𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?

———————————————

Mel nodded as Milo handed her a cup of coffee from the local gas station, "Thanks." she softly smiled, scooting a bit to give Milo some room to sit beside her as they watched the news.

Something didn't seem right. Everything and everyone had been too quiet. It was too quiet and slow for the end of the world to take place that very morning.

Just as Mel was about to voice her concerns, Phantom walked into the room with Stephanie, "Has anyone called yet? Does anyone have any information on the shifter?" she asked, watching Milo shake his head as he took a sip from his own cup, "No, nothing yet. Everyone's been quiet, too quiet." he muttered, listening as Mel hummed in agreement.

"I'm starting to think they gave up." she sadly chuckled, placing her cup down when her phone pinged. She grabbed her phone and saw it was a call from Wally, "I'll be back. Wally's calling." she muttered, getting off the bed and walking outside to the parking lot.

Mel was about to answer the call when she caught sight of Colby standing near the curb while Luna waddled on the grass for a bathroom break.

The sight made her raise an eyebrow, "I'm surprised she took a liking to you that fast. She hates everyone for a few months before warming up." she said, watching Colby smile, "Guess I'm just lucky." he said, leaning down to pet Luna's head.

It wasn't luck. Colby just liked to morph into a dog and cuddle with the older dog. Stephanie called it manipulation while Colby liked to call it being smart.

Mel waited until Colby lifted Luna and began to walk back to the room, answering the call when she was alone in the lot, "Wally, that was quick. Even for you." she smirked, knowing it could either be a good or bad thing.

It made her heart race with anticipation, and not the good kind.

She could practically see Wally's goofy smile, "Hey, Mel. So, I was able to dig up some stuff from that name you mentioned. Kessler, right? Well, turns out there was some guy named Joe Kessler. He and that other guy, Butcher, were part of the same squad during their time in the army. Kessler was killed in the Panjshir Valley around 2013. Apparently it got messy since there was an investigation about Butcher and how he might've been the one to leave Kessler behind, but the investigation was called off and ruled an accidental death. Does any of that help?" he questioned, waiting for her answer.

But there was no answer. No sound of anything. Mel was completely silent as she ended the call, her phone dropping out of her hand and onto the pavement of the lot.

She stared at the far distance, the blue skies and the birds that flew across them. Slowly, her breathing began to pick as her beating heart forced her lungs to constrict and expand. All the air was gone as her chest rose and fell at a quick pace as she stumbled backwards before going forward. Her legs felt like pathetic twigs.

She couldn't stand. She couldn't breathe.

Mel finally fell to her knees with the growing rage that clawed at her chest. With an anguished cry, she grabbed her phone and threw it, "No!" she wailed, unable to stop herself as she began to choke on her cries and wails.

She didn't hear the motel doors beginning to open before she was suddenly grabbed by multiple people; but none of it mattered as Mel continued to wail and cry, "No! No, no, no!" she nearly screamed, unable to stop.

Milo was the first person in her line of sight, "Mel! Melanie, what's wrong?!" he panicked, trying to understand Mel as he cupped her cheeks.

Phantom stood behind Milo, quickly turning her head to try and see if anyone had hurt Mel. She only looked back when Mel finally became coherent enough to speak, "It w-was him! It was th-that... That son of a bitch!" she shouted, looking at Milo when he continued to question her words.

"Fucking Butcher! He w-was the one who d-did it! He was the fucker that l-left my dad behind!" Mel yelled, trying to keep herself as Stephanie kneeled in front of her to try and help.

Stephanie stared at her, slowly placing her hands on Mel's shoulders, "Mel, we're here. Just take a deep breath. Nice and easy, tell us what's happening." she soothed, sensing that Mel's anger was beginning to overpower her pain and grief.

Mel stared at the Supe, seeing her reflection in the tinted shades of Stephanie's sunglasses, "Butcher killed my dad," she bluntly said, taking Stephanie's hands off her shoulders and pushing herself off the ground, "and I'm gonna fucking kill him." she answered, pushing past the group to go back to the room.

But Milo was quick to grab her arms, knowing the damage and revenge Mel would carry out on a defenseless Butcher. He knew Butcher wouldn't stand a chance if he was already dying.

