I Reblog Fanfics I Like Here

The fact that you hadn’t caught him searching for an engagement ring years ago and that you hadn’t read right through him back then was nothing short of a miracle, even though he’d had his suspicions that you’d somehow been aware of an upcoming proposal. That was the one time he managed to go through with something without being one hundred percent honest with you, which would be an incredibly good thing for a trusting relationship, if he wasn’t facing a situation in which he would have to do it again however he could manage. And that other situation was also relatively important, which is exactly why he had to lie. Or at least give it his best shot.

Going on a space exploration mission with his best friend and his wife, as well as the wife’s questionably tolerable younger brother was no small feat, but in your wedding vows you had promised to support each other’s dreams; apparently that also goes for those dreams which could end up as nightmares and keep you up at night weeks in advance. Since the first time you heard about the idea of the mission, you had a vague feeling of uneasiness you couldn’t shake off, but you had to trust that Reed was a smart man - you knew it firsthand anyway - and most importantly, that Ben knew what he was getting himself into. In any case, you would never dare not fully support your favorite blue-eyed pilot and his adventurous dreams.

The more the mission approached, the less you could sleep peacefully, despite the quiet rhythmic snoring of the man occupying the left side of the shared bed; a sound you’d quickly grown accustomed to and started identifying with the feeling of peace and security. It would have all been fine and dandy had you not begun noticing Ben really didn’t snore as much as before - while you were too busy pretending to sleep, he was too busy doing the exact same thing. Luckily for him or not, you were too caught up in dissipating your own anxiety and not bringing up your bad gut feeling about the mission, for his sake, that you didn’t have the capacity to notice that he was pretending as well. Obviously, he was awake as much as you were, in the dead of night, but his excuse was that he was just feeling too jittery and excited and had too much important information in his mind to just simply switch it off. 

That was when he lied to you for the second time.

Ben knew your patterns and thought processes like the back of his hand, and he would literally have to be blind so as to not be acutely aware that you were freaking out about the space journey he was set to go on. Obviously, there are a few more things he was not always excelling in, one of them being opening up when something was weighing him down, unless you basically pinned him down and made him talk. In his mind, his job was protecting you and being your rock, while carrying his own baggage alone. Sometimes you let him be, sometimes you made him open up, sometimes he just had to reach a breaking point and tell you everything on his own accord. This time, he was hell-bent on keeping his mouth shut and keeping your heart safe, even when it meant locking eyes with you and telling you a blatant lie sometime around 2 a.m. One thing he was not going to do, this neat, bright, solid man, was telling you that his instincts about the mission were all over the place, and overwhelmingly very, very bad.

These daily concerns gradually grew, which turned nightly chats and cuddles into a regular activity taking place instead of resting for the following day. On the one hand you didn’t mind, because you saw how adamant he was about spending every possible moment near you, and how he almost overwhelmed you with love even more than usually, but on the other hand you were almost sure that something deep inside of him was a degree off. Something that caused absolute disbelief combined with immense joy was the fact that he even caved in to take you dancing at one point - having your big eyes looking up at him lovingly upon landing back in his arms after a twirl, your unabashed laughter, fingers intertwined - it was worth infinitely more than the small price of him feeling embarrassed out of place for a couple hours.

Every now and then during the night, a short bout of your sleep was gently, almost apologetically interrupted by the feeling of familiar lips on your arm, shoulder, hair. It was treading the line between a kiss and a shy plea for silent safety. Was Ben trying to reassure you wordlessly that he was going to come back home quickly, safely and in one piece? If you ask him, the answer is absolutely yes. However, if you asked him whether he was actually doing it to collect himself and turn down the volume of his own oddly anxious brain, the answer would be absolutely yes. Squeezing you a little tighter and kissing you a little longer was just a conveniently beautiful paravan for the tremor that ran all the way through him a few days before taking off. And you did it right back to him without fail, and even if just a little, it managed to soften the blow of everything that was yet to come.

Time was merciless in its passing, so before you knew it, it was time for the big adventure. The crew was generous enough to let you hang around while everyone was busy with final preparations, so you found yourself at a table while Ben, Reed, Sue and Johnny were discussing final details and fine-tuning all the equipment once more. Nobody glanced once at the hand holding under the table, your smaller hand in your husband’s secure grip. You had to wiggle away only for a second, since you had a little recording camera with you - someone had to be in charge of capturing the earthly memories as well! You smiled to yourself when you saw Reed holding Sue’s hand under the table as well, and for the 1000th time you wished for everyone to come back safely. Johnny snuck up on you with a bright, excited smile. 

“Mind if I borrow this for a moment?” he gestured to the camera, not even waiting for your answer before the device was out of your hand. The excitement of the blond space enthusiast was so adamant he was almost shimmering, as he went around to shove the camera into everybody’s face. Just in case, you smoothed out the burnt orange colored ensemble you were wearing, since the footage from the camera was probably going to become of historic importance. Sue was decently halfway between confidence and carefulness, while you could see behind Reed’s eyes that all the gears in his mind were turning simultaneously.

And Ben had just finished putting on his suit.

You instinctively smiled as your eyes met, but the reality hit you like a brick - it was almost time to go. You walked up to him, looking him up and down with an array of emotions fighting to take over you. Someone gently pushed you from the back just as you heard the voice of the younger Storm sibling saying “Now kiss,” and as your forehead bumped into Ben’s helmet, both of you let out a genuine laugh and caught the glare of the small camera lens in your peripheral vision. Ben all but shooed Johnny away and took off his helmet to properly steal just a few more minutes of your time.

“Usually you’re not so quiet when you see me in this getup, sweetheart,” he spoke in a low voice, holding back a little smirk.

“Benjamin,” you gasped, quickly putting a hand over his mouth. “Maybe let’s not put that into… the documentary” you gestured vaguely to Johnny pestering the others with your camera.

“Right,” he replied, taking your hand off of his lips and giving it a small kiss, “keeping that for the private documentary. You know I am definitely not returning this suit to anyone after we come back. I think we’ll make more use of it at home.”

You couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that escaped you. His arms were now snugly wrapped around you as if you were in zero gravity already and trying to fly away from him. You would never.

