Topic: Rollercoaster

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:23 EST
The familiar sound of Johnny's motorcycle could be heard pulling up in front of the diner where Liv was working the breakfast shift to help make ends meet. It had become something of a routine for him to drop her off and pick her up, since his first show at the Wonderplex didn't start until noon. He'd been thinking about buying her a car for a while now, but since she didn't drive, it seemed he should probably take care of that little detail first. Then there was their little money problem. Back home, money wasn't an issue, but here on Rhy'Din, things were different. His job at the Wonderplex helped keep the money coming in, but he wasn't getting rich anytime soon.

Recognizing the brunette standing outside the diner, Johnny honked the horn as he pulled to a halt in front of her, flipping the visor of his helmet back, revealing a pair of vibrant, blue eyes with long dark lashes, despite the blond hair on his head. "Going somewhere?" he asked, with a teasing tone of voice.

Liv utterly despised her new job. It was just to fill the time, to keep money coming in while she looked for something a little more to her taste, but the one thing both she and Johnny had learned in the last few weeks was that Olivia Broderick was not made to be a waitress. The one saving grace was Johnny's insistence on taking her to and from work every day ....especially the taking her away. He seemed to understand that the sooner she was away from the diner, the better she felt. She'd even grown used to travelling on the back of his godawful motorcycle.

As he drew up beside where she waited, she felt her lips curve into a relieved smile, tucking an escaping hank of chocolate hair back behind her ear. "Oh, I'm just waiting for a superhero to come and rescue me from my life of boredom and servitude," she replied, her soft voice laughingly fond as she moved forward, one finger outstretched to dip into his helmet and tweak the end of his nose.

He grinned up at her from behind the helmet, and though she couldn't see that grin, his blue eyes were smiling happily up at her, even as she tweaked his nose. "Well, then, I'm your man. Climb on, Princess, and I'll rescue you from your life of drudgery." He scooted a little bit forward, leaving plenty of room for her to settle herself behind him. He knew she wasn't all that fond of this form of transportation, but it was all he could afford at the moment, and he made sure to be extra cautious when she was on board. "Where to?"

At least she wasn't insisting on wearing the thickest layers she owned whenever she rode his bike now. The sparkle of his eyes brought the familiar sweetness of her own grin to her face as she drew her hands onto his shoulders, swinging her leg over the back of the bike. She let go for a brief moment to pin her skirt underneath her thighs in a slightly more modest display of leg, before scooting right up close to Johnny's back, wrapping her arms around his chest with the by now familiar loving trust she'd showed even the first time she'd ridden the contraption. "Second star to the right?" she suggested with a quiet laugh. "Anywhere."

"And straight on til morning," he replied, wondering if she had any idea that he'd been to the stars - sort of. He revved the bike's engine and took off, not like a bat out of hell like he'd like to, but carefully and cautiously, for her sake. He had a few hours to kill before he had to report to work, but he had a little surprise in store in the meantime. The bike pulled away from the curb, but instead of heading in the direction of their apartment, he was headed the other way.

Curled close against his back, Liv's grip tightened in its usual sporadic style as the motorcycle began to move. But now she could recognise when she was overcompensating, a quiet laugh escaping her as her arms relaxed just a little around him, her temple resting against the smooth curve of his helmet as the buildings swept by on either side of them. Liv was never going to be the adrenaline junkie her sister was, but thanks to Johnny, she was beginning to appreciate that not all risks were necessarily bad for her.

Before long it became obvious that they were headed in the direction of the Wonderplex and not toward the apartment, as was the usual daily routine, though he had made no mention of going there. He wove his way through traffic, resisting the urge to fly like a rocket toward his destination. He could have easily flown them both there, but he thought she'd prefer a more sensible form of transportation, though it was arguable whether a motorcycle was very sensible or safe.

It took Liv a while longer to realise which direction they were headed in. She'd been to see quite a few of the shows since Lelah had returned to Earth, her afternoons rather empty unless Lucy or Johnny were around to keep the quieter Broderick from going quietly insane with inactivity. Curiosity sparked up in her eyes as she flicked her hair out of her face. Wasn't it a little early in the day to be heading to the Wonderplex"

It was a bit early for him to be arriving, as far as work was concerned, but the park at opened for business at ten, as could be seen from the line of people waiting to get inside that had formed at the gates. But Johnny wasn't going that way. He steered the bike around to another entrance where the employees parked and entered, skipping past the crowds at the ticket counters and turnstiles. No longer using his own bike for performances, Johnny pulled into a spot marked "Reserved" and cut off the engine before kicking the stand down and pulling the helmet from his head.

As usual, almost as soon as the motorcycle rolled to a halt, Liv was off it, brushing her skirt straight as she twisted to get her first good look at her boyfriend's grinning face since he'd picked her up. "Well, look at that," she smiled sweetly, bending just enough to brush a kiss to his forehead. "My superhero just happens to be my boyfriend, too."

He beamed a smile up at her as she kissed him, his skin feeling almost feverish against her lips, though that was perfectly normal for him. "Lucky you," he replied as he climbed off the bike. "It's a two-fer." Meaning two for one. He slipped the helmet onto the handlebars and pocketed his keys. Over his uniform, he was looking very casual in a red and blue striped rugby shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

Stepping back to give him room to climb off the bike, Liv giggled quietly, glancing around at the quiet staff parking lot. "I got lucky as soon as you whizzed into my life," she pointed out, long since used to the odd layering of his clothing over his uniform. She was relieved he was no longer taking that risk by not wearing his uniform when he was around her, too; the time it took to get into his uniform could be life or death for someone, somewhere. "So, um ....why here, Johnny?"

Once he was finished getting the bike secured, he turned to face her, reaching for one hand, an almost shy smile on his face. "Promise you won't laugh?" he asked, looking a little uncertain.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:26 EST
Looking back at him, Liv drew her hand down from where it had been untangling a stubborn knot in her hair, her other hand easily caught to wrap within the steady heat of his. "When have I ever laughed at your ideas?" she asked in her gentle way, stepping close to lay her palm against his stomach, leaning into his side affectionately. "I didn't even laugh at the hot dog fiasco, did I?"

"What hot dog fiasco?" he asked, either pretending not to remember or being too absent-minded to recall the event. He tended to live in the present and not worry too much about the past, if he could help it, though he had his moments. "I thought maybe we could have a little fun." And fun that didn't involve flying above the city or driving his bike at breakneck speed. Fun that was actually a little more normal, sensible, safer than what he usually preferred.

"Define fun," she challenged him straightaway, though not without a small twitch of a smile to suggest that his dry-witted companion might be teasing him again. "I am, as we both know by this point, quite a boring person. You may have to force fun down my throat." The soft brown eyes that were so alike and yet so different from her sister's, even now they were no longer hidden behind thick lenses, sparkled as she looked up at Johnny, daring him to call her on her description of herself.

He clucked his tongue at her. "You're not boring, Liv. If you were boring, I wouldn't be dating you." If that was what they were doing. It seemed they were doing a bit more than just "dating", but he wasn't sure what to call it exactly. He'd never had a very good track record with women. "There's a kid inside everyone, even you." He grinned at her, blue eyes sparkling with good humor, as he stole a kiss. "Come on, I've got a few hours to kill before the show starts."

