The Human Torch (Fire Force) Chapter 12: The Joker

[Johnny Storms PoV] 


Susan is truly alive… The thought echoed in my mind, refusing to fade. I wasn’t sure if these feelings were my own or remnants of the original Johnny’s, but either way, I was over the moon.


My sister—my Susan—was out there, alive. My heart pounded against my chest in jubilation, a sensation both exhilarating and strange. I had long since accepted that I wasn’t the original Johnny Storm. My years in the academy had solidified that truth. I was a strange blend of two lives—neither entirely my old self nor the original Johnny, but a fusion of the two, for better or worse.


The news of Susan’s survival sent me on an emotional rollercoaster I never expected. Memories flooded my mind—small, fleeting moments, echoes of the original Johnny’s past. But these weren’t just his memories anymore; they were mine. And through them, I had come to see Susan as my sister, my family.


She was the one I roughhoused with, the one I constantly clashed with, the one who drove me crazy—and I did the same to her. A goody two-shoes always trying to set me straight, always trying to do the right thing. We were complete opposites. Yet, these were the memories the original Johnny had clung to when the world tried to erase the truth—that his sister and father weren’t actually dead.


Susan… My sister. She was alive.


But if she was alive this whole time, why didn’t she come looking for me?


Did she think I had died in the explosion? Had she lost her memories? Did she not even remember I existed?


Or worse… what if she did remember—but couldn’t find me? What if she was being threatened? What if she was in danger?


My stomach dropped as my flames flared with my anxiety. My thoughts spiraled. What if she’s being held captive? What if she’s waiting for me to find her?


“Ooooh~ seems like someone’s having some dark thoughts over there,” a voice interrupted.


I snapped back to reality, my fiery gaze locking onto the man who called himself Joker.


He knows something.


He knows everything.


I took a step forward, my voice a low growl. “I’m only going to ask this once. Where. Is. My. Sister? Where’s Susan?”


Joker took a long drag of his cigarette before exhaling slowly. “I don’t know what kind of dark thoughts are running through that head of yours, but you’re overthinking it. They’re not in any immediate danger.”


“Huh?! And what’s that supposed to mean?!” Shinra demanded, his voice edged with anxiety.


That’s when it hit me. Joker had said they. If we found one, we’d find the other. That meant Shinra’s missing brother and my missing sister were somehow connected.


I glanced at Shinra. Was he experiencing the same whirlwind of emotions as I was?


Joker shrugged. “It’s like I said. They’re not in immediate danger. As long as they don’t put themselves in harm’s way, they’ll be fine.”


Relief washed over me like a cool breeze. My flames dimmed slightly, my anxiety easing. That answer didn’t explain everything, but at least it meant Susan wasn’t in immediate peril. If my Susan was anything like her comic counterpart, I knew she’d be safe.


Shinra let out a deep breath, his shoulders visibly relaxing. A wide, goofy grin spread across his face—pure elation at the knowledge that his little brother was alive. I didn’t blame him. I felt like grinning just as hard.


But before we could press Joker for more answers, two new figures arrived, reminding me that we weren’t alone.


Arthur slid around the corner, while Tamaki scaled up the side of the building, twin cat ears and tails of velvet flames flickering around her body.


Arthur had his plasma sword drawn and ready for action. His eyes scanned the scene, locking onto the aftermath of our clash with the Joker.


"I see," Arthur said, nodding as if he'd come to a profound conclusion. Normally, I’d find his antics amusing, but now was neither the time nor the place. "This must be the 'Infernal' we're supposed to find for extra points."


He couldn't be further from the truth.


"Really?" Tamaki asked, narrowing her eyes at the Joker.


"What?" Shinra blurted, utterly baffled. "Of course not! He’s not part of this test! When we found him, he knocked out the soldiers we were supposed to rescue!"


"Exactly what an Infernal would do!" Arthur exclaimed, gripping his sword tighter. "I know what you're up to, you devil! You're trying to trick me so you can hog the points for yourself! Despicable as always!"


Shinra looked like he was seconds away from strangling Arthur. He turned to me and pleaded, "Please, back me up and make this idiot understand. Maybe he'll listen to you."


"He’s right," I said, though I doubted my words would make a difference. "Joker isn't part of the test. He attacked the soldiers who were supposed to be part of it."


"Like I'd ever believe the words of the Knight of Treachery," Arthur scoffed. "You're no better than him, Mordred!"


Yeah, I had no one but myself to blame for that one… I just had to play into his fantasies, didn't I?


I rolled my eyes. I really didn't have time for this. The Joker was more important, and he seemed to be enjoying our exchange. More than that, he had pulled out another vial of that explosive ash.


Arthur stepped forward, sword at the ready. "Stand back! I shall be the one to slay this Infernal!"


"Nah-uh-uh." Joker wiggled his finger and uncapped the bottle. "Now, I'm sure you two saw what just a little bit of this ash did earlier. Now, imagine what this much will do~ How do you think all those unconscious soldiers scattered across this floor will handle that?"


Joker's smile widened as Shinra and I exchanged tense glances. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he released the ash, letting it spread through the entire floor.


"Come on, Shinra, what are you gonna do?" Joker taunted. "Don't you wanna be a hero~? Who do you care more about—capturing me and finding your brother or saving everyone?"


Then he turned to me. "And what about you, Johnny-boy? Was finding your sister really the only reason you became a firefighter~?"


That bastard. I don’t know how he knew, but he got me. I had been so focused on him that I hadn’t even considered the other soldiers on this floor. And Shinra couldn’t carry them all by himself.


Even before coming to this world, I had always wanted to be a firefighter. I was following in my late father’s footsteps. I didn’t have some grand dream like Shinra—to be a hero known to the world. Just saving even one person was enough for me. That was how my father lived… and died. I hated him for it—for being so selfish. But at the same time, he was the man I respected most.


Shinra and I looked at each other. No words were needed. Joker had gotten what he wanted. With a smirk, he vanished into the swirling cloud of ash.


"Arthur! Make an opening in the wall or ceiling!" I ordered.


The desperation in my voice must have gotten through to him because, for once, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately swung his plasma blade, creating an escape route.


Shinra and I didn’t waste a second. We had only moments before the explosion. Our flames roared to life, propelling us at incredible speeds.


Shinra managed to grab three soldiers—two in his arms and one over his shoulder.


I picked up four—two in my own arms, and my fire clone carried the other two. Controlling more than one fire clone was incredibly taxing, like trying to move multiple limbs in different directions at once. But I gritted my teeth and pushed through the strain.


As we rounded the corridor, the ash started glowing brighter.


With my second fire clone, I grabbed Arthur and Tamaki, who had just finished creating the hole in the ceiling.


I was the first one out, followed by Shinra and my fire clone with the soldiers. Then my other fire clone, carrying Arthur and Tamaki, shot through the opening.


Barely a second later, a massive explosion engulfed the entire top floor. The shockwave sent tremors through the structure and rippled through the sky.


The blast shattered my fire clone holding Arthur and Tamaki.


As Shinra and I landed, we gently set the soldiers down before immediately launching ourselves back into the air.


I caught Tamaki as she flailed and screamed in panic, while Shinra managed to grab Arthur.


"You alright~?" I asked, flashing her my usual charming smile as I carried her in a princess hold.


Tamaki stared up at me, completely frozen, her cheeks burning red as she nodded stiffly in embarrassment.


"I'm glad you're safe," I added with a bright grin, slowly descending.


I really couldn’t help myself. I was addicted to their reactions.