Sitting outside on the private lawn around Vought Towers, Victoria covered her eyes with her hands. She moved her head around, hearing Evelyn gurgle softly as she spoke, her voice high and full of questioning.
"I have no idea where she could be…Evelyn?" she teased her daughter as her soft gurgles grew louder and turned into small laughs. Victoria's lips picked up before she opened her eyes and looked down her baby. "There she is!" she exclaimed, Evelyn's chubby little legs and arms flouncing upwards. Victoria reached for her and took her into her arms, holding onto her and bouncing her in her lap. "I know, baby…you're very good at this peek-a-boo game."
Spring was slowly upon them and it was only another two weeks until Victoria was due to marry Homelander. They'd had Evelyn's Christening prior to that, the event low key for security concerns. Victoria had looked to the nearly empty pews in the church, almost feeling empty inside except for the fact that her heart was full with Evelyn to her chest. No one from her family was there. Billy had told her that he couldn't face it. Daniella hadn't even bothered returning her RSVP. Annie and Hughie had come, sitting down near the front much to Homelander's dismay. But it wasn't as though he had wanted anyone there really. Edgar had stood near the back and watched, clearly making sure that Homelander would behave. He'd been keeping an eye on him closely ever since the incident with Stormfront.
"Well…if it isn't my favourite runaway bride."
Victoria kept Evelyn against her front and peered up. Supersonic was stood just to the side of her checked blanket, arms folded across his chest. His lips were arched and Victoria cocked her head to the side, her hair falling over her daughter's head.
"You've bumped into so many that you have a favourite, huh?" she checked from him and he chuckled at her.
"Oh yeah, New York City is full of them," he replied. "Can hardly move because of runaway brides."
"That must be quite the sight," Victoria said, patting Evelyn on the back and watching Supersonic. "What are you doing here?"
"I have another meeting with Ashley, but I'm half an hour early…thought I'd explore the gardens a bit and I saw you sat here," he said. "Figured I should come and say hi."
"You're still going ahead with entering American Hero?" she checked with him and he nodded his head, motioning to the blanket and silently asking if he could sit down. She nodded her head and he perched down onto the green and red checked material, hand holding his upper body as his legs stretched in front of him. Victoria continued rubbing Evelyn's back, stroking it gently and trying to keep her happy.
She moved her slowly in front of her, beaming widely at her, her daughter's little lips arching upwards slightly. She sometimes couldn't tell if Evelyn was laughing or just feeling gassy. She liked to think that she was laughing.
"This must be Evelyn, right?" Supersonic checked with Victoria.
"It is," she said with a nod of her head. "Isn't that right? Yeah? You're name's Evie," she cooed at her daughter who just continued smiling and making soft noises. She was dressed in a white onesie that had been a Christening gift from Starlight. She was growing out of most of her clothes continuously, but Victoria was glad about that. It meant that she was finally a healthy baby. She was breastfeeding her still, but there was talk about moving her onto other foods slowly. It was a lot for Victoria to learn, but she was doing her best. She'd read most baby books, studying them arduously while Evelyn napped.
"She's a cute little thing," Supersonic commented.
"I like to think so," Victoria said, nodding her head.
Supersonic noticed the empty bottle on the matt alongside a bag, its flap open and revealing some toys and diapers. The pram was next door and he suspected that it had cost a small fortune judging by the sight of it.
"So…what's going on with you?" Supersonic questioned. "I haven't seen you around in a while."
"You know, just keeping busy. I have a lot going on with this one and then I'm looking at going back to work too at some stage soon," Victoria said. "But I know you don't want to sit here and make small talk. You don't know me and I don't know you. We spent ten minutes in an elevator together."
"Almost sounds dirty," he said to her and she rolled her eyes at him. His lips arched and he chuckled. "I appreciate your straight-forward attitude, but yeah, small talk isn't exactly why I'm here."
"Then why are you here?"
"Well, it's not for Evelyn's juice box," he promised her. "You told me not to join the Seven. You gave me no reason…just not to do this…"
"Annie would tell you the same thing."
"And why is that?" he wondered. "Besides, I haven't even gotten through the auditions to go on the show. I might not get picked…but if you're going to tell me not to do this then I deserve a reason. I've put in so much work to get here and to make a difference. I want to change my life…be known for who I am…not Drummer Boy…but Supersonic. It's what I've worked towards and so I am not going to give it up without some reason and it looks like you're not going to give that to me."
Victoria knew that made sense. Why would he listen to a complete stranger? Why would he bother taking notice of her? She bit down on her tongue as she felt Evelyn rest her head on her shoulder. She kept her legs crossed, her black pleated skirt flowing around her and she was pretty sure Evelyn had drooled on her white jumper.
"Listen, Supersonic-"
"-Alex," he interrupted her.
"Alex," she said his name. "I know that it sounds ridiculous, okay? I know that I might sound…I don't know…like I'm making no sense."
"Which you're not."
"But I have nothing to gain from this. I'm not your competition. I have no desire to be anywhere near the Seven. I get nothing from you joining them or not joining them, but I'm trying to tell you that being part of the Seven…it's not what you think it is. It's not about saving lives. It's not about being a good person. It's dangerous. There are people in Vought who are dangerous. Annie tries to do the best she can, but you have no idea what she's been through. I've seen her suffer so much and I don't want to see anyone else suffer and definitely not a nice guy like you."
He considered her words then, trying to weigh her up. Looking her in the eye, he kept on staring at her, seeing that there was no malicious intent there. She looked worried for him. But why? Who was going to be such a threat to him? He tried to put the pieces together, brows knitting together and hand raking through his short black hair before he spoke in a low voice.
