Chapter Text
Cleo looks like shit. That's all he can think as he lays her half-unconscious body on the bed. Sweat and blood cling to her skin, on her left side a big chunk of flesh and ribs missing. Vought did a number on her.
Homelander can't help but wonder how much of it was Madelyn's handy work. Had she only watched or had she sliced at Cleo's flesh with her lips twisted into a soft smile?
She's barely coherent, and he's not sure how long he'll have to playout Madelyn's plan and dislikes playing nurse.
Cleo's eyes had shined with happiness, trust, and respect when he "rescued" her from level thirteen. An unfamiliar feeling had clawed at insides like a feral cat when he had carried her in his arms, but he had shoved the uncomfortable feeling aside.
He knows what he has to do; he has to find out what Cleo knows, what evidence she has, and who she handed it over too.
~~~~
"Drink," he says, placing a straw into her mouth and holding the glass. He's not sure what he's giving her, water mixed with an unknown substance. It doesn't look or smell like Compound V.
Whatever Madelyn gave him Cleo is drinking it down with all the gusto of a hungry baby. Her pale cheeks have a slight pink tinge to them. He takes the drink away and focuses on keeping "you can trust me" mask in place.
"Remind me to crush the life out Stillwell when I get better," Cleo groans looking at her side. "Fuck that bitch has a mean streak,".
"If I'm going to continue helping you I need to know what Stillwell's grudge against you is," he asks, trying to keep his voice caring and soft.
"You remember that flu outbreak 15 years ago, lots of deaths. My brother was one of them," Cleo explains, he remembers it. A new flu strain, the death toll in America alone had been 4 million before the vaccine was created.
"Vought needed a way to get Compound V mainstream without anyone knowing what they were doing. Stillwell, she was new to Vought pitched the idea of a flu outbreak, put Compound V in vaccines,"
Homelander had to admit while ruthless, it was a brilliant plan, and the number of children with powers had skyrocketed, now he knew why.
"They are sending the vaccine all around the world making a profit, American children are getting pure Compound V while other countries are getting it watered down for when Vought expands to other countries. It's sick, and they need to be stopped!" Cleo's face burns with anger.
He knows nothing he says will stop Cleo mission of bringing Vought down, her brother had been one of those that died and blood, the family was a hell of a motivator for revenge.
"How do you know all of this?"
"Ever wonder why Stillwell has the power she has? She keeps records and proof of every horrific thing Vought has done; if she goes down so do they. I was curious and found stuff it doesn't matter. The point is what we do next," her voice burns with anger and desperation.
"I mean you evidence to back this up, right? We could make sure goes public," He's so close to getting what he needs from her, all of this to be over.
"That's what I planned to do but I didn't have time before Vought found me. Luckily I hid it in it the treehouse at parents. It's funny Vought never thought to look there then again they are all dead inside it never occurs to them that people have sentiments,".
"You did all that yourself it's impressive and you should be proud," tells her with a smile. He has to be sure she didn't tell anyone, no loose ends.
"It would been more impressive if I had avoided Vought and I would be in lot less pain," Cleo bitterly snorts.
"You should rest some more, you need time to heal,"
~~~~~
Madelyn doesn't ask what he did to Cleo when he hands over the evidence, because she already knows. Homelander can tell by the way she smiles at him.
The fact he held his friend's heart in his hand and crushed it, dumped her body where no one would ever find it doesn't phase her. He likes this about her, the lack of fear or disgust when he does what needs to be done.
He doesn't need to tell her knows about the vaccines, he can sense she already knows. His lack of repulsion at what Vought did or her role in it, it's unspoken.
They are tied together in secrets and darkness in a way he's never been tied to anyone before and he enjoys it, craves it, and feels a certain pride that it's him and her, and no one else.