The much younger John Homelander was very much hungry, devouring everything that he could order off the menu. It didn't even draw that strange of looks from the other people in the dinner, this was New York City and that meant that there was more Supes here than anywhere else in the world.

A small boy capable of eating 1500 dollars' worth of dinner food wasn't the weirdest thing that they had ever seen before. Perhaps even in a world where nobody had any superpowers, New York City and its people would simply not give a fuck about anything or anyone, it just had that type of vibe to Naruto.

"Oi, you blond bum" said a familiar voice from the door as it opened, and Naruto waved to Butcher and Hughie who entered the diner.

"Who is this rugrat?" asked Butcher

"I will tell you in private" said Naruto before he handed Hughie a wad of cash, "If he's still hungry, keep buying him food"

Hughie took the wad of cash and slid into the booth across from the young boy as Naruto slid out from beside the young boy. He joined Butcher as they made their way to the entrance and Butcher's right hand was balled up into a tight fist.

"Think before you decide whether or not you actually throw that punch Billy" said Naruto, "I could break the hand, I could rip your arm off, I could let you actually punch me and you could break your own hand"

Butcher growled, "That little fucking cunt looks almost exactly like the big flying cunt"

"I fell asleep watching the news the other day, there was a mountain fire in Utah and Homelander goes and helps put out the fire" started Naruto, "As I am watching the report, I spot a Vought executive helicopter landing in the background. One belonging to the science R department for Vought"

"So? They came to see how their little test tube baby is doing in person, big fucking whoop" taunted Billy

"No, Homelander was already gone, all that was there was the on-site reporter. Hence why I went out of my way to visit and found that boy"

Butcher frowned, "They gave that caped cunt a fucking son?"

Naruto shook his head, "Not exactly, based on the stuff that I saw, they cloned him and were trying to get it right this time"

"Oh the shit just keeps getting shittier, just what we need. Another fucking raging sup flying around with the same power set as Homelander" complained Butcher

"I think you're missing the point Billy" said Naruto

"And what is that?" asked Butcher

"If they cloned him and I found this small child version, how many other times have they cloned him?" questioned Naruto

Butcher narrowed his eyes before his eyes widen in disbelief, "Fuck me. How many copies of that blond asshole are running around?"

"I don't know, but that also makes us question which one is the original and which one is doing shit that the real one wouldn't do" admitted Naruto

Butcher shrugged, "It changed nothing to me, they all die"

Naruto frowned, "Even the kid?"

Butcher's face softened a bit, "The small one you found can be given to Grace to be raised properly, but the rest of the grown-up versions, they get crushed like a roach"

Naruto nodded in agreement, he couldn't argue against that logic. Homelander was powerful and possibly insane, him and any potential clones of his needed to be killed when the time came.

"Now, I'm going to grab Hughie and get out of here, you know what to do" said Butcher and they both slipped back into the diner, before Butcher and Hughie left Naruto alone with the young Homelander.

Vought's 7 Tower:

Homelander and Madelyn watch a news broadcast in her office. Madelyn is carrying her son as the two of them watched the Congressmen talk about letting Supes into the military.

Madelyn muttered, "Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" as she bounced her son her arms, the fussy young boy trying to move around inside of her grip.

Homelander glanced at the child who was being an annoying little shit, "Can't you make it stop?"

"It?" questioned Madelyn with a frown, "He's not evening crying"

Homelander rolled his eyes, "Oh, okay. My super hearing must be picking up someone else's crying baby"

Madelyn sighed, "Aw. Aw. Oh, no. We can't have that God forbid that I give my son some attention instead of you"

Homelander turns off the television, a flash of just lasering her fucking head off flashed through his mind, but he decided to change the topic, "You know, I heard Translucent's tracking chip went dead"

"Yeah? What does that mean?" asked Madelyn

Homelander shrugged, "He could be hurt or something worse?"

Madelyn scuffed, "How? He's got diamond skin. He's gonna be fine. My guys are on it. All right, I forgot to give you these. Here"

She hands him some papers.

Homelander doesn't even look at the papers, he just asks, "What is it?"

Madelyn turns her head back to her son, "Those are your new talking points. Now that the military bill is out of committee, corporate wants to sell the shit out of it. Yes. They do."

The last part was directed at her son more than Homelander but seeing as it got. The babbling baby to shut the fuck up, Homelander allowed it.

