99 4.11

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[Homelander's POV]

Stormfront made me feel confused. Wasn't she the one annoying me to no end about her Nazi prophecy? Why is she having sex with another guy then?

Sure, Julius looks a little similar to me, and has powers now, but this… this is wrong.

Still, I did nothing but wait as the two went at it. In the end, only Julius came out of the room. Feeling a little confused, I looked through the wall, but saw that she was unconscious. Did he seriously fuck her to unconsciousness? I didn't even know that was possible.

Julius walked up to me, naked, and asked, "Where can I find new clothes?"

Nudging my head towards Stormfront's house, I asked, "Don't you still have your clothes?"

He shook his head, replying, "Those were the clothes I wore when I was a mortal. Now that I have gone through my Apotheosis, I can't wear them anymore."

Apotheosis? What's that?

I was curious, but I didn't ask. That would make me sound stupid, and I'm not stupid.

I thought about it for a moment before proposing, "We could get the Research and Development Department to make you a costume. With our powers, you would soon find that regular clothes are too fragile. Until then…"

Julius closed his eyes, and muttered, "Fine."

He walked back into Stormfront's room, tore a curtain and wrapped it around himself, turning it into something similar to a roman robe. A toga, I believe it is called.

Tightening the toga around his upper body, Julius asked, "Should we handle my promotion then?"

I crossed my arms, and said, "Before that, what is your power? You didn't tell me?"

Julius smiled in response, and started levitating from the ground. He also clenched his fist, which started being coated in a faint layer of electricity as he replied, "Flight, vastly enhanced physical capacities, and some control over lightning, although I need to get a hold over that one."

Tilting my head, I asked, "Isn't that Stormfront's power?"

Julius shook his head, twirling around in the air, "Stormfront's real power, according to her file, is Plasma Manipulation. It is only through mastery of that power that she manages to produce electricity. My power is pure lightning manipulation, which is different. Stormfront also uses her Plasma Manipulation to fly, while I have the separate power of Flight, like you."

This sounded… strong. Have I finally found a real equal?

I couldn't help but feel happy as I smiled, "Alright, let's get you your new job!"

Julius smiled back, and got back to the ground, walking barefoot with me to the elevator.

As we moved down to the 46th Floor however, he suddenly said, "What do you think of Stormfront?"

I looked at him in surprise, and replied, "What do you mean? She is a fine ally-"

He instantly cut me off, "No, I mean as a woman. Aren't you two supposed to be together?"

I paused, not really sure of what to answer. Part of me knew I should say something, but I didn't know what. Thankfully, Julius added, "I used to think she was like you. But now that I transformed, I have come to realize she is not like us."

Us? So I wasn't the only one to think we were alike!

Julius stretched his waist, revealing most of his body under his toga, but he didn't care as he continued, "She is strong, that's for sure, but she is still so…"

""Human!""

We paused, looked at each other, and burst out into laughter. She was!

Julius slapped me on the shoulder, and perhaps for the first time in my life I actually felt something from such a gesture, "You and I, we aren't like the rest of them. That's why I didn't mind fucking her. If you are just like me, then we don't care about a woman like her. She can make her little plans and try to rile us up, but she doesn't realize we aren't even on the same playing field. What she sees as a prophecy, is just us living our lives."

I gasped in realization, before exclaiming, "Exactly! It was the same with Maeve! To them, we are everything, and they have to watch their every word and gesture around us, but to us, it's just another fucking Friday!"

Julius sighed, shaking his head, "You know, Homelander, this world is seriously messed up. You have powerless lumps of flesh governing us, when we could wipe out the fucking nation if we wanted!"

I shook my head back, "That's why change is needed. When Stan Edgar used to be at the head of this company, everything was wrong! But now that I have taken over, everything will change. With your help, I expect."

Julius grinned, "Of course."

The doors of the elevator opened, only to show Aya. I instantly felt displeasure as she stood in front of us, but Julius didn't seem to mind her blocking our way as he asked, "What do you want?"

Aya did not answer him however, and instead addressed me, "Homelander, about that alliance?"

I looked between them, but Julius only smiled. I quickly understood he wanted to keep his new power quiet, for a reason I could not understand, but I still respected it by not blowing Aya up for showing such disrespect, and instead asked, "What about it?"

Aya explained, "All I need is for your approval, and we can make that meeting happen. It is really important."

I sighed and waved her off, "Yes, fine. Make it happen."

All that confrontation with Soldier Boy, William and his merry group felt so inconsequential now. If they really want to ally with me to kill that supposedly strong guy, let's do it. Once that's done, we are going to follow up with them, and we will finally no longer face any resistance.

Aya nodded happily and walked into the elevator, while we walked out, and headed to the Criminal Analytics Department. As we walked, Julius explained, "I suspect there are some spies among ourselves, who may wish harm upon you. Let them scheme, in front of absolute power, it doesn't matter."

I nodded, that made sense.

We walked directly into the room of Criminal Analytics, where Deep was sitting at the back of the room, eating donuts in an almost empty room.

As Deep saw us enter, both he and I paused. Did I really hire someone so incompetent?

Deep fumbled to his feet, greeting, "H-Homelander! I didn't expect you to-"

I raised a hand to stop him, and massaging my brows I said, "Deep, meet Julius, new head of the Criminal Analytics Department. You're out."

He opened his mouth with the intent to protest, so I quickly added with a cold look, "And feel fortunate this doesn't extend to your position in the Seven. Piss off."

"Yes Homelander."

Pathetic, he didn't even try to fight for his job.

Meanwhile, Julius clapped his hands and hollered to the room, "I want everyone who has been fired in the past week back here by tonight."

The ones who remained looked at each other uncertainly, so I pressed on, "Do you need me to act up?"

They instantly shot out of their seats, running out of the room to do their job. As for Julius, he sat down behind the main computer and said, "I will have the location of this so called strong-house by tomorrow."

I hesitated for a second, before asking, "Could you also… find where my son is?"

Julius paused, which made me feel anxious. I wasn't sure of how he would judge me, seeing I cared about Ryan.

But I felt relief as he asked, "Your son… his name is Ryan, right? I think I saw him last year."

I nodded quickly, explaining, "Butcher took him away last year, and Deep was too incompetent to find any lead."

Julius winked at me and promised, "Consider it done."