#variant!reader

“Yeah, yeah,” she moans mid chew, wiping sugar coated fingers on her pants. Returning her ‘attention’ to Sam. 

In the weeks following the arrival of the Fantastic Four as they trailed the green cape, metal masked, Doom into a parallel universe, the adjustment had been nothing short of intense. Going from a team of four enhanced individuals with a familiar tie, to a multimember team of heroes with their own history and bonds left the Four feeling like outcasts at times. They were coming up on their tenth anniversary as a superhero team. The Avengers? They were coming up on twenty. 

Well, if one combines Sam’s Avengers with Bucky’s Thunderbolt’s. Or New Avengers, depending on who won the copyright battle. 

Regardless, all the members of the team had been around for years. Decades. For Bucky? Nearly a century--thanks to being cryogenically frozen for ¾ of his life. 

The X-Men, however, did share the Four’s experience to an extent. They’d been pulled from their universe into Earth-616, but like the Avengers, they’d had decades of experience and were not shy about dealing with unprecedented threats. 

Yet one thing all three teams had in common, which did initially cause some tension in the beginning, was that in their respective universes, only one team existed.

Earth-616: The Avengers. Earth-828: The Fantastic Four. Earth-10005: The X-Men. 

Two did not exist where one did. And the one that did exist in said universe was responsible for the protection of its Earth’s citizens. So yeah, it did result in the leaders of their respective teams to butt heads. Honestly, it was a miracle they managed to get along. 

In terms of the friendship between Y/n—Static—and Johnny Storm, it felt as natural as they come. Considering the variant of the former is the latter’s best friend back in his native world, they should’ve predicted as much. A lot of Static’s personality paralleled Y/n’s. Intelligent. Hilarious. Driven. A champion for the greater good.

It only took three days after their first meeting for Johnny to be like, “Yo, we get each other.” And for Static to reply, “I see why we’re ride or die.”

Now nearly a year had passed and the teams were cracking down on Doom. Every time they got close to putting an end to his madness, he slipped through their fingers. A sighting in Montreal. A signal transmitted from Ukraine. People from agencies across the globe calling multiple times an hour to claim he was seen in their countries. 

The reality? He could be anywhere.

After the meeting, Johnny and Static headed to the training room for their daily sparing session. As they walked the woman was currently in the process of licking her fingers clean of sugar, the bag of sour patch kids empty and tossed in the garbage, causing the blonde beside her to pout. 

“Oh stop it,” she rolled her eyes, pushing open the gym door, “like you need more sugar with the amount of cereal you eat daily.” That earned her an offended gasp. 

“Says the one who can’t eat pancakes or waffles unless it’s soaking in maple syrup!”

“That’s perfectly normal pancake consuming behavior!”

“No, it’s not!! It’s diabolical!!”

The back and forth could last for hours, a scene witnessed by several members of the team to the point Ben or Bucky will step in and shout, “Will you two shut the fuck up and take your nonsense bickering outside!” which in turns leads the two to gang up on them.

“Whatever,” her childlike huff was paid with the stomping of her feet toward the mat in the center of the facility. “Let’s hurry this up--I’ve got things to do.” Tossing her windbreaker onto the bench, she’s left in a gray tanktop bearing the Avengers logo and black Adidas joggers.  

Johnny follows, removing his own jacket and Y/n snickers at the sight of the Fantastic Four logo on his t-shirt. The team had shirts on the ship when they arrived on Earth-616, but Static gave him shit when she found out he had more made because he said quote, “We might be Avengers now that we are all on the same team and are playing house in this tower….but at the end of the day, I gotta remind you all who I am.”

“And who exactly are you, Johnny Storm?”

“Fantastic, duh.”

“God, you and Tony would’ve been a headache together.”

Johnny took his place on the mat, “What, you got a date or something? What’s more important than being ready to stop Doom?”

Y/n glared, readying her stance opposite him, “Yeah, with my therapist. And she doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Static did see a therapist weekly--as would anyone after all the shit she’s lived through--but her session wasn’t until the following day. Her plans to cut their training short today, however, involved paying a visit to the cemetery. A venture in which she preferred to do alone. Away from the chaos and a chance to have some quiet while she cleaned up her friends headstones.   