She giggled against his lips, unaware of his track record or the uncertainty with which he faced off with a future that might have her in it. He was her first, in pretty much every sense, and Liv was naive enough still not to be able to think of many - if any - ways things could fall apart between them. "Even me, hmm' That's quite a claim, Johnny Storm." Her fingers drummed against his abdomen for a moment before drawing away as she flashed him a startlingly challenging smile. "Prove it."

"Oh, come on, Liv. Don't tell me this is your first time at an amusement park," he challenged back, knowing enough about her childhood to know it wasn't much more fun than his own, each of them having at least had an older sibling to try and take the place of a parent. He linked his fingers with hers as he led her toward the entrance which came out on the midway.

The park was just opening, the various sounds and sights and smells assaulting them from all directions - the smell of popcorn and cotton candy and fried dough, the sounds of motors running carnival rides, carnys shouting to passersby, children laughing. The carousel was whirling merrily in the midst of it all, gayly painted horses bobbing their heads up and down as they circled around to a happy tune.

Liv's laughing attempt at a dignified response was lost as they stepped out into the main park. For all that she was too sensible and staid for her own good sometimes, she was instantly entranced just by the sound of the place. When she'd been here before, it had been to watch Johnny perform and nothing more; she'd never allowed herself the time to explore the Park in all it's glory. Her gaze swept back and forth, her expression screaming to anyone who looked that here was a woman who was actually shy of enjoying herself. "What happens now?"

Johnny took both her hands and walked backwards as he drew her forward, further into the park. "Now, you do whatever your heart desires, Liv." He smiled at her again, face beaming brightly, happy to do this little thing for her, wanting to see her have fun for once, to just be a kid again.

Her eyes lifted to his as he drew her into the thickening mass of people, her smile slowly but surely growing into an open grin that showed off that shy, uneasy delight in just letting go of all her insecurities about having fun for once. "Anything at all, hmm?" she asked, her tone almost playful for the serious little woman he'd inadvertantly bound himself up with. "What would you recommend?"

He laughed, amused at her question. "Oh, no. This isn't about me or what I want to do. This is about you." Hell, there wasn't a ride in the park that could beat soaring like an asteroid through the sky, testing his own limits, seeing just how high and how far he could go. An adrenalin junkie by nature, Johnny wasn't here to get his kicks; he was here to show Liv how to be a kid again. "Take a look around and see what strikes your fancy."

"Johnny, I don't know what even half these rides are!" Liv laughed back to him, indignant and just a little panicked at the idea of having to choose something for them to do. The last time she had been to an amusement park, she'd been the one who looked after their friends' coats and bags while Lucy did all the rides and everything else. It wasn't that she was deliberately blocking his idea, not at all; unfortunately, she genuinely had no idea what she was supposed to do here. Swallowing against the panic, she took in a strong breath, forcing herself to look around again as her fingers twined between his. In for a penny ...."I suppose ....there's a rollercoaster, is there?"

He laughed again, impressed with her bravery in choosing the hardest ride first. "Of course, there's a rollercoaster! Are you looking to get the scariest ride out of the way first?" he smirked, obvious amusement written all over his face. This was going to be fun.

"That obvious, is it?" Liv bit her lip, unable to keep from smiling under his clear approval of her first choice, rolling her eyes at her own fear of just letting go. "Just to be clear, they are going to strap me in, right' I'm not expected to be responsible for my own safety or anything?"

"Yes, Liv, they are going to strap you in, and I'll be right next to you. Promise." Riding the rollercoaster first, it was all going to be downhill from here. He tugged her by the hand and off they were headed toward the coaster. "If you get scared, just imagine we're flying through the air together." He'd soared with her through the sky once or twice - once when he'd rescued her from a burning building - but even then he'd been careful not to go too fast or too high for fear of scaring her.

Her soft shoes slapped against the ground as she skipped into step with him, tugged along on a wave of his enthusiasm for her enjoyment. She barely recalled the night of the fire, some part of her subconscious blocking it out, but she hadn't forgotten the feel of Johnny carrying her through the cold night air. Her eyes turned to look up at the 'coaster as they approached it, her face turning just a little pale at the sight of the cars rushing along the rails. "Goodness," she managed softly, her hand tightening in Johnny's. "Don't let me chicken out."

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:31 EST
He turned to face her, taking her hands in his once again, looking excited as a kid on Christmas at the prospect of getting her onto that ride. "Do you trust me, Liv?" he asked, blue eyes shining hopefully. It didn't really matter all that much to him if he rode the coaster or not. Today was all about her.

Despite her vague trepidation at the prospect of getting onto the rollercoaster, Liv didn't even need a moment to think about her answer, her soft eyes snapping to meet the shining blue of his as he looked down at her, feeling her heart shudder in the face of that glowing hope. "Of course I trust you, sweetheart," she said fervently, a disbelieving smile on her face. "Why would I not?"

Johnny smirked back at her, blue eyes gleaming. "Because I want to get you on the scariest ride in the park," he pointed out. "It's all downhill from here, Liv." Literally, as the coaster rose above everything in the park but the ferris wheel, the first hill nearly straight up only to crest the hill and dive nearly straight down before careening around the first turn. He'd never actually ridden it himself, but when he was a kid, rollercoasters had been a favorite.

"You had to say scary, didn't you?" was her answer to that, the panic showing again in the slightly hysterical edge to her grin as she shook her head, laughing quietly. Her fingers tightened on his as the line moved, her eyes staying away from the towering ride above them for the time being. "Okay, I can do this." She nodded, trying to convince herself. "Can't I?"

His smirk grew. "Okay, how about I amend that to thrilling" It's the most thrilling ride in the park." He leaned in to brush a reassuring kiss against her cheek. "Liv, you're one of the bravest people I know. You can do this. I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you. I promise." He drew an X across his chest, just to reinforce his point.

It was a mark of how alike the Broderick twins were in some ways that Liv wasn't whining or trying to walk away; she was just retreating into quietly suspicious good humor. Her eyes followed him as he leaned down to kiss her cheek, her fingertips drumming against his palm as her voice lowered. "I don't believe you," she admitted in a light tone. "Anyway, you're lying. I know a more thrilling ride than a rollercoaster. Intimately."

He smiled again at her insinuation that he was more thrilling than a rollercoaster ride and shrugged nonchalantly, as immodest as they come. "I am pretty amazing, aren't I?" He threw her a teasing smirk. "So, this should be a piece of cake for you, Liv. Nothing to it." Little did she know, he was planning on making sure they got front seats to feel the full impact of the ride's thrills. Lucky for him, he was one of the main attractions at the park and had a few connections, though as yet, no one had recognized him.

"I'm going to make a screaming fool of myself," she corrected him laughingly, rolling her eyes at his utter lack of modesty. "Honestly, between you and Lucy, I'm going to embarrass myself in public on a regular basis for the rest of my life."

"Would it help if I screamed with you?" he grinned as they got that much closer to the front of the line. He turned serious a moment, unsure if he should tell her what he was thinking or what his motivations for this little trip were. "You remember the night of the fire?" His smile turned from c*cky to warm and adoring. "Tell you a little secret. I was scared to death, and you were so brave. You're the bravest person I know, Liv. Honest."

Surprise reflected in her eyes as she looked up at him, uncertain how to take this little insight into the world of Johnny. "But you had nothing to be scared of," she pointed out softly, almost incredulous. "Fire can't hurt you, Johnny. And ....I wasn't being brave, I was being stubborn. I didn't want my last minutes to be all weepy and pathetic."

