The jury verdict was due by the end of the week and Victoria was on edge. She hardly slept, despite knowing that the outcome would probably go in his favour. She would sit awake at night as John lay next to her, completely silent and still. His nightmares sometimes woke him up and he would roll over, reach for his wife and cling onto her. He wouldn't tell her explicitly what had happened in the dream, but he would just whisper words: 'Fire'; 'Squirt'; 'Paper'. Victoria never asked him what he meant. She had an idea and she wasn't going to push him. She just held him in her arms and stroked her fingers through his hair.
Moving through the penthouse, Victoria had dropped Evelyn off at nursery and Ryan had gone down for supe training. Homelander was even more convinced than ever that Ryan was destined to be a supe just like him. Victoria couldn't say she was as convinced, but she knew that there was no going against her husband. She tried, of course. She tried to make him see that Ryan was still a kid who needed time to grow, but he promised her that he would always look out for his son. She didn't entirely doubt that, but she wasn't overly convinced on it either.
"Ah, Victoria, you're back."
She dropped her purse down on the sideboard in the living room and saw her husband sat on the sofa, a woman sat on the other end of it. Victoria looked to her and identified her as Sister Sage easily. Ever since Homelander had told her about the potential of her joining The Seven, Victoria had looked her up online extensively. A part of her was apprehensive about why her husband would want the world's smartest person on the team. He usually prided himself on his own intellect and didn't like being upstaged.
"Hey," Victoria replied, adding the box of cereal she'd bought onto the sideboard too. She folded her arms apprehensively and Homelander stood up, his arm stretched towards her. She walked towards him and he placed his hand on the small of her back.
"This is Sister Sage, our newest recruit," Homelander declared.
"Nice to meet you," Victoria said to the woman.
She wasn't wearing a supe suit. She was dressed in a grey logo tee and jeans with white sneakers. Her eyes drank in Victoria and there was a part of Victoria that felt unnerved. She felt like she was being scrutinised and it was almost as though Sage could read her without saying anything.
"It's just Sage," the woman responded. "And you must be Homelander's beloved wife."
Homelander chuckled at that. "She's very special to me," he confirmed with a nod of his head, hand stroking his wife's back. "Sage and I were just discussing the trial. She has some insights on how I should play things once I'm acquitted…you know…the direction that The Seven should take."
Victoria nodded her head. "I see," she said.
"Your wife isn't going to be impressed," Sage said. "I mean, it's clear she's uncomfortable at the best of times with what goes on out there, not to mention the fact that she has the complete polar opposite opinion to what you have. She stands by your side because she's married to you. If you weren't married, do you think you'd have anything in common?"
"We have plenty in common," Homelander said, voice turning slightly terse. He didn't want to get into his relationship with Victoria with Sage.
"Like your traumatic childhoods?" Sage questioned. "I imagine there's a reason why Victoria is always photographed wearing long sleeves and never short sleeves? I would say that there might be scars there, but self-inflicted or not, I'm not entirely sure."
"Enough," Homelander said, voice now deep and dark as Victoria stood up straight. She closed her eyes for a second and Sage nodded thoughtfully as she watched the woman try to regain her composure and she saw a flicker of something pass her face.
"Not self-inflicted," Sage concluded.
"I need to go and meet Jennifer," Victoria suddenly said. "There's some work with the charity that we need to finish off today."
"Vic," Homelander said as his wife scurried away without another word to him. She grabbed her purse again and he watched her move to the door, head bowed and dark curls falling in her face. He moved his hands to his hips and turned his glare onto Sage who just held her hands up in defence.
"I didn't mean to upset her," she said, sensing that was a line she couldn't cross in the future. She might be smart and Homelander might need her, but that didn't mean that she was indispensable. She also knew that he was subject to outbursts and she suspected that his family was the one thing that could cause one of those.
"Never bring up her childhood again," Homelander warned her. "That is off limits. She is off limits."
"You know she'll be your downfall, don't you?" Sage wondered from him. "You're blinded by her. You dote on her too much and care about what she thinks. If we're going to go through with this plan and if she finds out then you know she'd never approve. You can't have time spent worrying over what your wife will think."
"And that's why she won't find out," Homelander replied, sitting back down and using his hearing. Victoria was gone. He couldn't hear her in the apartment anymore. He leant back against the sofa, legs spread and hands on his stomach. "I love my wife, but I know what she stands for. I know that if we weren't together then the chances are that she'd be on the sidelines with the Starlighters calling for my blood."
"Yet you're still with her."
"Because I love her and she's the mother of my child."
"And does she love you?"
"Excuse me?" Homelander demanded from her, blinking quickly and his lips arching into a sinister smile.
"She hates everything you stand for and you must know that. Do you think she is with you because she loves you or because she fears you? Did she not run away before? Take your daughter and leave you?"
"Victoria was struggling with her mental health-"
"-Do not pull that bullshit with me," Sage interrupted him, shaking her head. "She ran away and we both know it. You got her back, but the fact is that she ran and she ran for a reason. Why do you think she is here? Do you think she would be here if you didn't find her? She'd probably still be living in whatever remote cottage you found her in."
