single job you were given. He can see the look of hurt on your face and finally stops, the room left in a heavy silence. You grab your coat and you leave. There was no use in fighting with him, he was right. Annie and Hughie called after you, pleading with you to stay, but you waved them off, storming out. When they don't hear from you, they all start to worry. You sent a single text to Frenchie before turning off your phone. Tell Kimiko I'm sorry. Feeling guilty, he goes to your place. You're not there though, and neither are your immediate belongings: wallet, keys, phone, some clothes. He has to do something to fix this, to make things okay.

Kimiko is really hurt you turned yourself in alongside Frenchie. The guilt was eating you alive, all the things you've ever done. It was horrible. It was unforgivable. When you come back alongside Butcher, who insists you and Frenchie can replicate the virus, you can't stand to look at her. She wants to talk with you, to ask you why, and eventually, when you get a little alone time, she does. Of course she would understand, your upbringings were cruel, brutal, and it lead you down this road, but you couldn't move on. You couldn't forgive yourself. Kimiko was pissed. Did you really think it was that easy? Did you really think you were the only one eaten alive by guilt and shame and self-hatred? She was signing at you furiously, as close to yelling as she could get. You were so smart, so intelligent, and yet you were wasting your talents wanting to rot away in prison! If you were going to throw your talents away and hurt the team and hurt her and become a useless nobody, then what was stopping you? Certainly not her, not any of your friends. You don't have it in you to fight back. You don't have anything left in you, not anymore. She tries to get your attention when you leave, but you don't look back. When none of them hear from you, Kimiko begs The Boys to do everything they can to find you. Please, she has to make things right.

Bonus! Homelander cuts people out of life left and right. Still, you never thought he would turn on you. And yet, when you don't know who the snitch is, when you're not closer to pinpointing the culprit, he loses it. His eyes even heat up, though he catches himself, calming himself down. Firecracker interrupts his yelling, foolishly, but in the end it saves you from hearing anymore about how pathetic, useless, stupid you are. That you don't deserve to be a part of The Seven, you don't deserve to be a Supe at all. He goes off with her, believing it was Webweaver all along. You don't know how much time you have, but you know, in order to avoid his wrath, you have to leave right away. Get some space between you so that he can cool off, if he ever does. You took it as a pretty clear way of saying that you were out, you lost his trust. You weren't a friend anymore, you weren't anything anymore. Firecracker had saved the day. Again. When he comes back, covered in blood and no closer to finding the narc than he was before, he goes looking for you. He searches the entire city, but you've disappeared completely. Vanished.

[cainsau]

Hi if you take requests could I send one in for being part of the boys Kimiko looking after R like a sibling figure and R is reckless and worries her and the rest of the boys.

A Taste of Death || The Boys Imagine

(Platonic) Kimiko Miyashiro x GN!Reader

Summary: The mission is to kidnap a Vought scientist from a lab, hoping to get information out of him, but what you get is a taste of death instead. Maybe you shouldn't have taken that Temp V for this.

Warning: non-graphic suicide

Author's Note: Hi! Thank you for the request! I hope you enjoy this one :]

Masterlist

The first time you took Temp V, it wasn't very obvious what your power is. Unlike Hughie who teleports, or Butcher and his laser eyes, your new ability is something that isn't really visible nor useful in combat.

Your power is a lot like Mesmer, the not-so-famous Supe who can read memories through touch. But, not only can you read others' memories, you can also feel and experience them, which you don't really know is good or bad... until today.

The team separated into different groups. You and Kimiko are tasked to kidnap a scientist from the lab or at least get some important information out of him. Unfortunately, the scientist manages to get a hold of your gun, then points it to himself.

He pulls the trigger, but the gun jams, leaving a few seconds for you to sprint towards him. Seeing you approaching, he panics, trying a few times to fix the jammed gun, and as you finally reach him, your power activates, letting you see his memories. However, it doesn't last for even 5 seconds as the gun unjams and releases a bullet that goes straight through his head.

The sensation of getting shot transfers almost perfectly into your mind, except there's no pain.

The scientist falls to the ground with a thud, and you freeze in place, with your whole body shaking.

Did you just experience... death?

Kimiko comes up from behind you. She ignores the dead scientist, and immediately turns to you. It's not your first time seeing someone getting killed, so when she realizes you're not moving, she knows there's something wrong, then very worriedly signs, 'Are you alright?!'

You're too shocked to say anything. There's a weird feeling all over your body, as if someone just drowned you in ice water. You're also getting goosebumps all over.

She shakes you by the shoulders, like trying to wake you up from this weird trance you're in. When you finally look at her, your voice shake as you speak, "I feel like... i just died?"

'What do you mean?'

"I took Temp V, and-"

She knows about you taking Temp V and the power it gives you, but she's not aware that you're using it right at this moment.

You continue, "I was still in his mind when he..."

Her previously sour expression turns into something more sympathetic. As a Supe with regenerative abilities, she's died and come back to life several times by now, it's almost like she got used to it. You, on the other hand, are just a normal person. She realizes how horrifying that experience must be for you, even though you didn't actually die.

'Did you get hurt?'

"No, no, i'm okay."

She lets out a sigh, a mixture of disapproval and relief, then aggressively signs, 'Don't you dare do something like that again.'

"Sorry."

The team notices your abnormal behavior for the rest of the day, and when they learn about what happened, they definitely won't let you take more Temp V in the future.

[nghtmarish]

@leagueofdccm ; annie january / 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫.

     𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐡𝐚𝐝  𝐭𝐨  𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞  𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧  𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭  𝐢𝐟  𝐡𝐞  𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐡𝐞𝐫,     it  was  for  a  damn  good  reason.     but  even  with  that  good  reason,  butcher  was  still  surprised  that  annie  had  even  taken  his  call  and  he  was  even  more  surprised  that  she  had  actually  agreed  to  his  request.     it  had  been  a  somewhat  quiet  life  for  him  after  becca's  death,   he  knew  how  much  he  had  let  her  down  over  and  over  before,  he  wouldn't  keep  doing  it.     as  much  as  he  had  his  own  fears  of  what  being  a     𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭     may  do  to  him,  he  knew  he  had  to  try,  for  becca.     raising  ryan  hadn't  exactly  been  what  he  had  imagined  for  himself,  he  had  never  really  thought  that  he  could  be  a  dad  since  he  had  total  shit  one  himself.     he  just  figured  he'd  end  up  like  his  old  man  and  he  refused  to  take  that  risk.     but  becca  had  made  him  promise  and  he  couldn't  break  that,  he  had  put  everything  else  behind  him  and  he  trusted  mm  to  keep  the  boys  going,  working  mallory  and  the  cia.     he  even  had  to  put  aside  his  anger  for  homelander  to  focus  on  what  was  really  important,  raising  ryan  and  trying  to  do  right  by  him.     which  was  why  he  had  reached  out  to  annie  in  the  first  place,  there  was  a  lot  he  could  help  ryan  with,  but  there  was  one  thing  he  couldn't  and  he  wanted  someone  he  could     𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭     to  help  ryan  learn  and  control  his  powers.

     𝐡𝐞  𝐡𝐚𝐝  𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟  𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝  𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞  𝐭𝐨  𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥  𝐡𝐢𝐦  𝐭𝐨  𝐠𝐨  𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤  𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.     which  he  would  absolutely  deserve  after  everything  that  had  happened  between  them.     he  hadn't  exactly  been  the  kindest  to  her,  he  had  shot  her  twice  in  the  chest  and  constantly  put  her  down  purely  because  she  was  a  supe  and  he  hadn't  wanted  to  deal  with  her.     but  he  couldn't  deny  that  she  was  a     𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫     person  than  he  ever  gave  her  credit  for.     maybe  hughie  was  right  about  her.     even  if  she  was  supe  and  part  of  the  seven.     butcher  knew  that  trusting  her  wouldn't  be  a  mistake,  she  would  do  right  by  ryan  and  would  help  him  in  the  one  he  couldn't.     it  meant  more  to  him  than  he  was  able  to  say,  whether  he  wanted  to  actually  admit  it  or  not.     not  a  lot  of  people  even  knew  where  him  and  ryan  were  living,  it  was  the  safest  way  for  them  to  be  able  to  live  somewhat  normal  lives  because  a  part  of  him  knew  that  eventually  homelander  might  try  to  come  for  ryan.     becca  had  made  it  so  clear  that  she  did  not  want  ryan  around  homelander,  he  didn't  want  him  to  become  like  him  and  butcher  knew  that  he  would  do     𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠     to  ensure  that  didn't  happen.

     𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞  𝐟𝐨𝐫  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐭𝐨  𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞,     ryan  was  inside  spending  some  time  with  grace  who  seemed  to  have  taken  quite  a  liking  to  him,  he  wasn't  sure  exactly  how  this  was  going  to  work  out.     butcher  wasn't  trying  to  put  her  in  a  dangerous  situation,  he  didn't  want  her  to get  hurt  and  he  knew  that  she  must  have  have  to  come  up  with  a  million  excuses  to  explain  to  vought  where  she  was  even  going.     but  he  appreciated  this,  appreciated  that  she  was  willing  to  try  to  help  ryan.     she  was  always  so  damn  good,  fuck.     he  was  going  to  owe  her  so  much  for  this  and  he  didn't  know  how  he  would  ever  repay  her  for  this.     a  smirk  pulled  at  his  lips  as  he  saw  the  car  approach,  knowing  mallory  had  sent  someone  she  trusted  to  pick  annie  up  from  a  different  location  to  bring  her  here.     eventually  she  may  get  the  actual  address,  but  for  now,  this  was  the  absolute  best  way  for  now.     standing  up  straight  as  he  saw  her  get  out  of  the  car,  smirk  still  obvious  on  his  face  as  he  looked  at  her,     "     well,  don't  you  look  lovely  as  ever,  miss  january,     "     butcher  teased,  moving  towards  her  with  a  playful  tone.     he  needed  to  keep  things  light  and  borderline     𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲     because  it  would  just  be  easier  for  them  all,  he  could  only  imagine  this  was  just  as  uncomfortable  for  her  as  it  was  him,     "     would  say  it's  good  to  see  ya,  but  i  don't  think  this  is  gonna  work  if  we  lie  to  each  other.     but  i  will  say,     "     he  drops  his  teasing  tone  for  a  moment,  unable  to  keep  it  as  he  actually  is  going  to  say  something  sincere  and  he  just  hoped  that  she  actually  believed  it,     "     i  appreciate  you  doin'  this.     especially  since  ya  ain't  got  any  real  reason  to  do  me  a  favour,     "

[captainimfangirling]

The Boys Season 3 Ep. 4

Warning: Major Spoilers

Hughie & Starlight

At first I thought Hughie was non-toxic masculinity and didn’t mind Starlight saving him but at the same time I can understand why he hated not being able to protect the people he loves. I really hope he doesn’t get addicted to temp V and become power hungry. Kimiko closing her eyes when she saw him naked was really cute. I feel really bad for Starlight when Homelander killed Alex. I have a feeling she might get back into protective mode and try to stop Hughie from doing anything to Homelander. 

