Marvel : Homelander

I'll be real, this felt like a chore to write.

Didn't enjoy it at all.

--

Three days after the reveal

Homelander stood on the edge of the Vought Tower rooftop, his arms crossed as he looked down at the sprawling city below.

The wind tugged at his cape, but he was still, unbothered by the chaos his revelation had caused.

It was a view he could never get tired of, the world beneath him, so small, so fragile.

Behind him, Ashley was rattling off the latest numbers and developments, her voice a constant hum in the background.

"The company's value has plummeted by 17% since your... announcement," she said carefully, as though picking her words might soften the blow.

"The investors are nervous, and some major partners have already pulled out. They're all waiting for clarification—something to stabilize the situation. But since you've refused to elaborate on anything… it's been tough."

He didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on the city lights flickering beneath him.

The people down there were panicking, scrambling to make sense of things now that they'd learned who he really was.

But to him, none of that mattered. The world would adjust, or it wouldn't.

Either way, he'd still be there, standing above it all.

"The FBI," Ashley continued, her voice growing tighter, "has been relentless. They're trying to dig up something, anything to frame the company in a scandal. Every day it's another subpoena, another investigation. They're trying to find a way to drag you in for questioning. Legally, I mean."

Homelander's gaze flickered briefly to Ashley, and she quickly continued, not wanting to test his patience. "I've been using Noir and... well, Bucky's been a godsend in this. Anytime they try to push too hard, he and Noir take care of things. Quietly."

At the mention of Bucky, Homelander's expression softened for a moment. He'd made the right call with him, giving him that special shot of Compound V. Now, he was practically untouchable, and a valuable tool for dealing with these nuisances.

"But," Ashley sighed, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has been especially persistent. They're not just looking for a legal win—they're trying to infiltrate. I've lost count of how many agents they've sent in, but Noir's team has been taking care of that too."

Homelander's eyes narrowed slightly, his irritation growing. S.H.I.E.L.D. was always a thorn in his side, thinking they could challenge him, but in reality they were nothing but someone who can'tsee mount tai.

(A/N: a little Joke :) )

They didn't know how far beyond them he was.

"Let them try," he finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with menace. "They're just children playing in a world they don't understand."

Ashley nodded quickly, taking a deep breath. "I'll keep things under control. Noir and Bucky will handle it."

Ashley paused for a moment before bringing up the next point,. "There's also something else… an official invitation. Actually, two. One from Sony Media House, and another from Disney Media House. They're asking for an interview, something formal to address the public directly. It could help with the public image... maybe even stop the stocks from falling."

Homelander's gaze didn't waver from the city at first, but her words made him pause.

An interview? He hadn't given much thought to interacting with the public.

The business and common world was in chaos after his revelation.

It wouldn't hurt to interact with them.

He turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers. "An interview, huh?"

Ashley nodded,. "Yes, Nik. They're both eager to have you. It's... a chance to control the narrative. You haven't really spoken directly to the people since your big reveal. It could calm things down, bring back some stability."

Homelander considered it for a moment.

"Fine," he said,. "Set it up. I'll do the interviews."

Ashley looked relieved, immediately pulling out her tablet to start working on the arrangements. "I'll get it all scheduled. Sony and Disney will be thrilled to have you."

Homelander said nothing more, turning his complicated gaze back to the city.

---

The lights dimmed slightly as the camera panned over the audience before landing on the host, a familiar face—none other than Jay Leno.

With his signature smile and a slight wave to the crowd, he stood at the center of the stage.

The audience erupted into applause, recognizing the man.

"Good evening, everybody!" Jay greeted warmly, his voice carrying that unmistakable tone of charisma. "Welcome to Tonight's Special. Now, folks, tonight's show is something we've all been waiting for. Whether you grew up watching us here, or you're tuning in for the first time, this one's for you."

The audience settled down, but excitement still lingered in the air.

"Now, you all know we've had some pretty incredible guests over the years," Jay continued, hands gesturing as he spoke. "But tonight? Well, I think it's safe to say, we've got the most talked-about man in the world right now. You've seen him in action, you've seen him on the news. And tonight, we're going to get to know him a little better."

The camera zoomed in slightly as Jay took a step closer to the audience, creating a more intimate atmosphere. "You may know him as Homelander, the man who took the world by storm with his recent actions. But tonight, we'll be talking to him about what life's like when you're... well, him. No politics, no tricks—just a good old-fashioned conversation."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd.

"So, let's not keep you waiting any longer. Please join me in welcoming to the stage—Niklaus Vought, aka Homelander !"

The audience clapped and cheered as Jay stepped back, and the cameras turned toward the entrance, awaiting the arrival of the man everyone had been waiting to see.

Niklaus Vought, dressed in his signature Homelander suit, stepped into the studio, the room instantly erupting into wild cheers and applause. The lights gleamed off his suit as his cape billowed slightly behind him with each confident step. The audience was on their feet, waving signs, shouting his name, and some even had tears in their eyes from the excitement of seeing their hero in the flesh.

"Homelander! We love you!"

"You're the greatest, Homelander!"

Niklaus smiled at the crowd, a perfect, calculated grin that seemed larger than life.

He raised his hand in acknowledgment, sending the fans into an even bigger frenzy.

Cameras panned across the sea of faces, all locked onto him, their expressions a mix of awe and adoration.

It was the kind of reception that only a man like him could command.