Homelander's jaw locked and his teeth ground together. He didn't want to think about that. He refused to think about. A part of him felt sick at the thought. He adjusted the gloves on his fingers and thought about what she had said. But he shook his head. He'd gone through this on his own so many times. How many times had he watched his wife sleep and wondered what was going on in her mind?
"She'd have come back," he said confidently on that point. He was sure that she would've come back. "What we have is something that even you won't be able to understand. Victoria and I have been through so much and we always come back together. She loves me, but she doesn't always understand me, just like I don't always understand her."
"Is that the basis for a healthy relationship?"
"It's working well so far," Homelander retorted.
"It won't if she finds out what you're planning. Annie January was her best friend at one time, remember? If she finds out that you are actively trying to ruin her…destroy her life…I'm not sure that will go down well. She's not blinded by her love for you."
"You think I don't know that?" Homelander checked, brows rising on his forehead. "You have no idea how many discussions we've had in recent weeks about the best approach for the trial or how my son isn't ready to become a supe…she's a strong woman and I knew that when I fell in love with her. I knew who I was marrying and it not once stopped me. Sometimes I need her. Sometimes I need her advice and I value it. She knows how to play both sides."
"I'm not denying that she's smart," Sage said. "I've read up on her. I know about her PhD and her work at the UN, but she does have a particular worldview that you two will never share and eventually that will push you further apart, particularly if we go through with the plans that we have…destroying Starlight…Ryan becoming a supe. How much do you think she will take before she turns on you again?"
"She won't turn on me again."
"And you say that with such confidence because you know that she's scared to leave you. You know that she's with you out of fear," Sage said. "Yes, a part of her might love you…or the idea she has of you…but will that be enough for the long run?"
"Listen," Homelander said, waving a nonchalant hand. "You worry about the plans we have and I'll focus on my marriage. I might listen to you and I might respect your opinion on some things, but my marriage is a private affair. End of discussion."
Sage nodded her head. "So long as it doesn't impact our business," she warned him. "But that does mean that you need to keep her in the dark about what we're planning if you're serious about this."
"Of course I'm serious about this. You've seen it out there," Homelander said. "Humans want to crush us. They want to render us weak. I can't leave that kind of world for my children. I want them to grow up knowing that they never have to be ashamed of who they are. My daughter is only two and I want her always to know she's superior."
"Despite having a human mother?"
"Victoria understands my position on this. Besides, didn't I just say that my marriage is for me to worry about?"
"And I told you that is all well and good so long as your marriage doesn't get in the way of what we're doing," Sage said. "Anyway, the fact of the matter is that the plan is going ahead. I have the three men selected. I just need you to be at Planet Vought on Friday morning before your trial."
"I'll be there," he confirmed for her.
"And you know that we need A-Train on board. He's the only one who can get to the courthouse and back quick enough for this to work."
"He'll do as I say," Homelander confirmed for her.
"Most people do, don't they?"
"It's a common theme," Homelander confessed, the smarmy smile still on his face and he clapped his hands together. "Let's topple this kingdom."
…
Homelander found his wife outside later in the afternoon. Despite the cold temperatures, she was sat there in her red winter coat over her long-sleeved navy-blue cable knit jumper and her dark jeans. Her ankle boots were dug into the ground and she had a takeaway mug of tea in her hands. Homelander guessed it was herbal judging by the smell as he sniffed and moved towards her. He sat down on the bench next to her, knowing that she'd been there a while judging by how her cheeks were tinged red from the cold.
"She shouldn't have brought up your childhood."
"It's fine," Victoria said.
"It's not fine, Vicky," Homelander promised her on that. He wasn't going to let her downplay it. "I told her that talking about you is off limits from now on. She knows that."
Victoria could only shrug her shoulders awkwardly. "She seems perceptive," she declared.
"Maybe too perceptive for her own good," Homelander mused. He had to confess that he wasn't entirely happy with how she'd behaved, but he knew that he needed her at that moment in time. "Either way, she's not going to mention you again."
"What are you doing, John?" Victoria questioned from her husband, turning to look to him, cup clasped in both hands. "What are you planning?"
Homelander looked down to his wife and he knew that the truth was not an option. He knew exactly how that conversation would go. He lifted his gloved hand up and brushed her cheek softly with his knuckles, searching her gaze and wondering what it might be like if things were different. Would she be more understanding if she herself was also a supe? Or if she was like his supporters? But then would he have fallen in love with her? He didn't know. It might make his life easier, he guessed, but he didn't entirely care about making his life easier. He cared about her. He adored his wife more than anything and he loved her because of who she was.
"It was just a strategy meeting, sweetheart," he said to her and Victoria didn't believe him. She knew that there was something else going on, but she didn't dare challenge him. How could she? She knew how he'd react to that.
And he knew that she was still suspicious. And that was why he moved quickly. Bending down, he pecked her on the cheek. "Wait here for a minute," he urged.
"Why?"
"Just wait for me," he said and he stood up, taking off into the sky.
Victoria took another sip of her drink and she wondered where he was going. She pulled her phone out of her coat pocket and scrolled through her social media account, ignoring the comments about her and Homelander. She never read those anymore. Instead, she just looked at harmless memes and videos of dogs riding skateboards. She put her phone away when she heard Homelander land in front of her again. Looking up, she frowned. He was wearing dark jeans and a green sweater along with a long grey coat.
