Firey Rebirth

Thanks to the people who reviewed Chapter 1. It was nice to get such a quick response. To the person who said they wanted a Doom/Johnny though, sorry but this is not going to be that pairing.

I have to admit it's not a pairing I'd actually ever thought about… points for that!

Personally I don't really see Johnny with any of the other recurring characters in F4… I mean I know people like to pair him with Reed, which makes sense… You know, since they're about the only 2 guys there, but personally I like Reed with Sue. I mean he's much older than Johnny for starters and Reed and Sue are kinda like the "parents" of the 4 with Johnny and Ben as 2 squabbling children.

So I figured I'd have to create my own guy. I know most people see the words (ok, 'letters') OC and go "urgh" before hitting the next button - unless they're looking to read fiction about the TV show O.C. of course – but I figured it was about my only choice here :)

Now watch the people who didn't read the summary hit Back twice

Chapter 2

Looking back on it as he sat at the dark end of the bar, Johnny really had no idea why he'd decided to go out.

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As the day faded further into night atop the Baxter Building the depression had seemed like a new friend, something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time. But in spite of that, he really didn't feel in a partying mood. Haunting silver eyes filled his vision with every blink however, and he desperately needed something to wash that image away. So, through sheer force of habit he'd gone inside, put something a little sexier on over his suit, thrown on a jacket and headed out the door.

He didn't really notice as the doorman had nodded politely to him, spouting some pleasantry on auto-pilot as he passed by. The revolving doors swallowed him up a moment later and then disgorged him onto the sidewalk, the street suddenly illuminated by the flash of a hundred cameras igniting.

Ever since their accident, there had been almost a permanent paparazzi presence across from their building. That had doubled when Reed and Sue announced their wedding, and now it seemed to have doubled yet again with the Surfer on the loose. With a newfound cynicism, he was almost certain however, that it was due to the spectacular failure of the wedding, rather than the fact that an unknown hostile life form was zooming around the planet.

Usually he'd have basked in the attention, maybe posed a little for the cameras. But tonight a new feeling of disquiet had settled into his mind and he really didn't want to be the centre of everything. Tonight he really just wanted to pretend he was Johnny Storm, citizen. Not John Storm, the Human Torch.

Since his encounter with the silver alien it seemed more and more of his life appeared like a façade. A pretty face to hide something troubled within. He knew he'd been happy playing up to the crowds, meeting all the people, being cheered and clapped at every turn. Truly he had… He'd never doubted himself before, or worried about something as deep as whom he truly was. He knew who he was – who could possibly know better?

"Denial and uncertainty seem to be the cornerstones of your species."

The doubt and fear he'd felt at those words revisited him with the echo in his mind. Even though the comment was a vast generalisation, it had been said with such a personal inflection. It was almost as though the sins of his race were somehow represented directly within him. He didn't know how it had happened, but it was as though the surfer had seen his soul, and found him wanting. And even though the creature had almost killed him, and was technically his enemy, somehow he knew what he'd said was the truth.

Something about Johnny Storm wasn't right.

When had he become such a glory seeking, attention hog anyway? He was sure he hadn't always been that way. Had he? When he'd been younger all he'd thought about were fast cars and bikes, the thrill of speed, kissing the occasional girl, sport. Sure he'd enjoyed showing off like every young guy, always trying to impress everyone, but wasn't he older now? Weren't people supposed to grow out of that?

And even if he was acting like that, what had changed? They had all been affected by their fame to a certain degree; maybe his was just more noticeable?

Reed seemed to be as quiet and introspective as ever, always thinking everything through and analysing it to the tiniest detail. Yet he had gained a sense of power and control over himself that Johnny wasn't sure he'd had before. As though having the power to change things for the better had galvanised the scientist into action. Ben was just as obnoxious, but his joking had assumed a more sombre aspect, seemingly tempered by both his new strength and appearance. And finally, Sue, who was still the big sister, always looking out for him. The one who scolded him like a child when he messed up, and gave him disappointed looks when he appeared with an arm around 2 girls. She seemed to get more poised and beautiful every day. It appeared that when you can turn invisible at will, all one really wanted was to be noticed.

A chill breeze snuck into his jacket at that moment, sending a shiver up his spine, and he realised he was still standing like a statue outside their building. Flashbulbs were continuing to go off across the street and he wondered how long it would take for them to get bored and move on to more interesting prey.

He didn't want to stand around here to find out though, so he quickly jumped into a cab and, after giving the name of some club he'd visited occasionally, settled back into the uncomfortable chair. Looking at the changes in his friends was disconcerting. If they'd really changed then perhaps he had too, and if he had then how much of his life was a lie? How much was the real Johnny Storm and how much was "John Storm", Fantastic Four poster boy? Had he really given up on himself in order to become what people needed him to be?

After they'd first got their powers the Fantastic Four had needed someone to put a face on them and bring them to a level everyday people were willing to accept. Fame seemed the only way to do that. Let the people gawk and point, better they get hounded by reporters than gun wielding mobs. It was an inevitability really that some heroes were better received than others, and those that didn't accept the fact that they were going to be photographed, pursued and stared at frequently got labelled as reclusive and dangerous.