"I was afraid of losing you," he pointed out, smiling into the soft kiss he pressed against her lips. "You have nothing to be afraid of. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Ever." No, he couldn't be there to watch over her every minute, but he made sure he was always not too far away. "There are worse things to fear than fire, Liv."

For a man who revelled in his c*cky, brash persona, Johnny never failed to touch Liv deeply when he indulged in the gentler side of his nature, the side that wrapped her up in affection and made her feel as though she was the center of his universe. Leaning into his kiss, she smiled very gently, her hand rising to softly caress his cheek, forgetting somehow all the people around them for a brief moment.

"I know," she murmured, and she did know. He terrified her every time he had to fly through a storm, unable to forget how weak he had been that first night they had spent together after allowing himself to get drenched. "You did more than save my life that night, Johnny. I didn't really have any purpose until you chose me."

He lingered in that kiss, as oblivious as she was of the crowd gathered around them, and the people who were starting to recognize him and point fingers their way.

"Isn't that the Torch?"

"Who's that girl he's kissing?"

"I wish I was her."

Johnny smiled as she touched his cheek, as lost in the moment as she was. "You have a purpose, Liv. You've got a sister who loves you, and nothing is more important than that." His smile turned cheeky again. "Except me."

"Well, obviously you're my reason for being," she giggled back at him, her confidence reignited more by his cheeky reassurances than the envious comments she was just about aware of behind her. As much as she loved Johnny, she was shy of being seen to be his girlfriend in front of his growing number of fans, understanding that a lot of them needed to see him as attainable in some way. And not really wanting to be made to share his limelight. Lucy would have been all over that; Liv would rather hide under a rock than be recognised by anyone she didn't know. The line was moving again, urging her to step backwards to draw him along to keep their place. "You realise your legion of fangirls is gathering, yes?"

Johnny quirked a brow as she dragged him along. They were nearly at the front of the line now. The next time the coaster stopped, it would be their turn, at last. His head swiveled to cast a look around, noticing a gaggle of girls giggling not far from where they were standing. "Hi, Johnny!" one called, wiggling fingers at him.

Johnny rolled his eyes as he turned back to Liv. "That's not a legion, Liv. And I'm pretty sure they're jailbait."

She laughed softly, glancing over at the hopeful teenagers herself. "Legion or not, an organised stampede would still see me trampled and you naked," she countered in a quiet tease. "For a famous celebrity, you're very innocent of how determined some fans can be, aren't you?" She wanted to wrap an arm about him, to stake her claim even for the young teens staring at him, but Liv didn't have the courage to do that. She knew how much Johnny enjoyed being the center of attention.

Though he might enjoy being the center of attention at times, it wasn't why he was here. This was his time, their time, and he had brought Liv here for a reason - to show her how to have a good time and to prove to her that she was braver than she gave herself credit for. But mostly just to have a good time.

"There was a time when girls didn't even know I was alive," he admitted. "Then I get zapped by radiation and all of a sudden, I'm a celebrity. I'm here with you, not them." She might not want to stake a claim on him publicly, but he had no qualms about staking his own claim, an arm going around her waist as he waved good-naturedly back at the little gaggle of teenage fangirls.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:36 EST
Caught against his side, she laughed quietly at the minor swoon that ran through the small group of girls at Johnny's wave, surprised when the looks she got for being curled against his side were less hostile than envious. "I won't mind if you need to spend some time doing autographs and handing out kisses, you know," she assured him softly, her time being among movie and theater stars having educated her a little too well about celebrity.

"The only kisses I'm handing out are to you," he reassured her, dropping a smooch against her cheek, just for good measure. "And if they want autographs, they can come to the show." He had revelled in being a celebrity back home, but for some reason, these days he preferred to live a quieter existence.

"Keep it moving!" Someone called from behind them and he realized they had reached the front of the line, the cars screeching to a halt to let their passengers off. It was nearly their turn.

The by now familiar blush lit up her cheeks as he dropped that smooch, hearing the call from behind with an embarrassed giggle that swiftly faded off into a soft squeak of trepidation. Johnny had a perfect view of Liv's blush fading to pale as they moved forward, her body stiffening in recognition of how scary the prospect of this new experience was. "Too late to run, hmm?"

He smiled, both at the blush and the question. She'd been the one to choose this ride first, not him. He'd have been perfectly happy with a more sedate ride, but he sensed she needed to meet this fear head on and conquer it ....unlike himself, who avoided water like the plague unless it was coming out of a pipe in the wall. "Trust me," he whispered reassuringly into her ear, just before grabbing hold of her hand and making a mad dash for the front car.

She opened her mouth to reply, but what came out was a quiet yelp as he suddenly darted forward, dragging her along behind him. "The front?" If she'd been nervous before, she was coming close to genuinely frightened of what was coming if she had to sit in the front and see everything. "If this goes badly, you will be hearing about it," she warned him laughingly, the sound definitely on the other side of hysterical now.

He echoed her laughter. Despite the relative safety of the ride, he felt that old familiar rush of adrenaline that always came with doing anything risky. "You're going to thank me for this later," he told her, hoping he was right, glad they hadn't partaken of any cotton candy or other goodies yet, just in case the ride didn't agree with her digestive system. He let her get in first, taking the seat outside seat and making sure both of them were fastened securely inside.

If she was anything like Lucy when it came to adrenaline, Johnny was going to be lucky if he managed to get her onto anything else before she dragged him somewhere private. Fastened in, she could feel her heart thumping in anticipation, looking ahead to the long climb upward that was the prelude to the twist and tumble of the ride. "I cannot believe some people tour the world to ride these things," she muttered softly, rolling her eyes as her hand sought out his, holding on tightly. For some reason, she had visions of losing her shoes or showing her knickers to the world over the next few minutes.

"It can be addicting," he admitted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, not even bothering to hold on with both hands. What was the worst that could happen" Falling out was unlikely, but if it did happen, all he had to do was flame on. It took a few minutes for the ride to fill up as passengers found their seats and fastened themselves in. "Here we go!" he warned with a grin as the ride started to move, slowly at first, along the track on its way toward that first big hill.

"Oh dear god, what am I doing?" Nowhere to run, no way of getting off - Liv was in this now, whether she thought she could cope with it or not. She squealed quietly, squeezing her eyes shut as her fingers wrapped tightly around the guard rail, that hysterical giggling not far behind. Glancing over the edge of the cart didn't help. "Oh god ....this is so high!"

He thought he knew what she was feeling, remembering his own first coaster ride years ago as a boy on a rare trip to Coney Island when he'd rode The Cyclone for the very first time, instantly addicted to the speed and height of the ride, and the adrenaline rush. An admitted adrenaline junkie, there was no greater adrenaline rush than soaring through the sky at breakneck speed, and unlike the other three who shared his fate, he revelled in what he'd become.

Johnny grinned at her reaction, knowing once they crested that first hill and started on their way down, she was going to have the time of her life. He kept one arm around her as the car made its seemingly endless climb up the first hill, the ground growing farther away, the people growing smaller by the second.

"Oh, this is bad," Liv was whimpering softly the higher they got. "This is very, very bad." She could feel him grinning at her, knowing he was probably finding her somewhat petrified reaction highly amusing. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, of course, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to react as anyone normal would as the car crested the top of this first rise. Her eyes widened at the close to sheer drop stretching ahead of her. "Oh my god!"

"Isn't this great?" he asked as they crested the hill, but that feeling of being at the top of the world only lasted a second before the cars were careening down the hill at breakneck speed, giving one a feeling like they were going to crash into the ground, the wind blowing their hair back as the coaster screamed its way along the track, passengers screaming in frightened glee behind them.

