got it, super-nova bad.

Fantastic 4 x F1: Johnny finds a comfortable seat after a hard-earned victory.

@amarvelousmencgerie

"Hey, sweetheart. I've been looking everywhere for you. C'mere, I want to introduce you to someone." Johnny was fairly sure he'd never spoken to this girl in his life, much less have been searching the party for her, but it was the quickest way to extricate her from what looked like a borderline painful encounter with a lord old enough to be her grandfather. Johnny'd had the misfortune of being trapped in that conversation before, and he wouldn't wish it on his dearest enemy, much less a beautiful blonde. His arm wrapped around her waist, and he steered her away without further explanation.

He dropped his arm as though he'd been burned, but that might have been to snag a couple of glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. "Wow, okay. That wasn't a kidnapping. I was saving you from a conversation with the world's most boring human. Nobody beats his Most Stuffy Lordship at ruining a party. So you're welcome." That was gratitude for you. He offered her one of the glasses and tipped the other toward his lips, emptying its contents in one swallow. He wasn't even that fond of champagne, but in a party this dull, he'd take whatever he could get.

Kara couldn't help but smile at him, a small chuckle. "I'm sorry." She took the champaign from his hands and swallowed it the same way he did one one go. She could tell he didn't recognize her and even that made the whole party fun now.

She'd been working with Dr. Richards and his wife for the last three months on a new space ship. It used the technology from her own to try and make it better for multi-dimensional travel. She'd seen pictures of him on Sue's desk but he was so much cuter in person and she wondered if she should tell him. Sue had said that she'd mentioned her to him, they were going to be the ones travelling first but Kara knew she must have not shown him a picture.

Right as she was about to tell him, Reed stood up at the front and introduced her to come up. Kara placed her hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Mr. Storm could you please hold this for me. I've been called by your brother-in-law to speak." She put it in his hand before walking off the beautiful red dress that hugged each curve perfectly swayed as she walked towards the from with the small train fluidly moving behind her.

Making it up, she kiss Reed and Sue on the cheek before turning around. "Thank you for coming to my gala. I know you've all been waiting to see the latest in space techology and the first collaboration between Baxter and my father's company Stark Industry. Now, I know we are a little behind and, " She motioned towards Johnny, " Jonathan Storm will need to train for a month but him and I will be making our first multi-dimensional flight by the end of the month. "

Kara pulled the cover off of a large framed picture up a the front. It was a beautiful ship and nothing like it had ever been created, mostly because of the crystal techology that came from her people. "I am very proud also to use this ship to honor my people that have long since gone. Being the Last Daughter of the advanced society of Krypton I do believe that my father, my biological one, smiled and everyone chuckled. " would be proud.

Kara went on about the ship before Reed helped her take a step down as she walked back towards the man who had saved her from the boring conversation and a woman came up with a jacket in her hand. She smiled at Johnny. "So Johnny I've heard a lot about you and I've been informed you are the best pilot I could as for. So in honor of our partnership of going to another universe, I would like to gift you with this flight jacket that has the logo that Ben created using all of our symbols in one that will also make it on the ship." Handing it to him, Kara reached up with her hands on his shoulders, kissing him on the cheek.

He swiftly pawned off the empty glasses on a passing waiter, most of his attention now devoted to watching her walk away. He was so distracted by the view, in fact, that it took a moment for the words to sink in, and then he chuckled quietly as she took the stage. Okay, so that was definitely his bad. His smile didn't so much as flicker when she called his name, and he raised his hand in a cheerful wave when half the eyes in the place turned to him. Unprepared or not, he never minded being the center of attention.

He listened more attentively to her speech than he would have for most, partly because she was pretty and partly because it involved him. Sue had been talking about this stuff for weeks, so it wasn't all new. He did listen occasionally, so he knew about the ship and the mission and that he was due to start training this week. He just hadn't given it any more thought because it hadn't happened yet. He clapped politely with the rest of the crowd when she wrapped up.

