AN: Hi Everyone!
I have been informed that this story is being posted on Webnovel under the name: The Boys: Reborn as Homelander.
It is not me who is posting the story there. Fanfic is the only site where I have posted any of my stories.
Thank you to The Watcher of Fiction for letting me know in the reviews!
I hope you enjoy the chapter.
TIMELINE & DATE:
I think Season 3 happens during 2021 with the last few episodes happening after Homelander's Birthday Special which is July 4th. So I put the action for the last few episodes to happen towards the end of August or first week of September.
For this story I am moving the date up by one year so Chapters 1 through 15 happen during the last week of August first week of September 2022.
My reasoning is that in the show they have a presidential election coming up. In the real world the next election is 2024 and campaigning starts around two years before the election so it fits nicely with the real world and makes future date calculations much easier for me.
AS I'm starting the time skip I won't be providing exact dates only months and years and sometimes only years as we get further along the timeline.
Chapter 16
Date: October 2022
As the warm sun rays of the cold fall morning fell gently on him his eyes surveyed the bright but small clearing for any movements in the trees.
His body only slightly tense in preparation to move at an instance's notice, not because of any so called perceived danger instead due to wanting to fulfill his task and though he wouldn't really admit it also because of the small thrill he was feeling.
As usual it was his ears that first picked up the telltale sign of the incoming target, though to be technical he was the target and the other one was the pursuer.
It only took a split moment for his pursuer to enter the clearing in what would be considered a way too fast blur for anyone else to follow yet posing no strain on his eyes.
He waited until the last possible moment to move, when his opponent felt the most confident, lunging hands forward towards his waist to grab the blue colored flag tightly secured to his belt.
In a smooth motion he simply twirled out of the way letting his now wide eyed assaulter fly by him while at the same time removing the unprotected red colored flag from his waist.
The surprise move must have briefly startled his opponent for he lost form and fell unceremoniously causing his body to bounce off the ground multiple times as he struggled to stop his speedy momentum.
"Too slow!" he said with a big smile, happily waving the red flag as the dirt and grass covered boy stopped finally in a forceful hover.
"Dammit!" the sullen buy said. "I thought I had you this time. You were standing still!" he finished as he floated towards him.
"I was anticipating. It was a trap. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist trying to catch me off-guard. All I'd have to do is wait for you to make your move and simply move out of the way." He said with a smile as the blue and black spandex wearing boy landed in front of him.
"I used your eagerness and momentum to defeat you. Moving fast is more than just hurling yourself at the greatest speed possible. You have to anticipate, you have to think ten moves a head otherwise you crash."
"Ugh, but it's so hard, especially when we run through the forest! There are too many trees and branches in the way." He responded frustrated.
"And in the city there will be moving people and cars which are more unpredictable than standing trees."
"I could just fly, it's easier when I fly the skies are clear. I can go as fast I can!" the boy responded.
"That maybe so but the people that you will need to help are mostly going to be on the ground. You don't want to accidentally crash into them do you? Accidentally hurt them?' he asked the young boy.
"No. I don't." He said somewhat resigned yet serious at the same time. "It's just you make it seem so easy. I'll never catch up to you."
The older man chuckled good-naturedly at his words. "You know, Ryan, at your age I crashed into everything around me as well."
"Then how did you get so good?" Ryan asked.
"Practice of course. Practice, practice, practice and I had a good coach." He said his tone more solemn now. "My brother, he made me practice every day after school."
"You sound like my dad now. Every day we have to train." His tone annoyed.
"Well how do you think he became the world's greatest hero?" A-Train asked rhetorically, ironically the last month was the most he'd ever seen Homelander train in any way shape or form since he'd been in The Seven but he wasn't about to tell that to the kid.
"Now come one it's almost lunch time, let's get you home, running NO flying."
Ryan sighed.
"Fine."
Scene Break
"Dad! We're home!" Ryan yelled as they stopped in front of the giant sized opened garage of the equally large mansion where the father and son duo now resided.
Ironically the estate was only a few miles away from where the Herogasm house was in Vermont.
Why Homelander chose this place A-Train didn't know, sure it was a decent plot of land and it offered privacy but in his opinion there were better places in New York and around the country than cloudy Vermont.
"No need to yell Ryan. I could hear you from miles away." Homelander responded.
