Chapter Text
Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer, was gone.
Johnny thought he'd have more time with her, but now it's too late. She might've survived, but he wasn't sure.
He tried to move on, but he couldn't stop thinking about how much he missed her.
He was having dinner with his family and he was staring out in space. He wasn't listening to the conversation around him.
“Johnny? Johnny!”
That was his sister’s voice. Ben and Reed looked at him.
Sue: “You okay?”
Johnny: “Yeah, yeah. I was just thinking.”
Sue: “Reed and I are going to be busy this week. Do you think you could watch Franklin for us when we're gone?”
Johnny: “I can do that. That's easy.”
Sue: “Thank you.”
When dinner was over, H.E.R.B.I.E. washed the dishes. Johnny went back to his room and listened to his recordings of Shalla-Bal.
A Few Days Later….
He walked out into the living room and yelled at Reed in the Silver Surfer’s language.
Ben: “Hey, hey! Calm down, Johnny.”
He apologized in her language and hid himself in his room.
Ben: “I'll go check on him.”
Ben walks to Johnny's room and knocks on the door.
Ben: “Johnny?”
The blonde man didn't respond.
Ben: *sighs* “It's gonna be okay. We'll be here for you when you're ready.”
Ben walks back to Reed and Sue.
Ben: “He's not doing good guys.”
Sue: “That's alright. Reed and I are going to leave now. Take care of them for me.”
Reed and Sue leave the tower. Ben makes lunch for Johnny and puts it in front of his door.
Ben: “Food's outside your door when you're ready to eat.”
He turns the other way and goes to Franklin. Johnny's door opens and the plate with the ham sandwich on it disappears.
Night comes and Johnny can't sleep. He sees her in his dreams and then something bad happens to her. The Human Torch walks out to the living room and joins the other two on the couch.
He takes Franklin in his arms and rests his head on Ben's arm. He sleeps peacefully that night.
When Sue and Reed get home, the couple sees Johnny holding their son as he sleeps next to Ben.
Sue: “Aw. They're so cute together.”
Reed: “Come on, let them sleep.”
Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman quietly walk to their room.
The Next Day…..
Reed: “Morning.”
Johnny: “Hey.”
Johnny carries Franklin and walks to the table for breakfast.
Sue: “Sleep well?”
Ben & Johnny: “Yeah.”
Sue: “That's good.”
They eat breakfast together and get ready to save their city from another villain.
Johnny: “Flame on.”
He flies through the sky and uses his powers to blast the strange man that's destroying New York.
The battle ends quickly. Sue, Reed, and Ben leave the tower to do different things. Johnny is babysitting Franklin alone.
He sighs as he sits on the couch with his nephew. He starts reading something to Franklin in Shalla-Bal’s language.
The little boy listens to his uncle as he reads. Johnny turns his head and looks at him.
Johnny: “You like that story?”
Franklin makes a happy sound.
The older man sets the stack of papers down next to him and picks Franklin up.
He puts him in the car seat, closes the lid, grabs onto the handle, and flies around the city.
Girl 1: “It's Human Torch!”
The young girl points to him as he flies past a crowd of people. He flies around for a few minutes and goes back to the tower.
He hears Franklin giggling as he takes him out of the car seat.
Johnny: “Yeah, that was fun. Now I gotta-”
Beep. Beep.
A sound interrupts him and he goes into his room.
1 New Message From Shalla-Bal.
He plays the message and listens to her voice.
“Come find me. I'll be waiting.”
Johnny: “Ben, I need you to come back to the tower.”
Ben (on phone): “Why?”
Johnny: “Just get over here.”
Ben (on phone): “Okay, I'm coming.”
Ben gets to the tower and looks at Johnny.
Ben: “What's going on?”
Johnny: “I need you to watch Franklin while I'm gone.”
Ben: “Where are you going?”
Johnny: “I don't have time to explain, see you later, bye!”
The Human Torch flies out of the tower and goes to space.
Shalla-Bal: “You got my message.”
Johnny flies closer to her.
Johnny: “I thought you left me.”
Shalla-Bal: “I was saving the child and you.”
Johnny: “You should've let me do it.”