Chapter 261: Grimm Tales

[Third Person's PoV] 

"You do realize that since you're 18, you're going to be tried as an adult for arson, right? Which means Sue is going to find out eventually," Spider-Man said, raising an eyebrow.

Johnny looked down at the ground in shame. "You have to believe me, I didn't mean to… It was an accident."

"At least you have the decency to feel guilty," Gwen said, glaring at him. "Just what were you thinking?"

"Everyone saw me on the news, and suddenly I became really popular. I guess I let the fame go to my head. I wanted to show off, so I activated my powers. The next thing I knew, someone tried to touch my flames, I backed up into something flammable, and before I realized it, the fire started spreading. I tried putting it out, but I only made things worse, and the fire became uncontrollable."

Spider-Man and Gwen sighed. They had a lot they wanted to say, but seeing the guilt on Johnny's face, they didn't have the heart to reprimand him further—especially knowing he was about to get an earful from Sue and Reed.

Johnny hesitated before looking up at them. "I saw the ambulances… Was anyone hurt?"

"No one was burned, and there were no serious injuries. A few people fainted from smoke inhalation, but that's it," Gwen replied.

Johnny let out a faint, relieved smile. "At least that's something."

"This is going to be complicated…" Spider-Man muttered. "Honestly, your best chance is if the principal decides not to press charges and forgives you."

"And the worst-case scenario?" Johnny asked warily.

"In the worst case…" Spider-Man hesitated, giving Johnny a wary smile. "We know a really good criminal defense attorney?"

Johnny stared at him before sighing. "I'm fucked, aren't I?"

"With the veinist of coc—" Spider-Man started, but one sharp look from Gwen made him clear his throat. "Let's just say, even if you avoid legal trouble, your public image is taking a massive hit."

"It's going to take a lot of work to regain people's trust," Gwen added. "You might even be shunned or targeted because of this, so you need to prepare yourself."

"And it's not just you who'll be affected," Spider-Man continued. "This impacts all of you—the entire Fantastic Four. We'll do what we can to help, but there's only so much we can do."

"Thanks…" Johnny said sincerely. "For trying to help, even though this is my mess to clean up."

"You're our friend, Johnny," Gwen sighed. "That makes you our responsibility."

"And speaking of responsibility…" Spider-Man smirked. "Let me share a saying about having powers and the responsibilities that come with them."

"Oh my God," Gwen muttered under her breath, suppressing the urge to groan.

"With great power—"

Spider-Man abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his head snapping toward the sky.

Susan Storm hovered above them, encased in a glowing force field, looking absolutely furious. As soon as she spotted Johnny, she dove toward him. Behind her, a pair of unnaturally long legs stretched over the crowd and firetrucks—Reed Richards, striding forward, and he didn't look happy either.

"JONATHAN LOWELL SPENCER STORM!!!"

Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider exchanged a glance before immediately turning invisible.

Johnny looked from the sky back to where his friends had just been. "Guys, quick, hide me— Where did you both go!? What happened to that whole friendship thing?! Where is it now?!"

Susan landed and marched toward Johnny, fists swinging at her sides. Johnny scrambled to his feet, his hands still tied behind him.

"Wait! Susie! Please, listen to me first! You see, what had happened was—"

SMACK

Johnny's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap. His cheek turned bright red as he slowly looked back at Susan in disbelief.

Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider, still invisible, clamped their hands over their mouths to suppress a gasp. Even Reed froze mid-step, his elongated body halting behind Susan.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND?!" Susan shouted. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU SET A WHOLE SCHOOL ON FIRE, JOHNNY! YOU'RE NOT A CHILD, SO STOP ACTING LIKE ONE! YOU'RE ABOUT TO START COLLEGE—DID YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT HOW THIS WILL AFFECT YOUR FUTURE?!"

Johnny kept his head down, his blond hair covering his eyes as he silently took the verbal lashing from his sister.

Reed, about to step in, was interrupted when Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider reappeared next to him.

He nearly jumped before whispering, "Shouldn't you two be in school?"

Spider-Man shrugged. "I do so well in class that I'm allowed to leave early for 'business emergencies.'"

Reed nodded in understanding. "Ah, that makes sense."

"Hey, where's Ben?" Gwen asked, looking around.

Reed hesitated. "He's… not coming. He's in a fragile state right now."

Gwen frowned. "Is he okay? Is it a side effect of his powers?"

"Physically, he's fine. But emotionally and mentally… that's another story." Reed's expression turned guilty. "Last night, Ben's fiancée broke off their engagement and left him… because of what happened to him."

…

Flashback: Last Night…

Ben grabbed a trench coat and a fedora, placing the hat carefully on his orange, rocky head.

Cat-call whistle.

