Carrying Victoria a mug of tea, Homelander moved up the steps towards the bedroom. He'd taken Evelyn to nursery and Ryan was down at school. He was due to meet Sage to discuss how they were going to find the leak. He'd spent the day in and out of meetings with the legal team. Ashley had been put in charge of stopping the news from spreading, but she'd failed. Some random social media account had leaked information about Victoria's childhood. Homelander had told Sage to find out who it was and as soon as she knew, he wanted them found.
The account looked like it was a bot and had only a handful of other followers. The one post it had made had gone viral however, with others jumping on it and speculating about Victoria. The mainstream media hadn't reported on it considering legal action was pending, but if they failed to take out the injunction then they would. Plus, if the news went so viral on social media then it would be out there anywhere. It would be public knowledge. Homelander had woken up to find Victoria sat on her phone, scrolling through social media and looking at the comments.
She had been in the walk-in closet, curled into a ball in the corner with a towel wrapped around her body and wet hair clinging to her. Homelander had climbed from bed and had gone to her, kneeling down in front of her and seeing the tears roll down her cheeks. He'd managed to prise the phone from her and had looked at the social media feed and had shaken his head before placing the phone down. He didn't say anything. He just reached for her and she sobbed against him, the noises piercing and her body shaking as he cradled her to him, trying to soothe her.
He didn't know how long he'd sat with her on the floor before he managed to get her up and tugged a sweatshirt onto her and some underwear. He deposited her in the bed and she buried her face against the pillows. Homelander had sat at the side of the bed, fingers running through her hair softly as he whispered to her and told her that he'd get the kids ready and would be back.
He'd kept checking on her during the day, but she hadn't moved from her position in the bed. She just laid there, looking vacantly at the wall across from her.
After his final meeting, he took her a mug of tea to the bedroom and placed it on the bedside table. Kneeling down on the floor, his cape fanned around him and he moved his gloves from his fingers and reached for her, the back of his hand moving her hair from her face.
"I'm sorting this," Homelander whispered. "The legal team are making sure the press don't report on it…and whoever made the allegations on social media…I'm having Sage try to find them and once she does-"
"-What does it matter?" Victoria interrupted him. "It's out there. People are speculating."
So far the account had revealed that she'd been a recluse at school. She would turn up and keep to herself. People said that they'd even seen her father hit her at one time when she was in the pub with him and her brothers. People were talking about Lenny. There were people from Victoria's childhood who had come out of the woodwork and seemingly had an opinion on her.
"I always felt sorry for her. She seemed so sad and had no friends."
"Everyone knew Sam Butcher was a brute. I'm not surprised he hurt his kids."
And then there were other accounts that were clearly lying. There were people out there claiming that Victoria had dated them. Someone even claimed that she'd lost her virginity to them. He knew that most of them were bogus. People on the internet lied. They said things that they'd never say to someone in person. So far, there had been nothing about Eddie that had come out, but Victoria wondered if it was just a matter of time.
"No one knows the truth, Victoria," Homelander said to her. "And we'll get it shut down."
"I just…the things they're saying," Victoria whispered, voice hoarse and Homelander nodded his head. He understood. He understood how she felt to want to keep something private. "And people who I hardly knew are joining in like they were my childhood best friends. This was what I was so scared of when we first started dating and now we're here five years later."
"I'm not going to stop fighting this for you," Homelander said to her.
"You should."
Homelander frowned as a voice entered the bedroom. He turned his head over his shoulder and saw Sage stood in the doorway. Her arms were folded over her chest and her eyes were set on the two of them. Victoria wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but she felt as though she had her privacy invaded.
"How did you get up here?" Homelander questioned her and he moved to stand up as Victoria forced herself to sit up in bed, crossing her legs and keeping the quilt over her lap considering her legs were bare and she just wore her sweatshirt and underwear.
"You really think I don't know the code?" Sage replied. "And I've been thinking since your little outburst in Crime Analytics."
Homelander ground his teeth together. Perhaps his temper had taken hold of him. He knew that he'd been snapping, but he didn't care. To him, he felt like everyone was incompetent for not stopping this from happening.
"Go on," Homelander said, arms folded as he stood by the bed and Victoria wiped her eyes with her fingertips and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"There's no chance that we're going to be able to stop this from coming out now. Social media is alight with the information and Victoria is the number one trending topic all over the country," Sage said. "The chance of an injunction succeeding when the information is so public is slim. This news is coming out. We can't shut down social media. We can't stop every single person from tweeting and posting. Now, you can remain silent. You can continue to let people tell your story for you," Sage said and looked Victoria in the eye. "Or you can take control. You can tell your story from your perspective. You can shut down the gossip. You can be the strong, independent woman you've always portrayed yourself to be."
Victoria considered what she was saying. Sage continued to watch her and Homelander glanced down to his wife. Victoria's gaze shifted down to the duvet beneath her and she dwelled on what Sage had said. She didn't want to go public. She didn't want people to know. She didn't want the news to be out there in the public domain.
"I never wanted people to talk about this," Victoria whispered.
"You might not have wanted people to talk about it, but they are doing," Sage said. "The fact is that once the genie is out the lamp, you can't put it back in. People are going to whisper behind your back. They're going to believe things that they read that might not be true. You can take back the power. You can take control. Is it going to be painful? Yes. You're going to be asked uncomfortable questions. You're going to be under the spotlight. But you're going to be the one in power."
Homelander knew that it made sense. It was logical. He just wanted to spare Victoria from it. He wanted to spare her because he knew what it would do to her.
"You're a fucking doctor," Sage concluded. "You came from that shithole and you became something. If you want my advice, you don't let anyone take away your fucking power."
Looking up to Homelander, Victoria met his eye. "What do you think?" she asked and he had to admit that he was amazed she was asking for his opinion. She rarely asked for his opinion. He perched on the side of the bed beside her, clasping his hands together in his lap.
"I think it's smart," Homelander confessed. "I know it's not what you want to do, but the information is out there and I…I can try to stop it…but it's spread too far. It's out there now, Vicky."
"I'll leave you to think about it," Sage said and she left them alone.
She knew that she had to do something. If they were going through with their plan then she needed Homelander at least vaguely focused and at the moment his attention was on anything but their plan. To get him back on track, she needed to sort this mess with Victoria as soon as possible and that meant solving Victoria's issue. Plus, sticking up for Victoria meant that at least she'd stay in Homelander's good graces. She wasn't an idiot. She knew that he could switch in a second. He could kill her if she said something he didn't like.
