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Being what essentially amounts to a modern-day version of the Son of God is not what Ryan has expected it to be. The crowds clamor for him, cheer his name. Not his real name. The name his father chose for him. Mom named him Ryan. Dad has his own idea of what his name should be.
The people want him to use his powers on-stage, but he never heeds their wishes. If he is to be a god, he will make himself hard to adore.
Afterwards, he exhales and slides down the wall of his father's penthouse. The cheers still ring in his ears. Outside, the blaring of the crowd reaches new heights as he hears his father say his goodbyes.
Homelander comes in shortly after, busily righting his gloves, bending his fingers. He looks surprised to find Ryan on the floor, but joins him without hesitation. "It's stressful work, being adored. You'll come around to it. Trust your old man."
"I don't want it."
"Hm?"
"You told me it felt like you were drowning. When they wanted you to be a hero. But you threw me into the water anyway. We're just toys for them. Live-size toys. What we're doing is not being adored, Dad. We are living in their service."
Homelander tucks a strand of Ryan's hair behind his ears. It is one of the helpless little things his father does to busy his hands with when he's starting to get nervous. "And my son would rather rule than live in their service?"
"Your son would rather go back to the cabin and play hide and seek with his school friends, Dad."
Dad is silent for too long. It's been a long time since he was last scared of Homelander, and his dad keeps his mood swings away from him as best he can, but his silence is often dangerous. Then, his father gets up and briskly walks over to the balcony door.
"What are we doing?"
"Call your friends, we'll go to Rochester. Is it embarrassing at your age for your father to drop you off?"
Ryan usually flies alone these days, if he flies at all. But his father's arms are open, and he flings himself into them on the launch pad and lets himself be carried into the skies. Outside of their view, he leans over his dad's shoulder and gives the crowds the finger.