When the new Office of Supe Affairs was created, the controversial actions of most of the known supes had died down. Only one new case of head popping happened after Stormfront was dead and gone, but the public was kept unaware and I only learned about it when Mallory came to visit me while Billy and I were working on the Vought files.

We were propped against the desk, the door was propped open, and I had my legs straight out in front of me with my bare toes pointed at the ceiling as we worked. A faint knock on the open door refocused my attention.

"Dr. Taylor," Mallory's eyes took in the scene before her and I could tell she was pleased. "Billy."

I started to get to my feet, but she stopped me. "No need. And I'm happy to see you here, saves me a trip." This last part was directed to Billy. "I had to wait to get confirmation, from someone inside, but we may have a problem."

We watched as she pulled one of the visitors' chairs close to where we sat and took a seat. She sighed, her eyes more focused on Billy than me. "Alastair Adana was found dead in his office right after the announcements were made for the founding of this office." Adana was the head of the Church of the Collective, shit. Before I could ask for a cause of death, she answered. "Like the others during the hearing." Head bursting was becoming the new popular way for supes to kill, or at least one supe. "The Church is saying that he's on an extended missionary something or another." An unladylike snort left her and I had to agree with the sentiment.

"Wait," I realized an issue with this news that was probably the point of her visit, but Billy cut me off by literally completing my thought.

"That means it wasn't Stormfront." He growled, on his feet faster than a man his size should have been able to move. "I fucking knew it." I couldn't tell if he was feeling vindicated or homicidal. Since it was Billy Butcher I was watching, it might be both.

I stayed on the floor, waiting for his pacing and ranting to start, but it was far worse. He stood stock still and calm. Completely focused on a goal and with a flash I truly knew what his goal was. Getting to my feet and stood in front of him. "No." One two letter word, but I knew it could be more powerful than a weapon. His eyes bored into mine, but I stood firm. "No."

Mallory gave her parting, telling me that she'd be in touch, and I had a feeling she wanted to give Billy space. I heard the door shut behind her and silently thanked her for closing it so there were no witnesses if I had to Taser his ass and cause him to urinate all over himself.

"Doc, you HAVE to see it now." He wasn't pleading, oh no, William Butcher didn't plead. Instead he was insulting my intelligence if I didn't agree with him. Fucker.

"I have to see what?" I crossed my arms over my chest. "I have to see that you're chomping at the bit to wage a war that we can't win?" His eyes didn't leave mine, but I could see him wanting to rebel against me. "How do you know it was him?" I tilted my head. IF he could give me some type of fucking proof that Homelander was behind it, then I'd sign off on the fucking kill order myself and walk it to headquarters and get it approved. He was chewing on words, trying to find what I was asking for, it was as clear as if I could crack open his head and read his thoughts.

"Distract me," he growled. I blinked at him. "Come on, Doc, or I'll-" He didn't finish his sentence, but he didn't have to.

"OK," I offered, taking the chair that Mallory vacated. "Let's talk it over-"

He shook his head and knelt in front of me. "That's not a distraction, Ronnie," he was looking almost directly into my face, damn my shortness and his fucking giant stature. "Talk therapy isn't gonna make me less likely to rush out and-" His hand cupped my cheek and my eyes widened. Fuck. "This," he leaned closer, the heat of his body feeling like an inferno and his breath fanning my face. Then his lips met mine and I heard him groan at the light pressure he allowed himself. Pulling away so he could speak, "is what I need."

And then, far from the type of kiss that I'd thought Billy Butcher capable of, his lips met mine gently and tested to see if I was willing. My lips opened naturally, and he took that as an affirmative for his idea of a distraction, so his tongue slithered into the breach. This time it was me who made the noise. My hands found his head, sliding through his dark hair as my head tilted to give him better access. A growl came from somewhere deep inside of him and his hands were on my waist, pulling me off the chair and to the floor with him. I was on my back, Billy hovering over me when I snapped to my senses. What the literal fuck was I doing?

"We can't," I breathed, as his mouth left mine and began a lazy trail down my neck. His teeth grazed my skin, threatening or promising a nip when I said it. "Billy, this isn't going to-" He nipped me then, not hard enough to hurt or break skin, but enough to get my attention and cause a rush of lust to hit me in all the wrong spots to get me back to the logical reasons we shouldn't do what he clearly expected.

He was pulling my blouse from my pants and my legs had wrapped around him on their own. I didn't seem to have a say in what my body was going to do at this point, but then again, when his lips touched the curve of my breast that was pushed up by the cup of my bra I couldn't be sure what my brain thought of the situation anymore. He rocked into my body, letting me feel just how hard he was and I moaned.

His mouth came back to mine, licking inside, asking my tongue to dance with his. Of course, I accepted, what woman wouldn't? I could swear I heard my mother's voice whispering about how this was as bad of an idea as my one attempt at marriage, and LOOK how well that turned out. I felt like someone had dumped ice water on me.

"Billy, stop." I'd managed to pull my face away from his. "This isn't-" He rocked his pelvis into mine and my eyes fell shut at the feeling. He didn't fight fair.

Just as he was about to argue his point, louder and far more actively than I think I was prepared for, my desk phone began to ring and then a knock came on my door simultaneously. "Damn it." He growled, his eyes flashing with irritation at the outside world for keeping him from his distraction. I sighed. Whether it was in relief or not, I couldn't say, my mind was in knots. "Might want to straighten your-" he gestured to my blouse when he helped me to my feet. Apparently he could half undress me, but not put me back together. Rolling my eyes and picking up the phone, I was tucking my blouse in and refastening my buttons as he opened the door.

Joseph stood at the door, and Mallory was on the phone. And just like that, Billy had new distractions.