Later that evening, A-Train found himself watching old videos of Popclaw.
He hadn't meant to — after everything that had happened, memories of her had simply resurfaced.
As he scrolled through the recordings, one security clip caught his attention.
The footage had been recorded inside Popclaw's apartment, and on the screen, Billy Butcher and Frenchie could clearly be seen questioning her about Compound V.
A-Train's expression immediately darkened. "You sons of bitches..."
Everything clicked into place. The Triad warehouse. The missing Compound V. Popclaw's interrogation.
All connected from the start. If those two hadn't dragged Popclaw into their investigation, Homelander would never have found out she had leaked information.
His jaw tightened. "As far as I'm concerned... you're the reason she's dead."
Without wasting another second, A-Train headed straight to Vought Tower.
Inside the security department, he walked up to one of the analysts and placed his phone on the desk. "I need everything you've got on these two."
The analyst looked down at the paused image of Butcher and Frenchie. "Um... may I ask who they are?"
"That's what I'm paying you people to find out."
The analyst hesitated. "I'm sorry, but I can't access confidential records without authorization."
Before A-Train could respond, a familiar voice came from behind him. "What's going on here?"
Homelander walked into the room. The analyst immediately straightened. Without asking permission, Homelander picked up A-Train's phone and looked at the image. "Who are these men?"
A-Train leaned closer and lowered his voice. "They're the ones behind the Triad operation. The people investigating Compound V."
Homelander's attention settled on Butcher. For a moment his expression didn't change. Then something stirred — he had seen that face before. Years ago.
".. Butcher."
A-Train blinked. "You know him?"
Homelander didn't answer. His mind had already gone back eight years. Becca Butcher. Stillwell had told him Becca disappeared after their encounter, and Vought had quietly buried the entire incident.
At the time, Homelander hadn't cared enough to question it. Now Becca's husband was investigating Compound V.
That wasn't a coincidence.
A slow smile spread across Homelander's face. "Well... that's interesting." He handed the phone back to A-Train and looked toward the analyst.
"I want everything Vought has on this guy. Employment records, surveillance, police files, financial records. Everything."
"Yes, Homelander."
The analyst hurried away. Homelander remained where he was, his mind still on Becca. For the first time in years, he found himself questioning that night.
***
Homelander walked straight to Stillwell's office and opened the door without knocking.
Stillwell looked up from her desk and gave him a practiced smile. "Homelander. You're back sooner than I expected. Is something wrong?"
He walked over to her desk and rested both hands on it. "I wanted to ask you about someone."
"Who?"
"Becca Butcher."
Stillwell's fingers paused for the briefest moment before continuing to turn the page she had been reading.
"The head of digital marketing," Homelander continued. "She worked here about eight years ago."
"Yes. I remember her."
"What happened to her?"
"She resigned." Stillwell looked up at him, her expression perfectly composed. "She left Vought and moved on with her life. We had plenty of employees come and go."
Homelander kept watching her face. "You never looked into where she went?"
"No."
"Never contacted her again?"
"No."
"She just disappeared?"
Stillwell folded the file shut. "Homelander, why are you asking about an employee who left eight years ago?"
"I met her husband." He watched for a reaction. "Billy Butcher. He's been investigating Compound V."
Stillwell's expression remained composed. "So?"
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"You're overthinking this."
"Maybe." He stopped beside her chair. "One last question. Did you tell me everything you know about Becca?"
Stillwell met his eyes without flinching. "Yes."
Homelander held her gaze for another few seconds before walking to the door. "Good."
He stepped into the hallway and quietly pulled the door shut behind him.
The smile vanished from his face.
Stillwell had lied. He hadn't needed proof. He had heard the change in her heartbeat the moment he mentioned Becca's name, and it changed again when Butcher's name came up. She recovered quickly — but not quickly enough.
For years, Stillwell had been the one person inside Vought he trusted without question. The one person who always had the answers. The one person he had believed never kept secrets from him.
Now she had lied directly to his face.
Homelander slowly looked back at the closed office door. Becca Butcher had disappeared eight years ago. Stillwell was hiding something. And whatever it was, he was going to find out.
***
A/N: And on Patreon, The Boys arc started.
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