Lucifer Morningstar (Hazbin Hotel) x OC - Soulmate AU
A fluffy drabble set before the garden of Eden, before his fall, when all Lucifer desired was simply someone to understand him.
Will be writing more for this in little snippets later :)
GOD LOVES HIS SON DAMNIT
word count: 1843
In the earliest days before the first mortal souls lived, before the Earth had formed, when Heaven’s light had only just begun to shine amongst the void, when God first breathed life into beings mirrored in his image; he created his first two sons.
Two halves of the same single beam of God’s light, split equally and formed as individuals.
Lucifer and Michael.
Created together so neither would ever be alone.
And for a time, that was enough for his children.
Others came after, though none captured the Father’s attention quite like Lucifer.
The boy's mind blossomed faster than the star he had yet to create.
Lucifer did what none of his other children dared to do, he dreamed beyond the edges of Heaven.
Beyond what was known.
He questioned, imagined, and invented.
He brought life to concepts the others had never considered.
However, God did not fail to also notice his brightest son’s brilliance came at a cost.
While Michael stood beside his twin, always faithful and steady, he too held the same notions the others did.
Lucifer broke the norm, ventured into the unknown, and that was something they feared.
Fear leads to avoidance and avoidance lead to Lucifer's biggest downfall amongst the supposedly perfect realm God had made for his children;
Loneliness.
Subsequently for the first time the Father felt something unexpected within his infinite existence, concern.
His creation, his most radiant mind, his favorite son, stood surrounded by Heaven’s glory yet in moments held a flicker of sadness.
Always small, always fleeting.
Yet always real and never lost of his Father’s observing eyes.
God, who loved his children more fiercely than the universe itself, could not bear to see a single one of them walk with even a shadow of sorrow.
So he created something new.
Something Heaven had never seen before.
He needed to make someone who would walk beside Lucifer when he dreamed not behind him, someone who would not dim his brilliance but resonate with it.
Not a twin nor someone crafted as Lucifer's balancing other half, his counter, like Michael but someone who could complete the harmony of his spirit.
A match to his soul.
A soulmate.
To assure that this new creation would always stand by Lucifer’s side and understand him better than anyone else and he to them, was simple.
Reaching gently into his son's soul God drew out a single shimmering fragment.
This new angel would not be a replication nor a descendant of Lucifer’s spark, but a new soul sculpted around that single note of his essence.
In return, once God had added more light to complete the new soul he took a piece of it and replaced the shard within the spot he had taken from Lucifer.
To connect them for all eternity.
To Lucifer he had no recollection of his Father doing this, for he did it with a simple flick of his hand, forming her in a mere moment whilst Lucifer dreamed amongst the cloud banks. Blissfully unaware until God’s voice tenderly called to him within his mind.
“My son, come to me, for I have a gift for you.”
Lucifer's bright blue eyes gleamed with hope as they looked over his shoulder towards the tallest steeple.
All six of his angelic wings fluttered with excitement as he entered his fathers sanctum, flying through the golden halls until he stood just outside the holiest of altars.
The air was still, for God’s presence was strongest in all of Heaven here, yet the excitement within Lucifer's heart paid it no mind.
His knuckles rapped rapidly against the door, unable to contain his anticipation.
“Father! I am here.”
The doors opened wide without sound as the light of the utmost divine seeped into the hallway.
Bathed in the radiance, Lucifer saw a figure he had never seen before.
Her head turned, blue irises meeting his gaze.
Within her eyes reflected a warmth that instantly ignited something deep within his soul.
Something he had yet to understand but did not dare to pull away from.
It felt like a pull.
A gentle tug at his very being as if whispering him to come closer.
For the first time in his existence Lucifer fell speechless.
The girl's lips part slightly into a smile, as though she too felt the same unseen thread tightening between them.
And behind her, God watched His son with a knowing tenderness.
“Lucifer, I want you to meet someone.”
The boy did not move.
He could not.
His mind, usually so quick with overflowing ideas and curiosity, fell utterly stagnant as a small hitch caught in his breath.
His wings bristled wide, fanning out as if subconsciously reaching out towards her, yet his feet made no notion to move.
“Go on, she is waiting.” God encouraged.
Swallowing his never before felt anxiety, Lucifer’s feet timidly touched the cold floor as he fully stepped into the sanctum’s glow.
Within the light he could now make out each of her angelic features previously hidden within the radiance.
With no swirling eyes of the other high Seraphim, no layered and spiraling wings of the Thrones, no fractal halos nor geometry carved form; she did not look like the others.
She looked like him.
Like Michael
She held soft features with long hair which cascaded down her form and threaded across six white wings. All alighted with a singular shimmering halo above her head.
She was simple, elegant, familiar.
Not even Raphael, Uriel or Gabriel who were formed by the Father within the same creation period resembled them.
Her design was one God had only ever used twice before when creating him and his brother.
Until now.
His steps grew slower as he approached, venturing deeper into the room. Yet he did not stop, not until he was but a breath away from her.
Her gaze had never left his, as if she too were memorizing his features.
He realized that he had never looked away once either, not for a single moment. Not even to acknowledge God who stood off towards the far side of the room.
That radiating warmth between them felt like the rays of a newly formed star piercing the blackened void for the first time.
Like energy rippling through his body straight down to the deepest fiber of his being.
Not violently, not forcefully, welcoming.
His mind scrambled for what to say, a million thoughts and greetings ran through it at light speed.
However before he could fumble over his words she spoke first.
“Hello, I’m Elizabeth” Lucifer could not help the bashful grin spreading across his lips nor the goldening of his cheeks at the sound of her soft voice. “It's nice to meet you.”
Gulping down his initial shock his mouth opened.
“I-” Unfortunately for the young seraph his voice cracked on the single syllable causing his already flushed cheeks to spread golden embarrassment up to his ears.
After a second of recollecting himself Lucifer cleared his throat, wings flapping anxiously behind him, before trying again. “I am… Well, I’m Lucifer. Obviously. I mean, Father already said my name- so you already know it-”
‘Oh Holy Father what had he done to deserve such a treacherous gift? What had he imbued this girl with to cause him to babble like a fool? To send his mind into such disarray?’
Before Lucifer could spiral any deeper into mortification, a soft, rumbling chuckle echoed from the far side of the sanctum.
God’s light seemed to warm, completely amused by the scene before him.
Elizabeth’s smile had not faltered through Lucifer’s rambling nor from his awkwardness.
This fueled his determination to try again.
“I’m Lucifer.” He repeated, his voice more confident
Elizabeth bowed her head the slightest bit in acknowledgment, her halo pulsing faintly.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Lucifer.”
The way she said his name was as if she were greeting someone she had already known for eons.
No hesitation, no fear, simply more of that all encompassing warmth that made the poor angel think that if he were capable of combusting into celestial flames he surely would have exploded by now.
He nodded perhaps a bit too fast, his own head bowing to match hers. “Yes!...and, uh, and to you too Elizabeth!”
God’s presence shifted, the glow around Him pulsing like a heartbeat.
There was no impatience in Him, not a single drop of agitation. All the Creator felt was deep, ancient, affection laced with quiet delight. For it seemed his resolve for his son’s loneliness would be a roaring success.
“You two will have plenty of time to learn more of each other,” the Father said warmly. “For now, it brings Me joy simply to see you meet.”
Lucifers mouth opened, words of protest and questions already forming, ready to flow off his tongue. However, before he could speak a single sentence, a gentle breeze curled through the sanctum.
A wind not of force or command.
But a wind of change.
Of new beginnings.
It wrapped around Lucifer and Elizabeth like spun gold, lifting their feet from the floor and lightly sailing through their wings.
Elizabeth softly gasped while Lucifer choked out a half laugh once the breeze fully picked them up and gently carried them through the air, guiding them backwards and out of the sanctum back into the golden hallway.
Its feather light hold around them tickled.
They landed lightly, their tiptoes gently touching the marble as though placed down by invisible hands.
Said 'hands' gave a few final nudges before retreating.
Lucifer could not hold the loud joyous laugh that bubbled out of him, bright and breathless. He was always rather ticklish. Elizabeth echoed it, her wings fluttering in delighted surprise.
Her laughter mixing with Lucifer’s seemed to put him at a natural sense of ease and the tension that had wound him up so tightly just moments before dissolved in an instant.
Within second the sound of pure joy reverberated off the walls.
At this, God’s voice reached out to them from behind the now closed doors, his tone rich and teeming with fond satisfaction.
“Go now my children. Walk together. Explore.”
Lucifer, still grinning, turned to Elizabeth, his spark of excited curiosity rekindling in his chest full force.
“Would you… like a tour of Heaven?” His voice was steadier now, returning to his usual confidence, though the hopeful flutter within his wings gave away his still prevalent exhilaration.
Elizabeth’s smile widened, luminous and sincere. Without hesitation she simply answered with a nod, her long hair falling gracefully across her shoulders.
“I’d love that, please lead the way!”
Together, side by side, their steps in sync, the two walked down the golden halls, Lucifer eager to show her all that forming Heavens had to offer and then some. While Elizabeth drank in each and every one of his words with equal enthusiasm.
At last Lucifer had someone who seemed to understand him.
And in turn the pit of loneliness within his chest dissipated replaced with a new, warmer, feeling.
Summary: Emma Carson never expected to work for the world's first and only superhero group, she also never expected to run into Johnny Storm ever again.
Emma Carson was no stranger to chaos. She had navigated hostile press conferences, managed egos the size of skyscrapers and talked three different stars out of tweeting their breakups in real time. But nothing, nothing, in this entire world could have prepared her for this job.
When Reed Richards had called on that fateful Thursday afternoon, it was not because she had been at the top of his applicant list. In fact she did not even remember submitting a resume. No, it was because she had been recommended. Strongly recommended.
By who? She was not sure, all her previous clients adored her yet she knew for a fact none of which had any ties to the up and coming heroic group.
It remained a mystery until she found herself walking across the concrete just outside the Baxter building and a man she had thought to be a closed chapter in her life appeared.
Johnny Storm.
Back in college, long before he developed his powers, before the space trip that altered his and his family lives forever, before the tabloids dubbed him The Human Torch; Johnny had been just another overconfident engineering major. With a motorcycle, of which Sue insisted was ridiculous, and a terrible habit of turning in assignments seconds before their deadlines; he was the epitome of a typical college boy back then.
Emma, majoring in public relations, had been his reluctant lab partner for a semester-long ‘technology in society’ course in her second year. Through the short fifteen week course Johnny had inadvertently wound himself into her social life despite her desperate attempts to separate the two.
Some would call it destiny or fate that Johnny happened to be in the same friend group as hers, though she opted to call it rotten luck.
She did not hate him, not at all, though his cockiness and brash approach to life was the polar opposite of hers. Where Emma opted to sit on the couches and chat with her friends, Johnny was always the first to rally a group of overly rambunctious, intoxicated, party goers to play rage cage or cup-pong.
From there, what was supposed to be a one semester interaction bloomed into the rest of her college career. Though she would hesitate to call him a best friend, he was always there, always the same ol’ Johnny. Ladies man, boom cup champion, yet one of the smartest around.
After graduating university she thought she would never see him again.
Yet here he was opening the door for her and welcoming her inside the Baxter Building for her interview for a once in a lifetime opportunity to help manage the world's one and only group of protectors. His family.
Now three months later she's found herself pacing outside the media room, tablet in hand, as the Fantastic Four prepare for another press conference. Behind the doors she stood in front of she could hear the muffled voices of the group. Ben muttered his disdain for the ‘media vultures’, Reed asked for the briefing notes, and Sue reminding Johnny that this was not the time for ‘spontaneous stunt work’.
After pleading his case to unwavering ears Johnny found himself before the door, sliding out his blue hues immediately locked onto her, a grin weaseling its way across his face when she briefly met his gaze.
“Emma, tell me you scheduled the hero entrance music I asked for.” His body leaned against the door frame, tone pleading yet playful.
“I did not.” In contrast her own tone was flat, monotone.
One of his hands comes up to his chest, gripping at the blue fabric of his uniform as his body lightly curls in around itself as if her words had struck him.
“You wound me.”
“You embarrass me,” Her focus returned to the tablet in hand, opening the spread sheet once more. “which is why I'm here. To make sure you four look like the world's greatest heroes instead of a group project gone wrong.”
Regaining his earlier leaned stance Johnny's grin grew on one side into a smirk, and for a fleeting second, it was like being back in college.
Though the circumstances were vastly different back then his cocky smile, and her adamant refusal to acknowledge it remained all the same.
The door behind Johnny opened causing the blonde to briefly stumble backwards before quickly catching himself. Behind him stood the other three, all ready for their interview.
“Going live in five.”
—----------
Emma had learned early into that fateful semester of Johnny integrating himself into her life that he flirted with everyone. The barista at the local coffee shop, the resident assistant for his dorms, the teachers assistant for his theoretical and computational aerodynamics class. No one was immune.
To this day Johnny remained the same.
The waitress at the café across the street, the meteorologist at Channel Six, the paramedic who once patched him up after a scuffle.
He dished out winks and compliments the way other people handed out business cards.
Back in college, Emma had always chalked it up to his nature. All the charm and easy smiles. Whenever he ever flirted with her she simply treated it like friendly banter. That was just Johnny being Johnny. There was never any true intent behind it.
And yet…
Now, years later, she found herself leaning against the wall of the Baxter Building’s hallway, watching him sit at a table in the media prep room, signing a stack of photos for charity. His hair was a little longer than it had been in college, his face more defined due to his rapid muscle growth, yet his smile was exactly the same.
“You’re staring,” Without looking up Johnny caught her.
Scoffing, she attempts to brush it off. “You wish.”
“Always,” The marker in his hand stilled over the glossy shot of himself mid flight as he looked up, meeting her gaze. “But seriously, you’ve been here, what? Three months? And I still can’t get you to blush.”
“I don’t blush for clients.” She said it like a joke, but her tone was a shield. Deflecting his advance though it did nothing to douse his flames.
“That’s a shame. I think you’d look good in red.”
She rolled her eyes and moved toward the table to place another poster in front of him.
“Focus, Storm. The gala is in two hours. Which means we’re going to practice sticking to the talking points. No tangents, no one-liners about the food, and no comparing yourself to movie stars.”
“But, hear me out, what if the comparison’s accurate?”
She gave him a deadpanned look.
Johnny leaned back in his chair, his spirit still undefeated, mastiff swimming in those darling blue hues.
“One of these days, Ms.Carson, you’re going to realize I’m more than just another one of your clients."
The formality behind her name rolled off his tongue smoothly yet dripped with sensuality.
“Not likely.” Despite her clipped words, her voice did not quite have the bite she wanted it to.
Because the truth was, somewhere between his cocky remarks, the reckless bravery he showed on the job, and the way he sometimes asked about her day caused an idea to begin creeping its way into her mind.
Through all the walls she had built to protect not only herself but her career the idea of him had snuck its way past all of it. Leaving her to stay up into the late hours of the night pondering the ‘what ifs’ the ‘maybes’.
Even so, she would never act on it.
That would be unprofessional.
Johnny was her client, his brother in law was her boss, and this was the biggest step in her career. She could not entertain the idea, ever.
But yet it lingered all the same.
—--
The gala was a glittering parade of New York’s elite. With crystal chandeliers hanging from the rooms impossibly high ceilings, champagne flutes filled with aged alcohol of all varieties, and a string quartet that probably cost more than Emma’s yearly salary the publicist felt slightly out of her depth.
She had covered plenty of events before, yet none to this magnitude.
Photographers swarmed the carpet outside desperate to get a few shots of the event's guests, but inside the Baxter Building’s event hall, the buzz was all about the heroes.
Emma could barely have a moment to breathe.
Yet despite her initial trepidation she was completely in her element once the festivities commenced. Orchestrating interviews, steering Reed toward the right journalists, intercepting Sue before she got trapped in yet another conversation about the ethics of allowing an entire city to be built beneath theirs, she flowed in and out of the crowds.
The black dress she wore was sleek and fitted, paired with a matching set of black heels she maintained her professionalism but the outfit was undeniably flattering.
Her mid-length brown hair was pinned away from her face with delicate pins in soft beach waves. Dark eye makeup sharpened the warmth of her gaze, and the red lipstick was a perfect, deliberate statement radiating polished confidence.
From his spot at the private bar on the mezzanine level, Johnny could not look away.
“You’re starin’,” Ben rumbled beside him, nursing a beer the size of a flower vase.
Johnny smirked, eyes still fixed on her. “Just appreciating the hard work she puts in.”
Ben snorted. “Yeah, that’s what you’re appreciatin’.”
“She’s… different,” Johnny said, almost to himself. “She doesn’t just talk to me like I’m-”
“A human blowtorch with a big head?” Ben offered, a smug grin cracking into the ridges of his rocky face.
Johnny gave him a side-eye but opted to ignore the jab. “-a headline. She’s known me since before all this. Back when I was just… me.”
Ben followed his gaze over the edge of the tinted glass privacy walls and down to the floor below. “And lemme guess… she doesn't buy your usual crap.”
Johnny shook his head, though that same damned smirk played its hand. “Not yet.”
On the floor, Emma glanced up from her tablet briefly, scanning the room for any sign of trouble. Her eyes up, passing by their shared gaze without lingering. She was working after all, but something in that fleeting look made Johnny’s chest tighten.
She was not like the other women at these events, chasing the spotlight, hugging up to either one of them for a chance at fame.
Instead she managed it. Controlled it. She was as much a part of the team’s image as the “4” logo itself.
“She’s off-limits, y’know,” Ben took a long sip of his beer.
Johnny shrugged, still watching her, still infatuated. “Yeah. But that doesn’t mean I can't try."
With a final roll of his eyes and the last gulp of his drink down Ben rose from his seat.
“Alright hot shot lets head down, it's about time for this thing to start.”
—----
As the gala truly began, all guests accounted for, all vendors fully prepared for the night ahead, and all journalists, reporters and hosts in their spots it was at last time to begin the next stage.
The donors were gathered in the east corner, all brandishing polished perfected smiles and champagne flutes. Reed and Sue were already in position, Ben looming good-naturedly at one end of the group, while Johnny was halfway through a conversation with a silver-haired philanthropist when the photographer raised a hand.
“Hold on- we’ve got an odd number. Can we get…?” His eyes scanned the crowd before settling on Emma who stood to the side. “You, miss. Join in. You’ll balance the shot.”
Emma blinked, tablet still clasped within her hands reading the night's next events. “Oh, I’m not-”
“You’re perfect,” the photographer insisted, already beckoning her forward.
Before she could argue, her feet moved, black heels clicking against the marble, towards the group before coming to a stop beside Johnny. He gave her a slow smile.
“Look who’s in the spotlight,” he murmured beneath his breath.
