Bri

You wondered what exactly happened to him, like the many people who were trying to put the pieces together. Not the bullshit that was said about Soldier Boy, but the full truth. Vought had covered it up to keep it hidden from the public eye, so it wasn't at all surprising when they just came up with some sob story and left it at that. As you flipped through the file you had made a copy of from Maeve, you are quick to set it in your bag as Homelander had walked into your room.

A soft knock hits your door while you tucked the folder deep into your dufflebag. He could come in as he pleased anyways, but why not be at least generous for once. When he greets you, you have to force yourself to put on a mask. It's hard to when your expressions revealed your true feelings. Homelander wasn't helping either now that this whole PR thing was beginning to be taken seriously. "May I come in?"

You looked at the supe with distaste as he brings your hand just inches away from his lips, a gesture that made it seem that your relationship was rather intimate. It did leave you nervous at first, but now there wasn't much else to feel about it. How long would you be able to play along for? Only time could tell. The more you're forced to tolerate Homelander, the more his presence starts to fry your nerves. 

You knew he was doing this for the sake of his reputation, and his strange obsession with wanting everyone to love him. Not that it's explicitly stated, though maybe the vibe you had gotten off of it.

When you pull away, Homelander stares at you for a long while as if it was an offensive move. He clears his throat, so he can say whatever excuse he had to give just to see you. It was funny in a way as it would be the total opposite with anyone else. "Just checking in on you." Homelander wanders around like he's waiting for you to slip up. "Haven't heard anything back from you since this morning."

'Just checking in on you' my ass. "All good, just got caught up with personal things." You reply, moving around the room to throw away things you didn't need. 

"Like what?"

"Home, family? Those kinds." There was a bit of an expectation for an more detailed answer, but that somewhat worked on him for now. The pace of the conversation felt dry, the same way as a bad day in the Sahara desert did. Homelander didn't like that, didn't like that there was still some kind of wall between the two of you. You barely acknowledged him nowadays, and he could only assume it was due to the whole PR relationship Stan had suggested between the two of you.

"Even after all this time are you still a mystery to me. It's sort of like completing a puzzle that's difficult to put together." He comments more to himself, but he says it loud enough for you to hear. You look back at him for some form of elaboration, knowing what he's trying to say. However, it was more amusing to you to hear him describe it verbally. 

Homelander walks towards the stand with your suit to trace the thick material with his fingers. It feels bumpy and smooth under his touch, with the necklace dangling from the way he lifts it into his grasp. A shame you wouldn't state what strong resource it is made out of.

Glancing from the suit and onto you, Homelander opted against it. He's made some form of progress, would it be worth it ruining it all? Who was he kidding? He's the strongest supe on this god-forsaken planet. But you? Welll.....

There was a twinge of hope that you wouldn't betray him like many people had done so before. Homelander moves away once you finished reorganizing your space.

Now is an opportunity to snatch this away from you, to see you weak without your most important weapon. But anyone who's been around you this long knows that you are more than just a suit.

—

Butcher didn't exactly tell you what the plan was, nor did he tell you where you would be going. All you knew was that you were being dragged alongside with him and the boys. 'Bring yourself and that lil' suit of yours. We're goin' on a trip.' He says, hanging up the phone afterwards. And here you were in god knows where. Your arms are crossed over your chest, and you look everywhere but what you were supposed to be.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out." 

By now, you're used to be dragging into this shit, even when it didn't benefit you. Still so long for finding a way home, not that you had any chance left to get back. You paid no mind to the moisture in the air, too busy focused on the tiny hamster named 'Jamie'.

"Jamie?" Frenchie snorts. "Hi."

"It's cute." You added in. Frenchie knocks on the window to get the hamster's attention, much to M.M's liking. "No don't fuck with it. Leave him alone." Then out of the blue, the little thing begins thrashing around the small enclosure, going at abnormal speeds that ends up cracking the glass. It's like a little furball but on steroids.

Just when you thought shit couldn't get any worse, the lights flick on, triggering an alarm. Jamie bursts out the glass and towards one of the armed men.

