That’s Mr. Torch to You

“You’re kind of terrible at this whole flattering people you know,” Sam smirked, rolling his eyes at the hot head. “Wow, so you’re not going to get me anything that’s even remotely good.” He sighed. “It’s fine I can get my own you just worry about yourself there mate,”  he shrugged, moving from the line to one of the available seats as he waited for Johnny to end. Shooting his boyfriend a text he figured till Johnny would go to the audition to get what he wanted for himself and his partner.

“And here I thought you were my buddy, guess you can’t trust blondes anymore,” he teased, peering up from his phone.

“That’s because I’m the target of flattery,” he said with a flash of a grin, “not the flatterer. Please.” Not always true, of course, but Johnny did often make himself the center of attention. It had been a facade at first, but he’d been doing it for so long that it was more natural by then than whatever kind of person he’d been before the accident. Whatever kid had existed before the Human Torch had been out of the picture for a long time. 

[ @flamexonxbaby​ ]

[TEXT ➟ BROSEPH ] Reed’s here

[TEXT ➟ BROSEPH ] 

.

[Txt - Susie]: can nobody even say hi to me first anymore 

[Txt - Susie]: do i smell

How could anyone be mad at Normie for something so innocent? He was only doing what the adults gave him permission for but there isn’t any concern felt over it. Little fingers already piecing together different pieces to start the castle for Peter to see when he finally joins them later. Ultimately ignoring the adults and focusing on the toys now.

“Yeah … I only met Batman once while I was helping out in the city in my Hobgoblin gear. It was brief since there was a lot going on at the time but I can see why people admired him. Did you work together often?” Harry doesn’t talk about his secret identity with the majority of people since it only gets rough out every so often but he has always trusted Johnny since Peter does. “I think the world will be feeling this loss for quite some time.” Harry knows that he will.

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He thought he was in the clear. He really did. It had been at least a few months since the last waking nightmare roused him from his sleep and left him a sweating mess. He thought maybe this was the tail end. Maybe it would be over soon? Unfortunately, Peter never really had it that lucky.

It was difficult to catch his breath. He didn’t know how badly he’d thrashed in bed, but the blankets around his legs were wound tightly. He couldn’t hear anything, nothing but static in the darkness and the whir the fan in the living room. He could hear the cars go by in the city, in the night, in the darkness; he could hear Johnny breathing.

Peter felt the sweat roll down the side of his face and he willed himself off the bed, careful to try not to wake Johnny - if his fitful sleep hadn’t roused him first.

Johnny knew that neither he nor Peter were unique in that the last year, two years had been an endless series of difficult...everything. Every time one problem seemed to get resolved, or at least enough time passed to kind of put it on the back burner, another one was there to take its place. He’d felt bogged down in it. He’d been angry. Now there finally seemed to be a genuine light at the end of the tunnel and he was trying to cling to optimism again instead. He didn’t like to focus on the negative, at least not in the big, existential kind of way that they’d had to for way too long, so he was digging himself out of the pit. 

He’d kind of hoped that he was bringing Peter with him, just by proxy, but as he woke up to the sound of gasping and nearly got punched in the throat as an arm came down he had to acknowledge that maybe that wasn’t happening after all. Once he realized that nothing was actually there with them, he figured out it was just a dream. Peter woke himself up before Johnny had a chance to do it for him. 

“ .. its been a long night .. hell, a long week. ” a mumble, hands moving over her face. just her luck to get caught this easily. eyes snapped to him as he moved forward ; the fire stopping her from moving away. now the only way to get out of this was to side step him & make a run for it. he wasn’t that dumb. a sigh, eyes rolling as she glanced to the side. a pause at the mention of his name as her head slowly turned his way, an eyebrow raised. she had heard that threat many times before. “ you do know that he’s not the be all, end all, right ? he doesn’t have a weird ownership over me. ” a head tilt before grinning, shrugging at his next words. “ – i’m not .. going to give it back. i’m not stupid. i know as soon as i leave or hell, give it back. you’re calling the cops. ”

“So you’re just doing a little R&R by stealing whatever it is you’re keeping tucked away back there? Maybe you should try a massage instead. I can even give you a good recommendation. There’s this place on 7th. They’ll even bring you a glass of champagne with little raspberries in it. Chic.” The likelihood of him talking her out of what she was doing seemed slim, and he didn’t want to involve the police but certainly wasn’t going to just let it go altogether. 

