"APRIL 1, 2025: DAY 1, Baxter Building - Franklin's Bedroom -"
Franklin was fast asleep, sprawled out in his bed, drooling slightly on his pillow.
Richard tiptoed into the room, holding a small cup of boiling water. His mischievous grin grew wider as he approached Franklin.
Richard: (Whispering to himself) This is what you get for freezing me, you little punk.
He gently placed the cup near Franklin's hand, tipping it so a few drops of the hot water spilled onto his skin.
Franklin: (Jerking awake) AAAAAH! WHAT THE HELL?!
Richard: (Laughing hysterically) April Fool, bitch!
Franklin: (Clutching his hand, glaring) You've got a death wish, don't you?
Richard bolted out of the room, laughing as he dashed down the hallway.
Richard: (Shouting) You're too slow, Frank! Can't catch me!
Franklin: (Getting out of bed, whispering to himself) Is that so, huh? You wanna play games? Fine.
He grabbed a remote control from his bedside table and pressed a button.
Richard, sprinting through the hallway, suddenly felt the floor beneath him shift. Panels opened, and he found himself tumbling down into a hidden slide.
Richard: (Panicking) Wait, WHAT?!
He landed in a padded room filled with foam blocks and soft cushions, but the door locked behind him with a loud click.
Franklin: (Appearing on a screen in the room, smirking) April Fool to you too, bro. Enjoy your timeout.
Richard: (Banging on the door) FRANKLIN! LET ME OUT OF HERE!
Franklin: (Mocking) Oh, don't worry, I'll let you out... eventually. Maybe after breakfast. Or lunch. Depends on my mood.
Richard: (Groaning) I hate you so much.
Franklin: (Laughing) Love you too, buddy.
Franklin walked back to his room, muttering about payback while Richard sat in the foam pit, plotting his next move.
Richard: Then to war!
-4 HOURS LATER-
The hallway was quiet, save for the faint whirring of machinery and the occasional beep from nearby labs. Richard crouched in a corner, watching as his latest masterpiece took shape. He'd spent the last 20 minutes carefully layering webbing onto the toilet paper roll in the bathroom.
Richard: (Grinning, whispering to himself) Oh, this is going to be perfect.
He quickly ducked behind a nearby corner, peeking out just enough to see Franklin casually walk toward the bathroom, yawning and scratching his head.
Franklin: (Muttering to himself) What a morning... first frozen waffles, now this stupid data report...
Richard barely contained his laughter as Franklin stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. A few moments passed in silence before.
Franklin: (Screaming from inside) WHAT THE HELL?!
Richard couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst out laughing as Franklin stormed out of the bathroom, toilet paper trailing from his waistband and sticking to his hands.
Franklin: (Fuming) RICHARD!!!
Richard: (Already sprinting down the hallway) Hah! Gotcha, bro!
Franklin: (Chasing after him) Get back here, you little bastard!
The sight of Franklin, furious and flailing, with toilet paper webbed to his butt, was almost too much for Richard to handle.
Richard: (Laughing uncontrollably) Nice accessory, Franklin! Really suits you!
Franklin: (Shouting) When I catch you, I'm turning you into a human slingshot!
The chase continued through the halls, with Franklin nearly slipping on his own stuck toilet paper as Richard darted around corners. From another room, Valeria peeked out, shaking her head as she watched the chaos.
Valeria: (Sighing) One of these days, they're going to destroy the whole building with their nonsense.
N'Kalla: (From behind her) Honestly, I'm just here for the show.
"APRIL 2, 2025: Beach"
The waves crashed gently against the shore, and the warm sun bathed the sandy beach. Richard, Valeria, Franklin, and N'Kalla had set up their spot under a large umbrella with towels, snacks, and sunscreen.
Richard: (Lying face down on a towel) Hey, Franklin. Pass me the sunscreen, will you? I don't need to end up looking like a boiled lobster.
Franklin: (Smirking) Sure thing, bro. I got you covered.
Franklin grabbed the bottle of sunscreen, squeezed a generous amount into his hands, and rubbed it over Richard's back with exaggerated care.
Franklin: (Grinning to himself) Let's make this a day to remember.
As Richard relaxed, Franklin subtly activated his astral form, transferring a small amount of heat to Richard's back.
Richard: (Muttering, half-asleep) Hmm... feels warm... wait, why does it feel so-AHHH!
Richard jumped up, clutching his back, and bolted toward the ocean.
Richard: (Yelling as he ran) FRANKLIN, YOU SON OF A!
Franklin: (Laughing hysterically) Relax, bro! You said you didn't want to burn, so I figured I'd help you out!
Richard splashed into the cold water, hissing as the heat subsided. He turned his back to look at the damage, spotting a faint glowing message in sunscreen on his skin.
Richard: (Reading aloud, incredulous) "IM THE BEST"? Oh, come on!
Franklin: (Still laughing, now running away) You're welcome!
Richard: (Chasing him out of the water) I curse you, Franklin! I curse you!
N'Kalla and Valeria, seated under the umbrella, watched the chaos unfold with amusement.
Valeria: (Shaking her head) Why are we even surprised anymore?
