"I believe you all know by now—there's a significant threat on the horizon. That's right, Soldier Boy!" Homelander said as he turned around, pacing slowly.
Jon couldn't help but glance at Black Noir, who had been silent the entire time. But something was different—Noir didn't seem calm as usual. Despite his entire body being covered, Jon could sense the slight trembling.
Noir was afraid. As the second most powerful member of the Seven after Homelander—other than Jon—only Soldier Boy could inspire this level of fear in him.
Soldier Boy had led the Payback team, which was the predecessor to the Seven. Black Noir had once been part of Payback and served directly under Soldier Boy.
But Soldier Boy's behavior had been brutal—worse even than Homelander. Every member of Payback, including Black Noir, hated him. Sending Soldier Boy to the Soviets had been a team effort. Every member of Payback had a hand in it, including Noir.
So, with the news of Soldier Boy's return, Black Noir's fear was understandable.
"Regarding Soldier Boy, he's going to impact Vought's reputation, and that, in turn, affects my reputation, which is what really matters here," Homelander said. "So, we must stick together, and we must publicly claim that there is no such thing as Soldier Boy. At the same time, we need to eliminate this threat as soon as possible!"
"Do you understand, Starlight, and Phoenix Worrior?" Homelander called their names deliberately because he knew they were the least obedient members of the Seven.
Starlight was tolerable—she'd do her dirty work quietly and wouldn't outright oppose him. But Phoenix Warrior was different. He was an open threat, a wildcard.
"Yes, Captain. Fully understood. I'll follow your orders to the letter," Jon replied respectfully.
Homelander blinked in surprise. If Jon had tried to undermine him now, Homelander could've used it as an opportunity to reassert his dominance. But Jon's sarcastically respectful response made him feel strangely uncomfortable.
Homelander stared at Jon for a while, and Jon calmly met his gaze, showing no hint of fear.
"Very well, meeting dismissed," Homelander said in a flat tone.
As Homelander ended the meeting, the members of the Seven began to leave the room.
"Now's the time, Alessa," Jon whispered to Alessa, then stepped into the elevator.
By then, only two people were left in the meeting room: Homelander and Black Noir.
Black Noir had remained in his seat, silent, while Homelander stood lost in thought.
Not long before, they'd received news that Crimson Countess was dead—killed by Soldier Boy.
"Why did he kill Crimson Countess?" Homelander turned to Black Noir. Right now, Noir was the only one in the Seven whom Homelander truly trusted.
From the moment he had joined the Seven, it had been Black Noir who taught him how to become the kind of man he was today.
"He used to be your captain. Do you know why?" Homelander asked.
Noir remained silent. Homelander let out a long sigh. "My friend, I'm glad to have you with me during these times. You're the only one left whom I can trust. Truly, you're the only one I can depend on."
Homelander patted Noir's shoulder, his expression softening. "You should go too. Let me have some time alone."
Black Noir stood up without a word, leaving the meeting room and stepping into the elevator.
A secretary holding a stack of files joined Noir in the elevator. As the doors closed, something shifted in Noir's demeanor. Suddenly, he pulled out a dagger and plunged it into his own wrist.
The secretary screamed, startled by the sudden, violent act.
Noir, his breathing steady, cut open his wrist, removed a small, bloody chip from beneath his skin, and handed it to the trembling secretary.
Unsure of what else to do, the secretary took the chip, her hands shaking. The elevator doors opened, and Noir walked out without looking back.
Black Noir was running. In Homelander's moment of greatest need, Noir had decided to abandon him. The fear Soldier Boy brought was beyond anything Noir could endure.
Noir left Vought headquarters. At the same time, Jon, who had been waiting for Alessa's move, saw Black Noir hurrying away. He noticed the blood still dripping from Noir's wrist.
"Interesting..." Jon said quietly, watching Noir disappear from sight.
Alessa had secured the files, but Jon wasn't planning to use them just yet. He instead began to follow Black Noir.
***
"He wouldn't leave me." Homelander shook his head, his face contorting as tears threatened to fall.
Ashley stood beside him, holding the bloody chip Noir had given the secretary. It was Noir's tracking chip. Homelander stared at it for a moment, then turned away, mumbling to himself over and over:
"He wouldn't leave me. He wouldn't. He'd never run. Anyone could betray me, but not Noir."
Homelander, who had just managed to overcome his own doubts and insecurities, was on the verge of transformation—a step towards becoming even more ruthless, a true figure of fear. But now, with his best friend's betrayal, he seemed to regress back into the emotionally wounded man desperate for love and validation.
But then, his expression hardened again. A cold determination took hold. "No... why should I let this hurt me? I don't need him. I don't need anyone. I am Homelander. I'm better than anyone else. To hell with Noir. I'll take care of Soldier Boy myself, and when I'm done, Noir is next on my list. I'll kill him."
Homelander's gaze darkened, filled with a dangerous resolve.
***
Jon trailed Noir to an abandoned underground bunker. It was dark and desolate—a place Noir had used as a safe haven in the past. Though the bunker had been abandoned, it held remnants of memories for Noir, places where he could recall the times when Soldier Boy had bullied him, the times that had left him mute.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.
"How about a nut?" Jon's voice echoed through the empty space. Noir turned to see Phoenix Warrior standing behind him, holding out a handful of nuts.
Noir knew this wasn't a friendly visit. Jon had clearly followed him here. On top of that, everyone in the Seven knew Noir was deathly allergic to nuts.
"No? Well, then let's get to business," Jon said, tossing the nuts into his mouth and eating them.
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