Ch.27

"Have you ever worked with someone you hate?" Maggie asks me as we sit and eat the breakfast I made for us again. 

"A few times, though I usually just ignore their dumbass or act petty around them in spite," I say to her thinking about some of my past moments. 

"Yeah, makes sense… Though my issue can't let me be petty or ignore them… Especially since we work closely a lot and it might make a lot of issues appear should I try to leave," Maggie says to me as I look at her trying to think what to say, but it seems she might be talking about Homelander. 

"That sucks… I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think you might be able to walk away from your job one day?" I say to her while trying to poke at what she does since she still hasn't told me who she really is. 

"Maybe… Though not any time soon, plus there is a new girl and she already is having some problems at work. I feel like if I leave she will be thrown to the wolves and I want to make sure she doesn't end up like… like me," Maggie says talking about Starlight the new addition to the Seven. 

"I see… Well, I'm not sure I can do much, but just ask me and I will do what I can to help you," I say to her as she gives me an appreciative look, but a sad smile takes its place very quickly. 

"I appreciate that, but… I doubt you can do anything to help me, hell I doubt anyone could help me right now… And just by us meeting up could spell trouble for you," Maggie says to me giving me a worried look now. 

"How?" I say to her hoping she will open up to me more.

"Cause… Cause, my job–" Maggie starts to say then she gets a phone call and her eyes widen. 

"I'm sorry I have to go," Maggie says quickly hiding who is calling her and running out. 

'Fuck, so close,' I think to myself after she leaves.

'We found her,' I see a text that just popped up from Frenchie on my phone. 

I let out a sigh, before responding back I will be there shortly. Then I take a quick shower, before throwing on some clothes and heading over to them. I walk over to an apartment complex outside the main city. The place looks like any other apartment complex. However, here it houses Popclaw, A-Train's girlfriend who we can possibly blackmail to find out what had A-Train freaking out the day he killed Hughie's deceased girlfriend Robin. 

Popclaw, from what we know has cat-like claws and super strength, Popclaw's superpower launched her to stardom at a young age, getting her a place in the storied Supe team Teenage Kix, as well as the starring role in the sexy thriller movie franchise, Terminal Beauty.

Then like many young celebrities who start out on a meteoric rise, her fall from grace came fast and hard when she was photographed by paparazzi while partying half-naked and high on drugs. The damage to her reputation was catastrophic, and she lost everything. Now she just takes on D-list acting jobs to get by, which from the looks of it is just barely. 

"So, find anything new out?" I ask as I step into the van parked a few places down watching her apartment from a distance. 

"Not much, just that A-Train visits her not as frequently as she would probably like. Plus she appears to be having money problems, her landlord has been asking her about the rent this month," Frenchie says since MM and Hughie are walking inside to take control of her electronics on the inside. 

"Where's Butcher?" I ask Frenchie while taking a seat inside the van. 

"No idea said he had something to take care of and he'll be back later," Frenchie says as I roll my eyes and text Butcher to inform me next time he needs to take a leave of absence. 

"Shit! A-Train showed up," I say seeing A-Train appear outside her apartment. Frenchie then quickly informs Hughie and MM that A-Train is on the way up. 

A few minutes later, MM and Hughie came back down after A-Train already entered. Then they walk over to us and enter the van, Frenchie and I give them expecting looks for what happened. MM sighs since Hughie looks like he wants to punch the van in anger and frustration. 

"We were able to take over her electronics… Though we ran into A-Train, who didn't recognize Hugie luckily," MM says opening up a laptop and showing us the inside of the apartment where A-Train is now inside talking with Popclaw. 

"That fucking bastard! He didn't even recognize me!" Hughie says very upset that A-Train doesn't even remember the person he met after killing thier loved one. 

"Calm down… I understand you are upset, but right now we have a job to do," I say to Hughie as he grumbles but goes quiet. 

"If I don't win that the race tomorrow, Stillwell told me that I'd be out of The Seven if I lose! I need more Compound V, it's the only way I will win the race. You have more right?" A-Train says as we all look at one another confused about this 'Compound V'. 

"Sorry I'm late, had something to take care of and I promise to let you know next time it was an emergency," Butcher says getting into the van and then seeing our confused faces. But I hold up my hand to keep him quiet. 

"The last time you used the stuff you ran through that girl, I don't think you should do it again," Popclaw says as Hughie grits his teeth in anger, while A-Train stands up in annoyance. 

"Fuck that! I need it or I'm out! I know you have some stashed here, I need it!" A-Train says giving her a very angry look, Popclaw with an annoyed sigh walks into her bedroom. 