"Take a breath, Mel. Please. Don't do this, not like this. I'm begging you." he softly pleaded, looking into her eyes. Milo knew it wouldn't work when Mel scoffed, "He killed my dad, Milo. He killed him and I'm gonna return the favor by putting a bullet in-between his fucking eyes," she hissed, turning to Phantom with her cold glare, "where is he?"

Phantom tried to speak, "Mel, I can't..." she stopped when Mel went to kick a car, grunting when Milo was quick to pull her away from any of the parked cars in the lot.

Mel groaned and grunted, struggling against Milo, "Goddamnit! Where's Butcher?! Where the fuck is Butcher?!" she shouted, looking at Phantom with her twisted smile and the familiar crazed look in her eyes, "I just wanna talk to him. I just wanna fucking talk to him." she nearly laughed, feeling more tears stream down her cheeks.

Milo held her back, sharing a look with Phantom before he finally nodded, "Go ahead." he relented, watching Phantom's eyes fall shut as she began to search for the man.

After a few seconds, the Supe slowly nodded, "I found him. He's in some bunker with Mallory, but he's dying." she explained, watching Milo let go of Mel with a nervous glint in his eyes.

Mel only nodded as she began to walk back towards the room, "Good." she muttered, her eyes growing darker as she stalked off.

The group watched her go, "You two should stay here. It's gonna probably get ugly." Milo advised, turning to Stephanie and Colby.

"We'll be here." Colby nodded while Stephanie sighed, "Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. She looks ready to kill anyone in her way." she frowned, watching Phantom shake her head as she began to follow his car, "No promises there." she and Milo said in unison, watching Mel walk back from the room.

A gun in her trembling hand.

—————————————

It didn't take long before the group stood in front of the facility Butcher was being held in. Phantom looked through the gates, curling her fingers and forcing the gates and doors to open. She listened as the alarms began to go off, knowing they wouldn't have much time, "We don't have much time. Make it quick." she warned, watching Mel begin to walk towards the entrance.

Mel grabbed her gun and went to take aim at the walls when Milo grabbed her arms again, "Melanie, please don't do anything stupid. This is fucking insane, you know that. Please, it's not what Joe would've wanted. Not like this." he begged, trying to get through to his girlfriend.

But Mel didn't listen, looking down the hall as her heart began to race again. The air was gone and she found it hard to breathe again. Everything was moving too fast and too slow. It was too much.

But it had to be done. For her dad.

Mel shook her head, "Just make sure no one bothers me." she ordered, walking towards the end of the hall. Phantom had told her Butcher was in the room that rested at the end of the hall.

She wasn't sure what to feel or think; but the closer she got to the door, the more the invisible string pulled and tugged at her chest, threatening to snap.

Without any warning or intention, it snapped and all hell broke loose. The bitter memory of having a CNO and their chaplain tell her family that their husband/father was killed in combat, but his sacrifice was for the greater good of the country and to never be forgotten.

Having to hear her mom scream while Adam and Roman tried to console her. But Mel? Mel ran and would continue to run until she met Milo and the rest of the Boys.

Mel felt herself break into a sprint, running down the hallway as she grew aware of her desire to kill the main reason why her life crumbled and burned. She held her gun towards the ceiling, shooting the alarms and lights, "Butcher!" she screamed, throwing her gun through the window of Butcher's room.

She caught sight of Mallory inside the room, ducking when the gun nearly hit in the head, but she didn't care. Not anymore. Mel was out for revenge and she wanted blood. Butcher's blood.

Mel didn't hesitate to kick her boot against the door, struggling and grunting when Milo grabbed her once more, "Mel, enough! That's enough!" he shouted, straining to hold Mel back as he listened to her laugh and kick her legs, "You fucking dick! You left my dad! You fucking left him behind! He trusted you! He just wanted to come home!" she shouted, kicking the door once more.

Milo listened as Mel's screams soon began to mix with pained cries, "No, no! Come on, Butcher! Come on! Come fucking get me! You like killing people, come fucking kill me too!" she screamed, trying get out of Milo's hold and back towards the door, "I'll fucking kill you! When I find you back there, I swear I'll kill you! I'll blast you right back to fucking hell!" she screamed, holding onto Milo's arms as Phantom began to lead them back outside.