"Why were you running away that day?" he asked from her, wondering if he was on the right track as he waited for her to give her answer.
"I told you, I just needed a break."
He shook his head. "I'm not buying that. I saw it that day…just like I see it today…you're scared."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not scared of anything," she said and it was then when she heard it. It was the loud thud of him landing nearby somewhere. She looked around and saw that he was moving towards them, cape flowing behind him and his gaze set on her. His strides were long and purposeful. She moved to her feet, juggling Evelyn in her arms.
"There's my girls," he exclaimed loudly and Victoria plastered a smile onto her face as he came to them, arms outstretched. Alex stood up too, rubbing his hands together and stepping off the matt. He watched as Homelander moved a hand to the small of Victoria's back and kissed her quickly, eyes briefly closing. "Hey, sweetheart. What are you doing out here?"
"I was just spending some time with Evelyn," Victoria answered him.
"And you made a friend?" Homelander asked, smile wide as his gleaming blue eyes turned onto Alex in front of him. Victoria didn't want Homelander near Alex. He seemed like a nice enough guy and she knew how Homelander was with people around her, especially men.
"Yeah," Victoria said. "This is Supersonic. He's here for the auditions for American Hero."
"Supersonic, huh?" Homelander asked, holding his hand out for him to shake. Alex took hold of it, feeling the firm grasp from the supe in front of him. Homelander's mouth remained in a wide smile, teeth bared.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir, it's an honour," Supersonic said and Homelander knew he was like all of the other supes who fawned over him, wanting nothing more than his approval. He found that almost comical. He had spent his life longing for Madelyn's approval and then when she'd died, he realised he'd never needed it. He didn't really need anyone's approval.
"And you're here keeping my fiancée company," Homelander declared. "I didn't know you knew each other."
"We don't," Victoria was the one to answer and Homelander knew she was speaking too quick, her heart rate getting louder in his ears. He glanced down to her, brow arched and an amused look on his face. She was lying to him. "I mean, we met each other briefly a few weeks ago when he was in the Tower. He knows Annie."
"Yeah, didn't you two used to date years ago?" Homelander questioned, flinging his arm around Victoria's shoulder carelessly. He felt her stand up straight, almost flinching as she kept Evelyn against her. "Must be hard…going for a position in the Seven when your old lover is there."
"Well, we're ancient history," Alex said, waving a hand. "Besides, you seem to manage it with Queen Maeve, right?"
"Well, you've got a point there," Homelander agreed with him, hand squeezing Victoria's shoulder tightly. "But now I've got this one and she showed me what it is actually like to be in love. She's the only one for me, aren't you, darling?"
"Looks like it," Victoria said, her cheeks aching from smiling at him and he let out a deep hum, the noise echoing in his chest. Evelyn made a gentle noise in her arms and she looked down to her. "I think this one is sleepy. We should get her inside for her nap."
"Of course," Homelander said. "Good to see you, Supersonic."
"You too, sir," Alex said, bowing his head gently.
He turned on his heel and began to walk away as Victoria slipped from Homelander's grip on her shoulders. Hands dropping to his hips, he followed Victoria towards the pram. She laid Evelyn down in the bed, gently lowering her head to the pillow and then pulling the covers up to her chin.
"How do you know him?"
"I told you," Victoria said.
"You were fucking lying to me," he hissed at her.
She stood up straight and looked him in the eye, seeing the anger there. She had no idea how he could make a smile look so menacing. He lifted his hand up to her cheek, gloved fingers stroking it softly, thumb brushing along her cheekbone.
"I'm not," Victoria said.
"Why was your heart racing then?"
"I don't know," she rolled her eyes at him. "Perhaps because you're stood there acting like a possessive asshole?" she snapped and his hand dipped down to her throat for a moment, thumb press into the hollow of it. She took hold of his wrist and he let her move his hand from her. "You don't need to act like that whenever I talk to someone of the opposite sex. I might not want you, but I don't want anyone else."
She began to move to tidy up the bag and blanket, but he grabbed her wrist, spinning her around to face him. Catching her other wrist as she lifted a hand up to push him off of her, he pulled her body closer to his.
"You should watch how you talk to me," he demanded from her. "We're getting married. We're going to be together. You can keep this act up, but don't even think of finding someone else behind my back."
Rolling her eyes, Victoria went toe-to-toe with him. She wasn't going to be bullied by him when he was acting like a jealous teenage boy. "But you're okay to fuck other people behind my back? Just like you did with Maeve?"
"Trust me, I'm not fucking anyone. The fact that I am jerking off in the shower every morning is testament to that," he scoffed. "And I won't fuck anyone else either…there's only you and I can be patient. But you…if you think of looking anywhere else…thinking you can have anyone else, don't."
"Am I going to get this speech every time I talk to a male?" she wondered from him and he laughed at her.
"I just don't like people looking at my fiancée," was all he said. "I'm a possessive man, Victoria."
"Fine," was the only comment she offered him. "Now, are you finished warning me? Because I could use help tidying this up and getting our daughter upstairs for her nap."
"Of course, sweetheart," he said, going back to being sickly sweet and helping her to pack things away, carrying the bag for her and keeping a hand on her back as they headed back into the Tower.
…
Standing inside the Tower, Alex had turned around just in time to see Homelander grab Victoria by her neck before she pushed him away and tried to turn around. He didn't let her, grabbing her by the wrist, catching her other one before she could push at him. He dragged her tight to his body, his face inches from hers as he hissed something at her, a menace to his gaze. But she was refusing to back down. She jutted her chin out, snapping back at him. But there was something not right. He could see that much.
"You shouldn't snoop."
Alex turned around to see Annie stood there. She was moving into the foyer, dressed in jeans and a blue shirt, hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She folded her arms over her chest, motioning to the scene outside as Homelander started to help Victoria tidy things away.
