The white demon

You try not to chuckle, despite feeling flushed already. “I should hope so.”

Adam smiles—yes, the both of you settled on the name Adam as it carried a certain appeal to him. It was his very own name, something of his own, distinguishable from his dreadful past.

Oh, how you adored his smile.

“No,” he clarifies, still smiling. “Something… more.”

The way he struggles to say the word ‘more’, as if it is something shameful, it pains me in a certain way. Although the more you look at him, the more you come to realize that it most likely comes from a place of curiosity instead of shame.

And then you start to realize what he means.

“Oh,” is all you can get out, feeling more flushed this time around. Truth is, that more has been something heavy on your mind as well—for quite some time. You didn’t want to broach the subject with Adam, fully aware that it is a foreign concept to him and that it is, perhaps, something out of his comfort zone and out of his line of interest.

It seems as if you were wrong.

“What did you feel?” you ask, taking his hands into yours.

“I felt… a twitch. Down—down here. When you kissed me, something ached. A need... of some kind.”

You don’t know how to react more than a playful chuckle, suppressed—you wouldn’t want Adam to feel ashamed in any way or to have him believe you would mock him in any way. But you also cannot help the flood of heat and desire that races through you, coursing shamelessly through your bloodstream. Adam is unlike any other man you’ve ever met; granted, the may not be quite human, not quite man, but everything about him is so curious and kind and untainted.

Yet you long to for a stain in his purity, something akin to pure hunger that you can call your own. To claim him as your own.

“That is normal,” you breathe towards him, your pulse an erratic beat behind your ribcage.

“It is?”

“Yes. When you care for someone, and when you… develop feelings for them… it manifests physically.”

“Physically?”

You subdue a chuckle yet again; everything about him is new and enticing and enthralling, and you want to savor this moment, cherish it, preserve it and freeze it in time.

A moment where there is only you and him, together, and not a single threat posed to either one of you.

You nod. “Yes, physically. The body sometimes responds before the mind—at least, in men’s cases.”

“But I am not truly a man.”

“You are more man than anyone I’ve ever encountered.”

You cup his cheeks, Adam exhaling restlessly inside your palm. You’re not quite  sure when it all escalates or how; all you know is that Adam radiates enough warmth for you to tiptoe and press a sincere kiss on his lips, pulling him closer. He’s shockingly vocal, but you suppose it makes sense given how everything is anew to him. That’s how he treats you as well: a blank canvas waiting to be explored, filled with colors you wouldn’t have even dreamt of.

The more you kiss Adam and hold him against your body, the more you feel what he told you about; he’s rock hard at this point, and while you’re quite surprised that all of his bodily functions are intact and normal, you still moan in his mouth.

Which acts as a catalyst for him to evoke the same sounds, more guttural by nature, and end up atop of you. He’s eager, yet restrained; the same restrained curiosity you’ve grown accustomed to. He’s not wearing many clothes, which works in your favor as you work to undress him hastily, all the while with Adam huffing next to your ear, his shock at the sight of you never wavering.

“You are breathtaking,” he tells you, and you shudder at the sound of his voice, the thought of him admiring you so thusly.

You believe him; there is nothing in this world that would make you not believe Adam. You kiss him everywhere, not just his lips, hoping to get a rise out of him as soon as possible: his neck, his collarbones, his arms, all of which are, admittedly, uncharted territory to him, but upon hearing his groans, increasingly more desperate, you figure you’re doing something right. You take it upon yourself to remove your own clothes, albeit your dress proving to be a challenge in and of itself. But haste has its perks, for you move faster than you ever have with the fabric, including undergarments, and soon you’re left bare before Adam, aching and pleading silently with a single lustful glare at him. Your eyes drop fleetingly to his manhood and you gulp, utterly flattered to notice that he is hard and surely aching by this point.

“How are you feeling?” you ask him.

“It’s strange.”

“What is?”

“All of this… desire.”

You fleetingly smile, your legs spreading open further for him. His gaze drops, swallowing harshly.

“How do you know it is desire?”  you ask, half curious, half flirting.

“What else can it be when it comes to you?”

You pull him in again and again, kissing him till your lips feel raw and as needy as you feel. Your movements feel rushed as your hands roam freely around his body—surprisingly, he’s never been one to shy away from your touch, regardless of how you proclaim it—and each tug, each caress earns you a moan or a gasp from his side.

“If it is too much, you should tell me,” you tell him, catching his eyes staring in wonder between your legs.

“I’m not sure… what to do. What do I do?”

With a smile, you reach and undo his breeches, keeping your surprise to yourself—you figured Victor would’ve made everything proportional and as beautiful-looking as possible but fucking hell, this was a pleasant surprise.