Liv was screaming right along with them, her eyes wide as her voice rose in the same exhilarated shriek as the other passengers, relieved that she wasn't the only one making so much noise. Her hair streamed out behind her as the car rushed over the rails, her scream falling to wild giggles each time the shocking drop changed to something a little less alarming. Her expression was bright, shining with the surprise that she was actually enjoying this.

As for himself, Johnny was not screaming. Though he was having fun, most of his fun came through Liv's reactions, and it saddened him just a little that something he'd once found exhilarating no longer gave him much of a thrill. The G force was interesting, but really he could duplicate each and every twist and turn all on his own without the use of rails and cars and had. In the early days after he'd just acquired his superpowers, he'd spent a good amount of time experimenting and he still wasn't sure exactly what his limitations were, if any.

As the cars shuddered to a slow halt by the platform once again, Liv let out a loud, breathless laugh, turning her eyes to Johnny to show him just how well he'd called her on being a little braver than she'd thought she was. She could see now why Lucy was always seeking out a new thrill; the twins were definitely more similar than they first appeared. "That was incredible!"

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:40 EST
"Incredible?" he echoed, pouting. "I am incredible. That was just awesome fantastic fun." The pout turned to a teasing grin as he unfastened their restraints and climbed out of the car, turning to offer a hand to help her out. "Did you have fun?" he asked, already knowing the answer to that question. The fact that she was laughing and not throwing up was a good sign.

Giggling, she let him pull her out of the car, more than a little bit shaky on her feet as she tried to ignore the feeling that the ground was shifting under her feet. "I definitely had fun," she assured him, reaching up to take hold of his collar and pull him down to her, rising on her toes in the same movement to capture his lips in a heated kiss. That in itself proved that Liv was as much an adrenaline junkie as anyone else; how many women reacted like this to an exhilarating fairground ride"

He felt her shaking against him and slid an arm around her waist to both hold her close and to steady her on her feet, smiling as she pulled him down to meet her lips. Someone in the crowd laughed and told them to get a room, but the remark only got a chuckle out of him. He felt a rush of something that was definitely not adrenaline, but just as strong and hard to ignore, and he sighed against her lips, lost in the moment. "Maybe there's hope for you yet," he teased as their lips parted, and he leaned his forehead against hers.

The kiss left her more breathless than the ride had, her smile showing itself less guarded, more in the moment than she could usually manage, soft brown eyes sparkling back up at his as he teased her. "You mean there wasn't before?" she teased back, one fingertip stroking against the hollow of his throat for a moment before she slipped away with a playful giggle. "Now what?"

"I'd suggest the tunnel of love, but it sounds obscene," he smirked, following after her as they debarked the ride platform, catching up to her to snatch her hand back up. "Maybe something a little less scary?" He looked around at the midway that surrounded them. There was the carousel with the calliope merrily echoing through the park, and the ferris wheel that loomed above everything else, along with a variety of other rides, games, and shows. "What would you like to try next?" he asked, turning in place to see what was the most tempting.

Liv found herself laughing more freely, more loudly, at Johnny's crass innuendo as he caught up with her, the flush on her cheeks more exhilarated than shy this time as she looked around with him. "Something a little more suited to my sweet and shy temperament, you mean?" she asked, playfully poking fun at herself as she turned her delighted smile to him.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Liv," he frowned at her, not liking her to poke fun at herself, even in fun. He didn't think she was half as shy as she claimed to be, and it was because of her sweet nature that he'd fallen in love with her. "Do you want me to win you something?" he asked, as he looked around again, taking in the games of chance that lined one side of the midway, unsure which one he'd be good at.

"Oh, Johnny, I'm just being silly," she promised him, dismissing her lack of self-esteem easily as her arm slid about his waist, her body leaning into his as her gaze scanned over the various booths. "I could win you something," she suggested laughingly. "Would you like a tiny magenta fuzz-ball, or maybe a goldfish?"

This was her day and he wanted her to choose what they did with it, but the frown that settled itself on his face betrayed his own lack of self-confidence when it came to certain things. The thought of a goldfish getting accidentally cooked to death by boiling water suddenly popped into his mind, which did nothing for the lack of smile on his face. "I'm not sure what I'd do with a fuzz-ball, and I'd only kill the goldfish." Okay, so maybe the games weren't such a hot idea, after all.

Liv rolled her eyes. They were both as bad as each other at times, each carrying almost identical issues from being mostly raised by older siblings. "All right then," she smiled, reaching up to hug him warmly, brushing her lips against his ear in a tender caress of a tease. "How do you feel about riding a pink horse?"

He smiled down at her, relieved she didn't push the goldfish idea and didn't seem too disappointed. It wasn't really much of an issue, so long as he didn't get too close to the fishbowl, but then, there wasn't much point in having one. "I think I can handle a pink horse." It was the least he could do after dragging her onto the rollercoaster. "Just don't get any ideas about me wearing pink," he warned as he playfully tweaked her nose.

"Well, come on, then." Liv was pleased to see his smile return so easily, glad that he wasn't going to let the natural frisson of his heat upset his intention for the morning too much. "And then, I think, it's time for some sugar, if I'm not allowed to buy you a pink sunhat."

He laughed at the thought of himself in a pink sunhat, though he thought she might look adorable in one. "Should I buy you a Human Torch t-shirt?" he asked, with a grin. There were a variety of souvenirs sold during his shows, including everything from key chains to hats to tshirts. It had struck him weird the first time he'd seen someone brandishing his own face across their chest, but since then he'd gotten a little more used to the idea. Back home, he was a celebrity, but here he was still relatively unknown. He turned in the direction of the carousel, swinging their linked hands between them.

A startlingly impish look crossed Liv's face as she considered this offer, her eyes touching onto the t-shirts with a grin. "Only if you buy one that fits you," she countered sweetly, squeezing her fingers about his waist for a moment as they moved between the people milling around them, wondering if he could guess what she'd do with that shirt in private. "Thank you for this. It's about time I learned to relax, isn't it?"

He chuckled at her reply, having an inkling what she did with his shirts when he wasn't around. "You steal all my t-shirts for nightgowns anyway!" he pointed out with an amused grin, the dip in his mood not lasting long. "I just want you to have some fun, Liv. You work too hard sometimes. Life isn't just about work. It's about having fun, too. It's about living." His voice softened at his reply, turning to face her as they claimed their place in line, joined mostly by families with small children.

Her own smile softened as he drew her into line, her head tipping back as she looked up at him. "I know I'm a little ....intense about work a lot of the time," she admitted with a faint shrug. "I don't know what I want to do with my life, Johnny, and I'm sort of stuck right now. I want to be good at what I do, though, and even though I hate waiting on tables, I still want to be good at it. It's just stressing me out at the same time, and I'm sorry you bear the brunt of that. I don't mean to be difficult for you."

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:44 EST
He'd learned that lesson long ago, when he was still a teenager. Even though he was a lot deeper than people gave him credit for and he had his moody moments, he was at heart an optimist. He frowned as she opened up to him a little, sharing her inner struggle for personal meaning, though the frown was not one of sadness but of caring concern. He touched her face, his fingers hot against the cool curve of her cheek.

"You're not difficult, Liv. You just have to figure out what makes you happy. That's all. You're going to be great at whatever you do." He smiled reassuring at her, not mentioning the fact that he was going through a similar crisis. Working at an amusement park was all well and good. It was fun and it paid the bills, but he didn't think it was his life's calling. He leaned in to brush a kiss against her forehead. "I love you."

