ponzuyu

| Marvel |

Johnny Storm

Date Night - you take on the job of babysitting the cutest superbaby in the world... somehow, your boyfriend turns it into a surprise date

Seeing if he melts into the kiss - after seeing a trend online, you test if the Human Torch himself would "melt into the kiss"

Kiss test - your powers suck the life force from anyone that you touch, but that won't stop Johnny from getting a kiss

Summer cuddles ! - new york summer nights are hot, but your boyfriend absolutely insists on cuddling

| Goslingverse |

Gosling hcs with a physically affectionate reader - ft. ryland, colt, holland, court, jacob, lars, officer k, seb, and ken

+ more to come...

⤷ “hey sweetheart, did you need som–”

⤷ “shush, i’m concentrating”

⤷ if he had a rough day teaching (or a bad interaction back when he was still in the scientific community), he immediately seeks out your comforting embrace once he gets home

⤷ one day while you were kissing his face, he reached up to remove his glasses so they weren’t in your way

⤷ when you realized what he was doing, you interlocked your fingers with his to stop him, and continued about your business

- Colt Seavers -

⤷ he’s down bad for you, so anything you want, it’s yours

⤷ cuddles? hand holding? kisses? your wish is his command

⤷ please be careful while snuggling with him though, this poor boy has at least ten bruises on him at all times from getting thrown around for his job

⤷ you both like laying on top of the other when relaxing, and Colt falls asleep every time

⤷ if you’re draped over him, he’ll have his arms wrapped around you and knock out in minutes– he claims you’re like a cozy weighted blanket

⤷ on the flip side, if he’s laying on top of you, he’ll bury his face in your neck and drift off while your hands comb through his hair

⤷ whenever he’s sitting in a chair, you like standing in front of him to hold his face and press gentle kisses into his skin

⤷ Colt just sits there and soaks it up, completely drunk on your love

- Holland March -

⤷ oh you’re touchy? don’t need to tell him twice— he’s allll over you

⤷ especially when he’s drunk, Holland’s hands are physically unable to stop roaming your body

⤷ one time, when you were guiding him to his car after a night out (he was DRUNK drunk), he was shocked to find a pretty girl on his arm and couldn’t stop spewing out cringey pick up lines

⤷ you just buckled him up, kissed him on the cheek, and got in the driver’s seat

⤷ he normally blacks out after drinking too much, but his resolve to stare at the pretty lady driving him home won out

⤷ after a particularly long day of detective work with Healy, he’ll collapse into your arms without hesitation

⤷ likes to bury his face in the crook of your neck or lay on your stomach if you guys are lounging

⤷ you idly scratch his head or play with his hair in these positions, and he absolutely melts

⤷ when he’s smoking, you’ll kiss him around his neck and face… sometimes the cigarette gets forgotten as a result

- Court Gentry -

⤷ BIG MUSCLESS… who said that

⤷ anyways you’re one of his “safehouses”

⤷ every time he shows up at your doorstep all battered and bloodied, he berates himself for always endangering you even though he’s double and triple checked that he wasn’t followed

⤷ before the regret can fully sink in, you never fail to dissipate it when you embrace him and usher him inside

⤷ to Court, your house is cozy and warm, but your arms are warmer

⤷ when he gets in his head about how dangerous his job is and how he’s risking your life, you shut him up with a kiss and firmly restate that you’d rather take the risk of being with him than choose to be with anyone else

⤷ if it was an especially rough mission, you force him straight to the bathroom where you turn on a hot shower and prep first aid materials

⤷ you take your time to wash him, and Court finally lets himself relax while you lather him up and massage his tense muscles, careful to avoid his injuries

⤷ in bed, you love to delicately trace his scars, fingers just barely ghosting his skin

⤷ you also make a habit of reaching under his shirt, running your hands along his abs

⤷ when he inevitably has to leave, the two of you stand in front of the door for a while, with you slowly kissing his face and refusing to let go

⤷ “darling, I really need to leave now”

⤷ “one more minute, please”

⤷ when you whisper into his ear like that with that pleading tone, he can’t refuse

