Chapter Text
Homelander sighed heavily as he stared out the window of the boardroom on the ninety ninth floor, his arms crossed behind his back, beneath his cape. He shook his head, turning his head slightly as the large doors opened.
“Finally,” he muttered, turning to face Ashley who walked in with two young women; both wore a floor length dress, one in white with gold, the other in black and grey vintage cut gown, the one in blacks dress was tattered with her face was obscured by a black lace veil which fell to her shoulders, a crown of bones holding it in place, the one in white wore a crown of roses and vines, the one in black had black hair the other had blonde, both falling down their back. He flashed them his bright, charming smile as he walked over to them, laughing lightly. “Ashley… who have you brough?” He asked, looking at the woman beside her.
“Homelander, I’d like to introduce you to Dawn and Dusk,” Ashley said, beaming at him, the blonde haired woman smiled sweetly at him, the black haired woman looked at him bored.
“Aurora Delude otherwise,” the blonde said, offering her hand to him, her hand covered in a white elbow length glove with silvery trimming, as well as a picture of the rising sun. “And she’s Briar Rose, our mum really loved Sleeping Beauty,” she giggled.
“Dawn, I assume,” he said, chuckling, as he firmly grasped her hand, shaking it, “lovely to meet you,” he said, letting go of her hand. He looked at the black haired girl, “which must make you Dusk, right?” She stared at him, expressionless still, blinking slowly. He laughed lightly, before looking back at Aurora, “does she talk… Or smile?” He asked, she giggled, looking at her, smile faltering before looking back at Homelander.
“Don’t mind her, she’s always unhappy,” she said, wrapping her arm around her. “The joys of twin sisters,” she laughed. Dusk slowly turned her head to look at her, Dawn drew away from her almost like she’d been shocked, Homelander chuckled softly.
“Of course… So, what are a couple of British supes doing on this side of the lake?” He asked, Ashley’s eyes widened, face paling, she laughed weakly as she stepped between them.
“Er, I thought that Ms Stillwell had told you, they’re here to…” She went silent as Homelander looked at her, his smile still picture perfect. “... Fill in while we find a replacement for Lamplighter.”
“I see…” He said, laughing eerily, “but that’s one spot, Ashley, and we have two lovely ladies…”
“We are basically one person when it comes to the public, D and D… Like the game!” Dawn laughed, shrugging as she batted her lashes at Homelander, Dusk rolled her eyes, sneering at her sister.
“I see…” Homelander said, looking at the two.
“Trust me, the sooner we’re back home the better, we have no interest in staying too long.” Dusk said, surprising her sister, Homelander’s attention suddenly on her. “Once Stillwell says they’ve found someone; we’ll be flying back home barely a second later.” She sniffed, crossing her arms, he chuckled, waving his finger at her.
“I like you, however that still doesn’t solve the issu…”
“Oh my god, seriously?” She asked, groaning as she rolled her eyes, “it’s like the simplest angle of good pr; you guys are “so much better” than us wee Brits, you need two of us to make up for one of your lot.” Dusk sighed, rolling her head back, Homelander’s smile flickered for a second. He looked towards Ashley, who stood like a deer in headlights, before pressing his lips together, nodding.
“I can work with that,” he said, looking back at her. “So long as you can?” She shrugged, nodding slightly.
“Easy enough, little miss sunshine here loves all that publicity and press stuff, so I’d say you’re all good there.” Her sister looked over at her, brow creased before looking back at Homelander, beaming at him as she nodded.
“She’s right… I’ve always been the more… People person of the two of us, but Mr. Edgar says that works for the better, I don’t really get how but…” She shrugged, giggling, Dusk rolled her eyes.
“Course you don’t…” She muttered, Dawn narrowed her eyes at her, the smile wiped from her face, lips pressed into a thin line. “If we’re done here, I’d like to unpack and get the hell out of this pyramid of pencil pushers and smeg heads while I have time…”
“Erm, actually, you are meant to meet with public relations, they have some great ideas about your suits…” Ashley said, rushing to the twins' side again, Dusk raised her hand and she fell silent, Homelander arched a brow.
“Yeah, no, you touch the suit, I'm on the next plane home.” She said, looking at her, “we’re filling in, temps, so you ain’t touching shit about my look.” She looked at Dawn, shrugging, “her well… That’s up to her, so yeah, if we’re done- I’m gonna go out for a bit.” She looked over at Homelander, tilting her head to the side, “so, we good, Stripes?” She asked, he sniggered, nodding. “Good, laters,” she said as she walked out the room.
