Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kate didn’t know what she was doing. When she was young and she had dreamed of love she hadn’t pictured it this way. She had thought it would lead to a happily ever after or something, but now that she was in love it wasn’t that way at all. For it had happened, she had met a man, a tall, dark, and handsome man, and she loved him despite everything. If only their relationship were what she wanted it to be? If only he loved her too. But he didn’t, Kate knew she meant nothing to him. And as much as she loved him that didn’t make that hurt anymore.
“If only I could fall out of love with Butch,” whispered Kate as she lay on her couch waiting for him as she always was. Butch Gilzean was the last person she ever thought she’d love. It was by chance that they even met, but they had. For her it had been love at first sight. But their relationship had been complicated from the beginning because no one could know about it. He said it was for her safety because of his job with Fish Mooney, but Kate didn’t believe that anymore. She was sure she was just one of many girls spreading their legs for him and if she hadn’t of loved him she wouldn’t have stayed this long. But not anymore, tonight she would tell him that if he didn’t make a change that they were through even if it killed her. She couldn’t do it anymore.
At first Kate hadn’t minded, it had been sort of a thrill sneaking around to be with him; in the beginning they had had a real relationship or at least something that resembled one. It felt that way until it didn’t anymore. Butch used to bring her flowers and chocolates even jewelry on occasion, once he even took her on a real date, but a little over a year later here they were. He didn’t do that anymore. Most of the time when he came over they would just have sex and then he would leave. Kate wanted it to be the way it was in the beginning. She couldn’t live with it the way it was anymore.
Kate kept repeating what she would say to him when he arrived, but when he did show up it was like it all died in her throat. Butch arrived looking as incredible as usual dressed in a fine looking suit and even considering everything when he smiled at her she still couldn’t help, but melt. He usually stopped by before going to Mooney’s for the night and just looking at him nearly made her lose her resolve. But she didn’t, Kate was still determined to say something to him.
“Hay Gorgeous,” whispered Butch as he sat by my side on the couch his big arms surrounding me instantly. For just a moment she let herself snuggle close to him, she loved being in his arms and when he kissed her she let him. She let him because she had to. If this was their last kiss she would savior it, she would revel in it because she loved him, and if she lost him now she would have to remember this kiss for the rest of her life.
Kate indulged in the kiss for as long as she could before she pulled away seeing his confused face immediately.
“What’s wrong?” said Butch that look remaining on his face as he stared her down. In that moment Kate didn’t know what to say, she knew everything she wanted to say, but she didn’t know how to say it. And he only made it harder when he pulled her close once more his chubby fingers moving strands of stray hair from her face in the most endearing way.
“No…I just…I wanted to talk to you,” whispered Kate moving away from him to stand. Butch stood up with her almost as soon as she had, his big arms were around her again, and he pulled her back into his chest. When he did she couldn’t help, but shiver. Resisting him was like resisting air.
His lips found her neck soon after that making her head falling instinctively to his shoulder. Kate could feel him then, his hardness was against the swell of her ass as his tongue, and teeth marked her. It all combined made it nearly impossible to think let alone string along a sentence, so telling him to stop was proving hard.
“We can talk about it later, for now, I need you. Can’t you feel how badly I need you, Katie?” growled Butch his hands sliding down to the curve of her hips giving them a squeeze as he brought her closer. She couldn’t say anything, she needed him too, but as one hand came to palm her breast she suddenly came back to reality. She needed to talk to him and they were going to talk. For once he was going to listen to her. This was the way it always was, this was why sometimes she felt like his personal whore.
“Get off me,” exclaimed Kate suddenly pulling away from him quickly turning to face him.
“What the hell is wrong with you tonight?” snapped Butch taking a step towards her.
“This is what’s wrong! I’m tired of the way things are between us. You don’t listen to a word I say, you just come here, we fuck, and you leave without a word. I’m sick of feeling like all I am to you is your personal whore. I want more, Butch. I want a real relationship with a man who gives a damn about me,” screamed Kate her eyes filling with tears.
“Oh come on, Katie. It’s not like that. What we have here is really something,” exclaimed Butch surprise etched on his face as her words repeated in his mind. He never would have guessed that she felt that way.
“No, it’s not. All I am to you is some girl who spreads her legs for you. You used to treat me like I was more, but you don’t anymore. I don’t like the way things are anymore. I want something real,” whispered Kate her tears moving down her cheeks before silence fell as she waited for his response. But the silence hung in the air. She waited and waited for him to break it, but all too soon it became apparent he had nothing to say. In that moment Kate couldn’t take it, she broke down crying her head shaking rapidly as she moved further away from him.
She quickly left the room part of her hoping he would follow her, but he didn’t.
“Leave, Butch. Leave and don’t come back,” said Kate as she left, but he didn’t. Instead Butch stood there everything she said still in his head. Slowly he fell back down on the couch his head lying against the back. Not once had he considered what she had said. He had never even considered that she felt that way; he didn’t want her to feel that way. Katie was his girl, he really truly loved her, and he wanted her to feel it. Thinking back on it now, he realized that he didn’t really spoil her or treat her the way he did when they first got together. He was so busy all the time doing something for Fish that sometimes he forgot. And thinking back on it he could understand why she felt the way she did. He did tend to come fuck her and leave a lot. But that would all stop now. Sitting up he looked at the closed door that led to her bedroom as he moved from the couch quickly approaching it. She was his girl and from this moment forward she would know it.
Butch gently knocked on the door receiving no response immediately. But putting his ear to the door he listened. Kate could be heard on the other side crying her eyes out and the sound broke his heart. He wanted to make her happy, to keep her safe in every conceivable way, but as of right now he wasn’t doing that.
“Katie, please, let me in. I wanna talk to you,” exclaimed Butch his voice traveling through the door, but once again she gave him no response. Sighing Butch banged his head against the door bracing his hands on the door knob. But then he looked down at it deciding to take a chance. Slowly he turned the door knob and much to his surprise it wasn’t locked at all. The second he pushed it open his eyes found her. Kate lay on the bed turned away from him on her side. From the doorway Butch could tell she was still crying just by the shake of her shoulders. All he wanted to do in that moment was hold her, get her to stop crying, and let her know just what she meant to him. That was what he was going to do as he entered the room going straight to the empty spot on the bed by her side. Sitting on the bed beside her, Butch put his arms around her hearing as she continued to cry as her pulled her closer.
“I said to leave, Butch. Get off me,” exclaimed Kate attempting to leave his embrace, but failing miserably. He was too strong and was holding her so close now she had no chance of escaping.
“No, I won’t, not until we’ve talked,” whispered Butch stroking her arms soothingly hoping it would make her look at him, but she didn’t. She only laid there in his arms and continued to cry.
“Please, babe, look at me,” whispered Butch moving to kiss the back of her head.
She didn’t respond at first, he could hear her sniffling still, and was about to ask again when she moved. Turning around Kate faced him, her eyes were red from crying tears were still leaving her eyes, but as he looked at her he smiled still. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on even when she cried.
“What do you want?” cried Kate her entire body shaking in his arms. She refused to look at him in that moment, but grasping her chin Butch tried to make her. But still she refused keeping her candy green eyes on everything else in the room. Butch wiped away at her tears with his fingers before covering her face in kisses.
“Come on, sweetheart, look at me. I can’t talk to you if I can’t see those eyes of yours. Look at me, please,” breathed Butch feeling as she trembled from his actions. At first it was just the same. He received no response, but then suddenly she looked into his eyes. When she did he could swear his heart beat faster just as it always did when he was with her.
“You don’t really think that, do you?” whispered Butch referring to her words from before as he stroked her cheek.
“How can I think anything else? That’s the way you make me feel. We don’t have anything here, as much as I want us to have something, we don’t. I want you to really care for me like I do you, but you don’t. I’m just some girl who you’re fucking,” cried Kate breaking down once more as she finished.
“No, Katie, no. That is not how things are with us. That’s not how I see things. You mean the world to me, Katie, you’re my girl. That’s why no one can know about you because I have to keep you safe. If something happened to you it would kill me. You are my girl,” exclaimed Butch taking her hand.
“You’ve said that before and look how things are. You’re just ashamed to be seen with me. You probably have a bunch of other girls who are at your beck and call. There are probably plenty of girls to replace me with; I’m just another girl spreading her legs for you,” snapped Kate her anger showing through her tears.
“No, you’re not. There are no other girls, you’re my only girl,” snapped Butch his own anger flaring as he made her look at him again not letting her look away again.
“Katie. You are my one and only girl. There aren’t any others there is only you. I only need you, you’re the only one I want,” exclaimed Butch attacking her lips once he finished proving his point. Kate couldn’t believe what he was saying at first, she didn’t want to believe him, she thought it was just a ploy as she struggled against him during the kiss. But as he held her tighter and kissed her with a fury she started to believe. Kate slowly softened in his arms as the kiss progressed, she let herself believe the words he said, and then she wrapped her arms around him really truly kissing him now.
“Do you believe me now?” whispered Butch as he pulled away caressing her cheek as he waited for her to nod in answer. When she did he quickly kissed her again.
“If I could I would have you on my arm all the time, but it’s just not safe. If something should happen, if anyone saw you with me it could get you killed. I couldn’t live with that,” whispered Butch his forehead against hers.
“Yes, but will it ever be safe? You can’t hide me forever,” whispered Kate her hand covering his against her cheek. Butch didn’t know how to answer her as he pulled her closer. She had a point, but he wasn’t ready to admit that as he gazed into her eyes. He wanted to tell her he loved her then, but for some reason he couldn’t. So as he found an answer for her or at least as good an answer as he could give he would have to find a way to tell her that too.
“Maybe someday it will be safe, but never think I’m ashamed. You are so beautiful. Too beautiful for a guy like me. Never think that I wouldn’t be proud to have you on my warm,” smiled Butch kissing her once more. This time Kate kissed him back immediately her arms went around him and as did the same she felt soothed.
“Better?” breathed Butch letting one hand trail down the length of her body.
“Yes, but I’m still going to find a way to make you spend more time with me that doesn’t involve sex. All we ever do is fuck and I for one would like to do something more,” whispered Kate giving him a serious look.
“It’s not all me, you’re the hot one. Keeping my hands off you is just hard sometimes. But I promise we’ll try to do something else sometime when I’m not in a hurry. Sometime when Fish gives me the day off or something,” whispered Butch kissing her. Kate looked at him then she couldn’t deny that usually he was pretty busy. Fish kept him busy at all hours of the day in fact he was probably going to have to leave soon.
“How long do I have you for now?” said Kate snuggling closer to him?
“I got a little time. Please let me have you, Katie. I need you. I promise next time I’ll make it up to you,” whispered Butch moving his lips along her jaw before finding her lips.
Kate melted into him almost immediately. She could feel him harden against instantly and she felt a pride deep inside that she did that to him. With that pride in her heart she started to remove his suit.
“You know, you look really good in this suit, but it takes way too long to get off,” whispered Kate her fingers moving rapidly to open the buttons with a pop. She felt him growl in response his face buried in her neck lining it with kisses as he began to mark her as his own. His jacket then his vest started a pile on the floor then, his shirt soon followed.
“Butch,” gasped Kate as his teeth sunk into the skin of her neck as she removed his pants. And then he followed her lead beginning to undress her too. Her skin became hot just at the feel of his hands on her, but when his lips began to do the same that heat increased. Suddenly it was like she was on fire. Butch was covering her body in kisses as he practically worshipped her body as if she were his own personal goddess. Throwing her clothes to the floor he eyed her with a smile then for she was beautiful in every way.
“Who’s my girl?” smiled Butch suddenly his hands on either side of her head. Kate answered him with a kiss to the lips before they looked at each other a smile on both their faces.
“I am. I’m your girl, always. Now prove it and make love to me,” purred Kate pulling him down to kiss her once more. This kiss lasted a long time as they both fell into it with a passion. Kate just loved when he kissed her, he did it with such fervor, and the way he did it she could always tell that he reveled in it as much as she did.
“ Anything for you, Katie,” breathed Butch bringing his hands to her thighs as he spoke to wrap her legs tighter around him both of them groaning as she started to grind her sex into his. It was in that moment that his lips moved down her body to the beauty of her breasts eyeing them appreciatively. When her legs held tight around him on their own only then did he let his hands roam up to her breasts. Holding the soft mounds of flesh in his hands Butch squeezed them making her moan as he let his thumbs stroke her nipples helping them harden.
“Butch,” moaned Kate her hands finding the front of his pants.
Just as she was opening them his lips found her nipple making her moan louder as he laved over it with his tongue.
“So, beautiful,” growled Butch moving to her other breast.
“God baby…that feels so good,” whispered Kate using her hands to tug his pants down wanting them off as he continued his ministrations. And then she smiled, it was a smile he matched when his cock sprang out at her. He was hard, so hard, and was getting harder by the second. Kate felt that pride spring up in her again because he was like that because of her, her, only her. Holding him in her hand, Kate stroked him letting her fingers trace every vein, and by the groans he couldn’t hold back he liked what she was doing. As she touched him his lips went back up over her shoulders to the column of her neck burying his head there.
“Is this all because of me?” smiled Kate making him look at her a groan leaving him again as she squeezed him. It was in that moment that her hand stopped as their eyes became locked together. There was something in his eyes in that moment as he gently kissed her on the lips before smiling as she continued.
“You’re my girl,” breathed Butch as he claimed her lips once more feeling as she continued in her hard and gentle touches as his fingers laced in her hair to hold her in place.
“ Only you, sweetheart,” breathed Butch groaning as she wrapped her legs around his waist even more letting go of his cock feeling as it fell to poke at her thigh. After that Butch wasted no time, he continued to kiss the skin of her neck going over the marks he had already left. He removed his pants finally throwing them to the floor before fully aligning himself with her entrance giving her a poke just to tease her before kissing her strongly.
“Look at me, I want to see you,” whispered Butch looking into her eyes as both his hands gripped her hips.
Slowly then he entered her savoring the feel of her warm tightness surrounding him, squeezing him until he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Yes baby…so good,” whimpered Kate seeking out his lips as he stayed inside her a minute both of them enjoying the connection they shared. When his thumbs gently stroked her hips Kate knew he was asking if she was ready to continue.
“Show me I’m your girl,” gasped Kate parting their lips for just a second before connecting them again taking his face in her hands. Butch gripped her hips tighter as he started to move inside her their lips colliding over and over again. And as always it was like magic between them.
Their lips didn’t part for the longest time, but when they did she looked at him her hands smoothing down his back. He moved inside her so perfectly, he knew just what to do to make her fall over; he was perfect for her. And as he made love to her all Kate could think was how much she loved him. How she loved him with all her heart. And Butch never took his eyes off of her; he couldn’t even if he tried. Kate was so beautiful, too beautiful for a guy like him, but she was especially beautiful right now. Her skin was coated in a light sheen of sweat; her eyes were heavy lidded in the most arousing way. Kate was close he could see it in the movement of her body, the way she matched his every thrust, and the way her head was thrown back so sexily. And he caused all of it. She was his, completely, and god if he didn’t love her. More than he loved anybody else. And just as she felt a certain pride that she turned him on, Butch felt that same pride. Because only he could bring that pleasure to her. She was his; he was the only one that would touch her, ever. He wanted her to always be his that was the only thought he had as he made love to her. He had her screaming now as he found that spot inside her that controlled her pleasure. He loved the sound of her screams that as much as he wanted to kiss her he couldn’t bring himself to. He couldn’t silence those screams. And then he added to that pleasure letting a finger circle her clit.
“Oh baby,” gasped Kate nearly there as he continued. He watched her still his lips covering her body eagerly and smiling still Butch finally couldn’t take it anymore. He had to kiss her, so that’s what he did claiming her lips with a ferocity that took what breath she had away.
“More,” whispered Kate her breathing coming in heavy pants. Gazing down at her, Butch smiled then because she wanted more. He could give her more and with a bite to her throat he began to pound into her relentlessly.
“Oh god…Butch,” exclaimed Kate thinking in that moment how much she loved him. All she wanted to do in that moment was say it to him, to tell him just so he would know. And as she fell over the edge she couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“Butch, I love you,” exclaimed Kate her hands going down his back leaving scratch marks making him follow her over the edge. When she said it, Kate looked at him for his reaction in their pleasure induced states, and much to her surprise he was smiling at her. She almost couldn’t believe it, but before she could ask he kissed her.
When she said it, when she said she loved him, Butch almost couldn’t believe it. He had never dreamed she would say it, but now here she was. Butch knew he had to tell her he loved her too, but in that moment he couldn’t as he found his release. But even as he found it he gazed down at her a smile forming on his lips. All he wanted to do was kiss her then, so that’s what he did. He kissed her. He kissed her long and hard with all the love that he held in his heart. And when they both came down only then did their lips part.
“Butch…about what I said…please don’t be mad,” whispered Kate her voice wavering as she looked into his eyes fear evident in them.
“I don’t know, gorgeous. Say it for me again, I didn’t quite hear you,” smiled butch moving strands of hair out of her face so he could see her properly. He watched as she looked at him then tears gathering in her eyes before she looked away from him.
“Come on, Katie. Let me hear it again. I promise you I’m not mad, I just want to hear you say it again. I need to hear it again, please,” whispered Butch kissing her face over and over again.
“You’re not mad?” said Kate immediately looking at him once more as he took her face in his hands a smile forming as soon as he began to nod.
“I love you,” cried Kate.
“I love you too,” smiled Butch capturing her lips almost immediately.
“You’re really not mad?” whispered Kate accepting another kiss from him.
“No, I’m not. I told you Katie, you’re my girl. My girl and I love you. I love you so much,” exclaimed Butch holding her face in his hands still before she pulled him close once more kissing him intensely hard. The kiss lasted the remainder of their time together. For when their lips finally parted it was time for him to get dressed and go back to the club. But he didn’t leave her without one last kiss.
“I really love you,” whispered Kate wrapping her body in a sheet as she watched him begin to dress. When she said that Butch turned back to her only his pants on now before kissing her again. He would never get tired of her saying that and as he kissed her Kate would never tire of saying it.
“I really love you too, gorgeous,” whispered Butch before continuing to dress. Kate watched him dress then only one thought on her mind; she was the luckiest girl in Gotham.
She was so lucky and coming up behind him as he fixed his tie she wrapped her arms around him.
“Who’s my guy?” whispered Kate remembering when he had said the same thing seeing as he smiled instantly looking at her through the mirror. When he was finished Butch turned to look at her immediately pulling her as close as possible. He loved being there with her and kissing her he smoothed his hands down her back stopping to grip her ass.
“I am all yours, always,” smiled Butch tenderly pecking her one last time on the lips. When he said that he loved the way she smiled as she snuggled close to him. And he held her, for as long as he could in that moment he held her. But before they knew it she was walking him to the door.
“Please be careful,” sighed Kate as she wrapped her arms around him afraid as she always was that one day he wouldn’t come back to her. Butch held her just as tight before suddenly turning her around to lean her up against the door. Their foreheads connected then and looking into her eyes it was like they were memorizing each other.
“No need to worry sweetheart. I’ll be fine, I’m always fine. And I will always come right here back to you,” whispered Butch knowing by the look in her eyes that she was listening, but that she would worry none the less. Giving her one last passionate kiss, Butch left promising to come back as he always did. After he left though Kate thought about everything he had said. Would it ever really be safe for anyone to know she was his girl? Would it be his way, would she be a secret forever? All she really knew was that she was keeping him safe, that he loved her, so he had to keep her safe. But lying in bed alone later that night another thought entered her mind. Kate loved him so much, she loved that he was keeping her safe, but part of her wanted to do the same for him. She wanted to keep him just as safe as he kept her she just didn’t know how

