Work Text:
The static ringing in Homelander’s ears was briefly interrupted by a new offending noise. Floor 99 typically was made up of hurried voices, corporate drivel, and the occasional polite chuckle between coworkers forcing interaction, but this noise… was different. It was the type of sound that Homelander was more used to hearing on other floors, mainly where the Seven lived, but here on the corporate floor the sound was shockingly out of place. It sounded like crying. Someone was crying in their office. How the fuck was Homelander meant to run a company when his goddamn unprofessional employees were crying in their offices. No. This would not do. He would get to the bottom of this. Find out whatever worthless fuck couldn’t handle their position and terminate them- whatever form that took. He would not have crybaby nothing humans infiltrating his company just to have a breakdown on the clock.
He found himself storming towards the direction of the sound. It was guiding him further down the executive hall which is purely and wholly unacceptable. He followed the sound until he found himself outside of Ashley’s office. Come to think of it, it did sound like Ashley. He hadn’t placed the sound as her simply because he wasn’t curious enough to think about it beyond wanting to shut it up. But yeah, it was definitely Ashley. For some reason, that felt like it changed things for Homelander. He couldn’t exactly explain why, but something shifted in his chest when he realized that it was Ashley. She wasn’t just another one of those faceless corporate suits. She had a name. He knew her. She wasn’t threatening or smart enough to control him. She was reliable in that she was a good girl and did as she was told. She had that annoying habit of plunking out her hair and her heart always sounded like it was two seconds from exploding, but she was normally inoffensive as far as humans go. He supposed that he wouldn’t “terminate” her over this after all, but he would still tell her to shut up and be on his way.
He pushed to open the door, not bothering to knock, only to be annoyed when he found that it was locked. He rolled his eyes and pounded on the door. Using his X-ray vision, he saw her sitting at her desk, slumped over with her face in her hands. On her desk were unsightly piles of used tissues. Fucking gross. Upon hearing his knocks, her head shot up from her hands, snot and tears running down her ruined face. He had seen her panicked a million times but this felt different. He couldn’t define what it was that he was feeling, but he knew he wanted her to stop.
He heard her clear her throat and attempt to compose her voice as she yelled through the door. “Unless someone is dying, go ask someone else! I’m on lunch break!”
Anyone without the ability to see her would have thought that she sounded commanding. Girl Boss image maintained. But not for Homelander.
“Ashley!” He barked through the door. He heard her heart stop for a second before picking up at an insane pace. She let out a gasp and her fingers immediately found her hair to tug as some desperate form of control. She stumbled over herself as she rushed to open the door. In her surprised panic, she had forgotten to throw the tissues in the trash or attempt to clean up her face to hide the fact that she had been crying. Her desperate need to undo her yelling through the door apparently superseded her need to act like she wasn’t just sobbing at her desk. Her hands trembled as she fumbled to open the door.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m sorry, sir. I am so sorry, sir,” she rushed out as she opened the door for him. “I didn’t know it was you. I am so unbelievably sorry. I am so stupid. It will not happen again.”
He walked past her into the office. His hands folded behind his back as he looked around the room as if inspecting it for the first time even though he had spent a lot of time in that room when it belonged to Madelyn. Ashley shut the door behind him and stood motionless as he paced the room. Typically, he would get to the point of his visit quickly. Him wandering around like this was never a good sign. Ashley held her breath.
He stopped in front of her desk and gave the tissues a disgusted look. She hurried over to scoop them into the trash.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said again.
“Oh? What are you sorry for?”
“For…” she searched her mind for something that would appease him. “For being gross.”
He looked at her with eyes that she could never read before he gave a small nod. He turned away from her to walk over by the windows before suddenly turning back to face her and saying, “You were crying.”
It wasn’t a question. It sounded like an accusation.
Ashley nearly imperceptibly gulped, “Yes, sir.”
“Why?”
She was surprised by the question, “Sir?”
“Why?” He said lowly with more force, demanding that she answer him.
“Because…” her lips trembled, her eyes wide as she tried to say whatever it could be that he would find acceptable. “Because I’m stupid?” She offered.
Homelander rolled his eyes, jaw clinching. He paced long strides until he was directly in front of her. He tilted his head down, forcing eye contact.
“I asked you a genuine question. I expect a genuine answer,” he spoke slowly and with warning.