"What is going on?" she asked from him.
"We're going out," he said. "We're not due in court today and I've told Ashley that I've handled Seven business. I have a free day…Ryan is training and Evie is in nursery. I know for a fact that the paperwork you're dealing with is finished and so you have nothing on…and so we're going out."
"Where are we going?"
"Anywhere you want," Homelander said and he offered her his hand. She took hold of it and he hauled her to her feet and she looked to him. Without his suit he looked just like a normal man. He didn't look like a supe. Victoria suspected that things would be very different if he was just a normal man. Perhaps they really could have been happy.
….
"I can't believe that this is what you wanted to do with a day off," Homelander commented. "You know that I could just fly you to the top of the Statue, right? We didn't have to queue up and buy tickets either."
"I thought you said that I could choose what to do?" Victoria replied.
He was stood next to her on the upper deck of the ferry as they approached Liberty Island and Victoria's lips arched. She had her hands wrapped around the railing as they faced the water. The Hudson was choppy, the boat bouncing up and down with the waves and the wind whipping in their faces. Victoria had tied her hair back into a low ponytail with the bobble she kept around her wrist, but wisps of it still flew around her face. So far no one had noticed them. They'd blended in seamlessly, looking just like any other regular touristy couple.
"I just didn't think you'd choose this," he retorted.
"What did you think I'd choose?"
"A meal, perhaps? A walk in Central Park?"
"We've done all of those things," Victoria said. "I've lived in New York City for several years and the closest I've come to Liberty Island was Battery Park. It's funny, isn't it? When you live in a city then you never do the tourist things."
"That might be true for you, but trust me, I grew up on this stuff. If I wasn't a supe I could probably be a tour guide around this place. I was raised to be the perfect American patriot, remember?"
"So does that mean we won't need to join a guided tour? I can just rely on you to show me round?"
"A personal tour guide, huh?" Homelander checked with her.
"There's got to be some perks to being married to you, right?" she checked with him and he snorted at that, lips curling in amusement as Victoria also let her lips pick up. She hated how easy it felt talking to him and being in his company. She kept telling herself that it shouldn't be this easy. She shouldn't want to be where she is.
"For you, sweetheart, I'll do it," he said to her and moved a hand to rest on top of one of hers on the barrier.
He pointed out things about the Statue as they approached the Island, standing behind her and pointing over her shoulder so that she could see what he was talking about. His front pressed against her back and his other arm went around her waist. He made her chuckle with some of his comments and his own lips picked up in amusement at hearing her. Once they'd docked, he took her hand and walked down the ramp to the surface, letting her go in front of him. They bypassed most of the crowds of people hovering by the jetty and waiting to join tour groups or meeting up with people. They circled the island together, Homelander still pointing things out to her.
She stopped off for another mug of tea and got him one too, not entirely sure if he wanted one. They carried their takeaway cups to the south side of the island, Victoria still looking up at the Statue in awe.
"Look there," Homelander said to her, pointing to the grass lawn they were walking by. "You see that pile of dirt?"
"Yeah," Victoria confirmed.
"Well, back in 1904 a cargo ship came out here bringing supplies. They had no idea that a mole was on board at the time."
"A mole?" Victoria checked with him. "Like the animal?"
"Exactly like the animal," Homelander confirmed and they continued ambling alongside the edge of the lawn together. "Anyway, the mole was hiding in some of the cargo boxes and they had no idea until they arrived. It escaped and since then Liberty Island has had a mole problem. At one point they had to get it under control because they were worried that it might overrun the island…but there's still some left today."
"Seriously?" Victoria asked from him.
"Yeah," Homelander said. "At one point the lawns were just covered in holes. They didn't know how to get it under control. Turns out that it's pretty difficult to control a population once it starts multiplying. Anyway, they got there eventually, but you still see the odd mole today."
"That's so weird," Victoria said and Homelander continued smiling, glancing down to the floor for a moment and Victoria looked to him, taking in the look on his face and she knew that he'd been lying to her. She shook her head and threw her head back with a laugh, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. She shook her head and Homelander laughed along with her. "You actually had me going there."
"Sorry, sweetheart, it was too good to resist," he defended himself and Victoria wasn't entirely certain that there was any defence, but she let him have it anyway. Shaking her head slowly, she rolled her eyes to the sky and the smile remained wide on her face, cheeks forming dimples.
"I can't believe that I believed you," she said to him. "I mean, seriously…I had an image of this place just being overrun with moles, like they'd formed their own little community."
"Usually you're not that gullible" Homelander confessed. "But I had far too much fun with that, I have to admit."
"I could tell," Victoria said to him. "Is anything you've told me today been the truth, huh?"
"Definitely," he told her. "In fact, there's one thing I haven't told you yet but it is most definitely the truth."
"And what's that?" Victoria wondered and he stood still, tossing his cup in the bin and reaching for her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and Victoria held her cup up, trying not to spill anything from it as her other hand went to his shoulder. The feeling of a woollen grey coat under her fingertips felt so different to his usual suit.
