The aftermath of the battle looked like a war zone. Smoke rose in lazy plumes from the shattered asphalt, as overturned cars lined the streets, and sirens wailed in the distance. The air still carried the acrid scent of ozone and melted concrete.
Rex Splode and Dupli-Kate, both with dust smeared on their faces, stood near the police barricade — surrounded by flashing cameras and a small swarm of reporters pushing microphones toward them.
"RexSplode! Over here!" one shouted. "Can you tell us what happened down there?"
Rex, ever the showman, smirked and slicked his hair back with the back of his glove. "Yeah, sure. Just another day for the Teen Team, you know? Big monster shows up, tries to wreck Chicago — we wreck it back. Easy."
Dupli-Kate rolled her eyes. "He means we neutralized a class-four subterranean lifeform with minimal civilian casualties," she corrected smoothly, smiling toward the cameras with practiced calm.
"Riiight, what she said," Rex added quickly, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, and maybe mention that explosion? That was me."
Kate groaned under her breath. "You threw one explosive disc. Calm down, Rex."
"Hey, it was the disc that cracked its armor!" he said defensively, pointing a finger at her — which immediately got caught in a camera flash as another reporter yelled, "Smile for the news, hero!"
Meanwhile, just a few meters away, the noise of the press faded under the hum of Robot's servos as he approached Johnny. The young hero stood off to the side, flames extinguished, his clothes half-scorched and face smeared with soot.
"Human Torch," Robot said, his mechanical voice was calm but also talked with an unmistakable note of respect. "You performed admirably today. Your heat output was instrumental in weakening the target's armor, which allowed the rest of us to finish the engagement with minimal loss of life."
Johnny blinked, still catching his breath. "Uh, thanks. Guess it worked out."
Robot nodded. "It did. You acted with both instinct and restraint. Two traits not often found in new heroes." There was a pause, a subtle mechanical hum as Robot recalibrated his gaze on him. "I would like to extend an offer. The Teen Team could use someone with your capabilities. We are currently at four members, and you've already proven yourself capable in combat. You would fit well among us."
Johnny froze. He was being invited to join the Teen Team. The Teen Team. The same group he'd watched on TV, one of the many superhero groups he'd followed online, the ones he'd daydreamed about fighting alongside when he was just a normal, overweight kid sitting in science class.
For a moment, the fanboy inside him screamed to say yes. To jump at the chance. But then… he remembered the fight. The billboard he'd crashed into. The cars that exploded from his missed fireballs. The way he'd barely controlled his flames when things got too hot.
He looked at Robot and exhaled slowly. "I… I appreciate it. Really, I do. But I'm gonna have to say no."
Robot tilted his head slightly. "No?"
"Yeah." Johnny scratched the back of his neck, his gaze falling to the cracked pavement. "I'm not ready for that yet. If I joined you guys now, I'd just be a liability. You all… you move like a real team. You trust each other with your lives." He looked up, his expression firm but sincere. "I don't think I'm ready to have people's lives depend on me like that. Not yet. I still need to learn how to control these powers and how to control myself."
Robot studied him in silence for a moment, then gave a small nod. "A commendable answer. Self-awareness is rare among heroes. I will respect your decision."
Johnny smiled faintly. "Thanks. Maybe… someday, though."
"Perhaps," Robot said. "And when that day comes, I'll be glad to have you on the team."
He turned and walked back toward the reporters, where Rex was still basking in the camera flashes. Johnny couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, a voice behind him — calm, familiar, and slightly amused — said, "You know, I'm surprised. Most people would've jumped at that offer."
Johnny turned, and his breath caught. Eve was standing there, her pink costume shimmering faintly under the flickering streetlights, her hair was pulled back, as it still glowed with residual energy.
Atom Eve.
His friend Eve.
He stared for a solid five seconds before blurting out, "You've got to be kidding me."
She smirked. "I was wondering when you'd figure it out."
"I—You—You're Atom Eve?!"
"The one and only," she said, hands on her hips. "Well, technically just Eve to my friends."
Johnny ran a hand down his face, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've been… you've been a superhero this whole time?! And you didn't tell me?"
Eve shrugged lightly. "Kind of hard to casually drop that between classes, don't you think?"
He pointed at her, still flustered. "You literally joked about me being on fire last week!"
"Yeah," she said, smiling. "Now it makes a lot more sense, doesn't it?"
Johnny let out a disbelieving laugh. "Wow… I feel like the biggest idiot alive."
She stepped closer to him, her expression softening. "Don't. You were great out there, Johnny. Seriously. Most rookies would've panicked or burned out their powers. You actually helped save people."
"Yeah, but I also blew up a billboard, almost fried a car, and gave that mole dude enough time to monologue twice," he said dryly.
Eve chuckled. "That's part of the job. Trust me — you'll get better. You already have the heart for it."
He looked at her, that gentle smile of hers was able to cut through all the exhaustion and chaos of the day. For the first time, he wasn't just looking at a classmate, more like he was watching her on a different light he knew well.
I am…in-love? He thought as he blushed while he stared at Eve's beautiful face, thankfully for him his fire hid this.
"Thanks, Eve," he said softly, while still blushing a little. "That means a lot."
"Anytime, Torch Boy," she teased, turning toward the waiting helicopter lights that illuminated the Teen Team. "We'll see each other around?"
"Count on it," he said, watching her walk away, her figure fading into the haze of sirens and city light.
Johnny glanced up at the night sky, the faint trail of smoke from the battle still curling above Chicago's skyline.