"What the hell is going on there?" Alex questioned form Annie.
She shook her head at him, knowing that Homelander could probably hear them if he was listening in. She hoped that he wasn't and by the way he was looking at Victoria, she guessed he was too involved in their conversation. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to risk anything.
"Do you want a drink?" she asked from her old friend.
"Sure," he said hesitantly and followed her to the elevator.
They took the car up to the floor with her apartment. She stepped out and unlocked the door. Alex followed her into the room and she closed the door, locking it behind her and heading towards the kitchen. Alex whistled lowly, looking around the room. "This is pretty fancy," Alex said. "Little Annie's done pretty well for herself."
"You think, huh?" Annie asked, dropping her bag down onto the dining table chair on her way to the kitchen. Alex followed her through and she grabbed two diet cokes. Handing him one, she watched him grab hold of it and push the ring on it open, hearing it fizz. "I've got to say, I didn't think I'd see you again after the Capes for Christ circuit. I mean, I hear you most days I go out. Is Licence to Drive still in the Billboard top 100?"
"It's going for a record," he said and he saw her smile, exchanging a smile back with her. She went to sit down at her dining table, tucking a leg underneath her body on the chair. Alex sat across from her, taking a swig of his own drink. "But I am hoping you didn't ask me up to here to talk about my impressive pop career."
"Not entirely," Annie said to him. "Look, you need to be careful, okay? I…I love her to bits and I think she's amazing…but you need to stay away from Victoria. Homelander's…he loves her very much."
"I'm not trying to steal her from her fiancée. I'm not that much of a heartbreaker," Alex said and Annie tried to smile at him but he knew it was forced. He could see that much easily. "But that day in the elevator was more than just pre-nerve jitters. And then today…the way he acted and what I saw…there's something else there, isn't there?"
"Alex, believe me when I say that it's for the best if you don't know anything," Annie promised him, holding her can in her hands, grip tight.
He threw his hands into the air, frustration taking hold of him. "First she tells me not to do American Hero and now you're telling me that the less I know the better. What the hell is going on at Vought?"
"She told you not to do the show?"
"Yeah, practically warned me off," he replied. "And the funny part is that I was almost tempted to do as she asked because she…there was something that made me believe her…because something is not right here and I don't know what it is."
"Alex, I promise you that I'm not telling you for your own protection…but just stay away from Victoria and Homelander. You need to do that not just for your sake but for hers."
"She doesn't love him, does she?" Alex questioned. "I saw the way she flinched when he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her. That wasn't the face of someone in love."
Annie sighed loudly and flopped back in her chair. She shrugged and looked to the ceiling and said the only thing she could think of when it came to those two. "It's complicated."
…
Victoria thought that she was going to be sick. She didn't know how she had gotten to City Hall. She remembered not sleeping the night before. She'd been sat with Annie and Evelyn in Annie's apartment, preferring to stay there the night before the wedding. Evelyn was with a nanny for the day. Victoria thought that it would be for the best for her not to be there considering that it was going to be a long day and she didn't want her daughter paraded around for cameras. The room was full. Victoria had peered into it before going to the bathroom. But there was no one there for her. All of the Seven had turned up alongside Edgar and other Vought employees. None of it felt personal to her. She was about to walk down the aisle and marry a man she didn't want to marry.
"Is she in here?"
Ashley's voice came into the bathroom as Victoria hid in the stall. Annie was on the other side of it, waiting for her to come out. She said that she would walk with her down the aisle, holding her hand every step of the way.
"She just needs a few minutes."
"The guests are getting restless."
"It's a bride's prerogative to be late, Ashley," Annie said. "Just give her five minutes."
"Three," Ashley bargained and the bathroom door swung shut once more.
"Vicky…I…I don't know if Homelander will stay away for much longer," Annie said to her and Victoria remained sat on the closed toilet lid. She had her face buried in her hands, knowing that she was probably smudging her makeup slightly. She was trying not to cry and get her breathing under control, but it was difficult. She wanted to run away. She wanted to get Evelyn and run away, but she couldn't. She wouldn't even make it back to the Tower before him.
The bathroom door opened again. "What are you doing here?"
No one responded to Annie. There were footsteps outside and Victoria's ears pricked up as the door closed once more. "Victoria?"
His gruff voice echoed into her ears and she moved from where she was sat. Unlocking the stall door, it swung open and she saw him stood there in his usual long coat with boots, dark jeans and a floral shirt. His hair looked unkempt and his eyes had bags under them. She wondered when he had last slept.
"What are you doing here?" she wondered from him and he looked her up and down.
He looked at the satin dress that was plain white, long sleeves down to her wrist with a square neck and a slight collar. The skirts were slightly flared out but not too much. She had her hair hanging in soft curls down her back, a veil in her hair that was pushed behind her head and came down to the small of her back. He drank in her appearance, watching her as she stood in front of him, clearly nervous.
"I just…I had to see you," he said to her. "I haven't slept in days thinking about it…about today."
"Neither have I."
"And I am sorry that I haven't found anything yet," he said. "I'm looking, but it isn't easy…none of this is easy…but I need you to stay strong, okay? Or we can run. I can get you out of here."
Victoria shook her head. "Evelyn's at the Tower," she said to her brother. "I can't get to her before he does if he figures out I've ran. I need to stay with him because of her. He's never going to let her go…he might let me go…but never Evelyn."
"We can get your kid and we can go."
"You think there's anywhere I can hide where he won't find us? You've done so well keeping Ryan from him, but I don't know what he'd do if we tried to go…he…he's getting worse…and I know it's probably because I've pulled away from him, but ever since I found out about Flight 37 I've hardly been able to stand being around him."