Johnny whistled as he floated in the air, flames flickering around him, hands behind his back. "Looking real discreet there, Ben. I have to say, that trench coat really brings out the orange in your rocks," he teased as Ben finished adjusting his outfit.

Ben scowled. "Why don't I smash your face in with my fist and see how discreet you can be, pretty boy?" He cracked his knuckles. "Bet I can make you real unrecognizable then."

"Johnny, leave Ben alone," Susan reprimanded, shooting Johnny a stern look.

She walked over and placed a gentle hand on Ben's rocky arm. "Ben, if anything happens, be sure to call us, okay?"

Ben grumbled something under his breath, caught off guard by her kindness.

Sue smiled softly before kissing his cheek. "We're here for you if things go south."

"She's right, Ben," Reed added from the doorway of his lab. "Don't hesitate to call us if anything unexpected happens."

Johnny crossed his arms, smirking. "How much you guys wanna bet we'll hear from him first on the news?" He deepened his voice dramatically. "Local Thing on the loose! I repeat, the Local Thing is on the news—remember to remain indoors at all times!"

Johnny stopped when he noticed the glares from Sue and Reed. He raised his hands in surrender.

Ben just huffed, squeezing through the doorway—only to give up and barrel straight through, breaking the doorframe.

As he exited the Baxter Building, Johnny's laughter echoed behind him.

"Remember to take the stairs! Hahaha! And don't trip—we don't want an Indiana Jones situation with a rolling boulder!" Johnny called out.

Ben growled, fists tightening. But with a scoff, he decided it wasn't worth it and kept walking.

Once outside, he tipped his fedora down, trying to obscure his face. His hands trembled slightly before he clenched them into fists.

"She'll accept me… Our love is stronger than this…" he muttered, trying to reassure himself. But no matter how many times he repeated it, his confidence never improved.

He paced down Yancy Street until he spotted a payphone a few feet from his old home.

Ben picked up the tiny receiver between his massive thumb and index finger, bringing it to where his ear would be.

He tried dialing, but his thick fingers pressed multiple keys at once. Frustration built with each failed attempt until, with a snarl, he slammed the phone down—denting the metal casing.

Panting, he forced himself to take a deep breath before turning toward the front door of his home.

"Hi, honey, I'm home—" He shook his head. "No, too forward."

"I know what I look like now, but don't worry, I'm still me… I'm still Ben." He groaned. "Too desperate."

"Baby~ why don't you come and give me a hug?" He cringed. "Ugh, what am I, a weirdo?"

After a deep breath, he finally knocked.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A few seconds later, a woman's voice called from inside. "I'm coming! Just a second!"

Ben took a step back, nerves on edge. A minute later, the door opened, revealing a woman with short black hair, wrapped in a robe.

Her eyes widened in fear.

"Barbara, baby—" Ben started.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Barbara screamed at the top of her lungs.

Ben stepped toward her, but she stumbled backward, panic-stricken.

"Please don't scream! Listen, it's me—your Benji!"

"Get away from me, you monster!!" Barbara shrieked, scrambling away before slamming the door shut.

Ben froze, his breath hitching.

"Please don't hurt me! Go away!" she sobbed from behind the door.

His heart shattered. "Barbara…" His voice broke, tears welling in his eyes. "It's me… Benjamin Grimm. I—there was an accident. That's why I look like this. I didn't come to hurt you, I just—please, understand…"

Silence. Then, a soft, trembling voice.

"Benji? Is… is it really you?"

Hope surged in his chest.

But then—

"Please leave."

Ben's throat tightened.

"Please, just go," she whispered, her voice raw with fear. "I don't want anything to do with this… Please."

The door cracked open just enough for a small object to slide out—a ring.

Then it slammed shut again.

Ben stood frozen, staring at the engagement ring. His hands shook as he tried to pick it up, but his fingers were too thick.

He had to carefully slide it off the porch into his palm. Then, without a word, he turned away, cradling the ring in his hand.

Tears streamed down his rocky face as he walked aimlessly. Suddenly, his legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees.

Hic. Hic.

He sobbed uncontrollably, clutching his chest.

With a roar of anguish, he threw his fists toward the sky—before they trembled and they were lowered back to the ground gently.

His cries echoed through the night.

—

"What Ben didn't know," Reed said softly, "was that Johnny actually followed him in the sky… just in case something bad happened. He called us from there and we came rushing towards Ben"

Peter and Gwen clenched their fists.

"That bitch," Gwen spat venomously. "What kind of fiancée does that?! How could she say she loved him and then act like this?"

Ben had always been kind to her and Peter—supportive, protective. She felt sick with anger on his behalf.

Spider-Man's jaw clenched. He felt the same rage. But underneath it, guilt gnawed at him—just like it did Reed.

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