"That was a nice speech. Did you write it ahead of time, or was it off the cuff?" He grinned, shrugging out of his suit jacket and trading it for the flight one. He never minded a good suit, but this was definitely more his speed. "Well, thank you. I look forward to working with you too. Susie's been telling me about the mission, but you're not what I pictured. More like… gray hair, lots of tweed, maybe a mustache."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's very forward of you, Miss Stark. Don't mind if I do." He gestured for her to lead the way. Their professional relationship wouldn't stop him from flirting. A brick wall probably wouldn't stop him from flirting. Though Johnny preferred to play at least as hard as he worked, or harder, she was the most interesting thing about this party. If she was leaving, there was no reason for him to stay. "Do you always leave your own parties early?"

A few weeks had passed and Johnnie Storm was in the news again, this time about having powers and how they were now the Fantastic Four…and the public loved them. A far different reaction than they had to mutants. Xavier had called Remy to his office to discuss his plans and as much as he didn’t like what he was being signed up for, he couldn’t say no to the Professor.

At least, this trip to New York City would get him out of the mansion for a while.

His things were packed, his long brown leather jacket slipped on, and Remy was off to head for the Big Apple. Having been there more times than he could count, he got around the city easily and made his way to Manhattan. Out of all of the Fantastic Four members to approach first, he chose Johnny Storm. With a little flattery, he was sure he would be able to get the man to listen to him for ten minutes. If that didn’t work, he would try Sue or Reed.

Sunglasses covered his black and eyes and long brown leather jacket had two deck of playing cards hidden in the inside pockets, the Cajun made his way down the hallway towards the man’s apartment, stopping to know several times on the door before taking a step back. When the door finally opened, Remy flashed a charming smile.

“Hello hombre. Would you be up for a little chat? Da Professor sent me. Maybe you heard of him; Professor Charles Xavier.”

"Flirtin' wid me before you even say hello. I like your style, hombe." Remy smiled, looking him up and down hungrily. While the Professor did send him on a mission, there was nothing ever said about not having a little fun. And besides, Johnny flirted first. It would be rude not to return such charm in his opinion. "A sandwich wouldn't be bad. Been travelin' for days and it would be nice ta sit and eat for a bit." He shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced down the hallway.

"You're right, that was rude. Hello, handsome. Can I buy you a sandwich? See, I don't know if that was better. Felt more natural the first time." He gave a light laugh, glancing back at the door once to make sure he wasn't being pursued before he hit the call button for the elevator. It was quick and he stepped inside, hitting the button for the ground floor.

"Days just for little 'ol me? Where from? That accent sounds like New Orleans." He might have made his home base in New York City, but he rarely stayed there for long. He'd spent many a happy Mardi Gras in New Orleans. "You're in luck. One of the best delis in the city is right around the corner." He grinned as the elevator dinged, the doors sliding open almost silently.

It was a nice building, and it had only just occurred to Johnny that this man had somehow gotten past the doorman without being announced. Perhaps that should have alarmed him, but he had some wires crossed where things that should have been alarming triggered intrigue instead. He cast a glance over his shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly as his smile turned shrewd. "Interesting. Why does that sound familiar?" He waved to the doorman and led the way outside, turning left toward the sandwich shop.

"Have fun!" It sounded more like a command than a reminder, Johnny pointing a finger at her before he disappeared into the crowd. He didn't really have an agenda outside that one directive, and he went where the party took him, moving among the crowd and accumulating drinks or shots and, indeed, finding out what a few girls wanted for Christmas.

He never stayed in one place long, occasionally peering over the crowd to check on Kate and make sure she was okay. He didn't really expect her to find trouble, especially not with half the team there, but just in case. He was a few drinks in by the time he made his way back to her, pulling her easily into a dance with him.

By the time Johnny got back to her, she was laughing and fully relaxed. Probably thanks to the alcohol, but also being around her teammates and friends.

She smiled up at Johnny as he pulled her into a dance. She took his hand and did a twirl for him before bouncing to the beat, her hands on his shoulders. They briefly ran down to his biceps and then back up.

"Glad you're having fun!" He grinned back, pleased to know she was having a good time and happy to take a little of the credit for it. The song ended, and he snagged a couple of Jell-O shots off a tray as someone went by with them, offering one to her. "Merry Christmas!"

"Ah, Jesus… Peter--" His body shuddered under the combined talents of his lips and hands. He was sensitive after coming once already, and Peter was mercilessly giving him no time to recover, hips jerking helplessly as he whimpered and moaned for him. Not that he was asking him to slow down, comfortable putting himself fully in his lover's capable hands.