"Hey, you have nothing to blame yourself for," he said to her and she shook her head as he moved his hands to hold onto hers tightly. "You owe him nothing and I needed to come here and tell you that I'm going nowhere. I am going to keep looking…I am going to find something that stops him…I promise you."
"You think you can? Because I don't know anymore, Billy," Victoria said. "But I need to go and do this. I need to do this and you need to keep Ryan protected."
Billy felt her move to embrace him, holding onto him. He kept his arms firmly around her, holding her tightly as a hand went to cup the back of her head. "Anyone else but him, Vic…if it was anyone else but him then I'd walk you down the aisle, you know that, right? I'd have no right after what I've done, but I'd be so fucking honoured…I just can't face him, not after Becca…and not to give you away to him. It's killing me. All of this is killing me."
"I know," she promised her brother and he kissed the top of her head.
"Sorry to break up this tender moment."
Victoria didn't want to move away from Billy. He made her feel safe and she hadn't had that in so long. But she had to. She looked to the door as she moved back from Billy, glancing to Homelander as he stood in the doorway, hands on hips and head held high. There was a smile on his face and his eyes were lighting up with glee.
"William, what a pleasant surprise," Homelander said. "Have you come to watch us exchange vows?"
"I'd rather have a heart attack and die shitting my pants," Billy said.
Homelander chuckled. "Always the dramatic one," he said.
"Just being honest," Billy retorted and then looked back to his sister. "You don't need to do this."
"I think you'll find she does," Homelander spoke for her. "We're going to be a family, William. We have a daughter together. Your sister here is going to give me the life I've always wanted and she'll come round in the end…she always does…just like she did in Chicago."
Victoria felt her spine stiffen and it was like everything inside of her collapsed. Billy's brows knitted together and he continued to look between his sister and Homelander. The supe's brows were arched on his forehead, a small smile on his face that showed nothing but taunting. Victoria shook her head and turned to glare at him.
"Why are you doing this?" she wondered from him.
"What? Telling the truth?"
"What happened in Chicago?" Billy questioned.
"Well, your sister there-"
"-I'm talking to her, not you, cunt," Billy snarled, pointing at Homelander and then looking back to his sister, hands going to her forearms and holding her firmly. "Victoria, what did he do to you? Did her hurt you?"
"Oh, she very much enjoyed what I did to her," Homelander murmured and Victoria shook her head, throwing him another glare. He was stood there so smug that she wondered how he could even claim to love her. If he loved her why was he doing this to her? Why was he hurting her like this? She bit down on her tongue for a moment and looked at Billy as he shook his head slowly.
"You didn't," he pleaded with her.
"It was a mistake," she promised her brother. "It…it was the funeral…I'd argued with Daniella...really argued...and he was there. He was there and he was-"
"-Don't make excuses," Billy snapped and dropped her from his grip. She moved towards him again as he stepped back, almost as though he was repulsed by her. "How deep has he got his claws into you, Victoria? You fucked him…willingly fucked him…and now you stand there and make excuses."
"As if you're perfect, Billy," she hissed at her brother. "You've made mistakes."
"Yeah, but they've never involved willingly sharing the bed of a fucking murdering piece of shit."
"Harsh words, William," Homelander said with a low whistle and Victoria wished that he would stop talking.
"Billy, please," Victoria pleaded with him. "It was a stupid mistake and it'll never happen again. I'm still me. I'm still your sister."
"No," Billy said with a shake of his head. "You're his."
His words stung and Victoria watched him walk out of the bathroom, Homelander willing stepping to the side to let him go. Victoria chased after him, but Homelander grabbed her wrist, stopping her from going any further. He kept her in the bathroom as she tried to prise his fingers from her, wanting to get away from him but failing.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded from him, pushing at his chest but not having any impact. She knew that she looked a state, feeling the tears flowing down her cheeks and her hair clinging to her wet skin. "Why did you say anything to him? You…you claim to love me, but you don't. What you just did…you're…you're just cruel."
"Cruel?" he questioned, testing the word on his tongue. "Victoria, I just told him the truth. We're going to be married. We're about to spend the rest of our lives together. You can keep up with this act, but we all know that it means nothing because you'll crack. You'll see that we can be happy without any outside interference getting into your mind."
"You seriously think that?" she asked.
"I know that," he said. "You just need to let it all go. You need to let go of William…Annie…all of those who would see us unhappy. You'd feel so much better and you know it."
"No, I won't," Victoria said. "And if you think isolating me from my friends and brother is going to make me love you and play happy families then you're wrong. I'm not going to do it and no amount of time is going to change that."
"You know I love a bet," Homelander said and he bent down to peck the top of her head. "Now clean yourself up. We need to go."
He left the bathroom and Victoria looked into the mirror, checking her reflection. Annie came back in a minute later, still holding the bouquet in her fingers. She saw Victoria grasping hold of the vanity, head bowed and hair in her face. Dropping the flowers onto the surface, she went to wrap her arms around her and hold her tightly, hearing her cries echo through the bathroom as she tried to soothe her.
…
Victoria didn't know how she had walked down the aisle. She wasn't entirely sure how she had let go of Annie's hand at the end of it, her grip so tight that her knuckles turned deathly white. Annie hadn't wanted to let go either. It had felt so wrong seeing her place her hands into Homelander's as she went to sit down next to Hughie, her boyfriend holding her hand tightly and silently promising her that he was there for her and not going anywhere.
She had said the vows, her voice shaking as all eyes remained on them. Homelander seemed to be relishing it, the attention completely on them. Victoria just tried not to glare at him. She didn't want to draw attention to herself anymore. Plus, she didn't want to make him annoyed, not sure what it was he would do if she did. He'd pulled her veil back tenderly before kissing her once the ceremony was over, finger curling under her chin and tipping her head back as his mouth descended onto hers and he kissed her.