- Jacob Palmer -

⤷ as much as you love touching him, he’s equally all over you

⤷ he’s used to girls getting with him to ogle at his body, so when you simply caress his face and hold his hand, he falls hard

⤷ the two of you spend a lot of time in bed, morning and night, just talking about life while being a mess of tangled limbs

⤷ he never realized it before you, but he loves being held– with previous girls, he was always the one to take the lead and initiate touch, but now that he has you, he’s able to let loose and be the one receiving all the affection

⤷ spooning is the go to sleeping pose, and you guys definitely switch between being the big/little spoon

- Lars Lindstrom -

⤷ back when he was still hesitant to touch you, he would often give you his special blue blanket to snuggle with 

⤷ whether you guys are at church, on a walk, or resting at home, holding pinkies is a must

⤷ one morning, he was putting on one of his many sweaters, and you took a special liking to it

⤷ “that’s a nice sweater”

⤷ his head whipped up to look at you, and after a moment of processing, he couldn’t repress the genuine smile spreading on his face

⤷ you held the sleeve of his sweater for the rest of the day, and you couldn’t help but notice that he wore it a little more often ever since

⤷ at night, he’s grown accustomed to falling asleep with his hand intertwined with yours

⤷ you’ll work up to cuddling/spooning, and you reassure him there’s no rush

⤷ Lars was pleasantly surprised to find that your touch doesn’t burn as much as others

- Officer K -

⤷ for the longest time he only had Joi, so this boy is touch starved like crazyy

⤷ he loves coming home to you and he deeply treasures the fact that he has someone tangible to hold and be held by after a long day

⤷ you’ve formed this nightly ritual of him coming home and collapsing into your arms– you like to lay there as he tells you about his day while you rub soothing circles into his back

⤷ if his hunting job was particularly brutal or bloody, you gently peel off his clothes, draw a bath for him, and help him clean up

⤷ his favorite part is when you wash his hair– the way your fingers scratch his head just right and how they trail down his shoulders to gently squeeze his arms really gets him

⤷ one rainy night, he led you out to the rooftop, hands intertwined as you let the rain hit your skin and drench your hair

⤷ he reached out to tuck your soaked hair behind your ear, and when he let his hand hover beside your head, you guided it to rest on your cheek, nuzzling into it

⤷ K doesn’t smile often, but in that moment, he couldn’t help it because of how real everything felt to him

- Sebastian Wilder -

⤷ one of your favorite pastimes is to curl up with him at night and listen to his grand plans for his club, all while absentmindedly tracing shapes on the palm of his hand

⤷ after his performances, you love pulling him in by his tie for a kiss (and he’s so into it)

⤷ when you’re done with him, his tie is loose and his hair is all messed up, but he’s got this drunk smile plastered on his face

⤷ you guys go out to jazz clubs at least once a week, and without fail you’re holding his hand under the table

⤷ he’s a traditionalist, so he loves offering his arm to you whenever you guys are walking together, which you gladly take

⤷ your shared bed is small, but it doesn’t even matter because of how thoroughly entangled you guys are while sleeping

- Ken!! -

⤷ after a long, laborious day of beach, he’ll happily prance into your open arms (beach is not an easy job!!)

⤷ if you’re holding on to his arm, he’ll puff out his chest a little and deliberately walk past the other Kens to make them jealous

⤷ you love running your hands down his abs or feeling up his biceps and this man absolutely soaks it up

⤷ he lovesss when you make him feel macho

⤷ but in the privacy of your dreamhouse, Ken will cling to you like a koala

⤷ bonus: one day, you asked him to stay the night to cuddle, and let’s just say his reaction was NOT as subtle as he thought it was

⤷ he had to excuse himself (which meant walking a few feet away, still directly in your line of sight) to triumphantly pump his arms and yell “SUBLIME!!”

⤷ he comes back all nonchalant, so you just scoff with a smile and drag him inside your dreamhouse by the hand

Not that he minds the hot temperatures himself. He’s the Human Torch! He’s practically immune to drastic conditions. 

No, it’s you that created his hatred for summer. Your unwillingness to be physically close to him at night, specifically. 