Victoria fiddled with her engagement ring on her finger, twirling it slowly. "You think I should go public?" she double-checked with him.
"I think that Sage has a point," Homelander said. "I just…I promised you yesterday that this wouldn't happen. I promised you that I'd protect you and I feel like I've failed you, Victoria. You know that I…I never wanted this for you…seeing you like this…it makes me feel sick."
"I don't blame you for this," Victoria assured him with a shake of her head. "It's my dad. He was the one who started this. He just couldn't leave me alone. You…I know you tried to stop this and I do appreciate that…and so I don't blame you, John. I don't blame you for any of this."
And that was the truth. She blamed him for a lot, but this wasn't his fault. This was actually one thing that he wasn't to blame for. Homelander met her eye and he reached for her and she went, climbing into his lap and sitting there, letting him wrap an around her waist as she rested against his chest, feeling it rise and fall and closing her eyes. His other arm moved over her thighs and ran his hand up and down her leg soothingly as her hands rested in her lap. He kissed the side of her head and brushed his nose along her skin there.
"Maybe Sage has a point," Victoria finally said. "If it's out there then I should take control of the narrative."
"Is that what you want to do?"
"I'd prefer not to say anything," Victoria said. "But the idea of people out there speaking for me when they know nothing is even worse…and what happened to me…Eddie…my dad…I know that none of it was my fault. I was a kid. But I spent so much of my life thinking that it had been my fault. What if I had just behaved better? What if I hadn't spoken back?"
"None of it was your fault, Victoria. Never think that."
"I know that now, but for such a long time I didn't," she said, still toying with her engagement ring. "And I don't want to go back to that place, John. I don't want to go back there, but I know that I have to. I'm strong enough to do this. I'm strong enough to tell my side of the story and stop people from lying about me because what happened…it's not me who should be ashamed of it. It's them."
Homelander's heart swelled at hearing her and he kissed her firmly on the side of her head, squeezing her tightly against him and he didn't know if he'd ever felt as much love for her as he did in that moment. He wanted to take the pain away. He wanted to heal her. He wanted to do everything in his power to let her know that she was so much stronger than anyone could ever give her credit for.
"You…you're so brave, Victoria…and never doubt that," he said to her.
"I don't feel brave. The idea of doing this is scaring me more than anything, but I'm not letting anyone tell my story. It's my story, no one else's," she said to her husband.
"If you do this then we'll pick an interviewer we trust. It will be at your pace and we will do it however you want to do it," Homelander said to her, already thinking of who might be best for her to tell her story to.
She pulled back and looked up to him then, searching his light blue gaze. "Will you do it with me?" she asked him and a part of her hated herself for needing him there. She hated that she felt reliant on him, but she knew that it would be worse being by herself. She didn't think she could handle that. Homelander moved his hand from her thigh and tucked her hair behind her ear, looking down at her with her puffy cheeks and swollen red eyes, her lips chapped from where she'd chewed down on them.
"I'll be with you," he assured her on that point. "I won't let you do this alone."
"Okay," Victoria said with a nod of her head, trying to steel herself for what was to come. "Can you sort it?"
"I'll do everything. You won't need to do anything, just tell the truth," Homelander said to her.
"I can do it," Victoria said, trying to convince herself. Homelander's grip around her remained tighter and he swore he felt her press her face tighter against his neck, seeking comfort. She closed her eyes and tried to steel herself for what was going to come.
…
"You were surprisingly nice."
"Think what you like about me, but I know what needs to be done," Sage informed Homelander.
The two of them were stood in the studio of One on One with Hailey Miller. The two sofas were sat opposite each other with an oak coffee table in the middle and a large bouquet of flowers on it along with three glasses of water. Homelander stood to the side behind the cameras, watching the scene as Hailey Miller spoke to her camera crew and briefed them on what was going to happen.
"And what's that?"
"Well, you brought me in to be on your side and this is me being on your side," Sage said to him. "Having Victoria's image ruined is going to help no one and we both know that."
"And all the things you said about her?"
"Figured she needed a boost," Sage said. "It's not as if we've gotten on in the past, but even I know not to kick a wounded woman when she's down."
Homelander was quiet then and he just nodded once. A moment later, Hailey made her way over to the two of them, a demure smile on her face as she extended her hand towards him. She was clearly trying to be respectful considering the interview was not just another puff piece of the two of them gushing about their marriage. This was different.
"Homelander, I would say it's nice to see you again, but I suspect we both know it's not under the best of circumstances," she said and Homelander took her hand, shaking it once.
"Well, after everything that's been said about my wife, I think she just wants to set the record straight," Homelander said. "I know that you have your pre-approved questions and being a journalist means you might push, but on this one…just look out for her, alright?"
"Of course," Hailey said, hand moving to her chest.
"And give her time to answer," Sage spoke. "She might need time to gather her thoughts."
"Anything she needs," Hailey said. "And where is she? We're due on air in five."
"She's in the bathroom," Homelander said. "I'll go and find her."
He swept off, cape billowing behind him as he headed to the bathroom. He didn't bother knocking on the door to the women's bathroom considering he saw that only Victoria was only in there. He stepped inside and looked to her as she stood facing the mirror.
"Vicky," he called her name.
"I'm coming," she said to him, taking a deep breath and tucking her hair behind her ear.
She was dressed in a flowing green floral skirt and had a white shirt on, hair hanging loose around her shoulders. She turned around and he held his hand out to her. Moving towards him, the black heels she wore clicked on the tiled floor and she took hold of his hand. He'd left his gloves on the dressing table, figuring he wouldn't need them. He walked with her back to the studio where they were both mic'ed up.
"Victoria, it is so lovely to see you again, but I'm so sorry that you have to go through this," Hailey said and she placed both of her hands on Victoria's arms, rubbing them gently and looking at her sadly. "Thank you for trusting me to tell your story. I know that it can't be easy and I understand that…but it means a lot that you trust me to do this and we'll be true. We'll make it so that people understand what happened and that you get your side of the story out."
"That's all I want to do," Victoria said to her and that was the honest truth. She just wanted to tell her side of things and stop lies from spreading.
"And it's exactly what we will do," Hailey promised her.