Chapter Text

Kate’s words stayed with Butch long after he left her. He couldn’t stop thinking of them as he sat, drink in hand, at the club. He had been neglecting her, so much so that she had failed to realize how much he loved her. He remembered that moment when she lay crying and the memory made his heart clench. She had thought she was just one of many girls flocking all around him, she had thought she was just another woman to him, just another cheap piece of ass; she didn’t know that she was his everything. That he loved her with every piece of himself that she was the only woman he wanted. Downing his drink, Butch quickly ordered another Katie still on his mind completely consuming it.
“You need to make sure she knows that you love her or you could lose her” thought Butch unexpectedly pausing as that thought settled in his mind pressing on his heart painfully.
He just didn’t know how. Butch remembered their early days. The days when they had first met and the moments spoiling her. Every time he bought her something she avoided taking it though her face always glowed the second he presented it to her. He remembered bringing her flowers and chocolates that usually were shared between them the sweets eaten on their naked flesh. He remembered presenting her with jewelry and things that sparkled that he put on her making her keep them on as he made love to her. Those memories filled his mind and as they did Butch realized just how wrong he had been. All they ever did was fuck and Butch realized that Kate did need more and he wanted more with her. Butch struggled with those thoughts until an idea finally came to him. He would show her that he loved her, no matter how much it cost him. Kate was at work when the time came to implement his plan. He watched her at work part of him torn as he watched her in her skimpy little waitressing outfit.
For one he could see all his favorite parts of her, but then again, so could everyone else. He watched her until she went on her break and getting into his car, he knew now was the time. She stood slumped, tired at the backdoor to the restaurant, her back to the alleyway until a pair of hands grabbed her from behind.
“AAAAHHHHHHHHH” exclaimed Kate as she was grabbed before a hand covered her mouth holding her tight as she struggled. Kate writhed and struggled until they were in the darkest part of the alley.
“Babe, it’s me” whispered Butch into her ear too low for her to hear him as he turned her to face him her eyes filling with relief as she realized that it was him.
“Oh my god, Butch, you bastard what are you doing” exclaimed Kate her hand coming to cover her heart where it beat wildly in her chest.
“You scared me, I thought I was being kidnapped by some psycho” whispered Kate warming his heart when she leaned in close. Butch brought her into his arms to sooth her. He hadn’t wanted to scare her. They stayed like that for seconds, minutes until her heart slowed, and their eyes met.
“I’d never let anything happen to you, doll, I just came to steal you away. Though, I am definitely buying you a gun, you would have been screwed if I was an attacker” whispered Butch his eyes filled with concern as a hand touched her cheek.
Kate leaned in close loving the way he cared so much.
“I am not carrying a gun, besides, the way we’re going I’m going to always be your little secret” said Kate her eyes refusing to meet his as her fingers played idly with his tie clip. Silence fell as Butch found himself tracing the contours of her spine through her shirt before moving his hand to her face. Forcing her to look at him with one touch, Butch peered into her eyes before his lips gently touched her making her smile just a little bit.
“Not always, Katie, I’m trying to protect you, but I promise you it will not always be this way. Just like we talked about” said Butch his voice gentle in that way only she knew.
“Now, follow me, I want to steal you away from the world for a bit” whispered Butch stroking the skin of her hips the way she liked receiving a purr in response.
“I have to work” began Kate.
“Not today, I got it handled…you’re coming with me” whispered Butch seeing in her eyes that she was torn between her responsibilities and wanting to go with him and he knew he had won when she smiled that smile only he saw.
“Alright, you win, Butch. This better be good though. I will always follow as long as you lead” said Kate gently touching his cheek before his lips engulfed hers. Kate felt her breath leave her body and her heart surge as he lifted her just slightly off the ground as the kiss progressed.
“I love you” breathed Kate their lips not parting as she felt him moving her towards the car in a hurry to steal her away. The kiss broke as he opened the car door slowly easing her inside. And then they were on their way, her body still clinging to his as her head rested on his shoulder.
The car ride was silent, but in a pleasant way. Kate’s head remained on his shoulder her eyes staring off into the distance as he drove one hand firm on the wheel as the other lay on her thigh. It wasn’t until they turned onto an isolated road that Kate’s head popped up from its place on his shoulder her eyes holding a curiosity as they landed on him. When he had said he was stealing her away she hadn’t expected that to mean they were leaving the city altogether and yet here they were on a deserted road as far from Gotham as they could get.
“Do I get to know where we’re going?” whispered Kate moving to kiss his jaw as he answered.
“Not a chance. It’s called a surprise for a reason” chuckled Butch giving her thigh a squeeze. Kate hummed in response her lips still moving along his jaw until with a cute growl she moved to his throat biting him playfully then not so playfully to leave her mark where she wanted. She hoped this would make him succumb to her, but Butch’s willpower was strong. Releasing a few groans, he struggled to focus on the road. After a moment, Kate stopped looking at him intently, but when still she got nothing she sighed before laying her head on his shoulder again her body practically glued to his letting her feel the soft pound of his heart.
She felt so warm, it felt so right to feel her here like this with him.
“You belong with her” thought Butch the thought making his head fall to touch hers just as she broke the new silence that had formed her words nearly making him wreck the car.
“When we get to this mystery place you’re not gonna kill me, are you?” whispered Kate making his body go rigid. Her voice was light, she was only kidding, but sitting up straight making the car swerve Butch couldn’t find the fun in the statement. He could only try to catch his breath and putting both hands on the wheel try to steady the car. The car continued to swerve as he failed to focus on anything, but her. He couldn’t believe she said that until finally when he managed to slow down Butch held the car steady his eyes on her. Only then did he see she was joking, the smile on her face, in her eyes said so, and wrapping his arm around her, he drew her close.
“You know, I’d never hurt you, right?” whispered Butch feeling as she nodded as he kissed the top of her head.
“I know, baby, I was joking. It’s kind of sad you can’t take a joke” whispered Kate her voice so soft and joyful. They stayed that way for the remainder of the drive until Kate noticed their surroundings change.
“Butch, where are we?” whispered Kate not recognizing anything as her eyes scanned everything they passed until going down another deserted road, Butch stopped the car in front of a lonely stretch of land with a single house.
“Butch, answer me, what is this place?” whispered Kate turning in circles to see everything until her eyes fell on him again imploring him to tell her.
“What is this?” whispered Kate.
“It’s mine…I own it—it’s somewhere secluded to go where I can get away from Gotham” whispered Butch moving a stray piece of hair out of her face.
“And you brought me here,” whispered Kate smiling for just a moment before suddenly it fell and playing idly with his tie, she refused to look at him.
“Who else have you brought here?” said Kate still refusing to meet his gaze and he knew without looking into her eyes that the thought of her being one of many girls pained her greatly. Butch took her face in his hands in that moment refusing to let her look away as he kissed her lips then her nose then her forehead before finding her lips again. Deep down, he couldn’t imagine bringing another woman here.
“I’ve never brought anyone else here, Katie, I’ve never wanted to, but recently I realized that I wanted to share this with you. I want this to be ours. Our place…I’m hoping you’ll want the same thing” whispered Butch moving a tear from her cheek.
Slowly, Kate took his face in her hands, and she just looked at him.
“I love you and this…all of this—it’s all I ever wanted, to be able to share something special like this with you” exclaimed Kate kissing him fiercely her body moving of its own accord until she found herself draped over his lap.
“Are we going inside or staying like this?” whispered Kate afterward her smile betraying her. Truthfully, she really didn’t care which it was as long as she was with him. As one arm lay secure around her, Butch brought his hand to cup her cheek bringing her into another kiss before she could receive an answer, and embracing that kiss, Kate sighed. This is how she wanted it to be forever.
“I could do both” said Butch making her laugh as he opened the car door. Kissing her hand, Butch proceeded to wrap it around his arm as he escorted her from the car, and from the shine in her eyes he could tell she was liking this so far. Leading her up the steps to the house, Butch didn’t know exactly what he was doing. He hadn’t planned it out that far, but steps from the door inspiration bloomed within him. Stopping her, he came to stand directly in front of her, and kissing her gently he bent his knees groaning into the kiss as he swept her into the air.
With a flourish and a deep breath from her, he had her in his arms, and breaking the kiss he looked into her eyes. They were filled with surprise, but also excitement along with a hint of lust that she showed him instantly when she captured his lips kissing him deeply. Her hand fisted in his tie using it to pull him closer and not moving he tried to keep up with that kiss until breaking away, her breathing was heavy. After a moment, she laughed her lips coming back to touch his cheek then his lips again. Her arms secured themselves around his neck as his grip tightened on her. After a moment, their foreheads touched, and they sighed both of them content in unison.
“Keep doing this and I’m gonna start to feel like a princess” laughed Kate making him look at her.
“To me, you are” said Butch simply.
“Oh, then does that make you my knight in shining armor?” said Kate feeling pleased when he grinned in response.
“More like the evil villain who steals you away” said Butch. She stopped him though her touch light on his cheek as she touched her forehead to his again.
“Then I am happy to be stolen” whispered Kate softly kissing him.

