◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 40 chapter ahead on P@treon. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
"Cry it out, Hope. It's okay, it's all over."
Homelander held her waist with one hand and gently stroked her short hair with the other, playing the role of a perfect safe harbor.
After a good while, Hope's sobs gradually subsided.
Realizing her loss of composure, she tried to pull away from Homelander's embrace.
But Homelander's arm tightened slightly, not letting her go immediately.
Hope looked up, her slightly red and swollen eyes meeting Homelander's downward gaze.
The distance between the two was extremely close.
So close that Hope could clearly feel Homelander's warm breath hitting the tip of her nose.
She could even count Homelander's distinct eyelashes.
The sadness in the air gradually faded, replaced by a quietly rising, ambiguous atmosphere.
Hope felt her heart racing and her blood boiling in her veins.
Although her reason was screaming warnings, her body responded honestly.
She stood slightly on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and her rosy lips moved uncontrollably toward Homelander's lips.
Looking at those approaching, beautiful red lips, an alarm went off in Homelander's mind.
"Shit! I almost forgot!"
He was currently wearing the 'Widow's Veil Type II' nano-disguise mask on his face!
Wouldn't the secret be out the moment they kissed?
Homelander made a prompt decision.
In a flash, he naturally leaned his head back, while simultaneously releasing his grip on Hope's waist and taking half a step back.
Hope's lips kissed thin air.
She opened her eyes, looked at the retreated Homelander, and instantly snapped back to reality.
In that moment, she was overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame.
What on earth had she just done?
She had actually taken the initiative to offer a kiss to a man she had only met for the first time today!
Hope's face instantly flushed deep red; she was so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
"I... I'm sorry!"
Hope frantically tidied her hair and clothes, her hands not knowing where to go, her eyes darting around as she incoherently tried to find a way out of the situation.
"I... I was just too emotional... I didn't mean that..."
"I mean, it might be because hearing about my mother made me too emotional. A bit of low blood sugar... right, low blood sugar caused dizziness, I didn't stand firm."
She stammered out an excuse that even she didn't believe.
Facing Hope's embarrassment, Homelander reached out and gently straightened her collar.
"I completely understand, Hope," Homelander said softly. "When people are in extreme grief, they instinctively look for something to lean on. I am honored to be the crutch that supports you at this time."
Seeing that Homelander didn't blame her for the offense, Hope's tense nerves relaxed, and her impression of Homelander's gentlemanly demeanor greatly improved.
"Thank you, Daniel. You're very thoughtful."
Hope sat back down on the sofa; although her cheeks were still slightly red, she had regained her composure.
Homelander knew that the current Hope had psychologically opened her doors to him.
It was time for the final killing blow.
"Listen to me, Hope."
"Because of your mother Janet's accident, your father treated her sacrifice as an untouchable taboo."
"He locked himself in the shadows of the past, and in doing so, he locked you out as well."
Homelander gently placed his hand on Hope's shoulder. Through her suit jacket, Hope could still feel the warmth of his palm.
"But you're different, Hope."
"In your eyes, I see things that others don't."
"You are smart, decisive, and resilient. You haven't been infected by your father's cowardice, nor corrupted by Darren's greed."
"Deep down, you crave a real battle. When you look at this World, you don't see it as it is, but as it should be."
Homelander stared intently into Hope's gradually changing eyes.
"Listen to me, Hope. You have your father's wisdom and your mother's bravery. The blood of a hero flows in your veins."
"You long more than anyone to be a hero who can control their own destiny and protect the innocent!"
"Admit it, Hope. This company, this technology—it should have belonged to you all along."
Homelander's words caused a resonance in Hope's heart, as if she had found a soulmate.
In all her years, no one had ever understood her so well, and no one had ever seen through her cold exterior to the heart that craved to be proven.
This man was truly different.
Prompt! Gained special popularity value +15,000! (From Hope van Dyne)
"But... he won't give the Pym Particles technology to me. He'd rather find a stranger to inherit his suit."
Hope felt discouraged again, thinking of her father's stubbornness.
"That's because he loves you, Hope. He's just using the wrong way to protect you."
"Prove it to him, Hope! You are more suitable and more qualified than anyone to inherit his mantle. When that time comes, he will give everything to you without reservation."
Homelander reached out his palm to Hope.
"Go and become a hero, Hope. Complete your mother's unfinished business."
"Join me, and let's make this World better!"
Hope looked at the hand extended before her and listened to the surging, beautiful blueprint Homelander painted.
A burning light ignited in her eyes, and she firmly placed her hand in Homelander's palm.
"I'm willing, Daniel," Hope's voice was full of strength.
"I'm willing to be with you! What do you want me to do?"
"That's it, this is who you truly are." Homelander smiled with satisfaction.
Good, she's hooked.
"First, of course, is to sabotage Darren Cross's plans. Stop him from mass-producing the Wasp Suit and destroy all his research data. This is the first step to gaining your father's trust and saving the World."
"This task must be done by you personally."
Hearing this plan, Hope furrowed her brows and shook her head.
"That's impossible, Daniel," Hope analyzed rationally.
"Pym Technologies is now completely under Darren's control, and he is an extremely paranoid man. The entire building's security force was personally selected by him; they are all retired mercenaries from the Middle East wars, each with blood on their hands."
"Darren stores all research data regarding the Cross Particles in an independent server cluster that is completely physically isolated. There are not only armed guards there, but also laser grids and thermal imaging sensors; no one can get in."
"You're right. So, you need to wear that Ant-Man Suit. I'll help you then; we'll go as a duo."
At the mention of the suit, resentment toward her father surfaced in Hope's eyes again.
"I suggested that plan to him long ago!" Hope said with some exasperation. "I told him I'm familiar with every ventilation duct in the building, I've undergone high-intensity Agent training, and I'm the perfect candidate for this infiltration mission!"
"But that stubborn old man won't listen at all! He even told me he's already found a more suitable candidate!