“Do you trust me?” you ask him.

Adam nods incessantly. “Always.”

“Okay. Touch me.”

You don’t want to overwhelm him, so you take his hand and guide it to your pussy, smiling when you earn a gasp and a surprised face from his side. He caresses you, dragging his fingers through your soaked folds, earning soft gasps from you.

“It’s wet,” Adam remarks.

You chuckle, the sound earnest and pleased. “Yes. That happens to women when they desire someone.”

“You… want me?”

He sounds more than shocked; quite trifled and astounded. You nod frantically, by this point dripping with need.

“Yes, Adam. Always.”

He takes a while to process your words, but he does so nonetheless. It’s almost as if your words become law to him, something to tether himself to. 

“What do I do now?” he asks, his voice betraying both curiosity and fear.

“Here.”

You guide your hand to his cock, now fully erect, and he groans as you give it a few strokes and guide it to your entrance. His eyes are fully blown, as if he cannot believe what is happening and what is in front of him as of now.

Adam watches enthralled as you guide him further inside you, a pleasurable moan escaping your mouth as he thrusts inside you. Inch by inch, you swallow him whole it seems.

Fully sheathed inside of you, your mouth remains ajar as you stare longingly at him, unable to suppress the moans escaping past your vocal chords. Your whole body is afire, your face a canvass of your love and appreciation for your beloved Creature, and his face a combination of shock and lust.

“How does that feel?” you manage to ask him.

It feels like you’re going insane, utterly maddened by his curiosity, his sensitivity and love for you, all of which are undoubtable.

“Ethereal,” Adam murmurs, and leans over to press a kiss on your lips and forehead.

His movements remain mechanical. It is clear he’s unsure as to how to proceed, but his eyes, oh his big, wonderful and pure eyes, they remain locked on the movement of his cock between your legs. They seem to be fascinated by the way he fits inside you, and you are no exception to said marvel.

You try to move so that you meet with more of his hips, and you catch Adam by surprise with those motions; he stares in awe, almost aghast, at the sight of his cock thrusting in and out of you, and you moan as he does so. He doesn’t pose any questions anymore, he simply watches and follows your sounds, your scent and your movements. Soon he catches the drift, especially after one of your hands sinks its nails deep into his back and pulls him forward.

Thank goodness he feels little to no pain from this.

You mean to inflict no pain, you simply wish to sink into him, to have him and own him in primal ways, in caring and loving ways, those of which have not been taught to him by his creator. You both move together in a set rhythm, albeit stunted by it being a first time, with Adam’s eyes alternating between your face and your glistening pussy.

“Is this—good?” he asks, his face dangerously close to yours.

“Yes—oh gods, yes… so… so good…”

Words fail you in this moment of need, but you do not need them it seems. Your hands roam aimlessly on his back, the staccato rhythm of his hips more than a distraction or a want—a necessity; an insatiable craving, a hunger to be held, one you are more than certain Adam shares it as well.

You are very much aware of how touch-starved he is, and in so many ways, you reciprocate the sentiment. But Adam’s curiosity and lack of experience make him the perfect lover. It causes a stir inside of you, a storm brewing all too dangerously to the surface and an ache you found only he can soothe.

You feel him tense above you, a clumsiness about him that is more than endearing. He watches your every move, listens to every sound you make, in awe of how tender and warm you are, how malleable and willing in his presence.

A fact which will never not surprise him.

“Adam, wait,” you breathe, cupping his cheek.

On command, Adam halts all movements, blinking inquisitively at you.

“Have I hurt you?” he asks.

You feel a tug in your chest, eyes a little bit teary. By gods, you couldn’t stand the thought of someone so utterly soft and attentive by nature.

“No,” you smile. “You are wonderful. Do you trust me?”

“With my life. Endless as it may be. But it only means I get endless lifetimes to learn you.”

Breathless, you rise a little and shift so that now you are the one atop of him. Adam is evidently taken aback—one of the many endearing things about him is how he cannot hide a single emotion he feels for the life of him, endless as it may be, as he put it earlier—and you smile widely at him.

The stretch is glorious; Adam’s giant hands reach to your hips, resting there tentatively. He gazes upon your body as if he were charting a map, studious and careful, his eyes never absent of intensity and admiration.

“More,” he groans, mouth agape. “Please.”

And more you give: you start to move up and down slowly, taking every inch of him in a stretch that heats your entire body and causes your head to spin; Adam groans, the sound low and nearly pained from deep within, yet you know by watching him it cannot be that of pain. Adam tries his darnest to remain still on the bed simply because watching you take pleasure from him this way is maddening, but he finds that he cannot do so. He reaches up to meet you halfway, his fingers grazing your cheek. You cling to him, anchoring yourself to his broad shoulders as you keep riding him, and pull him closer. You find his lips in a rushed take, the kiss careless and despairing.

