Steven couldn't help but feel immense joy at seeing Darlene tearfully--with beautiful fondness--embrace her new surname. Her new family.
While he continued to lie on that beach of Japan, Darlene resided atop him, her bare pussy,--hidden by her maid's skirt--on the shaft of his flaccid cock.
Even so, at the moment, no lust was sparking between them. It was an undeniably heart-warming moment.
"I'm," Darlene began, trembling with excitement and disbelief. She blinked away her tears.
"I'm Darlene Price now?"
"If you'd make me happy by acce-"
"I accept!"
Steven laughed, prompting Darlene to do so as well.
Puffing out with glee, Darlene told him,
"I love you so much, Steven."
"Love you more, Sis."
"That's impossible."
"Is it really?"
The two stared at each other for a while, really and truly in love with each other.
Darlene moved down and pressed her lips to Steven's.
No tongue was exchanged. No craving was evoked. All that resided was pure love.
When Darlene broke the kiss to lean back, looking the happiest she'd ever been, Steven found himself saying,
"You're amazing, Darlene. My dream's to be the strongest hero; the type that stops a crime as soon as it starts, and also the type that never gives up; keep fighting for the people and only for the people."
Darlene felt comforted by those words of his.
"You're quite amazing yourself, Brother."
"So what's your dream, Sis?"
Darlene cocked her eyebrows.
"Oh? That was out of the blue."
"It's like I said before. I wanna get to really know you. Also," he softly spoke, smirking,
"I wanna try making your dream a reality."
Darlene felt weak, her stomach getting filled with butterflies.
"Oh, Steven."
"Talk to me, Sis."
Upon staring at him for a tense five seconds, she sighed.
"In all honesty, it's something I gave up on because of my mother's cold, awful words of me incapable of ever being a hero."
"So that dream's to become a hero?"
"Correct. See, as a child--before my experimentation began--I would watch news that took place in the past; specifically the segments featuring the heroics of Highergirl."
Steven almost couldn't believe Darlene's words.
"Highergirl? Wait, don't tell me she motivated you into wanting to be a hero, too?"
The woman's eyes bulged.
"Oh? You as well, Steven?"
Steven nodded, just as surprised to have his suspicions confirmed.
"Darlene, I know all about her being the greatest hero and all, but why exactly did-?"
"Highergirl saved me, Steven."
"When?"
Darlene found it odd that that question was his immediate reaction, but decided to answer anyway.
With some sadness, she said,
"Sixteen years ago; a few weeks before she and the majority of the Golden League were slain by Geitna."
Darlene beheld disappointment on Steven's mug.
'Why is he-? What?'
She made sure not to let the surprise show on her somber visage.
Darlene yearned to inquire, to understand what her brother was feeling; to get to truly know him as he wanted to know her. However, she could be extremely patient at times. This was one of those times.
"I was three years old when it happened, yet I still vividly remember how she rescued me. A man with a grudge against my parents destroyed my mansion in one go, and Highergirl arrived. She looked so calm; so unbelievably majestic. No wonder people agreed with her when she claimed she was an actual goddess. No wonder they worshiped her; still do. To this day, I haven't forgotten the words she said to me."
Steven seemed a tad too eager.
"What'd she say - what exactly? I need to know and I'll let you know why. Just please tell me, Sis."
Darlene gave him a small smile.
"Unnecessary asking like that, Brother."
Exhaling and losing that smile, she seriously told him.
"Amidst my mansion's destruction, when it seemed like time stopped, Highergirl whispered these words: 'Little one, do keep in mind that you were saved by a goddess, Highergirl herself. I've been the best hero since I first came to this planet over a century ago. And though there are Golden-Hand heroes like myself, there are very, very few who harbor an aura like mine.'"
Steven scoffed.
"So she pretty much patted herself on the back?"
Darlene gave him a derogatory look.
"Steven, I am not... finished."
"Alright, alright. Go on."
"Highergirl's next words are as follows. 'I have bestowed blessings, ended wars, put to rest Hitler and his troupe of clowns, totally eradicated slavery, and made evil but a whisper-'"
"Oh, c'mon. The bitch was basically eating her own pussy."
Darlene scrunched up her face, looking equal parts furious and cute.
"Steven."
"Sorry, sorry. Keep going."
She scoffed, clearing her throat thereafter.
"'In doing all of that, I have saved countless individuals, and I have only ever seen five others on this Earth with an aura like mine. I'm delighted to inform you that you're one of them, Darlene.'"
'The fuck?' was Steven's first thought. His confusion showed on his face.
"'You are not of Bidainian blood as myself and the five others on Earth, Darlene, yet the will of my people courses through your soul. No matter how hard life gets, no matter how weary of it all you become, please never give up. Keep fighting. Keep trying to become the best version of yourself because you have a right to realize how positively astounding you are. Truthfully, everyone does. But you, your limitations are of a different variety; no consequence, which is why I am the one informing you. Grow.'"
Darlene pursed her lips, getting emotional.
"It was then Highergirl smiled-"
'She fucking smiled?'
"at me for the very first time, saying, 'Whether you awaken and use your innate boundlessness for good, evil, or of no moral influence is up to you. You decide your fate. Choose what path to walk and never turn back. Just be sure to realize your greatness. Please, Darlene.'. Then she vanished, and the man who destroyed my home was already in her cosmic prison."
Steven seemed oh so very perplexed.
"That's fucking insane. You make her sound like a totally different person than the time she saved and spoke to me."
As if she just received a smack to the face, Darlene shook her head.
"Excuse me, Brother?"
"Oh, right, I haven't told you. Highergirl's still alive."
"What...? No."
"Yup. Bitch faked her death and just gave up on us. She saved me when that school shooter teleported into our class and started blasting at us."
Darlene swiftly parted her lips to spout out questions but shut it, thinking for a short while.
"Elaborate, Steven."
"Alrighty. So it seemed like time stopped when Highergirl stood in front of the flurry of bullets to change their courses. Then she told me--not in a whisper--, 'With this, my debt to your mother is repaid. I did this for Mia and solely for Mia. You're not worth it otherwise, Steven. None of you are. Sharing my aura is inconsequential.'"