“Oh I sure hope so, darling. The only reason I’m even remotely okay with you doing all this is getting this little costume.” You raised a teasing eyebrow at the pilot. “You really have never looked more attractive.” You lightly scratched your fingernails through his neatly combed hair and he kissed you like a drowning man having just come up for air. Yet another thing he wasn’t particularly brilliant at - taking compliments from his incredible wife - but he was damn good at giving you kisses that left you breathlessly yearning for more. Usually not in front of a handful of other spectators, but in those moments nothing in the whole universe mattered more than having you in his arms just a little closer, just a little longer, just a little more lovingly.

Had it not been for the annoying need to breathe actual air, you never would’ve pulled away from that kiss, hands still messing up his occasionally graying strands of hair, knowing well that both of you find the action comforting and grounding. “You know you are the most brilliant person in the whole entire universe?” You spoke softly, only for the two of you to hear. “And I have to be neither an astronaut nor a pilot to go and discover that.”

If Ben could have married you all over again, he would’ve done it in that exact moment, and he would’ve found a way to somehow do it ten times at once. You pretended not to see his lower lip slightly tremble as you ran the tip of your thumb over it. He was gently tilting your chin upwards to meet your eyes, and he swore they sparkled more than any galaxy he might ever come across. “I love you,” he whispered, and you knew he meant it with every fiber of his being, “and I can’t wait to return and bicker ‘bout what we’re having for dinner for the rest of our lives.” He pulled you in for yet another kiss, and the rest of the world beautifully faded away; he wanted you inside of the space suit, underneath his skin, in the core of his soul. It was you - his home, the wind beneath his wings, warm breath on his cheek in the morning, the blissful exhale between the sheets, whether you were tipsy together at a holiday party or brushing your teeth drowsily before bed, you were everything, and he swore to himself to return to you even if he had to hitchhike through the galaxy to get back home.

“I hope I’ll get a souvenir though,” you joked in an attempt to alleviate the anxiety gnawing at your heart.

“Like you even have to ask, Mrs. Grimm,” he poked a bit of fun right back at you. “Would you perhaps enjoy a planet or even a black hole as living room decoration?”

“Could you bring back a star for me?” you blinked at him with a slight head tilt. 

“I could bring ten of them, but they’re gonna look like nothing compared to my wife.” He looked so serious as he stated his point that your legs almost wobbled a bit, as if you needed an excuse to hold onto his shoulders for a bit.

“If I don’t get at least one, you will be exiled to the couch, flyboy,” you playfully poked his chest, an outline of a smile on your lips.

“As if,” Ben scoffed, “you would miss me snoring your ear off, baby.” 

“Benjamin Jacob Grimm, you are a menace, and boy am I glad it’s time to launch you off of the planet for a little while,” you grinned, “I need a break.”

If you’d been talking to anyone else at that moment, they wouldn’t have felt the strain in your voice and the glimmer in your eyes might have been mistaken for good humor, instead of heartache. But Ben knew, of course Ben knew. And you loved him for it all the more.

“Listen,” he muttered into your hair, subtly shielding you away from the others while giving his all to stay collected, “it is going to be a very short break. Don’t even think that something bad is gonna happen, ‘cause it won’t. I’ll be back before you know it, angel.” He accentuated his point with a short kiss to your forehead. “You have my word. You always have.”

In the corner of your eye you saw light reflecting off of the wedding band on his left hand and your heart jumped over itself - he wouldn’t take it off if his life depended on it, not even when he could lose it in literal outer space exploration. It was time to get onto the spacecraft and into something unknown, terrifying and beautiful. You had just enough time to grab your husband’s hand and brush the tiniest of kisses over the golden band on his finger - your little ritual for good luck, a promise of infinite protection and undying love. 

Because who really knows what might happen out there? 

You must be new, because Ben's sure he would recognise you otherwise. He's on first name basis with everyone here. They even have a framed photo of him with the staff on the wall. He was embarrassed when they first showed it to him, but now, he finds it endearing.

"Morning! What can I get for you?" you say, as he steps up to the counter.

Your voice is a little too loud, the cheerful expression on your face just a touch manic. He smiles to himself. First day nerves.

"Morning. Can I get three half-moon cookies?"

He points to the display's middle shelf.

"And uh, throw in one of those little lemon things."

He watches you rush around, trying to find everything. The glass door on the display jams when you try to open it, one of the cookies falls apart the second you try to lift it with the tongs, and the paper bags are all stuck together and end up scattered all over the floor when you try to pry them apart.

"God, I'm so sorry-" you start, but Ben just shakes his head.

He bends down to gather up the bags that have fallen at his feet, placing them back on the counter.

"Don't worry about it," he says gently. "First day?"

You let out a shaky breath.

"Yeah, and I'm so nervous," you admit in a whisper. "There's just so much to remember."

Ben nods knowingly. He gives you a smile, hoping that he looks reassuring.

"Don't beat yourself up, alright? You're doing a great job," he says. "We all make mistakes. You should see me before I've had my coffee in the morning. Trust me, it ain't pretty."

You laugh, wiping your hands on your apron.

"Okay, let's try this again," you say resolutely.

You lift another cookie from the tray, sliding it into the bag with the others. You take your time with the lemon slice, careful not to disturb the swirl of icing at the top as you box it up.

Ben can't help but think how sweet it is that you're trying so hard, even if it is your job.

"Can I tell you something?" you ask. "You're gonna think it's so silly."

You press the paper bag closed, running your thumb along the fold to flatten it.

"All the guys have been telling me about you. You're like a celebrity here," you tell him, gesturing to the picture on the wall.

"Nah, I'm just a guy with a sweet tooth who doesn't know when to call it quits," Ben replies with a chuckle.

He hands you a couple of bills, lifting the box and bag from the counter. He shakes his head when you try to give him his change.

"Don't worry about it," he says, gesturing towards the tip jar. "I just realised I never asked you your name."

You introduce yourself.

"It's nice to put a name to a face," he says. "I'm Ben."

He knows he doesn't have to say it - of course you already know who he is. But sometimes he likes to pretend that there are some people left in the world who don't know him. That you only know him from the picture.

"It's nice to meet you too," you say with a warm smile.

He stops for a moment, finding himself a little taken aback. He can't for the life of him figure out why.

"Okay. Well, uh, I should get going," he says, wincing at how awkward he sounds. "Thanks again. And good luck for the rest of your first day."

"Thank you, I think I'm gonna need it," you reply, fussing with the mess of paper bags in front of you. "Hopefully I'll see you again?"

