Victoria left Ryan and Evelyn sleeping in the king size bed next to each other. She closed the door to the suite and grabbed the keycard, pushing it into the pocket of her a-line skirt before she headed back up to the penthouse. She'd gotten no sleep the night before and had just sat awake on the sofa, her mind reeling over everything that had just happened. Finally, she'd decided that she had to go upstairs and try to sort things out, not for Homelander's sake, but for Ryan's.
Taking the elevator to the penthouse, she saw that the vase was still on the floor in smashed pieces along with shards of the mirror. She sighed, knowing that of course he wouldn't have cleaned up. He wasn't in the living room and so she moved upstairs, half expecting to find him in the bedroom but he wasn't there. Instead he was stood in the doorway to Evelyn's room, cape draped behind him and arms folded over his chest. Victoria's brow furrowed and she wrapped her own arms around herself.
"What're you doing?" she asked from him.
"Do you remember when we first brought Evelyn home?" he questioned her, voice slightly hoarse and she wondered if he had been crying. She stood slightly behind him, watching the back of his head.
"I do," she recalled.
"Do you remember how scared we were?" Homelander continued questioning her. "We were so scared that we'd break her…that one wrong move and she might break. I was terrified and until we had Evie, I don't think I'd ever really been scared for someone else."
"She was so little and weak," Victoria reminded her husband. "We had to be gentle with her."
"All I want is for our kids to understand that they're special. They shouldn't be scared of who they are."
"And they won't be."
"I know they won't because I'll make sure of it. I need to understand who I am, Victoria. I need to confront the very thing that's been holding me back and that's my need for love. It makes me weak. It's the shred of humanity that I have."
Victoria frowned. "John, there is nothing wrong with needing love."
"No, there is," he said with a firm shake of his head. "I shouldn't need it. I long for it. I have it, but it shouldn't be the thing that stops me from becoming who I'm meant to be."
Her eyes widened and her brow furrowed at hearing him. He heard her heart beat speed up slightly and there was a slight hitch in her breath. He knew that his words had impacted her, but he didn't want them to. He just needed to transcend this man who he was and become who he was supposed to be. They'd made him to be better than everyone else. They'd created him to become this and so he was going to be the supe they wanted him to be. But that didn't mean that he was going to throw everything that he had away.
"You know that love doesn't have to be a weakness, right?" Victoria replied, finally stepping closer to him and wondering if a gentler approach would work better as opposed to snapping and yelling at him. She knew that her power and influence over him had waned to the point where it was practically non-existent. He did what he wanted and she knew she had no other option but to accept that. But that didn't mean that she was going to stop trying for him.
Reaching for his hand, her fingers ran down the length of his and her fingertips remained sat against him. "I told myself for a very long time that no one loved me," Victoria whispered, looking into her daughter's room. "I thought that I was unworthy of being loved…my dad…Eddie…even Billy leaving me…I thought that I was worthless and so I pushed everyone away. I convinced myself it was better to be like that. But it's not, John. It wasn't because then I met you. I met you and you showed me that it wasn't. If you're telling me now that you don't need my love or even want it then I don't-"
"-That's not what I'm saying," Homelander interrupted her, shaking his head and moving his fingers to entangle loosely with hers as he looked down to her and her wide eyes met his and he took in her appearance, knowing that he couldn't be without her, no matter what he said or did. "I'm saying that everyone else…everyone out there, the people who look up to me and want me to be their hero…I don't need their love. I don't need approval. I just…when it comes to you, Ryan and Evelyn, I will always love you. I just need you to love me for who I am."
Victoria almost blanched at that. He couldn't be serious. She despised everything he stood for. But she was well versed in lying to him and he seemed to believe her.
"Remember when we had to do that fake documentary at your fake childhood home?" Victoria asked and she noted his jaw tense at the memory. It was a time he would prefer not to go back to if he could help it. "And after everything went to shit, I told you that I wanted to protect you…not Homelander…not your image…but you. All I ever wanted was you," she said and that had been the truth. He was all she had wanted, but it had never been enough.
Bending down, he moved his lips against hers. He languished in the feeling, the motion tender and softer than she was used to as his hand lifted to her cheek and stroked along her skin gently. She closed her eyes and his kiss turned into gentle pecks against her lips and she moved her hands to his shoulders, grasping hold of them in her grip.