“I’m here for symmetry, Storm,” she mused back.
The photographer called for everyone to squeeze in. Instinctively, Johnny’s hand found her waist. His palm was warm even through the fabric of her dress. Stiffening for a heartbeat Emma forced herself to focus on the lens.
But being this close to him was… distracting. His cologne was faint but sharp and the subtle heat that radiated off him, not quite flame-hot, was unmistakably Johnny.
The camera flashed.
Everyone shifted, breaking apart into smaller conversations, but Emma lingered beside him for a moment more, or maybe Johnny did. Neither could tell.
Their eyes met for a fraction of a second longer than necessary.
And in that split second, she saw something in his gaze she’d never noticed before. Reflected was not his usually playful smugness instead it was something quieter. Sharper. He looked at her like he had just stumbled across a secret and he was not sure if he should tell her.
Her breath caught in the back of her throat. The words she wanted, needed, to say fizzled into obscure after thoughts.
However before either of them could formulate a word about the moment a well manicured hand placed itself atop Johnny's shoulder.
A tall brunette in an emerald gown appeared beside him, the color complimenting her radiant deep skin. Emma recognized her immediately, she was one of their most prolific donors.
“Mr. Storm, can I steal you for a chat?” Her voice held a thick british accent though it was smooth like butter. Instantly Emma created distance between her and Johnny, even as his hand hesitated to release her.
Smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in her dress she cleared her throat.
“The news team from Metro City is here, you’ve got five minutes before I need you in conference room A.” Try as she might to prevail her usual cold tone it faulted, slipping through a hint of fluster. She did not stick around to hear Johnny's reply nor the woman’s as she slipped easily back into the crowd once more.
As his manager and nothing more.
–
The interview setup was simple. A small staging area draped in the event’s banner, two cushioned chairs, and a ring light bright enough to bleach the color from anyone’s face. Johnny slid into his seat with practiced ease, leaning just far enough back to look relaxed without slouching.
Emma stood a few feet away, tablet in hand, making sure the camera angle was good, the mic was on, and the reporter’s notes didn’t stray too far from the talking points she had approved of earlier. She kept her posture poised, her face calm.
The reporter began: “So, Johnny, tonight’s gala marks another milestone for the Fantastic Four…”
The questions went exactly as scripted while Johnny launched into his answers, smooth and animated, gesturing just enough to keep the energy alive.
But midway through, his gaze flickered. The motion was quick and subtle yet Emma caught the moment his blue hues landed on her.
She did not let it show nor acknowledge it as her own eyes flicked back to her screen, scrolling through the schedule as if she had not already reviewed it ten times over.
A few questions later, it happened again. He glanced over, just for a heartbeat, before looking back to the reporter. This time there was a faint curve at the corner of his mouth, like he knew she had caught him looking.
Emma’s grip tightened slightly on the tablet yet she reminded herself that this was nothing. Johnny Storm looked at everyone like that. It was part of his charm, part of the image she was hired to manage, part of what made Johnny, Johnny.
The interview wrapped with a handshake and a few more flashes of the camera.
The moment the mics were off, Emma stepped forward, sliding back into her role. “Good job,” she said briskly, taking the cue cards from the reporter’s assistant. “Now let’s get you over to Reed and Sue. They’re up for the speech in ten, and I need to make sure you’re all in place before the reception starts.”
Johnny rose from his seat, giving the reporter a final grin before following her through the crowd.
Emma kept her pace steady, heels clicking over the marble floor in beat, refusing to look back. Adamantly refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing that, yes, she had felt every glance he’d sent her way.
Because right now, she had a job to do and feelings, whatever they were, whatever was brewing just below the surface of her composure, would have to wait.
—
The main stage was bathed in golden light, the Fantastic Four stood before the assembled crowd. Reed was at the podium, voice measured and precise as he thanked the guests for their donations, outlined the projects their generosity would fund, and spoke of their future in their research.
Johnny stood beside him, hands loosely clasped in front of him. Ben and Sue flanked the other side, all four basking in applause and admiration.
Just offstage, Emma hovered in the wings, tablet tucked under her arm, her expression attentive as she nodded along to Reed’s words. Occasionally she would scan the crowd for any sign of disruption. Everything looked perfect. Everything was on track.
And yet-
That feeling stirred within her again.
A heated awareness prickled at the back of her neck, the same one she had felt during the interview and after the photo. She did not need to look to know whose eyes were on her. She once again did not let herself glance over nor acknowledge it.
Because acknowledging it meant feeding it and Emma had spent months mastering the art of suppressing every bit of tension Johnny has created just by existing within arm’s reach.
The applause swelled as Reed concluded. The team stepped down from the stage to mingle with the guests as the lights dimmed. The quartet in the corner shifted into a softer melody, the space clearing in the center of the room. Couples began to form up, the rhythm slow, measured, dignified enough for a gala, but still intimate.
Emma slipped toward the shadows at the edge of the room, seeking refuge near one of the tall windows. The glass reflected the chandeliers’ glow, casting her in half-light. She was still working, still on alert, at least that’s what she told herself.
Then she saw him.
Johnny, out on the dance floor, the same woman who had pulled them from their earlier moment in his arms. They moved together easily, his hand resting at the small of her back, head bent just enough to catch her words and he laughed at something she said. That easy, charming laugh Emma had heard a hundred times before.
Her chest tightened in soured emotions before she could stop it.
There it was.
The reminder she needed. Johnny loved women. He loved to flirt. He could make anyone feel like they were the only person in the room, but it was never just for them. This was who he was.
Emma exhaled slowly, the sting dissolving into resolve. Straightening her shoulders and smoothing out her expression of any hints of discomfort whatever had been building between them that night had officially burned out at last.
She had a job to do. And Johnny Storm was just her client.
Nothing more.
—
Johnny let the rhythm guide him, his steps smooth, expression easy.
The woman in his arms was stunning he would not deny. She smelled faintly of jasmine and champagne, and she smiled up at him with a kind of admiration he was used to.
But the longer he danced with her the deeper his thoughts spiraled, his mind was arise with pings of guilt, something deep within his subconscious did not agree with his actions. It yearned for something else, for someone else.
His gaze drifted beyond the circle of dancers he was amidst, scanning the edges of the dance floor. Couples swayed, conversations buzzed, the quartet’s melody floated over the crowd, but the one he was truly searching for was not there.
A flicker of frustration tightened in his chest. He had said yes to this dance without thinking, as he had come to learn through their brief conversations the woman he was with was one of their most important donors. Saying no would have been a disrespectful move. But as more time passed, the more he found himself wishing it was someone else’s hand in his, someone else’s eyes meeting his across the music.
He kept the smile on his face and the conversation light to appease her but desperately searched for an out.
As the song ended with a polite bow, Johnny thanked her for the dance and promised to see her later in the evening. Even if it was a lie he simply needed to leave. The moment she turned away, he slipped from the floor, scanning the crowd one more time before heading toward the stairs.
—---
Upstairs, the private bar was quieter, the only sound within was the low hum of conversation, clink of glasses, and the soft murmur of music from below. Emma sat at the counter, posture a little looser now, her sleek black dress catching the low light. Her hair had fallen just slightly from its perfect waves and clips now framing her face in a way that made her look… softer.
Ben sat beside her, massive frame hunched comfortably over his drink. He had ditched the main floor the second the main speech had ended. Dancing was not his thing, and neither was the constant parade of social niceties.
Emma signaled the bartender. “Tequila, top shelf.”
Ben huffed a laugh, the sound somewhere between a chuckle and a gravel slide. “Tough night, huh?”
She gave a wry smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You could say that.”
Ben tilted his head, studying her like he already knew the answer to questions he wasn’t going to ask. “Crowd’s not your style?”
“The crowd's fine,” she said, fingers drumming lightly on the bar. “It’s the… everything else that gets exhausting.”
Ben grunted in agreement, raising his glass in a silent toast before taking another sip.
Emma clinked her shot glass lightly against Ben’s beer in their small, unspoken toast. Then she tossed it back in one smooth motion, the liquid burning a sharp trail down her throat, however she only allowed herself to grimace for a second before setting the glass back on the counter with a soft tap.
“Still got it,” Ben said with an approving smirk.
“I’d like to think so.” Ordering a mixed drink in hopes that something gentler would ease the edge off the shot she settled into her seat.
The two of them sat in companionable silence, sipping at their drinks. Downstairs, the music swelled for another slow number, but here the atmosphere was mellow, no cameras, no reporters, no endless small talk.
Ben didn’t need to fill the air with words, and Emma appreciated that.
Then footsteps approached from behind.
She did not need to turn to know who it was. She could feel it, that same warmth she’d been hoping to avoid the rest of the night was now directly behind her.
Johnny stepped into view beside her, his dress shirt was open from the collar down to a few buttons on his chest. His hair was slightly mussed, like the dance floor had been less about dancing and more about moving through a crowd that kept pulling at him.
Which truth be told it had. Johnny had been stopped more than four times in his attempt to leave the main floor. Never one to turn down his fans he simply could not say no to photos nor questions even if it felt as if his soul was pulling him away.
“Well, well,” he said, glancing between them. “Hiding from the party?”
“Taking a break,” Emma corrected, lifting her glass for another sip.
Ben gave Johnny a knowing look over the rim of his beer. “Figured she’d find better company up here.”
Johnny’s mouth curved into a slow grin, his gaze flicking to Emma. “Guess I’ll have to see if I can compete.”
She rolled her eyes, a safe, familiar deflection but it didn’t change the way her pulse picked up.
The Johnny Storm did not belong in quiet corners like this and yet, here he was causing the air to feel charged all over again.
Sliding into the seat to Emma’s right without hesitation the warmth of his presence radiated around them.
Ben glanced between them, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Ben was many things in life, a scientist, an astronaut and most prominently an amazing empath. Though it was not exactly rocket science to figure out the situation between those two.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” he said, pushing back from the bar. “Gotta go pretend I care about Reed’s conversation with the mayor.” With that, he lumbered off, disappearing into the quieter end of the lounge and down the stairs.
Johnny flagged down the bartender with a small wave. “Two shots of-” He paused to glance at Emma, an eyebrow raised expectedly for her to choose a liquor.
She gave him a flat look. “I already had one.”
“Perfect, of what? Unless you're cool with mixing.”
“No Johnny I dont-”
“Two shots of whatever the lady had last.”
Ignoring her initial refusal Johnny leaned his elbows on top of the counter and turned towards her while the bartender poured their drinks, the grin on his face already pulling up nostalgia.
“Y’know… this reminds me of sophomore year. The Delta Sigma party.”
Emma’s brow arched. “The one where you tried to make margaritas in a bathroom sink and blacked out on buzzballs?”
His grin widened. “The very one. You had, what… five of those things before I lost count?”
“Not my proudest moment,” Sipping her mixed drink, Emma tries to suppress a violent shiver from running down her spine at the vivid memories of artificial lime flavored alcohol.
“You could hang back then. Kick back a stack of shots like it was nothing. Now…” He gestured vaguely at her drink. “Now you’re all buttoned-up and professional because you’re my manager.”
She shot him a look, eyebrows knitting together lips slightly pouted. “That’s not true. I’m still fun, just not-”
“-not with your clients,” he finished for her, leaning closer. “C’mon, Em, I’ve told you I'm not just another client. You can just have one little shot with ol’ Johnny. For old times’ sake.”
The bartender set the two glasses down between them, the clear liquid catching the low light.
Emma knew she’d already had one shot less than thirty minutes ago, plus half her drink. She was not a lightweight, far from it, even so, drinking with Johnny felt vastly unwise. Especially when her head was already full of the kind of thoughts she’d been trying to suppress all night.
But maybe… maybe it would help relieve some of the tension.
She took a breath, eyeing him warily. “One shot. That’s it.”
His grin turned triumphant, a fist pumping beside him in victory. “That’s my girl.”
They each picked up a glass, the scent of the tequila sharp between them. Johnny lifted his in a small toast. “To old times.”
Emma clinked her glass against his, then to the table before bringing it up to her lips and letting the burn of alcohol reignite within her throat. However the feeling of warmth in her chest had nothing to do with the alcohol.
—
Toasty and light in her head but far from drunk Emma was buzzed yet showed little to no indications other than the occasional lul in conversation. Johnny on the other hand had a flush steadily creeping over his cheeks that had not been there when he initially sat down.
The party below had slipped fully into chaos. The once formal dancers were less coordinated now, more free and laughing as they busted out a few more ‘provocative’ moves. The lights had dimmed to a golden haze, and the vendors seemed to lean into the looseness, the music pulsing through the air in fun jams rather than sophisticated classics.
Johnny leaned in and tossed her a goofy comment, something ridiculous enough to draw a small laugh from her. That sparked another reply, then another, until they were locked in a casual, easy back-and-forth. Her glass emptied; so did his. The bartender, quick on the draw, refilled both without a word.
After a few more sips, Johnny’s eyes lit up with mischief.
“One more shot?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I said just one, Johnny.”
“What?” He sounded absolutely baffled. “Are you scared you can’t keep up with me, Ms. Carson?” he teased the grin that had plastered itself permanently onto his face growing deeper allowing the dimples at the apples of his cheeks to dent in.
“I’ve already had two, you know.”
“You’re right,” he conceded, his hand shot up flagging the bartender, to which he promptly ordered three shots. The moment they hit the bar, he grabbed one and downed it in a single motion.
“There, we’re even. Now, are you scared you can't keep up with me?”
Emma’s competitive streak sparked at his taunt, but it tangled with something else, something warmer, heavier. Something that had been humming between them all night.
For just a breath, she hesitates, her fingers curling around the shot glass as her mind reminds her that Johnny Storm is no longer just the same cocky college boy who once dared her to dance on a bar; he’s her client now.
But then there’s that look in his eye, playful, yes, but threaded with an intensity she can’t quite name that makes her chest tighten in waves of anticipation.
She can not deny him.
“Alright, Hotshot, one more.” she says, the corner of her mouth tugging up.
They clink glasses, the sharp tink lost under the thrum of music and laughter below, then down to the table before raising them to their mouths. In unison, they tip the shots back. Johnny sets his glass down with a little flourish, grinning like he’s just won something.
Emma exhales slowly, shaking her head as the warmth spreads through her veins, and leans just slightly toward him. “You’re trouble, you know that?”
Johnny smirks, eyes flicking down to her lips before meeting her gaze again. “Takes one to know one.”
—---
After another hour, it’s safe to say the two of them are more than a little buzzed.
The mixed drinks had flowed as easily as the laughter between them, punctuated now and then by the sharp burn of another round each of which Johnny batted his darling blue eyes and convinced her to take. Though she hardly needed convincing anymore.
The bar felt hotter, despite the crowd below growing softer as the music grew quiet in Emma’s ears, and Johnny, well, Johnny’s closeness only seemed to turn up the heat.
She leaned toward him without even realizing it, drawn in by the spark in his grin and the fever of his presence. He did not hesitate for a moment. In a bold move, his arm slid across the back of her chair and settled over her shoulders. The weight of it was casual, almost lazy, but the intent behind it was impossible to ignore.
She should move. Brush him off. Remind him that he’s not just some old college friend anymore. That there were rules about this sort of thing. But she makes no effort to move.
Instead, she stays there, half turned toward him, their faces close enough that every word shared is warmed by the other’s breath. His gaze does not waver, those damned blue eyes, bright, playful, and far too dangerous were searching hers as if they were in on some unspoken secret together.
Heart pounding against her ribs in quick uneven beats Emma tells herself she needs to get this, Johnny, out of her system. To burn this silly little crush to ashes before it becomes something worse. Yet the longer she looks at him the more her resolve unravels.
The noise of the gala dims. Her thoughts narrow. And suddenly all she can think about is how his mouth might feel against hers, he was right there…so close.
‘Fuck it.’
As that singular thought races through her mind she does it.
She leans in and kisses him.
It’s not a tentative brush of lips, not a simple peck. It’s deliberate, charged, heavy. Like every hour of building tension between them had decided to ignite in one spark.
Johnny reacts instantly, kissing her back as though he’d been waiting for her to make that exact move for years. His hand slides from her shoulder to the small of her back, pulling her closer in the dim booth light.
For a few blissful moments, there’s nothing but the taste of him, warm with the twang of tequila still fresh on his tongue and the way his thumb drew slow circles against her spine.
She can feel the curve of his smile against her mouth before they part just enough to breathe.
“Well,” His voice is low, a little rough around the edges, “that took you long enough.”
Emma lets out a short laugh, but it’s shaky, betraying the rush she’s trying to mask. “Don’t get cocky,” she warns, though the smirk tugging at her lips is soft rather than sharp.
“Too late for that, sweetheart,”
Her chest tightened, but before she could think of something clever to say back, he was kissing her again. They were tangled together, hands exploring, lips moving feverishly as if they were not actively making out in a semi public area just a few steps away from the city's highest citizens.
She was not sure how much time passed before a polite but awkward ahem cut through the haze.
Breaking apart the both looked over to see the bartender leaned over the counter, clearly trying to maintain his composure.
“Sorry to interrupt, but… we’re closing soon. You two might want to take this elsewhere.”
Still slightly breathless, the two shared a look that was half embarrassment, half giddy thrill. Johnny chuckled low in his throat and stood, taking her hand into his and gently guiding her out of her seat. “Guess that’s our cue.”
Hand in hand, they slipped down the staircase, trying not to draw attention. Though, truthfully, most of the gala guests were far too drunk to notice or care. A pair of tipsy donors were loudly arguing about champagne brands in the corner, and someone else was dancing alone to music that had stopped ten minutes ago.
They made it to the Baxter Building’s private elevator without so much as a second glance.
Johnny fumbled for the keypad, swaying slightly as one set of daft fingers tried to punch in the access code. His other hand was firmly clasped around her waist, its own digits slowly sliding lower against her sleek dress before stopping just over her backside. She bit back a laugh as his accuracy failed completely when her lips brushed his jawline, his hand clenching a handful of her cheeks.
“You’re making it really hard to-” he cut himself off with a sharp inhale as she kissed just below his ear. “-type.”
When the doors finally slid shut, it was as if the thin leash holding them back snapped entirely.
The next thing she knew, her back was pressed against the wall, Johnny’s mouth on hers, his hands gripping her thighs as he lifted her up. Emma’s fingers tangled in his blonde hair, pulling him closer, neither of them caring that the elevator was steadily climbing. The air was heavy. The steady hum of the machinery barely registered over the ladened sounds of their breaths and sighs as the inferno between them grew hotter.
The doors slid open, but Johnny did not let go. Still holding her, he strode down the hallway, his grin wicked against her lips. By the time they reached his bedroom door, she was not sure if her feet had touched the ground once even as he unlocked it.
Kicking the door shut behind them all thoughts of anything but him dissolved completely from her mind.
