A/N: To the reviewer known as Tony McNucklz: I would like to clarify a few things. I would rather not respond, to tell the truth, since I'm glad to know you find the concept interesting and if I felt the need to defend my stories like I used to, then I honestly have no business putting stories up on FanFiction or Ao3. But there were a couple things in your review that I feel like came across wrong from the story. Feel free to correct me on this, as you may have gotten the messages just fine

First off, the 'obligatory' rape/domestic violence scene. I get what you mean about it, and you were right that I was trying to convey a message, but I apparently conveyed the wrong one. The key thing to take from that scene wasn't that John has a problem with it, since that should go without saying as you said. The main thing I was trying to focus on is that as good a person John is, he's clearly no saint, and he's got serious issues in terms of anger that can make him far more dangerous than anyone on the show. Sure, I could've done it with a different crime, but I didn't want to write a murder this early to tell the truth, or an actual attempted rape, and John snapping someone in half for robbery or theft really wouldn't make sense for people to just be like 'scary, but he's still a decent guy'.

Secondly, I wasn't trying to do a jab at Christian's because they're apparently the easiest religion to jab at. The goal wasn't really to target Christianity so much as it was to target the kind of overzealous people who stuff such in your face and try to cram it down your throat. As someone who's met normal people who are Christians and diehards bordering on fanatics, many of the Christians in the expo came across as the latter, at least to me.

And lastly, Maeve. Honestly, I get your point about idolizing Maeve, but we all knew that she at least had some sort of decent bone in her from the start, considering she at least tried to give Starlight useful advice. The main difference between Starlight and John is that one is a 26-year-old woman and Maeve most likely feels that in the end, whether she knew what she was getting into or not, Starlight made the decision to stay. John is a 15-year-old teenager with immense strength that is more than likely being taken advantage of, and I can personally see Maeve drawing a line there and opting to keep an eye on someone should such happen.

As I said before, I could've completely misinterpreted your reviews, but these particular parts felt as though they conveyed the wrong message, and I felt the need to clarify them. If I'm wrong, please let me know, as I do enjoy hearing proper criticism as much as I do positive reviews.

With that out of the way, on with the story.

John

I don't know what kind of strings got pulled, but I got away from that stunt in the alley without any charges whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I got more praise than I figured I would considering I broke a man's spine.

Seriously, nothing but thanks is all I've gotten from the authorities. It's… honestly a little disheartening.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy that I'm not in trouble. But shouldn't the police be more concerned about that kind of violence against a normal person from a superhuman?

I don't know. It doesn't sit right with me.

Hell, the news doesn't even mention it. Fox, ABC, Local 12… all of them talk about my 'heroic' deed, and how I stopped a sick fuck from hurting some poor woman. They make me out to be this god given saint, and stuff like that.

But they all conveniently leave out the part where I snapped his spine in half.

I'm not sure what to think of that.

Maeve hasn't been avoiding me or anything, but I can't forget the look on her face in that alley.

Hell, even the poor woman looked downright terrified, hiding behind Maeve until I actually talked to her. I wasn't trying to scare the poor woman, and I could've thought my approach through a little better. Watching me obliterate a section of the alley and then snap a guy's spin by throwing him like a ragdoll definitely wasn't ideal.

It's a part of the reason I stopped Maeve from getting her name. I'd bothered the woman enough, and considering how nervous she got when we asked for her name told me that it'd be best for her if we just let her go.

Honestly, what really gets me is that I just don't have the heart to tell my loved ones what really happened. I mean, I know I'm going to at some point, but I really just don't have it in me to try and reach out to tell them the truth.

Hell, I'm honestly afraid of their reactions.

Maddie knows what I did to Jason when I went with Pete and Rach to Ironton to find him. Rachel let it slip at school, but what really gets me…

Is it weird that I feel like this? I mean, I'm no stranger to blood on my hands. In the five months since I've started going on actual missions with Peter and Rachel, I've learned that much about myself. Maiming or killing someone… It doesn't affect me like it should normal people.

