Todd landed softly in the backyard, the remnants of the garden gnome still smoking faintly.
Elena stood frozen at the back door, shattered cup pieces scattered around her feet.
For a moment, the only sound was the distant city noise and the gentle night breeze.
“Uhhh… I can explain,” Todd said, keeping his voice steady.
He walked over normally, hands slightly raised.
Elena blinked several times, her Diabla suit still faintly glowing with residual heat.
“Todd… you were floating. And those beams from your eyes—”
He nodded, deciding to keep it simple but honest.
“When I woke up in the hospital today, I felt something inside me. Like power waking up. After you left earlier to respond to the emergency, I came out here to test it. I didn’t expect it to be this… strong.”
Elena stared at him for several long seconds.
Then, slowly, a bright smile broke across her face.
She stepped forward and pulled him into a tight, motherly hug, her arms wrapping around him with surprising strength.
“Oh, Todd…” she whispered, voice thick with emotion.
“I’m so happy. I thought… after your father died, maybe you wouldn’t get anything. But you’re like him. You’re going to be okay.”
Todd stiffened at first.
The genuine wave of motherly love and relief hit him harder than he expected.
In his past life, he hadn’t had anything this warm in a long time.
He hugged her back, one hand gently resting on her back.
For a brief moment, the arrogant showman persona he was building quieted.
This felt… nice.
They stayed like that for a while before Elena pulled away, wiping at her eyes.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to a tailor. You need a proper suit if you’re going to do this. Draw up whatever design you want tonight, okay? We’ll take it with us.”
Todd nodded.
“Yeah. I’ll do that.”
He excused himself and went upstairs to his room.
Sitting at his desk, he spent hours sketching on paper, bold lines, strong colors, and most importantly, a cape.
He wanted to stand out.
He wanted to be seen.
_______
The next morning, Todd stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror.
He ran gel through his hair, slicking it back neatly into a sharp, confident style.
The blonde looked good and striking.
He grabbed the folded costume design from his desk and headed downstairs.
Elena was already waiting in the car.
Todd slid into the passenger seat, and they drove off.
“Can I see the design?” Elena asked after a few minutes.
Todd handed her the paper.
She took one glance and let out a low whistle.
“This is bold. I like it. Very… commanding.” She handed it back with a grin.
“We can’t go to Edna Mode for this one. Your design has a cape, and she really doesn’t like capes. We’ll go to Alexander Galbaki instead. He owes me a few favors.”
They eventually arrived at a large, elegant mansion on the outskirts of the city.
The gates opened automatically.
A sharply dressed man in his late forties stood waiting at the grand entrance, smiling warmly when he saw Elena.
“Diabla! Always a pleasure,” Alexander greeted, kissing her on both cheeks.
He then turned to Todd, eyes appraising.
“And this must be the young man. Come in, come in.”
He led them into a spacious studio filled with mannequins, fabric samples, and high-tech sewing machines.
“So, what kind of suit are we making today?”
Todd handed over his design without hesitation.
Alexander studied it carefully, nodding with growing approval.
“Strong silhouette. Patriotic but modern. The cape will give excellent movement and presence. Excellent choice.” He looked up.
“It will be ready in two days. I’ll have it delivered personally and no payment necessary. I still owe your mother a great deal from the old days.”
Elena smiled.
“Thank you, Alex.”
____
Two days later
Todd was in the backyard doing intense exercises, push-ups, pull-ups on a sturdy tree branch, heavy squats with improvised weights.
His body was already superhuman thanks to the Homelander template, but he refused to rely on it completely.
Brute force without discipline was how characters like Homelander grew sloppy.
Todd wanted real strength and real skill.
He would train both his body and his powers.
In the last two days, the synchronization bar had climbed steadily to 46%.
Dressing the part, practicing the mannerisms, and flying had all helped.
Still not enough, but progress.
Ding~Dong
The doorbell rang.
Todd blurred across the yard in less than a second and opened the front door.
A man in a crisp black suit and sunglasses stood there, holding a sleek black briefcase.
“Good morning, Mr. Williams. I’m Collins. Alexander sent me to deliver this to you as soon as possible.” He handed over the case.
“Have a good day, sir.”
Todd took the briefcase inside and set it on the dining table.
He opened it carefully.
The suit unfolded beautifully.
Dark blue base with metallic sheen, red gloves and boots, gold eagle shoulder pads and bracers, and a flowing cape patterned like the American flag.
It looked powerful, patriotic, and commanding, a perfect blend of Superman’s classic heroism and something more modern and aggressive.
Todd carried it upstairs, changed, and stood in front of the full-length mirror.
He smiled, a slow, arrogant, satisfied grin.
The slicked-back blonde hair, the suit hugging his frame, the cape resting dramatically on his shoulders.
He looked right.
He looked like someone who belonged on top.
“Damn,” he muttered, turning slightly to admire the cape’s flow.
“This is it.”
RIIINGGG!!
His phone alarm suddenly blared.
7:30 AM.
“Shit— school.”
Todd quickly showered again, changed into normal clothes, and stuffed the folded suit into a large duffel bag.
Even with powers, he still had to attend school which is shit.
He grabbed his bag and headed out the door, already thinking about how he would make his official debut soon.
The world had Invincible.
It had Omni-man.
It had whatever was left of the Guardians.
Soon, it would have him and he planned to be unforgettable.