Maybe he wasn't ready yet. But someday… he would be. Meanwhile, he would return home, to eat, and relax.
"I have the feeling that everything will get better from today onwards," Johnny muttered to himself as he took off into the night sky, his flames leaving streaks of light over the city. For the first time since he'd gained his powers, he felt like he was finally moving in the right direction. He'd fought alongside real heroes. He'd helped save lives. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to grow and become closer to his dream of being a real superhero, not an amateur but one of the pros.
Yep, everything's gonna be fine from now on. He thought as he flied to his apartment.
But…
---
"We interrupt this program with breaking news," said a grim-faced reporter on the television. "The Guardians of the Globe are dead."
Johnny froze mid-bite, the burger slipping from his hand and splattering on the floor.
"The Guardians of the Globe are what?!" he whispered, his voice cracking in disbelief.
His heart pounded in his chest as the broadcast continued. Footage appeared on-screen — helicopters circling a remote area surrounded by flashing police lights and emergency vehicles. All of them circling the area close to the scene, but without getting too much close as the area was still protected of any strange reyes, specially TV reporters.
"The bodies of the Guardians were discovered late this evening," continued the reporter. "Authorities have yet to determine the suspect behind this gruesome massacre, but what we can confirm is that every member of the team — including Immortal, War Woman, Red Rush, Aquarius, Martian Man, Green Ghost, and Darkwing — has been confirmed deceased. The government and the GDA have not released an official statement."
Johnny just stood there, his flames started flickering faintly around his hands without him realizing. These weren't just heroes to him — they were legends. Icons. People who had defined what being a hero meant.
"How… how could this happen?" he muttered, his eyes glued to the TV.
The anchor's voice grew heavier. "No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Global Defense Agency is investigating, but so far, no suspects have been named. Citizens are urged to remain calm and report any unusual activity to local authorities."
Johnny sank into his couch, his mind racing. Nobody had claimed responsibility. Nobody even knew how it had happened. The Guardians were supposed to be untouchable — stronger, faster, more experienced than anyone else.
Johnny sat slumped on his couch, staring blankly at the TV screen as the news replayed the same horrifying headline for the fifth time:
"The Guardians of the Globe were found dead in their headquarters."
The burger he'd been eating still lay on the floor, untouched, the ketchup slowly staining the carpet. His mind was a storm of disbelief.
The Guardians… dead?
He rubbed his face with both hands, exhaling shakily. "What the hell is happening…"
Then, suddenly, his phone started vibrating on the coffee table.
He frowned. Nobody ever called him. Nobody had his number. He picked it up hesitantly — and froze when he saw the screen.
Incoming call — Washington D.C.
"What the…?" he muttered. He hesitated for a few seconds, then swiped to answer.
"Yeah?"
"Johnny."
The voice on the other end made him tense immediately. Low, raspy, and unmistakably familiar.
"…Cecil?"
"Yeah. You saw it, right?" Cecil's tone was calm, but there was something heavy under it — something he didn't like acknowledging.
"Yeah, I— I just did. What the hell happened?" Johnny asked, standing up and started pacing around the room. "How could they—?"
"I don't know yet," Cecil cut him off. "And it doesn't matter right now. What matters is that we talk. Face to face."
Johnny frowned. "You're in D.C., man. It'll take me—"
"Don't bother."
The line went silent for half a second — and then the air behind Johnny hummed.
He spun around, instantly flaring up in reflex as flames coated his arms. A brief flash of blue light filled the room, followed by the distinct smell of ozone.
And then Cecil Stedman was standing there — right in his apartment.
Johnny stumbled back, the fire on his hands dimming. "Jesus, Cecil! You ever heard of knocking?"
Cecil glanced around the place with his usual deadpan expression, ignoring the mild scorch marks near the window. "Didn't have time. And I figured subtlety wasn't your style anyway."
Johnny crossed his arms. "You can teleport now? Since when do you have toys like that?"
"Since long before you lit yourself on fire for the first time," Cecil said dryly. His eyes flicked to the TV still showing the same breaking news headline. "You saw what happened. We're screwed, Johnny. Big time."
Johnny frowned, his jaw tight. "You think whoever did that… will do it again?"
"That's exactly what I think."
Cecil stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. "And if this was a coordinated hit, we don't have much time before the next strike. I need you focused and I need you ready, kid."
Johnny blinked, still processing everything. "You really think I can help with that?"
Cecil gave a faint, humorless smirk. "Let's just say I've got files on every cape with potential — and yours has been marked active for a while now."
Johnny looked away, conflicted. "I don't know, Cecil… I barely held my own with the Teen Team today. The Guardians are dead, man. What am I supposed to do against something that can kill them?"
Cecil's gaze hardened. "You learn fast. Or you die trying."
Silence followed his statement.
However, after a few seconds, Johnny sighed. "Alright… tell me what you need."
Cecil's smirk returned. "That's the spirit."
He pulled a small, metal disk from his coat and placed it on the table. "Grab your jacket, Hotshot. We've got work to do."
------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL THANKS FOR Sniper Fury, ToxicityTrapper, Nate Carrol, Capt Brunch, Daniel Reis, firerock laser, Cristian Moreno, CasualAce6450, Patrick Ferro, Gavin Jaye, Jack Vodir, Jackson Gillenwater, Nigg_216, Danny Fowkes, Sleepy reader, DaxCodex, 4REEEsearch and Stephen Scott THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IF YOU WANT RECOGNITION OR UNLOCK MORE CHAPTERS OF THIS STORY ALONG WITH OTHER STUFF, GO TO MY PATREON!!