Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

29

Kimiko managed to get Nina out of the shapeshifter's way before she got killed. She was mistreated by Butcher in the past and she knew how it was to be an outsider. Frenchie was the first one to show her any kind of kindness, and slowly the rest of the Boys did the same. If Starlight believed that Nina could be a good person, then it was enough for Kimiko. She ran away, and as soon as she did, Homelander arrived. If she waited a bit more, she could be killed. Annie was a bit beaten up, but she would be okay. Kimiko wanted to take Annie with her, but she had to be there to avoid raising suspicion about Butcher's plan. Annie opened her eyes and started to get up just in time to see Homelander punching the shapeshifter square in the face so violently that it echoed like thunder. A-Train arrived right after. Annie looked at Nina and she looked fine. She seemed to be bit terrified, but who wouldn't be?

Meanwhile, Homelander approached the shapeshifter's body. It had been knocked out, but it wasn't dead. He asked A-Train to take it back to the Vought Tower and lock it up. He killed three of them, so he needed to keep it alive, to gather some information. Stan Edgar was completely right, unfortunately. It escalated to the point it involved civilians. He could hear news helicopters surrounding them. They would have to come forward and explain Queen Maeve wasn't killing people left and right, they would have to go full damage control. It was something else that Homelander didn't want to deal with, but it was too late to complain. A-Train took the shapeshifter back and Homelander looked around at the dead bodies. He took a deep breath before presuming the worst. He turned around, trying to avoid the noise of sirens, helicopter blades, car tires. He spotted someone, looking at him. He flew to her. She looked so distressed, but glad to see he was there. He took Nina in his arms, without saying a word and flew her back to his room, through the broken window.

He put her down gently, and she noticed how nervous he was. He shook his head, not in disapproval, but because to him nothing else mattered anymore. She was there with him.

"I told you not to go." He sounded concerned.

"I'm sorry," she said, almost whispering.

He held her face with his gloved hands. Even with messy hair, wearing a navy blue hoodie that was now dirty, jeans and sneakers, she was still the most beautiful woman. Her eyes were like beautiful pools of melted chocolate. He kissed her desperately, like she could vanish at any second and leave him behind. Her lips were so soft, her mouth so sweet. Even in his desperation, he held her gently. He kissed her cheek down to her neck, which made her gasp. She let him take over her, putting her hands over his chest. He hugged her tight, pressing his head against her neck, so thankful that she smelled like herself. Starlight didn't seem to be strong enough to stop that shapeshifter alone, so what if Homelander didn't go? Where would Nina be? So many thoughts were racing through his mind, he was almost shaking. After another shapeshifter appeared in his room, he needed to feel the real her. The texture of her hair brushing against his face. Her skin felt so warm.

Nina was overwhelmed with feelings. She never knew when it would happen, or if it would happen at all, but that kiss was everything she was dreaming of. She saw Homelander every day, and it was indeed the best part of her job. Sometimes he would be away all day, but he would always come by her office to say good night. He would always check on her. When she broke her nose, he was there to help. She was friendly with other people and other Supes, but he was the one who she enjoyed spending time the most. She would find any excuse to have lunch with him, to have a snack and drink milkshake and talk about life. His big blue eyes were always so endearing. She didn't have to imagine how kissing him would feel like anymore. It was better than she ever imagined. Her room was still full of posters of him, and the teenage dream of having the man was not a dream anymore, nor she was a teenager. Reality was indeed sweeter than any daydream.

"Are you okay?", he whispered.

She nodded, "I'm fine."

She put her head against his chest, listening to his beating heart. Both hearts were beating so fast, so agitated... and relieved at the same time. So much happened in such a short amount of time. That was the safest Nina had ever felt, even though she had faced the possibility of death twice that month. Butcher had said that she was in danger, and that she should leave, but goddamn, Homelander was the first person to care about her in a long time. He cared and he wasn't afraid to show it. She respected him, as he was a powerful superhero and her boss, but the affection was always there, hiding behind her politeness and her smiles. The hugs always meant something else and that kiss was just a step forward. She had been asked a million times if something was happening between them, and she denied it for so long, but it was so obvious it was really unnecessary to hide it at that point. In the end, the uncertainty came from Nina thinking she didn't deserve him. The funny thing was that he was hers all along, and she was stupid not to believe it.

The silence that followed was somewhat comfortable. A silence of understanding, a silence of agreement. Both sighed at the same time.

"We need to fix the window." she said, maybe trying to cope with what was happening. Reality was starting to feel like a dream.

Her statement made him chuckle. He pressed his face against her hair and closed his eyes, feeling the closest he ever felt to peace. "We will."