Story 1: Spider-Man/Human Torch: Devious Puppetry Part 1
Takes place in between TASM Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2
Baxter Building, Afternoon
At the Baxter Building, home of the World's First Super Family, the Fantastic Four,a bulky orange rocked man was carrying a statue across a large room. His name was Ben Grimm aka the ever-lovin' blue eyed Thing. Thing approaches a brunette woman that has foggy eyes named Alicia Masters, his blind girlfriend. Before he got to say a word, a blonde teenager that's lit aflame flew in with his phone. This was Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch.
Torch: Hey Rock Brain! There's news articles talking about Alicia's event tonight!
Thing: Really? What do you think, Alicia? As I always said.. "Babe, You're the best thing ever!" Now, the whole blastin' city knows! Now, where do I put this sucker?
Thing looks up towards a statue that resembles himself.
Thing: As attractive as he is and how much I would hate saying goodbye to him…
Torch: What? "He ain't heavy.. He's your Brother?" That's why I see how ugly he is.
Thing: Listen Johnny, if you want, I'll show you ugly!
Alicia puts down the object in her hand and turns to their directions.
Alicia: Enough you two! I will not condone any more of your teasing, especially with all the tasks that has to be done before tonight. I do mean tasks!
Thing puts down the statue and looks at her.
Thing: Just tell me what and I can tell Reed and Sue to postpone our trip.
Alicia: Ben Grimm! I do not want to hear it.
Alicia: They wish to investigate the Negative Zone and they want you with them! You WILL go with them!
Thing: Fine fine, but you do realize that you have Mister Hot Shot here as your date tonight instead of me? I know he isn't a replacement for a REAL man, but-
The Human Torch gets set ablaze and pushes himself into the air.
Torch: A real man huh? I'll show you! How about a little campfire, camper?
Torch fires a flame bstream that hits Thing on the butt.
Thing: What the heck was that for? This ain't summer vacation, so why don't you buzz off?
The Thing claps his hands together, sending a burst of air that sends Torch back a bit.
Torch: Woah man, nice try… If you were trying to knock me out by clapping.. But not good enough!
Thing grabs a fire extinguisher and blasts Torch, sending him falling to the floor.
Thing: Then how about I fight fire with an extinguisher?!
Johnny Storm starts to stand up as Alicia gets in between the two.
Alicia: Benjamin! Are you trying to ruin my night? I said to stop! All of us have important errands to do! If you don't leave now, Reed and Susan will go without you! And Johnny, You didn't even get your tux yet!
Thing: oh, That's right Matchstick.. Now, Reed won't be able to coat it with Unstable Molecules! That Tux will get burnt to a crisp if you have to flame on for an emergency.
Alicia: Ben, don't say that. There won't be one.
Thing: You're right, Alicia. I just worry about you when I'm away.
The two share a smooch before Thing goes into the building's elevator as it goes up, unaware of a small drone watching over the entire scene as a figure watches from some screens.
?: And you should be, Thing… and I will prove that to you and make sure my dear Alicia is ok. I swear it!
Daily Bugle, Meanwhile
In the offices of the newspaper called the Daily Bugle, Peter Parker, better known as Spider-Man, is in the office of J. Jonah Jameson, the publisher of the news outlet AND Peter's boss.
Peter: No way! No can do, Mr. Jameson! No!
Jonah: No, Kid? No can be a long time even without your next paycheck!
Peter: without.. Next paycheck..?
Jonah: Exactly, Parker… or did you forget you work for me? At least, you USED to work for me!
Peter: Y-You can't do this to me, sir!
Jonah: Can't?! Get this straight kid, I can do anything I want here in this building. I'm the BOSS around here! If you want to keep your position, You'll take society page photos while Miss Brant is out to a family reunion!
Peter: JJ, I am a freelance ACTION photographer! You hired me to take the types of pictures-
Jonah: The type of pictures I don't WANT today! I've grown tired of that web headed nut for a lifetime.. And the one after it! Ok?