The claps echoed through the room as he pulled back for a moment and then kissed her again for a brief moment, smiling to her in a way that made her almost feel as though he was genuinely happy with what had just happened. She guessed that he probably was. He was deluded enough to think that she would still love him. He thought that he could have the perfect family life.
"You know that you really do look beautiful," he said to her as they sat down for the three-course wedding meal. The room they had hired in a downtown hotel was filled to the brim with flowers, everything looking so elegant and classy. The table was covered in a white tablecloth, set with expensive cutlery and bottles of wine dotted around. Victoria and Homelander sat at the head of the table, Annie to Victoria's side while Stan Edgar sat to Homelander's side.
Victoria looked to Homelander. She watched as he rolled his eyes to the ceiling and he smirked. "You know, I think I can pay my wife a compliment. It's not so shocking," she promised him and he moved a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You're just stunning."
"Thanks," Victoria managed to bite out and Edgar watched the two of them.
He knew that he had Homelander under control for the time being, but he knew that he didn't have the power Victoria had over him. If she kept pushing him away then Edgar worried what it was that he might do. He worried that he might snap when he finally realised that, whatever feelings she might have had for him, no longer exist. She didn't love him, not really, and definitely not like he wanted her to. He'd blown any chance of that happening when she'd gotten her memories back.
They ate the meal with Homelander and Victoria engaged in almost stilted conversation, drinking wine with their meal until it was time for the first dance. Homelander stood up, offering her his hand. She slipped her fingers into his and let him pull her up from her chair. She kept her hand on his shoulder as he took her other hand in his own. His fingers on her waist were keeping her tight to him, not wanting to let her go. Victoria looked to see a string quartet playing on the small stage. She hadn't even noticed that. The light from the chandelier above glittered down onto the marble floor, people crowding the small area that acted as a dancefloor.
"You know that we can probably leave early," he whispered down to her, smile on his face as it looked like he was speaking sweet nothings to her. "Go home…spend some time with Evie…I miss her so much. It feels almost painful to be away from her for so long."
"I know," Victoria agreed on that point. "And she's growing so fast."
"Every day she seems different, but she's a miracle…a true miracle."
"She is," Victoria confirmed.
"Mind if I cut in?"
Victoria turned to see Edgar stood there, dressed in a sharp suit. He knew that Homelander would never deny him. And he wasn't proven wrong. Homelander's smile turned tight as he realised other couples had started dancing on the floor, people he barely even noticed from Vought. His fake family. He kept hold of Victoria's hand before letting Edgar take it.
"Of course," he said, voice strained. "But she's my bride, Stan, I'll be having her back."
"Wouldn't dream of taking her from you," Stan said, the hidden meaning behind his words.
Victoria watched Homelander skulk off to the side of the floor, hands behind his back and gaze darting around. He looked almost lost before A-Train cornered him and started talking to him about something, Maeve joining them a second later. Victoria was content that he wasn't entirely focused on her. She knew that he was looking in their direction occasionally as Stan began leading them, moving in small circles.
"I know that this is not ideal," he promised her. "And I know that we have never seen eye-to-eye on many things."
"But here we are," Victoria said.
She kept a respectful distance from him. Stan reminded her of a snake. He was cunning and calculating. Every move he made was well thought out and despite running a company full of people with powers, he wasn't scared of them. On the contrary, they were scared of what he could do. Victoria didn't know if that was impressive or terrifying.
"Here we are," he echoed back to her. "And I know that this marriage is not what you pictured when you first met Homelander, but it is the life you now have. Homelander…he is calmer when he is around you. You bring out a better side of him, especially so since the PR disaster with Stormfront."
"I'm going to assume that there is a point to this conversation that you'll be getting to at some stage?" Victoria asked and Stan chuckled.
"You see, despite our disagreements, I like you," he said to her. "You're a strong one. Homelander needs someone like you in his life…and you need him."
"You know that he can hear you, right?" Victoria checked, meeting her husband's eye for a moment as he pretended to listen to Maeve, but his attention was clearly fixed on them.
"I know and I don't care," Edgar said. "I need you to be better. I need you to be the perfect wife…this marriage…everyone is waiting for you two to slip up. Everyone is waiting for the first argument. People love fairytale weddings, but they love drama more. The way you've been acting recently…pushing him away…I've noticed it. It's hard not to notice it. Perhaps it might be for the best if you just tried harder."
"Tried harder?" she demanded from him. "You seriously…how can you stand there and talk to me like that?"
"Because this is the life you now have. You signed that contract months ago and you got involved with him. You made the choice to fall in love with him. You could have left after six months, but you fell in love and now here we are…this is what loving him means. It means that you do your duty as his wife. You do what needs to be done because we both know that it's the best option."
She remained quiet, lips pursed and gaze moving over his shoulder to Homelander who was watching them intently. The music stopped for a moment, everyone pulling apart to clap the band. Edgar nodded to Victoria. "I need to speak with your husband in private. You look lovely, Dr Anderton," he inclined his head and she watched him go, catching Homelander's attention before he could move to Victoria.
Standing in the middle of the floor, Victoria watched Edgar lead Homelander from the dining room. She remained rooted on the spot, feeling people looking at her. She knew that her face probably looked flat, but at that moment she wasn't sure she could force a smile. How dare he say she try harder? She didn't know if she wanted to scream or cry. Standing there, no one could ignore if she yelled. No one could shut her up if she shouted about just how horrific Homelander was. The longer she stayed there, the more people glanced at her. She could hear whispers and she hated it. She hated knowing that people were talking about her. But she felt trapped. Surrounded by all of these people made her feel as though there was no way out.