There’s a rush throughout your extremities, a wave of heat impossible to contain in your chest. You have never felt a fire like this one, an affection quite as strong as the one you carry for Adam. It stretches beyond the physical—although gods beware, simply feeling his cock buried inside of you so intimately and sweetly is reason enough.

He feels you tense, your movements more rapid and messy. He tries to hold you steadily, but he fails. Just as he had previously failed. And yet he realizes he does not care. He wants to see you break, he wants to see you come undone before him, with him inside of you. Something tells him you can take it—just as you can take him—and that you want to take it.

“Oh fuck—I am so close—“

He wishes to ask you what you mean, but words fail him. He feels, simultaneously, whole and fractured. He watches your face contort in what he presumes is pleasure, untethered, unashamed and whole, and he feels you quiver around him. You seize, the warmth of your walls clenched all around him, squeezing his cock in a tighter confinement.

And then he breaks.

In this moment, gravity is not what holds him, but rather you. You are all that he sees, all that he smells, craves and wants—and all that he feels. You are all that he feels as he spills himself inside of you with a roar that shakes the room to its foundation. You are all that he feels when his head drops in the crook of your neck, kissing every inch of skin his lips can trail. You are all that he feels as your hands cradle his head, tender and poisoned with raw need.

When your eyes find his again, they are as soft and as kind as you know them, yet they seem to contain something else as well. Something which you can also identify as of now.

Pleasure.

You barely move now, having felt him twitch and convulse inside you mere moments ago. Neither of you seems eager to break the touch, but you suspect Adam is much less inclined to do so than you.

“Can I stay?” he asks.

“What do you mean? Of course you can.”

“I wish to stay like this. For a while longer, inside you. You are warm and welcoming and…”

You cup his cheeks in your hands, your palms feeling the small ridges and indentations of him.

“And what?” you ask, kissing his nose.

“Mine.”

The Creature

A Monster No More

The Bride of the Woods

The Hearth Beneath the Ashes

Vows Among the Pines

Sleepless

"Where's Johnny?" Sue asks, taking a seat on her usual seat as they all gather at the dining table to eat.

"Out," Ben points out, his tone insinuating what everyone's been thinking for weeks now.

Reed looks at both of them with a confused expression, and perhaps a bit offended too. "Again?"

Just before anyone could say anything else, Johnny rushes out of the elevator, moving towards the kitchen to leave the usual bag of pastries he always carries back with him.

"Sorry, I know I'm late," he quickly says, slightly out of breath, throwing his jacket towards the sofa by the lounge area before taking a seat. "My bad."

No one moves, simply watching as Johnny fills his plate with food and acts like absolutely nothing is going on. Like this isn't like the millionth time he's been late for dinner. Like it's not obvious that his head has clearly been elsewhere these past few weeks.

"Johnny," Sue calls his name softly, a playful grin inevitably appearing on her face.

As he looks up, he realizes everyone is looking at him almost in expectation, which immediately disturbs him. "What? What did I do?"

His sister shrugs innocently, leaning forward on the table, apparently determined to find out the truth about his secret getaways. "Is there something you would like to tell us?"

He sits completely still for a few seconds, not really knowing what to say at first. A flash of panic appears on his face before he focuses back on his plate to start eating. "Not really." Johnny takes a few bites of the food, immediately nodding in approval. "This is really good, little buddy!" he says, turning towards H.E.R.B.I.E. who offers him a cheerful series of beeps after his comment, beeping a bit more when he affectionately scratches the top of his robotic head. "I was starving."

Ben laughs. "I knew it."

Johnny frowns immediately, turning to look at him. "What?" he insists, mouth full of his last previous bites.

"Come on, Johnny, we're not dumb! It's obvious you have a girlfriend."

He almost chokes on his food, drinking a big gulp of water before giving his friend a look in complete disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You tried to change the subject and now you're getting defensive," Ben insists, letting out another laugh. "That means it's true. You have a girlfriend."

"I'm not being defensive!"

“Are you sure?” Sue asks this time, as calm as ever.

“Very!”

There's a brief silence before Reed decides to join the conversation. "You do sound a bit defensive."

"So what's her name?" 

Johnny lets out a tired sigh after Sue’s question, leaning back on his chair as he considers what to do next. She clearly looks interested. Finding out her little brother might actually try to settle down for once in his life is certainly something she wasn't expecting to happen anytime soon.

