Los Angeles, NBC Studios.
The air here is scorching hot.
The lights focused on the center of the stage, where the band had just finished a rousing interlude.
Jimmy Fallon sat behind his desk, rubbing his hands together excitedly, oblivious to the fact that his tie was slightly askew.
"Okay, okay, everyone calm down... or maybe don't calm down at all!!"
Jimmy made an exaggerated explosion gesture towards the camera.
Last time he taught us what real masculinity is, what a tough guy is. Today, he's back with an even more unique side. Let's welcome him again— Benjamin! Our Soldier Boy!
The entire audience stood up.
Applause, screams, and even whistles merged into a wave of sound.
Behind the backstage curtain.
The Soldier Boy didn't rush out.
He tugged at his dark red knitted cardigan—one that Hans Landa had specially chosen for him, "Comfortable, warm, and full of paternal warmth."
"Fuck your fatherly glory."
The Soldier Boy muttered a curse under his breath.
"Mr. Benjamin, it's your turn."
The director next to him carefully reminded him, holding a teleprompter covered with prompts.
The gloom on the Soldier Boy's face dissipated, replaced by a simple, slightly shy, yet incredibly reliable smile.
He strode out from behind the curtain.
This time, he acted like a middle-aged man visiting a neighbor's house, even bending slightly while walking to make himself appear less aggressive.
He sat down on the sofa, moving slowly, as if even his reinforced knees were susceptible to rheumatism.
"Hey, Jimmy," the Soldier Boy greeted with a smile, his voice loud but gentle, "You look great."
" Benjamin! My God, look at you!" Jimmy exclaimed dramatically, pointing at his clothes. "This cardigan is amazing! Are you going to tell your grandson a bedtime story?"
A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the audience.
The Soldier Boy touched his button a little shyly. "That's what I wanted to say too. I don't understand the current trends, but I know this is what comfort is. Even soldiers need to warm themselves by the fireplace and have a cup of hot cocoa every now and then, right?"
Jimmy nodded repeatedly.
"Last time you talked a lot about taking a tough stance, which sparked a heated discussion. Some people said you were too rude, but many more thought you were telling the truth. What's your take on the current public opinion?"
The Soldier Boy's smile faded, he leaned forward, and placed his hands crossed on his knees.
" Jimmy, being tough doesn't mean being rude. One thing I learned on the battlefield is that you have to be tough on yourself so you can be gentle with the people you love."
"Protection. That's a man's duty. Whether you use your fists, a shield, or even this old-fashioned cardigan, the goal is the same—to ensure that those who hide behind you can sleep soundly."
Several middle-aged female audience members were so moved that they covered their mouths.
Jimmy's joking expression vanished, replaced by adoration. "That's so true. It's just... a fatherly feeling. You know what? Everyone online is calling you 'Nation's Daddy' now."
"Dad?" The Soldier Boy raised an eyebrow, then smiled wryly. "Well, although I consider myself quite young, this title sounds... not bad."
"Since we've brought up the topic of fathers," Jimmy smoothly threw out the first hook from tonight's script, "You've always been fighting. In that turbulent era, did you ever think about having your own family? Or... I know it's a private matter, but everyone's curious, has a hero like you ever had any regrets?"
The studio fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for this legendary hero to reveal the softest corner of his heart.
The Soldier Boy lowered his head.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the sofa armrest, as if he were lost in some extremely distant and painful memory.
This acting is enough to win an Oscar.
The silence lasted for a full five seconds.
"Regret... of course there is." The Soldier Boy's voice became a little hoarse, "The war took away a lot of things. My comrades, my time, and... the chance to spend time with my family."
He raised his head, his eyes revealing struggle.
Actually... I'm not alone.
The words were spoken softly, but when amplified through the Mike and carried throughout the venue, their effect was no less than that of a nuclear bomb.
Jimmy was stunned.
This wasn't part of the rehearsal, or perhaps he simply didn't realize it.
"What? Sorry, Benjamin, you mean..."
Jimmy's eyes widened, and he leaned forward to his limit.
I have children.
If the atmosphere just now was enthusiastic, then it's downright crazy now.
Gasps of surprise rose and fell from the audience, with some even jumping up from their chairs.
"What?!" Jimmy slid halfway off his chair, then scrambled to his feet. "You have a child?! The Soldier Boy has a child?! My God! Is this true?!"
A complex smile appeared on the Soldier Boy's face, a mixture of pride and guilt.
"It's a boy. His name is John."
" John... John..." Jimmy muttered to himself, "Wait, this is incredible! How old is he? Where is he? Why have we never heard of him?!"