Pulling back after a moment, he curled his finger underneath her chin. "I need to do something," he said to her. "And I need you to know that it's the only thing I can think of doing to help me move on. I need to confront my past."
"What does that mean?" she wondered back from him, a hand moving to wrap gently around his wrist.
"It means that I need to go back where it all began and deal with it."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
He shook his head, lips arching into a small smile and he kissed her forehead. "I need to do this by myself, sweetheart. I've got this. I promise."
She didn't bother to protest. She just wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest, wondering just what it was that he was planning. Whatever it was, she knew she had the good sense to be scared.
…
Homelander left her alone the following day and she heard that he'd left Sage in charge. Sitting in the apartment, Victoria felt slightly at a loss. She had no work to do and Evie was in nursery and Ryan, despite still being upset, had gone to supe training for the day. Victoria had told him that they could do something for the day, but he'd promised her that he'd be fine. And so Victoria was alone in the apartment. She'd turned the television on, but couldn't entirely concentrate on the show she'd recorded. She kept wondering where Homelander was and what he was doing.
The fact that he was missing made her apprehensive. He'd told everyone that he'd be uncontactable for the day. Victoria had a sense that by going back to the start that meant going back to the lab where they'd raised him. She had no idea what he was going to do, but a part of her knew. Deep down she knew he intended on getting revenge and that meant everyone in the lab was in danger.
She wondered if it made her a bad person for not caring too much. She knew that everything she studied and preached told her that the law was just. You had to trust the justice system. But, she guessed, if she'd been tortured in a lab like he had been for every day of his childhood then she would want revenge too. She would want to hurt the people who hurt her. She knew she had a vengeful streak inside of her, but she tried not to let it show.
Heading into the kitchen, she hit pause on the television when she heard the door to the penthouse open. She moved back into the living room, expecting to see Ryan there. Instead, she saw Ashley.
"Ashley?" Victoria commented.
Ashley did a double-take then and folded her arms over her chest. "Victoria," she responded. "I thought that you would be out with Homelander for the day. He said he didn't want to be disturbed."
"He's out by himself," Victoria retorted and cocked her head to the side. "But if you didn't think he'd be here then what are you doing here?"
"Oh…I just wanted to check that everything was okay…yeah…I mean since the trial he's been getting a lot of gift baskets so I wondered if you had any more room to-"
"-Ashley, don't bullshit me," Victoria interrupted her, expression stoic.
She folded her arms over her chest, crumpling the white shirt she wore tucked into her black pleated skirt. Ashley inhaled a sharp breath and then nodded once, like she was steeling herself to say something.
"You know that he's made Sage CEO, right?" Ashley checked with her.
Victoria shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "I know he's…dependent on her input," she settled on her words and Ashley scoffed. She knew that she had to be careful. Victoria might not like Homelander, but she was still his wife and loyal to him. "What does that mean for you?"
"It means I'm Ronald fucking McDonald," she exclaimed, arms flapping out to the side. "I'm a figurehead and a mascot. I have no real power now…not that I ever really did. We both know who calls the shots around here, but at least I still had some sway with the board. But she's kicked me out of The Seven meetings and now what can I do?"
"Honestly?" Victoria asked from her and she motioned to the sofa.
Ashley seemed slightly uncomfortable, but she perched on the edge of the brown leather seat. She wasn't entirely certain what was going on as Victoria sat on the other end of the l-shaped sofa, leaning back and crossing her legs.
"You should just quit," Victoria said to her and Ashley laughed at that.
"If only it were that simple," she retorted. "No. I know too much. Do you ever think that he'd let me leave for somewhere else? Do you think I want to risk getting my head lasered off if I suggested going? I know you might not be scared of him, but that doesn't mean no one else is."
"You think I don't know that?" Victoria checked with her. "I know who he is and what he's done, Ashley. I'm not scared of him because he doesn't respect people who are. I know I'm in a privileged position and afforded more liberties with him than most people, but if you want to quit then there has to be a way. I can help you."
Ashely's eyes doubled at that and she shifted on the seat. "Why?" she wondered.
"Because you helped me," Victoria said. "You helped me escape him and I haven't forgotten that. I had a chance at a new life with Alex and…and without you then that might not have happened."
There was a moment of humility in Ashley's eyes then and Victoria saw a woman pretending to be stronger than she actually felt. Victoria understood that feeling well.
