Bab 38: Aftermath - Maeve II

"She says Homelander fought Soldier Boy and pushed him into space to save the city. They say he fell down in a ball of fire like a falling angel." Carlo paused.

A spike of emotion surged within Maeve.

"The government they came, try to take him away…he, was hurt very badly" His tone started to get soft "…I only saw him briefly in the operating room…it was bad Reina, very bad" he said solemnly.

Could this be it? Could this be the end of Homelander? The cocktail of emotions being released made her anxious and hopeful.

"And the government" his voice rising in anger "the CIA, NSA or FBI, you know those agent types" he said with disgust "those Pendjos they try to take him when he's weak, they came with guns, armed to the teeth…they try to take him like he's the criminal! Like he didn't just save New York"

Maeve saw Carlo slightly turn his head and mutter some Spanish under his breath then as if realizing who he was talking to caught a hold of himself.

"What happened to him? Where is he?" She asked suddenly agitated.

"Don't worry Reina, it didn't work. The heroes they banded together and stopped them." He said with a small smile.

"Miss Ashley and El Noir rallied them and stopped the agents. They say the agents came all the way to the operating room but El Noir beat all of them back to outside the building then Miss Ashley she sent out the call on the internet and the people came to protest them. They've been outside ever since." He said his smile bigger than before.

"And Homelander? What happened where is he? Is he ok? " The anxiety was surging more now.

Carlo's face turned solemn again. "We don't know Reina. He's been on the floor above, the doctors were with him for the past day. Dr. Schultz and Miss Ashley won't let anyone in, El Noir is keeping guard. Miss Starlight, El Rapido and Deep are with the others outside making sure the agents don't try again."

She looked at Carlo, the anxiety and anticipation was too much she needed to find out.

Briskly she turned around and bolted for the door.

"Reina! Reina!"

She heard the confused shouts of the nurse but she didn't bother turning back, he heart was thumping. She needed to see him…she needed to see if she could end this. This may be her only chance…while he was weak.

She burst through the stairwell door and leaped the whole flight in one go and then did it again for the second. Her frantic strength almost ripped the handles off the doorway and she paused briefly to get her bearings in the hallways.

She rushed to her right and turned left where she was half way through the hallway Noir standing in front of a double set of doors.

Her gaze briefly met his mask and with anxious conviction she strode towards him. His right hand lifted up in a stop sign.

"Move or I'll break every bone in your body!" she commanded.

She could take him, she thought, she could overpower him, it wouldn't be easy but she'd done it once before.

Maeve prepared herself to pick up speed as Noir settled into a defensive stance.

This was it!

Her body dropped slightly ready to rush him but her momentum was stopped by the squeak of the door behind him.

As she briefly stopped to asses those coming out her anxiousness turned to her surprise into shock.

First there was someone in a white lab coat she didn't recognize then followed Dr. Schultz but they weren't what shocked her that was the third person behind them.

White bandages around his head covering his right eye, his right cheek riddled with grotesque red wavy scarred skin, obvious sign that something or in this case someone had managed to melt part of his face off.

The scarring extended down to the bottom of his neck where another set of bandages could be seen encompassing his torso under the all too large hospital gown.

She could only stare in shock at the state of Homelander as he briskly walked past Noir towards her and promptly grabbed her in a bear hug, though she noticed the bandaged up right hand was barely squeezing and seemed all too skinny to be one that knocked her brains around just a few days ago.

"Maeve! I'm so glad you're here!" John said loudly.

He was followed by a chorus of voices, that in the few seconds she was taken by his appearance had multiplied to more people like Ashley, her assistant and a few others, all saying her name and agreeing with Homelander.

She had come here for a purpose but realizing the moment had come and gone Maeve did the only thing she could.

What surprised her was the felling calm emptiness that was filling her up with each breath as she reciprocated the embrace and even resting her head on his shoulders in resignation.

John was smiling.

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Author Note:

Here is part of the aftermath. Next will be from Homelander pov.

As I said in the last chapter I will be having time skips starting soon but don't worry I will post the date at the beginning of each chapter or scene where it's required.

Let me know what you think about the implied aftermath actions of Vought, the government and the heroes and if it makes sense within the context of the story so far.

In the show the CIA gets Soldier Boy back which I think is pretty stupid for Homelander to let happen.

Also sorry for the terrible Spanish.

Carlo Perez is a nurse working for Vought for the last decade and a half, he is in his late forties and the events are meant to be from how he perceives them from the limited information that he has.

Once again thank you for reading.