That's why I say I have regrets.
The Soldier Boy sighed, his tone becoming incredibly sincere.
"Because I'm Soldier Boy. My enemies are scattered across half the globe: Nazis, mad scientists, and those damn alien bastards."
"If the world knew he existed, he would become a target. So I hid him. When he was still a baby, I had to send him away, away from me, away from Vought, away from all this glory and danger."
The Soldier Boy spoke, his eyes even slightly reddening.
The audience below the stage went wild.
What a magnificent story! A hero, to protect his own flesh and blood, had to endure the pain of separation from his family, fight alone on the battlefield, and bear the infamy of loneliness!
"This is so... so touching."
Jimmy took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"So, for all these decades, you've been secretly protecting him?"
"Every single day." The Soldier Boy nodded. "I watched him grow up from the shadows. He's exceptional, truly. He's more of a hero than I am."
"More like you than you?" Jimmy exclaimed. "What kind of person must he be? He inherited your... you know, those abilities?"
The Soldier Boy smiled, this time with undisguised pride.
"Oh, of course. He's a natural-born warrior. He's strong, very strong. And he's a good kid, obedient, well-behaved... just sometimes he can be stubborn, like me."
He sneered inwardly: Stubborn indeed, you'll have to break his bones to teach him a lesson.
"So, do we have a chance to meet him?"
Jimmy asked the question that the whole world most wanted to know.
"I mean, now that you're back and the crisis is temporarily over, will you all be reunited?"
The Soldier Boy looked at the camera.
At that moment, hundreds of millions of viewers in front of their televisions felt as if he were watching them.
"Yes," the Soldier Boy nodded, "It's time. This world is changing too fast; we need new blood, we need stronger forces to protect this land."
He paused for a moment, then dropped his final bombshell.
" John... my son, he is ready. In the near future, he will step out of the Shadow and stand by my side, not as a protected child, but as a man who will fight alongside me."
"He'll debut in Vought. I'll be there to watch him, to prove to the world that our family's bloodline will always be the strongest backbone of this country!"
The entire venue erupted in cheers!
The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time. Countless people took out their phones and started Twitter like crazy.
# Soldier Boy #
#The Birth of the National Crown Prince#
#Who is John?#
These three topics crashed Twitter's servers within a minute.
Vought International.
"Perfect." Hans Landa nodded in satisfaction. "That's the art of storytelling—packaging a monster that's on the verge of spiraling out of control into a highly anticipated star. Even if he were a pile of shit, the whole world would now think he's vanilla ice cream."
Lynn, sitting in the boss's chair, ignored him and instead looked down at the Goose in her arms.
"Boss, the PR department's press release is ready," Miranda reported quickly, standing to the side. "We're defining this event as a legacy of heroism. The stock market reaction has been very enthusiastic."
"Very good." Lynn didn't even look up. "How's Homelander doing?"
"He's undergoing training. As per your instructions, the doctor has made preservations at certain nerve nodes to ensure that his body will instinctively recall that pain the next time he feels fatherly love."
Pain is the best teacher.
The interview continued on television.
Jimmy was still in shock when he stammered, "Then... what does he look like? Does he look like you?"
"Like him." The Soldier Boy grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Blonde hair, blue eyes, and even more handsome than those movie stars. It's just that he's a bit... how should I put it, he drinks too much milk."
The audience burst into laughter again, finding it a cute quirk.
"But I have to remind you all," the Soldier Boy said, his smile fading as he held up a finger to the camera, "That when you see him, you'd better give him a round of applause. This kid... he's a bit sensitive; he'll throw a tantrum if no one praises him."
This is a joke, but also a warning.
But to the enthusiastic fans, it was just a loving father's doting rant to his son.
"I can't wait!" Jimmy shouted. "Ladies and gentlemen, remember this day! Soldier Boy Family! Wow! This is absolutely fantastic!"
The program concluded at a high point.
The Soldier Boy stood up, smiled, and waved to the audience; every movement was flawless.
Until he went into his private dressing room backstage and closed the heavy soundproof door.
The kind smile that had been on his face disappeared.
He walked to the mirror and looked at himself.
That "national father".
"I have a son... Ha." The Soldier Boy chuckled self-deprecatingly, picked up a bottle of whiskey from the table, and without even using a glass, tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful.
The strong liquor burned his throat, giving him a slight sense of reality.
"That coward had better not mess things up." He stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes cold. "If he dares to cry on his debut day, I'll break his other leg in front of the whole world."