𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 (𝐎𝐂)

TWENTY THREE

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the backyard as evening settled in. Julia sat on the couch, still buzzing with the excitement from earlier when Homelander walked back in from outside, a relaxed smile gracing his face. He seemed to be in good spirits after whatever conversation he had with Becca.

"How are you two doing?" he asked, turning his attention to Stormfront, who was still kneeling next to Julia.

"We were just talking about how much fun shopping at the mall will be!" Stormfront replied, patting Julia gently on the shoulder.

"That sounds...great!" Homelander said, beaming at the idea. "You two are going to have a blast!" He then turned to Ryan, who was eagerly bouncing in his seat, and knelt beside him. The two began chatting about various superhero games, and Julia could see Ryan's face light up with every mention of new powers and adventures.

Meanwhile, Becca stood up from where she had been watching, her expression slightly strained. "I'm going to make dinner," she announced, heading toward the kitchen. Julia noticed the way her mother's shoulders seemed to tense up as she walked away, a subtle shift that didn't go unnoticed.

As the adults talked, Julia's attention drifted. She could sense a change in the air around Homelander, a shift from the playful banter to something more serious. He stood up, straightening his posture, and knelt down to their level, his expression now solemn.

"I need to show you both something," he said, looking directly at Julia and Ryan.

Their curiosity piqued, both children exchanged glances. Julia could sense Stormfront's knowing gaze on them, but the kids remained unaware of what was about to unfold.

Homelander reached out and grabbed their hands, his grip warm and reassuring. "Do you trust me?" he asked, looking between them.

Julia nodded, her heart racing with excitement and a hint of trepidation. Ryan mirrored her movement, a determined look on his face.

"Good," Homelander said, his smile returning as he nodded to Stormfront. In an instant, he scooped Ryan up in his arms, and before Julia could fully process what was happening, they were soaring into the night sky.

Stormfront took Julia's other hand, her electric energy crackling softly as she lifted them into the air. Julia felt a mix of exhilaration and awe as they flew high above their neighborhood, the houses below shrinking into mere shapes in the twilight.

The world looked so different from up here, and Julia felt a rush of wonder as she watched the lights flicker on in the homes, the streets below looking like a winding river of gold.

But as Homelander led them further away, the sense of wonder in Julia's heart was quickly replaced by shock. Suddenly, they approached a large metal gate, towering and imposing, surrounding the neighborhood like a fortress.

"What is this?" Ryan's voice broke the silence, his wide eyes reflecting the fear and confusion swirling within him.

Homelander landed gently, still holding Ryan in his arms, and knelt to speak to them. "There's a whole world out there, kids. This neighborhood... it's not what you think. Becca has been lying to you."

Julia's heart dropped at his words. How could Becca do this? Anger surged through her as realization hit hard. All this time, her mother had been keeping secrets, and now it felt like the ground beneath her was shifting.

"The neighborhood...is not real," Homelander continued gently, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I wanted you guys to see the truth."

Julia's expression hardened, fury igniting within her. Was this why Becca had been acting so strangely? Why she had seemed hesitant to share details about their lives?

Stormfront, sensing the emotional turmoil radiating from Julia, hovered beside her, offering comfort. "Hey, it's okay. You're not alone," she said softly, her voice a calming presence in the storm of Julia's thoughts.

But Ryan was too quiet, his eyes wide as he processed the information. Julia could see the anger starting to build within him, a stark contrast to the shock that had initially frozen him in place. She could almost feel the heat radiating from him as he clutched his father's shirt tighter, confusion and betrayal warring within him.

In that moment, Julia realized that this revelation would change everything. The lies, the secrecy-it felt like a veil had been ripped away, leaving only uncertainty in its wake. She didn't know what to say, how to process what she had just learned, but one thing was clear: their lives would never be the same again.

The four of them landed back in the backyard, the night still heavy with darkness. Julia's feet touched the ground, but her mind felt unsteady, spinning with anger and confusion. She stared blankly at the grass beneath her, her heart pounding as Homelander's words echoed in her head. Everything felt like a lie now-the neighborhood, her life, Becca. The world she thought she knew was crumbling, and Julia didn't know how to piece it back together.

Suddenly, Becca emerged from the house, walking down the steps that led to the backyard. "Hey, guys, ready for dinner?"

Julia and Ryan both turned to look at her, but they remained silent, their faces showing completely different expressions. Becca noticed the shift, her worry deepening as she stepped closer. "What's wrong?"

"You... lie," Julia managed to say, her voice small but firm.

"What-what do you mean?"

"You lied to us!" Ryan's voice trembled, his anger rising. "They just flew us up and showed us! This house is fake? The neighbors are fake? You're fake?"

"They deserved to know the truth," Homelander spoke up, standing behind the children with Stormfront, who watched silently.

Becca knelt in front of them, placing a hand on their shoulders, her voice soft and pleading. "Hey, listen to me. We can talk about this, okay? I know you're confused, but there are reasons for what I did. I'm sorry."

"No! Just don't touch me! I hate you!" Ryan shouted, jerking away from her touch.

"I think they just need a little space," Homelander said smoothly. "Kids, come here."

Panic flashed in Becca's eyes as she moved, placing herself between them and Homelander. "No. No, they need their mother."

"Don't worry," Stormfront said, her tone icy. "They'll still have a mother."

In a flash, Ryan ran into Homelander's arms. Without hesitation, Homelander scooped him up.

"Ryan! Ryan, no!" Becca screamed, desperation in her voice, but it was too late. Homelander shot into the sky, disappearing with Ryan in his arms.

Becca turned, her eyes wide with fear, pleading as she locked onto Julia, who was slowly backing into Stormfront. "Julia, please... you don't understand-"

"Come on, sweetie," Stormfront interrupted, hoisting Julia onto her hip with ease. Electricity crackled around them as she shot into the air, following Homelander.

Becca stood frozen, gasping, her world crumbling as she watched the two children vanish into the night. Alone, she collapsed to her knees, the darkness swallowing her sobs.