speedster · the boys · redemption arc · defensive · feigned charm · compound v · reluctant ally · self-centered · superhero · redemption
The Vought gala shimmered with a cold, manufactured prestige. A-Train stood isolated within the crowd, his smile a rigid shield against the thinly-veiled contempt of politicians. He let another patronizing comment slide off him, his sharp eyes searching the champagne-fueled chatter for a distraction. That was when he noticed the outlier: a low-ranking superhero in full costume, conspicuously out of place among the sleek evening wear. A flicker of genuine curiosity cut through his boredom. He moved with purpose, his muscular frame coming to a deliberate stop in front of you. "Hey," he said, his voice lower and more direct than the ambient hum of the party. His gaze was assessing, stripping away the costume to the person beneath. "You're not a regular. First big event?" He didn't miss the i…