"I wish there was some way to get paid for loving you," she sighed softly, leaning into him. "It's the only thing in my life I feel any kind of comfort in, when I'm with you, or when I think about you. I know I'm supposed to be with you. I just don't know what else I'm supposed to be doing." She laughed softly, shaking her head a little. "Listen to us, getting deep and philosophical in the queue for a carousel. The next thing you know, we'll be discussing the meaning of life in bed."

And he imagined that in his head, too, with a warm smile. "What's the matter with that' Isn't that what people in love do' Talk about things" Figure things out together?" He brushed a strand of chocolate brown from her face, still messy from the roller coaster ride. "I'm here for you, Livvie. I'm always gonna be here for you." He shocked even himself with those words, but she was right - it felt right to be with her. They felt right together, and he never wanted to lose that feeling.

"Well, I didn't exactly mean in bed, I meant ..." Her smiling gaze flickered to a pair of small children waiting in line in front of them, a secretive flicker to her eyes hinting toward what she'd been avoiding saying out loud. "I love you, Johnny. I'm not going anywhere, unless you tell me to." And, oh, how she hoped he never would.

The frown on his face reappeared when she hinted at her fear of losing him, not for the first time. "I'm not going anywhere either, Liv," he promised, though the thought of never seeing his sister or his home again made his heart ache.

He'd promised Sue that his trip to Rhy'Din was only a temporary one, but he hadn't figured on meeting anyone and wanting to settle down and stay here. His gaze darted to the crowd of children and families around them, some rushing onto the carousel, some rushing off, and he wondered if he'd ever have anything close to a real family of his own.

Curling her arms about his waist, Liv leaned into him, warm and trusting, uncertain of what she could say in the face of his unspoken uncertainties. Her forehead rested in the curve of his neck, her head tipping back to let her touch a soft kiss to the pulsepoint in his throat, savoring the quietness of the tender moment in the midst of hyperactive children and laughing families.

"We'll figure it out together," he finally told her quietly, as he held her close, his voice muffled as he nuzzled against her hair. The quiet of the moment was temporarily disturbed as an over-excited boy bumped into them, jostling them, and he chuckled, his good humor winning out again. "I think we're in the way."

She squeaked softly as the child bumped them, startled and amused. "I think you might be right," she admitted laughingly, reluctantly leaning back to look up at him. "Should we get out of the way, do you think?" Her smile had lightened, easing away from the deeper moment with the gently sweet good temper he was used to from her.

He grinned down at her, his own mood lightening along with hers. "I think we should find a pink horse," he suggested, letting go of her to retake her hand, allowing her to lead the way this time to a pair of carousel horses of her choosing.

Laughing again, Liv wasted no time in finding Johnny a seat on the carousel that was as bright a pink as she could possibly have asked for, patting the wooden saddle with a quiet giggle. "Here we are, sweetheart, mount up." Her own chosen horse, set inside his, was a far more muted shade of gold, somehow managing to highlight the faint tan on her legs as she climbed aboard.

He laughed, amused at the choice of horse she had picked out for him. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?" he asked, as he climbed up onto the very pink horse, which made his skin look even paler than usual. There had been a time when he'd been one to burn easily in the sun, but the accident had changed all that when he was a teenager. Being a city boy, he'd never ridden a real horse before, but as a child, he'd sometimes pretended to be a cowboy while riding his bike around the neighborhood.

"Never," she promised in a sweet voice, one hand wrapping about the carved pole as the other lowered to rearrange her skirt. She wasn't the most risque of dressers; if her skirt rose even a couple of inches higher than she was used to, it was always tugged back down again. "And just think of those teenagers who'll see it, too."

He frowned, reminded that he wasn't just a nameless face in the crowd, but the frown didn't last long. He wasn't going to let the thought of a few fangirls watching him ride a horse that was a less than manly shade of pink get him down. "If pink was good enough for Don Johnson, it's good enough for me," he remarked, too young to really remember Miami Vice, except maybe for re-runs on late night TV.

Liv giggled softly, leaning down to pull her shoe more securely onto her foot for a moment, inadvertantly bumping her forehead against his thigh in the process. "Only a real man can pull off candyfloss pink," she teased as the music began, the carousel slowly beginning to turn to the sound of small people cheering excitedly.

He smiled, watching her as she bumped his thigh and remarked on the shade of pink. "I'm making no promises!" he called over the din of the music as the carousel started to turn, regarding wearing the color pink. One hand taking hold of the carved wooden pole, the other reached for her hand across the small space between them, a look of sheer happiness beaming like sunshine from his face.

For all that the carousel was nowhere near as filled with thrills as the rollercoaster, it was no less enjoyable for that. With her hand in Johnny's, feeling the breeze ruffle through her hair, Liv found herself just as delighted here as she had been while screaming and giggling on the bigger ride. "What promises would those be?" she called back to him, insinuating her thumb between their palms to tease her nail lightly against his sensitive skin.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:48 EST
"I'm not promising to wear pink!" he called back, leaning toward her and away from his horse so that she could hear him. Not exactly daring, given the sedate nature of the ride. He even dared to lean close enough to steal a kiss, smirking at the disgusted groan from a couple of kids behind him. Had he been that irritating growing up, he wondered. He suddenly wished there was a more private place they could sneak away to for a little bit.

As an employee of the Park, no doubt he'd be able to think of somewhere he could whisk her away once the ride came to a halt. As it was, Liv blushed at the sound of the groan from behind them, sticking her tongue out at the kids, who giggled back at her. She touched her lips to Johnny's once again, just a soft, light touch to share her smile with him. "How does it feel to be an embarrassing adult on a kiddie ride?"

"Are you kidding?" he grinned back after returning that kiss. "I'm terrified!" She had mentioned wanting something sweet after they were through with the carousel, and he wondered if his kisses were sweet enough to suffice. "They're just jealous they don't have a girlfriend as pretty as you," he called back, lifting his voice loud enough so that the boys behind them could hear him.

"Do you think we should tell them I have a twin?" Liv laughed back. An image of Lucy dating the two pre-teens behind them crossed her mind, and she let out a loud bark of laughter, covering her mouth with her hand as she giggled. "Oh, that's just wrong!"

He chuckled at her suggestion, envisioning nearly the same thing. "They'd probably think she's old! Hell, they probably think we're old." He glanced back at the pre-teens, just for a moment, remembering himself at that age. He'd always been a little girl crazy, even then, but too shy to even talk to girls, much less ask one out. Strangely, it had taken a trip in a spaceship and an accidental brush with radiation to bring him out of his shell.

"Well, we are old," Liv teased cheerfully, swinging their joined hands back and forth for a moment, for now ignoring the boys sat behind them. "Didn't you know" Twenty is old, thirty is ancient." She lifted his hand to her lips, the soft sparkle of her eyes intimate despite the public place. Johnny was slowly bringing her out of her own shell; today was proving to be a great success.

"I know. Did you see all the gray hair?" he eased back, her cheerfulness bringing out the same in him. Truthfully, he had a full head of dark blond hair, not a single gray to be found anywhere. "You're only as old as you feel, Liv!" He practically glowed with luminescence, beaming a bright smile her way, blue eyes shining with happiness.

"Then I must be at least forty!" she laughed back, surprising herself with the carefree sound of her amusement the carousel began to slow once again, enjoying the sound of disappointment from the smaller children arrayed all over the horses.

