1964-06-04 - Hot Rod
Summary: Human Torch becomes an Avenger. Let that soak in for a while.
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None', — please don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
johnny-storm jean-paul steve-rogers 


The Avengers have yet to go to Latveria. Soon though. Jean-Paul's in the mansion, in what will probably be the living room, and sprawled on a tarp covered couch. Probably a good thing it's covered as it's pretty hideous and ratty. Tonight, he's brought his own alcohol: a bottle of brandy and a glass, the latter being held and partially full.

*

Steve walks by the doorway and past, until upon second inspection, he realizes there was someone in the room. "Jean-Paul," he says as he circles back. "Good to see you," he says with a nod. He leans in the door way and folds his arm, "How's it going?"

*

"Mon Capitaine." Jean-Paul greets. "It goes well. Care for a drink?" Reaching down to the floor, he picks up a second glass and pours some brandy into it without waiting for an answer. "I was expecting to run into you here this evening."

*

Steve shrugs his shoulders. "Sure." Training is done. And he's done enough work around this place for the day. His arm pushes his arm off the door jam and enters the room more fully. He plops down on the sofa, "Yeah, it's a good place to find me. What's up?"

*

"I have met this man." Jean-Paul states, choosing his words carefully enough that his lips quirk with amusement at the double meaning. "He has expressed some interest in possible joining the team. You are aware of Johnny Storm, I assume?"

*

"Hot head kid from the Fantastic Four," Steve says with a chuckle as he takes the drink and brings it to his lips. "I think the press calls him the Human Torch."

*

"Oui." Jean-Paul agrees. "He could prove useful to the team and, as I said, expressed interest in joining. You might want to speak with him. I can relay a message if you wish."

*

Steve nods, "I think he could definitely help us from a tactical perspective. He'd be another flier, and his power is off the charts." He takes another swig and then a deep breath, "Can we control him, though? I don't mean like, control his actions or his thoughts. I just mean…Isn't he kind of a handful?"

*

Jean-Paul can't help but smile at the question. "Is it not a leader's job to convince everyone to work together as a team? History says you are such a leader, mon Capitaine." But does history lie? "And do you not already have your hands full with some others already? What is one more."

*

"You got a fair point," Steve says with a bit of a chuckle and then winks before finishing his brandy. "Do you know him well? What's he hope to get out of it?"

*

"'Well' is such a subjective term." Jean-Paul points out. "I chanced to meet him a few days ago. He did mention that he does not always have something to do of importance with the others of his current team and would like more opportunities to be of use."

*

"Sounds like it might be a good fit," Steve says with a nod. "It'll definitely give us a different viewpoint on things, if he's much like he comes off in the press. That can be good for a team."

*

"Now that I can most definitely confirm." Jean-Paul says. "He is brash and cocky and quite charming when he sets his mind to it. Much like the reputation that Stark has, in fact. It could be amusing watching them interact."

*

"Entertaining at the very least," Steve replies while stretching out his legs. "Going to need to make our training room flame-resistant."

*

Johnny Storm has arrived.

*

"I shall see if he is available." Jean-Paul says, rising from the couch. "I suspect he may be as I mentioned I would speak of him to you today." Air rushes in to fill the hole he just made and gushes after him as he disappears.

*

Steve shrugs, "Yeah, I mean, by all means." He says this to no one, since Jean-Paul has left, of course.

*

Jean-Paul is back in much the same way as he left, though a few minutes later as the phone lines connect at their own speed and not his. "He will be here shortly." he informs Steve.

*

Johnny's doing his thing: what that thing is? Well it's close enough to Baxter that the building reception manages to track him down on short order, and at an invitation, he agrees and is soon tossing himself off the building. Flame surrounds him a moment later, and he's streaking through the sky before settling onto the ground before the Avengers Mansion. The flame evaporates, leaving him in jeans, t-shirt and jacket: all from his default wardrobe of Reed's "unstable molecules", which Johnny just understands means 'doesnt burn up', the details of how the heck that works he is neither knows nor is especially interested in. He knocks, though. The famous grin is ready the moment the door opens.

*

"Sounds good, I'd like to mee—" Steve is cutoff by the knock at the door. He sits up, moves to the door quickly. "Johnny Storm," he says with a nod and a closed mouth smile, "Come on in. Jean-Paul is over in the living room." The place is clearly under construction with a lot of work material everywhere. "Watch your step."

*

Upon seeing Captain America, himself a famous heart-throb, Johnny considers: Competition? He decides whatever, leaves his grin in place and offers a strong handshake before heading into the mansion, such as it is. "Steve Rogers." he nods, "I hear you're up to some serious things lately. That you might not turn down some help, schedules permitting."

*

"You heard right, kid," Steve says over his shoulder as he brings Storm to the living room where Jean-Paul sits. "We're looking for some talent to help make the world a better place. Jean-Paul mentioned you were interested, and in talking about it we think it might be a good fit."

