The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet street. You were lost in thought, the weight of the world pressing down on you, when a firm knock echoed through your small apartment. It was an ordinary day, but the sound felt like a sudden jolt to your system.

You hesitated, heart racing. Your mother had always warned you about the dangers of your father. Homelander. A figure of power and fear. You had heard stories, glimpsed snippets of his life on the news, but you’d never imagined he’d come looking for you. He had a son, Ryan, you thought that was enough for him.

Taking a deep breath, you opened the door a crack, peering out to see him standing there, tall and imposing, his expression a mix of curiosity and something else—perhaps regret. He looked just as striking as you had imagined, but there was something unnerving about the way he held himself.

“Hello,” he said, his voice smooth, yet carrying an underlying intensity. “I’m… I’m your father.”