Note: In chapter seven, JrFred (Johnny) told The(S)wordsman (Phil) that they wouldn't be able to have their original date, due to his injury. Phil suggested that he hang out with Johnny if the latter couldn't go to the party. Of course, they both ended up going to the party, and Johnny passed out from the pain of his wound, and… yeah, then other stuff happened. This explores what might have happened if he'd stayed home all along, and asked The(S)wordsman to keep him company.

"Two Person Party"

By the time the elevator hit the ground floor – and with more of a thump than usual, Johnny could swear – he was feeling light-headed. He had barely taken one step when he had to lean against the wall.

"I'll be good," he said. "Just give me a minute."

"Johnny?" Susan asked. She touched his side… the injured one. He jerked away, suppressing a grunt of pain. What was wrong with him?

"Just some bruising," he said. "It's not a problem. Let's go."

"You should see a doctor."

"Look." He pointed at Reed. "I can see a doctor. He's right there. Now c'mon. There's a party tonight, guys, so let's go already!"

"If you can't make it, that's okay," Alicia said. Okay, right there, her being all understanding was enough to make him feel lousy. "You already made breakfast for us this morning."

"Yeah, maybe I was just up too early," Johnny lied. He brushed the moisture from his forehead. When'd he started sweating? "Look, you go on ahead. I'll follow in a minute. There're plenty of cabs."

"I can stay—" Sue began. He cut her off firmly.

"No," he said. "If I'm not going, you sure as hell are, Susie." He sighed. "I don't wanna ruin anyone's night. Not even yours, Ben." Ben glared at him. "If you're really that worried, I'll go straight back upstairs and stay there. But you'll be late if you don't go now. Just… have a nice night for me. Bring back cake."

"Okay," Susan said, and she kissed his cheek. "Call if you're lonely."

Johnny nodded, waving them off, and then went straight back upstairs. He wasn't going to be lonely. If The(S)wordsman was available, Johnny would take him up on that offer of hanging out tonight.

Phil and the Avengers had been at the party less than five minutes when he decided to check his messages, to see how his friend was. Ten minutes ago, JrFred had sent a message to say that he was staying home to recuperate, and was he still up for coming over to visit? Phil responded immediately. After all, he hadn't seen Johnny yet, and… and he really shouldn't have been thinking about his ex while he was messaging another man.

"Sorry to be a downer, but I'm heading off," he told Natasha. She raised her eyebrows.

"Why?" she asked.

"Emergency."

"This is your other friend, yes?"

"…Yes. He needs me, but not like other people need me. And I… I think I need him."

"You need Johnny Storm," she said. Phil paused.

"What?" he said.

"We know about the two of you."

"That… that was a long time ago. Before I ever met you."

"I know."

"So I don't see what relevance that has to this conversation."

"What's up?" Clint asked, joining them.

"Phil is leaving," Natasha said. Clint looked dismayed.

"What? Why?" he said. The other Avengers began to listen in as well.

"His new boyfriend has summoned him," she said.

"He's not my boyfriend yet," Phil argued. "And he's not well. He just wants some company, since he can't go out tonight."

"Storm isn't even here yet," Tony muttered to Steve. Phil eyed them both, frowning.

"That doesn't matter," he said. It was only a partial lie.

"But we want you to stay with us," Clint said.

"My God, you're all such children!" Phil hissed. A bit loudly. He tried to lower his voice. "You don't need me to baby-sit you tonight, and you don't need to set me up with any of my exes. This isn't some Disney film where the parents get back together at the end. I have a new chance, and if this is the one time I can go on a date with a pretty good guarantee that you won't be spying on me, then I'm gonna take it."

All six members of his team looked stricken. Even Natasha's lips were white, and she was avoiding his gaze. He sighed.

"Just… don't get into trouble, and don't stay out too late, okay?" he asked, smiling to try to soften the sting. They nodded, still silent, and Phil slipped out before they could turn argumentative. Then he was on his way, messaging JrFred for the address. If there was anything familiar about the street name, he ignored it in favour of obeying the road rules.

Phil pulled into the nearest parking garage, and followed the number of JrFred's building until he stopped across the road from it. The Baxter Building.

…He really didn't need any of these associations. Not with the Grimms' party tonight, nor with his team's sudden fascination with his past love life, and not with the building where the Fantastic Four lived. Yes, many other people lived there as well; obviously, JrFred was one of them.

JrFred: Do you want me to meet you in the lobby?

The(S)wordsman: No. You're the invalid. I'm just getting into the lift. Which floor are you?