"Yeah, 'course. You too," Ben says, with a stiff little wave as he heads for the door.

He could kick himself. Really, he could.

Get it together. What's the matter with you?

It bothers him all day. Granted, he's never exactly been a socialite. Thankfully, he has Sue and Johnny to help with fielding most of the talking.

But he can handle a bit of small talk. He might not like it - who does, really? - but he can get through it, at least.

He tries to push it to the back of his mind. Really, he does. But it keeps coming back.

Or rather, you keep coming back.

It's when he's getting ready for bed that night that it finally hits him. The toothbrush drops out of his hand, hitting the sink with a loud clatter.

He stares at himself in the mirror.

"Oh, no," he whispers, letting out a long groan.

It's been about a month since you started working at Maisie's, and almost every morning, Ben stops by.

At first, it was for his usual order - the cookies that put the shop on the map. Then he started asking for your recommendations.

And now, more often than not, the two of you get to chatting for so long that he ends up causing a line right out the door.

He can't really explain what it is, you're just so easy to talk to. Despite what you said the first day you met, you don't treat him like a celebrity, you don't ask him questions about what happened or "what it's like". You're just...you.

And the scary thing is, he could kid himself into thinking you actually like him. That you're not just being kind, or worried about keeping your job. That you actually care.

He knows how dangerous that thought could become if he's not careful, and so he keeps trying to squash it down as best he can. But it's persistent, and he's finding himself struggling with it more and more as time goes on.

It's not long before it starts to become obvious.

"Ben, you okay?" Sue asks him one evening, while they're preparing dinner.

He flinches, almost sending the chopping board flying off the kitchen counter.

"God, Suze, you scared the hell outta me," he says with a wheeze.

Sue gently pats his arm in apology.

"You've been chopping that same piece of potato for about five minutes now," she says softly. "I think it's about as small as it's going to get."

Ben looks down. The potato is practically mush now. He sets the knife down with a sigh.

"Sorry, just...had something on my mind," he admits quietly.

"You wanna talk about it?" Sue asks, taking the board from him and tipping the potatoes into a pot of water on the stove.

Ben turns around to face her, leaning his elbows against the counter. He knows better than to tell her that he doesn't want to bother her.

Because he's never a bother to Sue. And he knows by now that she's not just being kind. She means it.

"It's just..."

Where does he even start?

"You and Reed. You've known him for about as long as I have. How did you know that...?"

He falters, unsure as to how to word it.

"That he was the one?" Sue offers.

Ben nods. Even when he can't say it, she always knows. He's always admired that about her.

"Honestly? I didn't," she says. "Not right away. It took some time, and then it was like..."

She pauses for a second, giving the potatoes a stir.

"I had this moment. We were talking, I can't even remember the conversation now, but I looked at him and I thought..."yeah". That was it. But that's when I knew."

She smiles to herself, before turning her attention to Ben.

"I wish I had a better way of describing it. But sometimes it's not always as romantic-sounding as the movies make it out to be."

"I dunno, sounds pretty romantic to me," he says with a shrug.

"So, what's got you thinking about me and Reed, hm?" she asks.

Suddenly the floor has never seemed more interesting.

"Oh, y'know, I was just wondering..."

Sue tilts her head, levelling him with that look - the one that says "don't even bother". He sighs.

"There's no point in me lying to you, is there? Okay, look, I, um..."

He lowers his voice.

"I might have met someone. There's a new girl at Maisie's, and...well, she's really nice."

"Oh my god, is it my birthday?" comes a voice from behind him, and Ben's elbows slip right off the counter, almost sending him crashing to the ground.

He turns around, gripping the counter with a glare in his eyes that would send a man twice his size running in the opposite direction.

Johnny just gives him a big smile.

"We need to put a damn bell on you," Ben grumbles to himself as he straightens up.

"So, what's this I hear about you having met someone?" Johnny asks, undeterred.

"It's none of your business," Ben retorts. "Your sister and I were in the middle of a private conversation."

"In an open-plan kitchen. In the house I live in," Johnny says, pulling a face. "Yeah, real private."

Sue rolls her eyes with a sigh. "Johnny, do you think you could give us five minutes? Alone?"

Johnny slides his hand along the counter nonchalantly as he walks past.

"Oh, sure, sure, no problem," he says airily.

He looks directly at Ben.

"But you're gonna tell me everything afterwards, right?" he mutters to Sue.

"No, I am not."

Johnny shrugs, arms raised theatrically as he backs out of the kitchen.

"That's fine, I'm going," he says, too loudly. "I know where I'm not wanted."

"Do you?" Ben asks. "Coulda fooled me."

He doesn't move, watching until he's satisfied that Johnny's completely out of earshot.

"Ignore him," Sue says.

She takes the pot off the stove, setting it to one side.

"Tell me about this girl."

Ben lifts a tea towel, worrying one of the corners between his fingers.

"I don't meet many people who seem to see me for me, y'know? But it's like...I'm just a guy to her. I'm not a superhero. I'm not..."

He makes a vague gesture towards himself.

"It's been a while since I've felt like this. To be honest, I've missed it."

"And that's got you worried," Sue prompts gently.

Honestly, her ability to do that is a superpower in and of itself.

"Yeah. Yeah, it does," he admits quietly.

Sue crosses over to him, placing her hands on his arms.

"You, Ben Grimm, are one of the most amazing people I've ever met," she says earnestly. "And I've met a lot of people. So trust me when I tell you that anyone would be lucky to have you."

She looks at him with such kindness in her eyes, and Ben forces himself to nod.

He knows she means it. But it's not as easy as she makes it sound. They all came back from that mission different, but at least they can hide it, pretend that they're "normal" for a while.

Ben doesn't have that luxury. He tries not to dwell on it, he's been getting so much better at it, but now? He can't let it go.

He likes you, he's finally said it out loud. But to say it to you? And for you to reject him? It'd break his heart.

But he can't stop thinking about you. About what could happen.

What if it goes wrong?

But what if it goes right?

Despite everything, he can't stop himself from going to see you. He makes sure to go at a time when the shop's not as busy, so at least he knows he's not getting in the way of other customers. The last thing he wants is to get you in trouble.

Your always seem so happy when he stops by, and it's getting harder and harder to convince himself that you're not just being nice to him.

He's tormenting himself, he knows he is, but somehow it feels even worse when he's not with you. Either way, he can't win, can he?

