Flash

I like the Flash, I think I wake up in his city more than anywhere else. Who doesn't like a guy who can run really fast and still waste time delivering puns? I guess everybody who's sensitive about how slow they run and everyone who hates his punny one-liners. Even the Rogues respect the loud mouth, though saying they like him will likely get you killed and I am not about to risk an ice sleep by doing that. Puns are sacred in Central and Keystone because Flash loves 'em, Cold loves 'em (though I hadn't met him yet) and puns are a Flash signature. I don't do puns. I do rebellion, teenage rebellion but since I'm starting with Flash puns are possible. Did you know when a new superhero says someone's Flashing they're talking about his humor? Flashing is when someone won't stop telling Flash style jokes. It got started when a young hero got tired of Flash yapping when he was supposed to be training the new superhero.

Moving on to my first encounter with the butt monkey (or Scarlet Speedster, Sultan of Speed, take your pick he's got a million of 'em). Did I already reach my quota of two insults per page? I feel like I did. Well it's more of a minimum. On with the story (yes I know I'm the one preempting it but I can insult myself and still count it towards my quota).

I was just walking by, I try to cover ground when I'm in control because I don't know how long until I lose control. I heard gunshots and like any self-respecting (or disrespecting) hero I ran towards the robbery turned hostage situation. I walked through the door calmly, smoking in my now signature uniform. A gun was quickly in my face, my English had greatly developed into my rebel banter, "You don't know how that thing works, do you?" The metal heated up and the thug dropped it, cradling his gun hand. As he leaned forward to do that I put the smoke in my mouth and fired two streams of fire at his accomplices. Before I could turn my fire on the last two hostage takers the red monkey ran in, did the job for me then stopped in front of me like he wanted a standoff. I turned the fire off and took my smoke out of my mouth, "Flash." I wasn't a fanboy which may have confused him more than the fact that I'm not Heat Wave.

He asked "Who are you?"

One of the hostages, a teen girl, ran over to me, "Torch!"

I smirked "That's my name. I'm outta here. Flash, take care of the cops."

I went to the alley behind the building to wait and smoke. When the Scarlet Speedster ran up the side to the roof. I stood at the base of the fire escape, arms crossed. I was not going to climb all those stairs for a three minute conversation. He looked over the ledge at me then he was beside me, "Are you coming?"

"I have fire powers, that's it, I can't run really fast and anything like that. I am not going to climb up to the roof of a building so you can talk to me for 30 seconds then zip away. Understand?"

He sighed then I was on top of the roof in a flash. "Happy?"

I'd heard that sarcasm so much, I knew he attributed my speech to teen rebellion. Between that sarcasm and my stupid nickname (Hothead, very original), I had to grow some thick skin to stay on the hero side of things. I delivered the rebel line, "Never." My tone was sharp when people bugged me and I knew the Flash was going to be one of the people who'd enjoy annoying the rebel, his villains called themselves Rogues which should've been my first warning if I'd known what the word meant. I went on to list my powers, closing with "If Batman told you my secret identity, I'd love to hear it because I don't remember my real name. Now if you'd drop your attitude maybe we can get somewhere."

Flash stared at me for almost ten minutes, I know, I checked a clock and I'm not exaggerating. In speedster time seconds are hours so ten minutes is at least a week. So the Flash is missing a week of his own life because he gave a rebel attitude. I don't create all this irony, it just happens to me. In the time he was frozen staring I extinguished my smoke-free flame and well, I'll put it this way I can honestly say I ran circles around the fastest man alive. It still counts even if he put himself in a daze beforehand and therefore no one else remembers it plus being on a roof means there's no video proof which is why it's Gotham law all superhero business be conducted on rooftops, no telling which rooftops get used the most. (if you believe that's a law, you are dumber than me on my first awakening. At least I didn't know what Gotham and law were, still don't really).

When Flash finally overcame his apparent shock, I was standing in front of him tapping my foot. So many lives may have been destroyed or worse while he was in that self-induced trance, just be glad the Gems ain't Gotham. He rubbed the back of his neck then looked at the same clock I saw and actually swore. Poster boy Flash, Sir Speedy Gonzales said a bad word. Man, I wish I could say he swore like a sailor but he only said "Oh $#!+" which isn't really cursing in some circles. (bad censoring, morons can figure out his curse). Another insult to the reader down, I think I've gotten my quota outside Flash insults.

Where was I? Right, after Flash realized he'd put himself in a ten minute trance out of ego. Well then we talked, I can't reiterate exactly what he said as it endangers certain League members. But I will say this. Despite all the insults I've dealt him in this chapter, I learned that day he's not such a butt monkey.

Gotham

I promised no Batman, sorta. But I'm telling how I met Batman, sorta. I'm talking about a few sorta heroes, and if you're tired of sorta appearing in every sentence I'm with you on that. In Gotham there is Catwoman. In Gotham there is the Gotham Underground, a homeless persons network guarded by Killer Croc (nuff said). In Gotham there is crime and poverty and all that is bad. So of course I woke up in Gotham before I'd mastered pyrokinesis (I can't stop using that word because it's the name of my powers). Unfortunately in addition to split personality disorder I also suffer from heroic instinct beyond all reason.

I'm sorry for this but I gotta start with the big guy.

Batman

I always wake up in alleys so I'm gonna try to stop saying that because that's always how these start. They don't usually start with Batman hefting me off the ground with one hand, pinning me to a wall or fire escape and screaming at me to give him answers. (Only superheroes can get mouthy about Batman, don't do it). Mostly because I don't usually wake up near a dead body in Gotham City, as I said in the last story I'm more drawn to Central City's clean-ish alleyways.

When Batman stopped screaming and tossing me around long enough to let me talk I told him the truth because you have to be insane to lie to Batman. I told him "I'm Torch. I don't remember coming to Gotham." He's the World's Greatest Detective and I wasn't diagnosed with split personality disorder yet, I didn't know the term memory blackouts either.