And then a hand skimmed her back, bringing her back to her senses.
"Mind if I have the next dance?"
She turned to see Alex stood there, dressed in his supe outfit. He held his hand out to her and Victoria nodded her head. Slipping her fingers against his, he took hold of her waist gently as she laid a hand on his shoulder. She looked around for any sign of Homelander, but he had gone. She didn't know if she wanted him to see her dancing with someone else.
"I didn't know you were going to be here," Victoria said.
"There was a last-minute drop out and Ashley needed the seat filling. I was shocked that someone had abandoned the wedding that everyone is talking about but turns out that he had food poisoning. Doubt you'd want someone vomiting at your wedding."
"I don't know, might have been funny to see Ashley freak out if they got some on my dress," she said and Alex chuckled at her, nodding and agreeing with her on that point. He turned them slowly around another couple, his movements confident and steady. "And you decided to come."
"Well, it was either this or watch that true crime documentary on Netflix that everyone's talking about."
"I think you might have made the wrong choice. The reviews for that are pretty incredible."
"Well, I can always escape early I guess…I just figured it would be rude to go without asking the bride to dance."
"And did you wait until my husband was out of the room before you did that?"
"I thought it might be for the best," he confirmed and then leant closer to her, voice dropping as he spoke, hand moving from her waist to the small of her back, fingers splaying and bringing her in closer to him. "I saw him at the Tower that day…his hand on your neck…and you are too scared to tell me why I shouldn't do American Hero…and Annie watching over you protectively. It's him. It all leads back to him."
"Not here," Victoria demanded from him, not sure if Homelander could hear them or not. She hoped he was too distracted to listen in. "Alex, we're not discussing this here at my wedding."
"I know, but I'm not giving up American Hero," he said to her. "Whatever is going on, running away from it is never the answer."
"No, but keeping yourself safe should be," Victoria said and the music stopped once more. "I need to go, Alex," she told him, standing back and clapping the band once more. "Look after yourself okay?"
"And you?" he asked her. "Who's looking after you?"
His gaze bore into hers and she wondered what he thought he knew. She gulped, her mouth drying out as she thought about what he had just said to her. "I'll be fine," she promised him, moving past him and squeezing his wrist as she left the dancefloor, everyone clearing a path for her to walk down as she went and stepped outside to get fresh air.
…
"You know that your wife can hardly stand you, don't you?"
Homelander's jaw tensed, his teeth clenching. He didn't need to be insulted on his wedding day of all days. He stood on the balcony of the dining room. The sun was dipping just beneath the skyline and the air had turned slightly chillier than normal. He kept his hands behind his back as Edgar continued talking, Homelander's glare unblinking.
"It can't come as a surprise, she's aware of what you've done and she has a moral compass," Edgar said. "However, we need this marriage to succeed. You created quite the PR disaster and in a way we were lucky that you had gotten Victoria pregnant so she came back to you. It helped you…her willing to accept your screw up with Stormfront."
"She loves me," he said confidently.
"Perhaps she might have done once upon a time, but the fact is that she would rather not now," Edgar said. "And this pretence that you're keeping up…you're good at it. I am not going to pretend you're not. But she is different. Victoria is completely different and I wonder if she will be able to keep it for much longer judging on the way she was sobbing in the bathroom before she walked down the aisle. I don't need people making assumptions or gossiping about the two of you. It will hurt the company even more and you've done enough damage."
"Is there a reason why I'm receiving this boring lecture on my wedding day?"
"Because I have a wedding gift for you," he said and pulled out a small bottle from his suit jacket pocket. The liquid was glowing red, looking almost toxic. "I've had the lab work on this for quite some time. It's been tried and tested. It's perfectly safe."
"What is it?" Homelander wondered.
"It alters memories," Stan said. "It's only temporary. It wears off after several hours but the person who takes it doesn't remember much, just that they had a headache…"
"What…I…I don't understand…"
"Give it to her before public appearances," Edgar said. "Just a drop in her tea and she'll be exactly like the Victoria you met…the one who remembers nothing of what you've done…of what Vought's done."
"How will she remember me?" Homelander asked. "Or if we've even got married?"
"I had it done to target specific memories…memories that cause upset. You don't need to know the details. You just need to give it to her to keep her on side when you're in public and stop people gossiping," he said. "But if you give it to her too frequently then there are side effects so just be careful. This is not a permanent fix."
Homelander took the bottle from him, looking at it and then placing it into the hidden pocket of his suit. Edgar just nodded his head and rejoined the party. Homlenader thought about what he'd just been given. He didn't want to use it. He would rather Victoria just accepted him. It took a moment for Homelander to let Edgar's words sink in before he turned to go back inside. Standing by the door, he looked in and saw his wife. She was dancing with Alex, his arms wrapped around her gently.
"I saw him at the Tower that day…his hand on your neck…and you are too scared to tell me why I shouldn't do American Hero…and Annie watching over you protectively. It's him. It all leads back to him."
Homelander's gaze narrowed on the two of them, staring at each other.
"Not here…Alex, we are not discussing this here at my wedding," Victoria's voice was soft but demanding.
"I know, but I'm not giving up American Hero. Whatever is going on, running away from it is never the answer."
"No, but keeping yourself safe should be. I need to go, Alex…Look after yourself, okay?"
He watched Victoria turn to go, but Alex spoke once more.
"And you? Who's looking after you?"
Homelander's grip on the bottle tightened as he watched her walk away to the balcony on the other side of the room. He knew that he had to be careful not to break the bottle, his grip almost too tight. He knew that there had to be a better way. He strode back into the dining room and followed his wife as she stepped outside, leaning against the balcony, arms folded over it.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said but she didn't turn around.
