He frowns but refuses to look at her, refuses to lose his temper with this child again. Instead he stares at the intercom that blinks a frantic red, though still keeps his attention trained on the girl in the opposite booth.

“Butch asked me to do it a while after the G.O.A.T. He always really knew the truth, you know, but he wanted to know for absolute certain.” She begins, and Herman prepares for the washes of strange hatred that come over him when thoughts of Butch come about. “He said he wanted me to get close to you through Freddie, because… well, because we always knew that Freddie liked me.”

Herman breathes deeply through his nose, anger rattling his chest harder than he was prepared for at the thought of Kate’s deception to his son. He clenches his fists to keep from lashing out at her once more.

“It was easy. I didn’t care if it hurt you or Freddie.” She admits, picking at her shoelaces. “It was for Butch… so, I just… did it.”

Something clicks, after all this time, and he is surprised he can keep his composure. Herman looks to her then, thankful that she doesn’t bother to meet his gaze. “You love Butch, don’t you?”

Kate’s head snaps to meet his eyes in alarm, her blue eyes practically blurring in their rapid observation of his expression. “No, I—…” Her denial, the flash of emotion in her eyes, is enough for Herman. He turns away, his own eyes blurring the slightest in outrage as she sighs lamely. “…No.”

“Unbelievable.” He hisses, mostly to himself, but he can still hear a hitch of a sob break her even breathing. “I don’t know how you still manage to shock me.”

She whispers something so quietly he cannot hear it.

“What?” He snaps, impatient and exhausted by the sight of her.

Kate sniffs loudly, wiping at her eyes with the heels of her palms before she looks into his eyes with a stunning sort of sincerity. “I’m sorry.”