“I- I,” she stuttered.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Ashley! If your heart speeds up any faster, you’re going to have a heart attack. Stop being fucking pathetic and just fucking answer the question! Why are you crying?” He snapped, out of patience.
Her face crumbled immediately. Any resolve that she had to keep herself somewhat put together was shattered with his words. She put her face in her hands again as a sob came wrecking through her. Homelander felt a sinking in his chest. He wanted her to stop already.
“Are you going to answer me?” He attempted to make his voice sound softer but it came across as more patronizing.
In return, he heard another sob before she choked out between sharp breaths, “It’s this job.”
“The job?” He asked, genuinely.
“It’s impossible! All day I’m dealing with crisis after crisis, obnoxious supe after obnoxious supe- not you though, sir. Of course not- and I’m constantly worried that any second could be the moment I get fired or… or killed. It’s just, it’s just so much.”
For a moment, Homelander didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, he completely understood. In fact, she described his frustrations with the company nearly exactly. On the other hand, who the fuck was she to complain. She was just a human. A human lucky enough to have a job that every person in the country would want- would be grateful to have. She should be thanking him for giving her the honor to work with gods. Instead, she’s crying. She, CEO of Vought, was in her office crying? Homelander took a deep inhale. He was pretty sure he made up his mind about how he was going to respond until another pathetic sob came from the woman in front of him. That sinking feeling in his chest was back. He reached out and put a hand against her shoulder. She flinched, and then looked at him terrified at the realization that she had flinched. As if he would be so offended that he would snap. He didn’t. He simply kept his hand there and guided her over to the couch. She seemed reluctant, but she followed his directions wordlessly until the two of them were seated side-by-side on the couch. His hand was still on her shoulder, but now he was rubbing soothingly until he became conscious of what he was doing. He gave her shoulder a light pat as if they were baseball players congratulating each other on a play.
They sat there in awkward silence for a moment. She was still crying, but it was a gentle flow now instead of wrecked sobs. She was keeping her eyes firmly on the ground. Eventually, Homelander spoke up with a question that he felt compelled to ask, “Is it because of me?”
Her head shot up again, “No, no, no. Of course not, sir. You’re great.”
He huffed a laugh, “Ashley… come on.” He tilted his head as he thought of something. “How about this!? One time only! Free pass! I’m not allowed to get mad at all! Tell me something I do that bothers you!” He seemed proud to have thought of it. She seemed wary that it was a trap.
“Come on! I mean it! I won’t be mad, I swear! Don’t be shy!” He grinned.
Slowly and with caution and eyes full of mistrust she said, “Okay…” He nodded encouragingly. “Um… it’s not a big deal, sir. And I totally get it, but sometimes… sometimes I don’t like it when you call me names?”
“I call you names?” He asked.
She simply stared back at him in disbelief. It was so absurd that she momentarily forgot to be afraid of him. “You don’t remember ‘is your idiot brain getting fucked by stupid?’” She asked, incredulously.
“Well, that isn’t really a ‘name,’” he said defensively.
She scoffed.
“Okay, okay! No more ‘is your idiot brain getting fucked by stupid?’ Anything else?”
She hesitated, “I don’t want to take my wig off at work.”
“Yeah, sure. It’s gross anyway. Fine. Next?”
“I…… don’t want to have to worry about getting killed everyday.”
“For godsake, Ashley! I would never kill you!”
She looked at him, unconvinced.
“I really wouldn’t! Not unless you lie to me or something. I like you, Ashley. You’re a good girl. If I were going to kill you I would have done so ages ago, right? Come on, use your head. Wait, that doesn’t count as name calling does it? It shouldn’t! I didn’t even call you a name!”
Despite everything, she laughed. That made Homelander feel unreasonably proud for some reason.
Suddenly, the door burst open and Cameron Coleman came storming in while speaking before he took stalk of who was in the room, “I’m ready to be punished, mistress-“ He froze as he saw Homelander. Ashley became rigid by his side, waiting for his reaction.
“Get the fuck out, Coleman,” he said, coolly.
“Yes, sir!” He ran back out of the room faster than Homelander had ever seen a human run. He turned back to Ashley who was sitting as still as a statue with a horrified expression on her face. Homelander laughed.
“It’s okay, Ashley! I already know all about your little arrangement with Cameron Coleman. Super hearing, remember?”
She looked no less horrified. It made him laugh again.