A-Train could see the leader of the Seven in the garage where he was pulling with his right hand on a cable attached to a large and complicated machine filled with gears, weights and motors providing resistance to his slow and methodical movements.
"How much are you pulling now dad?" Ryan asked enthusiastically.
"50 tons." Homelander responded not turning around to face them his focus solely on the machine.
"Wow!" The boy was amazed. "That's so heavy! Is that why you're going so slowly?" He asked as we slowly walked up to him.
Homelander was in a white T-shirt and dark training slacks. A-Train could see the lightly pink colored scarred and crinkly skin running down the side of his neck through his right arm.
His hair was shaved on the sides and while he'd let the top grow longer the dark strap of the eye-patch was clearly evident.
"It's not too heavy." He responded. "But I'm going slowly because I want to train my fine movement control under pressure. I could simply yank it like this." He said and suddenly jerked his right hand backwards past his body making the machine's motors whirl with a loud whizzing noise as they tried and failed to resist the motion.
"But that wouldn't be help with what I needed. It's not always about strength, I need control as well and for that I need to practice."
A-Train could feel Ryan roll his eyes. He couldn't help but think he was going to be a handful once he's fully in his teen years.
"Plus I don't to break the machine." Homelander finished as they all felt a distinct burning smell caused by metal rubbing on metal.
He gently released the cable back to its slack position and turned to them.
"Now then how did training go?"
Ryan slumped. "I lost…again."
"It was 4 to 1. He got me once. He's improving, only crashed four times."
"I would have caught you more if I could fly! It's not fair!" Ryan said sullenly.
"We talked about this. Flying with me only running when with A-Train."
"But it's not fair! He's so fast and when I try to catch up I end up flying but then I try not to and I end up crashing!"
A-Train watched as Homelander put a hand on Ryan's shoulder striking the most perfect fatherly figure he'd ever seen, the scars and eye-patch only adding to the image of the wizened father imparting wisdom to the eager son.
He had been surprised when Homelander approached him to train Ryan then again being surprised by Homelander seemed to be the norm now.
"Flying is like a fifth limb you have. It's a brand new limb that you barely know how to use and when moving fast you are trying to coordinate not four limbs but five. You're not used to it so you trip up. You just have to practice more." He heard the man say.
Sometime in between having his attention taken by Blue-Hawk and dealing with his family something had changed with Homelander. In some ways he was like a completely different person and in others he was 'more Homelander' than ever.
The man had become a workaholic he'd taken a deep interest in all things Vought more than that he was pushing for the retraining for all the heroes for better PR as he called it but also for better control of them.
He'd been assigned to work on that project with Starlight, which honestly suited him just fine. Starlight had a keen mind, was easy to work with and agreed with him on improving relations with the black community. He didn't mind her taking the lead it was a win-win for both of them.
That wasn't all he felt more than conflicted and confused when he heard that it had been Homelander's idea to give him Blue-Hawk's heart.
He was still technically in recovery but apparently the heart and his body had adapted to each other unlike the scientist had ever seen though apparently this was the first of this kind of operation that was performed on supers.
"Now then, let me take a look at you, make sure there's nothing broken or internal bruising." He heard Homelander say as he saw the man concentrate at looking at Ryan with his one good eye.
How he dealt with Soldier Boy was also out of character but he could see the PR moves he made. His and Starlight's ratings were through the roof.
'Savior of New York' they called him.
Inwardly A-Train scowled. Something about the whole situation stunk but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Still, through the chaos he'd thought about taking a shot at Homelander and helping the government when he heard Ashley's broadcast but decided not to.
"Minor bruises only that are already healing up. I don't see any problems." Homelander stated as he finished checking Ryan over. "Come on, let's go inside. You need to shower and I'll set up lunch." He said and paused.
"A-Train you're staying for lunch. There are a few things I want to talk to you about." He ordered more than requested.
"Sure." He answered as Homelander led them all inside.
The thought had crossed his mind when he heard Ashley's broadcast but he quickly realized the futility. Even if he took out Noir, what would happen then?
The public already knew the government had made a move on Homelander in his weakened state they would never forgive him for helping them not to mention the other heroes that supported Homelander.
That and there was the surprising fact that Starlight was on the way to help Vought. From the time he spent with her he could tell the girl had changed as well. There was something bothering her.
Still if that hadn't been a shock then the conversation with Homelander he had when he was asked to train Ryan had been a game changer.
