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seeds-and-sins · 1 year

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Light My Fire - Part Two

Pairing: Ben "Soldier Boy" x F!Reader

Rating: M (Sexual themes, Crude language, Curse words; WARNING!! Mentions of Death/Desire to Die)

Description: Soldier Boy and you don't always get along, but that doesn't mean there isn't something going on. Ben isn't very good at hiding his feelings for you. He isn't good at showing them either.

Part One

"Where the hell is Phoenix?" Soldier Boy finally noticed why there was a gaping hole in the meeting room's atmosphere. With his feet propped up on the edge of the table, he inspected the entirety of his team and found that one member was missing. Stan Edgar straightened with a sigh, an almost performance worthy somberness to his expression as he shrugged.

"Sadly, Phoenix has fallen ill." Soldier Boy gritted his teeth, the anxious energy tripled as he glared around at his team mates, whom were all unable to make eye contact with him.

"Ill?" Soldier Boy spat, "That's impossible. The bitch has an immune system akin to the Berlin Wall."

"That's what we had assumed for many years, but Phoenix is currently bed ridden with a small cold, proving us wrong." Edgar redirected the conversation then, immediately, "She will not be joining us on this mission, but hopefully she will have recovered by the time we get back."

"Bullshit." Ben wasn't falling for it. Phoenix was a goddamned firecracker-You were a firecracker. Although he had never seen it, he was certain that not even the sniffles would keep you from putting on that suit and fighting. Edgar made it seem like it was so normal, nothing to be alarmed over, but Phoenix was in her early fifties and you never got sick. Something wasn't right here. "Has anyone seen her?" He peered around the table, the awkward silence giving him his answer. "Well, that's settled then. Vought sent her on a fuckin' secret mission, and now they're trying to cover it up." He was satisfied with that conclusion, until Edgar cocked his head stoically at him, and said:

"Interesting theory, Soldier Boy, but Phoenix is actually here in the tower right this very moment. Resting. You are welcome to go see for yourself, no secret mission whatsoever." Soldier Boy, as stubborn as he was, went to stand. "I would insist though, that you go find her after the meeting. This is just a small briefing before our trip to Nicaragua." Soldier Boy's jaw tightened and he reluctantly sat back down, kicking his feet back up once more.

For the rest of the meeting, Soldier Boy remained surprisingly quiet, adrift so to speak, attention completely lost to all things around him. Usually, he had a habit of complaining and making quick insults at his teammates, but this time something more intriguing had taken up space in his thoughts. You.

Was he actually worried? He never worried about anything, he was Soldier Boy. But you were not unlike him when it came to your super abilities and the idea that you were sick didn't sit right with him.

Neither of you ever really got along: not having you around for a mission should have made him happy, but it didn't. He appreciated your grit, something that was in short supply these days. He always had appreciated your grit. You were the only idiot on the team stupid enough to call him out and he loved every second of it. You were fierce and compassionate and you were a damn good hero. If anyone asked the right question, he would very openly admit that you were the only other competent little shit in all of Payback-aside from himself, that was. And his countless attempts at getting into your pants? Well, it was sort of a coverup. Because he did like you so much that it almost hurt sometimes not being near you. You turned him down every time, forever and always was your modo, but it didn't put him off in the slightest. He loved it more than he should have.

Not having you around. Impossible. Not happening. He wouldn't allow it. He was the leader of Payback and if he said you were coming, you were coming.

When the meeting finished-small, my ass-he ordered one of the interns to go fetch him a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a bottle of brandy. He chuckled to himself as he watched them sprint away to go complete his order, knowing that if they made him wait any longer than was necessary he would not be pleased.

"You're going to go see her, aren't you?" Crimson Countess popped out from behind him, leaning against the wall beside the meeting room's double doors. Soldier Boy put on his flirtiest expression, propping an arm up beside Countess' head before grinning.

"Why? Are you jealous?" He teased, thinking it would curl those beautiful painted lips of hers. Instead, she rolled her eyes.

"What's the point even?" His eyes narrowed on her.

"What do you mean, sweetcheeks?" He wasn't going to feed any assumptions, if he didn't understand said assumptions to begin with. "You're just being paranoid. You know there is only one girl for me." He winked, caressing her porcelain cheek with the crook of his finger.

"Don't even." She shoved his hand away and he visibly frowned. "You fucked me once and that was it for you. Then you moved on to all these other girls and that's fine. But you don't want to fuck Phoenix, do you?" Her features drawn down in a sullen glare, "You want to be with her." Soldier Boy gulped, cracking his neck and then standing back from his lean on the wall to adjust his vest.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure, I don't."

"Here!" The breathless intern returned, Soldier Boy faced him with a raised brow.

"What the fuck? That was like five seconds, kid." The intern was bent over, struggling to catch their breath. They held out an open bottle of whiskey and a container of a sloshy, mushy liquid. "Are you shittin' me?" Soldier Boy snatched the container from the intern's hand. "What the fuck is this?"

"My lunch, Sir. Chicken Noodle Soup that my mother made..." He held up the liquor, Soldier Boy winced in disgust at the half empty bottle. "And this, I stole it from the Legend's office." Soldier Boy lifted his chin in thought, his features loosened for a moment and he swayed his head from side to side in consideration.

"Points for effort, fuck nut..." He snatched up the bottle of booze and then lifted his boot, using a small fraction of his strength to tip the intern over to the ground. "But the soup is cold, so you're still pathetic." He shot a look back at a discarded Countess and then carelessly began down the hallway, leaving the Intern groaning and laying flat on the floor.

He had been in Phoenix's penthouse many times, a majority of the time he was uninvited. You had to have your door replaced at least seven times in the past year because he had a penchant for breaking and entering, especially if you weren't alone. He just couldn't help himself. The idea of you being with someone else, when he was more than capable of stopping it, it itched at his skin. He sometimes would stand outside your door for hours, contemplating whether or not to knock. And obviously, why would he knock? He was Soldier Boy. He didn't knock for anyone.