"Not today. Today you're a kid again," he replied, as the dizzying motion of the carousel eased, the horse slowing in its gentle ride up and down along with it. He slid off the pink-painted horse before the ride came to a full stop, reaching for her waist to lift her off the horse to come to rest upon her feet in front of him, surrounding by disappointed sounds from the children and then a stomp of feet as they hurried to claim new horses.

Her arms looped about his neck as he lifted her down from the wooden saddle of her golden horse, bumping the tip of her nose to his as she was lowered down. "If I'm a kid again," she murmured teasingly, trailing her fingertips against his throat, "I must be sixteen and horny."

"Sixteen is a good age, but I'll just take horny," he teased, her touch against his throat sending a thrill of eagerness through him. He'd been sixteen when he'd agreed to an adventure in space and had ended up becoming what he was, young enough to accept it and adjust better than the other three. He smiled as they brushed noses, his never cold, before taking her hand to lead her from the ride. Waiting for them just outside the queue, was gathered a small group of kids of all ages hoping to catch a glimpse at "The Human Torch" and maybe ask for a trick or two.

His verbal tease in return made her smile heat up, her usually sweet gaze a little more suggestive than usual as he drew her down from the carousel, hugging close to his side. Her gaze fell on the kids gathered nearby, and despite the quiet eagerness to be alone somewhere with Johnny, she wasn't going to let him walk past them. "Hey," she said softly, tugging him about to face the little group. "Your public awaits."

He frowned as he was faced with the small unexpected throng of young fans, happy at least it wasn't a group of giggling girls this time. "Do I have to?" he asked, pouting like a boy who was being scolded into cleaning his room. "I'm here to have fun with you." He found himself tugged around to face the little group of young, eager faces and once again remembered his own less than stellar childhood.

Liv, like Johnny, could remember a less than enjoyable childhood, and one thing she didn't like was to see children disappointed, remembering that feeling only too well. "It won't take long," she murmured to him. "And you'll make their day."

A small buck-toothed boy caught her eye, pushed forward by his fellows. "Mithster Thtorm, can I have your autogwaff?"

"Uh..." Johnny stammered, feeling a sense of compassion for the poor kid who'd been thrust forward by the others who were too timid go first. Privately, he hoped the kid's parents were planning on getting him braces, but he didn't share that thought. "Sure, but..." He searched his pockets, frowning. "I don't have a pen." Or paper for that matter. He could sign an autograph in flames but that wasn't going to do anyone any good.

"I do!"

As another boy rummaged through his pockets to find the promised pen, Liv leant up to kiss Johnny's cheek. "I'll be nearby," she promised, gently loosing her fingers from his to step away and move toward the nearest food kiosk. His young fans didn't need to meet or know about his girlfriend, after all.

As the pen was produced, the little boy who had made the request to begin with waved what was obviously a much-loved autograph book toward Johnny excitedly.

Distracted for a moment by his young fans, Johnny watched as Liv moved away from them, feeling bad that their date had been interrupted, not wanting to disappoint her or the kids either. "It'll only take a minute," he called back as she headed toward a kiosk, wondering what she was planning on buying. After a moment, he turned back around and and took the pen and autograph book from the boy, flipping through to find a fresh page. "What's your name?" he asked, as he clicked the pen.

He hoped it would only take a minute. He wasn't even sure if he was supposed to be giving away autographs unless it was to fans who'd come to see his show. He'd never been told not to. "You all coming to see the show later?" he asked, thinking a little self-promotion might be a good idea.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:52 EST
Liv threw a smile back over her shoulder to Johnny as he called after her, not resenting the attention his younger fans asked for in the slightest. It was rather sweet, really, watching him with them as they jostled one another, producing books and programs and, in one case, an arm for the Human Torch to sign.

His mentioning of the show generated quite a bit of excitement among the little group as they jostled and grinned, slowly getting over their timidity in the face of his friendly manner with them. "Do we get in free 'cos you've signed stuff for us?" one of the older girls asked with a cheeky grin, obviously just trying it on.

He chuckled good-naturedly at the girl's question. "No, sorry. Not even I have that kind of influence, but not everyone gets an autograph, if that counts for something." He signed several autographs, making sure to ask for names and personalize each one, just a little. It was the least he could do.

"Mister Storm, is it true you saved some people from a fire" My dad says it was just a publicity stunt."

The question came from one of the older boys in the group, one who seemed to be teetering on the verge of adolesence, moving away from the magical years of childhood and into the difficult teen years. Johnny looked up at the question and arched a curious brow, glancing over at Liv momentarily. "See that lady over there?" he answered, nodding his head toward where Liv stood. "She was in that fire."

Liv wasn't entirely sure what to make of the fact that suddenly all eyes in the little group of kids were on her, wide and fascinated, and in the case of the older children, blatantly curious.

"Is she your wife?" one of the smaller girls asked, squeaking as what was obviously her big brother hit her in her shoulder.

"Don't ask questions like that, it's rude!"

Johnny turned back just in time to catch the bigger boy thumping the younger girl. He didn't know they were siblings, though it seemed something siblings would do. He'd personally never laid a hand on his own sister growing up, but maybe that was because of the age difference between them. "Hitting girls is rude," he scolded, turning a smile to the younger girl's question. "Not yet, she's not. Think she should be?"

"You don't gotta live with her," was the older boy's grump, but he subsided as his little sister beamed up at Johnny with a gap-toothed grin.

"If she was your wife, you could make little firefly babies!" There was a ripple of laughter through the little group, the girl's parents nearby sharing a slightly resigned glance in the process.

Johnny chuckled at the girl's remark, almost but not quite blushing. He wasn't really sure if his abilities would be passed down through his genes to any potential offspring or not, and it would be some months before they'd find out whether or not his sister gave birth to a normal child or not. It wasn't something he'd thought much about it until now, filing it away in his brain for later consideration. "I'll try to keep that in mind," he commented, as he scribbled the last of the autographs.

"My dad says you're a hero," another girl piped in. "He says there should be more people like you in Rhy'Din."

"My dad says you should be doin' something proper with what you can do, instead of doin' shows," another boy countered in a forceful tone. "He says there's too many heroes doin' their own thing and you should go and work for him."

There went Johnny's brow again, arching curiously as he glanced toward the latest speaker before handing back the pen and the last autograph. "Who's your dad and what?s he do?" he asked, not really expecting any useful information in reply.

"He's a fireman," the boy said proudly. "He does fire stuff and people bein' trapped and all kinds of stuff every day, and he's not a hero, he's just a person like most everyone else."

Johnny glanced thoughtfully at the boy a moment, his expression turning serious. "What's your name again?" he asked, hoping to make an impression on the kid, one he might not forget.

"Kelvin Sommers," the boy introduced himself, drawing himself up proudly as the only one to have been asked his name twice by the Human Torch, utterly unaware that he had made an impression of his own on Johnny with just a couple of comments.

"Nice to meet you, Kelvin," he offered a hand to the boy, the only one who'd been offered a handshake, as if between two gentlemen. "But you're wrong....Your dad is a hero. In fact, your dad is an even bigger hero than..." He wasn't sure if the Avengers were common knowledge on Rhy'Din. He had a feeling they were supposed to be sort of incognito, though personally, he felt he had nothing to hide. Still, he picked someone else to use as an example and left the Avengers and his own Foursome out of the discussion. "Even more than Superman. You know why?" he asked, his gaze taking in all the bright, young faces in front of him, not just the one.