Kimiko & Frenchie

I f*cking knew Kimiko was gonna get hurt or possibly die. She’s the one who wanted to leave Butcher so I thought she was gonna die not Frenchie. I’m glad Frenchie didn’t forget about M.M. and Hughie. Kimiko cares about them too because she didn’t object when Frenchie brought them up. If she dies I know he’s going to feel really guilty about not leaving sooner. 

A-Train

I knew A-Train was going to betray Alex because the number one person he cares about is himself. He killed the woman he fell in love with. I’ve said before that the only way for him to be redeemed is if he’s genuinely sorry for killing innocent people like Robin but I don’t think that will happen. The writers better not make an excuse for him like the only reason he did it was so Homelander would listen to him about Black Hawk so he’s saving black people because that’s some manipulative bullsh*t. He probably really thinks Homelander is a great man. Even if I’m wrong and A-Train is actually innocent I really hope they have him bring up the innocent people he killed like Robin in order to fully redeem him.

Queen Maeve

We finally see her! Now this is how you redeem a character! She obviously feels horrible about the things she done in the past and thinks she deserves to sacrifice herself in order to kill Homelander. I really hope she doesn’t die because I don’t believe anyone should sacrifice themselves (dying) in order to be redeemed). We just need to see that they’re genuinely sorry, do everything they can to make things right, and change. 

Victoria

I get why she betrayed Edgar. I guess I was wrong about him possibly being a child abuser and the orphanage was just giving them V not abusing them sexually. I still think giving children V is abuse. Was so heart breaking hearing her daughter scream when Victoria gave her V. I can’t imagine how Homelander or any infant supe being given V and going through all that pain.

Homelander

Gosh I love his unhinged ass. Might not be racist but sure does hate humans because he said he was happy Victoria chose her “own kind.” Like I said a long time ago Homelander is a sociopath and Vought is the reason he has never been exposed because they took care of his messes. Without them the world will see Homelander for what he really is. 

Butcher

I see a parallel between Butcher and Edgar. Butcher saw Kimiko as a weapon and Edgar saw Victoria as a weapon. Even though Butcher is using her a lot I like to think he cares about her deep down especially since Frenchie loves her. Did you see the way he looked at Hughie like a disappointed father? At first I was afraid Butcher will get addicted to temp V but it might be Hughie and I think Butcher is afraid of that too.

Soldier Boy

We pretty much knew what was gonna happen. My theory is that he was the one who told Homelander they were gods when he was a child. I really hope that rumor about him being a child abuser was wrong. I wouldn’t want that to happen to anymore not even Homelander.

M.M.

I’m very happy M.M. is there to stand up to Butcher. I have a feeling Butcher picked him in case he ever died so M.M. can take over as the leader. I hope we learn more about M.M. and his family. Did you see his face when he saw Soldier Boy? Reminded me of the times Hughie looked at A-Train in season 1. It’s post traumatic stress disorder. Like Homelander I will be sad when Soldier Boy dies but I understand they deserve it. I just hope M.M. will be the one who kills him and Butcher will be the one who kills Homelander.

Jensen Ackles’ Ass

If you said Jensen Ackles having a flat ass yes that is body shaming. Don’t give me that oh I’m just stating facts bullsh*t. You know damn well it’s a negative comment when someone says another has a flat ass. I hate it when people do the same sh*t to women and I’m glad people are standing up to body shaming. 

[emily-strange]

Sparks Fly

Thank you to everyone still with me after the last chapter - I know not a lot hasn't happened yet but we’re getting going! As always thank you to @billybutchersbabe​ 😘 such a giant help!!!

Hope you all enjoy. Feedback is more than welcome x

Chapter 4

Pairing: Billy Butcher x OFC

Warnings: Swearing - lots of it.

…………………………………………………..

Waking up was hard.

Emmy thinks Butcher might have slipped something into her beer, seems like something he’d do to get answers. Then again, she’s always been a bit of a lightweight when it comes to drinking.

After she had a breakfast bar thrown at her and Hughie arrived with a clean hoodie, Emmy was properly introduced and ushered into the car. Butcher couldn’t contain his snarl at seeing Emmy take off his shirt and replace it with the younger man’s clothes.

MM silently notices how extra shitty he is in the car.

If only he knew it was because the two youngsters were discussing Hughie’s ‘Billy Joel’ t-shirt and bonding in the backseat.

Now Emmy’s wandering around the Believe Expo trying her best to appear like she belongs. Butcher hasn’t really filled her in on the plan, she’s just meant to walk around and see if anything seems weird. She knows the task has been given so it’ll keep her out of trouble, without actually having to tell her anything about the boys. So far, she’s seen a lot of things here that in her opinion, are pretty fucked.

She doesn’t move too far from them, always keeping someone in sight. At the moment the three of them are obviously discussing what they need from Hughie as he’s looking pretty appalled…

Emmy can’t believe she’s actually out of her dingy little town. Not free of it, but out. If you’d asked her 4 days ago where she’d be, she’d say still in the same dingy basement shining up some stolen AK-50’s as always. But instead she’s walking in the sunshine, dodging and weaving through the crowds of young people basking in their joint love of supes and God.

“She’s awesome isn’t she!” comes a voice from next to her, making her jump. A young guy in his 20s is standing way too close to Emmy with a large grin on his face. She then realises that she’s been staring at the singer on stage who’s just uncased her large, angel like wings for the crowd.

“Oh, um, yeah. She’s amazing.” Emmy lies. She looks round the guy and can just about see MM uncomfortably shifting from one foot to the other as Butcher has an intense looking conversation with a stall vendor.

“Is this your first time?” the guy asks, moving back into her line of sight. Emmy uncrosses her arms and softens the scowl on her face.

“How can you tell?” She says, laughing uncomfortably. If the guy notices, he doesn’t make it obvious. He seems sweet enough, Emmy thinks. Light blonde hair and a nice smile, full of perfect teeth. The epitome of squeaky clean.

He laughs, “You just look a little lost. I’m Pete.”

Pete extends his hand to Emmy who shakes it lightly, “Emmy.”

For a few seconds they stand together as the singer starts up again. Emmy internally groans. She’s never been one for religion. She tries to sway with the music, doing her best to blend in.

“What brings you here then Emmy?” Pete says, breaking the mindless chatter in her head.

“Oooh, you know...” Emmy stutters. She sees a poster of Homelander across from her and goes with it, “..The Seven. Homelander…I just, was hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He’s my favourite. As well as Ezekiel of course. He’s…great.” Emmy reals off the names she actually knows, hoping it’ll convince Pete she’s ‘one of them’. It seems to have worked.

“Yesss! Amazing!” Pete shouts, jumping for a high-five. One Emmy gives reluctantly, “You knoow I’m being baptised by Homelander in like, 20 minutes. Wanna come with and see if you can sneak a peak?”

“Ooh um really…baptised? That’s sweet but,” Emmy looks around again for the boys but now can’t see any of them. Pete uses her hesitation and distraction to gently take both of her shoulders, turning her to him. His forehead is creased into a frown.

“Please know I’m saying this as your friend.” He begins and Emmy couldn’t be any more confused, “I think you’re lost. I could see it in your eyes from miles away…please, let me take you to Ezekiel. Me and him, we’re close. I mean, you never know right? Maybe they’ll have a free space.” Pete smiles widely at Emmy and she finds herself tongue tied. She still can’t see anyone she actually knows and Butcher did tell her to snoop around…

“Um, yeah, okay…” She says giving a tight-lipped smile. Pete’s ecstatic. Beyond ecstatic. Suddenly she’s being pulled along towards the tents with absolutely no idea what to do or who she’s about to meet.

………………………………………………….

Once they reach the VIP tent, Emmy is relieved to see people checking for lanyards and tickets. She has neither so it won’t be hard to slip away. However, Pete seems to have been selling himself short, everyone seems to know him. Not just Ezekiel.

“Hi Pete, you here to see Ezekiel?” a pretty young woman asks.

“Yeah for the baptism” he beams, “I was hoping my friend here could just slip in with me? I think it’d do her some good to meet him.” Pete pleads.

Emmy jumps in, hoping to nip this in the bud asap, “Oh but it’s no problem if not. I’m happy to go back. I mean, I haven’t paid…not really fair is it!”

She laughs, hoping she doesn’t seem as awkward as she feels in this moment. Everyone is just so cheery. Makes her feel a little bit sick.

“You know what, I don’t see why not. I mean it isn’t packed in there. You’ll have to leave before the baptism but we have about 10 minutes till then.” The woman says and Emmy tries to make her smile as genuine as possible. Although she can’t shake the feeling that she’s being used as some sort of sacrificial lamb. The thought makes her laugh and cringe at the same time.

Pete thanks the woman and takes Emmy’s hand, leading her into the tent. He makes a straight line for Ezekiel.

“Ezekiel?” Pete says timidly, “I hope you don’t mind. Emmy here is new to the church. She’s feeling a bit out of place.” Out of place is right, Emmy thinks. She’s seen enough True Crime documentaries to know a religious cult when she sees one.

“Ahh it’s wonderful to meet new members,” Ezekiel says turning to face Emmy and Pete, “I’m glad you’ve found the faith. Welcome. Unfortunately, though we will be starting soon…”

Emmy gets the distinct impression that Ezekiel is not pleased by Pete’s impromptu meet and greet.

“Oh I understand.” Emmy says, basically sighing with relief, “Thank you for taking the time…to meet me. Means…um, a lot. Thank you, Pete.” She turns to Pete who smiles warmly at her. She almost feels bad for lying. This must mean a lot to him.

