Hero

"What?"

Homelander clearly hadn't understood, and Ryan had no intention of explaining. He gestured for Homelander to continue.

"Nothing. Where were we?"

"As the hero who protects this country, I should stand above Vought International and the people."

"You can already fly above them."

"I want worship that comes from the bottom of their hearts."

"Why don't you die, then? We'll get a memorial tablet and enshrine you, with all your great achievements written on it."

"Ryan, I want to be worshipped while I'm alive."

"That's a tall order."

Ryan was speechless. In this day and age, who would allow someone like that to exist?

But that was just Homelander's personality. As though humoring a child, Ryan agreed with him a few times before bringing up what actually concerned him.

"I need compound V."

"Are you going to drink that stuff again to fight me?"

"I don't need it to fight you."

As he spoke, Ryan looked at his hands. Yesterday, after taking compound V, he had gotten a night's sleep.

When he woke up, he could feel the changes in his body. His powers had improved by leaps and bounds, seemingly thanks to the effects of compound V.

Even without drinking it now, he was about as strong as he had been after taking compound V last night.

Beside Ryan, Homelander fell silent for once.

Only then did he speak.

"I did lose to you, my boy."

He then told Ryan that he had no compound V on hand. If Ryan wanted the drug, he would have to get it from a hospital on the outskirts of the city.

They had plenty of compound V in stock there. Ryan could request as much as he wanted.

Despite learning where to find compound V, Ryan didn't leave immediately.

A panel