"Green Flames"

Bruce groaned, stirring awake. He noticed an ache in his feet and hands, and glanced down. Blood and large shards of glass lay around him. Windows again. It was cold, and he couldn't see many buildings. On the top of a high-rise? Crap. How much damage did he do this time?

"It's not as bad as you think," a voice said. Bruce glared up at the shape above him. It was blurred at the edges, and no matter how much he blinked the haze wouldn't go away.

"Why am I having trouble seeing you properly?" he asked. The guy inhaled sharply.

"Maybe because I'm hot around the edges," he said. He supported Bruce's back as he sat up, and Bruce noticed that he really was warm. "Sorry. I'll turn it down."

Bruce stared as his soulmate – judging by his reaction, he had to be – came into focus.

"I know you," he said.

"Johnny Storm."

"The Human Torch."

"That's me! And you're Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk. You know, you should talk to my brother-in-law. He's a big admirer of your work." Johnny helped Bruce stand up. "I'd much rather have you to myself, though."

"Do you have any clothes?" Bruce asked.

"Hey, if you wanna be equal, I'm perfectly willing to strip—"

"No!" Bruce held up his hands. "No. I've gotta tell the others where I am."

"Babe, you're on top of the Baxter," Johnny said, and he grinned. "I could put you on top of the world, if you come back to my room."

"Thanks, but no thanks. Not in the mood. And Coulson's waiting for us to debrief."

"You've already got that covered. Or uncovered, should I say."

"Johnny," Bruce growled. "I think you've got the wrong idea about this."

"Actually, it's pretty simple," Johnny said. "We're soulmates. I definitely want a non-platonic relationship with you, because holy hell, you're cut. If you want me, too, then we hug, we kiss, we cry on each other's shoulders because we've finally found each other. We eat, drink, shower, go to bed." He trailed a finger down Bruce's side until he reached the mark on his hip. "Bond. Enthusiastically. Preferably all over my room. My sheets are all flame-proof, but I wouldn't wanna get too hot in case I hurt you."

"Uh, last time I tried to have sex with someone, my heart-rate kicked up too fast and I hulked out."

"Hmm." He studied Bruce. "Could be a problem, I'll admit. Lemme talk with the Other Guy first, and I'll see if I can't convince him to keep quiet. Maybe the bond will settle him?"

"Or maybe the bond will give you a big, green alter ego," Bruce pointed out. "I'm not risking it. You're my soulmate, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Aren't you just the cutest thing ever," Johnny said, and he pecked Bruce's lips in a quick kiss. "Come on. Let's get you some clothes. You should fit some of mine. Failing that, Reed's clothes are much more flexible nowadays. Very stretchy."

"So where's your mark?" Bruce asked as he let Johnny support him over to the door. The Human Torch grinned wickedly.

"In a very interesting place," he said. "Inside of my right knee."

Bruce blushed, and tried not to react when Johnny brushed his lips against Bruce's shoulder as they made their way down to the penthouse.

"Give me a chance," Johnny whispered. "No one's ever believed that I'm worth the trouble of 'taming'."

"Maybe you shouldn't be tamed," Bruce murmured. "Birds shouldn't be caged."

"Gonna apply the same logic to yourself?"

"That's different—"

"I could burn up whole cities." Johnny turned Bruce to face him, cupping his cheek. "It takes control to stop the flames from taking over. Once I embraced my power, discovered just how bright I could shine, it was no longer a matter of calling up the fire. It was a matter of forcing it down when I didn't need it." He half-smiled, tilting his head like a bird. "I've become a natural at it out of necessity. I could help you, soulmate of mine."

Bruce stared at him for a couple of seconds. Then he leaned in and kissed Johnny, pushed him up against the wall of the elevator. Johnny gasped into his mouth and grinned. He let Bruce take the lead, whimpering and arching into each touch.

"Johnny, really? You're… not the one naked for once, oh my God."

They pulled apart, and Johnny smirked at his sister.

"I found my soulmate," he sang. "And… he needs clothes."

"Okay," Sue said, turning her back on them. "I'll let you get on with that. If anyone needs me, I'll be dragging Reed out of his lab."

"That sounds right," Bruce said as Johnny took him to his bedroom. "If we didn't have to answer to SHIELD, we'd go straight back to the tower afterwards and return to science."

"We haven't been back long," Johnny said. "I saw you climb up here and decided to introduce myself. I didn't anticipate that you'd turn out to be my soulmate. And…" His gaze trailed down. "I thought Stark's new pants for you were indestructible."

"Something's obviously gone wrong. They were supposed to stay on."

"Huh. Can't say I'm complaining about that, sugar."

"Sugar?"

"I'm trying out nicknames for you."

Bruce watched as Johnny flitted around, pulling out clothes and tossing them on the bed.

"Why do I need a nickname?" he asked.

"Something just between us," Johnny said. "More romantic that way."

"Romance? You?"

"Yep." Johnny fished out a new pack of underwear. "Haven't started on these yet. Here. Take a pair."

"Thanks," Bruce said, accepting one. "Just in the interests of hygiene."

"I doubt you'd fit into the women's lingerie I sometimes wear."

Bruce, who was trying to pull on the underpants, tripped in shock and fell into Johnny's arms. The man caught him, and their noses brushed together as their eyes met. Johnny swallowed visibly.

"Like that idea, huh? Bruce, c-can I kiss you a—"

He cut off the words with his lips, and hauled Johnny over to the bed. This much intimate human contact was a long time coming – in a manner of speaking – and he crawled up between Johnny's legs, peeling off his shirt and nipping all over Johnny's chest.

"Okay, this is intense," Johnny remarked. "If the Big Guy starts to interfere, let me talk to him."

"Can't let that happen," Bruce said, shaking his head as he tried to retreat. Johnny caught the nape of his neck and pulled him back down.

"He's part of you, which means he's my soulmate, too," he said. "I wanna meet him sometime… just not here. This place is fire-proof, not Hulk-proof."

Bruce wrenched himself off the bed and quickly began to dress. He noticed Johnny flop onto the covers with a huff.

"You said yourself, dinner should come first," he said.

"Not exactly what I said, but I could do with a boost of energy," Johnny admitted. "You know, before you tackle me again."

Bruce winced. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be. I'd like more of that, please. Just…" He sighed. "Yeah, let me talk to the Hulk first. I'll get him to promise not to interfere when it's our playtime. How's that?"

"This can only end badly."

"Or," Johnny purred, "very well."

"Do you seriously ever think about anything other than sex?" Bruce asked incredulously as he pulled on the borrowed shirt. Johnny's eyes darkened.

"I like seeing you in my clothes," he said. "Almost as much as I like seeing you out of them, sugar."

"Again with the sugar."

"`Cause I wanna sugar you up."

"Please try something else?"

"Uh… buttercup? Yeah! I'm gonna call you Buttercup. Buttercup Bruce. Bruce the Buttercup."

Bruce rolled his eyes. Life was going to be very interesting with Johnny Storm for a soulmate.

Not very long, I know, but no time for angst-ing. Not while I'm still recovering from 'Don't Cry Out Loud', and I bet some of you feel the same way.

Jade01 requested this ship. I agree that Bruce could definitely do with some more light in his life, and Johnny needs someone who doesn't want to suppress who he is inside. It's all well and good to joke about 'taming' him, but he's an outgoing personality. Take that away and it would change his character.

I finally watched 'Origins' and 'First Class'! Yay!

Please review, all!