Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Homelander Gets Scolded Again

"You’ve really disappointed me, John."

Benjamin looked at Homelander, his voice thick with the kind of frustration that came from expecting better.

But that hurt Homelander even more than the punch.

For Homelander, who craved his father’s love more than anything, the word "disappointed" was deadlier than ten thousand armor-piercing rounds to the heart.

Homelander clutched his swollen cheek and had no idea what to say.

"You think I hit you because you were throwing a tantrum in here?"

Benjamin pointed at Stormfront and let out a cold laugh.

"Use that brain of yours, the one stuffed full of ratings data! You really think she did all this today just to steal your spotlight? Just to piss you off?"

Homelander froze.

He was not stupid.

As a Supe, his reason quickly began to return.

When he connected it with what his father had just said while dealing with Stormfront, words like "corrupt," "brainwash," and "Nazi ideology," Homelander’s pupils shrank.

He seemed to understand the purpose behind Stormfront’s insane behavior these past few days.

"No, let me explain!"

Homelander panicked and hurriedly shouted, "I swear! She didn’t get to me! How the hell could I agree with that kind of thinking? That shit is too extreme, too insane!"

Homelander desperately tried to prove his innocence.

"I’m justice! I’m a superhero! I just... I just thought she was trying to take my spot as captain of The Seven. I was just pissed off. You know me!"

Watching Homelander babble incoherently, Benjamin frowned.

"Fine. Let’s leave that bitch Stormfront out of it."

Benjamin advanced on Homelander step by step, his overwhelming presence forcing Homelander to retreat again and again.

"Tell me why. Why the hell did you fall apart just because she stole your spotlight a few times? Because she grabbed a few headlines from you?"

"Look at yourself just now. Hysterical. Useless fucking rage."

Benjamin’s deep eyes seemed to pierce straight through Homelander’s soul.

"You have the strongest power on this planet. You’re the most powerful Supe alive. But inside? You’re fragile as a giant baby. A freak with a black hole in his head that nothing can ever fill."

"Giant baby." "Freak."

If those words had come from anyone else, Homelander would have burned them to ash with Heat Vision without a second thought.

But coming from his father, Homelander had no way to argue back.

"Stormfront was right about one thing just now. You’re pathetic, John."

Benjamin showed no mercy.

"You’re sick with wanting the whole world to love you. You only feel like you exist when you’re staring at those approval ratings..."

Every word of Benjamin’s scolding hit Homelander’s heart like a sledgehammer.

Homelander’s eyes reddened visibly.

Benjamin noticed that Homelander’s expression had turned deeply wounded, as if he might burst into tears at any second.

He quickly stopped.

The air froze for several seconds.

Then he shook his head, and his tone softened noticeably.

"All right. I was a little too harsh just now."

"At the end of the day, John, this isn’t entirely on you."

Benjamin looked into Homelander’s eyes and said slowly, "It’s on Vought International, for raising you like a lab rat. It’s on that cold, heartless laboratory."

He paused, and a trace of self-blame entered his voice.

"And more than anything, it’s on me. During your childhood, when you needed a father’s guidance and the warmth of a family the most, I wasn’t there for you. I was absent from your life, and that’s how those bastards twisted you into what you are now."

Those words settled over him like a gentle rain.

To Homelander, it was the most perfect redemption in the world.

Because Benjamin had not abandoned him. He was even blaming himself for Homelander’s psychological flaws.

Homelander let out a long breath of relief. The heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

Father loved him.

...

Meanwhile, Starlight, who had been hiding beside the shattered RV door and watching the entire thing, was already overwhelmed.

Only now did she understand the truth.

Homelander, the perfect idol in the hearts of the American people, was actually a giant baby starved for love.

Stormfront, the new female hero whose popularity had been exploding online, was secretly a racist who wanted to pull Homelander in and rule all humanity.

Add in A-Train, who had nearly run a pedestrian over, and The Deep, who had nearly assaulted her...

"Oh my God..."

Annie could not help sighing inwardly.

It seemed like Queen Maeve, who kept a cold face all day and acted like she did not care about anything, was the only Supe who could barely count as normal.

Annie took a deep breath.

Then she looked at Benjamin again. Thank God Benjamin, the one managing The Seven, was normal too.

With him in charge, these superheroes probably would not cause any serious trouble, right?

Thinking of that, Annie felt an unprecedented wave of relief and security.

Thank God he was here.

Just as Annie’s thoughts were running wild, inside the cabin, Benjamin looked at the now-calm Homelander and nodded.

He raised his hand and, as usual, patted Homelander’s broad shoulder.

"A superhero should fucking act like a superhero."

Benjamin glanced at the sky outside the window, his tone as casual as an ordinary father who had just gotten off work.

"Come on. It’s getting late. Have dinner with me. I just got back to New York, and I heard a pretty good tomahawk steakhouse opened up."

...

...

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