Shadow slowly moved his head, feeling a sharp pain shoot up the back of it. He moved his hands to soothe the pain, only to find that they were fastened behind him. Working his jaw silently, he felt a cloth wrapped around his face, causing him to gag lightly as he opened his mouth further. He was naked save for a pair of sweatpants.
He sluggishly moved his body to crouch on the balls of his feet, using the wall as leverage. He took one step before a thick chain fastened to the wall tugged him to the ground.

He moaned out in pain, laying on his side, defeated.

"Figured out your, predicament, have you?" Billy called out after the creak of a door, his voice muffled around a bite of food. As Dane heard the footfalls get closer, he could practically taste it.

"Been asleep for a day or two. Thought you mighta' been dead, there."

"Fck y'h," Shadow mouthed sloppily around the gag as he began to slowly sit up, his shoulders aching.

"Sure thing," Billy turned to stalk off before freezing "unless you'd like some breakfast."

Dane attempted to licked his chapped lips, sighing through his nose.

"On second thought..." He could hear the smirk in Billy's voice. "Nah. You'll last a few more days."

Dane kicked out with one foot, sliding it across the floor in a sweeping motion, for it to only catch the very tip of the other man's boot.

"Oh, ho, ho. Nice try, squirt." Billy spat out with a dry chuckle before turning to leave.

The sound of the door slamming shut with a lock sliding into place solidified his fate.

He moved to crouch, head pounding as he did so. He placed his bound fists against the wall before pushing all his weight forward, yanking against the large chain. The slack of his bonds, caused him to nearly face plant, but caught him mere inches before he could. He breathed deeply through his nose before moving to try again. And again. And again.

He wasn't sure how long it was until he heard muffled voices carry on the other side of the wall. He froze, stilling his adamant tries to tug the chain from out of the concrete. He couldn't make out any of it, sighing through his gag. He could hear the steady dripping of something hitting the floor beneath him, wrists wet with his blood. His bare feet moved against the floor, catching the small pool of liquid as he nearly slipped. He recovered quickly, leaning to his right, attempting to put an ear against the wall.

It didn't seem to help him in deciphering the voices, they were now only louder mumbles.

He rested his head against the concrete, nearly falling asleep before the sound of slow clapping cause him to still.

"Fucking finally." He could hear someone shout.

"—been sneaking—give 'er one—Lincoln Grand."

That was definitely Billy's voice.

"—doesn't know anything—I'm not gonna tell her—"

Was that, Hughie's voice? Shit, they really were good friends.

"—fuck off to Epcot?—Hamptons?" He heard Billy shout angrily.

Hughie must have said something else, but Dane couldn't make out the muffled reply.

"No, you don't know—" Billy said before they moved onto speaking more quietly, Dane hit his head against the wall lightly in frustration.

"How's that working out for you?" He heard Hughie shout after a few lines of conversation.

It was quiet after that, causing Dane's eyelids to grow heavier. God, he was so tired. Why was he so tired?

He must have fallen asleep because he was awoken with a splash of cold water.

He gasped awake, sputtering through the gag as he slipped into a sitting position.

"Jesus, thought you'd be dead by now." Billy muttered, impressed.
"I was right 'bout you I guess, a few more days without food would do you good. Lost a lot of blood though, haven't you?"

Dane only moaned in response, furrowing his brows. Had he been unconscious for another few days?

"Well, let's head out. Time for a change of scenery, what do you say?"

-

"Oi, listen!"

Dane jolted awake. Shit, he must have passed out again.

He moved his wrists languidly, feeling stiff gauze rub against his sore wounds. When did that happen?

"Shut your fucking traps. We're on the verge of nailing these cunts. And you want to cut bait and run before we've played our final card." Billy shouted. It sounded like they were just a few feet in front of him.

Dane leaned forward, his forehead knocking against a slatted wooden panel. Was he in a closet?

"Okay, what the hell was that, man?" He heard the deep voice of the faceless American that kidnapped him.

"That, er, well that is—" Billy began, before stomping feet moved closer to the closet, sliding the doors open for Dane to nearly topple out of.

"Jesus Christ! What the fuck?" He heard Hughie yell out.

"I thought you let him go?" A French accent said, incredulous.

"Okay, well I was going to, alright? But come one, I can nail Homelander on the head with this one."

"No, no, no. This is messed up." Hughie began. "He fucking hates Homelander."

"Sure, did your little girlfriend tell you that?" Billy muttered.

"Alright, stop. We're letting him go." The deep voice commanded.

"Fine." Billy acquiesced.

Clammy hands pulled Dane into a standing position, leading him to a nearby bed and sitting him at the foot of it. A shaky grip, removed the metal blind, revealing a shocked Hughie.

"Let me help." Another set of hands, belonging to an unknown stranger, untied the gag and tossed it on the floor. Shadow matched the voice to the face. This was the deep voiced American. He seemed nice, all things considered.

"Jesus, Dane." Hughie murmured, thin hands moving to set the metal contraption on the bedside table.

"Fuck you." Dane spit at the man's feet, wriggling in the chain's grip. "Why are you involved with this guy, huh?" He nodded to the dark haired man near him.
"Jesus, Homelander is going to kill all of you when he finds out." He muttered, eye wide, instantly frowning at the thought.

"Hey, there's a good reason to keep this cunt here a while longer, M.M. We don't need him cryin' wolf." Billy smiled at the man maliciously.

"Fuck you, I'll kill you myself." Dane seethed.

The taller of the two chuckled darkly, taking a step forward to where he was standing in between Dane's parted legs, staring down at him. "Try it squirt."

Dane reeled back in his seat, failing at keeping up a tough guy persona. He shakily inhaled, pushing on his planted feet to scoot further onto the bed, away from the other man, only for the traction of his sweats to cause him to slide closer to him. He craned his neck, staring up with wide eyes at the larger man.

For a non-supe, he was terrifying.

"Alright, Butcher, stop it." M.M. bit out.

Billy didn't pay the other man any mind, continuing to glare at the superhero beneath him. "You really are quite useless, ain't you? What fucker chose you for The Seven, eh?" He voiced with a lace of genuine confusion.

"Cut it out." Hughie ordered.

Butcher seemed to have had his fun, eyeing Dane for another moment before stepping back just enough for the other man to feel a small ounce of comfort.

"Look, I've got our final card. And it involves our friend here." Butcher grumbled, nodding to the still seated man in front of him. He moved to step into Dane's space again, causing Dane to reflexively flinch away.

The taller man leaned down, face mere inches away from Dane's.

"I have a feeling you want to take down golden boy as much as we do. Haven't even tried to run away now that you know what we're planning, haven't ya?"

Dane narrowed his eyes.

"Atta' boy, little Shadow." He smiled as he placed a hand in his large coat pocket, pulling out the metal blind and swiftly latching it around Dane's eyes.

"Wh—" Hughie began.

"Hughie, with me." Billy interrupted with an order, footsteps retreating to the door. "M, toss Shadow in the trunk. I'll move him somewhere a lil' more secure."