Chapter Text
The morning started just as any other: Sun shining, clouds just barely gliding over the New York City sky, Cars rushing past one another as dead end workers made their way to minimum wage jobs, looking up longingly at the billboards for the latest VCU movie. As usual, it wasn’t just the little guys clocking in, The penthouse round table of Seven Tower was filling up.
“Y’know, it’s been a while since we’ve actually had seven members… it’d be nice to finally achieve that for once” Homelander turned to face his allies, with a slight smirk that although seemingly full of warm amusement, was not without the foreboding sense that he could kill you without moving a muscle.
“How about a… recap, of last night, the saves you made and… trouble you got yourself in” his voice trailed slightly.
A-Train stepped up, hesitantly. “Well actually I stopped a bus crash last night, swooped in and stopped it just in time”
The others nodded approvingly
Homelander… didn’t
“And that’s with… no injuries… right?” His eyes were wide, he had a questioning smile on his face.
“Well uh… actually the driver did have a concussion, and a few passengers had to be rushed to the ER… but still they woulda died without me” A-Train defended himself.
Homelander glared at A-Train, his neck twitching, although his smile never faltered.
“We have… a reputation to keep up here, we are the heroes… remember?”
There was an awkward silence.
Suddenly, Homelander’s ears perked up…
“Actually sir I-” The Deep attempted to break the silence
“Shut the fuck up Deep” Homelander interrupted his fishy subordinate.
Another awkward silence, Homelander stepped towards the window, looking out.
Without saying a word of what he saw, he ushered the team. “Get to Times Square now, everyone” he opened the window and flew out.
Within just a short period, they were all there, standing in the centre of Times Square, staring at the huge pulsing, glowing disc in front of them, it seemed to be a portal of some kind, but that was impossible… right?
News helicopters roared overhead, people were everywhere, some running away screaming, some standing in awe.
The one thing everyone had in common, was that nobody had a clue what was happening.
The Deep stepped forward “Want me to secure the perimeter sir?”
Homelander sighed “I want you to stay quiet”
“Yes Homelander, sir” the deep looked down.
Queen Maeve got close to the blonde-haired leader of the team. “So what actually is your plan?”
Homelander looked around, concerned, but he couldn’t reveal that, no, he had to be the strong one, the leader.
“We... wait” He nodded “We wait” He repeated, louder this time. “Wait for whatever this is to… do something” his voice trailed
“You really have no idea” Maeve scoffed
Homelander quickly turned to her, putting his finger up to her face “I know exactly what to do, that is why I’m the leader of this team, and you’re just the fucking pretty face!”
He sighed, “Okay Maeve, Noir, secure the perimeter… or whatever”
Maeve rolled her eyes and went to ensure the crowd stayed away,
Noir followed suit, although with less sass and disdain.
“Wait sir that was my idea” The Deep approached Homelander
“Oh my…” Homelander said under his breath, making sure no civilians were able to hear him, “Don’t you have like a fish to fuck or something?” He questioned, partly as an insult and partly as a genuine thought.
“Uh no sir, always on the job” He gulped “No days off for me” He chuckled awkwardly.
“Why are you even here?” Homelander squinted, he was almost offended actually. “Do you see any water around?”
“No sir…” The Deep scratched his head, looking around and avoiding eye contact “Homelander sir” He said quietly.
Homelander turned to the large crowd that had formed around the portal. “Okay people, nothing to worry about, we have it all handled, go back to your boring jobs or jerk each other off or whatever” He announced, although the last part was quite a bit quieter, gotta keep the ratings high. He stepped back, turning his attention to the portal, its almost hypnotizing composition of blue and purple swirls, with crackling lightning and a bright glow, illuminating his face, even in broad daylight. He closed his eyes, basking in the gentle otherworldly warmth.
Then…. The crackles got louder, and faster, the glow got brighter, pulses more intense.
The team looked up at the portal, with intrigue, curiosity and admittedly, fear. It crackled and pulsed faster and harder, the lightning whipped around, flaring out to a dangerous extent. Some of the crowd screamed and ran away, but most just stood in shock. They all waited, to see where this would go. Suddenly, the swirling mass of indescribable energy opened up, the swirls stretched outward, revealing an inky black void behind. And finally, the void dispensed its contents, 4 people stepped out, and one, in the middle, hovered forward.
“Greetings citizens of Earth 1006” The hovering man announced, clearly he was the leader. His body was covered in a simple, blue bodysuit adorned with a huge red symbol, looking like a stylised “U”, it clung tight to him, highlighting his huge muscles, flowing behind him was a long red leather cape, draping down and adding to his intimidating and powerful aura. His hair was shiny, jet black and perfectly groomed, he had the face of a God, Visually, he was sickeningly perfect.
“I am Ultraman, and we are the Cr- Justice Syndicate of Earth 3! It is a pleasure to arrive at your world” He floated down to the ground, his pristine red leather boots gently making groundfall. “We are here on a special mission to inspect worlds and see how they’re fairing, and maybe help out around parts, every world needs a superhero team”
Homelander kissed his teeth, visibly frustrated “Well thank you… Ultraman but we’re okay here, how about you turn around and go home yeah?”
He turned around, throwing his arms in the air “We have enough superheroes around here, us… we-” He turned back to face Ultraman, “-Are the Seven” He had a huge smug expression on his face, but it was not without a hint that there was something more.
Ultraman raised his eyebrow “Seven?”
Homelander sighed “Yes I know there’s only five currently but… we’re working on it okay”
“Sounds like you do need help” another member of the team shouted out, a lighter built individual, wearing a red suit with yellow lightning bolts, and a large banana shaped helmet, he was shaking, and had a manic look on his face, he looked like some of the meth heads Homelander had killed the night before.