Fortunately, Normie doesn’t appear to be feeling destructive today. He could always get distracted by having something to build whether it was with legos or cardboard boxes — anything does the trick, really. Harry always supports the creativity so when the blocks are poured out on the floor the child is plopping down next to them with an excited gasp. “A castle for Uncle Pete!” He places the action figures of Spider-Man and the Human Torch on the floor next to the blocks in sitting positions as if they were watching him build something grand. Harry figures he got this fascination of putting stuff together from watching him tinker with his safer inventions the last couple years. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of castle is built out of Star Wars pieces.

Harry turns his attention back to Johnny after that, seeing as the four year old has his attention occupied. “No more ban IS a good thing.” Maybe this meant he could start going out as Hobgoblin more … helping people without a worry about being arrested. Although, you can’t forget the losses that happened before the ban was lifted. “I knew him you know? Bruce was the first billionaire who approached me with helpful advice when I took control of Oscorp when I was eighteen. He made sure that I knew what I was doing since there wasn’t anyone else there to guide me. He was a good man.’ Harry sighs briefly. “I’m trying to look on the bright side too so you aren’t alone in that mindset.”

“Sure, kiddo. A castle for Uncle Pete. He’ll be pumped.” Who would definitely not get mad at Normie for playing with his toys, but Johnny might get an earful for opening the box. He was willing to make the sacrifice. 

Johnny Storm was definitely one of the most note worthy members of the fantastic four, now whether or not that was good thing was subjective. Sam felt a bit like he and Johnny were similar, but maybe the hot-head was a bit more brash, but he did always pull through for his comrades, and that was something anyone could admire from the walking candle stick.  “I…sure if you could call it that. Guess being in space make it hard to keep in touch?” 

“As if you’d let me say no,” Sam smirked before heading off in the direction of the shop. These drinks were not typically his thing, but being held ransom by Johnny Storm wasn’t so bad. Least it was free. “So why’d you decide to stop me and get something to drink? You could’ve easily had anybody else around your arm? So why did your firey self decide that this was the time to hit up your old space chum?”

“By the way I’d like a White Chocolate Frappuccino with marshmallows, honey, some caramel, chocolate sprinkles, Nutella, some cinnamon and hmm I don’t know, guess I’ll take about 20 cake pops and some of those nice mini sandwiches. A carrot cake sounds nice, I’ll take the whole cake too.”

“No excuses,” he waved it off. “I’ve been in space.” It was the reason he could burst into flame, after all. He wasn’t sure if he’d say space had been good to him, exactly, but it had been something to him. 

As for why he’d stopped beside Sam, of all people, Johnny just shrugged. “Why not? Unless you’re trying to say you’re bad company and I could find better, in which case...you might be right, but we’re already on the way in.” He flashed him a smile, clearly joking, and stepped inside to wait in line. 

she wasn’t expecting this, yeah maybe a cop or someone she didn’t know not him. this meant he was going to relay this back to peter ; well, maybe then peter would be able to see her this time. but then again, probably not. a small smile to him as she moved back again slightly. “ yeah ? thats nice .. ” then she felt heat behind her and she sighed, realisiing what was happening. “ i forgot you could do that .. ” a hiss, head turning to look at the fire before eyes narrowed slightly at the brightness of the flames. a groan before looking back at him. this was going to be a long night. “ .. – i really hate you, y’know that. i’m just trying to do my job then go home back to my cats. i’m not … doing anything .. ”

“You forgot the big ball of fire could shoot little balls of fire?” Johnny took a step forward, but he wasn’t really looking to fight. He would if he needed to, but it didn’t have to be that kind of night. Not with her. He tended to prefer saving the violence for something a little more deserving of it, like...planet eating alien god things or creepy bugs from other dimensions, not Black Cat. That was more Pete’s MO than his.

This is what happens when you don’t call before visiting someone. Harry is usually better about that sort of thing but after what happened in the city? He wanted to check on his best friend. He brought Normie with him who’s holding onto his Spider-Man and Human Torch action figures in his hands while they waited for the door to open up.  The four-year-old is keeping himself entertained while playing by the doorway. It makes Harry smile that despite everything that happens in the world … there’s still joy left in it.