She went to sit down in her chair and Victoria took a seat on the sofa opposite. Hailey looked over her prompt cards to get herself ready and Victoria looked around at everyone on set who was dashing around and getting ready for the show to begin. It was then when she shook her head, the heat of the lights getting to her and the noise becoming too much. Her stomach churned and her throat began to clench. She was about to stand up when Homelander sat next to her, sweeping his cape to the side and hearing her heart rate jump up.
"I can't do this," she whispered so that only he could hear.
He moved decisively, fingers reaching up to cup her cheeks gently and he brought his face down to hers, forehead pressing to hers. Her eyes were darting around and her lips parted, warm breath hitting his cheek.
"Hey, hey, hey," he whispered, "look at me."
She still looked over his shoulder and he spoke again. "Vicky, sweetheart, look at me," he said to her and her eyes finally met his. Looking at him, saw how he shook his head. "Fuck them all," he said to her. "Fuck everyone. No one else matters…no one here matters…it's just us, okay? It's me and you. I'm here. You can do this. You can do it."
Victoria closed her eyes for a second and Homelander's gaze flickered over her face, seeing her try to compose herself. Her face contorted for a few seconds and she nodded once, steeling herself. Homelander ran his thumbs along her cheekbones slowly.
"Okay?" he checked with her.
"Okay," she confirmed for him and he kissed her for a second and then pulled back.
He sat close to her, arm over the back of the sofa as his other hand reached across his body and picked up her hand, entwining his fingers with hers and resting it on his thigh. Victoria moved her free hand to sit on top of it, almost like she was clinging onto him. Victoria felt him kiss her on the side of the head and she exhaled a shaky breath before seeing Hailey nod to them.
"Live in five…four…" the stage manager shouted, holding his fingers up and counting down.
"Hello, and welcome to One on One with Hailey Miller. I'm so glad you can all join us today," Hailey spoke into the camera, face beaming and tone light. "Coming up on today's show, we have Havok from Minnesota joining us lately to talk about her new reality TV show for Vought Plus. We also have our resident chef, Julianna Howe, telling us how you can make the best Thanksgiving dinner to impress all your family. But, first on the show today, we have a world exclusive interview."
Victoria knew that this was it. She felt Homelander's grip on her hand increase and she looked to him for a second before he nodded to her subtly.
"I am sure by now all of you have seen the rumours circling online about Dr Victoria Anderton, wife to The Seven's leader, Homelander. The couple have been married for almost three years and have been together for just going on five years. While they've faced some difficulties in their relationship, the two of them are together and stronger than ever," Hailey declared. "But, in the last day or so, rumours have been circulating that Victoria married Homelander for his money and fame…with people calling her a gold-digger and a social climber intent on reaching the top no matter the cost. And other rumours have also come out concerning an abusive childhood and the fact that Anderton is indeed not Victoria's last name. Here to set those rumours straight, we have Victoria herself and Homelander. Thank you both for joining us."
"Thank you for having us," Homelander said, but he wasn't his usual smiley self on screen. He was sombre and his lips were in a tight line.
"Thank you," Victoria tacked on and Homelander sensed a waver in her voice.
"Now, Victoria, I understand that the last twenty-four hours have been particularly difficult for you," Hailey said and she let Victoria take the lead then.
"I think it's been the rumours that have been the most difficult to face," Victoria admitted and Homelander watched her, ready to jump in if he sensed she needed help. "I know that social media can be a difficult place to navigate, but some of the things that have been said have been particularly hurtful, especially when they've come from people who have no knowledge of me or my past…and a part of me thought that ignoring it would be for the best, but I know that if I ignore it then the rumours may spiral further out of control and I don't want that. I don't want the speculation."
"I think that's very brave," Hailey declared with a nod of her head and she leant forwards slightly. "And I know how difficult this must be for you and so I appreciate you for telling us on the show today…and that's why I want you to take this at your own pace. Perhaps we can start with the fact that your name actually isn't Victoria Anderton."
"I changed my name when I was a teenager…well…eighteen," Victoria said. "When I was growing up, my surname was Butcher. I lived in south London in a block of flats on an estate…growing up…we never had much. We went days without electric and in winter it got so cold that the windows would freeze on the inside. My mum would work so hard and I know that. We never really had the chance to bond, not like some mothers and daughters, but I appreciate that she did the best that she could for us. She would work day and night and she never really knew what happened in the flat while she was gone because my dad was nothing like my mum."
Hailey watched her intently and glanced briefly down to the card she held. "Your father has made quite some serious allegations against you," Hailey said. "According to a source, he's been heard saying that he's not surprised you are where you are…that you always thought you were better than your family."
"I never thought that," Victoria answered quickly. "Growing up, my dad…he would hit my brothers. They were older than I was and growing up I just remember them telling me to go into the other room. I never really understood at the time what was going on because they tried to protect me and I know that they did. They did the best they could. My oldest brother left as soon as he could at sixteen to join the army. My other brother was a few years younger than he was and it was then when I started to understand what was going on…and I tried to make it stop. I tried to stop him and I couldn't because he was stronger. My dad would lock me in the wardrobe in my bedroom to stop me from intervening."
There was a deathly silence in the studio then. Hailey kept her own mouth closed and Victoria reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. Homelander's thigh brushed against hers and he saw her close her eyes for a second and he wanted to do nothing more than go back and kill Sam Butcher.
"I would bang on the doors and beg for him to let me out…to stop hurting Lenny…but he wouldn't listen to me. I was only seven," Victoria said. "It seemed to go on for ages and I didn't know what to do. My dad told us that we couldn't tell mum and we never did. We were so scared of him. We were scared that things would get worse. Lenny would just hug me every night when dad was finished and he'd tell me that he'd always protect me…that I didn't need to be scared…but I was. I was terrified of my dad and what he might do."
"That's horrific," Hailey said, voice full of sympathy. "And your brother, Lenny, there's been a lot mentioned about him too."
"I know and I don't want to go into detail on that because he was my brother and I…I miss him so much," Victoria said. "He…Lenny…he…the beatings got so bad and he couldn't see another way out. He couldn't see how it would stop and I just…I wish that I could've done more. I wish that I could go back in time and tell my mum or someone and find a way to make it stop…to help Lenny."
Homelander leant forwards and grabbed a tissue from the coffee table in between them. He handed it to Victoria and she dabbed at her eyes before sniffing and shaking her head. She didn't know if she could say anymore on Lenny.
