Allen and Maeve sat in silence while eating sushi. It was a quiet meal. Although Maeve felt uncomfortable at first, she quickly relaxed upon realizing that Allen was quite approachable.
She didn't seem prepared to talk about her problems or clarify her emotions, so Allen didn't press her and gave her, his phone number.
"If you want to talk... you can call me, Maggie," Allen said before leaving the restaurant.
"…"
Maeve remained silent inside the restaurant. There were many things she wanted to say, but in the end, she couldn't organize her thoughts or even understand what she was seeking by following him around New York.
Maeve didn't achieve anything today. However, when she left the restaurant, the sky was clear, and the stress that had been weighing her down had disappeared.
'We barely talked, but... I felt completely relieved spending time with him,' Maeve thought as she looked at her phone. 'Will he be upset if I call him today?'
Maeve shook her head, thinking about how ridiculous it would be to call him right after they parted ways, and then she flew away.
And the day came to an end...
...
(Tal Rifaat, Syria)
A well-trained Navy SEAL team was preparing to raid a large drug lab.
Moving silently through the water and covered by vegetation, they advanced slowly. It was night, and there were no animals around. The place seemed abandoned from the outside.
Inside, there were dozens of people—some on guard while others cut cocaine to package and send to various parts of the world.
They were about to enter but something fell from the sky in front of them interrupting the operation.
"Gentlemen, I'll take over from here. You can take a break..." With a smile that left the soldiers stunned, Homelander arrived. He was about to leave when he remembered something. "And don't forget, you're the real heroes."
That phrase, or something similar, was often said by Superman to firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. Although it wasn't completely wrong, as Superman can't be everywhere and no matter how much superheroes strive, it's the police, firefighters, paramedics, and other essential workers who ultimately save more lives in the world.
However, when said by Homelander, it could only sound like a mockery to the elite soldiers who were merely a nuisance to him.
Homelander entered and found two guards playing cards.
"Gentlemen..." Homelander greeted them, and when one attempted to reach for his weapon, he used his heat vision to cut them into pieces.
Then the screams began. Enveloped in darkness, only Homelander's red eyes were visible as he moved, mercilessly killing everyone, not caring whether they were men or women.
"Ahhh!"
He cut off the last man's legs and approached him while he was dying. Then he placed his boot on the man's head and pressed down until the man's head was crushed.
Homelander exited the building and took a deep breath while looking at the sky. 'It feels so good to be back,' he thought.
The soldiers remained stunned, staring in fear at the monster before them. Homelander smiled and noticed a drug dealer trying to escape. Using his vision, he sliced him from a distance.
Homelander returned to New York as the public relations department took care of spreading the news. It was newsworthy because Vought typically didn't operate outside the country. It seemed that some things had changed.
...
(Lake City, Colorado)
The sound of the breeze and the chirping of birds were part of the charm of small towns. Due to the issues Annie faced, her parents had to be protected by the CIA. However, her father only agreed if it was to a place far from the city, and they ended up in Lake City, Colorado.
Amidst the lush trees and the scent of nature, a crack in space opened and took the shape of a door. The bright light obscured the view on the other side, but soon a person stepped through the portal, Allen, followed by Annie January.
"This power is incredibly convenient."
"Well, it's better than spending four hours on a plane."
Annie smiled and then looked around. The trees provided a view of the distant mountains. Lake City was nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. A place that people tired of cities or retirees would love.
"Your parents certainly made the most of the opportunity."
The CIA was more than willing to place Annie's parents in a good location to keep Allen satisfied.
Allen knew that this flattery wouldn't last forever, as he was not an ally of the CIA, and they didn't exactly love what they couldn't control.
Allen looked at the worried Annie and gently approached her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She leaned against him. Although she should have been embarrassed by this interaction, at that moment she just wanted a little warmth to cope with facing reality.
Upon learning that she hadn't been born with superpowers but had obtained them through Vought, a fear began to grow within her. Did her mother know about this and do it on purpose?
If that were the case, Annie would be devastated. How could a parent use their child in such an absurd experiment?
Allen also didn't know whether her parents knew or not. According to Annie, her father was still with her mother, and in the series, her father abandoned them, supposedly because he couldn't handle lying to her.
As it was a personal matter, Allen decided not to stream.
Allen looked at the trees around him and was surprised by how beautiful the place was.
Rebecca – 'They're sparing no expense~'
Nokotan – 'Nun~ They realized Allen has the traits of a deer and now they revere him'
Allen took Annie by the waist and they flew. He didn't want to appear near the town itself and preferred to do so in the forest, as it was expected that the CIA had the area under surveillance.
