Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

48

Starlight was the one who observed Nina's and Homelander's relationship the closest, as she lived next to them. She was surprised that they didn't bicker strongly before, but she also knew it wouldn't take long for them to have a huge fight. Nina seemed patient enough, and it seemed like Homelander was trying to hide his worst parts. She managed to keep him in line, and he genuinely seemed to have made progress, as he was treating people a bit more kindly, even in private. It didn't last for long though, as at that point, he was unfixable. He always had that aura of superiority, because he was a Supe, but after Annie joined the Seven, reality hit her and hard. She had to get used to the abuse, and even the control he had over the group, just to assure that things were going according to his plan. Lately, it looked like they were mostly apart.

Annie never asked Nina directly, because there was always the possibility that she could mention it to Homelander, and ruin the plans that the Boys had. Annie had her reasons to believe Nina was mostly oblivious and genuinely liked him, as her eyes sparkled when she looked at the Supe. It was a bit sad. She would have her heart broken into a million pieces, or maybe she could be killed in a fit of rage. In fact, all people who lived and worked at that building were taking a risk being around that mad man. They went together to press conferences and PR charity events, and she always stood by his side, proudly. His image had indeed improved vastly, and he even managed to get more fans as the shapeshifter problem seemed to be "resolved." So if something happened, Annie immediately noticed, because the change in their behavior was clear. 

First it was after a trip they took together to DC. Nina came in and she seemed annoyed. She smiled and said hi to some people, including Starlight, but it was more of a forced smile than the genuine smile she used to have. Then, Homelander came in a bit after, looking pissed. He didn't even try to pretend he wasn't angry. People just avoided interacting with him that day, and he didn't seem to want to talk to anyone either. A couple of days later, Annie also saw a little scene between the two: she ignored him until he flew past her, landing in front of her and blocking her way. There were only a few people around and most of them didn't look at their direction, because they knew to be away when Homelander was having one of his bad days. She seemed to forgive him, teary eyed, and they shared a kiss. It made Starlight so sick, she just wanted to tell Nina about him, his crimes, his rotten soul. But she had to wait for that damn plan Butcher seemed to have. So she waited.

After the conversation with one of the shapeshifters, they were instructed to let things flow or even help Nina and Homelander to get as close as possible, because with their strong feelings for each other, it would be easier to break him apart psychologically. He had a very intense relationship with Stormfront, but it was short lived. Now, Homelander seemed to be taken and happy, his fooling around stopped, and he only seemed to have eyes for Nina. They had spent the majority of the year in that relationship, and it took a while for them to start fighting. Annie thought he would have choked her to death by that point, as she sometimes questioned him and tried to reason with him, something he hated and had killed people for before. But with the last fight they had, something had changed.

Nina arrived at the Vought Tower, without Homelander. Annie knew about the visit to the children's hospital, as Nina had mentioned her. She came in, and she was crying. Profusely. Ashley seemed shocked and she didn't really care about Nina at all. She made a move to ask her what was wrong, but Nina's whole body language just showed she wanted to be alone. Other Vought employees that accompanied them on the visit also came in and didn't say anything. It was extremely weird. Annie looked at the entrance, waiting for Homelander to come in but after some three minutes or so, it seemed like he wouldn't appear. He was fast like a bullet, and if he wanted, he would be there in no time, so it really seemed like it was a pretty big fight. There was no way it wasn't a big argument between them, as everyone looked too nervous to say anything. Nina went straight to the elevator, presumably to her bedroom. Annie took some time to think and to grab something to eat, before trying to talk to her.

"Butcher?" Annie said, on the phone. She went out to eat a hotdog and decided to call him from a payphone.

"Speak."

"Nina and Homelander had a huge fight," said Annie, biting into her hotdog, "and... she was really distressed."

"What was the fight about?"

"No idea," Annie said, with her mouth full.

"The fuck are you eating?", Butcher asked, bothered with all her chewing.

"Hotdog," Annie replied, finally swallowing.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because," Annie cleared her throat, "because the plan was to make them closer, and he hasn't come back."

"What?"

"She came to the tower without him," Annie explained, "and like thirty minutes later, he was nowhere to be seen."

"You have to know what it was about," said Butcher, "so we can use it against him."

"I'm waiting for her to cool down," Annie scratched her nose, "she seemed really nervous and she went straight to the elevator, without talking to anyone."

"Fuck, that wasn't fucking planned," Butcher sighed.

"Yeah, but you know what it means."

"What is it?"

"That we are back to your plan, Butcher," Annie smiled, "we are close to telling her the truth than we've ever been."