Ch.24

"Well as you know the Deep is extremely stupid and very impressionable. I've become 'friends' with him and I believe we can bring him to our side," Lamplighter says and after the last couple of years, he has gained Stockholm syndrome. Lamplighter is now more of a fellow 'Boy' at least he believes he is.

"Ok, but the issue is the fact that you said the Deep is a complete moron, how could he be useful? Hell, he might just fuck everything up, plus what would you do? Walk up to him and ask him to follow you here and then we are supposed to brainwash him into joining us?" I say to Lamplighter who opens his mouth but closes it to think. 

"You really fucked this one Butcher," MM says snorting after hearing Lamplighter's plan. 

"I didn't know that was it! I thought he had a more thought-out one!" Butcher says defending himself. 

"The Deep has been telling me how much he has come to hate the Seven… You guys have no idea what Homelander is really like. The rest of the Seven bully the Deep and force him to do all these stupid things. I really think he would join us if it meant getting back at them," Lamplighter says trying to justify his reasons. 

"No, the Deep is too much of an idiot to bring into our group… What about Queen Maeve? I thought she was someone we might be able to bring to our side?" I say to him as everyone turns to Lamplighter. 

"I don't know enough about her other than what I already told you. She is very distant and cold to everyone, only Homelander being the one she is cordial to. Every time I try to talk to her she threatens to tear my balls off," Lamplighter says as Frenchie chuckles hearing him. 

"What do you want us to do?" MM says turning to me. 

"For now we do nothing… Lamplighter you will do everything you can to learn more about Queen Maeve and try to befriend her. She is our second attempt into the Seven," I say as Lamplighter grumbles but nods his head. 

"Fine… I just hope she doesn't really take my balls off," Lamplighter says walking off. 

"Butcher, next time that jackass has a plan. You learn what it is and then inform us before moving forward," I say after Lamplighter leaves. 

"Yeah, yeah, my bad," Butcher says walking off too. 

Over the next several months Lamplighter tried his best to grow closer to Queen Maeve but failed to do so. Then toward the end of 2018, Lamplighter called an emergency meeting at the Warehouse. Everyone arrived there, even Grace as Lamplighter has never called an emergency meeting until now. 

"What is this about?" Grace asks Butcher as we are waiting for Lamplighter to arrive. 

"No idea, he was just super panicked and freaking out. Wouldn't elaborate over the phone," Butcher says shrugging. 

"They found out!!" Lamplighter says yelling as he enters. Everyone then immediately grabs guns and points them at him making him come to a complete stop holding his hands up. 

"Found out about us?!" Grace says ready to blow up Lamplighter's head. 

"No! About me and my… urges," Lamplighter says correcting himself and we all let out a sigh before Grace motions for MM and Frenchie to secure the area just in case. 

"Explain," Grace says as Lamplighter nods his head nervously. 

"I think Black Noir was looking into me, thinking I was betraying them… which I mean I am, but anyway he only found out about my interests. They called a meeting today with me and gave me an ultimatum. Said I have to retire or be publicly shamed and removed forcibly! You have to help me!" Lamplighter says as Grace rubs her eyebrows in annoyance and Butcher rolls his eyes.

"Not our problem mate, though now you are a loose end," Butcher says as Lamplighter's face pales. 

"Wait, where are they sending you? Or are they just making you retire and leaving you to your devices?" I ask before anyone can make a hasty decision. 

"They said they have another job for me if I retire… not sure what since they wouldn't tell me unless I agreed. I told them I needed to think about it and they gave me a day to consider it," Lamplighter says while giving me a hopeful look. 

"I say we let him retire and see what job they offer him. It might lead us to another place we can use against them. We already gathered a lot on the Seven and should not focus on other areas to bring Vought down," I say giving my thoughts since Grace hasn't given us the OK to move on Vought. 

"It could also be a dead end, I say we clean up the mess and move on," Butcher says as Lamplighter looks confused, but we know he means to kill Lamplighter. 

"We can always do a deep clean later… I agree with Logan, we should see where this leads us," Grace says as Butcher grunts in annoyance. 

"Lamplighter, you are hereby ordered to accept their offer and work at this new job. We want intel on what it is they are going to be having you do," Grace says as Lamplighter looks angry now. 

"What?! That–" Lamplighter says but stops when Grace holds up her phone showing the button she can press to make him die. 

"Fine!" Lamplighter says angrily walking off. 

"Butcher, get Frenchie and watch him. Any sign of betrayal and he dies," Grace says as Butcher nods walking off to find Frenchie. 

"Logan, while I'm here I should tell you. I'm retiring in a few weeks and they already have my replacement in mind. She will be informed of our operation here and you will be coordinating with her. However, I will still be there if you need me with my connections," Grace says handing me a file on a woman named Susan Raynor. 

"Time, my worst enemy," I say while looking at the file with Grace giving me a sad smile. 

"I know… I'm starting to understand why you never settled down," Grace says to me seeing me always leaving my loved ones behind. 

"Yet, I still manage to hurt myself by finding friends," I say with a sigh as Grace places a hand on my shoulder. 

"So what happened?" MM says walking back. 

"Lamplighter has a new assignment, not in the Seven, he is getting removed. Was not happy about it, but understands his position," I say since Grace didn't bring up her retirement to the others, I wasn't going to either. 

"Plus I'm retiring in a few weeks. Your new Unit's handler will be Susan Raynor, the new Deputy Director," Grace says handing the file she gave me to MM. 

"I see… Well congratulations on the retirement Ma'am," MM says shaking her hand while looking through the file quickly. 

"Right, congratulations," I say offering my hand, which Grace moves away and gives me a hug instead. MM looks surprised as Grace never shows much emotion, but always knew we had a bond before the unit. 

"Tell the others and destroy that when they are done looking at it," Grace says taking her leave and leaving the file behind for Frenchie and Butcher to look at. 

"So, I never did ask but how do you and the Colonel know each other?" MM says now letting his curiosity get the better of him. 

"Met years ago before the Unit was made. We worked together for a time too," I say not elaborating further. MM just nods his head and does not pry further. 

After the others come back confirming Lamplighter is taking the loose in grace, we inform them of Grace's retirement. Frenchie and Butcher were upset about it since we've been working with her for years. Though they understood and once they read the file on our new boss we burned it. That night we all head to our homes, though I head to the local dive bar nearby. 

"The usual?" the bartender asks me since I've been coming here for years now. 

I just nod my head as he pulls a new bottle of Lagavulin for me out. He then gives me a glass as I walk over to one of the empty tables after paying him and pouring myself a drink. The place also doesn't care if you smoke inside since basically everyone here does too, so I pull out a new cigar and light it up. I sit in silence enjoying the drink and cigar while coming to terms with beginning to lose another friend to time. 

"Fucking bit–" I look over to see a woman headbutt a man who then collapses unconscious. 

The other two buddies of his walk over to make more trouble it seems. With a sigh, I stand up as the bartender and I share a look to intervene. However, before we can get involved the woman punches the one in the face and kicks the other in the nuts. Then she grabs the beer bottle from the first man smashing in on the head of the one she punched in the face knocking him out too. Then with a hammer punch, she knocks out the last man who crumbles to the ground. 

"Nice hits," I say looking at her and when she looks up I instantly recognize her unlike everyone else it seems, Queen Maeve. 

"Thanks," Queen Maeve says sitting back down as the bouncer now walks over dragging them outside after pocketing their money. 

"Frank, I want to buy her a drink," I say as she raises an eyebrow.

"Just for the show you put on nothing else," I say though a part of me is now gonna try to become friendly so we can get an informant in the Seven again. 

"Alright," Queen Maeve says nodding her head. 

"So, haven't seen you in this bar before. New to town?" I say trying to make conversation, which she can easily tell. 

"Again not trying to hit on you, just curious why you would pick this tiny bar out of the whole city's choices," I say as Frank gives me a glare. 

"You know this is a dive bar, Frank, don't give me that look," I say to him as he rolls his eyes. 

"The other ones are too crowded and I like the quiet before those idiots tried to hit on me," Queen Maeve says as I nod my head. 

"Well, enjoy your night then," I say not wanting to become pushy and hoping I can see her again. 

I then go back over to my table and continue to drink and enjoy my cigar. During that time I feel Queen Maeve look over to me several times. Then after an hour I walked away from her she walked over to me. She takes a seat across from me at the table, I just raise an eyebrow at her. 

"I thought you'd try to hit on me like them too," Queen Maeve says giving me a flirtatious smirk. 

"I know when I'm not wanted. Plus, you seemed to be wanting to be left alone," I say shrugging. 

"True… those bastards almost ruined my night. But you seem nicer and I could use a distraction," Queen Maeve says giving me a look which I believe means she wants to hook up. 

"What kind of distraction? One that could keep you occupied the rest of the night?" I say to her with a smirk. 

"Depends, are you offering? Plus who knows, I've yet to find anyone who can keep me occupied all night," Queen Maeve says to me with a flirtatious smirk.

"Well my night is open, so I'm interested in having some fun," I say to her as she smiles and stands up. 

"Where to?" Queen Maeve says giving me an interested look. 

"Follow me," I say grabbing my bottle while tossing a hundred Frank's way on the way out.