As she makes her way back to the tents entrance, she bumps into someone. Someone who also looks like they want to make a run for it.

Hughie.

“Em…what…” Hughie starts but is cut off. Emmy feels a shiver make its way down her spin.

“Hughie don’t be rude, introduce your friend.” Homelander says with a forced smile.

Hughie stutters for a second too long, causing Emmy’s stomach to lurch. She decides to take it upon herself to get out of this. She extends her hand and smiles as warmly as possible.

“Emmy. I’m new to the church.” She starts, “I was just leaving. All of this is a bit too rich for my blood.”

Homelander shakes her hand and squeezes just that bit too tight. He uses it to pull Emmy into him and ‘whisper’ in her face, “You need to make friends with Starlight as well. Hughie here got in for free!”

His perfect grin beams brightly but everyone involved knows it’s laced with something more sinister. Emmy’s never met this man before, never even really seen or heard anything of him other than a face on TV.

But she’s scared.

Emmy smiles and laughs but knows that he sees her swallow around the large lump in her throat.

As Homelander pulls back, he lets go of Emmy’s hand and as much as she wants to rub the ache out of it, her pride won’t allow her to do so in his presence. His picture-perfect smile never falters and he eyes Hughie for a second too long. Emmy’s seen eye’s like his before. Eye’s that contain nothing but scorn and contempt. She feels like the air’s been sucked from her lungs.

The moment Ezekiel begins his speech, Emmy makes a hasty exit from the tent. She doesn’t glance back at Hughie but she knows he watches her leave. For a minute or two she walks in a straight line, head down, wanting to be as far away from that place as possible. She ignores the protests of the people she barges past until one of them grabs her arm, dragging her behind one of the nearest stalls.

Butcher spins Emmy round and shouts in the loudest whisper.

“Why the fuck were you in that tent eh? What the fuck is wrong with you!?” Butcher yells, gripping Emmy’s upper arms so hard it hurts. She can see he’s furious but unlike Homelander, there is nothing but desperation in his eyes.

“I…” Emmy wants to tell him. She was basically dragged there! And where were they!? They disappeared on her! If anyone should be mad it’s her. They should’ve given her a phone or something! But all that comes out is a garbled apology and one word. “Homelander”.

Butchers eye’s widen with what Emmy easily recognises as fear.

“What did he fuckin’ do? Emmy, what, what did that bastard fuckin’ do!” He says quickly, shaking her a little when she doesn’t answer quick enough.

“Nothing. He didn’t do anything.” Emmy says, feeling her mouth go dry, “But his eyes…” Emmy looks past Butcher and imagines them. She wants to tell him that his eye’s are so…bitter, so hateful. So dead.

Butcher sighs with relief and does the last thing Emmy could imagine. He pulls her into a bone crushing hug. She finds herself suddenly with her head against his firm chest and the smell of something distinctly him fills her nose. It’s comforting.

Butcher buries his nose into Emmy’s hair and inhales deeply. She smells like Frenchie’s crappy body wash but with a hint of him from the shirt she slept in. As quickly as he pulled her into his body, he pushes her away. Emmy hadn’t even had time to wrap her arms around him.

“Look, I gotta go do summit. Stay here ‘nd I’ll send MM over.” Butcher says, moving to leave. Emmy grabs his arm, feeling his muscles tense at her touch.

“Can I not come with you? I’m really sick of these religious fucks.” She says, drawing shocked gasps from the people around them close enough to hear. Butcher can’t help but smirk, “Fine but you gotta wait in tha car.”

As Emmy follows Butcher, she hears him growl a “fuck you want?” at some people who were less than thrilled at her choice of words. Emmy laughs.

………………………………………………….

In the car, Emmy fills Butcher in on how she ended up in the tent and her run in with Hughie. He’s not happy that Homelander has seen her face or that he seems a bit too interested in Hughie but the sheer panic he seemed to be in definitely dies down.

She waits in the car outside a house in a nice part of the city. Everything around her seems so…well, nice. She can’t imagine who someone like Butcher would know around here. But then she doesn’t really know him, does she?

When he comes storming from the house and pulls the car away with an earth-shattering screech, Emmy stays quiet. He’s clearly fucked off about something and Emmy would rather not push her luck twice in one day.

But now they’re sat outside a cemetery. And have been for about 15 minutes.

“Why are we here Butcher?” Emmy asks delicately, not wanting to break the silence too much too quickly. It feels like she’s talking to a kicked puppy. Trying to gain its trust without spooking it.

“You don’t have to tell me” she adds very quickly.

Butcher nods and gets out of the car, goes to the trunk and gets out a sledgehammer. He slams the trunk closed and takes off into the cemetery. Emmy just waits and hopes that no caretakers try to stop him from doing whatever he’s doing. She doubts that’ll end well.

He’s not gone long.

Once they’re back on the road he finally speaks again.

“MM’s gotta lead on a Compound V shipment so we’re gonna go meet him now. You might need this.” Butcher says and tosses Emmy’s matchbook into her lap, “Jus’ in case.”

Emmy pockets the matchbook and nods. She still doesn’t know the ins and outs of what Butcher and the boys do but if it’s about supes, it’s about Vought. And if it’s about Vought, Emmy wants to know.

Butcher glances over at Emmy as she nods and thinks back to the Expo. He was looking for her for ages. He’d gotten involved in this existential rant with an old fella and ‘misplaced’ her. Him and MM had split up and when he’d seen her leaving the VIP tent with her head hanging low, his heart just about stopped.

He kept his eye on her as he’d shoved people out of the way. Didn’t lose sight of her once. The closer he got the more he noticed how wide her eyes were, like she was in some kind of shock. If someone did something in that fucking tent, he’d murder every last person at the expo.

When he’d finally gotten to her, his blood was already pumping. He knows he grabbed her too hard but she’s a supe right? It wouldn’t hurt. Although the way she flinched certainly made it seem like it did.

But fuck, when she said Homelander…he felt bile rise up into his throat. He shouldn’t be so protective over this newbie supe but for some reason he is. He’s seen her pissed and he’s heard about what she does when threatened. But seeing her so wide-eyed and scared made her seem so small.

Why the fuck is he doing this to himself?

Before he could contemplate it any further, they arrive at the hospital. Joining MM outside.

“Took ya time.” MM greets, gaining a glare from his friend. Emmy gives him a small, silent wave.

When no one moves to lead on, Butcher hisses, “We fuckin’ doin’ this or wot?”

[ty-talks-comics]

The Boys Season 1 Review and Comparison

This was so cathartic.

In an age where we’re inundated with superhero media on all fronts with their bright colors, cheery jokes and positive outlooks, it’s easy to slowly become sick of it, feel the “superhero fatigue” as it were. Where Marvel ruins some stories with far too many jokes (looking at you Thor: Ragnarok) and DC is far too dreary and serious for its own good with a lack of levity, where can one turn to for a GOOD happy medium?

Well, in comes Seth Rogan and Evan Gold, the brilliant minds behind the amazing adaptation of Preacher with yet another brutal and slightly more cynical series. The Boys absolutely stuns not only by being a genuinely compelling series, but also by being one of the few adaptations that improves on the original medium in a few aspects.

Story

The story centers around Hughie Campbell and the titular Boys as they work to expose the horrific deeds of The Seven, a collective of the world's greatest superheroes, and the company that sponsors them, Vought American.

In this world, superheroes are everywhere. They're on breakfast cereals, TV shows, movies, pretty much every piece of media and entertainment imaginable while also protecting America from crime. Sounds familiar, huh? The kicker here is that, much like every asshole celebrity that lets the fame and fortune go to their heads, these heroes are massive cunts. They take performance enhancing drugs, routinely cause accidents that hurt or kill people, sexually harass people left and right and just lie to their adoring public like they’re children.

Unlike the books, however, The Boys team isn’t the well oiled machine that’s been taking down and blackmailing superheroes for years and the first four episodes are spent introducing the different team members.This is likely due to wanting to give people time to care about them individually and the limited number of episodes in the season. This definitely works in also retooling the characters themselves for TV since they may not have seventy-two issues of character development ahead of them

For the most part, the show follows the initial story beats of the comics with a few select differences before splintering off in an entirely new direction. Hughie’s girlfriend still gets blown apart by A-Train, he denies Vought America’s hush money which draws the attention of Billy Butcher and Starlight joins the Seven after the “death” of the hero Lamplighter. 

This also means that there's less time to focus on smaller plotlines and teams that are referenced to in passing dialogue like the Teenage Kix, a pastiche on the Teen Titans, or Payback, the number two group of superheroes to The Seven. While seeing the team take these guys down on the small screen would have been fun, I like the idea of keeping the plot focused on just the core group of antagonists. This way, we don’t have to slog through three or four seasons of small fry and get the big bads in the last few.

After the first half, fans of the comic may start to feel a little bit of the familiar, but then things start to take a drastic turn when Billy's pride and the rest of the teams sloppiness gets them all burned and branded wanted criminals. This never happens in the books because The Boys are funded and protected by the CIA, but here they’re just another group of concerned citizens that are completely in over their heads, adding to the tension and keeping everyone guessing as to what will happen for the rest of the season and in Season 2.

Themes

The original series was written during the latter years of the Bush Administration. Tensions were high and America was still embroiled in the Iraq War. The president was a simpering fool and companies were fucking people over left and right in the name of patriotism. Reality TV and the awful personalities on our screens were on nearly every channel and all of this only fueled the anger that is Garth Ennis’ pen and Darick Robertson’s pencils. It was a product of its time and it was perfect.

We’re now in the Information Age where superheroes and social media are the only things that matter in everyone’s mind, where women’s empowerment is stronger than ever and our leaders speak bombastically with shit eating grins full of lies. Rogen and Goldberg have kept the series modern and take everything to task.

Media. Marvel and DC are everywhere nowadays with some indie companies managing to scrape up their own part of the pie. The Boys makes fun of the seemingly endless cycle of sequels and the goody-two-shoes images of America’s favorite heroes. Everything is carefully managed and curated by a media team, similar to how Disney micromanages even the smallest details of their properties to make everything so sickeningly squeaky clean. 

Not only do the heroes stop crime, but they star in their own movies about themselves as well, some have sponsorships for shoes and have to compete with each other for everything. Almost everything is done for the cameras, even intimate moments whenever Vought can find a way to make it work. The heroes are never too far from the spotlight even when they want to be and oftentimes their acts can go viral without them knowing.