He stopped pinning me to parts of the nearby buildings which I was grateful for. How he knew to give me the full 3rd degree of Bat intimidation without knowing I'm not from Gotham is beyond me, maybe he was bored. He gave me an order "Follow me." You do not disobey Batman, even if you are a superhero in your own right. I'm pretty sure that's in the handbook not that I've read the thing. I followed him to the Batmobile, even with pyrokinesis and the inexplicable ability to be near the right place at the right time with memory blackouts, that car is just too awesome. Memory blackouts help as I have nothing to compare it with, no memory of seeing him on TV with the Justice League.

He ordered me "Get in."

When Batman orders you into the Batmobile while you're following him the hardest thing you have to do is resist the urge to say no duh. I managed that as I got in. Once inside I informed him of my predicament, as I correctly guessed he was taking me to the Batcave. He's Batman so he didn't let on if this threw a wrench into his plan of taking me there. He just used the car's monitor (what should've been the radio or GPS) to distract me. Once in the Batcave, he began the tricky task of trying to decipher my secret identity. Did I mention no one has done it to this day? Because I'm homeless, Batman paid me for my cooperation in all his tests (physical and medical) in food. I have no idea how much but it looks like both halves of my personality are homeless based on how much I ate.

Warning: Science. Today I know pyrokinesis may have a hand to play in that. I generate fire without wood or lighter fluid but my fire still needs fuel which my body provides. What I don't know is how I don't feel like I'm always starving. My theory is that my metabolism is geared towards my powers. Y'see the Flash has a serious appetite because his metabolism is geared towards his speed, everyone knows the Flash eats a lot (and flirts while doing it). The Flash is the fastest thing in the world but just like race cars he needs fuel. Because the Flash is a metahuman, his power source is the same as any person on the planet: food. So the Flash eats and he eats and he eats until all the food he can get is gone, I don't know if he ever really has a full tank. Taking the Flash's serious metabolism and transferring it to me doesn't really work, I'd have to eat a forest to burn a tire and there is no way I could survive being homeless. That's why I think my metabolism is specifically geared towards my powers. A high metabolism means your body stores no energy, you can starve fast but you can't get fat. I'm guessing a low metabolism is the opposite, you don't use energy because it's immediately turned to fat. Most people have a metabolism somewhere in the middle. My metabolism has to fuel my powers without making me eat everything in sight. I believe that I'm closer to a low than high metabolism, pretty sure the Flash is the opposite but he's the easiest example for metahuman metabolisms. I store energy at an amazing level so I can use my powers but I use the energy as well so I maintain a healthy build and don't go overweight.

Batman is human, it's a fact and everyone knows it. The Batcave is equipped with stuff so Batman can keep being Batman. Most of the test he ran on the world's newest metahuman hero were geared toward the human part of metahuman, surprise surprise. I took my shirt and jacket off so he could put cordless monitors on (like for breathing and heart rate, I guess). If Batman can be surprised, me doing the tests without complaint had to do the trick. Metas often rely on their powers, plus I'm all about teen rebellion so the no complaints thing amazes even me to this day.

For one test, gave me a number of pull-ups to do and ten minutes. I'm guessing he's used to lots of complaining when he wants things like this done because the number wasn't very high, like 20 or less, and I passed it easily without counting aloud. Push-ups and sit-ups were among the tests, don't ask which came first I remember the tests not the time. He was testing me on a human level through most of it, maybe he thought it'd make discovering my secret ID easier. I even did sprints. Don't ask for details of the Batcave, I admit nothing.

If I sat here describing every test, this chapter would be boring and I'd have to skip the other shorter stories in it. Onto the tests with an actual point to being run on a metahuman. I did mention I had very little control of my pyrokinesis back then, right? I could make a little flame and keep it from burning my clothes but I couldn't make a flare. It's kinda funny, Flashes wouldn't want to do sprints without their speed but I braved fires before my pyrokinesis fully developed.

Morning came while we were testing which I guess is why we had time. After each test, Batman gave me a bottle of sports drink, I don't know what kind. The first few times, he just stood there silently as I drank the whole bottle. By the time the human tests were done, I was in the habit of draining the bottle and he'd disappear while I did. Occasionally I'd eat while he entered information into the Batcomputer. When he told me to burn something at the end of a range, I warned him I'd never tried anything bigger than the flame in my hand. He removed the monitoring devices and again told me to burn the thing. I tried and set Batman on fire. Once he was extinguished and bandaged he came back, slapped me upside the head and said again. I set him on fire, along with bits of the cave, did it like three times before he realized maybe the pyrokinetic teenager doesn't know what he's doing. Luckily for me, Batman probably didn't either since we did the same thing like three times, so I didn't get a Batarang to the head or whatever. After I repeatedly burned the Dark Knight on accident I got another sports drink and he left to get a flamethrower. Since I hadn't suffered severe burns it was clear I'm fireproof but to what extent was unclear. Batman told me my heat resistance threshold after he had his fun with fire, if Batman is capable of having fun.

Batman asked in Bat speak (using big words he kept having to define), "Are you invulnerable?" (I didn't know what the last word meant).

My answer was "To fire and that kinda stuff, why?" The reason he'd asked was because he needed to know if a needle for a blood tests could get through my skin, it can. Today I can stop a knife with my fire powers.

Catwoman

A cat blew by me, howling mad. I jumped to my feet, ready to burn something. I can't be harmed by fire but my clothes can catch and a man on fire is a terrifying sight. Catwoman skidded to a stop in front of me before I could burn her. Her pursuers saw a kid in a leather jacket (scary). But I didn't need to burn them to stop them and I don't have Batman's no gun policy. In minutes they were on the ground and I was running with Catwoman. WTF? (I have to censor, I don't have to do it well).

We got to her place, full of cats, before she stopped to ask who I was. "Torch. I didn't think of it and I don't have another name. I mean cops call me Hothead but that doesn't count."

Catwoman introduced herself, "Selina Kyle. Cops thought I was working for Batman during our debuts." We shook hands, she asked "Hungry?"

I shrugged "I'm a living lighter, I can always use more fuel."

What I meant by kinda a hero is she steals from criminals and gives to victims. Her pursuers wanted their loot back. After dinner, she was amazed how much I can pack away, we went on her version of patrol. I don't know how she didn't see me turn back into whoever I become.