N'Kalla: (Snickering) Honestly, Franklin's creativity is kind of impressive. This is pure cinema!
Richard finally caught up to Franklin, attempting to wrestle him into the sand. A small crowd of beachgoers had gathered to watch the chaotic yet entertaining brawl. Valeria and N'Kalla sat comfortably under the shade of their umbrella, sipping on iced drinks.
Richard: (Gritting his teeth) You think it's funny, huh?! Let's see if you laugh now!
Franklin: (Squirming) Okay, okay, I'll stop! Wait WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
With an impressive show of strength and precision, Richard managed to lift Franklin off the ground, locking him in position.
Richard: (Smirking) Time to meet the sand, bro!
In one smooth motion, Richard executed a perfect German suplex, slamming Franklin onto the soft beach sand with a resounding thud.
Franklin: (Groaning) Why is my life like this...
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers.
N'Kalla: (Leaning forward with a sly grin) That's... hot.
Valeria: (Nodding) I know, right? This is pure cinema.
-APRIL 7, 2025: ENDING THE PRANK WAR
Franklin was surrounded by a small crowd of fangirls, happily signing autographs with his usual flair. Miles stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Miles: Franklin, seriously? Fangirls?
Franklin: (Flashing a charming grin as he signed) That's Sarah with an "H," right? There you go, Sarah. Don't lose that; it'll be worth something someday.
Miles: (Shaking his head) Man, I can't believe this is happening.
Just then, Richard strolled up, catching sight of Franklin's impromptu fan service. He tapped Miles on the shoulder.
Richard: No way. Am I really seeing this? Right, Miles?
Miles: (Grinning) I mean, I don't know what you expected. Wait a second... shouldn't you be with Valeria right now?
Richard: (Smirking) Nah, I've got other plans.
Miles: (Suspicious) What plans?
Before Miles could get an answer, Richard bolted toward Franklin, his arms stretching unnaturally long.
Richard: Hey, Franklin! Got yer pants!
In one swift motion, Richard yanked Franklin's pants down, revealing bright pink Hello Kitty underwear.
The fangirls gasped, stifling laughter, while Franklin froze in shock.
Franklin: (Shouting, beet-red) WHAT THE?!
Miles: (Yelling in disbelief) RICHARD! WHAT THE FUCK?!
Franklin: (Trying to cover himself) You elastic bastard! Come back here, you jerk! I need those!
Richard: (Laughing hysterically as he ran off, pants in hand) Nah, not with those legs of yours! What are you, skipping leg day?
Franklin: (Chasing after Richard, yelling) I'll make you pay for this, Richard! You hear me?!
The scene devolved into chaos as Miles facepalmed and muttered under his breath.
Miles: (Sighing) Why do I even hang out with these guys...
Franklin was inches away from catching Richard, his face red with fury, when a deafening BOOM rattled the ground. A powerful shockwave knocked both of them off their feet, sending Franklin tumbling and Richard sprawling into a bush.
Richard: (Groaning) What the hell was that?!
Both looked up to see a figure descending from the sky. It was Human Fly, his buzzing wings creating concussive shockwaves that cracked the ground as he landed.
Human Fly: (Shouting) WHERE IS SPIDER-MAN?!
Richard: (Sitting up, confused) Uh... Franklin, is he with you?
Franklin: (Dusting himself off) Wait, I thought he was with you!
Human Fly let out an enraged screech, sending another powerful shockwave that made the earth tremble. Franklin created an energy shield just in time, while Richard stretched his body to absorb the vibrations.
Richard: (Rolling his eyes) Oh, great. Another lunatic with a bug fetish.
Richard's elastic arm shot out, snatching Human Fly's pants clean off in one swift motion.
Human Fly: (Freezing in midair, horrified) W-W-WHAT THE FUCK?!
Richard: (Holding the pants up, wide-eyed) Oh my god, Franklin, he's got the same Hello Kitty underwear as you!
Franklin: (Facepalming) Are you kidding me right now?!
Human Fly: (Buzzing angrily) GIVE THAT BACK!
Franklin took advantage of Human Fly's distraction, flying up with his astral-powered fist glowing.
Franklin: Enough of this nonsense!
With a swift uppercut, Franklin sent Human Fly crashing to the ground, leaving a small crater as dust and debris settled.
Human Fly: (Groaning, sprawled out) My pants...
Richard: (Laughing uncontrollably) Franklin, you're a hero! You knocked him out and saved his dignity. Well, almost.
Franklin: (Crossing his arms, glaring) You're lucky I didn't do the same to you, Richard. Now give me those pants before this turns into another mess.
Richard: (Playfully tossing the pants to Franklin) Fine, fine. But you gotta admit, that was hilarious.
Franklin: (Grumbling) You're impossible.
Miles arrived just in time, looking at the chaos with an exasperated expression.
Miles: (Sighing) Let me guess. Another normal day with you two?
Richard: (Grinning) Oh, you have no idea.
The sound of sirens grew louder as the police cars rolled into the chaotic scene. Officers began surveying the damage caused by Human Fly's earlier antics, and Officer Murphy approached the trio with a stern expression.
