Tandis que Franklin se tapait sans esprit sur le jeu de combat, se penchait en arrière dans le canapé et les pieds ont frappé vers le haut sur la table basse. Il portait juste un t-shirt et un jean qu'il n'avait pas eu longtemps. Après tout, dans la semaine où il était parti, il était passé de l'avant-adolescence à la fin de l'adolescence. Il avait besoin d'un nouveau warerobe assez rapidement, ce qui était un choc bizarre dans ce que la réalité était maintenant. Valeria était assise nichée dans une grande chaise à l'extrémité de la pièce, un livre ouvert sur ses genoux. Ses yeux scannaient rapidement les pages alors que son visage gardait un regard de concentration intense, semblant complètement absorbé par ce qu'elle lisait. Personne n'aurait pu savoir que c'était un acte. Un très bien répété à ce sujet. Peut-être Franklin. Mais il était là aussi. Le voyage qu'ils avaient commencé il y a des mois (ou il y a une semaine, selon la dimension dans laquelle vous étiez) les avait conduits à cela. La chose la plus étrange à ce sujet était après tout ce qu'ils avaient traversé, ils étaient encore traités comme des petits enfants, ce qui rendait cette ruse nécessaire. C'était la ruse que leur mère et leur père étaient supposés voir lorsqu'ils sont entrés dans la chambre, habillés d'un joli costume et d'une robe et se dirigeant vers un dîner de charité. "D'accord, vous deux, nous partons et revenons un peu." Leur mère Susan Storm les a racontés à tous les deux alors qu'ils regardaient tous les deux. "Vous deux, soyez en sécurité maintenant, et rappelez-vous si vous voyez d'autres portails de réalité..."
"Ne rentrez pas..."
"Ne rentrez pas..."
"Exactement." Leur père s'est emparé d'un ton plaisant et joyeux. Les deux sont enfin partis et le penthouse de l'édifice Baxter était vide en plus de Franklin et Valeria. Les deux continuent l'acte jusqu'à ce qu'un moment plus tard Franklin éteigne soudainement le système avec un bras et un doigt tendus. "On dirait que c'est bon. Vous avez les caméras de sécurité du premier étage prêtes à les récupérer quand ils reviendront droit?" Franklin a demandé à sauter sur l'arrière du canapé pour aller se changer.
Valeria a fermé le livre et a regardé son frère. "Vraiment, Franklin? Me demander si je suis prêt?" Elle s'est moquée de dérision, son commentaire avait surtout pour but de s'amuser à Franklin. Se levant de son siège, elle a retiré un appareil semblable à une télécommande de sa poche de pantalons à pointer sur le téléviseur où Franklin avait joué son jeu. Un flux montrant leurs parents quittant les portes d'entrée du premier étage de l'édifice Baxter est venu à l'écran. "Nous le saurons dès qu'ils reviendront dans l'immeuble."
Génial. Franklin a rappelé du fond du couloir dans sa chambre. Jetant et sentant le costume de molécule instable qu'il avait eu quelques jours auparavant. Son père l'a fait, différent dans le design des costumes Fantastic Four de ses parents, mais similaire. C'était confortable pour la plupart, bien que Franklin ait admis à la fois le costume et les sous-vêtements spéciaux qu'il devait porter avec lui ne lui laissaient pas beaucoup de place dans «certains domaines». Il a quand même apprécié et après une rapide essuie-tout, il est revenu vérifier Valeria et même s'il savait qu'il n'avait pas à lui poser de questions sur ces choses... c'est le frère aîné. "D'accord, ce type de Quentin devrait être là dans un moment, et Spider-Man devrait être à peu près à la même heure." La voix de Franklin a un peu giddy à la simple mention de Spider-Man. Quelqu'un qu'il idolâtrait comme un jeune enfant, même si son corps n'était plus tout à fait jeune.