"You know you risked everything to do that, right?" Victoria continued to talk. "If Homelander ever found out then you're right. He probably would kill you without thinking twice, but you still did it. You did that for me and so let me help you do this. I can…I can try, at least."
There was a moment of silence then and Ashley almost looked like she wanted to take her up on the offer. The longing in her eyes was clear and Victoria wanted her to say 'yes'. She wanted to help her get out. Ashley was many things, but Victoria didn't think she was an inherently bad person. Her actions in the past suggested as much.
But then realisation started to dawn on her. The weight of that decision weighed heavy on her mind and she sprung to her feet like she'd been shocked. "No," she said firmly. "I can't."
"Ashley-"
"-You don't understand," Ashley said to her. "I can't do this. I can't go against him. I can't risk it."
And then she was scurrying away. Victoria tried to call out for her, but she was gone. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, Victoria tried to imagine how it felt to be Ashley. She was clearly scared out of her wits and a part of Victoria knew what that was like. She shook her head and went back to watching the television, but her show had turned off. Flicking through the channels for a moment, she stopped on Vought News Network and her interest piqued.
Firecracker was on the screen and she was clearly in the middle of some live episode of her Firebomb series. Victoria turned the volume up and tossed the remote off to the side, watching as the camera panned around and Firecracker pointed at the building opposite.
"Shit," Victoria whispered, recognising it as the Starlight House.
"And in there, that is where they're hiding those poor children. We all know it. We've seen them trying to smuggle them out this morning, but we know exactly what Annie January is. She's a monster."
Victoria wondered if Homelander had any idea this was going on. Had he planned it? If he had then clearly he wouldn't tell Victoria, but he should've known she'd find out anyway. Moving to her feet, Victoria stepped closer to the screen, hands on her hips.
"And she's not perfect. She might portray herself as some goody two shoes, but you all deserve to know the truth about her. Do you know about her first save? Hmm? Do you know what she did to the poor victims?"
"No," Victoria said, shaking her head. She did know. She knew because Annie had confided in her one night over a bottle of wine. She'd told her everything about her childhood and her growing up in pageants. She'd told her of the horror shows she'd witnessed.
Rushing to grab her red winter coat, Victoria shrugged into it and tugged her ankle boots onto her feet. She pushed her phone into her pocket and left the TV playing. She hit the button in the elevator for the foyer, but then she changed her mind. She pressed for the ninety-ninth floor and walked down the corridors, her feet stomping on the ground as her mind worked overtime. Homelander wasn't the one with the ideas right now.
"What the fuck do you think you're playing at?" Victoria demanded, storming into the meeting room.
Her eyes narrowed on Sage as other Vought employees blinked awkwardly and looked anywhere but at her. Sage, on the other hand, looked Victoria dead in the eye. Standing on the other side of the table, Victoria shrugged at her. The show kept playing in the background with the social media stats and trending topics next to it.
"I'm doing my job."
"You're tearing a young woman to shreds," Victoria retorted. "She's done nothing wrong."
"She's against Vought, ergo, she's against Homelander…and therefore she should be against you. But that's not the case, is it? She's your friend."
"A novel concept for you if you treat people like this, I imagine," Victoria snapped back. "And does Homelander know about what's going on?"
"Homelander trusts me," Sage said to her. "What? You think that because you're married to him that he'll bend over backwards to make you happy? We both know that's not the way your marriage goes. You're with him because you're scared of leaving him and I know that. He's blinded by you and understandably so. As a human you are quite impressive and I think he does get off on saving damsels in distress."
"You don't know anything about our marriage."
"Oh, I know enough," Sage retorted, face impassive. "And I know that what we're doing right here will be enough to destroy Starlight. The sooner she's no problem for Homelander then the sooner we can continue with our plan. So, while you might cry over what's going on here, the fact is that we won't. Destroying Starlight is in our best interests."
"And you're going to do that by letting that nutjob spew bullshit on stage?" Victoria checked and the employees of the room slowly filtered out of the room, sensing that the atmosphere was becoming too awkward for them to still be there. "You know what she's saying is rubbish, don't you? You're the smartest person on the planet."
"Oh, I know it," Sage assured her with a nod of her head. "But we need her to spew it. She's good at what she does."
"Spreading hate?"
