Dead End - Homelander x Reader

0.2 - "I'm on the news"

The week was flying by pretty quickly with Homelander around to put The Deep in his place when he fell out of line. It was like Madelyn had a switch in her office and set the week on easy-mode, because the biggest issue you had to deal with was Maeve and Noir wanting the last glazed donut— you ordered another dozen.

As you stood in line of the coffee shop with your weight shifted on one hip as you read through everyone's order, you didn't notice that someone had entered behind you and was fidgeting nervously. It's not like you would've cared anyway, as messing up one of the supes orders mattered much more to you than someone who couldn't stand still for a few minutes.

It all happened so quickly, but in one swift movement your phone was knocked to the ground and suddenly this anxious stranger was holding you tightly against their chest. It was a commotion; coffee was spilled and chairs were pushed over, but this stranger wasn't alone. Their accomplices stood by the door, refraining anybody from entering or exiting. You wondered what was going on but did your best to remain calm. That was until the unnerving feeling of something hard and cold against your temple sent a shiver down your spine. This is what you got for doing a good deed and getting supes their morning coffees?

The entire coffee shop was a mess, people shouting and hiding behind chairs and tables. Your ears rang, making whatever the stranger was screaming by your ear incomprehensible. You could only focus on the feeling of the barrel against your temple, with their trembling hand a constant reminder of it being there. Of all places to rob, they agreed on a hole in the wall coffee shop full of people on a Thursday morning.

You had your eyes tightly squeezed shut and the ringing wouldn't stop until a scorching heat came out of nowhere behind you and suddenly you were let go. Without the person holding you up, your knees gave out and you fell right down beside them, nearly hitting your head before a hand slipped under and caught you. Still, you kept your eyes shut hoping that when you opened them you'd be in bed and none of this would've happened.

"You can open your eyes now." a familiar voice said comfortingly. It was Homelander, of course.

When you opened your eyes, he was looking down at you sympathetically. He assisted you to your feet, but insisted on you keeping your back turned.

"Did I burn you?" he asked while scanning your arm and pushing your cardigan off your shoulder. You took a look at him to find he was prodding at your shirt. You noticed he didn't look like he was genuinely concerned for you, almost like as if he was just making sure he wouldn't get in trouble for injuring you. Your frown must've been evident, because he raised a brow and patted your back.

You looked around the coffee shop where everyone stood applauding Homelander who nodded and smiled triumphantly. You stepped back a bit and cocked your head at the squishy substance you had just stepped on, could it have been a donut maybe? Before Homelander could stop you, you already took in the sight beneath you. The man who was holding you layed on the floor— or whatever was left of him. There was so much blood and what you could only think to be his organs sprawled across the floor and now on your shoes. You looked back at the coffee shop and wondered why these people were praising Homelander for this. Why werent they afraid? Did you miss something?

You had an internal debate with yourself for a minute. To be fair you were zoned out, it was either get killed or watch him be killed. It was gruesome, but you looked up at Homelander and smiled.

"Thank you."

He raised his eyebrows at you for a brief second then put on that same phony smile he had on all his merchandise and on every picture taken for the press. It was almost as if it was an instinct for him, and it probably was as he lived under the spotlight.

He patted your back gently. "Let's get out of here, they're going to want to check up on you back at the tower." said Homelander as he nudged you towards the door.

It was hard to see where you were going with all the flashing cameras and the reporters shouting incoherent questions at you. They talked to you as if you wanted to be in that situation, like it was for shits and giggles. Homelander leaned in your ear, whispering, "Just try to look relieved and let me do the talking."

You wanted to roll your eyes but you did as you were told. He snaked his arm around your back, his fingers hovering over your waist. He'd occasionally touch your back while the two of you were being questioned then he'd pat your shoulder and smile.

"Ms. L/N, you work for Vought and with Mr. Homelander, correct? Would you have ever expected yourself to be saved by your own co-worker?" A microphone was shoved into your face which Homelander speedily pushed away. You were totally down for an interview; maybe it was time you thrived in the spotlight like Homelander but of course, he took the light right back.

"Please, she's had enough for the day. I think it's best we head out and get Ms. L/N checked up. Stay safe and God bless America!" Homelander smiled a bit more for the cameras, then gazed at you. Without warning he grabbed your waist and shot you both up into the air. You clung onto him for dear life, squinting your eyes before realizing how amazing the view was from so high up. The view was worth the burning eyes and freezing temperatures, your warm breath puffing up little clouds of smoke in front of you.

"Wow." you breathed out, looking up at him to see if he was as impressed as you were but he just stared beyond the horizon with a dull expression. "Isn't this beautiful? I mean look, you can see my apartment from here and oh I love that pizza place, they have the best artichoke pizza you'll ever eat."

You didn't notice, but your heart rate fell back down significantly, the sight seeming to have calmed you down immediately. Homelander noticed, wondering how you could find such joy and relief in what was part of his daily routine. He found it funny that you were asking him questions and pointing out things that were obvious to him, but appreciated you talking to him like he wasn't some Supe whose entire personality revolved around saving the world— in a way it did.

"You know, tomorrow I'll treat you all to Artichoke Pizza— maybe we could even go eat there— no that's not a smart idea scratch that, I'll just bring it to us! Hope there's nothing going on tomorrow." you babbled, arms still wrapped around his neck which wasn't necessary due to the ease at which he could hold you with. "Have you ever eaten there?"

"Have I been to a random shit-hole probably no different than any other of thousands in the city? No." he replied coldly. "I'm looking forward to trying it, though."

The smile that spread across your face caused him to smile softly in return. You let go of him, patting his chest with both hands out of excitement. "I promise you'll love it!"

"Yeah? Well what else can you see from here?" he warmed up, tightening his grip slightly since you let go of him.

You blushed sheepishly, hoping to not have annoyed him with your talking, "Oh I don't want to take up too much of your time— plus I'm sure everyone heard the news so they're probably expecting us any moment now."

Homelander nodded in agreement, slightly disappointed but patted your back once more before flying back to the tower. Right off the bat you were bombarded again with questions and harassed by Ashley who shoved the news reports in your face.

"I mean just look how great this looks! You do look sickly
pale but wow this is going to break the charts." Ashley squealed as she waved her tablet in your face. You squinted your eyes and held her still as you skimmed through and took a closer look at the picture. You didn't realize then, but Homelanders arm was around you and you were basically leaning on him. You held back a smirk and blushed lightly, combing through the ends of your hair with your fingers.

Before you and Ashley could continue fangirling for completely different reasons, the medical team had you brought to be checked up on. It was quick but they just wanted to make sure Homelander didn't nick you while burning the man behind you into pieces. It was then while you were waiting for the lab results to come back that you realized you were never told what happened and seemed to have zoned out while Homelander retold the story to the press. You hummed, wondering what happened while you were out of it.

"Okay! Lab reports are all good, just ice those bruises on your arms and you should be fine. If you start to feel any sick just pop right back down!" The man was holding you tight back in the coffee shop for him to have bruised you. You nodded nonetheless and thanked them for their help.