Dane was knocked unconscious again. He assumed the only reason was because Billy enjoyed doing it.

When he came to, he heard the soft voice of Madelyn Stillwell. He stiffened at the sound of it, becoming increasingly more confused.

"I don't know how breaking into my home and threatening my child is gonna get you Homelander."

He tilted his head up, feeling a stiff vest rub up against his bare chest. He tugged at his arms, finding that they were now wrapped around a wooden chair.

"Looks like one of your supes is awake." Billy muttered as Dane felt warm knuckles brush gently against his thigh.

"All these years..." The man focused on the topic of Homelander again. "I've been searching for that cunt's weakness."

"He doesn't have a weakness." Madelyn butted in.

"No?" Billy inquired.

"There isn't a weapon on Earth that they haven't thrown at him. They've all failed." She boasted.

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Stillwell became silent at that.

"I'm talking... about you."

"Me?" She questioned, a slight waver in her voice.

"Yeah. Or him. You're the only things he gives two shits about." He murmured. "You're his weakness."

Madelyn didn't say anything in reply, silent in defeat.

Dane could hear Billy stand up, grabbing at the back of Dane's chair and tugging it across the room with one hand. The screeching of wooden feet against the tile floor, made him grimace as he was pulled a few inches in front of Stillwell.

"I've even made you matching outfits."

-

The room was filled with silence as the three of them waited.

Thunder rolled through the night sky, causing Dane to stiffen slightly. He could tell Madelyn was nearby, to his right.

A thump sounded from the roof. The atmosphere felt immediately claustrophobic as Dane began to writhe around in his bonds.

"Well, well, well." Billy muttered. "About fucking time."

"I know you can see through the ceiling. You try to kill me... and my trigger finger goes soft." He could hear Billy take a few steps closer to him. "Now... why don't you stop playing rapey Santa... and come down and join us?"

Soft steps moved from behind him, the soft coo of a baby was heard before there was a quiet shushing noise.

"Sh, sh, shh. Take it easy." Homelander began. "We don't want to upset Teddy, right?"

"What are you doing?" Madelyn spoke up, voice growing scared.

"Hey, look: Mommy. You alright?" Homelander spoke, walking past the two hostages as he spoke.

"No." Madelyn said. "Take him upstairs."

"All good." The blond placated. "I got it. I got it." He stopped walking, turning to flip around and step toward Butcher with a deep breath.

"Billy Butcher. You don't mind if I call you Billy, right? Y-you are pretty darn impressive. I mean, especially for, you know, one of you." Homelander muttered with nonchalance.
"See, even now, most people standing where—where you are would be pissing there pants terrified, but you... uh, sure, y—your heart's pounding, but you're not afraid."

Teddy began to grow fussy, crying quietly.

"It's anger." Homelander continued, in awe. "That's a new one for me."

"Homelander, will you please take the baby upstairs?" Madelyn pleaded.

"All because of your lovely wife Becca. Right?" Homelander ignored her, continuing his monologue. "Okay. Let's cut the bullshit, huh? You know that we, uh... Uh, bro, not my fault, okay? She came on to me. It happens."

"Will you stop?" Madelyn voiced angrily.

"You know, it's—it's the fame. They get crushes. There's nothing I can do about it. But what I will tell you is she was a hell of a lay." Homelander laughed, all the while a crying baby sobbing in his arms.
"She came three times, eh? Three times." The blond boasted.

"Put the baby down." Dane finally spoke up, voice even and commanding.

"Fine." Homelander murmured, acquiescing. "All right, little man, have a little lie-down. Good boy." He grunted, moving away a few steps to set the baby down.

"I want you to take him out of here." Stillwell pleaded.

Homelander ignored her once again, dusting off his hands.
"But that's not really it. No, no, no, no, no. It's more than just that." He walked a half circle from behind the two hostages.

"You think I'm responsible for her death. Don't you? So now you have a hostage that—that I care about, right?" Homelander stood in front of Madelyn, brushing a hand down the side of her face.
"Someone I love. So, what's you plan... from here? Uh, what do you want? Do you want a confession, or... What's your endgame?"

There was a moment of silence as slow footfalls moved closer to Homelander.
"I'm just going to hurt you." Billy murmured. "I mean really fucking hurt you. And that will be good enough for me."

