Chapter 3 Season 3 Episode 4 Part I
A/N: I’m sorry I literally failed at posting everyday so quickly. It’s been a few days but I wanted to try and give more insight into Y/n and Ben’s history. I hope you like it please let me know what you thought (I’m sorry if some bits feel rushed I tried to avoid that but honestly I don’t know if I succeeded) Please enjoy.
The next time I looked out of the dust coated window I saw the street lights and dark night sky. Most of Butcher’s crew must’ve started making tracks to either go home or just outright go somewhere else because when I entered their main room only Butcher and Hughie where there, Hughie’s arm was finally in a proper cast too.
“You’re on V!” I hear Hughie snap as Butcher wraps up the kitchen roll he’s holding.
“Temporary V. Barely lasts twenty four hours.” Butcher responds with the usual gruffness in his tone his eyes flicking over to me acknowledging my presence.
“Where’d you even get it?” Hughie asks not noticing I’ve entered the room.
“One of those websites, boners for days.” I fight the urge to laugh at his response.
Hughie makes it a hell of a lot easier to resist when he gets worked up
“No, no, no, no, no. None of your smirky shit!”
“I only had one dose. All right? Gunpowder’s dead. We know what we need to know, end of.”
My breath was stolen. I take a moment to recover and harshly swipe a quick tear away. I’m not surprised Butcher killed him but, I didn’t know he was dead. I naively believed Butcher only beat information out of him. He idolised Ben. He was trained by Ben and me. But he apparently was far too reckless and immature when it mattered if Mallory’s right.
“Wait, wait, you-you-you…you killed…Gunpowder?” Hughie stammered even though his voice seemed calmer than it had been previously. “With powers? You had superpowers?”
“Oh, look, let’s just give it a rest, all right? It’s over. I’m fine.” Butcher says brushing past him.
“Wait, wait do the others know?” Hughie asks turning around noticing me his eyes widening like a deer in the headlights.
“I know. Not because of this but yeah I think it’s just us three.” I say giving him an awkward smile.
“And if they find out, I’ll put you both in a fucking coma.” Butcher states menacingly.
“Good luck with that.” I respond smirking up at him, folding my arms.
Butcher glares at me harder once again watching as I don’t back down before letting it go. He’s not stupid he’s been made fully aware that I’m the one that gets him his temp V. Next thing I know he’s out the room and I’m left with a dumbfounded Hughie.
“Yeah, n-no you’re right. You seem totally fine.” Hughie says practically to himself.
“You alright over there?” I ask walking over to him.
“Yeah. I mean…I just wasn’t expecting that. Butcher of all people willingly using temp V.”
“I’m pretty sure he only sees it as a means to an end. He wants to even the playing field a bit. Ya’ know having a fighting chance and all?”
“How did you only get the job of a PA, you’re wasted in that position.” Hughie says with a laugh of disbelief and I smile back up at him before making my way home.
“How I actually got a job at Vought, would’ve been a better question if I’m completely honest. Actually how did I get that job? Yes at the time Vought announced the death of the beloved female icon Amphitrite, but the merch kept selling, posters still existed I know I wore a mask but like Soldier Boy’s it only went across my eyes, I mean it was what forty years ago, surely some of Butcher’s crew should vaguely recall the hero, right let alone all of fucking Vought? I mean there’s still a memorial of Amphitrite in that fucking tower! Maybe everyone nowadays is truly that stupid or…maybe I’m over thinking this…yep definitely over thinking.” I rant pacing and frantically waving my arms around in the apartment I moved to after what happened. “Shit.” I huff glancing to my water pipe seeing that I’d once again burst it, “I really need to find somewhere else to rant.”
I place a bucket under the burst and call up my landlord.
“Hey Lionel, my water pipe burst again.”
“That was literally fixed three weeks ago tops.” Lionel argues.
“Well you need to hire a better plumber then don’t you?” I sass despite knowing the truth.
