Ominous Fortune

You woke up on the cold floor and glanced around to see you were in a warehouse. You began to cry and looked around in fear.

'Give me the word and I'll get you out of this,' Talisman whispered into your ear. You heard shouting and noises and the doors swung open as people rushed in.

'You fucking monster!'

'I'm going to rip your head off!'

'We're gonna torture you!' they screamed as you stood up and backed away. You cried even more and looked at all the people who looked at you with pure hatred.

'Crying!? You're pathetic!' one of the women shouted as she pulled out a knife.

'Say the word and I'll save you,' Talisman whispered.

'Please don't do this! We can talk, I know I've hurt you but I don't remember any of it!' you screamed before a knife was thrown into your abdomen. You screamed in pain and fell back as they advanced on you.

'We're gonna strip you down and torture you,' a man growled as you cried in pain and fear.

'One word and you won't have to feel any pain,' Talisman whispered into your ear as the man grabbed the blade and forced it in further as he tried taking off your pants.

'Do it! Do it, take over!' you screamed before it all went black again.

You gasped and felt some kind of cold substance over you. You looked around in horror to see everyone dead and in pieces. You screamed in horror before you threw up and collapsed to the ground. You sobbed out in pain and fear as you stumbled through the bodies. 'No, no... No why?' you cried out.

'So, Vought lied did they?' a voice said as you turned to see the man you knew as Homelander. 'They told me you died, but apparently they just erased your memory. Looks like you've still got...something in you,' he said as he gestured to the bodies. You continued to cry and backed away as he smirked and looked over your blood covered body. 'You really don't know me, hmm?'

'Stay...the fuck away from me!' you screamed in horror as he chuckled.

'Come on, sweetheart. That's not the way to treat me, we were close you know? I bet Billy and his little team filled your head with some crap that you're evil and I'm evil.'

'We are evil! Look around!' you screamed at him.

'These people were trying to torture you, Talisman. You were just defending yourself,' he said as he stepped closer.

'I'm not her, I'm not Talisman,' you whispered through your tears. He stepped in front of you and gently reached up to hold your face in his hand.

'Shh, it's okay. This all must be so scary for you... Everyone hating you over stuff you can't even remember,' he said as he wiped some blood off your face.

'I don't know what to do,' you cried out hopelessly. He pulled you into his chest and began to play with your hair.

'You don't need to do anything, I'll take care of you,' he whispered as you gently wrapped your arms around him while you sobbed. Homelander smiled as he held you in his arms. 'I won't let anyone hurt you again.'

--

Billy hadn't been doing well after he left you in that warehouse, he didn't spend a second sober. Hughie walked in to see him on the floor passed out from the alcohol he groaned and put a pillow under his head before turning on the tv.

"Miraculously Talisman was saved by Homelander. She was presumed dead, but was being held Captive and underwent severe torture to the point of brain damage," the news cast said as Hughie stared in shock. He quickly turned it off so Billy wouldn't see it and then rushed to find Frenchie.

'Frenchie!'

'Hughie, slow down. What's wrong?'

'It's Talisman... She's alive,' he said as Frenchie stared at him in shock.

'How? We sent at least thirty people into that warehouse to kill her,' Frenchie said. 'We need to check the warehouse.'

Hughie and Frenchie decided to leave Billy out of their mission for the moment, they had no idea what the news would do to him. They made it out to the warehouse and found it completely burnt down, saved for a few bodies that were torn apart.

'Do you think Homelander found her before they hurt her?' Hughie asked.

'No... This is Talisman's kills, the way she brutalised the bodies, it's different than Homelander. Her power is still inside of her,' Frenchie said as he stared at all the bodies. 'Talisman is still inside of her.'

--

You sat in front of a large window that overlooked the city. You were shocked that Vought had even let you back in considering they were the ones to erase your mind. You heard footsteps and looked behind to see Homelander approaching you.

'How's my girl feeling?' he asked with a smile.

'I'm okay... Still a little sick,' you muttered.

'There's a lot going on, why don't you take a little nap?' he suggested as you stood up.

'I guess that's not a bad idea...' you whispered as he held your face again.

'You don't have to worry about anything, okay? You just let me take care of everything for you,' he said as he stroked your cheek.

'You're as evil as...Talisman. I know you are, you pinned it all on Billy. It wasn't his fault,' you said as his face fell.