“Johnny Quick, n- nice to meet you” He ran over to Homelander in less than a second, his speed was insane, and his control was surprising to say the least.
Homelander looked disgusted. “Hey A-train!” he shouted “You can have this one… and maybe you can learn something as well”
Ultraman looked over and nodded at another member of his team, a tall man with a bird-like mask, before turning back to Homelander “How about we have a conversation? Maybe meet the great heroes of this world and get to know you all a little better”
Before anyone could answer, Maeve got a call.
“What’s up?”
“What the fuck is happening down there?” Ashley yelled
“These people from another world are here apparently, they want to visit Seven Tower” Maeve replied, surprisingly chill about the whole situation.
“Well??? Fucking let them in maybe??? It’s not every day you have interdimensional supes showing up now is it?”
Maeve sighed “I suppose” she hung up. “Hey, Homelander, Ashley said to bring our visitors to the tower”
Homelander shook his head “What!?” He looked back at the Justice Syndicate “Y’know what? Fine, come on”
Ultraman looked over at each of his teammates, giving them all a smirk.
────────────
There they were, the ten of them, the Seven meeting room.
“Nice place you have” Ultraman complimented, taking in the scenery “very… practical.”
Homelander spoke, with gritted teeth “Thank you, why don’t you introduce yourself?”
Ultraman smiled “Well as I told you, I’m ultraman, this is my wife, Superwoman”
He grabbed the woman to his left by the shoulder, somewhat possessively.
“Hello,” she said sternly.
She was tall and well-built, with long curly black hair and fair skin. She wore a dark blue bodysuit, almost black, sleeveless and legless with a silver chain that had an S symbol around her chest. Notably, she had a golden lasso attached to a strap on her thigh.
“Pleased to meet you all” she nodded
The man in the bird-like mask stepped forward, unlike the rest of them, he was heavily armoured, wearing a light grey kevlar bodysuit with a large metal owl over the chest, his gloves and boots clearly plated in solid metal. His shoulders and back were draped in a long cloak made of light grey feathers. He had a belt covered in pouches and pockets. He was like a walking tank.
“Owlman, I’m the brains of the group”
Johnny Quick dashed around the room “You already know me!” He said, his eyes bulging from his skull.
“And I-” a voice boomed from a previously quiet member, an older gentleman with long blonde hair and a thick beard, wearing dark purple scale-mail armour, complete with silver plates on his shoulders and knees, huge metal boots covering his feet, atop his head was a tall imposing crown. “-Am Sea King!” he stood proudly, gripping his trident with powerful intent.
The Deep looked over at Sea king, awkwardly sizing him up. “Fish guy huh? Yeah, nice bro” He said, clearly emasculated. “It’s a… noble thing… really” He nodded harshly, gulping as he desperately tried to keep his composure.
Homelander gave the Deep a disgusted look, before turning back to Ultraman. “Well it’s been nice getting to know you all, but I assure you we don’t need your help around here”
Ultraman gave a warm smile, something that really bothered Homelander, “I’ve seen this before, you’re the heroes in your world, and it’s true! You do seem to be the top heroes around here, I understand not wanting some aliens from another universe disrupting things, but I promise, we’ll make great allies while we’re here”
The leader of the Seven sighed, “Fine, you can help out I guess”
The ten of them all began socialising a little, crowding around each other and getting to know each other. They took note of them all seemingly having parallels with the other group, similar abilities that made them naturally match up, although some definitely felt intimidated.
The Deep approached Sea King nervously, although trying to play it cool. “Hey uh… Ocean Master was it?”
Sea king stared back without a word, just a frustrated breath.
“Whatever bro, look like, I think I got the whole ocean thing down around here, y’know like I don’t mean to brag but” His eyes widened, ready to drop a bombshell of information. “I can talk to sea creatures” he nodded, waiting for approval and awe.
Sea King looked back “Why would you ever want to do that?” He relaxed his posture a little, realising he really doesn’t need to look strong around The Deep.
The Deep’s face sank a little “Well um, because they like, have a lot to say… and stuff” He rested his hands on his hips.
Sea King shrugged, “I really can’t imagine they do, but hey, if the fish in your world are sapient, then I can see the appeal, might be useful.”
The Deep grinned “Yeah bro totally” he nodded “Totally useful man” He raised his hand out in a clenched fist, gesturing Sea King to bump it.
Sea King rolled his eyes, reluctantly bumping his fist.
While this was happening, and the teams were getting to know each other, Owlman pulled Ultraman aside.
“I did some digging”
Ultraman checked to see no one was listening “Well let’s see what the world’s greatest detective has for me”
Owlman leaned in further “These guys aren’t heroes, like sure they help out a person every now and again, but they’re all criminals, rapists, murderers, the exact people they claim to protect people from.”
Ultraman nodded and thought for a second “I see, an alleged super hero team with no morals, totally self serving huh?”
Owlman nodded.
“Do people know this? Or is the whole hero facade working?” Ultraman questioned, stroking his chin.
“Their PR teams are exceptional, anyone who questions them ends up being hated by the world and labelled a terrorist, in the eyes of the public, these guys are saints” The detective said.
Ultraman smiled, “You think they can help us out?” He asked “I mean sure right now they seem like just us but worse, ability-wise, but maybe they can help us out”
Owlman nodded again, “I think so, they’re all fucking idiots by the looks of it, we just need to dangle some keys in front of them and they’ll do what we want I’m sure”
Ultraman let out a hopeful sigh “Great, we’ll continue this little team up bit for a while, I want you with Noir, seems like their version of you, it’s fitting”
They both nodded, giving each other a slight smile.