Work Text:
Butcher quickly opened the door before slamming it shut and sliding down it. It was late and everyone stayed to clean up, Butcher had left an hour or so ago, before going to M.M's place for a movie night. Their attention went straight to Butcher, who was staring at the floor with tears running down his face.
“Butcher..?” Hughie called, but no response. Hughie walked over and bent down to the man's level, tilting his head to the side slightly. “Butcher, are you okay?” Billy looked up at him, his eyes glazed over seemingly dazed. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but closed it quickly. The room was silent for a moment before Butcher muttered out in a raspy but soft voice.
“French...ie..” He kept eye contact with the boy in front of him. Hughie's brows furrowed but he nodded, moving to turn around at the group.
“Uh, Frenchie, Butcher wants you...?” Hughie gave the man a confused look, not sure if he had heard Butcher right. Frenchie rose a brow but nodded and made his way over to the two, Hughie had moved away, standing up to make his way back to Annie and the others. Frenchie kneeled down in front of the raven haired male, looking over him.
“Butcher?” He said softly. Butcher looked up at the male and that's when Frenchie understood. He grit his teeth, clearly angered, but kept himself calm on the outside. Frenchie sat down in front of the man completely, putting his hand out to wave him over to him. Butcher watched him for a moment. “It's okay, I will not hurt you.” He said softly, still trying to get Butcher to him. Tears slipped from the man's eyes and he fell forward into Frenchie's arms. The Frenchman hugged him close, raking his fingers through the damp hair and whispering softly to him.
As he gave the other what he needed oh so desperately, Frenchie was beating himself down. The look Butcher gave him was a look he knew so well. He hated it and wanted to find the person that hurt the usually stubborn man. Frenchie moved to turn his head and press soft kisses to Butcher's cheek and hairline. Butcher responded by pushing himself into Frenchie more, he wasn't gripping the man, he was just laying there.
“Bu - Billy,” Frenchie corrected himself. “can you tell me who hurt you?” He whispered. Butcher looked up at him, he pressed his lips together, but no response. Not verbal anyhow. Squinting, Frenchie put his hand on the man's face, rubbing his thumb over the man's cheek, and watching for any reactions.
And a reaction he got. Butcher closed his eyes and moved his head, loving the touch. As if Frenchie's worries weren't bad enough, now he had a man who was in subspace. Frenchie smiled softly and had the male stand up. He had Butcher follow him to his own desk, sitting him down. Frenchie sat on the desk, petting the raven haired male. Frenchie looked up at the group with the most serious face they had ever seen from the usually drugged up man.
“We need to stop. No movie night tonight.” That made the group groan. They thought Butcher was acting out and making it impossible for them to have a break, but Hughie just couldn't get the look on Butcher's face out of his head. “We need to help him!” He glared at the annoyed group. Butcher moved his hand to tap on Frenchie's thigh, getting The Frenchman's attention. “Oui?” He asked, his expression and voice softer. Butcher had laid his head on the desk, his eyes looking up at the other. Butcher moved his hand up to beacon for Frenchie, wanting him to come down and closer.
When he had, Butcher placed a soft kiss onto his cheek before he moved to lay his head back down, a soft smile on his lips. Frenchie blinked, his mind trying to process what had just happened. He turned to look at the wide eyed group.
“Explain?” M.M stared at him, his expression not really changing. Frenchie chewed on the inside of his cheek. He can't say anything without Butcher's consent, and Butcher wasn't exactly here right now.
“Uh,” He bit the bottom of his lip, looking at Butcher to see him tapping on the desk, his eyes following his finger. With a soft sigh, Frenchie turned to look at his friends. “think of it like he is high. Very, very high.” He said simply. Or, well, it sounded simple.
Everyone just stared at him.
Frenchie sighed again, rubbing his face. Butcher tapped on his thigh again, getting his attention quite quickly. The two stared at one another, as if they were speaking to one another through telepathy. It made the group uncomfortable seeing a different side of Butcher. He was calm and so much softer. Frenchie put his hand back in Butcher's hair, causing the other to lay his head in his arms, letting Frenchie do as he pleased. Frenchie explained to the group, hand keeping its place on the man's head, as to what was happening to Billy, or, well, what he assumed was happening to him.
Butcher's eyes were closed as the group stared in disbelief. “Okay, so, I didn't know Butcher was into that.” Hughie put a hand in his hair, his eyes wide and stuck on the other. Frenchie nodded.
“You're not supposed to know about that.” M.M sighed. “So, what? Did you two do something?” Frenchie's face burned red and Butcher finally opened his eyes, looking up at the group.
“No, no we have not since last week.” He informed them. Everyone stared at him, as if he just told them that he stopped doing drugs. “I am not the cause of this.” Billy sat up in his chair and took off his coat. The group looked toward him and noticed his clothes were messy. As if Frenchie wasn't already angry, this sure did it for him. He noticed the bites on Butcher's neck and right shoulder. His eye twitched.
Butcher chewed on the inside of his mouth, feeling slightly uncomfortable. His eyes watered and tears fell from then, rolling down his cheeks. Frenchie's anger seemingly melted away and he quickly got down from the table to smother Butcher with love. Aftercare was important, especially for Butcher. He wrapped his arms around Butcher, pressing soft kisses to his face and whispering soft things to him to calm him down. Frenchie tried to ask who had done this to him, but Butcher was too far gone to speak. The others in the room showed their own fear and worry.
When Butcher finally told Frenchie he was attached to him, his hands gripping onto the grey shirt of the other tightly. He didn't want Frenchie to leave him, and he wouldn't. The Frenchman looked to the group, his face blank. “For now, we stay calm and get him home. Later, I'm hunting down some people and torturing them.” He hummed the last bit before turning back to the - now calm - man in his arms. Butcher had his face in the man's chest, his eyes closed and breathing evening out. The group cleaned up what they could and M.M picked up the sleeping Butcher. They closed up and went right to Butcher's place.
Frenchie got the man out of his clothes, clearly he was going to burn them later, and covered him up tightly. He wanted Butcher to be as comfortable as possible before he left. He placed a soft kiss on the man's cheek before leaving the room, closing the door softly. Everyone was in the living room, trying to avoid the broken television on the floor. They ignored it, not asking any questions as they cleaned up the mess in the apartment. Frenchie did what he could to find the people responsible for what happened to Butcher and why it did. He didn't really care for their reasoning, he just wanted them dead. When everything was said and done with, Butcher was back to being himself; almost.
Since they all knew, he felt like giving up. He wanted to sob and scream because now others knew about him. But Frenchie wouldn't let him. When The Frenchman saw his eyes glass over, he walked up to him and pulled him into a tight hug – one that Butcher quickly relaxed into. They had their movie night at Butcher's place and Butcher seemed to he a little more interested in it than before. He was more comfortable around them. Hughie and Annie both got a new television for Butcher, who promised to pay them back. He didn't say it aloud, actually, he wrote it down and placed it in his bedside table right after they got it.
On the couch Butcher was laying down on Frenchie's lap. Frenchie was fast asleep, his hand in Butcher's hair and head lulled back. Kimiko was sitting on the floor, her legs crossed and head low, her eyes closed as she slept. M.M fell asleep with his arms crossed over his chest, soft snores leaving him. As for Hughie and Annie — the two of them fell asleep on the floor, Hughie's arms wrapped around the female who had her face buried in his chest.
The home was quiet.
Butcher was safe.
And Frenchie had three bodies in the van that he needed to dispose of when he got the chance.
What a nice twenty four hours.