"I love you," he said to her as his eyes darted around her face, drinking in every detail about her. He adored her so much and he wanted her to see that. He wanted her to understand just how much he loved her. Would he be out here on Liberty Island if he didn't?
"I love you too," Victoria forced herself to say it back to him.
"And nothing is going to change that, okay?" Homelander said to her. "No matter what happens in the future, I'm always going to love you. It's always going to be you for me, Victoria. I need you to know that."
"I do," she said to him. "I know it."
"And everything that I do is for the good of our kids. I want to create a better world for them and that is all I care about doing," he said to her and Victoria wasn't entirely sure if she should be comforted by that. She imagined his idea of a better world was not the same as her idea.
"Then we can both agree on that," Victoria said to him and he bent down to kiss her quickly, his lips moving against hers for only a few seconds before he pulled away once more. He moved so that he could slip his arm around her waist and they continued walking together.
"Come on then, I think I've pushed my luck with teasing you today," he dared to say.
Victoria agreed with him on that point and she sipped on her tea, still wondering what it was he was planning.
…
Their trip to Liberty Island hadn't exactly been incognito. They'd been photographed by someone who had recognised them, locked in an embrace, beaming up at each other and then kissing. There was another photo of them walking with his arm around her, guiding her forwards and pointing things out. Victoria was confronted with these images on the front cover of Vought Weekly that her brother was waving in her face on the morning of the trial. Homelander had told her that he would meet her at the Tower, saying that he had business to attend to that morning.
"Looking pretty cosy, Vic," Billy said to his sister.
She rolled her eyes and sat down on the bench next to him and he handed her a hot chocolate he'd bought her. "Don't start," she urged from him.
"You know I think he looks even more a psychopath in normal clothes," Billy said. "And most definitely a cunt."
"You say that all of the time," Victoria said. "Anyway, he's gone out this morning. I don't know what he's doing, but I suspect he's keeping me in the dark. If that's true then he's keeping me in the dark because he knows that whatever he has going on is something that I won't approve of."
"Like what?" Billy wondered from her.
"He's recruited a new member to The Seven: Sister Sage. She is supposed the world's smartest person," Victoria said. "I walked into the penthouse and she was there. He claims that it was just an innocent strategic meeting, but I get the sense he's plotting something and I don't know what. I know that over recent weeks he spoken a lot more about supes being superior…being needed to keep people safe. This entire thing with the Hometeamers against the Startlighters is insanity."
"You're telling me. World's gone bloody nuts and Neuman is just one heartbeat away from complete power."
"You think Singer's in danger?"
There was a moment of silence then and Victoria watched her brother, sensing that he was keeping something from her. Shaking her head, she turned her upper body to face him and reached for his arm, squeezing it firmly. "What do you know?" she demanded from him.
"Alright, easy there with the grip, Hulk," he urged from his sister and she relented despite the fact that she was hardly holding tightly onto him. "And I know what Neuman knows. We're trying to kill her…but what she might not know is that Singer is in on it. He doesn't want a supe as his VP and he definitely doesn't want her in the White House when he's sworn in."
"Shit," Victoria whispered and shook her head slowly.
"But that might not be my issue soon enough."
"Why's that?"
"M.M. is leading The Boys now," Billy said. "And there seems to be, shall we say, a bit of a conspiracy against me. They think I'm reckless and want me out. Your buddy Starlight most definitely doesn't trust me. She thinks I'm a liability."
Victoria shifted uncomfortably at hearing him say that. "I know you two haven't always gotten on," she said. "And you can be reckless. You know that."
"In this line of work you've got to take risks."
"But sometimes you don't," Victoria replied. "Sometimes you need to think more long term than short term."
"Yeah, well, hard to do that when you've got six months left to live,"
There was an awkward silence then and Victoria let her eyes drop the cup in her hands. Billy let his eyes move over his sister's face and he sighed before moving a hand to sit on top of hers. He squeezed it gently in his fingertips and Victoria moved so that her palm slipped against his, the two siblings quiet for a few seconds before Billy spoke.
"Alex told me to tell you he misses you," Billy said and he saw her lips arch at that and her face turned almost bashful and Billy chuckled. "Christ, you really are crushing on him."
"Shut up," Victoria said and let go of her brother's hand to nudge him in the ribs. "I love him, Billy. I love Alex and every day I have to reconcile with the fact that maybe we're not going to be able to be together. I don't want to accept it, but I know that I might have to. Just because there's pictures of us on magazines…looking happy…looking like we're in love…can you just tell Alex that it's not the same. It's not true and it's not what I want."
"I might be able to remember all of that," Billy said.
"But that's not to say that it doesn't come easy, Billy," Victoria confessed. "It's like a vicious circle and I don't know how to escape it. When I'm with him it's like it used to be and he makes it so easy, but then I hate myself for feeling that way. It's like a never-ending circle of trying to make sense of my fucked-up feelings for him. I know what he is and what he's done and there's never going to be any excuse for that."
Victoria wasn't entirely sure what she should do or say to him after that. She knew that her brother thought things were simple. He saw the world in black and white at times, but Victoria couldn't.
"But if you have to spend the rest of your life with him then it's better to make it easier and give him what he wants…and in a way that also makes your life easier."