No worries of news coverage, no tabloids, no scheduling.
In this moment all that was on Emma Carson's mind was Johnny Storm.
Johnny did not bother turning on the lights as he knew this room by heart, instead he moved through the dark, his grip firm as he carried her towards his bed. As he neared it her fingers hooked into the collar of his dress shirt, guiding his face down to hers in another deep, breathless kiss. Soon he leaned the two of them down until her back met the mattress.
Finally he lets her go, but only so he could remove his shirt before he’s instantly back down to her level, though his lips do not meet hers again, instead the trail lower. Starting at her jawline then wondering further down Johnny lips brush the peaks of cleavage from the v neck of her dress.
“You look so beautiful in this.” The whispered words over her skin cause her back to arch off of the bed into his embrace and for the second time that night her competitive streak flares. Perhaps it was the alcohol but in this moment Emma felt confidence unlike she'd ever had before.
“It looks even better off.”
A groan reverberated within his throat and into her chest. Johnny’s mouth opened and sucked in a piece of her flesh within it uncaring to the mark most definitely forming due it as urgent hands slid up her back, desperately fishing for the zipper of her dress.
The moment she shimmed out of the dress Johnny's hands began to slide over her now exposed body. Her skin was smooth, soft, in comparison to his calloused palms. He memorized every curve, every area that made her sigh; that got a single reaction out of her, before settling onto her breasts, one in each hand. Giving them a squeeze Johnny guided one nipple into his mouth and suckled. Instantaneously Emma’s hands flew to his hair, a light moan resonated in response.
Again perhaps it was the alcohol, but Emma had never felt such pleasure from something as simple as a man playing with her breasts, or maybe it was just Johnny being Johnny. Either way as his mouth rotated between nipples she could not help her body's reaction as her clothed clit desperately searched for frictions against his pants in a slowly needy grind.
“Eager?” Words mouthed into her skin, nipple still between his lips, even in the dark Emma could see his eyes looking up to hers.
“Dont act like you aren't either.” Her hips rolled up once more, deliberately pressing into the crotch of his pants to feel his already hardened member constricted beneath the fabric.
This earned her a sharp hiss in response.
In a blur of kisses, touches and caresses the rest of their clothing soon met the floor.
Johnny still hovered above her, hands settling onto her hips, lips brushing the shell of her ears as the head of his penis experimentally dragged through her soaking folds. Not penetrating, not yet.
The friction was unbelievable, one thrust turned to two and soon he was rutting into her, their moans growing louder with each passing movement. Yet he never allowed himself to slip lower into her.
However Emma was beginning to grow frustrated, craving more. However Johnny hands held her hips firm the moment she tried to buck him into position.
“Hey,” His voice was low, soft and steady. Looking up to him she began to grow a bit worried, had she done something wrong? “Is this what you want? I mean-” He swallowed, slightly training off “I mean we’re both pretty buzzed… I just…. don’t want to do something you’ll regret.”
Emma’s heart fluttered, partly in surprise, the other in relief. No one had ever asked her that before, not really.
Her hands reached up, cupping around his face, fingers warm against his skin.
“I’ve wanted this since college,” Her voice was raw, completely honest. “I’ve always wanted you Johnny.”
A slow smile curved itself onto his lips, not the cocky smirk, not one of arrogance, but one of true happiness.
Leaning down his lips recaptured hers while his hips reposition causing the very tip of his cock to at last slide into her. As their kiss grew fiercer it slid deeper until finally he bottomoned out.
The night was theirs, un-restrained, uncaring to the noises they made, the messes they made of themselves, nor the aftermath of such an interaction, all that mattered was them.
—------
The first rays of morning filtered softly through the curtains, casting a pale light across the room.
Emma’s eyes sluggishly opened as if her eyelids were weighed down with bricks. Her skin felt slick with the remnants of restless, hot, sleep. A throbbing pulse hammered at her temples in a headache and the urgent pressure in her blattered told her she desperately needed to use the restroom.
But as her eyelids peeled back fully, disorientation hit her like a wave.
She blinked slowly, gaze unfocused until it landed on the shelves lining the walls in front of her. Rows of figurines sat upon them, unmistakable in their tiny blue uniforms and vibrant yellow hair along with other memorabilia she recognized from news articles and press events.
Her heart skipped more than a few beats.
She was in Johnny’s room.
Panic prickled along her spine, sharp and sudden.
What had she done last night? What had she said? What had she-?
Her eyes darted down and she froze.
Pulling up the blue covers, she realized something that sent a shiver of fear down her spine; she is completely naked.
Slowly, cautiously, she slid out from under the tangled sheets, the cool morning air biting at her skin as gooseflesh pimpled her skin. Every movement felt slow and deliberate, as if trying not to disturb the fragile ‘peace’ of the morning or the sheared line between what had happened and what was going to happen.
Once full out she glanced back toward the bed and there he was.
Johnny was still asleep, his body half-covered by the blanket. The pale bare skin of his chest and torso gleamed softly in the morning light. Emma was thankful that at least the blanket modestly draped over to cover his most private places, though just barely.
She needed to leave. Immediately.
Her pulse quickened, adrenaline replacing the dull fog of sleep. She scrambled quietly, eyes scanning the room for something, anything, to cover herself with. Her dress from last night lay crumpled on the floor in front of the door, she definitely was not putting that back on.
Surprisingly Johnny's room was relatively clean, however she spotted a rumpled shirt tossed on the floor near his dresser. Grateful for the cover, she slipped into it, the fabric hanging loose yet comfortable against her still-flushed skin. Folded over the corner chair she found a pair of casual sweat pants, she quickly pulled those on as well.
One one problem remained, in terms of no longer being nude; her heels were nowhere to be found.
Silently sighing to herself with a quiet ‘screw it’ she deduced that barefoot was better than risking an awkward stumble or making noise hunting for them. Anything to avoid waking the blonde still snoozing in the bed.
She took a steadying breath, eased the door open. The soft creek of its hinges make her freeze in place, waiting for Johnny to stir. When he remained asleep, oblivious to her departure, she opened it wider, just enough to slip out.
Tiptoeing quietly down the hallway she avoided looking at the other two doors she passed, knowing just who resided within them. Her heart was pounding but her mind was clear of one thing; she needed to get out of here before she lost her nerve and anyone else realized she was here.
The elevator doors gleamed at the end of the hall like a beacon of freedom.
Making a beeline for them, bare feet whispering light thumps over the carpet, the hem of Johnny's t-shirt swaying against her thighs she jabbed the call button.
Yet as she impatiently waited for the lift to arrive she soon realized the button was blinking red.
Her stomach dropped as the tiny keypad blinked awake beside the panel, mocking her with its polite little ENTER PASSCODE.
Of course.
Of course it needed a code, this was not some motel with push-button floors, it was the Baxter Building.
She swore under her breath, glancing back toward down the corridor where Johnny's bedroom door hid at the end. Going back to his room was not an option.
Still weighing her options on what she was supposed to do now a faint whir of servos reached her ears.
“Nonononono…” she muttered, already knowing just what was coming.
HERBIE rounded the corner, wheels humming softly against the carpeted floor. His sensor lights flickered in a cheerful pulse as he emitted a series of chirps and beeps that seemed far too loud for the otherwise dead-silent corridor.
Emma stiffened, pressing her finger to her lips in a desperate shush. “Not now HERBIE please.” she hissed.
HERBIE rolled closer, tilting his sensor array toward her as if to better understand why she was barefoot and wearing one of his resident’s clothes. He recognized her, she had been within the business portion of the building most hours of the day, yet never within this sector nor looking quite so disheveled. More inquisitive beeps followed, the kind that might have been a question if he’d had words.
Emma crouched down, forcing a tight smile. “Listen, HERBIE, I really need you to do me a huge favor.” She nodded toward the elevator. “Can you open it for me? Please? And… quietly?”
HERBIE’s servos clicked as if in thought. Then, with a merry little string of beep-boop’s, he rolled over to the panel. One of his servo’s reached out, tapping on the keypad before the display instantly flashed; ACCESS GRANTED.
Emma exhaled in relief as the doors slid open.
“Thank you HERBIE.” Without thinking her hand reached out and scratched the topside of his head component, granting her a few happy chirps in response.
The hum of the machinery surrounded her as the doors slid closed.
When the elevator reached the private parking garage, she slipped out quickly and hightailed it to her car. The cold concrete pressed against her bare feet as she ran, adrenaline carrying her faster than she expected.
Once inside her car, she exhaled deeply, fingers gripping the steering wheel as she tried to piece together the night and figure out how to face Johnny now.
—
Johnny woke slowly, the weight of sleep still heavy but pierced by a sharp discomfort radiating from his aching muscles. His skin was slick with sweat, his head pounding with the familiar throb of a hangover.
One hand instinctively swept the bedding beside him, expecting the warmth of someone else to comfort him. Only to find the cold emptiness of sheets long since abandoned.
His eyes snapped open, alert and utterly confused.
Pushing himself up despite the pretesting dull ache in his joints Johnny groggily scanned his room. It was quiet except for the soft hum of the city outside the window stirring to life with the rising sun.
He was alone.
Hazily, his mind tried to stitch together the fragments of the previous night; laughter, clinking glasses, whispered words with a gal, and then in that moment his brain flooded with one woman: Emma.
The realization hit him fully, unspooling in his mind with startling clarity.
He had slept with Emma.
The woman who managed their public image, his manager, the one he’d known since college.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed and wincing once more as his body angrily protested the move a slow smile tugged itself onto his lips, mixing surprise with something warmer.
Stumbling slightly from the lingering haze of the hangover, he made his way toward the bathroom to splash cold water on his face.
Just before reaching the door, his foot caught on something causing him to nearly stumble. Eyes darted down to find the culprit only to spy a pair of slender heels, Emma’s heels, tucked oddly beneath his crumpled dress shirt and slacks from last night.
This only seemed to feed the furnace within Johnny's mind, confirming what he had already concluded.
Carefully stepping over the shoes, Johnny closed the bathroom door behind him, the quiet clack echoing softly in the room, ideas running rampant within his mind.
–
Bounding down the stairs as if he were walking on sunshine, Johnny's hair was still damp from the world's fastest shower, t-shirt clinging oddly in places due to under dried skin and his grin? Borderline obnoxious.
Sue was at the counter pouring coffee, shooting him a look over her shoulder. “You’re… chipper this morning,” she said carefully, as if she was testing a wire that might blow.
“Good Morning,” Reed murmured from behind his newspaper.
Ben was the only one to actually watch Johnny as he strutted in, the big guy leaning back in his chair with arms crossed. There was the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth, a smirk trying to hide.
“Yep,” Johnny said, sliding into a chair at the table. “I just had a great night’s sleep.” He reached for the plate of toast in the middle of the table like nothing at all was unusual.
Sue arched an eyebrow. “That’s funny, because some of us didn’t get such a great night’s sleep.”
Johnny froze mid-bite like a deer caught in headlights. “Uh… noise from the street? Can get pretty crazy out there late at night.”
“No.” Sue deadpanned.
Reed blinked slowly, lowering his paper. “I thought there was some sort of… altercation. Then I realized-”
“-it was not an altercation,” Sue cut in quickly, glaring at Reed before her cheeks flushed. “Whatever it was, it was loud.”
Johnny’s smirk deepened as he shrugged, utterly unapologetic. “Guess I was… enthusiastic about my dreams.”
Ben let out a low chuckle that earned him a glare from Sue. He shook his head slowly. “Yeah. Dreamin’.” His tone dripped with sarcasm, but he didn’t elaborate; he simply kept eating his eggs like the keeper of some great, terrible secret.
Johnny shot him a sideways glance, and for a split second, they locked eyes. Ben’s eyebrow quirked. Johnny knew right then and there Ben had him figured out.
“If you're going to have ‘guests’ over from now on I ask that you be courteous to all of us."
"Right, next time I have a guest over I'll keep that in mind.”
One year after Galactus is defeated Reed discovers another anomaly headed towards Earth. Will this be another herald of death or perhaps an unexpected ally.
We all known Johnny a freak for that sexy space alien cookie well, he's finally gunna get it...eventually. No true smut unfortunately, implied/leads up to it. Mostly fluff and build up to confessions of feelings.
OC is based off of StarFire from Teen Titans, as in she is the same species/race (Tameranian), but this is not a DC/Marvel crossover fic nor is she Koriand'r.
Word count: 13445
DISCLAIMER: I just watched Fantastic Four and though I know little to nothing about the fandom/characters other than what was depicted in the movie I absolutely LOVED Johnny. So, bear with me if there's continuity errors as again, I'm pretty much just going off what I got from the movie
If the characters are OOC I'm sorry :( I tried
Also, I wrote this in like 2 days, so I haven't beta read or edited it at all. I'll be working on that as much as I can over the next day or so, I just had to get it all out ASAP
Ever since the fall of Galactus the skies had been quiet.
Still reeling from its close brush with annihilation, Earth had entered a tense calm. Rebuilding Central city was the easy part. Recovering, fully understanding exactly what happened and why, was the hard part.
The one question that rattled within every human on earth's mind no matter the nationality nor upbringing was something that not even the smartest man alive could answer. At least not publicly.
Was it over?
Reed Richard’s, always the man of mathematical reasoning, knew that stating the cold hard truth of ‘no’, ‘that peace was always a temporary state’ would do nothing much but to bruise already battered mind sets.
But that would not change the simple fact that something always came next.
That something came precisely one year, two months and twelve days after the devourer’s banishment.
It began as a minuscule energy blip at the far end of the Triangulum Galaxy, approximately 2.723 million light years away from Earth. An anomaly certainly caught by Reed's scans, yet so faint it initially appeared to be an energy jet hurtled out from Triangulum’s stellar-mass black hole M33.
But as another beep from his deep space anomaly detectors sounded off within the Baxter Foundations labs rang, notifying Reed of another similar blip of energy, this time emitting from their neighboring galaxy Andromeda, with its rejectors and speed it was clear whatever this was it was getting closer.
Running a deep analysis on the blip revealed rivets of plasma, as to be expect for deep space entities, yet what struck the genius as odd was its composition. No ship. No debris. No engine signature.
Just... a presence.
Organic.
Alive.
It has been less than half a year since the silver herald of Galactus had entered earths orbit speaking of doom, of the end days.
Now another being approaches.
Will they too speak of death? Plague the world with threats of destruction?
“Reed,” Sues voice called out as the labs main entrance elevator opened and she stepped through. “You said five minutes. It’s been ten.”
Dressed for their usual Sunday family dinner in a clean set of denim and blouse, her hair pinned back in an efficient knot, Sue wore a face of slight annoyance. Meanwhile Franklin, their son, nestled snug in a soft gray harness across her chest, quietly stared up at the ceiling as if it held galaxies, his tiny hands gripping onto the fabric of her shirt.
Looking towards her husband, his back still turned to her, she immediately noted his more than usually stiff posture. How his shoulder constricted tightly within his white button down and how his finger gripped around the piece of chalk within them just a bit too much.
“Reed? What’s going on?”
Sighing, her husband placed the chalk down to the metal slab below the board before fully turning towards her. For a brief moment Reed’s gaze softened as it looked down at Franklin’s soft, sleepy face, one of Sue’s blouse buttons clutched within his grasp. He had grown so much in the last year.
Flickering upwards, uncertain brown met worried blue.
“In approximately four days, six hours and twenty seven minutes another entity will arrive on earth.”
Taking a deep, calming breath, Sue nodded. Her hands instinctively came up to cradle around Franklin.
Walking down towards the round central computer, Reed input a few codes before a 3-D map of the Local Group of Galaxies appeared. There the blip pinged as it flew through the middle of the Andromeda Galaxy, passing by one of its numerous black holes.
“Do you think it’s coming to finish what Galactus started?”
“I don’t know.”
Franklin garbled a few coos, a yawn following shortly after.
“What do you think? Of this in general.”
Reed focused on the distant energy ping, it did not spike, didn’t radiate volatility like the energy readings from Galactus’s ship or stray starbolt.
If anything… It was calm.
Controlled.
But so were the herald's readings.
“I think the echo of Galactus’s death has begun to ripple through the stars. And whoever this is… they felt it.”
Sue swallowed. “Do we tell them?”
“Tonight, we tell them tonight. Gives us time to come up with a contingency plan. A strategy. Together.”
Humming a gentle tune, spoon firmly grasped within his three digits, HERBIE stirred a pot bubbling atop the stove. The aroma of sautéed vegetables and herbs filled the kitchen. Standing next to the little AI robot Ben flipped the contents of his own pan with comically delicate care.
“Y’know, if Reed and Sue don’t show up within the next five minutes I will start gnawing on Ben.”
“Go ahead and try it matchstick, you’ll be coughin’ dust for the next half hour.”
“Tempting.” Rolling his eyes Ben returned his attention to the task at hand.
“Dinner status: 93% complete. Adjusting spice ratio by 0.6% based on Mr.Grimm’s nasal flaring.”
Since Galactus had crushed the previous HERBIE model, when rebuilding the AI, Reed had added a vocal modulator as well as a few other upgrades.
“I told you it was too much chili powder.” Ben grumbled, side eyeing the flame hero.
Throwing his hands up Johnny dramatically stomped out of the kitchen, his hunger still unquenched and ego bruised.
“All I did was add a little flair, ya know a bit of spice! That’s literally my whole thing!”
Truth be told Johnny has accidentally added chili power when he meant to grab paprika.
Just as he plopped himself down into his designated spot at the dinner table, the main entrance at last slid open.
Sue enters first, Franklin fast asleep cradled within his harness swaddle, Reed right behind her. His face was composed but clearly distracted from his usually clear cut calculated gaze.
Sure they were late, that was normal ever since Franklin was born but with the combination of Reeds unease and Sue clear efforts to mask her own, Ben immediately raised half a unibrowed rocky ridge.
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
“I- what?”
“C’mon, I’ve known you two long enough. You’re both doing that tight-lipped scientist thing. Reed’s not blinking, doing who knows how many calculations in his head and Sue’s got her worried eyes. Something’s up.”
Johnny's sulking immediately dried up, his attitude shifting to skepticism as he sat up in his chair.
“Ben’s right, you guys look like you’ve seen a ghost or something. What happened? You’re not pregnant again right? It’s still too early for that? Not that I wouldn’t mind another nephew but-”
If looks could kill Johnny would’ve been iced over by Sue's piercing side eye.
“No, I’m not pregnant.” She sighs, then clears her throat. As her mouth opens again to continue a fussy cry and throw of small arms takes her attention as Franklin grows sleeplessly agitated. “I’m going to put him down then we can discuss it over dinner.”
The table was tense to say the least. HERBIE happily dished out the plates, though none of the four made any move for their silverware.
Reed took the initiative.