"There he is, my favourite customer," you call, as he steps through the door. "How've you been?"

Is it any wonder Ben's heart feels like it does, when he hears you saying things like that?

"About the same as I was yesterday," he jokes, with a little wince the second he says it.

Way to ram it home that you're never out of here, huh.

You laugh, none the wiser.

"I like that you're here so much," you tell him.

The way you say it, it's so casual, and yet it makes Ben's chest feel tight.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" he dares to ask.

"Because you're a regular. And if you haven't been put off by me, then I can't be doing too bad a job, right?"

Ben stops for a moment. You're joking, he knows you are. About how nervous you were on your first day.

And yet-

"How could I be put off by someone as nice as you?" he says, before he can stop himself.

His eyes widen. It's too late, he's already said it. He can feel himself starting to panic, and you're just staring at him now. Your lips part, and Ben cuts you off before you even get the chance, desperate to change the subject.

"What, uh, what are you working on?" he asks quickly, gesturing towards the notepad sitting on the counter.

You frown slightly, as if thinking, a look of confusion on your face.

"'Working on?' Oh, right, this. Well, I've been listing some ideas for new specials," you say, tapping your finger against the page. "It's good timing that you came by, actually. I could do with some suggestions."

Ben nods. Anything to get as far away from what he just said.

"Of course. What have you got so far?" he asks.

You lift your pen, absentmindedly fidgeting with it, as you read down the list.

"We've got sandwiches covered, cakes, some new pastry ideas...But I'm wondering if there's something else we're missing. Any thoughts?"

Ben thinks to himself for a moment.

"Y'know, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for those chocolate slices, the ones with the biscuit and marshmallow inside them. Y'know the ones I'm talking about?"

"Rocky Road?" you offer.

Ben clasps his hands together.

"That's it! That's the ones."

He chuckles to himself.

"I know, I know. The big guy made of rocks likes Rocky Road. I heard it."

"No, no, it's good," you say, as you scribble it down. "It's a pretty easy one to make too."

Ben does his best to scan down the list, in spite of it being upside-down.

"What about you?" he asks. "You put down anything you like?"

"Yeah, I wanted to," you reply. "You know those little sponge cakes, with the jam and cream in the middle? The mini ones, about the size of cupcakes. But we already sell slices of the regular cake, so it seemed a bit pointless to write it down."

"What's wrong with the regular cake?"

"Nothing! It's so good, it's just..."

You trail off.

"It's a me thing, but sometimes a full slice is a bit much, you know? The cream gets a bit sickening after a while."

You glance at him then.

"I'm rambling on, aren't I?" you ask nervously.

"Hardly," Ben replies gently. "I asked, didn't I?"

You cast your gaze down, wiping your hands on the end of your apron. Ben could swear you looked a little flustered. Wishful thinking, maybe.

"Okay, well, I think I've kept you waiting long enough," you say, a bit too loudly. "What can I get for you?"

Ben frowns, then he realises.

"Oh...just my usual," he replies weakly.

He can't bring himself to tell you the truth, and he feels like a coward.

But as he's leaving, a little idea starts forming in his head.

The next few days, Ben puts himself to work, trying to figure out how to make mini sponge cakes. The regular-sized cake he can handle no problem, but the little ones are a bit tougher to figure out, in terms of adjusting the ingredients.

And a certain someone is not helping matters at all.

Ben made the mistake of stumbling over his answer when Johnny asked who the cakes were for. And true to form, Johnny will not drop it. He's spent the better part of the day making a nuisance of himself.

"Haven't you got something better to do?" Ben grumbles, as he spoons jam out of the pot in his hand.

"Nope," Johnny immediately replies, dragging out the 'P' sound to make himself as irritating as possible.

Even when Ben does finally get rid of him, he just can't resist poking the bear cage one last time.

“I’m headin’ out,” Johnny says, swiping his finger through a bowl of cream as he passes.

Ben glares at him, but says nothing. He's better than that.

“Might stop by Maisie’s while I'm out,” he adds, turning to give Ben a big, shit-eating grin. “See how your friend’s doing.”

Ben just waves a hand at him, trying not to take the bait.

But Johnny being Johnny, he makes it so damn difficult.

“You think she’s free?” he asks, making an annoying show of sucking the cream off his finger. “‘Cause I got nothing on for Saturday night. And she’s cute. Don’t you think she’s cute, Ben?”

Johnny just manages to slip out the door as a whisk goes flying across the room.

Sue gives him a sympathetic look from where she sits at the dining table, nursing a cup of coffee.

“Try not to let him get to you,” she says. “Johnny’s harmless, you know he doesn’t mean anything by it.”

Ben sighs tiredly.

“I know, he’s just…He’s infuriating, Suze.”

Sue shakes her head with a smile.

“You're preaching to the choir there.”

Ben manages to get a full two hours of peace and quiet, completely Johnny-free. The latest batch of sponge cake experiments were a success, and he was able to add the finishing touches and box them up neatly.

Now all he has to do is gather the courage to go and actually give them to you.

Which he can definitely do. Absolutely. No problem at all.

He's leafing through a book, trying to keep his mind occupied, when he hears the door open. He glances up, before lifting the book closer to his face with a sigh.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

"Stopped by Maisie's, like I said," Johnny says, as he shrugs off his jacket and sits down.

He just can't read a room, can he?

"That's nice," Ben says, with an air of total disinterest.

He hears what sounds like a paper bag rustling, as Johnny sets something on the table.

"And I got you a little something."

Ben hums noncommittally, turning the page. Being ignored never deters Johnny. He should know this by now. Doesn't stop him from wishing.

"Or rather, I, um, was given something. For you."

That gets Ben's attention. He peers over his book, spotting the paper bag.

He'd know that paper anywhere.

"Oh, yeah?" he asks airily. "What is it?"

Johnny pushes the bag across the table.

"Open it."

Ben tries to keep up the façade, but he's struggling. He forces himself to take his time, pretending to mark his page before setting the book aside.

When he opens the bag, he can't help the smile that spreads across his face.

Inside are four big squares of Rocky Road. You remembered.

Johnny leans in to take a look too. The colour immediately drains from his face.

"Okay, I know what you're probably thinking, and yes, this definitely looks like one of my jokes. But for once, I swear to you, it's not-"

Ben holds up a hand, to stop him before he winds himself up any further.

