Moments later, the ship roared to life as the thrusters ignited, propelling it into space. It tore through Earth's atmosphere amidst intense vibrations, with the magnificent sight of the planet's blue curvature slowly receding in the distance. The cabin shook slightly, but the crew was used to this kind of journey; for them, it was almost like catching a morning train.
Victor, however, seemed incapable of relaxing. His sharp eyes were locked on Arthur and Susan, who were chatting cheerfully up ahead. They laughed at something trivial, perhaps a silly remark, but the light and intimate tone of their exchange made Victor's blood boil in silence. His expression carried irritation, and though he tried to mask it, it was obvious to everyone how much it bothered him.
Reed wasn't doing much better. The scientist kept his posture straight and his gaze fixed on the controls, but every so often his eyes strayed involuntarily toward Susan and Arthur. The envy he felt was as subtle as it was painful, like an old wound that never healed. He had known Susan for years, and yet their relationship remained stuck in some vague, undefined limbo. And Arthur—after such a short time—already seemed to have achieved what Reed never could.
Johnny, seated beside Ben, observed the scene with arms crossed and one hand scratching his chin. His usual grin was absent; instead, there was a thoughtful glint in his eyes. As Susan's younger brother, he recognized the signs all too well. He didn't need any deep analysis to realize his sister was beginning to take an interest in Arthur.
(How did he pull this off? Reed's known her for years and never got past that dead end… and this guy shows up out of nowhere and already has her laughing like that?) Johnny thought, furrowing his brows.
Beside him, Ben let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, as if he'd seen this kind of situation a thousand times and preferred not to get involved.
"So, what do you think is gonna happen between them in the end?" Johnny suddenly asked, leaning a little too close to Ben.
"Don't get that close, Johnny." Ben grumbled in his deep voice, pulling his face away. "You trying to kiss me or something?"
Johnny just laughed, but he was still waiting for an answer. Ben, however, had no intention of giving one. For him, it was better to let fate decide where this story would lead. After all, some matters were beyond well-intentioned advice.
"I don't know about you, but I think Arthur's pretty well-suited for my sister," Johnny muttered quietly, almost as if talking to himself. Even so, Ben heard him and rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond.
"He's handsome, she's beautiful… He's smart, she's smart… And no offense to Reed, but that guy's a complete disaster when it comes to emotions." Johnny added, leaning back in his seat and folding his arms behind his head.
A brief silence followed. Only the steady hum of the ship's engines filled the air. Johnny, however, wasn't content to just sit back as a spectator. His eyes narrowed, and a mischievous smile crept back onto his lips.
"You know what, Ben?" he said suddenly, standing up and adjusting his jacket as if preparing to make an important decision. "I think it's about time I had a little chat with this Arthur guy."
Ben raised an eyebrow but didn't stop him. He merely muttered, "This is gonna cause trouble…"
Johnny, of course, ignored the comment completely. With casual strides and his usual effortless confidence, he began approaching the pair who were still talking and laughing. He had no intention of just watching from afar — if Arthur was truly winning Susan's heart, Johnny had every right to test him personally.
As Johnny drew closer, his broad smile already betrayed his intent. Susan, spotting him, raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Johnny… what are you up to now?" she asked, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.
"What? Me? Nothing at all, sis." Johnny replied, his voice dripping with false innocence. "I just thought it would be polite to have a quick word with our VIP guest here."
Arthur blinked a few times, a little surprised at the sudden approach, but kept his tone light. "VIP guest? I don't know if I really deserve that title."
"Oh, you do." Johnny shot back, pointing a finger at him. "Think about it: you show up, insult Doom, make Susan laugh like she's fifteen again… and you leave Reed looking like a dog that just lost his bone. That's no small feat, my friend."
Susan groaned loudly. "Johnny!"
But Arthur chuckled. "Well, it wasn't my intention to stir up trouble. I was just being myself, I guess."
Johnny tilted his head, sizing him up with a sharp look that missed nothing. "Being yourself, huh? Interesting… 'cause usually that line is just an excuse to be boring. But in your case…" He paused dramatically, pressing his lips as if uncertain. "…it actually works surprisingly well."
Arthur raised a brow, intrigued. "Was that a compliment or a critique?"
"Bit of both," Johnny answered instantly, shrugging. "But don't worry, I'm an expert at reading people. And so far… you've passed the test."
Susan rolled her eyes, already regretting not keeping her brother in his seat. "Test? Johnny, for God's sake…"
Arthur, however, seemed amused by the boldness. "So, what, you're some kind of… inspector for your sister?"
Johnny's grin widened even further. "Exactly! My official title is: Elite Guard: Super-Stylish Version, Responsible for the Emotional Safety of Susan Storm." He finished the line with an exaggerated hand gesture, as if performing on stage.
Arthur couldn't hold back his laughter. "Good title. But does that mean I have to impress you to be accepted?"
"Oh, don't worry about that," Johnny replied, crossing his arms and leaning back with fake nonchalance. "You've already done half the job just by not fainting after hearing that ridiculous name I came up with."
Susan sighed again, but this time she couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. Johnny was being his usual annoying self, but deep down, she knew — this was his way of showing he cared.
Arthur caught the mood and, still in good humor, extended his hand toward Johnny. "So… how about we consider this test officially passed?"
Johnny stared at the hand for a second, as if debating whether to accept. Then, with a confident grin, he shook it firmly. "Deal. But don't get too comfortable… I'll be keeping an eye on you, Arthur."
Arthur let out a genuine laugh, and even Susan had to cover her mouth to hide hers.
From the back of the ship, Ben muttered to himself, shaking his head: "That kid never changes…"
And Reed, trying to keep his focus on the controls, couldn't stop his jaw from tightening.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."