015. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY OR IS IT?

✎ S1E6 ⇢ ˗ˏˋ PART 1 , 2019

|"THE INNOCENTS"
 

   A few tiring, excruciating two weeks had passed by, with no visit to or from Hughie. Though they message one another, on just checking if each of them are alright, it was Hughie more than Dean. Hughie almost every morning would tell him 'good morning' or during the day, 'wyd', 'how are you?'. Hughie had also talked to him about his relationship with Annie, how it was getter better after their argument at the expo. Since then, he had gone back to his job as a superhero, doing interviews. Especially after Starlight's outburst at the Christian Expo, his management told him to be more thoughtful on what to and not to say. His speeches became more scripted than the leisure he was given before. His movie had also came out which earned a good amount of revenue in it's weekend opening. Three hundred million dollars, it wasn't bad. And doing interviews with Homelander about it wasn't pleasant. Today Dean had nothing to do except drink.

So there he was, at a random bar he had come across. Although he does enjoy a cold glass of beer within the vicinity of his own home, he had change of heart. He had black glasses, with his hair unkempt, he was glad people didn't double take on him and stop to take photos. He had on a red flannel, with a black shirt. With basic blue jeans and boots.

The counter top was outlined with wood, a long rectangular glass plane struck through the middle. Sitting at the bar alone, he sways in a stool chair, every left turn resulting in a squeak. He taps his glass of beer against the counter, resting his left palm against his left cheekbone. All tvs tuned to reporting on Starlight's accusation influence on social media behind him. He quietly whistles the Kill Bill theme song as he stares intently at his drink.

He began to take time reflect on things. He doesn't even know what Hughie and the boys are planning. Do they see him as an enemy? An ally? A stuck up supe? Butcher doesn't keep him in the ring enough to find out.

Even with his team. He doesn't really talk to Black Noir or anyone at that, except for the obvious. Homelander.

Now that it reminded him, he'd forgot to give Butcher the drive and the information he wants in exchange for the file he's been anticipating for awhile now. Edgar had given him more info on his past than Butcher, so does he even need the file? Probably not but he made deal so the least he can do is keep his end of the bargain, hopefully Butcher does as well.

With a quick ring of a bell at the front door, he hears two people coming in. He listens in to the voices...Hughie and Annie. He sees them off his peripheral siting at a table, talking away. He grins sadly and took a gulp of his drink, spending the next mintues alone.

"Dean?" The voice put a longing upbeat attitude in him, even seeing him entering was good enough. Honestly Dean was kinda drunk. He was the type of drunk to be more forward with his actions and not put doubt in them, which is usually everybody.

With a swirl in the chair he sees Hughie standing a few meters behind him with his hands on his hips looking at him with a surprise expression. "How uh how you been? Haven't seen you in a while."

"Well," Dean starts off, looking to a tv then back to Hughies' eyes. "You know, doing supe stuff, the usual."

"Cool, you wanna come sit with us? Its Annie and I." Dean watches as he sways a bit in awkwardness, looking towards the floor.

He looks off to the right to see Annie watching them, smiling when Dean had looked her way. "Seems you guys are on a date, I don't want to interupt."

"Oh, we're not uh-," Hughie points back and forth between him and Annie. "I don't really know what it is. Come on, I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

Dean stares at Hughie with interest until he smacks his lips. "...Alright." He follows him until he makes it to their table.

Annie looks up and smiles. "Hi."

"Hey," Dean responds.

Hughie grabs a chair nearby and places it next to him, he gestures Dean to sit. He mouths a thank you and sat. It was silent until he spoke up. "You know Annie, Hughie speaks of you highly."

With a heavenly smile she looks glances at Hughie. "He does?"

"All the time," He lightly pats Hughie's shoulder. "He doesn't not shut up about you, and I don't mean that rudely."

Hughie scratches his head and places his hands flat on the table.

"That's nice to know know." Annie says, placing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Okay, listen guys," Hughie interupts. "Let's get to know eachother." He states out of the blue.

"I already know her," Dean says with confusion.

"Yeah," Annie agrees. "We already know eachother from work."

"No I mean-" Hughie drums on the table. "Since you guys know me why don't we just get to know eachother as a group. That's fun right?"

"That's a weird definition of fun you got there dude." Dean jokes.

Annie laughs uncontrollably, covering her mouth. Hughie just gives Dean a 'are you serious' look. "Okay- well how about this. Favorite superhero huh? Annie?"

"Okay," She smiles, fully of happiness. She looks up to think before reverting her gaze back. "It was Queen Maeve, I always used to watch her movies. How she doesn't take anyone's crap and leads on her own. She's had a big influence on me growing up."

"Well what about now?" Hughie asks.

Her face suddenly contorted to a sadden look, but she replaced it quickly. "I don't know, I guess myself now."

"Quite the ego," Annie rolls her eyes at Dean.

"What about you?" Annie the asks Dean.