“Fine I’ll get someone to look at it tomorrow.” I hear him huff before he hangs up.
I take a shower and get ready for bed not forgetting to kiss my finger and press it to one of the only photo’s I have left of Ben and I together, on my bedside table. I take my sleeping pills and fall asleep.
“Make me a cup of coffee would ya.” I glance up seeing a fluffy mop of brown hair and forest green eyes looking at me as if I was a pathetic disgrace.
“Excuse me?” I answer my forehead frowning.
“Are you deaf as well as stupid?” He mocked his dazzling teeth bite a sneer at me.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I snap marching up to him prodding his chest with my finger.
“Look sweetheart I’m Soldier Boy leader of the newly formed team Payback, and you you’re someone that’s come in here during our training time, so unless you’re gonna start helping out the rest of the refreshment crew I’d say get out.”
“Oh you’re one of those pricks are you?” I say not hiding my smirk. “I bet you believe women should stay home, do housework dote on their husband and produce babies then when we’re no longer useful die.”
“Obviously, it’s a woman’s duty to-” I punch his stomach sending him back into the wall behind him.
His face morphs to shock before quickly shifting to rage as he storms back towards me.
“I’m sorry it seems like you’ve forgotten there’s female supes, which is quite shocking considering there’s two of them on your team and you’re allegedly dating one.”
“Who do you think you are?” He says back to me.
“Amphitrite, solo supe, because I don’t need a team to cower behind.” I sass once again before Stan Edgar enters the room.
“Payback. This is Amphitrite.” He announces observing the cracked wall, stunned faces and the death glare match Soldier Boy and I are having. “I believe you’ve met.”
“What is this bullshit?” Soldier Boy snaps approaching Edgar.
“Calm down Soldier Boy, remember who signs your cheques.” Stan says in his usual calm but stern voice. “Amphitrite will not be joining your team, she’s the new face of feminism. Think of her as the new Rosie the Riveter.”
“What’s your power then?” Crimson Countess says positioning herself next to Soldier Boy, “What makes you so great?”
“Well unlike you guys, I’ve actually been helping people. Not strutting around posing like an uppity peacock. My power, well…want to spar?” I ask confidently fully aware of her little explosive fireballs.
“Fine.” Edgar and Soldier boy stand with the rest of Payback as Crimson Countess gets in her paparazzi pose prepping her hands to make a triangle. “Bring it.”
I wait until she launches her fireball at me before flicking my hand instantly putting it out with a small wall of water as my eyes briefly flashing a stormy blue. Crimson Countess scowls at me firing multiple at me before I create another slightly larger wall of water.
“So you’re good at defensive manoeuvres, why don’t you go on the attack?”
“Because your defence abilities aren’t strong enough.” I answer shrugging my shoulder dismissively.
“Try me.”
I lower my right hand to my side slowly twisting my fingers and wrist in a circular motion. My eyes glowing once again as a constantly swirling whirlpool like human size ball swirls beside me. I watch as her face turns whiter than a sheet.
“You sure you still want to do this?” I ask, I can feel the fear oozing out of her.
“I-I-I um…” I watch her send a glance to her team leader/ boyfriend.
I can’t resist the urge to sneak a peek too his reaction was hilarious, the disgust and complete disgrace he had directed to her actually made me laugh. However I can clearly see he won’t willingly let her back down so, I decide to be nice, well sort of.
“You know what, you’re not worth it.” I say dispersing my water.
Stan Edgar sends me a look of approval filling me with a sense of pride. I never got a look like that from one of my own parents. It felt nice? I don’t know if I’d use that word exactly but, it was definitely a reassurance. Crimson Countess wanders off the wrestling mat completely embarrassed but partially grateful I called it off.
“Pathetic.” I hear Soldier Boy grumble.
“Wow. That’s excellent motivation for your team.” I can’t help but chime.
“The way I run my team has nothing to do with you.” He snarls towering over me.
“Fine. Great way to speak about your girlfriend.” I retort.
