[center][img]https://pngteam.com/images/human-torch-png-300x366_a577735e_transparent_2024cd.png.png[/img][/center]
[hr]

"Jonathan Storm! Why is your ass plastered on every tabloid in New York?" 

The demanding voice belonged to Johnny's older sister, Susan Storm. Clutched in her left hand was a Daily Globe newspaper with the headline: "NEW METAHUMAN SIGHTING: MEET JONATHAN STORM." Below, taking up the majority of the front page, was a candid photograph of the young man looking over his shoulder toward the camera with his bare keister on full display. 

Johnny leaned forward, his blonde locks falling across his forehead, and peered intently at the paper, humming in mock contemplation. "If I had to guess, sis, I'd say it's because that's America's ass."

"Johnny," Sue started.

"And, I mean, can you blame them? I look good. Though, I wish they captured the other cheek. I've always thought the right side was just a little more firm——"

"Johnny!" This time, her shout silenced the younger sibling. "This is serious. Do you have [i]any idea[/i] how [i]truly[/i] serious this is? You just– God, Johnny, what did you do?"

Johnny frowned. His sister had a habit of overreacting whenever Johnny did anything remotely fun, and this was no different. It's not like he had committed a crime. Not this time. 

A little over a month ago, Johnny, Sue, Sue's boyfriend, Reed Richards, and Reed's best friend, Benjamin Grimm, attempted a scientific feat that would have revolutionized how people thought about reality. Something went wrong, and instead of making a scientific breakthrough, the quartet became exposed to radiation from another dimension. This radiation, in addition to nearly killing them all, dramatically altered their genetic structure and caused a series of unique metaphysical changes. In the time since the incident, Jonathan and the others had been quarantined and subjected to so many tests that it practically drove him insane. After two full weeks of isolation followed by two more of poking and prodding, Johnny needed to get out and experience life again. 

So, the other day, Johnny went out for some air. He just chose to do so while his entire body was engulfed in flames, and he rocketed through the sky for all of New York to see. The metaphysical change he underwent allowed him to convert his entire body into a state of plasma. This newfound metahuman status, though, came with a downside: his plasma form ignited when exposed to oxygen, and his clothes were not fireproof. The fabric had incinerated the moment he lighted up, and by the time Johnny had ended his flight of freedom and transformed his body back into flesh and blood, he was as naked as the day he was born. Dozens of onlookers, having followed the burning streak across the sky with their phones, perfectly captured this moment. From there, he could only assume somebody had sold the pictures to the tabloids. 

Sue scolded her brother, “And how on Earth do they know who you are, Johnny? They have your name!” 

Holding up his hands placatingly and flashing a grin at Sue’s accusatory finger in his face, he offered a simple explanation: “Easy, I told them.”

“You didn’t.”

“It's no big deal. There were these two girls who wanted my autograph. They thought I was one of those superhero people who’ve been in the news the last few days. Except they wanted to know why I didn’t have a costume. Or any clothes at all, really.”

Sue held up her hand and waited for her brother to stop rambling. Taking a deep breath, she spoke in a deliberately even tone. “Johnny. We were supposed to keep our [i]conditions[/i] a secret until we knew more about the extent of the biological variations. You can’t just tell any pretty girl you see because you think they want to get in your pants.”

“Uh, I was already out of my pants when…” The younger storm trailed off as he noticed his sister’s expression. 

Their mother had passed away when the two were young. While their father wasn’t distant per se, his career kept him busy, so Sue took on the domestic role and helped raise Johnny despite only being four years older. For fourteen years, Sue had not only put up with his tomfoolery but also displayed considerable patience. That patience, though, when it reached its breaking point, could whip into a fierce storm that engulfed everything around. Johnny had long since learned to shut up when that storm showed signs of brewing. 

“Johnny,” Sue buried her face in her palms and rubbed her temples. “Okay. I’ll handle this. I’ll talk to Dad, and we’ll have the Future Foundations’ PR team put out a statement. But, Johnny, I swear to God, don’t you dare pull a stunt like that again. You can’t be using these abilities. Not until we’ve learned more about them.”

Johnny began to protest, but Sue silenced him with that same look. 

“I know. I know it’s been a lot. It’s been a lot for all of us. Hell, Johnny, think how bad it is for Ben. He… well, he’s got it worse than any of us. So please, just promise me, [i]promise[/i] me that you won’t do it again.”

Johnny hated lying to his sister. It always made his stomach seize up as the guilt ate at him. But he had grown accustomed to ignoring that sensation in recent years. 

“I promise, sis.”