Superman

I never really wake up in Metropolis. If I woke up there half as much as I do Central then it wouldn't be so painfully obvious where I wake up the most. In fact I was recognized before I woke up this time, which means yes there's a villain in this one. I'm still all about firemen and rebellion but this is Metropolis.

Ever notice that the big guys (Superman and Batman) have nemesis who are their exact opposite? Superman is a God-like alien and his nemesis, Lex Luthor last I checked, is just a guy. Superman is modest, he might've picked Bob for a hero name, and Lex has an ego bigger than the sun. Superman can destroy a tank, LexCorp builds weapons. How does no one points this out on a regular basis? And with Batman, while doing everything humanly possible to scream I'm a bat freak without becoming a man-sized bat isn't healthy (I know I'm one to talk), the Joker takes clowns too far. Bats are animals and clowns are people. You can't have a completely sane man become a masked vigilante but still, they're opposites. Do I need to scream it to you? Would that help?

Black Canary says I'm way off topic and I agree, if nothing else this is supposed to be set in Metropolis. So that time I met Superman, let me tell you about it. Instead of waking up in an alley, you just go with it the fifth or sixth time (not that I ever questioned it). Instead of the alley, I woke on a metal table in metal restraints, and you know something's up when you feel too hot despite FIRE POWERS (I love the caps lock). For a few hours it was dizzying, someone kept flicking from heat to AC (like going from the desert to the arctic and back a hundred or so times).

Then Lex shows up, guess he was in a meeting, and temperature becomes bearably mild (still on cold side, musta thought it was safer with the guy named Torch). Lex loves to talk, he was silent when he came in and prepared to do whatever they took me to do then he looked at me. Maybe he thought I'd be unconscious and the room was supposed to be soundproof so he didn't want to earn the Bat by acting crazy. He spoke to me but I'm not quoting, my English was developing so I don't remember exact words. Of course he explained why they wanted me. Pyrokinesis (Lex did not teach me the word), is not only one of the hardest to master, it's also extremely rare. Given the nature of my work, no one would notice another disappearance so he has lots of time to extract the secret of my powers. I'm not sure if the math tracks but maybe Lex was responsible for the other Torch, the one I went to prison for. Lex does his monologue and I remember something I heard, while my head clears from the thermostat war that was fought while Lex was somewhere else. I remember that Superman listens for morse code, specifically SOS in case his friends are in trouble. And when are they not? I remember whoever told me, I knew then but I don't now, also taught me the code.

Now after battling Superman for so long, Lex is gonna be ready for this so I interrupted him and said something along the lines of 'do it then'.

He was like 'very well'. I knew from the lab I was in, as if being strapped to a metal table doesn't already speak volumes, that this was going to be painful. I am far from the smartest guy in the Justice League but there was nothing to knock me out and my plan was simple. Lex thought I was thrashing when I entered the code. Maybe the lab was supposed to be soundproof, maybe it did pass the soundproofing test but Superman musta heard me 'cause he came to my rescue.

Did I mention I don't sense heat like most people? I think I mentioned that when I described my first awakening. Something has to be crazy hot for me to feel any heat from it. Unfortunately, Superman's cape doesn't share my heat resistance. Ironically neither does some of Lex's stuff and he made the freaky thermostat. I'm still not sure why my clothes were unaffected when most other fabric caught but thankfully Lex wanted to replicate my powers and he didn't think to have emergency dampeners (and he's a genius?).

Before I hadn't seen a point in trying my powers but when some idiot switched the heat on full blast and people's clothes were igniting, two things were clear. One, my powers weren't being blocked. Two, I needed to get off the table before someone died. Why wasn't Superman doing anything as Lex burned? I never said he wasn't but clothes weren't the only thing igniting. I created a flame in my hand, the cuffs were hurting after the morse code and the surprise of Superman busting in making me rub against them. With the small flame in hand I pushed more energy in it, twisting my hand so the flame went against the cuff. The heat of the fires around me wore out the cuff's shielding, my flame pushed it over the edge, breaking the cuff. With one hand free, I grabbed Lex's collar and for the first time I can remember, I manipulated a fire I didn't make, the fire burning Lex moved away. I yanked him so he almost fell on top of me and said "Off."

The cuffs came off and I stood, not releasing Lex. I put my free hand on Superman, extinguishing him and threw Lex at him. I escorted them both out of the lab, the flames not daring to touch us. I was experiencing what's called a power overload which is very dangerous but thankfully also rare. One person does something that causes a powered person to experience a power overload. In my case it could've been the thermostat rollercoaster messing with my body or something in the fires but it boosted my powers to a point where pyrokinesis is hardest to control, one ounce of emotion becomes the difference between hero and villain.

I marched them out of the lab (the fires weren't contained), my power plenty strong to blow out a window and hold the fumes in. Superman went about evacuating Lex's blacksite though I'm not sure what became of Lex in the after that. I stayed in the building, keeping the flames and smoky fumes inside. I'm not sure which fire I was feeling exactly but I've never felt better, maybe the power overload gave me that high. I held it until firemen came in to put it out. One of the firemen came up to me, "Torch?"

"Yeah."

"You can release your hold on the fire."

"Not until it's back in that lab, I'm not letting the fumes out." The fireman told me Superman was waiting for me.

Let me put this out there. Firemen respect my work and respect me more than police. I do the same thing they do: fire rescue. Doctor Mid-Nite could be EMS supertype like I'm FD's supertype, most heroes cover PD.

Back to the story. Instead of arguing I redirected the fire into the lab and covered the busted window with the door Superman broke down. "I'm leaving, alright. Which way to Superman?" The stunned fireman I'd spoken with pointed up. I made my way to the stairs as the firemen went to work putting out the now contained fire. I climbed to the roof to see a somewhat confused Superman. "Lex got away," I guessed.

He sighed and nodded, "That's not what I wanted to talk to you about. You're not how people say you are."

"I know. Let's not have this conversation here, a living lighter over a burning building." Superman nodded and began to fly away "I can't fly." You get tired of saying that as much as you get used to waking up in alleys.

