100% Approval Rating! (An N. Tertaining Elseverse Story V1)

Making Headlines

"With us here today, the hero of Flight 37, The Exceptional Energon!" Cameron Coleman says. I walk out into the newsroom, smiling and waving at the live studio audience. They chant my name, and I give them a gracious bow before sitting next to the news anchor. 

"Energon, I must say that save was incredibly impressive." Cameron remarks. "How did you manage to lift that plane?"

"Lemme tell ya, it took every ounce of strength I had, and even that wasn't enough. I had to resort to siphoning energy from the engine to give me a boost." I say, recounting the events.

"What was going through your mind? I mean it must've been stressful right?"

"Well Cameron, it was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done. All the muscles in my arms and abs are still burning. But I couldn't let those good people die. I had to save them."

"Wow." Cameron says, smiling at me. "Now that, ladies and gentleman, is a true American hero! Give it up for Energon everyone!" Cameron says, to thunderous applause from the audience.

"Thank you, you're too kind!" I say but my voice is drowned out by their cheering.

____________

I walk through Seven Tower, feeling on top of the world! I mean how many other times have I been regarded as a national hero? NONE! This is big! Can't wait to talk about it with my Twitch chat. It is Saturday after all, and God of War must be beaten within the next 4 weeks, otherwise I'm doing a huge giveaway. I say that like I hate doing giveaways. My happy train of thought is momentarily interrupted when I bump into Homelander. The. Homelander. 

"Oh, sorry about that!" I say, looking up at him. He has a smile on his face but it seems... off. Like he's forcing it.

"Hey, kiddo!" Homelander says. "That was a pretty great save you did out there."

"Oh, thanks! It was nothing re--"

"I noticed you didn't give me any credit." He says, completely interrupting me. There's something about his tone that sends chills down my spine. 

"Well, I... I didn't mean any disrespect, sir. I just--"

"What's your game here?" He asks me, his smile fading almost completely. The air seemed to have gotten heavier. SO much heavier than the plane.

"My game?" I ask, suddenly notices just how much taller he is compared to me. His 6 feet compared to my 5'7 really makes me feel uncomfortable here. His face twitches, and he seems to be getting angry with me. 

"I-I don't understand?" I say, more confused and... scared than I ever have been. 

"Why are you here? To... make fools out of us? To invalidate me? To... take my place?" He asks. That last question coming with an extra amount of venom that shakes me to my core.

"N-No, I'd never--"

"Let me put this in a way your mind can understand. I am the greatest superhero in the world." He threatens, his eyes glowing red. His heat vision. I... don't think I can absorb that. They could kill me. "And nobody will get in the way of that. Especially not a fuckass upstart child who got in due to sheer lack of options. Do I make myself clear?" He spits, his tone dripping with venom and disdain. I nod out of terror, wondering exactly what I did to anger him this much. He walks past me, aggressively bumping my shoulder as he does. I stand there for a moment, realizing that my heart rate accelerated and my breathing is short.

I haven't felt so scared in years.