Queen Maeve's penthouse had undergone a dramatic transformation, discarding its modern, cold, and luxurious atmosphere characterized by gray tones for a more welcoming, homely, and familial ambiance filled with browns and reds.
Allen surveyed the living room, noting that the synthetic couches, the glass table, the display cabinets, and modern art had been replaced by classical paintings, mahogany furniture, and rugs that prioritized comfort over aesthetics.
Curious about such an extreme makeover, Allen asked Maeve about it. She explained that it was out of necessity, as she tended to feel cold this time of year. Indeed, the current setting of Maeve's penthouse seemed like the perfect backdrop for a Christmas movie, only missing a fireplace.
Allen narrowed his eyes in amusement and she averted her gaze. As a supe of her caliber, Maeve shouldn't feel cold even in Antarctica, but Allen didn't challenge her flimsy excuse.
"I see, I like it better, but it is impressive that in one week you have achieved such a big change in the aesthetics of your house, Maeve..."
"..."
Allen noticed Maeve hadn't said a word and turned to see her standing with her arms crossed, her expression clearly dissatisfied.
"Is something wrong?"
"..."
"Maeve?"
Upon calling her name again, Allen noticed her frown deepen.
"I'm sorry, Maggie..."
"Don't worry~"
Maeve's expression softened and she smiled; she had insisted that Allen use her real name when they were alone.
A bead of sweat was visible on his forehead. Maeve mentioned it jokingly, and Allen hadn't taken it seriously at the time, but it seemed she was quite earnest about it.
Maeve smiled, "Make yourself comfortable; I'll be right back with something to warm us up~"
Maeve winked before heading to the kitchen. Allen took her at her word and settled into the sofa, his ease indicating this wasn't his first time doing so.
It wasn't long before Maeve emerged from the kitchen with a tray. She set down two cups of coffee and a plate of freshly baked cookies on the coffee table.
Maeve sat close to Allen without regard for personal space, subtly leaning into him while gauging his reactions to determine the boundaries of their contact. However, Allen, accustomed to the company of women, found such actions commonplace and showed no sign of rejection, as long as it was someone he knew.
"These are really good, you used vanilla essence, right?"
"Yes~"
Maeve's genuine smile took Allen by surprise. There had been a time when her eyes always bore dark circles and her gaze carried a heavy sense of powerlessness and resignation.
Allen smiled back, and Maeve breathed a sigh of relief, happy that he enjoyed her cookies.
Not only had Maeve's house changed, but she had transformed.
...
[Stay with the one who treats you like Maeve treats Allen. 🍷🗿]
PS: Maeve needs to apply the naked apron technique, with that Allen falls for sure.
...
In the past, Maeve had been somewhat similar to Annie; she too had hoped to become a superheroine and had longed to be part of that world.
Maeve graduated from the Godolkin Academy and quickly entered the world of superheroes, possessing the right powers to succeed. However, reality struck hard when she received professional advice from Vought. They told her that Maggie Shaw wasn't catchy or inspiring. Maeve didn't understand what they meant but decided to keep quiet and comply, after all, Vought had nurtured numerous heroes who became symbols of inspiration.
Maggie was shocked when they told her she could never again be Maggie Shaw on screen; she had to become Queen Maeve, with a fabricated backstory about being the queen of a distant land filled with mighty warriors.
Maeve was uncomfortable but accepted it, reasoning that if this was necessary to be a superheroine, she would comply.
Thus, in front of the cameras, Queen Maeve was born, and Maggie Shaw died... But Maeve's disappointments didn't end there... From that day on, reality continued to deliver blows.
– She was disillusioned to find that she spent more time acting on screen than being a superhero.
– She was uncomfortable having to endorse products she didn't believe in.
– She felt betrayed when she learned that many "heroic acts" were staged, and many criminals were paid actors.
... She was enraged upon discovering the true nature of so-called superheroes: depravity, murder, addiction—all masquerading as paragons of virtue on screen but turning out to be a bunch of degenerates.
