defenderofdesmoines | Vought Tower | Late Tuesday Afternoon

Starlight hated to admit it, but she was starting to get kind of comfortable in the bodysuit.

The boots were another story -- it had taken her weeks to master walking in them, and she still occasionally stumbled, but...look, her original Starlight outfit was so tight. But this thing, like, sure, it was barely there and she had to adjust her boobs four times a day, but at least she could breathe?

This was what Starlight was thinking as she boarded the elevator: that this would be a prime opportunity to adjust her boobs.

At least, until that gloved hand stopped the doors from closing, and she was joined in the elevator.

"Hey, Homelander."

Starlight kept the fear out of her voice as best she could, and so the words came out low and throaty and fairly emotionless.

Hello, reason she hadn't had a good night's sleep in weeks.

Homelander	Oh, Starlight. You fascinating little traitor, you. Homelander took a few steps in so that he was situated behind her right shoulder, folded his hands in front of him, and waited a moment. Then, once the elevator was between floors -- super-hearing was fantastic, in case you were wondering -- he reached forward and pressed the emergency stop button.
Starlight	Starlight swallowed thickly, her eyes on Homelander's hand as he first pressed that button, then slowly and deliberately placed his removed glove on the elevator's handrail. She couldn't show him how scared she was right now. She willed her breathing to stay even as she kept her eyes on Homelander. Whatever he was going to do to her, it wasn't like she'd be able to stop him.
Homelander	"Maeve," Homelander said after a moment, his voice low and soft, "begged me to spare your life. So I gave you a second chance, and...you failed me."
Starlight	Starlight started to open her mouth to immediately protest, then thought better of it. He could mean a few different things, here. She needed to not give it all away, if he didn't know. "What are you talking about?"
Homelander	Homelander was quiet and still, then finally just shook his head in disappointment. "No more lies," he said softly, before swiftly grabbing Starlight by the throat with his ungloved hand, and slamming her into the wall of the elevator.
Starlight	She really should have been more prepared for that, but it still took her by surprise. Starlight tried to scream, but Homelander's grip was too tight and only getting tighter. She made a guttural noise, deep in her throat, as she frantically grabbed at his wrist.
Homelander	"You go ahead and scream as much as you want," Homelander whispered as he held her still, hardly even exerting effort. He traced his free hand down her body, passing lightly over her breast and the curve of her hip. But that wasn't what he was here for, and he made as much clear when he jabbed three strong fingers directly into her abdomen. Super-skin or not, he was stronger than her, and he was out to cause some internal bruising. Did you want to have kids someday, Starlight? Think carefully about your answer.
Starlight	"What --" It came out as a croak, and Starlight gasped for air as she tried to get the words out. "What did I do?" His hand, digging into her midsection, was a new pain in addition to the hand around her throat. She could barely concentrate given the two, but she couldn't just give it up, either. Too much was at stake.
Homelander	"I told you to kill Hugh Campbell, and you hesitated," Homelander informed her, increasing the pressure of both his grip and his fingers. "Because you're working with him."
Starlight	"I -- " she gasped, "I said we should go to the police." Her vision was starting to go a little blurry. It made her fight back harder, her hands grabbing at his wrist as she cried out furiously.
Homelander	"And don't think," Homelander said softly, pressing his fingers in against her insides until she let out a little moan of pain, "that I've forgotten about your secret boyfriend." He might not know what the secret boyfriend had to do with any of it, but the very fact that she was hiding him was crime enough to Homelander.
Starlight	"Fuck you." Starlight managed to yell the words. The pain from Homelander's hands was temporarily forgotten, and she felt a surge of strength from the adrenaline that hit her system. "Diego," she ground out, holding eye contact with Homelander, "has nothing to do with any of this. He doesn't even live here. He's not a secret, he's just -- shy. Private." Maeve had told her to keep him secret, and now she understood, clear as day, why. It wasn't the paparazzi. It wasn't Vought. It was Homelander.
Homelander	"Not too shy to fuck you in a car on Valentine's Day." Homelander really had been thorough in his research. He had also gotten security footage of that restaurant, and the street nearby where they'd parked. He'd seen the light from inside that car a few minutes after they'd gotten into it. And now, he really wanted to see the panic in her eyes. More people should be this scared of him. Love or fear. If you can't have one, get the other. "I saw," he added, leaning close to her ear, "you two in the restaurant." So he knew that guy wasn't just some cop, Starlight. Use that pretty little brain of yours for once.
Starlight	"Saw what?" she countered immediately, resisting the urge to give into the panic at the idea of Homelander having found footage of her from before she ever even auditioned for the team. She knew he could both hear and smell her fear, and she needed to be brave, right now. "Saw me, blowing my -- secret identity? Saw Diego throw a knife?" He had good aim. That was all, Homelander. "What?" Another time, another place, she'd be embarrassed about the car. Not right now, though. Not when she was so sure she'd die if she didn't say the right things. "And Hughie Campbell," she continued, since Homelander was now watching her with quiet, predatory interest, and had stopped increasing his pressure for the moment, "is a fucking scumbag who used me and threw me away." The last syllable was lost in a gasp as she fought for air. "And part of me wants to -- blast his fucking face off, so no, I'm not working with him." "But." Her breath was so shaky, now. Her head was so light. "If you want to kill me because I'm not a murderer and won't straight up execute someone, then go ahead."
Homelander	He watched her, quiet and still as a snake waiting to strike, and simply dug his fingers in a fraction harder. This all tracked, so far. He kind of wanted an excuse to kill her, but -- maybe not yet.
Starlight	"So tell me," Starlight managed, holding Homelander's gaze steadily and ignoring the burning ache in her gut. At least if he was going to kill her, he'd have to do it with her staring straight at him. He didn't get the satisfaction of seeing her afraid. "Am I lying?"
Homelander	Homelander held her in place for a long, quiet, still moment. He could just crush her neck in a second. End this all. But she wasn't acting afraid of him, and that was...disappointing. He let her go, flicking the emergency button again to restart the elevator. When it reached the next floor and the doors opened, only then, as he was walking off, did he idly comment, "You're not lying." And then he walked down the hall in disappointment.
Starlight	Which left Starlight to lean back against the elevator wall and try to catch her breath as she watched him stride away through the closing doors. Once they were shut, she let herself sink to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest. Now it was her turn to hit the emergency stop button. She took a few minutes to just work through some panicked breathing before she was shaking uncontrollably, her head on her knees like she could protect herself by making herself smaller. After a minute or two, Starlight got to her feet, hit the emergency stop button again, and swiped at her eyes. New plan. She was going to her apartment. She was getting ahold of Hughie. And she was going to Fandom. No more of this. She wasn't going to let Homelander -- and now Stormfront, too -- keep terrorizing her. At least, not without a fight.

[taken from The Boys 2.04, 'Nothing Like It in the World' and tweaked a bit. warning for Homelander being violent and weirdly sexual, NFB/NFI/OOC welcome per usual!]