'Pinned it on Billy? But he was the one that captured you and hurt you, sweetheart. I didn't pin anything on him, because it's true isn't it?'

'He didn't hurt me,' you whispered.

'He left you to get torture, darling. Is that what a kind man would do?' he asked. You paused for a moment and looked at him.

'I don't know...'

'That's okay, you've been through so much. Just let me take care of it all,' he whispered as he kissed your forehead. 'Go get some rest, okay?' You nodded and headed towards the guest room, maybe some rest would do you good.

—

Billy was sitting in the base with his head in his hands as Hughie and Frenchie entered. ‘Billy, we need to talk.’

‘What do you want?’ He grumbled without even looking up.

‘It’s about Y/N, Mon Ami.’

‘What about her?’ Billy said as he looked up with no emotions in his eyes.

‘She’s…alive. It was broadcasted that Homelander saved her and you were responsible for torturing her. We went to the warehouse and…it was covered in bodies, and body parts. It looked like all of Talisman’s crime scenes,’ Hughie said as Billy’s eyes narrowed.

‘So, what the hell does this mean? She was faking it?’

‘We don’t know, maybe she lied to us or maybe Talisman is still in there somewhere inside of her,’ Hughie said. Billy groaned and took another swig of his whiskey.

‘Then we add her to the list of supes we need to fuckin kill.’

—

After you woke up you wandered out of Homelander’s penthouse and began to wander the hallways.

‘So, Homelander’s little sweetheart is home,’ you heard a voice say as you turned to see a red haired woman.

‘Uh… I’m not his sweetheart,’ you said.

‘Oh, come on. We all knew you were so smitten with him, it was kind of pathetic,’ she said.

‘Sorry, who are you?’

‘Oh, that’s right your head got a little too knocked around, didn’t it? I’m Firecracker, something makes me wonder. How did a powerful supe like you manage to get brain damage?’ She asked as she stepped closer.

‘It’s complicated, I don’t really have my powers anymore,’ you said as she smirked.

‘And Homelander still wants you? Interesting,’ she said as she reached up and played with your hair. You could sense Talisman behind you and froze.

‘I always hated this girl, absolutely no shame. She throws herself at Homelander, you don’t even want to know what she’s done to impress him,’ she whispered in your ear. ‘What if I accidentally bash her skull in?’

‘No!’ You said as Firecracker looked at you in confusion.

‘No? No, what?’

‘Nothing… Sorry, anyway I should get going,’ you muttered as you quickly rushed off towards the elevator. You sighed when the doors closed and leaned against the wall.

‘It’s pathetic,’ Talisman hissed.

‘What’s pathetic?’

‘How much you’re missing Billy. He abandoned you to get tortured and probably raped,’ she said as you sighed and closed your eyes.

‘He was kind to me,’ you whispered as she scoffed.

‘You’re naive and pathetic. Your best bet is to stay close with Homelander, he’s a babbling idiot with Mommy issues but he’s powerful. Keep him close,’ she said before the doors opened and she disappeared. You saw Homelander and smiled a little.

‘What are you doing roaming about?’ He said with a forced smile.

‘I thought I would stretch my legs,’ you said as he stepped in and slammed the button for his floor. He gripped your arm tightly as you looked at him in fear.

‘You need to stay in the penthouse, okay? If you need anything I will get it for you, but you can’t leave. Do you know how many people want you dead?’ He growled.

‘I’m sorry… I keep forgetting,’ you whispered. He sighed and loosened his grip.

‘It’s fine, just stay int he penthouse.’

The doors opened and he practically dragged you back into his penthouse and slammed the door. He looked at you before forcing you into a possessive kiss, you whined and tried to shove him off you. You managed to get away and stumbled backwards.

‘Stop it,’ you whispered while you tried to catch your breath.

‘We were close, Y/N. Don’t you want that again?’ He asked as you stared at him in fear.

‘He’s lying, we were never intimate. He’s just trying to get his pathetic excuse for a dick wet,’ Talisman grumbled as you glanced at her beside you. Homelander moved forward and placed his hand on your hip.

‘I’ll be gentle, okay? I know you’re not at your full power anymore,’ he said as he began to kiss your neck.

‘I don’t want this,’ you whispered as his grip got tighter to the point it felt like he was crushing your bones. You whined and tried to escape his grip but he was too strong compared to you.