[next chapter]

He was doubled over, praying quietly beside you in Hughie's body, and for peace of mind. 

He’d settle for just enough of it to be able to think of a plan to fix this or to keep him from killing someone else in the room. 

His mind, against his will, not unusual since the death of his family, would carousel through the worst possibilities, every worst case imaginable. They  pop in his head, and ruminate, refusing to leave.

When he was a kid, if he checked the burners three times a night, they’d go away. That was the action his brain pushed him to do to keep the bad thing from happening or getting worse, but right now there wasn’t any. 

Just bad thoughts in a bad situation, and neither showed no sign of ending.

“You a'right there, mate?” Butcher asked as flippantly as he could  pretend, but the glint his eyes revealed his concern.

He  was stared at his hands and watched as Marvin balled them tight. He must have started tapping his fingers, but as always, he preferred not to talk about it. 

You stirred, a whine coming from your lips— Hughie’s lips. 

It was almost Deja vu. Marvin remembers Hughie sleeping similarly when Butcher first brought him here, making similar noises and faces in his sleep, but he knew you better. 

Hell, he even knew Hughie Mitchell better these days as well. 

The eyebrows furrowed much closer, his face more tight and expressive in your mournful sleep in his body. 

Somehow Hughie, when he was actually in his own body, sounded girlier compared to you.

“Swapper'll wake up, and they'll be back in their own bodies in no time.” Butcher graveled in a poor attempt to comfort him. 

Marvin glared at him but didn’t say anything. 

“What are we … what are we telling Grace?” Wrong. Everything about you looked wrong with Hughie in your skin. 

He slouched, making Marvin notice that you held yourself high at all times.

Hughie had your shoulders slumped. He had you shifting your body side to side and making very unsure expressions on your face. Timidness and being uncomfortable in your skin, uncomfortable being you— was unlike you. 

You had your troubles, your own insecurities, but you didn’t show them. Not with your body language, not completely. At least not from what he’s seen and how  he’s come to know you. To a normal person they remain hidden and unknown, but with Marvin's line of work and the skill he picked up from being in the military to now, He noticed. He could see you for you.

You fidgeted  with your hands a little when you were nervous, but other than that, you held yourself together fairly well. You took pride in your appearance.

When you got your hair, nails, or anything done, your head raised a little bit higher, everything about you even more surer, but As Marvin studied the new braids  you had gotten done, the stray curls that fell from the updo you had chosen for their date, the small insecure looking woman before him filled him with dread— Anger.

“One of you better figure out what I can tell her,” he leaned back, looking nonchalant but as usual around these fools, he couldn’t be more pissed, “maybe we can buy some time until this motherfucker wakes up.”

You rub the face in the mirror with a hand. 

There was a little bathroom at the office, and you’ve been in here for perhaps three hours now. You aren’t sure. 

No matter how hard you try the tears won’t stop. Despite how tired you are of crying, the tears keep falling. 

Someone keeps pounding at the door, but not saying anything, and you ignore it. 

“Kimiko, leave her the fuck alone!” you hear Marvin call out.

“Zhe is not zee only one who can use zee bathroom! If it was anyone else you would have gone bzerk by now! Tell her to let Kimiko in, huh?!”

You open a door with void expression. The commotion ridding you of your woes.

“My bad.” is all you say, the voice coming out of your mouth grates against your ears, foreign to you in every way. You arms entirely to long, everything too low beneath you. Proving your point, your knee hits the corner of a desk and you hit your arm on the back of the couch as you unceremoniously flop down into the seat next to Marvin. Your leg– Hughie's, touches his and you move it immediately scooting over a little afterwords, so your body doesn't touch his. 

Marvin says your name, but you don't look at him. “Baby.” he tries again softly if not slightly awkward.

“That's how its gonna be?” he tries to tease, but you don't bite.

You sigh, not sure why you cant look him in the eye or why you are treating him this way.

He lets out a loud defeated sound, too harsh to be a sigh and nowhere soft enough to qualify s a huff. It rumbles in his chest and tingles against Hughie's, making you feel warm inside. Just as quickly a wave of nausea follows it.

