Chapter Text
My day started off normal, got up went to work, had a great day then drove home planing to do nothing more but to cuddle with my cat and watch T.V. Boy oh boy did that change when I put my key in the door and noticed: someone already unlocked it. Getting my gun ready I slowly opened the door and walked in. So far so good. I slowly turned a corner heading to the living room there stood a guy with his hands in the air.
“Woah woah woah I surrender!”
“What the hell are you doing in my house?”
“Look I can explain.”
“Explain why you would break into someones house? How did you get the door unlocked anyway?”
“I’m with Butcher.” At the mention of Butchers name I put my gun down.
“God damn it.”
“He said you two know each other.”
“Unfortunately.” I replied putting my gun away.
“I’m Hughie” Hughie stuck his hand out.
“Tessa” I replied shaking his hand. “So where did a poor kid like you meet Butcher?” I asked.
“It’s a long story.”
“I bet it is.” I walked away from Hughie.
“Where is he anyway?”
“The kitchen” I rolled my eyes.
“Of course.”
I walked down the hall spotting my feline companion Freddie on my way. “You were supposed to guard the place while I was gone.”
“Well he did a shit job” a voice responded. I rolled my eyes and walked down the end of the hall towards the kitchen where Butcher had the fridge opened and a couple of beer bottles out on the counter.
“Gotta say Tess you always have alcohol better coming here then the store.”
“Butcher what the hell are you doing here?”
“Can’t a old mate come down and catch up?”
“Sure if he calls first, and doesn’t break in with someone else.”
“You’re meet Hughie?”
“Yeah almost shot him.”
“You must have gave the poor lad a heart attack.”
“Butcher what the hell is going on? Who’s Hughie and why is he with you of all people?”
“Hey! I’m a great role model” I rolled my eyes and grabbed a bottle.
“Explain, now.”
“Hughie is going through a rough time right now, sure you’ve seen on the news his girlfriend got murdered by A-Train, the cunt went right through her.” I gave a disgusted face. “What a way to go out, still doesn’t explain what your doing with him.”
“I’m recruiting him, he’s one of the boys now” I sighed set down the bottle and put my hands on the counter.
“Butcher no, remember what happened last time?”
“This time will be different.” I shook my head grabbed my bottle and twisted it open. I threw the cap across the counter.
“It better be.” I took a sip before saying
“You never answered my question of what are you doing here?”
“Looking after Freddie, poor lad had no food out when we came in.” I rolled my eyes. “Your telling me you came all this way to feed my cat?”
“Yep.”
“Butcher, come on I think we know each other enough to know that that was a awful excuse.”
“Ok fine, we need to lay low for the night.”
“Why didn’t you call?” I asked getting closer to Butcher noticing that his shirt was stained with blood.
“Jesus Christ Butcher are you ok?”
“Just a scratch” I shook my head.
“Looks more then just a scratch.”
“You offering your medical services?”
“Who else is around to do it?” I took another sip before setting down my drink. “Stay here.” I walked out of the kitchen towards my bathroom rooting around various rolls of toilet paper, tissues and other necessities until I came across a first aid kit. I set it on my bed and called out to Butcher.
“Butcher! Get your ass in here!”
“Love your bedside manners.” he responded sitting down Hughie followed behind noticing the first aid kit on my bed.
“Is he gonna be ok?”
“He’ll be killing supes in no time, just needs to lay low for the night.” I said unbuttoning his shirt and taking a closer look.” Hughie smirked. “So you do know him”
“Unfortunately.” I said digging through the kit while Hughie looked around.
“Queen fan?” He asked noticing the various cds.
“My cat is named Freddie” I responded. Butcher laughed.
“You shut up, I’m going to have to do a few stitches.”
“What?”
“You herd me.” I stuck the needle in his arm.
“Do you know how to do this?” Hughie asked looking pale.
“I got a basic idea, doctor would be better but asking Butcher to go see a doctor is a waste of oxygen.” Butcher groaned.
“Your doing great.” I responded. “Just stay still.”
“I’m gonna call MM, tell him and Frenchie what’s going on.”
“Ooh tell time I said hi and what a good patient Butcher is being!”