"Hey. You remember when you wanted me in the red cape and, and I said, "No. No, no, no. Make it the flag"? Remember that?" said Homelander

Madelyn nodded, "Uh-huh"

"Yeah. I don't need these. Okay? I can sell my way into the military. Thank you. You take care of your baby, and I'll take care of mine" continued Homelander

He crushes up the papers and throws them on the couch.

"No, we're not doing this. Mr. Edgar wrote those personally. So if you want to go to 82 and take it up with him, be my guest. Oh, yes. Oh, you're a happy boy now, huh? Are you a happy boy?" hissed Madelyn

Homelander picks back up the papers.

"Do you ever think about having another kid?" asked Homelander

"What do you mean?" asked Madelyn, "Teddy's already a handful as it is. I don't know if I could deal with another one"

Homelander bit the inside of his lip, blood filled his mouth as his sharp teeth ripped through his own flesh. The flash of pain gave him something, a spark of joy. It reminded him that he's alive, that he's not just Homelander, but that he's a person to. Even if just for a moment, he was someone.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe I wanted some kids of my own one day" stated Homelander, watching Madelyn's heartbeat spike upon hearing those words.

"Are you sure?" she asked nervously

"I mean yeah, why not?" challenged Homelander, "I think I would be a kick ass dad"

Madelyn nodded and her heartbeat relaxed, "That would be the safest kid in the world"

"I would never allow anything to happen to my son" said Homelander, "And yes, I know that my first kid would definitely be a son"

Madelyn gave a small smile, her heartbeat spasming like she was having a heart attack, "Probably right about that"

Homelander gave her a side eye, "But I can't have children right?"

"I don't think so" replied Madelyn, "You've unloaded in me more than enough times, but I never got pregnant. So maybe not"

She's fucking lying to me

You gonna allow that

Homelander nodded as a puffy smile stretched across his face, hie icy blue eyes lacking any worth, "I know that you would never lie to me Madelyn"

He could see the goosebumps cover her body as the unspoken threat hung in the air, before he waved the papers in his hand and said, "So, Stan wrote this one himself, huh?"

With the Boys:

Back in the van, the live feeds of Popclaw's apartment begin popping up. Frenchie and Billy check them out.

Billy smirked before he turns to Frenchie, "This kid is full of surprises

Inside of the apartment, Hughie finishes setting up their feed into Popclaw's apartment before he clears his throat and announces, "Okay, ma'am, all done"

Popclaw lets M.M. and Hughie out. M.M. stays to get her to sign something while Hughie goes down the hallway.

Hughie turns the corner and runs into A-Train on his way in.

A-Train is fast enough to avoid physically bumping into Hughie and says, "Ooh. Excuse me, bud"

They stare at each other. M.M. appears behind Hughie.

A-Train looked at the pair of men before him, "What, you want an autograph or something?"

Hughie gasps, "Haven't we met before?"

A-Train shrugs, "Maybe. I meet a ton of people"

M.M. nods as he gently put his hand on Hughie's back and ushers him forward, "Come on, man. My meter's running out. Let's go. Let's get out of here. Excuse us, brother."

A-Train blinks but decides these guys aren't worth it, "Yeah, have a nice day"

They walk away and they hear the door close behind them and the second they're outside, M.M. slapped Hughie's head from behind, "You trying to get us killed?"

"I … I just felt so angry" replied Hughie, "I know we all have a reason to sign up for this, but he literally ran through my girlfriend"

"I get it man" says M.M, "Soldier Boy threw a literal car through my grandparents' house when my dad was a kid and killed him. They never did anything about it, they never even gave the smug asshole a slap on the wrist"

"Oi, little pep in the step boys, gotta get out of here" said Butcher as the duo started walking across the street.

The Day of the Big Race:

Frenchie's van pulls up. Frenchie and Billy walk in opposite directions. M.M. hands Hughie some gear.

"Here's your cover. You're a mild-mannered reporter. So, uh Butcher tells me he met you, what, a few days ago? Yeah" comments M.M,

Hughie blinks as M.M helps him slip the wires through his shirt to help pretend to be a media member, "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds right. I don't know. I've kind of lost track of time"

"Talk about a baptism of fire by offing Translucent. How the fuck did you pull that off?" asked M.M

"Pure luck and a bomb shoved up his ass" laughed Hughie

"It's good that you can laugh about the shit we go through" says M.M as he finishes setting Hughie up, "But you need to remember that it's not about killing them for the sake of killing them. Some of them are good people, just like you are.