Valeria a roulé les yeux en entendant son frère aîné gousser sur Spider-Man. Ce n'était pas un secret qu'il regardait jusqu'au héros un peu plus âgé (maintenant encore moins), mais le fait qu'il ne pouvait pas contenir son enthousiasme l'irritait un peu. "Oui. Et Franklin, promets-moi que tu ne demanderas pas son autographe, d'accord? Elle a fait de quitter le penthouse qu'ils ont appelé à la maison, en retournant à la porte pour regarder Franklin par-dessus son épaule avant qu'elle ne sorte. "Je vais attendre Quire en bas et nous nous retrouverons sur le toit une fois que tout le monde sera là." Franklin a l'air dérangé par le commentaire de Valeria. Il a déjà l'autographe de Spider-Man... duh. Même si ça allait être cool non seulement de rencontrer Spider-Man à nouveau, mais maintenant, il pourrait en fait faire des trucs super-héros avec Spider-Man pour changer. Qu'est-ce qu'une sorte d'enfant, une sorte d'adolescente peut demander de plus?
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Pendant ce temps...
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"Voilà ton shawarma de poulet..."
"Merci."
L'homme indien moyen-âge a donné à l'adolescent un regard de côté, mais par ce point la répétition a fait l'image d'un jeune homme portant le superhéros capitonné comme costume pas tout à fait si stupide maintenant. Même si Billy Kaplan ne payait pas l'homme comme il regardait tranquillement la bande dessinée devant lui. C'était une sortie de DC, Flash en ce moment, mais il avait un sac de messager que lui qui avait des choses plus nouvelles dedans. J'ai dû monter la boutique de BD ce matin-là pour les nouvelles sorties. Sirotant sa grande tasse en plastique de Mountain Dew, Billy Kaplan regarda à une horloge voisine. Il savait que les autres s'étaient rendu compte que la rencontre était au restaurant indien. Chaque soir, ils se rencontraient comme si c'était dans un autre endroit. Ce n'est pas un vrai raisonnement. Garder les gens qui les connaissaient de prendre leurs activités tard dans la nuit? Billy a pris une bouchée de sa nourriture avant de retourner à la BD. Lentement excité pour une autre nuit d'action aux côtés des Jeunes Avengers!
Full name: Franklin Richards
Alias: Fantastic Lad
Age: 17
Power: Essentially similarly powered to the Fantastic Four's enemy in Super Skrull. Franklin has the ability to change his powers at any time to one of the four powers of the Fantastic Four. He cannot combine powers however, and has to allow himself a moment in between powers otherwise suffer usually painful results of changing too quickly. His eyes change color based on what power his using. Dark blue for his father's elasticity powers which he typically has when doing whatever, light blue for his mom's invisibility and force field producing, red for his uncle Johnny's fire and flight, and brown for his uncle Ben's rocky super strong form.
Skills: Though not nearly as smart as his younger sister, Franklin isn't any dummy himself. Though its certainly easy to say he has much more people skills than his sister.
Brief Bio: The oldest of the two Richards kids, Franklin's life has never been anything close to normal. Its to be expected when your mom and dad happen to be half of The Fantastic Four. One of the world's most elite superhero teams. Franklin from an early age was raised by robots whenever his parents were out saving the world, or would wind up with the battles his parents had hitting home, literately.
By the time he was six, Franklin began to show signs not only of possessing the X-gene, but with it an incredible power, able to reshape and mold the universe as he saw fit. At first his father tried to stifle this immense power. But soon Franklin was able to tinker and explore it on his own and with help from Professor Charles Xavier and his School for Gifted Youngsters.
When his father created the Future Foundation, consisting of the world's greatest young minds. Franklin was put into the group even though he wasn't even as smart as his younger sister Valeria. However when the Future Foundation went on a field trip through an alternate dimension to learn more about the phenomenon. Both Franklin and Valeria were caught in a loop and found themselves traveling numerous alternate realities. What was years of exploration, danger, and adventure was only a week's time in their home reality. When they returned Franklin and Valeria had grown up immensely from their formerly seven and five year old states. Still the damage was done, and their father canceled the project out of worry for the other kids involved. Leaving the now older Franklin and Valeria with nothing to do.
