#hughielander

“Well, yeah. When I had just arrived. We didn’t really know each other that well, it felt a little weird to spring that on you. And they cancelled the one after because the Dawn of the Seven filming delayed it and then, you know, the Stormfront stuff happened.”

“Didn’t you do it while, uh—“

“During Homelight, yeah.”

“You never told me about that one, either.”

“Well, I was pissed at you. And it was just a really stressful time. I didn’t really think about it. With Alex, you know, right after.”

Hughie nods and offers a slight smile. “Yeah… Well, uh. What’s it like?”

She blinks at him, torn from her memories. “What?”

“The, uh. The thing. Homelander’s second.”

Her nails flick the tab of her can. “They dropped all of us into a huge maze and then we had to fight to the death to win Homelander’s affection while avoiding getting caught on camera.”

Hughie stares. “I— I meant, like, did they have snack tables and the schedules for the interviews. What do you mean, fight to the death?”

Annie furrows her brows at him, like he is the one saying strange stuff here. “It’s a competition. I mean, obviously we didn’t kill each other, but they market it as you proving you love Homelander and are a worthy member of the Seven. And since you know he’s watching, there’s this huge adrenaline and stress factor. It’s just fucked, psychologically. It’s designed to make the contestants go berserk. And weapons are allowed. I spent both of these events mainly trying to hide from Noir. He goes, like, insane for these. And so does Deep, but both times Noir went for him first. Why are you fidgeting like that?”

“Nothing! Nothing. Just, uh. Butcher kind of wants to sneak in.”

“What?! Why?!”

“Uh, I don’t know. To gather intel?”

“To get himself killed by Deep of all people while he’s in this weird caveman knight headspace?”

“Well, I don’t think he knew about the, uh, caveman knight headspace.” Annie’s unimpressed look makes him flinch. “I don’t know! I mean, what’s the price?”

“Homelander.” Deadpan.

Hughie blinks, then offers a little laugh, haha?, but when Annie just keeps staring at him, he shifts nervously. “Uh, like, do you get to fuck him or something?”

“Not officially.”

“Uh,” Hughie says. “Right. Well.”

“You’re coming with him, aren’t you?”

Hughie, who’s been looking at her can of coke (no artificial colouring! Wow.), glances up at her. “I mean, I don’t want him to get hurt?”

Annie closes her eyes. “Oh my god. Alright.”