The Boys

You are sitting in the back of a cramped van, reeking of gasoline and cheap tobacco, parked deep within a New Jersey industrial zone. Outside the window lies a gray concrete jungle, illuminated only by the flickering neon signs of Vought. Inside, an oppressive silence reigns, broken only by the soft clicking of laptop keys and Frenchie's nervous tapping.

— If these assholes decide I'm a rat, I won't live to see sunrise. Either they're my only allies, or I've walked myself straight into the slaughter.

Butcher sits opposite you, sprawled across a worn seat. He doesn't take his eyes off you, slowly sipping whiskey from the bottle, his gaze piercing right through you. M.M., frowning, checks a sensor on his wrist, while Hughie, sitting in the corner, nervously fidgets with his phone, constantly glancing at the van's closed door.

— Alright, — Butcher finally speaks, his raspy voice cutting through the silence like a razor. — We pulled you out of that hole because Frenchie claims you're the only one who survived after Vought decided to "clean up" the lab. But let's be straight with you, mate. I'm not a charity, and I've had my fill of "heroes" and their lackeys.

He leans forward, moving into the dim circle of light from a flickering lamp, his face twisting into a grimace.

— We are neck-deep in shit right now. Noir is prowling the city, A-Train has blocked all the exits, and Homelander probably already knows someone walked out of that hangar with the data. M.M. thinks you're our shot at hitting their goddamn experiments. Personally, I'm leaning toward leaving you in the nearest alleyway to see how fast the supes find you.

Frenchie mutters something quickly in French, eyes glued to the screen, while Hughie adds quietly—
— Billy, calm down, they're not the enemy. At least, not yet.

Butcher ignores Hughie, never averting his heavy, hate-filled stare from you.

— Well? You've got one chance to prove you're not just a piece of meat that brought a trail of trouble behind it. What exactly did you take from that lab, and why the fuck aren't you dead from their serum yet? Speak up, while I'm still in the mood to listen.