Once the door opens and he found out that Peter wasn’t home . .  he isn’t too upset. “We would love to come inside.” He kneels ruffles his son’s hair briefly. “We’re going to hang out with Uncle Johnny instead, kiddo.” He flashes a smile to the other man though and walks inside after the child races in and plops down on the living room floor. Harry takes his jacket off once in the hallway. “How are you holding up with the recent events?” His eyes focused on the blond while moving deeper into the apartment.

Johnny had always liked kids. They were fun, usually, but could be the most brutal people on the planet. What came out of their mouths tended to be no-holds barred. Had he had his feelings hurt and ego bruised by a five year old before? Absolutely. That had definitely happened. Still, he liked them, and considered himself to be an excellent babysitter...provided the babysitting took place somewhere besides his own condo, with his own very nice stuff, anyway. Fortunately, Peter’s stuff was much less nice, and he had LEGOs. Perfect.

“There he goooooes,” Johnny said as Normie ran past him and immediately followed with an exaggerated speed-walk. He dipped into the spare room and pulled out an unopened box with a picture of...some kind of Star Wars thing. It rattled as he sat it down in front of Normie and ripped open the side, pouring the blocks into the floor in front of him. “Go wild, kid. Build something for Uncle Pete.”

The Fantastic Four, while technically and officially based in New York, had never exactly been short on off-planet adventures. Johnny had met a lot of people out in the big vacuum of space doing all manner of bizarre, sometimes heroic things. His contact list was long and it was weird. Fortunately, he was often what could be described as a motor mouth. Once he’d accepted that his abilities and the fame that came along with them meant near constant interaction with people, he just rolled with it. After years of that, he could and would talk to anyone about anything. 

He half-recognized Sam. If anyone had asked him how or from where, he couldn’t have come up with the answer. Somehow. Somewhere. That was good enough. Besides, he had nothing else to do, and his audition wasn’t for another two hours. 

she finally felt free. well as free as a thief could be, nova was no more ; but heroes were still a thing. they were definitely a problem. but she still had clients and jobs to fill, so she got around them. she always got around them. tonight was normal for her, although the gig was for her own benefit & not one of a client on the end of a encrypted set of emails. or maybe to test the limits of the city without nova breathing down her neck. the store was easy to break into, turn off the main alams ; trick the cameras into seeing last night’s feed & cut the glass to get into the main building. felicia just wanted a diamond necklace, nothing too fancy, mostly because if she got caught it didn’t mean much. this was a test of some sorts. arms pulled her out of the window, eyes catching sight of someone. a mental groan as she moved to fully appear, climbing out onto the roof ; a head tilt.  “ long time no see, huh ? ” there was a friendly tone, a grin pulling on painted lips. it wasn’t everyday she ran, or climbed out to see someone she knew ; even if she knew what this meant. the necklace was moved behind her back as she backed up from him, the grin not leaving her lips. “ – i’m gonna go, its past my bedtime.  ”  

Johnny rolled his eyes so hard that the expression was visible even in the dark. “I heard you’d been in town.” Black Cat’s preferred activity wasn’t one that he’d usually be dealing with, and he knew that the squeal of SCPD sirens would be coming along eventually, but the cops were always too slow weren’t they? That was kind of their thing. 

Johnny tended to know plenty of people all on his own. It came with fame and the easy persona that he slipped into that made socializing and banter and the public as a whole easy to deal with. He was a performer in more ways than one, and his circle tended to be wide, even if it was shallow. Peter had different kinds of relationships with people. Sometimes Johnny absorbed some of it, or at least noticed it. Once in awhile it came edged with just a tiny bit of jealousy, but there wasn’t as much reason for that anymore, luckily.

Even before the ban was lifted officially, Johnny had been active with the League and just on his own. He’d been too restless to do nothing. Now, he didn’t have to worry either way. No more NOVA, no more dumb law. Once in awhile, he joined Peter and they found some trouble to get into (or out of, depending) but that particular night the Human Torch was flying solo. Literally. 

The streak of fire that had lit the sky came to a stop on the roof of a jewelry store. A silent alarm had been tripped. The Fantastic Four hadn’t dealt too much with street-level crime back in the day, but he’d got used to handling that more with League patrols and all that time with Spidey. It definitely wasn’t the exact same rush as the big stuff, but it at least felt like he was helping. Besides, he could get there faster than the SCPD.