There had been no choice really. Johnny had to assume that mantle. Reed was too bookish, too smart. People saw him as intellectually superior and that made them fear he was looking down on them and condescending. Ben was too rude, too in your face. Add that to the fact that honestly, people were afraid of him, and he was clearly not an option. And Sue, well, Sue was like Reed, except that not only was she smart and sophisticated, she was beautiful too. People couldn't relate to that, all they saw was an ice princess, high in her castle - An unattainable figure.

No, he'd been the only logical choice, and he'd accepted it, with the cockiness and exhilaration that only youth could provide. He'd pulled the stupid stunts, dated the stupid girls and sat through the lectures and recrimination from the other three. He'd done it all, and he'd never realised why.

He had assumed the role so well that he'd even forgotten that it was just that -a role. The more he thought about it though, sitting in the dingy back seat of the cab, the more he realised. His life was not of his choosing. He had done what society and the Fantastic Four had needed him too: He had become the noise to provide them with cover.

By the time people had stopped screaming at him to "flame on" and had become immune to the daily photograph of him with a new girl on his arm, the world was ready to accept the four of them; was ready to welcome a new group of heroes into the fold.

And all he'd had to do was sell himself. How cheap was that?

Somewhere along the way though, he'd become lost, and he'd forgotten who he was.

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The drink on the bar in front of him was untouched. The ice had long since melted into the scotch, diluting it to a colour that really brought to mind things one didn't want to picture in a drink. Behind him, thunderous bass filled the room, sending a vibration through everything, from his drink, to the air in his lungs. It turned out he hadn't really wanted anything to wash away his thoughts after all. And the loud music no longer made him want to grab some pretty girl and dance, now it just gave him a headache.

Reed and Ben would come looking for him soon, expecting to find him drunk off his face and needing to be rescued from the throng of girls that would have normally surrounded him. They'd be surprised he supposed, to find him sober and alone at the bar. The barely audible scrape of the chair next to him announced that he had a companion and he glanced over more out of habit than anything.

The woman was absolutely stunning to behold. The sort of exotic beauty that tantalised with a promise of something never before experienced. The low cut top and slit-to-the-waist dress were an obvious invitation for anyone to look closer, and a closer look would surely not have disappointed. She gave him one of those shy smiles that clearly said the giver was anything but, and took all of him in with a brief flick of her eyes.

"Johnny Storm?" The voice was as smooth and sensual as all previous clues had hinted it would be, and he corrected her without thought.

"John. We felt Johnny polled too young." She laughed as though he had made a witty remark, and he supposed to someone who didn't know what he had turned into since assuming the poster boy role, it would indeed sound like a disarming come on line. He felt a stab of hurt at that, but the worst part was that he actually had polled about it. His stomach roiled at just how sick that thought made him. He hadn't realised until now how bad things were.

"Well… John… you seem plenty old enough to me." Her lips were curled into a seductive smirk, and he knew all he had to do was ask her if she felt like getting out of here and she'd be his. But his mouth wouldn't form the words, and to his surprise he found he didn't want to. Here was a stunning, sensual, willing woman, and Johnny Storm, sex god extraordinaire, felt no interest at all. And as he sat there staring across at her he thought he knew why. Johnny Storm wasn't really interested in a fling. That was what John Storm would have wanted. Johnny wanted what Reed and Sue had. Johnny wanted someone who didn't care that he was a celebrity; someone who wasn't just after a conquest to brag to their friends about or to sell the story to the papers.

Johnny Storm wanted to settle.

"Johnny, are you ok?" It was Reed's voice coming from over his shoulder and he turned around with a smile to greet it. As expected Ben was standing next to him in trench coat and hat, trying to look inconspicuous and failing. Both had an interesting mix of surprise and concern on their faces to find him at this distant end of the bar and in an apparently sober state.

"Yeah Reed. You know what? I really am." The older man looked between him and the woman sitting so temptingly close.

"Are you going to be home in a while then?" With a certainty that surprised even himself he hopped lightly off the bar stool and tossed a twenty beside his glass.

"You know what guys? I think I'm ready to go home right now." He paused briefly to nod politely to the frowning woman then gestured for the two men to precede him out.

"I think I'd really rather go for a movie on the couch. You think Sue would be interested?" Reed gave him a smile that, for the first time in months, reminded him that he had amazing friends.

"Yeah…" He paused briefly to give him a patronizing smile, "…John. I think she'd love that." He turned and looked briefly back at the bar as the crowd gradually obscured it from view. The woman was already several bar stools down, talking to a rather attractive middle aged man.

"You know what Reed. I think I'm going to go back to Johnny. Personally I think John's a bit of a jerk." On the other side of him Ben let out a sudden laugh, his gravely voice easy to make out even over the noise.

"Good to have you back kid. Now let's get outta this joint." The cool night air hit them then, the heat and noise of the club replaced with the sounds of traffic and pedestrians.

"Yeah. Let's." He looked up at the starlit sky, a vision of an eternal inky blackness filled with piercing silver eyes suddenly in his head.

"Denial and uncertainty seem to be the cornerstones of your species."

This time the vision brought no accusation with it, no deep sense of personal attachment. Instead it sounded more like a warning between friends; a statement from one stranded soul to another telling him to be careful.

He smiled up at the darkness, wishing he could throw an arm each around his two companions without causing havoc with their powers. He felt lighter, free, optimistic.

Denial and uncertainty may indeed be part of the human condition, but for Johnny, things were going to change.

Fin

Wow… I love this chapter. I'm sure it's a bit long for most people, but I like words :)