"Who the fuck are you?" asked RexSplode, his tone was sharp and impatient as his eyes darted over Johnny's flaming form.
The question hit harder than Johnny expected, and his brow furrowed slightly. He had imagined meeting the Teen Team a hundred different ways in his head — maybe a handshake, a "Nice work out there, kid," something heroic, something cool. But not… that.
Guess 'never meet your heroes' isn't just a saying, he thought bitterly.
After all, he knew all of them. He'd watched every news report, every rescue, every televised interview. Atom Eve — his classmate, his friend. RexSplode — the cocky demolitions guy with explosive powers. Dupli-Kate and Robot — the smart, tactical core of the group…well at least Robot was. They were supposed to be the best, the ones who inspired him to do this. But now that he was actually standing beside them, with smoke and fire still crackling off his skin, all he could feel was a hollow disappointment.
How did he not see it before? His only friend at school — Eve — was a damn superhero.
"Don't be rude, Rex," said Eve, giving him a sharp look. Her voice carried that same calm authority Johnny knew from class… just louder and more commanding.
"Hey, babe, I'm just saying," Rex replied with a shrug, twirling one of his charged discs lazily between his fingers. "I can't work with someone if I don't know who that someone is."
Johnny crossed his arms, the flames flickering slightly as he steadied his breath. He wasn't about to look intimidated — not in front of them. "You all can call me the Human Torch," he said finally, trying to sound confident, and even a little proud at his name.
Rex snorted. "Huh. Don't you think that's a little obvious, dude? What's next, calling yourself Fire Guy?"
Johnny's frown deepened, but before he could answer, Robot floated closer, his voice was as he thought it was gonna be, calm and analytical. "Ignore RexSplode," he said. "I, for one, think your name is… appropriate." His tone didn't carry much warmth, but at least it wasn't mockery. "My name's Robot," he continued, "and I've already devised a plan. Based on recent observation of your flight and heat output, our chances of success increase by approximately twelve percent with your inclusion — exceeding the ninety percent threshold."
Johnny blinked, half impressed, half lost. "Uh… thanks?"
Robot ignored the awkward tone. "I'll handle coordination. You just need to follow my instructions."
Johnny's heart was racing. Robot. Atom Eve. RexSplode. Dupli-Kate. He was standing in the middle of the Teen Team. Part of him wanted to fanboy on the spot, but he forced himself to take a steadying breath.
"Good," said Robot, gesturing toward the chaos below. The massive green monster under Moleman's command was currently chewing through an abandoned car like if it was aluminum foil. "See that creature? I need you to distract it. If you keep its attention — just like you were doing earlier — we can flank Moleman and take him out. Think you can handle it?"
Johnny stared at the beast, its armored hide glinting in the sunlight. He could feel the heat pulsing from his own body, the flame alive in his chest. His nerves buzzed while his heart beat faster and faster with anxiety before the fight.
"Yeah," he said finally, with his expression hardening. "I think I can manage."
"Then do it," Robot said simply.
Johnny clenched his fists, feeling the fire ignite across his arms and shoulders. And finally, he made the heat shimmer around him, dancing like liquid gold.
"Alright then… let's do this."
He shot into the air like a comet, trailing fire as he circled the monstrous creature that was still thrashing through the street, as it teared apart the concrete and steel. The Moleman, was still perched on its back, he swung his staff in frustration as Johnny's flames burst around them.
"Burn, you overgrown turtle!" Johnny shouted, sending a concentrated stream of fire toward the creature's face. The blast hit directly, scorching its skin—only for the flames to fade harmlessly against its thick, rock-like armor.
"What the—?!" Johnny quickly pulled back, shocked. However, he fired again, harder this time, pouring more heat into the attack until the air itself wavered and cracked. Although, there was still nothing. The creature simply roared, annoyed but completely unharmed.
"Uh, little problem here!" Johnny yelled over the comms Robot had linked him to mid-flight. "This thing's got a damn tank shell for skin!"
"Noted," replied Robot's calm, mechanical voice. "Keep its attention. We're moving in."
The ground shook as RexSplode leapt forward, hurling a cluster of glowing discs that exploded across the creature's side. Shrinking Violet darted between the debris, rapidly growing to full size to punch one of the Moleman's drones out of the air, while Dupli-Kate appeared in a blur of movement, surrounding the beast from multiple angles.
