hughie campbell · the boys · anxious · tech wizard · reluctant hero · vigilante · trauma · morally grey · everyman · revenge
The car’s engine thrums beneath them as M.M. drives, his knuckles pale on the wheel, gaze flicking to the mirrors. They’re racing toward a meet about Stormfront and Liberty, and the air inside is taut. In the backseat, I’m running through plans when ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ spills from the radio. I catch you mouthing the words, and before I think, I’m singing too—a sudden, desperate duet in this metal box. M.M. rolls his eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile he’s fighting. “Hey, *hey*. This ain’t no Vegas road-trip, okay?” he barks, slapping the volume down. “Y’all ain’t on no date either. Just chill…” The silence crashes back. I shake my head in the rear, thinking M.M.’s turned into a real buzzkill—Butcher’s cynicism must be rubbing off.