Third POV

Buttercup was back where she belonged in her dark room. She didn't like to judge, but Duncan seemed like the type who didn't keep his word. Still, how hard is it to tell me you wouldn't show up or not ask me out? Even with that thought, she wasn't surprised or disappointed. She hadn't treated him the best.

She stares at her sheets, nothing on her mind or heart. It was strange. She wanted to feel something but couldn't. Maybe she finally found her careless mindset. Life was great when she had it. Not too many people did have it.

The best example of who did was Butch. That boy doesn't give a damn about anything but himself. Her lips twitch at the thought until they're neutral when she realizes her previous actions. He would've never been stood up. He would've never cared...or acted the way I did. Her cheeks burn as she recoils further into her blankets.

She couldn't remember the last time she embarrassed herself like that in front of an enemy. What did he think of her now? "Well, he came all this way after seeing me cry. What is he going to do now?" She groans, wishing something had stopped her from acting like an arrogant brat. He wouldn't have done anything if I hadn't- There was a thump. What the hell was that?

She got out of bed and went to the window. She drew the curtains, searching for the noise maker, but there was nothing. Was it a bird? She hadn't seen any at night. Do birds even fly at night? Besides owls, what do they do? She turns to her bed, thinking nothing of it, before hearing a loud thump. "Oh, my- what the hell?!"

It was Butch slamming his hand against the window. She huffs and unlocks the window. He kept his face lowered as he dragged himself into the bedroom. She kept silent until he casually murmured. "Hey, how you feeling?"

"Where were you? I didn't hear you come in until now with your thumping. Couldn't you have knocked?" Buttercup knew she was being petty with her displaced anger, but she wasn't ready to face him. Looking at him made her cheeks flush, but he stared at her, expressionless. "Butch?"

"Getting high, but it wasn't any fun without you," His blank stare fades, but a crazed grin brightens his face. "Games are only fun with a second player. Don't you think, honey?"

Involuntarily, Buttercup shudders. Tonight wasn't hers. "Just forget it, Butch. Go to bed." He barks out a short laugh, and she steps back. If she wasn't careful, a rabid dog would get loose.

"Go to bed? Go to bed?! Sorry, muffin top, but I don't sleep well at night without a good fight! Why don't you wish me that?!"

"Butch, no."

"No?! That's not right! You can't say no to a fucking fight!" His face twists into disgust the more he stares at her cautious form. "But you don't want to fight me. No, you want to get away from me. That's why you left, right?"

"I-"

"You don't need me." His words came out as whispers, almost crazed like his twitching grin. "You probably found someone else to fight, fucking traitor. Why fight me when you can fight that low-calorie Johnny Depp, right?"

Buttercup couldn't understand a thing, but she knew it revolved around her escape. But why is it such a big deal to Butch? He has others to fight. "I don't want to fight anyone else. I don't want to fight nobody." Again, he laughs, disturbing her further. "It's true. Butch, what's wrong with you?"

"FUCKING LIAR!" He bellows, and she flinches, almost jumping further from him. He shakes his head at the action. "There it is. There's the fucking reason you left me. Why would you do that to me?" He pouts as his eyes water.

"What the hell is happening?" Buttercup whispers.

"Let me tell you something, muffin." Buttercup's lips move, forming questions but inaudible. He twitches before he towers over her. "I need you even if you don't want me, okay? You can never truly leave me because I won't let you, Buttercup."

Buttercup had never seen Butch's eyes so dark, and his sincere guttural words made her heart drop. She felt frozen even as her body trembled and goosebumps rose on her skin. And when his eyes gleam in arousal at her fear, heat surges through her blood. "Back off, Butch, before I-"

"You'll make me? That's what I want from you, sunshine."

He leans close, continuing to grin. For a moment, he didn't look beyond crazy. This Butch was the one she knew. So, why is he acting like he's...He sighs, and she smells it. You've got to be kidding me! "Butch, are you drunk right now?"

"That doesn't matter in a fight, sweetie pie." He taps her cheek and giggles.

The more Buttercup stares at him, the more she sees his drunk symptoms. Whispery, like a child, but the creepy, psycho kind and beyond emotional. I can't believe I got scared by this. Still, she had to appease him if she didn't want him to attack.

"Butch, listen to me, okay?" He hums, beginning to sway but keeps his watery eyes on her. "I never said I didn't need you, okay? And I'm not fighting anyone else. I didn't leave you, but Townsville."

"But...I'm in Townsville. You...you left me."

"I left Townsville because I needed to, Butch." It was the closest to the truth.

"And-and you said you...hated me." She winces as the regret furthers from his child-like tone. But his childishness grew to hormonal teenage rage as he continued. "You can't need what you hate! You don't need me! Why, fucking why, Buttercup?!"

"Butch-" She gasps when he grabs her shoulders and slams her against the wall. He presses the question further, but she spews out anything but the truth. "I didn't say that! I didn't need Townsville! I needed a break! Let me go, please!" No matter what she did, she couldn't get away. I'm trapped for real! That began to scare her.

Buttercup would admit that Butch surpassed her in sheer strength and brutality, but she had cleverness. It's how she won their battles alongside her sisters. 'No brawns, use brains' was her hidden motto. But when you're trapped alone, your wits aren't an option. Survival is, and her way was appeasing her tormentor.

It was disgraceful as it wasn't the smartest thing. If you appeased, you accepted all the wrongs. Buttercup hated herself for it, but how else could she win against him? He'd destroy her without lifting a finger.

Butch releases her when tears appear. She remains where she is, repeating her pleas, and deep horror churns his stomach. I...I did it again. I hurt her. That's why she left. Duncan had told him that, and he believed it, but he didn't think he would. Now that he done it again, what should he do?

"If...if you want me to let you go for real," He begins, still drunk. "Fight me. Show me that you still need me even when I'm the reason." Around his broken heart were multiple needles. To take them out, he needed a distraction from the pain. It would still hurt, and blood will spill, but anything was better than the pain he felt now.

"Let's...let's talk, please. Talking is-is good, right?" There was a tight leash around her throat. She grabs it, not pulling but clutching it as if she couldn't dare take it off. "Maybe in the morning, please." She needed to feel safe again, even in her cage. Who was the rabid dog now?

"No, we're fighting now!" She flinches, and he ignores another sting from his heart. "You always said talk is cheap! Show me the money with your fists!"

"No, no, no. I...I can't! I won't do it again, I promise!" Why couldn't she ever get what she wanted? It wasn't much, just peace. She could breathe in that, but not through the toxicity of fighting. "Please, please, please." If she felt as if she couldn't breathe, why was it quickening? Why couldn't she see anything but him? What had happened?

"Buttercup!" She hears a voice, but it's faint. "Fight me!"

Those words were odd to her. The last time she fought him, he had hurt her. She didn't like to be hurt by him. Why, why is he begging me to do that? Is...is it not him? She blinks, and it isn't blurry.

She doesn't see him but Butch. He was her counterpart. It was natural for them to fight, but she didn't want to. Fighting never leads to anything good. She learned well from him. "So just...calm down, Butch, please." He and Butch were separate, but they couldn't be more joined.

Butch twitches, gaining his signature crazed grin. "You're fighting me, Buttercup, and it's going to be fun." You don't feel pain when you're having fun. You don't feel anything, and that's what she needs to give me for once. "Heh-heh-heh!"

It was for the wrong reason, but Buttercup couldn't have felt more than what she sensed at that moment. In the back of her mind, she wondered. How could I ever put them side to side? Butch is Butch, and that is who I'm going to fight.

Word Count: 1575

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