He doesn't have one, he wouldn't say himself. He didn't like how he was portrayed in the movies, a friendly helpful brother. A leader of his own. He way less than that. "I guess I don't have one, being one is tiring enough. Hughie?"

Hughie automatically thought of Dean, or his counterpart. Know that he knows who Rebound actually is, it only increases his liking towards the supe. "I guess it's gonna be Rebound."

"Really?" Dean turn his full attention now at him, placing his hands on table. Dean's and Hughie's pinky finger resting centimeters from eachother.

"Yeah- I don't know. I have posters and all limited shit from you. More than the rest of your team." He laughs and places his hand on his left palm, as he other layed resting by Dean's still. "Pretty sure I have stuff from a couple of years ago that sell high now."

Dean laughs, "That's very flattering, haven't met a hardcover fan in a bit."

Annie watches in confusion as she sees Hughie and Dean share a very intimate smile, with dearing eyes. She saw how their fingers where barley, subconsciously touching eachoher while Hughie continued to talk. She fumbles with her denim jacket sleeve. Letting out a hum, she spoke. "You guys must be really something to eachother huh...?"

Hughie quickly turns his head at Annie, almost forgettig that he came here with her. "He just met me...at my lowest. Pretty sure that's really not something people first meet eachother over with."

"Yeah," Dean tells Annie. "We're just really good new friends, if that's even the word for it." At that Dean and Hughie look at eachother and smile again.

Annie nods and looks at her drink. She reminded herself to be wary of Dean. Not that she was against their friendship, it just seemed something more between them. It was clear in her eyes but not clearly evident in the two boys in front of her.

"Hughie?" An unknown voice prompted the trio at a halt, turning to where it came from.

Dean looks past Hughie to see a man in a red dress shit, which was loosely on the man's body. "Hey." Hughie says with surprise written on his face.

"Where the hell have you been? After Gary's store we all thought that..." The man then looks to where Annie and Dean sat. "Oh. H-Hi. Uh, Anthony. Hughie's best-looking friend since fourth grade." He started with shaking Annie's hand.

"Hi, I'm Annie. It's nice to meet you." She replies.

He then looks at Dean and tilts his head. "I'm pretty sure you heard me but I'm Anthony." He held his hand out to him.

Dean takes his hand and shakes it. "Pleasure. I'm Dean, Hughies' new friend, I guess you can say."

Anthony lets go of his hands and stands with his hands crossed. "Nice, it's practically me and a few others that are his actual friends. It's good he's finally branching out. He needs it."

Hughie full of embarrassment, scratches his neck. "Okay, you don't need to tell them I'm practically a loner."

They all share a laugh. The man takes a hard gaze at the two new people at the table. "You guys look familiar. Did either of you go to kennedy?"

Oh...this guy does not know. Dean looks at the two, seeing what they would come up with.

"They're uh," Hughie starts. "new in town."

"Fantastic," Anthony states. He then centers his attention at Annie, sitting right next to her. "So, what are we drinking, New-to-Town Annie?"

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     Soon after that exchange, the now quad chatted about Hughie's school life for a good couple of minutes. With a little of Annie and Dean's life as well.

Dean had gotten more drunk than the rest, 5 glasses empty filled the table as he chatted with Anthony and Annie about Hughie.

"The Clint Eastwood stares makes you look constipated," Dean implies. He rested his head against his right hand, which was formed in a triangle-like shape. His left arm crossing through the center.

"Right!?" Anthony says. "I've been telling Hughie he should of done a Christopher Walken stare or something. That really gets someone on their toes."

Annie laughs along with the two. Dean was also going to input something until, Hughie had spoken. "I'll be right back." He saw the two didn't glance at Hughie when he left so Dean decided to follow.

He finds Hughie sitting at the bar, with a sad gaze as usual. Dean sat on an open stool right next to him. He takes of his glasses, folding them and putting them on the glass counter. "Your friend is really nice." He says.

Hughie smiles and looks at Dean. "Yeah he is..."

Dean sighs and stares at Hughie. Hughie messes with his shirt as he finds Dean's gaze hard to concentrate under. "What?" He asks.

"...How are you?" Dean really wanted to know how he was, a lot of shit happen more than Hughie could contemplate at once.

He laughs. "What do you mean, I'm totally fine."

That's not what I asked," Dean thought on his next approach but chose to do it. He grabs Hughie's hand and clamps it with his. He feels Hughie slightly holding his as well. He stares at their hands then to Hughie's eyes. "How are you really? Are you okay?"

Hughie scoffs and and mindlessly rubs his thumb on Dean hand. "I'm mean am I ever okay? There's new shit everyday nagging me. Thankfully the past week wasn't as shit than the past one's."

"Yeah, there is that." Dean replies.

Hughie looks up once more and catches Annie laughing with Anthony, reminding him how he liked Annie. He looks at his hand holding Deans' and softly pulls it apart. He holds his own hands together. He sees Dean look confused before he rubs his hand. "How are you then? I mean the whole...recording thing, did you ever give it to Butcher?"