He of course didn't fully trust Homelander but if there was a shot to heal his brother he would take it. Homelander told him Vought's brightest were working on some game changing serums, stuff that would revolutionize the world.
He didn't care for the details and the rant Homelander went on about changing humanity as long as he could heal his brother he would do anything.
He needed to do this for his family, for his niece and nephew and for himself. All that Homelander had asked was for loyalty and to toe the line.
That had been strange in itself. There were no physical threats or overtures about being kicked out of the Seven. The man instead had offered his support on bringing the A-Train brand back greater than ever before and all he had asked was to essentially keep his mouth shut and do as he was told.
It wasn't like he had much of a choice so he readily accepted and pledged his support. Part of him felt sick, like he'd just swore fealty to a new king but what could he do in his position.
"So" Homelander started as he took out large tupper ware boxes filled with pasta and chicken from the fridge. "there are a couple of projects I need your help with-"
Bzzt Bzzt!
Homelander was interrupted by the cellphone vibrating on the massive kitchen counter.
"One second. I have to take this." He said gesturing to him as he picked up the phone.
"Hey Ashley….what? Slow down? Now? Why? What is she doing?...We'll calm her down!" A-Train heard rapid voice talking on the phone but couldn't make out who it was.
"Ok, just do what you can. I'm with A-Train we'll be there in a few minutes." The man said and hung up.
"Change of plans. We have to go to the tower…Starlight's threatening the scientists or something like that."
"What?" that shocked him. "Starlight? Are you sure?" He was taken aback by the news.
"Yea, that was Ashley. I think I know what this is about. I'll explain once we get there." He finished and waked towards the staircase stopping right in front of it.
"RYAN!" He shouted loudly. "SOMETHING CAME UP! ME AND A-TRAIN HAVE TO GO TO THE TOWER!"
"OK!" he heard boys response from upstairs.
"LUNCH IS ON THE COUNTER JUST MICROWAVE IT AND I REPEAT DO NOT USE YOUR HEAT VISION! I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO A BURNED DOWN HOUSE! GOT IT?"
There was no response for a moment.
"RYAN! DO YOU HEAR ME?" Homelander asked again more sternly.
"YES I GOT IT!"
"GOOD AND MAKE SURE TO REVIEW THOSE KHAN ACADEMY VIDEOS I TOLD YOU!"
"I'M SHOWERING!" the annoyed response of the boy came back accompanied by a door slamming closed.
Homelander rolled his eyes.
"The adjustment has been…" and he paused. "…well we are still adjusting." He trailed off with a small but somewhat frustrated smile.
"Let's get to the tower before Starlight takes it down." He said with a sigh.
Scene Break
Having reached the tower A-Train made his way up to the labs as quick as he could without destroying the stairs and doors.
In the hallway he could see a small crowd of people gathered outside the hallway doors murmuring to themselves, some of the scientist in lab attire, Ashley and her assistant, Rhonda the head of HR, Shauna the head of legal and Martin the CSO along with a few goons from the security force.
"Ashley what's going on?" He asked getting their attention.
"Oh A-Train you're here!" She turned around surprised. "Uh Homelander's handling the situation."
Just as she finished the lights flickered accompanied by a blinding flash of light and loud BANG!
"ENOUGH!" They all heard Homelander shout from inside.
Homelander had beaten him by maybe one or two minutes to the tower.
A-Train pushed past all of them and went inside to see what was happening.
"Dammit Annie! Are you trying to bring the whole fucking tower down?"
He saw Homelander holding Starlight's hands up restraining her by the wrists with the woman struggling to break free.
"LET ME GO!" She shouted. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU KILLED ALEX AND NOW HUGHIE IS DYING BECAUSE OF YOU! IT'S YOU IT'S ALWAYS YOU!"
With a burst of energy she tried pulling her hands free once more but it was a futile attempt Homelander's grip didn't falter one bit.
"Let me GO!" she screamed once more.
"NO!" came his equally loud reply.
A-Train saw she was about to speak but Homelander continued in his aggressive tone.
"What did I say that night?" he asked firmly. "I told you if Hughie keeps playing Butcher's game he would get himself killed. I told you Butcher will get him killed! He doesn't care about anyone one of you he's just using you to get to me!" He paused for a moment as a reluctant Starlight absorbed his words.