Is he really capable of keeping his relationship a secret anymore? It's not like he has done much of an effort in hiding it, anyway. Perhaps he has been waiting for them to bring it up so he doesn't have to be the one to do so. It’s much easier if they pressure him to talk, isn’t it?

Before he even registers the consequences of his actions, your name slips out of his lips in a soft whisper. It's not like he's embarrassed to reveal your existence to his family, but it is a bit...scary. He's never been in this position before. Never had to inform them about anyone remotely meaningful in his life. Although, it’s not like he has ever been this committed to anyone else before.

Letting his family know is only further confirmation that he might actually be falling harder than he could've ever anticipated, and that's a terrifying realization for someone who's never felt like this before. It's a whole new level of vulnerability and exposure that he's beginning to get familiar with.

Reed looks beyond surprised to receive actual confirmation that this 'girlfriend' really exists. "Oh, so it's true?"

Johnny immediately starts shaking his head, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Nope. Don't look at me like that."

"I'm not looking at you in any way."

"Yes. Yes, you are. All of you are. And it's making me very uncomfortable."

"Hey, can you really blame us?" Ben says this time, as if all of their reactions are more than justified. "You've never talked about any girlfriends before. I was starting to think you were allergic to the term 'commitment' or something."

"Ha-ha, that's so funny", Johnny replies sarcastically. "There hasn't been anyone worth talking about before."

That last comment makes Sue smile. A genuine smile this time. "Can you tell us more about her?"

Johnny seems to be very much done with this conversation, but his sister looks really hopeful to gather at least some information about you, so he eventually decides to keep talking. Even when the look on their faces makes him feel incredibly exposed, there's something oddly comforting about finally being able to talk to them about you. It feels like he’s finally introducing you into his life for good.

"She's...uh, well, we met like a month ago. She owns a bakery that's about four blocks from here. Insultingly gorgeous, beyond patient if she manages to put up with me all day."

"So she made those?" Reed asks, pointing at the bag he left on the kitchen counter as soon as he arrived earlier.

"Those...uh, yeah. I always tell her it's not necessary, but she likes sending them to you guys."

"Oh, Johnny, and all this time we haven't said a single thank you to that poor girl!" Sue snaps back at him, sounding completely horrified that he hasn't told them before. "We have to send her a gift someday."

"It's really not–"

"Yeah, H.E.R.B.I.E. and I can figure something out," Ben interrupts him. "There's this pumpkin pie recipe we've been meaning to try."

"Guys–"

"Great! And Reed and I can help."

"We can?" Reed asks in a confused whisper, knowing absolutely nothing about cooking. "Yeah, sure. Of course we can," he corrects himself when Sue turns to give him a look.

"No need to do that," Johnny insists, although he can't hide his smile right now. The fact that they're willing to send you a gift does really spark something in him. Like they're already fully accepting you into their lives too.

"It's the least we can do after getting free pastries for weeks!" his sister insists. "And perhaps you could invite her over sometime. I don't want her to think she's not welcome here."

Johnny is finally starting to feel a bit more comfortable now. So much so that he starts to genuinely consider Sue's proposition. What's the worst that could happen? It's probably time that they finally get to meet you.

But before he can get too comfortable, Reed decides to intervene. "Can I ask just one question?"

The atmosphere slightly shifts. Johnny's smile falters, Sue stops eating and Ben just looks down at his plate. The fact that Reed has been so quiet all this time is not really a good sign. It means he's been lost in his own head for way too long, evaluating and deciphering. That can be his biggest skill but also his worst flaw.

"I just want to know if you're...well, genuinely committed," he starts a bit uncertain, hoping his worries don't cause a misunderstanding. "This girl sounds very lovely. I just want to make sure–"

"What, that I'm not dumping her for the first woman that walks down the street?" Johnny interrupts him, his tone showing how displeased he is with his insinuation.

"No, I didn't mean–"

Before he can screw this up even further, Ben decides to intervene to help him out. "I think what Reed is trying to say is that you tend to be a guy that likes to keep things casual, so if that's the case, it's fair for her to know where you stand."

"No, I get exactly what he was trying to say. Johnny just has a really unhealthy relationship with women, right? He couldn't possibly be serious when he talks about this random chick he just met."

"Hey, I wasn't trying to insult you."

"Really?" he snaps back at his brother in law, offering him an ironic smile as he stands up from the table. "Too bad, Reed. Just because you don't mean it as an insult, doesn't mean it doesn't feel like one."

"Johnny," Sue tries, wanting to mediate the argument.

"Lost my appetite," he announces abruptly, right before storming to his room.

Sue sighs, immediately turning to her husband now, looking at him in complete silence. "I didn't mean it like that," he insists, sounding genuinely apologetic.

"We know you didn't," Sue reassures him. "But like he said, that doesn't mean it won't hurt him."

"You don't always have to say what's on that clever mind of yours, you know?" Ben adds shortly after, sounding sympathetic as well.

"Should I go talk to him?"

Sue gives his hand a tiny squeeze. "Give him some time to cool down. I'm sure he'll be open to listen to you later."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Johnny really fought against his initial instinct of running back to you for comfort, because he couldn't bring himself to lie to you about what happened, and he really didn't want to drag you into this.

He knew something like that would happen if he were to talk about your existence. They would all assume he's just being overdramatic over some girl he'll probably get bored of in a few more days. That his feelings aren't really that serious.

But that's only because they don't know you yet, and they have no idea how deeply you have impacted his life. Johnny never really understood that whole 'love at first sight' bullshit. He has claimed to be in love in the past, but he never really meant it. It was just Johnny being Johnny. But now he feels like a complete dumbass because he's pretty sure he experienced that the first time he laid eyes on you and now he can’t joke about it. His feelings are terrifyingly real.

Despite really wanting to be with you right now, he decides to stay locked up in his room with a pair of headphones on as a way to keep the outside noise away, simply lost in his own head.

That is, until a loud banging on his door startles him. Annoyed, he leaves his bed to head towards the door, opening it to meet Ben and Sue on the other side. “What?”

"Reed wants to apologize."

“Oh, does he? Because I don’t see him.”

“He’s in his lab. You know he likes to be there when he’s stressed. I’ll go find him.”

As Ben walks off, Johnny can’t help but let out a sigh as he walks back to his bed, half-regretting his outburst earlier during dinner. "He doesn't really have to. It's not like what he said isn't the truth, anyway."

"Don't say that."

"I'm sure you were all thinking the same thing. I don't have the best reputation. My longest relationship has been...what, two days? I'm not really a father's dreamed son in law."

Sue can't help but let out a soft chuckle at his absurdity. He leans back on his bed while she takes a seat next to him. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You're very clever, way too charming for your own good, and unbelievably kind. You have many great qualities,” she says in a soft, comforting voice. “Well, and let's not forget you're the Human Torch."

"You're obligated to say all that because you're my sister."

"I say it because it's true and I mean it. You're so special, Johnny, don't ever think otherwise."

Johnny stays quiet for a few seconds before offering his sister a soft smile. "Thank you."

She opens her arms and waits for him to get closer. Johnny rolls his eyes, as if the idea of hugging repulses him, but he's immediately sitting up and moving closer to her. Sue keeps her arms wrapped around him while he cuddles closer to her, and she can't help but think back on little two year-old Johnny seeking comfort in his big sister's arms after waking up from a nightmare.

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

"More than I'd like to admit," he replies almost immediately. "I swear, there's absolutely nothing casual between us."

"I'd really like to meet her, if you're okay with introducing us. Perhaps the two of us can visit her? If meeting everyone is too much just yet."

"No, no. I can bring her over. She's been dying to meet all of you too. I was the one making excuses all the time. I was just afraid, I guess."

"Afraid of what?" she asks softly, moving back enough to be able to look at him.

"Of allowing this to get as non-casual as it can get?" he says, not exactly sure on how to put his insecurities into words, but thankfully Sue seems to understand him perfectly.

"Oh, you really like her," she teases with a little smirk, making Johnny roll his eyes again.

"Alright. Enough," he says jokingly, trying to get away for her hug.

"Let me enjoy this please. I've waited so long for this moment," she replies, finally letting him go. "But seriously, I like seeing you like this. And I’m happy you found someone."

Johnny offers his sister a smile, reaching out to grab her hand to give it a gentle squeeze. Their little moment is abruptly interrupted when they hear a light knock on the door. Reed is standing there, with that same troubled expression he had when Johnny had walked away earlier.

"Relax, Reed. We're all good, buddy," Johnny says before he tries to blurt out awkward apologies at him. It's honestly better to just forgive him than to try to sit through a week-long monologue about how terribly sorry Reed is. He wouldn't hear the end of it. "At least for now. Don't get too comfortable."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

"A teaspoon, Reed! How do you not know what a teaspoon is!"

Reed looks beyond stressed, his apron filled with flour. He's practically sweating at this point. "Well, this isn't exactly my area of expertise!"

"Clearly," Ben replies right after while H.E.R.B.I.E. quickly pours the mix on top of the pie crust, ready to put it inside the oven.

Sue gives her husband a quick kiss on the cheek, offering him a smile. "You did your best, babe."

The elevator rings not too long after, announcing your arrival. Sue practically rushes towards you and Johnny to be the first to welcome you.

"It's so nice to finally meet you," she says cheerfully, giving you a hug.

Being in the presence of all four of them in their infamous tower certainly is nerve wracking, but Sue's embrace is a warm welcome that immediately makes you feel more at ease. "Oh, the pleasure's all mine, really," you immediately reply, your voice betraying you as it reveals how nervous you really are.

"She brought you flowers," Johnny says this time, noticing that in your panic state you totally forgot about the bouquet you’re currently holding in your hand.

"Yes, right! Sorry. These are for you," you quickly say, offering your boyfriend a soft smile in appreciation for his help.

"They're lovely, thank you," Sue keeps smiling at you, before her eyes briefly drift towards Johnny, letting him know she already likes you. You don’t really notice their silent exchange, focusing on the little robot that stands next to Sue instead, his tiny mechanical hands extended to receive the flowers. "Thank you H.E.R.B.I.E., but I'll find a place for them on my own."

The robot replies with a polite beep, turning his head to you now. He takes you in, offering a friendly wave before rushing back to the kitchen.

"See, even he likes you already," you hear Johnny whispering, his arm gently placed around your waist before leaving a delicate kiss on your cheek.

Then, Reed and Ben are approaching you. The sight of Mr. Fantastic covered in flour certainly is a hilarious sight, but you pretend to ignore it as you offer them a shy smile.

"Welcome," he says politely, extending a hand for a handshake, immediately realizing it's filled with flour. "Oh, I'm sorry," he whispers in embarrassment, trying to wipe his hand in his apron.

"We were doing a little something to repay you for all those free pastries you sent us," Ben explains with a soft laugh. "Hopefully it turns out decent enough. I’m Ben, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

You quickly introduce yourself, finding it amusing that he feels the need to introduce himself. As if they’re not the most beloved group on Earth. It’s a nice gesture though. "It's already starting to smell good, which is always a good sign," you point out regarding whatever it is that they attempted to bake, the faint smell of pumpkin slowly invading the room.

"If it fails, you might have to give us the instructions next time."

Reed nods. "I'm sure you'll yell a lot less than Ben here."

"It’s just mindblowing how you don't know what a teaspoon is. It’s in the name."

The interaction makes you giggle, and Johnny can't help but smile when he looks at you to catch you laughing. It's like the entire world around him disappears when he manages to capture even just a glimpse of your smile.

The pair walk back to the kitchen, but before you could follow them, you feel Johnny’s hand gently grabbing your purse, intending to slide it off your shoulder. "Let me take your coat," he offers. 

You quickly thank him before allowing him to grab your purse and coat, placing them at a nearby hanger before returning to your side, like there's some magnetic pull inevitably pulling him towards you.

"Are you okay?" he asks when he's next to you, his arm finding its way around your waist again.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you nod, turning to look at him. "They're really nice."

"I never doubted they'd like you." There's a hint of playfulness in his tone that you catch almost immediately, feeling your face burning in embarrassment when he pulls you closer, wrapping both arms around you. "How could they not?" he whispers, looking deep into your eyes with nothing but genuine affection. "You're perfect."

"Johnny," you half-warn him in a shy voice, barely able to keep eye contact with him anymore.

"What? You are perfect," he insists, searching for your eyes with a soft smile. "And I'm so incredibly lucky you're here. In my life, I mean."

You really appreciate his words, but it's becoming a bit too much to handle. It's always too much when he starts saying things like this. And it’s especially mortifying when his family is just feet away.

"Stop it," you insist, and he immediately pulls you in for a tight hug that takes you by surprise, making you giggle as you almost lose your balance.

"Sorry, I just can't help myself," he mutters into your hair, as if it's genuinely impossible to stop showing you so much affection. "I think you might become the death of me, you know?"

From the kitchen, the other three watch the scene unfold in silence, expressions mixed with curiosity and surprise at the sight of Johnny looking so infatuated with you.

"I never thought I'll get to see this side of him," Ben comments in the lowest voice possible. "I wasn't sure it even existed."

"He looks really...happy."

Sue smiles after her husband's comment. "He really does."

"Poor girl can't catch a break." Ben's statement comes right after Johnny mutters something else into your ear, immediately grinning to himself after you start laughing.

"Oh, she enjoys it just as much as Johnny does," Sue points out in her brother's defense. "It's cute. They're just starting their relationship. It's normal to be all over each other."

"I don't think I'll get used to this Johnny that easily," Reed comments.

"I love this Johnny," Sue comments right after. "And this is still our Johnny. We just hadn't had the chance to see this side of him before."

