Butch Gilzean

*waggled index* Let him be, he’s just a confused sad little bear.

I’m not confused! 

You know what? I’m sick of this. You kiss anyone and everyone you don’t give a crap, but the minute someone gets a little love from someone else? You get that  look in your eye like you wanna tear their head off!

You know it’s true, Tabby! You’d hate it if I was even thinking of someone else other than you. [fumes and then grabs the arm of a passing woman, a red-head with glasses. In one swift motion, he kisses her, dipping her slightly]

[He’ll then right the woman, let her go and stare Tabby down] Tell me that I’m wrong, Tabs.

“I know you can, but it doesn’t seem like you believe it. You had your own empire and you let him trample over everything that we worked to build together.” That warm look of adoration that verged on worship… she enjoyed seeing him like this too much —submissive, groveling. “I’d understand that while I was in the hospital, but I was released months ago, Butch. Yet… you’re still by his side.”

She did miss certain aspects of their relationship, his jokes, the pampering, the unwavering loyalty, but she wasn’t going to admit it to him or to anyone else. “Hmm, if you really loved me, you would have known better than to kick Barbara out.”

“I was never that guy. Not with Fish, not with Penguin, not with you. I don’t like being in that place.” He doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s never felt smart enough. Better to let someone else who does think three steps ahead to do it. 

“I’m by his side because if I wasn't, you’d be dead! And I told you before you were packing up to go, Barbara can come back! I don't care, I just want you back. Tabby ... please...” He’s reaching for her again, looking pained. “Please.”

I still can’t believe that @butch-gilzean is going to vote for Cobblepot…

Well, when he’s the one giving you your CASH....

She couldn’t remember the last time she had lived on her own terms, the last time she had made something happen because it would benefit her and not her family. From a young age, Tabitha had been following orders —learning hand-to-hand combat, proper weapon handling— all for The Order, for the honor of their ancestors. She was indifferent and, except for the small bouts of rebellion and snide remarks, she never tried to change things, to release herself from the shackles blood had created for her. Settling, doing as she was told was easy, comfortable. But now with Butch, after leaving Theo to his own devices, she felt like those rare times when she’d ride a horse into the woods and disappear for hours without telling anyone: free, like she had a choice.

She chuckled at his comment about the outfit. Leather made her feel powerful, like she was in control even when she wasn’t, it made people look at her differently. “Crushes are for school girls.” Naturally-pink lips twisted into a smirk which gave way to a full smile as he wrapped her in his arms. “Just like this,” she nodded slowly as she cupped his cheek.  "I kinda like the kid, actually, but someone needs to teach him a lesson, see if that will jog his brain.“

And there he was again, trying to please her every whim. "Well… I wouldn’t mind a few new fur coats, a nicely aged bottle of Whisky or two, and some new toys —I’ve been eyeing this beautiful hand-engraved knife for a while; I can show you. I’m also lacking kisses, I just never seem to have enough of those.”

Other men in his situation would have balked at a female taking the lead in this relationship; he’d seen it with Fish. They wanted to conquer her, but didn’t want to let her into her element and lead. He’d been around the kinds of tough women like Tabby and Fish long enough to know that the true crime was trying to hold them back. They were made to make others crawl behind them. 

“Please teach him a lesson,” he said, the frown turning to a hopeful look. “Use the whip, use a brick upside that thick head of his, I don't care.” A pause. “Maybe a small brick. I don’t want him dead. He’s family.”

Oh yes. He wanted to please her. He wanted to see her taking charge and throwing orders and making this empire actually something. Gilzean had tried on his own, but the natural leadership just wasn’t there. He’d gladly be her second in command. “Think I can remedy that...” He pulled her close again, lips pressing to hers. A few blissful seconds passed in this way, until a younger voice, loud and abrupt interrupted.

“HEY! Uncle Butch, the guys won’t give me a gun!” 

Butch growled as he pulled back from Tabby and turned to stare at his nephew. “God dammit....”

Lithe fingers ran through his hair tracing circles against his scalp –softly, tenderly– as she listened to him talk. She took the piece of candy he offered and smiled before she took a bite, then another, until it was gone. It was times like this (when he overindulged her) in which he made her feel like royalty; she loved it. What she loved even more, however, was this: the intimate conversation they enjoyed in private, when he opened up to her and showed that vulnerable side he didn’t share with anyone else.

“Did you now? Was it the skimpy leather outfit or the way I whipped that mangy Penguin out of your brain? —I did, I thought about you, a lot.” The corners of her lips tugged into a smile at the question and she slid closer to him. With a hand over his chest, Tabitha pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his lips. “I used to daydream about you often. About how your arms would feel wrapped around me or what it’d be like to see you in control, strangling some measly henchman… ”

They’d found their own little pattern of domestic bliss, together. It was similar in many ways to what he’d had with Fish, but with Tabby, there was more. Fish had made the boundaries clear, and he’d respected them. He’d also still found himself in love with the tough as nails woman, but that couldn’t be helped. He just had a type. 

Eyes closing at the fingers in his hair, he let out a breath, feeling himself sink fully into a relaxed state. “It was a lot of things, but I’ll never complain about you in skimpy leather.” Grinning, his eyes opened after the kiss. “Daydream? You had a little crush on me?” The grin grew, and his arms went around her. “You mean like this? And if Sonny messes up again, you’ll get to see me strangle someone later.” The grin turned into a small frown. “How the hell do he and I share a last name...”

Watching her, Butch bit his lip briefly, thinking. “Anything you don’t have that you want? It’s yours. You know I’d get it for you.”

@butch-gilzean

It was nice so far. Tabitha was feeling cared for, appreciated, able to sit back and relax, more like a leader (Butch’s right hand) than a follower (her brother’s shadow). She enjoyed the luxuries, the fine food, the attention, and the affection she got from him. Most importantly, Silver was safe and he had helped make that happen.

Chocolate eyes looked up to meet his blue gaze as he finished telling her a joke. Glossy lips were parted into a grin and laughter echoed through them: gleeful, genuine. “Who would’ve thought you had a sense of humor. The first time I saw you, I just thought you were kind of sad and cute and very macho, but… that wasn’t the real you, was it? You were under the Penguin’s influence. How did that feel like? Did you even think about me after that first meeting?”

He didn’t mind that she was more of the leader than he was. It made sense; she was simply better at it. Butch could lead sure, but he lacked that something that was necessary to keep a large group under his thumb. He could do small groups, and manage them well. 

And a part of him liked spoiling her. Sure, she’d been used to the finer things in life while living with that brother of hers. But now, she could enjoy them and not have to worry about a sibling killing her in the name of a crazy cult. 

Giving her a grin of his own, Butch reached for a piece of chocolate from a nearby tray, popping it into his mouth. “I’ve always been funny. It’s what people liked about me.” The grin shrank a little at the mention of The Penguin, and he went quiet for a little bit. “It was me, kinda. Like having your brain on autopilot. You can still think the way you think but any kind of free will is just turned off.” He offered her the tray of chocolate next, settling back into the pillows. “You? Sure. But it was muted. Everything was like it was muted. I was just ... there. Sure as hell thought a lot about you after that little encounter with you and the whip, though.”

     “You had your chance & you blew it. Not only did you kick Barbara out, but you sided with the bird brain? Honestly…”

“Yeah, I know. But that doesn’t mean we can’t ... lots of grey areas in Gotham, Tabby. We could fit into one of those.”