When Homelander returned to the bedroom in the Shelter, the first light of dawn pierced the thick, gray haze on the horizon.
On the large bed, Harley let out a lazy groan, sitting up while rubbing her messy hair. The blanket slipped down, revealing a glimpse of her form, but she didn't seem to mind at all.
She yawned, her gaze somewhat unfocused as she searched for the blond man, until her eyes settled on the figure by the window.
"Morning, Mr. Milk Candy..."
Just as she was about to climb out of bed, her eyes suddenly locked onto the cape draped over Homelander's shoulders.
She tilted her head, giving it a thorough once-over.
"Whoa, what's with the new look? I didn't see you wearing that yesterday."
Kneeling on the bed, Harley reached out and tugged at the red cape.
"Red? Are you sure you want to go out wearing that? If Batboy sees you dressed like that, he'll definitely have a reflex to draw his gun."
"Those poor souls we just rescued might think that blue boy scout crawled back from hell to collect taxes. Ha!"
Harley giggled, teasing him.
Homelander was momentarily taken aback. Harley's words reminded him that he had indeed overlooked this point.
Now, all of humanity had a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder when it came to 'red capes.' He couldn't let the savior image he'd worked so hard to build become negatively associated because of a cape's color. It might affect his efficiency in harvesting popularity value.
Homelander immediately called out to the system in his mind.
"Spend 500 special popularity value to restore the cape's appearance to its original stars and stripes style."
[Command confirmed. Appearance modification complete.]
Under Harley's astonished gaze, the surface of the red cape rippled like water. Within a few seconds, the familiar stars and stripes pattern reappeared.
"Ooh!" Harley's eyes sparkled. "That feature is so cool! Can you get one for my jacket too?"
"Just a little trick," Homelander said, pinching her cheek with a slight smile. "Stop dawdling and get up. We're heading to Metropolis."
"To Metropolis? What for?" Harley plopped back down on the bed, her face full of reluctance.
"It's so comfortable here, with hot water and champagne. Why don't we go soak in that big bathtub again?"
"We can soak anytime, but it's time to go to work at the Federation now," Homelander said with a laugh.
Harley blinked, seeming not to have processed it.
"Work? Wait, that Human Federation thing you mentioned to Joker yesterday... you weren't actually serious, were you?"
"You're just... ruling the World now?"
She threw her hands up in an exaggerated gesture.
"I thought all that talk you gave at Kent Farm was just to mess with that Joker bastard!"
"Mess with him?" Homelander laughed heartily, reaching out to gently pinch Harley's chin.
"I've always been a sincere person. I not only established the Human Federation, but I was also serious about making a movie. I've even thought of the title for the first one: 'Homelander: Wasteland Uprising.'"
"I've always had a dream," Homelander said with dramatic flair. "I want to make a series of movies starring 'Homelander,' so the whole World can watch my story. Let everyone know who's protecting them."
"That's a brilliant idea!" Harley was stunned for a moment, then immediately raised her hand upon realizing. "I want to be the director! I'll fill the movie with explosions and dismemberment! And sexy legs!"
"Deal," Homelander said, extending his pinky finger. "Whoever goes back on their word is a pig."
Giggling, Harley hooked her pinky with his, sealing the pact.
"Alright, now go take a shower and get ready," Homelander said casually. "Make yourself smell nice. You're about to become the Federation's First Lady."
The air suddenly went quiet for a second.
Harley's smile froze on her face.
"First... Lady?"
She stared at Homelander in disbelief, thinking she had misheard.
In this cruel, insane, betrayal-filled World, no one had ever said such a thing to her.
Joker treated her like a toy to be discarded at any moment; Batman saw her as a lunatic who needed to be locked up in Arkham.
And now, this man standing at the pinnacle of the World, on his first day of ruling it, told her she would be the First Lady.
For the first time, Harley felt an uncontrollable tremor deep within.
She forced down the overwhelming surge of emotion, digging her nails hard into her palms, warning herself.
"Don't be stupid, Harley. He's just joking. Why would he let a crazy, mentally ill, notorious criminal like you be the damn First Lady?"
On the surface, Harley quickly regained her carefree demeanor.
"Woo-hoo! First Lady? Does that mean I can keep hyenas on the White House lawn? And paint the Oval Office pink!"
As she spoke, she reached for Homelander's belt.
"But before the shower, the First Lady thinks the Federation President needs to fulfill his morning duties first."
Without another word, she pushed Homelander down onto the bed and pounced on him like a hungry wildcat.
...
Two hours later, both dressed and ready, they left the Shelter.
Homelander took Harley and soared into the sky, heading straight for Metropolis.
By now, under Bruce Wayne's terrifying organizational skills and Execution, Metropolis had taken on an orderly appearance.
Parademon corpses on the streets had been gathered and incinerated. The Resistance had been reorganized into a temporary security force, patrolling the streets.
Large construction machinery was clearing rubble blocking the main roads. Temporary medical stations and food distribution points had been set up in various neighborhoods.
When Homelander's iconic stars and stripes cape appeared in the sky, the entire plaza fell into a brief silence.
Then, an ear-splitting cheer erupted.
"Homelander!!"
"Look! He's back!!"
People lay down their tasks, pouring into the streets from all directions. They waved their arms, tears streaming as they shouted the name of their savior.
Homelander held Harley's hand, walking through the path the crowd automatically made for them.
He wore a spring-like smile, occasionally nodding to the people on either side, even stopping sometimes to pat the heads of grubby children.
Walking beside Homelander, Harley watched the fanaticism gazes around her and instinctively shrank her neck, feeling uncomfortable.
She was used to being feared and despised. This feeling of being worshipped as a hero felt unreal to the Queen of Gotham Crime.
"Keep smiling, Little Pumpkin," Homelander reminded her in a low voice. "They love me, so they'll love you too."
The LexCorp Tower had now been cleared out, with the temporary flag of the Human Federation hung up, serving as the Federation's provisional headquarters.
Homelander led Harley into the building.
The moment he stepped into the lobby, Homelander activated his super-vision to its fullest extent, instantly penetrating every floor, wall, and underground vault of the building.
He scanned carefully, searching for that telltale green glow.
However, there was nothing.
No lead-lined secret compartments, no hidden safes, not even a fragment of Kryptonite the size of a fingernail.