Marvel: Ghost Rider

The touching moment was interrupted by a kitchen timer.

"The eggs are done! Get ready; breakfast is in five minutes!"

Mom dashed down the hallway, performing a cartwheel on the way and sliding down the banister to the first floor.

"No need to dust anymore!" her cheerful voice called from below.

Playful, kind, and flexible. Johnny fully understood why dad fell for her.

In the hallway, his eyes fell on a laminated poster. A young girl with a daring grin was riding a motorcycle through a dozen fiery rings. The caption read: "Daring and charming Naomi Kale! Sixteen years old, defying death! Don't miss the circus!"

The date on the poster indicated it was twenty years old.

Mom had left her career right after Danny was born. Now, she lived for her family—and seemed not to regret it one bit.

In the hallway, Johnny saw his younger brother and sister. Barb was carrying a soccer ball as if it were her most prized trophy, while Danny had a professional camera slung around his neck, guarding it like his most precious treasure. They were arguing with the intensity of two authors drafting memoirs about their endless debates.

"All superheroes are idiots," Barb declared, adjusting the strap of her school backpack with the seriousness of an adult. "They wear masks like they're hiding from the tax office and leave chaos in their wake."

"And I'm telling you superheroes make the world better!" Danny retorted indignantly, trailing behind her while showing her something on his smartphone. His camera bounced slightly with each step. "Look at this! The Torch put out a fire in Brooklyn yesterday! There's even a photo. That's way cooler than boring firefighters!"

"Ha! Your Torch is just a show-off," Barb scoffed, shaking her head. Her pigtails swayed in sync. "He came to pose for the journalists. They're all the same. Real heroes work in the police force, like our dad."

"Johnny!" Danny rushed over to him, as if reaching out to a lifeline, his eyes pleading. "Explain to her that superheroes are awesome!"

Johnny nearly burst out laughing at their serious faces. In moments like this, he felt like a mix of an older brother, a judge, and a peacekeeper.

"Sorry, kid, but I'm siding with Barb," he said, patting Danny on the shoulder. "There's no one cooler than our dad. And superheroes… well, maybe they just pretend to be cool, but we've got our real heroes."

Barb grinned triumphantly and started juggling the soccer ball on one foot, skillfully balancing, proving her title as the captain of the school soccer team.

"Now that's an argument!" she said, continuing her impromptu practice session in the middle of the dining area. "Johnny knows what he's talking about. All superheroes are dumb!"

"How dare you say that?!" Danny gasped, frowning as he shook his fist at her in mock anger. It was more funny than intimidating.

Danny sighed dramatically but didn't give up. He raised his camera, focused on Barb, and snapped a photo.

"Perfect. You'll have a chance to defend your opinion when this photo hits the school paper," he smirked. "I'll caption it: 'Barbara Blaze Challenges the Hulk.'"

Barb froze for a second, squinted, and playfully threatened him with the soccer ball.

"You wouldn't dare!"

Johnny chuckled and shook his head. They were always like this—loud and lively, like two uncontainable sparks. But as the older brother, it was his duty to try.

"Danny, you need to learn to stand up for your interests without dragging others into it."

"Okay." Danny sighed and deleted the photo.

"And Barb, don't mock your brother for his passions," Johnny said, draping an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him like a guilty kitten. "First of all, you're older and should be wiser."

"By a whole year," she rolled her eyes. "Wow, so much wisdom."

"And second, you want to work in the police force?"

"Of course! I'll be a cop, just like Dad!" she declared, raising a fist in the air. Her expression was serious, like she was leading a demonstration.

"Well, if you want to work with people, you'll have to accept them as they are."

"Even if they're dorks who dream about wearing underwear on their heads?"

"Hey!" Danny protested. "I'm going to be a superhero, and my costume will be the coolest!"

"So, underwear will go over your pants, not on your head?" Barb snickered into hand.

"What were we just talking about?" Johnny tried to give her a stern look, but it was hard. She was too cute when she made faces like that.

"Fine, I get it," she said, raising her hands in surrender. "I won't look down on people for their interests anymore."

"Did you come up with that on your own, or did someone help?"

"Uh… I read it on a poster at school," she admitted honestly, blushing slightly.

Taking a deep breath, Barb looked at Danny and said:

"Alright, alright, your superheroes aren't total idiots," she said in a conciliatory tone, trying to appear serious and wise. "I just prefer real heroes. Our dad is way cooler than Hawkeye."

At that moment, mom appeared, having overheard Barb and Danny's argument. Of course, she couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire with a sly smile.

"Just don't argue too loudly, or the superheroes might crash through the window to put your minds at ease."

The kids laughed. Mom always knew how to tease them with humor.

"Alright, shake pinkies and make up," Johnny said, looking at the pair of mischief-makers.

They rolled their eyes but, grumbling, followed their respected brother's instructions. The kids promised not to argue… at least until the next debate.

With his duty as the elder sibling fulfilled, Johnny felt like a true hero. He couldn't imagine his life without these little oddballs.

At the family table, he glanced at his younger siblings again and couldn't help but smile.

Danny—twelve years old, always energetic, obsessed with anyone wearing a mask and saving the world, and never missing a chance to tell everyone about it. Mischievous like mom but a spitting image of their dad. Always joking, lifting spirits, and dreaming big.

Barb—thirteen, a complete opposite. Serious, brave, and determined, her courage and resolve made it clear that she would one day become the cop she always dreamed of being. Diligent and responsible, like a little detective from a movie. Her sarcasm felt like a natural extension of the family style.

Despite their differences, they were like two sides of the same coin. Johnny was grateful to be their older brother and to have them by his side.

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