"Getting a message across," Sage corrected. "And she knows how to do it effectively."
"You think this is going to work? Plenty of people see through this crap."
"Like you?" Sage asked her. "I mean, the chances are there will be some people smart enough to see through it, but by the end of the night it'll be too late. The big finale really will be a spectacle and even Starlight herself might make an appearance. I imagine you can guess what it is…being her best friend and all."
Victoria's brows knitted together in confusion then. She shook her head slowly, not entirely sure what Sage was going on about. A knowing smirk took over her face and she drummed her fingers against the desk as she took a seat in one of the chairs. "Interesting," she commented. "You don't know."
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see," Sage promised her. "Either way, things are going to plan as they should. You either like it or you don't, it's inconsequential. We both know you're not going against Homelander."
And Victoria had to admit that Sage had her there. She was never going to go against Homelander.
"You know, sometimes people can be too smart for their own good," Victoria said, turning on her heel and storming out of the room.
"I've never found that to be a problem," she assured her and watched her hair sway around her back until she was out of sight.
…
Coming to the Starlight House, Victoria pushed the door open to see just Annie with two members of her staff who Victoria had seen in the backgrounds of interviews. Annie stood up from her seat and looked to Victoria. The two of them just exchanged a glance and before Victoria knew it, Annie was in her arms, embracing her. Victoria clung tightly to her, trying not to cry. This was the first time she'd really been alone with her friend. If Homelander found out then Victoria knew he'd have some choice words. But Victoria couldn't let her suffer like this.
"What are you doing here?" Annie quickly garbled.
"I saw what was going on out there," Victoria said to her. "I heard what she said about your first save and I just had to come…she had no right…"
"No, I know she didn't, but she is doing," Annie said.
"Why does she hate you so much? This feels personal."
"Ermmm…hi…sorry, excuse me," the woman with curly hair spoke and looked to Annie. "I know that she's your friend, but is it not dangerous having Homelander's wife here?"
"Trust me, it's in Vought's interests not to broadcast me being here," Victoria said.
"Yeah," Annie weakly agreed. "Vicky, this is Kiara."
The woman held her hand out and Victoria shook it before Annie pointed to the man sat next to her.
"Colin," she said.
"Nice to meet you both," Victoria said. "And I know that my being here isn't ideal, but I just had to come."
"You're sure they didn't film you coming in?" Colin questioned.
"They looked, but they didn't film. They know better than to do that. It would make Homelander look bad when what he really needs is a doting wife who hangs off his every word," Victoria replied.
Colin and Kiara looked apprehensive, but Annie wasn't. She took hold of Victoria by the arm. "We'll talk upstairs," Annie said and she led Victoria upstairs and to the meeting room. Stepping into it, Victoria watched Annie pour them each a glass of water before they sat together at the side of the table.
"It's not John doing this," Victoria began the conversation, fingers wrapping around the glass. "He's not here today. He's…there's something going on with him and I don't know what it is. It's Sister Sage. She's the brains behind everything. John has made her the CEO and this is her brainchild. She's trying to turn people against you and she's using Firecracker as the means to do that."
"Well, she's doing a good job," Annie said. "And you're sure Homelander doesn't know about this?"
"If he does then he hasn't told me," Victoria retorted. "Then again, he's keeping things from me and I know he is. He thinks it's because I won't like it and he isn't wrong. But the fact is that he trusts Sage and he listens to her…maybe because she tells him what he wants to hear? I don't know. Either way, I have hardly any influence over him now."
"How do you do it? How do you stand being so close to him?" Annie wondered and Victoria sipped the water, looking at the smudge on the rim and wiping it with her thumb.
"Honestly? It's not as difficult as I thought it would be," Victoria said. "Over time I've learned how not to wince when he touches me…when to initiate contact…at the moment, I just try not to think about who is he and what he's done because it's only then when I'd probably cry. But I can't cry. I can't think about it. I have to look after Ryan and Evelyn. They're all that matters."
"I wish things could've been different."
"Me too," Victoria agreed, "but they're not and so we have to try and do whatever it takes…and I think that means starting with Firecracker."
Annie's breathing turned shaky at that. She shook her head for a moment and looked down into her lap. "I don't know how to tell you this because I don't want you to think any less of me. I'm ashamed of what I did," Annie confessed, head bobbing quickly before she glanced up and looked Victoria in the eye. "I made fun of her on the pageant trail. I said awful, awful things that I wish I never did. I'm not making excuses for it. I was a horrible kid and my mom encouraged that behaviour. She instilled in me that I had to do everything in my power to win. I should've known better."
"You were a kid, Annie."
"It's no excuse," Annie said.
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Victoria said, not wanting to debate it with her. "But who you are as a child does not define who you are today and you know that. Firecracker knows what she's doing and the fact this vendetta against you is personal just puts the cherry on top of the cake for her."
"I know I shouldn't rise to it," Annie said. "I know that…and your brother…when he asked what went on between us, I told him nothing."
Victoria held a hand up. "Wait? My brother is back? He told me that M.M. had kicked him off the team."
"Well, it turns out that he's been reinstated," Annie said, "despite the fact he's a liability. I know that he's your brother, but he's a pain in the ass."
Victoria scoffed. "You're telling me," she retorted. "And what's their plan?"
"He told me that it's best I don't know," Annie replied.
"Well, whatever it is then I hope it works because…Sage…she said that they have something for the finale. They have something on you, Annie, and I don't think she was bluffing. I don't know what it is, but she seemed to think I should," Victoria said and she saw a flicker cross Annie's face. Victoria's brow arched and Annie shook her head once.
"No…she couldn't have," Annie said.
"Annie, whatever it is, you need to know because I think Sage is hoping you'll react. She wants you to lash out," Victoria said. "And I'm not going to ask you what it is because it's none of my business."
"I…I wanted to tell you, but you were back with him and he…you had enough on your plate that I-"
"-Annie!" Colin's voice yelled and Victoria squeezed her hand as she saw tears well up in her eyes.
"It's okay," she promised Annie. "You don't need to tell me."
"Annie, you've got to see this!" Colin yelled and the two of them knew the conversation was over.
Moving back down the stairs towards the open foyers, they saw Colin and Kiara sat around the television. Victoria remained stood towards the back as Firecracker came on screen and Frenchie walked in. Victoria smiled to him for a moment and then they listened to the woman on the television. She spoke with Ezekiel about how she'd had improper relations with a teenager: a fifteen-year-old boy. She said how it had been leaked on social media and Victoria pulled her phone out and saw that it was indeed a top trending topic with a photograph to prove it.
"And Vought let her get away with this?" Victoria muttered, feeling repulsed.
She didn't have chance to say anything else as Firecracker continued talking. She said how it had been a mistake and from that she'd found God. She was hysterical, fake tears clearly in her eyes and she seemed sincere, but Victoria guessed it was because she'd been caught. She said that she'd been pushed to eternal salvation and was born again with her sins being washed away. Ezekiel clapped for her and the crowd continued chanting her name.
"Oh my God," Annie muttered.
"And I turned into his life and into love," Firecracker said, "but that isn't what Starlight chose to do. You know what I said about her first save? How she blinded one of the hostages that day? It was a mother of three trying to buy cereal for her kids. And the worst part is that Starlight just kept smiling for those cameras. She showed no remorse. She's not a hero. She never has been and she never was."
Victoria glanced to Annie as Kiara and Colin looked at her, almost as though they were judging her.
"You were learning to control your powers. You should never have been put in that position," Victoria defended her, but she was already taking off into the meeting room at the same time Billy, M.M. and Alex walked through the door.
"Mademoiselle Annie," Frenchie tried to call her out. He glanced to M.M. and Butcher. "Whatever you did, it clearly didn't work."
"Have a little faith, Frenchie," Billy urged from him and threw him a set of keys. "We got the keys to her trailer. Go and give it a toss, would you? And what are you doing here?" Butcher addressed his sister.
"I needed to talk to Annie," she replied. "And Homelander is away for the day."
"You sure it's a good idea you being here?" M.M. asked, more out of concern than accusation.
"We all know Vought wouldn't dare show her on camera. Homelander would do his nut if they did," Billy said.
"And what happened to your face?" Victoria asked out of concern for her brother, her eyes still flickering to Alex as he continued to stare at her and she knew that there was no chance she was getting away without having a conversation with him. Victoria reached for her brother's cheek, thumb brushing gently over the cut.
"You should see the other guy," Billy replied cockily.
"I told you not to go around beating up kids," Victoria said and Billy chuckled.
"Tou-fucking-ché," Billy replied. "Anyway, we'll have to think of a Plan B. You should probably get out of here."
"Not until I know Annie's okay," Victoria said to her brother and it was then when Alex made his move.
"I need to talk to you," he declared and Billy rolled his eyes as he watched him grab hold of Victoria by the hand and drag her towards the meeting room on the other side of the open space office. Victoria felt her pulse race at his touch and she knew that she'd have to shower relentlessly when she got home or Homelander might kill her. She just hoped that she got back before he did.
"I know that I-"
Victoria began, but she had no option to finish her sentence. Alex had slammed the door shut and grabbed her waist beneath her coat, his mouth pressing over hers and pushing her back against the door. Victoria startled under the movement, but moved a hand to the back of his head, keeping him pressed against her as his other hand tangled in her hair and she pressed her body tightly against his, longing to be as close to him as possible.
"I miss you so much," Alex whispered to her, forehead brushing hers as he finally relented for breath and Victoria moved a hand to his chest, brushing her fingers against the wool of his jumper.
"I miss you too," Victoria whispered and moved her lips against his one more time, the peck gentle instead of forceful. "Everything feels like it's going to shit, Alex. The Seven…everything they're saying about Annie…"
"We'll fight back," Alex assured her on that point. "We're working to fight back and your brother and I are doing everything we can to get you out of that place."
"I know," Victoria said, stroking his chest gently. "But you don't need to worry about me, okay? I'm…I'm fine. I'm doing as good as I can under the circumstances and I don't want you sitting awake and worrying over me."
"You think that's possible?" he queried from her. "I can't think of anything but you and Evelyn. Every day I remember the time we spent together and I want that back. I'm going to do everything that I can to get it back. I promise you, alright? I promise you that I'm never going to give up…whatever he's doing to you…he's not going to get away with it forever."
"You think?" Victoria questioned him. "Because there's days when even I lose hope. So long as I'm good, then I'm safe."
"And Evie?" Alex asked. "How is she?"
Victoria's face lit up at that and she took hold of his hand. The two of them sat on the edge of the table. Alex stretched his legs in front of him as Victoria bent hers, feet on a chair. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and flicked onto the camera, showing him pictures of her daughter.
"She's grown so much," Alex said, a genuine smile arching on his lips. "Look at her…is she in the sea?"
"On the holiday, we took her to the beach," Victoria confirmed for him. "She loved the sea. You should've seen her splashing around. She's even reading books now. Granted, we're not on Austen, but she can read sentences by herself…and she walks everywhere now unless she gets tired. I have to keep an eye on her constantly when we're at home."
Alex continued scrolling through the photos, stopping on one of Victoria holding Evelyn's hands in the air, bent over her and a smile on her face as her daughter laughed. He moved his thumb over the image, letting it roam over Evelyn's cheek.
"She asked about you…she asks a bit about you, but never in front of John. It's like she knows not to bring you up in front of him," Victoria said.
"She asks about me?"
"She misses you," Victoria said. "We both do."
Alex smiled sadly and he bent down, kissing her once more.
"Give her a hug from me, alright?" Alex said.
"I will," Victoria said.
There was a comfortable silence between the two of them for a minute then. Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Victoria laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes for a second, his hand moving to her thigh and she laced her fingers against his.
"So much time stolen from us," Alex muttered.
"Don't think like that," Victoria urged from him. "You know, some days the only thing that gets me through everything I have to do is thinking of us and the time we had in England. I know that you might see things online…in the news…and I might look happy…but you need to know that it's not genuine. None of it is genuine. If I had the chance then we'd be back on that cold beach in Norfolk, walking with Evelyn through the sand and in the surf."
Alex rested his cheek on top of her head. "I'd go back there in a heartbeat," he assured her.
Victoria pressed her face against his neck, inhaling his familiar aftershave. He smelt like comfort. He smelt like home. She knew that she had to leave soon. She wasn't intending on pushing her luck much further by being away from the penthouse. She needed to pick Evelyn up from nursery and Ryan was probably back already and on his video games. Sniffing, she tried not to cry over the thought of leaving her friends and family in the Starlight House. She had Evie and Ryan who needed her and she had to be strong for them.
"You need to go, don't you?"
"It's like you can read my mind," Victoria said and he chuckled.