"I know," he says softly.

He's still smiling.

Johnny waves a hand in front of Ben's face.

"Hello?" he calls impatiently. "Earth to big guy. You okay in there? I don't think I've ever seen you look this happy before. It's weird, if I'm being honest."

Ben hasn't moved, hasn't said anything. Johnny sighs, letting his hand drop down onto the table.

"Listen, I know I've been giving you a lot of crap about this...whole thing. And I'm not gonna apologise for it, by the way, because it would be against everything I stand for. But..."

He stops for a moment, as if to figure out what to say next.

"You really like this girl, don't you?" he asks.

Ben gently drums his fingers across the table top, before he finally nods.

"I do," he murmurs. "God help me, I do."

Johnny slings an arm over the back of his chair.

"Have you considered the possibility that she might like you back?"

Ben grits his teeth. "No, actually, I haven't," he snaps.

"Why not?" Johnny asks, and Ben wonders if he's being stupid on purpose.

He gestures to himself in frustration.

"Because look at me, Johnny!" he says, exasperated. "I don't exactly have people lining up 'round the block to date me. I'm not her type. I'm..."

He sighs. God, he's tired.

"I'm not anyone's type."

Johnny bangs his fist down on the table suddenly, and Ben almost falls out of his chair.

"You cut that out right now," he says lowly.

His eyes are so intense, even more than usual. Ben doesn't think he's ever seen him so serious.

"Look, you know how much I love annoying you. If it was a paying job, I'd be CEO. But I can't listen to you talk about yourself like this. You're "not anyone's type"? Seriously? You're..."

Johnny blows out a long breath, as if he's gearing himself up for something difficult.

"I'm never gonna forgive myself for anything I'm about to say, just FYI, but you...You're like the perfect guy, Ben. Stop looking at me like that, I mean it. You cook, you don't leave your shit everywhere, your dress sense is...Well, you try."

Ben doesn't know whether to kiss him or kick him. He decides he'll let him finish first.

"That girl likes you, Ben. And I'm not messing with you on this. That's too far, even for me. You know the first thing she did when I went down there? She asked me how you were. She was so excited to give me those too."

He taps the paper lightly.

"I could have been anyone, it wouldn't have mattered to her. Because all she cared about was you."

Ben runs a hand over his face. He doesn't know what to say.

"The way I see it, you've got two choices here," Johnny says. "One, you can just sit there and be miserable for the rest of your life. Or two, you can take a chance. Go down there and talk to her. It might be the best thing you've ever done."

Ben sits quietly for a moment, letting it all sink in. Finally, he nods.

"Yeah. You're right," he murmurs. "Thanks for that. Seriously."

Believe it or not, sometimes Johnny's not so bad.

Johnny gives him a warm smile. "Anytime, big guy."

He stands up, swiping a Rocky Road slice before he leaves.

"Thanks for this, by the way," he says with a mock-salute.

Ben glares at him as he goes.

Sometimes.

It takes a little - okay, a lot - of coaxing to push Ben into going to see you the next day. He spends most of the day pacing about the house, grumbling to himself and getting on Johnny's nerves.

"Not so fun when the shoe's on the other foot, is it?" Ben gripes, after Johnny tells him to knock it off for the third time.

He finally decides on going down just before closing time. That way he won't be bothering you too much, he thinks.

He hopes.

It's been threatening to rain all day, and as luck would have it, not five minutes after Ben's set foot outside, the skies open up. He picks up the pace, tucking the box in his hand safely under his coat.

He sees you standing under in the doorway of Maisie's, holding a newspaper over your head. You look as though you're contemplating making a run for it in the rain. He's halfway across the street when you spot him, and he'd have to be completely oblivious not to see how your face lights up when you spot him.

"Forgot my umbrella this morning," you say with an awkward laugh. "The one day I leave it at home-"

You gesture to the rain that's still coming down in sheets.

"-and this happens. Just my luck."

You glance up at him.

"Glad I got to see you, though," you say.

Ben can’t help but smile at that. He holds his umbrella out over you.

“Where do you need to go?" he asks. "I can walk with you.”

You shake your head.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that-“

“You’re not asking. I’m offering,” he insists gently.

You adjust the strap of your shoulder bag, tapping the wilted newspaper against your leg before you make up your mind.

“My car’s just down the street, if you could walk me there.”

Ben gestures in front of him.

“Lead the way.”

It’s a little awkward, with the height difference between you, but he manages to get you to your car at least somewhat dry.

“Thanks so much, I really appreciate it," you say, rummaging in your bag for your keys. “I’d, um, I’d offer you a ride home, but…”

You trail off with an apologetic look. Ben waves a hand dismissively.

“Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t fit in that tiny thing anyway.”

He saves you the trouble of saying it.

“Listen, before you go…I wanted to say thank you. For the Rocky Road."

Your face lights up at that.

“Oh, yeah? How were they?”

“I think I need to ask you for the recipe, because otherwise I'm gonna have you hounded for more," Ben replies with a chuckle. "Best I’ve ever had.”

The smile on your face right now is going to be the end of him.

"Actually, I, uh, I wanted to repay the favour," he says.

He manages to take the box out from underneath his jacket without dropping it. It's a bit dented, but otherwise fine. He holds it out to you.

"You were saying about those little sponge cakes, and I thought since I had some free time and all…"

He's trying to make it all sound so casual, like it's not that big a deal, but he can feel his heart hammering against his chest.

Because it is a big deal. At least, to him.

You carefully take the box from him, staring down at it. The rain's still pouring down around you.

"I...Oh my God, I don't know what to say."

Worry starts to creep in then. Was he too forward? Was this a weird thing to do? Realistically, he doesn't even know you all that well.

What if he's ruined everything? What if-

"Do you wanna go for coffee sometime?" you blurt out, peering up at him.

Rarely is Ben ever really taken aback, considering everything he's been through in his life, but this...

This leaves him struggling for words.

Eventually, he manages to make himself nod.

"Yeah, I'd...I'd love that," he replies.

He can't help himself from thinking it, but you're so cute when you smile like that, the way it reaches your eyes.

"Great! Stop by when I'm working, and we'll figure out a time and place, okay?"

"It's a date," Ben says, before he can stop himself.

His eyes widen. Probably about as wide as yours are right now.

"Sorry, I meant like- It was just-"

"It's a date," you echo.