"Sorry, I just needed some air," Victoria said to him and he nodded his head.
"I know," he said, standing next to her. "It's fine. I get it."
"What did Edgar want?" she wondered, peering up to him.
"Nothing…just the usual 'don't fuck this up' speech," he said to her. "And you? I saw you dancing with Supersonic."
Victoria wanted to roll her eyes, not particularly caring for where the conversation was going. "He just asked to dance, John, nothing else."
"I know," he said to her, thinking of the bottle he was hiding.
Victoria frowned and looked at him with confusion on her face. "No threats?"
"I trust you," was all he said, the jealousy coursing through him at the thought of someone else near his wife. "Besides, it's our wedding day. William Butcher already tried to ruin it…nothing else will…I'll see to that."
She didn't bother asking him what he meant, turning her attention back to the skyline instead and longing for the day to be over.
…
They had managed to escape just as the clock struck seven. They'd spent an hour with Evie before putting her to bed, Victoria sat on the floor in her wedding dress and feeding her before reading to her as she lay on her playmat. Homelander had sat on the other side, legs stretched in front of him as his daughter looked between her parents and he played with the rattle in front of her face. He'd kissed her on the forehead before Victoria had taken her up to bed.
Homelander had gone into the kitchen and made her a mug of tea. He'd pulled out the bottle of red liquid and had looked at it intently. He thought back to Alex with his wife, the man knowing that something was off between them. He remembered how his hand had splayed on the small of her back, his other hand holding onto hers, fingers entwined. Loosening the cap on the bottle, Homelander poured a drop into her tea as it sat and brewed in front of him. He kept his hands flat on the worktop surface either side of the mug, head bowed.
"She went down quickly tonight," Victoria's voice suddenly came into the kitchen.
She walked in and set the baby monitor on the breakfast bar. She was still dressed in her wedding dress, the skirts flowing behind her. She had taken her veil off, leaving in on the sofa. Her hair was nowhere near as curly as it had been earlier on.
"We maybe kept her up a bit too late?" Homelander said.
Victoria shook her head. "Maybe," she said, "but it was just one night. Hopefully she'll sleep for a few hours before waking up for a feed."
"I can do it tonight," Homelander said and she reached for the chocolate she kept in the cupboard by the fridge. It was some stuff imported from England considering she said that American chocolate tasted nothing like English chocolate. She tore off a square and popped it into her mouth, chewing it slowly and then swallowing.
"You sure?" she asked him, grabbing another square.
"She has her bottles in the fridge, right? I can feed her."
"Alright," Victoria said, nodding her head. "Well…I might head to bed. It's been a long day."
"I made you a mug of tea," Homleander said. "Take it with you…I think I'll stay down here for a while."
"Alright," Victoria said. "Thanks," she took the mug from his hands and had a sip right there and then. Homelander watched her for any reaction, but there wasn't one. She just kept on walking out of the kitchen, picking the baby monitor up on her way. He followed her, seeing her take the spiral staircase with the mug still in her hand.
Sitting down on the couch, he leant back, legs spread and head tilted back. She might not even drink it all. Chances were that she'd put on her bedside table and forget it. He turned the TV on, watching the news that already was showing photos from their wedding. They'd spent an hour getting the perfect shot in the foyer and the balcony. The one on the show was of them sat on the staircase in the middle of City Hall, Homelander one step above Victoria as her arm rested on his lap, holding her bouquet as she looked up at him and he looked down to her, smiles on their faces. They looked so convincingly in love. Homelander paused the TV, looking at them, his eyes almost watering at the fact that it was all just public displays and nothing else.
"John!"
She didn't shout loudly, but she knew she had no need to. Leaving the TV on pause, he stood up and took the steps up to the landing upstairs. He went to the guest room, but the nightlight was the only light on. He frowned as he saw Evelyn sleeping soundly in her cot, but Victoria wasn't there. Listening to her heartbeat, he heard it in his room. Frowning, he moved towards the ajar door. He pushed it open and his breath hitched as he saw her there. She'd taken her wedding dress off and she was leant against the doorframe to the ensuite, dressed in only a white lacy set of underwear, stockings and a garter. His mouth dried and his eyes widened as she jutted her chest out slightly.
"Vicky…what…" he began to ask but didn't entirely have the words.
"It's our wedding night, John," she said. "And I do believe our daughter is sleeping soundly for at least the next three hours if we're lucky…so…we need to make the most of it."
He said nothing further. His lips turned upwards. It had worked. It had worked and now he had his Victoria back. Striding over to her, he caught her lips against his, kissing her firmly as his hands held her hips. He felt her hands go into his hair, tangling into it and scraping deliciously against his scalp. He moaned into her mouth before dipping his lips down her neck. He heard her moan loudly as he kissed along her chest and breast, his mouth wetting the fabric of the bra before he moved down her stomach and came to kneel in front of her. She kept a hand in his hair, grabbing it tightly as he ran a hand over her thigh, feeling the material of her stocking.
"John," she moaned his name as he kissed the inside of her thigh.
He needed this. After months of nothing but distance, he needed one night of intimacy. He knew that if she found out he'd drugged her then she'd despise him even more, but he didn't know if that was possible as things stood. This was a temporary fix, but it felt so good. It felt so right. It wasn't why Edgar had given it to him, but he didn't care.
"I've got you, sweetheart," John promised her, biting her thigh softly as she thrust her hips closer to his face. He moved her leg over his shoulder. "Lean back against the wall," he demanded from her, inhaling her arousal through her soaked underwear, his nose brushing against the material and she groaned again. She let the wall take most of her weight and he finally used his other hand to move her underwear to the side. Peering up to her, he smirked. She was a hot, panting mess already and he hadn't even started. "Good girl," he whispered before he gave her what she really wanted.