"You were just a child," Homelander said to his wife, unable to stand the idea of her blaming herself. "None of what happened was your fault."
"Homelander is right," Hailey tacked on. "None of it is your fault."
"And I do know that, but it doesn't make it any easier," Victoria said. "Once Lenny died, things changed for a short while, but then my dad started drinking again…but he started drinking more than ever before and I was…I was the only one left and so he turned my attention to me. To begin with it would be a slap across the face. He'd hit me and I'd cry…hide in my bedroom and pray that he wouldn't come in, but then over time things got worse. I would answer back when I became a teenager and he didn't like that. He'd lash out even more…use his belt," Victoria said and her voice broke again as she took a deep breath and Homelander watched her intently.
"It's alright, sweetheart," he whispered to her and she looked to him as he nodded encouragingly in her direction.
"And then I stopped reacting," Victoria said. "And in a way that made things worse…like I couldn't win. He either hurt me if I reacted or he hurt me if I didn't. But things escalated and he…he wouldn't hit me but he would burn me. He'd burn my arms with his cigarette until I screamed or cried and he got his reaction."
Victoria moved her fingertips to her arm, holding it self-consciously, the tissue in her grip screwed up and crumbling apart after she'd wet it with her continuous tears.
"I am so sorry," Hailey said.
"I kept thinking that it would stop," Victoria said. "I went to school and I hid as best as I could like I could blend into the furniture. I didn't want to be the centre of attention because I was scared someone would see…and so I hid my arms whenever I went to school. I'd get changed for PE class…sorry…gym class…in the bathrooms to hide from the other girls. I'd never take my jumper off even if it was hot outside. I never really had friends. People thought I was a freak. They'd whisper behind my back and say things that weren't true…but I kept telling myself that I could go to university and get out. I could leave."
"And you did," Hailey said. "You went to Durham Law School and graduated top of your class. You did an MA in Paris and interned at the UN."
"I did," Victoria confirmed with a nod of her head.
"And there's been another name that's been circling," Hailey said and Homelander's teeth ground together. This hadn't been a part of the approved questions they'd sent in. Hailey didn't look at him, almost like she could sense he was glaring. "A friend of your father's: Eddie Morrel. We did some research and found that he had passed away, but had also served a lengthy prison sentence."
"Eddie Morrel is not someone who Victoria talks about," Homelander declared and Victoria realised that it was all coming out. Everything was going to come out because people could put two and two together. They would work out he was in prison for a reason. She might have been given anonymity, but the internet was making sure that was being destroyed.
"Eddie Morrel raped me," Victoria said and Homelander's eyes widened as he looked down to her and he shook his head, squeezing her fingers tightly.
"You don't need to do this," he told her in a soft voice, forgetting the cameras on them. "We can go."
"It's my story," Victoria told him. "I can do it."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure," Victoria assured him and then looked to Hailey again. Homelander noted how his wife's eyes were glassy and her cheeks were tinting red from nerves. But she tossed her hair behind her shoulders and told Hailey the truth. "Eddie was our landlord and he would often drink with my dad. I was fifteen when he first started coming to the flat, but I was sixteen…my sixteenth birthday…when he came into my room and kissed me. He waited until I was sixteen. My dad would often pass out drunk on the sofa and it was then when Eddie would come in. He told me that it was futile to tell anyone because they wouldn't believe me. He said that he had friends in the police who would tell him if I ever spoke out and if I did then things would get worse."
Hailey noted how Homelander angled his body towards Victoria even more then, seeming to become more protective over her.
"Whenever he came over, I'd just lay there and wait for him to come in when my dad passed out. I'd be quiet and hope that maybe he got so drunk he passed out too or that he might think I wasn't in," Victoria said. "Mum was still working nights and I never knew how to tell her. I wanted to…but I…I was so scared. Eddie made me scared and he knew what to say to keep me quiet. I ended up falling behind at school and there were times when I fell asleep during class. None of my teachers knew what was going on and none of them really took an interest. They would just tell me that I'd never get my A-Levels if I kept acting that way…but Mrs Turner, my history teacher, she pulled me aside one day and told me that I could trust her and that she knew something was wrong. I just cried and told her everything."
Victoria wiped her eyes with the shreds of tissue again.
"She came with me to the police and they arrested Eddie. He tried to deny it all and there wasn't really any tangible evidence…except for…I had bruises. I had bruises and people had seen him coming into our flat. My dad was useless. He said he had no idea what was going on, only that our rent was cheaper than everyone else's," Victoria said. "I suspected that was because Eddie wanted to keep us there. Either way, I took anonymity and I changed my name. I went to Durham and I…I threw myself into work. I wanted to study law. I wanted to make a difference, even if it was only a small difference, in the world. I kept to myself for the most part…never really had a serious relationship until I met Homelander. I never dated him for his fame or money. That was never a reason why I dated him."
"And anyone who says otherwise is talking nonsense," Homelander said. "We met by complete accident. Victoria never planned to meet me or date me for my fame."
"I think we can safely say that we know that," Hailey confirmed. "And Victoria, do you have any contact with your family now?"
"I wish that things had been different with my mum. I wish that we could've built a relationship together but I never reached out and I'm not sure where to start," Victoria said. "My brother made contact and we…we've had a turbulent relationship but I love him and I really hope he knows that."
"I'm sure he does," Hailey confirmed for her. "And your father?"
"I have nothing to do with him and I want nothing to do with him," Victoria said definitively on that point.
"And you now have children yourself…a daughter and a step-son. Do they know about any of this?"
"They're too young to know about it or to understand it and a part of me wished that this never came out. I wished that no one had dug into my past," Victoria said. "But it's out there now. The truth is out and I know that I shouldn't be ashamed of what happened to me and one day…when they're old enough…I'll tell them what happened. I'll tell them the truth and I know it'll be hard, but it needs to come from me and not other kids who might gossip to them in the playground."
"That's incredibly brave," Hailey commended her.
"I don't see any of this as brave," Victoria said. "I'm just tired of people telling my story. It's not theirs to tell. It's mine."
"But it takes a lot of courage to tell it," Hailey said. "And now? Where do you go from here?"
"Well, I would urge for people to afford Victoria her privacy," Homelander said. "And in the meantime, we're going to go away for a few days. Victoria deserves some time away and without any further speculation."