Soon they saw the houses and landed in front of one of them. It had a garden with jasmine and sunflowers. Allen noticed a black SUV there, indicating the agents assigned to this task. Not only that, but there were CIA personnel in the two houses surrounding the January family. Annie didn't notice any of this, and even if she had, her mind was solely on her parents. The house had an electronic lock, and of course, Annie was able to open it.
Upon entering, Annie was surrounded by photos and mementos; the CIA had practically moved her house to Colorado.
Annie picked up a photo of herself with her parents on a lake trip and sat at a table by the window.
"How can you smile like that?" Annie murmured.
"Maybe they really didn't know," Allen said, standing behind her and looking at the photograph. "You were a very cute child."
"Were?" Annie smiled, pouting slightly.
"Well, well, you still are," Allen laughed.
Annie's mood also improved; she felt that with Allen here, it would be less difficult.
"Annie?!" her mother exclaimed in surprise. "Honey, why didn't you tell me you were coming back? I'll call your father to come and see you... You?!"
She is Donna January, Annie's mother. She is a blonde woman with short hair and a stern look. She immediately scowled when she saw Allen, and this did not go unnoticed by Annie.
"Mother, do you have a problem?" Annie asked with clear annoyance at Allen's unwelcome reception.
It didn't make sense for Annie's mother to feel this way. Allen indeed has a very bad reputation everywhere, but he saved Annie, so her mother should be grateful. However, her attitude wasn't one of someone thankful to her daughter's savior but rather someone who despised him.
Noticing her mistake, Donna January stopped glaring at Allen and forced a smile. "It's nothing, dear. You and Mr. Walker are our guests…"
Annie gritted her teeth in frustration, knowing her mother well. In an impulse, she took Allen's hand. "I forgot to tell you, he's my boyfriend, Mother."
Annie's declaration came with a more formal tone when addressing her mother, but the woman didn't realize and did not take the news well.
"No!" The woman could no longer hold back her true feelings. "This man ruined your life, and you still want him!?"
"Ruined my life?!" Annie felt as though she had been hit in the chest, instantly filled with anger and bitterness. "He saved me!!"
There was disappointment and pain in Annie's words as she realized her mother's thoughts.
Annie's mother also didn't notice this and continued speaking, insisting she was right.
"Annie, you had everything ahead of you… fame, fortune, and a life in the high circles of society. But now we're hiding!!"
Annie trembled while grinding her teeth. "Mother! do you remember why?!"
Annie's mother momentarily broke from her anger and realized what she had said. However, deep down, both Allen and Annie could feel her feelings.
"Mother… do you think I should have let it happen?" Annie swayed, and Allen supported her.
"No, honey, that's not it… it's just that I feel terrible seeing that everything you worked for and wanted is no longer possible."
Annie went pale; she didn't need further confirmation. Her mother and father knew what Vought had done from the start.
"No…" Annie clenched her hands in Allen's clothes to muster courage. "That's not true. I wasn't born this way. You turned me into this!"
Annie's mother was left speechless for a moment and began to feel fear.
"Annie, do you know?"
"That I'm not chosen by God? That my powers come from a lab? That you sold me to Vought?! Or that you never told me the truth!!"
"No! Annie, wait, we didn't sell you! We only wanted you to have a better life."
"How could it be better to fill me with strange drugs when I was a child?!!" Annie could no longer tolerate her mother's hypocrisy. She accepted turning her into an experiment but now it turns out it was for her own good.
"No!! Everything was real. Vought was put in front of us by God. You're definitely a light in the sky!" Annie's mother also became agitated seeing that the conversation was not going as she wanted. "Your destiny, which was once bright, is now tied to an infamous man!"
Annie stepped forward and slapped her mother. Allen tried to intervene, as with the strength of a superhero, a normal person would have been decapitated by such a simple act. However, Allen's concerns were unnecessary, as Annie controlled herself perfectly and only left a red mark on her mother's cheek.
"Don't you dare insult him!"
"But…"
"Shut up! You were supposed to be my shield, my support, my refuge. But you didn't hesitate to give me to others. Even now you insinuate that I was better off humiliated than losing a place with that scum, the Seven!" Annie could no longer look at the woman who was in shock and grabbed Allen's hand before starting to leave. "You'll never understand that in this life there are things more valuable than fame and fortune…"
Annie's mother could not respond. The girl who had always obeyed her had slapped and scolded her.
...
Outside the house stood Annie's father, standing there without daring to enter. Annie walked past him without saying a word. The man lowered his gaze. Unlike the mother, he seemed to understand what had been done to Annie as something wrong.
"I entrust Annie to you..." the man murmured as if he knew Allen might hear.
Allen didn't respond, as he intended to support Annie regardless of the outcome.
...
When they reached the sidewalk, Annie stopped and looked back with bitterness.
