𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘺, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨

𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

"IT WAS ACTUALLY MY MOM WHO DRAGGED ME ALONG TO MY FIRST LITTLE LEAGUE PRACTICE," HOMELANDER HELD HIS HIPS, THE CAMERA POINTED TO HIM. "and, uh, pretty soon after that, I just loved the game more than anything else in the world. So, every year," His smile grew, Madelyn watching him off camera. "she would bake me a birthday cake in the shape of a baseball diamond.

"Homelander spoke, humming. "And, I gotta tell you, it was perfect. Perfect." The camera zoomed in on his face, Homelander nodding. "Everything, down to the last minute details. Just like her." He smiled, his eyes watering. "Cut. Perfect. So great." His face fell, looking off camera. "So we're done?" He asked, the producer nodding. "Uh, yeah." He spoke, Homelander walking away.

∞

"SO... SHE CAN'T TALK OR WON'T TALK?" MESMER ASKED, THE GROUP IN HIS LIVING ROOM. The woman looked around, Samuel shrugging as M.M and Frenchie stood. "That's why you're here." He let out, Mesmer taking off his jacket. "Anything in particular you wanna know?" He asked, Frenchie glancing to him. "Everything there is to know." Mesmer sighed, facing her back as Samuel watched Frenchie hold the woman's shoulders. "Mon couer, will you come?" He asked, the two turning to Mesmer. "Have a seat."

She looked behind her as Mesmer arranged his stuff back, Frenchie sitting down himself. "It's okay, have a seat." Everyone sat down, M.M choosing to lean against the wall. The woman's brows scrunched, seeing Mesmer sitting directly opposite her. He held his hand out, Frenchie leaning forward. "Gentle." He advised, Samuel nodding. "Yep." He held his bandaged hand up, Mesmer confused as the woman looked to Frenchie. He only smiled warmly, nodding to Mesmer. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he held her hand gently.

She stared at him, brows furrowed as Samuel met Frenchie's hunch, the two leaning forward. She gasped, the feeling of him reading her hurting. "Oh, shit!" Samuel leant back quickly, the woman breaking Mesmer's wrist easily as she flung up. Frenchie did the same, Mesmer groaning in pain as M.M's eyes widened. "Okay, okay." He soothed the man, Frenchie holding the woman. "Relax! Everyone relax!" M.M spoke, Mesmer looking to Samuel. "Just take a walk." He advised, Mesmer scoffing. "Walk it off? She broke my fucking wrist!" He yelled, Frenchie glancing back. "She didn't intend any harm." He told the man, holding his arms out ahead of her.

"Oh, could've fooled me." Mesmer spat, Samuel standing up. "Go take a walk." His tone got firm, the woman glaring at him. "Get out! I'm going to the hospital-" "Not until we get what we came for, Mesmer." M.M interrupted, Mesmer scoffing at him and Samuel. "Fuck you both! The sessions over-" "Sit down!" M.M yelled, Mesmer beginning to sob from the pain as he did as told.

"Okay, listen. I was a field medic." M.M spoke, crouching ahead of the man as he glanced to the woman. "Don't look at her, look at me. I can patch you up better than any of those oxy junkies in the E.R., or I can break your other wrist. You decide." M.M told the man, him crying as M.M hummed. "Good. Now, do you have any bandages or a splint?" M.M asked, Mesmer scoffing. "No, I don't have a goddamn splint!" He yelled, Samuel sitting back down as everyone had semi-calmed down. "Shit." M.M cursed, Samuel's phone ringing. "It's Butcher." He spoke, M.M glancing over.

"Shh, alright?" He told Mesmer, standing up and walking towards the kitchen. "Hey-" "Where are you?" The man interrupted, Samuel laughing a little whilst M.M hurried him on. "Shake Shack." He lied, flipping off M.M as he heard Billy hum. "Really? Fucking magic, that place. What'd you get?" Samuel shrugged, turning his back to the group. "ShackBurger, some cheese fries and cookie dough concrete." He lied again, Billy nodding as Hughie watched the man.