"So, y—you don't really want anything, per se? You just, you want to blow her up in front of me. Right?" Homelander began to laugh.
"Wow. Fuck. Uh..." He stammered. "You are dark, and I kind of like it."

"Will you please take Teddy upstairs?" Madelyn began again, voice broken.

"It's okay, shh, shhh." Homelander shushed her with a soft voice before turning to face Billy again.

"Just answer one question for me. Just one. How do you know?" The blond asked. "How do you know? I mean, you must have some rock-solid proof, right? That it was actually me who killed your wife. You must have that, right? So what is it? Share. We're all very interested... Now's not the time to be strong and silent." He stage whispered. "Go for it."

There was a stifling moment of silence before Homelander cut in again.
"Are you telling me that this whole thing I-is based on fucking feelings? On a hunch?"

"Will you please take him upstairs?"

"A little bit—Madelyn, hold on."

"Take him upstairs!" She shouted.

"Shut the fuck up!" He seethed.

She began to gasp quietly, crying softly.

"Excuse me." Homelander murmured an apology before moving to lean down and face the woman.

"You promised me no more lies. You fucking promised me." Homelander muttered into her face. "You and Vogelbaum should have got your stories straight. They were so close. So fucking close, but there was a few little details that were different."

Dane could hear the sound of the creaking of Homelander's leather gloves, a tell tale sign that the man's fists were balled up in anger.

"So I went back to Vogelbaum, and I managed to squeeze the truth out of him. The real truth."

She began to quietly cry.

"Yes," He murmured. "That's it." He whispered something incoherent into her ear.

"I'm so sorry. I should have never lied to you. I know now that you don't need to be protected. I'm so sorry." Madelyn said shakily before beginning to sod. "Will you please take Teddy upstairs?"

Homelander let out a long sigh as he stood straight.

"Did you ever really care about me?"

"You mean everything to me."

"No." He began. "No, no. I mean everything to your job. You care more about that fucking baby than you do about me." He muttered.

"No." She replied. "I love you. I love you. I swear I love you."

"But?" He stressed. "Tell me the truth or I walk out right now."

Stillwell was silent, her breathing rapid. "I'm scared... I'm scared of you."

"What?" He hissed out.

"I said I'm scared." She muttered, voice cracking.

"Of?"

"Of you. I'm scared of you." She sobbed.

"Thank you." He whispered, placing his forehead against hers. "Thank you for finally being honest." He placed a chaste kiss to her forehead, before pulling away.

The smell of seared flesh immediately followed, causing Dane to immediately gag.

"Now..." Homelander began, gripping at the c-4 vest around Dane abs ripping it off and tossing it to the ground. turning to face Billy. "What was that plan again?"

"Oh well," Butcher muttered, the click of a deadman's trigger going off.

-

Dane gripped at his eyes as soon as he came to, having a hard time focusing on the bright sunlight that shone down on him.

He felt the presence of a man beside him, immediately rolling quickly atop the picturesque grass, moving to sit up.

He looked down to spot Billy beside him, before immediately turning to find Homelander watching them.

"Wakes, wakey." The blond said in a sing-song voice. "Dane's already quite the early bird, isn't he? You were both out for quite a while."

The superhero placed his hands on his hips as Billy sighed. "You can thank me for, uh, saving you sometime later, but, for now, time to get up. Come on. You're going to love this. Come on." He smiled, beginning to lead his way up the yard and toward the house.

Billy narrowed his eyes at Dane, to which the latter merely shrugged with a glare.

"Mom!" A young boy called out before moving closer to Homelander.

"Wow, look at this handsome devil. Hey, pal. You know who I am?" Homelander questioned with a grin.

"Homelander." The boy answered with excitement.

"Yeah, that's right, but... you know who else?"

"No." The boy murmured, before turning to look at Dane's still sitting form. "But that's Shadow!"

The boy's mother moved into sight.

"What?" The woman breathed out in shock.

"Becca?" Billy furrowed his brow, leaning up on his arms.

"Mommy didn't tell you." Homelander questioned. "Well... I'm your father." He grasped at the back of the child's head fondly. "And we are a family."

"Jesus Christ," Dane gasped, reeling back.