The final straw for Maeve was realizing she was forced to participate in these acts. While the threat from Homelander was a reminder that disobedience was not in her best interest, ultimately, it was her own inability to resist that broke her.
She fell into a spiral of depression and despair, resulting in a Maeve who locked away her heart and adopted a detached attitude towards everything, whether good or bad.
Maeve numbed her emotions with alcohol and let the darkness swallow her.
...
Maeve moved a little closer to Allen without realizing it or perhaps on purpose so that he would feel her warmth.
Maeve smiled and relaxed her tension; she was content with this kind of intimacy. In a society where men and women often sought casual, one-night relationships, this type of closeness might seem almost childish. Yet, it made Maeve very happy, a realization she hadn't fully grasped until now regarding how significant Allen's presence had become to her. While it started with immense admiration, as they got to know each other better, she found herself wanting more...
Maeve watched the profile of the man beside her, who had begun to break the shell around her heart.
First, he showed her a light she believed didn't exist in this world. Like a moth to a flame, she flew desperately towards it, regardless of the burn, but unexpectedly, the light didn't scorch her; it welcomed her with a smile.
'I'm glad I didn't heed the internet's advice not to take cooking classes❤️~'
Since that day in the restaurant where Allen first encountered Maeve, they began a friendship. Occasionally, Allen invited her to dine out, allowing her to unwind, for only by his side did the fear of Homelander completely vanish.
Maeve took the initiative to invite him out. Initially, Maeve didn't realize, but slowly she stopped worrying about things that once terrified her, becoming less inhibited about expressing her opinions to Vought's people.
"I don't want to do a commercial in such a tiny bikini!"
"I don't give a damn what Ashley wants, I'm not doing a photo shoot for Playboy magazine!"
"Tell Homelander I'm busy, and if he wants something, he can come find me!"
Despite all this, Maeve didn't leave The Seven, but this time, not out of fear but out of a desire to help Allen. She knew Allen was trying to take down Vought and was more than willing to assist him.
With that in mind, Maeve invited Allen to her home every few days to share her new discoveries, some of which proved very useful, like the locations of Supes' clubs where orgies and depraved parties took place.
Over a few weeks, Maeve's calls to Allen increased to every other day.
Allen noticed Maeve's subtle change from greeting him in casual clothes to wearing sexy dresses and makeup for him as if she were his mistress.
Their meetings move from focusing on information related to Vought to more personal visits. By this time they were just dates where Maeve tries to get to know Allen better and vice versa.
Maeve felt jealous when she learned that Annie was living with Allen, but there was nothing she could do about it; it was Annie who had initiated a relationship with him first.
Perhaps it was something Allen mentioned or the comfort of being with him, but Maeve started to smile more and look at him more familiarly. Allen himself dropped his polite demeanor and welcomed Maeve's familiarity with pleasure.
He began to treat her as a close friend and, without lying, perhaps with a bit of interest in something more... This relationship continued, but in the last week, Allen noticed a different change.
Maeve shifted her focus and instead of greeting him as a woman on a date, she began receiving him with the warmth of a wife.
Perhaps it was subconscious, but it didn't feel forced; Allen, for his part, let things take their natural course...
...
Allen set his cup down and leaned back further into the couch.
"I heard things aren't looking good at Vought..."
Maeve leaned back against his shoulder, letting her warmth seep into Allen.
"Whose fault is that?" she smiled, "There are rumors that Vought is splitting into two branches: one handling the Supes and the other focused on developing medicine and treatments..."
"That doesn't sound good..." Allen pondered, stroking his chin, "However, it's a clever move. While the Supes have their issues, they pale in comparison to the accusations of human experimentation and all the activities within Vought's labs..."
If this were true, Vought's actions would resemble a lizard shedding its tail as a decoy to escape a predator.