Superman turned back, "You mind?" He held his hands out, a lot of human supertypes (Batman) hate to be carried in a hero's arms. I stepped up to the ledge, answering his question.

He flew to the Daily Planet building, he loves that building. He asked "How's this?" I think he was making fun of my powers, the Daily Planet is a newspaper after all. If he was, this is Superman so it wasn't on purpose.

I stepped away from him "I've never done that before. Manipulated a fire my powers didn't make."

Superman repeated himself "You're not how people say you are."

"I'm homeless, Superman. I'm a homeless meta teen. I don't know my real name or what I'm doing when I'm not doing hero stuff. People see me, dressed more like a thug than like you and they're already thinking things. I let them. I like Pied Piper over Green Lantern because Piper helps homeless kids while heroes would put them in a home. Anything else you wanna know?"

"Are you hungry? You just used a lot of power."

"Batman told you about half of that stuff," I told him that so he didn't try to knock me out.

Superman said "He did."

I asked "Did he tell you that I don't know when to stop eating? I'm a living lighter, I don't refuse fuel."

Superman smiled, "Sounds a bit like the Flash."

Martian Manhunter

What a perfect combo? A guy with fire powers and a guy who hates fire? Honestly I'm not sure how this happened. Unlike the others, Manhunter doesn't have his own city to protect. I know how it got started, I came across a fire and did my job. How was I supposed to know the fire was meant to kill the Martian? I didn't even know where I was because Martian Manhunter has no special city. I guess that makes him a great Manhunter, or am I thinking bounty hunter? Is there a difference?

Anyway, I found Martian Manhunter in the blaze, his form flickering as he tried to shapeshift for the sake of normal firemen. I got him to lean on me, he was so overheated I'm not sure he realized who was carrying him as his power gave out and his skin stayed green. I got him out of the blaze and carried him through some alleys. Being a homeless drifter, I didn't have anywhere to take him if I had some way to get him beyond the alleys. I couldn't leave him but I knew there could be others in the fire. We were apparently far enough for his powers to work, he said "No one." I turned away from the fire to face him, "I was alone. We must move quickly."

I said "All for that idea but with what that fire did to you I don't think teaming up is a good idea. Fire powers and all, I walk everywhere."

He admitted I had a point, "That's why they'll never expect you."

"What? You're not listening. I'm just fire rescue." I looked at him. I didn't want him near enough to screw with me and report back to Batman.

Manhunter was silent for a moment, "It is very likely that the people who did this will try to burn me again. The next fire may harm innocents."

I turned around, "I'm not a hero."

"You said yourself, you are fire rescue. I am telling you that there will likely be more fires. You would be able to serve your purpose more efficiently if you stayed with me."

There was no winning, "Read my mind, tell me my real name and I'll join you." My split personality is so severe, Martian Manhunter couldn't find my real name with my cooperation and we never tried that again.

After admitting he didn't know, he asked "What can I call you?"

I said "You really looked?"

He nodded, "Indeed." Believe it or not, it's easy to tell if a Martian is lying. They don't have human lie markers, judging by that is impossible. Humans are from Earth and Martians are from Mars (oddly enough).

I said "Fine. I'll help. Did you find any name to call me?"

"People call you Torch when they talk about your work."

"Torch," a flame appeared in my hand as I thought about it.

"Would you mind not doing that?"

I wouldn't say a guy who can go toe to toe with Superman was afraid so I'll say he was nervous, makes sense since I just rescued him from a fire and now I was making a new one. My response to his request was brilliant, "Huh?"

"Please."

I looked him in his Martian red eyes, "I don't understand the question."

"Please put that out."

The fire disappeared, "Okay. Where to?"

"You don't have a problem with flying, do you?"

I wasn't nearly as bright back then as I am today. I didn't understand why he was asking. If I had a problem with flying I would've just said so, why would I not? The question seems logical now that I understand the Martian's fear of fire (pyrophobia) and what pyrophobia does to its victims. Martian Manhunter wanted to know if I had a problem because he was afraid I'd panic and create a fire that would burn him. There's almost no way Manhunter could've known that I have complete control of my fire, even after it touches something flammable like paper. Neither of us knew back then that my fire retains its unique properties (lack of smoke) so even around normal fire, it never becomes normal fire.

I rolled my eyes "No, I have no problem with flying. I jump from high up and keep people alive in the fall." That used a lot of words I didn't know the first time I woke up. Of course my ability to speak was non-existent the first time I woke up.

"I'm going to levitate you." Martian Manhunter either saw or sensed I didn't understand so he lifted me slightly, "Like this but higher." I nodded and we took off.

Remember when I said I couldn't fly. Well, Batman can fly when he's being levitated, I just can't fly alone. I make jokes about heat rises to calm people when I jump with them out of a burning building. I'm about as capable of flying on my own as any other fireman. When you're a superhero, you lie to keep people safe. For years, Batman let myths about him being a vampire spread so criminals would fear him and think twice before pissing him off. Then he proved himself capable of going toe-to-toe with Superman, admitting he's human without losing the effect. He's actually scarier as a human than a vampire.

Martian Manhunter took me to his base, or something, and set me down inside. He said "Do whatever you wish but do not break anything," something to the effect but in much better idiot talk. When something is simple to you and you talk to someone that's never heard of it, you use idiot talk.

Throughout my time talking to Martian Manhunter I've noticed he doesn't use a lot of contractions. He almost always says do not or should not instead of don't or shouldn't. Not as big of a thing with you're and I've but maybe I'm just imagining a connection with my mild Bat paranoia. Fun Fact: almost everyone in the Justice League has experienced Bat paranoia, it's a side effect of working with Batman (Bat paranoia's namesake). Heroes actually cite Bat paranoia as the cause of funny feelings they get when a battle suddenly seems too easy as backup arrives. It's quite common though only members of Gotham's Bat Clan are capable of severe cases, thank God. Can you imagine Superman always suffering from some Bat paranoia? The City of Tomorrow's boy scout Man of Steel with his trusting and happy nature switched out for the fear inspiring aura of the Crime Capitol's detective Dark Knight, that's a scary thought. Almost as scary as pyrophobe Martian trusting a pyrokinetic. Anything can happen when time travel, aliens, other dimensions, metahumans and magic are all real (4/5 scientifically proven).

