Title: Smoke

Author: tinhutlady

Universe: Marvel/Fantastic Four (movie)

Rating: older children and up (mild language)

Summary: Job hunting for superheroes; 101

 

 

The pen clicked in the man's hand again and again as he presumably reread all the paperwork before him. Johnny shifted in his chair, ever so slightly, and the man glanced up.

 

"Is it hot in here to you, too?" he asked, taking out a pocket handkerchief and mopping his brow. "I've already asked them to check with maintenance. I wonder what's taking so long.

 

Johnny forced himself to remain calm and not overheat any more than he already had.

 

"So, Mr. Storm. You seem to have abruptly left NASAÉ"

 

"Yeah, well, it was on the verge of breaking anyway. It's not like that trainer was new," Johnny hastily replied.

 

"What trainer, Mr. Storm?"

 

Crap, thought Johnny. He'd stepped into that one. "The one that became disabled after I used it. The equipment underneath seemed to have separated from the compartment and the trainer slid into a wall."

 

"A simulation trainer?"

 

"Yes. Sir," he added hastily.

 

"I see." More pen clicking. "And you have currently been without position for the last three months?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Is there any reason why your last employer is not listed as a reference on your paperwork?"

 

Johnny goggled at him. "Where have you been the last month?"

 

The man frowned. "Right here, young man. I must say your attitude does not exactly fit the normal profile of our pilots."

 

"My skills don't fit the profile, either. Or do you have any other pilots that take shuttle trips to space stations?" Johnny huffed.

 

"YouÉ" The man paused. "You went to the VonDoom space station? Are you the one exposed toÉ?"

 

"Yeah, that'd be me."

 

"Then you're 'the' Johnny Storm, the 'Human Torch,' I take it?"

 

"Yeah."

 

The pen stopped clicking and he began to scribble madly on the paperwork. "No, this will never do. Liabilities aside, there are too many variables to even consider."

 

"Liabilities?" Johnny said hesitantly. "Does this mean you won't take me on as one of your pilots?"

 

"Oh, no. I think not. The fire insurance alone would be cost-prohibitive." The man smiled smugly. "Thank you for your interest. The position will have to be filled by someone else."

 

"But I don't burst into flames at the drop of a hat, you know!"

 

The man raised his eyebrows. "Is that, smoke, Mr. Storm?"

 

"Smoke?" Johnny blinked.

 

"Coming from your ears?" The man chuckled at his own joke. "Oh, I imagine you've heard that one before, but I couldn't resist."

 

Johnny's eyes narrowed and he stood up slowly.

---

 

The big man was waiting in the park outside, much to Johnny's relief. He quickly checked his clothes to make sure they were dry, and then approached his fellow job hunter. When Ben turned around, though, Johnny's step faltered a little. His friend's stony features were even more grim than usual.

 

"I hope you had better luck than I did," Ben rumbled, his gravelly voice conveying his irritation.

 

Johnny grinned wickedly. "They pull that liability crap on you, too, huh?"

 

"Liability? No, I'm not a liability. I'm disabled," Ben offered, turning his head for a brief moment so the young man couldn't see his eyes. "They told me I'd never sit in a cockpit again, and they're right."

 

Johnny's mouth sagged open in disbelief for a second. "Ben, you're a better pilot than I am, and I won't ever admit that in front of anyone else because of it. What makes you thinkÉ?"

 

Ben, turned back and fixed a steely gaze at him. "Oh, all the knowledge is there, it's just a matter of getting it from my brain to the controls." He held up his hands and wiggled his massive, misshapen fingers. "I'm screwed. I'll never fly again."

 

For once Johnny was silent, thinking about what he'd do if he were never able to fly again. Then he grinned.

 

"You know what, hard head? We gave it a shot today in the employment market. Let's say we take a break and down a few. Come on, I know Alicia's out of town and you're flyÉgoing solo tonight. Let's find a pub and mingle with the crowd."

 

"I've seen the kind of crowd you mingle with. No thanks," quipped Ben.

 

"Aw, come on. Either that or let's go back to the Baxter Building and pop in a movie or two and down some beer in private. Come on. I'll pop the popcorn." Johnny nudged his grumpy companion hard, knowing it would take no light shoving to get Ben to think about something else. "I've go the perfect movie for you: The Scorpion King. Know why?" he asked as he moved Ben down the walk and toward their destination. "Cause it stars 'The Rock'! Get it? The Rock. Or we could put in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I hear that one's just smashing!"

 

Ben groaned at the innuendo, but let himself be led away. Though not before sirens made both of them turn and look at the building they had just vacated.

 

"Did you do something?" Ben asked warily, when the fire truck stopped right outside the front entrance.

 

Johnny held up his hands. "I kept my promise and didn't torch a thing," he said as the firemen entered the building. "You think I want Sue calling me from Greece, or wherever she and Reed are right now, just to chew me out? I only stood on a chair and touched a sprinkler head. That's all."

 

Ben was silent for only a moment before he busted out laughing. "Serve's 'em right."