Miles: (Adjusting his mask) Now, I hope this has taught the two of you a valuable lesson! No more pranks, got it?
Franklin and Richard exchanged a look, their expressions uncharacteristically serious.
Franklin and Richard: (In unison) We know, we promise.
Just as the mood seemed to settle, Officer Murphy grabbed Richard by the shoulder, making him jump.
Officer Murphy: (Firmly) You're also under arrest. We found out you're that fugitive from last February. We need to lock you up too.
Richard: (Panicking) What?! Wait! Hey! My name was cleared by the government last month!
He turned to Miles and Franklin, gesturing frantically.
Richard: Stop them, Miles! Franklin, explain to them!
Miles looked at Franklin, clearly conflicted.
Miles: (Rubbing the back of his neck) Should we help him, man?
Franklin: (Shrugging, smirking slightly) Well... he's got her there.
Miles: (Facepalming) You're useless.
Officer Murphy, unimpressed by the bickering, hauled Richard toward the police car, where the still-dazed Human Fly was being loaded into the backseat.
Officer Murphy: (Scolding) Taking people's pants is a serious crime. What is this, some TikTok challenge? I bet you watch too much of that nonsense.
Richard: (Groaning) At least TikTok isn't banned.
Human Fly: (Nodding in agreement) Same.
Richard shot him an annoyed look.
Richard: (Snapping) Did I ask you for your opinion?!
Human Fly: (Shrinking back, muttering) Geez, sensitive much?
Officer Murphy shoved Richard into the car beside Human Fly and slammed the door shut. Franklin and Miles stood awkwardly on the sidewalk, watching as the police car pulled away.
Miles: (Sighing) So, prank day's officially over, right?
Franklin: (Smirking) Oh, it's definitely over for now.
Franklin: (Grinning mischievously) He'll survive. Though next time, he might think twice before messing with my pants.
-BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE FAR DISTANCE ABOVE IN THE BUILDING-
High above the chaos, a lone figure stood on the edge of a towering building, his silhouette framed by the golden rays of the setting sun. The boy's piercing green eyes glared down at the scene unfolding below, his dark hair slicked back in a regal fashion. He wore a sleek, scaled suit that shimmered faintly in the light, a trident strapped to his back.
The boy clenched his fists, his expression filled with both determination and disdain.
Boy: (Muttering to himself) That man... is a worthy opponent.
He turned his gaze to Richard, who was being dragged into the police car, still arguing with Human Fly.
Boy: (Smirking) Just as my father said. He once swore an oath to claim the blonde-haired woman but failed.
The boy's smirk faded, replaced by a look of fiery determination as he spread his arms wide.
Boy: But now I see what my father desired! Richard Ritchson will be my perfect rival!
He stepped forward, the wind whipping around him as he raised a clenched fist to the sky.
Boy: In my name, and with the strength in the palm of my hand, I will crush you with my bear hand's and take Valeria Meghan Richards for myself!
The boy's voice dropped into a venomous whisper, his eyes glinting with purpose. He stepped forward into the light, revealing his aquamarine-colored eyes and the unmistakable markings of Atlantean royalty.
Boy: Because I am the son of Namor... and your time is up, Richard Ritchson.
Boy: And this is only the beginning
With a single leap, the boy vanished from the rooftop, descending into the city's shadows, ready to make his move.
-Hours Later-
The doors of the police station creaked open as Richard stepped out, rubbing the back of his neck. Officer Murphy followed behind, looking somewhat sheepish.
Officer Murphy: Sorry for the misunderstanding, Richard. You know, just doing my job.
Richard: (Giving a small smile) It's okay, Officer Murphy. I get it. Thanks for clearing things up.
Richard stepped down the stairs, spotting Franklin and Miles waiting for him at the bottom. Franklin leaned casually against a lamppost, while Miles checked his phone.
Franklin: (Grinning) So, how's being in the cell?
Richard: (Rolling his eyes) It sucked. But thanks for bailing me out.
Franklin: (Playfully punching Richard's arm) No problem. We're friends after all.
They exchanged a quick fist bump. As their knuckles touched, Richard's expression shifted, his smile faltering.
He glanced upward toward the roof of the police station, a shiver running down his spine. He squinted, scanning the edges of the building, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Miles: (Noticing Richard's unease) You okay, man?
Richard: (Shaking his head) Yeah... just felt something. Uneasy, I guess.
Franklin: (Waving a hand dismissively) Probably just the cell's bad vibes sticking with you. Forget about it.
Miles: (Smirking) Or maybe it's the ghost of all those pants you stole.
Richard: (Grinning) Funny, Miles. Real funny.
Franklin: (Clapping his hands) Alright, enough spooky talk. Let's go grab some food. BBQ's on me.
Miles and Richard: (In unison, eyes lighting up) You're paying?
Franklin: (Laughing) Yeah, yeah. Don't act so shocked. Let's go before I change my mind.
The three of them walked off toward the restaurant, laughing and joking, but Richard couldn't shake the lingering sensation that someone or something was watching them. As they rounded the corner, a pair of aquamarine eyes watched from the rooftop, glowing faintly before vanishing into the night.