Colors || Homelander

Like a Moth to Flame

"Miss Stillwell! Ma'am, you need to wake up."

The said woman opened her sore eyes and groaned, turning onto her side to see Ashley hovering over her. She was Madelyn's assistant; a job that Emery knew could not be easy. She was surprised that the poor woman still had all her hair.

"What time is it?" Emery asked.

"Noon. Miss Stillwell has a meeting in a few minutes, and she asked me to wake you," Ashley retorted.

Ah! She understood what was happening.

"Is she kicking me out?"

"No ... you two are sisters. She just––"

Ashley cut herself off and shook her head in disappointment.

"Yeah, she is.

Emery snorted and sat up with a grunt.

"It's fine. Her couch sleeps like shit anyway."

Setting her feet on the floor, she began to slip on her shoes. Her body ached like hell, but at least she got some sleep.

"I put your purse on the desk. Miss Stillwell said you left it in the coatroom after the party," Ashley mentioned.

So, she knew about the incident. At least she was polite not to say anything about her bruises.

Emery stood up and retrieved her purse; thankfully her car and house key were inside. She wasn't expected back to work for a few days since the incident, her assistant Megan had things covered, but Emery was eager to return to her work.

"I'm going to head home for a few hours, then I'll be back," she told Ashley.

The said woman gasped like she had forgotten something.

"Oh yeah, she told me to remind you to stop by The Seven Tower. You know for Homelander. He should be in the meeting room today."

Was she serious? Did Madelyn tell Ashley?

"For fuck's sake she's on my ass about this," Emery growled.

She did not feel up to entertaining. Or need to for that matter, in her condition. What she needed was a shower and a fresh change of clothes, maybe even some makeup to cover the bruise beneath her right eye.

But she reckoned that would have to wait. Her sister would not get off her back until she talked with Homelander.

Leaving the roses on Madelyn's desk, Emery left her office and sauntered down the hall towards the elevator. She took it down to the lobby and waved to the nice security guard behind the reception desk as she exited the building, walking over to the curb to call a taxi.

It occurred to her that she could just drive herself to The Seven Tower, but her car was in the garage and Emery was still nervous about going down there.

My wallet will just have to hate me.

Once she was able to find a cab, Emery gave her driver the address to the tower and rested in the backseat, attempting to relax as she was taken across the city to The Seven Tower, a Vought-owned skyscraper with ninety-nine floors.

Paying the driver upon arrival, she exited the cab and walked into the building, having to pass through a metal detector before she entered the lobby. Having been to the tower before, Emery knew where the meeting room was and took the elevator to floor 99 where The Seven lived and worked.

As Ashley had said, The Seven were in a meeting, so Emery leaned against the wall outside and waited, wanting nothing more than to go home. She was extremely nervous. And she knew she looked like death on a cracker.

The door opened a minute later after and The Seven began to file out. Emery waited until the door was clear before she stepped in but failed to count the Supes – perhaps because Translucent was invisible – and ended up bumping into the Deep.

"Sorry about––"

"Wow! What happened to your face?" the Deep asked as he interrupted her.

"I got my ass handed to me," Emery retorted as she walked past him.

Homelander was in a conversation with Maeve, so Emery stood back and occupied her time by looking around the room until he was done – Maeve exited with the others.

Upon seeing her, he grinned.

"Do you like it?" Homelander asked as he brought out his hands.

Emery hummed.

"I've never been in this room before. It's ... big."

"But you have been to The Seven Tower before?" Homelander asked.

Emery shook her head.

"From time to time. I've been here to oversee photo shoots and whatnot. But wow! You live here."

"I have a penthouse," Homelander mentioned. "You should come by sometime."

Her face heated up. Emery cleared her throat and averted her eyes to the floor.

"Perhaps. I came by to thank you for the roses. That was extremely thoughtful. And for saving me."

Homelander narrowed his eyes in pity and walked over to her. He lifted his hand and touched her face; the cool material of his glove felt nice against her warm cheek.

"It's a shame what he did to you. I got there too late to prevent him from bruising your face."

Emery swallowed hard.

"At least you came. It could have been much worse if you hadn't."

"Luckily I heard you," Homelander mentioned.

Is that how he knew? Sometimes Emery forgot he had superhuman hearing.

"But you know," Homelander added as he bent down towards her ear. "I also heard you utter that you thought I was handsome."

Not to mention intimidating.

Fuck! Emery felt faint. Of course, he heard that. She stepped back and cleared her throat. Damn, he made her head spin.

"Can you blame me?" She asked.

"Have dinner with me some time," Homelander offered. "I can show you the penthouse, or we can go out."

Emery wasn't sure if she should or not. Things were moving a bit too fast for her. She never thought of Homelander as a suitable date for herself or as someone who would be interested in her, but she was tempted.

"I'll think about it. But I do appreciate the offer. Thank you, John," she uttered.

Homelander seemed a little letdown, but he wore a smile well.

"Let me know if you change your mind."

Emery shook her head and thanked him again, nearly backing into the V-shaped table as she made her escape. Leaning against the wall outside the meeting room, Emery took an uneasy breath. What was happening? Her head was buzzing. There was no way someone like him – the World's Greatest Superhero – had an interest in her.

"But do I like him?" She asked herself.

Remembering Homelander's superhuman hearing, she gasped and covered her mouth.

Fuck! Fuck!

She couldn't believe what she was about to do. Rushing back into the room, Emery awkwardly waved as Homelander turned to look at her.

"Do you like steak and pasta? I know a good place."

Homelander grinned.