“Sir, I am so sorry. That was completely unacceptable-“
“Ashley! I said it was fine! Honestly, it makes me like you more that you have a little fun every now and then. Especially all that freaky shit you and him get into. Although, you know you can do better than Coleman, right?”
Ashley blushed, “I didn’t know you knew about that, sir.”
“I mean, you do it in the tower. Part of you had to know there was a chance I would hear, right?” His tone dropped to something more suggestive, “Unless, of course, that was part of it.”
Ashley’s blush deepened, “No, sir! I promise it’s not.”
“I was a bit surprised the first time I heard you two. You’re always so submissive to me, I was surprised to hear you act more *dominant*.”
She shivered as he said it. Her heartbeat changed and he could smell a faint smell of the beginnings of arousal. He tilted his head as an idea occurred to him.
“Have you ever considered doing that as stress relief?”
She was surprised by the question and even more surprised by how openly she answered back, “I guess that that’s part of why I do it, for sure. It definitely takes the pressure off after work,” she confessed.
“Still, Cameron Coleman is such an inadequate choice. Wouldn’t it feel so much more satisfying if you were doing that stuff with someone… better?”
She blinked at the implication, “Like who?” Part of her dreaded, part of her hoped, part of her was excited, part of her was in fear. But she needed him to confirm what she thinks he’s suggesting.
“Like me,” he said easily. She was too stunned to reply so he continued. “I mean, think about it. Wouldn’t that feel so good? Being the boss for a change? I wouldn’t be opposed. If you ever wanted to…”
He suddenly felt self conscious about what he had just offered. She still wasn’t replying to him and he felt stupid for even considering lowering himself like that. It was just a stupid idea born out of an irrational jealousy that he had felt on the occasion that he had overheard her with Cameron. It was so ridiculous to suggest that to her- especially when she had just been crying. And now she wasn’t responding and-
“Say ‘please,’” she said.
“What?”
“If you really want me to be a dom for you, say ‘please,’” something in her demeanor had switched. Homelander felt his breath caught in his throat as he made eye contact with Ashley. She suddenly seemed more composed.
“…please…” he said, experimentally. Curious to see where this would go.
“Please, what?”
He blinked, pupils starting to dilate, “Please be a dom for me.”
“Don’t be an idiot! That’s not what I meant. ‘Please, what?’”
“Ma’am?”
“So there is a brain in there. But not big enough to respond correctly?”
“Please, ma’am,” he corrected.
“Good. Now say you’re sorry?”
“F-for what?” He blinked.
“Did you seriously just ask me that?”
“Sorry, ma’am.”
“Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
“N-no.”
“‘No…’”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry for being such an idiot that I had to explain basic manners to you, right?”
“Yes, ma’am”
“So say it.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“No! Apologize for being an idiot.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“For?”
“I’m sorry for being an idiot.”
“Good boy.”
He shivered.
“Are you seriously hard already?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“That’s fucking pathetic.”
He nodded.
“Say it,” she commanded.
“I’m fucking pathetic.”
“Yes, you are. Aren’t you?”
He nodded.
“I bet you want me to touch you, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“Then ask.”
“Please, touch me.”
“Are you seriously that stupid that you already forgot?”
“Please touch me, ma’am.”
“That wasn’t rhetorical.”
“Yes, I’m seriously that stupid that I already forgot, ma’am.”
“I thought so. Go ahead and ask me again.”
“Please, touch me, ma’am.”
She looked him up and down before responding, “No.”
“No?” He whined.
“What did you just say to me?”
“Sorry, ma’am.”
“You don’t deserve to be touched, do you?”
He shook his head.
“Then touch yourself.”
He looked at her, confused.
“You really think I would touch a pathetic thing like you during our first time doing this? Be grateful I’m letting you touch it at all.”
He nodded and went to pull out his cock.
“Wait.” He paused immediately. “Ask permission.”
He shivered. “Can I please touch myself, ma’am?”
“Fine but make it quick.”
He didn’t last long at all. He felt compelled to mumble “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” As he came.
They sat there as he panted to steady his breathing, using one of his gloves to clean up. Once he regained himself enough to put himself away, he turned to her, “See. Next time you’re feeling sad just do that.”
She smiled, “Noted.”
He stood and straightened himself up before turning his eyes red, “But if you ever tell anyone about this, I will fucking kill you, got it?”
She nodded. One step at a time.