“Johnny stop. I’m being so serious,” you say, shoving his face away, desperate to escape his stifling embrace and position yourself closer to the meager air blowing from the fan. The amount of relief the small thing provides is abysmal, but it’s better than nothing. You would think the tech savvy Baxter Building, with mega genius Reed Richards inside, would have working AC.

But no. It broke in the middle of the night, and it’s the one day Reed didn’t stay up late in his lab to work on his next invention. And to top it all off, The Human Torch Heater is your boyfriend. 

And thus, you’re trapped by a tangled mess of limbs that remains stubbornly attached to your side, absolutely melting onto Johnny's expensive sheets.

“Nonono babe please I really need to cuddle with you,” he pouts. Johnny tightens his grip on you as if to reinforce his point, which only makes you wiggle in protest.

You almost crack a smile at his desperation, but the fact that you’re overheating to the point that you can’t fall asleep is currently outweighing your sympathy for your boyfriend.

“Johnny,” you sigh, “the room feels like a freaking furnace, and being stuck to you is only making it worse.”

“It’s not my fault I run hot.”

“I know it’s not, but I’m dying right now!! We’ve already opened windows and turned on this bummy fan. And I’m in shorts and a tank top. What more can I do?”

A playful smirk replaces his pitiful one. “Have I ever told you that you look good in everything? Including… nothing? Maybe that would solve your issue.”

You scoff and swat at him. “Unbelievable.”

He catches your wrist before it can land a blow. “The only unbelievable thing here is your lack of love for your own boyfriend.” He rolls over and crosses his arms, huffing with an excessive amount of drama.

You sit up in bed, simply watching his theatrical performance with an unamused expression.

He glances back at you out of the corner of his eye and immediately turns back around when he caught your unimpressed gaze.

You exhale, “you done?”

“It’s so lonely… and cold…”

“Right. Because summertime is just so cold.”

He clutches his heart dramatically and twists his expression into a pained one. “It’s cold right here..! My heart will cease to beat without your embrace.”

“I think my heart will cease to beat with your embrace,” you shot back.

Suddenly, he turns to you with a triumphant expression.

“Oh no,” you say, examining his face in the dark bedroom. “What’s that look for.”

“If we cuddle now, you get unlimited, exclusive, Johnny Storm cuddle time during the winter.”

You bite your cheek, thinking hard. Winters might be even worse than summers. You reminisce on just a couple years ago, when you prayed the tiny heater in your apartment would last you through the frigid night.

You lay down, dragging your hands down your face. “Fiiiine,” you groan. You open your arms to him, and Johnny practically teleports into your embrace. You’re immediately enveloped in warmth again, but thinking about the cold winter months makes you feel slightly better. Slightly.

Johnny slowly curls his fingers into your hair while the other runs down your back. He rubs his fingers in methodic circles, eliciting a soft hum from you.

“Not so bad, is it?” he whispers.

“I hate you.”

He just chuckles, pleased that he got his way. “Love you too.”

A/N: heyy! been a while! school genuinely killed me BUT it’s summer now, so i'm hoping i’ll write a lot more the next couple months! perhaps something for ryland grace?? project hail mary has consumed me… and i fear i've been infected with the ryan gosling is hot virus. so now i’m watching his whole discography (and maybe some writing for his other characters will soon follow?) ALSO x-men 97 season 2 and spiderman brand new day are coming!! summer boutta be so peak

“C’mon babe, please? Just one kiss?” Johnny pleaded, trailing you around the Baxter Building like a lost puppy. He’d been at it for the better half of an hour, and you, equally persistent, pushed his face away with your gloved hand for the millionth time. 

But unfortunately for you, if Johnny Storm wanted something, he would find a way to get it.

“Pleaseee,” he begged, practically on his knees now, “maybe the more we kiss, the more immune I’ll become to your pow–”

“Johnny!” you cut him off, exasperated. “Reed’s still working on the suppressant device. And you know what happens when I touch somebody. You wanna end up in the hospital?”

A beat of silence passed. Then, his signature smirk made its way onto his face, and you could already tell he was about to say something stupid.

“Maybe it’s worth it, no?”

“Ugh,” you groaned. You started turning away from him, but before you could get far, Johnny grabbed you by the wrist and whirled you around into his arms. 

You yelped in surprise and put your hands on his chest, a pitiful attempt to create some distance between the two of you, but his embrace was stronger. One hand rested on your hip while the other supported your back. The longer you stood there, the more you felt like you could melt into his warmth, and Johnny could sense your barrier slowly breaking.

“And just what do you think you’re doing,” you murmured, a small smile playing on your lips.

“Testing my immunity.”

He didn’t say any more before surging to kiss you. His soft lips moved with ease against yours as he rubbed slow circles with his thumb against your stomach and sides. Moving your hands, you gripped his shoulders as he deepened the kiss to let your bodies come impossibly closer. A comfortable warmth spread throughout you. Whether they were from his powers or his love, you didn’t know, and you were too occupied to linger on the thought for long.

…Until his grip loosened and Johnny passed out, collapsing ungracefully onto the tiled floor with a thud.

You sighed, mourning the loss of his body heat. Crossing your arms, you looked down at Johnny’s limp body, unimpressed and with one eyebrow quirked up.

“You asked for it, flameboy,” you muttered.

Luckily, Reed had fireproofed all of your clothes in the, hopefully unlikely, case you absorbed Johnny’s powers. So, when you ignited in flames, you were unbothered and began pondering over how you would get Johnny to his room.

One amused Ben and twenty minutes later, Johnny was successfully transported to his messy bed. 

After doing a general checkup with H.E.R.B.I.E.'s help, and once all of your flames extinguished, you flopped into a seat next to the bed, patiently waiting for Johnny to wake up. You were ready to kick back, take a nap, or maybe even help Ben cook dinner since it typically took multiple hours for anyone to stir after you absorbed their life force. As you were debating your options, your wandering eyes landed on Johnny's record player. Your feet automatically moved to his collection, and you delicately placed one of his favorites, Elvis, onto the device to let the soft melodies wash over you.

Suddenly, Johnny’s groggy voice cut through your thoughts, startling you as you whipped your head to face him.

“Hey gorgeous, am I in heaven? Because I’m looking at an angel.”

Your shocked expression gave way to a slightly flustered one, and you rolled your eyes with a playful scoff.

“You've achieved a new personal best,” you said, changing the subject. “Took just over an hour for you to wake up. Maybe you really are developing immunity?”

He flashed a sly smile. “Wanna run another test?”

-—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—- -—-

The gleaming lights of New York City twinkled below you as you leaned against the Baxter Building’s floor to ceiling windows. Glowing decorations littered the city, as per the Christmas tradition. Winter was definitely in full swing. These days, the air was beginning to bite at the tip of your nose, and your debates with Ben on who would get the privilege of staying home while the other went for a Maisie’s run became more frequent. Normally, you won. Although, even if you lost the argument every now and then, you had a personal heater to accompany you and protect you from the cold.

Your very own boyfriend, Johnny Storm.

He was always the one to insist, of course. You persistently try to convince him to stay home each time, not wanting to bother him with the extra outing. It’s impressive, really, how miserably you fail. Practically nothing will stop this boy from latching onto your side when he’s given the choice. On one occasion, you made the valiant effort of giving him the silent treatment unless he agreed to let you go grocery shopping on your own. Instead of complying, Johnny quirked his eyebrow and gave you a sly smirk.

“Ah, is that how we’re playing? It’s cute you think you can beat me, hot stuff.” With those words, he shot you a wink and, in a very exaggerated manner, mimed locking up his lips and tossing the key. Despite your look of indignation, he still managed to usher you out the door and tuck you into his arms, walking you to the store. The icy winds whipped your face, but Johnny’s body was a steady presence, always there to warm you up. Involuntarily, you let out a sigh of contentment at the heat that enveloped you. It was hard to stay mad at Johnny. Not when his arm around your shoulder and his other hand cradling yours in a firm grip felt like it could melt away even the coldest winters. Your resolve was strong, though, and you lasted the whole shopping period without breaking your silence. Johnny matched your strength of will, yet still played the part of a perfect gentleman by carrying your bags of ingredients for dinner that night. You caught him sneaking glances at you multiple times on the walk home, the look of soft adoration permanently plastered on his face. 

