Chương 14: Chapter 14
The sleek, modern office of Madelyn Stillwell stood in stark contrast to the homey warmth of the Kent farm kitchen. Yet as Madelyn sat at her desk, staring out over the New York skyline, her mind kept drifting back to that encounter in Smallville. The genuine kindness, the unwavering integrity she'd witnessed in Clark Kent had left an indelible mark.
She found herself pulling up news footage of Superman's recent rescues, studying his interactions with civilians. There was a gentleness there, a humility that seemed at odds with the godlike power he wielded. It was... refreshing.
Madelyn's phone buzzed, snapping her out of her reverie. A text from Stan Edgar: "Need update on Superman situation. Board meeting in an hour."
She sighed, closing the video feed. The professional mask slipped back into place, but a small part of her couldn't help but wonder: what if there was another way? What if Superman's approach to heroism wasn't just naive idealism, but a viable alternative to Vought's carefully managed brand of superheroism?
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Across town, in a dingy basement that served as The Boys' current hideout, a heated discussion was underway.
"I'm telling you," Hughie insisted, pacing the cluttered room, "Superman could be the key to taking down Vought. You saw what he did with that plane. He's got the power to stand up to them, and he's clearly not on their side."
Frenchie nodded enthusiastically. "Oui, the boy has a point. An ally like Superman could change everything, non?"
Billy Butcher, however, remained skeptical. "And how exactly do you propose we get Captain Tights on board, eh? Send him a bloody invitation? 'Dear Superman, fancy helping us take down the world's most powerful corporation? RSVP.'"
Mother's Milk, ever the voice of reason, spoke up. "It's not just about power, though. Superman's got credibility. People trust him in a way they don't trust other supes. If he spoke out against Vought..."
The discussion continued, weighing the potential benefits against the risks of approaching such a high-profile figure. But Hughie's mind had already drifted elsewhere, to a conversation he'd had earlier that day with Annie.
They'd met in a quiet corner of a park, away from prying eyes. Annie had seemed distracted, worried.
"Everything okay?" Hughie had asked, genuinely concerned.
Annie had sighed, running a hand through her blonde hair. "It's just... all this stuff with Superman. It's bringing up a lot of memories."
Hughie's interest had piqued. "You know him?"
A small smile had played across Annie's lips. "We grew up together, sort of. I mean, not closely, but we crossed paths a lot in the Midwest superhero circuit. He was always... different."
"Different how?"
Annie's eyes had grown distant, remembering. "Just... genuinely kind. No ulterior motives, no ego. He'd help out at events without being asked, always had time for the kids who looked up to him. It was refreshing, you know? In a world where everyone seemed to be playing an angle, he was just... good."
The wistfulness in her voice had stirred something in Hughie – a mixture of jealousy and hope. "Do you think... do you think he could make a difference? Against Vought, I mean?"
Annie had looked at him sharply, suspicion flaring. "Hughie, what are you planning?"
He'd backpedaled quickly, but the seed of an idea had already taken root.
Now, back in the hideout, Hughie found himself torn. The Boys needed allies, that much was clear. But involving Superman could put Annie in an impossible position, caught between her past and her present.
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As The Boys continued to debate, miles away in his luxurious penthouse, Homelander stood before a wall of monitors, each displaying a different news report about Superman. His fists clenched and unclenched rhythmically, a physical manifestation of the turmoil within.
The fight in the abandoned subway tunnel played on a loop in his mind. Not just the physical confrontation – though the memory of those punches, each one harder than the last, sent an unfamiliar shiver of fear down his spine. No, it was Superman's words that truly haunted him.
"You don't have to do this," Superman had said, even as they traded earth-shattering blows. "There's another way. A better way to be a hero."
Homelander had scoffed, unleashing his heat vision. "And what would you know about it? You're just playing dress-up like the rest of us..."
But Superman had persisted, his voice maddeningly calm even as he deflected Homelander's attacks. "I know what it's like to feel different, to worry that you'll never truly belong. But strength doesn't have to mean isolation. Real heroism isn't about being worshipped – it's about serving others."
The words had struck a chord deep within Homelander, touching on insecurities he'd buried beneath layers of arrogance and manufactured adoration. And as the fight had progressed, as he'd felt the true extent of Superman's power, a terrifying thought had taken root: What if I'm not the strongest after all?
Now, staring at the images of Superman's latest rescue, Homelander felt a complex mix of emotions. Envy, certainly – the genuine adoration Superman inspired was a far cry from the carefully managed public image Vought had crafted for him. But there was something else, too. A tiny, long-dormant part of him that wondered: Could there really be another way?
He squashed the thought ruthlessly. He was Homelander. The most powerful being on the planet. He didn't need some corn-fed boy scout telling him how to be a hero.
And yet... the doubt lingered.
As night fell over the city, the ripples of Superman's actions and words continued to spread. In boardrooms and back alleys, in gleaming penthouses and dingy hideouts, people were beginning to question long-held assumptions about power, heroism, and what it truly meant to make a difference in the world.
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Madelyn Stillwell, sitting alone in her office long after her staff had gone home, found herself staring at a blank email draft. The recipient field read simply: clark.kent@dailyplanet.com. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, torn between professional duty and a newfound, unsettling desire to understand this man who had upended her worldview.
In The Boys' hideout, plans were being drawn up, and contingencies discussed. The possibility of approaching Superman hung in the air, tantalizing and terrifying in equal measure.
And in his lonely tower, Homelander paced, the weight of doubt and fear pressing down on him for the first time in years.
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