"I got pretty good at knowing what you're thinking," he confirmed with her on that point. She turned her face towards his and he brought his lips back down to meet hers. "I know we can't meet. I know it's dangerous for you."
Victoria scoffed. "I think it's more dangerous for you," she said to him, not wanting to think about what Homelander might do if he found out she'd been with Alex. "And if we can't do this…if we can't be together then I want you-"
"-If you dare tell me to move on and forget about you then I'd suggest you save your breath," he interrupted her. "I love you, okay? I fell in love with you when I knew it was wrong. I knew it and I couldn't stop it, just like you couldn't stop falling in love with me. I'm not moving on so don't even ask me to move on."
Victoria knew there was no point in arguing with him. Instead, she reached for the back of his neck and brought his mouth down onto hers, kissing him eagerly as if she might not get a chance to kiss him again. Her lips moved over his hungrily and he reached for her, hauling her to straddle his lap as he sat on the table, fingers dipping along her neck.
"I hate to break up this make out session, but we have an issue," Butcher's voice suddenly said and Victoria looked over her shoulder to her brother, cheeks red and flustered.
"What is it?" she asked him, untangling herself from Alex. She sunk down to the floor and Alex jumped down from the table.
"Starlight had an abortion," Billy said and Victoria felt her stomach churn. That had been the big reveal. "She's gone out there and Frenchie is missing."
"Fuck," Victoria said and she ran out the door then, heels clicking on the floor. Billy reached for her, fingers wrapping around her arm.
"If you go out there and they film you then Homelander sees you," he warned his sister.
"So what? I stay here and do nothing?" Victoria checked with her brother. "She's my friend and they're luring her into a trap. I'm not letting that happen. How the fuck did they get her medical records? What the hell is going on?"
"Vicky," Billy warned her as she managed to prise her wrist from his grip and she ran off.
Alex followed her, but Billy put a hand to his chest, letting her go.
"If Homelander gets wind of you being out there then you know you're dead," Billy warned him. "Don't do it. Don't get her into even more trouble. Vic can handle Starlight. I need you to think about her now, do you understand me?"
Alex hated that Billy had a point, but he knew that he did. He didn't like it.
When Billy was happy that he'd convinced Alex to stay put, he just nodded his head once. "Come on then," he said, "and the next time I catch you getting to second base with my sister, I will have your balls."
…
Victoria looked at the stage that had been set up opposite the Starlight House and she could see Annie over there, eyes glowing. She was going after Firecracker, the woman flying through the air and falling onto the stage. Victoria ran across the road, not bothered about traffic as it seemed to have come to a standstill. She climbed the steps to the stage and watched as Annie straddled Firecracker, her fist coming down repeatedly against her face. The redhead lay there defenceless, not having the strength to push Annie from her.
M.M. was there before Victoria, reaching for Annie's wrist and stopping her from throwing another hit. Victoria stood on her other side as Firecracker lay limp on the ground. None of them thought about the cameras that were still rolling, filming the entire scene.
"Annie, this is what they want," Victoria said to her friend as M.M. nodded his agreement.
"We need to get out of here," he said and Annie's mouth gaped as she looked around at the cameras, knowing that she had ruined her chance of fighting fairly against Vought. Victoria took hold of Annie by the arm, somehow managing to manhandle her to stand, arm slipping around her waist. Annie stumbled by her side, struggling to stand as they rushed off the stage and away from the cameras.
"It's alright," Victoria promised her friend.
"Take her back to the Starlight House," M.M. urged from Victoria and she did as requested.
She dragged Annie with her back to the building, stepping inside and urging her friend to sit down in a chair near the first desk she saw. Victoria crouched down in front of her, grabbing hold of her hands as she saw tears in Annie's eyes and she knew that a line had been crossed.
"I'm so sorry," Victoria said to her. "That should never have come out. They should never have done that to you."
"She's won," Annie whispered. "She got what she wanted."
"No, she hasn't," Victoria said to her. "She hasn't won, Annie. What happened out there should never have happened and we both know that. I…I am just so sorry…it was your choice. It was your private choice."
"I agonised for days," Annie whispered and Victoria reached on the desk and grabbed a tissue, dabbing Annie's tears away for her. "I didn't know what to do, but we weren't ready. We agreed that we weren't ready to have a child and it wouldn't be fair…not on the baby…on us…and now everyone knows, Vicky. Everyone knows."