‘Oh for fuck sakes,’ Talisman grumbled before you felt her take over. She gripped Homelander’s wrist in a painful grip as he stared at her in shock. ‘Don’t try to manipulate her, darling.’

‘Talisman… I knew you were in there somewhere,’ he said with a smirk. She punched him hard across the face and escaped his grip.

‘Yes, and I don’t appreciate you feeling me up,’ she grumbled.

‘It was a momentary lapse, that’s all,’ he said as she chuckled.

‘One that won’t happen again, isn’t that right?’ She said as she stalked closer to him. You had never really been conscious when Talisman was in control, but now you were and it felt odd. Like being a passenger in your own body. You could see that Homelander was actually scared.

‘No… No, I won’t let it happen again,’ he said, his voice wavering. You suddenly felt your perception shift and stood beside Talisman.

‘He’s scared of you,’ you whispered as she smiled and looked at you.

‘That he is, darling.’

‘Who are you talking to?’ Homelander asked in a timid voice.

‘Y/N is here with me. See, when the little chip fried my brain it somehow split us into two,’ she said as she walked closer to Homelander. ‘Now, I just need to work out how to…kill Y/N,’ she said as your eyes widened.

‘You can’t just kill me! I’m you and you’re me,’ you said. She turned to you and narrowed her gaze.

‘I’m sure I can find a way to remove you from me,’ she growled before everything went black again.

—

You woke up the next day to find yourself lying on the floor in front of the window. You glanced around and noticed Homelander (or Talisman) weren’t anywhere to be found. You looked out at the window and a wicked idea formed in your head. You rushed to the front door and rushed out to the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. You had to act quick to make sure Talisman wasn’t around. Once the elevator reached the top you ran towards the edge and looked down at the big drop below you. You took in a deep breath and climbed up onto the ledge and tears formed in your eyes. ‘It’ll be better this way,’ you whispered. You began to cry as you stared down at the ground. ‘I’m sorry, Billy.’ You whispered as you went to go step off but felt arms grab you and pull you back. You screamed and shoved them off you and tried to run for the ledge again but they grabbed you tighter. ‘Let me go!’

‘I’m not fuckin letting you jump,’ the voice said as you froze. You glanced behind you to see Billy and stared in shock.

‘Billy…? How are you here?’

‘Well, the boys and I heard you were in Homelander’s penthouse so we broke in to fuckin kill you then I follow you up here to see you trying to jump,’ he grumbled, his grip on you still tight. ‘I thought you lied to us about forgetting everything. Seeing you trying to bloody kill yourself proves you didn’t lie.’

‘I didn’t, I promise, but Talisman is still inside of me. She killed all those people,’ you whispered as you began to cry. Billy’s slowly knelt on the ground and pulled you into a hug as you sobbed into his chest. ‘Just let me die, please. Everyone will be safer,’ you whispered. Billy closed his eyes and held you tighter, he had been so filled with rage and guilt that it felt good to have you in his arms.

‘No, I ain’t letting you bloody die. You’re coming back with us.’

‘No, Billy. She’ll hurt all of you, please. You know it’s not safe,’ you said.

‘I don’t care, I’ll figure it out. I think I know how,’ he said as you pulled away and looked at him. ‘Frenchie and Kimiko have been working on a serum to reverse V, take away their power, but we don’t know what it would do to you.’

‘We have to try… Either way it will keep you safe, if I die or I lose my powers.’

‘Let’s just get you back to the base.’

After a gruelling hour trying to escape Vought unseen you were finally back at the base much to the disgust of everyone on the team. You sat int he cage once again as Billy spoke to the team about testing the serum on you. He arrived half an hour later and looked at you. ‘Well, everyone is on board to test the serum on you. I think because they want it to kill you,’ he muttered as he unlocked the cage. He helped you out and you looked at him.

‘Billy… If it does kill me I want you to know that you’re the closest thing I’ve had to a friend through all of this, maybe through all of my life. I can’t imagine Talisman having friends, but…I missed you while I was gone and I understand why you did what you did,’ you whispered as he looked down at you with a sad look in his eyes.

‘It won’t bloody kill you.’

