ʚଓ ʚଓ ʚଓ

Cass heaves a sigh, plopping herself down rather loudly as she props her feet up even louder. Her, Frenchie, and Bellamy are at the 'safe house' waiting for everyone else to arrive. She clears her throat, a few times, smoothing down her shirt before she switching her legs back and forth multiple times.

Frenchie scratches the back of his neck, trying to ignore Cassius and the incessant sounds while Bellamy is being driven slowly insane by each noise. When you know someone like the back of your hand, you know what buttons to push. Bellamy slams his gun down causing Frenchie to jump slightly, but Cass doesn't flinch as she looks up directly at him.

"Problem?" She asks innocently.

"Are you done?"

"Are you? Are we all?" Cassius counters with. "This is ridiculous. M.M. fucking knows better than to try to make that kind of life work for him. It was dangerous and idiotic to even think, wish, or hope for five fucking seconds that he could be a husband and father all while simultaneously hiding the fact that he came back to this shitty job."

"You came back, too." Bellamy reminds her gruffly, tension building in his neck.

"As did you." Cassius clips, the back of her teeth grinding together.

"He can't just delete his fucking kid, Cassius." Bellamy fires off.

"Why? You made it look so fucking easy."

Bellamy's throat tightens, as if Cassius wrapped both hands around and clawed her way through his skin. The room crackles with an electric energy so hot Bellamy and Frenchie can't breathe as Cass stares at them eerily calm.

"Maybe he was, uh, feeling optimistic." Frenchie cracks.

"Mmm." Cass nods. "Cause we all know optimism goes so well in this business, doesn't it?" She slowly rises to her feet. "Let me know how that works out for him, hmm?" She finishes before storming off.

Bellamy sighs, hanging his head down as he rakes his rough fingers over his face.

"She's just upset." Frenchie speaks quietly after a beat. "Rightfully so." He sighs. Guilt pulses through his veins as his chest feels heavy, sitting in his own sins he will never be able to repent.

"Fuck." Bellamy punches his fist on the table, incredibly tired of allowing Cassius to get under his skin.

ʚଓ ʚଓ ʚଓ

Tires squeal from outside causing everyone's heads to snap up. Hughie's back with his father along with Butcher, Kimiko, and M.M. with his wife and daughter.

Cass's hand brushes over her batons as Bellamy taps the top of his gun while Frenchie rushes over to peak outside, finding multiple black suv's pulling up.

"Merde!" He exclaims, Hughie and Kimiko looking from behind him.

Frenchie tosses M.M. a rifle and as he catches it he steps back grabbing a gun from his waistband. "Butcher." M.M. holds it out to him.

"Fucking hell. Calm down." Butcher tells them annoyedly, flopping down his magazine. Hughie takes his father and M.M.'s family to the back as Bellamy shakes his head, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

Butcher knows who's out there.

"Easy." Bellamy tips his chin at Frenchie who furrows his brows at him.

Cass glances out to see the newcomers, humming shortly to herself at what she sees. The door creeks as Butcher steps out for a moment before stepping right back in while Cass finally rounds the corner, crossing her arms over her chest. Frenchie and M.M. share a glance as Bellamy clears his throat, shifting legs.

"All right, easy, lads. Easy." Butcher says, lowering his hands down, walking back in... with Raynor right behind him and several other men tailing her.

"M.M." Raynor sighs and M.M. immediately untenses, stepping towards her.

"Deputy Director." He acknowledges.

"Your family's gonna be okay, you have my word." Raynor promises him. Cassius scoffs to herself. Wouldn't have to if he was wise. Learned from her mistakes of the haunted past.

"Thank you." M.M. nods. Raynor glances back at Butcher before stepping away. "You called?" M.M. walks over closer to him. "You are a human after all."

Bellamy chuckles coldly. "Barely." He eyes his brother up and down. Billy Butcher's admitted his fault, and it's that he knows he hit a dead end.

And won't admit it.

"Yeah, let's not get too carried away." Butcher sheepishly grins.

"Yeah, let's not forget the reason we're here in the first place." Bellamy voices, staring at Butcher.

"Amen." Cassius coughs quietly to herself, leaning against the wall as she scene unfolds itself in front of her. Mmm, Butcher got desperate.

"Right this way, ma'am." One of the agents say to Monique.

M.M. steps over to her. "Monique, I'm sorry."

Cassius almost wishes she had a flying fuck of empathy to give... but she ran out, many years ago.

'You came back, too." Bellamy's words singe themselves in the back of her mind. But she came back with nothing to lose... that's the difference.

"I never want to see you again, Marvin." Monique tells him, voice heavy with emotion before walking away.

