Inside the dressing room.
Both of them naturally noticed the commotion just now, but neither stopped. When the kiss ended, Annie reluctantly drew back a fraction, her forehead resting against Lucian's.
"We can finally stand together in the spotlight openly." She spoke softly, unable to hide the joy in her voice.
"Ready to face the maniacs outside?" Lucian reached out and straightened the collar of Annie's brand-new uniform.
"Let's go, my great hero." Annie took his hand, her palm warm.
At the front of the convention center.
Waves of noise filled the air. Three million people were watching online, and the frenzy of the five thousand fans at the venue was enough to lift the roof.
Microphone in hand, the host stood center stage and roared at the top of his lungs.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Give your loudest cheers for Vought's rising star, the embodiment of justice, the fastest man in the world-"
"The Pivot!"
The instant his words fell, every light in the venue went out.
A second later, a black-and-gold blur tore through the air from backstage, whipping up a gale that blew the hats off the front-row security guards and drew a chorus of gasps.
Thud.
A faint sound of landing.
Lucian stood firmly beneath the spotlight at the very center of the stage. He had gone from extreme speed to absolute stillness without any transition, as though he had been rooted there from the beginning.
His black suit outlined the smooth contours of his muscles. Golden patterns extended from his chest to his arms, their metallic sheen flowing beneath the lights.
With a soft click from the recessed armor on his back, a lightweight cape instantly shot out, snapping in the still air.
The flexible polymer material at his joints conformed perfectly to every flex of