WEIGHT OF AMERICA || Homelander

004: Under the Surface

The stadium buzzed with anticipation as A-Train's race approached. Vought had orchestrated another spectacle of speed and grandeur, turning the event into a colossal display of athletic prowess. Homelander stood atop the VIP platform, his eyes scanning the crowd and the competitors. The excitement was electric, but Homelander's mind was far from the spectacle unfolding before him.

He had been trying to push away the intense fantasies that had plagued him recently. Phantasm's appearance and the subsequent chaos had stirred something deep within him, something he struggled to ignore. The thought of her had invaded his thoughts far too often, intruding on his focus and feeding his irritation.

A-Train's start was met with a roar of cheers, but Homelander's gaze was fixed on something—or rather, someone—else. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a man with a rugged demeanor and an unsettling gaze. It was Billy Butcher, his presence a stark contrast to the celebratory atmosphere of the race. Butcher's eyes locked with Homelander's for a brief, intense moment, and it was as if the entire world had narrowed down to that single exchange.

Homelander's irritation flared. Butcher's gaze was taunting, filled with a sense of defiance that Homelander found infuriating. The smirk on Butcher's lips was like a taunt, a challenge to his authority that Homelander couldn't ignore. The man's presence was a nagging thorn in his side, distracting him from the event he was supposed to be enjoying.

He tried to refocus on A-Train's performance, the speedster's blur of motion on the track, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the confrontation with Butcher. The man's unspoken challenge was a constant irritant, gnawing at him.

Later that day, Homelander found himself in his office, the grandeur of the race a distant memory. The high of the event had dissipated, replaced by a gnawing frustration. The room was quieter now, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. The silence was a stark reminder of the unresolved issues that loomed over him.

The door opened, and Madelyn Stillwell walked in. She was calm, composed, and completely unfazed by the day's events. Homelander's gaze was drawn to the small bottle she carried, its contents unmistakable. The faint, sweet smell of breast milk was evident, and it stirred something primal within him—a faint, unsettling longing that he tried to push away.

"Homelander," Stillwell greeted, her voice smooth and detached. She took a seat and began to sip from the bottle, her expression unchanged.

Homelander's eyes narrowed as he watched her. "Stillwell. Any progress on Translucent's situation?"

Stillwell's response was as calm as ever. "We're making headway. It's a delicate situation, but we're on it."

Homelander's frustration simmered beneath the surface. "Delicate? We're talking about a missing Supe. It's more than delicate—it's urgent."

She raised an eyebrow, seemingly unperturbed. "Patience is required. These things take time."

Homelander's anger flared. "Patience? That's not going to bring Translucent back. We need answers, not empty assurances."

Stillwell's demeanor remained steady. "We're doing everything we can. We'll find him."

Homelander's irritation was palpable. "And what about Phantasm? What's her role in all of this?"

Stillwell's gaze shifted slightly, though she maintained her composure. "Phantasm is a new addition to the team. Her role is to integrate and assist, just like any other member."

Homelander's eyes narrowed. "Integrate? Her arrival coincides with Translucent's disappearance. That's not just a coincidence."

Stillwell's expression hardened. "We have no evidence linking her to Translucent's disappearance. Your suspicion is unwarranted."

Homelander's frustration boiled over. "Suspicion is all I have right now. My intuition tells me there's more to this than meets the eye."

Stillwell's gaze remained cold. "Intuition isn't a substitute for evidence. We need to focus on finding Translucent."

Before Homelander could retort, the door opened again, and Phantasm entered. Her presence was like a chill wind, cutting through the tension in the room. Her gaze was sharp, her demeanor cold and unyielding.

"What's the issue now?" she asked, her voice icy and controlled.

Homelander's eyes locked onto hers. "We're discussing the recent developments regarding Translucent."

Phantasm's gaze was unwavering. "And what does that have to do with me?"

Homelander's voice was laced with hostility. "Your arrival and Translucent's disappearance seem too coincidental to ignore."

Phantasm's eyes flashed with anger. "Are you accusing me of something?"

Homelander's frustration was evident. "I'm questioning your motives. Your timing is suspicious."

Phantasm's expression was icy. "If you have concerns, you need to address them with evidence, not mere suspicion."

The argument that ensued was fierce. Homelander's anger and frustration collided with Phantasm's icy resolve, creating a volatile mix of accusations and counterclaims. Their voices rose in intensity, each trying to outdo the other in a verbal sparring match that left the room filled with a palpable tension.

Stillwell watched with a detached amusement, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the heated exchange taking place. She sipped from her bottle, seemingly unfazed by the chaos unfolding before her.

The argument quickly escalated. Objects from Homelander's desk were sent crashing to the floor as their confrontation grew more intense. The room became a battlefield of broken items and shouted accusations, a testament to the severity of their disagreement.

Phantasm's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and determination. "I'm not here to be your enemy, Homelander. But if you keep pushing, you'll make me one."

Homelander's gaze was fierce. "I'm not pushing for the sake of pushing. I want answers, and I want them now."

Phantasm's lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. "Answers come with time. And trust."

Homelander's eyes burned with a mixture of anger and desire. "Trust is a luxury I can't afford right now."

The confrontation continued, their words sharp and heated. The physical and emotional damage from their verbal clash was evident in the wreckage around them. The room was a mess, the aftermath of their argument a reflection of the unresolved tension between them.

As the argument reached its peak, Phantasm turned and left, her departure leaving behind a lingering sense of unresolved conflict. Homelander stood amidst the debris, his anger simmering. The broken objects around him were a tangible reminder of the inner turmoil he faced.

Stillwell remained in the room, her gaze steady as she surveyed the aftermath. "You need to control your emotions, Homelander. This isn't helping anyone."

He glared at her, his frustration clear. "Control? I'm trying to hold everything together while it all falls apart."

Stillwell's gaze was unwavering. "Focus on finding Translucent. That's the priority."

Homelander nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I'll focus on finding him."

As Stillwell left, Homelander was left alone in the wrecked office. The silence that followed was heavy with the weight of their confrontation. The broken items and scattered papers were a testament to the volatility of his emotions.

Homelander began to clean up the mess, his thoughts consumed by the challenges that lay ahead. The tensions with Phantasm, the search for Translucent, and the looming threat of Butcher all combined to create a complex web of issues that seemed almost insurmountable.

With a heavy heart and a mind filled with unresolved conflicts, Homelander faced the future. The path ahead was fraught with difficulties, and the lingering presence of Phantasm and the unresolved tensions between them would remain a constant reminder of the challenges he faced.

As he worked to restore order to his office, Homelander resolved to confront the trials ahead with renewed determination. The struggles he faced were far from over, and each step forward would be a step into the unknown. The battles between desire, responsibility, and personal conflicts were ongoing, and Homelander knew that navigating them would be his greatest challenge.