"And I think that is something we can all respect," Hailey said. "Victoria, Homelander, thank you for your time today and for sharing your story."
"Thank you," Homelander said and Victoria just forced a tight smile onto her lips.
A buzzer sounded indicating that they'd gone for a break. The switch in Homelander was apparent then. He tugged at the mic he wore and tossed it to the side, pointing at Hailey. "What the fuck was that?" he demanded as Ashley came rushing over, skidding to a halt in her heels. "You ambushed her. You were given the list of questions-"
"-I'm a journalist," Hailey interrupted him. "That was the question on everyone's lips."
"It went too fucking far," Homelander continued to seethe.
"You think we're ever going to let you interview them again?" Ashley jumped in. "You're fucking finished if you think we're going to let this lie."
A runner helped Victoria take her mic off and she moved her hand to take hold of Homelander's wrist. "Can we just go?" she asked from him and he looked to her, the anger clearly still on his face as his glare went back to Hailey.
"Never even think of coming after my wife again," he warned her.
He moved his fingers to take hold of Victoria's and she walked one step behind him, heels clacking on the floor as Ashley kept on yelling at Hailey almost as though she had a point to prove. Sage was stood at the back of the floor, eyes glancing down onto her phone. Homelander stood before her, his free hand going to his hip.
"And?" he asked from her.
"Reaction has been positive," Sage said. "She's been declared inspirational…a true hero…a strong woman…exactly as we thought."
But Victoria didn't care about the media reaction to her interview. None of it mattered to her. She just wanted to get out of there. Homelander knew that much and he was willing to oblige.
"We'll talk later," he said. "We're going home."
"See you later," Sage said to him and watched the two of them leave the studio.
Moving through the corridors, Homelander soon got them to the car outside of the building. There was even more press waiting for them, hollering questions in their direction and flashing cameras in their faces. Homelander sheltered Victoria, a protective arm going around her shoulders and urging her forwards. She kept her head bowed, grateful when he opened the car door and she climbed into the backseat and he followed her.
They drove back towards the Tower and Victoria glanced across to him. "We're going away?" she questioned him, recalling what he'd said before.
"Tonight," he confirmed with a nod of his head. "I had Ashley book out a hotel in the countryside so there will be no one there except us. Ryan and Evelyn are coming with us, but I figured you might want some space…fresh air…leave your phone at home."
"I think I'd like that right now," Victoria confirmed.
"Then that's what you'll have," he promised her and picked her hand up, kissing the back of it. "Anything you want, Victoria…anything at all."
…
"She did it."
"I can't believe she did it."
"She had no choice. They basically forced her hand."
"Does Butcher know?"
"He's been in the office at the back and hasn't come out since the interview," Alex declared.
They'd made it back from Stan Edgar's farm in one piece. They weren't entirely sure how, but they were in the office and everyone was sat around solemnly. They'd watched the interview together. Hughie was still at the hospital with his dad. Annie, Alex, M.M., Kimiko and Daniella had sat down in the office to watch the interview. Frenchie had said he needed some space and had left them to be alone. Billy had loitered at the back of the room and watched from a distance before turning around and storming into the private office, door slamming behind him and glass shattering.
"Should one of us go and talk to him?" Alex wondered.
"No," Annie said with a firm shake of her head. "We should leave him to it. You know what he's like. He'll probably just snap at us."
"Yeah, but that was his sister," Daniella piped up. "He had a shit childhood too."
"His sister who he left when she needed him," Annie said.
"He didn't know what Eddie was doing to her," Alex said and Annie arched her brow at him defending the man. "I'm just saying that I think he feels plenty guilty enough for leaving her back then. We shouldn't punish him for that."
"I agree," M.M. said, "but when it comes to them two siblings, you know that things are complicated. Just give him some space. I'll talk to him when I can."
They kept on debating what they should do next while Billy stayed in the office. Sat at the desk, he poured himself his third glass of scotch and looked at his phone that was playing the interview. He ignored the way Homelander held Victoria's hand as he slid the bar along the bottom to replay her speaking.
"My brother made contact and we…we've had a turbulent relationship but I love him and I really hope he knows that…" Victoria spoke and Billy felt sick at the thought that she didn't think he knew she loved him. He loved her too, of course he did. He just felt exhausted by her at times and how she defended supes.
"You need to make things right with her."
"And how do I do that?" Billy muttered as his wife stood behind his shoulder. He knew she wasn't there. He knew he was imagining her, but he didn't care. It felt so real and he missed her so much that he would take her. He would talk to her however and whenever he could.
"Go and talk to her," Becca said. "She's still your little sister, Billy. She needs you now more than ever. She needs to know that you're there for her."
"She knows I am," Billy grunted back and sipped his scotch. "I've got Sameer, ain't I? I'm trying to find a way to kill Homelander to get her away from him…it just…the thought that he can sit there and feel sympathy for what Eddie did to her when we know what he did to you, Becca…it makes me feel sick…and Vicky…she'll lap it up. She'll cling to him."
"She clings to him because she knows she needs to survive him," Becca said. "And she's looking out for her daughter and my son."
"I don't think it's just that," Billy said with a shake of his head. "I think she still loves him."
"A part of her will always love him because of their past," Becca said. "He will always have a piece of her heart and we both know that. That doesn't mean she wants to be with him. She's with him because she can't escape him and because she's putting the kids above everything else."
"But if I get this virus to work then she won't have to be," Billy said. "But she was so reluctant for me to make it…like it wouldn't save her."
"It might save her but it might kill Evelyn and Ryan," Becca said. "Is it worth this, Billy? Is revenge worth killing others?"
And that was the question that Billy knew he had to grapple with.
…
"I saw the interview that your wife did today."
Homelander was stood in the meeting room after talking with Sage. He had put her in charge of arranging the meeting at Tek-Knight's mansion for the following week. He'd told her that he was going to be away for a couple of nights and that he only wanted to be disturbed if it was urgent. He knew that they had business to deal with, but he was putting Victoria above that. She needed time away. She needed space to clear her head.
Turning around from the screen he was staring at, Homelander looked as Firecracker moved into the meeting room. She was wearing her supe suit and was carrying her phone in her fingertips. She set the device down on the table and Homelander just nodded his head once, saying nothing. He knew what his wife had said about Firecracker. He knew that the two of them had had words the other night and Victoria didn't like her.
"I never knew what she'd been through," Firecracker said. "I can only imagine how difficult that was for her."
