Chapter Text
Go easy on me it’s my first The Boys fic.
always try and write true to character and not too OTT, but I’m not perfect at it by any means.
Just hope y’all enjoy.
Hughie hadn’t known who else to call, realised as he rode in the cab to the address he’d probably called the worst person to help him, but there was nobody else he could have called. Atleast with Butcher he knew if he got out of hand then he wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in his head, but the truth is Hughie didn’t fully know what was going on with himself either.
All he remembered was meeting with Annie, them discussing how Vought were still producing compound V by the truckload and she’d passed him a vial, why he couldn’t remember, maybe so he could see the dates on it or something. But as they were walking through the alley he’d tripped, hands out to cushion his fall he’d landed straight on the vial and the glass had cracked from impact with the ground and his body weight landing on top of it, his hand was all cut up and compound V was now all over it, mixed with his blood, only made worse by the hasty clean up they had to do wrapping the vial in his plaid shirt and picking some of the glass out of his hand in a rush. Annie had asked if he was okay then and he’d of course said he was fine and at the time he was, but after they’d split off and Hughie had started to head home, he’d started to feel… off. Calling butcher and waving the cab down were a bit of a blur in his mind but he wouldn’t put it past it being his anxiety fucking with him.
As the cab pulled up outside Butcher's house Hughie drew in a breath to steady himself, head still hanging low so the driver couldn’t see his face clearly in the dim light from the street lights he paid the man and waved him away as he stepped out of the cab. Slightly shocked when Butcher's front door opened as he climbed the steps and Kimiko's face was in the doorway, hand reaching out and grabbing Hughie by his t-shirt pulling him through the door relatively gently for a woman who had quite frankly ridiculous strength.
“What- hi I didn’t know you were here too.” A smile crept onto Hughies face as he looked at Kimiko, she looked better now, after months away from the craziness, well rested and less angry. She gave him a soft smile back before grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him towards the door that led to the basement. And then a feeling of anxiety washed over him as well as a nagging feeling as though he’d known something like this was waiting for him anyway as he rolled his eyes to himself and let Kimiko drag him downstairs immediately hearing voices he instantly recognised.
“We don’t know if it’s gunna have any effect at all but the fact of the matter is it’s got into the kids bloodstream, so we can at least keep an eye on him Frenchie.” MM iterated to a rather stressed looking French man as Frenchie paced the floor with his fingers against his temples.
“But what if he has turned into an asshole- what if it has fucked him up by the time he gets here and he has extra limbs or something growing out of him- anything could happen-“
“Not as much of an asshole as you guys and no extra limbs… yet.” Hughie cut Frenchie off as he entered the room with a half hearted smile as Frenchie turned on his heels to look at him with something close to relief plastered on his face. MM and Butcher turning as well with raised brows as Frenchie power walked towards him with caution on his features as he took Hughies face between his hands, eyes darting from both of Hughies with concern.
“Petite Hughie? Our petite Hughie? You are completely fine, I’m almost disappointed.” Frenchie said with a shrug and a nonchalant look before aggressively planting a kiss on Hughies lips causing Hughie to burst into laughter as he pulled back.
“Apart from my hand being messed up yea I just don’t feel the same it’s hard to-“ Hughie stopped as he un wrapped his hand from the shirt with the smashed vial in moving it into the open, and there was nothing. Blood covered skin, but no cut up palm like there had been. “Okay, well my hand was shredded, I’m trying really hard not to freak out right now-“ Hughie could feel his voice raise an octave in panic before he was grasped on the shoulder by Butcher and guided towards the sofa before being pushed down to sit on the old piece of furniture.
“Take a breath you clumsy Cunt, so your hands healed itself up in the cab?” Butcher asked, tone low and neutral, not a hint of annoyance in it as he looked down at Hughie with a frown, hand out silently asking for Hughies hand as the blonde held it up for him. It was strange after months of not seeing the man Butcher seemed scarily calm compared to his usual self. Butchers frown creased more in what had to be concern as he looked towards Frenchie and MM with a quirk of his head. The two men walking over till they were stood either side of Butcher with curious frowns. “Not a scratch, suppose that’s an easy theory for us to test though. Frenchie pass me your knife.” Butcher spoke as he put a knee either side of Hughie and grabbed the man’s hand pinning him to the sofa and practically straddling him at the same time. In that moment Hughie knew he’d spoken too soon about Butcher seeming calmer and he was inwardly cursing himself.
