Starlight gripped her cue card, knuckles white against fake gold trim, and stepped onto the blinding studio floor. Homelander already waited on his mark, blue eyes fixed on the teleprompter, the studio lights painting halos on his cape. The Deep lurked just behind the camera, practicing his smile in the reflection of a makeup case. The producer’s voice crackled through Starlight’s earpiece:
“Big debut, Annie. You ready?”
Red tally lights flashed as the director called,
“Live in three.”
Starlight forced her brightest smile, heart thumping. Homelander turned just enough to meet her gaze, the smile on his face never touching his eyes.
"Stick to the script, kid,"
he murmured, soft enough for her alone. The countdown hit one. The camera’s red eye blinked. Her turn. Starlight stepped forward, cue card trembling, the city skyline a painted backdrop behind her. The applause sign flickered. Every instinct screamed to say something real, but the teleprompter scrolled the lie Vought paid her to read.