She didn’t miss the way his face flickered when she initially agreed to his question, which vanished as quick as it came. Something pooled in her stomach, but she brushed it off and used his distracted nature to her advantage, initiating an attack and ensuing the sparring session. 

Now usually their fights go on for hours until Sue or Sam bust through the gym doors to wrangle the duo to a meeting, a lead, or dinner if they’ve put off consuming food. Or when Johnny gets bodied to the point he’s like, “Alright, I’m done--I can’t go on anymore.” Sometimes they use their powers, mostly to throw each other off. Which then results in someone shouting, “foul play!”

By the time they were done the two were panting and drenched with sweat, Johnny tossing a towel in Static’s direction while she passed him his water bottle. As they made their way out of the gym, Johnny snuck a glance at her, clocking the distant look in her eyes. 

“Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Yeah,” it sounded forced, causing him to frown.

“After your session, if you need someone to talk to, you know you can always come to me.”

That earned him a small smile, “Thanks, Flame, but I don’t actually have therapy today.”

“What? But you said earlier--.”

“That’s tomorrow,” came the truth paired with an apologetic shrug. 

“So what are you doing today then?”

She contemplated telling him her plans, knowing he’d offer to accompany her so she wasn’t alone. And although part of her wanted him to, she also felt the need to be by herself so she could get the current thoughts and feelings off her chest without any prying eyes to hear. 

Not to mention he’s the reason for those current thoughts and feelings. 

Since her universe had welcomed the superheroes from different worlds, Static knew there would come the day they’d have to say goodbye to them. Whether that be they met their end in the face of battle--the worst outcome possible--or with them finally defeating Doom and they find their ways back home. 

She wasn’t stupid. She knew their stakes and that eventually the X-Men and the Fantastic Four would return to their respective worlds. The worlds that needed them. Who were likely stuck in a constant state of confusion and fear that their protectors disappeared. Their families and friends.

Her variant, Static kept thinking of. Johnny’s best friend and, although he had yet to admit it, the woman he loved. She was waiting for him to come home. And Static was going to make sure he and the others returned safe. 

But that didn’t mean her chest did not ache when thinking about saying goodbye to the new teammates she’d come to admire. 

And saying goodbye to Johnny. 

She tried to not let it consume her as time passed. Focusing on the mission and just enjoying the time she did have with him. 

But like all good things, they eventually come to an end.

It was both expected and unexpected, the exact moment Strange announced he and Wong with the help of Reed and Hank developed a multidimensional transportation portal. Expected because they finally defeated Doom and saved the multiverse from chaos and destruction. Unexpected as it had only been less than 24 hours. Meaning they’d been working on it for a long time and finished without telling the rest of the team.

It struck everyone simultaneously. Smiles and cheers soon diminished into silence as the realization. Kurt and Remy immediately were pulled into an embrace with Shuri, M’baku, and Shang-Chi. Bucky and Sam shaking hands with Scott Summers. They all moved with solemn purpose. 

And that’s when it hit Johnny. Like a fireball straight to his chest as he watched his sister hug Yelena and Ava while Ben exchanged goodbyes with Scott Lang and Thor. 

The blonde was spinning on his heel. Distress coating his visage as it landed on the girl who’d granted him a beam of light in an otherwise darkened time. 

“Hey, Flame,” she gently cut him off when he started stuttering, eyes glossy but smiling at him as she fought to contain her emotion. “We always knew this was going to happen.” Johnny pursed his lips, swallowing thickly as his own eyes welled. 

“But….I---,” he struggled to find the words. “I’m not--I don’t want--,” his chest started to hurt, cheeks bright red as his bottom lip quivered. Glancing to the side, unable to meet her gaze, he caught Ben now with Banner and Wong exchanging goodbyes. Sue in a group hug with Kate and Shuri. And Reed shaking hands with Hank, Professor X, and Sam. Others gathered around to take turns, but Johnny stayed where he stood, voice going low as he forced his tone to be steady. “I don’t want to say goodbye. Not yet---I thought we had more time. I thought I--,” he swallowed thickly. “I had more time.” 