As he made his way to the stage, people continued shouting and chanting.

"You saved my sister!!"

"Homelander!"

"Homelander!"

"Homelander!"

"Homelander!"

He looked into the crowd, making eye contact with a few lucky fans, and flashed that same reassuring smile.

The energy was electric, and he soaked it in.

For Niklaus it was surreal.

He never actually in his life stopped to think about his impact on the world and the genuine love people had for him.

It made him feel inadequate for not being a genuine one for them.

The cheers didn't die down, even as he stood still, basking in the adoration.

He gave a subtle nod, almost as if granting the audience permission to settle down.

The room slowly began to quiet, but the atmosphere remained charged with excitement.

---

Niklaus sat comfortably on the couch opposite Jay, his Homelander smile still fixed in place, though slightly less polished now, allowing a bit of casualness to seep in.

Jay, visibly nervous but doing his best to remain composed, cleared his throat and began awkwardly.

"Well, uh, first off, I just want to say... I'm a huge fan. I mean, who isn't, right?" Jay chuckled, looking at the audience for validation, and they responded with cheers.

Niklaus smiled and nodded politely. "I appreciate that."

Jay quickly moved to the million-dollar question, "So, I've gotta ask… why does Homelander look so different from, well, Niklaus Vought?"

Niklaus leaned back slightly, smirking as if he'd been expecting this one. "It's one of my powers," he explained smoothly.

"I used it to hide my identity. Keep things separate. That's how I've been able to live two lives, so to speak."

Jay's eyes widened a bit, clearly intrigued. "Ah, so that's how! Makes sense. But it does raise another question—about Homelander's, or I guess, your childhood. I mean, Penelope Vought, the founder of Vought International, said that your sickness was the inspiration behind Vought. But if you've been a hero for as long as Vought's existed and before… it doesn't quite add up, right?"

Niklaus's smile remained, though a hint of something unreadable flickered across his eyes.

He paused, leaning forward just a bit. "My first saves were when I was a teenager. I'd shapeshift, hide who I really was... and as for being sick, yeah, that part was true. But… I guess you could say I had more going on than anyone realized."

Jay leaned in slightly, sensing there was more to the story. "So… was what Penelope Vought said a lie?"

Niklaus didn't answer.

Instead, he tilted his head and looked directly at Jay, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "Do you know how mutants awaken their powers?"

Jay blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. "Uh… I mean, I've read about it, but…" He trailed off, unsure where Niklaus was going with this.

Niklaus smiled again, this time with a hint of something deeper. "It's usually triggered by something—trauma, stress, intense emotion. Something powerful brings it out. " He let the words hang in the air for a moment.

"For the record," Niklaus began after the pause, as he looked directly at Jay and the audience. "I'm not a mutant."

The crowd stirred, some whispers moving through the audience.

Jay, visibly intrigued, leaned forward slightly, waiting for him to continue.

"A mutant," Niklaus went on, "as people call them, is a human who awakens the evolutionary part of the X-gene present in everyone. That gene is what gives them their powers."

He paused for a moment, letting the explanation settle in. "The necessary trauma, or the requirement for awakening, is often proportional to the power held by that mutation. The stronger the power, the greater the push needed to bring it out. That's how it works for mutants."

Jay nodded along, clearly fascinated. The crowd had fallen silent, hanging on every word.

"But my powers," Niklaus continued, his gaze unwavering, "aren't derived from the X-gene. In fact," he allowed a small, almost thoughtful pause, "I'm not even sure if I'm biologically human."

The audience seemed unsure how to react, the statement challenging what they thought they knew about Homelander—about Niklaus.

Jay shifted awkwardly, unsure how to respond ,"Not… human? in the metaphorical sense right ?" he echoed, his voice just above a whisper.

Niklaus's smile returned, but this time it was calm, almost distant. "Not in the way most people understand. There's more to it… a lot more."

His gaze drifted to the audience, eyes sweeping across the sea of faces.

"You see," Niklaus started again, leaning forward slightly, "the story about me being sick, that part's true. But there's a small lie in what Penelope told everyone."

The audience grew quiet, sensing something unexpected was about to be revealed.

"It didn't have a happy ending," he said, pausing for a moment, scanning the crowd. "I died."

A wave of gasps rippled through the audience, people in obviousdisbelief.

Jay blinked rapidly, completely taken aback unable to say anything.

"It was as simple as that," Niklaus continued, unfazed by the reactions around him. "Despite all the healthcare, all the resources... I died."

The crowd murmured in confusion. A voice from the back shouted, "But how are you here, then?" Others were whispering to each other, trying to make sense of it.

Niklaus glanced in the direction of the voice but kept his calm. "After death," he said slowly, "that's when I discovered my true power. I remade myself, completely, from scratch."

The room fell into a stunned silence once more, the audience clearly wrestling with what they just heard.

Jay shifted awkwardly in his seat, struggling to find the right words. "So, you... you brought yourself back?"

Niklaus nodded. "Yes. What you see now—this body, everything—it's not some medical miracle or lucky recovery. I rebuilt myself literall , after death."

The crowd was now buzzing with reactions—some whispering in awe, others looking at each other, confused.

One person in the front row asked, "How is that even possible?"

Niklaus allowed a small smile. "It's not about what's possible. When in a world where gods walk among men."

=========================

Stones and Reviews please

250 Powerstone 1 Bonus Chapter

500 Powerstones 2 Bonus Chapter