I can see it on your face Hughie. You're a good kid. Everything comes at a cost, the compound V that these fuckers shoot up, the things we do to combat their insane asses. Everything has a price, and everyone will pay it at some point or another. Don't let Butcher sell you more than you can handle"

Hughie nods, "The last thing I ever said to Robin was "Don't you ever besmirch Billy Joel." That was the last thing that she heard before she burst into pieces. And I gotta live with that shit for the rest of my life. The price? Whatever it is I'll pay it"

"Can't argue with a man who understands the price of the business we're in. We'll help you get that pound of flesh as long as you know what it might take" said M.M, "Now, let's get out there"

They exit the van from it's parked spot, both of them can hear the roar of the crowd as members of the Seven start to arrive, one by one as they show up to support A-Train. Hughie glances up at the jumbotron and see's Starlight arrive being escorted by Black Noir, both of them waving to the masses. Starlight has a big bright smile that makes Hughie want to give a small smile himself.

Using their press passes, they are able to gain access to the red carpet sidelines and seamlessly join the masses. Hughie overhears part of the interview being given by Maeve as he walks by. One by one, the Boys all given an update on their positions, with Frenchie being in the locker rooms already.

"I'm tired of the red tape and the deep-state bureaucrats. If the people want us in the armed forces, the people can order Congress to do it. Am I right? Yes!" declared Maeve to her interviewer, reciting the agenda driven speech that Vought has given her.

The crowd roars the loudest that it's been all day and Maeve resists the urge to roll her eyes as Homelander lands.

From his position right outside the locker room, Hughie watches Annie pass as other reporters try to get her attention. As she's about to enter the locker room, he catches up to her.

Hughie shouts, "Annie? Annie? Annie! Annie? Hi!"

She opens the door but also looks back at Hughie, missing Frenchie inside who was frozen in place at almost being caught.

Annie racks her brain for a second before a look of realization crosses her face, "Hughie? From the bench the other day?"

Hughie gave an awkward smile, "You're, uh, you're Starlight. That's... How did I not realize that?"

Happy to see a familiar face who wasn't treating her like a piece of meat, Annie closes the door and walks towards Hughie.

Annie allows a real smile to grace her face, "It's actually kind of comforting that you didn't"

"Fuckin' hell, Hughie. You know Starlight?" hissed Billy in Hughie's earpiece, "Where was the mention of that before?"

Annie sighs as she feels her Vought issued phone buzz, "Well, Hughie, it was, it was really nice to see you, but I should get going"

"No, Hughie, we need more time" says Billy before he demands, "Fucking stall her"

Hughie in a panic says, "Can I, uh, buy you an overpriced beer? You know, if you've, you've if you got time."

Annie's eye roam over Hughie's form. He's not the classically handsome ripped superpowered guy she normally goes for. But he's cute in that nerdy boyish kind of way and he was willing to pay 30 bucks for a beer for her. What the hell, why not "Throw in some overpriced nachos?"

Hughie smiles, "Lead the way"

Annie gives him a wink, "Okay, but keep the eyes above the waist mister"

She smiles as she knows that Hughie is blushing as he speeds up to walk beside her rather than behind her.

As Hughie and Annie walk away, Frenchie continues his search through A-Train's things but ultimately it's not in any of the speedster's bags.

"No V. Must have hid it somewhere else" whines Frenchie, "It's not in his bag"

"Fucking find it Frenchie, search everywhere" orders Billy, "We need this, keep her busy Hughie"

Hughie and Annie sit at a table with beer and nachos.

Hughie couldn't help but feel nervous. Was it because of the fact that this girl was a Supe and could kill him with ease? Or was it because she was honestly one of the most beautiful woman he's ever seen before? Either way, it had him stumbling over his words.

"This is just so weird. I mean, the other day. Was it three days ago?"

Annie nodded, "Mm-hmm"

"You just seemed, like... You seemed so normal, you know? And now, it's just-" stammered Hughie

"Now, I'm a freak?" questioned Annie with a raised eyebrow

"No. No, not at... No, that's not what I meant at all. I just meant I just I wasn't getting Beyoncé vibes, but, not that you don't have that-" rambled Hughie as he raised his hands and his face turned a shade of pink in embarrassment.

"Stop, I'm messing with you" interrupts Annie, "Everyone tends to have a similar reaction upon realizing that I'm a superhero"

"I mean you're not just a superhero though" said Hughie, "You're still the girl I met on that bench right?"

"Bad news. No V." says Frenchie through the ear piece, "I search everywhere"

"Great. We're fucked." Growled Billy

"No, yeah I am, it just... It was really nice to talk to someone who didn't know who I was. Once you're behind the scenes, it's... it's different." Answered Annie as she struggled to get her words out correctly

"Like how?" asked Hughie

Annie frowned as she gestured to the stadium around them, "I don't know if they really want you to be a hero. I think they just want you to look like one. It's a lot more showmanship than I was expecting"

Hughie gulps before he makes a split decision and turns off his radio.

"The other day on the bench when you were talking about how much you hated your job, you meant you meant this job?" asked Hughie

She nods, but she wore a frown on her face while doing so.

She's so pretty and nice, she doesn't deserve this

Hughie frowns as well, "Then, um... just quit. Just walk away. I mean, you got nothing to prove."

Annie shakes her head, "I … I can't do that. I should probably get back, you know, before they send a search party for me"

Hughie realizes that he doesn't know if this is the last time that he would ever see her and that made his chest hurt a bit, "Yeah, totally. Um, listen, Annie, Starlight. What do you, uh… ?"

"Annie" supplies Annie

"Um, this is insane, but, uh, I know you're you and everything, but if you ever just wanted to you know, get-" struggles Hughie, trying to figure out a way to ask Starlight out without getting shut down immediately

Annie gives him a warm smile, "Would you like my number?

Hughie collapses in his chair, "Oh thank God, Yeah. Yeah, that's, that's, uh, that's what I was asking"

Annie giggles, "Okay, you're lucky I find your nervous act cute"

Hughie blushes, "So do I call you, or do I just commit a crime?"

Annie lets out probably her first real laugh in days, "Probably committing a crime would get me to you quicker?

Hughie felt a drop of guilt pool in his stomach before it was washed away by an ocean of excitement. Annie was a beautiful girl and she liked him for the bumbling idiot that he was presenting to her, not that far off from who he truly was. Maybe a date or two wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to happen to him.

With Naruto:

The mansion was nicer than anything Naruto had ever been in, in this world or his home world. Everything inside seemed expensive from the grand marble floors to the polished stone staircase to the silvery trimmed linings to the collection of one-of-a-kind statues in the garden that was in the middle of the large manor.

John was looking around in just as much awe as Naruto was, but he at least has the excuse of being a child.

"You didn't have to break in, if you wanted to talk to me" said a man at the stop of the stairs, an elderly white with a head of receding white hair.

"Jonah" greeted Naruto before he glanced down at John and Jonah gasped in shock, before calling for a maid to make the young man whatever he wanted.

The pair of men watched the clone of Homelander walk away, enticed by the thought of even more food.

"What the fuck is that?" asked Jonah Vogelbaum in a heated hissing voice, careful not to trigger the super hearing of the young boy

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the man, "So you had nothing to do with this?"

Jonah chuckled in disbelief, "Are you insane? I already fucked up once, do you really think I would do it again?"

"If not you, then who?" asked Naruto

"I don't know" admitted Jonah, "I am not as involved in the day to day actives of Vought anymore. But if I had to guess, maybe Frank who the new Assistant Director or Barbara who dealt with him a lot when he was younger"

"You better be telling the truth" warned Naruto

"Or you'll break my spine" guessed Jonah

"No, I'll rip your fucking soul of your body and feed it to the consumer of souls" corrected Naruto, "Homelander is a fucking mess of mixed up emotions and issues, if I find out that you did this again, nothing on this world will stop me from punishing you"

"I have nothing to hide" replied Jonah, "But maybe you need to hand this one over to someone who can raise him in a manner that isn't going to make someone like you or me"

"Who would you suggest?" asked Naruto

"Can you keep a secret?" asked Jonah

"Of course" replied Naruto, "Vought doesn't know I stole their new Homelander and they never will"

"Well, there is someone who is already raising a new Homelander, just one that wasn't made in a test tube" replied Jonah

Naruto raised an eyebrow

"Do you know a Rebecca Butcher? She was a former social media manager for Vought when you first started with the company" asked Jonah

"She's been missing for years" said Naruto

Jonah grabbed a pen and piece of paper from his desk and scribbled down an address, "No, she's been doing what she felt needed to be done to not give us another Homelander. This is the place you can find her, she can take care of that John"

Naruto looked at the loopy handwriting on the note and felt his body get anchored to the ground like Pein was there applying pressure to him with

Oh fuck, she's alive

A/N: Sorry about the delay, I had a birthday and some summer vacations that I was doing, but I am hoping to get back to writing this summer.

Use invite code: SyXa2Vx9 to join my discord, bunch of great people in there

Until next time.