Chapter 13: The Meeting of Butcher and Marcus

The night was thick with tension as Marcus soared through the clouds, his mind racing with thoughts of his recent encounter with Victor Neuman. The city below was a tapestry of lights, but Marcus's focus was on the darker corners, the places where secrets were kept and plans were hatched. He knew his next move was crucial, one that could either solidify his position or unravel everything he'd been working towards.

He landed silently on the outskirts of a desolate industrial area, a stark contrast to the bustling city he had just left behind. The abandoned warehouses and crumbling infrastructure made it the perfect hideout, a place where those who didn't want to be found could operate undisturbed. And Marcus knew exactly who he was about to find here.

The door to the largest warehouse creaked open as Marcus approached in a suit and not his iconic Superman attire. He stepped inside, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space. The air was heavy with the scent of oil and rust, but Marcus's senses were attuned to something far more potent-the presence of one man who had made it his life's mission to destroy those like him.

At the far end of the warehouse, Butcher stood with his back to the entrance, his posture tense and alert. Even from this distance, Marcus could sense the man's barely contained fury, a seething hatred that had become his driving force.

Butcher turned around slowly, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the figure standing before him. For a moment, his expression was one of disbelief, as if he couldn't quite comprehend who had just walked into his domain.

"Superman," Butcher spat the name, his voice dripping with venom. "Or should I say Marcus, since we're all playing pretend now?"

Marcus remained calm, his gaze steady as he faced the man who had made it his mission to bring down every supe he could. "You can call me whatever you like, Butcher. But we both know why I'm here."

Butcher took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides although as cautious as not to provoke this human-disaster. "We don't need your help, supe. We've been doing just fine on our own."

"Fine?" Marcus raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're barely holding it together, Butcher. The walls are closing in, and Vought's grip on the world is tightening by the day. You might think you're making a difference, but you're fighting a losing battle."

Butcher's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he took a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to stay in control. "We don't need you," he repeated, though the conviction in his voice was less certain now. "We don't trust your kind. You're all the same, thinking you're above everyone else."

"I'm not like the others," Marcus said quietly, his voice steady but firm. "I'm here because I believe in what you're trying to do. Vought needs to be taken down, and I have the power to make that happen. But I can't do it alone, and neither can you."

Butcher stared at Marcus, his eyes filled with a mix of suspicion and disbelief. "You expect me to believe that? You've been playing the hero, saving people, making a name for yourself. But why? What's in it for you?"

Marcus hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I want to bring Vought down, just like you, all for a certain reason. But I also want to make sure that when it happens, the world doesn't fall into chaos. We need to be smart about this, Butcher. We need to plan for what comes next."

Butcher snorted, his expression hardening. "I've got no interest in what comes next. I only care about one thing-taking down Homelander and every other bloody supe that gets in my way."

"I know," Marcus said, his voice softening. "I know why you're doing this, Butcher. I know about your Becca."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and for a moment, Butcher looked like he had been struck. His eyes widened, and he took a step back, his face paling. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I know where she is," Marcus repeated, his gaze never leaving Butcher's. "I know what happened to her, and I know why you're really doing all of this."

Butcher's hands trembled, and he seemed to struggle for words. The anger that had been simmering in his eyes was replaced by something else-hope, desperation, a glimmer of something he had thought long buried.

"You're lying," Butcher finally managed to say, though his voice lacked conviction. "She's gone. Homelander... he..."

"She's alive," Marcus interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "And I can help you find her. But you have to trust me, Butcher. You have to let me help you."

Butcher's mind was racing, his thoughts a chaotic whirl of disbelief and desperate hope. For so long, he had believed that his wife was lost to him, a victim of the monsters he had sworn to destroy. And now, here was Superman-Marcus-telling him that she was still out there, that there was still a chance to save her.

But trust was a luxury that Butcher couldn't afford. He had been burned too many times, betrayed by those he had once considered allies. And yet, something in Marcus's eyes told him that this wasn't just another trick, another lie designed to manipulate him.

"If you're lying to me," Butcher said, his voice trembling with barely contained emotion, "I'll kill you. I don't care how powerful you are-I'll find a way."

"I'm not lying," Marcus said quietly. "I'm offering you a chance to get what you've been fighting for. But we have to work together. This isn't just about revenge, Butcher. It's about ending this once and for all."

Butcher was silent for a long time, his eyes searching Marcus's face for any sign of deceit. Finally, he nodded, though the movement was stiff and reluctant. "Fine," he said, his voice low and hoarse. "We'll work together. But you cross me, and I'll make sure you regret it."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Marcus replied, a faint smile on his lips. "But first, we need to find your wife. And then, we take down Homelander-and Vought-with everything we've got."

Butcher's expression hardened once more as his contemplated his choices, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes-hope, perhaps, or the faintest glimmer of trust. "Let's get to work, then," he said, his voice resolute. "We've got a lot of bastards to bring down."

As they left the warehouse, the weight of their new alliance settled over them both. The path ahead was fraught with danger, with betrayals and unexpected twists at every turn. But for the first time in a long while, Butcher felt like he wasn't alone in his quest, and Marcus knew that he had found an ally who was as relentless as he was.

The world was on the brink of change, and together, they would make sure that Vought-and Homelander-paid the price for everything they had done. Marcus was aware Homelander won't take this lying down if he comes to know of his son that has been hidden from him for a longtime.

He was also thinking of how to break it to Butcher that his wife had a son with another man. Sighing he leaves it to how Butcher will react when he finds out himself.