"They stole 24-V and they chose to use it freely without knowing the consequences. No one at Vought made them do that!" Homelander continued. "Why do you think neither I nor Edgar released 24-V for use?" he asked. "The compound wasn't ready." He state flatly.
That seemed to deflate the young heroine but not fully.
"V made him like this then V can fix him. Give me a dose it's all I'm asking." She stated softer.
A-Train now understood the situation. Starlight came to get a shot of compound V hoping to save Hughie, problem was all V samples were now under lock and key somewhere in the building known only to a few of the scientists, execs and security team.
No unauthorized personnel were allowed to touch the stuff under threat of retribution from the big guy himself.
Another change in Homelander when compared to over a year ago when he stole a bunch of old samples and made him spread it around the globe.
"No."
A-Train immediately saw Starlight's face scrunch up.
"You bastard! You want him dead! You knew and you said nothing! You-"
"I couldn't care less about Hughie." Homelander interrupted her. "Dead or alive he means nothing to me. He never posed a threat to me it wasn't him I was ever worried about."
"Then let me save him!" She said exasperated and struggled against his might grip once more.
A-Train saw Homelander look at her pondering her requests.
"How bad is he?" The question threw her off and she stopped struggling.
"He fell in a coma. The doctors said it could be a week or it could be a month they don't know."
He saw Homelander's shoulders slump and the man let out a small sigh.
"I can see why you're so desperate." He finally said. "I'm going to let you go if you promise you won't attack anymore."
Starlight nodded and he released his grip.
"A-Train can you bring Dr. Schultz back in here."
The speedster was almost startled as he was addressed for the first time since intruding on this private yet not so private argument.
"No need. I'm here." The man said from behind him who in fact did actually startle him this time, luckily his reaction was all internal.
"Well, can V save Hughie?" Homelander asked the old scientist.
"No." he answered flatly.
"How can you know? You haven't tried!" Starlight exclaimed.
"No, but I have spent my whole life studying V." the old man said firmly. "I know how the compound works. From what you described your friend's situation is terminal already and as I was trying to explain to you earlier giving him V now would likely kill him outright his body won't be able to handle the stress and that's assuming he is compatible." He paused.
"V and 24-V are related but not quite the same. They are not exactly interchangeable." The CSO said. "I'm sorry but as Homelander said there is a reason why it's in the testing stage still, even small amounts have proven to be deadly, much more so than V."
"But there has to be something you can do. I know you're working on some new compounds." She insisted.
"Sure, maybe in a year or three or five or maybe tomorrow." Martin said with a tinge of sarcasm. "Our research is progressing in several avenues that could potentially help your friend and millions of others but scientific progress is slow." He paused.
"There is a component of luck in everything we do. It could be tomorrow it could be ten years from now. I'm truly sorry but there is nothing we can do for your friend right now."
A-Train saw Starlight deflate completely as hope vanished from her eyes and sadness crept in. To his surprise he saw Homelander gently put his arms on her shoulder.
"Annie, I'm sorry. I understand he means a lot to you and you want to help him but there is nothing we can do. The only thing you can do is to go and be there for him in his final moments." He said and paused.
"Come on. I'll take you home for now." He continued and gently nudged the now cooperative heroine into moving by putting his arm around her.
As the two captains silently moved past him and Martin, A-Train couldn't help but notice as Starlight seemed to sink deeper into Homelander's embrace.
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AN:
Here we have a peak into Ryan's training, Ryan and Homelander's home life and some of A-Train's point of view.
I know Starlight might seem out of character however she is going through a lot of psychological and emotional changes right now.
Just because Hughie was being an ass doesn't mean she hates him or stopped caring about him. She's still processing those feelings and she just learned that Hughie is dying, as the doctors eventually finished their tests.
Couple that with Hughie actually succumbing to the symptoms…well it's a lot to process.
You may think that V would cure him because A-Train used it to heal his broken leg but A-Train is a speedster and juicing on V simply put his healing factor power into overdrive. It's the same for Kimiko where her main power is a Wolverine like healing factor.
Hughie is screwed and so is Butcher. There will be a Butcher/Maeve scene in the next chapter.
And no, neither the SI or Martin are stupid enough to mention the experimental Black – V.
Once again thank you for reading and reviewing. Ya'll have given me some great ideas in the reviews keep them coming.