Sexual Assault. In the comics, Starlight is sexually assaulted by Homelander, Black Noir and A-Train in a gross scene to establish that there’s nothing good in that world. It was good for its time in its own dark way, but today there are absolutely consequences to such things as there should have been back then. In the show, Starlight is assaulted by The Deep, her childhood crush, alone. 

It’s dark and makes use of the imbalance of power as The Deep threatens to have her kicked off of the team. Soon after, Starlight comes forward with what happens to her, not allowing herself to let what happened stand and unlike in the books, The Deep gets his comeuppance. Though this also unfortunately leading to him getting assaulted as well. It’s powerful and allows for Starlight to move what could have been an image of weakness, though Vought uses this to their advantage as well, painting her a feminist icon. Best for business right?

Politics. While not everything has to be an allegory for Trump, it’s hard to say that Homelander isn’t just that. He’s what the president thinks he is, a strong, blonde haired man that the entire country loves. Homelander has the people eating out of the palm of his hands and he’s only feeding them shit. He hates the common man and will just as easily let many die if it can somehow serve his interests. He’s not above a little sexual harassment himself and he is just an evil bastard.

There’s also a subplot of military application of superheroes that I feel mirrors the discussion on the use of drones in war. Drones are absolutely deadly and have caused the deaths of hundreds, even innocents when things have gone really wrong. Even President Obama was criticized for how reckless and dangerous their use could be. The world could only imagine the hell that would rain down if superheroes were allowed to duke it out over national security.

Characters

The Boys as a comic series was an unrepentantly cynical take on the superhero genre in an established universe of heroes. The creator, Garth Ennis, didn’t grow up with many superheroes and actually felt disrespected by a few of them, like Captain America. He brought on the amazing Darick Robertson and other artists to realize this horrid world of drugs, hardcore sex and brutal violence. Many of the stories are fun and hilarious, but with the unfortunate feeling of a lot of them feeling one note due to the one dimensional nature of a lot of the “heroes” and the ever escalating level of black humor to the point of being cartoonish.

Our main character cast is absolutely fantastic. Jack Quiad’s Hughie is much like his comic counterpart, aside from being like six feet tall and not Scottish. He’s surprisingly smart with a lot of awkwardness about him. He has a good heart and doesn’t see ALL superheroes as being evil, but does have a slight sense of justice that wants to see The Seven and Vought taken down. 

Karl Urban’s Butcher was the absolute perfect casting choice. He’s got that wry British wit, the fury to capture Butcher’s rage against supes and can play a manipulator like nobody's business. His character arc is one of the few regressions that I can actually appreciate for how it's done, especially as things become more fucked because of him and how he chooses to blame everyone else.

Everyone else is a slight bit of an improvement over the comics versions. The Frenchman, played by Tomer Capon, is similar to his comics counterpart, but we’re given reason to care about him and The Female. In the comics, Frenchie and the Female knew each other prior, but I don’t think it’s ever revealed how they met or became close. In the show Frenchie frees The Female, played by Karen Fukuhara, from thugs that had been keeping her prisoner and he slowly gains her trust over the course of the next few episodes after her introduction. We see their friendship grow, learn a little bit of her backstory and get a better understanding of what she wants versus just following Frenchie around and being terrifyingly adorable.

Annie January aka Starlight, played by Erin Moriarty, is probably the second best change in character in the series. She starts out as a bright eyed, bushy tailed hero looking to do good, but after being sexually assaulted on her first day in The Seven, decides that it will never happen again. In the comics, Annie stays around in The Seven and takes the abuse for a little while before speaking out and fighting back against the rest of them. What makes things even better, not only does she challenge her uber Christian beliefs during an event sponsored by Vought, but she does so while also getting Vought to force her abuser into giving a public apology at the mere thought of her causing their stock prices to crash.

Consequently, Mother’s Milk, portrayed by Laz Alonso, one of the most layered characters in the comics isn’t made better, but the more ridiculous aspects of is character have been toned down. We don’t hear of his disabled mother and his addiction to her breast milk that fuels his own superpowers, nor is his wife a crack addict that makes pornos with their daughter. He’s simply a reliable member of the team that loves his wife and will give Butcher the truth when he’s acting like an asshole.

The series actually brings a lot of grey to most of these characters. A-Train never once shows remorse for his actions in the books, but in the show he's painted as kind of sympathetic, while still being seen as a monster for what he does and the reasons behind them. The Deep could go either way after his actions with a redemption arc or a full turn to villain, but is shown to be knowingly aware of how little regard there is for him. He calls himself a "diversity hire" and acknowledges his own ineptitude, but he's still an absolutely terrible person.

Queen Maeve may be one of my favorite changes that manages to be even more sympathetic than her already pretty great comic counterpart. She, much like Starlight, did want to change the world, but she let the apathy and jaded nature of the job take her over. She's an alcoholic that sees a bit of herself in Starlight. The change comes in how she reacts to what I think might be Homelander's most heinous act in the show. She shows far more remorse and guilt over what happens than she does in the comic, showing us a side of her makes you want to root for her and to see her get better.

The best character… dear Lord, is Homelander, played by Anthony Starr. Homelander is a bastard. The worst thing imaginable because of his sheer strength and power. He’s a sociopath with all of the powers of Superman and none of the goodness. In the comics he’s simply just another asshole. 

He’s the most powerful of the Seven and absolutely revels in the hedonistic lifestyle that he’s accustomed to while also hating being under the rule of Vought. In the show, he’s shown as being supportive to Vought, especially it’s current Senior VP of Hero Management, Madelyn Stillwell. He has something of a mommy fetish as shown with his interactions with her and later in the series actually expresses emotions over learning of his own tragedies, but instead of trying to change for the better, he doubles down on his hatred and anger to become an even bigger monster than before. 

In the comic he just wants all of the superheroes to conquer the world, but here, he just wants to hurt everyone who hurts him. He plays games like a child, threatening and revealing secrets to toy with people before absolutely breaking them. He's horrible in a very personal way and his sneering smile only makes him so much more hateable. He knows there isn't a damn thing you can do to stop him and he revels in that fact, I love it.

Pacing and Direction

Coming in at an hour for each episode, the first two to three can feel a bit slow. Getting all of the story elements to sit just right can take time, especially as new things are introduced every few minutes. This slow burn approach easily helps to build the tension before things get really crazy by episode four. By that point, the story is unfolding at a perfect rhythm, the team is mostly together, they’ve made their plans of action and it’s all so smooth.

Thankfully each episode is directed by different people to avoid each feeling so similar. The common humor and tone is kept the same, but some episodes are very hopeful almost before being met with one that absolutely makes you hate certain characters and the actions that they take. In particular, the episode where Hughie and Butcher visit a group therapy session and Butcher flies off into a rage about the weakness of the attendees as they basically lick the balls of the heroes that have maimed them was amazing. The director pulls so much emotion out of that scene and continues on as the episode moves along in a far more dramatic fashion than some of the others.

Some others lean heavier on the debauchery such as the episode where Hughie and Butcher venture into a superhero sex club and watch as these guys do some pretty amazing feats with their abilities in some really gross ways. There’s a good balance of levity and drama that makes neither feel too overwhelming.

Overall

With a great cast, impeccable acting and an unpredictability that I actually enjoyed, The Boys absolutely blew me away. I was wholly prepared to rip it apart if I felt like it didn’t do the story justice, but Rogen and Goldberg are fans and knew what we all wanted. It’s unabashedly a comic book show, but still has enough to it that people who have never heard of the series will be floored by how much they can find to enjoy.

It’s for the nihilistic and jaded comic book fan. It’s for the casual watcher who’s gotten enough of Marvel’s colorful displays of happiness and it’s absolutely for the happy person who just wants to have some fun with what they watch. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this season of The Boys. So much so that I’m aching with anticipation to re-read the comic series in preparation for Season Two. It’s unlikely that it’ll follow the plot much, if at all after the ending, but with Stormfront (as a woman) being announced as the new Hero joining the Seven in the next season, I’m excited as to who else they might pull. This first season absolutely earns a high recommendation from me.

[fandammit]

Someone to stay [1/2]

Y’all knew this was coming. The Boys, Frenchie x Kimiko. Missing moments through S1. Also available here on Ao3. 

Even in his dreams, he can’t quite picture home any more. 

That he spent so many years of his life running back to a place he can’t even imagine any more hurts too much to think about, so now he mostly tries not to. 

The first time he’d even spoken about home out loud to anyone since -- well, ever -- was staring at Kimiko before she was Kimiko. Back when she was just a scared, feral outline of a person that he’d somehow wanted to protect anyway. 

There’s so much about home that hurts. So much about who he is that hurts. 

But it all hurts so much less when he’s with her. 

-----

She keeps one hand wrapped around his all the way home from Mesmer’s house, the other clutching one of the pictures she’d drawn of her last memory of home. 

There are at least a hundred of the exact same drawing back at the safe house, but he’d made sure to grab the one she’d drawn at Mesmer’s house and give it back to her. It’s a milestone for the two of them, or a talisman, perhaps, to ward against the people they were meant to become. 

She sees him looking at the paper in her hands and after a short moment of contemplation, she offers it to him. He tilts his head at her, his eyebrows drawing close to ask are you sure? 

She gives him a long look, her eyes searching his, before she simply pushes it into his other hand and settles closer to him, her eyes turning out towards the window and back towards some faraway memory. 

He’s never been what you call sentimental -- he has no tangible memories from childhood that aren’t scars, and a lifetime of being on the move means that everything he owns can be packed in a duffle, or bought at the newest Goodwill. But he already knows that this will now become his most prized possession. A symbol made real -- the turning point when she stopped being the girl or petite lazarus or just her and crystallized into Kimiko.  

She’s still mon coeur, of course. He does not think he could stop himself now. Thinks he’d have to know where it had all started to figure out how to stop, but doesn’t know either.  

It doesn’t matter, anyhow. She’s Kimiko and she’s mon coeur and she’s holding on tightly to his hand; the rest of the world fades away. 

-----

She goes straight to couch when they get back to the safehouse and turns on the TV. He watches as she pulls her knees up close to her chest and wraps her arms around them, the screen flickering through images of sharks and reefs. .   

