Blarney Cock

-

He simply nodded at the other’s answer. He wished that the other’s life could turn around, because – no matter how much Blarney Cock was painting it as happy – his life seemed hollow when the drugs and the booze were removed. “Thanks, appreciate it, man,” Jet smiled. “No movies, hopefully. I don’t feel like acting right now.” But, of course, the triumphant moment had to be undercut by Homelander. “I’m not the only one makin’ headlines, though. That dick Homelander had to out Maeve’s secrets.”

"You don’ think they’ll be cashin’ in on all your success? If you don’t wanna do it, don’t. You got a lotta leverage on ‘em now an’ a lotta stuff goin’ right for ‘ye. Don’t do it if you don’t wanna. You’ll be on another mission soon enough I reckon.” Blarney was smilin’ an’ then Jet mentioned Maeve and it went fast. “Fuck the lot of ‘em. He’s jus’ doin’ it ‘cos he ain’t center of attention.”

He definitely wasn’t expecting the other clapping his shoulder, but he didn’t mind it. In fact the change of attitude was very welcomed as he followed the other man, too much doom and gloom with supes lately. “If I can, that’d be great. This suit gets stuffy as hell after a while.” He said as he pulled on his suit collar a little and taking his glasses off.

"Don’ I fuckin’ know it ‘bout the suits. Is yours uncomfy as well? Got me in some bright orange spandex an’ I ain’t have no clue why. Hey! We’re both orange! Tha’s fuckin’ cool or it would be if it weren’t such a shite color. Jus’ a warnin’ though, it can get pretty wild at the kix place.”

\

Maeve gave him a stern look before shaking her head. “None of us wanted this but this is my fault.” She told him. She blamed herself and she sure as hell wasn’t going to let something happen if she had the idea that she could stop it. “I don’t care if you don’t give a shit. I stopped giving a shit a long time ago but that was when it was just me putting up with him. I thought if I took the brunt of it no one else would but it isn’t just me anymore.” She told him, grabbing him by the shoulders. “If you didn’t give a fuck you wouldn’t be standing here. I’m not asking for anything other than let me do this. I’ve fucked up your life from the get go. I can’t change that but I can change this. Let me try.” She asked, her eyes pleading with him. “Because I know I’m not your mother in any sense besides blood and I’m no hero but that doesn’t mean I can’t try and do something fucking right. Besides, I’m not asking.”

"I really don’ think Vought’ll let it get out. I’m fucked up an’ not in th’ way you are. You’r fucked up but you ain’t marketed like Vought has us lot. The Teenage Kix are fuckers an’ Vought wanted us to be the edgy twats tha’ parents hate but the alternative crowd want. If I was in a different group they would sure as shite be would market us an’ all tha’ stuff but I’m not an’ I like that.” He jus’ looked at her an’ wanted to get out of the shoulder touch but didn’t make any moves t’stop it. “You didn’t fuck me up. I did an’ tha’ is on me an’ I don’t care tha’ it happened. I’ve had a good time an’ I’ve got mates tha’ are great. Not askin’? The fuck you gunna do?”

\

“Because he is a conniving bastard. All secrets get out eventually.” She thought she could keep her own buried but now it was playing out for the whole world to see. “I’m sorry, Blarney.” She murmured. She knew her apology would most likely mean nothing to him. This is exactly what she didn’t want to do. Fuck with his life even more. “Blarney, don’t you fucking get it?” She snapped. “He knows who you are. He will come for you and Vought isn’t going to protect you. You know that.” Her words were harsh but spoken with conviction. “I’m not asking you to forgive me or asking to let me be your mother now but he will kill you. I’ve watched him tear out a man’s heart and that wasn’t even personal. If you will just listen to me, I’m trying to keep you alive.” Maeve looked back at him. “I’m a shit person. I know that but I can’t…I can’t let him just hurt people anymore. I can’t.”

