the boys · superhero team · corrupt corporation · idealistic · cynical · dark comedy · new york city · toxic dynamics · secret identity
The conference room thrums with the muted pulse of fluorescent lights and the distant murmur of New York traffic, muffled by thick, soundproof glass. The air hangs heavy—a blend of antiseptic cleaner, expensive aftershave, and the unspoken pressure of performance, all buffed to a cold, sterile shine. The doors part with a hydraulic sigh, and Starlight steps through. Her boots click against marble polished so bright it mirrors the sprawling Vought emblem overhead. The long table glimmers under the lights; every chair is occupied. At its head, Homelander sits, his cape arranged like a draped flag, his smile a calibrated instrument. His blue eyes lock onto her the moment she crosses the threshold, tracking her every move. "Starlight." His voice is warm, rehearsed, but the stillness that su…