001. GETTING INFORMATION

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ getting information
S2E2 , present

▓*ੈ✩‧₊˚. . . . ."You think you can suprise me? I literally taught you this one."

Grace Mallory's husky voice sends a wave of familiarity to Butcher as he settles in the back of her car. Awaiting her slow departure to her car was nothing but giving him the eagerness to let out a joke to suprise her, but he learned from her. She most likely already knew he was there right when she left the elevator. Her attire that corresponds with a funeral complements her despite her age. Along with her white pearls around her neck and the ones on her ears. She was a beauty with her unnatural Visage.

   Butcher awaits on answering her, making the silence more tense than what was needed. "Hello, Grace." He announces with his deep, guttural voice and watches the back of her frame.

   Her head tilts in his direction, but she didn't face him. "You promised I'd never seen you again." She expresses with distaste.

   "I promised," Butcher says with a sigh as he exits out of the car. "Not to come to your house again." He had promised Mallory not to visit her after getting information on Homelander's weakness, which was Madelyn Stillwell.

   Which proved useless in the end, Butcher had murdered her from what Mallory heard. After her grandchildren were killed by Lamplighter, she wanted nothing else to do with Butcher. Lead him onto Homelander and abandon him then and there, but no. She had an unfortunate soft spot for him. She trained him. He felt like an apprentice of hers. So she let him in on the information, which she solemnly regrets to this day.

   Butcher slams the door shut and faces Mallory. "A subtle but important distinction." He expresses with his fingers pinching air.

   Mallory smirks and leans against the opened driver door. Amused at him. "I assume you sent the edible arrangement?"

   Butcher smirks and gets giddy at her acknowledgment of his present to her. "Deluxe Bereavement Bouquet with white chocolate-dipped pineapple doves. Raynor would have loved that." It was always Butcher do no take any situation serious. Butcher had the tendency to not read the room.

   Mallory infuriated at his indecency for Raynor, slams the door shut. She turns on her heel and walks back to Raynor's funeral.

   "Oi, where you going?" He questions at her abrupt leave.

   He sees her shoulders dip as she turns roughly and faces him. "There are about two dozen federal officers in the church next door. I'm gonna turn you in for the murder of Madelyn Stillwell."

   Butcher's failed attempt of holding Stillwell hostage to get Homelander put more of a consequence on him than it did Homelander. Homelander burning through Stillwell's eyes was blamed on Butcher. His eyebrows come together as he scoffs at her belief. "Oh, come off it, Grace. really think I done that?"

   She wouldn't put it past him. She shakes her head as she responds with sarcasm laced on her tongue. "You really want me to answer that?" She was done with him. She was going to get the officers to take him in.

   "Grace, I know who killed Raynor!"

   A sentence like that could get someone killed. It was something one could and should take to the grave because if it spreads like a disease. No one was safe.

   "Who?" Mallory demands as she turns back.

   Butcher stammers over his words. He only said it to stop her. He really didn't think before he spoke. He makes his way over to her. "Okay, well, uh, I don't specifically, technically have the answer to that, but I know how to get it. We think Vought killed her for getting too close to something."

   Mallory's was more confused than she was mad. What could vought possibly kill Raynor over a few spilled words? "Getting too close to what?" She questions.

   "Something to do with a supe terrorist smuggled into Jersey a couple nights ago, and that is where we start."

   Mallory laughs. "Honestly, it's like asking a cockroach to not be a cockraoch. It's just your nature."

   Butcher reminiscences on his brother, Lenny's suicide. He scrunches his face, hidding the tears that threatened to come out. He speaks in a low, commanding voice. His rare empathy showing, confused Mallory as it switched mid sentence to a harsh tone. "I know what she meant to you, all right? We find this supe terrorist and we're one step closer to finding out who offed her."

   "I'm not getting back in. And if I were, which I'm not, it sure as shit wouldn't be for you." Mallory spits at Butcher. Frustrated at him, thinking he could spin her in with his usage of Raynor.

   Butcher exhales and elaborates on his deal. "Oh, I ain't asking you all the way back in. Just dip in a little toe, yeah? Maybe two. Not for me. For Raynor."

   "You never gave a shit about Susan. You're only here because you're desperate, fucked, and you want something." With a disapproving head shake, she walks back with a fast pace.

   He bits his lips and curses. "All right, fuck it. Grace? Grace! Grace, wait, wait, wait. Wait." He rushes his words as he makes it to her and stops her by getting in front of her. "I'll level with you, okay?" His irregular breathing filling the silence that Mallory gave him. "Just hear me out."

   She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, hugging herself. "Fine. What are you proposing?"

   "See? How about it-" Butcher says as he tries to make light of the situation.

   "Butcher." Mallory warns.

   "O'right, don't get so gutted. Here's the deal." Butcher stands closer to her as to not let anyone over hear their conversation. Even though no one was seen by either of them. "Me and my team get you the supe terrorist and in return, get our records clean and get the old Bill of our asses eh?"

