Chapter 13

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***

Ryan stared admiringly at the television screen, watching Luke Skywalker try to comprehend the ways of the Force and become a Jedi. As the Rebels confront the Emperor and Darth Vader who want to take over the entire galaxy. The boy was enthralled by the events and characters on screen, especially Han Solo and Darth Vader, the most colourful characters in the film.

Needless to say, the next film of the trilogy was on right after the first one? It wasn't until halfway through the film that a knock on the door was heard, causing Becca to get up off the couch and head out to greet the visitor. She opened the door and met the Homelander's extremely thoughtful gaze.

She knew immediately that something really out of the ordinary had happened. Even the black T-shirt, which could not hide the man's muscles and abs, did not draw her attention more than John's bad mood. Becca was extremely curious as to what had happened. But she didn't want to spoil the film for her son, who rarely watched television as it was.

- Come in, we're already on the fifth episode. - The woman whispered to him.

- Really? - John perked up. - So he liked it?

- He more than liked it. - Becca smiled as she headed for the living room, and the man's gaze travelled down to her lower nineties.

The next hour or so flew by as they watched the film. Ryan watched in shock as Luke and Darth Vader fought, and the young Jedi was confidently defeated. And when the boy's arm was severed, even the boy's eyes turned red with excitement.

Becca immediately turned to Homelander, to which he only smiled reassuringly. Since their powers were identical, it wouldn't be possible to accidentally shoot a laser out of the boy's eyes. After all, emotions would not be enough for that, you need to direct it all to the right point. So he didn't worry about it and thus seemed to calm Becca, who was worried about her son.

- How is that possible?! - Ryan asked excitedly after the end of the film. - Darth Vader is Luke's father?! Is that true?

- Absolutely. - John smiled, ruffling his hair.

- Can we watch episode six? - Ryan asked, glancing out the window. It didn't escape his mother.

- It's evening, and you need to be awake tomorrow," Becca looked at him sternly and then softened her tone. - You'll see tomorrow, but now brush your teeth and go to bed.

- Okay. - The boy answered regretfully, looking at Jonah for a second. The man shook his head, showing his helplessness in this situation.

After putting the child to bed they went down to the kitchen where the woman made tea. Becca had noticed throughout the film that the Homelander was too often in his own thoughts. So she decided to ask what was eating the superhero.

- What's wrong? You left too suddenly. - She said, placing a mug of hot tea in front of him.

- It was... work-related. Never mind. - He answered her, taking a sip of the hot drink.

- John, I know we're not that close. But you said you wanted to be friends," Becca sighed, not sure why she was saying this nonsense. Curiosity was probably to blame. - So take the first step towards it.

- Okay," Homelander frowned. - The Blinker's dead.

- What? But he's invulnerable! - Becca exclaimed in a daze, immediately covering her mouth. She didn't want to wake Ryan with her screams. - How could that be possible?

- He was bombed from the inside, as far as I can tell from the... the remains. Details, I hope, are unnecessary. - The man sighed, taking another sip of tea.

- Who could have done this? - Becca asked excitedly.

- 'We don't know yet, but we'll find them. - Homelander assured her.

He didn't mention that he had already found something. Like the security camera footage of Huey Campbell getting out of a black Fleetwood Cadillac and heading towards the building. And although the cameras weren't good enough to get a clear shot, the licence plate was clearly visible. And the owner of the car was ex-military man William Butcher, Becky's husband, who had the same surname.

And what a perfect coincidence that Campbell's place of work was soon rammed by a car of the same model and then fled the scene. They found signs of a struggle and blood inside the electronics shop. That's considering someone erased all the security footage inside. And the next day, Blink didn't show up to visit the kid with cancer, causing Madeline to have to replace him with Train-A.

- But don't let that go to your head, because there's something more important.

- More important?

- Yeah, there's a question that's been on my mind lately that I'd like to ask you. If you don't mind, of course. - He decided to start from afar, without giving away what the conversation was about.

- What kind of question is it? - Becca asked warily.

- Why are you here?

- What are you talking about? - She frowned.