There were times on missions where things were getting heated. We'd be going after a group, time would be limited, and I'd just cut loose. People would stop getting knocked and start getting splattered. And there have been times where I've figured it safer not to take in a target, and my first instinct would be to kill them.

If we count targets and not just things getting heated, I've got three people's lives on my hands.

And I think what really eats at me… is that I feel nothing.

I don't feel any guilt for the few lives I've taken. From what I know, people should go through shock, feel like shit, right? So explain to me why I feel none of that. The first time I killed someone on a mission, I expected the shock to hit me later on. To feel so much guilt that it ate away at me. Something I'd have to learn to live with.

But it was just… something that happened. Another day.

The first person I ever killed was some wackjob with the ability to ignite people from the inside. It's a wonder he didn't kill me, because I remember the pure exhaustion and what almost felt like a heart attack. Thing is, he could only do it one at a time, and my dense body structure is about the only thing that saved me from exploding like bloody confetti.

He tried switching over Peter. What saved Pete was the fact that Rachel fried his arm, and the bastard couldn't take the pain very well.

Next thing I remember, my hand is covered in blood and he's got a hole in his chest.

Now, I suppose the argument could be made that it does affect me in some way, since I'm sitting here feeling bad for it in some capacity.

Except… I don't feel bad for it. I don't regret, and it doesn't haunt my nightmares or any shit like that. No, what gets me, is the fact that I know I should.

It's not that I feel bad.

It's that I'm genuinely scared of what that might mean in terms of my mental state.

I don't voice it often, but a simple truth about myself is that the first thing that comes to mind when something pisses me off is violence. It's been that way for a while.

Before I had my powers, it was easier to deal with. I wished I could kill someone, but I couldn't. Not only would it mean a prison sentence, but I didn't have any type of skill or know-how to kill someone.

Now… I don't need much of either when I can put my hand through a man's chest.

And it's not a lack of control over my powers either. If that were the case, I'd have hurt so many of my loved ones already. God only knows what I could've done to someone just giving them a hug without any control.

Usually, I don't really have these thoughts. I think that's mainly because I don't expect my loved ones to really know about my every thought.

But what happens when those violent thoughts that pop up in my head are turned into a reality? Then, I have to face the reaction of my friends and loved ones, because god knows I don't have it in me to keep it from them forever. Especially when they do get to see it first-hand.

Which brings me back to Maeve. Even having powers, she watched me snap a guys back, and then threaten to track him down and kill him. And I could see it all over her face when I finally looked at her.

She was scared.

I think that's what really makes me feel bad, makes me uncomfortable, or guilty. The possibility of scaring my loved ones.

Or… more accurately the possibility that they might actually be scared of me.

That was the thing that scared me the most when I first got back home. The possibility that my strength, something I'd never had before, is admittedly dangerous in many ways… would scare my family away.

Luckily, nothing seems to have changed between me and Maeve. But if I can scare someone like Queen Maeve like that, how badly would I scare my loved ones when all they have is there imagination when they find out?

I don't want my loved ones to think of me as a monster.

At the moment, I've honestly just been laying here on my bed. Despite some distractions, the entire thing has been on my mind since yesterday, to the point that I honestly didn't even sleep last night. I tried pacing, games, movies, anything. Even tucked my head into a book to see if reading something might distract me.

But without a person to distract me… the thought just won't leave my mind.

I'd like to feel better knowing we did some good yesterday. After that incident, Maeve and I ended up stopping a couple of muggings, a robbery, and we ended up getting involved in a break-in at an auction-house.

We did some real good.

But none of that really seems important compared to the fact that I broke a man's back and scared the hell out of a friend and some poor woman.

Honestly, I've been so lost in my thoughts that when my phone suddenly rings from my nightstand, I actually jump.

I look over at the nightstand and reach over, grabbing it and merely lifting it up to see the screen since it's still connected to the charger.

Maddie

IS CALLING

My eyes widen when I read the name, before immediately swinging up into a sitting position on the side of my bed as I disconnect the charger and race to answer the call.