“Please don’t!” Hughie walked away.
“How did you get those two to work together much less in the same room”
“Took some persuading.” Butcher responded.
“So one of you guys will have to sleep on the couch tonight and I don’t want to put that on poor Hughie but these stitches need to heal properly.” I said talking the needle out and wrapping it in a bandage.
“Thank you.” Butcher said buttoning his shirt back up.
“No problem.” I put away the kit. ”Now tell me what I missed.”
By time Hughie came back I was all caught up. “So nothing’s changed with you then.”
“You don’t seem much different yourself.”
“Some of us live-
“What? A normal life? Love your kidding yourself if you think the life you lead is normal.” He looked at Hughie. ”We used to work together.”
“Really?” Hughie asked.
“Yep until he left.” I said glaring at him and walked away to put away the kit. I herd Hughie tell Butcher what Frenchie told him.
“Everyone is glad your ok and they say hi to Tessa as well.” He said the last part confused.
“Yeah Tess and them go way back” I walked in. “Story time?” I asked Butcher shook his head.
“Ok then then time for sleeping arrangements,Hughie sorry your gonna have to take the couch Butchers stitches need to heal.” Butcher smiled.
“What?”
“Come on love, your acting like we’ve never shared a bed before.” Hughie’s eyes widened I rolled my eyes. “Fine but no pillow talk.” Butcher smirked.
“You must be fun in bed.”
“Not in front of the kid!” I responded.
I set up the guest room for Hughie
“Thanks for letting us crash.”
“No problem, least I can do for a old friend.”
“Frenchie mentioned something about you guys-“he clears his throat. “Having sexual tension so thick you can cut it with a knife.”
“Sounds like Frenchie hasn’t changed either.”
“I get it though, a small part of me thinks you two were or even are a thing.”
“Sorry kid just two friends helping each other out, trust me the last thing Butcher is looking for is a women.”
“He told me about Becca.”
“Wow, he must really trust you then, only a couple people know that kind of information.” Hughie nodded.
“I won’t say a word, explains a lot doesn’t it?”
“Yeah it does” I said softly. I walked away. “Goodnight Hughie” I said opening the door and closing it behind him.
In my room Butcher was already under the covers laying on his good side.
“Apparently Frenchie is up to his old jokes.” I said. “Told Hughie our sexual tension could be cut with a knife.”
“Frenchie always had a crazy imagination.” Butcher said while I was going through my clothes picking something out for tonight. My heart started beating faster, something that hasn’t happened in a while. I ignored it along with the butterflies that have been stirring in my stomach since the moment I saw Butcher again. After staring at my clothes mindlessly for a minute while letting other thoughts go though my head. Thoughts involving Butcher in my bed I grabbed a sleep shirt and a pair of shorts then walked into the bathroom closing the door behind me. God damn it Frenchie for getting into my head.
After a few deep breaths I calmed down and got dressed and brushed my teeth then walked back out. There Butcher was laying right where I left him.
“Ready for bed sweetheart?” he asked snarky
“You better not kick me.” I replied slipping under the covers.
“When have I ever done that?” I opened my mouth to list of all the insistence’s where I have woken up to Butcher kicking me in his sleep.
“Fine I’ll be a gentleman.” I scoffed.
“There’s not a gentle bone in your body.”
“You wound me Tess.”
“No I think someone else already did that.” I said.
“You know you really need to work on your bedside manner.”
“Sorry, next time you get hurt I’ll be nicer maybe you won’t have broken into my house then.” Butcher groaned.
“I’m sorry ok.” I was silent for a moment before asking. “Why didn’t you call?”
“Come on love let’s be honest, if you got a phone call from me would you answer?”
“Yes.” I said.
“Really?”
“You seem surprised.”
“It’s just that we haven’t spoken in a while and-
“Butcher just because we haven’t seen or talked to each other in a while doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” he smiled.
“Really?”
“Of course, your my partner in fact Raynor is still trying to get me a new one. I tell her to shove it every time.”
“And you said no pillow talk.” Butcher said smiling.
“Your right, good night Butcher.” I turned around, my back facing him.
“How many times do I have to remind you to call me Billy love?” I turned off the light.