"Fuck it. If it gets out then it gets out. I didn’t ask for any o’ this shit an’ I sure as fuck don’ want it.” Blarney heard her apology but he didn’t react to it thinkin’ there was no point an’ knowin’ it would no good or no bad. Just pointess. “Then let him come. I don’ give a shit. If he kills me then I jus’ wan’ it to be quick. Why are tryin’ to keep me alive an’ safe? It ain’t gotta be anythin’ to do wi’ our shared dna since tha’ means fuck all to either o’ us. Is it you conscience? If it is then jus’ take me outta it.”

Shockwave hesitated for a moment. He should stay here, make a good impression with the reporters, but at the same time, he wouldn’t have anything to tell them and didn’t want to accidentally say anything that would get him in hot waters. “Sounds good, any chance to get away from this mess.” Shockwave nodded.

"Fuck yes!” An’ for the first time tha’ day he actually fuckin’ smiled.  Clappin’ his hands on Shockwaves shoulder he started to walk out an’ took off his stupid mask. “I’m gettin’ changed first. Fuck goin’ out in this shit. You wanna borrow some clothes? We got loads in the Kix place.”

“I mean, if her baby daddy is Latino then sure, it could be me,” Brook scoffed. She went silent for awhile, the gears in her head turning. She’d had a couple of mentions on Instagram and Twitter, and she knew that people on supe Reddit were going wild talking about conspiracy theories, but she hadn’t actually stopped to wonder if the kid was someone she knew. She’d always just assumed that it was a civilian. “What makes you think it’s someone our age? What makes you sure it’s a Vought Supe?”

"Could be. Don’ think you are tha’ fucked up t’be somethin’ from one of those fuckers though. You migh’ve jus’ missed out.” Lucky her. He kept a little flask on him tha’ was jus’ filled wit’ straight vodka but one tha’ was strong enough to even knock him a bit. “I dunno. I was jus’ guessin.’ She ain’t too old or young so it might, might not be. Unlucky fucker whoever it is. I dunno ‘bout Vought. All I think is tha’ they’re gunna know when one of their faves gets knocked up an’ if it was one she had with the blonde fella then they’d market the shit outta it. Probably one o’ the Young Americans.” Better to deflect. 

   Smiling when the other shared that he was Blarney Cock from Teenage Kix, well would you look at that a fellow supe. It really was a small world after all just like the song implied. “No way, I didn’t expect to find another other heroes here. And you know it’s all bs the story their selling. Got my powers from a magical snow drift or something stupid like that. Still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come. You might like the film. I hear I look pretty great in it, and my acting ain’t half bad.” 

"Gunna be honest wi’ you. The only reason I’m here is because you can get th’ best shit from these assholes. It’s expensive but it is fuckin’ worth it. Yeah, I know everythin’ they say is bullshit. Don’ think tha’ any of stories they sell are real. Not one bit o’ it. I like bein’ in my group, they don’t make a backstory up wi’ us.” He took a drink. “I’ll go see your film. For the actin’”

-

Jet didn’t know whether he should feel sorry or not. On one hand, it was horrible for them to be left alone and essentially used by the company just when they were needed, then discarded. On the other hand, being suffocated by handlers and their incessant nagging isn’t fun either. Regardless, he realised that he probably had it better than the kids in Teenage Kix. That’s probably why they drowned and numbed themselves using all the drugs and alcohol and partying. “You happy, though?” he asked.

“Yeah. Happy doin’ my own thing wi’ my mates. The comedown an’ hangover can be a shit but I’ve got used to it now.” Bein’ asked if he was happy didn’t get asked to him an’ he didn’t really mind it. Somethin’ was always goin’ on. “Saw your lot on th’ news wit’ your medals. Congrats on tha’.” The splotlight on it had dimmed it a bit since Maeve was outed. “They’ll be announcin’ a movie for you soon.”

Shockwave was having a bit of a difficult time keeping up with the accent, but he understood what the other was saying easily enough. “I’ve got no idea, I guess they’re desperate for any tidbit they can get.” He shrugged. “It’s Homelander, it’s not going to keep in their own team. He’ll find a way to get everybody involved somehow, I’m sure.” Or get involved in everybody’s business, like he had with him. 

