Axel studied the shock on Homelander's face and let out a quiet chuckle. He reached out and ruffled Homelander's hair as if humoring a child.
"Relax, Azu. Madelyn will take care of your needs. Vought and Madelyn owe you that much," he said casually.
"You weren't born like this. They made you what you are. That kind of responsibility does not disappear."
He tilted his head slightly, his tone turning mocking.
"So tell me, what could be more binding than that? If you want it so badly, maybe I should arrange for you to spend time with her every day. Up close."
"Really?!" Homelander's eyes lit up instantly, hope flashing across his face.
The next second, Axel's expression went cold.
Boom!
His hand struck like lightning, sending Homelander flying several meters before crashing hard onto the ground.
Axel sneered.
"You don't get to make requests. Focus on being useful."
His gaze sharpened.
"You've seen what I can do. I know what you want, and I can give it to you. So work harder."
He stood, brushing invisible dust off himself, then waved dismissively.
"That's enough. Get out. I need a shower, and this blood stinks."
He glanced toward Ashley.
"My room, is it ready? Edgar's old office will do, but I want everything replaced."
Ashley immediately raised her hand. "Yes, of course. No problem at all."
"Good," Axel said. "Keep things running. Don't disappoint me."
With that, he followed Ashley out, leaving the room heavy with tension.
Silence lingered for over two minutes before Homelander slowly pushed himself up, breathing hard. His eyes swept across the room, filled with anger, before locking onto Queen Maeve.
"You looked pretty comfortable sitting in his arms earlier," he muttered. "Didn't you also remind him not to let me go?"
Maeve scoffed and shoved his shoulder.
"Wake up. This isn't your world anymore."
Her voice was sharp, unafraid.
"Did you not just see what he did to you? Or are two missing teeth not enough?"
"Shut up!" Homelander snapped, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her slightly.
"Even if I can't beat him, I can still kill all of you easily. Don't push me, Mae…"
"Don't push you to do what?"
The voice came from behind him.
Homelander froze.
Maeve seized the moment, breaking free and stumbling back, coughing hard.
Axel stepped closer, resting a hand on Homelander's shoulder.
"I forgot to mention something," he said lightly. "My senses are better than yours. I can see through metals, hear conversations across the planet. Even now, I can hear discussions in the White House about how to deal with me."
He paused, then grabbed Homelander and forced him to turn.
Homelander swallowed, staring at Axel's blood-streaked body, his hands raised instinctively.
"I… I…"
Boom!
Axel's fist smashed into his head. Before Homelander could be thrown away, Axel grabbed his hand and crushed it.
The bones collapsed instantly under the pressure.
Homelander screamed as his palm turned into a mangled mess.
Axel released him, then casually patted Maeve on the hip.
"Relax. I'm faster than his laser. If he ever tries anything, I'll be there before it matters."
He smiled faintly.
"You might even get to watch a bully get crushed."
Grabbing Homelander by the hair, Axel forced him to look up.
"I don't allow anyone as arrogant as me to exist in the same world. Understand?"
"I understand, I really—"
Axel tore off his ear mid-sentence and shoved it into his mouth.
"Do you understand?"
Homelander gagged, barely able to respond.
"I… understand…"
Boom!
His head slammed into the ground. Axel's fists followed immediately, striking again and again.
The blows continued relentlessly, each one heavier than the last. Flesh split, blood spread, and the sound echoed through the room.
After half a minute, Axel finally stopped.
He lifted Homelander's ruined face.
"Now?"
Homelander could not speak, only gasp weakly.
Axel cupped his ear slightly and nodded.
"Good. That works."
He tossed Homelander aside toward Translucent.
"Take him for treatment. He's disappointing."
He clicked his tongue.
"Why is it always like this? Either I can't touch them, or they fall apart too easily."
Translucent nodded quickly and dragged Homelander away.
Once they were gone, Maeve stepped forward without hesitation and kissed Axel.
He smirked, patting her back.
"Relax. This is nothing."
His tone turned crude but casual.
"I'm not a good person. If he looked better, maybe I'd treat him the same way."
Maeve shrugged.
"I don't care."
She pushed him back against the damaged wall without another word.
The others exchanged glances before quietly leaving the room, the sounds behind them making it clear what followed.
Elsewhere, as Translucent carried Homelander away, he passed A-Train, who was finalizing his departure from the team.
A-Train froze as he saw Homelander's condition.
The blood. The crushed hand. The lifeless expression.
He swallowed hard.
Just moments ago, he had been filled with regret about leaving.
Now, that feeling was gone.
At least he was alive.
At least he was walking away.
His thoughts drifted to his family, to the people he had ignored while chasing fame.
Back then, he had only wanted to make them proud.
Somewhere along the way, he had lost sight of that.
And now, staring at what remained of Homelander, he realized just how close he had come to losing everything.
__
Send your juicy Powerstone, if you want bonus Chapters 🙃
Also, there are up to 100 chapters available on patreon.
Look it up, if interested in reading ahead.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph