Anything For You - Healer!Reader
If It Wasn't For That Text - Teacher!Reader
Yours Always - Plant Manipulation!Reader
Fragility in Perfection - Johnny Storm x Assistant!Reader
Part 1 Part 2
WIPS:
Johnny Storm x Smoke Manipulation!Reader
KIROKAZE
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

if i look back, i am lost
ojovivo
AnasAbdin

Andulka

tannertan36
One Nice Bug Per Day
I'd rather be in outer space šø
art blog(derogatory)

Janaina Medeiros
Sweet Seals For You, Always
trying on a metaphor

shark vs the universe

ē„ę„ / Permanent Vacation
todays bird
almost home
occasionally subtle

seen from Iraq
seen from Colombia

seen from Peru

seen from United States

seen from Canada
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Chile

seen from United States

seen from Malaysia
seen from T1
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@ninablossom1
Anything For You - Healer!Reader
If It Wasn't For That Text - Teacher!Reader
Yours Always - Plant Manipulation!Reader
Fragility in Perfection - Johnny Storm x Assistant!Reader
Part 1 Part 2
WIPS:
Johnny Storm x Smoke Manipulation!Reader

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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at some point in your life you will be boiling fruit, water, sugar, and lemon juice in a pot to make a syrup or jam. the instructions will tell you to simmer for a certain amt of time. your timer will go off and you will look at the pot and go, "hm, this doesn't look thick enough. maybe i'll let it go for another 10 minutes." this is the devil speaking. it's only so liquid right now because it is at boiling point. it will thicken when it cools down. learn from the follies of my youth and do not let this happen to you
at some point in your life you will be making a sauce or a stew in which you need to add cornstarch to thicken it. and you will prepare a slurry of starch in cold water and think "this looks like way too little starch to thicken this amount of liquid." this is the devil speaking. cornstarch instantly polymerizes at 95°C and if you add too much it will turn into an impossibly thick goop.
at some point in your life you will be making some sort of cream based dessert that requires gelatin to thicken it. and you will soak some gelatin sheets in water and think "this is too few gelatin sheets for this amount of cream." this is the devil speaking. it will thicken in the fridge and if you add too much you will end up with milk jelly
at some point in your life you will be baking cookies. you will take the sheet out after twelve minutes as the recipe instructs and the cookies will still be glistening and soft. "these don't seem cooked enough," you will think to yourself, "i should place them back into the oven until their edges are nice and golden." this is the devil talking. this is how you get dry, overdone cookies. the cookies will continue to bake on the warm sheet for several more minutes and then harden up after sitting on a rack for a while. trust the process. trust the process.
at some point in your life you will be adding a small pasta to a soup and you will think "that is not enough small pasta." this is the devil talking. the pasta will absorb the stock and expand. this is how you end up with a soup that is a solid mass of soggy ditalini.
At some point in your life you will be adding garlic to a dish and you will think "that is not enough garlic." These are angels speaking. They are correct. Add more garlic.
the issue with writing for yourself is that you will get sucked into rereading your own fic over and over and pretend itās āediting,ā but really youāre just reading because itās exactly what you want to read. because you wrote it. for you.
and then you will be like why does this asshole never finish anything god
Fragility in Perfection (Part 2)
Pairing: Johnny Storm x Assistant!Reader
Summary: Will Reader and Johnny finally confront their feelings for eachother???
Word Count: 12 K
Rating: Explicit
Tags/Warnings: 18+ MDNI, fem!reader, Assistant!reader, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff, Fantastic Four: First Steps, friends with benefits, no use of y/n, making out, pet names, dirty talking, p in v sex, cream pie, oral (f/m receiving), misogyny, use of OC (for plot purposes)
MASTERLIST Part 1
If you prefer to read on AO3, here is the LINK
Author's Note: Part 2 is here! Again sorry for the wait, I had a bit of writers block with this one. š Enjoy!
You held your hand to your mouth to muffle your moans as Johnny pounded into you from behind. He had you bent over the end of your bed, your hair in his hand, pulled to keep your head up. Your skirt was hiked up on your hips, tights ripped, panties pushed aside, and dick so deep in your pussy you swore you could see stars.Ā
Today had been especially stressful for both of you. Johnny was dealing with the aftermath of Mole Man and the PanAm building fiasco, meaning he had been helping with infrastructure rebuilding using his powers to weld metal together.Ā
You had spent the whole day rescheduling meetings and had made multiple public statements on behalf of the team regarding the incident. Making the statements wasn't something you would typically do. Reed was seen as the de facto leader and would usually speak for the team, but with them being so busy, he asked you to prepare something short to say in the meantime, telling you he trusted you to talk for them. He emphasized that anything you said would be perfect; it always was.Ā
The trust they had in you added an odd pressure to what you had to present to the public, that anything you said needed to be something they would say. You had spent hours figuring out what exactly would be right. You weren't them; you felt as though you shouldn't have the right to speak for them. You were just, well, you. No one special. Not like them. And yet they all told you that the statement you made was great, that they couldn't have said it better. It still felt like you could have done better for them, though.Ā
What you and Johnny were doing now was purely stress relief, something quick to take the edge off as you'd both been pent up and irritated. It was something messy and lustful, what you'd initially agreed on, just sex. You'd take your time later, probably, hopefully. He had a way of completely taking you apart and putting you back together again that felt like so much more than what friends would do. All you wanted him to do right now, though, was fuck every thought from your head, including the ones about him being more than just your friend.
He leaned over you and whispered into your ear, āYou looked so fucking good on TV earlier. Talking for us, answering all those questions. You're a natural, should have you up there more, show you and your pretty face off.ā
Your moan was muffled by your hand, but he laughed breathlessly when he felt your pussy clench at his words. He'd been slowly learning what turned you on and what got you to react over the last few months since you both agreed to the arrangement. Praise was something he'd found out quickly. It helped that he liked giving it to you.Ā
āFuck you're so tight for me, baby. Feel so good-ā Johnny gasped, gripping your hip tighter, ensuring there would be some marks left there. One of the things he secretly enjoyed was leaving marks on you that you'd find later when you undressed again, a little reminder of him. You never told him to stop doing it.
Ben called your name from downstairs, and both of you instantly stopped. You looked over your shoulder, slight panic filling your eyes as he slowly pulled out of you, hesitating for just a moment before moving out of your way. You had been right on the edge and felt like you just got doused in ice water. You swallowed hard and cleared your throat, trying desperately to make your voice sound normal as you opened your bedroom door to peek your head out.Ā
āYeah, Ben?ā You called back just as loudly so he'd hear you from the kitchen. Your voice only cracked a little at the end, and you quickly cleared it with a cough.Ā
āPhone call for ya, it's your dad. Said he tried calling your line first but didn't get an answer.ā Ben replied.
āFucking Christ,ā you muttered, rubbing the bridge of your nose before responding. āOkay, give me a second.ā
You quickly pushed your ruined tights off and threw them towards Johnny, who looked utterly amused, watching your irritated form move around the room as he sat on your bed, still very much flushed and aching. He didn't particularly find the situation funny, just typical that neither of you were going to get any satisfaction. You'd both continue to be pent up and frustrated.
The headband you used when taking your makeup off was pushed onto your head as a way to explain anything wrong with your makeup; it was definitely at least a little smudged. It also hid how messy your hair was from Johnny tugging on it.
Johnny couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh as he pulled his pants back on, tucking himself back in his underwear. Neither of you could catch a break today. āRaincheck?ā He asked as you pushed your feet into your plush slippers that you'd wear around the house.
You sighed and nodded. āTonight? He probably needs help with something again.ā
āIf he does, I'll drive you over,ā Johnny offered with a smile, moving towards your bedroom door where you stood, hesitating. He knew that anything having to do with your father stressed you out, and dealing with him was going to be the cherry on top of an already bad day. If he could help you, he would in a heartbeat. Maybe even half of one.Ā
āI'd actually really appreciate that,ā you said, before blowing him a kiss and quickly making your way down the stairs. You'd been way more affectionate with Johnny recently, and you needed to watch yourself; otherwise, you were going to slip up in front of the others. Fucking blowing kisses? Were you in high school? You chided yourself in your head as you stomped down the stairs, irritated at the interruption and the fact that the irritation was your father.
Ben was still on the phone with your dad, having an idle conversation about a football game that was on when you entered the room.Ā
āYeah, Sir. They are doing really badly this season,ā Ben said, eyes narrowing at you for a moment as you approached the phone. You really hoped he wasn't reading too much into your appearance. āOh, hang on, here's your daughter.āĀ
āThanks, Ben. Sorry,ā you said, grabbing the receiver from him.
āHope I wasn't interrupting anything important,ā he stated, moving into the kitchen. If anyone were to put the pieces together, it would definitely be Ben.
āNope, was just finishing some work stuff and about to take off my makeup,ā you said quickly with a smile, before holding the phone to your ear.Ā
You heard Ben hum in acknowledgment as he went back to making dinner.
āHey, Dad,ā you said, moving so you were facing away from Ben. āWhat's up?ā
āI tried calling your line three times. Why didn't you pick up?ā He asked immediately, voice gruff and deep, full of what you knew to be his version of worry.
You sighed, closing your eyes and rubbing at your face. āI've been really busy. Did you call my office? Cause Iām not always there.ā
āCalled your office, your room line. Then the main phone and got a hold of Ben.ā he huffed, you could hear the flip of his Zippo lighter as he lit up a cigarette.Ā
āI'm sorry. I probably just didn't hear it in my room,ā you responded, twirling the cord around your finger, needing a distraction. You definitely heard it and chose not to pick it up, as you were too focused on Johnny and the sinful things he was doing to you. āDid you need something?āĀ
āYeah, that new television you got me isn't working. Tried watching the news. The black and white one I had worked fine, but you had to get the new color stuff, and here it is, not working. They don't make this shit like they used to,ā he grumbled. You could hear him take a heavy drag on his cigarette.
āDo you need me to come over and look at it?ā You asked, fully knowing what the answer was going to be.
āIt would be nice if you could,ā he responded half-heartedly. āYou gonna bring the Storm kid again. Flame guy?ā
āI can if you want me to,ā you said suspiciously. Your father was never one to be super upfront with you about anything, ever. He had been asking about Johnny more and seemed to like that you had someone āhandy and capableā around. Whatever the fuck that meant in dad terms. You weren't even sure if he actually liked Johnny or if he just liked another male presence around the house who was willing to help with projects your father struggled with as he got older.
āHe could fix the television, I'm sure. Does all that stuff with the cars all the time, couldn't be that hard for a guy like him to figure out. Smart lad,ā he stated absently. Your jaw tensed a bit, and you squeezed the receiver a little tighter. You loved your dad, but he never thought you were capable of things, and it always hit that spot in you where you knew he wished he had a son, not a daughter.
āOkay. I'll see if he's free,ā you responded, tone more clipped than you intended. āI'll be there in about an hour. Might be longer with traffic.ā
āOkay, kid. I'll be watching the clock,ā he responded and hung up the phone. You really wanted to slam the receiver back into the wall mount, but refrained and placed it back nicely before stomping your way back upstairs to change into something your father would approve of.Ā
You debated on if you wanted to have Johnny come along or not as you slipped into your room, just to have the chance to prove yourself to your father. That you knew how to fix things, especially a stupid TV. But, the other part of you didn't want to be with your father alone, as he always asked about when you were settling down and getting married, pushing the sons of his friends onto you. Having Johnny as a buffer helped you avoid those inquiries, even if it meant putting your pride aside and having Johnny āfixā whatever issues it was.Ā
Honestly, you were surprised your father even called to talk to you anymore and didn't just cut out the middle man and ask for Johnny directly to fix his shit.Ā
You changed into a more casual outfit: dark slacks and a striped, long-sleeved shirt. You then took off your makeup, which was luckily only a little smudged, and fixed your hair before trudging over to Johnnyās room to give him the news.
āHis name is Robert. He's currently a resident doctor at the hospital down the street,ā your father explained, standing in the living room next to you as you watched Johnny mess with the back of the TV. This was incredibly awkward, and you'd never seen Johnny so tense before. His face was set into a deep frown as he seemed to be trying very hard to ignore the conversation, but failing miserably.
āDad,ā you sighed, crossing your arms over your chest, frustration evident in your tone. āThis is hardly the time to talk about this.ā
āThis is the perfect time. Johnathan doesn't mind, right son?ā Your father asks Johnny, who froze at having the attention on him.Ā
The room was dead silent for a beat too long, waiting for Johnny's response.
āUm, yeah. It's fine,ā he responded, obviously bothered but not wanting to be disrespectful.Ā
āSee. It's fine,ā your father stated, not taking note of Johnnyās tone. āSo, Robert, he's Jack's son. You know Jack, one of my squad mates. Anyway, Robert is a really good guy. Asked about you actually today when he saw you on the TV.ā
You nodded and frowned, staring at the ground, trying to figure out how to get out of the conversation. āYeah. You know, I just don't have a lot of time to date. Weird that he was asking about me...ā
āWell, I mentioned you last time I talked to him. He comes with Jack to our poker games when he's not working. Said he would be interested in meeting you,ā he said casually, too casually as he pulled out a cigarette and lighter. Your eyes flicked over to Johnny. He had stopped working, catching the shift in energy in the room.Ā
Oh no.
āDad-ā you gritted out.Ā
āHe said he had some time today to come over. He finished his shift an hour ago. Should be here any minute, actually,ā he stated, lighting up a cigarette. The flick of his zippo was familiar but nauseating in the moment as you felt anger settle into your chest, burning.Ā
This felt like a setup, and you would have walked out the front door if the chime of the doorbell ringing didnāt sound, freezing you in place like a statue. You felt your stomach drop as you watched your father happily go to answer the door. You felt like you were in a nightmare, hoping you'd wake up in bed, next to Johnny, his warmth seeping into your skin. But no, you were very much awake as you turned towards Johnny. His face was schooled into a neutral expression, but flames danced in his eyes; he was angry, and you couldn't tell exactly what he was angry about, but you had a good idea. He just continued working silently; he wouldn't even look at you.
The sound of two deep voices chattering down the hall drew you away from Johnny. You thought it was awkward talking about another man in front of Johnny, but having someone your father really wanted to set you up with, who was obviously interested in dating you, in the same room with the man you were fucking⦠well, this had to be your personal version of hell. You wanted to throw up. Maybe a black hole would open up and swallow you. You looked back over at Johnny once more. His face was unreadable, but his posture said it all.Ā
Your dad called your name, and you swallowed before plastering on a fake smile, forcing your arms to uncross and settle at your sides as you stood in the middle of the living room. Your father walked a tall man into the room. He looked about your age, had brownish-red hair that was cut into a popular style, a small curl twisted out of the way he fixed it. He had a full suit on, obviously his Sunday best, something that would impress your father. Definitely the opposite of Johnny, who was sporting his red jacket and jeans with the expectation that he was helping your father fix his TV, not performing in a mating ritual to fight for your attention like a bird.Ā
Robert smiled and said your name, voice deep and kind, as he held his hand out to you. You found your cheeks flushing in embarrassment at this whole situation and shook his hand. He still held yours and pulled the back of it to his lips to kiss your knuckles before releasing you. You inhaled sharply and pulled your hand back slowly, eyeing your father's smug smile. You hated this.
āItās great to finally meet you. Your father talks about you all the time,ā Robert said, a large smile on his face. You nodded and responded with a short āYou too.āĀ
Robert tugged on the collar of his shirt, and you could see sweat beading on his forehead. He made a comment about it being a little warm in the house, and your father shrugged.
āIt must be the furnace again. Randomly gets warm in here,ā your father stated, lingering on the edge of the room, watching the chaos he was creating. You bit your lip, eyes flicking to Johnny, who was turning the TV on, checking to make sure it was working. It was. You knew why it was hot in the room.
You really thought you could use Johnny as an escape, but he seemed to have a different idea. He walked over to your father, giving Robert and you a wide berth. āSir, I got the TV working again. But I do have to go, duty calls,ā Johnny said carefully, holding his watch up with a shrug. There was no emergency, just an excuse to leave.
āThank you for your help, Johnathan. I'll make sure my daughter gets home okay. Take care of those bad guys for us.ā Your father responded, patting Johnny on his shoulder. You felt yourself shrink a bit, knowing you'd be stuck here.
āThank you, Sir. And will do,ā he turned towards you, brows furrowing just slightly. He said your name with a tight-lipped smile and a shrug before turning towards a slack-jawed Robert and gave him a curt nod before he left, the front door clicking loudly behind him. As soon as he was gone, a chill settled over the room.Ā
āWas that the Human Torch?ā Robert asked in disbelief, blinking as if he was clearing his vision, not believing it.Ā
āYeah. He's a friend, pretty handy fixing stuff,ā you said politely, still staring at where he was standing before he walked out. It felt like something in your chest hurt. It burned with a weird shame you shouldn't be feeling. Johnny wasn't anything more than your friend⦠but why didn't it feel like that then? Why did it feel like you somehow hurt him?Ā
Your father went and got Robert and himself a beer, and you a Coke. Beer was for the men, of course. Robert sat next to you on the couch, your father in his armchair. Robert was nice enough to ask you about your job and things you liked.
It felt performative, though, in front of your father, who sat like a chaperone to your first date, like you weren't in your late twenties. You weren't sure if Robert was actually interested in you or not. Really, you hadn't been paying much attention since Johnny left. Like a part of yourself left with him, which was ridiculous because he was just your friend. You had to remind yourself whenever your thoughts lingered too long.
āSo, you're in the emergency department. That must be really stressful,ā you commented after Robert told you about his job.
āIt's stressful, yeah, but it's a way that I can help people. I don't have superpowers like the Fantastic Four, but I can help make people feel better,ā he shrugged, trying to remain bashful. You nodded, looking down at your watch, and cringed. It was already well past ten at night, and you knew you were going to have another early morning.Ā
āI should probably get going,ā you said quickly, standing up a little too fast. The two men followed suit, your father a little slower than Robert. āIāll catch a cab,
Dad, itās a little late for you to take me home.ā
āI can take you,ā Robert offered, a small smile on his lips.Ā
āAh, Rob, always the gentleman. That would be great, wouldn't it-ā your dad said your name in the tone you knew you couldn't say no to. Commanding. Final.
āYeah, sure. Thank you,ā you muttered quietly, walking with the two men down the hall towards the front door, grabbing your purse as you opened the door. You hugged your Dad quickly before stepping out, head lowered as you waited for Robert to shake your dad's hand, claiming he'd get you home safe.Ā
Your father continued to watch from his front stoop as Robert opened the passenger door for you, allowing you to get in before shutting the door and jogging around to his side. He gave another goodbye to your father before hopping in and starting the engine.
The first few blocks were silent before he spoke up. āI know your father set all of this up without you knowing. I'm sorry about that. I had insisted that we should meet in a different way, but your father is very⦠convincing.ā
You laughed at his phrasing. āHe has always been like that. I get it.ā
āI would like to take you out on a proper date. Without the chaperone if that's okay?ā Robert asked, looking over at you as he stopped at a red light. You nodded and looked over at him. He was handsome and nice. He was actually interested in you, for whatever reason, even after knowing your father.
āSure, why not?ā you responded with a smile. āIt would be easier for me to work around your schedule, so you just need to tell me when and where.ā
Johnny didn't seem like he wanted to settle down anytime soon, from what he claimed. Robert was nice, a doctorāsomething stable, but you also wanted your career and life. You hadnāt fully figured out if you were even ready to settle down. But a date wouldn't hurt, right?
āYeah, that works. I'm on shift for the next four days, but am off Sunday if that would work?ā He asked, driving as soon as the light turned green.Ā
āSunday works, pending there isn't a giant emergency,ā you laughed, gripping your purse tighter to your body.Ā
Why did you feel nervous agreeing?
āIt's a date then,ā he stated, pulling up to the front of the Baxter Building. You guessed that everyone knew where it was. He put the car in park and hurried over to open the door for you, taking your hand to help you out. āDo you mind if I hug you?ā
You felt a little more at ease being in front of the building, your home, and you nodded. āSure.ā
He pulled you in, his tall form enveloping you. He wasn't warm, not like Johnny. āIt was great meeting you finally. I'll pick you up here at 6 pm Sunday?ā
āAs you said, it's a date.ā
He bid you goodbye, waited for you to walk into the building, and then drove off. Maybe he was a gentleman?
You made your way up to the apartment and were greeted by Sue and Reed watching a show on the couch.Ā
Sue looked over at you with a smile. āOh, you're back! I thought Johnny would have brought you home, but he mentioned something about some guy your father wanted you to meet. So? How was it? Is he nice?ā
She was always interested in anything going on with you. Would she have preferred you were dating her brother? Of course, she would, then she could actually call you her sister. But whatever made you happy would make her happy.Ā
āHe was nice. He's a doctor. Very gentlemanly. We have a date on Sunday,ā you replied with a shrug, as if it was no big deal and you were reading out facts. You felt like you were still reeling a bit from your father's surprise attack. But Robert was kind, and you'd at least see where a date went.Ā
āA doctor! Wow, look at you,ā Sue said, getting up and meeting you to give you a hug. āTell me, is he cute?ā
You laughed and shook your head at her probing. āHandsome, I would say.ā
āHey, you haven't had a good date in a few years. Maybe he'll be the one?ā Sue suggested holding your shoulders.
āI wouldn't put too much on that. Plus it was my dad who set this up. He could secretly be a real jerk,ā you chuckled, a little pessimistic. Your luck with men had been abysmal so far.
āHey, bright side only. If it works out great, if not-ā she lowered her voice. āYou can always date Johnny. He's definitely interested in you based on his little fit when he came home.ā
You stiffened and swallowed. She tilted her head, just slightly, taking note of your reaction. āFit?ā You asked quietly, confusion lacing your words. You and Johnny were just friends, he didn't like you more than that. She smirked.
āHe was a little upset, I would say. Went right up to his room,ā Sue stated, with a shrug. āIt might be worth talking to him. You usually cheer him up.ā
āI might be the reason he's upset, though,ā you said carefully, biting your lip.
Sue hummed with a nod. āEither way, talking about things resolves conflicts. Smooth it over. Whatever happens is meant to happen.ā
You gave her another hug, and she chuckled. āThank you, Sue.ā
āOf course. You're like my younger sister, anything for you,ā she responded, moving back into the living room to sit with Reed. She gave you a thumbs up as you moved towards the stairs to his bedroom.Ā
You hesitated at Johnnyās door before knocking carefully, patterned. The way he'd know it was you at the door. When no response came, you moved the handle and found it unlocked. You pushed it open.Ā
āJohnn-ā you started excitedly, but stopped short, finding the room empty. You half expected him to be listening to the golden records, trying to decipher the alien languages Reed kept recording, but nothing. You closed the door carefully with a click, disappointment settling into your gut as you went to your room and flicked the switch on. Not there either.Ā
You shut your door and sat on your bed. The heavy feeling lingered; you should be happy you were going on a date. It would be nice, maybe fun? But why did you feel so bad? You shook your head. You were probably just tired. You'd barely slept the past few nights.Ā
But still, you couldn't stop thinking of Johnny as you got ready for bed. The way he looked at your father's house, so tense and angry. You took a sleeping pill, hoping it would send you into a dreamless sleep, not fully of Johnny. You weren't that lucky.
It was already Sunday, and you had yet to talk to Johnny. He'd been avoiding you, very purposefully. He would come to the morning meeting in the kitchen, right at the very last second when everyone was already at the table, and would get up and leave the second you finished the breif. You would try to stop him, but he'd fly off from the balcony, leaving you frowning and a little embarrassed as the team stared on. With you also being busy, you couldn't exactly wait around for him during the day so youād stay awake in your room with your door open each night, hoping you would hear him sneaking back inside. You could never keep your eyes open long enough, always falling asleep propped up against your headboard, book in hand.
At this point, you were a little desperate to talk to him. You'd camped out in his room the whole day, hoping he would come back before you had to get ready for your date, but no luck. You couldnāt even imagine where to start looking for him. He had multiple places he would hang out, that alone would have taken you all day to check out, without any idea if youād see him. You could pull his schedule and force him to talk to you, but that would probably only push him away further.Ā
Disappointment and hurt lingered in your chest as you applied your makeup. Honestly, it wasnāt even disappointment; you were just plain sad. If you had known your father was going to pull that, you would have never had Johnny tag along with you. But it didnāt give Johnny the excuse to straight up avoid you like the plague.Ā
You missed him. Not even the sex, just spending time doing random things together like movie nights or talking about a new space discovery. You had purposefully subscribed to a monthly space magazine just to talk to him about articles inside. You sighed as you stared at your downturned face in the mirror of your vanity, trying your best to cheer yourself up.Ā Ā
With you having no idea what the night had in store, you opted to dress up a bit, pulling out one of your nicest dresses. It was a burgundy piece that squared off on the collar and dipped low enough to give a hint of cleavage, nothing too provocative but still a little sexy. A matching belt cinched your waist and accentuated your curves, leaving just enough to the imagination for someone to crave more. You wanted to look good.Ā
A sick little twisted part of you hoped it made Johnny jealous, if he even saw you. He was the one avoiding you, refused to talk to you, not the other way around.
You slipped on a comfortable pair of heels, keeping in mind that you may be walking around, hopefully not much, since the autumn air was growing colder. You grabbed your purse and made your way down the stairs, but stopped right before turning the corner that led to the kitchen. There was a very heated conversation between Sue and Johnny that you definitely should not be listening to, yet you lingered when you heard your name.Ā
āAvoiding her isnāt the answer, Johnny,ā Sue snapped. You could imagine her with her hands on her hips, frustrated with a frown creasing her brows, a common pose during their sibling arguments.Ā
āIām not avoiding-ā
Sue cut him off. āYou are though. Every morning, sheās up early, and she waits for you, tries to catch you after, but you book it out of here like thereās an emergency. Hell, she waited all day today in your room for you, and now sheās going out with that guy. And you know what, Iām kind of hoping it goes well, because youāre acting incredibly childish.ā
āSheās going on a date with him?ā He asked, shock lacing his words.Ā
āShe is. And she should be down any minute. Donāt act surprised, Iām sure she has wanted to tell you all week.ā
āI justā¦ā a long pause. āYou know how I feel, Sue. I didnāt want to stand in her way, ruin our friendship.āĀ
Sue let out a long sigh. āYou donāt know that it would ruin anything.ā
āBut I do we have a-ā
You didnāt want to eavesdrop anymore, so you made yourself known by loudly moving down the rest of the stairs. Their conversation ended as they watched you enter the kitchen and move towards the elevator. Sue gave you a tight-lipped smile, and Johnny just stared at you with a frown.Ā
āA little tense in here,ā You laughed awkwardly, swallowing hard as you clicked the elevator button.Ā
āOh, itās nothing for you to worry about,ā Sue stated quickly, relaxing her arms to look more casual as she looked over at her brother. āYou look great, by the way, right Johnny?ā
He didn't respond right away, just continued to stare at you, face unreadable. You bit the inside of your cheek, trying not to show he was affecting you, upsetting you.Ā
āYeah. I agree,ā He stated flatly, moving his eyes away from you and crossing his arms over his chest. āHave fun.ā
āThanks,ā You said quietly, as the doors opened behind you. āIām not sure when Iāll be home, but I have my watch on in case you need anything.ā
āWe wonāt be calling you for anything. Enjoy your night,ā Sue responded sweetly, watching as the doors of the elevators closed.Ā
Youād never know what she said after, but you had a feeling it wasnāt going to be very nice, based on their prior conversation. You shook your head, clearing your thoughts, trying your best to push a smile onto your face. The date would be fun; you were going to have a good time, otherwise it would be a fun story to tell Sue later.Ā
Robert was waiting out front, twenty minutes early. He was leaning against his car, smoking a cigarette, when he saw you, his eyes went wide. He just stared as you approached, as if dumbstruck. He blinked away his shock and quickly stomped out the cigarette. āSorry, I donāt usually make a habit of smoking. I was really nervous. But, um, wow. You look-ā He swallowed, finding the words. āAmazing. More than amazing. Words seem to have left me.āĀ
You laughed, a small blush flushing your cheeks. At least someone admired how you looked tonight. āThank you, Robert. Glad I could leave you speechless. You look great too, the tie is cute.ā His tie was navy and had tiny white printed dinosaurs on it.
He looked down and grimaced. āI promise, I meant to grab a plain blue one. I wear these at work, the kids who come in get a kick out of the animals.ā
āIām not judging, I promise. Thatās really cute, actually,ā You replied, motioning to the car. āShould we get going?ā
āShit-Shoot, yeah. Sorry. Let me grab the door for you,ā He said quickly. You smiled at his very obvious nervousness; it was endearing.Ā
You slid into his passenger seat, and he carefully shut the door behind you before getting in the car himself. āSo, Robert, where are we off to?āĀ
āWell, I asked around for some recommendations at work, and there was a very large consensus on this Italian restaurant- āĀ
He explained everything his coworkers told him about the place as he drove. You couldnāt help the small smile that lingered on your lips. But you couldn't shake that lingering feeling that it felt wrong, that it wasnāt supposed to be Robert making you laugh and taking you out to nice restaurants.Ā
Robert kissed you when he dropped you off. It was short, sweet. More of an innocent peck. Did it make your heart flutter? Sure. But⦠you couldn't place your finger on the feeling in your chest as you stood in the elevator, staring at the wall. You hadn't pressed the button to move yet, just stared absently.
Everything felt wrong. And you wondered if the lingering feeling was not being able to resolve your issues with Johnny. Instead of going straight back to the apartment, you hit the button for the roof. It felt like you weren't in your body as you watched the numbers tick up, finally stopping at the R for roof. The elevator was shielded from the outside by a small room with a push door leading outside. It was dark, except for the one auxiliary light in the ceiling, giving an eerie glow.Ā
You pushed the heavy door open with minimal effort. A cold breeze slid its way over your skin as you stepped outside, causing goosebumps to crawl up your arms. You couldn't bring yourself to care. You walked over to the railing on the edge and leaned against it. It was sturdy, made of brick, and would require at least a little effort to climb over if you really wanted to. You didn't. You really just wanted to lean against it and watch the cars go past on the road below, hoping it would help to sort your thoughts.Ā
Feelings fucking sucked, especially when you had no clue what it was that they were. You'd never felt it before. Surrendering yourself to the potential of hurt. It was a peaceful calmness, warmth, home. Nothing you'd ever felt for someone before, it was confusing.Ā
You let out a long groan, leaning your upper body fully against the railing, hands pressed against your eyes. The date with Robert went well. Honestly, better than the majority of dates you'd been on in the past. He was sweet and kind, and he definitely deserved better than you and your baggage and bullshit and- āHey.āĀ
You jumped and spun around so fast you almost lost your balance. Your heart was hammering in your chest, and you had to suck in a gasp to steady your breathing.Ā
āJohnny, what the fuck! You scared me,ā you snapped, holding your hand to your chest, face a little flushed from embarrassment.
āSorry. I didn't mean to,ā he shrugged, moving closer to you, a little hesitantly. You didn't move away from him, just made space next to where you stood. He radiated a warmth you didn't realize you were craving, and subconsciously, you moved closer. āIt was kind of funny, though. Didn't think you'd be up here too.ā
You scoffed and shook your head. āThis is where you go when you're avoiding me?ā
āAmongst other places,ā he responded, turning to face you. His eyes flicked over your face, then down your body.Ā
āWhat? Something wrong with how I look?ā You asked, crossing your arms over your chest, trying to keep your exposed arms a little warmer, definitely not because you felt raw and exposed in front of him. Johnny stepped closer, hand coming up to rest on your cheek. It was heartbreakingly gentle, a soft caress. He ran his thumb along your cheek slowly.Ā
āThe opposite. You're breathtaking,ā he whispered, letting the subtle night wind carry his words away.Ā
Your brows furrowed, watching him carefully. You wanted to believe his words. You really, truly did, but he'd been ignoring every attempt you'd taken to talk to him, work out whatever was happening between you. He couldn't just say some sweet-talking shit to you and expect you to roll over and forgive him.
āYouāno. You don't mean that. You've given me the cold shoulder practically all week. You'd barely look at me just a few hours ago,ā you argued, staring him right in the eye. He pursed his lips and pulled back slightly from your face, opting to grab your chilled hands instead, warming them with just his touch.Ā
Stay strong. Don't give in.
āI knowā¦āĀ
You waited a beat, hoping he'd elaborate, but he just stared at your joined hands, frowning. You scoffed, ripping your hands from his, more harshly than you intended.Ā
Why did your chest hurt so bad?Ā
āWow, Johnny. I really thought you'd have more to say,ā you bit out sarcastically, stepping back from him. āI-I thought we were friends, that us fucking wasn't going to-āĀ
āWould you just give me a second? I can't fucking think straight around you!ā he exclaimed, running his hands through his hair, inhaling sharply.Ā
āYou've had four fucking days to think while not around me. You should have plenty to say,ā you retorted, stepping back further, pushing your back into the bricks, hard. It bit into your skin, grounded you. āBut please, have some more time. I've only got all night.āĀ
āI can't explain it! I know I've been a fucking asshole. And you have every right to be mad. Justāfuckāit felt like I didnāt exist! I just had to sit there and watch you be flirty and shit with another guy. Like you actually wanted him, not me.ā
āWhat the fuck are you talking about?ā
āAt your dad's. You were flirting with another fucking guy right in front of me,ā he snapped, swiping his hand towards your direction. āThe blushing and his hand kissing shit. Hell, even tonight, his gentlemanly manners.ā He put air quotes around gentlemanly.
āYou thought I was flirting with him?ā You asked, shaking your head in astonishment. āI was so worried about you and how awkward everything was that I just went with it to get it over with. I was embarrassed that my father did that to you, but you didnāt really give me much of a choice to do or say anything else when you just left, faking an emergency. I only gave Robert a shot because he was nice and- well, I thought it would get my father to drop the whole dating thing for a while.āĀ
āI would have taken you out. You don't need another guy to do that for you,ā Johnny stated, as if you should have just inferred that from everything he'd said thus far, especially the whole ānot dating people because his fans were crazyā thing.Ā Ā
You held the bridge of your nose, rubbing your eyes, not caring that you'd be smudging your makeup. āYou're so fucking contradictory. You said it was fine to date other people. You said you didnāt want to date people, that us doing whatever the fuck it is together is easier⦠then you get all heated over another guy being interested in me?ā You started, holding your hand up when he tried to talk, you weren't done.Ā
āYou would take me on dates just to, what? Do exactly what it is you were avoiding? I just don't fucking get that logic, Johnny.ā
āYou're different. You're not just any random girl,ā he responded, a frown creasing his brows, suddenly serious. He seemed to roll words around in his mouth, like he wanted to say something more before stopping himself.Ā
You opened your mouth and closed it again, trying to find the words yourself. He was giving you nothing, and you were so frustrated with him that it hurt. You felt like you were being punched in the chest, like your heart was being squeezed as tears prickled your eyes.Ā
āNo more.ā
āWhat do you mean, no more?ā
āI just can't- the arrangement, fucking whatever, it's done,ā you choked, biting your lip hard to keep from fully crying. You moved quickly, taking advantage of his stunned form to make your exit. It felt like your heart was being ripped from your chest; it ached like nothing you'd ever felt before.Ā
It was all just a bullshit game for him, and you fucking fell for him.Ā
He came after you and grabbed your arm to stop you. āWait, hold on, let me explain myself, please.ā
āNo. Just- I knew this was a bad idea. I shouldn't have ever agreed to this-ā you muttered, yanking your arm away from him and forcefully opening the door to the elevator room.Ā
He followed you in, the room deathly quiet as you hit the down arrow on the wall over and over, willing the doors to open. The light in the room flickered, as if sensing the mood.Ā
Johnny said your name quietly, as if afraid of your reaction. āCan't we talk about this?ā
āI've tried, Johnny. I'm done talking.āĀ
You had to put your foot down. You had to protect yourself from the utter devastation that was ripping its way through your chest. To preserve what little bit of walls you had left. It felt like you were surrounded by glass, and it was cracking around you, waiting to shatter.Ā
You couldnāt let him see you cry. See that you were so affected by him.
āThen listen,ā he pleaded. When you didnāt respond, he continued. āI messed up. I-I should haveā god, even Sue said this āI was acting like a child. I made assumptions, and none of this would have happened if I just-ā
The doors to the elevator finally opened, and you walked inside, steeling your facade before turning. No emotion on your face.
āGoodnight, Johnny.ā You got out, voice barely above a whisper as the doors slid shut in front of you. You swallowed hard and stumbled back as the elevator made its way down to the apartment level. You grasped your chest, a tight feeling seizing your throat, bordering on overwhelming as you held back your tears.Ā
You thanked whatever god was out there that the elevator ride was quick and no one was in the living room, presumably all in bed. You practically ran up the stairs to get to your room, trying to be as quiet as you could, before locking yourself inside.Ā
You needed to get away. Had to. Even if it was for a few days. They would be fine without you, right? They had the watch reminders for appointments, and it's not like they would miss the morning briefing.Ā
A stuttering breath left your lips, and you flopped onto your bed, your face buried in your plush pillows. You were trying to justify running away, and it was admittedly sounding really nice in your head. However, you knew better than to run away from your problems. You were typically always one to figure things out and stick with them until they were done. But this⦠this was something way out of your scope of knowledge. You didnāt do⦠feelings very well. Growing up with an emotionally stunted father would do that.Ā
The familiar heat of your tears began to flow; you couldnāt hold them back anymore.
Sleeping on it would help you make a decision? Right?
āSue, I'm glad you're up early this morning. I have a small request,ā you said, voice hesitant as you stepped into the kitchen. Sue was stirring some sugar into her coffee and turned her head in your direction.Ā
āWhat's going on?ā Sue asked softly, her gaze lingering on your eyes, rimmed red, accompanied by dark circles. You didn't end up sleeping very much that night, having spent a lot of it crying and second-guessing everything with Johnny.
You hadn't bothered with your normal routine, hoping you'd be able to jump in the car as soon as you talked to Sue. A soft, oversized sweater and sweatpants hung loosely on your body, your comfort wear.
āI was hoping to take a few days off. I know it's kinda last minute, but I've been feeling a little run down and well⦠I could use a break,ā you explained, running a hand through your hair, a nervous tick.Ā
Sue hummed in response to your request; her eyes still lingered on you, analyzing. āI'm assuming you prepared everything that we would need for the days you'll be gone?ā She asked casually, moving around to the front of the island to get a better look at you. She leaned against it and tilted her head slightly.
āYeah, of course. Plus some, I'm sure. Everyone's schedules are uploaded to the watches, and I left the written schedules with H.E.R.B.I.E. He will put them out each morning,ā you responded, trying to avoid her inquisitive looks. She had a way of knowing exactly when something was bothering you, but she would wait until you came to her. Your feelings were still a little too raw to talk about.Ā
āOkay,ā she sipped on her coffee and stared at you for a moment longer. āWhere will you be?ā
āMy dad has a cabin up in the mountains, between Albany and Syracuse. It's nice, we used to do a yearly trip when I was a kid. He's letting me borrow it,ā you stated, fidgeting with your sleeves.Ā
āWell, I won't keep you waiting, I'm sure it's a long drive,ā Sue said, a smile on her face as she pushed away from the counter.
āIt's only a few hours,ā you shrugged, trying not to make it seem like you wanted to leave as quickly as you could. āI'll see you when I get back. Should be in a few days.ā
āHave a good trip,ā she said with a wave, watching you take off up the stairs quickly. A frown crossed her face as soon as you left. She was worried about you. It was extremely unlike you to ask for any time off. In fact, the entire time you'd worked for them, you had asked for a singular day off to take your father out for his 60th birthday. You looked beaten down and sad, nothing like your normal self ā usually confident and a little too chipper for early mornings.Ā
Sue just knew that it had something to do with her brother, and she was going to get to the bottom of what happened.Ā
Luckily for her, everything fell right into her lap. About an hour after you had left for your trip, Johnny came down the stairs. Sue was sitting in her chair at the table, enjoying her breakfast and another cup of coffee.Ā
Johnny asked where you were, noting your absence for the morning briefing. Always on time, no matter what.Ā
āShe took some personal leave,ā Sue responded absently, taking a bite of her toast, trying to seem uninterested. Johnny stared at her for a moment, thinking he hadn't heard her right.
āWhat? Did she say why?ā Johnny questioned, quickly going around the table to sit in Reed's normal seat. Sue gently put her toast down and turned towards her brother.Ā
āShe said she was feeling run down and wanted a break. Unusual, I would say. Did something happen between you two?ā Sue asked, watching her brother carefully for his response.Ā
He let out a long breath and rubbed at his face with both hands. āI fucked up. Honestly, really badly, by not talking to her about everything sooner.ā
Sue scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. āI told you multiple times, Johnny. What are you going to do to fix it?ā
āI-I don't know. After last night- I don't think she wants anything to do with me.ā
āYou want to show her that you care? Here's what you do-ā
Sue explained her plan to Johnny, where you were, and what he needed to do. He was more than a little enthusiastic to try it, anything to win you back.Ā
āYou think it'll work?ā
āOf course, I do. It's my plan,ā Sue said, turning back to her plate with a smile. āNow get out of here, you're wasting time.ā
āThank you, Sue. Best sister ever!ā
Johnny immediately gathered a bag, one of his flame-resistant ones, and filled it with a few changes of clothes, some candles, one of his records he knew was your favorite, and slung it on his back.Ā
He flew out of the apartment from the balcony and beelined it for your father's house. Johnny made sure to change into something that screamed, āI'm really interested in your daughter, please let me date her,ā which for Johnny was a button-down shirt and slacks. But hey, he did tuck the shirt in.
Your father opened the door a moment after Johnny knocked. He squinted at him before putting his glasses on. āJonathan, to what do I owe the pleasure?ā
āI'm, um, well, I was hoping to surprise your daughter. She hasn't been herself lately, and I want to do something for her. But I wanted your permission to go out to the cabin.ā
Your father hummed and scratched his stubble on his cheek. āI knew bringing Robert into the equation would give you the push you needed.ā
Johnny stared at the man, stunned for a moment. āExcuse me?ā
āMy daughter is a stubborn one. Like her mother that way, rest her soul. It's very obvious she has a thing for you; the way she looks at you says everything. However, no guy goes to their female friend's parentsā house to fix shit unless⦠well, I'm sure you can put the dots together, son. I'm old, but I'm not senile. I was your age once. I get it,ā your father explained, moving back inside the house for a moment before handing Johnny a key and a paper with instructions on getting to the cabin. āI approve of you, Johnathan. You care for my daughter, and I know you'll continue to do so.ā
āI don't know what to say,ā Johnny whispered, staring at the items now in his hands.Ā
āDon't need to say anything, son. Get out of here, she's got about a thirty-minute head start on you. You're gonna need it.ā He then shut the door, leaving a still stunned Johnny on the stoop.
He was a high-ranking military officer for a reason⦠it was definitely something to do with his observational skills.Ā
Johnny scanned over the instructions and had a decent idea about where he needed to go.Ā
He was determined to prove himself to you. Nothing else mattered.Ā
You frowned as you pulled your car up to the front of the cabin. It was already growing dark outside. You had stopped and done a bit of shopping to stock up on food items in town before heading up, but it might have been in vain, as smoke was steadily streaming out of the chimney.Ā
āDad said no one should be hereā¦ā you muttered, shutting the car off and grabbing the spare key he gave you. You knew some self-defense, but you didn't think you would be able to do anything about an intruder or someone staying inside.
You got out, leaving the door to your car open just in case you needed to hop back in quickly. You tried to peek into the windows, but they were all covered up by the curtains. Well, it was getting dark, and you really didn't want to drive all the way back. You were exhausted and just wanted to curl up by the fire, with a bottle of wine and one of the books you had brought with you.Ā
A shaky breath left your lips as you put the key into the lock of the front door and opened it. You almost dropped the keys as you stared on in shock and bewilderment. You were expecting to have to wipe everything down from the layers of dust and remove the blankets, keeping the furniture clean, but no, it was already done. A fire crackled in the brick fireplace, warming the room, giving everything an orangish glow. Your favorite album was playing softly on the record player. There was a small part of you that instantly knew who was in the cabin, but you had to confirm.Ā
You heard some banging from the kitchen in the other room and quietly made your way inside, being careful not to make any noise. You peeked around the corner and let out a small gasp. You didn't know whether you were angry or relieved or, well, happy to see him standing in the kitchen, carefully reading over a recipe and stirring something in a pot. It smelled heavenly and was definitely one of your favorite soups.Ā
He hadn't seen you, so instead of interrupting, you grabbed your things from the car and brought them inside, leaving them in the living room. You locked your car and carefully latched the front door before sneaking back over to the kitchen and leaning against the door frame.Ā
āYa know, for a super hero, you're not very observant,ā you stated loudly, crossing your arms over your chest. Johnny visibly jumped at your voice and dropped the spoon into the pot with a clang. He whipped around to face you.
āJesus-ā he muttered, wiping his hands off on a towel he had slung over his shoulder. āYou scared the shit out of me.ā
āI think it was deserved,ā you said with a shrug, pushing yourself off from the wall. āWhy are you here?āĀ
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. āWell, I came to make up forā¦everything.ā He turned the stove down to low before taking a step towards you. āI'm sorry. I've been a jerk. A massive one. Andā¦ā he threw the towel on the counter before grabbing your hands. He was so warm, and he shifted as if he had something to say. His mouth moved the same way it did last night on the roof, like he was holding back his words.
āI appreciate you apologizing and doing all of this- but⦠why?ā You asked, peering into his eyes, hoping to find an answer there. They softened as he looked back at you; something you couldnāt quite place lingered there, but it made your heart skip a beat.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard and inhaled sharply. He squeezed your hands and brought one to his chest, right over his heart, trapping it with his. You could feel it beating rapidly under your palm, and you blinked. āI like you a lot. And, I canāt lose you.ā
āWhat do you mean?ā You asked, voice barely above a whisper as you blinked up at him. You didnāt think his heart could beat faster, but it did.Ā
His cheeks grew red as you stared at him, waiting for his response. But his tone was resolute when he responded.Ā āI like you more than just a friend. I-I love you.āĀ
It was your turn to flush red. You opened and shut your mouth a few times, trying to formulate a response, but you felt like everything in your head went blank. He smiled and moved his hand up to the side of your cheek, a smile growing on his lips now.
āWhat?ā You squeaked out, not fully believing your ears. It felt like he threw a rock at your perfectly built glass walls, shattering that distance you put up to keep others out, him out. To protect yourself.Ā
āI love you. I have for way too long,ā Johnny admitted, more self-assured. He pulled you into him, wrapping his arms around your body. He was so incredibly warm. It felt so right. āYou don't have to say it-ā
āI love you too,ā you rushed out, interrupting him, voice muffled as you hid your face in his chest. You could feel him freeze before pushing you back just enough to look at your face. Making sure you weren't just saying those words because it's what he wanted to hear, but that you meant it. You'd be lying to yourself if you didn't know you had fallen for him.Ā
That kiss months ago, the first night you spent together, everything before and after and in-between.Ā
You'd been in love with him for a while; you had just been in complete denial because you were certain he didn't feel the same way. That it was just a fling for him. You should have put the pieces together sooner. Should have known when he stopped bringing women home, going on dates, and only spending time around you, with you.Ā
āYou do?ā He asked, voice quiet and unsure, so unlike him. Always confident, never needing reassurance. You nodded and looked up at him, his eyes searching for any sign of deceit. āThat's such a relief,ā He sighed, resting his hands on your cheeks.Ā
āUsually this is the part where the hero kisses the damsel after their impassioned confession,ā you comment, trying to break the tension, as you moved your hands to rest on his chest.
He laughed, moving his face closer to yours. āWell, if you insist, my beautiful damsel, might a hero kiss thy lips?ā
A large smile spread onto your face. āA hero may bestow a kiss upon me. Art thou a hero?ā you asked, playing into the bit.
āYou tell me.ā
You hummed, pretending to think about it for a moment. āYouāre my hero, Johnny Storm. Now kiss me.ā
āAs you wish,ā he whispered, moving your face to gently press a kiss to your lips. Soft and gentle. No rushing, no denying the feelings there. Just the comforting warmth of it.Ā
He moved your bodies back, careful not to bump your head as he pushed you up against the frame of the doorway. He shifted one of his hands to your hip, gripping it tightly as he deepened the kiss, groaning when you eagerly moved your hands to grip his shirt, pulling him closer to you, craving the heat of him.Ā
His tongue pushed past your lips, picking up a familiar dance with yours, practiced. Nothing was holding either of you back now. You moaned into the kiss, moving one of your hands up to the back of his head, running your fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. A full body chill ran up his spine, and he halted for a moment, a small breath escaping his lips.Ā
āShould we stop?ā You whispered, lashes fluttering. It took a moment for Johnny to respond.
āNo. I really don't want to. I-I need you,ā he responded, voice shaky and rough as his eyes, full of desire, flicked over your face.
āI'm yours,ā you breathed, pushing yourself closer to him. He made a low moan that resonated deep in his chest, almost a growl, as he picked you up like it was nothing. You wrapped your legs around his waist and kissed every part of his face while he maneuvered you both to the couch in the living room. He sat down first, letting you unwrap your legs while he sat back, allowing you to straddle him.Ā
You eagerly pressed your lips against his again, resting your hands on his shoulders, gripping his shirt tightly. He moaned into your mouth and settled his hands on your hips, guiding you to be fully seated in his lap, letting you slowly roll your hips into his. The grind was deliciously pleasurable, especially as Johnny got harder in his pants. The small gasps that left your lips in between kisses were driving him a little crazy. He moved his hands to your waist, pushed them under your sweater, and groaned low when he didnāt feel a bra hooked along your back. His hands swiftly moved your sweater up over your body, letting you break the kiss for just a moment to remove the clothing from your torso.Ā
He leaned up and captured your lips with another heated kiss before moving his mouth along your cheek, then down your neck. A sharp gasp left your lips when he sucked a dark mark along your pulse point, causing your hips to stutter to a stop. He hummed into your neck, kissing again. āDonāt stop making yourself feel good cause of me.ā
āFuck-ā You whimpered, breathing heavy as you picked up your pace again. He chuckled, moving from your neck to your chest, leaving his marks all the way down to your sternum. His mouth was searing as he moved to your perked nipples, sucking the left into his mouth and playing with the right using his thumb.Ā
You felt like you were burning up from the inside; every inch of your skin felt like it was on fire. You could feel the blood rushing in your veins, could feel the wetness pooling in your panties the longer you humped against him, a little desperate to chase your high.Ā
Johnny released your nipple with a wet pop, leaning back against the couch to watch you use him. Your eyes were closed, brows pinched in concentration, mouth parted, moans and pants tumbling from your lips. āYouāre so pretty like this, baby. Look so good using me,ā Johnny stated, softly pinching your nipples. A high-pitched whine left your lips at the way he was making you feel. You felt as though you were balancing on the edge of your release, ready to tumble off the edge of oblivion. He stopped playing with your breasts to grip your hips, stopping your movements and holding you against him. Your eyes flew open and stared at him in shock.Ā
āCouldnāt let you get off just from humping me. You know I like getting a taste,ā He chuckled, lifting you off his lap and helping you to sit on the couch. He slid to the ground in front of you, resting his fingers on the waist of your sweats. He looked up at you, waiting. You knew what he wanted to hear.Ā
āI need you so bad, please, Johnny. Feel like I'm gonna burn up if you donāt touch me,ā You panted, moving your hips up to help him get your pants off.Ā
āSo desperate for me, baby. I know itās been a minute-ā He started, pausing at the sight before him when he got your sweats off. Your panties were soaked through, a large dark patch visible from the low light of the fireplace. You tried to press your legs together, a little embarrassed at his intense gaze. He only pushed them back open farther, fully opening you to him as your feet rested on the cushion below you.Ā
Johnny didnāt bother taking your panties off yet, using his tongue to lick along the wet patch, then up to your pulsing clit to get a reaction out of you. Your hips immediately bucked up, desperate for any bit of friction.Ā
āD-Donāt tease,ā You whimpered, voice pitched high as he did just that, tease. He hummed and relented, releasing your legs and pulling his face back, before carefully pulling your panties down your legs, eyes seeming to grow darker as he could fully see just how wet you were.Ā
āFuck, all this for me?ā He asked, voice rough and raw as he pushed your thighs wide again, dick twitching in his pants at the sight of you bare and dripping, for him.Ā
āYes,ā You breathed, gripping the cushion beneath you like it would help keep you afloat while watching Johnny. Your eyelashes fluttered as he slowly kissed along your thighs, making his way to your dripping cunt. He kissed it like he kissed your lips, slow and heated, tongue dragging through your seam, lapping up everything that seeped from you as if you were the sweetest nectar and he was lucky to drink from you. He groaned, closing his eyes when he pushed his tongue inside your opening, lapping up everything you gave him.Ā
A breathy gasp tumbled from you as he licked into you. Your head rolled back and rested on the back of the couch as he continued to eat you like he was starved for you. When he moved his tongue up to your aching clit, you couldn't help the buck of your hips and the sharp moan. He built up your release like an expert, like he had schematics of your body and knew exactly what to do with them.Ā
He slid two thick fingers inside you while alternating between sucking and licking at your clit in the perfect rhythm.Ā
āāM close, babe,ā You mewled, voice so blissed out you didnāt recognize it. Johnny growled into your pussy, the vibration sending a shock up your spine. You were wound up so tight you felt like you could snap any moment.Ā
āSqueezing me so good, baby. Know you're close, cum for me, sweetheart,ā He muttered, trying to keep up his pace. That was all you needed. A loud moan left your lips as you gushed around his fingers, covering his mouth with your slick. A wrecked groan left his lips as he licked at you, continuing to fuck his fingers into you until your pussy stopped pulsing. He pulled his fingers out and took a moment to admire his handiwork before pushing his fingers into your panting lips, watching you eagerly suck them clean with half-lidded eyes.Ā
āJohnny, I need more. Need you to fuck me,ā You stated, moving to kneel on the couch in front of him. Johnny stood slowly, leaving a trail of kisses up your body as he went.Ā
āYou need me to fuck you, baby?ā He questioned, unbuttoning his shirt and tugging it out of his pants. He threw it to the side, watching as your fingers undid the clasp of his pants. āNeed my dick that bad?āĀ
You nodded, looking up at him, pupils blown and lashes fluttering. You may regret feeding his ego, but fuck it. āFingers werenāt enough. Need the stretch of your dick.ā
Johnny was certain you would kill him. He was not expecting those words to leave your lips. He could only watch as you freed him from the constraints of his pants and briefs; he stepped out of them as you pulled them down his legs. His dick was so achingly hard, his tip ruddy and leaking, desperate to feel your walls squeeze him. You turned around on the couch, so your back was facing him, knees slightly spread, back dipped, and hips angled into the air.Ā
He could see the trail of wetness glistening on your thighs with the firelight. He wished he could take a picture of you like this, have it on hand to use whenever he wanted. Maybe he could convince you? He took his cock in his hand and ran it between your folds, gathering your wetness. He lined himself up, watching your pussy swallow him as he edged himself inside you. A low moan left his lips the further he pushed inside. You were so wet. So hot and tight. A loud shuddering gasp left your lips as he fully pushed himself inside of you, gripping your hips to pull you as close to him as possible, to be as deep as possible.Ā
You both sat like that for a moment, relishing in how the other felt. Johnny started out slow, working you open, groaning at how you squeezed him with every movement. His grip on your hips tightened as you pushed back to meet his thrusts, the lewd sound of skin on skin as his hips met your ass only spurred him on.Ā
His pace increased the more sounds that fell from your lips. āYou feel so fucking good, baby. Youāre so tight for me,ā Johnny gasped, leaning over you to kiss your neck and down your shoulder.Ā
He pulled you against him as he sat back up, fucking up into you. You gasped at the way the new angle felt. He was hitting a spot up inside you that was making you see stars. āYou like this, baby? You got so tight on me, making me crazy.ā Johnny muttered into your hair, moving his fingers to hover over your clit, before heating them to slowly circle it.Ā
āF-Fuck, Johnny. Feels so-ā You whimpered out, legs shaking at the intensity of the pleasure that was building up in you.Ā
āTell me,ā he demanded, raw and wrecked. He circled your clit faster, fucked into you harder. He rested his free hand on your chest to keep you firmly against him. You rested your head against his shoulder and let out a pitched whine.Ā
āR-Really close-ā You muttered, panting as you arched against his body.Ā
āTell me, or I stop,ā He breathed in your ear, stopping for a split second, a small grin on his face as your hips chased his fingers.
āFeels good! āS good. Please-Please donāt stop. S-So close!ā You cried out, so desperate for his touch, for the release he offered, that tears pricked your eyes.
āGood girl. So good for me,ā he growled, doubling down on his pace when you clenched at his words. Fucking up into you harder and faster, circling your clit in the way he knew was going to bring you closer to release. āYou gonna keep being good and cum on my dick, baby?ā
āYes!ā You moaned, feeling the familiar band tightening in your core. Johnny could feel your body shake as you got closer; it only encouraged him to keep going. He felt his balls tighten as you squeezed him again.Ā
āGonna-ā You cried out, the band abruptly snapping, wave after wave of euphoria washed over you as you moaned Johnnyās name with every pulse of pleasure. Your slick covered Johnnyās cock, your pussy tightened in the most delicious way that pulled him impossibly deeper inside.Ā
āFuck-ā He groaned loudly, rutting up into you, finally snapping and filling you to the brim with his seed as your pussy milked him of everything he had.Ā
Both of you lingered in your blissful pleasure. Johnny held you close to him, still inside you, feeling every wave of your orgasm pulsing through you. He finally decided to pull away when your breathing evened out, making sure you were stable enough to step back off the couch and stand on your own, albeit shaky, legs. You turned to him and pulled him into you.Ā
āAmazing as always,ā You muttered into his chest, kissing him there. He smiled and ran a hand over your hair, then down your back.Ā
āOh, Iām Mr. Storm now? I tell you I love you, and now itās all formalities.āĀ
āCanāt resist giving you the best,ā He responded, kissing your forehead. āAs much as Iād love to stay like this forever with you, we should clean up and eat. I spent too long on that soup not to enjoy it with you.ā
You laughed lightly. āSounds like a plan, Mr. Storm.ā You stepped away and moved towards the bathroom, a smile lingering on your lips.Ā
āMaybe I just like poking your buttons, and now I know I can get away with it.āĀ
āWell, I could always make you a Storm one day.ā
āOh yeah? Maybe Iād like that.āĀ
āNoted⦠Now get in the tub so I can shower you in affection.ā
You could only laugh and shake your head at his words. You were glad you could finally call him yours.Ā
Author's Note: Let me know what you all thought of this!
Tags: @fanatic-four @jimjjamjamie @ynnlvrs @illyrian-book-lover @lunadi1una @emxxblog