"Wish I hadn't seen it," Ben frowns in playful disgust, watching as his friend gives you a quick kiss on the lips before finally letting you go to finally join the others.

Johnny turns around, noticing the three of them looking at their exchange from the kitchen. "What a bunch of creeps," he calls out.

"You were the one all over her, pal," Ben replies shortly after.

"Well, she's my girlfriend, so I'll be all over her as much as I want."

"And we're the creepy ones."

Sue decides to ignore their banter, walking towards you to steal you away from Johnny's side. "Would you like anything? Tea, coffee, water? Perhaps something to eat?"

"Uh, tea would be nice," you reply, immediately following after her.

"Boys?" she calls next, awaiting for them to say anything.

You help Sue get everything ready after everyone announces what they'll be having. Reed quickly excuses himself to go get rid of as much flour remaining on his hands and clothes as possible while Johnny walks straight to one of the cabinets to retrieve a box of cereal.

Ben starts bickering with Johnny after he keeps attempting to throw cereal at his head. Reed returns with a small machine that makes a faint beeping noise, seemingly lost in his own little bubble with one of his many researches, briefly joining the argument when one of the cereals land on his head instead, distracting him from whatever it is that he’s checking. Meanwhile, Sue strikes up casual conversation with you in order to get to know you better.

summary: after defeating galactus, johnny realizes something, and he has to get it off his chest immediately.

warnings: quinn!johnny storm x reader, friends to lovers!au, mention of sue’s resurrection scene, mentions of fear of being alone, johnny being johnny, language, a little teeny tiny bit of angst, fluff and him being 100% down. fucking. bad.

— 💌 message from jordan: i know this isn’t my usual content, but the marvel brain rot has come back after seeing f4 and i simply can’t get johnny out of my head 😅 if you guys like this, maybe ill write some more for marvel again! anyway, i hope you guys love this as much as i do! it was super fun to write :)

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the soft yellow glow of the lamp on your nightstand illuminated your bedroom, the tv on as background noise as you rung your hair out in a towel, clad in your robe. you padded back to the room, sitting on the end of the bed and watching the news reporters cover their newest story.

“— and thanks to the fantastic four, the citizens of new york can sleep peacefully in their beds and be surrounded by their loved ones tonight knowing we are now safe from galactus.”

you reached back for your phone, tapping on the screen to see if any new messages came through while you were in the shower. the sight of a blank lockscreen made you frown, tapping to your messages to see if they had even been seen by him.

hey, saw the news. you okay?

delivered, 9:10pm

with a huff you tossed your phone back on the bed and walked back to the bathroom, grabbing your skincare products from the drawers. just as you were about to wash your face, there was a bang outside the room, forcing a jump from you. you furrowed your eyebrows, slowly tiptoeing back to your room.

when you turned the corner, the bright glow of yellow and orange now lit up your entire room. you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you had been holding, walking towards the window and undoing the lock to let him inside.

“johnny, what the hell!?” you turned around as he climbed in through the window, “i texted you! i saw the news and i texted you and you never answered and…”

you trailed off when you finally turned around, taking in the man who stood in front of you. his face was wearing an expression you rarely saw. a look of guilt and sadness, mixed with a hint of fear. his hair tousled from the wind, his baby blue eyes heavy and bloodshot. your movements froze.

“i uhm- i saw your text,” he said, taking a deep breath, “sorry i didn’t respond, i just… i wanted to see you. in person.”

“what’s wrong?” your voice softer now as you padded closer to him, now feeling guilty for raising your voice at him. but damnit, he scared the hell out of you.

“i watched my sister-“ he closed his mouth and looked off to the side, his eyes finding the cityscape outside the window as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. his eyes met yours again after a moment, a stray tear rolling down his cheek as he looked at you, “i watched my sister die and then magically come back to life,”

you furrowed your eyebrows, “what?”

“i don’t— i don’t know,” he sighed, flopping down onto the edge of your bed, “she was pushing galactus towards the bridge and it was too much and she…”

he paused for a minute as you sat down, your hand reaching out to his shoulder to comfort him. he took a deep breath, “i mean, reed checked her pulse and everything. she wasn’t even breathing. and then when reed put franklin on her chest to say goodbye, that’s when she came back to life,”

“i’m sorry,” you said softly, eyes soft as you scanned his features, “that’s… a lot.”

he let out a humorless chuckle, “yeah,” his eyes shifted to look at you, the whites of his eyes still slightly red, but you could tell they were still hiding something.

you had always been the one to notice that sometimes, no matter what his mouth said, his eyes said something different. they couldn’t hide the truth from you. no matter how hard he tried, he was an open book to you. completely vulnerable. a side not everyone got to see, but you were lucky you were one of the few.