‘But if it does,’ you whispered as you pulled him closer to you. He kept his eyes on yours before you kissed him softly, he wrapped his arm around you and pulled you closer. It was so different to when Homelander had forced himself on you, Billy was so gentle. You pulled away and looked into his eyes. ‘Just wanted to have my first kiss in case I die,’ you said as he chuckled softly.

‘Oh, so you would’ve kissed anyone?’

‘Mmm, no you were definitely the first choice.’

You sat on a metal table as Frenchie prepared the needle, you couldn’t but tremble slightly. Billy noticed your hands trembling and gently held one, you smiled a little and looked at him as you felt the sharp prick of the needle. You closed your eyes and held onto Billy’s hand tighter.

‘This is going to hurt,’ Frenchie said. You opened your eyes and looked at Billy again before you felt the serum burning through your veins. You cried out in pain and your body seized up against the table. You screamed louder as tears streamed down your face.

‘It’s alright, darlin. Just hold on,’ Billy said as he watched you with worry in his eyes. You felt like you were being boiled alive from the inside out. You reached up and wrapped your arms around Billy as you sobbed in pain. He held you tightly in his arms and rubbed your back. ‘I’ve got you, it’ll stop soon,’ he whispered.

After a few more minutes of screaming you collapsed against Billy and he froze for a moment. ‘Y/N?’

‘Still…alive,’ you whispered as he sighed in relief.

‘We can only monitor throughout the next few days and see if it really worked,’ Frenchie said as Billy nodded.

You sat in the small cage again and hugged your knees to your chest. It was cold and too quiet in here.

'Y/N,' a voice whispered as you gasped and looked around. The door opened and you glanced up to see Billy bringing in food for you.

'You look spooked, darlin. Forget me already?'

'No... I think I'm just hearing things,' you muttered as he opened the cage and placed the tray of food in. You were glad he gave you actual food, you knew if it were up to the others you'd be getting gravel in a bowl. You took the bowl of cereal and sat against the back wall. 'Your name is Billy... Right?'

'Yeah, that's the one.'

'Why...was I so evil?' you whispered.

'I think that's a question a lot of people asked, darlin. Everyone's got a reason, no one knew yours.'

'That girl...the blonde one. She said I would even hurt and kill children. Was I really that bad?' you whispered. Billy sighed and sat on the ground in front of the cage.

'Yeah, darlin. You didn't care who you hurt, you killed brutally and heartlessly,' he said as you stared down at the cereal.

'How could I be so evil... Then my mind gets erased and I have empathy?' you muttered.

'Obviously something happened in your life to make you despise everything with a heartbeat. Now that you've forgotten I guess you have the empathy of...a baby?' he said as you chuckled a little. 'Never thought I would bloody sympathise with Talisman,' he grumbled. You looked at him in confusion.

'Talisman?'

'That was your hero name that Vought came up with. Had a better ring than Y/N apparently.'

'None of them seem like me... I feel like I know my name, but it's not Y/N.'

'What does your name feel like then?' he asked as you looked at him.

'I have no idea. This is all so confusing, why are you being nice to me? By the sounds of it you should be burning me at the stake,' you whispered.

'I don't bloody know, darlin. This whole thing is confusing to me too. I should bloody hate your guts and want to hurt you, but...I knew Talisman, I spoke to her and that isn't who I see in front of me right now,' he said as you smiled a little.

'What was she like when you spoke to her?'

'A right bloody cunt. Looked like she wanted to rip my damn eyes out. All the other times I saw her she was playing the part of Homelander's perfect little right hand woman and in the spare time tearing people to shreds or torturing them.'

'Homelander... He's that guy you showed me the pictures of?' you asked as Billy nodded.

'Yeah, he's a pretty bad person too. He hurt someone very close to me,' he said with a sad look in his eyes.

'Who did he hurt...?'

'My wife, Becca. Kept her hostage for years on end, forced her to have his child,' he said as your face went pale.

'Did I have anything to do with it...?'

'I'm not sure, darlin. I don't know if you knew about Becca or what your relationship with Homelander was behind the scenes. All I know is that a lot of people aren't gonna forgive you,' he said. You nodded and began to eat in silence as Billy watched you. Once you were done he helped you out of the cage and brought you out to the main room to change the bandages around your neck. You sat on the couch with Billy behind you as he unwrapped the bandage from your neck, he realised how tense you were whenever he touched you.