“I discovered an anomaly. It entered the andromeda system approximately eight hours ago and is estimated to arrive within our own system in the next week.”
The news hung like a guillotine over their heads, like at any moment the rope would be cut, and they’d be right back to fighting an all-powerful space being again.
Ben, head shook.
“You think this is another one of Galactus’ sentinels?”
“Its readings are unlike that of the silver herald and of Galactus itself. It is far more explosive, akin to a ray of ultraviolet light more than anything.”
“Then why are we concerning ourselves with it? How do we know this isn’t just some wicked solar flair.” Johnny interjects.
“I said it’s akin to light. Its composition is organic, living. Exactly what it’s made of I can’t be sure of until it’s closer, thermal scans indicate mostly plasma but organic in carbon structures.”
Johnnie’s expression hardened, lip quirking up at the sides in frustration as his brows furrowed slightly.
“So we’re not going to try and intercept it? Just sit here and eat dinner like a cosmic entity isn’t actively knocking on our doorstep?”
“We still need to eat Johnny.” Sue’s voice was calm, but understanding of her brothers' worry. “Not only that, but the Excelsior is still under repairs, the warp component is nowhere near functional yet. I say we all use this time to ground ourselves before we make any assumptions over the potential magnitude of this thing.”
“We barely beat Galaxctus, now something new is headed this way and it’s not slowing down. What if it’s worse?”
A thick, rocky, hand reached over and grasped onto his shoulder, the rough bumpy texture oddly comforting.
“Then we do what we always do; handle it.”
Unrolling his silverware and placing them into the proper arrangement Reed nods in agreement.
“Ben is right, no matter what we can handle it. Now, let’s eat.”
At last the family relaxed, the tension easing ever so slightly, as they began to dive into the HERBIE made dinner.
With reconfiguring tracking metrics monitoring and recalibrating every few seconds, Reed had the anomalies arrival time pinned to the exact moment its light wave would penetrate the earth atmosphere.
It was a typical partly cloudy humid day for Brooklyn at 1:36pm. The city beneath carried on as usual, cars still honked as traffic was forever backed up, people still lined the streets in rushes to get to their jobs from lunch breaks. None the wiser to the potential threat looming above them.
The four decided it best not to raise global awareness of the situation until more information was gathered. Considering every country was still healing from potential annihilation from last year, until they knew for sure this was a threat, they would deal with this themselves.
A light breeze moved across the rooftop of which the Fantasticar had settled on its stabilizers like a bird on a wire. There’s tension thick in the air.
Opening his mini interface panel on his arm display Reed speaks with precision.
“Anomaly breech in T-minus 10 seconds. Atmospheric entrance will begin with light refractions from upper cloud layer disruption, followed by thermal blooms and electromagnetic spikes. Due to cloud coverage and energy levels visibility may be limited.”
With one final squeeze of her husband's hand, Sue leans over to the backseat of the car and adjusts Franklin’s car seat harness once more. The toddler happily none the wiser as he played with his toys.
Ben gave her a curt nod of reassurance, he sat in the back with the baby, she offered a small smile in return before sitting back in her seat.
“How do we know for certain that this thing is even sentient?”
“I’ve ran its flight patterns three times, it’s not just passing through or drifting with the flow of space. It’s actively decelerating here. Whatever or whoever it is, is making the conscious decision to stop here.”
Folding his arms, rocky brows furrowing, Ben turns his gaze to the overhead clouds through the complete 360 dome around the Fantasticar.
“Why is it always Brooklyn? Can’t one of these things land in Jersey for once?”
“Breaking the outer atmosphere is five… four… three… two… one.”
Just above them there was a glimmer.
Not an ear piercing sonic boom. No seismic shockwave.
Just a sudden, soft, flicker of brilliant golden-orange light flickering through the upper cloud bank.
“That’s it?”
“It slowed down significantly, decreasing the expected impact. Just as I predicted, its consciously stopping here.”
Typing into the car's central console, Reed prepared its internal scanners to begin sweeping the area. He wanted a better understanding of exactly what was up there before charging at it.
However not everyone shared this sentiment.
With a loud ‘FWOOOSH’ Flames bursted past them on the rooftop in trails of ash and smoke. The streak of fire, of course, was Johnny in full ‘flame on’ mode. Launching upward high above them in a rush of heat and impulsed adrenaline he completely disregarded their earlier agreed upon orders.
“I’m going up!”
“Johnny fall back! We agreed we would observe first-”
Reed's communications were cut off in Johnny's ear as he muted it for a second before turning it back on.
“Yeah, yeah I know but I’m just giving ‘em a warm welcome!”
The flames vanished into the clouds, leaving only flickering traces of refraction light within the dense sky.
For a moment there’s nothing but static.
Until the orange light returns, not from Johnny, but from whatever descended lower into the atmosphere.
“How much do you wanna bet he’s already flirting with whatever's up there?” Ben retorts, half tense half joking. The other two within the Fantisicar were already dreading whatever Johnny so adamantly had to meet.
The world below was distant. The sounds of the city drowned out far below him as Johnny's flame trails flicker behind him, replaced by churning clouds and distant crackle of energy.
He was expecting a ship. A creature. A threat.
Instead when he broke out of the misty embankment he saw-
The ozone parts like a curtain, from the center of its stage breaches a figure.
Her.
The air around rippled with heat and radiation, though it was not harsh like whipped uncontrolled spikes, but instead warm. Calm. Like sunlight first breaking the dawn.
Energy streaks behind her from the ends of her long, cascading, curled hair like fire.
Clad in foreign materials of gold and purple with a few red stones decorating the garment, it barely covered much of her radiant orange skin.
Big blue eyes racked over her form for more than a few seconds.
Her legs hovered a few feet above the empty sky Johnny occupied, but her head tilted down towards him, and vivid green eyes brighter than the finest emeralds locking directly onto him.
He holds her gaze. Though for the first time in possibly ever, Johnny has no witty comeback, no pick up line, no slogan.
He is at a complete loss for words.
His flames flicker with his heartbeat for a brief moment.
Quickly adjusting to pull himself together he tries to process what exactly is happening, in turn finding his voice again.
“Definitely not a comet.”
The space woman does not say anything. She just floats there, her gaze never wavering from his, it’s as if she’s assessing him.
Curious but cautious.
‘Think Johnny think, say something to her.’
Lifting his hand slowly, his heart in his throat, he gives a small wave.
“Uh… hey there.”
‘Really man?’
Even his own thoughts, usually filled with self confidence and boastful comments, chastised him for that brilliant introduction.
However the being before him didn’t seem to notice the awkwardness. Instead her head tilted inquisitively. Then she slowly descended lower, now entering level airspace as him.
As she grows closer Johnny's suit sensors blink warnings against the wrist module;
High levels of radiation detected.
But he barely noticed it.
His attention was solely on the alien now in front of him.
Letting out a nervous little laugh he meets her gaze once more. “Don’t suppose you speak English, huh?”
Slowly blinking once, her gaze softens, not in understanding, but with recognition that he was trying.
Thinking on his feet he recalled the languages he had analyzed from the galactic recordings last year.
He was not fluent in most, but knew a few phrases.
“Keareh?” He paused, no reaction. “Ble’va? Sphen’ia?... Are you, uh, recognizing any of this?"
Nothing. But still, she remained neutral, face calm.
Slowly drifting closer towards him he could now tell their immediate height difference, she was easily over six foot. Then there were her eyes, up close Johnny could see no visible pupils, just deep glowing spheres of green.
A few feet in-front of him she stopped, the soft warmth radiating off of her into the airspace around them had now fully enveloped him in its embrace.
Then, her hand slowly reached out, peach colored palm facing him, digits splayed, before stopping just a few centimeters over the circled 4 emblem on his chest.
Logic told him that he should back away, that at any moment she could reach out and unleash god knows what onto him.
Though Johnny was smarter than he oftentimes played himself out to be, he was always a genius at social cues.
And right now, this flaming alien woman was dropping no threats in both body language and expression.
Her hand shifted in the air, her pointer finger now tipped down.
Again the thought of backing up crossed Johnny's mind, but was ultimately ignored.
Softly tapping his chest once, twice, then finally a third her lips part, though the words she spoke were completely foreign.
“Ka’theria’rahn?”
“Kath…er’ahn?” Johnny tried to repeat it, though it failed to follow the same melodic rhythm she used, he may have also missed a few syllables.
However butchered he pronounced it, it still made her smile.
The sight brought a flush of crimson to his cheeks. However, the moment turned tense in an instant as her hand moved up and gripped the white collar of his uniform pulling him closer to her.
Alarms raced through Johnny's nervous system, demanding he jerk away.
But her grip was far stronger than he anticipated.
Before he realized exactly what position he was in and what was happening, there was a warmth blossoming across his lips as the atmosphere grew hot for a moment.
Blue eyes widened in pure shock as realization dawned on him.
She…
She was kissing him?
Johnny, a lover of both women and space, should have been thrilled that a giant sexy space alien woman was kissing him, but he honestly could not find the courage to breathe, much less move. Instead he floated there stunned, lips unresponsive to hers as they moved against them.
A small part of his brain that still managed to think critically reminded him of the possible dangers of this besides the radiation sensors buzzing in his suit. Kissing an alien could very well come with some kind of undiscovered space diseases…
But her lips were so soft.
The kiss was gentle. Not demanding, not forceful. Just… exploratory.
His flames did not burn her. In fact, she did not even flinch, it seemed like she barely noticed the fire at all.
And then it was over.
The kiss broke as quickly as it started. The alien woman gently pulled back from Johnny, a faint warmth lingering between them, her lips remaining parted slightly, and that beautiful smile returning across them. Her gaze refocused intently onto his.
He did not speak. He couldn’t.
Breaking through the clouds the Fantasticar emerged into the same brilliant stratosphere the two floated in, its sleek frame catching beams of light refracted off the anomaly. Or rather, her.
From the cockpit, all eyes locked onto the rather strange and unusual sight before them: Johnny, floating just above Earth’s stratosphere face-to-face with a radiant, orange-skinned alien woman whose hair blazed like wildfire across the sky.
Ben grimaced. “Oh, come on, we leave Matchstick alone for five minutes, and he’s already makin’ out with another space lady?”
Shielding Franklin’s carrier from the light rays with one hand Sue grumbled. “Seriously, Johnny?”
“She appears non-hostile,” Reed ignored the commentary entirely, his eyes glued to the tablet of his wrist component. “Fascinating. Neural intake spikes unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Plasma levels just jumped. That kiss triggered a massive neurological response. Adaptive, not emotional.”
“She kissed me! And no, she's not hostile I don't think...” Johnny barked, defensively throwing up his arms as he floated away from her and toward the car. “Look, I didn’t do anything! She just-, I was trying to talk to her and she-gah, I don’t even know what just happened!”
Feeling awkward shame crawling up his back Johnny began backing away from her and towards the other four.
However just as he neared the Fantasticar the woman spoke again, only this time her voice was clear.
"Greetings," The moment the word resonated within the fantastic fours ears the world around them seemed to stop just for a moment. "I extend peace to your people. My apologies for the contact, it was necessary."
Johnny blinked, his head whipping back up to her as if she had spontaneously grown a second set of limbs. Though with aliens he supposed that was possible and much more likely than her learning English in of a minute.
Yet it was no trick of the mind, they all had heard it clear as day.
Soon the dots connected...
"That...that kiss was for you to learn English?"
She nodded in response, her posture remaining dignified, hovering just above them as her flame-like hair shimmered in the windless stratosphere. "Yes."
Ben could not help but crack a small mocking smile, a chuckle suppressing itself within his chest.
However, this new revelation caused the atmosphere around them to shift, allowing the tense reality to set back in. Just because she was presenting friendly right now did not mean this was her true intent.
Reed took a careful, diplomatic approach to asking the questions they needed answered. “If you don’t mind me asking, who are you?”
“I am Varyra'nn of Tamaran."
"And why have you come to Earth?"
"I seek those who defeated the world devourer."
All four grew tense, as stilled silence enveloped around them.
The team watched her through narrowed eyes, muscles half-taut, waiting for something to go wrong at the mere mention of the space deity.
Reed’s brow creased further, yet he remained composed, tone never wavering.
“You mean Galactus.”
Vayra’nn’s emerald eyes flicked to him behind the windshield of the Fantasticar. “If that is what your people call him. The devourer of worlds, the lifeless cosmic world ender. My people knew him only as Xi’ir-Torr’akk. That which silences suns.”
Ben muttered under his breath, “Oh great, she’s poetic too.”
Sue shot him a glance, then spoke up. “And what exactly do you want with the ones who stopped him?”
“I wish only to confirm that he is truly gone,” She paused for a moment, her body slightly losing its distinguished posture. “For centuries I wandered the scorched systems he left behind. My world-my people-were devoured long ago.”
Her voice did not tremble nor falter, yet the gravity of her words was far heavier than any mournful tears.
“Many claimed to stand against him. All failed.” She turned her gaze to Johnny, then back to Reed. “So, when I heard rumors carried by the remains, felt the void of his presence with whispers of Earth’s triumph... I came to see with my own eyes if this world truly did what none before it could.”
Reed’s fingers tapped thoughtfully at his wrist scanner. “If you came all this way just to confirm he’s dead, what then?”
"Now I'm not sure, my life's quest was to see the end of the devourer."
Sue folded her arms. “So, you’re saying you don’t work for him. You don’t plan to finish what he started?"
“I would burn before I ever served Xi’ir-Torr’akk.” Vayra’nn’s voice was steady, but there was a flash in her eyes. Righteous, tempered fury. “I have no interest in conquest. Only truth.”
Johnny, finally recovering his voice, cleared his throat. “Told you she wasn’t bad.”
Ben grunted. “Yeah, but you said that right after she kissed you.”
“She kissed me to learn English!”
Vayra’nn tilted her head slightly, watching the exchange. “It was the only way I could have effectively communicated with you.”
Johnny blinked. “You still could’ve asked.”
“I did, Ka’theria’rahn. You repeated it for confirmation."
Sue couldn’t help it; she snorted out a laugh. But quickly disguised it behind her hand. Even Reed cracked the faintest smile.
The silence after Vayra’nn’s explanation hung for a moment too long, until Sue took a quiet breath and spoke up once more.
"So, from what I understand, you have nowhere left to go?"
“My people are scattered. My planet, consumed. My cause… fulfilled at last. Ultimately no, there is no home to which I might return.”
Ben’s shoulders shifted subtly at that, a familiar weight in the words.
Reed’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing yet.
Vayra’nn continued, her voice even. “I am not unfamiliar with solitude. I can continue on, as I have for decades.”
Sue shook her head.
It did not sit right with her, nor anyone in the Fantasticar.
Johnny’s voice cut in from beside her, quieter than usual. “You don’t have to keep going. You found something else, didn’t you?”
Vayra’nn tilted her head. “Something?”
“You came here,” Johnny said, a little shrug. “That’s something.”
Sue nodded gently. “Stay. Just for now. We don’t know what the future holds, none of us do, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.”
There was a pause.
Then Vayra’nn lowered her head slightly, not quite a bow—something more like solemn acknowledgement. “You would offer shelter to a stranger?”
Sue met her eyes without flinching. “You came in peace and haven’t given us a reason to turn you away.”
“Besides,” Ben rumbled, arms crossing loosely over his chest, “you’ve had a helluva trip. Be a little cold to send you back out there with nothin’ but cosmic dust and memories.”
Reed finally nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. “We’ve faced worse for less reason. You’re not the first to find yourself stranded here… and you won’t be the last. I’m also sure you have much to teach us as well.”
Johnny gave a crooked half-smile. “And hey, Earth’s not so bad. Food’s weird, but we’ve got pizza.”
Vayra’nn looked between them, as though trying to process the strange warmth behind their words. A warmth she had not felt in far too long. Her gaze lingered on Sue again. “You are… more merciful than I anticipated.”
Sue offered a small smile. “We try.”
For a breath, it seemed Vayra’nn might say nothing more. But then, quietly, her voice took on a distant softness:
“Then I accept. I will not impose beyond necessity, but… I will remain, for now.”
She straightened again, ever composed, but something in her expression had lighted.
Less the figure head of grace presenting piece. More like a friend.
“Thank you,” she added after a moment, and though the words were formal, they rang with sincerity.
The flight back to New York was quieter than expected.
The Fantasticar led the way, carving through the open sky.
Johnny had chosen to fly just behind it instead of his usual habit of blazing past it. He was keeping pace not with the vehicle, but with her.
Vayra’nn flew beside him, arms at her sides, flaming hair trailing behind her like a comet’s tail. There was a natural elegance in her motion, her body guided not by outward propulsion but an effortless, controlled lift.
Johnny kept stealing glances over at her.
At first, they were cautious, almost bashful. She had kissed him merely a few minutes ago...even if it was educational.
But gradually his glances became more frequent. Curiosity bloomed behind his bright blue eyes. Not just because she was, well… an incredibly tall, incredibly powerful, sexy, alien woman. But because there was something else beneath her composed expression. A stillness that wasn’t cold. Something almost… lonely.
"Is something wrong?"
She had noticed his staring.
"No! No, of course, not it's just, uh you’re really good at flying. Like… freakishly good. Not that it’s freaky. I mean, I fly too obviously. It’s cool.” The word 'cool' seemed to catch itself halfway within his throat, as Johnny, embarrassed to be caught in the act, said the first excuse to grace his brain, not a complete lie.
A small smile quirks at the edges of her lips, uncaring to his slight word stumble.
"Thank you, I have had many years of experience."
Clearing his throat the flaming hero hoped the wind would carry away the heat growing across his cheeks.
“Right. Of course. You’ve been doing this a long time. That uh... makes sense.”
"You seem nervous, am I making you uncomfortable?"
“No, you're not making me uncomfortable,” he said, honest now, even if his tone still carried a bit of sheepishness. “I just… I don't think I’ve met anyone like you.”
Vayra’nn tilted her head slightly. “Most have not.”
He smiled faintly at that. “That tracks, it isn't everyday a gal such as yourself comes down from the sky.”
Her smile widens, "It isn't every day I meet someone as open as you either..." There's a moment of silence as her sentence trailed off, a bit tense then it hit him.
He never introduced himself.
'Way to be a real gentleman Johnny.'
"I'm Johnny by the way, Johnny Storm." She hummed, in response rolling the name around within her mind for a second.
"Well Johnny Storm, it's been a pleasure meeting you so far."
Now his smile widened.
Flying high above the tops of the foreign cities below, above all the chatter of the hustling streets filled with strange new people, where only the faint breeze of the distant ocean and ozone filtered through, Vayra’nn of Tameran felt something stir within her heart.
Neither of them truly grasped exactly what they had gotten themselves into that day, but whatever it was, it felt right.