After trekking back to the Baxter building and taking the elevator up, Johnny plopped the groceries on the kitchen island haphazardly. Pivoting on your heel, you were about to start prepping dinner when he grabbed your wrist and whirled you around, peppering your face with kisses.

“Hey! Stop, Johnny! That tickles,” you managed to get out in between fits of giggles. You shoved him away, his attack finally relenting. 

He gazed at you, his smile so bright that he could light up the room without activating his powers. “There’s that beautiful voice,” he murmurs, brushing his hand against your cheek. He flashed you another wink and signature smirk, “Johnny: one. His beautiful, sexy, gorgeous, girlfriend: zero.”

You rolled your eyes, smacking him with a scoff.

Snapping out of your reverie, your gaze refocused on the glittering city. It had been almost half a year since the Galactus invasion, and remnants of his destruction were still scattered throughout the central parts of New York. Luckily, the only thing you had to worry about tonight was babysitting the little guy that single handedly drew the space god’s attention. 

The little ding of the elevator made you perk up, turning around to see Sue enter with Franklin on her hip. “Thanks again for watching Franklin for us,” Sue’s warm voice echoed through the living room. “It’s been so long since Reed and I have gone out for dinner, so it means a lot.” Despite her dark circles and slightly furrowed brows, clear signs of the sleepless nights of motherhood, her smile conveyed her genuine gratitude. 

“Of course,” you beamed. If you could alleviate any sort of stress from Sue or any of the other Fantastic Four members, you would do it in a heartbeat. Taking care of a child while simultaneously saving the world from danger? Sue was literally the definition of a supermom. You turned toward Franklin, cooing at him, “I’ll gladly spend time with my favorite superbaby anyday!” Franklin seemed to match your enthusiasm, babbling incoherent noises with a bright grin. He clapped his hands and reached his arms out, and you happily obliged by snuggling him into your arms, with Sue watching with a tender expression. 

“Well! Someone seems eager to spend time with his favorite auntie,” she laughed. It was no surprise that Franklin adored you. Ever since the team came back from space with an extra member, you spent a lot of time looking after him with H.E.R.B.I.E. while the others were focused on solving the Galactus problem. You had been dating Johnny for just over a year at the time, and after seeing the late nights you spent looking after Franklin, Sue insisted that you stay in the guest room of the Baxter Building. Johnny was quick to hop on that idea, eager for you to be as close as possible. Now, it was considered your room by everyone, quickly abandoning its title as the guest room. 

“Oh, by the way, have you seen Ben? Or Johnny, for that matter?” You thought you would have a bit of extra help tonight. Ben was a reliable and responsible figure to have around, and although Johnny could be a little reckless at times, he always made babysitting more fun.

Sue put her hands on her hips, thinking aloud. “You know,” she started, a smirk playing on her lips, “I think Ben might’ve finally asked out that school teacher he’s been talking about…”

You gasp, accidentally jostling Franklin in the process. “I knew something was going on there!! It’s about time, he took forever to make a move,” you mutter, just audible enough for Sue to chuckle in response. It made you happy to see Ben pursuing his own happiness. 

Returning to your question, Sue’s face morphed into something more serious as she crossed her arms, brows creasing. “My brother though, I have no clue. I thought he’d be here waiting with you to help babysit Franklin.”

You frowned, concentrating your thoughts. The two of you were hanging out just a couple hours ago. You were cuddled up against him, making good use of the fact that he runs hot to warm yourself up on this cold day. You chose to relax on the couch, your hands tangled in his short, blonde hair with his face buried in the crook of your neck, the rest of your limbs a tangled mess. It was pure bliss. Not many words were spoken, but you were almost positive Johnny never mentioned any other plans for the evening. In fact, the two of you discussed how you needed to stay home to watch Franklin tonight. “Where could he be? He did mention he needed to do something really quick, whatever that means, but he’s still not back from his little endeavor,” you mused.

Sue hummed in agreement, her eyes narrowing. “He better not be getting into any trouble. Last time he disappeared for a prolonged period of time, half of the smoke detectors went off in the building,” she grimaced at the memory, rolling her eyes. 