“Give me your hand.”

You turn to him on the couch. 

“Wha–”

“Don't argue with me, don't say anything.” he interrupts, “ Just give me your hand.”

You blink, scrunching your brows in confusion. 

No longer waiting on you he grabs your hand. Hughie's hand, and he interlocks your fingers with his. 

You swallow thickly.

You want to turn away. Maybe even to stop it, but the longer you look the stiller you become. The warring overwhelming emotions in you subside, only by a small amount, but they lessen. The heaviness in your chests dissipates and you start to breath a little easier.

Marvin's hands are much thicker than Hughie's—stronger than the extra long and slender hands you now have. He swipes his thumb over your hand in small unhurried patters, and for a moment, without even thinking you do too.

"How do you feel?" He asks softly, leaning towards you.

You pull back slightly, but you don't fight him or push him away.

"Right now?" You wince at the voice and way it cracks as it leaves your lips , but Marvin remains still, patient and watchful, "or like, in general abo—about this whole thing?"

"All of it baby." He holds you a little tighter. "I want to hear all of it." Somehow he softens even more , his shoulders relaxing as he leans in closer, his face and how his eyes seem to sparkle, reflecting light of a new morning's sun as it fills up the room through the windows close to the ceiling.

It was too much.

You quickly turn away.

"I- I don't know." You stammer, unable to think clearly, of something better to say.

"Alright," he doesn't push you. "But if you want to just know that I'm here. . . And that you literally turn red now, so it's not like your getting away with anything."

"What?!" You snap your head back at him and shift awkwardly in your seat. In your own body it would be small. A barely noticeable movement, but with these long arms and legs you feel like your floundering around.

Marvin is the one looking away now, but there's nothing nervous there. His body no longer holding a tenderness or concern.

"I don't know." He noncommittally shrugs, keeping his head turned from you. "You tell me. . . You're the one with the bright red cheeks."

You give him a frazzled look.

"You—" he raises his brows as he looks back at you, stopping you in your tracks. " he raises them higher and crosses his arms, making you stop again, "Fuck you." You lament weakly. Unable to commit to your sour mood, a laugh bubbles from your lips.

Marvin chuckles softly, bringing his hand to your cheek. This time you don't move.

"Okay, baby." He says gently.

You swallow, ignoring once more the warmth that fills your chest, and covers your cheeks.

Fuck!

. . . That turn red. You were actually turning red for once in your life.

How the fuck are there people that live like this with other people just knowing whenever you felt . . A way about things by watching your skin change color.

It was horrifying.

Flashes of memories surge through your mind. A moment of Marvin giving Hughie advise, patching him up, and even given him a hug, sometimes he was yelling or he looked angry, but you looked at his eyes through yours, or rather, Hughie's eyes, and think about the way Marvin looks at him in these moments, and her chest— Hughie's, fills with love. A strong sense of care and comradery.

You swallow, giving Marvin a different look as you regard him with different eyes that see him as a friend and a confidant.

"Like me. . ." You finally say something.

He turns slowly, his face unchanging in a way Hughie finds unnerving, but you find utterly and completely endearing, funny even. What you wouldn't give to be back in your own body and join in on the little game. "For the first time since last night. In this very moment," You continue in a slow quiet voice, as if hearing Hughie's voice at a normal octave would scare you, because it would, in every way it would scare you, "I feel like me."

Marvin clamps a hand down on your thigh.

He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't have to.

His face falls into something heavy, weighed down with emotion.

You both sit in silence, letting it stretch.

You fight the urge to slouch down further in your seat, so you could lay your head on his shoulder.

"We need to go somewhere." he says suddenly. "You have to come with us. It's. . . for work."

You nod, but he doesn't move, doesn't say anything.

"Okay." you finally say something and he nods back. Patting you once more on the knee and he rises. He takes a step, but abruptly moves back and wait on you.