Aquamating to Earth’s costumes and societal standards had been a bit of a challenge for Varya’nn. Strange to her for sure, yet she did her best to adhere to it.
Learning that the skin tight body suit she wore was deemed ‘immodest’ was definitely a bit of a culture shock.
Morning light filtered in through the high windows of Vayra’nn’s borrowed bedroom. All was quiet save for the rustle of fabric and the soft hum of the building's systems. She stood tall near the center of the room, her arms loosely crossed over her chest.
“Immodest, what does that mean? Do I offend you with my clothing? It is traditional Tameranean attire.” Worry edged itself into Varya'nn's voice for she had been on Earth for less than a week and already she had offended the woman who so graciously opened her home to her.
She had never heard of such a word. ‘Modesty? Immodest?’
“No, it's not that, it's just on Earth we don't typically wear things that… exposed unless we’re at the beach.” Sue had chosen her words carefully yet still saying them felt odd. Like explaining to a toddler why it was improper to go outside in underwear.
Standing in the room by its dresser she rummaged through its contents. Most of the clothing within it had once been hers, forever banished to these drawers due to either not fitting or simply not her style anymore. Despite their clear height difference Sue was certain she had to have something in here that would fit.
“On my planet this is considered quite discrete.” That comment earned a small chuckle from Sue as she at last held up a folded pair of jeans and a soft, long sleeved T-shirt.
“Here, these should fit you. They’re pretty standard Earthwear, nothing fancy.”
“Forgive me, but I do not understand. My current attire allows the absorption of solar energy directly into my skin. This…” She lifted the jeans between two fingers with a frown. “This is thick and restrictive. It will lessen my efficiency.”
Sue offered a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, I get that. And I agree, you look amazing in what you’ve got on. But Earthlings aren’t used to Tamaranean customs. If you walk down the street like that, people will stare. Whisper. Probably take a lot of photos.”
Vayra’nn’s brow furrowed. “Why would they do this? Do they not also possess bodies?”
“They do. They just have… more rules about them.”
Sue then sat down an odd contraption.
“What is that?” Picking it up, Varya'nn examined it further. Two thin straps connected a thick band of fabric, the beige material was textured against her fingers in some areas but smooth in others.
Sue’s eyebrows furrowed, her lips pushing together in a thin line, confliction racing in her mind.
“It's a bra.”
“A bra? For what purpose does this serve?” The invincible woman let out an exasperated sigh, not one of contentment more so of inner confliction on how she was supposed to explain this.
After 10 minutes of Sue divulging the what, when, and why’s of undergarments the two had reached a bit of a stalemate.
Then from the hallway, there was a casual knock on the door, at last breaking their stall.
“You two decent?”
Johnny stepped in without waiting for an answer, catching sight of the conversation mid-clothing demonstration. His gaze flicked from the jeans in Vayra’nn’s hands to the perplexed look on her face.
“What’s goin’ on?”
“She doesn’t understand why she needs to cover up,” Sue explained, lightly exasperated but fond.
Vayra’nn turned to Johnny, jeans still dangling in her hands like captured prey. “These are most inefficient.”
Johnny looked at her, then the jeans, then back again and grinned. “Yeah… but you’ll still look great in ’em.”
Her expression didn't change, but her gaze lingered on him for a beat longer than expected. “You believe that would improve their function?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Not really. But sometimes humans wear things just because they like how they look. Not everything has to be practical.”
Vayra’nn tilted her head slightly. “That is illogical.”
“Welcome to Earth,” Johnny said with a shrug, folding his arms behind his head. “We’re full of that.”
Sue gave her a gentler smile. “You don’t have to change who you are. But… blending in might make things easier. At least while you’re figuring out what comes next.”
Vayra’nn looked back down at the clothes, quiet for a moment. Then, with a slow, resigned breath, she spoke: “Very well. If this is what is required, I shall endure it.”
Johnny raised a brow, a playful glint in his eye. “You make it sound like we’re throwing you in a prison jumpsuit.”
Vatra’nn’s head tilted at the new set of words. “Prison jumpsuit?”
However before Johnny could reply she had already reached back behind her neck, unfastening the clasped hook around her garment's top. Peeling the tight fabric down, the peaks of her breasts were now exposed. Johnny's cheeks blushed bright red as he quickly turned away before she pulled it further down.
Sue yelped at the sight, turning around herself. “We’re still in the room!”
“Oh,” Vayra’nn blinked. “Is disrobing also immodest?”
Johnny grinned widened, a chuckled escaping his flushed face.
“You’ve got a lot to learn.”
The two left the room in a hurry, leaving the Tameranean to dress.
Five minutes turned to ten, ten into fifteen, soon it had been twenty five minutes, far too long a time for a quick change of clothes.
“Should we…check on her?” Johnny had been leaning casually against the hallway just outside her door, pretending not to be antsy waiting, yet failing miserably at his disguise.
Looking up from the tablet within her hands Sue shook her head.
“Give her time, she’ll be okay.”
After another five the door at last creaked open and vayra’nn stepped out.
Gone was the purple, skin tight leotard-esk garment, replaced with a long sleeved top in the color of stormy dusk and a pair of perfectly snug, high-waisted bell bottoms. The jeans flair at the bottom just barely brushed the tops of her clean white sneakers, which she had managed to lace up…eventually.
She shifted a bit, fingers pulling at the fabric around her wrists, then down to the pockets of the jeans.
“These fabrics are strange. But they’re not as restrictive as I feared.”
Sue smiled.
“You look good, those fit you nicely.”
Johnny on the other hand took a moment to really take in the scene before him.
If he was a dog he’d be howling, tail wagging, probably drooling.
With a short, stunned whistle he dramatically slapped a hand over his chest.
“So this is why Earth invented jeans.”
Vayra’nn looked at him, puzzled, worry evident in her expression. “You are in pain?”
Sue groaned. “Ignore him.”
“No, no, this is serious,” Johnny said, trying not to grin. “You’re gonna break necks walking around New York like that.”
Vayra’nn furrowed brows deepened. “I do not wish to injure anyone.”
Sue sighed. “It’s just a phrase, Vayra’nn.”
Vayra’nn considered that and then gave a slow, confident nod. “Then I shall endeavor to walk responsibly.”
Johnny nearly choked on his own breath, face splitting into a laugh he couldn’t hold back.
“She’s killing me, Sue,” he said under his breath, amusement oozing.
“You’re doing that to yourself,” Sue replied dryly.
Approaching Vayra’nn he gave her a reassuring smile. “Ready to see the city?”
Vayra’nn stood still at a street corner, her bright emerald eyes wide with wonder, a tad overwhelmed but ultimately mesmerized by the chaos. What Johnny had explained to be cars blared their horns, lights flickered from overhead posts, music thrumped from nearby stores, and above it all were dozens upon dozens of voices. Laughing, shouting, and speaking so many different languages she had not yet learned. She had not expected so much diversity because most planets only had one universal spoken tongue. But earth seemed different.
She did not flinch nor buckle from the overwhelming stimulus, instead she looked over to Johnny, eyes swimming with dozens of unspoken questions.
“Its always like this,” Stepping closer to her, his shoulder brushed against hers. “You get used to it. Trust me.”
She turned her attention back to the scene before them, watching as a vendor flipped sizzling meat on a cart, the steam it rose carried unfamiliar spices. An animal, she wasn't sure the name of, ran beside the stall barking in hopes of receiving a piece of the meat. A child dropped some sort of frozen food onto the concrete and wailed to its guardians who promptly picked them up. A car with bright yellow paint zoomed by at far too fast of speeds.
But there despite it all, it was oddly beautiful to her.
“Theres so much life here.”
Johnny's smile beamed up to her.
“Yeah, Earth has a lot of that.” He paused looking around a bit before his eyes locked onto something down the street. “Wanna try a hot dog?”
“Dog? Is that not a domesticated animal?” Her tone was uncomfortable, thin red eyebrows furrowing in borderline disgust. Though she had never seen one nor had any idea what they looked like she knew a ‘dog’ to be a sort of ‘pet’ animal.
Despite her internal conflict this only served to widen Johnny’s grin.
“Its not actually a dog, c’mon I’ll buy you one.”
Chewing the mouthful of foreign substance before swallowing Vayra’nn is pleasantly surprised by the tastes developing on her tongue.
“Well, what do you think?”
“It is most pleasant, though I do quite prefer this tangy yellow substance, is there more?” Before Johnny could say anything back, she had already taken an entire packet of it and slurped it down like a popsicle.
Immediately the Human Torch felt queasy to his stomach at the sight.
“Uhhh Vy, that's mustard…”
“It is most delicious.” She drank another packet, though was sourly upset when Johnny took the last one away. “Also, you continue to refer to me as ‘Vy’ why?”
Shaking his head at the sight, Johnny laughed off his slight unease choosing to ignore that incident all together. “I just like it.”
“I was not aware my designation required abbreviation, is it hard to pronounce?”
“It isn’t, it's just a nickname.”
“Nickname?”
Johnny looked at her a little more gently, her naivety stirred feelings within him, not pity, no it was more akin to adorableness.
“They’re something we give people we like. Makes it feel… personal.”
Her lips pulled up into a radiant, beaming, grin.
“Then please feel free to refer to me as such! Shall I give you a nickname too?”
“Sure you-”
The moment was broken by the shrill call of several people across the street.
“Is that Johnny Storm?”
“It is him! Quick take a picture!”
“That’s the Human Torch.”
A group of tourists had spotted them, well, spotted Johnny.
The second the first shout of his name was uttered, it was like a switch had flipped within him. He smiled, a bright, practiced photogenic grin. Lifting a hand in a casual wave as others began to notice, it wasn’t long before more people joined in, trickling from all sides of the crosswalk. Already a few were holding up their phones, snapping pictures and pointing excitedly.
Vayra’nn tilted her head curiously. “Are these humans hostile?”
“No, no,” Johnny said quickly, glancing back at her as the crowd started to grow near. “Just fans. Like admires.”
Vyra'nn remained seated on the bench, though her posture straightened, scanned the growing group of strangers. Their voices layered over one another like a rising tide.
Johnny’s grin didn’t falter, though he made it a point to move a bit in front of her as to block a few of the cameras.
He handled it like he always did, slipping seamlessly into ‘celebrity mode’. He posed for pictures, signed a few things, even gave a kid a fist bump. All the while, he was keenly aware of Vayra’nn sitting silently a few steps behind him.
She was watching the crowd intently, curious and cautious, just as she was when she first met him. A few passersby spared her glances, uncertain whether she was with him or just some cosplayer street performer.
Johnny tried to wrap things up quickly. He did not want to rush the fans, they were part of the job, but Vy had never been around this kind of attention before. He had not meant to bring her somewhere this populated, not yet.
He turned to go.
“Let's go.” He whispered to Vy. However the moment she got up and the two began walking side by side again the crowd reignited.
“Yo Johnny who’s that?”
“Is that your girlfriend?”
“Wait, is she an alien or something!?”
“She’s beautiful, but who is she!?”
With their backs still turned to the crowd their pace stalled, Varya’nn’s posture stiffened, obviously unsure how to approach the situation. She felt uncomfortable and suddenly Johnny did ever so slightly feel it too.
“Alright, that’s it for today, folks! We’ve gotta run, busy schedules you know how it is!”
He shot them a grin, charming as ever, then pivoted back to Vayra’nn, gently placing a hand at the small of her back. They walked quickly but without rushing, the clicking of cameras still chasing them down the sidewalk.
Someone managed to snap a clear photo of the two of them side by side just before they turned the corner.
Once they were out of sight, a few blocks away, Johnny at last slowed his pace, she followed his lead.
“Sorry, I should’ve known that would happen.”
Their hands brushed against one another as they continued to walk, though neither made any effort to widen the distance between them.
“They were quite excitable, though not unkind.”
“Still. I didn’t mean for them to see you yet,” he muttered. “I love the fans but it’s really none of their business.”
She looked at him quietly for a moment.
“You did not answer their questions.”
“Nope, not their moment to know about you. That's completely up to you, If and when you’re ready.”
A beat passes between them. Then she smiles, soft but sure, emerald eyes looking into his bright blue.
“As long as you’re with me I do not mind who knows about me.”
He returned her grin, their hands again brushing against one another, though this time his fingers experimentally reached out for hers. Her own digits curled around his in response.
They walked back to the Baxter building like this, hands interlocked in reassurance. That same feeling brewing deep within their chests as the first time they had flown together side by side.
Varya'nn was entering week three of her stay on Earth, after settling in Reed had requested to see her in his lab.
The walls hum faintly with machinery. The soft glow of multiple high-tech interfaces reflected in Vayra’nn’s eyes as she sits on top of a medical platform. With her feet bare, curly hair tied back,and a simple tank top and shorts combo provided by Sue she awaited Reed's instructions.
Adjusting the settings on a console beside her, the scientist readied his equipment.
“Comfortable?” Reed's voice was gentle but focused. He had never been able to properly study an extraterrestrial life form before. Aside from the inorganic, mineral, samples taken from Galactus’ ship last year, this was his first organic, living, subject.
“I am. You may begin with whatever test you wish.”
The machines begin to whirl softly, light sweeping over her body, her vitals appearing as holograms above her in linear curves and data patterns.
“You’re remarkably cooperative,” Reed muttered, more so to himself than to her, yet it was not lost to her perceptive ears.
“I have nothing to hide. Where I come from, knowledge is shared, never hidden.”
“A wonderful sentiment.” Reed readies another, smaller, device. “I’ll be taking a small blood sample.”
She does not say anything, simply nods her head as he places it down beside at the inner bend of her elbow, nor does she flinch when it punctures a vein in her arm to extract the sample.
Unlike human blood, when drawn into the collection vial, Varya’nn’s was not red. Instead it concentrates into a light shade of pink and glows faintly in the vial under the lights within the lab.
“Fascinating. Your hemoglobin appears to be binding solar particles directly into its organelles. It's more akin to plasmatic matter, or even cytoplasm, than human proteins. That may explain your energy projection and flight, but I’ll need to run a full comprehensive metabolic panel."
Varya’nn nods once more, his words more than lost in translation but she assumed it to be a good thing though one statement she knew was wrong.
“Perhaps, but flight is not a common trait amongst Tameraneans.”
Before he can begin to question her further on the matter, the lab doors ‘swooshed’ open.
“Yo!” Johnny entered the lab unannounced, a lab coat thrown on over his black t-shirt and jeans unbuttoned allowing the white draping to hang open. “Did I miss the alien dissection?”
Vayra’nn’s brows raise in suspicion, eyes immediately darting from Johnny to Reed. “There will be no dissection. Correct?”
Reed sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “No, there will be no dissection.” Turning towards his brother in law he looks exasperated. “She’s fine, Johnny. In fact her biochemistry is more stable than ours. She’s been on earth for a week and already has a better resting heart rate than you ever will.”
Johnny leans on the wall casually, arms folded. “Yeah, well, some of us have hearts that race when beautiful women sit on lab tables.”
“Unhelpful,” Turning his attention back to his equipment, Reed takes a pipette to the vial of Vayra’nn’s blood and dispenses two drops of it into the beakers before him, then finally one drop onto a microscope slide.
“I don’t mind your flattery Johnny. It is quite endearing.” Vayra’nn looks pleased to see him, after all the two have been nearly inseparable for the last several days. Johnny had made it a point to take her not only around town on foot but via flight as well.
Reed changes the subject before the two could flirt any more blatantly. “So, you said not all Tamaraneans fly, is that right?”
“Correct, it is an inherited gene passed down through bloodlines. Some of my people were born with it, others without. I was one of the few fortunate.”
“So your ability to absorb solar radiation,” gesturing to her vitals display which read various numbers far higher than a healthy human's numbers. “It’s not just for that purpose if all of your species possesses this ability is it?”
“As your kind needs water and food, I require solar radiation. My body metabolizes it as you’ve observed.” Varya’nn pauses, piecing together her next statement. “It is how I managed to survive in deep space without landing for so long. While eating is still necessary, as long as I’ve filled my stomachs before ascending, I can sufficiently fly for several earth months if I have proper radiation exposure."
“Hold on you said stomachs, as in plural?” Out of everything she had said, that one detail had garnered his immediate attention.
“Yes, do you not?” The innocence in her eyes coupled with the small smile spreading across her face as she looked at him melted Johnny’s poor heart and silenced his interjections.
“No, humans only possess one. As the scans show you have five. I presume they all possess distinct functions?” Reed questioned, still gazing over the scan before him.
“Yes,the first begins enzymatic conversion of solar-infused nutrients, the second acts as storage. The third filters out toxic elements, the fourth holds reserve fluids, and the fifth,” she pauses, tilting her head slightly, “is... sentimental. It processes emotional states. We say it is where we ‘hold our joy.’”
Johnny leaned forward, eyes wide. “Wait, you’ve got a stomach just for feelings?”
She nodded, almost proud. “Emotions are vital to Tamaranean strength. Rage, grief, love, ecstasy, they feed the soul, and the soul feeds the flame. When it is empty, we feel... diminished.”
Reed scribbled something furiously into a digital pad. “Psychosomatic biochemical responses localized to an organ system... fascinating. A physiological reaction to emotional stimuli that increases energy efficiency. That’s completely counter to how most known species function.”
“So what, like, being happy gives you a power boost?” Johnny asked. “Or is it more like... whatever you feel strongest?”
“Yes,” she said simply. “Intensity matters more than quality. But positive feelings stabilize the absorption. Negative ones can... overflow.”
Reed made a mental note to study that further, but Johnny’s curiosity got the better of him first. He wandered over, cocking his head at her thoughtfully.
“So when you kissed me to learn English... that didn’t count as a feeling thing, right?”
She looked over at him, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly, her eyes conveying a bit of remorse. “Not in the way you mean. It was necessary for translation.”
“Right, right,” he muttered, clearly trying to look as if it did not bruise his ego. “Just... educational stuff. Got it.”
Reed rolled his eyes. “Can I continue the scans before you flirt anymore, Johnny?”
“I’m not flirting. I’m investigating. For science.” Johnny protested, walking closer to the lab table she laid on, taking a gander at the scans himself to further prove that he was indeed ‘here for science.’
Vayra’nn looked at Johnny’s hand as he neared. It was only a few inches away from hers, without thinking of the implications, decision based purely on feelings, she reached out for it.
The monitor on Reed’s screen immediately jumped, a bright pulse moving across the graph in sharp arcs.
“Whoa,” Johnny murmured, his eyes darting down to their interlocked hands. “Did I do that?”
“Yes,” she said softly, a wide smile growing across her lips. “The fifth stomach feels full.”
Johnny blinked his fingers tightening around hers. “Full of what?”
As the first full month of Varya'nn being on Earth came to a close and the second one quickly approaching its end as well, the relationship between her and Johnny became a strange one. Johnny never fully admitted his romantic feelings for her nor she to him. Truth be told the Human Torch wasn’t even sure what his feelings were. However, the way they interacted with one another spoke volumes.