When Mel realized where they were going, she shook her head with another laugh. Everything was falling apart. Mel felt like she was crumbling and slipping through the cracks of her nightmares.

Mel squeezed her eyes shut before she finally screamed, the guttural sound filled with desperation and anguish.

Her eyes only opened when a loud crack rumbled through the hall. She watched the walls and ceiling crack and threaten to fall. The floor jolted and nearly sunk from beneath them, forcing Milo to let go of Mel as they fell to the floor.

Phantom was quick to stand and help the couple up, "What the fuck?" she questioned, her eyes widening when officers rushed towards them with more guns than any of them had.

The Supe didn't hesitate to shove her way to the front, holding her hands out and creating a barrier to protect everyone, "Hurry! Get her out of here!" she shouted, watching Milo grab Mel's hand before the couple began to run.

Phantom grit her teeth as she forced the barrier forward, sending the officers down and giving the group enough time to escape.

She chased after the couple, watching as Milo was beginning to drive away. Without thinking, Phantom leaped and threw herself through the rear window, crashing into the backseat of Milo's car.

"Oh shit, shit, shit," Milo muttered, quickly looking back as he drove away, "are you ok? Is everyone ok?" he questioned, still shocked from what happened in the facility.

Phantom groaned as she struggled to sit up, "I'm ok," she nodded, staring at the back of Mel's head, "I just wanna know how long Mel had kept her being a fucking Supe a secret." she grumbled, her trembling voice low.

Mel turned in her seat, her eyes narrowed, "I didn't know, thank you very much. I don't even know how it's even possible. I never took V or anything." she muttered, looking back towards the road with a small sigh.

She had a few calls to make.

—————————————

Mel stood beside Milo's car, holding her phone to ear, "Damnit, Adam, answer," she frowned, listening as her call went to voicemail once more, "son of a bitch, Adam, I need your help. I'm fucking serious this time, ok? I need your help and I know you've seen the shit going on with Homelander and Vought." she said into the phone, tugging at her hair.

"And I know Milo's been texting you everything and anything. We need your help... And I need to talk to you about dad. We need to talk about everything." Mel finished, ending the message and pocketing Milo's phone.

Since hers was currently broken and lost in the fields that were across from the motel.

Stephanie and Colby sat on the motel bed, watching the screen as Homelander publicly outed Neuman to be a Supe, "Holy shit." Colby whispered, watching Homelander and Neuman with tense eyes.

"We should've stayed in Australia." he admitted, watching his sister shake her head, "No, I'm glad we came here. Homelander needs to pay for the innocent lives he killed that day on the plane. We know the truth. Homelander killed our sister and everyone else. All those lives were taken without reason, and he's going to pay. We're going to make him pay." she promised, squeezing Colby's shoulder before the door opened.

Milo helped Phantom, sighing as he helped the Supe onto the bed, "What happened?" Stephanie questioned, walking towards Phantom and examining the healing cuts and bruises on her skin.

"Where's Mel?" Colby questioned, watching Milo nod outside the motel room, "Calling her brother," he muttered, sitting on the edge of the bed and fiddling with his fingers, "so, uh, she's a Supe." he suddenly blurted, frowning when Phantom lightly kicked his back, "Milo. Shut. Up." she mumbled into the pillows as Colby choked on his drink and Stephanie's eyes widened with shock.

"Wait, what?" she gaped, looking at Milo with wide eyes, "she's a Supe? How? When did she even take V?" the Supe questioned, throwing all sorts of questions at Milo and Phantom.

Milo felt himself grow more upset and anxious, "Apparently she is. I have no idea and I have no idea. My girlfriend is a Supe and I'm freaking out. She's dead set on killing Butcher and I'm torn because she's the love of my life but Butcher is like my Dad. I don't know what the fuck to do, but I know I'm supposed to go with my girlfriend, but what if something happens and Butcher tries to kill her back?!" he rambled, unable to hold back his worries and anxieties.