"Hello?" I greet her over the phone, waiting for the response even though I know it'll be coming in a second.

"Hey!" Maddie's voice greets cheerfully over the phone, and despite the thoughts that have been plaguing me, I can't help the smile that works its way onto my face. "I was wondering if you were gonna answer! I just saw the news."

And just like that, my smile is gone at her unintended reminder.

"Really?" I try to sound joyful, but even I can tell that it's a miserable attempt since it takes me a second to answer and I can't even hear anything resembling joy in my tone. And I know Maddie well enough.

"You don't sound too happy." Maddie notices, causing me to cringe when I see that I'm correct. Of course she would notice, she's always been able to see right through me. "What's wrong?"

"I…" I go to answer, only to stop myself since it's just a poor excuse Maddie would never believe about to leave my lips. Instead, I answer with something else. "Well, first off, what exactly did you hear from the news?"

Maddie doesn't respond for a few moments, as if she's confused by my question. "Well… you and Maeve stopping that auction house robbery and the possible assault on some woman." Maddie finally answers, still sounding somewhat confused.

"The assault… what all did the news say?" Even though I know the answer, I can't help but to ask it anyway. It's like I'm unconsciously forcing myself into a position where I have to reveal the truth.

"They said what you guys told them I guess." Maddie responds. "You and Maeve were on patrol, came across the guy harassing some woman, apparently his ex, and you guys stopped him."

"I stopped him, more like." I can't help the unnecessary correction that leaves my lips out of habit, before letting out a sigh. "Did they mention anything else about the guy?"

"Um… no, not really. Why?" When I don't answer a few seconds, I visibly wince when Maddie's voice becomes a bit more stern. "John, what happened?"

"I…" I let out a sigh after a few moments of hesitation before finally answering her. "Maddie, we didn't just stop him. When we came across it, it set me off."

"I mean, I figured that." Maddie says, causing me to smile slightly, and I can almost hear the smile in her voice as well. "People doing shit like that to women pisses you off. I remember when Noah Brickey tried scaring me into a date with him, and you were standing right there."

I can't help but to smile slightly at the memory, one which happened before I got my powers. "Wasn't exactly my proudest moment, getting suspended for beating the hell out of him. Didn't help that Mamaw and Papaw were pissed because they had to pay for the locker I dented."

The sound of Maddie giggling on the other side of the call has my heart warming.

Look, I'm not even gonna deny it at this point, can you tell that I'm in love with this girl? Honestly, I'd look for any reason just to hear her laugh, see her smile…

"Maybe not, but I definitely appreciated it. You are always looking out for me." Maddie says, her tone somehow managing to be a mix of joking and sincere.

"Of course I'm looking out for you. You're my best friend." Something I wouldn't change for the world. "And hey, you're always looking out for me too, more than you think."

"I haven't exactly done much-"

"You helped me keep my grades up, talked me out of many bad decisions, and do I even need to mention-"

"Okay! I get it!" Maddie gives a sigh of faux exasperation as she says it. "You don't have to name anything off."

"Then quit putting yourself down, woman." I can't help but to say with a chuckle. "You have done, and still do, more for me than you give yourself credit for."

Maddie goes silent on the other end for a moment, and I do so as well while I wait for her to say something.

"So… what happened with that guy that's got you in a funk?"

Of course Maddie wouldn't forget. I'm honestly not sure if I wanted her to or not. Still, my shoulders visibly slump when she goes back to the original topic of conversation. After a few moments, I let out a sigh.

"Well… I shattered one end of the alley when I landed and may have… broke his… spine…"

I can't help but to trail off in silence as I finally get it out, and Maddie goes silent on the other end for far longer than I'd like. Every second that ticks by makes me an even more nervous wreck than before.

"Maddie?" I can't help but to ask, hoping and praying to god that Maddie… well, I just hope she answers at the moment. That'd be better than anything.

"I'm here…" She says after a few moments, and as stupid as it might sound, I cannot describe the utter relief that fills me at that moment. "What… what happened, exactly?"

