Burning Passions

Two Truths

I haven't heard from anyone all day, but Annie is the one I'm most worried about. I can't think about John right now. Something doesn't seem right, something isn't adding up. Either someone is lying or everyone is lying. But I'm going to find out the truth, everyone at least deserves that. I burned through all the liquor I had left last night, hoping to dull out the events of the past few weeks but nothings worked. I pick myself off the couch and shower, before heading into Vought, I need to get a hold of Billy, before he ends up dead or Vought gets him. once I'm finished in the shower, its like the devil knows. 

"Good morning Apollo," Stillwell says. 

"What do you want?" I sigh. 

"Always a pleasure. Yesterday Vought and the military signed a deal, " she explains, "There will be a banquet tonight to celebrate, attendance is mandatory."

"Got it," I say hanging up. 

Well that's not suspicious. I text Annie, asking her to give me a call. If she can still get a hold of Hughie, I can talk to Billy. I want to get to the bottom of the truth of what happened to Rebecca, if i can tell him what Homelander said, maybe there is some truth to it. I suit up and head to Vought tower for the banquet. 

Its classy inside, I'll give them that. Theirs military suits throughout the crowd, but I need to find Annie. Along with avoid Homelander, I can't deal with the confusing nature of our feelings for each other right. He's to familiar, to close, and if he asks me again with those puppy dog eyes I don't know if I'll be able to say no a second time.  I weave in and out of the crowd, coming across Noir playing the piano, rather beautifully I might add. I slip next to him on the bench listening until he's done the lively melody. 

"I didn't know you played," I say, "It sounds beautiful." 

He thanks me, in his own way.  

"There he is!" A man shouts, as Homelander descends down the stairs, basking in the crowds applause. 

Everyone begins clapping, including Noir, I lean in and whisper to him. 

"If Homelander asks, you have no clue where I am. "

Noir nods, giving me a thumbs up. 

"You're the best, I owe you another milkshake," I say, quickly getting off the bench and moving as far away from John as possible. 

I look around seeing Maeve leave the bathroom and walk over to her. 

"Hey, sorry we haven't really talked but, I'm looking for An-Starlight" I say. 

"Yeah she's in the bathroom," she explains. 

"Thanks," I go to head in when Maeve grabs my arm. 

"Listen, I'm not saying this as a jealous ex, I do not give a shit about Homelander but you deserve to know. You need to be careful, he's dangerous, and I don't mean because he's strong and all that. He's not safe to be around, he's insane." she says, genuinely afraid.  

I look at her, a little shocked, but before I can reply she's gone. I take a deep breath before entering the bathroom to find Annie rinsing her mouth out in the sink. Her mascara is a mess, and she's got her hand on her stomach. I come up behind her putting my hand on her back. 

"Hey, is everything alright?" I ask. 

She looks at me,  tears welling in her eyes. 

"Vought did this to us Elaine, they...they made us," she chokes out, breaking down. 

"Take a deep breath, what do you mean?" I ask. 

She takes a few deep breathes, calming down. 

"Hughie, him and his friends. They've been investigating Vought, they found out that Vought had us injected with Compound V when we were babies. That's why we have powers, we weren't born like this, we were made. We've been fucking merchandise our entire lives," Annie explains. 

The room starts spinning, and it suddenly feels harder to breath, tears well in my eyes. 

"They, they did this," I say looking down at my hands. 

My fathers laugh, my mothers smile, my brother...my brother is gone. They're all gone.  This whole time its been Voughts fault. They took them away from me. They made me this way. They did this. They killed my family. 

"Annie, I need to find Billy Butcher."

Annie's phone goes off and she answers it. I don't hear what she says, I can't here, all I can think about is how much Vought is going to pay. 

"If you want answers, or Butcher, come with me," she offers me her hand, and I take it.