“What the fuck!” Hughie shouted, shoving at Butcher with his free hand and raising his hips up to try buck the man off as Butcher had that weird grin on his face that he always did before he hurt someone. “Get the hell off me Butcher- hey! Frenchie what the fuck.” Hughies free hand was then pinned to the top of the couch by Frenchie as Butchers knees dug deeper into the couch cushions they were sat on and his thighs practically squeezed Hughies hips in a death grip as the man gripped his hand and forced his palm open, Hughie could feel himself shaking with anger, shaking with the force of trying to stop Butcher as the knife touched his palm and cut into his skin. It hurt, oh boy did it hurt, the knife cut was slow and searing, Butcher’s legs for some reason got more crushing on his hips as he cut into Hughies palm. Maybe the asshole thought he was still going to try and escape, but he didn’t have the same strength as Butcher, and Butcher knew that. Even through the pain Hughie knew bucking his hips at this stage would make the pain in his hand worse and probably be entirely awkward with just how far Butcher had sank down into his lap. In fact it was incredibly tense when the knife left his hand and Butcher just stayed where he was in Hughies lap and grabbed his hand.
Hughie knew he was red in the face, he was pissed and embarrassed all within the first few minutes of being back around these assholes. And Butcher was just sat there like it was nothing as he stared at Hughies palm alongside everyone else as they watched it start to close, Hughie could feel a warmth in his palm, couldn’t see anything from this angle but he knew immediately what was happening as the pain slowly faded and everyone looked at him questioningly before he shoved Butcher off him with a glare. The Brit landing with a thud on his ass as he just laughed at Hughies red cheeks.
“You could have just asked.” Hughie sighed out, annoyed to no end but not having the energy to shout.
“Like you’d have let us cut you.” Butcher scoffed as he rolled his eyes and let himself flop down next to Hughie casual as anything. Like he hadn’t just been sat in Hughies lap with a rather threatening aura about him and a deadly weapon in his hand.
“No but I could have done it myself.” Hughie stated with a brow raise of his own as Butcher looked towards MM then with a look of realisation as the words left Hughies mouth.
“He’s got a point there.” MM agreed with a shrug. “Can’t change what’s done though.”
“True, you must come to terms with the fact you had Butcher sat in your lap.” Frenchie added with a smirk as he and MM started laughing, MM promptly slapping Frenchie on the arm as he laughed while Butcher just rolled his eyes at the pair before putting his hands on his knees and standing up with a grunt.
“You got anything else up your sleeve lad?” Butcher asked bluntly as he folded his arms and cocked his hip.
“How the hell would I know?” Hughie almost snapped, almost. He knew they were trying to help, he was just a little overwhelmed with the idea that he had a power at all, let alone the thought that he could have more than one. “Sorry it’s just a little much having this- healing thing going on the thought of having something else is a lot. Plus I don’t even know if it’s permanent or- it’s not like it’s been injected so, the point is I don’t know which way it’ll go.”
“It might not last.” MM stated bluntly as Hughie let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.
“Yea, now not that healing quick isn’t something useful to have. I'm not sure if I want it at all or anything that decides to come with it.” Hughie sat forward on the couch and put his head in his hands trying to block out the four figures all looking at him just for a second.
“Petite Hughie, there are much worse powers to have, and if it does become permanent, at least this is something easy to hide.” Frenchie consoled him as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
It is better than having extra limbs
“Yea I know it’s better than having extra limbs, Frenchie.” Hughie sighed as he looked up at the Frenchman who promptly darted back with a look of fear as he pointed at Hughie. Mouth moving but no words coming out.
“Hughie! Your eyes.” Butcher hissed as Hughie turned to look at Butcher then.
They’re fucking glowing Hughie your eyes are glowing green
“My eyes are glowing?!?” Hughie exclaimed before he looked at Frenchie then Butcher again realising the man hadn’t said any of that out loud. “You didn’t say that out loud did you…” he paused as he stood half way off the couch in slight panic as he looked around the room catching a glimpse of himself in a mirror. Standing ever so slowly he stumbled towards the mirror, trembling as he could hear all of the rambling thoughts that weren’t his rattling around in his head.
Now this is not so easy to hide petite Hughie
It’s alright Hughie you’re with friends we got your back
Hughie if you’re hearing me you’re a soft fucking cunt
Hughie. It’s okay. Hopefully it’s not permanent.
Hughie paused as he stared at his eyes in the mirror and a voice he’d never heard before echoed in his head, it was soft but sharp. He felt the hand on his arm and knew instantly who it was, suddenly feeling rather emotional at being the only one to know what Kimiko sounded like and not even knowing if it’s something she’d want.
“Kimiko I- I’m sorry I-“
You can’t help it, relax idiot.
Kimiko wrapped her arms around his torso and gave him a slight squeeze as Hughie continued to stare at his face in the mirror, eyes glowing almost the same shade of green that they usually were before he closed them in an attempt to get himself together.
The facial scruff actually looks good on him, I’ll be damned.
Hughie frowned at that random thought from Butcher, the others mostly incoherent at the moment and sounding more like murmured noise.
“Can you turn it off?” MM asked cautiously.
“I’m trying too.” Hughie replied rather frustrated as he squeezed his eyes shut tighter breathing in slowly he felt Kimiko squeeze his arm gently and felt some tension leave him, opening his eyes the glow was still there but fainter and Hughie could feel the power fade like he was willing it away, slowly but surely in his mind he willed it away till there wasn’t any glow and there were no more voices that weren’t his own in his head. “Thanks Kimiko.” Hughie breathed out as he looked down at the small but mighty woman and offered her a genuine grateful smile.
“Fucking hell Hughie for a second I thought you were gunna laser us.” MM exclaimed as he clasped him on the shoulder with an exasperated laugh.
“Hughie can now hear our thoughts, even the most dirty ones, I for one, plan on making him the most uncomfortable I can. If he is not tomato-red listening to me then I will pay him a dollar each time I fail.” Frenchie exclaimed without missing a beat as he wiggled his eyebrows at Hughie in the same mischievous way he usually would when he was talking about creating havoc.
“Fuck off Frenchie you can keep all that to yourself.” Hughie laughed half heartedly before heaving out a sigh. “Guess I should go home then now we have an idea of-“
“You’re not going anywhere Hughie, you’re staying here until we know for sure this is all that’s going on, it’s for your own good.” Butcher grumbled as he turned to walk towards the stairs.
“What? Your kidding, I can’t stay in your basement for god knows how long, I have an actual job.-“
“Who you’re gunna tell that you’re off sick for a week with something serious enough to be bed ridden but not too serious that you might die. And you’re not staying in the basement you idiot, I’m a gentleman, I have a spare room.” Butcher gestured upstairs with an eye roll as Hughie glared at him with suspicion. “What’s that look for, I know I’m not the pinnacle of fucking hospitality mate but if you’re good I might just tuck you in tonight and read ya a bed time story aswell, does that sound better?” Butcher crooned out, sarcasm laid on thick as he waved Hughie up after him. Hughie sighing as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration before looking at the other three who were all smiling at him knowingly.
“For what it’s worth I missed you guys.” Hughie said before following after Butcher at a leisurely pace with a smug smirk at the random compliment Butcher had un-knowingly sent his way before he’d shut off his new ability.
“Hey Hughie!” MM called out before he disappeared up the stairs. “This new confidence you got, it looks good on you man.” MM nodded at him in affirmation as Hughie just cocked a brow and let out a laugh in acknowledgement.
“Don’t let it go to your head Hughie, you’re still a soft bastard.” Butcher jibed as he smirked at Hughie who was catching up behind him.
“And your still an argumentative asshole, guess some things don’t change.” Hughie joked as he smirked back at Butcher who just rolled his eyes.
“An asshole you still called for help.” Butcher cocked a brow as they finally made it to the upstairs landing.
“And I appreciate it, though I have some advice, next time you throw yourself into someone’s lap they’ll probably appreciate it more if you don’t have a knife.” Hughie spoke light heartedly as they approached the door that Hughie knew to be the spare room and Butcher shook his head as he turned with that evil smirk he wore as he cocked a challenging brow towards Hughie.
“You’ve got cocky since the last time I seen you Hughie, do us both a favour and keep your gob shut when you feel like being clever yea? There’s a good lad.” Butcher spoke lowly with a warning in his tone as he clasped Hughie on the shoulder and squeezed a little too tightly as he opened the door behind the blonde. “Thought having dangerous things in your lap was your thing though Hughie, especially cuz of starlight.”
Hughie scowled then, teeth grinding together as he glared at Butcher who had him backed up against a wall with his hand right beside Hughies head, with that smug smirk and 100% knowing that bringing Annie into it was taking it that step too far. “You never could take a joke at your own expense, thanks for the room and also, suck my dick.” Hughie deadpanned, managing to hold back his explosive anger in exchange for unphased indifference, his tone thankfully never faltered, the look on Butcher's face as he closed the door on him was something that was definitely worth it though.
Hell Hughie held his breath because he really thought for a second that the comment and the reaction it had gained was about to get the door kicked down on him. But instead there was just silence. Butchers face had been a mixture of shock and rage, and Hughie could swear he had saw that vein starting to pop on the man’s forehead as the door had closed but all he heard after that was a few comments about him being an ‘un grateful bastard’ as footsteps traveled down the hall and the sound of another door shutting rang out leaving a tense quiet.
“The hell is wrong with me? I’m not usually trying to press his buttons this much but it’s like he’s trying to get a rise out of me? I don’t know, sleep on it. We can sleep on it and start over tomorrow, he’s been nowhere near as bad as what he’s usually like, just relax Hughie- get it together.” Hughie had to scold himself because for some reason Butcher really did seem to be getting to him almost worse than before, and he had no idea why.