"I had him by the jaw." I recall what happened to Maddie, feeling guilt and shame filling me as I tell her everything that happened. "He was struggling, and he'd tried that whole 'I'll ruin your life' act… I threatened him… and a few seconds later, I chucked him at the wall."

Maddie's silent for a few moments, and I'm assuming that she's just processing what I told her.

"Maybe you're just too used to superhumans?" Maddie suggests suddenly, catching me by surprise. I wasn't really sure what her response was going to be, but that wasn't what I was expecting.

"Um… yeah, maybe." I say slowly, taking a moment to process that she's apparently making some kind of excuse for it. Though… I'm not really sure that's it.

Sure, superhumans can be a lot tougher and have better ways of fighting back, but in the end, and I manhandle and ragdoll most superhumans the same as any other. Hell, Peter's strong enough and more than tough enough to stand his ground, but I can still turn him into a ragdoll.

The difference between Peter and most others is that Peter doesn't become a bloody stump at some point.

"I mean, I know you've been going on missions with Peter and Rachel for… five months now?" When I confirm that, she continues. "How many fights have you been in with regular humans in that span? Every fight you've been in has been with a superhuman."

I don't really think that's the reason… but at the same time, it does make sense. I'm so used to fighting people with all these different powers, and the last regular person I fought… well, I didn't have my powers.

I probably would've beaten the guy half to death anyway, but now I'm so much more used to taking hits that would kill normal people and dishing them out all the same, that even holding back in a fight can still hurt someone.

"Huh…" I nod my head out of habit, because I think Maddie's actually right in a way, before I let out a small chuckle. "I… honestly never thought of that."

"Of course you didn't." Maddie sounds amused once more, a small giggle following her words. "There's a reason I had to help you through most of school."

I can't help but to habitually roll my eyes at her words. "Yeah, yeah, you're the brains, I'm the brawn, all that stuff." I say with a chuckle. "You're taking this news a lot better than I expected."

"Well… I wasn't expecting it, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't expected it." There's no reason to elaborate further on that statement. Like I said, Maddie knows about what happened with Jason, and… well, I'm surprised she doesn't look at me like a monster.

Long story short, I stuck my hand in Jason's back and crushed his spine. Let's leave it at that.

"Right…" I say, pinching the bridge of my nose as I do so. "That's… fair…"

"John, don't let it get to you, alright?" Maddie's voice comes through the phone, gentle as ever, soothing as it always is. And just like that, it makes me feel better than ever. "Look, I'm not gonna sit here and act like it was okay… but at the same time, it's not like you were doing it just to hurt somebody. You were angry, and the guy honestly sounds like he deserved it, trying to hurt some poor woman like that."

"That doesn't change the fact that I let myself get too angry. Again."

"Now who's putting themself down?"

I can't help but to chuckle at that. "Touché."

"Anyway, what was it like working with Maeve?"

Oh boy, here we go.

Butcher

The Juggernaut. The Seven's newest member. A lad who's only fifteen years old.

Doesn't even have a fancy suit. Gotta have the most foul-mouth I've ever heard from one of Vought's little shows.

Good actor too.

I like him. As much as I can for a supe, anyway. Which ain't saying much.

He's still a cunt. Just another knight shining bloody armor, pulling the wool over people's eyes like sick puppies.

Hell, he's talking about how he got his powers seven something months ago. I think it's a load of bollocks. In fact, I know it is. Just a buncha shite cooked by Vought and spoon fed to the public. His little 'panic attack' was probably just a way to get attention, sympathy, shite like that.

After all, we know that God doesn't make supes anymore. They aren't graced by divine intervention.

They're just drugged as babies. Fucking kid's prolly had his powers since he was a wee lad. Why, I'd be willing to bet he fucked up and crushed his folks in a hug.

I mean, seriously, he's talking how it can be scary? To be a superhero? Sure, it's scary alright. A building collapses on top of ya, and ya walk out just fine, but a cunt waving a gun is scary alright! It sure is!

What a load of bollocks.

And every supe he's prolly faced is more than likely just one Vought's scripts. A show, for the public. Increase interest and popularity, all that malarkey.