She sounded almost genuine then.
"Victoria's stronger than people give her credit for."
"I see that," Firecracker said with a nod of her head. "And I know that your wife and I haven't seen eye-to-eye since I joined The Seven. I don't pretend to be ignorant to that fact…but I just want you to know that I'm only coming from a place of loyalty. Joining The Seven is more than I could've ever dreamed of and I know that you made that come true," she said to him, stepping closer towards him and Homelander continued to watch, eyes beady and alert. "I just want you to know how much I appreciate it and that I would do anything for you. I've watched you for years and you've always been such an inspiration and to be sharing being part of The Seven with you is more than I could ever dream of. You…people don't appreciate you…who you are and what you can do."
"Hmmm," was all that Homelander said.
"And I know that you love your wife. I know that and I understand it. After today I know that nothing can come in between that," Firecracker said. "But I also know that there are some things she can't do for you."
Homelander shook his head firmly. "That is not true."
"But it is," Firecracker said. "She's not pregnant, is she? And chances are you won't risk her having another child."
Homelander wanted to ask her what she was talking about. His brows knitted together on his forehead and Firecracker stepped closer to him, looking him in the eye as he continued to stare down at her.
"Did she ever give you what you needed?" Firecracker wondered. "When she was pregnant?"
"What…I don't…" Homelander trailed off, voice slightly uneasy and not sure where this conversation was going.
"It's alright," Firecracker assured him. "I can help you. If you let me, I can take care of you. You spend so much time looking after her, but does she look after you like she could?"
She moved a finger to the zip of her costume at the front, toying with it slowly as Homelander's gaze followed hers and he felt his mouth turn dry and his head begin to spin. Surely she couldn't be saying what he thought she was? And she reached for his hand, pulling his palm towards her chest when he suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.
"No," he said firmly, tugging his hand back.
And of course it would be at that moment when Victoria walked in.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Victoria demanded and Homelander turned to see her storming into the room.
She'd changed into a short a-line skirt but kept her white blouse on. She'd slipped a pair of sneakers on as well and that meant she was able to move into the room quicker than he'd anticipated. She stormed over towards the two of them and he saw the anger on her face.
"I've spent today on national TV having to talk about how I was abused as a child…and I come in here and find you trying to seduce my husband? Do you have no fucking shame?" Victoria demanded from Firecracker.
"I wasn't trying to seduce him-"
"-What? You just go round and try to get every man you meet to feel you up?" Victoria interrupted and Homelander suspected that this was almost cathartic for her. "Or do you draw a line at a certain age? It's hard to tell knowing your history."
"I know what I did, but I turned to the Lord and he saved me."
Victoria let out a shrill laugh. "That bullshit might wash with the studio and that new film you're doing, but I see through it," she assured Firecracker. "I don't know how many times I need to tell you to stay away from my husband. Does the message not go into that thick skull of yours? Are you too dense to get it?"
"Firecracker knows that I'm not interested," Homelander assured his wife.
"Does she?" Victoria questioned him. "Because I'm not convinced," she turned back to the woman and took a step closer to her. "You might want him. You might think that you have a shot what with being a supe…being good looking, even I admit that…but you're never going to be with him because he's married to me," Victoria said. "I might not be a supe. I might just some liberal snowflake who you despise, but I swear to God if you keep pushing me then I will find ways to make your life hell because I am resourceful. I know how to get what I want. I'm smart. I can be cunning. If you really want to keep crossing me then go for it, but you'll regret it. I'm Vought's golden goose here. I'm at the top of the food chain. So yeah, you might be in The Seven, but don't forget that I have influence here."
Firecracker had the decency to look slightly disturbed by that and Victoria wasn't sure where that come from. A part of her just wanted to scare Firecracker, but there was another part of her that was annoyed with everything going on and she was taking it out on the woman in front of her.
"Stay out of my fucking way and keep your hands off my husband," Victoria said to her and then turned to leave the room.
Homelander exhaled a sharp breath and glanced to Firecracker. "You're on thin ice," he warned her in a mutter and then followed after Victoria.
She'd pressed the button for the elevator already and was stood waiting for it by the time he caught up with her. "You really went in on her," Homelander said before they stepped into the elevator together, another employee scurrying out.
Victoria hit the button for the penthouse and then pressed stop. The elevator came to a juddering halt and she turned back to her husband. "You know she wants you and you still keep her around," Victoria said.
"I told you why," Homelander said. "And I've told you that I don't want her."
"That might be the case, but the fact is that today…out of all the fucking days…she decides to make a move. I've just been on TV and bared my soul to the whole world. I did all of that and she decides that's the day to try and seduce you," Victoria said, fingers tugging through her hair. "And you still think you need to keep her around. We both know you'd never be reacting like this if a man made a move on me like that. You'd laser him on the spot."
"That's different," Homelander said.
"Oh, it would be," Victoria retorted smarmily, arms folding over her chest.
"You've had a draining day, Vic, we don't need to get into this now," Homelander said, trying to diffuse the situation.
"You think I don't know that?" Victoria snapped back at him, pacing the small space as he gave her room to move. "You think I don't know that today has been hell? That every time I close my eyes for a second I see it…the wardrobe…Eddie on top of me…Lenny…I had to relive all of that for the public to now judge if I've either told the truth or lied. Do you know how many people were staring at me as I came down here? Whispering about me? I got used to it before, but this is so personal…and I…I come down here to find Firecracker trying to get you to feel her up. I've had enough, John. I'm so fucking tired. I'm just so tired."
"Vicky," Homelander sighed her name and he reached for her, but she held her hand up.
"You think hugging me is going to make any of this better?" she wondered from him and hit the button to make the elevator move again. "You think I need to come down here and see her with her tits out today of all days? And what? Listen to you tell me that you need her for some convoluted plot you're working on? Spare me. Today of all days…just spare me."
….
The hotel that they'd booked in the middle of the countryside was some big manor house that looked more like a British stately home than anything. It was all mahogany staircases with patterned carpets and expensive wooden furniture. The entire place was empty and Homelander had insisted on bringing a babysitter to look after Evelyn if they needed some space away. So far, Victoria had just spent time with the kids. They'd gone swimming in the pool in the conservatory before having dinner there, eating burgers and fries. Homelander had joined them, but he suspected Ryan knew there was an atmosphere.