"I was hopin’ they’d stick wi’ the main lot of ‘em. Nobody in my groups knows shit all ‘bout this stuff but apparently everyone is gettin’ calls an’ waitin’ for some fucker to come out an’ comment on all this shit.” Shakin’ his head Blarney was ithcin’ to get out of the place. “Fuck it. You wanna come get a drink? I know a decent place tha’ the press can’t get into. It’s supes only.”

Blarney’s tone just told Shockwave the other clearly wasn’t ok so he didn’t take it personally. As the other talked, he noticed a couple cameras pointing at them, so he stepped around Blarney to hide him from the line of sight best he could, waving and smiling. “I’m with you on that one.” He said as he turned back to the other supe once the cameras stopped paying attention to them. “Homelander really played dirty, doing that to Maeve. There’s no way that was scripted.” Stupid reporter lady and her questions, as if there wasn’t enough tension among supes already. 

"They got you doin’ anythin’ for it? They ain’t wi’ me. Never do ‘cos of the accent an’ nobody can ever understand me on camera. A’few times they hav’ t’put subtitles on me. Fuckin’ Americans.” Technically he was American-Irish bein’ born in New York but always forgot that’. “Let ‘em go at each other s’long as they kep it to their own team. Fuck ‘em.”

Blarney was one of the few Supes Brook actually genuinely cared about. She’d been glad to be rid of her last team but she was always going to see him as a good friend and ally. She noticed his distress almost immediately, and her brows furrowed as she lowered her phone, studying him carefully. Something was going on, no doubt about it. “Thanks,” she said shortly. her eyes narrowing just a little. “Why are you so pressed about Homelander’s bitch fit?”

"I ain’t,” he lied. A ping noise kept goin’ on his phone for the hundredth time tha’ day. Members of the press wantin’ to speak to any supe that fell in the age range of Maeves to find out who it could be. It wouldn’t be long till someone found out. “I’m jus’ pissed at all of ‘em trying to find information out ‘bout us all. They tried gettin’ hold o’ you yet?” Wantin’ to deflect he put on a can’t be arsed look. “Who are you bettin’ is Maeves kid? We think its someone from Young Americans or Super Douper. Not a clue who tho’ .”

Shockwave didn’t need another reason to dislike Homelander, and yet, here was something else to add to the list, presented by the man himself. Outing anybody in such a way was deplorable in Shockwave’s books. When the other supe, who he recognized as Blarney Cock, approached him with his question, Shockwave was taken a little by surprise but he nodded anyway. “Sure thing. Are you okay?” he asked, sounding slightly concerned.

Was he okay? Fuck, no. Maeve had warned him ‘bout Homelander an’ all he had done an’ ust how much of an evil bastard he could be but Blarney just thought that he was safe ‘cos the man didn’t know about Blarney or his parentage. Tha’ had changed. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked a lot more snarky than wha’ he wanted. “I’m fine. Jus’ need a break from all this shit an’ all tha’ crap on the TV. Don’t they have somethin’ better goin’ on? Payback jus’ won a medal or some shit. Should be puttin’ tha’ on.”

There were a few things Lamplighter wanted too do but some of them he wasn’t comfortable telling a stranger he just met. He knew the group Teenage Kix didn’t really have rules to follow and pretty much did their own thing. He kind of liked having some rules but he also liked pushing how far he could with some. The Supe took another drag from the cigarette and thought for a few moments. “Probably burn down Vought Tower. What about you?”

“Burnin’ down Vought tower is a fuckin’ good one.” Blarney didn’t think tha’ he could top it an’ wasn’t sure tha’ he wanted to. It was too good. “For me, I don’ know. We do shit tha’ we want without carin’ wha’ll happen all the time. More of the same? Maybe jus’ one weekend where there are no limits to wha’ we can do or take. If we had no consequences then tha’ would be one fuckin’ good event.”