Her face softened further, understanding what he was trying to say and reached out to take his hand in hers. The heat radiated off of him, making her powers surge. “I don’t want to say goodbye either,” the sad smile never left as she spoke, “but you have a whole world waiting for you to come home. You have her,” he finally looked back at her, face filled with emotion, “waiting for you, Johnny. And if she is anything like how you’ve told me the last year, then I know she’s been dying on the inside wondering where you are. She probably worked out every equation, every theory, every possibility to explain why you disappeared. And has been desperately trying to find a way to find you. Endlessly waiting for your return despite what people have told her--because I too,” she squeezed his hand, “wouldn’t give up hope.”

Those sapphire-like eyes blinked with tears, one slowly leaking down the length of his cheek as he nodded, bringing a gloved hand up to her face. Barely brushing the length of her jaw as he told her everything he needed with his eyes. “You know how I feel,” he croaked, the unspoken words causing her breath to hitch. “Don’t you?”

You know how I feel about you. You know how I feel about her.

It was her turn to let a tear fall, “I do. And I’m confident that if she and I are anything alike,” she paused to swallow, gaze full of tenderness. “She feels the exact same way.”

The sob threatening to escape the both of them was muffled by Johnny pulling her into his arms, hugging her tightly to which she offered the same in return as neither wanted to let go. 

“I’ll never forget you,” the whisper kissed her ear, allowing more tears to fall. 

“You better not,” She squeezed him tighter. “Otherwise I’ll figure out this teleportation shit and remind you how I won all those sparring sessions.” 

“I let you win,” he let out a wet laugh followed by a sniff. 

A playful smack hit his shoulderblade with her scoff, “Sure you did, Torch.” 

As their hug came to an untimely end, Static took a leap of courage and leaned forward, feeling him still as her lips met the soft skin of his reddened cheek. Pressing it a second longer to let it linger before eventually pulling away. 

“See you on the flip side, Flame,” she met his gaze one last time, willing herself not to cry or kiss him. “Try not to do anything stupid when you get home. My variant doesn’t need any more stress when it comes to you.” 

“Believe me Static,” he chuckled, though it was full of bittersweet sadness. “I’m going to be spending the rest of my life making sure she never has to experience it again.”

“Good,” they glanced over to see everyone finishing up their goodbyes. “Then let’s get you back so you can start.” Throwing an arm over her shoulder, the two approached their teammates to say their goodbyes. Tears were shed. Praises were said. Everyone held onto those precious minutes before Reed, Strange, and Hank turned on the dials and ignited sparks into the room that encompassed the wall until two large portals stood before them.

One blue. One yellow.

The X-Men gave one last wave and salute. Then together they all crossed the threshold of the yellow portal, disappearing from their view. The yellow closed on its own, signalling a successful transfer of multiversal beings back to the right universe.

Static felt her heart race, a new wave of tears threatening to release but she held them back as her attention turned to the Fantastic Four, who were eyeing the blue portal with hope. Ben walked first, saluting to the Avengers with a smile. Reed took Sue’s free hand that wasn’t holding Franklin. Granting a wave to the team as he led them through the portal, leaving only Johnny, who lingered a second longer to look over his shoulder, meeting Static’s tearfilled eyes.

They shared a knowing smile, her lips quivering while his hand lifted to send a two-finger salute to which she returned. She kept her strong stance the entire time, watching him face the portal once more and begin his journey home. Crossing over to let the blue hue of cosmic energy consume him until it left nothing but the wall of Avengers tower. 

This wasn't meant to happen.

You weren't supposed to die like this.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N) stay with me...! Please!"

He thought you were safe. He thought that you got away. He told you to go! Damn it, don't close your eyes!

Mark thought about flying to the hospital, to get you treated, but the way you grasped his suit made him hesitate. You were saying something but he can't hear it due to the blood rushing in his ears. His mouth opened to speak but all he could do was let out a sob as he held your hand close to his face.

"Please... I can't lose you."

Your last moment is kissing Mark, your bloodied lips leaving a mark on his' as you lay limp.

The war lasted for three days. A lot of heroes died, cities were decimated, and people were hurt, all because of those doppelgangers who made a deal with Angstrom.

Mark felt numb during the funerals, he feels like it's all his fault. Because he held back, because he doesn't want to kill, because of that... you aren't here anymore.