"Dealing with him when he's happy with me is a lot easier than dealing with him when he's not. I've given up trying to think I have any influence over him though. I know that because he's clearly keeping something from me with regards to Sister Sage," Victoria said. "But I might have some influence when it comes to our kids."
"Our kids?" Billy questioned and Victoria took a sip of her hot chocolate and crossed her legs, skirt fanning out around her legs.
"I am Ryan's step-mum and he…he's a good kid. He misses you, Billy. He's upset, but he does miss you," Victoria said to her brother and she saw Billy's face soften for a moment and her own lips arched again. "My God, you love him, don't you?"
"He's a good lad. I want the best for him," Billy said and Victoria continued smirking.
"There's nothing wrong with expressing emotions, you know?" Victoria checked with her brother. "Anyway, the other night he told me that he misses you and I don't know if there's a way for you to get to talk to him. John won't allow it. He already feels threatened by you. It's a miracle he lets me visit you."
"What have I told you about calling him John?"
"Not to," Victoria said. "It was a slip of the tongue, but it's the only name I call him."
"I'd imagine you're the only one who can get away with it."
"I think I'm the only one who can get away with a lot of things when it comes to him," Victoria admitted. "Anyway, after the trial he has this big plan. He wants to take us away somewhere for a week. I said yes because how could I say no?"
"You going to be alright with that?"
"There's not much choice, Billy," Victoria said. "He…I can handle him, alright? He's given up on the idea of having another kid for the time being after I begged him not to make me go through with it. So long as I act his dutiful, doting wife then I'm safe and I can keep Evie and Ryan safe. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens, even if I don't want to."
Billy bit down on his tongue for a moment. His sister looked exhausted. He could see that she had bags under her eyes and no amount of makeup was concealing it. She stifled a yawn and Billy shook his head slowly, placing his own cup down on the bench beside him. "Just tell me he's not…what he did to Becca…"
"No," Victoria shook her head slowly. "I…I don't want to get into it with you, Billy. I just want you to know that I can handle him and I'll be fine. Don't tell Alex that though, please. I mean, I'm his wife. He thinks we're a happy couple. There are certain expectations that will come with that and I know that. I can't keep him at bay forever. But it's fine. I'll make sure it's fine."
"I don't know how you can say any of this is fine."
"Because it might have to be in the long run," Victoria said. "I can't run away from the world's strongest supe again, not when I've got him back on side. There's only so many risks that I can take. I just need you to tell Alex that it will always be him I want, but it's too dangerous for me to risk seeing him. Homelander would kill him instantly if he saw him again."
"Don't worry, your pal Annie is making sure that he stays out of the spotlight. Her, on the hand, loves the fucking spotlight."
"She's just trying to stop Vought," Victoria said. "She has the power to do it. I know she does. She's not going to stop fighting, but her way of fighting is just different to yours."
"Do you know she flies now? Fucking blinds us all whenever she tries to do it and looks like a deer that's just come out of its mum's womb," Billy complained and Victoria laughed at that, shaking her head and leaning back against the bench's back, her head rolling back.
"She's practicing using her powers then?" Victoria checked. "Good for her. I miss her, Billy. I miss her so much, but Homelander would never let me near her either. She's the enemy now and I can't be seen cavorting with the enemy. But tell her I love her, okay?"
"That might be difficult," Billy said. "Might throw up in my mouth."
"You're such a drama queen," Victoria told her brother. "Anyway, I've got to go. Jo…Homelander," she caught herself, "is expecting me back at the Tower. It's the verdict this afternoon and we're fully expecting it to come back not guilty."
"Wouldn't make a difference if it came back guilty, would it?" he retorted.
"I think that would make it worse," Victoria said and she stood up, embracing her brother as he moved to his feet with her. "Look after yourself, Billy, and tell Alex and Annie what I said."
"And you tell Ryan I'm sorry, alright? Tell him that…but don't get into trouble with that cunt. Can you promise me you'll at least be careful not to do that, alright?"
"I promise," she said and pecked him on the cheek before picking her drink up and leaving her brother behind.
…
Victoria had showered quickly when she'd gotten back to the Tower, suspecting that Homelander wouldn't appreciate the stench of her brother on her. She had no idea how he could smell Billy, but he always complained whenever she came back after visiting him. She was stood in the bedroom, towel wrapped around her body and searching for a dress to wear. She didn't hear Homelander move into the room, standing in the doorway and watching her in the walk-in wardrobe, thumbing through the clothes on the rack and lost in thought.
"How was your brother?" he asked, startling her and she moved a hand to her chest.
Her skin was still slightly damp and glimmered from the lights. He could smell the new mango moisturiser she'd started using. Her hair was clipped up on top of her head to stop it from getting wet in the shower. She turned her head over her shoulder and watched him amble towards the walk-in wardrobe, standing in the doorway, arms crossed and leant against the frame.
"Same as always," Victoria said to him. "Hates you."
Homelander chuckled at that, appreciating her honesty with him. "You know, I actually admire your brother to some extent," he admitted. "He's the only human I've really met in recent years that's been willing to take me on. I mean, it's ended up with him dying from taking Temp-V, but I see that as dedication."
"I warned him not to, but he still took it," Victoria muttered and she turned back to the clothes rack and continued tugging dresses to the side. "I just wish that things could've been different."