*

"Bonjour, mon ami." Jean-Paul greets, reaching down for a third glass and pouring in some brandy from the bottle. "You mentioned you were interested, so I spoke of it to the Capitaine. Will you be a handful?"

*

The whole 'kid' thing doesn't phase Johnny. He just smiles. Once they're in the living room, he heads for JP and reaching for the drink, "Hey, JP. A handful? At least." He laughs, then turns to regard Steve with a thoughtful expression, "Here's the thing. My sister, Reed, Ben and I? Its sort of on-again off-again. As we're aware of things that need doing, we do them. But we're not always 'on', you know? I bring certain skills." He grins, "I'm very hard to kill and very hard to ignore. That can be useful, if you don't mind looking a little less cool when I'm around."

*

Steve looks like he's about to says something, pauses, and looks over towards Jean-Paul with a raised eyebrow. "We know about your abilities. I don't want to speak on behalf of the others, but I think the only issue that might be at play here, Mr. Storm, is your ability to work cohesively in a team. Other than that worry, I'd say we'd jump at the opportunity to bring you in."

*

Jean-Paul just keeps a slightly amused expression on his face as he sips his brandy and listens to the negotiations.

*

"Hey, I'm all about teamwork." Johnny agrees with a nod, "And look, if its a pecking order thing, Steve? Just because I'm the best looking guy on the team, doesn't mean I'm in charge. I know that, I don't have a problem with that. But hey, let me put it this way. You all are new. I've been team-heroing for a couple years now. If anyone was worried about working well as a team it'd be me, you know? I'm the one whose done it. Just try to work in 'giant grumpy stone' with invisible lady and bendy mcbendalot into your strategic planning and you'll know what I've had to deal with."

*

"Not one for history books, I suppose," Steve replies, mostly to himself as he looks to Jean-Paul. "Alright, here's the deal. He's in. We're going to need some ear plugs, and I'm tasking you with keeping him in line." His blue eyes go back to Johnny, though he's still talking to Jean-Paul. "I've read about how well he gets along with the Thing. I don't want that burden."

*

"Moi, mon Capitaine?" Jean-Paul asks, though it's not really a question. "We are all adults and, one would hope, able to control ourselves. Besides, I have no wish to get between the egos of he and Monsieur Stark. This is one assignment I do not accept." No doubt about it, he's very amused.

*

"Hey, I did say Ben was the grumpy one." protests Johnny mildly, sipping his brandy as he does so. He waves away the history thing with a comment, "Oh, I know you're an old.." emphasis old, "..hat at this, Steve. It's everyone on your team working together that's new, I'm saying. My point is, I've got experience working in a group of people with extra weird shit going on. I'm cool." He glances sidelon gat Jean-Paul, "Oh, Stark's involved with this? Great! Sounds like we're putting together a right fine show."

*

"Sorry, J-P," Steve says with a smile. "Captain's orders on this one. At least show the guy around a little bit and make him feel at home." And then, back to Johnny, "If I recall correctly, you're a big fan of vehicles. Maybe you'll be a good resource when we start deciding what we'd like to incorporate for wheels around this place."

*

"I believe I can safely manage that." Jean-Paul agrees, glancing over at Johnny. "You will behave, oui? If you do not, I shall speak to your friend Ben and he shall 'grump' at you, no doubt."

*

Johnny nods emphatically to Steve, "Professional race car driver, retired. I will *absolutely* kick ass at get-away or more likely get-there driver in times of need." He then turns a wicked grin over to JP, "Hey, don't worry. I promise to behave at my best, man. But, seriously, JP. There is absolutely nothing you need to do to get Ben to grump at me. I wake up, take a shower and my hotness already annoys him to the point of ruining his day." There is a long-suffering sigh.

*

"I can't see why," Steve replies with a smile. He finishes off his glass of brandy and chuckles over at J-P's threat of bringing in the heavy guns. (Literal on the heavy).

*

"Bon. I will trust you to be on your best behavior and to mind your manners. And your betters." Jean-Paul adds. "That would be me." Yes, very amused. "Are you going to speak of our present situation, Steven?"

*

"Ben's mood is a mystery of the universe." laments Johnny mildly to Steve, sipping his drink again and going over to settle himself in what amounts for a chair in the mansion to be. This nonsense talk of 'betters' slips off him like butter off a hot pan. It's air on the wind. But he's serious enough to ask, "Yeah, what's the status, Rogers?"

*

"We're leaving for Madripoor in a couple of days to track down a lead related to the attack on New York," Steve replies. "As to what we'll find, here's hoping a lot. If it can have a positive effect on keeping our country from war with the Soviet Union, all the better."

*

"I am absolutely against nuclear war." Johnny nods his head emphatically, "I have had my fair share plus ten other people's fair share of radiation and while I can not complain about the whole living fire thing? I mean obviously it was always my fate to be hot as hell. But I don't need dose eleven. Not to mention while I can pretty much in a tough spot go nuclear, I'm not entirely sure I can survive someone going nuclear at me." Pause, "Well I probably can. Seventy-thirty." Pause, "Sixty-fourty."

*

"Well, being anti-nuclear war is something we both can agree on," Steve replies. He was in the ice before the war ended on the Japanese portion of things. That was quite something to learn about. "We'll have to get some training sessions together to help get you working well with the team. Does Richards know you're joining?"

*

"The Fantastic Four is sort of a state of mind." begins Johnny, "If we are in trouble, of course we show up for each-other. And sometimes we're really active when things hit our radar. Sometimes not. I'll keep you up to date so you know if my attention is split and how much you can rely on me, but it isn't the sort of situation where I inform them what I'm doing when they don't need me. So that's more a: not yet? But I'll let him know when we run into eachother. Don't worry, he's not the jealous type."

*

"Just didn't want to bring it up to him if he didn't know and I happen to run into him. I used to live at your building," Steve says absently. "Or his build—whose building is it?"

*

"I have been considering renting an apartment there." Jean-Paul mentions, looking over at Steve. "Is there enough hot water? Any explosions? I have heard tales of Monsier Mcbendalot's science experiments."

*

"Reed's the money man. Well. Reed's the 'I invent all the things ever and patent them and make a fortune' man, and he owns the Future Foundation which owns the building." But Johnny is waving away the issue, "Its not a secret or anything. Its one of his projects. Plus labs. There's so, so, so many labs. Most of them are extremely dull." Except where they work on the Fantasticar. That's *cool*. At JP's question he laughs, "There is infinite hot water and while Monsier Mcbendalot's experiments sometimes go wackadoo, the Fantastic Four floors are reinforced. Its perfectly safe. Shit, man, it might be the safest building in the planet. Reed lives there. He thinks up problems when he's you know, breathing."

*

Steve shakes his head, "Jack and I never really had any problems. We'd had some of the same concerns, but I think we both really enjoyed our stay." He shrugs his shoulders. "I actually moved in there after my other apartment got infiltrated by an assassin."

*

Jean-Paul nods. "I shall have to investigate it further then." That being decided, he goes back to his brandy and watches the others though negotiations seem to be over.

*

Johnny eyes Steve for a long moment, activating his joke detector. It pings false. "Huh. Steve, man, you have a life. How many completely improbable things have happened to you so far? Got self frozen. Assassin infiltrated apartment. There's stories there, man. Stories." He grins over at JP, "I can promise you this, man, things are *never* boring at Baxter. Hey, why'd you move out, Rogers?"

*

"I got dumped," Steve says with a shrug of his shoulders. "Wanted to leave the memories there. Most of the security concerns I had were for Jack so when we split, I realized I could move here."

*

Jean-Paul glances around the decrepit mansion. Definitely moving on down.

*

"This is why you don't get so attached, man. Don't get me wrong, its great to love the ladies but if you let them get their hooks too far in you, the next thing you know? You're moving and can't say no to them." Johnny the notorious playboy has some very firm ideas on the whole idea of commitment. He glances around the mansion a moment then, squinting, "… I'm pretty good with tools, if you need help fixing the place up. Uhh, it seems you aren't exactly high up on the whole funding scale."

*

"You're giving me relationship advice?" Steve can't help but smile. He gives an upward nod towards J-P, "What is this guy like 12?" He's got some brass balls, that's for sure. At least he's got some spirit.

*

Johnny stares at Steve for a long moment and then he laughs, "Steve, man. I'm Johnny Storm. I get into all the best parties and never go home alone if there's someone hot enough there to be worth it. Besides, you're asking *him* if *I'm* 12?" He's amused, considering he's not exactly sure how old JP is but he knows he's quite a bit younger. "Trust me, man. I know you've been around for awhile but times have changed since they iced you. Women can vote now!" Of course they could before Steve got iced probably, but the point stands.

*

Steve chuckles, "Going home with someone is a lot different than having a successful relationship. To each their own."

*

"Hey, you don't see me moving out over a girl." counters Johnny with a grin before he shrugs, "Anyways. About that whole training thing— I'm all for it, but we probably want to do it not in the mansion. If I flame on this whole tinder box is liable to turn into ashes."

*

"I moved /in/ for a girl," Steve says, shaking his head. He looks as if he's about to add something but decides better of it. "We'll have to look for somewhere out of the city, probably."

*

Rising, Johnny finishes off his brandy and goes to set the glass where glasses go, "Alright, well— JP here has my number and can share it with you and otherwise you know where to find me. Let me know when this whole training gig should start up. In the meantime, I gotta get going. Hey, JP? I've been thinking about that thing you talked to and think it might be a good idea. Let's talk later."

*

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