Soldier Boy curled his lip. Vought really was something, focusing entirely on psychologically conditioning Homelander without caring a bit about his education.
Somehow, he had actually managed to come up with a simile that betrayed such a limited vocabulary.
It was now nearly afternoon, and the setting sun made Homelander's blue eyes gleam. The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
Ryan stared blankly at the man before him, his eyes slowly widening as he exclaimed, "You... you're Homelander?"
Homelander froze for a moment, then smiled even more brightly.
"That's right, sweetheart. It's me."
"I know you!" Ryan's voice brimmed with excitement he couldn't suppress. "I've seen you on TV and on posters. You're the greatest superhero."
Homelander's mood swayed in the breeze like the leaves in the yard.
This feeling was completely different from the cheers of countless people. A child's purest surprise and admiration alone were enough to fill him with a sense of accomplishment, especially when that child was the son he was meeting for the first time.
He even forgot everything Soldier Boy had just taught him and simply stood rooted to the spot, staring at Ryan.
Soldier Boy coughed beside him. "John."
Only then did Homelander snap out of it and hurriedly look down at the shopping bags in his hands.
"Oh, right." As though finally remembering what he had come to do, he lifted the bags of all sizes.
"These things, and this phone, are all for you."
With that, he simply set all dozen or so bags down on the lawn.
The plastic bags fell open, and the gifts inside rolled everywhere.
There was a dazzling assortment of novel, expensive toys, along with that costly phone.
Ryan had never seen anything like it. He was completely stunned.
"These are all for me?"
"Of course,"