“I am soooo sorry about her,” Dawn said, going to his side, looking up at him, her eyes wide. “She’s always been like that, she and our mum designed her suit so she’s kind of sentimentally severely protective of it…” Homelander nodded, chuckling lightly, still looking at the open doorway.
“Course…” He mumbled, snapping back he grinned at Dawn, nodding. “Of course, and she’s right- no point changing things too much if they’re not gonna be here long… But, since I guess your schedule’s been cleared, why don’t I give you the tour?” He asked, her mouth fell open, beaming at him again, near glowing with glee as she nodded.
“That would be…” She cleared her throat slightly, calming herself, “I’d like that a lot, thank you.”
“Of course, come on,” he said, cupping her shoulder as he led her out, leaving Ashley alone.
Briar Rose had found where her and her sisters room was, changing into her casual clothes- a tattered black t-shirt over a red thin strap vest, skinny black jeans running into ankle three inch chunky heeled lace up black boots, with a dark blue denim jacket, wearing black riding gloves- her black hair tied back into a pony-tail. She put her headphones on, tapping her phone till she found a song the fit before picking up her bag, sling the strap over her shoulder and made her way out of the room. She walked over the elevators, pressing the button she waited, once the doors opened she paused to let the occupants out, looking at her phone she walked in as they pittered out. Her head jerked up as someone patted her shoulder, looking over she drew her headphones off, clearing her throat.
“Mr Edgar, sorry,” she said, pausing the song before putting her phone away, “you're not… pissed about the suit changes, are you?” She asked, he chuckled, shaking his head.
“No, we’re quite happy with your current costume if you are, besides… It wouldn’t help to “Americanise” you the minute you got here, we already have something of a reputation for that.” She nodded, smiling softly.
“I mean, you adapt our shit, we adapt yours- usually hit and misses depending on how and what’s adapted,”
“Exactly, I was actually coming to see you,” he said as he dipped his hand into his pocket, “I found this as I was making my way to my office,” he pulled out a little worn rabbit teddy with a little blue coat on. Her eyes widened as she nearly snatched it off him, holding it close.
“I hadn’t noticed that he’d been dropped…” She said softly, smiling sweetly at him, “thank you, Mr. Edgar, I dunno how I’d have put up with Malibu Barbie without Peter. He nodded, letting out another chuckle.
“Happy to help, so, anywhere in particular you’re thinking of going?” She shook her head as she tucked Peter into her bag, making sure he was secure before looking back at Edgar.
“No, I was just gonna wander till I found something, or got bored or hungry or whatever.”
“Well, I’d be more than happy to take you to dinner if you’d like?” She raised a brow at him, smirking.
“Sure that’s such a good idea, sir? I mean, I do work for you, even if not like directly, directly…”
“I see nothing wrong with having dinner with a colleague, especially one who has willingly uprooted her life for… However long, for me.”
“For you?” She asked, turning to face him, crossing her arms, eyes flicking to the doors- they had been moving downwards but the doors hadn’t reopened- and back to him.
“Yes, for me, if I recall correctly- your answer to pretty much every other member of my staff had been a mix of the same five words, give or take, but when I called you said yes…”
“You’re the CEO of Vought, Mr. Edgar, I may be a stubborn bitch but I am not a stupid bitch, that’s Goldilocks area of expertise… Besides, who said I didn’t just happen to have had enough of her begging, pleading and just constant chattering about it when you called, that’d I’d have said yes to whoever happened to call… From your lot?” He turned his head to look at her, a small smile on his lips.
“True, but we both know that isn’t true.”
“Do we now?” She asked, sniggering as she shook her head, “well, long as whatever I end up doing doesn’t take a stupid amount of the day up, I’d love to have dinner with you, Mr Edgar.” She said, turning back to face the doors, “be a nice change to actually be able to have a decent conversation with someone, though,” she rolled her head to her shoulder, looking at him, “apologies ahead of time, no doubt I’m gonna be a downgrade for you,” He chuckled lightly, looking ahead.
“I highly doubt that, Miss Delude,” he said as the doors opened revealing they were on the first floor, Briar Rose snuffed slightly, “is something the matter?”
“Not at all, Mr Edgar,” she said.
“Good, then I shall hopefully see you later,”
“Sure, just let me know when you fancy it and we can go from there, if that’s alright?”
“Sounds great, till then, Miss Delude.” She nodded to him as she walked out.
“Mr Edgar,” she said, making her way towards the building's exit, those who had seen her exit the lift with him watching and staring at her till she heard a familiar voice to her right.