Kicking his shoes off and getting himself undressed he paced around the room a little, antsy despite his exhaustion, bare feet quiet against the wood as he paced in nothing but his boxers. Only slipping into that empty huge double bed when he felt his head start to feel a little like cotton wool, but even then he just managed to stare at the ceiling as his mind raced.
“Fuck it, may aswell practice getting a hold of this shit just Incase it does stick around. Okay I can do this, concertante.”
The actual act of practicing was definitely a lot harder than what he’d thought it would be, he’d get the start of the feeling and see a flicker of light from his eyes in the darkness of the room but he couldn’t quite get it past that stage, every time he thought his focus was un breakable he’d lose it and as soon as he un tensed in frustration he always seemed to get a flicker of it back before it died out again. It was like a vicious cycle of failure and his body was starting to ache from all of his subconscious tensing and un tensing.
How did I turn it off the first time? Yea I was a bit freaked out but there has to be something else?
Taking a deep breath Hughie breathed out and opened his eyes, letting his body relax and his mind relax , trying to re instigate how he’d felt when it had first happened a few hours ago.
I wasn’t really tense, I was freaked out but I felt safe, Kimiko was super understanding and they had my back. I was comfortable around everyone, confident- well not with all this but in myself- more than I used to be. Weirdly accepting? Like yea it’s a consequence of my actions so I wasn’t like fighting against it or- ohh! Ohhhh!
“Yes that’s it.” Hughie breathed out as he watched the ceiling light up green as his eyes started to glow again, casting shadows around the already pitch black room as he let out a light triumphant laugh to himself. Glancing at the clock on the wall seeing it reading two in the morning had Hughie sighing to himself, nobody would be awake, no thoughts he could intercept, unless it worked while people were dreaming? But he guessed that would at best be very incoherent thoughts. Peoples dreams were weird at the best of times. He could try though. For the sake of practice.
“Okay so, how can we do this do we like reach out mentally?” Hughie spoke to himself in the empty room as he tried his best to stretch his power beyond his immediate vicinity, his fingertips starting to tingle as he focused on his breathing and feeling around in the dark for another mind until he brushed up against something in his head, it was warm and hazy. It must have been what someone’s mind felt like from the outside. Instead of the barrage of thoughts he’d had earlier from everyone all at once.
Hughie closed his eyes, it’s not like he could see anything but the four walls at the moment either way so choosing to focus on this new ability as much as he could seemed like a good bet.
That was until he pushed towards that warm hazy mess in his mind and he started to actually see things, smell things, he could feel his own mattress still against his back but it felt like his mind was floating elsewhere, taking his senses with him somehow.
It was just a warm dim yellow light. No it was a table lamp, the table lamp on Butcher's bedside table... And there was that smell, Hughie floated further towards the light in his mind's eye, the smell was definitely something familiar, it’s sort of smelt like Butcher. A familiar smell, the smell of cigarette smoke mixed with the man’s natural scent and something else.
That’s when he heard something strange, something that had him whipping around in this hazy image looking away from the bedside table. Towards a pained groan, realising too late that it definitely hadn’t been a pained groan and just like that he was back to reality. His eyes flew open as he sat up in bed, the green of his eyes lighting up the entire room like a Christmas tree as Hughie tried to breath.
That was me- Butcher was. He was on his knees! he had my-
“What the fuck, what the fuck. Did I fall asleep? Am I imagining things? No eyes are still green that- was that Butcher… dreaming…”
It has to be… but why was he sucking me off? Hell why was I letting him, it looked like I was enjoying it?! But so did he- he looked- no no I’m not attracted to that asshole. It’s his fucking dream not mine.
“I’m not fucking doing this.” Hughie groaned to himself in defeat as he put his hands over his eyes and scolded himself to hell and back as he let himself fall back against the mattress with a soft thump. “You’ve never even done anything with a guy before and now you’re just completely fine with the idea?” Hughie seethed at himself as he lay alone in the spare room glaring down at his crotch and the obvious half pitched tent. “That fucking asshole is fantasising about going down on me, and wait- wait… that means he finds me attractive?” Hughie whispered to himself with a confused frown. He’d never really thought of himself as good looking, knew he wasn’t ugly. Or at least had enough confidence in himself to feel that he wasn’t ugly but he was average at best? Not something to be fantasised over.
The fuck was that? What am I a fucking horny 16 year old? Fuck off.
Hughie couldn’t help jumping when Butchers thoughts came through loud and clear in his head before chuckling at the man’s reaction, thoughts seeming to go back to a quiet buzz of annoyance as Hughie willed his ability away. That was more than enough for one night and probably would be the last time in a long time he tried to use it. Because that image was going to be ingrained in his head for a long time.
To be continued… hopefully