You sighed, shaking your head with a soft smile. You turned back to her with a determined look. “You and Reed enjoy your date night, I’ve got everything under control here. Right Franklin?” You turned your attention to the little Richards in your arms, who continued to make more happy babbling noises.

Right on cue, Reed strode into the room, straightening his coat jacket. “Ready to leave love?” he asked. He stretched his arm to wrap around Sue’s waist before stopping next to her and turning his gaze to you. “Thanks for taking Franklin off our hands,” he said, offering you one of his rare genuine smiles. “Just don’t forget, if Franklin gets fussy, or if he needs anything, or if there’s any type of emergency at all, you can always call–”

“Seriously, I got it! You guys don’t need to worry about a thing,” you cut Reed off, shooing them towards the elevator, “Now go! You guys deserve a nice night out.” 

“Alright alright, we’re going,” Sue laughed. The pair gave you one last wave before the elevator doors shut, leaving you alone with Franklin. It was already 7:00 pm, so it would be time to put him to sleep soon. He seemed to be very focused on something in the kitchen, and you followed his intent gaze. 

“Does Frankie want a snack?” You giggled, slowly making your way to the countertop with him in your arms. He made grabby motions towards the cereal– a brand new box of Lucky Charms. A staple in the Baxter Building, since Johnny was constantly eating out of the container. You sigh, thinking about the whereabouts of your boyfriend again. Glancing down, you remembered the communication watch Reed gifted you for your last birthday — his tangible sign of considering you part of the family. You perked up, sending a quick ping to Johnny asking when he was coming home. Franklin continued to reach out towards the Lucky Charms, and you plopped him down in his high chair at the dining table. Grabbing the box and tearing it open, you poured some into a little bowl for him as he waited expectantly. “Don’t tell your mommy that I’m giving you a sugary snack before bed. It’ll be our little secret,” you whispered with a wink.

He grinned and clapped his hands together, which you took as a form of agreement from the young boy.

“Hey, where’s H.E.R.B.I.E.?” you wondered out loud. You hadn’t seen the robot in a bit, and it was oddly quiet without him bustling around the house doing little tasks. “H.E.R.B.I.E.?” you tried again. Yet… nothing.

Confused, you sat back down, instead choosing to focus on Franklin again. Scanning the bowl, you realized he was meticulously picking out the colorful marshmallows and leaving the rest of the plain cereal behind. “Franklin!” you laughed. “That cannot be good for you,” you sighed, putting your hands on your hips.

Picking up the last rainbow marshmallow, he stuffed it into his mouth and with his other hand made more grabby motions towards the box, a silent demand for more. He looked up at you with the biggest doe eyes ever, telepathically pleading for more. Oh, this boy knew exactly what he was doing.

“Mmmmm… ugh, alright,” you relented, “just a little more.” How could you resist that face? He did have the Storm genes, after all. It seemed you couldn’t resist either of the boys when they turned up the charm. You grabbed the box again, pouring about a handful’s worth of the Lucky Charms into his bowl.

As more cereal and marshmallows fell out of the box, a small object toppled out with it. Lighting up, you picked up the small figure, realizing it was one of the Fantastic Four action toys. And it just so happened to be your favorite member.

“Frankie, look! It’s Uncle Johnny,” you exclaim, holding out the toy for the baby to see. He cooed in agreement, eyes locked on the toy, no longer focusing on his sweet treat. You activated the voice line, the little figurine lighting up with the Johnny’s signature catchphrase:

“I’m Johnny Storm! Flame on!”

Franklin cried out in delight, so you repeated the action, pressing the button on the back of the toy again. 

“Flame on! Flame on!”

Suddenly, the miniature Johnny Storm was plucked out of your hands. You whirled around, and you couldn’t help but yelp in surprise when you came face to face with the man himself, wearing his signature smirk. He was clad in his navy blue button down with those white chinos that looked devastatingly good on him. He knew it. You knew it. And he definitely knew that you knew it.

“Y’know,” he said, waving the toy around with a grin,” you could do better than a piece of plastic from a cereal box. You got the real deal right here,” he proudly said, puffing his chest out.