Maeve blushed, not sure if it was just because Allen was handsome or if his serious demeanor made him seem more mature, but she enjoyed watching him think. She could do it for hours if allowed.
"However, it's a bad move for the company; most of their revenue comes from the pharmaceutical branch of Vought. To abandon it is like cutting off an arm, a leg, and ripping out the heart," Maeve mumbled, embarrassed when she realized she had been caught staring, and quickly coughed while looking away.
"Is this a Homelander proposal, or are they considering it as a last resort?" Allen asked.
Maeve glanced at Allen with flushed cheeks, wondering why she still felt embarrassed over such innocent things at her age. Maybe it's because Allen is special, not just romantically but as someone who holds both her respect and admiration.
'It must be that, which is why I feel three times more embarrassed!'
"That... was proposed by Homelander..."
Vought would emerge from this weakened, that much was certain. The accusations against them were too severe; now it was just a matter of seeing whether it would be a bone fracture or if they literally had their heart ripped out.
This wouldn't eliminate Homelander, but the main problem isn't him; it's Vought. As long as they exist, there could be a third or fourth Homelander. Not to mention that sooner or later, other companies and governments might replicate Compound V or create something similar.
"I doubt Stan Edgar would let Vought reach that point without doing something to prevent it."
Allen finished reflecting and stood up.
"Wait, aren't you staying for dinner?!"
Maeve sounded a bit desperate as her face paled. Despite their closeness, she and Allen were at most friends, and she understood that at home, Allen had others waiting for him. This placed her in the position of a lover, yet Maeve was okay with that; she had done far too many wrong things to be so bold as to wish for more.
'Yet I hope he stays a bit longer...'
Allen paused for a moment, not wanting to hurt Maeve but also having promised to return home for dinner.
"I have to get back early for dinner."
Maeve's face fell as she looked somewhat depressed.
"But I'm also interested in trying your cooking, Maggie... so I'll eat a little before I go..."
Maeve's eyes brightened, and she smiled before taking Allen by the hand and leading him to the table. From behind, Allen followed the happy Maeve and couldn't help but notice her figure; even dressed in home clothes, she couldn't hide her feminine charm.
Allen smiled...
...
Allen and Maeve ate together, though at first, only Allen ate while she watched him with a smile. Allen smiled and fed Maeve himself.
"I don't like eating alone, Maggie"
"Eh? Oh, sorry!"
Maeve realized her actions but couldn't help herself. The meal ended, and Allen prepared to leave, Maeve walking him to the door but visibly reluctant.
She wanted to ask him to stay, to spend the night, she wished for something more, but she dared not take that last step—not for lack of desire or uncertainty about her feelings, but because of a feeling of unworthiness.
Maeve had changed, but her past did not disappear. She had been helping Allen, but it wasn't enough to rid her of that feeling.
Allen observed Maeve's downcast look.
He had realized everything, but he also understood what held Maeve back. Allen smiled, took Maeve's chin, and made her look at him.
"You're too obvious..."
Allen stole a kiss from her, leaving her stunned. Allen grinned playfully and turned to leave.
Maeve collapsed to the floor, sitting dazed for a while. By the time she reacted, Allen had already gone. She touched her lips and covered her face, embarrassed.
She thought she had been discreet with her emotions, but it turned out Allen had seen right through her, who knows since when.
Maeve wanted to scream but restrained herself.
...
[Host, you are wicked, you could have had that woman weeks ago.]
"I don't want anything more to happen between us until Maeve decides for her own good..." Allen went out to the building's roof and began to float, "Maeve carries a heavy emotional burden that constantly crushes her; before thinking about anything else, she needs to rid herself of all the guilt."
...
Allen returned to his apartment as Harley and Rebecca rushed towards him.
"Welcome!"
Allen laughed at this; the girls had been with him all day, but they must have felt jealous of how Maeve received Allen and thus rushed to greet him at the entrance just like she did. However, as both Harley and Rebecca had the same idea, they ended up competing and jumping on Allen when he arrived.
"Look, you ruined my perfect wife act!" Harley growled at Rebecca.
"Huh? You're crazy, have you seen how you're dressed? You look like anything but a wife!"
The girls started fighting until Artoria appeared, grabbed them by the neck, gave Allen an apologetic look, and vanished with them.
'Harley was already a headache, hard to control, and now with her penchant for competing with Rebecca, it seems like a nightmare to keep them under control.'
Nokotan – 'I wonder if...'
Nokotan appeared in front of Allen wearing a kimono and knelt.
"It's a pleasure to have you back, Danna-sama..."
(A/N: Danna is used as meaning for both master and husband).
Nokotan's voice was calm, serene, and mature, her gaze devoid of the chaos that usually characterized her, she looked at Allen with a smile that almost seemed enveloped in a halo of light.
"Beautiful..."
Allen couldn't contain his thoughts at that moment, nor could he believe that Nokotan was anything but a comic deer... she almost seemed like a goddess...
"Take this deer woman..."
2B appeared dressed as a maid and threw a bag of deer cookies over Nokotan, changing her look to one of desperation as she lunged to save the cookies from falling and breaking.
"Ah!! What are you doing, robot woman?!"
"I'm not a robot, I'm an android," 2B replied disdainfully to Nokotan before bowing to Allen, "Welcome back, master, sorry for the inconvenience..."
2B stepped forward and helped Allen with his coat. The expressionless albino beauty's demeanor was more assertive this day.
Allen thought she too must have been jealous of seeing how Maeve usurped her place in greeting Allen and attending to him as she normally did.
"Thank you, 2B..."
"You're welcome, master, this is my raison d'ĂŞtre..."
The girl's face lit up and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, yet her gaze remained stoic.
Bocchi – It's amazing how no woman here gets jealous despite sharing the house with other women, but when it comes to an external woman, possessive instincts burst forth.
Allen smiled and stroked mini Bocchi peeking out from his collar; she was getting used to her life here and now could even talk more fluently with Allen and the others.
Allen entered the apartment with a sense that his life was quite good lately...
[Host, don't raise flags!]
Allen opened his eyes and shook his head, "Sorry, I got distracted."
...
While Allen was being cursed for having such a good life, at John F. Kennedy Airport a private jet was landing, on it was Stan Edgar sharing a drink with a disheveled man, bearded, with long hair, a lost and disoriented look, but a robust body.
"We've arrived once more; America's son has returned..."
At Stan's words, the man looked out the window, his face a mix of nostalgia and barely contained anger.
"You said you'd deliver to me the bastards who betrayed me!"
"That's right, Soldier Boy... Jensen, I always keep my deals..."
"Fine, now tell me who do I need to kill?" asked Soldier Boy, grunting with disgust.
"Relax, in your current state you'd die; you need some rest," Stan's gaze turned serious, "You also need a couple of upgrades... besides, first I need you to take care of smaller targets."
"Tsk..." Soldier Boy said arrogantly. "Okay, I want a six-pack of beers, a hot shower, and two hot women... preferably with more than half a century on them..."
Stan nodded in satisfaction; it hadn't been easy convincing Soldier Boy that his betrayal had nothing to do with Vought but was due to his own allies. In comparison, pleasing him with these little things was insignificant.
The butler served another drink to Soldier Boy.
"Hey, old man, tell me your name," Soldier Boy said, frowning, part of the reason he was behaving so well was because of this butler.
"Is there something with my butler?" asked Stan Edgar.
"Tsk, it's nothing..."
The butler chuckled lightly and bowed, "My apologies, Mr. Ackles, I am just an old butler who was helped by Mr. Edgar many years ago, my name is Walter C. Dornez.
"Tsk a Brit..."
At Soldier Boy's words, the butler just smiled.
"Enough talk we must go..." Stan got up and walked towards the exit. "We have a lot to do and little time..."
===
A/N: Soldier Boy likes grannies 🍷🗿.