Chapter 16

10 reviews = bonus chapter

500 gems = bonus chapter

Advanced chapters at:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

The short conversation left a very strong impression on the two troublemakers, who suspiciously escorted the Homelander with attentive glances. M-M, a black-skinned large man with a beard, looked at his former boss that he had decided to gather their team again for a big case. And now he was beginning to realise how reckless it had been to get involved in this shit, once again. This time it was far more serious than it had been with Lantern Man. It was too dangerous, especially for his family.

- What do you say? - M-M muttered, furrowing his brow. Butcher knew they'd already been discovered, but he hadn't said a word about it.

- I'll say I want a drink," Billy replied calmly, heading toward the car park.

M.M. looked at the figure moving away from him and followed. Huey, who was just returning from his impromptu walk around the fair, stared at them in surprise. M-M only waved his hand, inviting them to follow, which the boy obeyed without complaint. He didn't ask any questions, sensing immediately the oppressive atmosphere around them. Soon they reached the car park and suddenly witnessed Butcher's aggression, which was directed at the tyre of the van they had arrived in.

- Bitch! Fucking bastard! AHHHHHHH!!! - Billy shrieked, living up to his last name or nickname by continuously kicking the tyre of the van. And it was scary, so much so that Huey preferred to hide from the possible glare of "The Butcher" behind M-M's broad back.

- What's the matter? - Huey asked worriedly of the only one of the two who was still calm.

- Homelander happened," M-M replied briefly, but succinctly enough to convey the essence of the shit they'd gotten themselves into.

- What?" was all Huey could manage in his husky voice.

- Whew... Fuck! - Butcher kicked the tyre once more, finally calming his nerves a little and turning his attention to the witnesses to his breakdown. He smirked, glancing at Huey's terrified face. - What, Hugh? Did you shit your trousers?

- Leave the boy alone, Butcher," M.M. said, looking straight into the Briton's eyes. - What haven't you told us that we need to know?

- Homelander flew to my house and then he flew away. Just gave me one last look with his red eyes," Billy admitted with a sigh. - That's all. So relax your buns.

- Relax my buns? Relax your buns?! - Huey couldn't take it anymore, shouting at Butcher.

- Yeah, be a man already! - Butcher shouted back. - Pull yourself together. Nothing's decided yet.

- Nothing's decided? - M.M. frowned. - What's on your mind?

- We're going to continue what we started. You go to Ezekiel and show this," he showed a video on his phone of a rubber pervert sucking off two sweet boys at once.

- It was in that club," Huey recognised the place in the video. - But Homelander.

- If he wanted to stop us, he would have. Even right now, but he didn't. Which means we have to take this chance.

- Butcher, tickets to see him privately cost fifteen thousand," M.M. tried to talk some sense into him.

- We'll take it from one of the lucky ones," Billy grinned, to which M.M. only rolled his eyes. It was the kind of thing he'd expected from that lunatic.

***

Getting ready to go on stage... it wasn't even funny. Jon was pissed off that he'd have to speak out of the mouths of idiots who had little idea what they were trying to accomplish. Another word in support of those who promoted the inclusion of supers in the military. Only he didn't like it at all. This whole situation smelled bad. So much so that he even thought he should have screwed up that mission with the plane on purpose. Then he wouldn't have had to worry about all of this. But he quickly dismissed those thoughts, realising that he would have gone mad from the gravity of what he'd done. He's not a monster... is he?

- You getting ready? - Starlight came into the tent, pulling him out of his thoughts.

- Not really," John smiled, turning to her. - But I'm trying.

- At least you won't have to read from a teleprompter," Annie said, not happy about that.

- Well, there's only one way out of this," John grinned, stepping close to her.

- What is it? - she asked expectantly.

- Not to read, but to talk," he announced solemnly, burning the papers in his hands with a glance. - Will you take the baton?

- Why not," Starlight grinned at him with burning eyes, and then in a burst of emotion kissed the hero, which he did not mind at all.

After a while the girl left the tent, because Ashley was looking for her, leaving behind a pleasant aftertaste, literally. Snorting at his own thoughts, John shook his head and looked down thoughtfully at the ashes from the paper. But what distracted him from that was the ringtone of the smartphone that was in the pocket of his suit. He stared in surprise at the name of whoever was calling him before picking up the phone.

- What's up, Deep? - John asked bluntly, not wanting to waste time on a greeting given his imminent exit.

- Homelander, hi," Kevin answered uncertainly. - I'm here about Ocean Land.

- What's going on with them? They want to cancel your contract? - John rolled his eyes, realising that he was going to talk about something that annoyed him.

- 'No... that's not what I mean. There are dolphins out there and they feel bad about leaving. I've told them that many times, I even spoke to Stillwell about it recently. But they don't listen to me! They don't realise they're alive!

- Yeah, yeah, calm down," John said, realising from his voice that Kevin was very drunk and inadequate. His fear of the Homelander was so strong that he couldn't even say a word against it, let alone shout.

- I can't do it anymore! She's screaming, begging me to get her out of there! - Kevin shouted hysterically into the phone, not even trying to be quiet.

- Okay, wait for me. Kevin, I'll be right there. Where are you? - John said in a soothing tone, not at all happy about having to rush out and calm the idiot.