You rolled your eyes at his antics, choosing to ignore his comment to avoid inflating his ego. You couldn’t help an affectionate smile from spreading across your features, though. Johnny just seemed to have that innate, irresistible, borderline magical ability to make you laugh no matter what. “So… where’ve you been?” you question, raising an eyebrow. “You disappeared for a suspicious amount of time. And have you seen H.E.R.B.I.E.? He didn’t answer when I called for him.”

“I’m so glad you asked, my lovely lady,” he replied. “H.E.R.B.I.E.!”

With a flourish, Johnny snapped his fingers together. On cue, H.E.R.B.I.E. rolled in with a series of beeps and boops, seemingly hiding something behind his white rectangular body.

“Hey bud! Have you been off scheming with Johnny?” you shot the blonde a disapproving glance. “And whatcha got there?” 

To your surprise, the little bot revealed a bouquet of your favorite flowers wrapped in a neat bow.

“Johnny!” you exclaimed, unable to hide your delight. “You really shouldn’t have.” You gently took the bouquet, inhaling the fresh, floral aroma. “So…” your gaze turned playful. “You spent almost three hours buying me flowers?”

“Wow. No, ‘thank you for being the best boyfriend ever’ or ‘you’re so thoughtful, I love you so much’??” 

“Yeah yeah, all that good stuff,” you giggled, waving him off. “I’m kidding though, I really love them.”

“Not as much as you love me, right?” he smirked. That promptly earned him a smack, which he swiftly dodged. “And for your information,” he retorted, “I did not spend all of my time meticulously picking out my girl’s favorite flowers. I’ve actually got one more surprise for you.” He stretched out his hand. “Come with me?” His face changed into a soft expression at that last part, bordering on shyness. It was a rare expression for Johnny Storm, but you had the pleasure of witnessing it every now and then. 

“I’d love to,” you sighed. “But what about Franklin? I gotta put him to bed soon, and he’s eaten a concerning amount of sugar tonight.”

You turned to the little boy. He had somehow dug his way into the Lucky Charms box, feigning innocence as he continued to munch on the treat. Poor H.E.R.B.I.E. was trying to pry his hand away, but to no avail. 

Johnny chuckled at the sight. “Don’t worry about him, I asked H.E.R.B.I.E. to take over babysitting duties for the night.”

In response, the bot gave a thumbs up and a few beeps of affirmation as he finally managed to drag Franklin away from the cereal box. Johnny moved to give H.E.R.B.I.E. a little pat on the head, a silent thanks for playing his part.

“Are you sure bud? Babysitting was originally my responsibility y’know,” you said, not wanting to overburden the poor bot. As if letting out a cry of indignation, H.E.R.B.I.E. promptly scooped Franklin up and began heading towards the bedroom, a sound oddly similar to a “hmph” coming from him. You turned to Johnny, and in turn he gave you a helpless shrug, the corners of his mouth threatening to turn up. “Well H.E.R.B.I.E., you’re the best!” you called out to him. The robot gave a trill of boops as he disappeared, happy to be appreciated. It was almost as if Franklin was in on the whole plan too with how complacent he was being. 

After watching H.E.R.B.I.E. carry him away to the nursery, you looped your arm around Johnny’s, eager to see what surprise he had in store. “So, what did you plan for us?” you ask, giving him a little jab in the stomach. “Was it worth leaving me for a good while?”

“Well love, it’s never easy for me to be away from your beautiful face for so long. But you can decide for yourself whether it was worth it or not,” he said, giving you a kiss to the temple. “Not to brag or anything, but I know you’ll like it.”

His confidence evoked an eyeroll from you, but it also piqued your interest even more. He led you into the elevator, and to your surprise, pressed the button for the roof of the Baxter Building.

“The roof?” you questioned, squeezing his arm.

“Yup. And don’t worry about the cold, I got you,” he smiled, giving you a little squeeze back.