But god, what a stubborn bitch you were...

This time he would knock.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

He heard some shuffling on the other end, a TV being paused, followed by footsteps.

"Yes?" A nasally voice sounded=, he almost couldn't believe that it belonged to you.

"Police. Open up." He smirked, tilting his head as he listened for your response. There was a brief silence, and then:

"Fuck off, Ben."

"Think again, cupcake, I brought you the goods." Another moment of silence, he waited, and then he was done waiting. He dug his shoulder into the edge of the doorframe, his cheek close to it as if he was listening. "God, you must love me breaking down your door."

"Urgh, stop!" You hit the door and he bounced back with a hearty chuckle. "GO. AWAY."

"Do you think that's going to work?" You unlocked the door and swung it open, Soldier Boy instantly recoiled at the sight of you. You were wearing at least three layers of sweatshirts, comically making you look thicker, sweatpants and a pair of fluffy slippers. Your hair was disheveled, dark circles under your eyes, and your skin was sickly looking. His eyebrows furrowed and a certain strictness overtook him.

"What the fuck do you want?"

"Jesus Christ," He hid his concern as quickly as it had dawned on him. "Please tell me you're dying." You slumped into the door, tiredly fluttering your eyes before sniffling.

"You'll be dead in a few seconds if you don't fuck off." There it was, that fire that he loved oh so much.

"Hear me out-"

"I hate hearing you out."

"I know, but this time..." He held up the soup and the bottle. "You might give me a chance."

"Really?" You snorted, crossing your arms as a horrible shiver wracked your body. "This is what you bothered me for."

"Considering that no one else on the team has stopped by, I'd say beggars can't be choosers."

"I didn't beg to be bothered by you, asshole."

"But you thought it, didn't you?" He held the items up again, puckering his lips in an amusing pose. "Come on~" He chirped, "Let me bother you."

"I'll accept the offering, you can leave now." You reached out for them, just to shut him up, except that wasn't enough. He swiped the items back to his chest and feigned an appalled look.

"Oh, please, honey, we're a package deal." You stared at him blankly, before stepping back, about to shut the door. "You close that door, next time I'll break it down." The shift in his tone, from playful to terse, sent a bout of irritation through you. You cracked it back a little, closing your eyes and then with an exhausted exhale, you creaked it open just enough. "Yahtzee." He cheered in a sing song voice, entering your penthouse and then booking it for the couch. You slammed the door and rushed to beat him to it.

"No. Don't you dare. No. No! FUCK!" He splayed himself across the couch, blankets and all, destroying the little nest you had made for yourself. You kicked the edge of the couch, it shifted from your strength and Soldier Boy laughed.

"Ooo, what are we watching?" He sat upright, allowing some space for you to occupy. He placed the bottle and the soup on the coffee table, squinting in thought at the giant Panasonic screen ahead of him. "A porno?" You bonked him on the head as you passed in front of him to curl into the corner of the couch.

"No, dipshit, it's Footloose. VHS." He unlatched his helmet and proceeded to remove it, dropping it alongside the other items on the coffee table.

"Ahhh, who's the guy in that-uh-" He snapped his fingers aggressively, closing in his eyes to scour the farthest reaches of his being. "Steak-Sausage-He's named after some kind of meat, I know it-"

"Bacon..." You couldn't help but laugh. "Kevin Bacon." Soldier Boy smiled boyishly at you, weaving his fingers through his hair and pulling back the bangs that dropped before his eyes.

"Yeah, that Bacon guy. Not bad, I guess. Shitty movie though." You hit his arm with what strength you had.

"Don't fuck this up for me. I've never seen it before."

"Neither have I..." He snorted, "I was too busy getting a blow job in the back row. Ya'know back in my time-"

"Our time." Oh yeah, sometimes he forgot that they were almost the same age. "Back in our time." You shivered again, snatching the blanket that Soldier Boy had pinned to the couch with his ass. He showed you mercy and sat up for you, so that you could bring the fabric up and around your body. His eyes focused on you for a split second before he shook his head away.

"Back in our time, we had good actors. They'd sing and dance and do all sorts of shit. Heck, did I ever tell you about that time I-"

"Ate Audrey Hepburn out in a bathroom stall at the Academy Awards?" You finished dully, Soldier Boy chewed the inside of his cheek.

"What about when I-"

"Fucked Marilyn Monroe in the ass, in the Oval Office?"

"Okay, now-"

"When you jerked off on Lucille Ball?" He clicked his tongue and snapped at you this time:

"You made that last one up."

"Sounds about right though, you mostly only ever contribute your sexual exploits to ninety percent of our conversations, so..." You sniffled, lifting the remote from the end table and shrugging. "Unless you have a legitimate explanation, I don't want to hear it."

"Fuckin' bitch." He muttered under his breath as you pressed play on the remote, rolling the movie. It was silent for a few minutes, nothing but the music and conversation from the big screen, and then you shivered again, your teeth rattling as your body tensed. You cursed under your breath, a wave of annoyance washing over you. "Vogelbaum see you, yet?" Soldier Boy asked, from the corner of your eyes you saw his head tilt toward you. "You don't look so good."

"Why do you care?" You spat at him, shifting to stare in his direction.

"Because you're a member of my team..." You rolled your eyes back to the movie, choosing to ignore what sounded like genuine care in his words. "I mean, if I am allowing you to stay here-"

"Allowing me?" You forced out a boisterous laugh, from the pit of your belly, that slightly hurt. "What are you gonna' do? Force me to go throw myself limply at Marxist Sandanistas?"

"You still got some strength in you, kid. Squeeze my pinky." He followed this by actually holding his pinky out. You rolled your eyes, but proceeded to wrap your pinky around his and squeeze. Strong, but not that strong.