"I know," Homelander said to her. "But you'll be fine. Trust me, in the long run you will be absolutely fine. Plus, you have me…our children…you will be okay."
"Yeah," Victoria said weakly, knowing that Homelander's sympathy levels for her brother were pretty low. She didn't push it, suspecting that he didn't want to talk about it any further. "Anyway, how was this morning? Where did you go?"
"Ah, I just had a little bit of business I needed to sort out," Homelander said, waving a nonchalant hand and coming up behind his wife, arms wrapping around her waist and fingers feeling the soft cotton of the towel around her. She kept her arms raised and tugged down a red dress. "I needed to finish Sage's initiation to The Seven."
"So she's officially joining?" Victoria checked.
"I think she'll be good for us," Homelander said. "Anyway, I don't want you to worry about Seven business. I don't want you to worry about anything because after tonight I'll be free and tomorrow we'll be on a flight away from here. We'll escape all of this and you'll have a chance to catch up on all of the sleep you've missed out on because of your worrying over me and the trial."
She didn't tell him that it wasn't just the trial she worried about.
"I'll need to finish packing tonight then," Victoria replied.
"Alright, sweetheart, can't you get the housekeeper to help you?"
"We haven't had a housekeeper in months," Victoria reminded him. "I'm more than capable of packing a few suitcases. Now I really should get dressed."
"Go for the red one," Homelander urged, squeezing her waist and planting a kiss on the side of her head. "It matches my suit better."
He let go of her and Victoria guessed the choice was out of her hands. She waited until he'd left the closet before she dropped the towel and reached into the drawer for fresh underwear. Homelander continued talking from the bedroom, sitting down on the end of the bed. "Did you see the magazine covers this morning?" he called out.
Victoria clasped her bra together at the back and slipped into a pair of panties. "Yeah," she said. "Everyone is swooning over how suave you look in regular clothes."
"Well they better not get used to it," Homelander said. "Besides, I only did it because I thought you might enjoy going on a date without people watching."
"And I did enjoy it," Victoria said and she suspected a part of her wasn't even lying about that. It had been nice to go outside without being swarmed by people. She pulled the red dress down from the hanger and slipped into it, shimmying it up and over her hips. "Except for when you lied to me about Mole City."
"You've named it?"
"In my mind the moles have built their own little city…buildings made out of dirt…flowers used as currency for food," Victoria said and Homelander chuckled at hearing her. "But you built up that image and then smashed it right down."
He watched her leave the walk-in wardrobe in the dress with the square neckline that was fitted and came down to her calves. She'd tugged her hair from the clip and tossed it onto the dressing table. Her hair tumbled down her back in gentle waves and she sat down on the stool, getting ready to freshen her makeup.
"I'm sorry for ruining Mole City," he said to her and she met his gaze in the mirror.
"I might let you off."
"What do I need to do to get back on your good side then?" he questioned, the smile widening on his face. It wasn't smarmy and it wasn't menacing. It was genuine and Victoria swore that it was only reserved for her sometimes.
"Hmm…maybe a night in? Could you get us out of whatever party Vought has planned for when you're acquitted?" Victoria asked from him. "It'd be nice to have a quiet night in, right? We could order food and maybe watch one of those films saved on the watchlist?"
"I might be able to swing that," Homelander assured her with a nod of his head. "Anything for you, sweetheart."
"Thank you," Victoria said gratefully.
She finished getting ready and then the two of them left for the courthouse for the final time. Victoria had gotten so used to the drive there over the recent weeks that it almost felt normal. Then again, she'd be thrilled whenever they didn't have to come back. Once again, the crowds were there but they seemed even more animated than usual. Victoria took her usual deep breath before they climbed from the car and headed into the courthouse.
…
Standing in the bathroom of the courthouse, Victoria checked her reflection in the mirror. She moved her fingers through her hair, trying to give it some volume. Jeremy had apprehended Homelander as soon as they entered the courtroom and Victoria had excused herself for the bathroom. She washed her hands and reached for a towel from the ledge above the sink. The door swung open and Victoria glanced into the mirror to see Daniella moving into the space.
Victoria finished drying her hands and tossed the paper in the basket underneath the sink before turning on her heel to leave.
"Don't run away, Victoria," Daniella demanded from her.
"The jury's expected back any minute. I need to go," Victoria said to her, her tone haughty and her voice low.
"Stop brushing me off. I'm trying to help you. I'm working with Annie now…once the trial is over then I'm going to the Starlight House to work as a legal advisor. We're worried about you."
"You're worried about me?" Victoria checked from her. "Why? You made your feelings about me quite clear, Daniella. Didn't you text me and tell me that you were the one who needed space from me?"
"I didn't know," Daniella defended herself, eyes pleading as she took hold of Victoria by the arm. "At the time, I didn't know what was going on with you. You were standing by his side, despite the fact he outed himself as a fascist. You defended him…and I never imagined it was because you were scared of him, but I see it now. I know why you've acted the way you have. Annie told me everything."
Victoria blinked profusely. "Everything?"
"Everything," Daniella declared. "And I should've known before. I should never have left you alone…when Michelle died…I can't imagine how horrible that must have been for you."
