“Sue,” Johnny imitated, using the annoying kid brother voice he’d never really grown out of using around Sue, then let out a long sigh, still not meeting her eyes. “Come on, you don’t want to hear it. Another round of Johnny Storm’s Greatest Fuck Ups? Yeah, you must be so proud.” Bitterness drenched his words. And dread: the feeling of letting her down was worse than pretty much anything else. Johnny would rather put it off as long as possible, raising his hands up to fend off hers, rogueish smile in place, “Geddoff me, someone help, I’m being attacked by the Invisible Woman! Someone get Jameson on the line! These so-called heroes are getting outta hand!” Eventually, he was laughing so hard, his whole body giving over to it, shoulders shaking, mouth curving, eyes crinkling, that he was short of breath. People walking past might be giving them a strange look or two, but 1) this was Central Park in New York City, so they could deal, like at least they weren’t getting attacked by weird giant snail aliens or something and 2) this was Sue and him, the one thing in his life that could never change. Johnny finally looked at her long enough to actually meet her eyes and his grin widened, an easy happiness that he hadn’t felt in days resting in his chest.
Still, the calm didn’t last long, his heart putting his chest right through the wringer at the thought of getting the FF back together. He knew the gleam in his eyes would give him away, a desperate longing Johnny could barely contain, but even so he played it cool, “Oh, you think so? I mean, I’m obviously kicking ass as a solo hero but it sure does break my heart to think of sweet lil’ Benjy all on his lonesome. Pretty face like his attracts all the wrong crowd so … guess I could be up for getting the band back together.” Next second, Johnny’s head shook, giving up the pretence, “Of course. Of course I want to. C’mon, Sue, of course. We’re the FF! This is what we’re meant for! You, me, Reed, Ben, we belong together. Just tell me when I need to flame on!”
sue went invisible for a second, just for the picture of johnny actually screaming for help with no one around. but the loud laugh that erupted through her chest made it obvious that he wasn't alone, reappearing quite quickly right next to him. “stop it!” she squeaked, pushing his shoulder in before he quieted down. even if he was a pain in her literal ass, johnny was her brother and her best friend. just being around him again, it was soothing on it’s own. sue hated to say that she thought about those five years (even though it was only about five minutes for them both), but she did. the world went on without them, but sue hated that johnny had lost that time. he lost five years of growing up, making his normal fuck ups or whatever he liked to call them, maybe even falling in love. he lost all of that and sue was sure that she’d help him get that back.
“can i tell you something?” a secret, probably something that wouldn’t even tell her own husband or daughter. “sometimes - especially walking around here, i feel like the avengers took our place.” her hands shook, mimicking the shakes of her head. “not in a bad way, but i don’t know if people care too much about the fantastic four with tony stark coming back to life. it kinda sucks.”