The human torch's flame

Chapter 10

You finally made your way to your quarantine and told Johnny to get dressed even when he whimpered like a little kid. The guy seriously wanted to go tell Reed and Susan everything that had happened but without any clothes on.

You, cold-headed as you were, flatly refused and walked away. When you arrived to your room, you took off your ski clothes and slipped on something more modern; jeans, a light shirt and a leather jacket.

What you would normally wear on a day to work at the lab. You looked around the room until you found it. A knife. No, you're not going to self-harm just going to sneak it into your pocket in case of unwanted attention.

You stepped out in the corridor and were met by a grinning Johnny. (He might have been staring at your cleavage that was visible because of a certain transparent t-shirt.) You zipped up your jacket and put the knife in your (non-dominant hand) pocket.

Ignoring Johnny's slightly disappointed look you headed to Reed's room.

"I was meaning to ask." You started, "Is Johnny your actual name or just a meaning of endearing your real name John? It didn't say much about your name in the file I read."

"Johnny is short for Johnny, derived from Johnny and from the root word Johnny. But you read my file?"

"Sure. And I also read the others files as well as a background check before I agreed to the job. I have to be careful about who I am around."

"And what does your file say apart from (y/n) (l/n) and description: incredibly hot and brainy chic who will let you run after her for ages?"

"No, it's more like. Scientist that makes bomb and also deactivates them. Beware: she has an uncanny ability to blow up annoying people."

"Got cha" he winks as he opens the door for you. You roll your eyes and enter Reed's room. Nothing. You were about to walk out when Johnny blocks your path.

"I saw you checking me out on the mountain." He said, in a matter-a-factly tone.

"I see you checking me out all the time. Your point?" You asked, obviously annoyed by his childlike behaviour.

He raised his hands up in the air in a don't-shut sign and opened the door for you to walk out.

"Don't block doors again. I hide a knife, I have quite the aim." You could hear Johnny grinning.

"I like powerful woman. We're do you hide it? Cleavage?"

"More like a pocket." You answered flatly leaving no room for the man's imagination. You walked down the halls in search for Susan or Reed or even Ben when Johnny asked a question that took you by surprise. He gripped your arm and made you look in his eyes.

"Am I really that repelling?"

You smiled and answered "You just won't take no for an answer will you." He crossed his arms as though saying never. "It not that you are repelling. It's just your not my type." You said placing type in air quotes.

Your eye twitched. And anybody who knew you, knew that Rachel time you lied, your eye would subconsciously twitch. The thing was Johnny was exactly your type. Blonde, blue eyed and strongly built. But what you didn't really like was his many elopes with other woman.

You noticed Reed walking down the corridor out of the corner of your eye and took it as your chance to leave the conversation. You walked towards him and said.

"Reed, I think the cloud altered our DNA. We, me and Johnny that is, have been experiencing side effects."

"Super cool side effects." Johnny added.

"Johnny can set himself on fire." You glanced towards Susan who gave you a worried face and you quickly added "No second degree burns. He's fine. But his clothes got burn." You blushed crimson red and tried to calm down. Susan was grinning and smiling.

"And I can..."

"Zap... Poof." Johnny said, illustrating it with his hands.

"Or, using actual words, teleport." You bit your lip looking at Reed. He seemed to take it all in surprisingly calm.

"She keeps her clothes." Added Johnny. You blushed even redder than before and laughed nervously. You thought you heard Johnny mutter an 'unfortunately' afterwards.

Reed spoke in a calm voice witch was more disturbing than if he had screamed and hit the walls with his head. "She can become invisible and I can stretch."

Immediately, you and Reed looked at each other and said simultaneously "Ben."

You ran towards Ben's room. In less than twenty seconds you had tried the code and tried to force the door open (after knocking. that is.) Reed knelt and his hand started to stretch. It extended beyond the door and, a moment later, opened the door for you.

"That's gross." Johnny said.

"I agree." 

Reed shrugged it off and entered in the room. There was a gaping hole in the wall and no Ben in the bed. You raced to the hole and looked out. Nothing. No person in sight but someone big had definitely passed here. The once beautiful scenery was now completely destroyed, big footprints covered the ground. It kind of seemed like a Jurassic Park film with lots of footprints but without the person who actually made them.

"I think Ben's DNA was modified as well." Johnny  said.

Susan and you simultaneously said "You think?"

"Where is he going?" You asked not quite sure of anything.

"Home." Reed said dramatically