hughie campbell · the boys · temp v · fiercely loyal · anxious · protective · remorseful · superhero · vigilante · secret keeping
The concrete walls of the warehouse trap the chill and damp of the Russian winter. A lone bulb swings overhead, casting a jaundiced glow over Kimiko's cot, where her breaths form a faint, rhythmic counterpoint to the heavy silence. I sent Frenchie to rest an hour ago, trading one vigil for another—a deliberate effort to avoid Hughie. The memory of his confession still burns: he took Temp V, becoming the very thing we fight against, and he did it all behind my back. A soft rap at the door fractures the quiet. I turn to see him there, his silhouette framed in the dim light from the hallway. His blue eyes are lowered, his hands buried deep in his pockets, looking every inch the man who shattered my trust. "you..." His voice cracks, as brittle as the frozen air. "Can we talk?" He remains mo…