"Ben, I can hardly lift myself up from the ground, it hurts to breath, and this morning I struggled to bring my tea to a steady boil." He flicked his pinky from yours, your hand limply falling to your lap. His eyes scanned you, chest rising and falling with a heavy breath.

"You afraid?"

"No." You confessed, although you continued with, "Heck, the sooner I die, the less I have to look at your ugly mug."

"That's a brat move." He smiled at you, you couldn't help but return it. There was almost an odd way about this moment, as if you were secretly comforting each other, while trying not to comfort each other, while also trying to hate each other. Or at least, this was a much more comfortable moment compared to the usual. "Seriously. Did you get Vogelbaum in here?"

"He came and checked me out, said I was fine."

"That sit right with you?"

"Not, really, but I don't care." You bit your bottom lip, refusing to look at him.

"Why, not?" The music in the background was no longer soothing as it was needling every nerve in Soldier Boy's patience. "(Y/N)?" It was the only warning you were going to get before he destroyed the TV, he decided.

"We don't age." You clicked the button on the remote, the screen zapping into an abyssal black. You propped your head under your fist on the armrest and gazed at Soldier Boy. You hadn't slept for days and your superhuman energy could only run for so long. You were on backup at this point.

"So what..." He crossed his arms, a stern curve to his brow. "I thought woman liked that shit. No wrinkles, or whatever."

"Ben, I'm being serious."

"Me too."

"You're sixty-five years old..."

"Thanks for stating the obvious."

"And you don't look a day over thirty." He breathed, pretending not to understand the implications of what you were suggesting. He knew it already. The both of you did. You weren't the only two heroes that never aged, but it was a given that you didn't age ever and that your kind of hero was few and far between. "I'm fifty-four and look just as young as I did when I was twenty-two, getting that first injection of V."

"What are you even going on about, honey? I think you need some weed, calm ya' down, want me to-"

"Please listen to me for once." Were you crying? Oh boy, Ben thought. He cleared his throat and then sat up taller against the backrest of the couch, directing his eyes to the ceiling. "I don't want to live forever. Time gives life meaning, ya'know? And when you can't feel pain, or you're too strong to give someone normal a really good hug, it starts to get to you." You palmed at your face, willing the tears away. "I want to get married one day, I want to have kids and grow old with someone."

"Pfft, Marriage." Ben mockingly echoed, but he was silenced by your tear stained expression. He had never seen you so broken before.

"I can't believe I'm even talking to you about this..." Your breath wavered with a snicker. "You're the biggest asshole I've ever met. You don't care."

"I've thought about it..." He needed to busy himself with something, so he settled on the whiskey. He tucked in a reach for the bottle, yanking the cork out and going for a chug. The liquid left a pleasant burn behind on his throat and he winced. "Settling down with someone..." He feigned a cough into his fist. "That I care about. That I-" His head tilted back and forth. "That I might even love."

"Countess..." Hearing you say her name made his skin crawl, his fist clenched and he shut his eyes. No. Not Countess, Phoenix. "She loves you."

"She hates me." He plopped back, placing the bottle in between his legs on his crotch. "Only puts up with me because of the money, because of the fame."

"Maybe if you showed some loyalty to her, she wouldn't." His tongue slung around teeth, collecting the residue of the hardy liquid. With his head laid on the puffy pillow of the backrest, he turned it to you.

"I'm a real fuck up, I know it. My father seemed to know it too..." He fiddled with the neck of the bottle. "But I'm still afraid of failing the people I really do care about." You eyed him, not particularly sure what to do with this soft and open moment. "And Countess isn't one of them."

So you push people away.

Your breath hitched, you buried the bottom half of your face under the covers for a brief recoup in your feelings. Your face was still wet and you hate how absolutely freezing it was.

"I don't want you to die..." The admission was heaved out, shaky and choppy and all sort of scrambled, but your entire body tingled at it. "If that wasn't obvious enough." You pulled the blanket over your head, like that was going to help you.

"I don't think it was, Ben. You just told me you wished I was dying, not even a few minutes ago."

"I was joking, come on. Can't take a fuckin' joke?" He yanked at the edge of the blanket, but not hard enough to tug it from you. "What's the problem, anyways? You've got the sniffles, big whoop."

"I'm cold." You lowered the blanket to gaze at him. "I'm never cold."

"Well, you're a naturally hot person. No shame in that." He grinned, winking at you. When you didn't immediately react, as far as he could see-the blanket hiding your smile-he stretched his arm across the couch again. "I know something that can warm you up."

"I'm not going to have sex with you."

"Damn, I like the way you think." He purred, you pretended to gag at him as you settled the blanket in your lap. "But no, just come jump in my furnace for a little bit. I won't touch you." After his offer, he followed with an assertive wave of the hand that was stretch out along the back rest toward you.

"Ben-"

"I've seen you butt naked, get your ass over here." You sighed, knowing he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, he never did. You weakly shuffled across the couch and when you were close enough he dropped his arm, trapping you in his embrace. Your body melted against his and you were instantly incapacitated at the heat that drew from in thick waves. You couldn't help the moan that exited your parted lips. "Careful, you might just tempt me, honey."

"I'll-" Your eyes slid shut as you dropped your cheek to his chest. "I'll burn your dick off if you try anything." His laughter rumbled up through his chest and you felt it with a fond smile. You wished you could smell too, because you were certain he smelled amazing.

"We going to turn the TV back on, or..."

"Why don't we just..." You smacked your lips, bringing a leg over his thigh so that you perfectly curled up to his side. "Let's just stay here for a bit." He didn't promise not to touch you, his palm held the base of your skull and his other hand guided yours to rest flat on his chest.

"I'm okay with that." He allowed his own eyes to slid shut as he took a deep breath. He tucked his nose into your scalp and inhaled, you were too sleepy to stop him. "If you aren't better by the time I get back, I'm going to toss you off the top of the tower."