Jonah blows some smoke into Peter's face, leaving Peter to cough as he sits back down.
Jonah: Listen, son. It may not be so bad to socialize with famous people.
Peter: I -cough- I bet…
Jonah: You will be assigned tonight for an art exhibit featuring some blind artist named Alicia Masters. It's at the Baxter Building, you know the place where those Fantastic Four bozos live.
Peter turns around and opens the door.
Jonah: One more thing, Parker. You can't show up to it wearing something like that! Kids today. Change your style ok?
Peter: Oh, I'll do something about my clothes, all right… But, not in the way he thinks. But, geez, tonight, I have to worry about the Baxter Building. I haven't been there since I tried to break in and apply to join the FF. This is gonna suck.
Peter runs up the staircase until he gets onto the roof as he starts to change into the Spider-Man costume under his clothes as he webs his civilian clothes to his back, jumps off the roof, shoots a webline, and swings off.
Spider-Man: An ART EXHIBIT?! Why?! Why does this happen to me?!
Spider-Man jumps across rooftops until he gets to the suburban neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens. He lands on the roof of the home he shares with his aunt, May Parker.
Spider-Man: I'm just some teenage nobody!
Spider-Man takes off his mask as he starts to change back into his civilian clothes and hops down to the front door and opens it.
Aunt May: Peter? Are you home? I didn't hear you come- Heavens, you look so pale! Are you sick? What's wrong?
Peter: Eh, not really.. Just some stupid assignment I got from the Bugle. Tonight, instead of my Spider-Man photos, Mr. Jameson wants me to work on the society page and-
Peter starts to see a smile come across her face.
Aunt May: Oh, that's wonderful Peter! No photos of that masked criminal! Finally, you're starting a good life!
Peter: N-no, you don't understand, Aunt May!
Aunt May: Of course I do, Peter, and don't worry, your amazing Aunt May is here to help! You'll need a nice tuxedo! Oh my, how will we get it by tonight? Perhaps Mr. Lieber at that tux shop can do me a favor! Oh I'm so happy!
Peter: Great…
Peter turns around and goes to leave.
Aunt May: Where are you going, Peter?
Peter: Just heading to the tuxedo parlor.
Aunt May: Not without me!
Peter's eyes widen as he turns around.
Peter: Aunt May! You don't have to come! I am capable of getting my own clothes by myself!
Lieber's Tuxedos, Later
Peter stands with an annoyed expression on his face as he's getting measured.
Peter: As much as I love Aunt May, this is the one time I DON'T want to be around her. I feel so embarrassed… Hope my life doesn't get.. Any… worse… Damn!
Peter looks up as he sees Johnny Storm walk into the parlor.
Peter: Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch. We used to go to the same high school together and dated my old classmate Dorrie Evans before he left school to play big time superhero!... Please don't recognize me…
Johnny: My my! Is that Puny Parker I see?
Peter: Haven't changed a bit, Johnny…
Johnny: Why mess with success? This is why I'm an idol to millions of girls! Also, don't worry Mrs. Parker, I'm sure there's something here for your nephew… in the BOYS section!
Johnny laughs before the clerk comes back with a pressed wrapped up tux.
Clerk: Here you are, Mister Torch. Please come back soon.. And enjoy the art exhibit!
Peter: Opening?!
Johnny: Yeah, Tonight, Ben's girl is having an exhibit at the Baxter Building!
Peter: Baxter Building?
Peter: No! NO!
Peter's face goes red with embarrassment as Torch pays for the tux and leaves.
Johnny: See ya around, Loser!
Peter has an even more annoyed expression.
Peter: Yeah Johnny… I'll see you soon..
Baxter Building, Later That Night
It's lively in the building as people from all over are dressed up for the event as Peter was taking pictures of the statues and the guests until he saw Johnny and Alicia walk by.
Johnny: Oh my god, did I go into Groundhog's Day? I don't believe it. Peter Parker again? When I said "See ya around", I didn't mean it! What are you even doing here anyways? This isn't your type of scene. What happened? Did you get lost?