Outside of Valeria's new found sense of connection with Dr. Doom, Franklin also underwent a strange transformation from the journey through the realities. His reality warping powers have seemingly vanished for good. In their place is Franklin's new ability to change his powers into any of the Fantastic Four powers. Franklin is squeamish on the details of what happened, but his usual answer to the question is to the effect of “If I didn't change my powers, things would've gone much worse than they did...”
Additional info: Out of all four of the powers Franklin admits he loves all of them for different reasons, but typically enjoys his father's elasticity. As his father and him have practiced it together in his father's lab plenty since the incident.
Full name: Billy Kaplan
Alias: Wiccan
Age: 16
Power: Wiccan's powers are magic in base, which allow him to cast a variety of spells like being able to fly, teleport, locate someone, concussive blasts, and numerous other abilities. Though all this comes with Billy still struggling to really grasp and control the immense power. Since to handle and create a spell, Billy has to repeatedly say what he wants to have happen for it to happen. If his unable to speak the spell will not even remotely work as well or backfire on him.
Skills: Very skilled in sign language, as well as cooking typical Jewish foods, plus has an almost insane amount of knowledge of pop trivia on superheroes, video games, and Star Trek, also happens to be an accidental costume designer, since he is a cosplay regular in New York City.
Brief Bio: It wasn't Billy who had a problem with people, it was people who had a problem with Billy.
Born to a loving Jewish family in the Bronx, and the oldest of three kids, one of which being deaf. Billy Kaplan from an early age developed a deep love for the superheroes that roamed the city. Even though they inspired him, Billy always felt like he could never be a superhero, he was always too small and weak in his own mind. It was when during his Middle School years that Billy discovered his own homosexuality that things got worse.
While Billy was never exactly the popular kid in school. He quickly became a target for bullying with his nerdy behavior and gay lifestyle. Often coming home dirtied, bruised, or both. It went on for years until one fateful night after yet another rough day in school. Billy was particularly hurt that night on a much deeper level than anything physical. He went to Manhattan, where the legendary Avengers Mansion stood. Sitting on a nearby park bench Billy struggled with the thoughts in his head. Dark thoughts he never had before but called for ending it all. Letting the pain finally be over. Suddenly though, a very calming figure took a seat next to him, Wanda Maximoff, The Scarlet Witch.
After having a gushing fanboy moment over her sitting next to him. He told her what had been happening to him after she asked. Scarlet Witch gave Billy a warm smile and told him the next time he saw his tormentors to stand up to them. Billy scuffed at the idea, figuring the only way he'd even survive was if he had super powers. Though Scarlet Witch stayed with her advice, telling Billy that everyone has some gift in her mind. Finally with a kiss to the forehead all of Billy's wounds healed, and before Billy could say anything, she had vanished.
The next morning, Billy took her advice, standing up to the bullies. Though it seemed like it was going to end badly. Billy's powers manifested, when he wished for himself to be stronger. Suddenly almost turning into a Hulk like figure that scared them off, and leaving them too scared to even go near Billy anymore.
Scared originally Billy quickly realized not only that he had powers, but there was something powerful now swelling up inside him. Giving him a sense of confidence and direction he had never had. Of course, his love of superheroes reminded him about power and responsibility that comes with it. So Billy kept it to himself as his tormentors were too scared to say anything.
That is until one Wednesday morning, when Billy was sitting around in class when the school seemingly was getting destroyed from the inside. Billy quickly used his magic to realize that the culprit wasn't someone using explosives or even some kind of terrorist. But a white haired kid he had seen around but never knew anything about who was running at insanely fast speeds.
Billy did everything to stop him. Only it was when the two had a good close look at one another did the other boy stop. They didn't just look alike, but if it wasn't for the other boy's hair, they were twins, completely and utterly. Tommy Shepherd, the speedster in question, finally stopped his reign of terror after Billy talked him out of it. Though the incident was never pinned on Tommy the school had to close for a few months so a fairly large section of it could be rebuilt. In the meantime Billy suggested that maybe him and Tommy could put their efforts to something better.