"Can you take me far away?" Annie asked.
Allen hugged her and slowly lifted into the sky, moving away from the place. In the sky, Annie began to cry, and Allen held her a little tighter.
After about five minutes with Annie clinging to his neck, she spoke slowly. "Can you take me to a hotel…"
Her barely audible murmur had a face of sadness, but also of embarrassment and a bit of loneliness.
"Annie, that's…"
Annie pulled her head from Allen's neck and looked him in the eyes.
"I'm not saying it out of spite or using you to distract myself. I just like you… I liked you from the first time I saw you, and now that I've seen the two people I cared about the most hurt me, you're the only good thing in my life…"
"But something like this in this state would be…"
"It's true," Annie lowered her head as her eyes lost their characteristic shine.
...
Annie stepped into the shower, extremely nervous, not daring to look at Allen after entering the room they rented.
2B – 'Honestly, I'm surprised the master agreed to this.'
Bocchi – 'Allen… are you really going to do it?'
Artoria – 'She seems determined, but will she falter at the last moment?'
Artoria, being the one who understands Allen's mindset best, can see his thoughts. Certainly, Annie isn't as shy as Kara, being Annie the Supergirl of The Boys. However, Allen noticed that Annie's attitude toward him was different. Not only does she have romantic feelings for him, but she also holds him in great respect and admiration, making it very difficult for her to reach this point with him.
Allen removed his jacket and lay on the bed in just a shirt. "I'll let Annie take the initiative to see how she feels embarrassed in the end," Allen said with confidence and amusement.
Annie opened the bathroom door wearing provocative blue lingerie, with a flushed but also lustful look. This left Allen speechless. He wanted to scream, "Who are you and what did you do to Annie?"
But she didn't give him time to respond before approaching him and directly sitting on his lap.
[Host, I think there was an error in your calculations this time~]
(Even experienced womanizers sometimes make mistakes.🍷🗿)
...
In a motel room were Butcher, Hughie, Frenchie, and MM.
While Allen had his busy day being a superhero or attempting to be one, they had participated in several raids on pediatric centers in hospitals to disrupt Vought's experiments. In one of them, they even encountered a baby with laser vision.
"Listen, Rayner, you're not going to publicly reveal that Supers are artificial creations?!"
Butcher was exchanging words with CIA Deputy Director Susan Rayner.
"Butcher, there's not enough evidence."
"What the hell!" Butcher spat on the floor. "You have recorded testimonies from Mindstorm, you have the Compound V, you have recordings of the trash the Seven did, and even babies with laser eyes in hospitals that received Samaritan's Embrace vaccines. Don't lie to me!"
Susan sighed. "It's not my decision. The Pentagon decided to keep Compound V secret while putting pressure on Vought."
"Huh?! For what?! We should be skinning out all Vought buildings right now!"
"Butcher, listen to what you're saying… it's not as simple as closing a Facebook branch. These guys have hundreds of Supers, many of whom are resistant to heavy-caliber bullets, and what do we have? Your protegé? We don't even know if he's really on our side!"
Butcher wanted to reply to Susan, as despite always seeming to hate him, they had a physical relationship. But Butcher decided to hold back.
Butcher had not yet told the CIA that The Boys had acquired superpowers. The reason was that Butcher didn't trust anyone, and if it became known that he had a Compound V that could be used on adults, it could turn against him.
"Fine, I'll wait for more news…" Butcher said coldly.
"I'm sorry…" Susan said before hanging up.
"Man, Vought is creating supervillains, don't you want the news?!" MM said on the phone, but soon frowned and hung up.
"I don't understand. Everyone seems desperate to take down Vought, but why is this happening?" said Hughie.
"Petit Hughie, people are cowardly by nature. Messing with Vought to that extent would corner them, and a wounded animal fights to the death…" Frenchie replied with a helpless smile.
Butcher didn't add anything but agreed. It seems that Allen and Homelander's recent actions scared a lot of important people, and also gave them a reality check on how strong the Supes could be.
Butcher looked at Hughie. "Let's go, kid. There's someone we need to visit…"
"Who?"
"Butcher, you're not going to visit Mallory?!" Frenchie exclaimed, then got up from the bed and started walking around the room.
"Idiot!" MM said before hitting the wall and nearly breaking it with his strength.
"Who's Mallory?" Hughie asked, but no one answered until Butcher looked at him.
"She founded The Boys," Butcher grunted. "So if there's someone with the guts to join us on this hellish journey, it's her."
Frenchie and MM shook their heads. Both knew why Mallory left the team in the first place, it was because Lamplighter had burned her grandchildren alive.
===
A/N: 🗿
Allen– Annie will be embarrassed, hehe.
Annie– I'll s*ck you dry! ❤️~
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