…
He could still hear her gathering her breath as he pulled out of her. He moaned at the feeling before she collapsed against his front, her hands behind his shoulders as she grabbed the headboard behind him. He kept his arms firmly wrapped around her waist, kissing her neck tenderly and brushing her hair off to one side. She hummed contently at the feeling, her hands slipping to his neck and her face burrowing against it as he kissed the side of her head, wanting to kiss any available space he could find.
"You're just perfect," he whispered to her and she smiled at him, kissing him quickly on the lips. And she was. This was his perfect Victoria. This was exactly how it should be. "And all mine."
"I guess the ring confirms it," she said, smiling genuinely and looking down to the ring on her finger as she remained in his lap, kissing his shoulder, her hair brushing his skin softly. "You ever think that we'd end up here…married…a daughter…everything perfect."
"I always knew we'd end up here," he said confidently. "From the moment I fell in love with you, I knew there would be no one else. There would always be you…only you."
"You're so sappy when the cameras aren't rolling, you know that?" she asked from him, kissing along his neck and he felt himself growing with need for her again.
"Only for you, darling," he promised her.
"Hmmm," she hummed against him as he manoeuvred them. She kept her legs locked around his waist as he laid her down on the mattress, head just about resting on the edge of the pillow. He propped his body up on his forearms, hovering over her and kissing her slowly. "You sure we can't have a honeymoon?" she wondered from him.
"We both agreed we didn't want to leave Evie…although five days of uninterrupted sex does sound bliss," he said. "We'd miss our daughter too much."
"Guess we'll just have to make the most of the evenings then," she said and he nodded, forehead brushing hers, hair unkempt and slipping onto his forehead.
"Guess we will," he replied. "I love you, Victoria."
Looking him in the eye, her smile widened and the adoration was back in her gaze. "I love you too."
…
"I'm giving you leads on supes, aren't I?" Maeve checked with him, standing in the doorway to the space he was using as his office. It was pretty messy, the smell of beer and pizza entering her nostrils. He must have gotten drunk. She stood with her arms folded over her chest. He didn't exactly look bothered by her being there, but he also looked pretty drunk too.
"Yeah, and in turn I'm tracking them down and giving them to Hughie and his Department of 'Let's Do Things By The Fucking Book'," he retorted and Maeve cocked her brow. She'd changed into jeans and a checked shirt before finding him. No one knew they were working together, but it was for the best. It wasn't as if they could openly admit to it because they were supposed to be on opposing sides.
"You didn't come today," Maeve said, broaching the subject.
Billy was sat on the couch, arms slung over the back of it and head tilted back. He'd gotten back to the office and it had been empty, Frenchie and Kimiko nowhere to be found. M.M. had gotten out, claiming that he wanted to live a normal life.
"Yeah, I did. I saw her before she married the cunt," he said and Maeve moved further into the room, sitting on the edge of the chair across from him. He leant forwards and picked up the bottle of whiskey. He took a swig straight from the bottle, not bothering with a glass. "I saw her…and she…she looked so beautiful…my little sister…"
"She's trapped, Butcher," Maeve said to him and he scoffed.
"Yeah, I thought so too…until I found out she'd fucked him," Butcher scoffed.
Maeve was silent and she looked down. She could hardly say anything. She knew what and who he was. She'd known and she had also slept with him numerous times. But she had never loved him, not really. She'd never actually cared for him like he seemed to think she had. But she did know what it was like to feel trapped with him.
"Don't abandon her because of that," Maeve said with a shake of her head.
"What if this is what she wants? What if she does want him?"
"You don't know what it's like to be trapped by him, Butcher," she warned him. "You have no idea what he can be like and I've seen him with her. I've seen how charming he is with her. He made her fall in love with him. He put on such a good act and I…you're not the only one feeling guilty. I should have done something sooner. I should have tried to get her out."
"Can't make someone leave if they don't want to."
"But she does want to leave," Maeve said. "She's not like us. Yes, she's tough, but she's not as strong as we are. She's got no one. Do you understand that? Her best friend died. Her other friend clearly isn't talking to her judging by how she didn't turn up to her wedding. Annie can hardly do anything to help her because Homelander's keeping an eye on her. She slept with him, fine. Did she say she regretted it?"
Billy just nodded once.
"Then it was a moment of weakness that he probably knew how to exploit because that's what he does. He exploits people…manipulates them…and she spends day in day out in that Tower with him. She's had his child. You think it's easy for her? She loved a man who wasn't who she thought, but he still is him for her…just for her…so lighten up on her, alright? Don't punish her because she fucked up one time."
"I didn't know you came here to lecture me," Butcher complained, taking another swig of beer.
Maeve rolled her eyes, hands clasped on her thighs before she stood up straight, wiping her hands on her jeans.
"I came here to tell you that if we're going against Homelander then we need something more powerful than him," Maeve said. "And I think I might have something. I just need some time to confirm my sources."
"What is it?"
She shook her head. "I'm not telling you while you're drunk," she said. "Sober up and get your act together," she demanded and he chuckled as she moved over to the door. "And apologise to your sister."
He heard her slam the door behind her and he closed his eyes, wondering if Victoria would even accept his apology.
…
A/N: Getting closer to Season 3 already! Big thanks to HomiesLazer and sansondonisha398 for reviewing the previous few chapters! Honestly, I would love to get your thoughts etc. and what you want to see moving into Season 3. Intention is to give Supersonic more of a role (as you've maybe guessed!). Would love to know what you're thinking!