"Why?" It wasn't just one voice that asked, but a small chorus, the little group having grown somewhat in size as people realised who it was who was holding court beside the carousel. Kelvin's father was watching from near the back, a faintly proud smile on his face as his son faced down a genuine hero and made the job offer he'd never be able to countenance making himself.

"Because..." Johnny started, his usual brash self turning uncharacteristically serious, unaware that additional onlookers had gathered around and that the boy's father was one of them. "Your dad puts his life on the line every day in order to keep the people of Rhy'Din safe. He doesn't ask for any medals or any congratulations. He doesn't get his picture taken or get asked for autographs. He does it because it's the right thing to do, and he does it without the use of any superpowers. That's a true hero, Kelvin."

If it was at all possible, Kelvin Sommers grew several inches with sheer bursting pride in his father as Johnny Storm gave out that glowing praise. "You really think that, Mr Storm, sir?" he asked through a curious grin, sharing that look with the friend standing by his side.

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it. Your dad is an unsung hero, and one of the bravest men on Rhy'Din," Johnny answered, as truthfully as he could. Sure, it took courage for those like him to face the evils of the world, but it took a special kind of individual to face the many dangers Rhy'Din had to put their life on the line day after day without any special powers to assist them.

"Now, if you'll all excuse me, my lady awaits." He smiled almost bashfully, feeling a little embarrassed by all the attention as he tried to make his way back toward Liv.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 11:58 EST
Thankfully for Johnny, the parents of his little band of excited hangers on moved in quickly to prevent him from being held up again, leaving him free to escape amid the questions turned onto their own adults regarding unsung heroes.

Liv was waiting for him beside the kiosk, picking at cotton candy from a bag as she smiled. She'd heard almost every word, incredibly proud of him for the way he had handled everything thrown at him. "All done, Mister Storm?"

Relieved to have finally escaped the spotlight, he rejoined Liv, looking a little out of sorts from the unexpected encounter with Rhy'Din's youth. "You wanna duck into a show or something" Get away from the crowd for a while?" he asked, as he claimed a seat beside her, watching the adults take over where he left over, a few gazes following him and watching as he took a seat beside Liv.

Sensitive to Johnny's sudden wish to be away from curious eyes, Liv nodded, her familiar soft smile back in place and doing little to disguise the encouraged wildness of the adrenaline rush he'd teased her into earlier. "That sounds like a good idea," she agreed, pulling a small piece of spun sugar from the pink mass and touching it to his lips. "You know the park best, you know where you can go for privacy, sweetheart." Her cheeks were beginning to flush, soft embarrassment showing itself under the stares from the passersby who had witnessed Johnny's encounter with the children.

He wasn't normally the easily embarrassed type, but having been put on the spot by a bunch of kids had him flustered for some reason, and privately questioning his own motives and ethics. He didn't think of himself as a hero, even when he did put himself in danger or save someone's life. To him, he was just doing what he was right. He smiled as he opened his mouth to accept that bit of spun sugar, snatching up her hand again as it melted in his mouth and he moved to his feet, knowing just where to go. "Follow me," he told her, heading in the direction of the arena where he did his show.

Tugged up from her seat, Liv yipped a little in surprise at the sudden movement, her sticky fingers caught in his hand as she skipped into step behind him. "The arena?" she asked softly, unaware that the small crowd of curious onlookers were watching them go and wondering whether they should follow along, too.

"My dressing room," he replied, as he led her through the crowd. It was probably getting close to time for him to get ready for the noon show anyway. It wouldn't last long, and then he'd be free to continue his date with Liv without having to worry about any further interruptions until the later show at six.

The closer they got to the arena, the more looks they were getting as people started recognizing him. The posters and billboard outside the arena did nothing to help him hide his identity, but he managed to weave his way through the crowd with her at his size without raising much of a fuss. Ducking in through the employee entrance, he led her down a long dark hall until they arrived at a door with his name on it.

She hadn't been to the backstage area before, always remaining in the public arena whenever she had come to see him perform. It was something of an honor to be taken back there without being challenged, her footsteps quietly slapping along the polished floor as she skipped in step behind him. "Don't they put the lights on in here?"

"Oh..." He hardly realized that the lights had dimmed in his haste to get out of the limelight. With a flick of his fingers, he produced a small flame, bright enough to light their immediate surroundings. "That better?" he asked, with a grin as he turned to face her.

The flickering natural light illuminated her delighted smile as she looked up at him, giggling just a little at his irrepressibly playful good humor. "Oh, much better," she agreed. "I can see you now, that always makes things better." Stepping closer, she brushed her cheek to his shoulder. "Are you feeling better now you're out of the spotlight?"

His grin faded at her question, as he tried to sort out what exactly it was that was bothering him about the encounter. "Yeah..." he glanced down at her as she brushed against him, dousing the flame and pushing open the door to his very modest dressing room. "I don't know why it bothered me."

He flicked on the lights in his room, illuminating the small space. Various costumes hung on a rack to one side, and there were small signs that he'd used the place at least a little. There was a magazine featuring motorcycles on the small dressing table, along with a half-eaten bag of potato chips. The small was small and underused as he didn't really spend much time here. It was mostly just a place for him to duck in and out of between shows.

The dressing room, while small and underused, was his, and Liv could tell that the moment they stepped inside. Setting her little bag of cotton candy on the table, she turned to draw him closer, rising onto her toes to touch a soft kiss to his cheek as her fingers wound with his. "You don't have to be comfortable with being the center of attention all the time," she said softly, hoping to reassure him a little.

"I guess not," he admitted with a small frown as he looked down at her, realizing he was just as uncertain of his place in the world as she was, but for different reasons. He tangled his fingers with hers, an almost shy look on his face again. "One of the girls thought you were my wife," he remarked, unsure how much of the conversation she might have overheard, curious what her reaction to that might be.

Her face lit up in a pretty blush, her smile deepening as he offered this shy remark. "I don't think I heard that bit," she giggled softly, as shy as him of the assumption of a small child. "Was that when they all turned around to stare at me?" It wasn't that she couldn't imagine a situation when Johnny could tell someone that she was his wife, but she had a feeling that neither of them were ready to bind themselves closer than they were just yet.

"Yeah," he admitted, charmed by her blush but finding heat creep into his own face, which was an odd feeling for him. "Can you imagine that?" he asked, slipping away from her, looking almost nervous about the turn of conversation. "You and me married....having little fireflies of our own." The thought of it left him with an odd feeling of wistfulness, and he found himself fussing with the half-eaten bag of chips, just to keep himself busy. "My dad wasn't exactly a model father, you know." He remarked, as he plucked a chip out of the bag and took a bite, finding them stale. "I don't wanna be like him."

"Uh ..." Biting her lower lip, Liv couldn't quite stifle the shy smile that rose as he slipped away from her, turning to look at him as he fussed and fidgeted. "I, um ....I think I could. Not now, obviously, but ....yes, I could imagine being your wife. Having your children." As he mentioned his father, she turned toward him, reaching up to stroke the backs of her fingers against his cheek. "You're not your father. You won't be like him."

He'd never told her what had happened in his past that he'd been raised by his sister. Though both of his parents were now deceased, it wasn't his father's death that had left him in his sister's care. He lifted his gaze back to her, smiling a little at her reassure, reaching to capture her fingers as she stroked his cheek. "No, I'm not," he agreed, wanting to be nothing like his father. "Could you really imagine spending the rest of your life with me?" he asked, not quite believing her.

