Scared Homelander, Get Out of My Way

Vought International.

The Deep, then head of the Crime Analysis Department, was reviewing surveillance footage from around Crimson Countess's home after her murder under Homelander and Ashley's supervision.

"Stop!"

"Go back one frame."

Homelander suddenly said.

"Yes."

The Deep immediately rewound the footage on the computer by one frame. Homelander and Ashley leaned in behind him at the same time.

"Soldier Boy..."

Having grown up hearing about Soldier Boy's "glorious deeds," Homelander recognized Leon at a glance. The expression on his face instantly stiffened.

"How is that possible?"

Drawing on his fish-like intellect, The Deep offered his opinion. "Soldier Boy supposedly died about forty years ago. Could this be cosplay or CGI?"

"Shut up, The Deep!"

"You don't know a damn thing about CGI!"

With Homelander backing her up, even though Ashley was just an ordinary person, she could order around the useless Deep however she pleased.

"Both of you, shut the hell up!"

Homelander roared angrily, then muttered to himself.

"Look at his face. That's him..."

"So what do we do now?"

The Deep asked, pretending to look professional. In truth, he had no idea what Soldier Boy's reappearance meant for Vought or Homelander.

"I don't understand."

"If Soldier Boy never died, where has he been all these years? Why did he kill Crimson Countess? Weren't they a deeply devoted couple?"

"Fuck!"

Watching Soldier Boy in the surveillance footage seemingly pose for the camera and even wink at it, Ashley felt a sudden thrill.

Afraid Homelander would notice and hold her accountable, she hurriedly offered a loyal suggestion.

"Whether it's real or fake, we control nearly all the news outlets. I'll call the Vought News Department right now and have them announce that we've contained Soldier Boy..."

"Shut up, Ashley!"

Homelander gritted his teeth, red light glowing in his eyes. "Do you want to tell the whole world that Soldier Boy—the hero of heroes—came back from the dead and murdered Crimson Countess, who used to be his girlfriend?"

"Before me, he was the embodiment of Vought. His statue is still standing in front of Vought Tower."

"Ashley! Look into my eyes! Tell me!"

"I-I'm sorry, Homelander. I didn't think it through..." Ashley obediently met Homelander's gaze, tears welling in her eyes as her voice trembled uncontrollably.

Angry as he was.

Homelander still retracted his laser vision in the end. He had no intention of killing Ashley. Otherwise, who else could he count on to assist him?

That moronic piece of trash who only fucked octopuses, The Deep?

Damn it!

Was there really no one in the entire company who could work as smartly and diligently as he did?

"Oh, my God."

Homelander was so anxious that one of his coarse hairs fell out. His hands kept clawing at his hair.

"If news that Soldier Boy is still alive gets out..."

"Vought is finished..."

"I'm finished too..."

"Fuck!"

"How could something like this happen to me?"

"It's not fair..."

"This is fucking unfair..."

Homelander walked to the side and braced himself against the wall, muttering nonstop as anxiety made his ears ring.

Nearby.

The Deep and Ashley exchanged a look. They had never seen Homelander so panicked and frightened before, and neither dared make a sound.

After a long while.

Homelander resumed his usual arrogant posture, as if heaven came first and he came second. But his voice still trembled as he pointed at The Deep and Ashley.

"Listen."

"I'm taking full responsibility for this. I'll find him and kill him."

"And you, my friends."

"You will destroy all the footage. No one can be allowed to see it. If he screws up, you'll suffer in his place."

Eyes glowing red, Homelander looked at The Deep, then at Ashley.

Without waiting for either of them to give an affirmative reply, he anxiously called over Black Noir, who had been silently pretending to be invisible, and left the Crime Analysis Department.

The moment they stepped outside.

Homelander could not help asking Black Noir, Soldier Boy's former teammate, "Why exactly did Soldier Boy kill Crimson Countess?"

"..."

But Black Noir remained silent.

"Okay."

Homelander did not force Black Noir to speak. Instead, he suddenly felt comforted and patted his shoulder.

"Black Noir, you're the only one who's truly both a mentor and a friend to me. I'm glad you've always been by my side, facing everything with me."

"Seriously, people like The Deep and A-Train are piles of dog shit. You're the only person I can rely on."

Homelander meant every word.

Because Black Noir was a veteran superhero from the Payback era. Under Vought International's arrangements, he had accompanied Homelander through nearly his entire life so far, practically like a father to him.

However.

The moment he parted ways with Homelander and entered the elevator, Black Noir used his little dagger to dig the Vought tracker out of his arm and casually tossed it to a stunned female employee nearby.

That was right.

He was running.

Black Noir knew all too well how cruel Soldier Boy was, so he did not dare stay at Vought International for even another second.

Running might let him live.

But staying meant certain death!

Meanwhile.

After dealing with Crimson Countess, Leon and Butcher had returned to the motel serving as their temporary base.

Leon had just been about to enter his room to rest and wait for the system cooldown when American Sweetheart blocked his path.

"There's no need to look for Black Noir, but unless he's on a mission, he usually stays in Vought Tower. It'll be hard to catch him alone."

"I suggest dealing with the T.N.T. Twins and Mindstorm first. I've gathered almost all the intelligence on them."

"Fine. I'll catch some sleep. Wake me when you find them."

"Wait!"

Starlight, who had just come out of Hughie's room, called out to Leon.

"What is it, American Sweetheart?"

Leon walked up to Starlight. He stood a whole head taller than her, and with muscles like those of an ancient Greek statue—clearly built for violence—he was intensely imposing.

"Gulp..."

The huge disparity in size, height, and combat power made Starlight swallow nervously. Then she gathered her courage and demanded, "You hurt Hughie!"

"Oh, yes."

Leon admitted it readily, then walked past the stunned Starlight and looked into the room, greeting Hughie, who had awakened and was resting against the headboard.

"My friend, how are you feeling now?"

"Uh, not bad, I guess. At least I'm not dead."

Faced with Leon, the man who had nearly kicked him to death, Hughie's Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he replied with an unnatural expression.

"It's good that you're not dead."

"I should apologize to you, Hughie."

"Apologize?"

"No, no, no!"

After the A-Train incident, Hughie was practically traumatized by the word "apology." He immediately felt Leon had bad intentions and hurriedly refused.

"No, you deserve it, buddy."

Leon stubbornly walked to Hughie's bedside and apologized solemnly. "You know, those bastards kept me locked up for too long. I didn't mean to hurt you back then."

"You were only trying to help your companions escape. You never meant to harm me, but I kicked you far too hard."

"You deserve this apology, Hughie."

"I'm not a bad person."