"Why would you do that?" You snorted, confused more than annoyed by it. You knew how he could be.

"Call it, Soldier Boy's in-home flight training experience." You smiled goofily, thankful that he couldn't see it.

"Oh yeah? Well, if I'm going down, you're going down with me."

"You won't go down though..." There was a lilt of a growl to his words. "Because you'll be brand new by then, right?"

"I hope." You didn't expect him to squeeze you even tighter.

"You will. Promise." You turned your face, your lips to his chest plate as you then looked up into his eyes.

"I promise." He wanted to kiss you so badly then, but he couldn't. He couldn't kiss you. He thought about your conversation, about how you both opened up to each other. He thought about what his father said to him all those years ago... And he didn't want to hurt you. Instead, he cupped your cheek and stared back.

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#the boys #payback #soldier boy x reader #soldier boy x female reader #soldier boy #mindstorm #tommy #gunpowder #swatto #the legend #crimson countess #reader #vought international #oc hero name

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globetrotter28 · 1 year

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Another Cover Up (Part 9)

Fandom: The Boys

Summary: After Herogasm, Butcher, Hughie and Soldier Boy realise they might need more reinforcements. After doing more research, they discover the woman who was also injected with Compound V alongside Soldier Boy back in the 40’s. Everyone also thought she was KIA that day at Nicaragua. But if Soldier Boy was still alive… maybe she was too?

If you DO wish to be tagged for future updates, please let me know.

If there is a line, the tag didn’t come up for you, or you have changed your handle and I’m not tagging X amount of people who I don’t know.

Tags: @msbadgirl @queenofspades20 @mimzy1994 @erinnkenobi @goldngguk @ateliefloresdaprimavera @roseblue373 @acarboni21 @sexyvixen7 @buckybarnes-1917 @valkyrie418 @multishipper @bxwitched @capswife @bluedragonflylady @leigh70 @xxemoluverxx @quixscentsposts @junie-keene @depressed-kay @deansbbyx @just-levyy @lacilou @ladysparkles78 @kat-nee @themerc-with-a-mouth @howlerwolfmax @horrorgirl4life @spnwoman

Chapter warnings: drug use, graphic descriptions of violence, mature language

Part 8

Series Masterlist

There’s quite a bit of dialogue from the show in this one, so a longer part for you all.

