Bump! (Johnny Storm x AFAB! Reader)
Synopsis: johnny storm finds a new way to get your attention.
Warning: none.
Your work with Sue meant visiting the Baxter few times in a week. Her charity needed someone who didn't spend half the time fighting in spandex, and kissing babies. Her words, never yours. For you respected Sue Storm.
Her family? The rest of Fantastic Four; you couldn't decipher their personalities. Reed's politeness was meticulous, yet stilted. He might ignore a greeting while his lab goggles were on. When he paid attention, his curiosity commanded the conversation.
Ben Grimm. If Reed was polite, he was kind. The embodiment of a steady heart. Always recalling their previous conversations. The rain last night was a lot, huh, kid? You got home, okay? You had graduated to a fist bump.
A crowning achievement.
Johnny Storm. Well, he acted like smoke you couldn't quite hold in your hands, let alone in your mind. Your first meeting consisted of him asking you if you were lost. No, you weren't. You waited on the couch for Sue to bring the Charity Gala Manual of Death. Her words. Not yours.
He had been wearing a t-shirt, and jeans. Hair, tousled enough. "Well, you seem lost," his grin rose, as he drew near.
"I'm not. I assure you."
His blue eyes lingered on you. Grin softening. "Fine. If you insist," he turned away the elevator. He called over his shoulder. "The Big Guy could whip something up for you if you have to wait."
Ben who was scrambling in the kitchen stopped. "I could whip your butt!" He exclaimed, then addressed you, softer. "I got too many Maisies cookies. You want one, kid?"
The next meeting was punctuated by…well…how could you explain?
You stood by the breakfast bar, leaning over it. Ben was fixing a coffee for himself. As he did, he revelled in the stories of days in the space program. Johnny walked out, wearing a shirt too tight around his chest to be decent. You looked away. Because unlike many girls in the city, you could manage to.
It would be unprofessional to gawk at his physique.
If he was another guy at the bar, you would. He was certainly a work of art. And as Ben put it, a piece of work.
When he passed by you, he didn't greet you, or look at you. He swooped to the spot beside you. “Ben, what time is it?”
“It's time for you to get out of my face,” Ben intoned, gruffly.
“No, that's not how it goes,” Johnny glanced at you. “For our guest.”
“Unlike you, Storm, she doesn't possess the humour of an eight year old.”
Before you could help it, a snort left from you. Johnny's head swivelled towards you. Ben's laughter distracted you from the mortification pulsing in your body. You smiled, polite, and fixed your attention back on Ben. “So, it took you a while to get used to zero gravity?”
“In the sims. Yes. You see–”
You hoped Johnny would walk away. Mind his business. No, he kept staring at you. He pushed off the counter, and when he did, both your shoulders grazed. Something solid push your shoulder. In a gentle manner. Bump!
Another Johnny tactic, you presumed. You ignored him. Ignored how his touch sent shockwaves through your veins, and marked a place in your memory for when it could occur again.
It did.
Every time you saw him, he managed to bump your shoulder with his. He would either walk by. Or sit down beside you. At times, stand beside you. Then as he moved away, his shoulder smacked against yours lightly.
Bump!
The vibration you felt from his solid shoulder hitting yours.
Bump!
Your heart began to pound when he entered the room
Bump!
You didn't know if you were in on a joke, or being flirted with.
One day, you passed by each other in the lobby. He elected to take the main entrance for some reason, and you needed to run by Sue to finalize gala details. You raised your chin in greeting. He nodded. When he veered close enough to bump your shoulders together; you ducked it. His footsteps skidded to a stop behind you.
You weren't sure why you did that.
Perhaps you wanted to know what was this joke you've been pulled into.
"Hey!"
Clicking the elevator, you twisted to him. "Yes?" You surveyed him. He placed his hands on hips. The offended scoff on his features surprised you, and made laughter bubble. "Is something the matter?"
Gaze determined, he walked until he stopped in front of you. He gestured between you two. "You avoided the thing."
"What thing?" You bit back a grin.
"Oh, come on," he threw up his arms so exaggeratedly, a giggle slipped out of you. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Wait. What was that?"
"I–"
"You're toying with me."
"Uh, no. That wouldn't be professional."
"No? Okay, those were the first words you've said in weeks. Now you deny me our inside joke."
You rolled back your shoulders. "You mean the inside joke you decided to start on your own?"
Leaning in, he responded. "Well," his tone was airy. "You allowed me to do it. Until now!"
He gestured to the lobby again, arms wide at his side, as if it was a crime scene. You couldn't suppress your laughter. Doubling over, you clutched your stomach. Oh, this was too funny. The man who acted as if he wouldn't be put out by a bucket of ice, getting miffed off your snub. "I am…sorry," you panted. "I didn't know… it was so serious for you."
"Serious for us," he stepped closer; his cologne hooking a finger under your chin. You bristled, drawing back.
"Us?"
"Okay, I hear how that sounds. Like I'm delusional."
You shook your head in disbelief. He continued. "But can you blame a guy for wanting to get close to a woman who's not impressed."
"Maybe you should find a woman who's impressed. And available," you smoothly said. The elevator dinged, and you stepped inside, smiling. "Have a good evening."
He stared through the doors as if they weren't supposed to exist. When a sliver of his shocked face was visible, he stuck his hand through the gap like a horror villain. You jumped back as he stumbled into the elevator. Idiot.
Nevertheless, this idiot had your heart pounding.
"Okay. Fine. I was delusional. I still want to try. Sue told me you aren't seeing anyone."
Cocking his head, he waited for your confirmation. You sighed, then nodded. He beamed. "So, it's not like I'm asking to get married. We could hang out. If you don't want that, at least a shoulder bump."
The fact he negotiated for so little both intrigued, and confounded you. After all this man dated like one shopped through a department store. From section to section. He was a man about town, magazines claimed.
"I suppose," you admitted, knocking the toes of your flats together. "I wanted to know why you do it."
"You laughed at me that day. I liked making you laugh."
When you met his eyes, he was smiling softly. He rubbed the name of his neck. "I said too much."
"That's kind of your thing, right?" You said.
The elevator stopped with a chime, opening up to the penthouse. Sue waved from the couch. Papers in numerous stacks across the coffee table. Johnny leaned back on the railing. "Seems like my sister needs your help."
"Right," you managed. You didn't know what to say. Johnny Storm bared something soft to you. You hadn't asked for it, yet he handed it to you on a golden platter. He asked to know you. Even with a seemingly innocuous touch. Which meant more to him than you conceived. "You're going down."
"Yes."
"Take care."
As you walked out, without thinking, you hit his shoulder with yours.
You glanced over your shoulder. He grinned as the doors shut. When you sat down beside Sue, you noticed how hot your skin was. You nervously laughed to yourself, and picked up a pile of papers. Of course, you dove in. That was your work ethic. In the back of your mind, you looked forward to the next bump.
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