I wasn't paying enough attention to Martian Manhunter to know what he was doing after he gave me free reign in his base. I was too busy in the kitchen. I don't get hungry or full in the normal sense. I can go longer than anyone because I don't get hungry but I'll also eat every scrap of food in sight if it's offered because I don't get full. It's something unique to me not my powers. Even though I don't get hungry or full, I know how to reign myself in. I choose not to when I know the person offering can afford to give me a lot of food, like the guy who never runs out of bat shaped weapons. When I eat I'm always reigning myself in since my body never says no more.

I was busy in the kitchen while Manhunter was doing whatever. I'm lucky my brain doesn't respond to my powers like the Flash's mind does to give him that serious metabolism (I learned that word much later, after first encounters). I was eating when Manhunter came into the room, I said "You said I could do whatever I wanted. Sue me, you know I'm homeless."

Martian Manhunter just levitated some food over to himself, "I have found the people who started the fire."

"About that. I can't control normal fire." I didn't know half the words I'm quoting myself saying but I don't remember what was said word-for-word. This was before I met Batman, it was a long time ago even with my memory problems.

"Are you fireproof?" The Martian picked up idiot talk fast but I'm not gonna write that. Even I have a limit on insulting myself.

"Yeah." I never stopped eating during this and Martian Manhunter joined me so I guess we had this conversation over dinner.

"Then you can check the building to make sure it is not a trap. I only ask you wait until I have come out of building before you leave."

I said "Let me finish this food and we'll be even." He nodded, probably the best deal you can ask for with superhero (Flash) eating habits how they are.

After dinner, he flew us to the place he'd tracked the arsonists to and set me down out front. Martian Manhunter was right, they were set to burn him again which made me angry because unlike last time it wasn't an empty building so people would've died. When a pyrokinetic gets really angry running is like running from a volcano, pointless and maybe more painful than the alternative.

With a volcano, you might feel a little burn but you'd be dead before the ash cloud fills your lungs. If you run then you have to avoid the lava while you're breathing in the ash cloud. If you were close enough to be taken out by the initial eruption then you've got a long way to run. With a pyrokinetic, you're trying to outrun flames that someone is consciously moving to kill you with. A scared arsonist isn't that fast and bullets aren't gonna hurt the guy surrounded by fire. Luckily while I've always been pyrokinetic (that I can remember) I haven't always been a great pyrokinetic, I couldn't manipulate my fire like I can now but they didn't know that. When you see someone practically set himself on fire, whether he can chase you down or not isn't your biggest concern. You're too busy worrying what the burning man's gonna do to you. I said "You hurt my friend and now you're hurting kids." My flames grew. My clothes were not fireproof back then but I wasn't really directing the fire anywhere so it didn't matter.

The guys I cornered were begging for mercy, "You tried to kill kids. Why should I let you go?"

Unfortunately my fire wasn't nearly big enough to make Manhunter think it was theirs and he came in, "You should not. Let me take them to face justice, I'm sure they will confess their crimes and take their punishment now." That message but in mild idiot talk.

I didn't know the word justice and to some extent I still don't know what justice is. Different countries have different laws but I let the Martian take over. I told the Martian I'm not a hero and back then I believed it, I know better now. A hero isn't just some guy who fights crime and wears a cape. Firemen are heroes just like cops. Paramedics are just as much heroes as Navy SEALs. A hero is someone who does the right thing, a superhero is someone who does the right thing when no one else can or will. I do the right thing even though I have every right to be angry at the world, especially after I went to prison for crimes I didn't commit. I'm as much a hero as firemen, I just have the superpowers to boot.

Green Lantern

To be clear I'm talking about meeting John Stewart, the African American Green Lantern with the Marine personality. A military man teaming up with a patron of teenage rebellion? I might keep pointing out how crazy my team ups are, I might not.

This day actually started off crazy, not Metropolis crazy but helped a guy who tried to arrest me crazy. I'll explain. I usually wake up in alleys but as my Metropolis story proved I don't always wake up in an alley. I don't know if there's a pattern to my awakenings but let's just start with that fact.

So the day I met GL, I woke up on a rooftop with the guy floating in front of me and aiming his power ring at me like I was a supervillain. I guess to a guy like him rebels and outlaw are close enough to the same thing. So I wake up with his ring glowing in my face as he floats beside the rooftop, maybe he wasn't arresting for sleeping on the roof (private property I guess) but it seemed like that. I have heat resistance among my fire powers, you might think bright light doesn't bother me because fire can burn bright just as well as hot. Not entirely true. I said "I'm up. Turn that thing off."

His ring didn't stop glowing, "You're coming with me." That's where I get the idea Green Lantern was arresting me.

I said "Fine but you're blinding me with that ring and the sun."

He didn't like the back talk. He picked me up by my ankles and flew me away. He told me "My sources say you can't fly." Just guessing but one of those sources may have been a Scarlet Speedster.

I said "I can't fly but if you think hanging me upside down, high in the sky is gonna scare me then you're wrong. I have no fear of heights and I jump down 12 stories without flight so I'm not afraid of falling."

Green Lantern turned around to face his mouthy prisoner, turning me upright at the same time "Listen Hotshot."

"Hotshot, people call me that all the time. Mostly cops, are you some kind of cop? You're definitely not a fireman, those guys love me because I'm the one superhuman who helps them first." I think I miswrote something earlier. My nickname with police is Hotshot not Hothead.

Green Lantern said "Green Lanterns police the universe."

"So why bother with me? I didn't hurt anyone."

He said "I beg to differ." Another thing: those people I supposedly killed to earn my stay at Belle Reve, they suffered smoke inhalation but that wasn't the first time I'd been accused of killing someone that way.

He took me to the sight of a fire, "You were here, weren't you?"

"I don't know. I have memory problems. I don't know how I ended up on that roof."

