"I can't believe you pushed Ryan off the roof and broke his arm," Erasmus said as he followed his father through the hallways. His puppies followed right behind them. Today was the big day to sign his contract, and all of The Seven were already here.
"How was I supposed to know he couldn't fly?" his father asked, agitated and disappointed.
"Well, he did tell you like five times," Erasmus replied, pausing briefly. "So... Ryan doesn't have powers?"
"No, no, he does have powers," Homelander insisted. "He's just a late bloomer. Did you have your powers at ten years old?"
"I had them since the day I woke up."
"Well, I think it's because of that woman," his father said, deflecting the blame. He stopped walking, placing a heavy hand on Erasmus's shoulder and looking him dead in the eye. "But don't worry. Soon, we will be united."
Erasmus looked him right back in the eye. "After you broke his arm?"
"Erasmus, you can't talk to Dad like that. That's not nice, buddy. Stop rubbing it in my face," Homelander said, raising a finger.
"Okay, I will stop," Erasmus replied smoothly.
"Good boy." With that, his father ruffled his hair, turned around, and walked into the meeting room where the others were already seated.
As the doors slid open, Erasmus muttered quietly under his breath, just loud enough for his father's super-hearing to catch it: "I doubt Ryan will rub anything with his broken hand."
Homelander's smile froze. He spun back around, but Erasmus was already walking past him toward the extra seat next to his father's chair at the head of the table. As he passed Black Noir, Erasmus casually placed a hand on the silent assassin's shoulder. The small gesture of familiarity didn't go unnoticed; across the table, The Deep watched the interaction, his face tightening with pure jealousy.
Homelander hated the disrespect. He detested the defiance and the infuriating fact that his son had just gotten the last word.
Yet, deep down, a wave of pride washed over him. His son wasn't a sycophant. His sharp wit, total lack of fear, and blatant willingness to push back proved he had actually inherited his traits.
"Alright, everyone, for those of you who haven't met my boy yet, this is my eldest son, Vanguard," Homelander announced, his voice booming with a heavy pride as he took his seat at the head of the table.
He gestured around the room with a sweeping hand. "Erasmus, over here we have Starlight."
Starlight immediately flashed a smile and gave a polite little wave.
"The Deep," Homelander continued, barely giving him a glance.
The Deep perked up instantly, leaning forward over the table to offer an incredibly eager handshake. "It's so good to finally meet you, sir! I've heard so much about you."
Oh, Deep. He never changes, thought Erasmus, genuinely amazed by this supe who possessed absolutely no will or self-respect. Erasmus looked down at the extended hand but didn't shake it, simply offering a curt nod. "Likewise."
Homelander's jaw tightened, thoroughly annoyed by the idiot Deep interrupting him. He cleared his throat sharply. "A-Train."
A-Train immediately straightened his posture, pulling his shoulders back. The memory of that day was still fresh in his mind, and he wasn't about to take any chances.
"You've already met Stormfront," Homelander added.
"Hi," Stormfront said, smiling and waving at him.
"And, of course, Black Noir and Maeve," Homelander finished.
Black Noir sat in absolute stillness, his head tilting just a fraction of an inch in a silent, formal acknowledgement. Next to him, Queen Maeve didn't bother to smile or wave. She just leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the wall.
"With the introductions over, it's time to announce why we are gathered here. Of course, the first reason is to welcome Stormfront," Homelander said casually, making no attempt to hide his contempt for the new addition. "And to"
The heavy conference doors slid open with a smooth hiss, interrupting Homelander mid-sentence.
"Finally sign Vanguard's contract and welcome him home to Vought," a voice cut in. Edgar walked into the room, completely interrupting Homelander and thoroughly ignoring the lethal glare directed at him. He didn't care.
Not ten minutes ago, Edgar had stripped Homelander of any real authority the man-child thought he possessed. At this point, anything that came out of Homelander's mouth was entirely irrelevant to him. It was just background noise.
Surprises. Lately, they just kept coming.
Erasmus watched through Edgar's mind, sifting through the memories. He observed the casual, biting degradation, watching how effortlessly Stan reduced Homelander to a pathetic, groveling child.
It was breathtaking and sad.
Edgar stepped up to the head of the glass table, placed his documents down, and slid a sleek Vought-branded pen alongside a thick, multi-page contract directly in front of Erasmus.
Erasmus reached out and took the contract. The document was less of a career milestone and more of a golden cage.
First, he was to undergo immediate, mandatory biometric and genetic screening to log the exact limits of his power. Second, he was forced to surrender all intellectual property rights to his own name, likeness, and biological identity, effectively turning his DNA into Vought property.
The contract explicitly stated that Erasmus was to operate strictly under Homelander's supervision, answering to his "father" second, and Vought management first. He was legally forbidden from using his powers in public without prior corporate clearance.
The contract offered him a starting base salary of $400 million per year, with a guaranteed 30% royalty cut on all global merchandise, action figures, and Vought+ streaming revenue bearing his likeness, whatever that means.
The benefits package was equally lavish. The Vought Tower Penthouse: Full ownership of a private, high-security luxury suite just a few floors below Homelander's.
A Dedicated PR & Medical Team: A 24/7 personal entourage consisting of elite publicists, image consultants, and a specialized team of Vought geneticists to monitor his health.
Legal Immunity: Full coverage by Vought's global legal defense fund, guaranteeing absolute protection from civil and criminal liability for any "collateral damage" caused during hero duties.
The Seven Tier Healthcare: Access to Vought's classified medical facilities, stocking advanced experimental trauma care engineered specifically for indestructible biology.