Chapter Text

“Butch” giggled Kate as he carried her into the house then his kisses slow as he held her close her heart racing from all the attention.
“Come here, Gorgeous” whispered Butch quickly setting her back on her feet only to pull her close into his chest his lips seeking hers again. Kate felt as she melted into him her arms secure around his neck. They kissed for what might have been seconds until finally drawing away, Kate found her eyes glued to him. Keeping her arms secure around him, she smiled as she met his gaze her smile seeming to get bigger the longer she looked. She never imagined they would get this. Time away, where it could be just them two; Kate was grateful for the opportunity even as she wondered if such a thing would ever happen again.
“So, how long do you plan to keep me here?” whispered Kate looking around as she spoke.
“A few days—a week at most…I didn’t really think that part through. I just wanted to whisk you away” said Butch his arms finally sliding like smooth silk around her waist. His hands seemed to search her all over as they palmed over her flesh using it to pull her closer. After a moment, Kate felt his hands stop at the small of her back, and as she felt him counting the bones of her spine she pressed herself closer to his chest wanting to sink right into him.
“Won’t Fish need you?” said Kate her eyes suddenly focused on his tie. Butch seemed to trace the outline of her jaw with his fingertips then as the question fell into the silence around them. He could see part of her was still skeptical about this and looking at her part of him couldn’t blame her. He had run out on her for Fish so many times. He had fucked her and left her so many times and looking at her, Butch knew this was why they were here. So, he could make up for all that now. That’s why he made her look at him then before capturing her lips, Butch didn’t let them linger there long. He let them move to her neck, her collarbone, then back up to her ear then her cheek before letting his lips connect with hers again.
“Fish don’t need me for a while—and she knows sometimes I need time away from Gotham—she doesn’t know where I go or what I do, but she knows. She could tell I was getting weary, so she gave me the time off—luckily this time I brought you with me” said Butch making her smile as he leaned in close once more a hand on her cheek as he kissed her.
“Forget about Fish, about Gotham—we’re here to forget it all, gorgeous. Think about nothing, but you and me” exclaimed Butch his voice barely a breath as their lips drew apart liking it when she smiled.
It made him kiss her again his hands drawing her all the closer their kiss deepening as her arms tightened around him.
“There’s one little hitch with this plan of yours—I have no clothes” said Kate breaking away from him in that moment to have a look around. That only lasted a moment as his arms curled around her pulling her back into his chest.
“Oh, you have clothes—all new clothes that I bought just for the week—I wanted to spoil you a little…their upstairs waiting for you” said Butch saying each word with a kiss to her neck before suddenly his hands were spinning her to face him making her smile as he did so before his lips silenced her.
“Thank you—I’m sure you’ll have me out of my clothes plenty this week, so don’t worry yourself” said Kate hearing as he hummed in response his lips heavy over hers.
After they settled in, Kate found herself in the bedroom changing. Butch hadn’t lied, he bought her enough clothes that she knew she would wear all of them this week but picking a light blue dress she put it on returning to find Butch quietly sitting on the porch.
“I’ve never seen him look so happy before” thought Kate as she watched him for a moment sitting so quietly in the porch swing and when he spotted her that happiness only seemed to get stronger going as far as to spread to her as she smiled at him in response. Coming to sit by his side, Kate smiled as he pulled her close immediately kissing her temple and snuggling closer everything felt perfect. They sat in silence neither daring to move until moving a stray curl out of her face, He kiss her forehead.
“Have I ever told you how pretty you are?” whispered Butch their eyes meeting.
“Yes, Butch—you haven’t stopped telling me since we met” exclaimed Kate her smile huge turning into a laugh as he pulled her all the closer until her head rested on his shoulder.
“Then how bout I tell you something I haven’t said enough” said Butch her eyes watching him and before she could ask what he told her.
“Katie—I love you—I think I have since we met, but—I couldn’t say it until now” said Butch his voice soft like a wisp of wind before coming closer he covered her in kisses making laughter burst from her throat before his lips covered hers and he was leaning her back to lay on the porch swing. Laying her against the bench, Butch found himself kissing her all over until looking down at her, Butch smiled himself.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you that I love you—it won’t happen again. I plan on saying it everyday from now on” said Butch watching as the emotion gathered in her eyes. After a moment, Kate took his face in her hands, and before he could say another word she was pulling him down to kiss her. As they kissed, Kate could still hear him saying he loved her under his breath.
“I love you too” whispered Kate capturing his lips heatedly their foreheads touching as one of his hand slid up her leg.
“Butch—we’re getting carried away—we’re out in the open where anyone could see” gasped Kate after a moment his hands already under her dress. She heard as he groaned not wanting to stop before his eyes found hers moving to kiss her once more. As their lips parted, Butch found himself nodding deep down knowing that she was right; this was not where he wanted to make love to her. With that thought, Butch eased off her helping her sit up as he did so. They shared a sigh before their eyes met and Butch found her suddenly just as close as before her lips sweetly kissing his. She stood first, prompting him to do the same, and walking into the house hand in hand, Kate felt like they were beginning part of what would be their future. And looking at him, she didn’t want that future with anyone except the man with her now.
“He is my future” thought Kate feeling as his arm draped over her shoulder as they shared another fleeting kiss, thoughts of someday calling him her husband floating through her brain as they continued into the house storing those dreams away inside herself as they did. Kate knew she was moving too fast. Just yesterday, she had been ready to leave him, and now all she could think about was marrying him. Looking at him, Kate found she was happy just to have this time, these moments with him, and for now, that was all she wanted. She didn’t want to spoil it by rushing forward with dreams neither of them was quite ready for.
“Alright, Gorgeous, you relax, while I go make us dinner” whispered Butch moving to tenderly kissing her once more. Kate immediately found herself pausing as she looked at him in shock. She hadn’t even known he could cook. He had always just sat there and ate her terrible cooking without a word. Butch saw her surprise and drawing her closer, he waited for her response hoping this would mean he wouldn’t have to consume anything she made anymore, and that now she would let him cook. He loved her, but she had no place in a kitchen.
“You’re full of surprises” said Kate simply letting him draw her into the circle of his arms.
“There’s more to come, gorgeous, you just wait” said Butch drawing her into a kiss that she eagerly responded to. Butch led her into the kitchen then and he did surprise her with a spaghetti and meatball dinner.
“You are letting me help you with the dishes” insisted Kate afterward and Butch found he couldn’t deny her and together they got it done quickly enough that he could easily sneak up behind her his lips seeking out the skin of her neck.
“I don’t think I’ve properly showed you the bedroom yet” growled Butch making his meaning clear as he kissed her neck drawing her as close to his chest as he could get her. Kate leaned back into his touch and purred as his lips worked their magic suddenly wanting to see nothing more then the bedroom and the bed it stored. Kate felt the excitement thrumming in her veins as she pictured everything in her mind. Tonight, for the first time, he would make love to her, and stay with her with no need to run off. She would wake up in the morning and he would be there still and as it played out in his mind, Kate finally turned her head to look at him.
“Why don’t you give me the full tour then” whispered Kate her voice turning him on more. Her hands were still wet when they touched his around her waist, but neither of them cared as he gripped both her hands then. Turning, Kate smiled their lips meeting desperately as the lights went out, and he led her out of the kitchen. Butch led her up the stairs to the bedroom and closing the door, he pulled her into a kiss immediately. After a moment, Kate drew away smiling at him.
“I’m going to get ready for bed—I’ll be right back—you make sure you’re ready too” whispered Kate smiling as she left him standing there.