Love doesn't work this line of business either. It's naive and extremely fucking foolish to trick yourself into believing otherwise.

M.M. watches her before kneeling down to his daughter. "Come here, baby."

Cass's lungs tightens at the sight of the little girl. Life was so unfair, and cruel to the most undeserving people...

"Cassie, Cassie, Cassie!" One of the little girls screams as Bellamy chases her around the yard before scooping her up in his arms and spinning her, her blonde braid whipping around as her little body glides in the air.

Cassius chuckles as her hands mend through the blonde hair of the little girl sitting in her lap.

"You know she hates that nickname." Bellamy 'loudly' whispers as he sets Kennedy down. "You should try calling her Ace." He says, bending down in front of the little girl and still isn't eye level with her. "Don't ya, Ace?" He glances over to Cassius, warmth spreading in his chest at the sight of her braiding Caroline's hair as Caroline wears the biggest lopsided grin on her face, happily swinging her feet.

"Mmm." Cassius playfully tilts her gaze towards him. "They can't pronounce my name, so they get a free pass."

"And what do I get?" Bellamy cheekily asks, holding out his arm for Kennedy to climb up onto his shoulder.

"A swift kick in the ace?" She retorts humorously, raising her brows as she hums a deep laugh.

Bellamy stands, making sure he has both hands locked around Kennedy's ankles as he makes his way over to the girls. "You can kick my 'ace' any day, baby." He stops beside them, leaning over slightly. "As long as I get to kiss yours."

"Bellamy Butcher!" Cassius exclaims, covering Caroline's ears and tugging her into her chest as Caroline giggles.

"I thought kissing gave you cooties!" Caroline looks up at Cass upside down.

"It does." Cassius looks down at her, sticking her tongue out before pointing up at Bell. "Remember that, girls."

Kennedy tugs on Bellamy's forehead as he chuckles. "I'll be okay, you're a doctor." He winks.

"In training." Cass smirks as she ties off the braid. "Done, my sweet Caroline." She squeezes her shoulders.

Bellamy beams with pride and love. He loves that Cass is a strong-no shit taking woman, but damn do these soft moments she has with the girls make him fall in love all over again. Every time.

"Thank you, Cass." Caroline calls over her shoulder, popping up from Cass's lap and already skipping off.

"Here you go." Bellamy gently lifts Kennedy his shoulders to the ground while Cass stands, stretching her limbs after being stuck in the same position for both girls' hair. "Mmm." Bellamy walks up behind her, slipping his hands onto her hips, pulling her into him and she relaxes instantly into his body and touch, leaning her head back against his collarbone. They instinctively sway a bit as they watch the two girls chase each other around, their giggles filling their air. "When is it our turn, baby?" Bellamy murmurs deeply into Cass's ear.

Cass laughs breathlessly, leaning up to kiss his neck.

Then life wakes up.

But two little girls didn't.

And somehow it still goes on.

Raynor's heels click as she approaches Butcher, hand out, palm up.

Butcher tilts his head. "No Homelander."

"No Homelander." She repeats firmly. "We had a deal. Everyone else if fair game. Do you want this or not?" Butcher eyes travel over her to his brothers.

"Give. It. To her." Bellamy warns lowly.

Butcher glances back at Raynor, sighing through his nose his jaw locks as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the small vile of Compound V, placing it into her hand.

We don't always get what we want...

Cass's lungs squeeze against her ribs as reality came crashing back in, swallowing her whole.

Time to go to work.

ʚଓ ʚଓ ʚଓ

0вυттєявιѕ¢υιт7 ѕρєαкѕ!

Hello, hellooo... and welcome back ;)

It was NEVER my intention to only update once in May then dip, lmao. May was so entirely chaotic in the best possible way & I'm ngl I was stuck on this chap for a hot min before I FINALLY got out what tf I wanted to say lmao.

A Bellass flashback was never the plan for this chapter, but ohhh my brain decided to create the most SOUL-CRUSHING, devastatingly beautiful scene for them & good LORD </3333 was it so fcking painful but perfect 😭😭😭

Also, ik Mallory's grandkids didn't have names... which is why I named them for this bookkk!! And I honestly loveee the names I chose!! Anddd they match Cass's... at least to me... if that makes sense lol. Just wanted to let y'all know so y'all weren't like WHOOO?! Hahaha.

Anywayssss... we have now officially concluded episode 7!! WHEW!! I didn't even realize it was towards the end already of this ep. wow lol. NEXT WEEKKK is the 1 year anniversary of this book & S4!!! SOOO... until then when we kick off episode 8... the final episode of S1 & Act 1... OMG!!

Until then... ;)