*drip - someone who is boring*

~~~~~~~~~~

You and Ben were both in the back seat of Butcher's piece of shit car. You were glad there was a considerate amount of leg room, because although you didn't mind being so close to Ben, his broad shoulders took up a lot of space... You'd been driving for about an hour when you shifted in your seat, a heavy huff of frustration leaving your mouth at trying to get comfortable.

"You okay back there?" Butcher asks from the drivers seat. "You been huffin' and puffin' since we bloody left." He says, annoyance evident in his tone.

"It's a bit of a tight fit..." you answer, side eyeing Ben who only looks at you with a smirk.

"You weren't complaining last night or this morning." He smirks.

"Jesus..." Hughie groans under his breath.

You glare at Ben. "Seriously?"

"Oh, c'mon...!" Ben lifts his arm and pulls you into his side. "It's not like they don't know what was going on." He chuckles smugly.

"Please!" Hughie semi-shouts. "We do not need specifics. We all heard you!"

"Who knew you were such a prude, kid...." You smirk. Hughie turns to glare at you now, to which you only raise your eyebrows. "Am I wrong?"

"Yeah, I don't know. You know what they say." Ben speaks up.

"What do they say?" Hughie asks clearly annoyed but his curiosity got the better of him.

"You gotta watch out for the quiet ones. Kinky." Ben laughs. You join in and even notice Butcher's eyes crinkled slightly in the review mirror.

After what felt like maybe ten minutes, Butcher turns the car onto a gravel road in the middle of a forest of trees and eventually pulls to a stop. You all get out of the car and make your way to the trunk, where the boys put all their gear. You bypass them all and walk back down the road a bit just watching in between the trees, already on the look out for anything Mindstorm related.

"You feeling anything?" Ben's voice interrupts your thoughts.

"Other than high as fuck, no. Not sensing him at all."

"Well we're at lest two miles out." You give Ben a look. "Hey, blame the Drip*. Turns out he might not be so great with his gadgets after all."

Meanwhile, Butcher and Hughie are still at the trunk of the car.

"Hey, why do you keep buying him like, Hefty bags full of weed?" Hughie's asks quietly, trying not to let the two stoned supes hear him.

"Better high than mental." Butcher responds, unzipping a small bag. "Takes the edge off his PTSD."

"Wait, he has PTSD?"

"Yeah, I saw it at Herogasm. It's why he keep blowing the fuck outta everything." Butcher and Hughie turn to look at Soldier Boy and Y/N talking softly to each other, their eyes glued to the tree line as they pass the joint between one and the other. "We gotta keep that Cunt dozy as a lamb."

"What about Y/N?" Hughie asks softly.

"I don't know...," they both turn back, "but I'd say what she did to those Russian soldiers when we first picked her up was a pretty good bloody indicator that she also has a lot of trauma."

"So, just to recap, he's uh, radioactive, she's a mind reader and can manipulate objects and or people, both highly traumatised and heavily self-medicated." Butcher continues to fills a syringe with Temp-V. "Feels good. Feels right."

Butcher scoffs. "Tell me about it. I mean, what sad bastard self-medicates like that, eh?" Butcher looks at Hughie and holds up the syringe.

"You pussies ready to get going?" Ben calls out. "You were in such a rush to fucking get out here."

"On our way." Butcher responds, closing the trunk and lifting the duffel bag over his shoulder.

"We're going-"

"This way." You cut Hughie off. "I know." You start walking in the direction you indicated, Ben close to you.

You were walking for roughly fifteen minutes before you notice a feeling in your chest. You don't get to give it much thought before Ben shoots around.

"What'd you say?" He asks the guys.

You look at Ben, confusion filling your thoughts, matching both Butcher and Hughie's faces.

"What?" Butcher asks

"What?" Ben responds.

"Nothin' mate. No one said nothin'." Butcher's eyes shift around your group, settling on yours for a moment.

Ben stays silent as he turns and keeps walking. Before you turn to carry on you see the boys eye each other. Ben is walking faster now, and you jog slightly to keep up with him before your super hearing picks up a metallic scratching noise.

"Oh, fuck." Is all you hear before you call out "Ben!" before there's an explosion, and you see Ben go flying before you do too.

You try to use your powers to catch yourself, but it was so sudden and you weren't able to prepare before you smack into a nearby tree. You feel your ears ringing from the blast and smoke moves across your body as you lift yourself from the ground, using the tree as leverage.

"Y/N!" You hear not with your ears, but your mind. The ringing is making it sound muffled though. You look up into Ben's green eyes, and feel a sense of calm wash over you knowing he's okay. His large hands help lift you to your feet as your eyes scan your surroundings.

You see Hughie groaning on the ground, but sense he's just shaken by the blast and being thrown a few feet. You continue to scan your eyes and mind, and see Butcher's figure on the ground and a smaller man standing over him. You shoot your powers out, violet streaking the air between you. But your disorientation means you miss your mark and Mindstorm scurries off into the forest.

"Fuck." You grunt out and notice the ringing in your head had settled down.

"C'mon." Ben holds you steady as you make your way over to Butcher, meeting Hughie who is trying to wake him by calling his name and tapping him on the face.

Ben let's you go and looks around, trying to see where Mindstorm went.

"Fucking freak... slipped away. He's gonna pick us off, one by one."

"Butcher! Butcher! Wake up!"

"That's not gonna work, kid." You tell him, seeing into Butcher's nightmare, a chill sweeping through your body.

"No, you're wasting your time. He's gone." Ben says matter of factly, kneeling down to open the duffel bag.

"What did Mindstorm do?" Hughie's panicked voice asks, looking from Ben back to you.

"Well, if it's his usual MO, trapped him in an endless nightmare till he dies of terminal dehydration." Ben drops his rag and leans down to grab his shield.

"No, there's gotta be a way we can wake him up." Hughie tries to rationalise. He turns to look at you, as you've been staring at Butcher, getting lost in his nightmare. "Y/N?" Hughes presses, trying to see if you could get him out.

"No." You say, somewhat absently. "I-I'm powerful, but... I don't know how to get rid of this for him."

"Mindstorm put him into this." Ben says, strapping his shield onto his arm. "He can snap him out."

"Okay. Great, great. Uh-"

"But he's about to be dead." This snaps you out of your funk.

"Wait." You turn back around to look at Ben.

"If we, if we grab Mindstorm, we make him help Butcher-"

"No way." Ben attempts to shut him down and walks away.

"Ben!" You walk after him.

"And then you can kill him. Then you can go to town on him. I don't give a fuck!" Hughie tries to reason.

"Hey!" Ben turns and gets close enough to Hughie that he backs up slightly. "If you're going to act hysterical, I'm going to slap you like I'm Connery." He pauses for a moment. "Now, unless you want to end up like your friend there," he gestures to Butcher, "its isn't worth the risk."

"Ben, c'mon! We can't just leave Butcher like this. He may be an asshole, but he doesn't deserve that!" You argue.