His hands scrabbled ineffectually at the floor, helpless with pleasure while Peter sucked him dry. He whimpered as he pulled off him, unable to form a coherent thought, much less words. Peter always knew just how to touch him, how to drive him higher than he ever imagined he could go. He hummed into the kisses, his whole body lax with the endorphin rush.

"That's easy when it's you." He swallowed, finding it almost unbearable to have Peter looking at him like that. Johnny had never intended to fall in love with him. If he'd known, he probably would have fought it or ruined it because that was who he was. Instead, it crept up on him, and now it was much too late. He just wanted him, wanted to be with him, wanted to make this work. He wanted Peter to look at him that way forever.

It was funny how life and fate went. Never in a million did he think he would fall for his best friend. Peter did not have an interest in anyone but the feelings just came in like a force unexpected. He was not complaining at all. He was happy and loved, something he never thought he would be. "Yes we do balance each other and you Sir are also perfect and amazing. The best in the whole universe," he grinned before kissing the man who had his heart.

He loved the sound of Peter's laugh. He loved listening to him nerd-rant when he got on a topic he liked, knowing he didn't let his guard down like that with most people. Johnny might not be anywhere near as smart as Peter (who was, really?), but he listened when he talked and remembered what he said. He always learned from him. Mostly, just stupid random facts that made him sound smart later at a party, but still.

Johnny had been exiled to the Void long enough to accept that it was permanent. Sure, they continued to fight back against Cassandra because that was what heroes did. They didn't know any other way. But he'd accepted that it was a matter of time before he caught a bad run of luck and bit it, and it didn't even matter much at this point. This wasn't his world. There was nobody to miss him except the other rebels, and they typically had bigger problems. In a place that was essentially the garbage dump of the universe, dying didn't matter because nothing they did mattered. Nothing ever changed here. It had been a wasteland long before Johnny got there, and it would continue to be a wasteland long after he was gone. Acceptance was recognizing that there was no way back, and that his friends were never coming to get him. They probably didn't even know he was gone.

The only thing that counted anymore was trying to help the other people here. It had taken being erased from his life to show Johnny what it really meant to be a hero. There was nothing in this for him, no money or fame, no cheering crowds, not even the adrenaline rush he used to live for. He helped people now because it was the only thing left to do, and because it might spare them a little bit of pain, but he didn't kid himself that he could really save them either. On a long enough timeline, they were all Cassandra's victims or food for Alioth.

When it wasn't his turn on patrols or raids, he spent his time working on the derelict Fantasti-Car. He'd been an excellent mechanic in another life, and in his world, he would have had it fixed several times over by now. In this one, he lacked parts and machinery, and so he was forced to be creative and come up with work-arounds with the scant resources he had on hand. Most of them didn't work. He didn't think it would make a difference even if he could get it running again. It was just a way to pass the time, a small thing to remind him of home.

He was half-contorted under the engine, and he swore when the metal bit into his knuckles for the nth time, finally crawling out from under it. "My kingdom for a decent socket set. Y'know, like the really good stainless steel ones… I think I miss them even more than my phone." His top ten list of things he missed the most from the real world shifted constantly depending on how hungry or helpless or injured he was. There were never any people on it, though. That list was too painful to contemplate.

“You’re in luck, mon ami.” Leaning against the side of the car, Remy twirled a playing card idly between his fingers dropping a couple of worn duffel bags at his feet. Scavenging was becoming a way of life between patrols and raids; searching the wreckage that fell through randomly opening portals in the sky for food and gear. “Blade just got back from patrol and said dat it looked like a mall got pruned on da edge of the borderlands. I figured I'd take advantage and go see what I can find before Cassandra's nitwits get dere." He nudged the duffels bag with a foot, showing he meant to clean house.

He got to his feet, picking up one of the bags and casting a considering look at the horizon. "Are we going for speed or stealth?" Johnny could get them there fast by flying. He'd mastered his power long before he got here, and he could leave his hands free so Remy wouldn't be burnt to a crisp. But there was nothing subtle about two guys shooting across the sky, one of them literally on fire. It would get them there quick, but it had the potential to cut down the time they had to load up on supplies and lead Cassandra's goons right to it.

Avengers : Endgame (2019) // Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)