Angsty snippet where Starlight was late and Hughie actually died from Cindy in episode 3; everything here happens around times of episode 4. Also Ryan included because he's Billy and Annie's child I don't care. Maybe I'll make a full work out of it someday, who knows? Enjoy!
P.S. I'm a bit busy lately, so sorry. I work on my fanfiction but I'm not sure when it's gonna be ready :(
Mostly, Butcher's trouble sleeping was due to endless nightmares about his past. Or because of the pain that no pills could numb while he was a walking parasitic hive. However, a few days ago, another reason emerged.
Crying and drunken muttering came from the next room. Every single night. He cursed his superhearing.
Billy had seen Annie only a couple of times since Hughie's death. She slowly made her way to the kitchen to grab what was left in the fridge: cans of beer, leftover takeout, his half-empty bottle of cheap whiskey.
He teased her, as usual, but she just gave him a blank look and walked past as if he were a ghost. Butcher was sure Starlight would bite his head off if he tried to talk to her, but he had to do it anyway.
After the funeral, Frenchie and Kimiko disappeared. No trace—most of their belongings were scattered throughout the safehouse. He was blocked everywhere. M.M. was blocked everywhere. Considering Kimiko always felt comfortable around Annie, she was the only remaining way to contact the lovebirds.
As Billy's hand closed on Annie's doorknob, Marvin grinned mockingly and shouted he hoped Starlight would kill him right there. Butcher probably deserved it.
"Mmgh...Get the fuck out..." She muttered, blinking indifferently at the can of beer.
"'M gonna fuck m'self in a minute, luv." The door closed behind him with a dull thud. "It's a bloody emergency."
"Ah, emergency?" Annie's lips curled into a sarcastic smirk. Right. Like there was any hope Butcher could cheer someone up instead of being practical.
"Frenchie and Kimiko. You know where they are?" He spotted her phone among the trash and tried to pick it up. Annie's eyes glowed, and she grabbed it faster.
He stayed unfazed. "Quit bitching. We need them."
"We? We?!" She stood up unsteadily, pointed at his chest–her nail had dug right into the spot where his tentacles twitched unpleasantly, pressing against his ribs. "Fucking no! It's you! You need Frenchie for fucking virus! Quit acting like we–Like we're in the same boat! I am happy they left, asshole!"
Annie swayed on her feet and Butcher carefully helped her to sit back on the couch. She started sobbing quietly, he sighed. "Don't make me play hot and cold. Y're not a bloody toddler."
"I-I asked not to tell me where they go..." Her voice wavered, tears sliding down her cheeks.
When she reluctantly turned the phone screen towards him, the last message from Kimiko was clearly visible, "Don't worry about us. Take care ❤️"
"See? They're not coming back anyway..."
His hand securely wrapped around her forearm. "Well then we have no fuckin' time to mop. C'mon." He tugged. Annie shook her head. "Starlight. We have work to do. I'm not gonna repeat again."
"Leave me...I'll mess up again..." The phone fell from her hands and landed on crumpled papers—probably some old Vought documents.
"Listen, we have to finish it, no matter if there's six of us or five or fucking three. Arse up or I'll make you–" Her resistance became increasingly irritating; the parasite inside him suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to strangle someone.
"May I come in?" Fuck. Butcher was ready to slap Ryan for his glorious timing.
Starlight nodded, her tear-stained eyes watching the boy's approach with some apprehension.
"Annie, right?" Ryan sat on the other side of her, pushing away the empty beer cans. He completely ignored face of his stepfather screaming 'do not intervene' and pressed his luck. "I'm so sorry for your loss, but... you're drinking heavier than Butcher now. It's bad."
To Billy's surprise, this caught her attention. Slowly, her shoulders slumped, as if some protective part of her body was gradually receding.
"Yup. And I've seen how much he can–"
"We're not bloody talking about that right now." Another warning gaze. Yet futile.
"Yes we do. I remember once he was properly pissed and tried to go up to the second floor but slipped right on the first step. And then cursed those stairs...For ten minutes straight." The kid chuckled. At the reminder, Billy's right eye felt a phantom bruise and his bearded cheeks dusted pink. He didn't dare to speak up anymore.
The corner of Annie's mouth curled up for a brief moment. "Sounds shitty."
"It was so shitty!" Ryan smiled to her. "We can't have you cursing doors or chairs too, right? Or I'm gonna lose my hope in adults."
Starlight sighed, wiped her tears away. Then nodded. "Yeah. We can't."
...Weirdly, it became the perfect mechanism. Annie no longer had time for drunken sorrows, as she was busy caring for Ryan. And Ryan didn't slip away because he felt responsible for Annie.
Butcher still tossed and turned at the slightest sound, but Starlight seemed calm. She was truly asleep. It felt nice.
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