- Me? I'm in the van right now, in front of Ocean Land," came Deep's perplexed voice after a few tense seconds.

- I'll be right there, don't do anything," John hung up the phone, glancing towards the stage with irritation.

Sighing, he still flew in the direction of the stage, where he landed to the enthusiastic shouts of the crowd. John smiled, waved to the audience and walked over to Ezekiel, who was looking at him in surprise.

- I'm sorry to interrupt your performance, Ezekiel. But I'm in a big hurry. You don't mind, do you? - John asked, clapping the all-white super on the shoulder.Ezekiel's appearance was not unusual, a simple blond man with long hair and a neat beard. Even the clothes he wore were only white and not meant for superhero business at all. It's understandable, such a reputation where there's no room for physical violence, though sexual violence is best not mentioned.

- Sure thing, Homelander, brother," Ezekiel smiled back, extending his arm towards the backstage area. Then he retracted his extended hand back, handing him the microphone.

- Thank you," Homelander nodded and turned to the audience, who were waiting with anticipation for the words of America's greatest hero. - I'll be brief. Vote in favour of the superhero enlistment bill, because it's something that will get you absolutely... nothing.

People looked up in incomprehension at his words. And Ashley's eyes almost popped out of her eye sockets, whereupon she frantically started dialling Stillwell's number. The others were in just as much shock, except for one quiet blonde who was standing off to the side.

- Yes, don't be surprised. None of this is in your best interest, not in the best interest of the citizens of America! - Howlander raised his voice as he looked around the crowd, meeting Butcher's frowning gaze. - It's for those above you in importance, those above me. They want a Homelander to clean up their shit, to fly in and deal with the problem. They want us to kill whoever they point at.

The rumble of disgruntled people grew stronger, showing their attitude.

- They wanted me to give you bullshit about how good your life will be because of this bill. But I don't want to lie to you and I'm sick and tired of being used as a puppet in their underhand games! Because if I keep quiet now. I can't change anything. I hope you make the right choice. I'm done," he tossed the microphone to Ezekiel, then abruptly took off into the sky.

John grinned, imagining the stir his words had caused on social media. As interesting as it would be to see the public's reaction, now was not a good time to be sitting on the phone. We'll have to talk to Depths and maybe solve his problem with.... dolphins. John arrived just in time for the famed marine hero to get out of the van. Except, as it turned out, in a matter of seconds. not for the decisive action of rescuing the sea creatures.

- Are you okay? - John asked decently as he approached the still vomiting guy.

- Ahem. I'm fine," Kevin straightened up sharply, looking at his figure with fear.

- Mineral?

- I'll have one, sir," nodded Deep, expecting a more aggressive conversation.

- Well, let's go then," John grinned, heading for the nearest shop.

Already a couple of minutes later they were sitting on the rooftop, looking up at the Ocean Land building. The oceanarium that Deep had been advertising for years, and which didn't treat dolphins and other sea creatures in the most humane way. And after listening to the story about the place, John asked a single question:

- So you've decided to literally steal a dolphin and release it into the sea?

- She's not happy here," Kevin said uncertainly.

- I know I'll regret it," John sighed, under the hopeful gaze of the desperate boy. - ...but I'll help you.

- Steal a dolphin?

- No, of course not," John sighed, looking at the building. - We'll do it the more legal way.

***

Huey breathed, relaxed and unhurried, remembering how he'd managed to get Ezekiel to talk about where they'd taken the V drug. And now he could enjoy his burger and chips in peace, waiting for the results from Butcher and M-M. But his peace of mind was short-lived, for just as he took his first bite, a Homelander appeared before him as if by magic. It startled him, and he almost fell out of his chair.

- Hello, Huey," said the blond man, taking a potato and shovelling it into his mouth.

- Hey! That's rude," the boy said, indignant.

- I know, that's probably why it tasted so good," grinned Homelander. - Where are the others?

- I don't know," said Huey, pursing his lips.

- Huey, I know you think I'm a monster, and you'd be right. But you've known me since I was a child. What makes you think I'm a villain? - The hero smiled, taking another potato. - Remind me who kidnapped Mretya, a single father and superhero with minor flaws, and blew him up.

- Does he have a kid? - Huey asked shocked.

- 'Yes, a son. He's a teenager,' sighed Homelander. - You can't imagine how hard it was for me to comfort a child who had suddenly lost the only person close to him.

- I didn't know.

- Not many people did, considering he always kept his private life a secret," nodded Homelander. - But back to where we started.

- I.... don't know," Huey pursed his lips, causing the blond man to frown.

- It has something to do with the V drug," Homelander guessed, convinced he was right by the boy's changed pulse. A grin crept onto his face, and another potato was in his hand. - And the most popular of the heroes to push here... Ezekiel!- That's...

- So if you've done it, they're already in the nearest hospital," smiled Homelander, seeing the horror on the boy's face.

- Stop!" Huey shouted before the blond disappeared from sight. He frantically pulled out his phone, only to realise a second later that it wasn't working because of the water inside. In a panic, he ran to find someone who could borrow his phone to make a call. And he had to hurry, he had to hurry badly.

*** 

Don't forget to donate stones.

And subscribe at:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium