Homelander's words shook Scott to his core.
For three years, everyone had treated him like a criminal. A thief.
Ever since he got out of prison, everyone had written him off. The guards had warned him not to make another mistake, his ex-wife had called him irresponsible, and employers had turned their noses up at his record.
Even Scott had begun to believe he would spend the rest of his life scraping by with petty theft.
And now a billionaire he had only just met was telling him, with absolute conviction: You're a real hero.
But the light in Scott's eyes flickered only for a moment before fading again.
He gave a bitter laugh and took another long swig.
"A hero? Don't joke around, sir."
Scott shook his head at himself, his face flushed from the alcohol.
"Come on, man. What kind of hero ends up like me?"
"Superheroes are Homelander flying through the sky and Captain America with his shield. They have powers. They save the world."
"And me? I'm just an asshole who threw everything away for one stupid moment of heroism!"
"If that's what being a hero gets you, I'd rather be a coward!"
"I was so stupid... So damn stupid..."
Scott broke down in front of him, drunk and in tears, hating even the one good thing he had done.
Homelander didn't interrupt. He just listened.
That was the tragedy of so many ordinary heroes in the Marvel Universe. They had hearts of gold, but cruel reality ground them down until all their shine was gone.
When Scott had calmed down a little, Homelander spoke again.
"Scott, what do you think makes someone a hero?"
"Flying through the sky? Having a body bullets can't pierce?"
"Listen, being that kind of hero is easy. They have overwhelming