Chapter Text

“Come on, Gorgeous, hurry up” whispered Butch his eyes trained on the bathroom door carving the wood away as he waited for her to appear. The longer he waited, the more Butch wanted to pounce on her the second she finally came out. She was drawing this out, making him wait, and it was driving him crazy. He lay on the bed his clothes gone except for his boxers waiting for the familiar creak of the door. When it finally sounded, Butch sat up his eyes already eager, and his heart racing. She proved to be worth the wait, for when she appeared before his eyes, Butch felt every breath in his body leave him. She had that crooked smile that promised wicked things on her pretty face along with an equally eager look in her eyes as she slowly stepped towards him as if gauging his reaction. And she was. Kate watched him as he pealed his eyes over her feeling as they already began removing her clothes and, in that moment, she just wanted to know what he was thinking. Butch thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, she was amazing as always, her hair long and flowing down her back like silk perfectly contrasting with her pale smooth skin that he found he wanted to worship mercilessly. He was soon distracted by other things though as his eyes continued down her body his own body reacting to her. He was too focused on the rest of her. The black translucent scrap that covered the rest of her nearly made him loose all thought. It covered her while allowing him to see everything at the same time which only made Butch love it even more. He loved the sight of her in it even as he wanted her out of it.
He wanted to tell her she looked beautiful, but the words were lost in his own amazement. Butch couldn’t speak, he could only look at her, and try to find the words that just wouldn’t seem to come. He stayed that way until Kate settled into his lap her arms draping around his shoulders and even then, the words stayed glued inside his mouth.
“Wow, I made you speechless” said Kate finally bringing him back to himself. Her only answer came when he tugged her closer bringing her to his chest their lips inches apart. She could feel him then, a hard mass beneath her cool center.
“I think I lost my voice in the time I spent waiting for you” said Butch finally managing to find his voice once more. His eyes were still raking over her making their plans. Plans of what he wanted to do with her, to her, and her hands touching his fevered skin only made those plans more important. Her hands moved sensually over his chest to his shoulders using them to keep her in place and as their eyes met, Butch felt his love for her beating rapidly inside his chest.
Bringing her lips down to his, Butch kissed her their lips slow yet passionate against each other as her hands pressed urgently into his skin. After a moment, Kate was pushing him down into the mattress her body coming with him until her chest was pressed into his as she straddled him more. Her body started to grind into his as his hands found her hips moving as if to guide her. Her breasts pressed into his chest as she hovered over him their lips parting until they were mere inches apart again. That only lasted a moment, their lips collided again all too quickly beginning slower then before. It deepened after that and as it did a growl left his lips his hands gripping her hips all the tighter leaving what she knew would be bruises.
“The best things are worth waiting for, baby” breathed Kate letting her lips continue over his jaw feeling as he hardened more beneath her.
“Katie” breathed Butch in response feeling as she moved to his throat marking the skin there her lips still moving as she continued to speak.
“I had to wait to have you—like this—and that was worth it” said Kate her eyes meeting his as she brought her face to hover over his once more. She knew that look in his eyes, she felt as his grip on her hips tightened, and she knew he was about to roll her onto the bed, so he could fuck her lifeless. Normally, Kate would have wanted that, savored it, but somehow now she wanted to have him under her control. She wanted to show him what it felt like to be always waiting on someone that you loved. How erotic it could be, but also how lonely. She wanted to have him all to herself, for him to be truly hers just this once, and thinking of it, Kate realized that she had never had that. He was always Fish Mooney’s or Don Falcone’s or a number of other peoples, but when she needed him he couldn’t stay with her to love her the way she needed. Now though, Kate decided she would make him do that while also showing him how much she loved him all at the same time.
“Butch, don’t…I have this all planned out. Don’t ruin it” gasped Kate her eyes coming to peer almost desperately into his as she kissed him slowly yet quickly before leaning away her body an imposing shadow over his. Butch watched her then as if sizing her up trying to figure out what she was going to do. After a moment, he decided to just let her have her way as his hands left her hips to move along her ass to the back of her legs liking how warm her skin felt. She smiled in response as her own hands left his shoulders to splay erotically across his chest and watching each other neither was quite sure what was going to come next.
“So, you’re gonna play dirty, huh?” said Butch sliding his hands back up to her bare ass happy to find she wore nothing beneath that little scrap of silk.
“No—if I was doing that I’d be the only one getting any pleasure out of it…and believe me, baby, you’ll get just as much pleasure out of this as me” said Kate her smile daring him to trust her as she rocked back and forth over him as if to prove her point her hands gripping the edge of his boxers as a growl left his lips. As she gripped the edge, Kate let her lips return to his, but they only remained there a moment before descending down his body.
“Damn it, gorgeous…stop teasing me” growled Butch his fingers moving the hair out of her face watching her as she steadily moved lower then lower still until she was hovering over his boxer clad erection. The last of his clothing was gone in one movement and Butch could barely catch his breath before her lips were on him. As her tongue started by slowly licking along the base of his cock, her hand was wrapped around him, and when a moan left her lips Butch felt as any blood still in his head went straight to his cock. She was toying with him and he knew it, but as Butch watched her he didn’t mind. She was the only one who would ever get away with playing games with him.
She could see Butch watching her this hungry look in his eyes.
“How’s that feel, baby?” gasped Kate her eyes seductive as they met his, her tongue running over him almost expertly feeling as he suddenly gripped her hair in response tugging it to guide her movements.
“Harder” growled Butch watching as she circled his head with her tongue his grip tightening as he gave the command watching as she obeyed immediately his cock suddenly down her throat.
“Fuck, Katie—that’s it…just like that” breathed Butch his eyes trained on her his hands still in her hair. As he watched her deep throat him, her eyes met his in the sexiest way, and gagging against his cock, Kate brought him all the closer to the end. Butch wanted to close his eyes, to just lose himself in her, in what she was doing, but he couldn’t. At another time in his life, he would have been rough with her, fucked her like one of Mooney’s whores, but not Katie. He loved her, he wanted to lose himself inside of her, not like this. That’s what made him touch her face watching as her eyes softened her touch becoming gentle as she worked to finish him off. It tugged at Butch’s heart as he watched her. He was so close, at any moment, he could lose it, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to be more intimate with her, to come inside of her, as he made love to her.
“Stop Katie” whispered Butch watching as she did only her tongue licking along the length of him. Slowly, her lips moved back up to his throat feeling as he hiked up her gown.
“You want this off, baby?” whispered Kate moving her lips to his feeling as he nodded quickly. Her lips left his just as quickly feeling as he held her hips.
“I think I’ve teased you enough” whispered Kate sitting up completely now as she lifted the soft silk gown from her body revealing her naked body his eyes trained on her breasts as they bounced into view.
She liked the way his eyes felt as they ran over her making her feel both beautiful and flawed all at the same time. They looked at each other a moment, their eyes saying things words couldn’t until suddenly taking him into her hand, Kate aligned their bodies. Butch grabbed her hips in the same moment helping her as she settled down onto his body until suddenly he was inside her filling her in that sensual way. They shared a sigh in that moment something inside them seeming to sigh as well. They felt their connection inside them and it made their eyes meet as their hearts began to pound. She somehow knew that Butch loved her, all of her, both the beauty in her, and the imperfections. That knowledge seemed to intensify the pleasure she felt in that moment as she leaned down their lips meeting as his hand came to curl into the long tendrils of her hair. He used it to tug her closer their kiss becoming more heated almost overwhelming as his other hand gripped her thigh. That grip was asking her, begging her to move.
“Patience, baby—I wouldn’t leave you hanging” whispered Kate her voice soothing their lips parting only for a moment as her breath fanned like cool air across his face.
“You’re such a little tease” whispered Butch his voice a laugh as her hands found his chest.
“You love it” said Kate with her own laugh her body slowly starting to move over him as her body fell to cover his to ride him. After a moment, Butch made it to a sitting position her breasts jiggling in his face before he ran his hands up her sides taking them into his hands. She draped her arms around him in the same moment bringing her lips to tenderly kiss his.
“I think we’ve both waited long enough” gasped Kate her head tilting back just slightly as his lips grazed her throat.
“Butch” breathed Kate his hands still fondling her breasts as they moved in their perfected rhythm her lips seeking his.
“Fuck I love you” said Butch his lips breaking away from hers as his hands cupped her face. His words made her look at him with so much love in her eyes as they both worked toward their peak. Slowly they leaned forward until their foreheads met both feeling as if they were falling into the other. Everything seemed to slow down then as she just enjoyed their connection. They were both so close, they could come at any moment, but Kate found she didn’t want to. She wanted to slow things down and draw out this time with him. She wanted to keep this moment with him and gasping, she knew just how to do it.
“Butch” whispered Kate moving her hands to grip his shoulders.
Butch somehow knew what she was going to say before she said it. He was tempted to just do it, he already knew what it was, but some part of him stopped him. He wanted to hear her say it and he didn’t have to wait long.
“Flip me onto the bed” said Kate her voice desperate gasping as he did so immediately his cock entering her deeper making a groan leave them both.
“Fuck” gasped Kate before his lips claimed hers kissing her passionately as he secured an arm around her waist to keep her in place beneath him.
“Oh god, baby” exclaimed Kate her arms around him as he buried his face in her neck as if breathing her in as he slammed her into the mattress. Kate held his face in her hands as he moved inside her. Their pleasure was building almost simultaneously as they peered into each other’s eyes. Suddenly a gasp left her as his hands moved from her hips to the swell of her ass using it to spread her legs wider around him.
Next, he was pushing her legs higher around his waist as his lips pecked sweetly at hers. Kate tugged him down to her though her lips enveloping his to kiss him.
“You are so beautiful” breathed Butch not even sure if she heard him until she was pulling him down for a kiss. As they kissed, their tongues swirling together, they both suddenly stilled as their pleasure overcame them. As they came together, Butch let their lips part his head burying in her chest as her own found a hiding place on the top of his head. When they looked at each other again they were both breathing heavy and after a moment they shared a smile.
Her eyes beckoned him forward, Butch quickly followed his lips descending onto hers. It had ceased to amaze him how easy it was for him to fall into her arms.
“I should make you wait more” whispered Kate with a sigh as he pulled out of her to lie beside her. Kate moved back into his arms almost immediately her hand finding his, their fingers intertwining. Butch didn’t respond to her words, instead, he remained silent as he held her close. They were both tired and sleepy and slowly drifting to sleep but falling into a silence Kate found there was one thing she needed to say.
“Hey Butch—I love you” said Kate still hearing nothing as he only rolled to face her holding her close.

Chapter Text

When small beams of sunshine broke through the curtains of the bedroom that next morning, Kate was already awake as Butch lay still sleeping. She didn’t move or even stretch in the light of the morning but lay on her side choosing only to watch him. To let her eyes run over him in the morning light, to let her eyes take him in as he laid before her in a way she’d never seen before. Butch had never been with her in the morning. He never stayed to allow her to wake up in his arms or to allow her to watch him sleep. It was something Kate found she liked the sight of as her eyes grazed him tenderly taking in all they could. When her eyes had first opened that morning, when they had seen him there it had been reassuring, comforting even to find him there. Kate liked the thought that passed through her mind that this might become a permanent thing someday. That someday this would be their future, but she didn’t let herself dwell on that as she lay content to simply watch him. They’d never had that before, he was always rushing back to do Mooney’s bidding, and as she woke up that morning, Kate found she could only stare at him. She’d never seen him sleep before and now, she was surprised how peaceful he looked.
Like his guard was down, like he wouldn’t wake up with a gun in his hand prepared to shoot someone. He looked completely at ease, so much so that when his eyes started to open on their own Kate felt almost sad. Butch wasn’t blinded by sunlight that morning, but by her. His eyes opened to her beautiful face looking at him with all the love in her eyes that he had only ever dreamed he’d see in the eyes of another. She made him smile her touch as her hand came to his cheek assuring him that she was really there as he leaned in close wanting to be all the closer to the warmth that was her.
“Hey” said Kate her voice gentle like the very sunlight that touched her. As the words left her, Kate let him take her into his arms, her body easing into his as she kissed him. There was a tenderness in them that morning that would remain with them for as long as they knew each other. It was a tenderness Butch would never forget. The kiss was meant to be short and sweet, but as Butch hugged her closer, Kate let her body arch into his, and as he hooked one leg over his hip, Kate gasped.
“Butch” gasped Kate letting his lips descend onto her neck.
“Katie” said Butch on a breath as he eased her onto her back his hands smoothing over her sides as he cradled her close. He caused her to tremble, her hands drawing him into another kiss. Kate let him take control like he had let her the night before. She moved where he wanted, letting him lay her out underneath him on the sheets of the bed, and when he kissed her, she gasped giving him access to go deeper. Butch spread her legs around him and pulling her body taunt against his, Butch heard her moan his touch feather lite.
“Baby…please…make love to me” whispered Kate drawing away to look up into his eyes, both suddenly heavy with emotion.
Her hands ran along the back of his neck to his shoulders and gasping, she pressed her body to his as he sank into her. As he filled her completely, they fell into a crushing kiss, their lips moving in unison.
“I love you” breathed Butch his lips seeming to cherish her as his hands guided her hips as they moved together in their love making her fingernails making red marks down the length of his back as a sign of the connection they shared. It was a lover’s connection. The connection of two lovers who needed each other like air. Who had found each other among a sea of people and somehow survived. Survived a world where people weren’t supposed to love the way they did and yet, here they were; two people in love.
“Fuck Katie” growled Butch watching the way her eyes rolled into her head as they made love.
Butch held her to him in that moment as if she was a sacred piece of crystal. His touch on her body was so soft as his lips laved over her skin marking where he pleased. She drove him crazy and the way he touched her, Butch made sure she knew that. He wanted to mark all of her, to let the world know that she was the woman he loved, and who loved him in return. That’s what drove him forward, slamming into her harder as her eyes closed in her pleasure, and her breasts bounced suddenly covered in the morning sunshine that peaked through the curtains.
“You are so beautiful” whispered Butch in response to the sight, watching as her skin sparkled in the light her body arching into his touch at the words. Kate seemed not to feel the sunlight on her skin, but only his touch. She shivered when he touched her and mewled a sound that he didn’t understand. She let her eyes slip closed as he made love to her in a way he hadn’t before, his touch somehow different from anything else it had ever been. But Kate didn’t dwell on that as she focused solely on him. On this rare moment that she knew she might never get again.
“Butch, please I’m almost there” exclaimed Kate her voice suddenly ringing out her eyes opening to look up at him. Butch sped up his thrusts as he felt her inner walls flutter around him. He could feel how close she was and slamming into her body at an almost cruel yet loving way, Butch captured her lip for only a moment before breaking away again. He closed his eyes as his orgasm built only opening them again when her hands touched his face. Just looking at her nearly brought him over the edge.
“Katie” breathed Butch looking down into her eyes seeing them clouded in a haze of pleasure before she fell.
“Butch” gasped Kate in the same moment her body shaking with the force of her pleasure. Butch watched her as she came the sound of his own name drawing him to the brink. He was falling next when her nails scraped across his back next drawing his orgasm from him. It was like their connection exploded in that moment then and as her arms wrapped around him and his pressed into her, they were lost in a haze of something that could only be love.
Kate felt Butch’s body on hers in a soothing way that she could only cling to as they experienced their pleasure. She felt his hands stroking along her back and as her fingers ran through his hair, Kate pressed her cheek to the top of his head; this was how she always wanted it to be. He nuzzled his face into the place between her neck and chest and melted into her.
“I love you, baby” whispered Kate letting him feel the caress of her fingers along his scalp then the kiss of her lips.
“I don’t want to ever be without you” said Butch in response finding the strength in that moment to look at her. She looked happy, her face a chaos of bliss as she stared down at him.
“Neither do I” said Kate right back taking his face in her hands as he hovered over her until their lips met in a slow kiss. The kiss only lasted a moment before they were looking at each other once more saying nothing yet everything at the same time. Butch let a hand touch her face and bringing his forehead to hers, he kissed her once then twice before they shared a breath in their contentment.
“Never ever forget how much I love you. You are the love of my life” breathed Butch making her smile. Butch drew her closer still, into another kiss of tender slowness. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck as he held his body just over hers.
“I know, baby…I love you too. I always will” said Kate settling into his arms as his body left hers and he moved to lay close by her side. Kate didn’t want to be anywhere, but there with him. She didn’t want anyone, but him. As she lay there with him, she knew he knew that.
“Stay with me” whispered Kate in that moment kissing his jaw as she lay in silence with him then her face moving to hide in his chest.
“What do you want to do today?” said Butch breaking the silence his fingers moving her hair out of her face.
“I just want to be with you…for as long as I can. Before someone finds a way to interrupt us” said Kate immediately making him laugh then smile. Kate drew her arms tight around him capturing his lips for just a second when he looked down at her. She smiled up at him then letting him just stare down at her.
“I’m tempted to stay in bed with you all day” said Butch then sharing a laugh with her as he kissed her again her arms moving around his neck.
“How about we make breakfast and then go for a little walk?” whispered Butch letting her nod before climbing out of bed with her. It took her longer to dress then it did him. He came down the stairs in jeans, something she had been delighted yet shocked to see him wear, and a white button down. Fixing breakfast, Butch waited for her downstairs not understanding why it took her so long but knowing it would be worth it as he waited. And then he heard her footsteps, nearly silent, on the stairs. The food was done by the time she appeared looking flawless as always. Her hair was gathered into an elegant ponytail something that drew him up short as she appeared; he’d never seen her wear it like that before. She wore a white dress with black flowers that hung loosely off her shoulders with black flats that made her nearly soundless as she entered the room pecking his lips in her teasing way as she sat down. They ate in silence until putting their dishes in the sink, Butch took her hand drawing her into his arms. He looked down at her with a sparkle in his eyes and suddenly Kate was being led out of the house towards the back of the house.
“Where are we going?” whispered Kate as his arm went around her shoulder.
“It’s a surprise” said Butch leading her into the woods just beyond the house.
“Okay, just remember I’m a city girl. If we get lost, I won’t know my way in the wilderness” said Kate making him laugh as they went further into the trees. Butch took her into his arms then and making her look at him, he kissed her.
“Don’t worry, Katie…I wouldn’t let anything happen to you” breathed Butch against her lips. Kate smiled, drawing him into one last kiss before he took her hand keeping her close as they descended into the trees.