It was rare to catch them not holding hands, not talking to each other, not interacting in some way shape or form. It was something the other three immediately clocked within the two months of her being on Earth. The hand holding they initially brushed off as something she probably did in her culture, just as she had kissed him when they first met so unabashedly. A cultural difference between them given her biology tied to emotions.
But as more time passed, the touches lingered a little longer, the glances held a little more longing.
She sought him out in every room while he gravitated towards her without thinking, instinctual it seemed. She smiled more when he was nearby, in turn he always seemed far happier near her.
It was not loud or obvious. There were no grand declarations, no stolen kisses, no accidental walk-ins by any other member of the team like Ben had been so adamant would happen.
Just the subtle weight of something growing.
By the end of the second month, no one was under any illusion. Whatever it was between them, it was more than a misunderstanding of customs.
Something was happening.
—-----
The two of them were gone yet again, out somewhere in the city. Sue had heard Johnny mention the botanical gardens this morning, claiming Vayra’nn needed ‘solar and photosynthetic enrichment.’ She had nearly laughed when he said it, but something in the way he said it had been so sincere. Not teasing. Just… soft. It was a pattern Sue had come to pick up on rather quickly about the two, Johnny had never spoken to another woman the way he spoke to and about Varya’nn.
In the shared living space, three of the four lounged. Reed was combing over a few sets of charts he had drawn up earlier in the week while Sue leaned back against the counter in the adjacent kitchen, sipping slowly on a mug of coffee. Across the room, Ben sat in a recliner flipping through channels on the large box-screen tv set, clearly bored out of his mind.
“They’re out again, huh?” Ben asked between channel surfs.
“Third day in a row. Same time, too. Like clockwork.” Sue responded, taking in another sip of coffee.
Reed didn’t look up from his work, but chimed into the conversation nonetheless. “Johnny said something about the gardens earlier. He was convinced she needed more exposure to direct sunlight. Something about her ‘energy levels.’”
Ben snorted. “Means he just wanted an excuse to see her in that outfit again.”
Sue smiled into her mug, saying nothing.
Reed finally stopped analyzing, gaze stilled into the open space before him. “Do you think the hand holding is cultural? At first I assumed it was, but now I’m less convinced. The consistency of the behavior is-”
“It’s not cultural,” Sue said before he could finish. “Not anymore.”
Ben turned in his seat and grunted in agreement. “Kid’s got it bad. He’s not makin’ a big show of it like usual, but c’mon. The guy practically glows when she looks at him.”
“She’s the same. Have you seen the way she watches him when he talks? Like he’s the only thing that matters. It’s not loud or dramatic, it’s just… there. Constant.”
Reed straightened up, the thoughtful crease in his brow deepening. “They do engage in frequent, casual contact. The kind that’s difficult to quantify but statistically rare in platonic pairings.”
Ben gave him a look. “No offense, Stretch, but, yeah. We know.”
“I’m merely stating the observable data.”
Sue chuckled, shaking her head. “It’s not about data, Reed. It’s about how they act when the other’s around. He doesn’t flirt with anyone else anymore. She never strays too far from his side. There’s something real there, even if they haven’t said it out loud yet.”
She turned to glance out the tall curtained windows, where late afternoon sunlight spilled in across the floor. Her voice softened.
“Honestly, I think it’s kind of sweet. Like they’re just figuring it out together, one day at a time.”
Ben gave a quiet grunt of agreement. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t mess it up. I kinda like her.”
“I do as well,” Reed said without hesitation. “She’s cooperative. Intelligent. Curious. Her cellular makeup is utterly fascinating-”
“Reed.”
“Right. Yes. I like her. As a person.”
A short silence fell between them. Not awkward, just contemplative.
—--
The botanical gardens sat tucked away within the outskirts of the city, far from the usual hustle and bustle of time square it found its own quiet spot of peace. It felt untouched, almost wild, truly living up to its whole purpose. And in the middle of it, Vayra’nn moved like she belonged there.
She had never seen such open flora, on Tameran the planet was mostly rocky save for the deep forests far beyond its cities and now on Earth she lived within an urban jungle. It was a nice change of scenery.
The sundress she wore had been Sue’s suggestion, though Johnny had given an enthusiastic thumbs-up and adamant nod the moment it was pulled from the rack. He had insisted that he buy it for her along with any other dress she happened to glance at. Though this one was by far his favorite. It was soft yellow, cinched slightly at the waist, flowing just enough to move with the breeze and ended at her mid thigh. It complemented her orange skin and contrasted with the vibrant red of her hair, which she had tied loosely at the nape of her neck, a few curls still escaping around her face.
Johnny was trying his best to focus on the orchids, or the exotic flowering vines clinging to the trellises along the paths. Or maybe even the placards with facts he’d half-read aloud to make her laugh. But none of it stuck. His gaze kept drifting back to her. The way her bright emerald eyes lit up with curiosity. The delicate way her fingers hovered just above a petal.
She turned as they reached a tall living wall of flowers, an explosion of color and bloom that climbed high up toward the sky.
She stepped in front of it, tilting her head as if listening to the quiet hum of the bees nearby, the corner of her mouth lifted in a thoughtful smile.
Johnny stared once more. Though this time he could not tear his eyes away.
She looked like something out of a dream. Light, fire and calm, framed by blossoms.
"Hey, can I take a picture?" Already pulling his phone out of his pants pocket she turned to glance at him over her shoulder, thin brows lifting in mild surprise.
"Of me?"
"Yeah," Johnny hesitated for a moment, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “I mean, if that’s okay. You just… you look amazing. You should see yourself.”
Her expression softened as she considered it. "Only if we take one together afterward."
Johnny blinked, then gave a lopsided smile, one of the ones that made his dimples show and his ears turn faintly pink.
"Deal."
She turned to face Johnny, the wall of flowers behind her as he raised his phone and smiled. Not a forced smile like most did for photos, but a true, happy grin. The camera clicked once, twice.
By the time he had lowered his phone she was already walking forward, reaching for his hand.
"Now, our photo."
Taking her hand into his he Johnny raised the camera once more, being sure to capture not only their faces but their interlaced embrace, flowers lighting up the background.
A thought crossed his mind, impulsive and wild.
‘Kiss her.’
He stiffened against her, but kept his composure, opting not to enact his thoughts. Not yet.
—
Later that evening, the Baxter Building was quiet, at least by Fantastic Four standards. The moon sat high in the sky, its light filtering through the curtained windows within the common room.
Johnny lay sprawled out across one of the couches, phone held above his head.
He should have been going over reports from a recent mission. Or at least pretending to help Reed calibrate that weird dimensional probe thing he had been working on again. But instead, his thumb hovered over his camera roll, caught between guilt and a dopey, almost embarrassed smile.
He swiped.
Photo after photo from the gardens filled the screen. The one of her standing against the wall of blooms, sunlight threading through her hair like molten fire was his favorite by far. Not just because of how beautiful she looked, though gods, she was, it was the look on her face. Soft, open, happy.
Like Earth didn’t feel quite so alien anymore.
That one, naturally, had been promoted to lock screen status within the hour.
But there were others, too.
Ones she had not known were taken.
One where she knelt beside a row of unfamiliar plants, her thin red brow furrowed in thoughtful curiosity.
Another, slightly blurry, where she’d leaned into him, laughing at something he’d said. The photo was taken half-accidentally as his thumb fumbled over the capture button. Her wide smile forever captured from that moment.
And his favorite, aside from the first, was a shot from behind, quietly snapped when she hadn’t been looking. They were walking along one of the gravel paths, dappled light falling through the overhead trees. Her hand was in his, their fingers naturally, comfortably intertwined. The skirt of her dress floated just around her mid thighs. She was leading him forward, and somehow, it felt symbolic. Like he’d follow her anywhere.
He stared at that one for a while longer.
Feelings swirled in his mind and settled heavily in his chest. He knew what this was, deep inside he had always known. Yet unlike every other time he had felt something even remotely close to this he could not bring himself to tell her like any woman before. Because Vayra'nn was not just any other woman, she was her.
But God he wanted to... Just...couldn't.
In the two months since Vayra’nn had entered the Earth's atmosphere, Johnny, the Human Torch, the protector of its people, had found himself helplessly, and irrevocably infatuated with the tall orange woman who now lived within the Baxter buildings guest suite.
—---
The kitchen was quiet, bathed in the fading blue into the yellow light of dawn, the world outside was still waking up. But inside the kitchen, Ben Grimm was already at the blender, a massive rocky hand steadying the lid while the other tapped the power button. The whirring roar of pulverized protein powder and frozen bananas filled the space.
Until a loud ding from the counter cut through the noise.
Johnny, shirtless and yawning, wandered in mid-stretch, rubbing at his eyes with the back of one hand, the other reaching lazily for his phone.
Ben glanced down just as Johnny lifted the device. The screen was still lit, his lock screen proudly displaying a photo of Vayra’nn.
Ben’s unibrow lifted high. “Oh yeah,” he grunted, scooping whey powder into a second cup, “you two are definitely just friends.”
Johnny blinked, pulling the phone closer to his chest like a teenager caught watching inappropriate videos. “It’s a good picture,” he muttered defensively. “And we are friends.”
“Uh-huh,” Ben said, clearly not buying a word. “Friends who hold hands like it’s a lifeline. Friends who spend every spare second starin’ at each other like a pair’a lovesick puppies. Yeah, sure.”
Johnny turned away toward the fridge, grabbing oat milk and mumbling, “We’re… figuring it out.”
Ben leaned an elbow on the counter, watching him. “She know you’re this gone for her?”
Johnny paused at that, the carton in his hand. “I don’t know. I haven’t said anything.”
“Judgin’ by the way she looks at you?” Ben shook his head, a small smile tugging at the edge of his rocky mouth. “She’s gotta be in the same boat. I’ve seen that look before.”
Johnny did not bother to pour the milk into a glass, instead he took a swig straight from the carton. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ben's voice was final, certain.
Johnny laughed under his breath.
The older man simply shrugged before grabbing his shake and heading for the door. “Better figure it out before she gets snatched up by some other cosmic Casanova.”
Johnny glanced at his phone again, thumb brushing over the screen where her smile lit up the flowers behind her. “I’m working on it.”
Ben’s voice called from the hall, gravelly and fond, “Don’t take too long, Romeo.”
–
The sky above the Baxter Building had just begun to dim. Streaks of orange and rose painted the glass as evening settled in.
Vayra’nn laid on one of the rooftops numerous lounge chairs, Reed had them installed for ‘maximum solar absorption’ three weeks ago.
She had been out here for several hours, back to the main door leading inside, arms folded loosely over her chest.
Her gaze was distant, fixed somewhere beyond the skyline, the light breeze tugged at the fabric of her leisure wear a tank top and shorts, thoughts swimming within her mind like wildfire.
Behind her, the rooftop door slowly creaked open.
Johnny hesitated in its threshold, one hand on the frame, his own mind a mess of thoughts as well.
His gaze immediately locked onto her laying silhouetted form waning against the light.
He had been avoiding this.
Not her, not really, just… coming to terms with the reality of how he really felt and what he actually wanted.
The way his chest got tight when she laughed. The way her eyes lingered on him just a little too long. The way every word he wanted to say suddenly sounded stupid the second it reached his tongue.
Johnny Storm was a ladies man, he had held feelings for plenty of other girls before. He knew what this was, at least what it mostly was… He second guessed it purely because none of them had ever made him feel quite this strongly.
Circumventing her had been an accidental byproduct of it all.
Her head had turned to the side, catching him halfway through yet another cowardly retreat.
“Johnny,” Her voice was soft but certain.
He froze, one foot in the doorway the other outside. “Hey.”
She studied him for a moment, her emerald eyes unreadable, before standing up from her lounger. “Did I… do something to upset you?”
His brows lifted. “What? No, no, not at all.”
“Then why do you act as if you’re uncomfortable around me? You barely look me in the eye anymore. You leave the room quickly when I enter. You used to talk. Laugh. Now you… don’t.” Each statement was one step closer to him.
Johnny looked away, lips pressing into a thin line. He made his decision within that split second. With one foot in front of the other he stepped out onto the rooftop, closing the door behind him and the gap between them.
His voice was quieter when he finally spoke again now fully in front of her. “It’s not you. It’s me being an idiot.”
She tilted her head.
“Vy…I’ve talked to a lot of women in my life. Flirted with them, taken them out, made them feel like they were the center of the universe. It was easy.”
“And I’m not?” she asked, but not with judgment, with genuine curiosity.
He smiled, almost ruefully. “You’re too easy to talk to, Vy. You’re kind. Honest. Strong. You could fold me in half with one hand and still somehow make me feel safe.”
She blinked, lips parting faintly at that.
“I’m not avoiding you because I’m uncomfortable,” His voice was steadier now, though still held an uneasy edge. “I’m avoiding you because every time I’m near you, I forget how to act. I say the wrong thing, or worse… I say nothing. And that’s new for me. That’s scary.”
A pause.
Then, quietly, “You scare me, Vy.”
She flinched slightly at that statement, her own unease rising to the surface. “Because of how I look?”
“No,” he said immediately, stepping closer, their chests nearly touching. “Because of how I feel when I look at you.”
She stared at him, silent, confused yet desperate to understand.
“Do you remember when you first agreed to stay on Earth? When we flew back here?”
She nods, recalling the memory vividly.
“I meant what I said, I still feel that way. You're not like anyone I’ve ever met. And I think somewhere between the moment you kissed me to learn my language and the moment I caught myself watching you smile at a patch of sunflowers…I fell for you.”.
He exhaled, eyes locking onto hers before continuing. “Look, I’m sorry I’ve been distant. I just… didn’t know how to say all that.”
Vayra’nn was quiet for a long moment.
Then, she stepped forward, close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
“I thought our feelings for each other had already been expressed.”
“I-what?”
“My people do not hide our emotions, we freely express them.” She reaches down, both of her hands grasping onto his. He did not withdraw, instead he held on, as he did every time before. “Holding your hand, spending time with you, that has been my way of expressing how I feel about you Johnny. I am unfamiliar with human courting, my apologies if I improperly initiated it.”
His heart skipped a beat, his mind struggling to process everything she had just said. The one word he could think of was;
“Seriously?”
She nodded once.
He grinned, the weight falling off him all at once. “So, uh…this whole time you’ve been trying to ask me out?”
“If that is the proper term for trying to be your partner then yes.”
—-
The two stay out atop the Baxter building, retreating to the lounge chairs for the remainder of the late afternoon into the early evening.
With bare legs draped between his, one arm lazily slung across his torso, the other folded beneath her chin Vy and Johnny cuddled within the same chair. Her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. His warmth, though vastly different from the sun’s, comforted her just the same.
One of his arms cradled her close, while the other trailed over the soft curve of her tank top covered waist. Occasionally it would move up to twirl a piece of curly red hair within their digits.
“I could stay like this forever.”
“Yeah... I’d be okay with that.”
Neither of them spoke for a long while afterwards. There’s no need to. Simply enjoying the feeling of holding the other, contentment finally flowing through them.
So stay they did, until the sun dipped far below the horizon of the city's skyscrapers.
Shifting slightly beneath her Johnny drew in a deep breath. At his stirring Vayra’nn began to rise, propping herself halfway up on her elbows. Her long hair spilled over one shoulder catching fragments of moonlight between the strands as her face hovered just above his.
They were close, so close he could feel the warmth of her breath and see the faint outline of invisible green pupils within her emerald eyes reflecting back his own blue hues.
His hands instinctually lifted to cradle her face between his palms, thumbs brushing gently along her high cheekbones.
“Hey.”
Smiling softly, she did not answer with words, instead the two simply looked into each other's eyes in the stillness of the growing night wrapped in desire neither of them rushed to fulfill.
That was until he leaned up just slightly.
She met him the rest of the way.
Their lips meet slowly, hovering just over the other as if waiting for the one to retract.
When neither do, they both press firmer before Johnny takes the lead and moves his lips against hers. Not in a heated hunger nor rush, but a lingering craving they had both wanted for so long.
She adapts to his rhythm, mirroring every motion with her own.
One kiss turns into two, two to three, then before long they had both stopped counting, simply enjoying the moment. Linger in it, in the shared breath and quiet sighs pulled from the other.
When they at last part Johnny doesn’t move far, catching his breath as it mingled with hers. His hands still cup her cheeks, forehead nearly brushing against hers.
“…Do you want to stay with me tonight?” His words are barely above a whisper. They hold no pressure, no expectations, a simple question she could fully reject.
Vayra’nn blinks slowly, tilting her head just slightly into the comfort of his hands.
“Of course. I always want to be near you.”
She presses a small kiss to the corner of his mouth, and when she pulls back, her expression holds a rare kind of ease. She isn’t confused or overthinking it. She knows what she wants.
Johnny nods, his own heart beating fast but steady.
Threading his fingers between hers the two slowly stand and make their way back down into the building. Hand in hand as always.
—-
The walk down the stairs into the residential area of the Baxter building was not awkward, but tenderly quiet.
Vayra’nn’s hand remains in his the entire way, her thumb occasionally brushing softly over his knuckles.
When they finally step into the hallway of bedrooms, the world feels still. Empty. All that matters is the warmth between their palms and the hum in their hearts.
They reach Johnny’s door.
He opens it, but doesn’t walk in.
He turns to face her, letting his gaze linger on her form. Her hair falls like fire over her shoulders, wild from the wind. She’s beautiful. She’s always been beautiful, but right now? Right now, she’s his entire universe.
He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles.
“I’ve waited… a long time to feel like this.”
Vayra’nn tilts her head slightly, eyes searching his.
“For me, there was never a question. I knew. The moment I saw you… I knew.”
That breaks something open in him. Emotions swell,it’s too much to say, so instead he kisses her.
A firm press of his lips against hers.
Then again, longer.
They step back into his room together, still tangled in the kiss. Her hands lift to his cheeks, his to her waist as they move with a slow, aching urgency. Not even when the backs of her legs hit the edge of his bed do they break apart, following each other as they both collapse onto it.
Touches were whispered across fabric as it pulled off. Kisses fall from jawlines and temples down to every place that’s been missed until now.
Head between her bare breasts Johnny looks up to her as her fingers thread into his blonde locks.
“I’ve never felt like this before. Not with anyone.”
She smiles down to him.
“You are the first I’ve ever wanted to love.”
Johnny stills for a moment, stunned by the gravity of her words.
“Then love me and let me love you.”
She does.
They move slowly, carefully, falling together into the quiet dark.
Not rushing.
There was no need to.
One hand guided a breast into his mouth while the other trailed digits up the length of her bare spine, causing her own to dig into his hair the sounds of both of their pleasures echoing within his room.