Popclaw then grabs a black duffle bag that was stored in her closet and then walks back to A-Train who is pacing in her living room. Popclaw then tosses the bag onto her coffee table, A-Train immediately opens it up and takes out a small vial with a blue liquid inside. He smiles while holding it up and then places it back inside the duffle bag while kissing Popclaw in happiness. 

"Thanks, babe," A-Train says while looking like he is ready to leave having gotten what he came for. 

"Wait, what about tomorrow? I'm still going right and we are going to tell the world we are together," Popclaw says while giving A-Train a hopeful look. 

"Yeah… about that… Tomorrow is not going to be a good day, Stillwell thinks we should push it back to another time," A-Train says while looking at her with a faked apologetic look. 

"Are you fucking kidding me?! After all the preparation I did! I got plucked like a chicken all over my body to make sure I looked perfect!" Popclaw says extremely upset with A-Train now. 

"I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do about it," A-Train says and goes to give her a hug trying to make up but she backs up placing her arms between them. 

"Get the fuck out," Popclaw says as A-Train sighs but nods his head and then quickly leaves. 

A few seconds after he leaves Popclaw goes berserk and begins smashing some of her things in anger. She then changes into an outfit she used in some of her movies, which is a tight leather bra and a mini skirt, with knee-high leather boots. Right after she walks over to a secret stash of hers and takes out a vial filled with blue liquid like the ones she gave to A-Train. 

Popclaw then takes a needle out and draws some of the blue liquid out before shooting it into her arm like a heroin addict. She lets out a growl of anger and euphoria before she starts shadowboxing while bringing out her two bone claws from her wrists curving past her hands. 

"Shit, we need whatever that Compound V shit is," Butcher says having gotten caught up to speed as Popclaw is doing her thing. 

"No shit," Frenchie says to him sarcastically making Butcher frown at him. 

"What do we do?" Hughie says while trying to think of a solution. 

"We split up, Frenchie, Butcher you watch Popclaw and see if you can find a way to blackmail or steal some of the Compound V from her. While Hughie, MM, and I will get into the race between A-Train and Shockwave. We will see if we can steal some of the Compound V there if the opportunity arises," I say as they nod, with Frenchie and Butcher staying behind to watch Popclaw. 

"I'll get the tickets for the event, Hughie go with MM and get the supplies ready for the event tomorrow," I say to them as they nod and head off back to the hideout we are using now which is in the basement of a store. It was through the connections of Frenchie that we could stay there without anyone knowing. 

I pull out my phone and buy us some tickets to the race tomorrow, which I had to spend extra on due to the scalpers. Then I got a press ticket for Hughie since he can sneak in that way. At the same time, MM and I act like regular people coming to watch the race. 

The following day, MM switches with Frenchie to watch Popclaw since Frenchie would be better at stealing Compound V secretly. We three then head to the race, where Hughie gets his camera and press pass making his way to the press area. While Frenchie and I walk into the stands like everyone else. 

Frenchie then walks off to the area he can climb into to sneak through and get into the locker room from the ceiling. While I watch the race to make sure the locker rooms are clear of anyone. We are all waiting for the race to start, but then I see Maggie down on the track doing an interview. A few seconds later Homelander appears and continues the interview with her. 

I see Maggie become uncomfortable and annoyed by his presence once he appears. Then the interview ends with Maggie and Homelander walking to the top of the stands where they wave to everyone. Just as they were waving to everyone, A-Train walked out with his team.

"Frenchie you are clear," I whisper to the coms for Frenchie to steal the Compound V.

I then turn to look back at Maggie and Homelander, she and Homeland appear to be talking from their lips moving just barely visible. Then Maggie gives an annoyed look to Homelander before we make small eye contact, then Maggie does a slight double take with her eyes as we look at one another, she gives me a look like a deer in headlights. 

Maggie then quickly takes her leave as Homelander stands there waving before putting his hand down and smiling at everyone like he is the nicest person to exist. I quickly leave afterward, since during that time Hughie appeared to have run into Starlight needing to distract her as she almost walked in on Frenchie stealing the Compound V. I make my way to our car, which we borrowed from Butcher, as we are to meet there before leaving. 

"John," I hear Maggie say to me as I walk in the parking lot, I turn to see her give me a look of sadness. 

"Maggie…or I guess Queen Maeve, hey," I say not sure what to say here. She winces when I call her Queen Maeve. 

"Maggie is fine… so, now I guess you know what I do," Maggie says to me giving me an apologetic look. Then I see Frenchie quickly walking over but then stops wide-eyed seeing Queen Maeve talking to me. 

'Fuck,' I think as Frenchie is looking at us and needs to get out of here.