I won't say the number but "People dead. Smoke inhalation. You were here, whether you say you remember or not."

I said "Well you just wasted your time."

He turned around, if John Stewart smirks then he did when he looked back at me, "So you're ready to confess?"

"No. Smoke is part of a normal fire." I held up my hand and made a fire, "Not my fire." He was holding me by my ankles and when I showed him he was wrong that got tighter, "Ow! Now, you're hurting me."

"You're not afraid remember," he dropped me. I twisted around so I'd land on my back and he grabbed me at the last second with his ring.

John pulled me back into the air and flew away, dragging me. I screamed "Hey! Where are we going now?"

John loosened his hold on the construct holding me in the air, like watching me fall was funny. I know from experience, seeing people watching me jump out of burning buildings, that seeing someone fall from that high up is not supposed to be funny. He got over himself and shortened my leash so I was floating next to him. It is much more fun to be levitated by a hurt Martian Manhunter than flown by a pissed off Green Lantern. He said "We need to find out who set you up."

I asked "Is there anywhere you can set down? I need to check my ankles after you almost cut my feet off."

John had lost any attitude, "Alright." He flew us to his apartment building and set us down on the roof. I sat on the ledge and checked, holding a flame near each ankle and watching the marks go away. John asked "So you heal close to your own fire?"

"I can jump 12 stories down with people holding on for their lives. I just ignore the pain and keep going until the building is clear then I kinda pass out. I don't remember much between rescues."

He told me "That's not healthy."

I looked up from my healing ankle, "Which part? Ignoring my own pain to save lives or forgetting my own life? We can't all be normal superheroes."

John said "I didn't mean, I wasn't trying to offend you."

"Offend? Try another word, I don't understand that one."

"I didn't mean to upset you."

"I don't get upset, I'm not allowed to. If I get upset then the world burns." I understood this concept long before I knew the word concept. I healed my ankle and steadied myself before standing up to face John Stewart, "I also don't get hungry like you but I have to eat all the same. Let's wrap this up so I can pass out."

John said "That is definitely not healthy. You were my best lead but if you have memory loss."

"So you didn't think I killed those people? Fooled me." He looked at me, "Okay, yes I have memory loss but I don't forget my rescues. I remember them just like everyone else."

"And you're telling me you're sure you weren't there?"

"I'm telling you I thought you were accusing me of killing those people. Smoke inhalation is part of being in a fire. My body is built differently than yours. I can handle fire rescue in my underwear, I did that once so I wouldn't burn my clothes. Something has to be crazy hot for me to feel the heat and I can't be burned, smoke doesn't hurt me. If I needed clean air, I couldn't go into a fire in my underwear. Is this helping?"

"How hot does something have to be to burn you?"

"I just said I can't be burned. I don't even feel heat in most fires. Why?"

"So you have never been burned?"

"You want me to show you?" He was getting on my nerves, "No I can't be burned. Are you gonna tell me why you keep asking?"

"You weren't at that fire then." He leaned on the ledge, looking out at the city, "The Torch everyone saw had burn marks."

"Then whoever they saw didn't have my powers." He stayed by the ledge and looked at me, "To make fire like I do, you have to be fireproof."

"So this was just some arsonist?"

"I don't know. It wasn't me and it wasn't anyone with my powers but my powers are pretty special so I guess you gotta start all over."

"If this is an arsonist, they're not done."

"I feel for you, man. I really do but I can't control how long before I pass out." I'd earned my rebel hero reputation and gotten over that whole not a hero thing but I couldn't be a rebel if I willingly worked with military man John Stewart.

He said "You're a pyrokinetic."

I looked at him "If I don't know the word offend, do you really think I'm gonna know that one?"

"Your fire powers." He sighed and explained, "Pyrokinesis is the ability to create and manipulate fire, people with pyrokinesis are pyrokinetic. You're right, it's incredibly rare on Earth. It's one of the hardest superpowers to control because like you said you can't get upset without burning things. I wouldn't doubt it if someone said pyrokinetics have a higher suicide rate than soldiers." He looked at me, I was staring at him, "Help me with this and I'll help you with your problems. Deal?" He held out his hand, I glanced at it then went back to staring at him. "A handshake?" I took his hand, still kinda dazed. How many superheroes do you have to meet before someone bothers to explain things to you?

I shook off my daze when he put a hand on my shoulder, "If I'm pyrokinetic, what's the other pyro thing? The one where they worship fire?"

"Pyromania. You think there's a connection."

"No. Maybe with those burns you said the guy had and the fact he was in a burning building unprotected. I was just asking for a joke, you wouldn't find it funny."

"Try me."

"What do you call a pyrokinetic pyromaniac?" At his uncomfortable look, I said "Doomsday."

"That's not so much a joke as a scary thought, a pyrokinetic pyromaniac."

"I know. I'm not the Flash. I'm still pretty new at talking," that confused him, "that's why I don't know so many words. Let's just focus on your arsonist."

"Do you know what an arsonist is?"

"I'm guessing it's someone who starts fire but pyromaniac seems more fitting if all you know is he was in the fire."

"You might be right about both things. Think you can stay awake while I go consult the police?" I shrugged at his question. He showed me into his apartment, "It's not much but there's a TV*. Don't eat everything in the kitchen."

"You know about that," I was a little embarrassed. "It's not what you think. I don't get hungry, my brain is wired for pyrokinesis."

"Then don't eat." He left me alone in his apartment. I did like he suggested and watched one of his tapes.

He came back a few hours later, politely chatting with his landlady (someone said rent) as he came in, "Ready to go? I think I know where our pyro is gonna strike next." Guess I gave him a strange look because he explained a pyro is someone who starts fires.

I followed him out, "How do you pay your rent? Does being in the Justice League pay?"

He did not like that question but answering my questions is how he got my help, "No. I'm a retired Marine, I pay my bills like every other retired soldier. Why are you so curious about being in the Justice League?"