Hips ground into each other before at last, the space between them became nonexistent as bodies connected.
The night was theirs laden with their desires, their pleasure, and their growing love.
—--
Steam still clings to the bathroom mirror, softening their reflections in the glass.
Vayra’nn stands in front of the sink, drying off the damp ends of her hair, her body wrapped in one of Johnny’s soft towels while he finishes brushing his teeth beside her.
Shifting the towel higher on her chest, that's when she notices them in the mirror. Several deep red markings decorated her body. A few were stamped onto her neck while more appeared further down towards her breasts.
Tilting her head, she examined them with quiet curiosity.
Johnny caught her gaze and nearly chokes on his minty toothpaste.
“Ah, crap- I didn’t think I left that many. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to do that. I just uh…”
He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck with a boyish grin and flushed cheeks, toothpaste still dribbling onto his chin.
Vayra’nn turns to him, towel still tucked securely around her body, and steps closer. Her expression was amused despite Johnnys tenseness.
“There is no need to apologize.”
Lightly brushing her fingertips across the most visible mark near the junction of her neck and collarbone, a had already spread wide across her face.
“My people do not feel shame for signs of mating. They are a celebration. A sign one is deeply desired. Loved.”
Johnny could not help but laugh in both equal parts amusement and giddiness at her words.
“Mating huh?”
“Intercourse.” She corrects herself, though it only makes him laugh harder, the sound bouncing around the bathrooms sleek tile walls.
With a final chuckle and a shake of his head Johnny turns towards the door and disappears into the bedroom for a second before returning, a black t-shirt and sweatpants in hand. The shirt was one of his favorites. It's soft, worn-in, with a tiny little 4 logo on the chest.
“Here.”
Vayra’nn accepts them with a nod, uncaring to his gaze as she unabashedly drops the towel to tug the clothing over her frame.
The shirt is a near perfect fit; however, the sweatpants are a bit short in the length of the legs, ending high above her ankles, even so, she did not seem to mind.
Adjusting her hair into place, still semi wet, the marks were mostly hidden. Though if someone were to look closely enough, they could still make out a few of them.
“Have I ever told you I have a thing for women in my clothes?”
“Perhaps we could explore this fantasy sometime.”
That earns her a gentle slap on the ass as a shared laugh echoes between them.
Once finished they head out together, messy-haired, marked up, and wrapped in something warmer than just cotton and cloth.
—-----
The sound of two pairs of feet descending the stairs into the common area alerted the three that their missing fourth and guest had at last woken up.
Seated at the main table, eyes flickering between half a dozen digital charts floating in the air, Reed was unbothered by the new commotion.
However, Sue, who was curled up in the corner of the love seat, a tablet balanced atop her thighs with Franklin playing on the floor beside her with HERBIE, was immediately aware. As well as Ben who had been propped up in a recliner, a mug in one hand and the mornings newspaper in the other.
The two looked to the stairwell as Varya’nn and Johnny at last reached the bottom.
Ben raises one side of his brow ridge in suspicion but does not say a word, however the look on his face is unmistakable.
Johnny smirks faintly, running a hand through his messy hair though avoids their gazes.
“Morning.” Was all he had to offer the group before entering the kitchen.
“Morning, huh?” Ben's tone was inquisitive yet all knowing.
“Relax, we just overslept.” This caused a grin to crack across the things rocky face.
“Sure ya did.”
At last Reed looked up from his diagrams, just for a moment.
“I hope you remembered to hydrate. Tamaraneans require more electrolytes post-physical exertion due to their unique cellular-”
“Reed.” Sue’s voice cut him off before another word could escape.
Vy just blinks, head slightly tilted, confused by their abrupt silencing.
“He is right,” taking the glass Johnny handed her she took a sip before continuing. “There was significant exertion last night, therefore I do require hydration. Thank you for the consideration."
Johnny chokes on his mouthful of cereal.
Ben just about drops his coffee.
While Sue closes her eyes and exhales hard through her nose.
“Oh my God, someone put on a pot of coffee and please do not elaborate.”
Johnny mutters a quick “I’ll get it”, his ears burning with a raging blush.
Ben watched the two walk around the kitchen, grinning like a man who knows exactly what happened.
Leaning over to Sue, his tone low he muttered a quick and quiet, “I called it.”
Warnings: smutty smut smutttttt at the end, oral (m + f receiving), use of pet names like princess and babygirl (no daddy kink involved), cursing, johnny is a needy lil lover boy
Summary: Now that you've found your soulmate, it's time to meet the family. I'm shit at summaries
A/N: I rly just sat here for 5 hours straight writing this bro lmao jesus anyways it's been years since I wrote smut so pls excuse any rustiness, hope it's good sexy timeessssss. feedback gives me life!
x
The Etta James record had ended a while ago, but neither you nor Johnny had paid it any mind. You certainly couldn’t focus on anything else, not while Johnny’s lips were currently attached to your neck.
“God, I could kiss you for forever,” he mumbled against your skin.
The two of you had been making out for god knows how long, and your head and heart were spinning. All you could focus on was how good his lips felt against your skin, the way your body seemed to innately know that this man was made for you, the only thought rattling around in your brain was “he’s mine, he’s mine, he’s mine.”
His lips finally started trailing lower at the same time your hands did, and that’s when a knock sounded at his door, startling you both out of your stupor.
“Johnny?”
The two of you barely had any time to react before Sue Storm was opening the door, a surprised expression on her face when she walked into the room. Your hands were on Johnny’s chest, his on your waist, and Sue gave Johnny a knowing look.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Johnny had a guest,” she remarked, a small smirk on her face.
Johnny placed his hands on your shoulders, an excited look on his face. “Why, dear sister of mine, this is not just any guest. This…is my soulmate.”
Sue blinked in shock, her eyes suddenly taking you in fully, before she laughed in delight. “Oh—oh my god! I don’t know what to say, I mean…wow, it is so great to finally meet you!” She immediately rushed over to give you a crushing hug, granting a quick kiss to your cheek. “I’m Sue Storm,” she said, grinning.
“I’m Y/N,” you said, breathless and blushing. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
Sue gave you one last look and smile, squeezing your arm affectionately before turning to her brother. “Well I really hate to interrupt this, but the gala’s about to end and the firm wants us to say our goodbyes to the guests.”
Johnny nodded, and Sue began to head out of the room before turning around briefly. “It’s truly so wonderful to meet you, Y/N.”
You smiled. “You too.”
Sue left the door open a crack after she left, and Johnny turned to you then, holding your hands in his. “Would it be okay if you hung back in the crowd? I honestly don’t think I want to share you with the world just yet.” He smiled nervously, thumb brushing the back of your hand.
Reality truly set in at his admittance. The world. The whole world would soon find out who you are, what your life is like, who you are to Johnny. Your life may never be truly private again…and the fact that Johnny had even considered that was something you genuinely appreciated. You weren’t quite ready to be shared with the world either.
“That’s completely fine. I don’t think I want you to share me quite yet either.”
Johnny smiled. “I’ll find you after?” You nodded, and he placed a quick kiss to your hand before jogging after Sue.
Whew. You couldn’t stop smiling, your mind still reeling from your brand new reality. Never in your wildest dreams was your soulmate ever actually Johnny Storm. You briefly considered pinching yourself, but not even your dreams could feel as real as Johnny’s lips against yours.
You took a deep breath, steeling yourself, before walking out of Johnny’s room and back to the gala. You realized, walking towards the middle of the crowd, that you felt completely at ease now. Because now, it felt like you belonged here.
“Attention,” Reed Richards appeared from above on the balcony overlooking the crowd as he tapped the glass he was holding, and Ben, Sue and Johnny appeared beside him. You could see Johnny scanning the crowd, and once he found you, he gave you a grin and a wink, making your heart skip a beat. The crowd went quiet for the first time this evening at Reed’s words. “Thank you all so, so much for being here with us tonight. I truly feel like we’re going to change lives with the amount of money we have raised. I want to give a special thank you to our incredible PR firm for putting this all together for us. You all are amazing, and we truly appreciate every one of you. Unfortunately for Sue and I, baby duty awaits, so we’ll have to call it a night.” A chuckle rang through the crowd. “Goodnight everyone, get home safe!”
The crowd finally began to disperse, and you walked over to lean against the wall as you waited for Johnny.
“Y/N?”
You looked up, and finally someone from your PR firm had found you. Your boss.
“Hey, how was your evening?” You asked.
“It was lovely. How was yours? Everything you ever dreamed of?” She smirked. She was the person you begged for a ticket, so you were certain she figured you were a superhero fangirl.
“Uh,” you began, when you spotted Johnny jogging down the steps, making a beeline for you. You tried to hide your smile. “Yep, totally,” you said, trying to sound sarcastic. “I really do appreciate you getting me this ticket. You have no idea what it means for me.”
“No problem. Just remember it comes out of your paycheck for the next 6 months!” She said as she walked away.
Johnny finally made his way to you as the last of the crowd finally made their way out of the building.
“Hi,” he said, beaming at you.
Your grin could probably split your face in two. “Hi.”
Johnny opened his mouth to speak, when another voice rang out.
“Who’s this?”
Reed Richards made his way down the stairs with an intrigued look on his face, Ben and Sue following close behind with knowing smiles.
“That’s Johnny’s soulmate,” Ben and Sue said simultaneously. They both turned to each other in confusion.
“How’d you know that?” All three of them asked each other at the same time.
You giggled. “Does that happen a lot?” You leaned in to ask Johnny quietly.
“More than you would expect,” he murmured.
Reed finally approached you, holding his hand out for you to shake. “Reed Richards. It’s…a pleasure to meet you.” He looked between you and Johnny, the gears turning in his head as if he was trying to figure you and your dynamic out.
You shook his hand, nervous butterflies twirling in your stomach at being in a room alone with the most famous superheroes on the planet. “The pleasure is all mine, truly.”
“So, when did you two meet?” He asked.
“Tonight,” Johnny replied. “I spotted her wearing my ring.”
“And he had on the bracelet I made him this year,” you added.
Reed gave you a small smile. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations to you both!”
“Alright, it’s my turn,” Ben suddenly interjected, walking over towards you before giving you a sweet, crushing hug and lifting you in the air, a surprised laugh escaping you. “It’s so great to meet you, Y/N.”
“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Johnny asked, staring at you with pride. “I can’t stop staring at her.”
Ben, Sue and Reed all exchanged surprised but happy looks. Johnny had always been forward with women in the past, but never so much so in front of his family. “That she is, Johnny,” Ben agreed. “That she is.”
Sue walked over to you and placed a hand on your back, ushering you towards the kitchen. “I know it’s late, but could I make you something to drink?”
“I would love that.”
You and Sue made your way over to the kitchen while the guys hung back, watching the two of you talk.
“So, how do you feel, Johnny?” Ben asked.
Johnny was still staring at you in wonder. “I’m in love,” he sighed.
Ben chuckled, and Reed raised his eyebrows in surprise. Johnny narrowed his eyes. “I know, I know. I only met her a few hours ago. But—“
“It’s okay,” Reed interjected. “That’s how it’s supposed to feel with your soulmate. It’s just..strange to hear you talk like that is all.”
“I know,” he agreed. “But man, it’s…wow.”
“You certainly have a way with words, Johnny,” Ben teased, earning him a glare.
“Boys?” Sue called out from the kitchen table next to you, earning the men’s attention. “You three gonna stand there and stare or would you like to join us?”
All of you sat around their kitchen table, and you were surprised to realize that this all felt…normal. Comfortable, even. Like this is the way it was always supposed to be, despite the fact that you were sitting with people who saved the world on a daily basis while you had sat back and watched on your television screen.
Reed was the first to speak, his eyes on the shining ring sitting perfectly on your left hand. “So you two are already…engaged?”
You and Johnny looked at each other and smiled bashfully. “We are,” he answered, his hand finding yours under the table.
Reed was quiet, clearly having a million thoughts running through his head by the second.
“What are you thinking?” Sue asked, her eyes narrowed at her husband. “I know that look.”
“Nothing!” Reed exclaimed, holding his hands up in the air innocently. “It’s just…a bit quick is all.”
Johnny’s hand tightened around yours, almost protectively.
“Reed, I don’t remember us even really talking much right after we first met. We were too busy…” Sue trailed off, giving him a look.
Johnny grimaced. “Okay, did not need to know that.”
Sue laughed, shrugging.
“Look at em’, Reed,” Ben said, gesturing to the two of you. “They look like they’ve been in love for years. Johnny’s practically got hearts comin’ out of his eyes.”
Johnny wiggled his eyebrows at you, making you laugh. “It’s true. I already feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
“And I, personally, have never heard Johnny talk like this with anyone else,” Sue pointed out with a smile.
Reed looked at the two of you again before finally giving a small nod and a smile. “I do have to agree on that.”
Johnny raised your interlocked hands to kiss your knuckles.
“So Y/N, tell us about yourself?” Sue asked.
An hour later, the five of you were laughing hysterically, sharing life stories and memories, mostly embarrassing ones of Johnny, to your amusement. It was the most at ease around a group of virtual strangers you’d ever felt. But they weren’t strangers, not really. This…this was now your family.
“His fly was down the whole time,” Ben managed through laughter. “Didn’t tell him until after the camera’s stopped rolling.”
Johnny was smiling despite his blush. “Yeah, thank you again for that, by the way.”
All of you were still laughing when a knock sounded at the front door. “Ah, that’d be the babysitter,” Sue said as she got up to answer the door.
Johnny leaned towards you then, muttering to you, “How are you? You okay?” You were suddenly very aware of the warm hand now on your upper thigh.
You nodded, giving him a smile. “I’m perfect.”
“That you are.”
Sue wandered back into the kitchen, her babbling 8 month old son on her hip. “Babysitter said he just woke up from a nap, so he’ll be up for a while. He’s basically nocturnal at this point.”
Reed, Johnny and Ben stood up to greet their little guy, and you tentatively followed.
“How’s my favorite little magic baby, huh?” Johnny exclaimed, grabbing Franklin’s foot and tickling it, making him giggle.
Sue turned towards you. “Franklin, this is Y/N,” she started, trying to get Franklin to look at you. “She’s gonna be your auntie someday.”
You slowly approached him, giving him a warm smile and a wave. “Hey, little guy. You are so adorable.”
Franklin babbled happily and held his arms out towards you, surprising you.
“I think he wants you,” Sue grinned. “Do you want to hold him? Are you comfortable?”
“Yeah, I’d love that.”
You took little Franklin in your arms, laughing as he placed his little hands on your cheeks and giggled. You bounced him on your hip, talking nonsense to him as you slowly began walking around the room with him.
“Johnny,” Sue said quietly as she stood next to Johnny. “She’s perfect. Seriously.”
Johnny swallowed, still watching you play with his nephew in your arms. “I know. It’s a little scary, honestly. But I’m…I’m really excited. I wanna do this.”
Sue smiled. “I felt the same with Reed. Once you meet your person, everything starts happening all at once. But just…enjoy it. Take in every moment for what it is, and let yourself feel the way you feel. You’re supposed to feel totally in love and terrified at the same time.”
Johnny looked down at his sister, giving her a small smile that she returned. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Promise.” She squeezed her brother’s shoulder before making her way over to you, gently taking Franklin from your arms. “You two have had a very big night, and it’s getting pretty late, so we’ll leave you two alone.”
“It was so amazing to meet you all,” you said. “Thank you all so much for being so welcoming.”
“Don’t mention it,” Ben said. “You’re part of the family now.”
Sue came over and gave you one last hug, Reed giving you a nod and a smile, and the four of them all went to their respective quarters.
“So…” you began, biting your lip as you looked up at Johnny.
He placed his hands on your hips, squeezing them gently. “So…”
Tension suddenly grew in the air, butterflies swarming your stomach as your mind wandered back to the way he’d been kissing you a few hours prior. “Um, I know it’s late, so I can head out…”
Johnny shook his head. “Stay. Please? I mean you could stay forever, if you wanted, but at least the night—”
You laughed, wrapping your arms around his neck. “I’ll stay.”
“YES.” He dramatically pumped his fist in the air before sweeping you off your feet and into his arms, bridal style, and walked you to his bedroom.
“Oh shit, wait,” you exclaimed as he put you down. “I gotta call Violet so she doesn’t think I’m dead.”
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead.” Johnny went over and closed his bedroom door, and you didn’t miss the fact that he actually locked it this time. He plopped down onto his bed and laid on his side, watching you as you placed your phone to your ear.
“Violet? Hey, yeah I’m fine,” you began, mindlessly wandering around his room.
Johnny flopped backwards, his head hitting his pillow as he stared up on his ceiling while you spoke with your friend. This was, hands down, the best night of his life. You, the person he prayed to the universe for, dreamed about his whole life, were finally here. You were beautiful, and not just that, but you fit in with his family perfectly. It was abundantly clear that you were made for him, and Johnny had never been happier. Not even being in space could compare to the joy he was feeling now.
“Ow,” you exclaimed, capturing his attention. He sat up and saw you holding your phone away from your ear, the sound of high-pitched screaming coming through the phone making you laugh and shake your head. “Vi. Violet. Yes, I know you told me so….put you on speaker? Fine, hold on.” You pulled the phone away from your ear again and pressed the speaker button. “Alright, you’re on speaker.”
“Johnny Storm?”
Johnny looked at you, quirking a brow as he spoke. “This is the one.”
“Holy shit!” Your friend exclaimed from the other line. “Listen, I just wanted you to know that I totally knew it was you the whole time! I tried to tell her but she refused to listen to me!”
Johnny laughed as you ran a hand down your face in exasperation. “I appreciate that, Violet. I only wish you could’ve brought her to me sooner.”
Violet squealed, and you bit your lip at the hungry stare he was suddenly giving you.
“Um, Violet, listen, I gotta go now,” you said, your voice a little higher pitched than normal, your eyes still trained on your soulmate’s.
“Ohhh I get it, you two are gonna bone now,” Violet laughed through the speaker.
“Violet!” You smacked your forehead, white hot embarrassment creeping up your neck while Johnny laughed out loud. “I’m hanging up now.”
“BYE, HAVE FUN BANGING A SUPERHE—“ You immediately hit the “End Call” button.
“I’m, uh. Sorry about her.”
Johnny chuckled, moving to sit on the edge of his bed. “Don’t be.” The silence that followed was charged with something else now, his eyes wandering freely over your form. “We could, y’know. If…you wanted.”
“Could what?”
Johnny looked around the room as if it were obvious. “Bone.”
You busted out laughing as you walked over and stood between his legs. Your hands found either side of his face, your thumbs affectionately brushing his cheeks. “How romantic.”
“Sorry,” Johnny muttered sheepishly, his hands coming up to rest on your waist. “New to the whole ‘soulmate’ thing.”