But he suddenly went silent when Phantom touched the back of his head, helping Milo fall onto the bed and into a peaceful sleep.

Phantom slowly sat up, feeling her body heal itself from its previous injuries. She glanced at the screen, seeing what she had missed in a few short hours.

Ignoring the screen, Phantom shook her head, "She's gonna kill Butcher," she said, looking out the window to watch Mel stand beside Milo's car, "and she's gonna do it with a damn smile."

—————————————

"Goddamnit, we're not late. I don't wanna hear it." Phantom called, forcing the warehouse doors open as she, Mel, and Milo stumbled into the warehouse M.M. told them to come at.

When Phantom saw the group, she noticed how disheveled and upset everyone seemed, "You guys look like shit." Mel muttered, pulling the joint from her lips as she saw the small vial of virus in Frenchie's hand.

Annie scoffed, shaking her head, "Understatement of the fucking year." she muttered, making Mel raise an eyebrow, "What happened?" she asked, looking at Annie with an uninterested expression.

"Oh nothing," Annie began, crossing her arms over her chest, "just some shifter kidnapped me and fucking Hughie. Twenty-fucking-times." she explained, growing anger in her tone.

Phantom took a deep breath, searching for Hughie with a small frown, sensing the hurt and discomfort in his body again. She didn't say anything, feeling herself sigh when Mel tilted her head, "Didn't know Hughie got raped again." the woman snarked, feeling her anger begin to rise again.

Mel went to take a step forward, stopping when Milo held her back as the warehouse doors opened again. This time, Hughie, Neuman, Zoe, and a secret service officer stepped into the building.

As both groups began to merge, Frenchie nodded, "You took your braces off, since last time we saw you." he said, looking at Zoe while Neuman stepped in front of her, "Let's not do that." she warned, turning when M.M. sighed from his corner of the room, "How's this gonna work, Neuman?"

Neuman thought for a moment, "Simple. You help me get clear of Homelander, and Singer's people at the CIA. And I go quietly." she explained, frowning when M.M. suggested that she'd owe them a favor.

But Annie was quick to speak, "A lot more than one." she frowned while Neuman nodded before Hughie smiled for the first time in a few weeks, "Great. So you're gonna help us take down Vought and Homelander." he said as he and Neuman shared a smile.

As the group settled into a tense silence, Mel glanced at Milo, "That easy?" she muttered, not expecting things to settle and become this easy.

But it wouldn't last.

Mel felt her chest constrict while her body went rigid when Butcher's voice echoed through the warehouse, "Oi." he called, stepping into the sight of everyone.

He didn't like he once was. No longer did he look frail or weak. He looked healthy and strong. It made Mel smirk as she tried to step forward, gritting her teeth when Milo stopped her.

This was what Mel wanted. She wanted to kill him, but she wanted Butcher to put up some sort of fight. She wanted to beat Butcher down until he had nothing left in his life. Nothing but darkness and vulnerability.

As Mel felt herself tense and her body began to grow ready for a fight, Butcher stared at Hughie, "No deals." he said, his eyes moving towards Hughie.

The man staring at Hughie wasn't the same man he met all those years ago.

Hughie tried to smile as he stepped towards him, "I can explain, all right? It's all good. I know what this looks like, but with everything that we've been through together, I've never once asked you to trust me. I am asking now. Like the way you used to trust Lenny. Please, Butcher." he softly pleaded, feeling Butcher place a gentle hand on his shoulder.

But everyone soon sensed the impending danger when Butcher threw Hughie to the side, "Shit, Butcher, don't." Phantom was quick to say, freezing when she saw black tentacles break free from Butcher's chest. They resembled cancerous tumors. Just as dangerous and terrifying.

Phantom watched as the tentacles grabbed Neuman and struck Zoe, sending her across the warehouse. The Supe felt her eyes glow red as she tried to throw a blast of energy, but a grunt left her lips when a tentacle swiped at her chest and sent her through the glass walls and towards the door.

Mel grabbed her gun, taking aim before she and the secret service officer were sent through the same glass walls and landed beside Phantom, "Shit." Mel groaned, slowly setting herself up as she watched the tentacles lift Neuman towards the ceiling.