Chapter Text

Butch held her by the hips as they stumbled through the woods. The leaves crunched beneath their feet as Butch led the way, his chest to her back.
“Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?” whispered Kate her steps uncertain even as he held her close.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise then” whispered Butch right back, his hands giving her hips a squeeze as they walked on unsteady feet. In that moment, Kate nearly slipped as her feet slid on the leaves beneath her feet. Butch kept her from falling though feeling the heavy rhythm of her breathing as he held her close to his chest. It was like he could feel her nerves then as they walked further into the woods. They were a city girls nerves caused by being in a place completely unknown to her.
“Stay calm, Katie…we’re nearly there. Now, close those pretty eyes for me” said Butch his voice soft against the shell of her ear. Kate looked at him almost immediately, her feet nearly being knocked out from under her as she lost focus. She had a suspicious look in her eye. Something between fear and nerves lay within that suspicion, but Butch tempered it as their eyes met.
“Butch, I can barely walk now. I doubt I could do it with my eyes closed” whispered Kate her voice shaking as much as her steps in that moment. She continued walking as she spoke, stumbling and nearly falling with every step. She felt so uncertain of herself out here in this place. It was beautiful and quiet and like nothing she had ever known. Kate knew she never would have ventured outside of the city if Butch hadn’t made her do so. The truth was, this place scared her as much as it thrilled her, and looking into his eyes, Butch knew that as they stumbled through the dry leaves beneath their feet.
“Katie, I got you. I’m right here if you fall, I fall” said Butch keeping her from stumbling once more.
“That doesn’t make me feel any better” said Kate squealing then as Butch picked her up.
“Too bad” exclaimed Butch in that moment giving her no choice, but to keep moving as he carried her forward in the security of his arms. After a moment, Kate felt herself become at ease in his arms as he moved them forward. Butch always made her feel safe, mostly because she knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. With that knowledge in her mind, Kate touched his face as they walked, and they shared a kiss. A lingering kiss that grabbed all their attention her eyes closing on instinct as his lips seemed to claim every part of her whether she wanted them to or not.
Kate didn’t pull away until she felt Butch stop in the middle of the forest. She didn’t look around her yet though, she looked only at Butch an eager curiosity in her eyes as she smiled at him. He held her gaze along with all her attention and Kate knew she wouldn’t change that. It was like destiny had linked them forever and somehow, they both knew that. They had known that since meeting years ago. After a moment, Butch shared her smile, his hands seeming to cradle her in what she deemed his protective way. For that was what Butch did. He protected her. He kept her safe as he did now as he stole her away from the dangerous city that he understood so much better than she. He was part of its underworld, he knew what that world was capable of, and protected her from it. Kate still didn’t know how to feel about that as she looked at him then, both still sharing that smile.
“I can’t imagine my life if we’d never met” whispered Kate, kissing him again as he set her back on her feet.
“Butch” gasped Kate nearly a second later as she turned around suddenly surrounded by something that couldn’t quite be named, a variety of roped and wire really, all tied together into a play area that Kate couldn’t quite contemplate even as she stared at it. It was worn, she could see it had been awhile since anyone, but them had been there.
“Where have you brought me?” exclaimed Kate feeling a shiver that had so many meanings as he held her, her back to his chest still as she gazed at the wonder, he had brought her to. Butch didn’t answer her right away, only standing there with her in a silent moment of unknown origin. The truth was Butch really didn’t know what they were looking at. He never had, but what he did know was that he had wanted to show it to her. To experience this place with her even if it was just that once.
“That’s a good question, but…I don’t know. I never have. This place, I just found it one day as I was walking…I just wanted to bring you here. I don’t know why, but I just did” whispered Butch his hands coming to grip hers at the front of her body. Kate didn’t look at him as she intertwined their fingers letting him lead them forward. She had a type of absolute trust in him in that moment, Butch knew that, sensed it even as he moved with her, always keeping her from stumbling as he had done before. It was like they were entering a maze. A maze of rope and wire and adventure. Small adventure that was silent as they came to sit side by side in the enigma of creation. Kate found it enticing, riveting really as she sat by his side in the quiet afterthought of the forest. It felt like Butch had shared a secret with her and looking at him, Kate felt a relief in it. She knew Butch had so many secrets and she was always glad when he chose to share even one with her that was her thought as she looked at him in that moment.
“I’m glad you brought me here…it’s amazing” whispered Kate, receiving her only answer as Butch wrapped his arm around her shoulders, neither saying anything more as they simply enjoyed the silence, her eyes always on him as if searching for more secrets that might be there ready to be revealed; she didn’t know it, but Butch had caught her looking. He’d seen that look in her eyes before, but never found out what it meant.
“Something on your mind?” said Butch, the words leaving him unexpectedly, his eyes searching hers as she looked as if she wanted to ask him something but didn’t dare. He had seen that look in her eyes more then once, that curious look that faded only when she caught him looking. It was like she wanted to ask him a million questions but was afraid to. Afraid of what he would say or the answer he would give. It always raised his own curiosity, but until now, he’d never acted upon it. He’d always just let it fade. Let the questions be pushed aside for another time, but now, something told him now was the time to ask those questions. Somehow, Butch knew he couldn’t let that look fade this time, and with those simple words, Kate was looking at him, acting as if she didn’t know what he was talking about. Butch wasn’t that easily fooled anymore though. He kept eye contact with her, the question hanging there waiting to be answered, and after a moment he was touching her face. It made her look at him all the more intently as if expecting something more to come from him.
“You always look at me that way, but I don’t know what that look means” said Butch after a moment, bringing her hand to touch his chest as his other hand still touched her face. Kate didn’t answer this time. She was intent on him now, his eyes boring into hers. Even as she tried to feign ignorance, she knew there was no point even as she let Butch continue speaking.
“The one you’re wearing now. I’ve seen it before, you look like you want to ask me a million questions, but you never do” said Butch, not letting her look away or change the subject.
“Because sometimes I do, I mean, I don’t know a long time, but there’s so much I don’t know” exclaimed Kate looking away finally. Butch brought her eyes back to his almost immediately and his lips sought hers. When he pulled away, he held her face in his hands, and there was an earnestness in his eyes she’d never seen.
“Katie, I love you. You’re it for me. You can ask me anything that crosses that pretty mind of yours” exclaimed Butch, making her smile. He covered that smile all too quickly though as he kissed her. His lips molded themselves over hers and Kate let herself be drawn into him from the very start. The first question left her lips as they were parting.
“How’d you get here, Butch? Working in the underworld of Gotham…working for Fish Mooney? I mean, you couldn’t have planned it that way” said Kate, looking at him as she spoke expecting him to be defensive as she wrapped her arms around his neck to push him back to lounge in the robe and wire maze as she straddled him their eyes together in a connection she deemed unbreakable.
“Why do you want to know that?” said Butch immediately.
“I’ve just always been curious…I mean, you’re a smart guy, Butch. How’d you end up doing that?” whispered Kate pressing her body into his chest as her arms draped around his neck.
He didn’t say anything at first, he wouldn’t even look at her until suddenly he did.
“I don’t know…it just kind of happened. When I was a kid, I parents weren’t great, I didn’t want to stay home, so I roamed the streets. A lot of kids were like that and along the way, they became my family, and then one day, I met Fish. She saw potential in me…she was a smart lady and she saw potential in me” said Butch, he touched her as he spoke, his touch soft as he remembered things, she knew immediately he didn’t want to. She was looking at him with sympathy now. She kissed him in that moment, softly at first only breaking away to look into his eyes.
“I love you, Butch…and I hope you know that…and that you know that you can consider me your family. That I’m not going anywhere and that I want you to see me that way” said Kate her touch loving as their eyes met as she spoke a smile spreading across his face.
“I know” whispered Butch, feeling her hands move from his shoulders to the sides of his neck. She kissed him slow again, her body moving sensually over his as her body pressed into his.
“Don’t you have more questions?” whispered Butch as his hands moved down to grab her ass.
“Later” whispered Kate deepening the kiss as she pressed him back into the grass.