Dean shakes his head, pinching the brige of his nose. "No, didn't get the chance. Maybe soon, but not now."

A shock was felt on his face when Hughie places a hand on his cheek. He rubs his cheek endearingly looking at it intently. "It doesn't hurt Dean?"

"What doesn't hurt?" He asked.

Hughie continues to rub it. "The scar- I remember the bullet graze your skin Dean. You almost...died." It triggered a emotion in Hughie when he saw it, he didn't know what it was. He just knew he was concerned for him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't even hurt, but that's not saying I'm not grateful for your concern. I am. Grateful. For your concern.".Dean places his hand on top of Hughie's, where it rested on Deans' cheek.

He notices how awfully cold Hughie's hand was. "I'm probably drunk but your hand is weirdly cold man, like too cold. Gonna get my face like Hypothermia or some shit."

Hughie shakes his head. "I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that."

"Okay smartass." Dean smugly says.

Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was pure attraction but Dean suddenly stops and takes in Hughie. "I like your hair," He states. He takes his hand off Hughie's and plays with Hughie's hair.

Hughie just looks at him with suspicion. "Uh, thank you? Came from my father."

He just hums and then rests his hand on the back his head. Dean stare at Hughie, starting to looks at his lips. Is he going to reget something he might do in a few seconds...probably.

Hughie still confused on whats happening, smiles. "What? Don't tell me you don't how genetics work-"

He was pulled fast by Dean's hand. He watches as he pulled him close staring at his eyes then kissing him slowly. Hughie was struck with fear, he didnt know what to do. His hands stayed on the table, not knowing what to do with them. He looks to where Annie sat and saw Anthony looking at him wided eye. Who got what was going on and diverts Annie attention to the tv behind them.

Dean was at first filled with a bliss of satisfaction. The moment his lips met Hughie's, nothing else mattered. His intoxication was mostly likely a factor in his sudden affection to Hughie. He regained his conscience and faced reality, Hughie didn't move...at all. That is all it took for Dean to understand Hughie didn't kiss him back.

Letting go of him quickly he covers his mouth. "Hughie, I'm so fucking sorry. I don't know why I just did that." He knew, he just needed some sort of words to save him of embarrassment.

Hughie was still, with his hand lingering on his lips. He also took notice of Dean's eyes glowing a light blue for a few seconds before going back to his original hazel ones. Dean hadn't notice this slight change.

Him not replying made Dean think of the worst. "I'm just- I'm gonna go. Have fun Hugie." He quickly puts his glasses on and began walking away.

"No, wait Dean-" Hughie at last moment grabs Dean forearm.

Dean looks at Hughie with a defeated look. "Look Hughie, I'm sorry okay. I am. Have fun with Annie and Anthony. Here's Fifty dollars to cover my drinks and anything else you guys get," He places the money on the counter and speedwalks to the door. Not sparing a glance at Annie nor Anthony.

Hughi groans in frustration and places his head in his hands.

Anthony comes walking and sat where Dean recently did. "The hell happen there Hughie?"

"I- I don't know. I honestly don't know." He sighs and looks at Anthony.

"Hm...look Hughie. I'm glad you off to a fresh start after Robin," Anthony looks at Annie for a few seconds before looking back at Hughie. "But you gotta get a clear boundary with those two. Annie and Dean. One of them is gonna get heartbroken."

"I dont-" Hughie beings but gets stop by Anthony.

"Hughie, stop. I've only see him for a few mintues and already see something with you two. Just figure out what it is before you get more trouble on your hands." Anthony then gets up and pats his back. "I'll keep Annie company until you collect yourself alright? You'll be okay man."

Hughie waits until he was a good amount away, until he lays his head on the cold glass counter and sighs.

...what do I do?

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   Dean parks his impala across the road, arriving at the house where he and Homelander had a video to do about their younger lives. He shuts off the engine, and leans back. Fully dress in his supe attire, he movements made slightly friction sounds.the kind leather makes.

"You dumb fuck," He tells himself. He regretted his decision even more as hours pass by thay day, with a now sober mind. He really didn't want to see Hughie at all.

How scandalous it would be if any body got a hold of what happen hours ago. Especially with Homelander, he had suspicion with Hughie. If he found out, Dean wouldn't know what he'd do.

Instead of bringing himself down he puts on his glasses that matched his attire and looks in the rearview mirror. "You are Rebound, you are sexy. You got this..." He didn't believe himself, but it was worth trying. "Yeah- you got this."

He steps out of the car and sees some neighbors yell and clap as he walks down the sidewalk and crosses across the road. He sees Homelander standing on the frot yard with his hands behind his back as usual. He sighs and hugs Homelander by the shoulder.

"You read the script Dean?" Homelander asks.

"Yeah," Dean says. He then walks to the house with Homelander at his side. The cameramen following. "Just can't wait to get this over with."

Homelander laughs suprisingly genuinely, as if what he said was relatable. "Well that my brother is something I can agree with you there."