I won't lie, as much as I wish someone like Annie or even Butcher to be the one to do Firecracker in, I think I like way the show handled it better. Mainly for the symbolic reasons.
We have the supposedly devout Christian literally and metaphorically throwing her faith away so that she can prop up Homelander as a false idol. Only for her to meet her end at the hands of the devil she sold her soul to.
Then there's the extra symbolism of having a character who is obsessed with all things America bleeding out on a symbol of America.
But it's also a great contrast with how A-Train died at the start of the season. One died bravely laughing at the face of death to sacrifice himself for the greater good. While the latter died pitifully and timidly, begging for her life while she stood for nothing but her own gain. One figuratively saw the light, the other embraced darkness and died alone. It's not at all subtle, but it is fitting.
Kudos to Valorie Curry for playing such a loathsome yet pitiful character. Her sendoff was beautiful and I hope she gets noticed more after this.
Valorie Curry just gave an amazing final performance on The Boys but we’re on the Supernatural blogging website and everyone is talking about Misha Collins and Jared Padalecki’s cameos instead
(being a supe with powerful regeneration isn't great. Being a breeding vessel for Vought isn't so great either)
Part 2 here
Being a supe wasn't as amazing as everyone thought it was. At least not for you. You were a regenerative supe, one that could regenerate faster then any other supe. Eventually Vought realised you were the perfect opportunity to breed supes. You couldn't die, age and you would heal straight after childbirth. You'd forgotten about escaping a long time ago and now you were treated quite well. You had a nice apartment, food, money and all the clothes and designer bags you could ask for. Maybe it didn't matter if you had to be constantly pregnant. You were about 7 months along in this pregnancy. You'd lost count how many babies you'd had, you didn't even see them as living beings anymore. It was easier that way. You'd began popping out babies around the 70s, even having a few of soldier boys children. The one you were carrying now was Homelanders. They often used his sperm considering he was the most powerful in the seven. Only thing you hated was that Homelander became possessive over you once he learned you would carry most of his children. You made your way down to the labs in the morning. They needed to check how the baby was going, you were used to it by now. You made it to the lab and saw Homelander waiting. You groaned and rubbed your head. 'You're absolutely glowing, my darling. Your breasts are looking...full,' he said as he licked his lips. You rolled your eyes and laid down on one of the beds.
'You don't need to be here for this,' you said. He chuckled and began to rub your stomach as you relaxed on the hospital bed.
'I'm not busy and I want to be there for you, mommy,' he said. You groaned and rubbed your face again.
'No! What did I say about that goddamn name?' you said as his hand stopped.
'Fine, fine. I won't use it,' he said. You rolled your eyes as the doctor entered.
'Looking glowing like usual, my dear,' she said as you closed your eyes and let her start the ultrasound. Homelander stood beside you and watched as the image of the baby showed up. 'Still a perfectly healthy little girl. She's going to be a big girl, too.'
'Definitely my kid then,' Homelander said with a smirk. You rolled your eyes again and looked at him.
'Don't you have that podcast thing to do today?' you asked.
'Yes, it's not for another hour,' he said. You wanted to face palm, another hour with him around wasn't ideal.
After the doctor told you the baby was still nice and healthy you wanted to go back to your apartment and enjoy a bath, but of course Homelander had other ideas. You were preparing to leave when he grabbed you from behind and buried his face in the crook of your neck. 'You're so big and swollen,' he whispered.
'Why do you make everything sound so gross?' you asked as he began kissing your neck. You pulled away and looked at him. 'What's the one rule?'
'Not to have sex. I'm not going to have sex, I just want to touch you. Is that a crime?' he asked.
'Sweetheart, this whole thing is just a business transaction. We won't even know the child, it'll get shipped off to God knows where like usual.'
'I know, but you're still carrying my child. That gives me the right to touch you,' he said as he moved closer.
'You do realise I've given birth to your siblings? And that I've fucked your father?' you asked. His jaw clenched a little before he smirked.
'I'm very aware. I wish you had given birth to me,' he said as he licked his lips again. You groaned and shoved past him.
'Nope! Not dealing with your gross shit today!' you shouted as you left him alone in the lab.
--
After some relaxing time alone you headed to the gym to do some light exercise, it usually helped when you felt uncomfortable because of the baby. You were walking on the treadmill when Firecracker entered. You groaned and continued walking. You couldn't stand her one bit and often had to stop yourself from throwing her out the window.
