Chapter Text
Disclaimer: Do not own any characters in this story, they are the property of Sony Pictures. AI assisted in the writing of this story.
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"Time… Space... Reality…It's more than a linear path. It's a prism of endless possibility, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know."
"I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me and ponder the question... What if?"
Watcher: In one universe Soldier Boy, Americas most beloved hero created by Vought during the second world war volunteered his DNA in Vought tower in 1980 before being sent off to die in Nicaragua, betrayed by his own team Payback. From his sample, Vought created a child who would one day be known as Homelander, the next great American Hero of the Vought corporation, who had been locked in a testing facility through his childhood, slowly eating away at his sanity. In that reality, Solider Boy never knew about his son. But in another world, under a different circumstance, a simple error being made, would allow Soldier Boy to discover the birth of a child he never knew about.
Soldier Boy was waiting in a sterile room on a propped up bed.
" What you guys want more samples? I swear, I give you a few more and that should give me a free coffee or something." Ben said. " How about having some ladies in here if you want me in the mood. Looking at you guys all day really puts me off."
" We never said THAT kind of sample Soldier Boy." One of the doctors said.
" Well do what you need to I guess. I just know those assholes are slacking in the training room without me to keep an eye on them. Like raising a bunch of kids…"
The doctor and assistant looked at each other almost worriedly but retuned to work. Ben did not miss this. As the doctor closed his medical record, but not before a picture fell from it, unnoticed by the doctor. The doctor stepped out as his assistant was getting prepared.
Watcher: It was this moment, the moment that may have seemed inconsequential to some that completely changed the course of history.
Ben looked down and walked over to pick up the picture. The assistant turned around to see Ben Picking up the picture, his face went white. Ben looked at the picture to see a child , who couldn't have been more than a year or two old with blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling at the camera.
Ben turned to the assistant. " Pull my file out….." He said.
The assistant complied immediately, knowing Solider Boy was not the type to ask twice. He unlocked the cabinet, Ben immediately shoved him out of the way and picked up his file. He looked through it but didn't know what to look for.
" Explain this!" Ben said to the assistant holding up the picture of the baby. The assistant looked through Ben's file and found the number associated with his sample he gave in 1980.
" Your sample is number 73489." The assistant said.
Ben looked at the back of the picture which said specimen: 274, sample :73489.
The doctor walked back in. He became white as a ghost.
Ben needed a moment to gather his thoughts. His head was spinning. After gathering himself, he grabbed the doctor by the collar.
" Take me to where he is NOW…" He said holding up the picture.
Ben, the doctor and his assistant walked down accessing several floors until they reached a final door.
" Open it or I use you as a battering ram." Ben said.
The door slid open and Ben walked inside. His eyes widened, his breaths were short from the shock from what he saw. A baby, no more than a few years old having turned to look up at him. In front of him were letter blocks in which he was playing with previously.
Ben couldn't believe his eyes. He slowly walked around to the side of the child and slowly sat down beside him, taking him all in. The child was doing the same, he smiled showing merely a few teeth. He began saying a few incoherent words to Ben and handed a block to him. Ben took it and for the first time in a long time he was speechless and full of emotion. Ben leaned back, taking a deep breath, emotions like panic and joy swirled through him simultaneously.
He then heard the child making noises, looking forward he saw the child was in his face, trying to babble more. Ben was wide eyed, as he looked down he saw the child was levitating.
" Ben…." Dr. Vogelbaum said coming in.
" Shhh…he's sleeping." Ben said as he carried the child around, his head resting peacefully over his shoulder.
" Ben…I'm sure you want an explanation…."
" That's the fucking understatement of the century Jonah…"
Later Soldier Boy was speaking with both Dr. Vogelbaum and Stan Edgar. Ben still had the child over his shoulder.
" Ben…." Vogelbaum said. Showing concern for the child. " Please know, he's innocent in all this." Afraid he might hurt the child.
" Obviously Jonah, hmphh genetics test my ass…."
" I understand you're upset Ben." Stan said.
" That you made a child from my sperm and didn't tell me? Yeah that's pretty fucking high up there on upset Stan."
" Ben what are you intending to do?" Stan Edgar asked.
" Stan…this is my kid…what do you think?"
For a rare moment, Stan Edgar was confused. " Ben you don't mean to tell me…..are you suggesting taking care of the child?"
" Yes, how is that a question?"
" Ben. Taking care of a child, that's a lot of work, especially a child like this."
" Sons should be raised by their fathers. My old man, the miserable bastard that he was, still put a roof over my head at least."
" Ben, I'm afraid I'm going to have to oppose. You're not exactly the…." Stan Edgar began.
" Stan….I'm gonna raise this boy. He's not spending another second in that sterile hell you have downstairs. If you think you can stop me, you're welcome to try."
Vogelbaum and Edgar looked to each other.
" We will need to discuss this." Stan said.
" Good, while you're discussing it I'll be taking him back to my place. Does he have a name?"
Vogelbaum looked to Ben. " His name is John."