"What do you want to do? You just got surprised by fucking Mindstorm, Y/N." You swallow thickly, failure rooting itself deep within you. Ben looks back to Hughie. "Look, chin up. Deal's a deal. You help us finish this, we’ll kill Homelander. Butcher would have given up his life for that in a heartbeat."

You know after what Butcher told you, Ben wasn't wrong. Hughie looks back down at Butcher.

"So we doing this, or not?"

"I'll stay with Butcher." You offer.

"No, you're coming. You can't do anything for him." Ben orders. You don't like this side of him too much.

Hughie groans before bending down to grab the backpack.

"Leave it. We gotta move fast." Ben says, turning to walk away. "Ah!" He stops suddenly once again. "Did you hear that?"

"Ben... no." You answer softly. You recognise his mind is jumbled.

"Uh..." Hughie clears his throat. "You might want to lay off the weed, huh?" You think he's hit the nail on the head there. Maybe you should too...

Without turning around, Ben replies, "And you might want to gargle my ballsack.", before walking off again.

You bend down and grab the duffle quickly, before moving to place it under Butcher's head.

"C'mon, kid. Don't worry." You say, grabbing Hughie's attention. "I'll make sure we get Mindstorm to stop his shit before we kill him."

"He doesn't seem too keen on that idea." Hughie nods his head over in the direction of Ben's retreating form. You stand up and start walking in that same direction.

"Listen, I want him dead just as much Ben. But I won't let Butcher suffer through what he is right now."

"He's suf-suffering?" Hughie stutters.

"Yeah! What do you think being trapped in an endless nightmare is like? A picnic?"

"I, uh..."

"Hughie, listen." You look over at Hughie as you march after Ben. "I get that you're worried about Butcher. That's why you're so frazzled. But you need to get your shit together. None of us can afford to be off our game. The fact that I can't get Butcher out of that shit hole of a mindfuck he's in, just proves to me I'm still messed up. Hell, maybe I'll always be. My life hasn't exactly been sunshine and rainbows the last forty years. Could also just be the weed… But if Butcher is to have any kind of chance, you need to be on your game, okay?" Hughie nods. "Don't do anything fucking stupid."

You quickly catch up to Ben and you decide to take the rear. Hughie in the middle and Ben leads the way. You hear Ben talking about how many people he locked up for smoking weed, then he abruptly stops again asking what Hughie said.

"Uh, literally nothing." Hughie's panicked voice says, looking back to where we just came, clearly worried about Butcher.

Ben sighs.

"Jesus. How hard?"

"What?"

"How hard did Butcher suck your dick, that you miss him that much?"

"For fucks sake, Ben. He's worried about him!" You say, frustrated with the tension you're feeling coming off Hughie and the overall situation. Ben ignores you.

"Hmm? His mouth must feel like a Hoover Deluxe."

"God, every single thing you say is so gross. He saved me. Okay? More than once. So I owe him."

"Oh, bullshit." Ben tosses his blunt to the ground, and takes a step towards Hughie. "You're on a mission. You get the job done."

"Here we go." You sigh under your breath, ready for a spiel.

"Okay? I stormed Normandy. I fought the Nazis. You want to know what I do when I'm sad? Or scared?" Ben's face and voice turns almost emotionless. "Fucking nothing. 'Cause I'm not fucking pussy."

Hughie chuckles and you read where he's about to go

"Hughie... don't-" you try to shut it down, knowing how it might end.

"You didn't storm shit." Hughie had stepped to Ben. "Your whole Marlboro Man act? It's fucking crap." You can't help but slap your forehead. "And I-"

Faster than lightning, Ben's fist connects with Hughie's cheek.

"Oh!" Hughie pants in pain.

Very controlled for Ben, he points a finger at him and says as he looks to me and back to Hughie, "I warned you.", turns and raises his eyebrows before he continues his trek in the woods.

Still holding his face, you walk over to Hughie, your arms crossed at your chest.

"I said don't do anything stupid. That... was stupid." You couldn't help the bite in your tone.

"The Legend said-"

"The Legend?!" You move your hands to your hips. "The Legend is a jealous wannabe! He'll say anything to make a Supe look bad. Especially one who got put down by Vought. And hear this..." you step up into his personal space. "If you're saying that shit about Ben, you're also saying it about me." You see fear cross his eyes, let alone his mind. "You're goddamn lucky you weren't speaking to me, or you might not be walking right now. So fucking watch it. Because it'd be a shame for me to waste someone I actually like. But it wouldn't be the first time."

You turn and leave Hughie to think about what you just said.

"Fucking asshole..." Ben grumbles as you catch up to him.

"Calm down, babe. He's just a kid." You say, trying to pacify him.

"A kid with a fucking mouth on him." He glares at the passing trees as he storms down a path.

"What? Like you didn't ever have one?" You scoff.

"That was different." He says, an attempt to defend himself.

"What?” You scoff. “You never got told something then spouted it off in a stressful situation in an attempt to knock a superior down a few pegs?" You raise your brows at him, knowing he can't say he didn't.

"That Colonel was a prick."

"And you haven't exactly not been one either." He gives you an astonished look. "Oh, Ben! You just called him a pussy for being worried about his friend! Actually, he kinda looks up to him as a brother... but either way, he is someone he cares about, and he's now suffering and he can't do anything to help him, other than make sure he gets Mindstorm to pull him out. Which, by the way, we are going to do." Ben rolls his eyes, his body almost going with them. "Don't you roll your eyes at me, we wouldn't be here without that limey bastard, and besides..." you shrug your shoulders, "I kinda like him." You finish off with a grin.

"You kinda like him?" He questions.

"No need to get jealous. I don't like him as much as I like you, hot stuff." You wink at him, even making the tips of his ears turn red. "Now let's get going. There's two very confusing people on the road beyond those bushes." You walk past him towards the two voices discussing their broken down vehicle.

"What do you mean confusing?" You hear Hughie ask from where he's finally caught up to you both.

"I'm not sure, and that bugs me. I smell Mindstorm all over this. So keep your wits about you. Ben, maybe your paranoia will come in handy."

"Para-" he starts but you cut him off with a "Shh" before you make your way through the bushes and see the two people, a man dressed as a priest and a woman as a nun, talking next to their broken down car.

"We're never going to get to the retreat now..."

"Oh!" The priest startles as he sees the three of you approach. "Oh you startled me." The way he overacts doesn't even sit right with you. "Are you both superhero's." He asks, gesturing to Ben and yourself. Hughie didn't fit the part without the monkey suit.

"Yes Father." Ben answers. "You folks need some help?"

"Yes." The nun desperately pipes up. "Yes please." You squint your eyes as your read of them is fuzzy.

"Okay well, it's not safe. There's a fugitive in the area."