'The amazing mother to be! Shouldn't you be taking it easy, darling?' she said. You rolled your eyes like you did almost 100 times a day.
'Exercise is good for my body and also for the baby,' you said without looking at her.
'You and homelander spend a lot of time together.'
'Yes, well I would rather it be the opposite and he stop bothering me,' you said as she chuckled.
'You're quite hold, aren't you? I bet you wouldn't say that if he were here.'
'I would, and I have. He doesn't scare me, he actually listens to me,' you said. She stepped closer and stood beside the treadmill.
'Do you love him?' she asked. You looked at her in disgust.
'God, no. He's like a goddamn annoying puppy. Our relationship is just business.'
'And that's why he's always touching you? For business?' she asked.
'Homelander is possessive. Especially when I'm carrying his child. You know what he's like,' you said. Firecracker reached up and turned off the treadmill. You turned to her and smiled. 'Have you ever been slapped by an eighty year old pregnant woman?' you asked as she looked at you in confusion.
'You're eighty? I knew you didn't age, but that's quite the wisdom you must have.' You stepped off the treadmill and wiped some of the sweat off your forehead.
'What do you want? I'm not in the mood.'
'I just want to understand why homelander likes you so much.'
'And I told you, I'm carrying his baby. Plus, I knew him when he was a child. I met him a few times and being without a family he probably had a small obsession with the pregnant women,' you said. She crossed her arms and looked at you.
'You knew him as a child and now you're having his child? It's a little sick isn't it?'
'You're apart of vought and you're surprised they would do something like that? Open your eyes, sweetheart,' you said as you pushed past her. 'Don't bother me again.'
--
You made it back to your apartment and fell asleep on the couch. When you awoke again you felt groggy and like you’d been asleep for years. You groaned and opened your eyes to see you weren’t in your apartment anymore.
‘As beautiful as the day we met,’ a voice said as you glanced up to see Soldier boy. You groaned and collapsed back against the bed.
‘Why couldn’t you stay dead?’
‘That’s really what you want to say to me right now, huh? Did you even notice I was missing?’ He asked. You looked at him and rolled your eyes.
‘Yes, and I prayed every night your death was brutal,’ you said before he slapped you across the face. Just as he did so two other man walked in.
‘Woah! Let’s not hit the pregnant woman!’ The younger man said as he rushed forward. You looked at him and held your hands out.
‘Help me sit up,’ you said. He carefully pulled you into a sitting position and your hand rested on your pregnant stomach.
‘This is the slut I was talking about,’ Soldier Boy said as you rolled your eyes.
‘Alright, let’s not go shoutin’ slurs at the lady,’ the older man said as you looked at him. You took a moment before realisation dawned on you.
‘Butcher…’
‘So, you do know me, luv. I’m flattered,’ he said. You sighed and looked around trying to find something to tie your hair up with. You groaned and reached behind to tie your hair into a knot instead. ‘You seem quite casual for someone who’s been kidnapped.’
‘Yeah well, not much shocks me these days,’ you said. You looked at Ben and he looked like he wanted to slap you again. ‘What, Ben? You want me to run into your arms? Want me to cry and say thank god you’re alive?’
‘It would be nice. I didn’t realise I mattered to little to you,’ he grumbled.
‘Forgive me for not forming a connection with the man I was forced to spread my legs for every nine months,’ you said. Hughie’s face went red as he quickly looked away.
‘Heard your having my son’s baby now. That’s a bit sick, isn’t it?’ He said. You rolled your eyes and felt like punching him.
‘Well, thankfully now they just inseminate me instead of making me get fucked,’ you said. Soldier boy stepped forward and Hughie moved to your side just in case.
‘I bet you’d still love it, huh? You miss my cum between,’ you quickly cut him off by kicking him in the nuts. You looked at Billy.
‘British man, slap him for me.’
‘Well, I’m tryna get the bloke on my side,’ he said. You raised an eyebrow before Hughie helped you stand up.
‘Fine, I’ll do it.’ As Ben stood up you slapped him hard against the face. He went to grab you but Butcher quickly stepped in and used a tranquiliser on him. Ben fell to the ground as you sighed and placed your hands on your hips. ‘So, why have you kidnapped me?’
‘We’re aware you…breed supes for Vought. We need to put a stop to that. It was soldier boy who told us about you and wanted you out of Vought,’ Hughie said.
