The sky over New York wasn't just glowing—it was splitting.
That rift that opened above the skyline shimmered like a wound in reality, and through it came him.Homelander.
He hovered there, calm, perfect posture, cape fluttering like it was performing for cameras that weren't even rolling.
The air buzzed with static. The world just stopped.
Down below, the New Avengers gathered—fast. Red Guardian in his aged, slightly tight suit; Yelena with her glare sharp enough to cut steel; Ghost phasing in and out of visibility; Bucky gripping his sidearm; and John Walker, taco-shield strapped proudly to his arm like he was America's redemption.
Red Guardian squinted up at the sky.
"Eh… who the hell is that guy? He looks like Superman had baby with patriotic narcissism."
Yelena didn't even blink. "Pretty sure he'd agree with that description."
Walker tightened his jaw. "He's dangerous. Files said he's some kind of biological weapon from another world. Killed a lot of people before vanishing."
Ghost's voice came through her mask, distorted. "Just like always..."
They waited—tense. Then the air cracked as Homelander landed, boots hitting the ground with a thud that carried authority.
His grin didn't waver. His eyes glowed faint red, not from heat vision—just arrogance.
"Ah," he said, smiling wider. "You must be this planet's… new cleanup crew. Cute."
Red Guardian puffed his chest out. "I am Red Guardian, the real hero of Russia—"
"Never heard of you." Homelander cut in, eyes flicking over him like he was made of glass. "But you do look like you've eaten Captain America."
Yelena smirked. "He has. Emotionally."
Walker stepped forward, shield raised. "You need to back off. Whatever you think you're doing here ends now."
Homelander tilted his head. "Oh, no, see… I'm not doing anything. I'm taking back what's mine. This world. This place. You people need a real leader, not costumed government mascots."
That smug smile never faltered.
He started pacing, eyes sweeping across the stunned crowd. "I've seen this world before. I was this close to saving it—before someone decided to play god with a shiny glove."
And that's when the real group showed up.
Down the block, an old van screeched to a halt. Out jumped Butcher, rage practically steaming off him. Behind him were Alex and Deadpool, both looking like they'd walked into the final act of a movie they hadn't read the script for.
Deadpool cupped his hands and shouted,
"Oh come on! Again?! You guys realize this is like the third cape with a god complex in fifty chapters, right? I swear, the multiverse has a recycling problem."
Alex froze when Homelander's gaze met his.
That smile dropped. The world seemed to dim a little.
Homelander took a single step forward.
"You." His voice was ice. "You were the one with that gauntlet."
Alex swallowed, standing firm but unsure. "Still am. And you're still the guy who lost."
A small chuckle escaped Red Guardian. Butcher didn't laugh—he just kept walking forward, shoulders heavy, eyes locked on the smug bastard in front of him.
Homelander noticed him too. "Oh. You again. The dog that bites at the ankles of gods."
Butcher stopped a few feet away, smirking darkly. "Nah, mate. Just the bastard who finally puts one down."
The energy between them was electric—so sharp it felt like reality might split again.
Yelena muttered under her breath. "Oh, this is going to go horribly wrong."
Deadpool turned to her. "Horribly wrong is kind of our brand name at this point."
Homelander raised a brow, still staring at Alex. "So tell me, hero—where's your little toy now? You planning to wave your magic glove again?"
Alex's system blinked quietly in his peripheral vision:
[Warning: Power resonance detected. Infinity Energy reacting.]
He ignored it. "Don't need it to beat your ass."
Homelander laughed softly. It wasn't joy—it was insult. "We'll see."
He lifted his chin, voice carrying over the stunned street. "I think it's about time I stopped playing hero… and started ruling."
Every Avenger present groaned in unison.
Red Guardian sighed dramatically. "Again with the ruling. Always ruling. Never cooking, never cleaning—just ruling is the key thing."
Even Ghost facepalmed.
Deadpool nodded like a proud teacher. "Finally! Someone gets it! You know how many 'rule the world' speeches I've sat through by now? It's like watching the same Disney villain audition tape over and over."
Butcher stepped closer again, voice low and venomous. "You talk too much, sunshine."
Homelander smiled again—just as his eyes began to glow bright red.