Fair is fair, "Because I figure if I can make it, if I can get in then I, I, I don't know. I mean I hope I won't be homeless if I'm one of the big boys. It won't matter what I do because I'll be one of them. Maybe I can even get help with my memory problems if I'm in the Justice League." We were soon on the roof, "I don't care what people think of me. I don't care that cops call me Hotshot while they wouldn't dare disrespect any of you guys in the League. What I care about is, is."

Green Lantern said "Go on."

"You said pyrokinesis is rare and one of the most dangerous powers. I'm missing more than half of my life. What if there is another Torch. What if when I blackout, I'm a bad guy. What I care about is protecting people, I just, I'm more fire rescue than crime fighting. I think that if I was in the Justice League then I'd have a better chance finding out what happens when I pass out or blackout. I don't see things the way most people do. There's no superheroes or supervillains in my mind, not the way everyone else sees them. Everyone else sees Pied Piper as a villain. I don't. How do I explain this? Pied Piper gives away almost all of the stuff he takes. He gives it to homeless shelters and programs for people everyone else hates for no reason like, what's the word?"

"I know what you mean. He gives his money to LGBT and he's openly gay which is the G." John looked at me, "What makes a hero to you?"

"There are no superheroes or villains. Piper helps the homeless and everyone calls him a bad guy. I don't care what people think and I'm homeless, maybe that's why I don't see him as a bad guy."

"It's definitely a special perspective."

"I understood maybe half of that. Still learning words."

"You're right. You see things in a way no one else does." I didn't even realize we were flying until I nodded to him when he said that. Green Lantern asked "How important is being in the Justice League to you?"

I said "I don't care what people think and I'm more fire rescue than crime fighting. I'm not gonna change to fit in. If I was gonna do that, I'd seek you people out and try to fight as many villains with you as I can. I'm the guy who rescues the little girl in the apartment three floors up while the rest of you heroes are fighting aliens. I just think that maybe being in the Justice League could give me a home and maybe it could get cops to stop laughing at me with all the Hotshot jokes. You don't see cops calling Flash greased lightning, only your enemies insult you guys."

Lantern said "I think you could contribute something to being in the Justice League but only if you're serious about being a member of the League."

"I'm not gonna stop doing fire rescue to fight aliens and just let people burn. Aren't heroes supposed to put people first?"

"I'm not asking you to but you have a reputation as a rebel. I need to be sure you can handle the commitment."

"I'm not gonna be committed to anything else since I don't remember having a life outside being Torch."

"Alright. I believe you, now keep your voice down we're almost there."

We didn't have to wait long for the scarred me to show up. Thing is he didn't start the fire and he wasn't taking the time to enjoy it. He was trying to save people. He knew when and where the fire was going to be, kinda like Green Lantern. I went into the burning building after him while Green Lantern said he'd be on perimeter. This gave me another unique perspective as I saw myself in that first awakening, trying to help people without knowing how to talk to them. He was helping a lady who'd fallen get up, I said "Let me help you," and ran to the other people who were on the floor.

I got two people leaning on my shoulder and the other me got more people to lean on me until I was almost collapsing, making me an evac point. I used that tactic in a lot of my rescues but I usually use a window that wasn't blocked and made my jumps from it. When everyone was at his evac point (me), the other guy started taking them to the window to jump to safety. I took the last three to safety and grabbed the other guy by his white shirt collar (my shirt is supposed to be white but it's usually covered in soot and ash). I dragged him to the building we'd staked the place out from and pushed him towards the fire escape. "Climb," I pointed up and he started climbing. I kept close behind him and Lantern met us on the roof. I pointed to the ledge, "Sit." He sat on the ledge, facing us.

I told John, "He's not our guy. He was saving people, the smoke inhalation wasn't his fault. He's a lot like me the first time I woke up with these powers. I think his scars are from before he was fireproof. Maybe dumb luck like mine leads him to fires." It dawned on me, "How'd you know there was gonna be a fire?"

He answered "Threats have been made to burn the place down." Then he turned to the other Torch, "How do you know he doesn't understand what we're saying?"

"I don't. The fire didn't hurt him yet he has those scars. He was moving everyone to one spot then he made jumps with them to get them out. Maybe something with his skin, like he can't get hurt anymore."

Green Lantern looked at him "He's deaf."

"What?"

"He can't hear us. He keeps looking at us when we talk but he doesn't do it right away. He can't hear a thing."

I tested this theory by throwing something behind me, a chunk of burnt debris I had on me. Green Lantern looked when it hit but the other Torch didn't notice it until Lantern looked. "You're right. Maybe that's why he doesn't suffer smoke inhalation, he's not trying to talk. The people he's rescuing don't know he's deaf when they yell for help. Smoke inhalation is pretty common for people in fires, it was common before superpowers became a thing."

Green Lantern stepped closer to me, keeping an eye on the other Torch but making sure a lip reader can't see what he's saying, "So he's not our enemy. I'm still taking him."

I turned so the other Torch couldn't watch my lips, "What's gonna happen to him?"

"The League will take care of him. We'll see if Batman can find any family to return him to. If you're right about his powers, he'll benefit from meeting Superman. The police think they have an arsonist on their hands, I can't leave him to be labelled a villain." He turned to the boy. "Interpret into sign," I guess he was giving his ring an order because as he spoke his ring projected an image of two hands in what I'm guessing is sign language. "I'm going to take you to meet some people, super heroes, and we're gonna try to help you."

I felt like a fanboy, "Can I come? I'm the one who figured out he's not a villain."

Green Lantern stood up and faced me, his ring stopped translating, "I'm not taking him directly to the League. I'm taking him to STAR Labs to get a professional opinion on his powers."

I backed off a bit, "How long can you keep playing interpreter? You might want to call ahead for a real one."

Green Lantern said "Keep an eye on him." He walked to the other side of the roof to make a call through his com and I sat down beside the boy.

We looked at each other, I asked "Can you understand me?" To see if he could really read lips. He looked at me like I was crazy and pointed to Green Lantern, so that's a no.

Green Lantern's call didn't take long, he came back with the ring translator back on, "We're gonna have an interpreter waiting so we can talk to you." He explained to the boy he wasn't gonna see the superheroes just yet. I left the roof while he was talking into his ring.