'Relax, darlin. You're acting like a terrified bunny,' he grumbled as he applied some ointment to the wound. You whimpered a little and he felt sorry for you, which is something he had never felt for barely anyone, let alone a supe. 'It's alright, I'm almost done,' he said as he examined it to make sure there was no infection. Once he was done he applied a new bandage as Frenchie and Kimiko arrived back to the base.

'Why is she out of her cage?' Frenchie asked as he crossed his arms.

'Relax, I'm just changing the bandage,' Billy said as he secured it. He guided you back into the cold room and into the cage. He stared down at you in thought before he groaned and took off his jacket. 'Here, it's bloody freezing in here,' he said as he handed it to you. You smiled and wrapped it around you before he locked the bars on the cage.

'Thanks, Billy.'

'Yeah... You're welcome,' he grumbled before he left. When he entered the main room he saw Frenchie and Kimiko staring at him. 'What the bloody hell are you two staring at?'

'The fact that our so called team leader is smitten for that little monster in there,' Frenchie said. Billy rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen to make some coffee.

'I'm not bloody smitten, I'm making sure she doesn't die.'

'By giving her your coat and our breakfast?' Frenchie asked as he followed him into the kitchen. 'What's really going on? The Billy I know would be in there torturing her.'

'I don't bloody know, okay? I know Talisman was a goddamn monster, but she ain't her, okay? I look at her and I see someone who's bloody terrified out of their mind. I don't see a villain,' Billy said as he glanced at his team mates.

'She forgot who she is, but she is still her. She is still the person who has taken so much from us.'

'I damn well know that, Frenchie! I don't bloody know what to do. That look in her eyes...' Billy muttered as he rubbed his head. Suddenly they heard screaming and turned to see the door to your cage opened and Kimiko dragging you out. 'Kimiko!' Billy shouted as he rushed forward. Kimiko took out her her blade and gripped your hair tighter before slicing your most of it off. You screamed and continued to struggle against her. Frenchie grabbed Kimiko away from you as Billy helped you stand up. You gripped onto him and stayed as far away as you could from Kimiko. 'What the bloody hell, Kimiko!' Billy shouted as she turned to Frenchie and signed something.

'She says if she can't cut off her limbs she may as well cut her hair off... Or an ear,' Frenchie muttered as you stared in fear. You reached up and felt your hair now short and choppy. Billy groaned and rubbed his face as he held onto you.

'God, I'm too old for this bullshit. Kimiko, stand the hell down. I say what happens to her, and if anyone touches her you ain't apart of the team,' he said as they glared at you.

'You're seriously going to take her side? Has she hypnotized you?' Frenchie said with betrayal in his voice.

'I'm taking her back to the cage, then we can talk,' he grumbled before leading you back into where your cage was. You crawled back inside and hugged your knees to your chest. Billy found his coat discarded on the floor from when Kimiko had dragged you out. He grabbed it and gave it back to you. 'I'll try and get you a blanket or something. I just have to go talk to the others,' he said as you smiled a little.

'Thanks... For saving me so she didn't cut my ears off,' you said as he cracked a small smile.

'Your hair don't look too bad, darlin.'

--

When Billy eventually returned night had fallen outside and you were feeling even colder. He entered with a pillow and a blanket along with some dinner.

'Hey, did you sort it out with your team?' you asked.

'Somewhat, they won't hurt you, but you gotta stay in this cage for a bit longer,' he said as he opened it and placed the tray of food in along with the blankets.

'By the sounds of it I deserve to be shoved outside in a box...and then lit on fire,' you mumbled as he chuckled gruffly and sat down in front of the cage. 'Why are you being so nice to me? By the sounds of it this isn't your usual personality.'

'Yeah, you're right. I usually fuckin hate everyone, especially supes and especially who you were. There's just something in the way you look at me. Talisman never looked at anyone like that,' he said.

'What way do I look at you?'

'Fear and uncertainty,' he said. 'Talisman was always confident and cruel, she hurt everyone any chance she got. Then I look at you now and I don't see any of that. It's like you're an entirely different person.'

'I feel like a different person. This...Talisman girl doesn't sound anything like me. Even though I don't know who the hell I am,' you whispered. 'This is all so complicated. I can't even find comfort in anything because I don't have a memory... Well I guess you bring me a weird sense of comfort. Sorry that's weird,' you said as Billy chuckled softly.

