"Great! Let's go!"
Johnny lead my out of the room and down a hallway. I found myself in a clean white hall, we walked past several rooms filled with tech, I could identify some of them on sight and I swear the Peter Parker inside of my was scream from a giant nerdgasm.
"Damn, this place is amazing," I commented looking at the rooms, "a quantum slicers, gene identifier, a cyclotron and….why do you have a car battery?"
"Oh, that's mine," Johnny shrugged, "that's my lab," he pointed at the one with the battery, I noticed it also had a 3-D printer and a couple of sketches drawn up and posted on the walls, "it was the first battery I ever fixed, kind of like my inspiration."
"The Baxter building is our father's building," Sue explained, "he believed gathering the brightest minds under one roof will lead to discoveries beyond our wildest dreams. Each scientist was give a workstation to use and in return any invention they make is co-owned by them and the Baxter foundation."
I whistled, "damn, that's pretty amazing. But ah, I can't help but notice you guys are kind of running low on lab techs. Or did they go home after the lighting guy came knocking?" I asked, not mentioning Doom's real name because for all intents and purposes the public didn't know who Doom was, hence neither did I.
"His name is Victor Von Doom," Reed explained, "and he is...was, my friend."
"He used to work with us, in this place, over the years the Baxter building has started to loose its members," Susan admitted, "we have enough funding, but people these days are more interested in making money working for place in Oscorp or Stark industries than work here."
"So ah...why exactly is he pissed at you?" I asked as the hall lead out into a giant living space with a living room, kitchen, dining room, gaming area with bean bags and a library with shelves across the far wall.
"He's just pissed because Reed's better than him," I heard a rough voice call out from the couch. I saw Ben Grimm reading an extra large newspaper on an industrial sized metal chair. It didn't have any cushions, though I doubt he would need it.
"Peter, this is Ben Grimm, you don't have to be afraid," Reed told in a gentle calming voice.
"Yeah I figured," I shrugged, "since you know, he tried to save the city instead of electrocuting it."
"Ha, I like this kid," Ben chuckled as he folded the paper and got up, "so, I hear you're some kind of superhero?"
I nodded, "yeah, well, trying to be."
"I'd say you are judging by the way the news is talking about you," Johnny called out as he turned on the TV displaying the news. It was about the attack, and more specifically, about me.
"Police have yet to identify the red jacket wearing hero, though some claim it is the same one who helped stop the Hulk's rampage in Harlem a month ago," a crude picture of my in my first costume showed up near the anchor's head, "many people have coined the name 'Spider-man', alluding to the logo spray painted on his jacket. No one knows who he is or what he does. We went to the streets to find out people's opinions of New York's newest heros."
The NEWS showed variety of people, interviewing them and asking them what they thought about me.
"I don't know, but I think he's here to help. He got knocked out pretty fast, so I'm kind of worried for him. I don't think the hero business is his thing," a black man commented.
"I think heroes are over rated, we don't need them here! Ever since they came here villians have followed, and I can promise you this boy will only lead to more problems!" an old lady claimed.
"He's a hero," an older man wearing a camo jacket commented, "I respect the fact that he just leap into action without a second thought. He's a bit reckless, but I think his heart's in the right place."
"He looks cool," a young boy admitted.
People kept commenting, I honestly felt like blushing. They were praising me, calling me a hero for crying out loud! Some didn't approve, they called me an unwanted vigilante, but most didn't seem to care. Guess I was right about getting good press by being seen together with the FF.
"They're right you know, you are inexperienced," Reed groaned, "you are reckless and you just jumped into the battle without thinking."
"He was just trying to help Reed, cut him some slack," Susan snapped.
Immediately Reed backed down, "s-sorry."
Sue huffed, she turned to me and grinned, "don't worry about it Peter, things like this take time. Heck, we aren't even super heroes but people are still calling us that. Johnny, what's that ridiculous name they have for us again?"
"The Fantastic Four sis, and for the record, I don't think it's stupid," Johnny grinned, "I kind of like it."
"Ha! Of course you do," Ben chuckled, "hate to break it to you kid, but we ain't heroes."
"Actually Ben, you kind of are," I spoke up, "this was all of your first appearance in the spotlight. From now on people are going to expect you to fight to save lives, you're just going to have to deal with it."
"Is that why you chose to remain behind the scenes for so long?" Reed asked.
"Yup," I half-lied, "it's easier to work in the shadows than to be outed and have expectations dropped on you like that."
"Understandable," Susan replied looking nervous, "well look at it this way, at least now the Baxter building is getting free advertisement. Maybe we can finally get some people in here and working."
I smiled, "yeah, I don't think you'll have a problem in that front anymore."
"Well...I suppose people might be calling us the Fantastic Five now," Reed chuckled, "I don't really think they know we aren't together."
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