He didn't say anything, however. It was only when Natalie took Evelyn to bed for the night did he bring it up. Victoria and Ryan were still sat in their swim wear on the edge of the pool. Homelander had gone to the bathroom and returned to sit in a chair at the other end of the pool, checking his phone for messages.
"I…I saw the interview today," Ryan brought it up and Victoria nodded.
She had one leg dangling in the pool, the other pulled up to her chest. The black costume she wore was the one she'd taken on holiday. Her hair was pulled into a bun in an attempt not to get it wet, but wisps at the nape of her neck were clinging to her skin after getting splashed.
"I thought that you might," Victoria said. "I should've spoken to you before we did it. I'm sorry."
Ryan's brow furrowed. "Why are you apologising?" he asked her.
"Because you deserved to hear the truth from me," Victoria said with a shake of her head. "But I…I admit that I wasn't entirely sure how to tell you. It's a delicate subject and I didn't want you to think any differently of me because I'm still me. What happened doesn't define who I am today. I'm me. I'm still Victoria."
Ryan shook his head. "I don't think differently," he assured her on that point. "I just wish that it had never happened to you and that someone had protected you."
"I know, sweetie," Victoria said to him and she moved a hand to rest on his forearm. "And if you have any questions then you can ask them. I will tell you what I can because you deserve the truth."
"I don't want to upset you," Ryan said.
"And that is so nice of you," Victoria said to him. "But you won't upset me. We're family, aren't we?"
"Yeah," Ryan said with a nod. "And I…I know you're not a supe…and so I'll protect you. I promise."
Victoria felt a warmth in her heart and she reached for Ryan, embracing him tightly and burying her cheek in the hair at the top of his head. She knew she had to protect him too, no matter what it cost.
…
Walking around the bedroom, Victoria hung some of her clothes in the giant oak wardrobe. She had showered and changed into a black camisole and shorts. Homelander was sat on the bottom of the bed in a blue tee and grey shorts. He had his hands clasped together and watched his wife move around the room, tidying things away. The room was large with a sofa opposite a giant fireplace that had a portrait of the house hung above it. It was a four-post bed with duck feather pillows and quilt. The bathroom had a stand-alone porcelain tub and two sinks in a marble worktop along with a walk-in shower big enough for at least six people with two rainforest shower heads. The carpet was a plush beige with patterned rugs by the fireplace and the bottom of the bed.
"Are you going to ignore me all night?" Homelander asked from her.
"I'm still pissed off," Victoria muttered to him, hanging a shirt on a hanger and slipping it onto the metal pole in the wardrobe.
"I get that, but you have nothing to be pissed off about," Homelander assured her. "I know you think it's double standards, but it's not. I don't want to fight over this. I don't want to argue over Firecracker when we both know she isn't worth it."
"I know you're not interested in her," Victoria retorted. "I'm just exhausted of having to deal with her behaviour when you could get rid of her. I just don't see how she's so integral to this plan of yours. All she seems to do is go after Starlight and I think you've succeeded there. Annie…they're slaughtering her out there…the Starlight House has been vandalised and I…I hate that's happened to her. I hate that you've had a part in doing that to her."
"You knew that she was against us," Homelander said, flapping his arms out to the side. "You knew that, Victoria. Besides, I had nothing to do with the news that she'd had an abortion. You know that wasn't me."
She was silent then. She did know that wasn't him. Was he annoyed? No. But did his ignorance earn him favour with Victoria? Possibly.
"Listen to me," Homelander said, tiring of the situation. "You and I both know that Firecracker means absolutely nothing to me. She's part of the team because she's useful, but the second she's not useful to us then she's gone…what did you tell me the other night? It's us. Fuck everyone else. No one else matters except us, Victoria. You know that."
And she had said that. She turned to look at him then, her gaze meeting his and he watched her hands move to her hips.
"Then tell me what's going on," Victoria said. "Tell me what you and Sage are cooking up."
"I've told you. We're creating a world where supes can be safe…where Evie and Ryan can grow up and be safe," Homelander said.
"And what does that entail?" she asked, not happy with his answer. "How do you create that world, John? What does it mean?"
"It means repealing that piece of legislation that Singer is endorsing," Homelander said. "It means Neuman coming clean with who she is. Should she be ashamed to be a supe? No. She shouldn't be ashamed. She should be proud of it. People should recognise that they need us and trying to curtail our powers…bring us down…we can't let that happen. All I want is for us to have a say at the table."
"And you think Neuman will be able to deliver that?" Victoria questioned him. "Singer seems to have an anti-supe agenda which I don't whole heartedly agree with, but he will be the President. In January he'll be the President and in charge…he has both the House and Congress, right?"
"For the time being," Homelander said.
"And that's what you and Sage are plotting? You're plotting how to get more power?" Victoria asked, but that made her slightly uneasy.
Homelander knew it would and so he knew he had to be careful with what he said. There were certain things she couldn't know about for the time being. He stood up and moved towards her, hands planting themselves firmly on her hips, moving her own and dragging her closer to him.
"I am trying to get Singer to see that he needs us," Homelander said. "We don't deserve to be squashed…reduced to nothing but entertainment…vilified for who and what we are. I don't want our children to grow up in a world like that. If Neuman outs herself then we have a chance. We have a chance at having our voices heard."
"And that's it?" Victoria checked with him. "That's all you're doing and that's why you're doing it?"
"That's why," he said and the lie came easy to him. "And as far as Firecracker is concerned, she won't have a seat at the table. She means nothing to me and I don't want to fight over her, not when I'd rather just enjoy spending time with you."
And Victoria knew that he wasn't going to get rid of her. She could give him the silent treatment. She could yell. She could cry. She could scream how he was nothing but a hypocrite. But nothing was going to change because he would always get his way. She knew that. It was the nature of their relationship. He compromised occasionally, but it was very rare.
"Come on," Homelander urged her, pulling her towards the sofa.
He sat down, legs spread and Victoria next to him. She tucked her legs beneath herself and he picked out the bottle of wine from the ice bucket on the coffee table. He poured her a glass and she took hold of it as he poured one for himself. Leaning back, he draped an arm over her shoulders.
"There's something we should talk about," Homelander said to her. "I know you're taking your birth control pill."
Victoria's blood chilled at that. She held onto the stem of the wine glass tightly. "I…how?"
"I've seen you take them in the morning," Homelander replied.