"Come on, get up." Mel muttered, helping Phantom up before they watched Butcher pull Neuman in half. Milo was quick to stumble back, gagging as he and everyone else was covered in her blood, "Oh shit. Butcher, what the fuck?!" he questioned, feeling himself grow fearful when Butcher set his sights on him.

Mel stared at Milo before she slowly began to stand, "Wait, wait," she began to stand, stepping over the glass as she tried to rush towards Milo, "Butcher, no!" She felt herself shout, slipping over Neuman's blood and into Phantom's arms when another tentacle grabbed Milo's neck.

Phantom held Mel back, "Shh, shh." she whispered, trying to hold Mel back as she listened to Mel break into cries and wails, "No!" she cried, listened as Hughie tried to stop Butcher, "Butcher, stop! Butcher!" he begged, watching Milo choke and gasp for air.

"Butcher, stop! Stop!" Mel cried, gasping when Milo's warm blood splattered across her face, landing on her cheeks and forehead.

Her eyes filled with tears as watched Milo's decapitated head fall to the ground, along with his body. Mel stared at his lifeless body, his blood beginning to pool around her boots.

Mel stared at him as she opened her mouth to scream, but her screams were muffled when Phantom covered her mouth, "Not now, not now." she whispered, holding back her own tears as Mel gave up and began to wail for Milo's life and fallen body.

Phantom shook her head, pushing past the chaos of the moment, "We have to go. Come on, we have to go." she said, hauling Mel away from the group.

"I'll kill you," Mel finally said, looking at Butcher as she cried, "I'll fucking kill you." she repeated, letting Phantom drag her back out to the car.

As the two Supes made it outside, Phantom felt herself slightly relax when she saw Stephanie and Colby leaning against the car, "Help me with her!" she shouted, struggling to hold Mel back as she tried to force her way back into the warehouse.

Colby set Luna inside the car before he and Stephanie dragged Mel into the car, but Mel continued to fight and shake her head, "Milo! Milo!" she wailed as Stephanie held her close, "Marie, hurry up!" the Supe shouted.

Phantom stared at the warehouse until she finally got into the car, punching the steering wheel as she began to drive off.

It was time to go back home.

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"Where are we?" Colby questioned, looking around as trees and forests surrounded the car. It was a sight that reminded him of home.

Mel had finally fallen asleep, her head on Stephanie's shoulder. She had been crying for most of the ride, but Phantom managed to get her to sleep with a simple touch on her knee.

Phantom continued to drive, slowly down when the warehouse came into view, "Somewhere safe. Somewhere they won't..." she trailed off, seeing Damian and Kiko... And Wally's lifeless body, "no. No, no. Fucking no." she quickly said, parking the car and stumbling out of the car.

"No, no!" she shook her head, feeling Damian grab her arms to stop her from going inside, "Marie, they're not here. They're gone. They took them." he explained, holding Phantom back as she looked through the warehouse's entrance.

Their safe haven had been gutted. It was nearly destroyed with bullets and gas.

Phantom held onto Damian's forearm, shaking her head, "Where and who?" she asked, her anger spiking as she listened to Damian's answer, "Soldiers. They came in, guns a-blazing and with some fucking gas. They grabbed Diana and Ben... And Wally. Goddamn, asshole. He tried to give us time to leave, but they fucking shot him." he explained as the group stared down at their friend's fallen body.

It was becoming harder to resist the urge to feed into her urges and find Homelander for herself. Phantom shook her head, "Get Mel and Luna. Get Mel inside and keep her asleep. Milo... Milo's dead." she sighed, pulling herself away from Damian's grasp as her chest tightened.

Damian cursed, watching the car door open, "Who are they?" he frowned, not wanting to crumble when he knew Kiko needed him.

"Later. Just get them inside. Now, please." Phantom frowned, wanting to be alone for a while. She needed to keep everyone inside. She needed to protect her friends and find her parents.

It only took a few moments before everyone was back inside the warehouse. Once everyone was gone, Phantom lowered herself to the floor, holding her head in her hands, "Fucking shit." she cursed, trying to keep herself from exploding.