'It's not weird, darlin. You're scared and uncertain, it would make sense to find comfort in the only person being nice to you.'

'I suppose that makes sense. I'm sorry, Billy. For what supes have done to you and what I've done,' you said as Billy looked at you. He smiled softly and looked away again.

'It's alright, darlin...'

'So, you think short hair suits me?' you muttered as he chuckled.

'Might need a little clean up, but it suits you,' he said. You laughed softly and started to eat lunch before the door swung open and you looked up to see Annie.

'You might want to see this... You too Talisman,' she grumbled as she handed Billy her phone. He watched in shock at the live newscast of a national alert about your "death." You watched as the man you knew as Homelander teared up as he spoke about you.

"She was a hero, someone who just wanted to protect the vulnerable. She was the kindest person I ever knew. William Butcher killed her like she was worthless, he lived up to his name and butchered her! She died in pain trying to save her country!" Homelander shouted as you watched in shock.

'Fuckin hell, he's pinning me for it,' he grumbled. You looked at the photo of you that they showed as the crowd screamed and cheered.

"We will be holding a funeral for the angel we lost and William, if you're listening. You will be brought to justice for taking another innocent life."

'Fuck me,' Billy said as he rubbed his head.

'Can't I just go out and show everyone I'm alive?' you asked.

'Fuck no, you'll be bloody murdered and tortured by the people you screwed over,' Billy said as Annie took her phone and looked down at you.

'Maybe that's not a bad thing if we let the public decide what to do with her,' Annie said coldly. Billy looked at her in shock, he had never seen her so heartless before.

'Get out, I'm talking to her alone,' Billy grumbled.

'What? So you can fall for her? So she can bribe you or do whatever the fuck she's doing? What the hell is going on with your Billy? Do I have to remind you what she's done?'

'No! You don't but...she isn't the same person now, okay?'

'Okay, tell me something. If Homelander had his mind erased would you forgive him for what he did to your wife, or would you still cave his skull in?' Annie asked as Billy paused and looked at you.

'I would still kill him,' he whispered as you looked into his eyes. He sighed and stood up. 'I need some time alone to think. Don't bloody hurt her,' he grumbled to Annie before he walked away. You watched him go with sadness in your eyes before you looked at Annie.

'So... What did I do to you?'

'You brutally murdered the first man I loved and someone I grew up with,' she said as you looked at her in shock.

'I'm so sorry,' you whispered as she scoffed.

'Yeah, well sorry won't cut it.'

'What will...?'

'Nothing! Get that through your head! Nothing can bring you back from what you've done! You have murdered, abused and tortured people indiscriminately. Even children, the poor, the innocent, everyone!' she yelled as you hugged your knees to your chest. Suddenly you saw yourself behind her back in the outfit you'd seen on the news cast. It was Talisman.

'What the hell?' you whispered as she glanced behind her than back at you

'What are you looking at?'

You closed your eyes and shook your head. 'Nothing... Nothing.'

'Nothing? Is that all I am? Oh, I'm plenty real, sweetheart,' Talisman said from behind Annie as you quickly blocked your ears.

'Go away,' you whispered.

'Fine, you deserve to be left alone,' Annie said as she walked away. You opened your eyes to see Talisman still standing there with a smirk.

'You're not real,' you whispered as she laughed.

'I'm as real as I need to be, and all the stuff I did...you also did,' she said as you shook your head.

'No! I'm nothing like you, maybe I was you but...but I'm not you! I can't even imagine doing the things you did to people,' you said as she laughed.

'If only you knew what humans had done to us. They deserve it, they are fucking pathetic ants. I'm a God, you are a God!' she shouted as you covered your ears. 'You like him don't you? Hmm? Does he make your little cheeks flush? Do you want him to fuck you?' she taunted as she stepped closer.

'Stop it, please. I want to try and fix this,' you whispered. She laughed even louder.

'Fix it? You are pathetic! I will make you kill every last one of them!' she screamed as you threw your hand against the wall and caused a hole. You stared at it in shock as she laughed. 'Looks like my power is still in here somewhere.'

--

Billy returned the next morning to see you curled up and staring forward. He glanced beside you to see the hole in the wall. 'What the bloody hell happened?'

'I think her power is still inside of me somewhere,' you whispered. Billy could see how exhausted and scared you looked. 'I keep seeing her and talking to her.'

