Chapter 28
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Madelyn called Homelander in.
He had been standing outside her office, looking through the painting. When she told him he could enter, he walked in without saying anything.
Homelander could not stop thinking about Believe Expo.
The crowd and Adam's words kept returning to him. He had left that confrontation without answering, and he hated remembering it.
He wanted to tell someone what was happening inside his head, but there was no one he trusted. He had always known that. Today, it hurt more.
Madelyn was the only person he considered his own. Still, her heartbeat sped up whenever he came near. Homelander heard it every time and hated knowing she was afraid. He listened to it as he crossed the office. It remained fast until he sat beside her.
He wanted her fear gone, but he also wanted all of her attention. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
He also hated how much time she was spending with Teddy now. Every hour she gave the child felt like time taken away from him. He remembered the times she had ended their talks because Teddy cried. Each time, she had left Homelander sitting alone. Homelander carried that anger with him as he stopped in front of her desk.
Madelyn rose from her chair and walked to the sofa near the table. She sat down and patted the space beside her.
"Come here, Homelander," she said. Homelander sat beside her.
Madelyn watched his face. "What did the masked man do to you?"
Homelander did not answer. He did not even look at her. Madelyn lifted one hand and gestured toward her lap.
Homelander obeyed the gesture at once.
Homelander was silent for another moment. Then he lay down and placed his head on her lap.
Madelyn brushed her hand over his hair.
"What did he say to you?" she asked. "Did he threaten you? Did he scare you?"
Homelander's body went stiff. He sat up and looked straight at her. Madelyn understood that the question had upset him.
"I am sorry," she said quickly. "I asked it badly. Come back and lie down again."
Homelander stared at her for a few seconds. Then he lowered his head onto her lap again. "Madelyn," he said, "you do not give me time anymore."
He said it angrily, then looked up at her and waited. He did not say Teddy's name, yet Madelyn understood that Teddy was part of it.
Madelyn kept her hand moving through his hair. She had asked the question on purpose, and the way he left her lap and stared at her gave her the answer she wanted.
Homelander feared the masked man, even if he would never admit it. His reaction was the confirmation Madelyn wanted.
It also supported the plan Vought's board had begun discussing: bring the masked man into Vought.
Vought would call it an offer to become a proper hero. They would make the offer sound friendly, then start controlling him once he agreed.
If they placed him beside Homelander, Homelander would no longer stand alone at the top. When one refused an order, Vought could send the other after him. As long as one listened, Vought could use him against the other.
Madelyn had agreed to the plan. It was Vought's best chance to limit Homelander without fighting him directly. If it worked, he could no longer do whatever he wanted.
"I am sorry," Madelyn said softly. "If things made you feel alone, I am sorry. You know how much I love you."
Earlier, Frenchie had removed the Female's cuffs because he thought she trusted him now.
He had watched her before unlocking them. She was dangerous, but he no longer wanted to keep her chained like a prisoner.
He still did not know her name. He only called her the Female, and sometimes spoke to her with the gentle words he used when he wanted her to stay calm.
But the moment the cuffs opened, she ran. Now she was moving fast through the street. Then Black Noir appeared in front of her.
The Female stopped.
She did not know why he had come, but he stood in the middle of her path and left no room to pass.
Black Noir attacked first.
She thought she could take the hit. A punch from a human would not have moved her.
But Black Noir was not a normal human.
His blow threw her sideways and slammed her back-first into a parked cash truck. The metal dented under her body. 'A Supe,' she realized.
She pushed herself up as her back healed. Her legs shook once before they steadied, and she kept her eyes on Black Noir.
Black Noir walked toward her without speaking and kept himself between her and the road.
Behind her, Frenchie arrived and saw Black Noir standing there. His face changed. Black Noir turned from the Female toward Frenchie.
Frenchie froze. The Female stepped in front of him.
Frenchie stared at her back. She had run from the Boys, yet now she was standing between him and Black Noir.
Even with her body hurt, she raised her hands and stayed between Frenchie and Black Noir. Black Noir faced her again, and the Female prepared to fight him.
===== Upcoming Teasers =====
1. Chapter 29: Adam appears before Black Noir can finish the fight.
2. Chapter 30: Vought's image starts cracking from two directions.
3. Chapter 31: Mesmer is pulled into Kimiko's past.
Read ahead on P@tr3on or K0‑fi "AlphaBoss169'' page and unlock +20 extra chapters.
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