You both stand there for a moment. Ben's about to tell you to go, so you can't catch your death of cold, but you beat him to it.

You lean in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, before turning to unlock your car.

"See you later," you say, completely flustered. "And thanks again for these!"

Ben just waves, closing the car door for you as you get in. He stands there for a while, not caring that his shoes and the bottoms of his pants are soaked through now, before he heads home.

His hand is pressed to his cheek the entire time.

There's a flower shop on the route Ben takes to Maisie's. He can't remember how many times he's passed by it and barely taken notice of it, but this time, he finds himself slowing down.

He buys a bouquet of sunflowers before he can talk himself out of it, practically marching himself down the street out of sheer nerves.

But when he sees you through the window, it all just melts away. You're laughing, and it warms his heart like nothing else ever has. He's never seen anyone as pretty as you.

Your gaze meets his when you turn, and you look so happy, giving him a smile and a big wave.

Ben waves back, with a small smile of his own.

He'll never admit it. But Johnny was right.

Clutching the sunflowers a little tighter in his hand, he lets out a small, contented breath, and opens the door.

Meeting Ben was like a dream, shy glances at the blue eyed co-pilot as you interview the up and coming astronaut team for the city paper and, later, soft touches across rough and uniquely organic stones that replaced his skin upon his fateful return to earth with his three crew mates.

He was a dream with a wink and a laugh to send you clamoring and flushing with the drop of a thick worn out notebook and pen even when you are almost five years deep into knowing each other.

A dream that not even a DNA altering space storm and a new rocky exterior could interfere with.

So, with a promised date and a few shared other worldly secrets to follow on the course of a rather binding relationship, you sit in the newly remodeled kitchen of the Baxter building on a counter top inspecting the stone face of one Benjamin Grimm as he scowls at you in the temporary candle light

“Benny” a pout you will deny for the rest of your days sits on your face as you hold a mirror in one hand and push your glasses up with the other “you said you’d let me help you shave when all the Galactus drama passed, Herbie even helped me practice real nice on a few boulders nearby at sunset the other day”

Ben stands with large stony hands on his hips as he sends a glare to the small robot who currently has him playing sous chef again for dinner, his innocent chirps making the hero huff as he turns back to you

“I don’t get why you want this so bad, I thought you liked the beard. Hasn’t stopped me from having you” the man runs his orange textured hands across the grown out and unruly rocks that make up his current facial landscape, shaking his head with a huff to rival your own as he eyes Herbie’s latest work on the stove top

“You don’t have anything Grimm, nothing but my love anyway.” A toothy grin races up your face, widening impossibly when he takes your bulky faux frames off the bridge of your nose when they fall yet again

A new approach crosses your mind as you straighten up, kicking your sock clad feet as you grab at his face with force a little beyond human and hold the mirror to him with soft eyes “Alright you big lug, enough of the shy routine. Let me at that face”

“Do you have ta? Even the kid said it looked good.” He seems almost reminiscent as he follows your touch with zero struggle, stone hands curdling your hips as his shoulders stretch the fabric of a well worn plum sweater gifted to him for his birthday by none other than you.

“‘sides, I thought you said it made me look distinguished” the edge of his inner city accent, garbled by stone lips, earns him a silent look as your fidgeting feet still for only a few seconds before you are shaking your own head

The mirror finds a home on the empty counter space next to you as your legs spread and you pull him to come closer, his eyes fluttering shut with a hard clink of solid stone as your hands feel at his beard and face with an appreciative hum

“For running yourself into the ground to save the world, yes, and helping my pa bail hay, maybe, but I need you looking sharp at the gala tonight” your words might as well be of a Sisyphusian agenda with the way he responds to your touch, jagged stone and pattern of his face retiring into your palm to plant textured kissed from hand to wrist to elbow

A clear smile sits on his face as you stifle several laughs and attempt to push him away with ingenious and weak pushes that do nothing to deter him while he marks and mumbles into your skin before stopping to meet your eyes temporarily

“Mmm, could just skip the fancy party angel face” the more jagged and solid base of his beard grinds against the invulnerable skin, blessed by the yellow sun and durable as usual “maybe get up to a few better things in mind, put some use in that new reinforced bed Reed had installed for us upstairs”

“Mhm, as tempting as that is, I’m supposed to snag a word from some of the investors of the foundation and I’d like to keep my day job Benny”

As if he needs to further endear himself to you, he lets his body sag across your upper body while he leans into the counter top. He stifles laughter of his own but the rumbling of his chest gives him away as you trap him with a wrap of arms and legs

“All work and no play” the man says against the chest of you, the world’s very own super woman, looking not even an ounce of the heavy hitting hero he is while your hands pet around the stony exterior of his head with a light hum

“Well I suppose, if that’s how you feel, I could always go alone. Maybe I’ll bag myself a smoother face” yet another sigh falls from your mouth as he makes the effort to stand tall and scowl yet again at you

Ben’s hands grab the mirror slow and delicate in effort not to break it as he grumbles on. “That’s not funny.”

A smirk creeps up his face as he meets your eyes, quickly becoming a prop for you to move around and adjust the mirror despite his show of previously stalling “You said you like how my face feels, something about pressure and my mouth-“

Your cheeks flush and a hand comes up to try and rub the heat from your face as you slap another one over his face so quickly he stumbles back a bit “Okay, that’s enough out of you mister. How about you let me take a real crack at this face so I can actually feel your mouth again sweetheart?”

“Alright alright, just don’t get too close to my face. The things I do for you” For a man complaining, he practically scrambles back to stand in the space between your legs.

He is back to being a movable prop as you scope out the angle of the mirror, Herbie’s chirps and the sound of a boiling sauce on the stove hold as the soundtrack until you seem to have him where you need him.

With one last happy hum and a fond hand to his jagged face, you give him a small smirk “Hush up baby, if you stay still I might let you do that one move you like. Maybe a few times if you get all spiffied up tonight. I believe you called it the avalanche”

“Whoa hey now!” The voice of none other than the youngest Storm sibling sounds off in a way that makes Ben and Herbie both startle just before you can start.

He slings his arm around Ben with a teasing rub of his stone head, following up with a quick kiss to your cheek before ducking out of Ben’s reach and off further into the kitchen “Not in a public space you two, it’s bad enough I have to survive you guys practically rocking the building. Surprised your moral compass doesn’t have you more worried about a rock slide with Benny boy here, Supes”

A huff leaves your lips, playfully exasperated as you tug Ben’s face back to look at you. For all his grandeur, the hot head sticks around to sit on the other counter top with a handful of some snack he tosses back.

