A/N: Hello everyone, at last I'm (slowly) returning to writing. I've had this fic idea ever since reading Hero Killer. I'm gonna guess there are more Boys fans here. Technically speaking you don't need to read HK but I highly recommend it, it's really good! You'll also get to know the HK characters a lot better.

I should preface this by including trigger warnings! This story will contain heavy violence/gore, as well as deaths (as is customary judging by both series lol). There will also be mentions of sexual assault, but nothing directly shown. Because of writer's block and other stuff, Idk how often I will update, but I hope not to leave y'all hanging for too long! Regardless, hope you enjoy the story.

"We're willing to offer $45,000… all you need to do is sign this NDA."

Hughie couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. A pit formed in his stomach, in the back of his head.

His girlfriend, his lifeblood, his dear sweet Robin. Gone and dead, killed by one of the heroes the world so adored.

It made him physically ill to see that Vought would just throw her life away like that, as if she had meant nothing at all. She wasn't even a name; she was a payout.

He wanted to strangle the man seated opposite himself, ruin that horrible fake smile. He wanted to scream until his throat was dry.

"I'll give you some time," the man told him, sweetly. Then he was gone.

Hughie couldn't do anything, of course. Not against Vought. He was just one guy. Revenge wasn't possible. That was that.

His father would tell him to just sign the NDA. Who wouldn't? 45k would be a big help. Come on, Hughie. We need the money. I know you loved Robin, but there's nothing you can do.

Fuck that. 45k couldn't replace a human life. The thought of accepting it at all maybe Hughie want to vomit. And yet, there was nothing he could do. So instead, he began to sob, weeping into his palms.

Hughie watched the world go by. People were smiling, walking, living - like nothing was wrong. They didn't understand the pain of losing someone to a hero. The impact of loss never hit until you experienced it yourself.

The sickness grew worse and worse, like a kettle boiling over. Yet… he knew all the rage was just steam. What could he do? Robin was dead, and that was that.

… or so he'd thought.

Not long ago, he'd encountered a man named Billy Butcher. The strange man had offered him a chance to get back at Vought - discreetly place listening bugs inside their HQ.

That fucking company made Hughie see red. Butcher had shown him footage of A-Train laughing over Robin's death. Fucking laughing.

He wasn't going to let this stand. So of course, stealthy as he could, he infiltrated the damn building, signing that NDA with a fake smile of his own, and placing down some listening bugs.

Things were going to plan. Perhaps he'd get his shot at revenge after all.

Ding!

Hughie blinked. It was the evening; there wasn't much time left until he had to close up shop. He had a humble job at an electronics store, average pay, average life. Same old shit, so he told himself.

He didn't usually expect many customers at this time, so he was surprised to see the door open… yet, nobody came in.

"Uh…" he looked around. "Hello? Is someone there?"

Suddenly, he felt a hand wrap around his throat.

"What the hell is this, huh?!" a voice demanded.

Hughie looked down. On the desk was the listening bug. He swallowed, going pale.

"Translucent…" he muttered.

Well, shit. One of the legendary Seven had come after him. He should've known this would happen.

He couldn't see the invisible hero's glare, but he could feel his fingers tightening around his throat. The hero's skin was like solid titanium - even if he were strong enough to pry his fingers off, he couldn't do much against the rock-hard flesh.

"You have any idea who you're messing with?!" Translucent snapped. "We're The Seven!"

Hughie wanted to cry. Great, now he was going to die to a hero, just like his girlfriend. So much for revenge. He couldn't do a damned thing.

CRASH!

Half the shop had been destroyed; electronics were lying everywhere. Translucent was backed against the wall, breathing heavily. He coughed up blood. His invisible body was coated in a thin layer of the dark red liquid.

A woman was standing there, narrowing her red eyes. Her long, gray hair flowed in the wind. She was grabbing Translucent's arm.

Hughie backed up against the wall. His ears were still ringing from the crash.

"Who the hell are you?!" Translucent asked her.

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to kill you."

"You working with this asshole?!" Translucent demanded, pointing at Hughie.

"I'm going to kill you," the woman repeated, stepping towards him. "I already know all your abilities, Translucent. Prepare to face death."