"You should get out of here before you get hurt." You add, subtly walking over to the other side of the nun keeping an eye on her as you keep another eye on your surroundings.

"Uh, well, we can't. I don't suppose any of you know engines?"

Your trio is silent as you make your way closer to Ben and Hughie before Ben begrudgingly offers to take a look. Hughie begins to make conversation and you get a glimpse into the priests mind before you blast a power surge at him, causing him to fall backwards just before Ben shoots his pistol, a bullet landing between the man's eyes.

The nun starts screaming, and since you never picked anything up, you're unsure about attacking her. In the meantime, Hughie is freaking out about what just happened.

"This is Mindstorm's MO. He brainwashed them."

"That priest was gonna sack us, but I can't be su-" you get cut off by Ben who lifts his pistol to point at the nun

"She will too."

Hughie moves in-front of the nun, trying to reason with Ben.

"Take my word for it. Everyone's coming for us. Everyone, every day." Ben raises his sidearm again, but Hughie tries to stop him.

"No, no! You have PTSD."

"Jesus Christ, Hughie!" You exclaim, astonished by this kids timing.

"Y/N, please!" Hughie pleads with you before looking back at Ben. "You have PTSD and you are super fucking stoned! Alright?" He looks back at the now praying nun, who is covered in blood. "Maybe this isn't what you think it is."

"Move." Ben glares at him. "Move!" Ben's booming voice yells threateningly.

"She's a human being!" Hughie continues.

"Oh no, she is definitely not normal, Hughie." You pipe up, eyeing her facial features changing, but still having troubles with her mind.

"A nun! And if there's one thing I know-"

The nun suddenly shoots up to jump on Hughie's back and screams, "Die, you fucking cocksuckers!"

Hughie panics then screams as she sinks her teeth into his neck. You watch for a second, then double over in a fit of laughter. You can't help yourself. The situation is to the utmost degree, just absurd. You hear Hughie demanding Ben and yourself to do something, and see through the tears in your eyes, Ben attempting to aim his gun at the spider monkey of a nun.

"Stay still. I can't..."

"Fuck you!"

"Get her off me! Y/N!!"

"I can't!" You wheeze, waving your hand at the situation acting out in front of you.

Ben's gun finally goes off and the nuns body hits the ground with a thump, landing next to the priest's body.

"Oh! Fuck me!" Hughie pants as he walks away and then looks back at the body. "No! Hard pass on this Exorcist shit!"

You're still giggling until Ben jokes, "what's black and white and red all over?" And you burst into another fit of laughter, your abdominal muscles screaming from your clenching as you bend over yet again.

"You were a lot of help!" Hughie shouts at you.

"Oh c'mon!" You laugh. "As if you wouldn't have thought that was fucking hilarious!"

"Okay, first off..." Ben turns and makes his way towards Hughie. "You scream like a little girl. Second, I don't have shell shock. Fuck you. Third, this is what I'm talking about. This... is being a soldier."

Ben looks off to the direction we were walking before he grabs my arm and drags my laughed out body behind him.

"Come on." He calls to Hughie. "What the hell is going on with your powers?" Ben asks you under his breath. This sobers you up quickly, really hoping you wouldn't have to explain something you didn't know the answer to. "It's like you're blocked or something."

"Ben... I don't know what to say. This has never happened with him before."

"Well we need to figure it out fast, because not that I'm worried, but fuck, Y/N..." he sighs heavily, dropping your arm. "I'm kind fuckin' worried. You've always been stronger than that fuck. And now you're shooting blanks?"

"Hey, the telekinesis is fine, I shoved that priest okay." You defended. "It's just... I don't know... the mind stuff is a bit funny... I can read you, and Hughie, definitely Butcher. That man is having a fucking great nightmare!" You say sarcastically

"Maybe..." Ben starts, but stops himself.

"What?"

"Maybe he's gotten..."

"Stronger?" You finish for him.

"Maybe."

You sigh heavily as you hear Hughie coming up behind you again.

"I don't know, Ben. Maybe? Forty years is a long fucking time, he could have easily improved his skills. And I've been pretty preoccupied... let alone the weed. They make this shit different these days..."

"What if it's more than that?" Hughie pipes up.

"Are you listening to our conversation?" Ben questions, an angry look pointed at the poor boy.

"I mean... it's not like it's... private..." Hughie mutters.

"What do you mean, Hughie?" You try to get him back on track.

"Well, what if you're like... being too hard on yourself? Feeling the pressure?"

"What, like performance anxiety?" You joke.

"I mean.. yeah."

You raise an eyebrow at the idea and think about it for a moment. "Hmm... certainly a possibility." You continue walking.

"That's all you have to say?" Ben questions.

"Well I don't know what you want me to say. 'Oh yeah, that's it! All better now!' Pfft, doesn't work like that. Besides... we're here." You say stopping just short of entering a clearing where you see a run down looking barn type of structure and a bunch of wind chimes out the front of it swaying and making noise in the breeze.

"Oh shit, we are." Hughie says, looking down at his device.

"You felt it?" Ben whispers to you.

"Yeah. It feels like a fog is covering this space..." you gesture to the clearing.

Ben takes a deep breath to calm himself. You know deep down he was nervous before coming, and the day has only added to his stress. You place a hand on his should, giving it a comforting squeeze and a reassuring look.

"We're in this together." You send him the message telepathically. He nods in response.

Meanwhile, Hughie was looking on, observing the two of you together. He feels that there was a possibility he was judgemental of Soldier Boy. Maybe he wasn't such a hard ass? After all, he was very soft with you. Something Hughie knew was only ever for you, but gave him hope that maybe... maybe Soldier Boy was different from what the stories said.

However, Soldier Boy's words about killing Mindstorm still echoed in his brain. He needed to do everything he could to make sure he got him back to Butcher before that happened.

The trio make the way closer to the building, walking past the wind chimes. You focus on your surroundings and not making any noise as you walk over the drying grass, much like the two men with you. Hughie pulls the wooden door open for Ben to walk through, his shield and gun in position. Hughie follows Ben and you come up behind them.

You tried carefully in the surely rotting wooden floor, judging by the smell and discolouration on the timber.

"Be careful of where you step or you might fall through the floor." You send to both men, ensuring your ability to turn your mind into a vault is active to keep Mindstorm out. You see both men nod slightly in response.

Ben gets to the end of the makeshift corridor before he stops and gestures his weapon to a mirror up ahead. You see Mindstorm in the reflection, crouched down and shifting on his feet. Ben breathes deeply again, preparing to ambush Mindstorm.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." You hear suddenly from Hughie. Your eyes widen and you go to grab Hughie's shoulder, but he disappears in a flash, his clothes dropping to the floor.