“Oh Johnny, always…..something close to a pleasure for sure” the tease falls from your lips as you readjust Ben and the mirror

“Likewise Supes” The blond gives a salute as he get comfortable next to Herbie’s workspace, eyes watching with open amusement.

“Alright, are you comfy? It’s best if you don’t move while I do this honey” your voice gets softer with each word, inhaling deeply as you channel a familiar heat from behind your eyes

Ben, to his credit, settles on keeping as still as possible after huffing at your worry. He relishes in the feeling of your smaller hands over his, guiding the mirror when you change the direction of the lasers from your currently lethal pupils, and he resists a laugh at the sensation.

He takes the time to watch the concentration of your face, a small voice at the back of his mind lectures him on safety of this whole thing in a tone mixed of Reed and Sue both.

The rest of the kitchen could burn around him and he’d be stuck where he is now, watching your brows furrow and your breathing hold steady as you work on his face with enough focus that he could think he’s suddenly made of paper or cotton and not orange mineral strong enough to wreck a building foundation with minimal prep.

He’d probably lose himself in you and your care if one glance at your cooled irises and a lack of smoke didn’t have him moving to smile at you, scorching hot hand mirror quickly forgotten to the side as his warm and freshly “shaven” face crashes into yours for a rough bought of scrapping kisses all over your own face

“Benny” a squeal, that will definitely be ammunition for Johnny to tease you later, escapes you as you push at him with minimal strength and an abundance of laughter that has Herbie chirping wildly by the stove top “Stop, you haven’t even seen your face. What if I messed it up?”

The question seems to land like those new solo comedy specials you’ve been watching with him and his team on the box on the occasional night the world isn’t in danger

“Doll, that’s impossible. You’d be pouting and apologizing by now. Ain’t got a mean bone in that body of yours” he continues his loving attack on your face for a moment more before obeying your pushes and picking the mirror back up again to observe his face.

His silent examination gives just enough time for you to create a flurry of criticisms or reactions he could give. You are hovering a few inches above the counter top in just seconds.

“You look good big guy” Johnny breaks the made up tension bubble first with a smack on Ben’s clothed back as he moves to exit the kitchen “I’d say she even made you a little pleasant to look at, do you do personalities too?”

The man gives a dashing and reassuring grin to you as he ducks out of Ben’s grasp and hightails his way out of their with one last scratch to Herbie’s head

Your lover, for all his peacocking, doesn’t follow his pseudo-brother and turns to you instead. His face giving a faint clink as his eyes soften and a smile sits on his face, coming closer to your floating form

“Looks amazing Angel, you should add barber to your resume if the whole paper schtick doesn’t pan out” his hands find your thighs to push you back down to sit on the solid counter top with a quick peck to your forehead

“Mmm, you think so?” Your voice is light and airy in a way most kisses to your temple seem to leave you, tone earning a grin and another kiss

“I know so, my girl ain’t ordinary. She’s a Super Woman”

And that’s all she wrote I guess……I am lowkey obsessed with a Superwoman type reader for him lol

I kind of also want to maybe expand on this relationship because wow they are just two cuties

You brought a hand up to shield your eyes from the bright sun as you walked, Bowser’s heavy footsteps and Junior’s lighter but more energetic steps filling your ears from either side.

Despite the brightness, the weather was pleasant as can be. It was the type of warm where you only needed a light sweater against the small breeze that wafted through the marketplace every now and then. This type of weather was a favourite of yours since it allowed you to hold your beloved husband’s large clawed hand without the discomfort of clammy hands.

Junior skipped ahead of you and Bowser, his excitable nature bringing a grin to your face as you watched him bounce from stall to stall to see what new products the merchants had to offer.

“Stay where we can see you please!” You called after him, just loud enough for the young koopa to hear you over the crowd. “Okay mama!” Junior called back, jogging backward for a moment to face you before facing the front once more.

Bowser squeezed your hand slightly, being extra mindful of the size difference between your hands so as not to hurt you. To anyone around you, it would look like the koopa king was giving a small gesture of affection to his beloved. Of course, you knew what that squeeze really meant. While it was affectionate, the squeeze really meant ‘pay attention to me now’.

“Okay, okay, you big baby, I’m right here.” You teased in a light tone, squeezing his hand right back (though you weren’t sure how much he felt it). Though he huffed at your teasing, Bowser puffed his chest ever so slightly, his eyes remaining on your grinning face as it glowed in the sunlight.

Squeezing your hand one more time, Bowser came to a slow stop and turning to face you directly. You stopped as well, confusion taking over your features as you craned your neck to look your husband in the eyes.

“You know… You look real pretty today.” Bowser grumbled, his normally booming voice sounding almost shy. You raised one of your eyebrows, smiling amusedly. “Oh yeah?” You asked, bringing one of your, comparatively, small hands to stroke Bowser’s forearm, watching him get slightly flustered.

“Y-yeah.” The Koopa king replied, feeling his large face flush as his irises seemed to turn into hearts at the very sight of you. You raised yourself onto your tiptoes, placing your hands on either side of Bowser’s large head, coaxing him to lean down toward you. Despite the fact that the two of you had been married for a while at this point, Bowser’s heart still felt like it was about to give out as you continued to lean closer and closer to his face… Your eyes flickering between his eyes and his mouth… Both of your eyes slowly fluttering shut-

“MAMA!!”

The two of you jumped apart as Junior bounded up to show you something he had found, oblivious to the PDA his parents were previously going to indulge in. Bowser grumbled in his throat and mumbled to himself in slight frustration, but ultimately leaned down alongside you to see what trinket his son had clutched in his hands.

“I saw these an’ I jus’ knew you had to have ‘em Mama!” Junior exclaimed, holding out a pair of earrings in the palm of his hand. The earrings were beautiful silver studs in the shape of daisies, a broad smile breaking across your face at your son’s memory of your favourite flower.

Leaning down on one knee, you brought Junior into a hug and swayed side to side with him. “Thank you so much my darling, this has got to be the best gift I’ve gotten today!” You praised, placing a small kiss on Junior’s forehead as he beamed up at you. Letting go of Junior, you took out the earrings you were wearing and replaced them with the new ones, carefully placing the old ones into your dress pocket.