He can't even look at your casket.

During the reconstruction, people were understandably wary of him, too traumatized of the recent debacle. He wishes you were there to tell him that everything will be okay, that it'll pass and he's still the hero [Title Card].

A call from Cecil about an unidentified object en route to Earth snapped him out of his pity party, now looking forward to beat the fool who dared to choose his planet. No more Mr. Nice Guy, he'll kill whoever tries to harm the people he loves.

He found a marble white ship floating by the Pacific Ocean, unmoving but he can hear the faint the whirring of machinery. Prying what he can grab open, Mark readied his fist with a snarl towards the intruder but stopped short at the sight.

There you are, unconscious and dressed in white clothes that made you look regal, just like how he remembers.

But you're dead. Who the hell is this??

Initially, he thought that it was a Thraxan who shapeshifted into your likeness like how Nuolzot did with Seance Dog. He was rightfully enraged once the shock passed. Is this a sick joke? How dare they impersonate you?!

But then you wake up and called his name, confirming that this is real. You are real.

"Mark?"

Mark took you home in a heartbeat. It was a foolish decision, really. Who in their right mind would bring home someone who looks exactly like their dead crush? Definitely not him.

Perhaps it was the clarity that came after, when Mark started panicking. Who are you??? Why do you look and act and...

Why do you look at him like how they used to?

Mark needed answers and you're surprisingly cooperative. Then your story starts to get too familiar. You literally retold your whole life story just as he remembers it. Is it really you? Did you somehow survived? No, he saw you die. How did this happen? Some magic or space-time bullshit?

Mark doesn't care, not when you look at him like he's the most important person in the world, not when you smell the same when he buries his nose to your neck, not when you card your fingers through his hair and laugh just how he loves it.

Ah... You're back.

Mark ignores the warnings that his friends tell him. You're not dangerous! You're you! You're back, so what's the deal, Eve?? Oliver, they're not an enemy, stop arguing with him. You agree with me right, Mom?

Even Debbie finds you suspicious. She saw the funeral and saw you get lowered to the ground, so who is this person who wears a mask of your face? She tried talking Mark out of it but he doesn't listen, begging her to understand that you're just disoriented from the previous events.

Mark remembers how he failed to confess his feelings to you back then, and it became one of his many regrets over the days following your death. But it doesn't matter! You're here now and he'll be damned if he doesn't shoot his shot. With clammy hands and a nervous voice, he asked you out in one of your favorite places, hoping for the best that you'll accept.

Holy shit, you did. Well, more like you were confused as to why he's confessing since you two were together since the start, yeah?

What the hell, sure.

You were clingy, always wanting to be near him every second of the day, not that he minds, he's as clingy as you. You kept littering his face with sloppy kisses, marking him while mumbling that he's yours. Whenever someone gets too close or if he spends too much time with someone else, you're dragging him away for a cuddle session regardless of the situation. Okay, a bit too clingy, but it's fine! Mark lets you do whatever you want to him, partly because he doesn't want to upset you in any way and he's still reeling over the fact that he saw you die.

He loves it when you sing to him before you two sleep, he didn't knew you have such a calming voice. You should be a singer or something! You only chuckle and press a kiss on his forehead at the comment, knowing full well that it's what your job is back in the Viltrumite Empire.

You are an entertainer, someone who sings to provide enjoyment to the people under the Empire. Despite your occupation, you hold quite the power, after all, it was you who handed Earth over to the Viltrumites. You don't understand why your Mark snapped at you for joining the enemy. Why wouldn't you? Shouldn't he also join them? They're his own species! Sure, he's half-human, but Humanity hold no flame against the might of the Viltrumites. It's better to join them than fight, so why is he leading the rebellion?

While you climbed the ranks within the Empire, Mark's down on Earth, battling the agents sent to eradicate the rest of the rebels. If only he snaps out of it and finally comes to his senses. It's pointless! If he just accepts how things are, he can join the Empire! With your influence, he can even live a life of luxury, free of stress from fighting!