‘I bet he said I was this gorgeous babe with a great pair of tits?’ You said.
‘Along those lines, yes,’ Hughie muttered.
‘Yes, well I’m sure he didn’t bring up the part where he used to request I be sedated when he would have sex with me because he “didn’t enjoy my sounds of pain when he was too rough” or something,’ you said. Hughie stared at you in shock. Billy stepped forward and looked at you.
‘I’m gonna take one guess and say you haven’t had a say in any of these pregnancies?’ He asked.
‘You’re smarter than you look. No, none were my choice. I can’t even remember how many babies I’ve had by now. After the first four I stopped caring about the children so I wouldn’t get hurt,’ you said. Hughie looked at you sadly.
‘I’m guessing they take the children away from you?’
‘Yeah, but it’s not like I want them anyway. Not when they’re a product of…you know,’ you said. The two men nodded and were glad you weren’t as brainwashed as they thought you would be.
‘So, the one you’re carrying now is Homelander’s?’ Billy asked.
‘Yeah, this is the third one that’s his. I’m just glad I don’t have to have sex with the fucking creep,’ you said. Billy chuckled and led you out of the room where Ben still laid unconscious. You groaned and sat on the crappy couch as Hughie went to fetch you some water.
‘You hate the bastard, then?’
‘Yep, he’s always touching me and being weird around me. At least he actually listens to me,’ you said. Billy sat across from you.
‘He bloody listens to you?’
‘Yeah, he’s a fucking man child with mommy issues. I’m the closest thing to a mother figure he’s ever had,’ you said. Billy looked at you in disgust.
‘He sees you as a mother figure and still wants to touch you in that way?’
‘Yes, are you surprised?’ You asked as Billy scoffed.
‘No, I know he’s a deranged freak.’
Hughie returned with some water and you smiled. ‘Thank you, sweetheart,’ you said as you noticed him blushing a little. Billy chuckled and looked at you again.
‘Are you this maternal with everyone?’
‘I’m well and truly old enough to be your mother, Billy.’
‘Bloody hell, when were you born?’ He asked.
‘1946, in September to be exact,’ you said as they stared at you in shock.
‘You’re bloody eighty!?’ Billy said as you laughed.
‘Hey, I’m seventy nine.’
Hughie chuckled and sat down next to Billy.
‘Well, you look bloody good for your age,’ Billy said. You smiled and took some small sips of water.
‘What’s the plan then, boys? Can’t exactly kill me,’ you said.
‘We’re gonna keep you away from Vought,’ Billy said.
‘And what about the baby?’
‘We plan to…use it to our advantage,’ Hughie said. You sat forward more and looked at them.
‘How do you plan on using a baby to your advantage?’
‘Well, the kid will have powers. Plus, it’ll be a good bargaining tool for Vought and Homelander,’ Billy said. You thought for a moment.
‘I don’t know… Do you really want a baby around?’
‘Well, we’re going to set up a hide out. Somewhere Vought won’t find you. Somewhere you can take care of the child,’ Hughie said.
‘And I’m guessing I don’t get a say in this?’ You asked.
‘We could try abortion, luv. But considering the baby is a supe we don’t know what would happen,’ Billy said. You sighed and nodded, knowing he was right. You placed your hand on your stomach.
‘I don’t want to get my hopes up,’ you whispered.
‘What do you mean?’ Hughie asked.
‘I don’t want to be excited about finally getting to keep my own baby just for someone to take her from me,’ you whispered. Hughie sat beside you and offered you a smile.
‘We’re going to do everything we can to protect you and the baby. We won’t even let soldier boy know the location. He’s useful, but we won’t let him near you,’ Hughie said. You smiled and took his hand.
‘You’re a good kid… Thank you. I guess it’s worth a shot. I’ve been nothing but a damn breeding machine since the 80s, may as well risk whatever I have left,’ you said. Hughie smiled and you felt the baby start to kick, you guided Hughie’s hand to your stomach so he could feel it. He chuckled when he felt the movement against his hand.
‘So, it’s a girl?’ He asked.
‘Yeah, she’s healthy. The doctor says she’s gonna be a damn big baby too,’ you said. Billy looked at you with a fond smile. He knew he couldn’t protect Becca when she was pregnant, so he was going to do everything he could to protect you. You heard a noise coming from the room and Billy groaned and stood up.
‘That’ll be soldier boy waking up. I’ll handle it.’