Hawkgirl

I technically didn't meet Hawkgirl until I was joined the Justice League and we never really worked together. When I promised Hawkgirl, I was trying to think of aliens. I do actually have a story to tell with Hawkgirl but it's not really a first encounter since we'd already met when I joined the League and it's not really a good story. It's just us kinda hanging out in the League HQ.

When heroes hang out in the HQ, there's like three things we can do. Hang out in the cafeteria, spar in the gym and keep each other company during monitor duty. I'm never scheduled for monitor duty but all Leaguers have to do it so I'm listed as an ICE/emergency. If whoever is scheduled can't do it then I get called. Most of on the ICE list for monitor duty can do it anytime like Red Tornado (android so no alter ego) or they're willing to take multiple turns so they're always on call for the task. Officially I'm on the list for the second reason, I think it's because the League is aware I don't control when I'm in control so I can't commit to a schedule, the same reason I'm exempt from most mandatory meetings.

I'm going to stop explaining things and tell the story. I was doing easy pull-ups in the gym, I have to pull myself over a rail to scale fire escapes quickly. Hawkgirl came in, I never pay the others any mind when I exercise my right to use the Watchtower. Hawkgirl asked "Getting bored?"

I said "I have to keep up my strength for fire rescue. If I can't pull my own weight, I can't carry others out." I knew why she'd asked. She wanted to spar. I thought talking about fire rescue would get her to lose interest, it works on most heroes.

She said "The League isn't all fire rescue, you know? Come on down, I'll show you a few moves."

I chuckled "Last time I accepted that kind of invitation, I wound up with a limp for over a week that I remember."

She set her mace down, "Come on. I hear you're stronger than most of the League."

I dropped down, "I'm also younger than most and diagnosed with a mental disorder. Why don't you take on Green Arrow or someone else with stripes?" I knew Hawkgirl was one of the League's toughest fighters. Being an alien military officer, it's not hard to guess why.

She picked up her mace, "Fine," and bated me, "I thought you were one of the fearless ones."

"I'm the only one who focuses on fire rescue and doesn't consider all criminals bad guys." I really should've thought that through. Shayera is often considered a war criminal so my comment hit a sore spot. It was kinda a compliment, saying she's not a bad guy. She attacked. While I train to be strong and fast on my feet for fire rescue, I do not train to take on an alien with an electric mace or any battle really.

I barely got out of her way before she hit the wall with that thing. The gym is reinforced to handle Superman throwing an opponent hard and any number of superpowers. Without thinking I moved onto the mat that was in the room for precisely this purpose, not Hawkgirl trying to kill me but two heroes training by going at it, sparring. I asked "Why'd you set the thing down if you wanted to kill me with it?"

Hawkgirl set it under the pull-up bar, "You shouldn't have said that about criminals."

She charged me and I ran down the mat, "Were you even listening? I said I'm the only one who doesn't think all criminals are bad guys. Maybe I'm not the only who thinks that but how am I insulting you by saying that?"

She said "Stop running and fight."

I stepped off the mat, "No. I'm fire rescue. I handle evacuation while the rest of the world's heroes are too busy chasing bad guys. You want a fight, go find a bank robber. That's not my thing."

I went over to a treadmill to work on my speed. The League's one room gym doesn't have special training tech but it's reinforced to handle people with superpowers using in it. Which means Superman can probably use the same treadmill I use. Truth is if you don't need the reinforcements then you can use a normal gym. That might be why the gym never seems as packed as the cafeteria.

Somehow blowing off, Hawkgirl made her more interested (not like that pervs). She stood in front of the treadmill, "What's your top speed?"

I shrugged, "Fast enough. Smoke inhalation is an invisible killer, can't be too fast."

She pressed a button and the tread moved faster, "How's this?"

I picked up my pace, "I was going for endurance training but I'm still good." She turned it up again, I kept my balance but it was exhausting "I'm not a speedster. The equipment's reinforced remember."

She turned it back down and walked beside me "If you're not challenging yourself then what's the point?"

I said "I don't want to hurt myself training. If I break my leg then I can't run through a burning building."

She pulled out her Justice League ID card, "You know you can program the equipment to your own personal setting. See?" I swiped my League ID where she pointed, "Now the treadmill will max out before it reaches speedster levels. Set it to a certain speed and run your card again if you want to create a setting."

I turned it up to just before it was exhausting then ran my card, "Now what?"

"Now step off. Next time you use the treadmill, run your card before you start running and it'll default to this speed."

I stepped down and the treadmill turned off, "Does that work for everything in here?"

"Everything with a card slot. Fair warning once you make your settings, Batman can see your stats."

"Cool. I don't see the problem with that," I walked around, looking at the equipment's card slots.

"You're young, you'll get tired of Batman knowing everything eventually."

"He doesn't know everything. He still can't tell me what happens during my blackouts," I was standing by the door.

Hawkgirl picked up her mace, "Hungry?"

Smiling, I shook my head. I followed Hawkgirl out of the gym, all the way to a table in the cafeteria with food on our trays.

I count Green Lantern among my friends in the League, I don't count any of them as my enemies but I'm not close with all of the heroes. Green Lantern was the first person to really help me, I would never think about telling Batman what I told Lantern. His relationship with Hawkgirl is complicated, to say the least. They were close before her people came to Earth. After her almost betrayal they never really recovered. Green Lantern would never hold that kind of history against me and soon after we started talking, I heard him say "Mind if I join you?"

I shook my head and Hawkgirl said "Go right ahead."

Green Lantern sat down, "I see you've made a friend, Torch."

"She tried to kill me with her mace." He looked horrified, Hawkgirl and I just started laughing.

Hawkgirl said "I was trying to get him to spar but he's set on being fire rescue."

"Pied Piper is considered a bad guy but seems to me he does a lot more good than some so-called philanthropists. Mind you I don't remember benefiting from his donations."

Green Lantern said "You've been saying that since I met you."

"Well it's true. It's also the easiest way to get people to understand why I don't care about what people think of me." After that immediate tension, things cooled into small talk.