And he's talking about how some people get there powers through traumatic experiences and shite. Sure, maybe it would be traumatic to supes for them to find out their parents had them drugged with something that could possibly have killed them when they were wee tots.

But finding out ya have them? Why, in this world, it's prolly the best damn feeling on Earth. You know, assuming you don't hurt someone close to ya.

I'm surprised he didn't crush that stupid girl he hugged in that video going around. Oh, he gave her his flannel? Wonderful! It's not that I can't go down the bloody thrift shop and find the same damn shirt for ten bucks a pop.

Cunts these days are too fucking ignorant.

They put way too much stock in what supes say and do. They fucking worship.

And then ones who pay for it are hushed up in order to keep the heroes from getting in trouble.

LIke fucking Homelander. Vought's golden boy.

Honestly, I think the only thing I'm really curious about with that kid is how strong he is. That's about the only bleedin' reason I can think of for Vought to put a fucking teenager on the Seven.

Kid's probably strong as Homelander himself.

Makes me wonder if that blonde girl he was apparently with in that video was actually wanting to be there. Probably scared for her life.

I guess one good side to the kid is that he don't have Homelander's senses. He's not gonna hear our heartbeats, see us through concrete, or smell us because of the shite still stuck up our asses.

Though, that healing he mentioned… that will make him harder to off.

But me and the boys will figure it out. Frenchie's good with that shite.

One less supe, the better, I say.

Anyway, I better paying attention. MM's putting on a show.

"Samaritan's Embrace, led by Ezekial but bankrolled by Vought, has been shipping Compound V to 53 hospitals across the country since 1971 and gift wrapping it…" MM trails off when the female supe that Frenchie decided not to axe comes stumbling out, searching through and taking some markers that MM had so neatly organized. It takes him a few moments, taking in a breath, and you can see the frustration clear on his face. He lets out a heavy breath, before he finally starts up again. "... and gift wrapping it as polio vaccine."

Oh, right. Not all supes were made with Mommy and Daddy's permission.

"Are you telling me that God's not reaching up the twats of American girls and blessing babies?" I mean, I already had that idea since I was with MM when we found the hospital(I miss that fucking baby already), but still, gotta make it clear.

Of course, MM focusing on the wrong fucking part, the cunt.

"Butcher, can you leave God out of this?" He asks with a shake of his, his eyes going wide in disbelief like he can't believe I said that.

Which is odd, considering he was at the damn Expo standing right next to me when I was telling that priest how if the big white bastard does exist, he's just another cunt.

"H-Hold on, hold on." Hughie pipes up, causing me and MM to both turn and look at him as he looks at MM in disbelief. "So, no hero was born? None of them? They're all just kids dosed with the blue shit. I mean, even-"

"Even fucking Starlight." Jesus Christ, he's still on about that broad? She's a fucking supe! I gotta get it through his stupid little skull somehow.

Silence goes through the room when I say it, so it's clear that everyone knows that there's a small bit of disagreement between me and Hughie when it comes to her. After a second, I can't help but to bring my hand up and begin running my fingers through the mustache of me beard out of habit.

"Do you think… Do you think they know? What really happened to them?" Hughie asks out loud. Even though he's prolly looking at MM, even I can tell that the question isn't aimed at any one person, but all of us.

But another question comes into my mind. One I find a little more important.

"What about Homelander?" I ask, looking at MM since he did most of this research and deep diving.

I can't say I like what I hear.

"Homelander's a black hole." MM responds, lips clenching together as he says it. He doesn't have the same hatred for Homelander as I do, but he don't like the golden cunt either. He ain't happy. "Never had any public records and never will. However, every single other supe?" He pauses as he holds up a vial that we got our hands on to make his point. "Juiced up labrats. Except-"

Whatever MM was about to say is interrupted once again by the female, who comes out and this time, she knocks over some papers. MM shakes his head and rolls his eyes in frustration.