“you’re sure that’s all that’s bothering you?”

damn it to hell.

he blinked, sucking in a breath and suddenly the air felt different. it felt heavier. like there were unspoken words between the two of you.

“it’s stupid, really-“

“johnny,” you watched as he stood from the bed, suddenly finding interest in the new york night sky once again. you tilted your head, unconvinced.

“no really, i promise, it’s nothing. i’ll go to bed and wake up tomorrow and it’ll be in the back of my mind-“

“c’mon,” your voice was still soft as you stood behind him, “it’s me. you know you can tell me anything and everything, and its clearly bothering you, so please. let me help.”

he turned back around, “when reed tried bringing sue back, and even when she did come back, you could just see how much he truly loved her. how glad he was that his person was back, and it made me realize that i’m a compete fucking idiot. that i’ll never have someone to love the way he loves her, or love me the way she loves him, because i’m an idiot who's too scared to tell the woman i’m in love with that i love her.”

you felt your heart drop to your stomach. sure, johnny had mentioned the long list of women waiting to have their turn with him, but it was never anything serious. never something more than a fling here and there.

but you had always held a tiny sliver of hope that you’d be the one to make it all seem worth it to him. the relationship, the dates, the anniversaries, all of it. you had loved him for so long, wished for just a single chance on every birthday cake candle and shooting star, but you always knew the answer. it was no use.

or so you thought.

“you’re not an idiot,” you said through the lump in your throat, “it’s just unnatural for you. you’re used to the girls lining up to have shot, not the sappy feelings part. and it’s okay to be scared of it. love is scary. but it’s also really beautiful.”

“have you ever been in love?”

you sucked in a breath, ignoring the pit in your stomach. you said you wanted to help, but had you known it was going to be about this…

“once,” you nodded, “i don’t think he ever felt the same way. especially not now.”

he swallowed, adam’s apple bobbing before he spoke, “did you ever tell him?”

you shook your head before he asked another question, “do you regret it?”

he could see it in your eyes. he knew. he knew for a while now, or at least he thought he did, but now he really did. the way you watched him intently, the way your eyes stayed locked on his. you looked at him like he hung the stars in the night sky. like he had all the answers to your problems.

and he hoped he did. because you were the answer to all of his.

you nodded again, this time your heart rising to your throat as he stepped closer, “maybe you should tell him. i’m sure he’d like to hear it right now.”

you pulled your eyebrows together, “what do you-“

“you said it yourself, it’s scary but beautiful,” he said, “so tell him. and i’ll tell her.”

you tried to play it cool, “i don’t-“

“say it,” his voice was soft but pleading, “please.”

you took a breath, now realizing how close the two of you were all of a sudden. your tongue swiped over your lips to wet them as you let out a shaky breath.

“i love you, johnny.”

that’s all it took before he was pulling you in closer by your hips, pressing his lips to yours in a messy kiss. he kissed you like he was drowning and you were oxygen.

like you were his lifeline.

“i love you,” he mumbled against your lips when he finally pulled away, “i’m sorry-“

“you’re here now,” you shook your head, smiling as you took in the smell of his cologne underneath the layer of faint ash, “that’s what matters.”

he leaned down and kissed you again, this time he picked you up off your feet and spun you around, hands gently placed on your back as your giggles broke the kiss.

you wrapped your legs around his hips, hands clutching the burgundy material in your hands. he smirked down at you playfully, forcing a smile on your lips and a chuckle to fall from them, “what?”

“nothing,” he shook his head, placing your back gently onto the mattress, his body scaling yours. he was warm to the touch, always had been since the accident, “just, feeling really lucky.”

you ran your fingers through his blonde strands, “lucky?”

“lucky cause the girl i love never stopped loving me, never gave up on me, even when she should’ve.”

“i would’ve waited a million lifetimes for you, you know,” you confessed quietly, “as pathetic as it sounds,”

he dropped his head to yours, foreheads pressing together, “i don’t deserve you.”

“mm, yeah, probably,” you joked back as he let out a chuckle. his smile lighting up his face. his usual, ‘johnny like’ persona slowly creeping its way back in.

“wanna find out why the ladies call me ‘torch’?” he joked and you laughed, maybe a little too loud but you didn’t care.

“no one calls you that!”

“sure they do!” he argued back, a cocky smile still on his face, “y’know, in their dreams and fantasies or whatever.”

“maybe in your dreams, hotshot,” you mumbled before kissing him once again. his lips slotting with yours almost as perfect and intoxicating as the first time. his free hand cupping your face, thumb slowly caressing your cheek as he kissed you.