“That also has nothing to do with you.” His hypnotic forest green eyes remain locked on mine.
“I’m just speaking out for another lass. Unfortunately she’s too afraid to do it for herself, but she’s not alone the rest of your team are too.” Soldier Boy glances up at his team and sees the fear on their faces.
“Good. That’ll keep them all in line.”
“Fine if that’s how you see it, who am I to say otherwise.”
“Payback, your publicity shoot is coming up.” Edgar says emptying the gym.
“Run along. Don’t want to miss your chance to be centre of attention.” I tease my e/c eyes remaining locked on Soldier Boy’s as he sees no fear in me.
“How’s your hand to hand combat?” He asks out of the blue.
“S’alright. Not great why?” I ask suspiciously.
“I could train you up, no powers though.” There’s a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Fine. It’s a good thing that all supes get super strength, shame you got a bit more though.”
“See you around, Amphitrite.” He says strolling out of the gymnasium confidently.
There’s a montage of training and sparring with Soldier boy everyday for at least four hours for a total of six weeks. I remember him gradually becoming less and less annoying throughout our sessions, don’t get me wrong he didn’t remotely change anything about himself it just became more amusing than annoying to be around him. From the glint in his eyes and sneers turning into grins I could tell the feeling was mutual. I guess you could say we became friends, we exchanged our actual names, didn’t constantly wear our suits around each other and we willingly spent time together outside of Vought.
“You seem distracted.” Ben says throwing a punch as I duck swiping his leg out from beneath him.
“Me what about you, you didn’t jump.” I say backing up.
“Yeah well it’s honestly like you’re not even in the room.” He replies jumping back up to his feet delivering a round house kick to my stomach.
“Fair enough.” I wheeze slightly gripping my stomach with one arm, blocking his next kick with my other wrist, grabbing his ankle with both hands and pushing him back knocking his balance off, pushing him to the floor pinning him to the mat.
“Tell me what’s wrong Y/n.” He asks genuinely concerned not fighting back.
“We’re friends right?” I ask staying in my straddled position on top of him.
“I’d say so. Why?”
“Well why didn’t you tell me you and Crimson Countess broke up? Noir told me.” I ask feeling like a hurt child.
“It’s not important, we’re still being posed as a couple to the public but…”
“But what? Why don’t you think that’s important?”
“The reason we broke up was you. I haven’t loved her for a long time and the things she was saying about you…blaming you because I didn’t want to be around her.” I felt my heart speed up and begin thudding harder, before Ben flips us so I’m pinned beneath him. “I couldn’t pretend anymore. Somehow… somehow you’ve wormed your way into my heart.”
The sincerity in his tone and the look behind his sparkling eyes was enough for me to see how much he meant it. I could feel teas well up in my eyes, I don’t know what they were for, what they meant I just…I don’t know anymore. My heart hurt like physically hurts with anticipation of what will happen next.
“I think I love you Sweetheart.” Seeing Ben this vulnerable isn’t something I know how to handle, him seeing me this vulnerable too, I feel so weak. “Please say something.”
“I-I don’t know what to say.” I feel a tear trickle down the side of my face as he smiles sweetly at me gently caressing it away with his rough thumb.
He leans his face closer towards me and my eyes flutter closed as I feel his perfectly chapped lips kiss me the scruff of his beard scratching against my face soothingly.
I wake myself up feeling tears rushing down my face, I reach for the photo frame clutching it to my chest. My dream depicting how we met, I still find it hard to believe that it only took us about six or seven weeks to get to that point considering our initial reaction to one another. A small laugh escapes me boarding on the line of being a hysterical one as it once again reminds me just how much I truly miss him.
It takes me a while to settle back down and I’m still clutching the photo. I lean over the side of my bed dragging out a box from underneath it and grabbing one of my joints putting it in my mouth as I rummage around for my lighter igniting it as I take a deep drag. Giving time for the relaxing feeling to wash over me as I sit against the headboard knees against my chest still firmly gripping the frame.