He watches her as closely as she watches the TV -- which is to say, he’s really just looking at her as his mind travels down other roads. He can hear M.M. rearranging files on the table behind him as he does, then feels the table sag a bit as the larger man sets himself down next to him.  

“You know Butcher’s gonna offer to trade her to the feds if it helps bring down Vought,” M.M. murmurs. “And you know as well as I do that it would.” 

Hot anger flashes through him at the thought, and he turns towards M.M., his fists clenched at his side. 

“She’s not some kind of -- of -- puzzle piece or stray collateral to be given and traded,” he hisses, though the pit of stomach roils with fear even as he says it. He has no illusions about what Monsieur Charcuter will do for his personal vendetta. 

“We’re all collateral to Butcher,” M.M. says wearily, and not for the first time he wonders why the other man ever agreed to come back to them. “Look, Frenchie, all I’m saying is that you'll have to prove to Butcher that she’s more valuable to us than she would be to Feds.” 

He stares at M.M, hating that he’s right, hating himself more for immediately trying to quantify just what Kimiko could do for them. He knows she would be invaluable to them. He has a talent for killing and weapons, M.M. has the planning and the brains, Butcher is ruthlessness and drive personified and little Hughie is...well, he’s somewhat like a mascot, at times, but one who has shown himself to be resourceful when necessary. 

But Kimiko is pure, Supe strength -- the one thing they need, and the one thing they’re missing in their fight against the Supes. 

“She just want to go home,” he finally says, shaking his head. “She should get that chance.” 

M.M. sighs and shakes his head. 

“Ok, man,” he says, pushing himself off the edge of the table and going back to fiddle with his files on the table. “But you know I’m right about Butcher.”  

-----

If he were Monsieur Charcuter, he wouldn’t give her a choice; he would simply tell her she needed to join the team or get ready to be shipped over to the Feds. 

If he were M.M, he would try to reason with her, explain why joining the team is her best option in a finely drafted presentation with graphs and charts and her own personal file. 

If he were Hughie, well, he’d probably tell Kimiko that he was going to take her back home, and then get them both killed or captured -- by the Supes, by the Feds or by Charcuter himself -- trying to get her there. 

But he can only be himself, and so he gives Kimiko what he’s always wanted, and what he knows she deserves: a choice. 

He means it when he tells her that they could use her help in stopping Vought, but he means it just as much when he tells her that he’s ready to go to the airport at a moment’s notice. He’s been burned and started over so many times in his life; what’s one more? 

He tries to read her expression, to see if she’s struggling to make the choice, what he should prepare himself for. 

But it’s a moment that’s too short to grasp, and in the next, she reaches over to take his hand and settles back into the couch cushions. Their clasped hands lay loosely between them, and even though her attention’s back on the TV, he can almost feel the words as if she’d shouted them out loud. 

I choose you.  

Everything about her movements, her demeanor, is  casual and easy; it’s as if she hasn’t just altered the course of her life with this one choice. As if there hadn’t even been a choice, really. 

He understands the feeling. Choosing Kimiko hadn’t really been much of a choice for him, either.  

-----

“I have to go,” Hughie stutters out, looking lost and little despite the way he towers, that same frightened look on his face from when they'd first met. 

“Hughie, you can’t go alone,” M.M. says, reaching a hand out to stop him. That M.M. has any kindness left over to distribute even as he's getting ready to head to his own family is how he knows that M.M. really might be too good to be on their team. 

“No, he said --." Hughie stops and shakes his head. "A-Train said that none of my friends can come with me. I have to -- I can’t -- he’ll kill my dad if I don’t come alone.”  

"He'll kill both of ya if you do," Butcher snarls from somewhere across the room, and he isn't sure whether Monsieur Charcuter is angry at A-Train, Hughie, Mesmer or just life in general. 

He feels a gentle hand on his shoulder and turns to face Kimiko, who looks at him for a moment then tilts her head in Hughie's direction. 

He looks back at her, then over at Hughie, who's now arguing with Monsieur Charcuter. 

"You're sure?" He asks, even though what he actually wants to say is it's dangerous and it might not be a good idea and please don't. But he knows all those words are more for him than her anyway, and she didn't choose to stay behind just so he could hold her back. 

She nods and reaches out her hand to wrap it around his, squeezing once before letting go and gesturing towards the center of the room where Hughie and Butcher are squaring off against one another. 

"Kimiko will go with you," he calls across the room, taking advantage of a lull between Hughie and Butcher's shouts.

 It's a rare moment where he manages to catch Monsieur Charcuter completely off guard. 

“What now?” the other man snaps, turning to face them both. 

“Kimiko,” he repeats, stepping aside and gesturing at her. “She said she’ll go with petite Hughie.” 

Hughie blinks rapidly, his eyebrows coming together in the center of his forehead in confusion. 

“You know you can’t come, Frenchie. A-Train would recognize you.” 

He nods. 

“I do not need to go, you know this, petite Hughie. Kimiko can protect you just as well as I can -- better even.” 

Hughie looks like he wants to argue, but he ends up just nodding, his hesitation fading out into that nervous, jumpy energy again as he looks down at his phone and back towards the door. 

“Ok, that works for me.” 

“Well it don’t fuckin’ work for me, does it?” Butcher growls, moving himself between Hughie and the door as he glares at Frenchie. “Sending that feral girl out into the world without you to control her is about as stupid a fuckin’ idea as it was to go to Mesmer for help.”

An ugly sort of anger floods his veins, and he steps towards the larger man at the center of the room, his skin hot with rage. 

“Her name,” he grounds out, advancing on Butcher, “is Kimiko, and she is not feral or a girl, and she does not need me -- or anyone here --,” he rounds on the room and scowling at everyone, “to control her.” 

He feels Kimiko’s hand in his, small and soft, but rooting him in place all the same. 

He turns back to look at her  and she squeezes his hand before letting go and moving towards the center of the room. She stops in front of Butcher and stares at him -- there’s no tension in her stance, no aggressiveness in her eyes -- just the impression that she’s saying I’m going with Hughie, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. 

Butcher, to his credit -- or maybe because he’s just a crazy motherfucker -- doesn’t look fazed or worried; if anything, there’s something like respect in his expression.

She walks past Butcher and over to where Hughie is standing by the door, then looks back at him, her head tilted in his direction. 

He moves towards her, glaring at Butcher as he walks past, and stops in front of where she and Hughie are standing. 

“So, what is the plan, petite Hughie?” He asks, looking over at where the other man in standing, shifting his weight back and forth between his feet. 

Hughie takes a deep breath and chews on his lip. 

“Ok, so, I need to make sure my dad gets out of there safely.” He glances at Kimiko. “There’s a stoop next to our apartment where people hang out all the time -- Kimiko can just, you know, hang out there and once she sees my dad come out, run up and, uh, you know.” He gives a short huff of a laugh. “Save my ass.” 

Kimiko looks at him, then down at her hands, flexing them before she looks back over at Hughie, her eyebrow slightly raised. 

“Ah,” he says after a moment, before turning to Hughie. “And do you want her to, ah, you know, kill A-Train?” 

Hughie gives him a wide-eyed look. 

“God, no, no, of course not.” He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair. “No, that’d be -- .” He shakes his head. “No, we just need to slow him down so we can get out of there and he can’t come after us.” 

“Ah,” he says, nodding in agreement with Hughie. “So break both his legs, then.” He looks over at Kimiko, who bounces on the balls of her feet as she nods in agreement. 

Hughie puts his hands out in front of him. 

“I don’t really think we need to break both of them, you know?” He looks back and forth between Kimiko and Frenchie. “Just, uh, one, right? One should do it.”

Frenchie shrugs, then looks over at Kimiko. 

“Best to make it a good break then, mon coeur.” He skips over to the far wall and picks up a broken pipe that laying on top of a windowsill. “This should make it so it isn’t too much work or too bloody for you.” 

She takes the pipe from him and hefts in her hand, then nods at him.  

He reaches out and puts his hands on her shoulders, bending down to look her in the eyes.

“Be careful, mon coeur.” 

She nods, then, after a brief moment’s hesitation, picks up his hand and places it against her cheek, leaning her head into it.  

He smiles at her, his thumb brushing against the curve of her cheekbone before she gives his hand one final squeeze and follows Hughie out the door. 

“You two are the weirdest fuckin’ couple I’ve ever seen,” Butcher says as soon as the door closes behind Hughie and Kimiko. 

“Yeah, but you gotta admit,” M.M. calls out from the other end of the room where he’s packing up his stuff. “It actually kind of makes sense.” 

And even Monsieur Charcuter doesn’t have anything to say against that.

[meladis]

The Boys: Season 1/ Spoiler Free Review

So, I just finished watching the new TV-show (which I have been waiting pretty much since its very announcing) and, boy (haha), it’s was diabolical.

That a very bad feeling, when you’re waiting for something for too long, getting excited for every piece of information you receive and then when it comes out, you realize that your expectations were much bigger than this show/movie/book can offer you. Fortunately, watching this show (especially first 5 episodes of it) I couldn't stop but feeling some kind of relief as the show was surprisingly good. 

Without any further discussion let me try to tell you what good and bad sides of the show are.

1. Visual effects

Though I believe the show didn’t have a big budget, the visual effects were pretty good, all this blood and supe’s “stuff” looked very cool and pleasant for eyes to watch. Moreover, I really liked the colouring the creators decided to use which gives this show its very unique style. And every “the boys” opening was just as perfect as you can only imagine it to be. That’s all I can say, like, really.

2. Music

Oh, boi. I can’t describe how AWESOME the music in the show was. I’m not talking about the original soundtrack which really suits the whole atmosphere but the songs that were used there. It not only introduces every character with his/her own character-describing theme but makes every shot diabolically stylish. I mean I’m listening to those songs on repeat. Very cool stuff. Even better than The Umbrella Academy’s, though, it’s very hard for me to admit it. 

Btw, my favs are “Iggy Pop - The Passenger”, “Daniel Pemberton - Take You Down”, “R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts” and “Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine”.

3. Characters

That’s gonna be a very big topic, prepare yourselves to this. 