"And you haven't said anything?" Victoria asked.
"Well, you didn't tell me that you were taking them," he said, the back of his hand stroking her hair down her back softly.
"We both agreed to wait before we talked about having another kid," Victoria said. "And we…we both know it's maybe not the best timing and-"
"-Do you want another baby?" Homelander wondered from her, interrupting her. She looked at him and he shook his head once before he took a sip of his own wine. "You can tell me the truth, Victoria. I have a feeling that I know what you're going to say anyway."
"No," she answered him truthfully. "I don't want another baby. Doctor Jones talked to me about it and she said there are more risks the longer we wait, but the truth is that I don't want another baby…I can't go through that again. We almost lost Evelyn and then when I lost our second baby all I could think about was Evie and her growing up without me. I can't go back to that, John. I can't do it again…the worry…the potential heartache."
Homelander gulped once, but he nodded his head. "I know," he confessed to her. "And as time has gone on and we've gotten closer again, I know that I can't risk you, Vicky. I just remember when you gave birth to Evie…and I told them to save you at whatever cost…I don't think I could make that choice again. I don't want to make that choice again."
"You mean that?" Victoria asked him.
"I mean it," Homelander promised her. "Besides, having Ryan and Evelyn was more than I thought would be possible for me. I never imagined having a child, never mind two great kids."
"And they are great, aren't they?" Victoria said to him and he smiled down to her as her own lips tugged upwards. Nodding, he moved his fingers from her hair to her cheek, stroking it gently.
"And they need you," Homelander said. "I grew up without a mother. I know what it's like and I don't want that for them. And you…we have our differences…but you really are a great mother to them. And what you did today…I was so proud of you."
"You don't need to be proud of me. I just did what was needed," Victoria said.
"You didn't need to do it, but you did," Homelander said. "And I know it wasn't easy and I know that things are going to be difficult for a while, but I will always protect you, you know that? No one means as much to me as you do. You mean everything to me."
"I know," Victoria said. "I just think that it would be for the best if you kept me away from Firecracker."
Homelander chuckled at that and they both took a drink of the fruity flavoured wine. Moving to put his glass down on the coffee table, Homelander let Victoria recline back, her head resting in his lap and her legs bent, feet on the arm of the chair. She placed her glass on the table then and he pushed her hair back from her forehead, stroking it gently. She closed her eyes as his other hand fiddled with the thin strap of her camisole.
"I'll keep her away," Homelander assured his wife. "Besides, she was being very odd earlier…not entirely sure what she was on about."
"What? She was talking while trying to get you to feel her up?"
"Yeah, but about what, I'm not sure," Homelander said.
"If I had a chest likes hers, I'd like to think I wouldn't need to talk to get to second base with a guy," Victoria said and Homelander arched a brow.
"What? You had to flirt with guys to get to second base?" he asked from her.
Victoria scoffed. "I'm a terrible flirt."
"You managed to charm me."
"Well, in all fairness, I was never trying to charm you," Victoria defended herself. "And you didn't exactly flirt with me either."
"I used to tell you how beautiful you looked," Homelander said. "In fact, I still do tell you."
"Yeah, but I'm talking really bad pick-up lines," she replied. "Like, damn baby, is heaven missing an angel?"
"Jesus fucking Christ, please tell me that doesn't work," Homelander said and Victoria laughed and shook her head as he rested a hand on her stomach as he kept stroking her hair and she kept her hands by her sides.
"Usually not in my experience," Victoria said. "You never used them on your dates before?"
"Never really had to and never really dated anyone that wasn't some kind of mutually beneficial transaction," Homelander admitted to her. "Maybe I was raised to be too old fashioned? I always thought that it was better to compliment a woman…tell her how beautiful she looked…"
"Perhaps a better tactic."
"Well, it always worked on you," Homelander said. "I used to love it when you would blush. It made me feel good…happy…to know that I could do that and cause such a reaction. It had never really happened on any dates I'd been on before."
"I knew you got off on that," Victoria said.
"But you know that you have power over me, right?" Homelander checked with her, fingertips toying with the silk of her camisole. "You're the only person I've ever opened up to and the fact that you cared about me was such a novelty. No one else has ever come close to making me feel like I can trust them with that information…not Maeve…and definitely not Firecracker…no matter how often she flashes me."
Victoria rolled her eyes, but her lips arched for a moment and he felt her move to hit his hand gently. He chuckled and picked her hand up, toying with her fingers mid-air. He bent down closer to her until he was doubled over and kissed her forehead before whispering in her ear.
"Besides, nothing compares to you," he assured her and kissed her softly on the lips.
He managed to manoeuvre her to straddle his lap, kissing her tenderly and reaching for the bottom of her top. He tugged it free and over her head, lips moving along her neck and towards her breasts, listening to her moan as his free hand reached up to palm her breast in his fingertips. Victoria winced once as his teeth caught her skin, but she said nothing until he carried her to the bed. She let him lay her against the pillows and tug her shorts off as he slipped his own clothes off, leaving them in a pile on the floor. He moved a finger between her legs slowly before he slipped inside of her, groaning at the feeling. He urged her legs around his waist until his hips were flush with hers.
"I love you," he said, resting on his forearms and hovering over her as he bent down, forehead brushing hers as he remained still, savouring the moment. His fingers reached for her hair and he brushed through it gently. "I'll never let you go, Victoria. I promise you."
"It's us, remember?" Victoria replied to him and her hands grasped hold of his shoulders.
"It's us," he confirmed and he lowered his mouth to meet hers before he moved slowly and he knew he wasn't going to last long as her naked chest brushed against his and he buried his face into the crook of her neck as he groaned loudly and she grasped his hair firmly in her grip, his hips stuttering before he reached between them and brought her to her peak, eyes watching her face and taking in her reaction.
They stayed where they were for a few moments before Homelander moved from her and Victoria went into the bathroom. Once she was finished, she looked in the mirror and she knew that he had been lying. There was something else going on that he was plotting that he was keeping from her. She knew she had to get it out of him, but she just wasn't sure how. For all his talk about promising her that it was just them and he trusted her, she knew he was keeping secrets. No doubt because he knew she'd disapprove and that meant it had to be bad. Whatever he was planning had to be bad.
….
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone reading - and sorry for such a long chapter! As always, please let me know what you think. I love reading all of your comments/thoughts and also suggestions - anything you'd like to see?
