Chapter 80 : Seven
A day later, Mark received an invitation to Vought Tower.
He walked into Stan Edgar’s office and sat down without being asked.
Stan looked up from the file on his desk, closed it, and got straight to it. "I’d like you to join the Seven."
Mark didn’t respond.
"The timing is appropriate. The country is looking for reassurance after these terrorist attacks. A new member with your public image would help restore confidence."
"So I’m a public relations move."
"A practical business decision," Stan corrected. "You have public support, and unlike the rest of the Seven, your reputation is clean." He slid a folder across the desk.
"If you accept, Vought will announce you as the newest member. Your first public appearance will focus on helping law enforcement capture the terrorists responsible for recent attacks."
He met Mark’s eyes. "I believe you’ll be an asset, Mr. Mark."
Mark almost laughed.
If Stan Edgar knew who was really sitting across from him, this meeting would’ve ended very differently. The terrorist Vought was trying to hunt was sitting in his office being offered a seat at the table.
At the same time, this was exactly what Mark wanted. Joining the Seven meant keeping an eye on Homelander, protecting Annie if things went sideways, and learning what Vought was doing from the inside.
"I accept."
A faint smile appeared on Stan’s face. "I thought you might."
"I want to do my part," Mark said. "If there are terrorists threatening the country, they need to be stopped."
Stan regarded him for a moment before extending his hand. "Welcome to the Seven, Mr. Mark."
Mark shook it.
The terrorists you’re talking about are the people you shake hands with every day.
***
Mark pushed open the doors to the Seven’s meeting room.
The conversation inside stopped. Every pair of eyes turned toward him.
"Well," Mark said with a grin, striking an exaggerated pose, "surprise. Looks like I’m one of the Seven now."
Silence.
Homelander’s smile didn’t move, but his eyes narrowed the instant they landed on Mark. He hadn’t expected Stan Edgar to make this call, especially after everything that had happened between them.
Starlight looked at Mark with wide eyes, clearly caught off guard.
Black Noir didn’t react at all.
The Deep immediately stood up. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered, glaring. The memory of being humiliated in the cafeteria was still fresh, and the last person he wanted joining the team was the man responsible for it.
Queen Maeve barely looked up from her drink. "good," she said flatly before taking another sip.
A-Train’s chair sat empty.
Ashley stepped forward with an aggressively enthusiastic smile. "Everyone, this is Mark, the newest member of the Seven."
Homelander broke the silence. "Congratulations," he said pleasantly, though there wasn’t a trace of warmth behind it. "I’m sure we’re all looking forward to working with you."
Mark smiled back just as casually. "I’m looking forward to it too."
While Ashley ran through the team schedule, Annie moved closer to Mark.
"What are you doing?" she asked under her breath. "You hated the idea of joining Vought."
"I still do."
"Then why are you here?"
He glanced at her briefly. "You really don’t know?"
Annie frowned. "No."
Mark smiled faintly. "I was worried about you. You’re living in a tower with people I wouldn’t trust to watch my wallet, let alone my back."
Despite herself, Annie let out a small laugh. "That’s your reason?"
"Pretty much."
She shook her head. "You’re an idiot."
"Probably."
A sharp crack cut through the room. Someone had just snapped a pen clean in half.
When the meeting ended and the others filed out, only Mark and Homelander remained.
Homelander walked over until they were a few feet apart. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
Mark didn’t move. "You made your move. You branded us terrorists, got the whole country looking for us." A faint smile.
"So I figured it was my turn." He met Homelander’s eyes without flinching.
"From now on, I’m taking everything you care about. I’m going to take your spot as America’s favorite hero. I’ll make people see you for what you really are." His voice stayed completely calm. "And when that’s done, I’ll kill you."
Homelander smiled. "You really think you can kill me?"
"I know I can."
Homelander stepped closer until they were almost shoulder to shoulder. "Then try." The smile never moved. "Because if you do, one of us is going to die."
Mark didn’t look away. "That’s the plan."
Homelander held his gaze for another second, then turned and walked out. The door slammed behind him hard enough to rattle the glass walls.
The steady beep of a heart monitor filled the silence of the hospital room.
A-Train slowly opened his eyes. He blinked several times as the haze cleared. Then, instinctively, he tried to move his legs.
Nothing.
He looked down.
Both legs were gone above the knee, ending in thick white bandages.
He stared at them for a moment. Just stared. Like his brain was refusing to process what his eyes were showing him.
Then reality landed.
"NO!"
His scream tore through the room.
"NO! NO! NO! MY LEGS!" He clawed at the bedsheets, breathing turning frantic. "WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY LEGS?!"
Monitors blared. Nurses rushed in from the hallway.
"I CAN’T FEEL THEM! PUT THEM BACK! PLEASE!"
He kept screaming, thrashing against the restraints as the panic completely took over, his voice echoing down the corridor long after the nurses reached him.
A/N : There will be Minor crossover and the next world is Jujutsu Kaisen
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