He had no idea who this Becca was.
But if Homelander thought his mother was a woman named Becca, it could only mean he had come to ask about another child, one birthed by this woman.
All and any defense built on speculations were small, fragile things.
So why bother defending? Just attack!"
"Who is Becca, Dad?" Erasmus asked. He looked at Homelander with wide, searching eyes, His golden hair catching the moonlight. "Vogelbaum told me I was birthed by a surrogate. He said I was the only one. Are you telling me I have a brother or a sister out there in some lab? Is that why you came here today? To find us?"
Homelander didn't answer.
While Erasmus was logically correct in the steps he was making, Homelander's brain had already exited the realm of logic. It was a mess of shock, horror, and a mounting insanity.
Just how many children did he have out there in test labs? Homelander wondered The thing he wanted most his whole life, a family, a legacy, he had found it now.
It was beautiful. It was everything he ever wanted, except for the name. And just when he thought everything would be perfect, he learned there was another child or maybe even more locked away somewhere.
Why? Why was this happening to him?
He stayed quiet. He couldn't look at his son. He simply stared at the night sky, his eyes searching the stars for an answer that wasn't there.
What was he supposed to tell him? That his father was nothing more than a stupid breeding stud for mud-people?
Erasmus was also quiet, his mind racing. He thought about looking through his father's thoughts but decided against it; as the most powerful Supe in the world, what if he felt something, ruining all his effort?
Slowly, he leaned into his father and hugged the already stunned Homelander, stunning him even more.
Homelander froze for a second but returned the gesture, pulling his son into an embrace he waited too long for and it was perfect. it was perfect.
They stayed like that for a full minute. No words were needed until the moment was interrupted by a phone ringing from inside Homelander's suit. He took out the device and read the number. The insanity in Homelander's eyes vanished, replaced by clarity and purpose.
"Erasmus."
"Yes, Dad?"
"Let's go." he said as he rose. "I'll teach you how to fly, and we are going to find your siblings. I'm bringing all of you home. I promise."
Erasmus didn't say anything. He rose and held his father's hand, looking ahead. Homelander rose into the sky, and Erasmus flew beside him. He only knew how to rise and fall, but Homelander's hand was directing his momentum for now.
Homelander was practically glowing. This wasn't just a flight; it was a baptism. He was maneuvering Erasmus through the sky like a kite, banking hard over the treeline of the estate and heading toward the city.
Then, the skyline of New York appeared, and the warmth in Homelander's face died.
They descended toward a suburban home. Homelander didn't go for the front door. He landed on the balcony of the second floor, his eyes narrowing as he peered through the walls with his X-ray vision.
Homelander entered through the window. Erasmus looked at him confused, but followed, landing silently on the carpeted floor of the room.
A woman lay unconscious near the wall. In the center of the room, an infant was sitting up in a crib, wide awake. Homelander walked over to the crib and lifted the child gently.
"Is this my brother?" Erasmus asked as he looked at the infant, but the answer didn't come from Homelander. A loud, familiar voice echoed from the ground floor.
"Well, well, well," Butcher yelled. "About fucking time. I know you can see me through the ceiling. Try to kill me and my trigger finger goes soft. Now why don't you stop playing rapey Santa and come down and join us?"
Butcher? Erasmus thought what a small world.
Homelander didn't look angry. He just smiled, gesturing for Erasmus to follow.
"Shh, easy now," Homelander cooed at Butcher and Madelyn. "We don't want to scare little Teddy, right?"
Erasmus stepped out from behind his father's cape. He looked at the explosives, then at Madelyn, and finally at Butcher.
"What are you doing?" Madelyn gasped, her eyes widening in fear as she saw her baby in Homelander's arms.
"Here, look, Mommy," Homelander said smoothly, turning Teddy toward her.
"No," Stillwell pleaded with her eyes. "Take him upstairs."
"All good, I got him," Homelander smiled. He turned his attention to the man with the detonator. "Billy Butcher. You don't mind if I call you Billy, right?"
Butcher didn't answer. He just stared at Homelander, and then his eyes dragged back to the golden-haired teenager.
"You're pretty darn impressive," Homelander continued, pacing slowly across the room. "I mean, especially for one of you. Even now, most people standing where you are would piss themselves in fear. But you? Sure, your heart is pumping fast, but that's not fear."
Teddy started crying, the heavy tension in the room finally upsetting him.
"Homelander, will you please take the baby upstairs?" Madelyn begged, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Erasmus stepped forward, reaching his arms out toward the crying infant.
"Here, Dad," Erasmus said. "Let me take him."
"Dad?" Stillwell and Butcher repeated at the exact same time.