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hello beloveds āŗļø
made an alternate version for the mutuals ive never spoken to
You are appreciated
Dispatch really said
- you will always be stronger as a team than you will alone
- people grow and become better when they are given external support and community, and tend to struggle when they don't have those things
- there is no such thing as a good or bad person, a hero or a villain
- your actions are what make you who you are, not anything else
- connection and understanding always start with meeting people where they are at and empathizing with them
- doing the right thing always comes at a cost. That's why it's so hard to do
- reckless and selfish actions impact those around you, not just yourself
- being a "hero" isn't about one big gesture, one big fight against evil, one flashy showdown. It's helping others even when they are rude. Even when they are thoughtless. Even if they don't care about you. Especially - ESPECIALLY, if it is inconvenient
- doing the right thing doesn't have to be fucking boring
Ong āfragility in perfectionā was so good and definitely needs a part 2. I can already feel Johnny becoming irrationally jealous of her with other men, only wants her to work with him on the daily and falling in love
Thank you, Anon! I'm cooking up a bunch of ideas for Part 2, and we will definitely be getting a bit of jealous Johnny š .
Can you do a smoke manipulation reader X Johnny Storm
I love this idea! I'll add it to my WIP list and tag you when it's completedš
Fragility in Perfection
Pairing: Johnny Storm x Assistant!Reader
Summary: Your job is everything to you. It takes up every part of your life, leaving no room for anyone but the Fantastic Four. They were your friends, treated you like family. Your relationship with Johnny, however, is definitely more than "just friends".
Word Count: 12 K
Rating: Explicit
Tags/Warnings: 18+ MDNI, fem!reader, Assistant!reader, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff, Fantastic Four: First Steps, friends with benefits, no use of y/n, making out, pet names, dirty talking, p in v sex, cream pie, oral (f/m receiving), misogyny, use of OC (for plot purposes)
MASTERLIST Part 2
If you prefer to read on AO3, here is the LINK
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to get out, I've had a bunch of college/work stuff going on that made it hard to sit down and write.
A cold cup of coffee sat on the desk in front of you. It had, arguably, way too much cream and sugar, but you needed the caffeine to get through your days managing the insane schedules of the Fantastic Four. You'd been filling out planners and creating document packets for each member of the team since four that morning, prepping them for their, unfortunately, very busy day.
Some of them were busier than others; for example, Sue was busier than all three boys combined, but you made sure she had the help of Lynne with anything related to her Future Foundation appointments.
You always made an effort not to overwhelm their days as you booked events and interviews, but there were days when things had to be booked back-to-back.Ā
Today was one of those days, and you knew you'd be pulling overtime. Not that you minded. You loved your job, and you loved who you worked for.Ā
You had been with them for years, even before they got their powers, starting as Reed's lab assistant and helping to keep their mission (and Reed) on track. You kept everything in order, up to the very last detail, no second unaccounted for. You planned everything, from the documentary filming, getting on the ship, and when exactly they returned. Everything was scheduled out and in its assigned time slot. Perfect.
You had silently cried listening to their radio traffic from Mission Control, unable to do anything. It was heartbreaking to hear their panicked yells about the cosmic radiation. You should have reminded Reed about it and added it to the list of things to account for. Ben had mentioned it offhandedly when he agreed to pilot the ship. It was a slip. Something you vowed would never happen again. But who could have known they would encounter that? You. You could have prevented it.
To make up for failing them, for not being able to account for everything that happened, you ensured perfection in everything you did for them. Really, you had always been that way, a perfectionist. Your father was military, served in World War II; your whole life seemed to run in seconds. Every minute had sixty seconds. And every one of them counted. Meaning, if you were one second off, you were not perfect. You had to be perfect.Ā
Your jaw clenched when your ink smeared on the page you were writing, too lost in your thoughts. You set your pen down, got out your correction fluid from your meticulously organized desk drawer, and fixed the smear. You waited a moment for it to dry, taking a sip of your coffee with a sigh before looking at your wrist watch. It was just about time for the morning briefing.Ā
Luckily, the page you smeared was your last one. It was also for Johnny, and you knew he never really read through your packets; it shouldn't have mattered, but you fixed your mistake anyway.
You stood, smoothing out your pastel pink knee-length skirt and matching blazer to ensure they didn't look wrinkled. It accentuated all the right parts of you in the most professional way, of course. You then neatly stacked all of the packets together, placing them in your leather portfolio, before making your way to the living room of the Baxter Building.Ā
Reed and Sue were generous enough to let you live in the building with them. It made all of your lives easier. Especially when they needed something last-minute or you had to work obnoxiously long hours for an event. The only thing that irritated you about the arrangement was having your room directly next to Johnnyās. You had begged Ben to swap with you when you were all moving into the newly renovated building, but Ben had shut you down faster than you could get the words out, claiming he liked his peace and quiet on the opposite end of the hall.Ā
Itās not that you didnāt mind Johnny, as a person. But he did keep odd hours, and there were many times over the last few years you had to knock on his door and ask him, kindly (it wasnāt), to be quiet. Usually, in those cases, he was shirtless when he answered the door and had a woman in his room covering herself with his sheets. But those cases were now few and far between.
You would call Johnny a friend, despite the way he managed to get under your skin. So were Sue, Reed, and Ben. Honestly, they treated you more like family; they relied on you. You didnāt really have other friends; your schedule didn't allow for relationships outside of your job. An occasional one-night stand, no strings attached, was about it. And even then, you only partook when you were really stressed.Ā
It had just been you and your father growing up, so you were used to not having a lot of other people around. Your mom had died in childbirth, and your father was a veteran, fresh out of war, way out of his depth. He did the best he could. You knew that as an adult, losing the love of your life and being reminded of her with the child you created together would have been hard. But the inner kid in you would always be a little resentful of how you were raised.Ā
You tapped your black heeled toe in front of the elevator, watching the numbers tick down to your floor before the doors opened with a cheerful ping. You stepped inside, heels clicking on the tiled floors as you hit the button for the living room. Your watch beeped just as the elevator doors opened, and you felt your eye twitch and your jaw tense. A flashing āALERT!ā popped up on the tiny screen, and you had to take a deep inhale and exhale to calm yourself. The one variable you couldnāt control about their lives was that they were heroes. Bad guys were never convenient.Ā
They all rushed past you, out of their rooms, fully dressed in their suits. āWe will be back soon, promise!ā Sue called out with a wave before hopping into the elevator you just stepped out of with Reed and Ben. You nodded, knowing the familiar routine. HERBIE was in the kitchen, beeping a little tune to himself.Ā
āHerbs, whatcha cooking?ā You asked, placing the folders for everyone in their spots at the table. Neat and perfectly aligned with their placemats.Ā
HERBIE gave a happy beep in response, and you nodded. āBacon and eggs are a good choice.ā Another beep. āSure, Iāll take some.ā You had about an hour of leeway for them to get back for an incredibly fast brief, meaning if they werenāt done fighting the bad guy in the next thirty minutes, you would have some phone calls to make. You ate the food HERBIE sat in front of you quickly, efficiently, in silence. He took the plate when you were done, and you took the time to flip through your notes, mentally adjusting timeframes in your head.Ā
Your manicured nail tapped the wood of the table, keeping time with the red hand on the analog clock on the wall you were now staring at. This was the worst part of your job, the calm before the storm, the eye of the hurricane. Waiting. You haunted yourself in the silence of your mind in these moments. Replaying every mistake you had ever made, every small thing you said wrong. Your imperfect moments. Failing them.Ā
The clock hit exactly thirty minutes after they left, and you got up quickly, eager for a distraction from your thoughts. You flipped your portfolio open to the page where you had listed all your phone numbers. You went down the line, calling everyone on the schedule for the day to either adjust their times or reschedule completely. The same professional spiel fell out of your mouth.Ā
āHello, this is -ā You would start with your full name; they all knew who you were. āIām calling about the appointment for-ā youād fill in one of the fourās names, followed by the time of the appointment. Youād ask to either reschedule or move it to a later time, then make the same practiced joke with a lilting laugh, āYou know the bad guys donāt stay on schedule.āĀ
You made notes and adjustments on your calendar page for complete reschedules, while adjusting your planner for the same-day time changes. The last call you had to make was for a special event hosted by Johnnyās fan club. You rubbed the bridge of your nose at the inevitable headache you were going to have from it.Ā
You had gone through the same initial script but got caught up in questions from the young girl on the other end of the line.Ā The (mostly one-sided) conversation was going on for way longer than you wanted. āHe can still make it today; it would just have to be a later time.ā You tried explaining.Ā
āBut we had everything planned out for him being here at a specific time!ā She cried. You were certain she was actually crying; the sniffling and wobbly voice gave it away. You looked up at the ceiling and closed your eyes, trying not to audibly sigh over the phone. This was ridiculous. You rolled your neck before looking down at your portfolio again.
āI understand that, and Iām really sorry, but due to this morningās incident, Iāve had to move his schedule around. It would just be about an hour delay. I know the event was set to start at six tonight, but Johnny will definitely be there by seven, seven-thirty at the absolute latest.ā
Your eyes flicked over to the balcony just as Johnny landed on it, flames bright and eye-catching. Speak of the devil. You settled an ice-cold glare on him, and he stopped dead in the doorway when he caught your gaze. The girl was still chattering in your ear about plans and all the members that would be there. You absently asked her name, making it seem like you were writing down all the information she was giving you.Ā
āI'm sorry, could you give me one moment?ā You asked politely before holding the receiver tightly against your chest, blocking your voice from being heard.Ā
You pointed at Johnny and then to the spot right in front of you before mouthing, āGet over here now.āĀ
He gave you a grimace before trudging over, extinguishing his flames on the way. āWhat? Iād like to change. I'm covered in⦠monkey germs,ā he stated exasperated, crossing his arms over his chest.Ā
āIām rescheduling everyoneās events for the day, and your āfan clubā is the only one giving me issues,ā You whispered, an irritated frown on your face.Ā
āWhat do you want me to do about it?ā He asked, tilting his head at you and narrowing his eyes. He knew you well enough to know exactly what you wanted out of him; he wanted you to ask, though.Ā
āI just need you to tell them youāll be there at seven tonight instead of six. Throw in that flirty shit you do to get them all to love you,ā Your tone clipped, serious.Ā
āLittle frigid today, arenāt we?ā He quipped, holding his hand out to take the receiver. āName?ā
You scrunched up your nose in disgust at his comment before sighing, trying to recall her name. āRuth?ā You handed the receiver over and listened to Johnnyās side of the conversation as he shook his head at you.
āHey, this is Johnny,ā He stated, tone light and casual, the opposite of what he just gave you. āYeah, really him. And your name? Cause your voice is like music to my ears, and I have to know the owner.ā You made eye contact with him and stuck your finger in your mouth, pretending to gag from his words. He pursed his lips and had to clear his throat to keep from laughing.Ā
āWow, Clara is an amazing name. One of my top five favorites,ā He casually stated before mouthing at you āFucking Ruth, really??ā with a raised brow.
You just shrugged before saying quietly with a hint of sass. āIt wasnāt important information for me.āĀ
āYeah, so Clara, due to this morningās attack, my assistant had to move some stuff around, and I unfortunately can't be at the Flaming Hearts event until seven. I hope you can understand.āĀ
A pause before he gave you a thumbs-up. You wrote the new time into your planner and shut your portfolio.
āThatās really sweet of you to say. Iāll see you all then.ā He quickly hung up the phone with a sigh. āYou owe me.ā
āI owe you nothing. I just spent the last twenty minutes explaining to her what you accomplished in two minutes because youāre the guy sheās āin love with,āā you used exaggerated air quotes for the last bit of your statement.Ā
āYouāre lucky I love you and all you do; otherwise, this would be a very different conversation.ā He scoffed before turning away from you towards the stairs.Ā
āYeah, okay, keep telling yourself that, Johnny!ā you yelled to his retreating form.Ā
āI will!ā
You bit your lip, lingering on his words. He didnāt mean it in that way. I love you. He used the words so flippantly you were sure he didnāt actually hold any meaning for them anymore. Sugar talk was all it was.
You shook your head, dismissing the thoughts, and quickly revised the team's schedules on the table before they slowly trickled in, changed and ready for the day.Ā
Once everyone was seated, you immediately went into your usual business mode. āAlright, team, we have a very busy day lined up today.ā
Ben groaned your name. "Can't a man take a moment to eat his breakfast?ā He then thanked HERBIE when the robot placed four plates full of bacon and eggs in front of the team, and a box of Johnnyās favorite cereal next to him.
āNo.ā You replied coldly, flipping your portfolio open and running your fingernail down the page of your planner. Everyone had a designated color to help keep events more organized. āBen, since you seem so eager for this to be over, you have an eleven-thirty meet and greet at the community center on Yancy to raise money for youth basketball. Then at three, you'll need to be at the tailors for a suit fitting for the gala this weekend.ā
āCopy that, Boss,ā he said before digging into his food.
You watched Sue flip through her packet as she sipped her coffee, her perfect brows creased in concentration. āSue, I tried my best to reschedule your meetings, but you've got quite a few back-to-backs. Lynne should be here soon to assist you. āĀ
āThat's alright, a lot of these were important for the Future Foundation, so I appreciate you making them work,ā Sue said with a smile.Ā
āAnything for you, Sue,ā you said sweetly, a smile on your face.
āWhy are you nice to Sue and not the rest of us?ā Johnny asked, throwing a piece of cereal into the air before catching it in his mouth. Your smile turned to a frown.
āI'm nice to Reed and Ben all the time. Plus, Sue is nice to me back, unlike you,ā you sneered.
āNotice how you didn't say my name,ā he retorted, placing the box of cereal on the table before working on his plate of food.
You ignored him, turning to Reed with a smile back on your face.
āAll you have is the filming for Fantastic Science today. It starts at ten, so one hour from now.ā
āThe script and premise are in here?ā Reed asked, skimming through the top page.Ā
āYes. This week focuses on planetary gases and atmospheres.ā You responded before slowly turning to Johnny.Ā
āJonathan.ā You said, voice sickly sweet, smile still plastered on your shiny pink lips. He frowned.Ā
āOh no.ā
āOh yes,ā you flipped his packet open, and he groaned. āTalk show, suit fitting, fan event. And you get the pleasure of having me with you all day.ā
āGreat. Just what I wanted,ā he said sardonically, rolling his eyes.Ā
āI know you just love spending time with me. We leave in twenty minutes.ā
Johnny kept splitting his attention between driving and watching you write neat notes in different colored pens in a notebook.
āI thought you got carsick,ā Johnny stated, eyes flicking back to pay attention to the road. He would have taken the Fantasticar, but nothing beat good old-fashioned mechanics. Plus, he spent a lot of time and effort fixing his car up; might as well show it off. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the music playing lowly on the radio, waiting for you to respond.Ā
āI do, but I have to finish some last-minute preparations for the gala when we get to the studio. Getting my notes out now will make it easier,ā you absently responded, a small frown on your face as you tapped the paper in front of you with your pen.Ā
He hummed in acknowledgment. āI thought you were all done with the prepping.ā
āOne of the vendors fell through for the champagne. Obviously, an important thing people expect at those events,ā you said, looking over at him. You hated to admit it to yourself, but Johnny was objectively attractive. Especially in a tight-fitting t-shirt, driving a car with one arm resting against the frame of the open window and the other lightly holding the steering wheel. Something youād see in a movie. You blinked, and he looked over at you, his face puzzled. Caught.
āWhat? Do I have something on my face?ā He asked, moving the hand not holding the steering wheel to his face.Ā
āNo,ā you said quickly, turning back to your notebook. āI was thinking about seating for the team's table. You have a plus one, right?ā
āI'll probably have one,ā he responded, eyes flicking to you again, lingering for a moment too long before going back to the road. You nodded and scribbled a note next to his name on the seating chart.Ā
It was silent again, and Johnny had a hard time sitting in silence, especially with you.Ā
āWhy did you need to come with me? It would have been faster if I just flew,ā he said, and you stopped your writing with a sigh.
āDo you not remember the last time I scheduled you for more than one thing in a day?ā
āYou mean last month? Everything worked out.ā He shrugged, smirk quirking his lips, knowing that what he said was going to get under your skin.Ā
āIt worked out because I made it work out. I'm here to keep you on track today,ā you retorted, putting your notebook away in your bag as Johnny pulled the car into the entrance of the TV studio. The security guard stationed there checked your IDs before opening the gate and waving the car through.Ā
Johnny parked the car as close to the front door as he could. He had taken note of your uncomfortable-looking heels that morning, and he didnāt want your feet to start hurting too early.Ā
You got out of the car quickly, waiting for Johnny at the hood. He took his sweet time getting out, in your opinion.
He handed you the car keys, so he didn't have anything in his pockets. You put them in your bag. You walked in silence to the door, your heels clicking loudly on the concrete.
āDon't those hurt?ā Johnny asked, casually putting his hands in his pockets.
āWhat?ā You questioned, turning your head towards him with a raised brow.Ā
āYour shoes. They seem like they are uncomfortable,ā he said, eyes flicking down to them.
āOh, well, I mean, they are, but I'm so used to it now that I can ignore the pain,ā you explained, grabbing the door to the building. Johnny stopped you and moved you out of the way to open it himself, allowing you to walk through first. You did so with a shake of your head.
āWhy don't you just wear more comfortable shoes then? It's not like you have a dress code working for us,ā he stated, falling into step beside you.
āWell, I have to present myself professionally to the public. My image is a direct reflection of the Fantastic Four, so if I don't look professional, it makes you guys look bad,ā you responded, walking towards the green room.Ā
āSo, if I'm understanding right, you looking extra good in your fancy suits and heels makes us look better?ā he asked, a small grin creeping on his face as you stopped and looked at him with a frown. āI mean, it would really be hard to beat how you're looking right now. You look amazing- irresistible really, especially when you're frowning like that-ā
You punched him in the arm, and he held it as if you'd given him a mortal wound. āOw, okay, no compliments today.ā He muttered, watching you walk away, eyes traveling down your body, lingering on every curve, before he caught up.
āYou don't have to lie,ā you stated, opening the door that had his name on the front with a taped-up piece of paper. He followed you in and shut the door. A look crossed his face like he was offended by your accusation.Ā
āI've never lied about how you look. Youāre incredibly attractive. Don't you see all the guys who practically drool over you when youāre out?ā He questioned, moving his hand in your direction.Ā
You scoffed and shook your head. āI-that isn't something I really pay attention to, Johnny. My focus is on my job and the team. No one else. Now, please sit down, Iām going to get the make-up artist and stylist,ā you stated quickly, mouth oddly dry. You handed him a sheet with a list of questions. āThis is what they are going to ask you. Make sure youāre prepared.ā
You turned away from him towards the door, and he caught your arm. āI meant what I said.ā
āI know.ā
āJust pay attention on set today. You'll see.ā
You nodded, gently pulling your arm free from his grasp before leaving the room and closing the door with a quiet click. You leaned against the wall for a moment, collecting yourself. You couldn't let Johnny get under your skin with his words and the way he looked at you, like he actually wanted you. You knew there was a mutual attraction, but that was it. Superficial. No feelings. At least that's what you told yourself.Ā
Two women walked down the hall, chatting to each other. You straightened, recognizing them as the two people you were going to seek out. āGood afternoon, ladies. You saved me a trip,ā you said sweetly, a smile on your lips. Both of them gave you a smile back.
āIt's good to see you!ā The stylist said, smiling back. āI'm assuming youāre here with Mr. Storm?ā
āThat's correct, he's just right inside. Please let me know if you encounter any issues. I have a few things to take care of, but I'll be nearby,ā you responded, moving past them with a small wave.Ā
The room you needed was just down the hall. It was an employee break room that you knew had a phone. You pulled out your notebook and called a few different vendors you had listed out. Because it was last-minute, and for a big event, you didn't have a lot of flexibility to be as picky with prices. So, you went with the vendor who would be able to provide the services you needed.Ā
You checked off the box with a relieved sigh on your checklist for the gala. Other than picking up everyone's outfits from the tailors, everything was going according to plan and was ready to go.Ā
As you stepped out of the room, you checked your watch; it was just about time for the show to start, so, walked towards the backstage area to wait for Johnny. Several people were milling about, preparing the stage lights and other electrical equipment. You made sure to stand in the waiting area where Johnny would walk out from behind the curtain.
āHello, pretty lady, you must be one of my guests tonight.ā A voice beside you said, suave and deep. You looked over to see a middle-aged man in a navy blue suit and brown slick-backed hair. He was very handsome, and you recognized him as the host of the talk show.Ā
You let out a small laugh. āI'm afraid not, Mr. Williams. I'm just the assistant of one of your guests tonight.ā
āPlease, call me Dean.ā He took your hand and kissed the back of it. āIt's a real shame I'm not interviewing you today. I'd love to get to know you better. What time are you done being just an assistant tonight?ā You let him do his flirting while Johnnyās words from earlier lingered in the back of your head.
āWell, unfortunately, Dean, I'm very busy today,ā you said, tone a little disappointed. Going out with someone like him would have been fun at the very least. āBut I can always-ā
āDean, my man!ā Johnny said excitedly, sauntering up beside you and extending his hand to Dean, who hid his annoyance at the interruption with a fake smile. Dean shook Johnnyās hand firmly, maybe a little too firmly, based on your observation. āI see you met my wonderful assistant-ā Johnny said your name after. He looked to you, eyes searching yours for a moment, silently asking if you were okay. You gave him a small nod. Weird.
āAh, her being busy makes sense now if she's following the Human Torch around. You don't happen to know when her schedule would clear up, would you, Johnny?ā Dean asked, his eyes flicking up and down your body, unashamed.
āShe keeps her own schedule,ā Johnny responded, brow furrowing slightly at the look Dean was giving you.Ā
āI'll be at the Fantastic Four's gala this weekend. I'm sure we can share a drink and get to know each other better then, Dean,ā you said quickly, smile on your face as your eyes moved to Johnny, who had a flicker of a frown on his face before he returned it to a neutral smile.
āThat sounds great, dollface,ā Dean lifted your chin with his finger and gave you a dazzling, practiced TV smile. āI'll see you then.ā
He walked off towards the wing of the stage to get ready for the show. You weren't sure how to feel as you watched Dean walk away. You didn't feel gross, per se, but it definitely didn't feel right.Ā
You looked over to Johnny, who was frowning again, but it was now directed at you. āWhat?ā You asked, crossing your arms over your chest.Ā
āWhen I said all that stuff earlier, I didn't mean test it out with Dean Williams,ā he responded, a little harshly.Ā
āI wasn't testing anything out, Jonathan. I was standing here waiting for you, and he approached me first,ā you huffed out quietly. āI'm sorry, was I not allowed to accept an offer for a date?ā
āNot with him,ā Johnny snapped, jaw tense.Ā
You frowned at him, trying to keep your voice quiet with your growing frustration. āAnd why is that?ā
āBecause he fucks anything in a skirt and a pretty face,ā Johnny retorted quickly, eyes flicking to the stage when Dean started doing his opening for the show.Ā
You scoffed, offended by his words even if you knew they were true. āI see,ā you bit out.Ā
Johnny went to rub the bridge of his nose, but stopped due to the makeup there. He didnāt want to mess up the hard work those ladies put into it. āI didnāt mean- you're not just that to me, you know that. But he doesn't, and I don't want to see you hurt.ā
You didn't want this conversation to continue. āYou're on in two.ā You stated flatly, moving your hand towards the stage. He gave you a look, one that was hard for you to interpret. He didn't say anything else, knowing when you were ending a conversation. He plastered on a practiced smile that never quite reached his eyes before stepping into the wings to wait for his cue on the stage.Ā
āJohnny, we're so glad you could make it on time! I'm sure everyone here is also very happy about that, too,ā the girl, Claire, said excitedly from the makeshift stage. The microphone was a little too close to her face, and it made an awful screeching sound that had you cringing.Ā
You stood awkwardly just to the side of the stairs leading to the stage, portfolio held tightly in your hands and pushed against your chest. Since the talk show, you and Johnny had barely spoken a word to each other. During the suit fitting, you avoided him by waiting in the front room of the shop, where you looked at the very expensive outfits they had, none of which you would ever be able to afford.Ā
You weren't looking forward to the Flaming Heart event. Standing there for two hours while Johnny answered questions and autographed various photos of his face, amongst other things, was not on your āfavorite things to doā list. But it was the job, and this is what you had to do.
Johnny was right in his element, answering his fansā questions with a bright smile. He even went so far as āflaming onā for the fan club, causing a cacophony of squeals and clapping to erupt. You didn't know how he did it. His ability to charm people and interact with those around him with compassion and care was something you admired about Johnny. Would you ever tell him that? Absolutely not.Ā
After the Q&A session, they set Johnny up at a booth near the exit of the event. This allowed everyone to get their items autographed, as well as a headshot of Johnny, wearing the ridiculous white sweater the club used for their pamphlets, before they left for the night.Ā
You stood next to Johnny, handing him a copy of the photo for every person who approached the booth. A small smile was on your face as you handed them over. You kept it on even as you heard the girls whispering from down the line, probably purposefully loud enough for you to hear.
āWho is that lady with him?ā
āThe frumpy-looking one in that ugly pink outfit? She looks tired and a little old.ā
āI think she's his assistant. I'd kill for that job.ā
āWell, she definitely needs to look better if she's representing him. Her lipstick was so last year.ā
Johnny's words drew you away from your eavesdropping. āYou good?āĀ
āYeah, sorry.ā You responded, handing him another photo, a smile still stuck on your face like a permanent fixture. It didn't reach your eyes.
He gave you another quick look, worry crossing his face for just a moment before shifting back into his casual smile.Ā
This went on for another hour, but the words of the girls lingered in your head. You were a grown adult, you shouldn't be letting teenage girls get to you, but shit, were they ruthless. The last set of girls that came up were the ones who ran the club. Johnny spent a little extra time getting a photo with them for their newsletter. Before you knew it, you were on your way back home, sitting in Johnnyās car.
Your feet were aching by that point, having been standing for a good portion of the day. The soft sound of some popular song played over the radio as Johnny drove in silence, his fingers idly tapping the steering wheel, restless.
āAre we going to talk about earlier?ā He asked, eyes forward and focused on the street in front of him.Ā
You sighed, slipping your heels off your feet. āWhich earlier?ā You responded, looking over at him.Ā
āAt the studio. You know I didn't mean to imply you were, well, a piece of ass to Dean.ā
āI know. I was just flattered he gave me the time of day.ā
āReally? Why?ā
āI mean. It's not something I'm used to. Men approaching me like that. Usually, I'm too busy dealing with everyone else to get to blatantly hit on.ā
Johnny nodded and was silent for a moment. āI'm sorry, though, regardless of how I felt about Dean. I shouldn't have said that.ā
āIt's okay. I know you didn't mean it.āĀ
āAnd you shouldn't listen to what any of those girls said.ā He met your eyes for a moment, letting you know he was serious.
āWhat?ā You asked, genuinely surprised by his words.
āI'm not deaf. I'm also very aware that they getā¦territorial, if I'm near any other women. You look great, and you dress well for a woman your age.ā
āI guess I'll take that as a compliment. Also, what do you mean, my age, we're the same age,ā you laughed, shaking your head at the small smirk that quirked his lips.
āI just mean that your outfits are age-appropriate, like they fit you well, you look hot as hell in them- I mean, most guys would say that, Dean definitely thought it.ā He said, trying to keep his tone as even as possible, hoping he covered his fumble well.Ā
You narrowed your eyes at his comment before humming in response. āI'll take your word for it.āĀ
The conversation died off for a moment. A comfortable silence took its place.
āThe gala, you going with anyone?ā Johnny asked, looking to you for a moment before pulling onto the street the Baxter Building was on.
āNo. I have to work for part of it, so I figured it wouldn't be very fair to invite anyone to come with me if I wasn't able to interact with them all night. I did think about asking my dad, but he isn't huge on crowds.ā You said with a shrug, eyes lingering on him. He looked like he had something to say; he was tensed up and swallowing hard.Ā
āYou should be my plus one then,ā he responded casually, pulling the car into the garage and parking. You opened your mouth slightly, not expecting him to say that. When you didn't respond right away, he added. āAs friends, I mean, I don't have anyone to take and I'll be busy with the auction.ā
āYeah, sure,ā you responded. āIt makes sense. Just friends. It's not like the public doesn't already know me as your assistant. It will just be taken like that.ā
āYeah, right. Of course,ā he said, nodding as he turned the car off. You slipped your shoes back on with a groan and grabbed your bag. āWant me to carry that?ā
āIf you want,ā you responded, offering the bag to him. He took it with a smile and got out of the car, before quickly going around to your side and opening the door for you. āYou're being suspiciously gentlemanly. Are you sick?ā
āWhat? No. You've just done a lot today, just assisting you like you assist the rest of us,ā he shrugged, helping you step out of the car.Ā
You narrowed your eyes at him. āYou need something.ā
He scoffed and shook his head. āDo not. Can't I just be nice to be nice?ā
āYou can, but you usually aren't.ā
āOkay, fine. I need you to set up a meeting with Reed for me.ā
āCouldn't you just walk in there whenever?ā
āI could, but he won't listen to me unless I follow procedure. I have some space suit design ideas I want to float to him. It may finally convince him to go back to space.ā He pleaded, grabbing your hand and looking into your eyes. Those baby blues were hard to say no to. He really wanted this, and he rarely asked for favors.
āOkay,ā you stated simply. āI just need a date and time, and I'll pencil it in.ā
He hugged you, lifting you off the ground slightly before he kissed your forehead. āYouāre the best. I'll stop by your office in the morning to figure out the best day.ā
Your face heated slightly at Johnnyās affection as he stopped hugging you. You're just friends. That's it.Ā
āCome on, let's get upstairs,ā you said quickly, ushering him towards the elevator.Ā
āGoing once. Going twice. Sold to number 75 in the back! Congratulations on being the owner of a one-of-a-kind, signed, Fantastic Four first edition comic!ā The auctioneer said excitedly. You clapped with the rest of the crowd as you sat next to Johnny, who was trying very hard not to yawn. Sue had insisted you take the rest of the night off when the gala had started and all the preparations were done. She then made sure you relaxed by keeping your glass of champagne filled.Ā
You had to admit you were a bit tipsy by that point being four glasses in. Your third glass had been downed when you realized why Johnny had asked you to be his plus one. He was auctioning an exclusive date with himself and, even though the money was going to a good cause, any woman who wasn't you would have been instantly jealous of whoever purchased the date. Were you jealous? No, definitely not. But that small part of you still felt a little bitter as you had clapped along when Johnny stood on the stage with the highest bidder, a young girl whose father definitely put the money forward.Ā
There was a small break in the auction for the attendees to grab more refreshments, and you took that moment to get up from your seat, a little wobbly in your stilettos. Your dress was a tight, form-fitting black number you had for events like this. It sat just above your ankle and squared off at your collarbone, leaving your arms bare. It wasnāt often you got to wear it, but it had Johnny doing a double-take when he saw you come down the stairs to the living room before the gala.
āYou need some help?ā Johnny asked, a small smirk on his face as he watched you wobble.Ā
āNo, I don't think so,ā you said, finishing off your glass of champagne before placing it back on the table. āI was just going to find the bathroom.ā
āLet me come with you. I can at least keep you stable,ā Johnny offered, standing and holding his arm out to you. You sighed and looked over to Sue, who had a hand in front of her face to hold back a laugh.Ā
āSue said earlier she had to go; we can go together,ā you said quickly, watching her shake her head.
āNo, I'm good. Johnny can escort you, I'm sure.ā Her look was conspiratorial, very much encouraging whatever this was. You frowned and narrowed your eyes at her.Ā
āFine,ā you yielded, carefully taking Johnny's outstretched arm. You could definitely make it on your own, but you were certain Johnny wanted as much of an excuse to get up and move around as possible. He had been bouncing his leg under the table for the past hour and fidgeting with his watch.
Johnny guided the two of you out of the room, filled with tables and people, and into the hallway where the bathrooms were located. There was a massive line for the women's and you sighed. āI'm just gonna go up to the apartment and go there. You can go back if you want.ā
āI'll still come with you. It's a little stuffy and, quite frankly, boring in there. You're far more interesting,ā he flirted, watching for your reaction. Your eyes narrowed at him as you dragged him along towards the elevator.Ā
āI'm not that interesting, Johnny. Out of the two of us, you have the more interesting life. I just get to watch you live it,ā you responded, clicking the up arrow on the panel.
āBut you're far hotter than me. Especially in that dress,ā he shrugged, eyes dragging down your body.
You laughed, not fully believing you had heard him right, your gaze carefully trained on him, skeptical. āYeah, right. Tell that to the woman who had her father spend ten grand on a date with you. Youāre the hot one, literally most times.ā
The elevator pinged and opened. You stepped in, followed by Johnny. He waited until the door was closed before he turned to you. āAre you jealous? Because you shouldn't be.ā
āOh? And why is that?ā You asked, leaning against the railing on the wall, gripping it tightly as he stalked closer, staring at your lips.Ā
āBecause,ā he responded, caging you in with his arms on either side of your body.Ā
āThat's not an answer.ā
āLet me kiss you and I'll show you.ā He said, voice husky as he leaned closer to you.
āYou're drunk,ā you whisper, swallowing hard. He moved one of his hands to your cheek. āY-You would probably regret it.ā
āIf I'm drunk, it's only on you.ā Fucking flirt. Your heartbeat quickened.Ā
āI thought we were just friends.ā
āOh come on-ā he said your name, and you swallowed at his tone, deep and breathy. āWe've been dancing around this for a while.āĀ
The door to the elevator pinged and opened to the living room. Johnny sighed and grabbed your hand, pulling you carefully out of the elevator before trapping you against the wall right outside of it.Ā
āI-I don't know what you're talking about.ā You stuttered, your cheeks flushing.Ā
āI've seen the way you look at me, and I'm sure you've noticed how I look at you the same way. We're both busy adults. I'm sure you're tired of the one-night stands with semi-strangers, I know I am.ā
āAre you saying we should have sex, Johnny?ā You questioned, mouth parting in disbelief.
āI was going to say it in a less crass way, but yeah. A mutually beneficial transaction. We both get off, no strings, just two friends helping each other out,ā he shrugged, stepping back for a moment to look at you. Having you like that was better than not having you at all.Ā
āLike, friends with benefits?ā you questioned, using the wall to keep you upright. This had to be a dream, or a joke, or something. Your brain was struggling to keep up.
āExactly like that,ā he stated, watching as you tilted your head slightly, staring him down.Ā
āWhy, though? We would have to do a lot of sneaking around to keep this from the others.ā
āHaving any kind of romantic relationship isn't really viable for me, as you found out the other day at the fan event. You're all about image, you understand. I need to be a heart-throb without breaking hearts,ā he was moving back towards the living room with his hand outstretched. āLet's see what happens. Take a leap with me.ā
You felt yourself moving as if drawn into a gravitational pull you couldn't get out of. You grabbed his hand, and he pulled you close, cradling your face with his other hand. āThe best pacts are sealed with a kiss,ā he whispered with a smile.
āThen you better kiss me, Johnny.ā
He didnāt have to be told twice. He gently pressed his lips to yours. It was soft and sweet. Loaded. Full of emotions, neither of you was ready to face or unpack. Strings were definitely attached. He pulled away slightly, not wanting to mess up your makeup and how pretty you looked in it, how full and plush your lips looked. He wanted to devour you, wanted to give in to the burning feeling in his chest, make you his, leave his mark for everyone to see.Ā
āWe should get back,ā you whispered, eyes flicking to the elevators. āAfter I use the bathroom.ā
āRight,ā he breathed, watching your form move towards the hall. Your pace increased the farther you got from him, needing the space to process what had just happened.Ā
You shut the bathroom door maybe a little too hard behind you and slid your dress up your legs, letting it sit above your hips. You did your business, washed your hands, and stared at yourself in the mirror. āWhat the fuck am I doing?ā You muttered quietly, hands gripping the edge of the sink.Ā
He wasn't wrong; it would benefit both of you. You just didn't know if you trusted yourself not to start feeling things you shouldn't for him. You shook your head and took a deep breath, steeling yourself. Just friends don't kiss each other like that. You groaned, slightly defeated, and exited the bathroom. You'd rather have part of him than none of him.Ā
Johnny was leaning against the wall when you came back into the room, staring at his watch. āThe scheduling system you linked with the watches is nice. But I do enjoy the extra time you take to individualize our packets.ā He said casually, meeting you where you stood, placing a hand on your waist.
āI thought you didn't even look at them,ā you responded, pulling him along towards the elevator.Ā Ā
āI do, most of the time,ā he grinned, clicking the button to go back downstairs. āWhen you're not looking.ā
āWow, I'm shocked you admitted that,ā you stated with a laugh, watching as he moved closer to you. He placed a kiss on your cheek, then jaw, before he lingered by your ear, his hot breath sending a shiver down your spine.
āI'll admit to whatever you want as long as I can kiss you again.āĀ
A small, breathy gasp left your lips as he pulled away. He chuckled and tilted your head up by your chin to look you in the eyes. āYou're cute when you're flustered.ā
āWhatever,ā you muttered, turning your head from him, cheeks burning. The doors to the elevator opened, and you backed your way into it. He followed you in, leaning next to you against the wall of the elevator as it descended. There was a beat of silence before Johnny spoke up.
āTonight after the gala. My room or yours?ā
āYours. The view is better.āĀ
He laughed and gave you a quizzical look. āI didn't think you were into voyeurism.ā
āWhat?!ā You blurted, turning to him, face flushing redder than it already was. āI-I'm not. I just meant that you have a nice view of the bay, not that I want you to fuck me in front of the window.ā
āHey, to each their own. But man, would that be a sight to see,ā Johnny said with a grin, holding his hands up in surrender.
āYou would like that. Maybe you're projecting.ā
āMaybe,ā he laughed, giving your lips a quick peck right before the doors opened. He held his arm out to you again, and you begrudgingly took it.
āYou're lucky I like you,ā you muttered under your breath as you made your way back into the gala.
Your name being called over the chatter of the room stopped you in your tracks. Johnny halted right after, curiosity on his features. The voice was deep and familiar. āAh, right.ā You muttered, looking over your shoulder.Ā
Dean was approaching quickly from the other side of the room. You looked at Johnny, who frowned deeply and moved his arm away from yours. He hovered behind you as you turned to Dean with a forced smile.Ā
āWow, and I thought you looked amazing on set,ā Dean said with a small whistle, raking his eyes down your body.Ā
āThank you, Dean,ā you said politely, wetting your lips with your tongue nervously. Johnny's kiss still lingered. You felt Johnny's hand press reassuringly into your lower back as he stepped beside you.Ā
āAh, are you here as Storm's assistant again?ā Dean asked, tone mildly disappointed but still upbeat. He gave you the perfect out, and yet you hesitated. You and Johnny hadn't exactly worked out the conditions for your⦠arrangement. Johnny noticed your hesitation and spoke for you.
āShe's my plus one tonight, as friends, of course. Nothing more,ā he shrugged casually, removing his hand from your back and sticking it in the pocket of his slacks. Your body missed his warmth instantly.
āWell. Do you mind if I steal her away for a drink?ā Dean asked, already sidling up next to you.Ā
āAll yours,ā Johnny said firmly with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. He stepped out of the way and let Dean place his hand on your back instead. It wasn't nearly as warm as Johnnyās. You smiled, though, as you walked along with Dean to the bar, all the while subtly watching Johnny as he crossed the room and sat back at the team's table. You could see Sue and Ben exchange some words with him before Johnny pointed behind him and shrugged. You quickly looked away when you saw Sue scanning the crowd.Ā
Dean ordered the two of you drinks. He slid you a Martini, and he sipped on an Old Fashioned. You thanked him and took a sip, trying not to cringe at the subtle olive taste.Ā
āDid you know my show was ranked in the top three most-watched shows in America?ā Dean asked, moving the two of you to a secluded standing table near the wall. His hand rested low on your back; any lower and he'd be feeling you up.
āReally? I thought I read that somewhere. That's really impressive,ā you said, taking another sip of your drink.Ā
You let him talk at you about his show and himself. Not once did he ask you any questions about yourself. You nodded along and added commentary where it was needed, pretending to be interested. You let him move you closer to the wall, more hidden. You didn't know why you let him; maybe it was the alcohol inhibiting your decision-making, but when he grabbed your ass fully and pulled you into a sudden kiss, you stiffened.Ā
All you could do was compare what was happening to what you shared with Johnny less than an hour ago. It felt wrong. Gross. Unnatural. Your brain was too muddled to work out the complex feelings that washed through you as Dean pulled away, looking as happy as a clam.Ā
āYou're a great kisser, baby. And your ass is fantastic,ā he whispered next to your ear. āI'd love to take you home tonight.ā
āI'm not really that kind of girl, Dean,ā you said quietly, swallowing hard and stepping back away from him, you had a polite, nervous smile on your lips.
āCould have fooled me. I figured Storm would have taken you by now. Must mean you're a prude and a tease,ā he said with a frown, lighting up a cigarette he took from his suit jacket pocket. You stood there a little shocked, jaw tensed in anger at his words. āThere are a lot of pretty girls here tonight. I'm sure someone else will put out.ā
He downed the rest of his drink before roughly pinching your chin and smearing a bit of your lipstick with his thumb. āShame. I could have put these pretty lips to use.ā He let go of your face and walked away with a wave of his hand.Ā
You were used to men being assholes. Most of them were assholes or had little respect for women, especially if they were rich and famous like Dean. You were lucky to meet Reed, Ben, and Johnny. They seemed to be the best of the best. Sure, they had flaws. But they respected you and Sue. You quietly finished your drink, hoping the alcohol would dampen the tightness in your throat and how disgusted you felt with yourself. You should have known what he was doing, what he wanted. Johnny warned you, and you didn't listen. And there you were, perfect makeup smeared and full of shame and regret.Ā
The room was starting to feel too claustrophobic, even while lingering on the edge of the room. Luckily, the auction was almost over, meaning the gala would be finished after some final speeches and announcements about how much money had been raised for the charity.Ā
You exited the room quickly, making your way back to the elevator. The ride up felt slower as you wrapped your arms around yourself; the night had chilled the air in the building, causing goose bumps to rise on your skin. The doors opened, and you stepped out and yanked your stilettos off your feet. You padded over to the mini bar near the windows of the living room and poured yourself another drink, your favorite, before making your way up the stairs to Johnny's room, heels and glass in hand.Ā
It overwhelmingly smelled like him when you opened the door. Warm and fresh like a summer day. You tossed your heels to the side next to the ungodly portrait of Johnny before shutting the door. You flicked on the lamp he had next to his chair, igniting the room in a warm, low light.Ā
It took a moment for your eyes to adjust as you looked around his room. He didn't have much, but he did have a very impressive record collection. You placed your glass down on his nightstand before grabbing a Frank Sinatra album and putting it on his record player. You set it to play quietly, then grabbed your glass and sat yourself comfortably in his plush blue chair, losing yourself in the view of the bay while you waited for him to return from the gala.
Johnny creaked his door open slowly an hour after the gala had ended. He had stayed and chatted with some of the high bidders for the auction, as well as the father of the girl he had a date with. It was a scheduled event, and he was sure you were already on top of the minor details for the date; you always were.Ā
He was pleasantly surprised to see you standing by the window of his room, nursing a clear liquid in your glass. You were absolutely radiant in the low light, your dress shimmered slightly as you turned to look at him with a small smile. Your lipstick had been a little smudged at the side of your lip, marring your otherwise perfect face. He had to admit he was a little irritated earlier when Dean had come up to the two of you. Johnny wanted you all to himself, but he knew you could make your own choices. It seemed, in the end, you chose to spend the night with Johnny after all.Ā
āHey,ā you said quietly, fully turning to face him now. He shut his door with a gentle click, locking it as he stared at you, still taking in every part of you, standing in his room, ready to do very explicit things with him, not anyone else. Definitely not Dean.
He swallowed hard, sticking his hands in his pockets, hoping to hide his growing erection at just the thought of you in his bed. āHey,ā he finally replied, moving closer to you. āWhat do you have there?ā
āHmm? Oh, just water now. Figured I should sober up a little bit,ā you said with a shrug, meeting him on the step by his chair. You looked up into his eyes, lashes fluttering as you played with the lapel of his suit jacket. āSo, are we going to talk about our arrangement?ā
āYeah,ā Johnny breathed, trying to gather himself a bit, not being the most sober person at that moment. Your touch was getting to him more than usual. āI would say we stay exclusive, as far as sex goes.Ā Makes it easier. I'm clean, so no worries there. Uh. We can date whoever we want toā¦ā Johnny took a moment to think of anything else.
āIf either party wants it to end, it ends there. No strings?ā You added, no longer looking into his eyes but at his chest. Something in your heart told you it wouldn't be that easy.Ā
Johnny nodded. He didn't like that part of this, and he'd like it to be more, if you'd ever go for that. He had to hope that maybe you'd come around to a date with him. āRight, yeah. Just two friends helping each other out,ā he said, tone a little strained as you moved your hands to his chest.Ā
āOkay. Is that everything?ā You asked, looking up at him as you slowly lowered yourself to your knees in front of him.Ā
āI-I, uh, no-what're you doing?ā He stuttered out, grabbing onto your hands as they lingered on his belt.Ā
āSomeone said I had pretty lips tonight, all I could think about after was using them on you,ā you whispered, blinking up at him, waiting for him to give you permission to move.Ā
āReally?ā He asked, swallowing down a groan when he let go of your hands, and you immediately went to work undoing his belt and unbuttoning his pants.Ā
āMostly, it was a secondary thought, but I wanted to do it regardless,ā you responded, pulling the zipper down slowly, feeling how he was already hard. A small part of you was smug about that.Ā
He laughed breathlessly. āYou know that's really hot.ā
āI knew you'd enjoy hearing it.ā You said as your fingers danced along his waistband. He didn't know what to do with his hands, so he helped you slowly pull his pants and briefs down until his dick sprang free and bobbed in front of your face. You couldn't help the little bit of saliva that pooled in your mouth, seeing him. āCan I?ā You asked quietly, fingers hovering, ready to grab him.Ā
āGod, please, I'll die if you don't,ā he responded, placing a hand on the side of your head, his fingers brushing through your hair.Ā
āA bit dramatic,ā you said before giving his length a few experimental strokes, twisting your wrist slightly to move up and down more easily. Johnny groaned lowly, fingers moving to the hand you had rested on his hip for support.Ā
āYouāre too good at that,ā he gasped, watching you intently as you parted your lips and flicked your tongue against his ruddy tip. āFuck-ā
You smirked to yourself as you swirled your tongue around his tip before slowly taking it into your mouth. He was hot, so much hotter than any others you've had, and he sat heavy on your tongue. You hummed at the subtle salty taste of precum, mouth watering more as you slowly bobbed your head, spreading your spit along his length, the deeper you got. He was a bit larger than what you were expecting to so you used your hand to supplement movement where your mouth couldn't reach without gagging.Ā
Johnny was a moaning mess as he watched you use those perfect lips to blow him. He was using all his restraint not to thrust into your mouth with how good it felt. Your mouth was hot and wet and felt so fucking amazing. He gripped your hair tightly when you took him deeper into your mouth, and he felt the vibration of a hum around his dick as you gripped his hip tighter. He moaned at the thought of tugging your hair in other positions and unintentionally bucked into your mouth from the intensity of the pleasure your hum caused. You stopped when you gagged slightly at the abruptness of his thrust.
āFuck, you okay?ā He asked quickly, not wanting to hurt you. You looked up at him, dick still in your mouth, eyes a little watery, and nodded at him before you started up a quicker pace. You were going to ruin blow jobs for him; no one else was going to be able to compete with this.Ā
Drool was dribbling down your chin, and completely covered his cock when you finally pulled away. Your lipstick was even more smeared, your lips were puffy, mascara was a little smudged from the few times your eyes watered when taking him a little too deeply. Johnny thought you still looked absolutely breathtaking. Especially because he was the one who caused you to look so wrecked.Ā
You leisurely stroked him as you looked up at him. āDo you want me to continue?ā You asked playfully as you kissed the head of his dick.Ā
āNo-i mean, yes, I would really love it if you did, because it felt great- but I'd really like to get the full experience,ā Johnny responded, moving his hand that was in your hair to the side of your face.Ā
āHmm, we should move to the bed then,ā you said, standing quickly and leaving him half-naked standing there. He stared at your retreating form as you pulled the zipper down on your dress, exposing your bare back to him. You turned back to look at him, a smile creeping onto your face. āYou gonna help me out of this, Jonathan?ā
āFuck, yeah, be right there,ā he said quickly, kicking his pants and briefs off the rest of the way into a haphazard pile. He stripped off his jacket and shirt just as quickly, adding them to the pile as he stood behind you.Ā
He purposefully heated his fingers up before touching along your spine, causing a shiver to run up it. āNot fair,ā you whispered, watching him from over your shoulder as he moved his fingers up to your shoulder blades that just barely held onto your dress, keeping it from tumbling to the floor in a pool of shimmery black.Ā
āThis dress has been doing things to me all night,ā He admitted, pushing the dress off your shoulders and watching it slip down your body, leaving you in just a pair of black lace panties.Ā
āIs that so?ā You asked, melting into his touch as he snaked his arms around your body to pull you to him. He kissed along your shoulder until he got to your neck.Ā
āOh yeah. Could have pushed you up against a table and fucked you in front of everyone,ā He muttered next to your ear. You let out a small whimper at his words. They were definitely having an effect on you.Ā
āWhoās the voyeur now?ā You commented lowly, leaning your head back against his chest as he moved one of his hands up to softly fondle your breast, paying extra attention to your peaked nipple. His other hand traveled down to rest just above the waistband of your underwear.
āIād be willing to do it anywhere you wanted, baby,ā He said between kisses to your jaw and neck. āCan I touch you? Wanna feel how wet youāve gotten for me already.ā
āCocky,ā You breathed, moving his hand with yours to push your underwear down your legs. āIām yours tonight, touch me all you want.ā
Johnny growled into your neck at the words that left your lips. All his. He was going to take advantage of that. He warmed his hands as he slid his fingers along the seam of your pussy. You were absolutely soaking wet. Dripping for him. He dragged his fingers through you, gathering your slick on his fingers before bringing his hand up to show you and let himself see. āAll this cause of me?āĀ
āYeah,ā you gasped, watching with lidded eyes as he brought his fingers to his lips. He moaned at the taste of you, and your legs almost gave out at the sight of him sucking his fingers clean.Ā
āGonna need some more of that,ā He said, turning you towards him and backing you up towards his bed. The back of your legs hit the edge, and you immediately sat and spread your legs for him. He knelt before you, hooking your legs over his shoulders, face inches from your weeping cunt. He smirked up at you before sticking his tongue out and licking you from your opening to your clit.Ā
āHoly fuck-ā you gasped, gripping the edge of the bed, hoping your soul didnāt leave your body from the pleasure of him licking through your folds. You were already feeling the creeping buzz of an approaching orgasm as his tongue flicked against your clit.Ā
Sucking his dick and him touching you made you way too horny, and him offering to eat you out was the cherry on top. You bucked up into his mouth when he sucked hard on your clit. A choked moan left your lips when he gripped your hips hard, trying to keep you still.Ā
āThat payback for earlier?ā He asked between licks, his eyes watching your face as you panted.Ā
āSure,ā You breathed, biting your lip as he slipped two of of fingers into your pussy. They slid in a little too easily, and you moaned, rolling your head back at the feeling of being filled by something.Ā
āSo, tight, so, pretty,ā He muttered, fucking into you with his fingers a little harder as he felt your pussy clench around them the closer you got to the edge. You were panting and moaning his name so lewdly, he was sure he could cum from just your sounds and the way you tasted.Ā
āClose!ā You said sharply, moving your hand to grip his hair and push his face further into your pussy. He didnāt quite mind that as a groan escaped his lips, feeling encouraged to suck your clit harder and fuck into you faster with his fingers.Ā
Your thighs pushed against the side of his head when you came with a high-pitched moan of his name, shaking from the waves that crashed over you. He could feel your juices slide down his fingers as he continued to lick at your clit, ensuring you got the full pleasure of your orgasm. You felt high as you fell back onto the bed, whining at the slight overstimulation from his continued attention to your clit. He stopped shortly after you caressed his face, and he slowly slid his soaked fingers out.Ā
He stood between your spread legs, and you looked up at him with lidded eyes, looking blissed out post orgasm. He smirked, grabbing his throbbing cock with the hand covered in your slick and stroking himself with it. Your lips parted slightly, cheeks reddening, watching him. āYou did so well with my fingers, think you can take my cock?āĀ
You nodded slowly, licking your lips as you moved up the bed slightly. You needed more of him; you wanted to feel him fill every part of you.Ā
āWords.ā He stated, crawling onto the bed and settling himself between your legs. He slid the head of his dick through your soaked folds, waiting for you.Ā
āPlease, Johnny,ā You whispered, grinding your hips to get him to push his dick inside.Ā
āSo desperate for me, hmm?ā he commented, lining himself up.Ā
āYes!ā You gasped, letting out a long moan when he slowly pushed into you. He took his time, sliding in inch by inch. He leaned over your body, kissing along your jaw as he fully seated himself inside you. You were so fucking tight, and he couldnāt help the groan that escaped his lips as he made small thrusts to spread your juices along his dick. You were perfect in every way, and he felt like the luckiest man on the planet to be doing this with you.
He started out with slow, measured thrusts as he moved from kissing your neck to your cheek to finally getting to your mouth. You eagerly accepted his lips and wrapped your arms around his neck to pull him closer with a moan. He pushed his tongue past your lips as he picked up his pace fucking into you faster, harder. He wanted to taste every part of you. Leave his mark on you so you wouldnāt forget how he felt. How he tasted.Ā
You couldnāt get enough of him, as you moaned into his mouth at a particularly hard thrust. He moved one of his arms under your arched back to pull you closer to him, causing you to gasp at the new angle. āYou like this, huh, baby? Getting so fucking tight for me again. Gonna end up milking me dry,ā Johnny absently spouted, lost in every part of you and how you were making him feel.Ā
You moaned at his words as he moved to rest his head in the crook of your neck, unable to focus on anything but you. The way you smelled, felt, tasted. You overwhelmed every one of his senses. He moved his free hand between your bodies and quickly learned what pace to circle your clit at. He was, after all, an eager student, and he wanted to learn every part of you.Ā
āJ-Johnny, ām close,ā You mewled, bucking to meet his thrusts.Ā
āMe too. Where should I-āĀ
āInside. On. Pill,ā You mumbled, brows creased and mouth parted in focus.Ā
āFuck-ā Johnny growled into your neck, biting lightly at the skin on your shoulder as he felt every part of you tense up and your pussy tighten and pulse as you moaned his name. You crashed harder than you ever had in your life, wave upon wave of pure pleasure rolled over you as Johnny continued to fuck you through your orgasm. He gripped you tightly against him as you felt him grow hotter with every thrust.Ā
āGonna-ā He gasped, his thrusts growing sloppy as he pushed in one last time within you, so deeply you felt like you saw stars. A moan left your lips when you felt how deliciously hot his seed was as it coated your walls. He thrusted a few more times, spending everything he had for you, before he slowly pulled himself out and lay beside you, finding your hand and gripping it tightly.Ā
Panting filled the air as both of you caught your breath. You turned your head towards him, watching the rise and fall of his solid chest. It took a moment for his breathing to even out and for him to turn his head towards you. You stared at each other for a moment before you both tried talking at the same time.Ā
āThat was-ā
āYou were-ā
You both let out a laugh before you moved your hand to let him go first. He smiled so warmly it hurt your chest a bit.Ā
āYou were amazing,ā He said, and he moved his body so he was lying on his side. āBest sex Iāve probably ever had.ā
You rolled your eyes and turned over to face him as well. āIām sure there had been better.ā
He moved his hand to run along your cheek and tuck some stray hairs behind your ear. āI thought about it, and no, this had been the best.āĀ
āYou thought about it for two seconds,ā You stated, moving closer to his warmth as the air cooled your body.Ā
āIt was all I needed,ā He responded, giving you a quick kiss on your lips.Ā
āWell, Iām not going to make your ego any bigger than it already is. My responses during should be enough to tell you how it felt for me,ā You said, running your fingers along the arm he slung over your hip.Ā
He grinned widely. āOh, Iām the best for you, too, huh? I mean, you absolutely soaked my fingers and dick-ā
You pushed your finger against his lips to get him to stop talking. āHush, or this becomes a one-time only thing.āĀ You threatened non-commitally with a laugh.Ā
He kissed your finger before you pulled it away. āDick was too good for just a one-time experience.ā You shook your head with a smile and bit your lip.Ā
āYouāre pushing it.ā
āOnly out of pure affection for you.āĀ
Your heart tightened at his words and the gentle smile he gave in response. Like he meant it. Fuck, it was going to be harder not to fall for him than you thought.Ā Ā
End of Part 1?
Author's Note: Please let me know what you all think and if I should do a part 2 for this!

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Everything Iāve Ever Let Go Of Has Claw Marks On It
To save someone else going through eleventy billion reverse image searches - the sculptor is David Altmejd.
Thought 2, 2019
100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of āSaidā
For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic āsaidā. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words).Ā
1. Neutral TagsĀ
Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags:Ā
Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.
2. Questioning TagsĀ
Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:
Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.
3. Emotive TagsĀ
Emotional dialogue tags:
Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.
4. Descriptive TagsĀ
Insightful, tonal dialogue tags:Ā
Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.
5. Action-Oriented TagsĀ
Movement-based dialogue tags:Ā
Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.
6. Conflict TagsĀ
Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:
Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.
7. Agreement TagsĀ
Understanding, compliant dialogue tags:Ā
Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.
8. Disagreement TagsĀ
Resistant, defiant dialogue tags:Ā
Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.
9. Confused TagsĀ
Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:
Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.
10. Surprise Tags
Shock-inducing dialogue tags:
Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.
Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)
Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?Ā
Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!
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Well played Merriam-Webster.
āThere is artificial intelligence, and there is actual intelligenceā š¤š«³
fanfic writer starter pack
unhinged google searches that cause your fbi agent to have a meltdown
a folder on your laptop with too many wips to count that you swear you will work on soon
75% of the writing sessions consist of daydreaming about your blorbos while not writing a single word down
only finding typos after posting the chapter⦠but there never are any mistakes when you proofread it
suddenly forgetting how normal human beings speak⦠why does the dialogue always sound like a rat and an octopus trying to communicate?
(totally healthy) obsession with THE character
2 mortal enemies: the ao3 summary box and tags
sleep deprivation is maxed out
daily nighttime meditation that involves staring at the ceiling while thinking of new ways to forever haunt THE character
saying something like āiām just going to write a silly little one shotā and then proceeding to drop the most soul-wrecking, heart-wrenching, so-beautiful-and-painful-it-should-get-published fanfic of all time

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
how can you say no to that face? whatever you want, beautiful





