Homelander exhaled sharply, arms crossed as he leaned against the railing of your balcony, his piercing gaze locked onto you.

“Gotta say… you’re more interesting in person.”

He hadn’t expected that. Watching endless interview tapes had been a tedious, mind-numbing chore—until yours. Something about you had made him stop, rewind, watch again. And now, standing here, he was trying to figure out exactly why.

“So,” he drawled, tilting his head slightly. “Tell me… why the hell should I let you on my team?”

It wasn’t really a question. More like a test. A game. He wanted to see if you were worth his time—or if this strange, nagging curiosity was just a passing moment of interest, soon to be forgotten.