But he just had to be stubborn, doesn't he? You love that about Mark too. His resiliency, his kindness, his nobleness— you love everything about him. Aahh, if only he comes back to you... Maybe you can arrange it for him to be your bodyguard when he gets caught? The Viltrumites adore you, so they'll probably agree if you press the issue hard enough.

...Mark just got to die, doesn't he? You look beyond the glass from your room as the slaves bring in his body. A Viltrumite suggested that they let you see him one last time before he gets disposed off, since you kept begging for him to be brought to you. He just got to be stubborn in the end, doesn't he? He said he loved you, so why does he have to go and leave you alone?! Why does he have to protect the people who were ungrateful for his service since the start?! Why did he left you for them? Why? Why??

You don't let it affect your performance. You give the Viltrumites what they want while you wallow in your sadness inside your room. No matter how many gifts you receive from them can make you genuinely happy like you were when you're with Mark. Will this continue forever? Will you just survive?

Then Angstrom Levy appeared in your dimension, it was a mistake on his part, not knowing that the Mark of your world is already dead. When he fled by the strand of his hair after he got jumped by Viltrumite guards, you saw his ability. Portals? ...Of course!

If you can't have Mark here, you'll just have to find another.

And so, you proposed the existence of other dimensions to your masters, baiting them with the prospect of expanding the empire. Gullible idiots. It's a wonder how a mere human like you got this far but you're not going to question it.

It took some time, but they managed to recreate Angstrom's ability. It can only activate for a few seconds and it's unknown whether it really works and opens up in another version of Earth, so everyone's a bit reluctant about volunteering.

Not you, though. This is your chance of finding Mark again! If you die along the way, it doesn't matter! Living without him is death already!

They didn't took you seriously when you asked to be the test subject, saying that you're too fragile and that you better get back to your room since you'll be performing later. Your expression might've done the trick, since you saw some of them flinch. So much for being called an "empire".

That leads you to where you are now, with Mark in your lap, practically purring from how your pet his hair. It's adorable. You'll keep him when the Empire arrives the conquer this dimension, perhaps Debbie and Oliver too, to keep him company. All you need to do is activate the signal in this dimension to secure the connection back in your home, then you'll truly be together.

Unfortunately, you need to repair your ship that Mark previously wrecked, and the GDA has it for investigation. Cecil told Mark that it has traces of Viltrumite engineering but he believed you when you said that you know nothing about it. It's not entirely a lie, you don't have much knowledge about how your ship was constructed, but he drank your words like you're incapable of lying. Try all you want, old man, you can't separate us now.

Your requests are questionable at times, machines that you shouldn't know of is what you ask of Mark, and when he tries to ask about it, you only bat your eyes and insist that it's a surprise. He'd like that yes?

Maybe he should've heeded everyone's warnings. Maybe he should've been more logical. He should've known that you weren't the you he loved.

You only cup his cheeks and smile knowingly, like you had won a war you didn't participated in.

The Viltrumites from your dimension invaded his Earth, bringing the all familiar bloodbath with them. Mark was easily overpowered by the stronger soldiers, the difference in skill and power is evident from their varying experiences. And you, you stand atop the ruined city, untouched by the carnage you brought, looking at him with that innocent face.

He should've known. Those pure white clothes, that calm expression, the change in personality— Mark chose to ignore it, no, you fed on his delusions. You're a variant.

It's his fault all over again. He let you in, he protected you, deluded himself that you're the same person.

What's the matter, you ask, as you practically sauntered over him. He wants to glare, to clench his fists and pummel you to the ground for betraying him, for destroying his world, but he can't. Not when you look exactly like them. When he can see a glimpse of them on your face, your expression, your voice, your smile—

They don't smile like that.

Something in Mark snapped and he lunged forward, hands snaking around your neck as his fists landed on your face. He grits his teeth as he beats you up, his mind going overdrive as he sees himself beating the you of his universe. The you who died in his arms all those weeks ago. How dare you play with his heart like that! He loved you! You...

He stops with a gasp as he looked at what he'd done. A broken, bloody nose, a busted lip, and the deranged grin on your face.

Mark was pulled away by some Viltrumite Soldiers by then, pinned to the ground as they retaliate for him beating up their beloved pet. Before they could kill him, and before you could plead for his sparing, multiple ReAnimen swooped in to save him.