The human torch's flame

Chapter 14

You tried to stay in the tent but one of the fire-fighters urged you to 'claim your reward'. Claim what reward? you also answered back but you bit your tongue. You slid as much of your hair in front of your face in an effort to hide any recognizable features. Your (c/e) eyes could just see the crowd that was forming around Johnny who was claiming to be the 'leader' of the 'fantastic five' or as some like to call it/ me fearful one and the fantastic four.

You hear a faint "no, seriously?" from the reporter and you can't help but chuckle. You take a step closer and shove Reed forwards so he understands that it's his cue.

Your eye still covered from a thin layer of hair you watch Rue speaking unsurly in the microphone: "Uh, during our recent mission to the Von Doom space station, we were exposed to as yet-unidentified radioactive energy, most likely some kind of nucleotide compoun--"

You roll your eyes and poke Reed in the stomach. Maybe you both had the same intelligence but you definitely had a higher awareness of the intellect of the people you were talking to. He looks around his shoulder, not exactly understanding why you did it.

This brief exchange leaves the reporters just enough time to ask other questions. Most of them are on what happened on the bridge.

Reed was being overwhelmed by questions so you stepped in to help, much to your distaste:

"We don't know much about it ourselves. We're going to analyse everything when we get to a lab."

You shot Reed a look that said you better. He gave you a pale looked that seemed like he remembered the incident with the knife. He gulped and nodded a little.

The restless reporter asked again: "So it's like a disease?"

You didn't have a correct answer to that. You started feeling dizzy so you leant on Johnny. Your legs were starting to feel feeble after standing for just a minute. He didn't even budge under your weight. He quickly answered the reporter and didn't even give you a second glance: "Symptoms? Please. If having powers is a disease, then yeah we got it.  And we are gonna blow your minds. There's a new day dawning. The day of the Fantastic Four."

Wow. Not only full himself but also a strong speaker. Your head started feeling a bit dizzier. You remembered the cameras and turned around to leave.

"That thing there doesn't look to fantastic. And that girl looks pretty worn-out. So I guess it's just fantastic three." The reporter said. 

You didn't bother to even respond but you were surprised when Johnny stood up for you and said: "She just saved lots of lives. Probably more than you'll ever manage to save. So forgive her if she feels tired because some guy would rather film a tragedy than become a hero."

That shut him up. Your legs were on the brink of falling so you sat on the nearest thing that could be used as a seat with was a car hood.

Reed spoke up again and said: "Look, we went up to space to find a way to understand DNA, to cure
disease, save lives. Well, now it's our DNA, our disease, our lives on the line...
Thank you. No more questions."

Ben stepped to the side, apparently recognizing a familiar face in the crowd. You turned your head around and inhale deeply. Sue comes towards you, slowly as though unsure of weather to approach or leave you there. And who would blame her? If she knew what you did. What you would go back to doing when it was all over.

"Are you alright?" She asked. It seemed like a stupid question. I  mean everyone could see you weren't alright. She was just giving you the choice to say it and get help or lay it on your own shoulders and tough it out. You exhaled than inhaled sharply and stood up, putting a brave face on. Immediately you could feel your legs weaken and your breath breaking out in shorter and more frequent breaths.

"Fine. Never better... Except for perhaps that times before I got blasted with radiation." Susan cracked a smile. She walked away. You looked around and saw Johnny. His jacket looked like it had been burnt through and was of no use to him now. He seemed to be flirting with two girls at the same TIME.

You looked away although you could feel your heart tighten. No.No. Not happening, you schooled yourself and your brain almost gagged at the thought. Fortunately, your brain wasn't the organ that triggered gag reflex.

A hand lay on your shoulder. You almost jumped in the air as you turned to face him. "Cool being famous huh?"

"I would rather not be famous. Fame attracts bad people."

"Also good people. Look I meet you thanks to by fame of being a great pilot."

Who does nothing. You almost added but decided for something more Johnny: "I am not going to sleep with you. So get flattery out of your head."

He gave you a queer look and then he answered with a grin"No seriously. I mean, the way you just jumped in to save them man. Not forgetting the way you helped the little girl. That was good so you're a good person."

Your heart started beating faster and not because he was flattering you. He was so wrong. Making bombs and selling them to the highest bidder can hardly qualify as good. You snapped:  "Quit it. I'm not good. Forget it. The bridge; that was just me deciding to compensate for something else."

As you said you realised it was true. You weren't just a crazy person with a death wish, you didn't particularly care for the lives of those people. It was an exchange. Trying to erase the dead you'd caused by making powerful weapons.

"Just forget it." You muttered. "I'm leaving..."

"You can't. we're being tested at Reed's apartment."

"You know where that is?"

"Yup."

"Okay, we're grabbing a cab and you're bringing me there."

"We son't have the key."

You rolled your eyes: "The least you need to know is that I have my ways around locks. Now let's go."

And with that you both walked off the bridge to a taxi who drove you straight to Reed's apartment.