The elevator gave a sharp ding as the two of you arrived at the roof. When the doors slid open, you couldn’t help but let out a gasp. The rooftop was littered with candles, illuminating the area with a warm golden glow. It was a stark contrast against the dark sky, the tail end of the sunset barely visible against the horizon. In the center of it all was a gigantic mass of blankets and pillows surrounded by a small circle of scattered rose petals. Soft music was floating through the air– your favorite album out of Johnny’s collection. His record player sat near the heap of blankets, with the quiet melody adding to the romantic atmosphere.

“Oh Johnny,” you breathed. 

“Come on,” he said, tugging you along. “I wanna show you something.”

He dragged you to the overwhelming pile of fuzzy and soft material and scooped you up, tenderly placing you right in the middle of it all. He plopped down next to you, and you looked at him expectantly. The light from the candles cast a warm glow on the two of you, making Johnny look absolutely ethereal. An impressive feat, since Johnny always looks jaw droppingly gorgeous.

He took your hand, brushing his thumb along your palm. “Lay down for me?”

You didn’t question him, only tilting your head with the beginnings of a smile. Slowly, you sunk back against the plush pillows surrounding you, keeping your eyes on his face.

To your surprise, Johnny gently let go of your hands and closed his eyes. As soon as you opened your mouth to question him though, your mouth snapped shut in awe. The glow of the candles began to diminish as Johnny started to radiate with his own light. It all happened in a matter of seconds, but you drank in every moment. All of the small flames from the candles gravitated in streaky wisps towards him, and Johnny absorbed them in a controlled flurry of fire. It was rare for you to witness your boyfriend’s powers in such a peaceful setting. Normally, he used his flames to fight off enemies or to protect his family. But now, with only the two of you up on the roof, it was completely different. His fire wasn’t a scalding inferno. It was calm. Mesmerizing. Beautiful.

The sudden absence of candlelight left you blanketed in darkness, and your gaze naturally went back up to the sky, which was now magnificently lit up with stars. Johnny’s arm snaked around your shoulders as he snuggled up next to you, and you happily leaned into his touch. He looked at you with a triumphant grin, awaiting your reaction. “I thought we could go stargazing. It’s surprisingly really clear tonight, so it was the perfect opportunity. Plus, I know you’ve been wanting to do it for a while.”

You were still slightly shocked from the quick yet breathtaking turn of events. “It’s perfect,” you nod, eyes a little starstruck. Even though you’re familiar with Johnny and his devotion, you still get a little emotional every time he proves it. Johnny loves to hear himself talk, and everyone around him knows it. But as soon as you open your mouth, that boy is literally hanging onto your every word, and it always touches you with how well he listens. It should be no surprise, really. Johnny Storm would drop anything and everything for you.

The glittering constellations provided a lovely luminous scene as you lay comfortably on your mound of pillows, tucked into the arms of your boyfriend. His body was a comfortable source of warmth, successfully protecting you from the cool night air. As you stared at the sky, a sudden thought crossed your mind. “Do you wanna go back to space anytime soon?”

He paused for a moment, thinking hard about the question. “Well, I do love it up there. But if it comes with fighting another massive intergalactic threat that wants to wipe out Earth and everyone I love? Then no thanks.”

“Mmm. Even if it means you get to meet another sexy alien?” you quipped.

This earned you a shove, making you laugh while swatting his hands away. He scoffed, “Hey! Bottom line is, I don’t need to meet any more evil space creatures, including the good looking ones.”

“Oh yeah? What happened to ‘Johnny loves space, Johnny loves women?’”

He cringed at the memory. “Alright, that slogan changes right here, right now,” he said declaratively. “There’s only one woman I love, and she’s currently in my arms. So now it’s ‘Johnny loves space, Johnny loves his woman.’”

You blushed at his words, giving him a playful shove of your own. He barely budged and instead wrapped his arms around you tighter, placing a kiss on the top of your head and making you feel warm on the inside and out as the two of you laughed.

“So to answer your question,” he murmured, his joking tone turning more sincere, “I don’t need to go to space anytime soon. Sure, I could be up there with the stars. But… I think I’d rather look at them from afar if it means I can be here with you,” he said, gently tilting your face up so the two of you were inches apart. At his words, you couldn’t help a genuine smile from spreading across your face. You closed the gap between you, pressing a sweet kiss to his eager lips with the stars shining down upon you.