"You don't have to wait—"

"Sorry, I'm used to leaving Hughie to fuck off on his own" he takes a breath, visibly taking a moment as he half way raises his hands and almost closes his eyes. "Bu I wouldn't leave you. I don't want you to think that I dont care about you. I would never—"

"I know, Marvin." You look down at him and smile, but it almost wavers. You shouldn't be looking down a him like this. "I know."

"Right." He nods and you're both on you're way.

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Annie January

GIF Source: @kylos ★ (link)

Someone kind, gentle, sensitive, and a bit nerdy. She is a Certified Yapper Lover™, and loves to hear her partners talk about things they're interested in, so passion is key for her; bonus points if it's about something she hasn't really heard of before (Hughie really got her hooked with a discombobulated Star Wars rant). As we all know, Annie has an extremely firm sense of right and wrong, so a potential partner's values are a make-or-break scenario for Annie. Admittedly, she finds nervousness and rambling very cute, and it's the first thing that typically draws her to a person. She's a fan of that anxious, neurotic energy — sorry-not-sorry. Additionally, for men and women alike, if you have curly or otherwise textured hair? She wants you.

Billy Butcher

GIF Source: @amazingmaeve ★ (link)

Since Becca, Billy's type has fluctuated a lot. Before and during Becca, he deeply appreciated someone level-headed, calm, caring, and intelligent; however, after her death, it's been hard finding someone of that personality that didn't just remind him of her. For short-term relationships, Billy is very attracted to firecracker types, and for long-term, appreciates someone sensible and a little snarky, yet able to be sensitive in the right moments, even if he may push him away. A hard rule for Billy, though, is that the person is able to stand their own. He greatly values conviction, and even if that person may have differing opinions, them being able to stand up for their own beliefs is something extremely important to him in a relationship.

Frenchie

GIF Source: @vcugifs ★ (link)

Someone quiet, driven, loyal, and with a secret soft side. Got walls? Frenchie loves them and wants to break them down (lovingly, of course). Considering his past, he wants someone understanding and with a "history" of their own, too — he's naturally drawn to people who have that aura and "roughness", for lack of a better term, to them. Being bilingual, or multilingual, even if it's not French, is a big plus for him, too; as a communicative person and someone interested in linguistics in general, he becomes a lot more interested in someone if he hears them speaking or writing another language.

Hughie Campbell

GIF Source: @olympain ★ (link)

Someone strong, independent, and passionate. As a pretty nervous guy, Hughie greatly admires people who can "stand their own", and is drawn to them in relationships. That doesn't mean it's all take, though — Hughie really likes someone who, even if strong, he can comfort, care for, and support, so if you're in need of any of that? Hughie's your guy. He also is pretty attracted to anyone who stands his rambles and doesn't give him crap for them — and, better, is actively engaged — and will fall for you pretty quickly if you're that type. So, in another words: if you'll tell McDonald's they put mustard when he asked for no mustard, he'll fall for you.

Kimiko Miyashiro

GIF Source: @amazingmaeve ★ (link)

Someone understanding, empathetic, and optimistic. It's suffice to say that Kimiko has been through a lot, and, like Frenchie, wants someone who she can relate to and move forward to better futures with. People who have a positive attitude in spite of their hardships are people she's greatly attracted to. Being chatty and willing to communicate with her often is also something she loves; she has a lot on her mind and likes to share it with the people she loves and see their thoughts on it. Similarly to that, she loves expressive people —  not just because it makes them easier to read, but she finds it really, really cute. A bit random, but if you have a loud laugh, too, she'll fall in love pretty quick.

Marvin T. Milk (M.M.)

GIF Source: @vergeltvng ★ (link)

Ი𐑼 Initially, you figured his protective nature was because he saw you as weaker or incompetent. That is, until you realised the other, finer details when you two were together.

Ი𐑼 When his compulsions would flare up, you were a means of feeling grounded. You weren't a remedy, but when he began to repeatedly tap at a steering wheel or obsessively check and recheck that the stove wasn't on, it'd be your firm hand on his wrist or shoulder that'd bring him back down. A distraction, to remind him he was somewhere safe.