A-Train's barely audible "sorry" had barely left his lips when Ashley cheered and began clapping.
"This is what responsibility looks like."
"This is it."
"Although A-Train didn't need to come here in person, his sense of duty as a superhero brought him here to apologize to the victim's family."
"Our company will also provide a humanitarian compensation fund for the family."
"Our lawyers will deliver it shortly. So, let's wrap it up for today."
"If anyone still has questions, you can visit us at The Seven Tower, where—"
Suddenly, someone interrupted Ashley.
"Wait a minute!"
Ashley's brow twitched slightly, but she quickly put on a smile and turned to look at Hughie.
"Is there something else, sir?"
Hughie looked nervous under the media's gaze, his expression tense, but he stepped forward anyway.
"Did anyone hear A-Train's apology just now?"
"I didn't."
"Look, he didn't even take off his goggles or look me in the eye."
"I don't feel like that was an apology—it felt more like he was brushing me off!"
Hughie's father stared at his son in surprise.
In his mind, Hughie had always been passive and timid, much like himself.
But today, now!
Hughie was actually standing up and speaking out like this.
Courageous!
A-Train shook his head, finally removing his goggles to look at Hughie. He spoke in a low voice, "Let it go, man."
At that moment, something flickered in A-Train's eyes.
Hughie thought back to his girlfriend's hands.
Robin, who had been obliterated by the impact.
All that could be buried in her coffin were her hands.
That memory sparked a fire within him, and anger surged, giving him the courage to keep pushing.
"Apologize!"
"Look at me and say it out loud!"
"Apologize to Robin!"
Ashley was about to step in to calm things down but suddenly stopped, frozen in place.
The media, the reporters—all of them raised their cameras, the flashes going off non-stop as they aimed to capture this significant moment.
At that moment, Hughie felt like a warrior.
Engaged in a sacred battle.
Then...
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red.
Then, he spotted a corner of the star-spangled cape.
And then, a powerful hand gently rested on his shoulder, and he heard a deep voice from behind him.
"He's right."
"A-Train."
"Whether you're a regular person or a superhero."
"When you do something wrong, you apologize."
"That's the most basic decency."
Homelander!
Hughie turned his head to see the golden-haired, blue-eyed, handsome face of Homelander standing behind him.
And...
Homelander agreed with what he had said.
Hughie's eyes welled up with emotion.
A-Train closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Then he looked at Hughie.
"I'm sorry."
"Mr. Hughie."
"I apologize."
"For what I did, for everything."
"I'm sorry."
Clap, clap, clap.
Azu clapped his hands.
"Well said, A-Train."
"I'm proud to have a teammate like you."
A-Train nodded, finally letting out a breath of relief.
At that moment, Hughie asked, "I accept his apology, but... is that it?"
"Doesn't he have to face legal consequences?"
A-Train's head snapped up, glaring at Hughie as he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Hey, nerd, don't push your luck."
The cameras immediately shifted toward Homelander.
Ashley quickly chimed in, "As for pressing charges against A-Train, our legal department is following up. Why don't the media join us at The Seven Tower, where our legal team will provide a satisfying explanation."
"He will face consequences."
A voice interrupted Ashley.
For a brief moment, Ashley felt the urge to quit.
Following a boss like Homelander, who always caused trouble—no matter how capable she was—there was no way to keep up.
Yes.
That face consequences had come from Homelander.
A-Train thought he had misheard and stepped forward, whispering, "Homelander, you're joking, right?"
Azu smiled for the cameras, patting A-Train on the shoulder, then whispered back, "I'm dead serious."
Then he spoke loudly.
"I know many people are worried about the lack of accountability for superheroes."
"So, let me reassure everyone."
"Superheroes must follow the law."
"They must abide by the same code of conduct as any citizen."
"They must take responsibility for their actions."
"So, yes."
"A-Train will be investigated, but as for what kind of punishment he'll face."
Azu glanced at Hughie and shrugged, "I'm sorry, but that's up to the courts. I'm not a judge."
"But I guarantee, he will face a judge."
"Isn't that right?"
He finished, looking at A-Train.
A-Train whispered, "Homelander, this isn't funny."
Azu smiled warmly, "I've already told you. I'm serious."
A-Train quickly said, "If I go to jail, what about my endorsements? I've got a new movie lined up."
"The breach penalties alone would be huge."
"The company won't let anything happen to me."
Azu chuckled, "You might not know this."
"This morning, I made a deal with Edgar."
"From now on, I'm in charge of The Seven."
"So, when I say you'll go before a judge, you'll go before a judge."
"Got it?"
A-Train shook his head in disbelief, "No, no, I'm not going to jail. I'm absolutely not going to jail."
Azu's smile didn't falter. "It's not up to you."
A-Train looked up at the handsome man with the sunny smile on his face, but his eyes held no warmth.
Then...
Azu turned to Hughie. "I'll personally escort A-Train to the police station."
Whoosh!
A gust of wind suddenly swept through the area.
Ashley's hair flew up, carried by the wind.
When it settled, small drops of warm red liquid splattered across her face.
Her smile remained frozen in place, but her ears were filled with the sound of screams.
She looked toward the media, her smile slowly fading.
She saw blood, bones, organs, and shredded clothing.
All mixed together.
Staining the ground and the reporters' clothes.
The tightly packed crowd of media personnel now had a wide path down the middle.
And that path was drenched in blood.
"Disregarding the law, A-Train attempted to escape justice, even resorting to murder to make his getaway."
Homelander's voice pulled Ashley back to her senses.
She turned to see the man cloaked in the star-spangled cape, slowly rising into the air.
Righteous and stern, he declared.
"A-Train is no longer a member of The Seven."
"I will personally bring him to justice."
With that, Homelander shot into the sky.
He paused briefly mid-air before flying off at high speed.
It was only then that Ashley fully realized what had just happened.
Thinking of the consequences this would bring...
Ashley couldn't help but grab a handful of her hair, pulling out several strands of blonde hair.
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