Fear

                                    

                                          
A week later-
In the headquarters, Butcher, M.M, Annie, Hughie, Frenchie and Kimiko gathered around a table.
"They know. It's confirmed. Maeve is dead." Hughie announced.
The group exchanged somber glances. But Hughie's face twisted with worry. 
"But what about Soldier Boy?" 
Butcher looked at each of them before taking a deep breath. 
"He survived...I don't know where he is but he's out there." He nervously answered.
That set everyone off. M.M leaned forward with disbelief in his eyes. 
"So you're telling me we knocked out Yn for nothin'? We could've used her help now. Maybe we wouldn't be in this mess if we hadn't split 'em up." He said.
"No, she wouldn't have helped. Soldier Boy knows we're the reason they're separated. He hates us for that. They both do." Annie pointed out.
"It's very bad for us." She sighed.
The thought of both Y/n and Soldier Boy coming for them was enough to make everyone uneasy. 
"Eh, we don't 'ave to worry so much, non? Soldier Boy doesn't know his way around here. He's like, eh... fish out of water, no?" Frenchie tried to smile but it faltered after everyone shot him a look.
Butcher didn't have any patience for it. 
"Oi, are you fuckin stupid? Soldier Boy's a madman and you think we don't have to worry? He'll tear through anything in his way. We need to keep an eye on him or we're all dead. We need a new plan one to take down Homelander and we gotta figure out how to get Ryan away from that bastard."
Hughie and frowned and didn't hold back. 
"It's kinda your fault, you know? You made Soldier Boy angrier than he already was. You didn't have to push him so hard."
Butcher's eyes darkened as he stared down Hughie.
"You think I had a choice? We were out of options, mate. It was that or watch him burn us all alive. Everythin I've done, I've done to keep us breathin'."
"So... does anyone have any idea what Soldier Boy's next move is?" Hughie glanced around the room nervously, not really expecting an answer but he needed some sort of clarity in the mess they were in.
"It's bloody obvious, isn't it? First thing that mad bastard's gonna do is save Y/n. After that, he's comin for us. One by one. And after he's done with us? He'll take down Homelander." Butcher answered.
M.M leaned back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. 
"Shit...We pissed off the wrong guy." He muttered.
Annie's eyes widened in fear.
"He's really going to come after all of us? We're the ones who separated them, so he'll hold us responsible...What are we supposed to do if Y/n sides with him?"
Kimiko was standing silently by Frenchie but didn't need words. The fear in her eyes said enough. She threw up her hands in frustration and agreed with Annie's concern.
Frenchie sighed and paced back and forth.
"We are, how you say... royally fucked, mes amis. Soldier Boy, he is... how do we stop im if e's comin for us and Homelander?"
"You don't stop him...Soldier Boy's not someone you stop. He'll come and when he does, we're gonna need more than just luck. The only thing keepin him busy right now is Y/n. The moment he saves her, it's over for us." Butcher sighed.