Victoria remained crouched down, hands holding Annie's tightly. "I'm sorry," was the only thing she could think of saying to her and she just held onto her for as long as she needed.
…
Victoria stormed back into Vought Tower to people staring at her. She knew that the clip of Starlight had gone viral and she featured on it, but she didn't care. She took the elevator up to ninety-ninth again and headed to the meeting room. It was just Sage there but she was turning the screens off.
"You think that was fucking fair?" Victoria demanded from her, slamming a fist down on the meeting table, hair fanning into her face. "They were her private medical records. That was private information. It was below the fucking belt."
"No one ever said we should play fair," Sage defended.
"Fair?" Victoria echoed back. "Do you know how hard it can be for a woman to make that decision? Do you have any grasp of that situation? It can be harrowing…it's not something that Annie did lightly…and for the whole world to know something so private, it's abhorrent. What you did was disgusting."
"What I did was necessary for our aims."
"Your aims?" Victoria echoed back. "Your fucking aims? What? To turn this country into a wasteland? Because all you're doing is creating a civil war that will do that. Is that what you really want? Are you that bored that this is all you can use that big brain for?"
"You have no idea."
"Maybe I don't," Victoria retorted, "but I do know about having empathy. I know when not to cross the fucking line and that's exactly what you did today. You might have my husband wrapped around your little finger, but don't think for one minute that I'm not going to try and get him to see sense."
Sage shrugged her shoulders. "Playing housewife must really be quite dull for someone with your intelligence," she said to her. "Please, by all means, try and convince Homelander otherwise, but something tells me that all he cares about is you being a good little wife and keeping those legs spread when he wants."
Victoria was aghast at that.
"And tell him I said that, but I don't think you will," Sage replied. "You know when to keep your mouth shut. That's why he values you."
"At least I don't have an expiration date," Victoria said and she left her alone in the room.
Victoria went downstairs to pick Evelyn up. She found Ryan already in the penthouse, playing his video game as predicted. She asked him to look after Evelyn while Victoria headed for the bathroom, climbing into the shower and scrubbing herself clean. She let the water flow over her, tumbling off her body and onto the floor in small droplets before she was satisfied that he should only be able to smell her shampoo. Victoria moisturised and sprayed her perfume for extra measure before pulling on one of John's tees and her shorts.
"Where's dad?" Ryan asked from Victoria when she came back downstairs, knowing that it was late and she had to make dinner.
"He's just out…boring Seven business," she lied to Ryan.
"Is he still mad?" Ryan questioned, sitting on the floor and letting Evelyn hand him a slice of plastic cake from her kitchen.
"He…he's not mad," Victoria said, once again not entirely sure if she was lying to him. "You two just need to talk and everything will be fine. I can be there when you talk and we'll sort this out. I'll sort everything out."
But Victoria wasn't entirely certain if she could anymore.
…
Sitting on the sofa, Victoria had been watching the news on repeat. There were contradictory reports circulating about her involvement. VNN were framing it as her pulling Starlight off Firecracker to try and de-escalate the situation. Other news channels not in Vought's pay pocket were claiming that she was looking out for her friend, reminding people how the two of them used to be close.
Victoria had put Evelyn to bed and even Ryan had asked to be tucked in that night. She'd left them to sleep before grabbing a bottle of wine and putting it on the coffee table after pouring herself a glass. She frowned as she noticed that one of the ornaments from the sideboard was askew, but she figured that must be from her catching it when she threw her keys down.
It was gone three in the morning by the time the door opened and he walked in. Victoria looked at him as he moved into the living room, hands behind his back. Victoria shrieked in fear as she drank in his appearance. He was covered in blood. His hair was soaked in it and it was all over his face. He looked to his wife and cocked his head.
"We need to talk about what you did earlier," he said.
Shaking her head, Victoria stumbled to her feet and pointed at him. "Not before we talk about why you're covered in blood," she said to him.
"I confronted my past."
"Confronted or killed it?" she questioned him.
His lips curved threateningly and he still heard the screams in his ears and Victoria decided that they were both the same thing to him.
...
A/N: A lot going on in this chapter! A lot more still to come and after the latest ep, slightly worried for Ryan! Thank you so, so much to everyone who reviews. Reading your comments and what you enjoy in each chapter really does give me motivation! Until next time!