Johnny hovered above, watching the teamwork unfold in disbelief. They moved like clockwork—each knowing exactly what to do, while he was just… improvising.
"Hey! Lava-boy!" shouted Rex, shielding his face from the next shockwave. "You gonna just float there or help!?"
"Working on it!" Johnny shouted back, as his voice cracked with effort. He streaked through the air like a living comet as the heat around him grew more intense with every second — the fire no longer just coating him, but becoming him. The air shimmered in his wake, the sound of his flight was like a jet engine roaring over the street for anyone close by.
Then, he dove straight toward the monster's head, his eyes narrowed as he gathered every ounce of heat he could muster. The flames around his fists flared from deep orange to blinding white, waves of heat rippled outward and warped the very air around him.
"Eat this!" he yelled, slamming his fiery punch directly into the creature's eye.
The impact exploded like a bomb — fire, smoke, and molten slime bursting outward in every direction. The creature let out a deafening roar, jerking its head back violently. The shockwave sent cars tumbling and glass shattering down the block. While Johnny was flung upward from the recoil, spinning wildly in midair before catching himself.
He blinked through the smoke, with his heart hammering in his chest. "Did… did that work?"
"Now, Robot!" Eve's voice echoed below, sharp and precise.
Robot didn't hesitate — his arm opened with a mechanical hiss, launching a series of metallic spheres that zipped through the air in perfect formation. They latched onto the monster's legs with magnetic clicks before detonating in rapid succession.
The explosions tore through the creature's armored hide, staggering it backward. Chunks of molten green shell rained down like shrapnel, smashing into the pavement and sending up bursts of smoke and debris. The beast howled in pain, clawing at the craters left in its skin.
Johnny hovered above the chaos, panting heavily, as his flames flickered unsteadily around his body. He wasn't sure if the heat he felt was from his power or from the sheer adrenaline — he felt as if his lungs were burning, he also felt his vision swam, but he refused to back down.
"That should slow it down!" Robot called, scanning the readings on his wrist interface.
The Moleman, still perched atop the monster, let out a guttural laugh that carried across the street. "You surface worms think you can stop my reign?! I'll bury this city beneath my domain!" His voice echoed with madness, his small frame trembling with rage as the creature stomped forward again, undeterred.
Johnny gritted his teeth and raised his palms toward the creature. "Not today, dirt-face!"
Suddenly, a familiar pink glow flared beside him. Eve floated into view, her eyes blazing with determination. Her energy fields pulsed like living light, wrapping around her hands in what seemed like intricate geometric patterns.
"Let's do this together," she said, with a steady but also fierce tone. "On my mark!"
Johnny glanced at her, the realization hitting him again — his classmate, his only friend, was a superhero. And right now, she was trusting him to fight beside her.
So cool. He thought with a smile.
He nodded. "Got it."
"Now!"
They fired in unison — Johnny unleashing a torrent of searing flames while Eve's energy erupted in a concentrated beam of shimmering pink force. The two attacks collided midair, twisting together into a single spiraling blast of crimson and gold.
The combined explosion struck the monster square in the chest, vaporizing its remaining armor and sending shockwaves through the ground. The beast roared one final time before collapsing backward into the massive crater it had crawled out of. The earth trembled, cracks spiderwebbing across the street as the hole began to cave in — sealing the creature beneath layers of stone and dust.
But even as the dust settled, Moleman's shrill voice cut through the chaos.
"No! No, this cannot be! My reign—my glorious reign—ruined by surface scum?!" he screamed, pounding his fists against the creature's twitching hide. His goggles slipped as he turned toward the heroes, his teeth bared in fury.
"You think this is over?! You think you've won?!" he shouted, shaking his clawed fist toward them. "Mark my words, surface dwellers! I will return! I will have my revenge! The depths will rise again—and next time, none of you will be spared!"
Before anyone could react, he pulled a small device from his belt. And then, suddenly, a blinding flash erupted, followed by a violent rumble beneath the streets. The ground split open just long enough for Moleman to vanish into the darkness below, his manic laughter echoing as the fissure sealed shut behind him.
Then silence fell over the ruined street as smoke drifted into the air, the only sound was the distant wail of sirens drawing closer.
Johnny hovered in the air, chest heaving, his flames dimming back to a faint orange glow. Eve floated beside him, her energy constructs dissolving slowly into the wind.
For a long moment, neither said a word. Then RexSplode exhaled and yelled:
"What the fuck just happened?!"
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