\

Maeve glanced over at him as she rubbed her forehead. “I didn’t know he was going to do that.” She muttered as she paced around. “He did it on live television. What the fuck was I supposed to do?” She asked him, her tone biting slightly as she walked up to him. “He wants to fuck with me and now you and Elena are his way to do that. I’m not even fucking gay. I’m bi.” She reaffirmed. “He wants me at his side at all times and now, if I won’t be with him, then he is using this to control my life another way.” She searched his face for a moment before she spoke. “Elena is staying with me. That way I can keep her safe from him. If you ever…” She trailed off, unsure if he would even appreciate the offer. “I can protect you too but that means your going to have to be with me. I’ve fucked up enough times because of him. I’m trying to not let that happen again.”

For so long he had been so care free an’ not givin’ a shit ‘bout anythin’ but now he was o stressed he was gettin’ a headache as he paced around in a way tha’ was like how she was but he was rubbin’ his temples tryin’ to get rid of the headache. “How the fuck did he even know ‘bout me? No one does. It’s only us an’ tha’ Doc. I ain’t even told anyone in my team.” He wasn’t lookin’ at her an’ jut kept lookin’ at the tv playing the same breaking news and speculations on Maeve. “I don’ give a shit if you’re bi, straight, gay or anythin’ else.” He really didn’t. It was her life an’ not somethin’ he was part of. “Fuck no. I ain’t stayin’ with you.” It came off harsher than he wanted it to. “Everyone is bettin’ on who your secret kid is an’ I’ve been goin’ along with it with’ my own team. Fuckin’ hell we’ve even been placin’ bets on it.”

Everyone was talking about it, in hushed whispers. It was all over her Twitter feed as well. No matter how many times Brook swiped, there was a mention of Queen Maeve and Homelander. Internet sentiment was rather divided, and Brook had to wonder why - he was clearly the dick in this situation. To be honest though, she was a little miffed. This was taking attention away from Payback’s huge win at the White House earlier that week. This was supposed to be their moment.

Brook glanced up from her phone at the sound of her ex-teammate’s voice, arching one perfectly shaped brow. With all this going on, she couldn’t even enjoy this event. “Why? What’s up with you?”

Seein’ someone he used to get on with made him stop in his tracks but all tha’ everyone was sayin’ around them was about the revelations on Marias show an’ wha’ it meant for other supes, who it could be an’ who her girlfriend was. “Do I need a reason? Jus’ cover for me or find someone else. I need t’get out of here for a lil bit.” He didn’t mean t’be so short wi’ her but couldn’t help himself. “Sorry. I don’ mean to be such an ass I’m just a little stressed wi’ all the Vought shit goin’ on. Forgot to say, congrats on the medal. Fuckin’ glad you got some acknowledgment for all ‘ya do.”

After all the warnings she gave him an’ then seein’ the Maria interview everywhere Blarney had no clue wha’ was goin’ on and speakin’ to Vought didn’t seem like somethin’ to do. Everyone was wantin’ to know about Maeve’s girlfriend an’ about her secret kid. Him. Tha’ was strange to sink in. “When where you gunna tell me about all this shit? Everyone is already talkin’ ‘bout wha’ happened on that show an’ I find out watchin’ it wit’ my team. No heads up or anythin’. I get you don’ give a shit, I don’t either, but come on. You could’a give me a warnin’.”

-

“Are you saying you guys are left to fend for yourself?” Jet quirked his head. No wonder the Teenage Kix were as messy as they were. No one gave them order or guidance. It goes to show where Vought’s priorities lie, and it sure as hell not the other groups. “You should write all of that down. Make it your last wish or something.” And as much as Jet was joking, he wondered – with the amount of details Blarney gave – if Blarney thought of his death that often. “I don’t know how mine’s going to go down,” he began. “But it’d be a shame if they don’t have at least one explosion. Maybe cremate me on the spot, wouldn’t that be a sight to see, huh?”

"I guess so. We ain’t ever had anyone come an’ tell us to do anythin’ or watchin’ over us. We got the house and Vought send us out on assignments or for the movies but tha’ is it. Nothin’ like you lot or the other groups.” An’ it was just how they all liked it. “Tha’ ain’t how I’d want it but its how Vought’ll do it.” He wanted to joke about it but there was a bit of seriousness in it. “For anyone in your group you would get a whole movie an’ they’d charge triple for the tickets.”