In the corridor.
Ashley Barrett had left early to deal with work. As Vought's president now, she was busy as hell every day.
Soldier Boy and Homelander walked side by side into the elevator.
Neither spoke.
Only when the elevator doors slowly closed, leaving father and son alone, did Soldier Boy light a cigarette and take a hard drag.
"John."
"Hm?" Homelander turned his head, smiling.
"Besides Edgar, there's another mess we haven't cleaned up." Soldier Boy hinted at something.
Homelander's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Soldier Boy exhaled smoke and said flatly, "The Supervillain Plan."
The smile slowly disappeared from Homelander's face. Of course he knew what Soldier Boy meant.
Distributing Compound V overseas, then presenting the supes it created as threats to maintain the company's interests and its partnership with the United States military.
Although Edgar had tacitly approved of the operation growing to its current scale, Homelander was the one who had actually carried it out.
Soldier Boy didn't look at him, merely watching the floor numbers change.
"Vought belongs to us now. I'm going to turn it into a real hero company."
"Clean up your own mess. Don't always expect someone else to wipe your ass."
Homelander fell silent.
In the past, if anyone had dared speak to him like that, he would have punched their head apart. But the person saying it was Soldier Boy, and he knew he was right.
Several seconds passed before Homelander said quietly, "I already ordered intelligence to compile the list again not long ago."
"Every confirmed supervillain will be tracked down again, and distribution of Compound V has already stopped."
Soldier Boy gave Homelander a suspicious look, but finally said casually, "Not bad. You're making progress."
At that assessment, the corners of Homelander's mouth rose involuntarily before he quickly forced