Billy Butcher. Played by diabolical Karl Urban this character stole my attention with the first trailers, promos etc. Man, he’s good. He’s awesome. Though I can’t tell that while watching the show itself Bucher was my favourite because there were some moments (especially with his wife) that weren’t emotional enough (comparing to the more or less the same theme in Punisher, for example). I wasn’t on his side fully. That’s why the ending didn’t play to me as it supposed to. Though yeah, he’s diabolical.

Hugh "Hughie" Campbell. So, Hughie was definitely the one who had a character developing line in the show and with that said he was growing as a person throughout the whole season. I really like what the creators did with him, and his line was never boring, always understandable and interesting. Really into what is going to happen with him in the 2nd season.

John/Homelander. Antony Starr did an amazing job showing this very complex character. My thoughts towards him were changing constantly during the process of watching. Closer to the end he was stealing every scene. What a character, what a story. You bought me, I’m waiting for the 2nd season.

Annie January/Starlight. I was afraid her line wouldn’t be as complex as it could have been, comparing to the others. I was wrong. I really sympathized her, her story was actually sad and inspiring at the same time. Cool. 

Frenchie. That was a “surprise” character for me. I mean, I didn’t expect to worry about him, but his line turned out to be very interesting and very enjoyable to watch. 

A-Train. I hate this character from the beginning to the end. Maybe the final episode’s stuff changes him and I won’t be so certain about my feelings? We’ll see. 

“Can you teach me to run out cancer?”

Marvin "Mother's Milk". I don’t know if it were just my thoughts but while watching I felt like Marvin was really left out. Maybe it was because of the number of the characters the show had or the creators decided to leave something for the 2nd season, but there wasn’t a lot of him on the screen and his character's development. I don’t know him that much.

Kimiko / the Female. Her storyline was actually something very new to me. I was into her story and every new piece of information we were given gave her a very new perspective look. Hoping to see more of her in the future.

Queen Maeve. As in the situation with Marvin, there is something in her, and we were shown her character changing (the plane scene and its consequences) but still, could have been more? 2nd season, ha?

Kevin/The Deep. That was a very weird part of the story, I didn’t get it, really. So I have very mixed up feelings about this character and... cough *gills* cough scene.

Madelyn Stillwell. She was a person with her own motivation, she had her view on everything, she knew what she wanted. Maybe, that’s why I considered her as the main villain of the season.

Hugh Campbell. They got Simon Pegg!!! Yaaas.10 unexpected cameos out of 10.

There are much more characters, some of which were more interesting than the others, but everybody felt like they belonged there. Diabolical cast.

4. The Main Plot

Attention! I haven’t read the comics, so all that I’m going to talk about is the show. I don’t know what’s going in comics and I’m judging just by what I’ve seen in the show.

As you could have noticed, I said at the very beginning that the first 5 episodes were good. I didn’t lie. In fact, they were perfect. The structure, the dynamic, character’s development, their relations with each other, diabolical actions scenes, blood and stuff. 

The first 5 episodes were iconic, very stylish, unique. The authors really decided to make a satirical story on superheroes and the real situation in the world, showing some stuff that is happening or more likely to happen within the circumstances. The people, events were so down to earth it was very easy to believe that such things really could have happened. 

And the plot. It was interesting, so much mystery, unknown and I was sitting, asking myself a bunch of questions and hoping to find astonishing answeres later in the season.

And the Spicy Girls’ reference - I laughed so hard. Awesome.

Unfortunately, something went a little bit wrong and starting with the 6th episode it wasn’t as exciting as it was before. I can’t tell that everything went wrong and it was impossible to watch, no. Just the tone and the style were gone, for some reason, plot twists didn’t work for me that much (not all of them, of course). I just found myself looking on the timeline of the episode (you know what I mean). 

Also, I thought, in the end, there would be a big diabolical fight between two characters (spoiler-free, hehe), but there was a scene of them just talking. Don’t get me wrong, I like talking stuff, it just didn’t feel like those character’s actions. Maybe again, the budget. But first five episodes worked with it, so why?

In the end, it was a very diabolical TV-show, and I’m going to watch the 2nd season, hoping that the creators won’t lose their style and motives closer to the end of it, ‘cause people are likely to remember last moments than the first ones)

Gonna give it 8,5 diabolical supes out of 10 (for the first five episodes).

[hughiecampbelle]

The Boys Preference: Being Their Younger Sibling And Part Of The Boys

Requested: Hi! Cliche preference I am sorry, but how would each of The Boys act if R their younger sibling who helps out with the boys is like this really sweet and genuinely nice person to all? Would they be protective, or annoyed, just an idea! Love your work! - anon

A/N: Not cliche at all my love! I absolutely adore this idea! I will 10000% be writing more about being Homelanders sibling!! Thank youuuu I hope you like it!!! Feedback is always appreciated 💜

Butcher wants nothing to do with you. When you're old enough, years after Lenny's death, you escape home and track down Billy. You had nothing. Billy took you in under the guise that it would be temporary and it wouldn't meddle with his work. Bit by bit you learned from M.M. and Frenchie about Becca and Ryan and Vought. You make it known you want to help. Billy forbids you and threatens The Boys: if they even so much as look at you, he'll kill them. Stubbornness runs in the family, though. You worm your way in whether he likes it or not. It's not that didn't miss you or think about you, he just can't bear the thought of you getting hurt. Or killed. Especially at the hands of Vought. It's become a habit for everyone to call him Butcher and you Little Butcher so as not to get confused. Now that there's two of you to keep track of, everyone's a little more annoyed and a lot less forgiving for poor behavior.

Hughie worries about you so much. This life has taken everything from him, he can't imagine why you'd want to join. Still, he knows he can't stop you. You were always coming to his defense as kids, sticking up for him against bullies. You were his backbone for a lot of your childhood. When you want something you go for it. He can't help but lecture you, even over the smallest stuff. After your father passes and your mother finds her way into your lives, he's extra protective. Especially after Tek Knights party, he doesn't let you out of his sight. He's not glad it happened, but he sure is grateful it was him and not you. You've been stabbed and hurt and nearly killed. He jokes that it's taken years off hid life, but there's some truth to it. You're all he's got. He can't lose you. He can't let this life kill you.

Annie stopped talking to your mother a long time ago, but she never stopped calling you. Like your sister, you got a dose of V and trained hard, wanting to be the first pair of siblings in The Seven. After Annie publicly leaves and turns her back on them, you're not sure what to think. Tired of her avoiding the questions, you confront her. You track her down and barge into where The Boys are. You guys get into a pretty serious fight, one everyone can hear through the thin walls. Annie abandoned you. She left Vought and became this fantastical symbol. She had a life and you weren't a part of it. You wanted her to stop lying and avoiding you and tell you exactly what was going on. It takes most of the night, but she tells you everything. In the end, she wants to send you back home with your mother, but you refuse. The Boys need every advantage they can get, that includes you and your abilities. She's not thrilled, but she understands you're an adult, she can't stop you.

M.M. forbids you. Janine is getting into trouble and he's having panic attacks and he just can't have you trying this now. He can't babysit you on top of everything else. You remind him you're an adult, that you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. He can yell and scream all he wants, you both know you're not going to stop wanting this. It was your grandfather and father too who were killed by Supes and the stress. You didn't walk away from that unscathed. You had a right to be upset and a right to want to stop Vought. You kept your distance, but Marvin was blowing you off any chance he could get. You got his address from Monique and made a surprise appearance. Butcher tells you everything. You're furious your brother didn't tell you sooner. You could have been a part of this from the beginning. Butcher reminds you it's never too late, but Marvin tells you to go home and leave it to the professionals. You don't. You can't. This is too important. He doesn't like it, but he can't stop you. He never could.

Frenchie couldn't have been happier to have you in his life. Your upbringing was harsh, your father a monster. When he left for New York, he had to make a choice: leave you behind or take you along with him. In the end, he left you behind. The guilt killed him, but you never blamed him. Not then, not now. You learned a lot from him, you're as equally as skilled. As soon as he becomes a part of The Boys, he asks Mallory to look for you. You vanished though. He'd assumed your father had killed you. It isn't until years later that you reappear looking for him, for Serge. You might not have an entire team of powers and knowledge, buy you're smart and skilled and you track him down. He doesn't recognize you at first. You're so much more grown up. But he knows your voice. You're the only one who calls him Serge and most of your conversations are entirely in French. Neither of you are particularly proud of your pasts, choosing instead to live in the moment. When you ask if you can join him he's over the moon. His baby, his best friend, reunited again.

Kimiko can't believe it's you. Like your sister, you and Kenji were captured by the SLLA. Then you and Kimiko were later taken and given Compound V. After that you two were split up. She never thought you made it. It's years later that you escape, killing everyone in your path. Police plaster your face all over the News where Kimiko recognizes you immediately. You're older of course, but you'd always be her baby. She can't let it happen all over again like how it went with Kenji, she can't lose you. Kimiko hunts you down, alongside The Boys, who are wary of you. She assured them you couldn't hurt a fly. The carnage you leave in your wake tells a different story. When you do reconnect, she makes sure they don't draw any of their weapons. You two sign for what feels like forever before she takes you back to The Boys hideout. It hurts her, but she wants to know what happened in all the years between. You and your sister are unstoppable. Literally. You were never meant to have normal lives. This was how it was supposed to be. Trying to be normal just got you hurt.

Bonus! Homelander absolutely fucking hates you. You were created long after him, but you had the same upbringing, the same childhood. The only anomaly was that you turned out far more humane. Because of this, Vought needed extra time to break you in. You never did, though. Not as severely as your brother. Vought was going to turn your debut into this grand political scheme, a massive fuck you to anyone who thought they could stop them, but before they could, you broke out of the labs. Eventually you found your way to The Boys. You and Homelander have identical abilities, though you're not layering through people's skulls or letting entire planes worth of people die. None of them believed you at first, but after you told them about your upbringing and your powers, they had no choice but to believe you. You were exactly what they needed. You and your brother were equals. John wanted you dead just like he wanted the rest of The Boys dead. Keeping you alive was necessary for now. So, he let you live.