"My god." He says out loud, giving the woman a look of pure annoyance as he says it. At this point, we're all used to her. We're a little weary, except maybe Frenchie, but there ain't no fear to be had. Never was from me, anyway. "I'm trying to give a tremendous fucking TED talk here, and this…" Now, that one might've been a problem, so it's a good thing MM stops himself as he turns to Frenchie. "Frenchie, can you control her, please?"

Frenchie looks at MM like he just asked why the bloody skies blue, hands flapping open as he speaks. "I do not control her."

MM just scoffs in frustration and turns to look at me, gesturing to both Frenchie and the female while looking at me. "Do you see what I'm dealing with?"

"Yeah, yeah. Nice." I say, throwing his annoyance out the window because it's not important. "What were you gonna say? Every other supe is juiced except…"

MM just looks at me, before he shakes his head and sighs while he gets back on topic.

He doesn't answer at first. Instead, he walks to the other side of the table and grabs a couple of papers real quick. He makes his way back up the map, grabbing a couple thumbtacks on the way and pinning one of them to the thing.

And I find myself looking at a picture of the Juggernaut himself.

"Up until his debut three weeks ago, the Juggernaut was a myth." MM says, turning to look back at the rest of us. Hughie looks confused as MM speaks, I can see that from a quick glance, and Frenchie looks curious. I'm with Frenchie on that one. "Seven months ago, a supe busted a hole in a factory in Portsmouth, Ohio. Dust clouds obscured the one camera pointing at the fucking place, so no one saw his face. No fingerprints found."

"So how did Vought track him down?" Frenchie asks, raising an eyebrow. He looks so relaxed, prolly is too. Don't mean he ain't paying attention. "No face, no fingerprints, no way they could've found him."

"Unless it's not actually the same supe." I wager a guess, but the look on MM's face tells me I'm wrong.

"Not quite." MM says, turning around and pinning the other piece to the map.

And it's a bloody Facebook page I'm looking at.

"John Douglas Gallgher." MM says, giving the Juggernaut's full name. "Compared to Vought's other supes, he's an enigma. Born to Alicia Lane Gallagher and William Luthor Gravely, grandson of Bryan Douglas Gallagher and Deborah Kay Gallagher. Father was never present, mom took off when he was young, left him with his step-dad. Two siblings, in step-dad's custody. Grandparents got custody of him after a court battle between his grandfather and his step-dad-"

"Cut the shit and get to the bloody point." I interrupt MM, cutting him cause none of this shit is important in the slightest. At least, I don't think it is. MM gives me a look, and I can see him grinding his teeth from the way his jaw shifts in irritation.

"Fine." MM finally says. "Mr. Gallagher here never showed any powers, never possessed any for most of his life." MM explains, before pinning yet another paper on the map.

"A missing poster?" Hughie asks in confusion. "I thought supes were juiced up. If he's a supe, why would he have gone missing?"

MM gives that slight smile, happy that someone caught on. "Good question." He says as he points at Hughie, before letting his hand drop. "Seven months ago, John Gallgaher went missing, until miraculously turning up at his home three weeks later. Police had figured he run away."

"Powers kicked in?" Frenchie guessed, but I think I see where MM's going with this now.

"Or someone hired by Vought got their hands on him. Pumped full of this V shit at a site in Portsmouth." I wager a guess, a good one this time.

"Probably that factory that it sounds like he busted out of." Hughie adds on, looking at the pictures with an expression that shows he doesn't like what he hears.

Neither do I.

"John was never listed as super-abled." MM says, using the term that the medical and science folk use to refer to supes. Because it's 'politically correct'. "And the Juggernaut was labeled a myth. Until three weeks ago, on the same day as his debut, his records are updated. Now he's super-abled."

Well… this doesn't add up one bit. Maybe that shit he was spouting about getting his powers such bollocks after all.

"You got to ask him a question, didn't ya, Hughie?" I say, turning to look at the lad with a raised eyebrow. "When you were at that Expo, you were one of the people he asked."

Hughie nods head in response. "I was curious as to why Vought let a kid onto their big team. I figured maybe he was older than he looked." He admitted as his gaze slowly moves back to the papers tacked on the map. "I guess not."