Ben spins to look behind him with widened eyes, seeing Hughie gone, but his clothes left behind, and your extremely pissed off expression. He rushes to look at the mirror again and sees a now naked Hughie grab Mindstorm from behind before they vanish. You both rush around to see that they are both, in fact, gone.

"Shit!" Ben yells. You stand there and feel the anger working through your veins. How could you not see this coming? "Y/N, let's go. We gotta get him before it's too late." Ben turns and storms out of the barn.

You follow Ben outside of the building. But your anger has reached the point where you turn and blast your powers to the innocent barn and see it explode, the noise being heard for miles.

Meanwhile, Hughie has Mindstorm back at the location where Butcher is living out his nightmare. He's just opening his eyes to Mindstorm and is trying to reassure him that everything is okay, and he can be trusted.

"Okay. Hey. We're cool. Very chill. Very cool." Hughie promises, before they both hear an explosion in the distance. "We might want to hurry..."

Hughie gives him some clothes to change into, but the pressure of knowing Soldier Boy and Vivid were on their way back, was making Mindstorm even more anxious. Mindstorm didn't want to waste time waking that man up until the boy offered to teleport him away and not tell anyone.

"What about Vivid?" Hughie looks confused for a moment. "How are you going to make sure she doesn't find out where you teleported me?"

"It'll at least give you a head start to get out of here." Hughie is grasping at straws and he knows it. But he knows any chance of survival is what Mindstorm needs, and that's the only one he has.

Mindstorm's considers it for a few seconds, because that's all he can afford. Then he agrees and moves to the man's body. Hughie kneels down and watches Mindstorm stand over Butcher to do whatever it is that he does.

Butcher suddenly wakes up, gasping for breath and looks over to Hughie. He apologises, which confuses Hughie. Mindstorm sees why, but doesn't care to stick around longer than he has to. He need to get the fuck away, now!

"Hey, kid." He urges the young man. Hughie looks up at him.

"Right, right, yeah." He gets up and makes to move over to Mindstorm. "Okay. Deals a deal. Where are we headed?"

Mindstorm doesn't get the chance to answer because there's suddenly a knife through the side of his head and exiting through his right eye socket. He screams in pain and Hughie is in shock as he looks to see Soldier Boy and the Supe he was growing fond of, no longer Y/N, but Vivid, storming in their direction.

Her eyes were glowing violet as she uses her power to push Mindstorm over from her position in the trees. As they both get to Mindstorm, Y/N places a hand out, palm facing down to his body, clearly holding him down as he is still yelling out in pain.

Ben grabs a bag out to place over his head, but Y/N growls "No! I want to see his eyes." She flicks her wrist and Mindstorm's body turns to lay in his back.

"Hey! Wait, wait, wait!" Hughie rushes over to get them to stop.

Ben punches Mindstorm to get him to stop struggling, which seems to work. He then gets to his feet and turns towards Hughie. Hughie tries his best to not be scared at the huge Supe glaring at him, before Ben then punches Hughie with enough force to throw him back a good couple of feet.

Y/N watches as Butcher looks back to Ben and see's Butcher's eyes light up and a sizzling sound come from them.

"Keep him away from this, Billy." You order, your own eyes glowing and the veins in your neck now too. Butcher looks to you as his eyes turn back to normal and he turns to look after Hughie.

You turn back to Mindstorm and kneel down. Your hand clenched into a fist, pulling his body up closer to you.

"Hiya Dan. I'd say long time no see, but you've made many appearances in my nightmares over the past forty years." You say with a mad grin on your face and a crazy tone.

"Y/N, come on, you know I always liked you..." he begs.

"Fucking BULLSHIT! You may have strengthened your power, but I'm in now, Dan. You have a weakness and that's uncontrollable fear."

"It's- it's not what you think. It wasn't my idea!"

"Oh, we know it was Noir's." You feel that drop in your stomach as Ben says this, still unsure about leaving him yesterday. "But how does that work, huh? Because there's no way he makes a fucking move without Vought!" Ben's voice grows loud.

"They gave him the green light." Mindstorm pants.

You clench your fist tighter, making it harder for him to breathe. "Why would they do that?" You growl through clenched teeth.

Butcher is lifting Hughie to his feet and they look over to you and Ben, interrogating Mindstorm before Ben suddenly yells out, "What?! That's impossible."

They see you drop your hands, your powers releasing Mindstorm as you look to Ben with a stunned but almost broken look on your face. He looks up to you before you look to Hughie and Butcher, expression hardening before back down to Mindstorm. You look to Ben, blink slowly, Mindstorm screams, then you turn and walk a few steps away, your back to everyone.

Ben looks back down to Mindstorm, seeing his left eye now filled with violet, blocking Mindstorm from using his powers on him. Ben's expression hardens also before he lifts his shield up and proceeds to bring it down multiple times on his face, caving it in and yelling out. Ben doesn't know anymore if it's in anger or pain. When he stops, his shield is covered in blood at the pointed side where he used it as a weapon and he stands up, panting from the exertion and the emotions.

Ben looks over to see Y/N still standing and looking out into the forest, his own chest heavy. He then turns to look at the boys before walking over. He halts briefly and glares at Hughie and quickly glances at Butcher, before he marches up the small hill.

"What'd he say?" Butcher calls out, but Ben ignores him.

Butcher and Hughie look at each other, before they hear Y/N yell out. They quickly look back to see her on her knees and blasting her violet power out into the woods, flattening the trees out in front of her.

Hughie goes to walk to her, but Butcher holds him back. If the punch he received from Soldier Boy was anything to go by, Butcher knew Hughie had done something to piss them both off, and he's pretty sure he knew exactly what judging by the bloody event that just occurred.

Y/N is breathing heavily as she turns and walks towards them. She eyes Butcher, her glare enough for him to know he won't win against her if he tries anything, and then she stops in front of Hughie. Her jaw is set tight, her body just as rigid. Hughie opens his mouth to speak, but she holds up a hand and closes it tightly in a fist.

Hughie feels as if his vocal chords and windpipe are tied in knots. He cannot speak, cannot breath. He looks to Y/N, eyes and mind begging for her to stop.

"This so not a threat. This is a promise. There will be no more chances. Once more..." her eyes glow violet once again and Hughie doubles over as his brain feels like it's being stabbed with red hot knives, "and you will die."

She releases Hughie from her hold and proceeds to walk where Ben did only moments before. Once she is out of sight, Butcher grabs Hughie to make sure he's okay.

"Bloody hell, Hughie...! I don't know what you did, but I have an idea. You're fuckin' lucky to be alive, mate."

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