She tried to keep herself in check, holding the energy and protection that begged to be released and used as a form of protection and defense.

But it was too much. Her friends were dead. Her parents were gone.

They lost. They fucking lost again.

Phantom held onto her hair before she let go and suddenly screamed, her hands shaking as an outburst of energy shot from her chest and towards the sky.

The Supe groaned as her body began to levitate, watching her power build a barrier around the warehouse and surrounding trees.

The barrier was building itself on pain and grief. Frustration and rage. Loss and devastation.

Phantom watched with some familiarity, seeing the barrier build itself on walls of glitching energy. It reminded Phantom of her days in Russia. How she was trapped and living through her sitcom life.

Once the barrier completed itself, the walls grew scarlet before blending in with the rest of the world. Phantom remained still as she lowered herself to the ground with a small sigh, feeling some of the energy become lighter before easing away.

"What the hell was that?" Stephanie questioned, stepping out of the warehouse with a frown on her lips. Phantom didn't turn, looking up at the barrier that hid in plain sight, "Nothing," she began, "just a means of keeping everyone safe." she answered, her voice calm.

But her eyes turned red when she saw a familiar figure land in front of the barrier, "Get inside." she ordered, walking towards the barrier's edge.

Phantom felt her hands tremble and shake as she stared into Homelander's eyes. His soulless, evil eyes. Phantom just wanted to blast those eyes out of his head.

Staring at Homelander, Phantom was tempted to bring the barrier down and kill Homelander, wanting to end the mess the world got itself into.

But Phantom resisted the temptation, listening as Homelander chuckled, "After all this time. You were hiding them here." he whispered, reaching to touch the barrier but pulling his gloved-hand away at the last second.

Phantom continued to stare until she nodded, "When I find my parents, I'll finally kill you," she whispered with a smile, turning away and walking back without a moment's hesitation, "now the real fun begins, John. Now the real fucking fun begins." she said over her shoulder, curling her fingers and forcing the barrier to grow larger as a glitched version of a horned crown on the top of Phantom's head.

—————————————

Neuman and Milo's bodies were gone when Mel stepped back into the warehouse a few days after everything. She knew the world was going to shit, but that wasn't going to stop her from saying goodbye.

Nothing could have prepared for the putrid smell of dried blood and rotting flesh. Mel couldn't bring herself to look at the blood stains of where Milo's head and body were left.

Not with his dried blood and the smell of his once rotting corpse.

Tears clouded her eyes as she sniffled, "My beautiful boy," Mel whispered, finally willing herself to look down at the blood stains, "I'm so sorry." she sniffled, wiping at the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Mel slowly pulled herself from the darkness of her grief when the sound of doors opening and guns cocking caught her attention.

The Supe took a deep breath, "I love you so much, Milo. To the moon and back." she whispered with a final nod, turning to look at the soldiers that tried to surround her.

Mel thought for a moment before she rolled her shoulders and screamed, unleashing a small portion of her rage onto the soldiers.

At the sound of Mel's explosive scream, the sharp pitch inflicted strong amounts of pain and misery onto the soldiers. They all dropped their weapons, wailing and begging for their pain to end. Some falling to their knees, blood leaking from their ears and eyes.

But Mel continued to shriek until their heads exploded and popped, their brains mixing with the old and now fresh blood on the concrete floors.

Slowly, Mel stepped back, not phased by the blood that now covered her hands. She stared at their lifeless bodies until the warehouse doors opened once more.

She listened as they stepped over broken shards of glass and blood, but she didn't try to attack. Instead, she smiled when she saw the familiar silhouette, "It's about time you answered, dipshit." she muttered, turning to look at her brother.

"Sorry, sis, but life's been pretty fucking tough." Adam Kessler answered, staring at his older sister. He felt himself when Mel turned, a twisted smile pulling at her lips, "Come on. We have work to do, people to see, and people to kill." she snickered, wrapping a toned arm around Adam's shoulder as they walked out of the warehouse.

One Kessler out for Butcher's blood was bad enough, but two Kesslers were worse. Two Kesslers were enough to bring Butcher's demise.

Plus, a few extra friends. Both living and a few... Not so living.