[hughiecampbelle]

The Boys Preference: Dying Of The Supe Virus

Requested: Hi!! I wanted to request a preference for the boys + homelander reaction if R was dying from supe virus... I love your blog, thank you ♥️♥️♥️♥️ - anon

A/N: I kinda took it in two directions, either actively dying or already dead. I think some perspectives just worked better that way! I really hope you like it my love! Feedback is always appreciated 💜💜💜

Butcher pretends it didn't matter to him, but he definitely blames himself. It might've been Sameer who shot you up with the virus, but it was him who put you in charge of him. It was Billy who thought to put a Supe in charge of the only thing in the world that could kill you. When Frenchie breaks the news, Kimiko carrying your body in, he feels like he's going to be sick. He was the one who was dying. It should have been him. He tries to help the team move on, focus, and orders Frenchie to extract the virus from your body, but underneath he's broken. He didn't trust or like a lot of Supes, the majority actually, but you were different. You were close, whether or not he could admit to it. There was nothing he could do to save you. He couldn't turn back time, he couldn't prevent this. He looks like he's moved on, but Butcher feels stuck in the moment, watching your face, waiting for you to laugh and tell him it was just another sick joke.

Hughie laughs. He's hysterical. The ridiculousness of it all, of the situation. You? Dead? You couldn't die. You walked away from a bullet between your eyes with a smile. You made moving on from death look easy. Effortless. He's afraid to touch you, to look at you. He truly believes, for a moment, that that's not you. Your features are bubbled and blistered, but he recognizes your hands. Hughie backs away, stifling a laugh, escaping to the bathroom where he throws up. Annie tries to go after him, but M. M. stops her. He smiles despite himself, crying and laughing, unable to control himself. He already lost his dad. He couldn't lose you, too. Like M.M. he feels like an idiot, selfish even. He never imagined a world where you could be killed. He never thought he'd have to worry about you. Now you weren't just hurt, you were dead. Murdered. He can't accept it. You didn't deserve to suffer the way you did. You didn't deserve to die. Hughie is a mix between denial and hysteria.

Annie is overwhelmed with despair and depression. You've known her since the beginning. You were the first person she ever became close to in NYC. Now you were gone. She throws herself into your funeral arrangements, practically biting the head off anyone who tries to interrupt her or make her take a break. When she's not staying up until the early morning trying to make the memorial perfect, she's sobbing behind closed doors. She tries to keep herself composed as much as possible, but everyone can see the mask slipping. Cracking. Her eyes are permanently black from mascara running. She's not eating or sleeping. When Butcher says to extract the virus from your body, she goes postal. She calls him cruel and heartless and pathetic. She can't help it. Your body is barely cold and he's still thinking about taking down Homelander. It was inhumane.

M.M. is angry. Angry at Frenchie and Kimiko (he knows it isn't fair, but he just can't help it), angry at you, and angry at himself. He got too close to you. You were a Supe, after all. The very thing he vowed to hate. And then you showed up, and he started to care about you despite himself. And now you're gone. He feels like in idiot. He thought you were bulletproof. Literally. He never once had to worry about you or think about what would happen if you passed. It never crossed his mind. He was constantly worrying and fixating on everyone else, but you would always be okay. His OCD gets so much worse in response to his grief. Everything must be done in threes. The burners, the locks, everything must be checked three times. Everyone starts to worry the more out of control his rituals become. His panic attacks, too, get worse. Less manageable. Every time he thinks about you, what happened to you, he feels like his heart will pound out of his chest.

Frenchie is deeply in denial. He was so busy bickering and then making up with Kimiko that he hadn't realized Sameer had broken free. You were the first to jump at the chance to stop him, and that's what got you killed. The needle plunged into your ankle. He couldn't stop it. He couldn't cut off your limb. Your Supe abilities didn't work like that. The blisters bubbled fast, moving up your leg to your torso, your chest. You clawed at your neck, crying out, unable to form words. Frenchie begged and prayed, but it wasn't stopping. He had to break the news about your death. He definitely blames himself. If he had been paying more attention. If he had been the one to react instead of you. Even though he watched you die, he's still in denial. He can't accept it and thinks you'll be back in no time. He gets angry when you don't call or text and is intensely lonely because he's expecting you to reach out. He just can't wrap his head around it and absolutely hates that Annie's planning your funeral. You were fine. Why did you need a funeral for someone who was perfectly fine?

Kimiko blames herself, too. If she'd been the one to get the virus, if she'd been the one injected, they could have stopped it. They could have moved on. Instead, she sat beside you, unblinking, unmoving, stroking your arm. Even as Frenchie extracts the virus from your body, your blood, she doesn't let go of you. M.M. and Annie urge her to sleep and eat (though they're both doing little of that themselves), but she can't move from you. When she does sleep, it's with her head beside you. Everyone knows you only have so much time before your body starts to decompose. They want to give her as much time as she needs, but they're also working against the clock. She definitely reacts like after Kenji was killed, crawling and hiding under tables, unresponsive with her usual kindness. She's cold, cagey, spiky. There's no reaching her when she's like this. They have to let her be. Let her grieve. Eventually she'll find her way back.

Bonus! Homelander thinks everyone's lying. Ashley breaks the news to him, petrified and sweating. Something, a virus or bug or whatever, killed you. Because The Boys still needed your body, they mailed pictures of you to the Vought Tower addressed to Ashley. He looks through them, and though she tells him they're not fake, he orders them to check again. He holds on to one, unable to look away. When they tell him that yes, definitively, they are real, he orders everyone out. He goes to his floor and destroys everything. Everything is a mess. He hasn't cried like this in years, decades even. Uncontrollable sobbing, caressing your picture. You were the only one he ever really cared about. Now you were dead because of those asssholes. He doesn't come up with a strategy or plan. He will search the entire world until he has Butchers head on a platter. Until that whole fucking group is torn limb by limb.

[hughiecampbelle]

The Boys Preference: Being An Assassin Who Joins The team

A/N: I'M OBSESSED WITH THIS IDEA :D I have so many ideas attached to it, so many posts brewing, so I really hope you like it!!! I kinda think of it similar to Red Room from MCU and also the Aunts from The Handmaid's Tale, if that makes any sense lol. Feedback is always appreciated 💜💜💜

Butcher likes you. He sees the emotion you evoke from the rest of the team and he thinks you're a perfect fit. You're not sure what to think of him. If he was one of your siblings, he wouldn't have lasted long. Selfish, arrogant, self-righteous. That's the kind of thing that got you punished, that got you killed. Beneath it though, to a degree, you can tell he really cares for everyone. It might be twisted and warped and at this point unrecognizable, but it was there. He enjoys hearing about your kills, especially when it was Supes. You weren't just good at what you did, you were the best. You were creative, too. Imaginative. He brags to you about killing Translucent, how they did it. You're not terribly impressed, but for his benefit you put on a show. You're a little weird, but he likes that. You're except in some areas (like going undercover) and mediocre in others (like figuring out how to befriend Hughie). He doesn't judge what you've done. It's just how you were raised. He tries to do a background check on you, but there's nothing. The name your mentors gave you wasn't the one your parents, if there even were parents, gave you. You were a blank slate. It was both riveting and terribly dangerous.

Hughie has the most questions. He can see just from your appearance, all the scars on your face and neck, all the ones he can't see, that you've been to hell and back. You hold yourself rigid, tight. Even when you seem relaxed you aren't. You're constantly looking for the nearest exit or weapon, scanning every room you walk into. It spooks him a little. He lets his imagination get the better of him, something he knows he shouldn't do, but just can't help it. You like Hughie instantly. And not just because he's too awkward and frail to get in a proper punch, too soft to ever truly hurt you. He seems sweet, naive, like he needs protecting. He reminds you of the kids in the program who didn't make it. You protected them, too. Or, at least tried to. You're as friendly as you let yourself, taking an interest in whatever he's doing, becoming his shadow. Everyone takes notice, but he doesn't seem to mind. He likes your company. The rest of the team hopes you'll open up to him, tell him what you won't tell everyone else, but he refuses to pry. If you talk, that's great. If not, oh well. If you want to hang out by his side, that works too.

Annie has nothing against you, but you definitely keep your distance, especially at first. You've killed more than enough Supes to prove your competency, more than you can name. You're not sure what they tell each other, but you imagine it similar to the system you grew up with: word spread quickly, you all felt it when one of your own were killed. There was an alliance that went unsaid. If you could avenge your fallen siblings, you would. If she found out who you killed, how many, would she come after you? Eventually you learn they're not all connected like that, that Annie's on your side. Still, you kind of see her as the embodiment of everything you're not. She's sweet, caring, and honest. You've been lying all your life, you can't tell what's real and what isn't. Hughie likes her, loves her, so that definitely helps in developing your relationship. Annie knows about your past, what little you share of it, but she doesn't judge. Maybe, at a time, she would have, but after being part of The Boys so long, that kind of thing kind of loses its shock power. You did what you had to, what you were trained to. Weren't you all guilty of a version of that?

M.M., similar to his initial feelings about Kimiko, isn't too fond of you. He doesn't mean to judge as harshly as he does, but just by the looks of you, you mean trouble. Hughie tries to talk to him, but he just can't get past your quirks. You're so naive about certain things (what music you like to listen to, shows you've never seen, how to form normal friendships, what jokes are funny) and so knowledgeable about other things (the fastest way to bleed out a man, how to make a murder look like a suicide, the amount of languages you were taught to better go after your targets). It just doesn't sit right with him. Knowing this, sensing this, you keep your distance, knowing not to further upset him similar to how your mentors were. Be invisible to him, them. It isn't until you give him sound advice for protecting Monique and Janine, something he never would have thought of, does he reconsider his feelings. He's still not a big fan, but he can see why you belong on the team, why your skills are beneficial, even if some of the stuff you say so lightly gives him the heebie jeebies, like the time you reminisced about killing someone with just a wooden spoon.

Frenchie doesn't really see you as an assassin. They've all killed people, it didn't seem like such a big deal. He doesn't love the idea of you being around Kimiko. She's made a life for herself beyond what she's gone through. It feels like you're still learning how to be without it. Without your mentors, your siblings. He knows there's no one better to give you a chance than him, so he's very open, inviting. You talk to him exclusively in French. You tell him small parts of your past, and he's grateful for that. In return, he tells you about his own childhood. When he shares the scars from his father, you tell him about the ones on your face and neck, how you deserved them for disobedience. He doesn't tell anyone else, knowing it was only meant for him to hear. You even speak affectionately about your mentors, the ones who were kind and only hurt you when you needed it. He wasn't shocked, at least not outwardly, not wanting you to feel strange or odd. Because you don't speak French with an accent, it's hard for him to decipher where you're from. All over, you say, and though you know it's a non-answer, it's the truth. You've been all over the world. You just happened to end up in New York.

