**Chapter 7: "Cracks in the Armor"**

Aunt May's voice was trembling on the phone, and Peter's heart sank as he listened to her words. "Peter, I'm so scared. There's someone at the door, and I don't know who it is." The line went dead, and Peter's instincts kicked in. He sprang into action, his spider-sense on high alert as he swung through the streets towards Aunt May's house. As he approached the house, he noticed a figure standing outside, his iconic flame-patterned costume a stark contrast to the darkness of the night. Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, was leaning against the doorframe, his eyes fixed intently on Peter. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Peter's initial reaction was one of gratitude - gratitude that Johnny was there, and that Aunt May was safe. But as he swung closer, he couldn't shake off the feeling of frustration that had been building up inside him. Why did Johnny have to be here? Why did Peter need his help? "Hey, Spidey," Johnny said, with a smirk, as Peter landed on the porch. "I see you're right on time. I was starting to think you'd stood me up." Peter's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here, Johnny?" "Just out for a stroll," Johnny replied, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And I happened to notice that Aunt May was in a bit of a bind. I thought I'd lend a hand." Peter's grip on his web shooters tightened. "You didn't have to do that." Johnny shrugged. "Hey, I'm a good Samaritan. Besides, I figured you'd owe me one." As they spoke, Peter's eyes flicked towards Aunt May's house, where he could see her watching them from the window, a look of concern etched on her face. He knew he had to protect her, and he couldn't let Johnny's presence compromise that. Just then, a loud crash echoed from inside the house, followed by the sound of footsteps. A burly figure emerged from the shadows, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, well," the man sneered. "Look what we have here. The famous Spider-Man, and his little friend, the Human Torch." Peter's spider-sense went into overdrive as he assessed the situation. The man was a supervillain, one that Peter had encountered before. He was tough, but Peter was confident he could take him down. Without hesitation, Peter sprang into action, his webs shooting out to ensnare the villain. Johnny, sensing an opportunity, unleashed a blast of flames that engulfed the villain, weakening him. Together, they subdued the villain, and Peter felt a begrudging respect for Johnny's help. Maybe, just maybe, he didn't need to do everything on his own. As they stood victorious, Johnny turned to Peter, his eyes serious for once. "You okay, Spidey?" Peter nodded, his chest still heaving from the exertion. "Yeah, thanks to you." Their eyes met, and for a moment, Peter felt like he was drowning in Johnny's gaze. It was as if the armor he had built around himself was cracking, just a little. Aunt May's voice broke the spell, as she emerged from the house, a look of relief on her face. "Peter, thank goodness you're okay. And thank you, Johnny...I owe you one." Johnny grinned, his charm back in full force. "Anytime, Aunt May. I'm always happy to help out a friend." As Peter watched Johnny walk away, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between them. The cracks in his armor were growing, and he wasn't sure if he could repair them. But for now, he just smiled, and nodded in gratitude, his eyes never leaving Johnny's retreating back.