Sunny with a Chance of Clouds

You regretted everything you said about this maybe being fun, interesting, or even remotely enjoyable. So far you'd sat around while Starlight smiled, waved, and signed autographs for people. Homelander was supposed to get here later to give a speech to help with the upcoming military bill, or at least your memories said he was, but things were shifting, so who knows.

Your phone vibrated in your pocket; pulling it out, you had a single text from an unlisted number, although given you rarely named your contacts, you may know them. Obviously they knew you given the message.

"Popclaw found dead in Cuba. This is becoming an epidemic. Think you can handle an autopsy when you get back?"

The sender didn't send their name, and you weren't going to ask.

Replacing your phone in your pocket, you tried to remember how this went in canon, but you were just drawing a blank, your brain wasn't running as smoothly lately. You hoped you weren't coming down with something, that thought brought a wry smile to your face.

Looking up, you saw Starlight starting to walk away and jogged to catch up with her. You caught up with her while she was talking with a guy, probably a fan. "I'm surprised they let you wear your old outfit." He said as Starlight giggled, a sound you hadn't heard her make in a few weeks since your 'fight'.

"Yeah, apparently this one is much more wholesome." She said as the guy gave a wry chuckle.

"Yeah, the other one does have a serious Nicki Minaj vibe."

"If you were unhappy with your new outfit, then why did you insist on not refusing to use it?" You asked, alerting both people to your presence.

"Hello Nick. Hughie, this is my manager Nick. Nick, this is my friend Hughie." Starlight introduced as both our eyebrows raised. This was Hughie, you didn't remember him looking like that, did that mean Butcher and the other Boys would look different to how you remembered them. But Starlight and all of Vought still looked the same, you felt a headache starting to brew.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Starlight has told me so much about you, but it's nice to finally have a name and a face to go with your exploits." Hughie was at least attempting to be friendly, although his statement left you wondering just how much Starlight had spilled.

"I feel like I've seen you before, you remind me of the guy that A-Train had a meeting with. I was too busy getting everything set up for Star's first day to make it, how did the meeting go?" You inquired back, but you never got an answer as Starlight interjected.

"And I've already told you why I didn't come to you about the costume, I thought you were taking to personal of an influence in my career. Although I am sorry for blowing up at you like that, I meant what I said, if I run into any real problems, I know I have you in my corner, but I want to handle the small things like a costume or annoying fans." Starlight said, trying to extend the olive branch as you looked at her.

"Fine, so long as you realize that I'll be in your corner until you manage to convince me you don't need me anymore. That's me, Starlight's blankie, at least until we have another new recruit." You muttered, running a hand through your hair.

"Honestly, I was more of a pacifier girl, something to put in my mouth than hold." Star's comment made both me and Hughie snort and a light dusting of rose appeared.

"So have you told your mother about your new outfit?" You asked as Starlight looked at you in confusion, "No, why?"

"Sorry I'm late dear, we took forever at the airport, what with all the Flight 87 stuff going on right now. I was stuck next to some hussy the whole flight showing off every inch of her skin, she might as well have found a pole to dance on." You shared a knowing look with Hughie behind the women's back.

"Oh, who are these boys, some of your fans? Well don't just leave them standing there, give them an autograph or selfie or whatever." Star's mom said, looking at you and Hughie in confusion, confusion that would probably only grow in a moment.

"No Mom, this is Hughie he's my... friend." Hughie shook her hand in greeting. "And this is Nick, he's... my boss." Star couldn't have hidden the embarrassment in her voice if she tried.

"Your boss, but baby I thought your boss was Vought, or that nice lady Marilyn Stillwell?" Donna! (that was her name) inquired.

"Madelyn Stillwell, and only in an overarching capacity, Nick is the personal manager of the Seven, and for the moment me especially since I'm still getting used to everything." Starlight said everything with such a smile that for a moment you forgot she was playing the rebellious teen in your relationship.

"But, he looks so young." That made you chuckle as you came forwards, allowing Starlight to fall back as she started talking with Hughie again.

"So do you Miss January, and your daughter as well. I won't forget the first time she went out on patrol, a cop stopped her and asked why she was playing hooky. She's especially polling well among young males 18 to 25, which is probably advisable since that is her age range, but some of the fan mail she gets. If it keeps up, we have to send her out in a muumuu. Personally I've been blaming all that Midwest clean living but I see now it was you who turned your daughter into such a stunner." You said, turning Donna into a crimson lighthouse in embarrassment rather than anger.

"Oh stop that, I'm practically old enough o be your mother." Donna said, apparently forgetting that she was disapproving of me only moments earlier.

"Worse than that is you're right, I am young, especially for the position I've found myself in. I just had my 19th birthday, so Starlight is even older than I am, which makes my job very difficult since she likes to treat me like I'm her little brother. She's being tell me it's a compliment, since she always wanted a younger sibling, but I'd settle for her listening to my advice just once." You continued rambling on, now somehow leading the procession through the maze of popup tents and stalls selling various things.

"Oh, well I'll try and have a word with her before I have to leave." Donna assured you.

"Speaking of leaving, Starlight you have that round-table, minus the table, talk with the teens in ten minutes, we have to get moving. Say goodbye to your boyfriend and let's go." You ordered, playing up the annoying little b(r)other angle.

"He's not my boyfriend, we're just friends." Starlight said in a huff. "You want to come with?" She turned back, asking Hughie.

"No thanks, but you go talk around those teens." Hughie said, as he turned and vanished into the crowd of people thronging about.