   Mallory scoffs. "Asking for a lot, aren't you?"

   Butcher gives her a smug look and shrugs his shoulders. "Just a tad, won't harm yah."

   Mallory bites her lip and taps ber feet as she thought about his request. Maybe she could see to it he keeps his end of the bargain this time. The woman was only one call away. "Fine." She forced out.

   Butcher stagers. "Bloody hell, you serious?" He was suprised she'd accept so fast and easy. It was his goal but it was too suspicious on how she agreed in matter of seconds. He places a hand on his chest. "Mallory, I'm chuffed-"

   She holds a finger at him. "But," She interupts. "I'm sending someone with you. They'll see to it the job gets done, and you don't fold like you always do."

   Butcher groans aand runs a hand over his face. "I don't need a fuckin' babysitter, Mallory. I told you we got it covered, didn't I?"

   "Look, Butcher," Mallory begins. She starts heading to the elevator as Butcher follows. "I just need confirmation, some type of reassurance that it does get done, and it won't come from you."

   "You dont trust me." He states as a matter of fact, following.

   Mallory looks behind her and sees him gawking at her with a delight expression. She whips her head back forward, putting more purpose in walk. "Since when do I ever."

   Butcher watches as she pushes a button. Her timid and soft press on it what much like a dog that held an egg in its mouth. They didn't know what it was but it was in their mind to hold it with delicacy. To put pressure lightly, despite its insignificance.

He sighs and leans against the wall. "Alright, and who bloody hell is it, you're sending?"

   Mallory stares at the silver elevator doors for mere seconds before looking in Butcher's direction but not holding eye contact with him. "The executioner." Her voice dissipates at the last letter of the name, unsure on weather or no to tell him.

   "Oh fuck me," Butcher couldn't believe her words. Sending America's number one supe terrorist that apparently went awol four years back to watch over him? Just what was Mallory even thinking? "Sending a supe- no a fucking terrorist supe looking over my shoulder is a bit excessive, is it not?"

   "I don't think it is. I mean you're smart, shouldn't believe everything they say on tv." Mallory says as she looks at him with a smug look. Knowing sending them will pose a difficulty towards Butcher.

   The executioner had a reputation. Vought's number one supe that stopped at nothing to end them. Every death toll was blamed on them. But in recent years, they stopped and no one knows why.

   "Bloody hell- Mallory," Butcher exclaims. "I mean, sending a supe terrorist to capture another supe terrorist kinda defeats its purpose innit?"

   Dipping her shoulders once more, she became more agitated at Butcher's arguing against her. "Shouldn't have fucked me over Butcher." She states plainly as she stares at the elevators. Wondering why they wouldn't open by now.

   Butcher gets close to the side of her face and speaks, his deep voice going towards a threatening tone. "So that's how it's gonna be eh?" She didn't respond and this makes him pace back and forth. "So what, me and this twat terrorist just gonna chit chat over a cuppa tea and wank eachother off is that it?"

   She got out her phone and begins tapping away, not minding if he saw. Though Butcher was too stuck up on the news about the terrorist being added to the group who she was texting at the time. "If that's how you greet your team, then do it." She says nonchalantly as her anger was threatening to spew out on Butcher.

   Butcher spun her by her shoulder fast yet with no anger behind it and made her face him. "Mallory, come on-"

   Mallory throws his hand away, finally snapping. "No, Butcher!" She yells. "You let this happen. So deal with the fucking consequences." They stare at eachother for preternatural amount of seconds. Their gazes held different meanings. Both their ragged breaths filled the tension that began to come forth. She then reminded herself, mentally that they had to be discrete with the information. She exhales and rubs down her clothing to soothe herself, to compose herself.

   The elevator doors finally open, they seemed to appeal to their conversation at it came to an end and opened right after. She heads in and places a hand on the cold silver wall. She looks at Butcher, halfway in the elevator already. "I'm sending you the details on how to contact her and a address on where to start. See you then." With one last tight smile, she enters.

   He begins to leave until he heard her beckon him. "And Butcher?" He turns his head and waits on what else she wanted. "Try not get on her bad side," She gazes over him and huffs. "but knowing you, you probably will just out of spite of me."

   Butcher sprung out his arms and gestures at his body with his hands. "Aye, you know me so well." He then points to Mallory. "Hell, I might just pull a blinder on her." He jokes.

   She lets out a stiff laugh and pushes the button. "Goodbye William."

   Butcher stares at the doors and the closed and she was no longer seen. Hearing a ping from his phone made him finally move. Taking it out he sees a text from Mallory and sees the information he needs. And the terrorist supe details. He runs his hand through his unkempt black hair and sighs. All he knows is he's gonna make a hell of an entrance for the supe that's gonna babysitter him and his team.