"No, you can't," Victoria agreed with her on that point. "We were a team, Daniella. It was us three against everything and growing up I'd never had that. I'd never had anyone look out for me. I didn't do friends. It's hard to have friends when you're the school freak who turns up…trying to hide scars when doing sports…trying to stay awake when the night before all I'd been locked in the closet while my dad beat my brothers. No one wanted to be friends with me and then I found you and Michelle. It all changed and I thought we'd be friends forever. I thought everything would be fine…I felt safe to tell you everything and I trusted you. I trusted you and then Michelle…we lost her and it was so cruel and I miss her every day. I miss us three and you were the only one who truly understood what it was like. We lost our best friend…and then you cut me off. You cut me off and we couldn't even mourn her together. I felt so alone. I felt like that little girl who'd grown up with no friends again."
Daniella looked at Victoria with tears forming in her eyes. Victoria could feel her own eyes watering. Her voice had risen an octave higher than she'd intended for it to. But she didn't care. She wanted Daniella to know what it had been like.
"You yelled at me at Michelle's funeral. I left feeling humiliated," Victoria whispered. "And then you refused to come to my daughter's Christening. You uninvited me from your birthday party. You made your feelings for me quite clear and I…all I did was marry Homelander. I was still me. I was still your friend."
"But that's the problem, Victoria, you weren't you at the time. You stood by a man whose very values you'd deplore," Daniella said. "And I thought that initially you were just blinded by love for him, but it wasn't that. You…you'd just had Evelyn…I should've known how tough it would be for you. I'm so sorry, Vicky. I'm so sorry."
Victoria shook her head and tried to wipe her eyes without smudging her makeup. "It's too late, Daniella. It's all too late."
And she left then. She wished it wasn't too late, but there was no chance of them getting their friendship back while Homelander was still around. He wasn't going to let that happen anytime soon. Leaving the bathroom, Victoria didn't get far without bumping into Homelander.
"Come here," he urged from her and opened his arms for her as they stood hidden in the corridor of the bathroom. She stepped into his embrace, her own arms moving up his back and underneath his cape. He held her tightly, a hand going to cradle the back of her head tenderly. "It's alright, sweetheart. I've got you."
"I miss her," Victoria confessed and Homelander rolled his eyes as he let his chin sit on top of her head. "I miss them both so much."
"I know, darling," Homelander humoured her as Daniella came scurrying out the bathroom.
He made eye contact with her and glared at her. She glared back at him for a moment, but the effect clearly wasn't what she desired considering that her eyes were wet and her cheeks blotchy. Homelander moved his hand up and down Victoria's back and she finished sniffing, pulling back from him and peering up to him as he offered her a sad smile.
"She's not worth your tears," he decided on saying to her and he moved his thumbs to the corner of her eyes, wiping them free of her tears. He cupped her cheeks gently and kissed her forehead. "You going to be okay, Vic?"
"I'm going to be fine," she assured him and sniffed again, knowing that she probably looked a mess. She moved her hands to sit on top of his, squeezing his gloved fingers. "You okay?" she wondered from him.
"Peachy," he assured her and kissed her quickly. "Come on, let's get this over with."
Victoria let him take hold of her hand and she walked by his side into the courtroom. She sat in her usual seat and kept her head held high as she waited for the verdict to come in. She looked to the back of Homelander's head as he was asked to stand and he did as requested by the judge. Looking over his shoulder, he caught her gaze and she just nodded to him and he returned her nod with a smile on his face, clearly hoping that everyone around him saw how reassuring he was being.
The judge asked if the jury had reached a verdict and the foreperson said they had. And then it happened. He said those two words Victoria knew was coming. There were gasps throughout the courtroom alongside cheers as well. Victoria watched as Jeremy congratulated his team and the judge declared that Homelander was free to leave. He turned around and Victoria moved down the row of seats past people who were just observing the scenes.
Homelander left his defence team, eager to get outside and see the scenes of chaos evolving. He moved down the aisle and Victoria greeted him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she embraced him tightly.
"You're free," Victoria said, stating the obvious. "It's over."
"It's over, sweetheart," he echoed. "Come on, let's get out of here."
He nodded his head and wrapped his arm around her waist and she took hold of his own waist. They moved down the corridors outside of the courtroom, Homelander bypassing the cameras that were waiting for them in the foyer. Instead, he moved towards the fire exit and Victoria wondered what was going on. It was only as he pushed the bar down did Victoria understand the full extent of what she was seeing. The crowds had turned violent. She saw that the barriers that had kept the Starlighters from the Hometeamers had been pushed to the ground and there were people fighting.
"What the hell?" Victoria whispered, the noise deafening.
She saw a man hit a woman with his placard, knocking her to the ground and kicking her in the ribs. Another woman was pulling on a young girl's hair. A mixture of yellow, blues and red seemingly fought against each other. Punches were being thrown and people were being tossed to the floor. Victoria saw split lips, bruised cheeks and cuts in skin wherever she turned.
"John…you need to do something," Victoria said to him as she looked at the scene of violence.
A young girl was tossed down to the ground right in front of her and a man in blue and red threatened to bring his placard down onto her. Victoria escaped Homelander's grip and stumbled forwards in her heels, almost losing her balance in her rush to get between the man and the girl.
