The night breeze drifted softly over Johnson's home as he and Angela sat facing each other under the quiet glow of the moon.
"I need to tell you something," Angela said, her emerald eyes gleaming in the soft light.
"What's that?" Johnson asked.
"I love you very much… I really do. But I don't know if you love me the same way I do… do you?" she asked gently. "Please be honest."
"I would never lie to you," Johnson said. "The thing is… I love you too, but I don't love myself. So even though I know you have feelings for me, I've never really felt those things from you or anyone. But I really trust you though." He spoke quietly as he fed a chunk of melon into his mouth.
Angela let out a small laugh as she munched on her piece. "Haha… how can you say you love me when you don't even love yourself? You never loved me, did you?" She sighed, looking at Johnson with an intense, questioning gaze. "I trusted you, but you betrayed that trust. You killed Evolve as Quicklightning." Her voice trembled as her emotions finally broke free. "You don't trust me, Johnny. If you did, you wouldn't hide things from me. You just deceived me." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I would never lie to you, Angela. I'm sorry," Johnson said, his voice low and aching. "I only left that part out about being Quicklightning. I should have told you. I'm sorry." He cupped her face in his hands, wiping her tears as pain squeezed his chest.
I hope she doesn't make fun of my suit color… really hate to make her cry, he thought silently.
"The least you could have done was tell me. I'm not even sure you love me when you can't trust me," Angela said between sobs.
"I didn't mean to hurt you this way. I am sorry… I'm really sorry. I love you, and I'll do anything to keep you by my side at all cost. I take full responsibility for my actions. I only wanted to protect you and make sure you never got hurt." His eyes shimmered with tears as he spoke.
"I promise to never hold anything back from you," Johnson said softly, wiping the last of her tears.
Angela sniffed and looked up at him. "Can I see it?"
"What do you want to see?" Johnson asked, confused.
"I want to see your suit… the one you used to save that train that day," Angela said with a faint smile.
He chuckled softly, the tension easing for a moment. But her eyes soon fell to his hand.
"And what's that on your finger?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're already engaged."
"What? Hell nah," Johnson laughed nervously. "I can't be engaged to anyone."
"So what is it then?" she asked teasingly.
"It suddenly appeared on my finger that day we first met… remember?" Johnson said.
"Oh, at the hospital when you saved the city with your sister. I remember. You were pretty fast, but not as fast as you are now. You were evacuating citizens and leading them to safety." Angela blushed as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're blushing," Johnson teased with a grin.
"Me? Blushing? I could never…" She quickly turned away, hiding her face. "Just happy, I guess."
"That day, my sister and I were struck by lightning. At least, that's what it was… but it changed everything about us," Johnson said quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" Angela asked curiously.
"Well, I got faster and stronger. Same with Rose. There's this talking voice in my headit thinks like I do, but it helps me in battle. I call him Jake. He appeared in my heart since I got my abilities as a beta human," Johnson explained.
"You're a beta human?" Angela asked, her curiosity burning brighter as she offered him a piece of watermelon. "Come on, eat some."
Before he could protest, she pushed a chunk into his mouth. "I don't like you looking all smug and broody," she said playfully.
"I… I'm still kinda full from the one I was eating. Thank you," Johnson mumbled, his cheeks puffed out like a balloon.
Angela burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Oh my god, your face it looks so funny!"
"What's so funny?" Johnson asked in confusion, still trying to chew.
"You, obviously!" she giggled.
"I think I'm a beta human, given the abilities I have," Johnson said after swallowing. "But I know I'm lesser than that. I'm the lowest… of the low."
"You're not less than human, Johnny. You've gotta believe in yourself sometimes," Angela said softly. "I think you looked pretty cool to me when you saved those two hundred passengers from that train in Nevada, fixed it, and brought it back to the ground all by yourself."
Johnson's face brightened at her words. "It's expected… I don't really deserve to be called cool."
"The passengers reported being miraculously healed even after the explosion," Angela added with a smile. "Guessing you had something to do with that, right? You looked cool on television that day. I loved it." She reached out, patting his head gently. "Now show me your battle suit. I wanna see it."
"Thank you," Johnson said, his eyes glistening. "I'll keep doing things you love… always. Jake, release my suit please."
"Really? You sure about this? What if she turns on you?" Jake asked with a worried tone.
"I love her, and I trust she won't do anything to hurt me," Johnson said confidently.
Jake sighed, already knowing the future that would follow. "Well, don't blame me if anything goes wrong. Releasing suit of user."
"I won't. And thanks for this opportunity," Johnson said as he stood before Angela.
He took a deep breath, eyes locked with hers as he slowly raised his hand, showing her the ring on his finger. A faint hum filled the air..low, electric, almost like a whisper in the wind.
Then, with a sudden surge of light, the ring pulsed.
A ripple of multicolored energy burst outward, enveloping his entire body in a smooth wave. From the point of the ring, vibrant streams of prismatic light spiraled upward, weaving themselves around him. In the blink of an eye, they formed a sleek, radiant suit like a second skin shimmering in shades of blue, red, yellow, green And gold, all swirling in iridescent light.
The transformation was seamless, almost divine.
The fabric, if it could even be called that, hugged his tall, lean frame with perfect precision. Futuristic and regal in design, it gleamed like starlight. A sharp, diamond-shaped emblem pulsed softly on his chest, shifting colors from azure to crimson to emerald before settling into a steady glow.
His arms fell naturally at his sides as the final piece clicked into place a luminous collar sealing around his neck like a protective crown. His sneakers transformed into sleek, high-tech footwear that glowed faintly with each motion, charged by his very energy.
When he opened his eyes, they glowed softly not blinding, but radiant like the calm center of a storm.
He stood tall before her, transformed
powerful, composed, smiling.
Angela stared at him, breath caught in her throat. The boy she knew was something far more. And yet, behind all the light and glory, he was still him.
"Whoa," she whispered. "You weren't kidding."
Johnson chuckled lightly. "Told you I wasn't engaged."