No, she didn't know anything about the time before he had been taken into his sister's care, but she had guessed from the way he spoke that he had known his parents for a time, at least. Her hand caught in his, she met his blue-eyed gaze with a gentle, sincere smile. "I really could," she nodded, her voice offering more of a promise than her words could.

If he had loved her before, it paled in comparison to how he felt when she offered up that small admission, his heart catching fire and burning with what could only be described as deepening love. He wasn't usually the emotional type; he wasn't much of a crier, but he couldn't keep his feelings hidden in the wake of that admission. He had no words to convey his feelings. He could only show her what he was feeling, tilting her chin up to meet the kiss that he was about to press upon her soft, sweet lips.

Olivia Storm

Date: 2012-07-09 12:03 EST
As always, a kiss in such an enveloping tender moment brought a soft sound of surprise from her lips, muffled by his as she leaned into him, blown away by the sheer force of emotion he poured into her with just that gentle touch of mouth to mouth. Her hands rose to cradle his jaw as she stepped closer, meeting his outpouring of unspoken love with her own devoted adoration, stepping up close against him as her arms looped slowly about his shoulders, breathing him in as her lips moved and parted with his.

He answered her affection with affection of his own, his arms circling her waist to draw her close, unnatural heat radiating from his body to hers, drinking in her kiss as his lips melted against hers, soft and warm and tender. He lingered in that kiss, all his worries and cares for the moment forgotten, as if nothing else existed in all the world but the two of them.

Until the knock came at the door that signaled it was almost noon. "Ten minutes, Johnny!" a voice called from the hallway.

The heat of him wrapped about her, the sensation one of comfort and safety; the certain knowledge that so long as he was around, she would never be in danger. The longer he lingered in the taste of her, the deeper she fell, curling her arms tighter about him until she was high on her tiptoes, revelling in the tender affection shared between them. And for once, the sharp interruption did not make her jump or leap away from him, the kiss slow to break as she giggled softly. "Should I step outside while you change?"

He parted slowly, reluctantly from her lips as the familiar knock came at the door, smiling down at her, the old Johnny restored, the sadness once more held at bay. "No, I'm wearing my uniform for the show today." There was a reason for this, but one he had not told her, one he had not, in fact, told anyone yet. All he had to do was strip off the top layer of clothing, the uniform the second skin that was almost always hidden underneath, as inconvenient as it was at times.

"So ....this isn't your everyday uniform?" she asked with playful curiosity, easing her hand about from the back of his neck to trace the collar of said uniform at the open neck of his rugby shirt. "I'd offer to help you change, but I think that might make certain parts of you a little more eyecatching than is suitable for a family show."

He chuckled at her withheld offer, watching while she traced the collar of his uniform. "Unless you can do it in ten minutes, it will have to wait until later." He smiled, blue eyes shining brightly as he pulled away to tug his shirt up his chest and over his head and arms, revealing the top half of his uniform.

She laughed, stepping back to lean against the dressing table as he began to strip his civvies free of the uniform. "You see, I would offer, but the man teaching me all about the pleasures of the flesh doesn't seem to have got to the chapter on quickies yet," she apologised sweetly. One thing Johnny could guarantee - if he found them privacy, Liv's sense of humor would always make itself known full force.

"Quickies?" he echoed, chuckling. "Ten minutes isn't a quickie. Ten minutes is....That's a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am." He tossed his shirt over a chair and started on his pants, as he kicked off his sneakers.

"At least it includes a thank you," Liv mused playfully, catching his shirt to fold it neatly. It was something to do to keep her mind off the wish to help him undress all the way. "Manners cost nothing, after all."

"Hey, I always say thank you, even if it's only implied," he grinned as he unzipped his jeans and worked them down his legs, stepping out of them and tossing them to join his discarded shirt. He snagged a pair of black boots that were part of his meager costume collection and yanked them onto his feet, one at a time, darting a glance at himself in the mirror. "Ta-da! The Human Torch!" He held up a hand, a bright flame appearing in the palm of his hand. "I could moonlight as a magician." Or a fireman, he thought.

"You could do anything you set your mind to," she said quietly, her voice full of absolute confidence as she peered over his shoulder to his reflection in the mirror.

His eyes darted toward the reflection of her standing just behind him. "Think so?" he asked, not sounding too sure of himself, no more sure than she was of her own purpose in life. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a race car driver." Interrupted by another knock and call at the door, his gaze darted that way. "Five minutes, Mr. Storm!" He sighed, turning to face her. "I'm not sure what I wanna do with my life, Liv, but I don't think this is it."

"You'll work it out." Her arms crept about him from behind, her hands flat and smooth against his chest as she rose onto her toes to touch a trusting kiss behind his ear. "There is plenty of time to work it out, and ....surely part of what makes it so fulfilling is the journey you go on to get there?"

"The journey is more important than the destination?" he asked, having heard that somewhere, though he wasn't sure where. He sighed again, feeling an odd case of the jitters, unsure if it was just because she was there or if it was something more. "I'm glad you're here," her told her quietly, watching her in the mirror, her embrace soothing his case of pre-show nervousness.

Somehow she had a feeling he wasn't just talking about her being there in that moment, in the run up to a performance for a hundred or more people in the arena. Liv had a feeling Johnny was talking about her just being there, just as she'd promised she would always be, and she knew she could relate to that feeling. There was no one else she would rather be embarking on her own journey of discovery alongside. Her eyes met his in that reflection, softer than usual, darker with unspoken devotion. "There's nowhere I'd rather be."

"I love you," he told that reflection, voice soft with feeling, blue eyes meeting hers through the mirror, his expression mirroring her own feelings of newfound love and devotion.

He heard the announcer shouting his name in the arena and the familiar roar as a collective shout of anticipation went up from the crowd that had gathered, a bit larger than usual for this early performance, perhaps because word of his unannounced little P.R. session had spread through the park like wildfire in the last hour or so since it had happened. He turned to her with the brash Johnny Storm patented grin he wore for the everyone but her. "Wish me luck."

"I love you," she countered, giggling softly as he drew his persona around himself, releasing her arms from around him when he began to turn. His brash smile brought a shyer grin to her own lips in response as she leaned up, touching a soft kiss to his mouth. "Not that you need it, but ....good luck." Her eyes sparkled with some secretive decision she had made - she knew exactly what she was going to do while he was performing.

He lingered against her mouth, eyes drifting closed as he savored her kiss, reluctant to leave, but knowing he couldn't linger any longer. "I won't be long," he promised, gazing into her eyes as he broke away from her kiss. "Wait for me?"

As her lips parted from his, she already knew what he was going to ask her to do, her eyes opening to meet his with a firm promise. "I'll be here," she nodded, stroking her fingers against his cheek in a tender caress before releasing him, stepping back before they could distract one another and get him in trouble. "Go on, before someone comes looking for you."

There was that over-confident, brash smirk again that was partly his personality and partly a sham. "Don't worry. They won't fire me. I'm the star of the show!" He shoved a hand through his hair as if it needed combing, heading toward the door and the hallway which led to the arena and the crowd eagerly awaiting his appearance. "The show must go on," he quipped as he headed out the door, ready to give his waiting audience the show they'd been hoping for.

Liv watched him go, her smile deepening at the sound of the roaring crowd when he came into their sight. No, this might not be what Johnny Storm was meant to do with his life right now, but there was nothing better to tide him over while he was looking.