Chapter Text

Butch had never felt closer to her then he was in that moment, laying with her in the middle of the woods. He felt as her hands drifted over him. As her hands laid flat against his check as her lips sought his. They were soft like a feather pillow, tender as they moved over his as they shared their breath. When their lips parted, her hands were on his shoulders now, and her eyes were looking right into his. A heartbeat seemed to pass between them and then she smiled. It was a feminine, secret smile that beckoned him closer. In that moment, he didn’t know what she had planned, but he was keen to simply watch her to find out. As her body straddled his, her hands ran teasingly slow down his body until suddenly they stopped. With a tug, she was opening his pants, taking him in her hands. Butch’s hips bucked at her touch, his eyes rolling back into his head with a shudder. The shudder made her smile as her touch became all the more firm then soft again as she played him with her expert touch. No one else had ever had such an affect on him. Only her, his goddess, and touching her inner thighs, he questioned himself even as he knew such questioning would have earn her scorn. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve her or to keep her as long as he had or even to earn her love. Somehow, he had though, and he would hang onto that as long as he could. He promised himself that as he watched her hover over him.
“You like that, baby?” whispered Kate, stroking him with her expert touch. Butch’s hands found her in that moment, gripping the back of her thighs more fiercely. That was all the answer she needed. Kate knew what he wanted in that moment, for her to slide her body up his, for her to sink down onto him, and let him hold her by the ass as she rode him. Even as she knew that though, Kate didn’t move. She only continued to stroke him still her eyes running over him as much as they were. Part of her wanted to savor this moment. To enjoy having him to herself for as long as she could. Because she knew soon, they would have to return to Gotham, and he wouldn’t be just hers anymore. He would belong to the city as much as her and she didn’t want to give him up just yet.
Instead, she took one of his hands from her thigh, holding it with her own. She felt the need to show him her love. Not just with words or the pleasure that would come when their bodies connected. She wanted to show him with that very love. That’s why she took his hand bringing it to her lips to place kisses of love there. With each one, she looked into his eyes, and she told him she loved him without uttering the words themselves.
“I want to be with you always, Butch. I love you and I want to be by your side for as long as you’ll let me. I want to be your family and have you be mine” exclaimed Kate her voice serious as she suddenly brought his hand to her face, so he was cradling it. Butch felt grabbed by her words, encompassed by them as he smiled up at her. Moving the hair out of her face, he sat up to claim her lips as his other hand stroked the small of her back. He pressed her closer then groaning as he felt her breasts press into his chest. When it was over, they looked at each other, and they didn’t say anything. The love was there, and it really didn’t need to said because they already knew it.
“I love you” said Butch grabbing the back of her neck this time to bring her lips back to his into a demanding kiss that made her quiver as he deepened it.
He only had control for as long as she let him then, for as soon as the kiss began it ended as she wrapped her arms around him. Her lips fell away from his then as her head fell back giving him access to her neck. He gently kissed the slope of it first before leaving his mark with a growl. When he did, his name left her lips as her hands raked through his hair tugging him closer. With each mark he left, he pressed kisses to the graceful powder white of her skin. After a moment, he let his hand leave her face to hold her breast hearing as she gasped. He squeezed the round fullness of her breast and when she moaned, he felt his arousal grow at the sound. Another moan left her when he did it again. That was when he looked at her and as their eyes met, he felt the overwhelming urge to make love to her against the nearest tree. Somehow, he couldn’t though as he looked at her, thinking that she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and she was in his arms. In Butch’s mind that made him the luckiest guy in the world.
“You’re beautiful” whispered Butch without even realizing it, watching as she sat straddling him, her head thrown back her tongue snaking out to lick her lips on a gasp.
“Butch” gasped Kate her hand sliding over him still, telling him what she wanted this time.
Butch groaned as he felt her fingers tugging at him in their delicious way. After a moment, he opened his eyes to look at her, and he was tempted to tease her just as she’d done him. He couldn’t though, he would only be teasing himself. That’s why he pulled her closer dragging her into yet another passionate kiss. He helped her raise her hips sliding her panties aside as he helped her slide onto his cock.
“Fuck Katie” growled Butch as he entered her slowly, feeling as her hands gripped his shoulders her breath hitching as they looked into each other’s eyes her arms seeming to drape around his neck as if on instinct to draw him close. Neither of them moved then, they only looked at each other, and Kate felt his hands as they started at the small of her back slowly descending higher. When her hips started to move and she rode him there in the middle of the forest, Kate grabbed the back of his neck to bring him into a kiss this time.
Her lips moved over his quick this time. After a moment, she realized that they were both shaking as their bodies moved as one. Her hips moved in time with his thrusts their rhythm all their own until suddenly it increased in a burst of movement. Suddenly, Butch was gripping her ass as he moved inside her at a pace, she could barely match her head thrown back as she mewled out into the depths of the forest. Butch was loath to silence her when they kissed again, but he longed to kiss her. He found he needed it as his hands moved her. Her own hands were still in his hair scratching his scalp then the back of his neck until suddenly she broke away. Their pace was relentless, staying just this way until suddenly Kate stilled in his arms. As his fingers were stroking her clit, she fell over the edge, their lips parting so he could see the look on her face.
“Butch” gasped Kate looking at him, knowing he wasn’t done yet.
“Katie” whispered Butch then watching as she closed her eyes biting her lip as he moved inside her still until he came inside of her. When they were both spent, Butch looked at her waiting for her to open her eyes to look at him, but she didn’t. She laid there, out of breath, until he touched her face. That was when her eyes opened, and she looked at him a brilliant smile on her face as she met him halfway in a kiss.
“I want to be with you, forever, Katie…I want it to be you and me” whispered Butch then making her smile as their foreheads touched his cock becoming soft inside her even as she didn’t move to leave him. Kate still didn’t want to release her hold on him. She wanted to be selfish and have him to herself for a little while longer. Because he was hers now and she didn’t want to share him while he was. Because soon they would have to go back to Gotham, and she would have to share him.
“Can we stay a little longer?” exclaimed Kate looking at him with a hope in her eyes as her hands smoothed over his chest.
Butch smiled when she asked him that sharing a brief kiss with her. His eyes twinkled as he seemed to revel in the knowledge that she wanted to be there with him. That she didn’t want to leave but stay there with him. It made him so happy that Butch found he lost control of himself as he suddenly laid her down on the ground kissing her deeply.
“Butch, what are you doing?” exclaimed Kate in that moment letting him kiss her as his body covered hers his cock still inside of her as he laid between her thighs.
“We can stay until either it rains, or you want to go” whispered Butch making her smile.
“I love you, Butch” whispered Kate kissing him then with a tenderness as his body finally leaving hers.
“You aren’t ever getting rid of me, baby, you’re stuck with me. So, you know what I want now?” exclaimed Kate holding his face in her hands as she gazed up at him.
“No, but anything you want I’ll get it for you” whispered Butch moving to lay beside her their bodies always touching.
“Tell me more about you. About your family…I want to know it all then I want to make love to you again, so you know how much I love you. Then we can walk back and take a bath because we’re both covered in dirt now. Is that too much to ask for at one time?” exclaimed Kate making him grin as she spoke quickly, the words seeming to rush out of her until she looked at him almost uncertain of herself.
“You can have whatever you want” whispered Butch then kissing her as his hands tugged her close as he wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Nothing is too much for you, Katie, not ever. I’d give you the world” whispered Butch kissing her as her hands touched his face her body pressed more into his.

Chapter Text

In the end, they laid there until it rained, though they didn’t make love again there in the heart of the woods. They had simply laid there, in the peace of the woods, and as she laid her head on his chest, they had talked. Or rather, Butch had talked. He had told her everything that he had been storing inside. Things he’d never told another person and yet, he revealed all to her as they laid there. And as he did, she only looked at him content to listen. He told her that his true name was Cyrus Gould, before he dared change it to Butch Gilzean.
“What’s she gonna say now?” though Butch as he revealed the truth, looking at her for her reaction afterward, and only seeing as her mind processed it all. When the words left his mouth though, she had only looked at him with a vivid intensity in her eyes.
“I never knew Cyrus Gould or loved him. I love Butch Gilzean, I love you, and I don’t wish to change that. I want to be here with you. That’s not going to change, Butch” exclaimed Kate touching his face to make him look at her to see that she meant that. They had kissed then; it was as they were doing so that it started to rain. They had run back to the house then and it was as they were taking that bath that Butch ventured into the story of his life with the mob. And as he said it, she was silent. She didn’t judge him for the people he had killed or the decisions he had made.
As he told her everything, Butch kept wondering what she was thinking as she sat with him in deep silence. He wanted to know even as he continued as she remained absolutely silent the entire time. When he had finally told her all, Kate still didn’t say anything, not in judgement or anything else, but instead, she took his face in her hands. With their eyes level, Kate kissed him with an intensity he couldn’t remember her having before, and he felt shaken. Until she looked at him and the look in her eyes wasn’t upset or scared of him, but instead, it was as if she was deciding what to say.
“I love you, Butch, this hasn’t changed that. Nothing ever will. Never forget that” exclaimed Kate in that moment the words sounding to him like a vow as they left her lips meeting his ears to echo there as they laid in bed that night.
“Thank you, Katie…I love you” whispered Butch as they laid in silence. That made her look at him once more and she could see the questions in his eyes. It made her snuggle all the closer to him until she felt his lips at the top her head. That was when she heard him thank her and she didn’t need to ask why even as she knew he had expected her to be repelled by him. She knew he didn’t understand why she wasn’t and looking at him, she felt the need to tell him.
“You didn’t need to trust me with any of this, Butch…I appreciate the fact that you did” said Kate, her voice gentle as she laid her head on his chest again. Afterwards, Butch mulled over her words, his eyes staring almost inquisitively up into the ceiling. He felt relieved even as he felt the nerves for their future to come looming over them. As she slept by his side, Butch didn’t, couldn’t sleep.
Since the moment he had met Kate, she had been blowing him away. She continued to surprise him every day, right down to the moments when she had tried to throw him from her life, to the moment when she had accepted him so eagerly. She seemed to be a staple in his life, but that was exactly what Butch was afraid of. Because he was almost afraid to depend on her. Because he was sure the moment he did, he would lose her, and that scared him more then anything else. Butch just didn’t know what to do now. She had heard it all and not ran or said anything in judgement of the way he lived. She just wanted to be by his side. As happy as that made him, it heaped a huge responsibility onto his shoulders as well. Because it also meant the life, he led could put her in danger at any moment. He would never really be able to have her at his side, at least, in his mind he couldn’t. He couldn’t risk her being harmed just to hurt him because Butch knew. He knew he had enemies and that was the thing he had been protecting her from all this time. Butch felt overwhelmed by thoughts of the future that night as much as he was overjoyed then because the future was very much out of his hands. He didn’t know what to do with it the longer he laid there. Because as much as he loved her, as he watched her sleep with a peace he couldn’t have, he was afraid for the both of them. Sometimes, as he looked at her, he questioned whether he should just let her go. So, he could protect her. Just looking at her, his heart always had the same answer.
She was the love he had been searching for, but never dreamed to find. She was his leading lady. Suddenly, Butch felt even more compelled to protect her, so that maybe someday he could walk into a room with her on his arm. Even as he was dreaming it though, Butch didn’t dare believe. Because he knew better. Especially, when you lived in a city like Gotham.

Chapter Text

When Butch found himself in the city again, he wasn’t sure how to feel. He felt something, but at first, he wasn’t sure what that was. At first, he thought it was sadness then as the days passed, and he got back into his routine, Butch realized it was a type of indifference. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, but Gotham. Despite the darkness that was the city, it was also his home, so Butch found he had mixed feelings about coming back.
“This is one hell of a place to call home” thought Butch, his mind always wondering to Katie as he got back to the routine that was his life working with Fish Mooney. Essentially, Butch was returning to the shadows. To the days driving around the city doing Fish’s bidding. To the nights sitting in the club watching over things just the way Fish wanted. Butch was always in the shadows except for when he was with her. When he was with Katie, he was in the light, and yet, he kept her hidden in the shadows too. The irony of that wasn’t lost on Butch as he returned to his life. As the days passed after his return, Butch felt that light dwindling. He didn’t see Kate. His time away meant he had things to catch up on. It meant he had to be away from her. The longer he was the more that too became part of his routine. Katie found herself just as busy. Her boss wouldn’t let her forget the time he’d given her off. He acted as if she had something to make up for, but Kate didn’t complain. After all, she reasoned, this might mean he might let her off like this again. Kate thought maybe that meant there was a chance she and Butch could slip away again, but she didn’t hope. Because she didn’t want to get her hopes up.
Butch didn’t realize how much time had passed since they had seen each other until it had been days. When he finally realized it, it had been five days, and yet even as he realized it, he couldn’t see her yet. There was still too much to do. Too much to make up for after being away. And yet, Butch found even as he hadn’t set eyes on her, she always seemed to drift into his mind at random as if as something to hold onto and look forward to when he finally could. As those days passed, he expected her to be mad at him when they finally reunited, but when he put his key in the door that didn’t happen.
“Hey” said Butch gently, his eyes finding her as she was preparing to leave for work finding he could only stand there as he prepared for whatever she would have to say. When she saw him, she smiled, and she pecked him on the lips.
“Hey” whispered Kate as she pulled away.
At first, Butch thought she was playing a trick on him. Trying to get him comfortable before she could lay into him, but she didn’t. She only continued to walk around as she prepared for work and Butch could only stand there watching her do so. In many ways, the sight of her was reassuring even as he was waiting for her to yell. Kate didn’t though, she just kept getting ready while he stood there, waiting. After a moment, Katie looked at him, and that was when he thought it was coming. It didn’t though, instead, she only walked towards him, and her arms went around him. She smiled at him still and when she kissed him again, Butch knew the storm wasn’t coming. And he didn’t understand it at all.
“What’s wrong?” whispered Kate, watching him now. She held him then, her arms locked around his neck, and her eyes sought him out. Butch couldn’t help it. He gave into temptation and held her back feeling a type of relief as their eyes met. He wanted to run away with her again, but he was sadly reminded that he couldn’t now as they held each other.
“I thought you’d be mad at me when I got here” whispered Butch his touch gentle as he moved her hair out of her face.
“I took you away then brought you back, but then I disappeared. I thought I’d come back to find you trying to leave me again” said Butch his voice dull until she made him look at her. Katie didn’t say anything, she only took his face in her hands, and kissed him deeply. It was as if she was reassuring him that she wasn’t going anywhere this time and as the kiss progressed, Butch found himself clinging to her as he felt himself coming out from the shadows.
“Does that mean I’m not getting yelled at?” whispered Butch when their lips parted his face remaining in her hands.
“Were you not listening, Butch, I love you. I keep telling you that I love you and now you think I’m going to run away. All I ever wanted from you is for you to love me. I know you do now, so I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and you can leave and come back, I’ll always be waiting on you. I’ll worry after you the whole time, but I’ll always be here when you come back. Just don’t go disappearing on me…after all, people do that in Gotham” whispered Kate, her eyes becoming sad as she spoke. When she finally looked away there was silence and suddenly her hands were on his chest. Next, her arms went around his waist, and she buried her head in his chest. It was then that Butch realized that she was revealing to him her worst fear and he held her tighter. Butch didn’t know what to say at first, but when he kissed the top of her head, she looked at him.
“I’m not gonna disappear on you” said Butch seeing a type of relief cross her face as she kissed him again. When she had to go to work, he kissed her deeply before leaving the apartment with her. In that moment, he felt like he understood their relationship more than he had before. And like he could protect her better by protecting himself.