JrFred: Top floor.

Phil stared at the message, and at the buttons in the elevator. Had they moved? And what kind of job did JrFred have that paid enough for him to live in the penthouse of the Baxter?

The(S)wordsman: The very top?

JrFred: Got a problem with heights? Because I'm away from the windows.

The(S)wordsman: No. Top floor it is.

Phil pressed the button and braced himself against the wall. There were many times he and Johnny had gotten it on in this elevator. No. No. He couldn't think like that.

Did JF really mean the top floor? If he didn't, and the Fantastic Four still lived there, this could be embarrassing. But… but they were out. If they still lived at the Baxter, no one would be there. Unless Johnny…

No.

It couldn't be.

With this new, terrifying thought, Phil barely managed to shake himself back to reality before the doors opened on the highest residential floor of the Baxter Building. He stepped out, noticing that nearly everything looked the same.

"Is that you, Swords?"

Johnny.

"JF?" he said, walking into the main area.

It was him. Johnny Storm, reclining on the sofa. He stared at Phil, jaw hanging open.

"Phil?" he asked. "Uh, hi. What're you… what're you doing here? I'm expecting…"

"Me, I think," Phil said, holding up his phone. "If you're Junior Fred."

Johnny winced as he struggled into a sitting position. Phil moved forward, concerned.

"You're… you're The Swordsman? Seriously?"

"Yes," Phil said. He was soon at the foot of the sofa. "I'm… hell. All this time, it's been you."

"I guess," Johnny said, rubbing the back of his neck. He was paler than usual, and moved gingerly. "God, this is like a romantic comedy, isn't it?"

"I'm not laughing."

"Neither am I."

They both fell quiet for a couple of minutes, processing it. Then Phil remembered something.

"You're injured," he said. "From the other day? When we were fighting Doom?"

Johnny nodded, shifting in place again. He flinched. "Inside the machine. A bar hit me in the side."

"That explains you dismissing it as a disagreement with a pole," Phil said dryly. "In your message to me?" He sank to his knees on the floor beside Johnny. His heart pounded as he look up into his ex-lover's eyes. "You know, if I wasn't off my game, I probably would've seen who you were. I was falling for JF because he was my type: you. Then the timing of the injury was right. Then you weren't there tonight. And then the address… How did I not know? I'm ashamed of myself."

"You were falling for me?" Johnny asked softly. Phil considered him, studying his face.

"For JF," he said, testing the waters. Johnny's face fell, and he looked away. "Not for you." Johnny nodded, still silent; but it seemed that he was drawing into himself, like an internal wound was getting deeper. "I… God, I think I fell for you a long time ago, Johnny."

His head snapped up, and he met Phil's gaze. "You…?"

Phil took a moment to be sure of his feelings. He knew that his gut was right. "Always."

Johnny insinuated his hand behind Phil's neck, and brought him close. Phil nuzzled his cheek first, breathing in that soft warmth so rare in the Human Torch, and whatever cologne Johnny had donned for the party. Then he kissed Johnny's cheek, barely aware of the lips brushing his own jaw line. He held Johnny's shoulders, keeping him in place, and then pulled back enough to press their mouths together. Johnny's other hand stroked Phil's back, sneaked under his jacket, and heat flared beneath his palm. Phil melted, smiling into the kiss, and gladly let Johnny deepen it. Until, that is, Johnny twisted to get closer, and nearly bit Phil's tongue.

"Damn it, Johnny," Phil said, and he tried to unbutton Johnny's shirt.

"I'm sorry, Phil…"

"We shouldn't have started this," he said, and he finally saw the bruise. "We have to get to a hospital. I'll call an ambulance."

"Did you bring a car?"

"Yes, and it's in a lot nearby. I'm really not that concerned about it, Johnny."

"If… if you really don't want to do this…"

"What?" Phil looked up, and Johnny avoided eye contact. "If I don't…? You mean… you mean this? Us?" Johnny nodded. "I didn't mean that. I meant that I should've taken you to hospital straight away, not let you distract me like this. I do want to kiss you, Johnny. I want to do everything with you, all the good stuff, just like we used to. On a more permanent basis, of course." He finished buttoning the shirt and stood up. "I want you in one piece, though. I'll call an ambulance—"

"If I turn up the heat, I won't be able to feel the pain. We can take your car."

Phil rolled his eyes. "I reserve the right to carry you bridal-style if you can't make it there."

"Deal."

Don't know how to go on from there without getting more repetitive/boring.

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