Peter: What do you think, genius?
Johnny: Playing with a camera shaped Super Soaker?
Peter: I'll make it simple for your smooth brain. Just stand there, smile, and try to look intelligent for the camera.
Alicia: I'm going to assume you two know each other..?
Johnny: Oh yeah…uh… just old classmates!
Alicia: Then come along, Peter, and take some pictures while we talk to guests?
Johnny: Hey King Nerd, if you do well, maybe you'll get to date a really famous babe too!
Peter: Oh shush Storm, stop joking. Everyone knows she's Ben Grimm's lady, so stop acting so mighty. Just because he isn't here, doesn't mean-
Alicia pushes the two teens away.
Alicia: Really boys? Do I have to send you to a time out? This night is important to me and I don't want things to go wrong!
As Peter walks with them, his Spider-Sense starts to tingle as he sees a security guard talking to a strange bald man with a big smile and odd looking attire.
Guard: I'm sorry pal, but you aren't on the guest list. You can't come in.
?: I told you… I DON'T NEED ONE!
Alicia hears the voice as her expression changes from a calm one to a scared one as she runs with the guests.
Alicia: No… Not now! Not here!
Johnny looks around as he sees Peter running off to a nearby Bathroom.
Johnny: Go and run, Pete! RUN , YOU BABY! Of course Parker to run when there's trouble, right Alicia?
Johnny stops and looks around as he realizes Alicia wasn't there.
Johnny: Alicia? Alicia?!
?: Don't worry, you imbecile. She's safe in the arms of her father!
Johnny turns around to see the bald man holding Alicia's arm as the guard looks like he's in a hypnotized state.
Johnny: Puppet Master! We'll see about that, you creep! FLAME ON!
Johnny sets himself ablaze as the tux gets burned off his body.
Torch: Guess Ben was right. I should have waited to get the Unstable Molecules on it.. No matter, I can't do anything now.
As Torch was ready to attack, he hears feet landing behind him like someone leaped off a nearby wall.
Torch: Another attacker trying to ambush me, huh?
Torch turns around to attack, but he sees Spider-Man standing there.
Spider-Man: Not at all, Campfire! Just thought I would give my old friend a hand!
Torch: Spider-Man?! Great…
Puppet Master turns to the hypnotized guard and waves his hand towards the door.
Puppet Master: I release you, my puppet! Now flee like the rest of those fools before I change my mind!
Puppet Master turns back around as he sees both Spider-Man and Torch standing in front of him.
Spider-Man: He is still holding Miss Masters hostage… We need to be careful.. But we can't give him the advantage either.
Torch: Alright Pup! Let's do this the easy way! Release Alicia and give up slowly!
Puppet Master: Oh, but that's too simple, Storm… and the battle has just begun!
Spider-Man: Look bucko, I may not be as smart as Reed Richards or Bruce Banner, but, how can YOU be a threat?
Puppet Master: I may not be a threat, masked fool, but I advise you both to look behind you. It's your best friend, Torch… and I, Puppet Master, shall witness your demise at his hands!
Torch: Best Friend?
Spider-Man: Really? We aren't that stupid enough to fall for that.
Spider-Man and Torch look around until they see that the Thing statue is gone from its pedestal.
Torch: Look! The ugly statue we set up this afternoon… It's gone!
Spider-Man: Which means.. It wasn't a statue at all…
A big shadow covers both teenage superheroes as when they turn around, they see the Thing standing there.
Spider-Man: .. It was the real Thing!
Next Time on SM: ATU: Devious Puppetry Part 2
Author's note: Welcome to the first part of the first Astounding Spider-Man Spin off! This story is one of two future stories that take place in between episodes of Season 1 to fill in some off screen adventures. Another future one will also do such as well, but more unseen untold adventures of Spider-Man that I didn't have time to put into Season 1. For now, enjoy the first volume of Team Ups featuring Spider-Man and other characters in the expanded Marvel Universe! Until then, Stay Safe, my Web Army!