Peter was rushing around the crowded apartment as he prepared for work. He was trying to take in Johnny's words but his inability to multitask resulted in him stopping momentarily and turning to face his new room-mate.
"I just wanna settle down, you know. Like you with Mary Jane. How d'you do it Pete, seriously? Every time I've come close to a relationship my duties get in the way. "Johnny was saying as Peter finally stopped to listen. He didn't understand though; Johnny's identity as the Human Torch was widely known. Surely any girls he'd been with would know of his commitments; it was a lot harder for Peter who had kept his identity concealed under his mask.
"That's not why your here Johnny, remember that." Peter replied simply, not wanting to step on anyone's toes.
"I know, I know," he replied, pausing as he sat up on the bed. "I'm here cos Reed's a tool and he thinks I'm outta control. Well I'll show him outta control when I-"
Peter cut him off. "You're not gonna do anythin Johnny because if you do you'll just prove Reed right." He'd put it as best as he could but the truth was, Johnny was a hot head and he preferred to embrace his powers rather than think of them as something to hide. For him it wasn't so bad, but for former team-mate Ben Grimm, things had been very different. Johnny just didn't consider other people's feelings a lot, that was his main problem.
Peter prepared to exit the apartment as Johnny stood up. "Hey, I wanna come with you today, ok?"
"Come where exactly?" Peter was wondering what interest Johnny had in the Daily Bugle.
"Well, I'll walk with you. I wanna pick some stuff up anyway," Peter shot him a wary look. "With my own money." Johnny continued, prompted by his friend's glare. He raised his hands in innocence before giving Pete the middle finger when he turned around.
The two left the apartment building and took to the stairs. When they finally reached the outdoors, they were inside a sort of alley with the apartment on one side and a row of shops on the other. It was along this row that the pair walked as they continued their chat about Johnny's favourite subject: Johnny.
Their conversations were disrupted by explosions from across the street. The familiar figure of Shocker could be seen as he blasted at innocent bystanders with his powerful gauntlets.
"Will you be able to handle Shocker while I get 'changed'?" Peter asked Johnny, who had removed his top layer of clothes to reveal his Fantastic Four suit.
"Go for it Pete, leave him to me." Johnny looked determined as he burst into flames and flew at Shocker. The propulsion that sped Johnny towards the villain threw the latter into the wall. Johnny had now landed and had Shocker backed into a corner as Spiderman's well-known enemy pulled his body out of the wall, causing small amounts of rubble to fall.
"That the best you got, Matchstick?" Shocker taunted as Johnny grew ever-increasingly angry. "I'm not surprised you were kicked off your team, you're a bit too much of a loose cannon, don't you think?"
Johnny fell right into the trap. He flew at Shocker, but the villain only ducked and tripped him sending him through the wall and onto the other side. Johnny was still reeling from the force of going right through the wall when Shocker blasted the remains to clear his path. Johnny choked as the debris covered him; he was in trouble now.
Shocker's gauntlets were glowing once more, preparing for the final blow. He laughed as he savoured the moment, the defeat of a superhero as widely known as the Human Torch. As he readied them for fire, the glow suddenly dulled and mini explosions sent Shocker flying backwards as his gauntlets appeared to pack up.
"You should get your toys fixed before playing with them." A voice said. Both Shocker and Johnny looked up to the rooftop to see the silhouette of a fine-figured woman, highlighted by the back-drop of the sun. Her tight black leather suit magnified her curves as she stood atop the buildings in glorious magnificence.
"You!" Shocker announced furiously as he dragged himself backwards before finally standing and high tailing it away from the scene. Johnny hadn't noticed, he was still staring at his beautiful saviour and watching her every move. When she prepared to leap off the building, Johnny's heart skipped a beat as she landed next to him...