"Tell me what's going on here!" Translucent demanded. "Don't you idiots know who you're messing with?!"

The woman blinked, closing her eyes. Suddenly, she turned invisible, right before his eyes.

"What the fuck?!" he demanded. "How did you…?"

He stood up, only to get pinned against the wall. He let out a scream as blood burst everywhere, coating the woman holding him. It was all over the walls, the technology, the floor, a river of blood. The body hit the floor with a wet CRACK.

He was still, lifeless. It had been over in seconds.

"Hmph," the woman uttered, like she'd just squashed a bug. "Don't tell me that's all the Seven has to offer."

Hughie began panting. The woman stared at him with her piercing red eyes. Now that she was no longer invisible, Hughie could soak in her appearance - she was Korean, with long, silver-grey hair. She was athletically toned, wearing a white t-shirt underneath a bright red jacket, as well as black pants.

(She was… kinda hot. Terrifying, but hot.)

She approached him. Hughie held up his hands. He'd never trembled so bad in his life.

"Hughie Campbell," she said.

"Are…" Hughie trailed off. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No," she replied. "I only kill heroes."

Hughie slowly stood up, although making sure to keep a good few feet away from the woman. What else was she capable of?

"Your girlfriend was killed by A-Train," the woman told him.

"Um," Hughie swallowed his bile. "Yeah."

"I lost someone to supes as well," she went on. "It's my job to clean up the mess these corrupt bastards leave behind."

"... who are you?" Hughie asked.

Her gaze hardened. "I'm the Hero Killer."

"Needlessly edgy," Hughie muttered.

The Hero Killer didn't respond to that, breathing out through her nose.

"That's one down," she said. "Now… for the rest of The Seven. If they're all as weak as him… then I'm going to be real disappointed."

Just before she could leave, a car oh-so-cruelly swerved right through the poor old shop, which had already taken its fair share of beatings from the evening. Billy Butcher himself got out, storming into the ruined store.

"You," he pointed at Hero Killer. "Don't move."

"… who are you?" she asked, clenching her fists.

Butcher didn't respond, instead storming over to Translucent's corpse.

"You do this?" he asked Hero Killer.

She nodded.

Butcher clapped his hands together. "Yeah… that's right. I know who you are. Your sister was killed by a supe, wasn't she?"

Hero Killer's expression darkened. She stormed towards Butcher.

"How do you know about that?" she hissed.

"And now you're hunting down heroes as revenge," Butcher grinned. "I've heard about your master."

The tension in the air could've been cut with a knife. Meanwhile, Hughie was shaking like a leaf. So Hero Killer was in a similar position to him. Yet, unlike him, she could actually do something about it.

"What do you want from me?" Hero Killer was inches away from Butcher now. Hughie was not sure who he was more scared of.

"You ain't the only one looking for some revenge," Butcher replied. "We could use someone like you."

"'We'?" Hero Killer asked.

Butcher nodded at Hughie, who suddenly wished he could vanish into midair, much like the deceased Translucent.

"No way," Hughie shook his head. "This is insane. I'm not getting involved with this."

"You really want to let those bastards get off scot-free?" Butcher asked. "This is your chance to make 'em pay, kid."

Hughie swallowed. He had a point. He wanted Vought to suffer at his hands. His pride was begging for it. Meanwhile, his anxiety was begging him to pack up and go home.

"… you said we're fucked," Hero Killer spoke up.

"Vought'll be on your ass," Butcher replied, "the hero buggers are microchipped."

"Good," Hero Killer replied. "Bring them to me."

Butcher stared at her.

"After all," she said, "I'll be the one to wipe out every hero."

"Hold on," Hughie jumped in, "You can't be serious!" He turned to Hero Killer. "You literally just fucking killed someone!"

"I'm just getting started," she replied, making him whimper.

"Cool it down, kids," Butcher rolled his eyes. "It's not going to be as easy as ya think."

"I killed him within seconds," Hero Killer pointed at Translucent. "If they're all as weak as him… this will be over quickly."

Butcher breathed out. "Right. I think you two should come with me."