- This is it," he glanced around the kitchen and what seemed to be the entire protected area. - Why did you deliberately lock yourself in a cage? - There was no judgement in the Homelander's words, just childlike curiosity. And that didn't please Becca.

- Need I remind you whose fault it is that I'm here?

- You know I have an absolute memory. And it's not my fault you're here, it's your own fault," he sighed, pushing the mug away. - It wasn't Ryan's fault. His abilities have only recently manifested, and the birth was a success. You could have easily chosen a more crowded place, but you chose this. Which begs the question, why?

- It's none of your business. - Becca replied sharply.

- That's where you're wrong," the Homelander said with steel in his eyes. - Anything that affects you will affect our son in any case. And I can't let anything threaten him.

- He won't be threatened while he's here.

- Do you think it'll last? That one day he won't want to see the world?

- What's your point?

- That he won't stay here because I'm taking you out of here," the man's gaze became so hard that she didn't have the courage to object. - And I need to know what you were so afraid of that you even agreed to this. Believe me, the sooner I find out, the better it will be for us.

- I was afraid of Billy, my husband," Becca said through gritted teeth, to which Homelander nodded, inviting her to continue. - 'He ... been in the war and it's taken a toll on him. When he's angry, Billy becomes almost uncontrollable and can do terrible things. And I was afraid he'd kill Ryan if he found out what he was... who he's from.

- I see, that's why you locked yourself in here," Homelander sighed, standing up from the table. - Thank you for your hospitality, Rebecca, but I must be going.

- Wait!" Becca shouted, standing up abruptly, subsequently knocking the mug to the floor. - Damn it!

- What are you getting so worked up about? I'm not going to do anything to him, it hurts," the blond rolled his eyes. - I'll see you tomorrow.

Becca walked him silently and thoughtfully to the exit.

- John. - The woman suddenly called out to him as he was about to take off.

- Yes? He turned to her.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome. - John nodded before taking off.

Becca followed for only a couple of seconds before he finally disappeared from sight. She sighed quietly and walked back into the house. 'Well, that conversation went quite well,' Homelander thought, making sure she didn't do anything stupid.

***

Butcher was having a hard time sleeping and it wasn't even Huey's fault, with his baby shampoo. The smell was a little too... sweet, but it was tolerable. Something else kept the war veteran uneasy, something far more disturbing.

Exhaling, he got up from the mattress and went to make some tea. Maybe it's too obvious a stereotype, but it's tea that the British drink more often than not, and Billy was no exception. He spent the next five minutes mindlessly watching the electric kettle boil, waiting for the click. A tea bag in a mug and boiling water was the perfect recipe.

Smiling at his thoughts, Butcher sipped his tea and blissfully closed his eyes. At least there was some good in his frankly shitty life, he admitted at times like this. Exhaling, Billy stepped out onto the balcony to feel the chill of the night on his skin. This was well helped by the fact that he usually slept in just shorts.

Taking another sip of tea, Butcher relaxed and looked up at the sky to stand still as a monument to himself. The smile immediately disappeared from his face and his eyes stopped blinking, aimed at one point. Two red dots to be exact.

His hand clutched the mug as he kept his gaze on the Homelander's eyes. And there was no way this super could be anything else. Only the blond bastard had distinctive red lasers, and he also flies. And yes, Butcher had recently blown up a work colleague, so the conclusions were obvious.

Nothing changed for another couple of minutes. Homelander stayed where he was, watching Butcher. He stared back defiantly. The man didn't care anymore, now that he'd been found. The only thing he would have regretted before he died was that he had not been able to avenge his wife.

But to his surprise, the Homelander flew off in an unknown direction, leaving him alone on the balcony. It took a couple of seconds to realise this and finally breathing freely, he sipped his tea and immediately spat it out in disgust.

- Fuck! - Butcher exclaimed, grimacing at the taste of the cooled drink.

It wasn't even clear whether he was more annoyed by the awful taste of the tea or by his unreasonable expectations of meeting with Homelander. That was something no one but him could ever know, not even on pain of death.

*** 

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