Kimiko becomes your friend immediately. Though you gravitate towards Hughie because he's sweet, you like Kimiko because you can tell you're very similar. She doesn't have to say anything, you just know. You recognize the signs. The rest of the team doesn't think it's a great idea, you are alone with her, namely Frenchie. When you aren't cold and standoffish, you're far too casual about what you've done, pointing to old movies with famous Supes back in the day or old politicians, reminiscing how you killed them, made it look like a suicide. Or you talk about growing up, how you were punished for crying even when your friends were killed, pointing out the scars they left. She's not upset by it, she's glad you're talking about it. It makes her upbringing feel normal. You learn sign language quickly, another language you can add to your list, telling her more than anyone else. In return you listen to her, whatever she wants to share, grateful for someone who doesn't look at you like a monster or a freak. You like listening to her go on about Frenchie, her feelings for him. It's a piece of childhood you never got to take part in. It's nice.

[hughiecampbelle]

Press Pass (Hughie Campbell/Homelander Oneshot)

Character/s: Hughie, Homelander, Annie, Butcher

Word Count: 1,761

Warning/s: gore, sort of all the basic warnings The Boys typically has

Requested: ive reading some of your works and im in the love! the way you write for characters each distinctly is amazing. i would like to request a fic with the following prompts for hughie: 55) opaque, 17) crime scene & 11) “you say that like it’s a bad thing” :) - anon

Requested: Hii again!! I’m the anon who requested the Homelander fic with prompts Fury, Shooting Stars and “Get away from me” and lemme just say I loveee loveee it!!! The shooting stars part, I did not see that coming and you got Homelander to a tee. Could clearly imagine him looking hurt when reader said get away from me, the desperation in his voice to gain reader’s approval, and then his relief that reader liked what he did. Ugh. I really love it!!! Thank you!!! If it’s not a bother, may I request another? Still platonic Homelander x reader but this time with prompts: Desperate, Wildflowers, “Say something” Again, thank youuu!!! - anon

A/N: I hope you don't mind my loves, I combined your requests! I just got this one idea and it fits so well as one consecutive story. I'm really happy with the way it turned out :D My loves, it makes me so happy that you like my writing! Thank you for the lovely feedback, it means the world! I go back and read it so often it's pathetic lol. I really hope you like it!!!! Feedback is always appreciated!!! 💜💜💜

Requests are open! 🔮

Hughie. . . His name falls from your mouth, dripping down your chin like vomit. Your hands are shaking by your side. You ball them up, nails digging into palms, attempting to steady them. Bile rises in your throat. It takes everything in you to breathe through it, swallow it. Hughie, you say again, louder, before you lose your courage, he knows. They heard you this time, all of them on their feet, collectively staring at what stood before them. The closer they get, the worse it looks. His hands find their way to your skin, turning over your palms and wrists, counting every finger, up you arms. The blood, it’s all yours. Dirt, too. You resembled a crime scene, covered head to toe in red. It was matted in your hair, stuck between your teeth, sticky across your body. As if you had bathed in it. There is no scar tissue, no stitches. That’s the thing about being a Supe: you could be tortured and still, there would be no evidence. Your body had it’s way of pulling itself together seamlessly. Effortlessly. It was dying that was the challenge. Your clothes, what was left of them, were full of holes, burned at the edges. Singed. Scorched. The air felt cold around you, nipping and biting at your skin. He follows the excess of blood from your neck, your head, his lips moving, but the ringing in your ears prevents you from hearing. When he finds no open wounds, no active bleeds, he stops, looking you in the face, speaking slowly. Who, y/n? Who knows? You can’t say his name. You shake your head. It all comes up. I don’t know how he figured it out, I, I was so careful. He was so angry. You were, weren’t you? He holds your shoulders, steadying you, asking you to calm down. Take a deep breath. You do as instructed, gasping for air. They’re all watching you, waiting. He asks again. This time, your voice comes out small, beaten and defeated. Homelander. Homelander knows. 

He made you dig your own grave. The soil was rich and muddy. He’d taken you somewhere secluded, outside of the city. Wildflowers sat at the edges of the woods. In another life, another situation, they would have been pretty. Beautiful, even. So would the trees. Fresh, rainy, it had the potential to be nice. But it wasn’t. He hands you a shovel and tells you to start digging. Your shoulder had been broken. Your jaw dislocated. One of your eyes had been swollen shut, bruised and sore. Your lip busted. Your tongue poked at all the empty sockets, instinctively, childishly. Somewhere in Vought Tower your teeth sat scattered across the floor. Would he keep them? You’re not sure how long it took, only that he was growing impatient, bored, sour. The sun was setting. He’d go back and forth, yelling and screaming and berating to complete silence. You’re not sure which unsettled you more. You did the best you could given the circumstances, using your non-dominant hand. The other had been crushed, placed protectively at your side. This would only end one way, you both knew this. You betrayed him. He trusted you and you decimated that relationship. Now you would pay for it. Broken bones, broken blood vessels, that was nothing. He wanted your life. He wanted to rid the world of someone who didn’t deserve to take another breath. You wondered if he knew what would happen next. You wondered if he’d known all along or if it would be another sick, twisted surprise. What would he do then? 

You’d used your press pass all those years ago. You were fresh out of school and just starting out. You were excited, elated, a rookie. It had been Starlight you’d intended to interview, one of a million reporters at the time of her debut. She picked you, and a few others, out of the crowd. Annie admitted later she liked you instantly. You were nervous and young, and it made her feel better about also being nervous and young. You weren’t arrogant or jaded, you were genuinely interested in her story, her upbringing, in her. You asked questions the others never would have thought of. They were so used to writing the same stories, the same angles. You had a new perspective. You’d laughed, called it inexperience, but she disagreed. You were good at your job from the start. Homelander took notice of you instantly. He’d grown tiresome of his team of yes men. They were old, and boring, and lost their flare. You made Starlight look good: cute, innocent, hopeful, yet powerful. Everything anyone could have wanted from a new member of The Seven. He requested your presence not long after at a meeting. Truth be told, he liked you for more than just your writing. You were attractive, intelligent, had working. All American. Working your way up the ladder, the ranks. There was something enticing about that. You were ecstatic. Homelander asking for you, requesting you personally? Annie had been wary, wanting to warn you, unsure of how to say it without giving away too much. In the end she said nothing and regretted it instantly. 

Say something. There was something desperate in his voice, a kind of begging. Look at me, he spat. You had to turn your head to look at him, your bad eye completely shut. Say. Something. He says again through grit teeth. I’m sorry, John. You hadn’t expected it, an apology, and neither had he. He takes a step back, reacting as if you’d slapped him. Struck him. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, you follow up, and you meant every word. You joined his team not long after. You were writing most of the pieces about him. He liked the pictures you painted, made him heroic, self-sacrificing, patriotic. You were insightful, smart but not arrogant, driven. You wouldn’t publish anything until it was perfect, until you were satisfied. You and him, you’d become friends. Or, at least, as close to friends as he could get. He made sure never to show you the other sides of him, instead he played a particular role quite well. He’d fooled you. He’d fool everyone. His intentions opaque, impenetrable. You never could have known, could you? And then Starlight left. That was the beginning of the end. She asked you to meet with her one night, sent you coordinates. You’d grown close to her, too. But she’d never let you in on what was really happening. If she did, she'd have been putting you in danger. Too late, you think to yourself now, half-laughing, half-mocking. That’s when you met them, The Boys. that’s when they told you everything. You were horrified, sick to your stomach, angry. Annie was so sorry, so incredibly sorry, but it was better that you didn’t know. Why would you tell me now? What, what am I supposed to do with all this? Your tone was accusing, hysterical. Butcher was straightforward, calm, collected. You’re going to help us take him down. 

You wanted to do your job and be good at it. That was all. You think back. Anything could have prevented this moment. Annie could have chosen someone else. You could have declined Homelander's offer. Perhaps it was earlier than that. You could have never been given Compound V in the first place. You’d never disclosed that you were a Super. Your abilities weren’t flashy, they were self-serving. One dimensional. You could come back from the dead. Sometimes it was instant. Other times, it took a little longer. All depended on the damage. Your injuries were extensive, bringing tears to your eyes with every breath, every move. You could still get hurt. You could still die. You just came back as if nothing had happened. No one at Vought, or work, or school had ever known. You’d only told The Boys out of necessity: you couldn’t let them think you were one and done. You’d come back eventually. It would save you, yes, but it would make things so much worse. If Homelander ever found out, if he didn’t know already, he’d make sure you suffered far worse than you already were. You’d have to go into hiding. Play dead. At least, for a little while. He had you stop, standing before him. He looked you up and down, his features contorting. You disgust me. And with that, the final bow, his eyes lit up red. Severed you in half, hip to hip. Then again, through your neck, decapitating you instantly.  You’re okay, Hughie says again. The first time you must not have heard him. You say that like it’s a bad thing. You’re only slightly amused. Mostly though, you were tired. There are no marks, no sign of a fight. It’s as if the night never even happened. And yet, you couldn’t get the feeling out of your head: the blinding sensation, it severed through your skin, your muscles and bones. Coming apart like that so easily, like you meant nothing, like your body was putty, malleable. His play thing. You’re not sure how you could shake it. He’d kicked your severed body into the hole, piling dirt on top. Hours passed. It was getting dark, and then, suddenly, it was morning. As if you’d gone to sleep. You clawed your way out, choking up dirt and blood. Your teeth had grown back. You were in one piece. Hughie brought you home, ran a bath. He helped you undress. You explained the best you could, but your words fell fragmented, in half-sentences. He didn’t push the subject. You faced Homelander and you lived to tell the tale. That was enough. You were sure the others were coming up with a plan, some sort of act of protection, but you didn’t really care. It was too much to think about, too much to care. Coming back was always a big feat. You’d sleep for days if you could. The water was losing its warmth. It was pink, gory and humane and smelling like metal. It mixed with your coconut soap. Homelander knew who you were involved with. He knew you had enough dirt and secrets on him to ruin him. He’d find you again. He’d torture you again, and kill, and kill, and kill again. You wanted to talk to him, even now. He hated you, but he was also your friend. Instead you let yourself sink deeper, listening to Hughie's promises, trying not to flinch.