Chapter 13
Adam stood with Butcher and the rest of the Boys outside the stadium.
The race between A-Train and Shockwave was going to take place there. People were still entering through the main gates while the team waited away from them.
Butcher looked at everyone.
"All right, boys. Move to your positions."
M.M. looked toward the stadium before turning back to him.
"You remember Homelander will be in there, right?"
Butcher glanced at Adam.
"Yeah," he said. "We've got an answer for him too."
Adam understood that Butcher was talking about him. He did not respond.
For now, their target was the Compound V.
They entered the stadium separately and moved toward their assigned places. Butcher and M.M. kept watch from different sections. Hughie and Adam wore reporter cards so they could remain near the changing-room passage without drawing attention.
Before they separated, Butcher made sure everyone could hear through the earpieces. From that point on, each member kept looking around while moving through the stadium.
Frenchie had taken another route.
He moved through the ventilation space above the changing room and stopped over one of the openings. From there, he could see A-Train preparing for the race.
A-Train checked his suit while his bag remained close to the bench. Frenchie watched the bag without moving. There was not enough room for him to turn properly, so he stayed flat above the opening and waited.
He only needed A-Train to leave.
After A-Train left, Frenchie planned to climb down and search his bag for the blue vial shown on Popclaw's webcam.
Outside the changing room, Adam stood with Hughie.
Adam already knew what was about to happen. In the original story, Starlight would head toward the changing room and almost catch Frenchie. Hughie would stop her before she entered.
This time, Adam planned to do it himself.
He stood near the passage and kept watching the people moving through it. Hughie stayed a short distance away with his reporter card visible.
After some time, A-Train left the changing room.
Frenchie's voice came through the earpiece. "He is moving. I am going down."
Adam looked toward the other end of the passage.
Starlight was coming toward the changing room.
Her mood looked bad. Her smile was gone, and she kept her eyes lowered as she walked. She looked nothing like the excited girl who had first entered Seven Tower.
Adam moved before she reached the door.
He stepped in front of her.
"Hi."
Starlight stopped and looked at him. Her eyes moved from his face to the reporter card hanging around his neck.
Adam kept his body between her and the changing-room door. He did not block her in an obvious way. He only stood close enough that she had to stop and speak to him before moving ahead.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I can't do an interview right now."
Adam quickly moved the card behind him.
"No, sorry. I'm not here for an interview."
Starlight looked at him again.
Adam hesitated on purpose. He rubbed the back of his neck and acted like he was having trouble finding the right words.
"Actually, I don't know how to say this."
His shy act made the question on Starlight's face grow stronger. She had expected another reporter asking about the race. Adam was behaving more like someone who had finally gathered the courage to approach her.
The whole team could hear him through the earpiece.
Frenchie had already climbed down into the changing room. He knew Adam was keeping Starlight outside, so he moved toward A-Train's bag and began searching it.
Butcher listened from his position. M.M. heard the same exchange. Hughie stood close enough to see both of them.
No one interrupted Adam.
Starlight looked a little surprised.
"Okay," she said. "What is it?"
Adam took a breath.
"I've been noticing you for a while," he said. "I saw you on your first day, when you came here with your mother to join The Seven."
Starlight's eyes changed slightly.
"You looked happy that day," Adam continued. "It looked like you had finally reached the dream you had been chasing."
Starlight did not answer.
She had been happy then. Joining The Seven had been the dream she had carried since childhood, and Adam had spoken about that day without making fun of it.
Adam kept his voice gentle.
"But after that day, whenever I saw you again, you looked sad. Every time, you seemed more broken than before."
Starlight stared at him.
"It feels like your dream is falling apart," Adam said.
The words shocked her.
For a second, Starlight forgot about the changing room. Her shock was clear. Adam had spoken about the pain she had been hiding.
Frenchie continued searching A-Train's bag while listening to the conversation. Butcher remained silent. M.M. did not tell Adam to hurry.
Adam was keeping her away from the door, so none of them stopped him.
Hughie also stayed where he was because Adam had already taken control of the conversation.
They were standing in public. Starlight noticed other people nearby and forced a small smile.
"No," she said with some hesitation. "It's not like that."
Adam watched her face. Her answer did not match her expression. He did not challenge her there.
By then, Frenchie had already left the changing room.
He pointed his thumb behind him.
"Could we talk over coffee?"
Starlight looked surprised again.
Adam lowered his voice a little.
"I genuinely want to talk to you. I've wanted to do it for a long time, but I never got the chance."
He gave her a nervous smile.
"Today I finally got one."
Starlight stayed quiet for a few seconds. She looked toward the changing room, then back at Adam.
Adam waited without pressing her. The team could still hear him through the earpiece. He kept his attention on Starlight and allowed her to decide.
"Okay," she said.
Adam led her away from the passage. Hughie watched them go.
Starlight and Adam found a place nearby and sat down with their coffee.