I own it not

Reed wanted to get out of there. He wanted to help get to Johnny, not just watch him. But he knew he had to stay there, for Johnny's sake.

His friend was getting bluer by the minute, shivering uncontrollably. Johnny kept his eyes focused on Reed, never taking his eyes off the older man. It made Reed feel uncomfortable, having another man-especially his supposed-to-be wife's little brother-relying on him. And trusting him.

"'m s-sorry, Reed." Johnny stuttered, his eyes focused on Reed. "I kn-know how impo-portant the d-day was 'sposed to b-be." Reed chuckled without humor.

"Aww Johnny, you know your sister. She just needs to get every bad guy. Plus, she needed you to walk her down the aisle."

Just then, Doom's voice echoed throughout the room. "Yes, Johnny, and why is that? Isn't the father supposed to do that?"

Reed stiffened, and saw Johnny do the same, the eyes, which had been glassy before, were ablaze with anger. "Don't say anything, Johnny." Reed warned.

"Yes, Johnny, don't say anything." Doom agreed. "Just listen. Do you remember the first time you came into my office?" Johnny nodded, knowing better then to say anything. "You asked me for a job, and I gave it to you, even though you'd already been kicked out of four agencies, including NASA."

Johnny and Reed both wondered where this was going.

"So, technically, you're in my debt. And you have to pay it off, you do know that?" Johnny only looked puzzled, shivering harder as he thought of a possibility.

"And since you're going to die in an hour-oh, sorry, fifty minutes-and no one's here to save you, I have to have my debt paid off now." At the word 'now' Johnny began screaming again, writhing in pain.

Reed looked worriedly over towards his vitals. The only good thing about being mutated by the storm cloud was that the four friends now had a higher tolerance to pain, but Johnny was nearing the limit.

Reed watched the younger man twitching in agony, screaming. He tried to reason with Doom. "What are you trying to prove, Doom? That you can get to any of us by capturing only one? Okay, you proved your point, now let him go." Reed's voice was steely, and had an edge to it. But Doom neither seemed to have heard nor cared. Johnny kept twitching, and his heart rate kept increasing.

He'll die if I don't do anything. Reed realized suddenly. He tried another tactic. "Why Johnny, anyway? Go after the youngest and the weakest? You were always the playground bully, Doom."

Suddenly, Johnny stopped twitching. He was on the floor, panting and sweating even in the freezing cold room. He smiled weakly at Reed and closed his eyes, breathing heavily.

"That was just the beginning." Doom said quietly, then the voice was cut off suddenly, leaving the two men alone.

Reed looked at Johnny. "Hey, you can't fall asleep now!" he shouted, trying to get the man's attention.

"So c-cold. Ne-need sl-leep." Johnny muttered. Reed screamed t him, saying anything that came to mind until at last Johnny opened one eye.

"Just an hour more." Reed pleaded. "That's all I need."

Johnny nodded. "'kay."

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