Chapter Text

When it came to his life as he lived it every day, Butch liked to think that he lived two lives. There was the one he lived every day working for Fish. The life of a gangster. It was part of himself that he really didn’t want Kate to see because she was very much apart of his second world. Their own little piece of heaven that was away from everything else, and he never wanted those two worlds to come together.
“We’re both better off leaving things as they are” thought Butch as they slept sometimes, his eyes looking at her, but not seeing as his world’s were turning until they were perfectly aligned. It started one day when he arrived at Katie’s apartment only to find she wasn’t there. The place was quiet, the lights dimmed, and as he sat on the couch alone Butch felt an immediate loneliness that not even the sound of the TV could fix. Yet as soon as the sound began to blare in his ears, Katie walked through the door, and switching the TV off quickly, he opened his arms to accept her. There was something about the sight of her face alone that made the horrors he saw disappear and Butch was grateful for it as she threw her keys on the table in preparation to join him. She smiled the second she saw him, her eyes seeming to wrinkle with the effort, and when she sat down a sigh left her.
“I like coming home to you. It makes my day worthwhile somehow” whispered Katie her eyes shining as she looked at him her hand coming to lace their fingers together.
She used it to wrap his arm around her and then she was snuggling into his chest.
“Long day…something happen?” said Butch a protective tone in his voice then that stayed there even as she raised her eyes to look at him. There was a tiredness about her today. He moved the stray strands of hair from her face and touching it, he felt a tension that seemed to flood off her bones, but she didn’t say anything. She only moved herself closer to him and that gave him all the answer he needed. Yet, he sensed that she didn’t want him to intervene, and that she didn’t want to talk about any of it as she remained completely silent laying there in his arms.
“My boss announced today out of the blue that he is retiring. The new owner brought this scary guy in to manage us now. It all just seems really bizarre to me” exclaimed Katie suddenly a huge breath leaving her as she finished, but as her eyes focused on Butch she saw as his eyes squinted and he became red faced, she knew he wanted to take away her troubles even as she prepared to tell him not to.
“This scary guy…he better not be giving you trouble. Because I will show him how scary I can be” said Butch his voice very precise in a way that made most people back away from him, but not her.
She only smiled as she curled all the closer to him.
“So, you’re gonna beat up my new boss, now, and what is that supposed to do? Butch, I can handle myself…I can handle this guy” whispered Katie in that moment as her hands went to the center of his chest her eyes filling with that sultry look as her body moved to straddle his own. Taking his face in her hands, she kissed him fiercely, and when it ended there was a playful look in her eyes.
“You know, I’ve never noticed how sexy you look when you get serious like this, and while I appreciate the way you want to protect me, I want you to let me handle this. My new boss is just like you, scary, but serious. He kind of reminded me of you, but where he scared me, you don’t. I got this and if there comes a time that I don’t, I will tell you, Butch, I promise” exclaimed Katie seeing as she spoke as his eyes flashed with a second’s jealous rage before that faded before it had even began leaving only a devil’s lust that she relished as she felt his reaction to her. As she felt that effect, Katie found she could only bring herself closer to it, and then she felt as his hands began to touch her. To softly touch the back of her legs then as he stopped suddenly, he squeezed the swell of her ass, and suddenly there was no room between them. For a moment, she palmed the bulge she had created, her eyes looking always into his, and as she started to toy with him, he let her. He let her in a way that he hadn’t any of the other women he’d been with before. He let her have control, maybe because he loved her, and as he did, Butch felt a heavy feeling at the center of his chest. He knew what it was, he just didn’t say it as his eyes stayed on her alone.
“You just make sure he keeps his hands to himself” said Butch in that moment letting a hand touch her face. He felt as she nodded her head, but he couldn’t bring himself to care as he kissed her. As his other hand came to fondle one of her soft skinned breasts, Katie let herself fall deeply into that kiss, and with a single yank of the knot, she had pulled his tie away only to toss it next to them on the couch.
“I want you, Butch…I love you. I wouldn’t let another man touch me; you know that the only hands I want on me are yours. I need you…I want you inside of me” said Kate looking at him as their lips parted only for him to grab her by the back of the neck to begin the kiss again. There was a glint in her eyes then as she stood up and Butch watched her. As she started to disappear down the hall, she crooked her finger at him, and suddenly Butch was behind her. When he got to the doorway, she was already taking off her clothes, and when he came up behind her, she turned to immediately kiss him.
Kate immediately felt as his hands on her back made her quiver. She knew it wasn’t nerves, it was anticipation as he drew her back into his clothed chest. There had always been a way to Butch’s touch. He could turn her to a puddle of mush so easily and that moment was no different. He could feel the swell of her breasts through his shirt as she turned him until suddenly, he was sitting on her bed. She was standing between his legs, naked except for her skirt and panty hose, but easing his hands from the small of her back to her hips, the skirt fell to her feet.
“You’re so beautiful, babe” whispered Butch in that moment, as he looked at her as her hands seemed to move so fast taking off his clothes then the rest of her own. Katie didn’t wait to straddle him. She let her body melt over his, her breasts pressing themselves into his chest. He immediately captured her lips, her hands on his shoulders as her body spread open for him waiting for him to enter her, and he did not disappoint.
“I love you” whispered Katie as he slipped inside of her. He always seemed to fill her like it was just where he was meant to be. She couldn’t remember that ever happening before especially as they moved as one together with her arms draped over his shoulders. He kept kissing her, not the simple kisses that stoked the fire, but ones filled with passion that made it a blaze worthy of killing her. Yet Kate didn’t want that to change as he kept hitting that spot inside her that shook her to her core. Her hands pushed him onto his back then, his eyes centered in on her, and as they moved together, they both found they were at peace. As she started to ride him more fiercely, her lips found his, her hands cupping his face, but as he broke away to kiss her neck, she pulled them into a sitting position.
“You are my girl, Katie, you know that. You know how much I love you. I fucking love you more then anything in this world” exclaimed Butch her hands strong as they gripped his shoulders. Her hands ran through his hair then as she held him to her chest as he rocked into her. That peace was still there, it remained with them, and they both felt it as they made love in that moment. They were both close and they knew it as that peace seemed to explode suddenly as the first waves of approaching pleasure coming towards them. Her pleasure came on a breath, with his face in the skin of her neck, and his hand cupping her breast. Butch knew as she came for him, not by the way her body squeezed him in her pleasure, but in the way that her eyes closed. She let her mouth hang open and looking at her then, Butch felt that heaviness in his chest begin to burst. She was so beautiful when he saw her this way and it was the sight of her that had him following in her footsteps.
Her hair seemed to fall behind her as her head fell back and her eyes closed. As they came together, Butch couldn’t stop looking at her, and when a scream of passion left her in the aftermath, he felt his heart begin to beat faster. There would never be another woman for him, of that he was sure, but he didn’t tell her that as he watched her with a haze of pleasure heavy in his eyes. He almost told her that he loved her then, but as his hand caressed the back of her neck, he found he only wanted to kiss her. He wanted to press her to the center of his chest and hold her there forever. Katie seemed to know that for as the thought left him, her eyes opened, and they shined. It was as if she knew what he was thinking, and she was encouraging him as her eyes looked brightly into his.
“I am so fucking in love with you” whispered Butch laying her on her back then only to capture her lips in a tender moment of passion. That peace stayed with them that night as they enjoyed this world that they still had all to themselves. Neither of them knew that that time of peace would be coming to a close. That it was ticking away as they laid there. For in that moment, they were completely and utterly happy, but something bad was coming for them. It would be up to them to decide whether they survived it or not.
It would, in fact, be their final moment of peace because the next day, Butch would find that the world’s that he had always kept separate had come together. He had done nothing to make it happen, he had done everything to prevent it, but it would happen all the same. For tomorrow, Kate would find out that the new owner of the restaurant where she worked was none other then Don Salvatore Maroni and the scary serious man was his. And Kate would find herself caught between two of Gotham’s crime families with no idea how she got herself there.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11

Butch didn’t always drop Kate off at work. In fact, it was a rare thing if he did it at all, but sometimes he did. It was a way in which he showed his love. A way in which he showed her that he did care for her. He wanted her to see it as another way in which he took care of her. It was a small gesture, but when she kissed him goodbye there was always something in her eyes. A look of appreciation perhaps or love. There was something about these moments that cemented something about their relationship, though, neither of them even said it aloud. Yet, no one ever paid attention to him when he did it, but that all changed very quickly.
Nothing felt unusual about it when he did it that day. Everything was quiet. He had parked just across from the restaurant where Kate worked, she had kissed him goodbye as usual, and once she entered the building, he drove away. Nothing felt different at all, which was why he wasn’t expecting it when Fish brought it up later that day.
“Butch? I need a word” called Fish, she was sitting at her booth with a drink in front of her.
Again, nothing felt out of the ordinary, but there was something in the look on Fish’s face. There was a calculating thing there, a look of consideration that he didn’t know the meaning of until he sat across from her. Only then did everything come crashing down in the most unexpected of circumstances. Butch felt a moment of trepidation. He had never been on the receiving end of one of these conversations with Fish before. He had always been loyal, and he had thought Fish knew that. He hoped, but as he waited for her to explain what had brought this moment about, he questioned what Fish might think of him at all. So many thoughts going through his mind all without a one showing across his face.
“What’s up, Boss?” said Butch, he tried to be his usual self.
“Some information was brought to me that I thought we should talk about” said Fish swirling her olives in her drink before demurely putting them in her mouth, looking up into at him with her eyes holding a seductive haze.
“Sure, Boss. You got a job for me?” said Butch keeping his face neutral, not letting any of the worrying thoughts slip through.
“You were seen in Don Maroni’s territory this morning? Orders have come down from up top that no one is to be seen in a rival Don’s territory and if Falcone found out, he might think the wrong thing, so I thought you could explain yourself to me first” said Fish, her voice always calm and level, but Butch knew she could just be leading up to cutting his throat.
He saw her eyes begin to narrow over the rim of his glass and he knew he had to explain himself, but no immediate answer came. He had been and still was loyal. That had never nor would it ever change, but to prove that Butch needed an explanation for whatever Fish had heard. Yet at first hearing it, he had none. Butch knew what would be assumed if he was seen in enemy territory. They would think he was a snitch, a spy for Maroni, and Butch would never cross such a line. He had worked hard for the place he had in Fish Mooney’s crew, and nothing would make him sacrifice that. He kept trying to think about what someone could have seen or who might have dared tell such a lie. Suddenly, the events of the morning ran through his mind as if to give him answers, and Butch felt frozen in ice as the realization came over him. He got up, made love to Katie, they ate breakfast, and went about their day.
“Boss, I swear, I haven’t knowingly gone into any of Maroni’s territory, but honestly boss, his territory lines change so much. Maybe I was somewhere that’s new Maroni territory. I would never betray you, Fish, you’ve been too good to me. I’m not stupid enough to do that” exclaimed Butch finally, not sure if she believed him or not as she looked over her steepled fingers directly into his eyes.
“As it happens, the territory you were seen in is new to Don Maroni. He just purchased a restaurant on the border connecting our territories and his. You were seen parked in front of it” said Fish, the puzzle pieces coming together for Butch as Fish stared on seeming to wait for his revelation to be revealed to her.
He thought of Kate. That morning, when he took her to work that day, he felt his heart pound. Kate had told him the restaurant had a new owner, but she hadn’t wanted to talk about it. And he hadn’t pushed. Now though, everything she had said, the way she had described the men that were around the restaurant; it all made sense if it had been bought by Maroni. She had been listless lately since the guy she called scary had taken over. She had shivered in a way that had made him ask if he could do anything. Butch had offered to go show the guy what scary was, but Kate had made him promise not to do anything. She had said she didn’t want him to get hurt. That these guys were beyond even him and she had no idea how right she was. He had taken her to work today hoping to get a look at one of them, but he didn’t tell her that. He had said it was to see her there safely and he hadn’t lied. Yet now, he felt completely unprepared for how to continue or even begin to explain this to Fish.
“Boss, I can explain. I’m not a snitch. I have never been anything, but loyal to you. I didn’t know that restaurant was Don Maroni’s. I was just dropping someone off” exclaimed Butch, he felt frantic, and he knew he looked it as Fish sat there cooly regarding him.
He didn’t want to tell her about Katie. She had always been his secret. It was how he protected her from this world that he walked around in everyday, but he knew there was no other way. He could feel a bullet already looking for a place inside his head and there was only one way to keep both of them alive.
“I dropped my girl off, Fish, she works at the restaurant. Has for a while, but she did mention that there were new owners” whispered Butch, he watched as Fish merely pursed her lips.
She took a sip of her drink once more and Butch honestly didn’t know what to say.
“Well, your girl is working in the wrong territory. You had best tell her to get a new job. I may believe you, but Don Falcone may not. He may just take you and her for snitches. You best get your situation figured out” said Fish, she was looking him right in the eyes.
Everything suddenly felt calm, yet his heart wouldn’t stop pounding. He knew this was the kind of conversation that she wouldn’t have with anyone else. Any other person would already have a bullet to the head, but Butch, she had given the benefit of the doubt. That was how he knew that she knew where his true loyalty was.
When he looked in her eyes, Butch saw a loyalty that didn’t stretch to anyone else. Fish appreciated loyalty and she gave it in turn; Butch saw that now.
“Maroni’s expanding his territory…you best get your girl out while you can” whispered Fish, standing in that moment, and patting his shoulder as she walked away.
Butch didn’t know how Katie would feel about having to quit her job. He only wanted to keep her safe. He only wanted to protect her. And he always would, even with his dying breath.