As soon as you stood to continue walking, though, two giant arms encircled your waist and flipped you over a broad shoulder. Bowser carefully held onto the back of your thighs to keep you in place as you laughed at his dramatics. Junior, ever the energetic, continued conversing with both his father and you from where you sat perched over your husband’s shoulder as the two Koopas continued striding along the street.

The comfortable noise lasted for only a couple of moments before it was inevitably, though quite frustratingly, interrupted by none other than Mario, with Luigi following closely behind, yelling after his brother to stop.

Mario rushed in front of Bowser, forcing him to stop in his tracks. The Koopa’s light mood was quickly dampened, his scarlet eyebrows furrowing in frustration. Bowser broadened his posture, though still kept his gentle grip on your legs to keeps you in place. Junior peeked out from behind his dad, quickly hopping out beside him and mimicking his dad’s posture when he recognized the two Mario brothers.

“What do you want?” Bowser’s voice rumbled, his breath blowing the hairs on the brothers’ mustache slightly. “Yeah! What do YOU want?!” Junior exclaimed in an adorable show of support.

“What are you doing with them?!” Mario bravely shouted, gaining the attention of some of the people walking through the marketplace. Mario shifted into a fighting stance while Luigi cautiously stood back, choosing not to challenge the very large and quite frightening Koopa king that was currently staring the pair down.

“What’s it look like? We’re shopping,” Bowser growled, leaning his face down just enough to look Mario directly in the eye, “and YOU’RE interrupting our family time. Now scram.”

“Yeah, scram!” Junior mimicked again.

Not backing down, Mario kept eye contact as Luigi grew increasingly nervous. “Mario, you might-a want to leave-a them alone-“ Luigi tried, nervous gaze flicking between the Koopa king and his brother, only to be ignored.

“We’re not leaving until you let them go. Just because Peach is busy, doesn’t mean you can take someone else!” Mario exclaimed, eyebrows furrowing. Bowser’s gaze jumped from frustrated to furious, and he opened his mouth.

Before he could roar out any heavy insults, you leaned up and patted Bowser’s shoulder twice, a silent ask for him to put you down. Bowser turned his gaze away from the man in front of him only to meet your stoic face and knitted brows. For a moment, his expression turned panicked, before you placed a hand to his cheek in reassurance. Relaxing slightly, Bowser slowly placed you back on your feet.

You turned to face the brothers but didn’t step away from your husband, and instead curled against him, beckoning Junior to stand beside you. You placed one hand onto Junior’s shoulder, the other holding onto Bowser’s where it sat on your shoulder protectively.

“Mario, I would like you to meet Bowser and Bowser Jr., my family.” You introduced, your borderline cold expression not leaving your face at the thought of his immediate assumption of Bowser’s malice.

Despite your gaze not being directed at them, Luigi, Bowser, and Junior all shrunk into themselves slightly. Mario looked hesitant, keeping your gaze.

“Are you sure? They didn’t brainwash you or anything?” Mario bluntly asked, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth as your expression darkened, your eye twitching in rage. Bowser and Junior began to shake with anger.

“NOW YOU’VE REALLY CROSSED A-“ Bowser started, but was quickly stopped as you brought your hand away from Junior’s shoulder to rest against your husband’s chest. Giving him a silent look that said ‘I will handle this’ was enough for Bowser to step down, closing his mouth again. Junior continued to shake angrily, though a couple of tears now filled his eyes. That was the final straw for you.

“Junior, stand with your father please.” You said, not taking your eyes off of Mario. “But Mama-“ Junior started, though quickly changed his mind when he saw the look you were giving the Mario brother.

You stepped toward Mario, stopping about a foot away from him without breaking eye contact. Luigi thought it best to stand to the side.

“Who the hell are you to assume my judgement wasn’t intact enough for me to choose who I married?” You asked rhetorically, your tone dark. Mario shivered, his eyes falling to the ground.

“I will say this and I will say this once. Do not EVER presume to insult my husband and my son like that again, are we clear?” You kept your stare on Mario’s face. In his newly felt fear, Mario forgot to reply. “I said are we clear?” Your tone dropped and the man forced himself to nod.

“Ye-yes.” He answered tightly, not bringing his gaze from the ground in front of him. You exhaled shortly through your nose and nodded once, then stepped around Mario, now facing Luigi who tightened up in fear. You took a deep breath and looked at Luigi’s face with a brilliant smile.

“Luigi, how are you? We haven’t been able to chat lately!” You asked, bringing the younger Mario brother in for a hug. The sudden change in your demeanour made Luigi shiver, though he quickly returned your hug and began conversing with you. Bowser and Junior relaxed, letting out a huge breath of relief.

You continued conversing with Luigi as you made your way back to your family’s side.

“Here, come with us! We were about to get something to eat!” You waved one of your hands for Luigi to follow you, placing your other in the crook of Bowser’s elbow when he offered it.

“Ah, that’s okay, we-a wouldn’t want to intrude!” Luigi answered, not entirely eager to spend a meal with your husband and his brother sitting across from each other.

“Catch you later then. You’ll have to come by for tea again soon! The Shy-Guys miss you!” You replied with a smile, continuing on through the market with your husband and son.

Silence fell over the two brothers.

“So should we-“

“Luigi?”

“Yes?”

“Did you know?”

Luigi hesitated.

“Yes…”

EXTRA!!

After finally getting Junior settled into bed with several bedtime stories, Bowser trudged his way to your shared room where you lay reading a book. The Koopa flopped onto the bed, his head resting on your torso as you placed your book to the side.

“Hi.” You gently smiled.

“Hey.”

“Something on your mind big guy?” You asked, mindlessly stroking Bowser’s messy scarlet hair. Bowser could almost feel himself purring.

“You’re really attractive when you get protective is all.” The king replied, melting into your touch as his eyes once again seemed to turn into hearts. You flushed slightly before giggling shyly.

“Now that I think of it, we did get interrupted earlier…” Bowser mumbled, his pupils blowing slightly.

“Hmm… interrupted from doing what?” You teased, though your pupils were also dilated. Bowser grumbled into your chest. “I need to hear what you want.” You purred into his ear, making Bowser melt even more.

“Can we kiss?” He asked, feeling like a teenager. You grinned. “We can do more than that, big boy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~