"What are you thinking, Butcher?" MM asks, looking at me with that look. He knows I got an idea of some sort in my head.

"We don't know nothing for certain. We'll have to head down to Portsmouth, check it out ourselves." I explain, looking at MM as I give my thoughts. "But not everything is adding up. If Vought chose to nab some poor bloke and juice them up on V, why some teenager? And why let him onto the Seven?"

"Failsafe?" Frenchie guesses, causing us to look at him. "Chances are, if they were trying to kidnap somebody to test, they were using either a different Compound, or more doses than usual. Maybe they intend for him to be a failsafe of some sort?"

"For what?" Hughie asks, but I slowly turn my gaze to meet MM's, who looks less than enthused by what Frenchie's really getting at.

"Homelander…" I can't help but say as the pieces finally click, though not all of them. "Vought's getting worried. Homelander's becoming a problem."

"But like you said, that still doesn't explain why a kid." MM responds, and he's right.

If Vought's gonna create a bloody failsafe for Homelander, why the bollocks did they choose fucking teenager?

"Something else doesn't add up." Hughie speaks up, catching our attention. "Vought crafts outfits and personas for their heroes, right? But something tells me the Juggernaut was supposed to be on stage longer. His debut wasn't that long compared to other heroes, and he's 'outfit' isn't some specialized costume." He points out, adding some more pieces to a puzzle we don't need.

We should be good. Raynor's gonna love what we have. We got Vought child endangerment, drug trafficking, and the largest American history.

But the thing is… the Juggernaut's just become one massive puzzle piece. A loose cannon. There's too much we don't know, too much not adding up.

Portsmouth is in Ohio. Maybe a day's drive. Check out that factory, see if we can find more evidence. Maybe Vought left something behind. Something on the kid, or just more evidence to bring the cunts down.

What we have should be all we need to bring Vought down, but considering Juggernaut has apparently stayed hidden for well over seven months, and he's just become one of the biggest red flags we have…

Too risky.

"MM, get gears and ready to go." I say, turning to look at him. "We need to hit the road yesterday, we'll head down to this factory and see if Vought left anything behind, anything we can find that might give us what we need."

Though he looks less than pleased, MM nods and immediately takes off, leaving the room to gather whatever he'll need for the trip.

"Frenchie, you're on babysitting duty." I say as I turn to look at the frenchmen. "You have some kind of bond the female, so you keep watch over her. We should be back some time tomorrow."

"And what about me?" Hughie asks, looking at me with a curious gaze.

I look at him for a moment. What does he mean 'what does he do?' "Do what you been doing. Go on your dates with Starlight, or help Frenchie babysit. Your choice." I say, cause at the moment, there's really nothing useful for him to do."

And with that, I take my own leave. We got shit to do."

A/N: Yes, I know, short chapter. I wanted it to be longer, but there was honestly nothing else I could've fit into this chapter that really needs to be there. I hope you all liked seeing Butcher's POV. I really hope I've gotten better at writing him, considering the last time I wrote him in depth was in my now defunct fic Omni-Man: Vought's Downfall and my fic Echoes of Rage.

I know, this kind of messes with things because this means the meeting with Mesmer doesn't work out so well. Honestly, I'm debating on how to handle that, make them wait until Butcher and Mother's Milk return from Portsmouth.

Honestly, I'm not sure how well I handled Butcher, especially in regards to going and seeing Raynor. I know he's gunning for Homelander and taking Vought down, but if there's one thing I do know about Butcher, it's that he's more cautious than he looks. He'll take risks, especially in regards to Homelander, but I personally feel the addition and unknowns that John brings in would give him slight pause, and cause him to try and figure out what he can. Not to mention more possible evidence against Vought.

I know that once the chapter's out, this the direction the story is gonna go, and I'm more than fine with that. But I would like your opinions, along with what you thought of the chapter, on whether Butcher choosing to investigate John a little more was in character or out of character.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the short chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave your thoughts in a review, and I'll see in the next chapter!