"Vicky," Homelander snapped at her.
"Leave her alone," Victoria demanded, standing in front of the girl and holding a hand up to the man. He raised his own arm, fist balled and Victoria knew what was coming. But the punch never landed. Homelander was there in an instant, hand wrapping around the man's raised wrist and tugging him backwards.
"I don't think so," he said, stopping one of his own fans from hurting his wife.
The man was tossed off to the side and Victoria knelt down in front of the red head on the ground, her yellow Starlight shirt covered in dirt and her lip split, blood running down her chin. Victoria reached for her, helping her to sit up. "You okay?" she asked from the girl.
The girl didn't answer. Her eyes just darted around in confusion before they landed on Homelander behind Victoria and she realised who was helping her. She seemed to freak out at that and she pushed herself to her feet, running away. Victoria felt Homelander manhandle her back to her feet and she peered up to him.
"You need to stop this," she urged from him.
"You think I can?" he replied.
"You need to try. Please?" Victoria begged him and a brawl almost bumped into them, sending them moving backwards. Homelander reached for Victoria before she could fall over. He took her by the waist again and she grabbed hold of his forearm as he raised his voice.
"Everyone remain calm!" he tried to shout above the noise, but it was hardly making a difference. But to Victoria it sounded like he wasn't even trying. "We don't need to fight!"
"Oh my God," Victoria whispered as her eyes continued flitting around in horror. "They need medical help, John…People are being trampled…"
"No," Homelander said sternly as Victoria tried to push from him again to go and help people. But he wasn't letting her do that. He kept hold of her in his grip, refusing to let her go. She was about to complain but then she saw his gaze darken and his jaw lock. She followed his eyeline and saw a figure flying through the air, hands and eyes golden and movements jarring.
"Annie," she said as her friend landed in the middle of the crowd, brown coat billowing around her.
"Everybody please…please go home!" she begged. "We can fight, but not like this!"
And then she glanced to the side and Victoria made eye contact with her. Victoria shook her head once but Annie was already darting off into the crowd after having heard something that caught her attention. All of a sudden there was a piercing scream and the fighting started to die down as an eerie silence fell over the courtyard. Victoria frowned, wondering what was going on before she spotted it in between a gap of people.
There were three bodies on the ground, blood seeping from their skulls and staining the ground.
"John," Victoria whispered his name, her eyes widening and her spine stiffening. Her grip on his forearm increased as she clung onto him.
"It was Starlighters!" a scream from the crowd echoed.
"I saw them!" another one shouted.
"Oh my God," Victoria whispered and Homelander tried not to let the smile on his face grow. This was going exactly as he had hoped. His plan couldn't be better placed. Victoria shook her head slowly, a hand moving to her mouth.
Sirens started to wail then as the police tried to regain control of the situation, urging for everyone to return home or risk getting arrested. Victoria looked to her husband and she noted him nod into the distance. She wondered what he was nodding at, but by the time she looked around, there was no one there.
"Come on," Homelander suddenly said. "Let's get out of here."
…
Victoria was getting changed out of the dress she'd worn to the trial. Ryan was downstairs with Evelyn and Homelander was in the process of ordering food. Victoria had decided to go and change, but the truth was she needed a moment away from the kids to try and gather herself. What had happened at the courthouse had been horrible. She'd insisted Homelander not put the news on because she didn't want Ryan or Evelyn seeing it.
Since he'd been acquitted, the apartment had been inundated with flowers and gift baskets. Victoria was tired to continuous knocks on the door.
"You coming downstairs?" Homelander suddenly questioned, standing in the door of the bedroom.
"I just need a minute," Victoria said.
She was in her Durham sweatshirt with grey sweatpants and white ankle socks. She'd pulled her hair back from her face and had tucked it behind her ears. Homelander moved into the bedroom, arms folded over his chest before sinking down onto the end of the bed.
"What happened today was horrible," Homelander confirmed for her, hand rubbing the small of her back. "Starlighters killing those men…it was horrific."
"I know," Victoria agreed with him on that point. It had been horrible. She could still see the three men whenever she closed her eyes. Looking to her husband, Victoria looked him in the eye. "Why did you not stop it?"
"How could I have stopped it?" Homelander questioned from her. "I'd just been acquitted. I couldn't use my powers because what if someone got hurt? I couldn't risk that…risk going through another trial again…and no one was listening to me. The crowd was far too riled up to stop, even if I screamed at the top of my lungs. It's not like they listened to Annie either, is it?"
Victoria knew he had a point there, but she didn't want to admit it. But something didn't feel right. She couldn't explain it. She had this feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong. But she couldn't bring it up because she had no proof. She just relented, giving into him because she knew that picking a fight would do her no good. And maybe a small part of her wanted to believe him.
"Come here," Homelander urged from her and he wrapped her into his arms. "I know that today was scary, but we're free now. We're free and we're safe…and tomorrow morning we're going to be out of here. We're going to get away from everything for a little while."
…
A/N: And we are really into season 4! What do we all think so far of the new season? Any plot points you'd like to see developed with Victoria involved? Please do let me know what you think - I'd love to read your comments as they really do keep me going!
