THE BOYS: The Wrong Main Character

THE BOYS: The Wrong Main Character

In the VIP area of Believe Expo, only a handful of people had access. Most of the guests were wealthy donors, politicians, church leaders, and corporate sponsors — expensive suits, polite smiles, private conversations. Among all of them, Hughie looked completely out of place.

He kept adjusting the pass around his neck, silently wishing this mission could be over already.

A familiar voice reached him. "So, you’re Mark’s friend?"

Hughie turned and nearly froze. Homelander stood there with his usual smile.

"Umm... yeah. We’re friends." He hadn’t expected Homelander himself to be in the VIP section.

"Close friends?" The question sounded casual.

"Not really. I mean, we met recently."

"Recently, but he gave you one of his VIP passes. He must really like you."

Hughie laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess."

A brief silence followed before Homelander extended his hand. "I don’t think we’ve met properly. Homelander."

Hughie reached out instinctively. "Hughie. Hughie Campbell."

Their hands met. Homelander’s grip was firm but perfectly normal. "Nice to meet you, Hughie. Any friend of Mark’s is welcome here."

"Thanks."

From this close he looked exactly like the public image everyone loved. For some reason that only made Hughie more nervous.

"So," Homelander said casually, "enjoying Believe Expo so far?"

Hughie swallowed. "Yeah... it’s definitely something."

"Um, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you, one and all, and I would very much like to welcome... Homelander, our special guest." Ezekiel spread his arms with the same practiced smile. "So, without further ado, if you would follow me."

The crowd applauded. Hughie joined in a second later, mostly because everyone else was doing it.

The VIP guests moved into another section of the building — larger, quieter than the public areas outside. Soft worship music played in the background, and at the center stood a large pool prepared for baptisms.

Ezekiel walked toward the front. "Today is about renewal. Today is about accepting God’s love and allowing Him to guide us toward a better future. Homelander is an ordained minister in Samaritan’s Embrace, and together we will welcome those who wish to reaffirm their faith."

The wealthy donors and church leaders nodded along. Homelander stayed near the front with his perfect public smile, occasionally shaking hands and posing for photographs.

"Come forward, one by one, and be reborn," Ezekiel said, stepping into the pool. Homelander stood opposite him while volunteers guided people into line.

One after another the attendees entered the water.

"Do you accept the Lord, our Father, as your savior, and do you place your faith in His son?"

"Yes, I do."

Homelander gently placed a hand behind the person’s back and another across their shoulders, expression warm and reassuring as cameras captured every angle.

"Then let this be a new beginning," Ezekiel said, lowering the person into the water, fully immersing them before helping them back up. "May your sins be washed away, and may you walk in faith from this day onward."

Eventually it was Hughie’s turn. He stepped into the pool trying his best to stay calm. The phone in his pocket suddenly felt much heavier than before.

Homelander greeted him with the same perfect smile. "Something bothering you, Hughie?"

"N-no. I’m okay."

"Do you accept the Lord, our Father, as your savior, and do you place your faith in His son?"

"Yes, I do."

The guests watched quietly. Homelander moved behind him, arm across his shoulders in the traditional manner. "Wonderful. Let’s wash away those sins."

He lowered Hughie backward into the water.

For a brief moment Hughie expected to be pulled back up immediately, just like everyone before him.

Instead Homelander kept him there. One second passed. Then another. Water filled his ears as panic began to rise. He instinctively tried to move, but the arm supporting him stayed absolutely still. Through the water he could barely make out Homelander standing above him.

The smile never disappeared.

Finally he lifted him back out. Hughie erupted into a coughing fit, sucking in air while water dripped from his clothes. To everyone else it looked like an emotional response to the ceremony.

Homelander patted his shoulder gently. "There we go. All your sins are washed away."

Ezekiel moved on to the next person without noticing anything unusual.

Hughie stared at Homelander with growing unease. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

He had no idea that simply being Mark’s friend had already placed him on Homelander’s radar.

After changing into dry clothes, Hughie reached into his pocket and froze. The phone wasn’t turning on.

Water. It had to be the water.

"Shit," he muttered.

The baptism was already over. People were leaving, volunteers were cleaning up, and Ezekiel was preparing to head toward another event.

A wave of panic hit him. If I miss this chance, everything is going to be a disaster. They needed information about Samaritan’s Embrace, and without the video his entire leverage had disappeared.

Then he noticed Ezekiel walking ahead with no security around him. For a brief moment they were alone.

It was now or never.

Taking a deep breath, he hurried forward. "Mr. Ezekiel, I have something I need to talk to you about."

Ezekiel turned around with a pleasant smile. "Of course, son. Is everything alright? You seemed a little overwhelmed during the baptism."

A/N : There will be Minor crossover and the next world is Jujutsu Kaisen

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A/N: Advanced Chapters are available on Patreon.

👉 /Mark841

Currently, 22 advanced Chapters are available