Chapter Text

What Fish had said wouldn’t leave his mind. Butch had never taken to ordering Kate around, but the urgency with which he must do so now made him nervous. Maroni was a real threat to everything he had built. To his life with Kate. To his place within Falcones organization with Fish. He could tear it all down and he knew that, but he didn’t know how to explain it all to Kate. As he returned to Kate’s apartment that night the weight that he put on his shoulders was heavy, a burden that he didn’t quite know how to properly unload. There was so easy way to explain any of it. He had tried to find the words all the way home. He had been trying to think of the words all night, but they wouldn’t come to him. There was just no easy way to express the imminent danger they were both in now. Somehow, he knew Kate wouldn’t just accept leaving her job. She wouldn’t just do whatever he told her to, especially if he just came home one day and told her to quit her job. It just wouldn’t work like that, and he didn’t know how she would react if he told her the truth. The truth is that her job was now only as good as his. That if she stayed, she was working for another organized crime family. He didn’t know how she would take that news either. Kate didn’t like that he worked for the mob. She had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with that life and yet now, she was part of it whether she liked it or not. What was worse was that they were on opposite sides. He couldn’t even drive her to work anymore. She had been drawn into something that she hadn’t wished for herself and if he didn’t get her out now, he might not be able to do it at all. If people were already reporting to Fish about it, it might already be too late, but he tried not to think of that as he entered the apartment that night. He told himself that he would get her out of this no matter what it took for him to do so. He felt relief when he saw she wasn’t home yet.
It gave him some extra time. To figure out how he was supposed to do any of this. To find the words, but they still didn’t come. He found himself pacing the floor, trying to picture the way he would talk this through with her, but every conversation seemed to go badly. None of them ended with her not hating him or sending him out of her apartment. She would think he was trying to control her and no matter how the words came out, he couldn’t find a way to make her see that he was trying to protect her. It ate away at him until he knew the only way to do this was to tell her the truth, all of it or else he feared he risked losing her forever.
“I gotta tell her the truth. She might understand the truth” whispered Butch thinking on it still, thinking that he could get her another job or even talk her into letting him take care of her.
He was sitting on the couch when he heard her key in the door. Even as she took one step then another through the door, even as it was closing, Butch felt his heart stop. There was no need to ask how her day had gone, he could already feel the tension in the air, and immediately he knew. Something wasn’t right. Kate looked like she was shaking, her mascara was running down her cheeks, and even as she entered the apartment, she kept looking around as if expecting someone to attack her even here. Her skin was unusually pale, her eyes red, but she hardly lifted them from the floor. She looked too afraid too and even as he longed to go to her, he stopped himself. She reminded him too much of a scared rabbit and he feared she would run even from him.
He started slow. Gently, he reached out until barely the tips of his fingers touched her hand. The scream she released was louder than he expected and immediately, she ran into the kitchen, and falling to the floor, she cowered in the corner. As he followed her, Butch could hear her crying, and his heart froze. He was already too late to save her from the fate Gotham had in store for them. Butch could hear her breathing as he stood watching her. It was labored and painful. He could hear her back hitting the cabinet as she rocked back and forth as if to sooth herself. He didn’t know how to approach her, for even as she seemed to see him standing there, it didn’t seem to help. When he finally got her to look into his eyes, he saw them crazed with fear, and something within him seemed to kick into gear. The second she started to cry, Butch moved to scoop her up, but the second he touched her, she screamed.
“Katie, what happened?” exclaimed Butch, holding her close despite her feeble attempts to escape, but he wasn’t letting her go.
“The gun clicked, the gun clicked” exclaimed Kate in return, her breathing speeding up somehow as she scrambled to get loose, the words repeating until she finally stopped moving altogether.
“What gun? Who had a gun?” exclaimed Butch as her movements stopped and her tears got worse, running messily down her face until finally her hands had ripped into the fabric of his shirt, and he didn’t say anything else as he feared upsetting her more.
When she finally calmed, he didn’t let her go, but finally, he dared to ask her.
“Tell me what happened, Katie, who had a gun? What happened at work today?” said Butch, his voice suddenly calm.
He held her now, his fingers stroking over her face, and dried the tears that still ran from her eyes. Next, they moved through her hair. He was seeking to calm her, but despite that, she continued to shake uncontrollably. When Kate looked at him, she didn’t provide an answer as she started to cry all the harder. Her hands came to cover her face smearing them with more mascara as heaping sobs left her lungs. He had never seen her like this before, a scared little deer, the echo of gunshots ringing in her ears, and there was nothing to do until she told him what had made her this way.
“I told you about the scary guy at work…the one always watching? Today, he noticed one of the other girls paying too much attention to what was said at one of the tables” whispered Kate, her eyes were centered on his chest.
Suddenly, Butch had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He would listen to everything she told him, but he knew somehow that she had witnessed something awful. He kept picturing what Fish would do if she caught one of her girls paying too much attention, but somehow, he imagined Don Maroni or one of his men would do something even worse than he could imagine.
“They told us when the new owner came to keep our heads down and after the owner left, the man, Frankie, that’s his name, he closed the place, but none of us could go home” whispered Kate, her voice was strained, pained as she continued with her story.
“Each one of us was called into the dining room where he had five chairs set up. He made us sit in them while the rest of the staff stood around us watching. Then he brought out a gun. He unloaded it then he took a bullet and that was all he put inside the chamber. That was when he said he was going to show us what happened when we didn’t follow orders” whispered Kate, her words coming out different now.
They had been slow before, deadly, but suddenly they were too fast. They stumbled out of her mouth at a rate that he almost couldn’t keep up.
“He called the game Russian roulette. He spun the gun and started pointing it at us. He pointed it at each of our heads. He got to me, Butch, he pointed a gun at me. He pressed it against the side of my head, and he pulled the trigger. He pulled the trigger, and it clicked. It clicked for the next person too. For the next and the next” exclaimed Kate.
It was then that she stopped. She kept her eyes centered on his face now. She was silent and seemed to be reliving this horrible day until finally her eyes were looking solely into his. Finally, she looked right at his face, and Butch was about to speak when she continued.
“Then there was a boom. The girl after that…I was expecting another click, but instead there was a loud shot, and blood. He shot her. Then he asked if he had learned our lesson and he let us leave” exclaimed Kate, it was then that the sobbing returned.
She finally let him hold her then, her head buried in his chest, and her whole body shaking. Butch could picture everything just as she described it. He could hear the shot as it range out an imagined memory in his own ears and he couldn’t imagine how scared she must have been. And there was no way he could have protected her from any of it. That alone struck something deep inside of him. Neither of them said a word, she cried, and he held her all the time thinking of the many outcomes this day could have had. Her story could have been the one that ended in a boom. He could have easily lost her. She might never have come home. He didn’t know what he would have done. Yes, this was one of Don Maroni’s men, but he didn’t think he could have stopped himself. He would have avenged her and would have died in the attempt. He carried her to bed, but when he tried to let her go, she clung to him.
She wouldn’t let him go, so he stayed with her all the time until she fell asleep. Only then did he leave her, returning to the couch, but finding he couldn’t sit still.
“They could have killed her” thought Butch, his head spinning with the speed with which things had turned, everything had become so much more serious than before, and he found he couldn’t stop shaking now himself.
He had to get her out of there, but after today, if she never came back to work there were people who might come after her. She had seen them outright kill someone.
She had kept her head down, but that wouldn’t be enough now.
“How am I going to get her out of this?” exclaimed Butch, his feet moving him back and forth across the floor before he even realized it.
No answers seemed clear until suddenly they did. Butch realized there was only one true way to save her from all of this. He would have to bring her into his world. It might be the only way to save her from the men that worked for Don Maroni. And yet, it was the last thing he ever wanted. If she became Fish’s informant within the Maroni camp, then they might have a chance. Fish protected her people though she had never been one to care for snitches. Yet, if he could convince Fish, maybe then he could use it to get her away from that restaurant altogether. Once she was in with Don Falcone, in with Fish, then Butch knew he could protect her.
It was a dangerous path, but with Fish’s help he could do it. Butch thought he could convince Fish. That she would see it as an opportunity. He had earned Fish’s trust, he had been loyal, and because of that, he was sure she would do this for him. He knew somehow that she would. His mind had fully settled on it when the screaming came from the next room. Kate was screaming, her arms and legs thrashing, and as soon as he saw her, Butch knew she was still sleeping. He knew she was dreaming, a nightmare of the day plaguing her thoughts, so much that sleep evaded her. He hated seeing her distress and yet, he knew where she was in that moment. And yet, he wondered if this was his punishment, for causing such trauma in others. Now, he must watch it in someone he loved.
“I’m so sorry, baby” whispered Butch as she started to stroke her face, reaching to hold her as she thrashed about, in her dream hearing those clicks until they led to that last final boom of death within the confines of that restaurant.
He held her, talking her through the pain he knew she must be feeling, but nothing seemed to help. Her movements only became more violent until finally he touched her face. Only then did her eyes fly open and when she saw him looking down on her, only then did she calm, and as she said his name, Butch clutched her to him. Her breathing was heavy and when she caught her breath, she reached for him.
“Butch? I thought I was going to die” gasped Kate, her arms suddenly tight around him as he laid down beside her, and as she clutched him, silently demanding he never let her go, Butch did so listening as her heartbeat ran unstoppably fast.
He held her, kissing her brow, and telling her it would be all right. He had a plan, and he would see that she was safe. She fell asleep in his arms again. This time, she didn’t stir, her breathing became steady, and when she opened her eyes again, she didn’t say a word. When he touched her face, he expected her to flinch, but she stared at him. Yet, he sensed that she wasn’t seeing him at all. When he kissed her forehead, she whispered his name again, but the way she said it had no feeling. She still seemed lost and afraid, and she didn’t know what was going to happen now. He sensed she needed him more than ever, but she didn’t say that as she processed everything that had happened to her.
“Take a shower, baby, and I’ll fix you something. I’ll be right out there if you need me” said Butch, his voice tender in a way it only was when he was with her.
She didn’t respond. Her body seemed to move slowly as he left her to go into the kitchen. She sat there on the bed for a moment, her body still shivering with past tears, and Butch felt his own heart racing. He wouldn’t breathe easily until she had somehow accepted all this and yet, as he listened for signs that she had risen from the bed, he worried. What if she was permanently scarred? Would he be able to save her from this if she didn’t get over everything that had happened today? Everything now seemed so uncertain. Like their fate was hinged on something that was beyond either of their control. And he supposed it was, which is why he felt relieved when he heard her leave the bed finally then again when he heard the bathroom door close. He kept telling himself that she would be okay. She had to get over this. She had to be his strong woman again, otherwise, there was no chance either of them might survive this thing. Because Gotham was dangerous and he had vowed to keep her same. Now, she would have to help him, and in the condition, she was in now, he didn’t know if she could.
That this wouldn’t be the first night she awoke screaming. That this day would haunt them forever. Butch would love her anyway. Even if she were permanently damaged, he would love her, he would protect her, but this situation was one that he needed her to come back from. He only hoped that she could. He made her some toast, fixed her coffee just the way she liked it, and he had set it on the table when she exited the bathroom. She stood there, just staring at him, and when he smiled, she ventured forward to sit down across from him.
“Eat…please, it might help” whispered Butch, feeling something sway within him at the sight of her; he had never seen her this way before.
“Do you ever get used to seeing people die?” said Kate in response, she had never asked him such a thing before, and when he took her hand in response, he was surprised when she didn’t jump at the touch.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby” whispered Butch, he wasn’t sure what did it, but suddenly something made her spring into action.
Kate was standing there one moment then she was in his arms. With little effort at all, she crawled into his lap, and her arms held him tight. He gently touched her back as her face found the crease of his neck and he knew this was what she needed. She needed to know that he was there. That he would still protect her, even from this, this day which had made her life flash before her eyes. Butch held her for only a moment before drawing her eyes to his.
“You need to listen to me, Katie, because I have a plan” whispered Butch, holding her face in his hands.
“I’m going to protect you” whispered Butch, kissing her then, and when he looked into her eyes, he knew she didn’t know what to do now.
“I need you to be strong, Katie, I have a plan. It will keep you safe, but I need you to listen to me. I need you to do as I say. Can you do that?” exclaimed Butch seeing in her eyes that she was still scared, but there was something else there too.
Trust. She trusted him to keep her safe and it was that trust that told him his plan would work.