'What do you mean, darlin?'

'I saw her last night, in front of the cage. She said I would never escape her or something. I think I'm going crazy,' you whispered as you closed your eyes.

'I don't know what to do with you... We um...we decided we're gonna let someone else decide what happens,' he said with a regretful look. You looked at him in confusion.

'What do you mean?'

'We're gonna put you somewhere and...let the people you hurt know where you are,' he said as your eyes widened.

'Billy...'

'Talisman has to pay for what she did, luv,' he said.

'Please don't do this... They'll hurt me and...so much worse,' you whispered with tears in your eyes.

'She...you deserve it, alright?' he muttered as he began to open the cage.

'No!' you screamed as you crawled out and dodged him. 'I know what she has done is awful, but I'm not her! Please, Billy. You more than anyone knows that,' you said. He looked at you sadly.

'I don't want to do this, Y/N... But I have to,' he said as you teared up.

'Just kill me... Please, Billy. Just end it so I don't have to suffer,' you whispered.

'She deserves to suffer! That means you have to!' he shouted as you stared at him in shock. He rushed forward and grabbed your arm before injecting something into it. You stared in fear and looked into his eyes.

'Please... I'm scared,' you whispered as he looked at you sadly.

Billy stared down at your body on the ground and sat beside it and lit up a cigarette. You had a lasered hole straight through your head, all thanks to Homelander. He wanted to take everything that Billy loved away from him, the only thing he didn't know is that you could regenerate from anything. Billy watched as light surrounded your body and he covered his eyes. There was a reason your nickname was Phoenix, anytime you regenerated it would be under a blinding light, your body could rebuild itself even from ashes. You gasped and sat up as Billy nodded to you. He glanced at his watch and smirked. 'New record, darlin.'

'Fuck yeah!' you said as you high fived him.

'Come on, kid. I'll get you pizza on the way back,' he said as he helped you stand up.

You made it back to the base with Billy and Hughie immediately hugged you tightly. You chuckled softly and hugged him back. 'I'm alive, idiot.'

'I know... It was just hard to see,' he muttered as he pulled away.

'We need to get ready for another attack by Homelander. He thinks Y/N is dead and that we'll be grieving her. It's only smart for him to strike again soon,' Billy said as you nodded.

'What if we had a service for Y/N?' Marvin said as you rose an eyebrow. 'We know he's going to strike, we may as well be ready for it. If we plan a fake funeral Homelander will strike then.'

'That's not a bad idea actually...'

--

Frenchie had used one of his contacts to book out a funeral home for the entire day and with Annie's help she had spread the word about your "memorial" so it got back to Homelander. You sat beside Billy as you waited and looked at him. 'Hey, if this actually was my funeral, what would you say?'

'Uh, she was bloody annoying?' he said as you poked your tongue out at him.

'Im being serious! I mean it's no secret I'll...outlive you,' you muttered. 'So, what would you say at my funeral?'

'I don't know, kid... You brought a lot of hope back to me after I lost Becca. I always wanted a daughter and...I got one,' he said as you looked at him in shock.

'You see me as your daughter?' you asked as you teared up.

'Don't start getting bloody cheesy on me, luv... But yeah,' he said as you smiled and hugged him tightly. He chuckled softly and hugged you back tightly. 'You're too bloody soft.'

'He's coming!' Frenchie called out as Billy ushered you to quickly hide.

'Alright, everyone pretend to be sad of whatever!' Billy shouted as you ran out the back to hide in a steel closet, hopefully it would block your heartbeat. He probably wouldn't pay that much attention to heart beats anyway while Billy was around.

'William! I heard about this lovely service for your...what was she to you anyway?'

'A bloody nuisance, you actually did me a favour,' he said coldly as Homelander chuckled.

'Aww, come on William. You can be vulnerable with me. I know you you miss her,' Homelander said. Kimiko was about to sneak up behind him before he turned and punched her. Marvin shot Homelander with a special bullet they had made using anti V serum. It wouldn't kill Homelander but it was enough to scare him. He gripped his wound and stared at Billy in shock. Billy winked and stepped forward.

'Run on back to your masters, won't ya?' he said with a smirk as Homelander growled and flew away. You rushed out and ran to Kimiko to help her up as she snapped her neck back into place.

'I thought we were going to kill him?' you asked.