“And, well, you already know here,” Homelander said, Briar Rose resisted the urge to look back, already knowing her twin was no doubt glued to his side, this offering the perfect moment for her to get out- not that she needed one, but it was better to have one and not need it, than not have one and need it. A small smile came to her lips as she felt the air brush her cheek, it may not be the freshest of air but it was better than being in the tower, she’d not even been there an hour and already knew she’d be getting out of it as often as she could. She turned to the right and went with the flow of foot traffic, not caring overly where she went.
He had spotted her as he led Dawn into the entrance foyer, she may have changed out of her suit but he saw her easily. If she was already so desperate to get out of the tower, why the hell had she even agreed to fill in? She’d made it perfectly clear she had no interest in what was expected of her by the simpletons in PR, nor had she been overly keen on him… As he talked to her sister about the building he heard people whispering amongst themselves- she’d been in the elevator alone, with Edgar, he’d seemingly assured that they were undisturbed- a thought entered his mind that made his stomach turn. He shook his head, only now seeing she was gone.
“Are you alright, Homelander?” Dawn asked, looking up at him with her big eyes, “you went quiet all of a sudden…”
“Did I? I’m sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew, where was I up to?”
“Actually… I was wondering if you would… Like to hang out, like out out? I mean, who better to see the city with than Homelander,” he nodded, flashing her his dashing smile.
“That sounds like a great idea, come on,” he said, wrapping his arm around her as they walked out of the building. Once outside he looked around but couldn’t see any signs of Dusk, he sighed, looking to Dawn, “may I?” He asked, offering her his hand, she beamed, nodding as he picked her up and shot up into the sky.
Briar Rose made her way along the various streets of the city, near instinctively heading to the Natural History Museum- wanting to distance herself as much as she could from the corporate machine that she worked for, that had made her and had seemingly swallowed most of the city whole. As she wandered through the exhibits, near engulfed in the world and stories they offered, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She had felt it not long after she had left the tower, but she had put this down to her nerves and worries misdirecting themselves. The crawling sensation that ran up and down her arms and spine continued, she slid into the bathroom, heading to the cubicle beside the far wall she stepped in, closing and locking the door behind her. She took off her bag, hanging it on the hook on the back of the door, sliding her gloves off she laid them across the bag, laying her hand palm down on the door. She closed her eyes, posture shifting as she focused on her surroundings. The door squeaked slightly open followed by a brief silence before the door squealed as it was fully opened, someone slowly walked in as the door thwooped and thewped close behind them. She could hear them breathing, feeling the light motion of the breath in the air along with a rippling slow pulse along with it. She sighed, rolling her eyes as she took her bag off the door, slid the lock off and opened the door, arching a brow at The Deep.
“Something I can help you with?” She asked, putting her bag back across her, crossing her arms. He stuttered and stammered before clearing his throat.
“What do you mean?” She tilted her head towards him slightly, looking at him through her lashes.
“Seriously? You’ve been following me since the tower, what do you want?” He scoffed, giving her his charming smile, her stomach turned slightly at the smugness he radiated with.
“Please, why would I be following you?”
“Fuck me, you really aren’t the brains of the bunch are you? I don’t know, that’s why I asked, what did wonder boy send you after me?” She asked, lifting her head back up, smirking as she notted her fingers together under her chin. “Did I hurt his pwide?” She asked, pouting, batting her lashes at him.
“You know, considering you’re a temp, you might wanna learn a bit of respect…” He said, waggling a finger at her as he put his other hand on his hip. She pulled her head back, mouth hanging open in a surprised and amused smile.
“Respect? Please,” she snorted, “I doubt any of you pampered ponies even know what that word means, but alright let’s play this one out. What happens if I don’t “learn a bit of respect”, hmm?” She asked, taking a step towards him, “what’s gonna happen?” He shrugged, sniffing as he looked her over, taking his time. “Eyes up here, fishy,” she said, his eyes shot up to her face.
“You’ll be back in merry old England before you know it,” she let out a gleeful cackle, throwing her head back, Deep's eyes went wide, looking at her as if she’d gone mad. Her head shot back up, a twisted grin on her lips.
“Oh please, do. The sooner I’m away from you narcissistic idiots, the better, I promise you.” She let out a heavy, joyful sigh, shaking her head. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m gonna enjoy the rest of my day, preferably alone but that is totally up to you.” She said as she walked past him, muttering to herself, “creepy bastard,” as she exited the bathroom.