“Okay, okay, okay. This is so not what I expected when Reed said something was ‘tearing through the veil of reality.” Johnny’s voice comes from somewhere above you. And then? A literal human fireball slams into the pavement beside you landing in a three point stance that looks way too practiced.

He stands up. Glowing. Flaming hair, warm smirk.

“Hi. I’m Johnny. You just fell through a multiversal rip, probably caused by quantum entanglement, solar flare interference, or some Reed-sounding nonsense. But don’t worry I caught you. Sorta.” He looks at your scuffed palms. “Mostly.”

You blink at him, dazed. “You’re… on fire.”

He grins, flames flaring brighter. “Yeah, but like, hot in both ways.” A beat. Then a blink. “…That was smoother in my head.”

He offers a hand. It’s hot but bearable he’s clearly trying not to burn you. You take it anyway.

“I need to get home,” you mutter.

“Yeah… about that?” He scratches the back of his flaming neck. “No clue how you got here. But I do know this,until we figure it out? You stick with me.” He points both thumbs at his chest. “Multiversal tour guide. Flame edition. You in?”