You smiled. “I am too. But we can go at our own pace. However slow or fast we want.”
Johnny swallowed thickly, his hands squeezing your waist. “And…how slow or fast would you like to go?”
Your heart was pounding in anticipation, desire beginning to swirl in your lower belly. You couldn’t deny that all of this felt right, and timing be damned, you wanted him. So you said nothing, instead choosing to answer by leaning down and capturing his lips in a deep kiss.
Johnny immediately let out a groan against your lips that sent heat directly to your core. He pulled you towards him by your hips until you were straddling him, your dress now hiked up against your waist and his hard length hitting your core perfectly. Your fingers carded through his hair as he kissed you harder, his tongue sliding against yours as he bucked his hips up into you.
“Johnny,” you groaned, grinding down against him.
“God, yeah, say my name like that again,” he panted, his hands roaming over every inch of your skin that they could reach.
You bit your lip, forehead resting against his as you continued to grind against him. His cock was rubbing against your clit with exact precision, growing desire building hotter. “Johnny,” you panted into his mouth, your hands gripping his shoulders tighter.
“Please let me see you,” he breathed out, staring up at you with wide, needy eyes.
You got off his lap and stood up, removing the straps from your dress and letting it fall down to your ankles with a quiet thud, leaving you in a strapless bra and lace panties as you kicked off your heels.
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. He got down onto his knees on the floor then, his hands slowly moving up your thighs as he stared up at you reverently. “Most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
You swore your heart fluttered inside your chest. There was Johnny Storm, on his knees for you, staring up at you like you were the answer to every prayer he’s ever had. And truly, you were. You were about to respond when he suddenly began pressing sweet, sloppy kisses to your inner thighs, and your brain immediately went fuzzy. His fingers went to the edge of your panties, yanking them down to your ankles before you stepped out of them.
Your lower half now bare before him, your instinct was to hide yourself, but Johnny was having none of that, gently swatting your hands away. “No no no, please don’t hide from me, princess,” he muttered, eyes locked onto your core. His thumb pressed against your clit, the flash of sensitivity jolting you forward, your hands on his shoulders steadying you. “So fucking pretty, every part of you. Can’t believe this pussy is mine.”
Swoon.
Johnny then replaced his thumb with his lips, his mouth wrapping around your sensitive bud and sucking hard. Your knees damn near buckled from the sensation, his wet, hot mouth wasting no time in tasting you completely. He licked a broad stripe through your soaked folds, a guttural groan escaping him at your taste. Your fingers tightened in his hair, instinctively pulling him closer to you, and his hands went around to squeeze your ass.
“Fuck,” he panted, pulling away just slightly. “You wanna ride my face, princess?
Jesus H. Christ. You nodded vigorously, and Johnny lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. He stood up, practically ripping his shirt and pants off and kicking his shoes off before laying back down on the bed, staring up at you expectantly.
You bit your lip, grinning as you made your way over and climbed on top of him. His hot breath against your core alone was enough to have you shutting your eyes, the desire coursing through your veins making your heart race in anticipation.
Johnny placed his hands against your ass and practically shoved you against his mouth, wasting no time in eating you like a man starved. At any other time, the sounds escaping your lips would’ve made you embarrassed. But you couldn’t care less, not when they seemed to spur Johnny on even more. Every whine, every moan that you let out had him bucking his hips up in the air, desperate for some kind of friction. You leaned backwards instinctively, hand reaching out and gripping his hard cock through his boxer briefs.
“Fucking shit,” Johnny grunted against you, bucking up into your hand. His lips were relentless against your clit now, the wet sounds of his tongue against your soaking wet core so loud. It was unbearably hot.
“‘M close,” you whimpered, your hips grinding into his mouth. The coil low inside your belly was winding tighter and tighter, you just needed…
Johnny hummed against you, and the vibrations from his mouth were exactly what you needed to fall over the edge. Stars exploded behind your eyes as the pleasure coursed through you, his tongue working you through it with one hand still on your ass and the other grabbing at your breast.
Both of you panted as you came down, tired yet energized smiles on your faces. You climbed off of him and moved lower on the bed to straddle his legs, your face now inches from the tent in his underwear. You smirked at him.
“Jesus, sweetheart,” he muttered, his head falling back onto the pillow. “You—you don’t have to…”
“I know,” you interrupted. Your hands gripped the bottom of his boxer briefs, pulling them down until his cock sprang free. You swallowed, staring greedily at him. He was perfection, and you wanted to taste him so bad.
Johnny felt like he had just died and went to heaven. You were staring so prettily up at him, almost innocent-looking, like you weren’t about to suck him off. He was certain he looked stupid, his mouth hanging open in anticipation for what you were about to do, but he didn’t care. He was too focused on your pretty little mouth and the dirty things you were about to do with it.
You leaned down and licked the entire length of his cock, one hand gently cradling his balls, the other gripping his thigh. The desperate, choked groan that came out of him had your pussy clenching, the sound spurring you on. You opened your mouth wide and took him all the way, hollowing out your cheeks and sucking. Johnny gasped, his hands finding their way to your hair as his hips bucked forward of their own accord. He was desperately moving the hair out of your face so he could see you, watch you move perfectly over his cock. You set up an easy rhythm, relaxing your throat as much as you could as tears hit the corners of your eyes. He was trying so hard not to lose control, his hips bucking up as you took him all the way, your hand still playing with his balls.
“Wait wait wait,” he panted out suddenly, trying to gently pull you off of him. “I’m not gonna last if you keep doing that. “’s too good.”
You swallowed and nodded, wiping your mouth with a smile that made his cock twitch.
“C’mere,” he muttered, holding his arms out for you. You climbed over his body and into his arms, kissing him once more.
“Johnny,” you whispered against his lips. “Want you so bad.”
He nodded, biting his lip. “I got you, baby girl.”
He rolled over so you were underneath him now, his fingers interlocking with yours as he kissed you. You spread your legs wider for him, your free hand roaming the expanse of his back. He pulled away then, stopping just to look at you. You could feel his heart pounding, his breathing heavier.
“I’ve thought about this for so long,” he admitted, his eyes roaming across your face. “Imagined what it would be like. What you would be like.”
You reached up and placed your hand on his cheek, your heart warming at the way he nuzzled into it, his eyes briefly fluttering shut. “Me too. But it’s so much better than I could’ve thought.”
He smiled, his eyes twinkling as he looked at you. “Yeah, you are.” He kissed you again then, his hand gliding down to hike your thigh over his hip. “Are you okay?”
You nodded, unable to wait anymore, your hips bucking up desperately against him. “Please.”
The tip of his cock nudged against your entrance, the breath you were holding escaping you while you relaxed into it. He leaned down to rest his forehead against yours as he pushed deeper, your walls stretching deliciously to accommodate him.
“God, you feel fucking incredible,” he grunted, eyes shut tight as he worked himself in.
You cried out in relief as he bottomed out, the pleasure unbelievably intense, more than you’d ever experienced. This is what it’s always supposed to be like, you briefly thought. He set up an easy pace, pumping into you leisurely to allow you to adjust to him. His hands and mouth were everywhere, unable to get enough of you. All of your senses were on fire, and you needed more.
“Faster,” you pleaded, lifting your hips upward to drive him deeper.
He lifted his head to look up at you, a flash of a grin on his face. “Yeah? You want it harder, princess?”
You nodded, and he wasted no time in giving you exactly what you asked for. He was fucking into you now at a punishing pace, so deep, so hard, that his headboard began slamming into the wall with his every thrust.
The sounds in his bedroom alone were almost enough to make you come. The headboard hitting the wall, Johnny’s desperate panting and needy groans, the wet sound of skin slapping against skin. The pressure inside your lower belly began to build once more, your hips meeting his with every thrust.
“I’m close,” you whimpered, desperately clawing at his back.
He nodded against your forehead. “Yeah, yeah—fuck—me too.” He reached down to rub your clit, and that was all you needed for the dam inside you to break. The pressure built and built until it exploded, your hands gripping him tight as you shouted his name. He followed you over the edge moments later with a cry of your name, spilling into you until there was nothing left.
The two of you caught your breath for several minutes, your head resting on his chest as his breathing evened out. He brought your hand up to his face, kissing your knuckles.
“I know this is crazy,” he said quietly. “But I think I love you.”
You beamed. If it were any other person but your soulmate, it would be crazy. But it wasn’t. It was the only thing in the world that actually made sense.
You looked up at him, saw the vulnerability and nervousness in his eyes. Your thumb brushed his cheek, your heart squeezing with affection as he leaned into it. “I think I love you too.”
Johnny’s smile threatened to split his face in two before pressing a sweet kiss to your lips.
Your eyelids were starting to feel heavy, the weight of the day finally getting to you. “‘M sleepy.”
Johnny nuzzled into your hair. “Me too. It’s okay. Sweet dreams, princess.”
The next morning, Johnny woke up before you did. Your back was to his chest, his arms wrapped around your middle, your hands tangled with his. His heart fluttered. It wasn’t a dream, he thought, smiling.
Carefully and slowly, he untangled himself from you and left the bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind him. He tiptoed to the kitchen, where Ben was having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. “Morning,” Johnny greeted cheerfully, opening all of the cabinets and drawers.
Ben furrowed his brow, turning around to look at Johnny. “Uh, morning, what are you doing?”
Johnny didn’t even turn to look at his friend as he searched for all the ingredients he needed. “Gonna make breakfast in bed for Y/N.”
“You’ve never cooked a day in your life.”
Johnny finally looked at him, a sly grin on his face. “I know. That’s why you’re gonna help me.”
Ben sighed, shaking his head but standing up anyway. “Alright, fine. But only on one condition.”
“What?”
Ben looked at Johnny with a knowing, unamused expression. “You let Reed install the 100% soundproof walls in your room that he’s currently in his lab working on.”
Johnny furrowed his brow. “What? Soundproof walls, why?”
Ben stared blankly.
Oh.
Johnny grinned sheepishly, the tips of his ears turning red.
Warnings: cursing, kissing. no fantastic four spoilers, don't worry!
Summary: On Earth-828, once you turn 16, soulmates are allowed to send each other a single gift every year on New Years Day. You're in your late 20s now and still have yet to find your match, and there's no way it's Johnny Storm.
A/N: hello yes hi it is me, coming back after a dry spell of 3 years lmao. pls be kind I am rusty!!!! feedback gives me life :)
“For the millionth time, Johnny Storm is not my soulmate.”
You rolled your eyes, tossing another handful of popcorn into your mouth as you watched the Fantastic Four member himself on your television screen. Tonight was New Years Eve, and the superhero group was invited to help host the annual New York City Ball Drop. There were 6 minutes left until midnight, and you were getting antsy.
Because New Years Eve didn’t just mean a brand new year. It meant another gift. From your soulmate.
Every year since you turned 16 years old, you received a gift handpicked from your soulmate at midnight on New Years Day, like everyone else. Unfortunately, no gift was allowed to include something helpful like your name or address (you’d tried multiple times, but the gifts always ended up vanishing into thin air as soon as you attempted to drop it off at the post office), so gifts were supposed to be strategically picked. Something to give insight into who you are, and how you valued your future relationship.
When the two of you were still teenagers, the gifts lacked…sentimentality. You simply weren’t sure what to send a stranger that you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with. They’d consisted of vacation souvenirs, a photograph of your pet, random knick-knacks. And you had received similar items.
But as you both got older, the gifts became a bit more special. Two years ago he sent you a vinyl of Frank Sinatra’s “The Best Is Yet To Come,” and you played it on repeat for months. The following year, you sent him a vinyl of Etta James’ “At Last,” a thank-you for the vinyl he’d sent you. It was the song you always imagined would be playing the day of your wedding day. This year, you sent him a leather bracelet you made yourself, and you couldn’t wait to see what he got you this year.
Because last year’s gift from your soulmate was a bit…odd.
It was a collectible action figure of Johnny Storm.
And your best friend Violet had not shut up about it for the entirety of the last year.
“Totally, Y/N, that’s why your soulmate gave you a collectibles version of his action figure,” she retorted.
You sighed. How many times have you had this conversation? “Maybe he just works for the Fantastic Four. Or he’s a fan.”
“Whatever you say,” she singsonged. “It really wouldn’t be that weird, Y/N. Your firm works closely with them anyways.”
She had a point, but it was still outlandish. You were a communications assistant at a PR firm that worked directly with the superhero group, but you were pretty low on the food chain, and you’d never had any direct contact with any of them.
“Yes, I work at a PR firm with hundreds of employees, most of which would be chosen over me to speak with the world’s most famous superheroes.”
“You never know, all employees could show up sick one day and you’ll be the only one left. Then you’ll have to talk with them!”
You shook your head in annoyance. She was being ridiculous. “It’s easy for you to joke about because you don’t have to deal with any of this. You already have your person.”
Violet was one of the lucky ones who found her soulmate when she was really young. 18 to be exact. Once she met him, she got to exchange her gifts in person. Given that you were halfway through your 20s and not any closer to finding yours, you were just a tad jealous. You couldn’t be too upset, though, because her soulmate Mike always let her spend New Years Eve with you. It had become your yearly tradition, and he never came between that.
Violet gave you a sympathetic look. “I’m just trying to be optimistic!”
“By trying to convince me that my soulmate is an unattainable, insanely attractive superhero that dates a different girl every week?”
Violet opened her mouth to respond, but the newscaster’s voice on the television interrupted your conversation.
“So, Johnny, any hopes for the new year? Maybe to finally find that special soulmate?”
Your heart raced as you watched him on the television screen. He and his superhuman team were all bundled up in snowy downtown New York City, the big Apple that was set to drop in 3 minutes gleaming high above them in the background.
Johnny gave the man an easy grin. “That would certainly be nice, Chris. I’ve been dreaming of her since I was a teenager!”
Violet nudged your shoulder with a knowing grin, which you returned with another eye roll.
“But, then again, you’d have thousands of hearts to break!” The news camera panned over to the crowd of screaming women, several of whom were holding up “I <3 Johnny” posters.
You shook your head. There’s no way he could be yours. As if you could compete with that.
The camera cut back to Johnny, who gave the girls a wink and chuckled as they went wild. “Well, Chris, that’s just the way it’ll have to be. Once I meet my soulmate, she’ll be it for me.”
“And she will certainly have her hands full,” Sue cut in, leaning towards the microphone. Johnny playfully shoved her away, a smirk still on his face as Reed watched and shook his head. You smiled watching the interaction; they seemed like such a fun group.
“Do you have any hints as to who this lucky lady might be?” The newscaster began. “Tell us what you got her for her gift this year.”
Johnny looked surprisingly unsure at the question, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck. “Ah, I’d rather keep the gifts between her and me. Y’know, privacy and all that. Plus, I think that might be considered cheating at finding my soulmate, right?”
Before Chris could say anything, Ben interrupted. “Well look at that, Johnny following the rules for once!”
Bickering broke out between the Fantastic Four, and the newscaster went back to the camera. “Well, there you have it, folks! Johnny Storm is a softy for his sweetheart, whoever she may be. Let’s hope the new year brings them both together. And now, it is time for the one minute countdown! Let’s bring on the new year!”
Your heart started pounding the way it always did at the one-minute mark. Violet grabbed your hand as you both watched the Apple slowly make its way down.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…
“Happy new year!”
You and Violet exchanged a hug before tossing popcorn in the air, laughter bubbling in your gut as she danced wildly around your living room.
“Now go look! I can’t stand the suspense any longer!”
You grinned, suddenly ignoring the superheroes celebrating on your television screen, and ran to your front door.
And there it was, sitting perfectly on your doorstep.
A perfectly wrapped, light blue box with a white bow on it.
You wasted no time in swiping it up and running back inside to your living room, haphazardly slamming the door behind you.
“What is it what is it what is it,” Violet chanted, her eyes glued on the gift.
You quickly untied the bow and opened up the box, an audible gasp leaving your lips at what was inside.
A little black box.
“Oh my god, is it a ring?”
You swallowed, your heart pounding. “Don’t be silly, how would he even know my ring size?”
She shrugged. “I dunno, he probably guessed. You can always get it resized once you meet if it doesn’t fit. Now open it before I do!”
You opened the box and immediately let out the breath you were holding.
It was a small, silver band with the most stunning stone you’d ever seen. In fact, you’d never seen anything like it.
Sitting in the middle of the shiny silver band was a round, black, shining stone with flecks of red inside it that seemed to glow when you held it up in the light. It almost looked a little like tiny specks of lava.
“Holy crap,” you muttered, unable to keep your eyes off of it.
“Holy crap is right,” Violet agreed. “That thing is gorgeous. What kind of stone even is that?”
“I have no idea.” You wasted no time in trying it on, and positively beamed when you found it fit on both ring fingers before you settled on putting it on your right ring finger. You weren’t sure if it was supposed to be an engagement ring or more of a promise ring, and it felt odd to act as if you were engaged to someone you didn’t actually know, even if it’s your soulmate. One day I’ll be able to put it on my left hand, you thought.
Violet gathered up her things, preparing to head out for the night. “It’s beautiful, Y/N,” she remarked, smiling at you. “And it’ll be even more beautiful when Johnny Storm puts it on your left hand.”
You threw a pillow at her as she headed out the door.
“Yeah, yeah. Happy New Year!”
***4 months later***
“I look ridiculous. Do I look ridiculous?” You paced around your living room, wringing your hands nervously.
Tonight, you were going to a gala. But not just any gala. A gala at the Baxter Building.
The Fantastic Four was hosting a massive charity event/gala, and invited everyone who worked closely with them or for them. Which included your PR firm.
Technically, not everyone in your firm was allowed to go, as your company had too many employees. But you practically begged your boss to go, and she finally relented and bought you a ticket (only because it was coming out of your paycheck).
You knew it was stupid. Outlandish. Laughable. Impossible. But you had to admit that the possibility of your soulmate being involved with the Fantastic Four was something you hadn’t stopped thinking about since New Years Eve. You knew there was no way it could be Johnny Storm, but it wouldn’t be too insane of an idea to think your soulmate could work closely with the group in some other way. And you didn’t want to waste this opportunity.
“You look incredible, Y/N, don’t be silly.” Violet grabbed your black heels that matched your sleek, black, form-fitting dress and handed them to you. “But there’s one little thing missing.” You furrowed your brow, looking down at yourself as you put your heels on. Violet gave you a knowing look before walking over with the little black box you’d been given 4 months ago. “Your soulmate won’t be able to pick you out without this, yeah?”
You took a deep breath, steeling yourself as you slipped the ring onto your right ring finger. “I can’t believe I almost forgot.”
“Yeah, if I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought you were nervous or something.”
You laughed, rolling your eyes. “Alright, I better get going before ‘fashionably late’ turns into ‘embarrassingly late.’”
Violet squealed, heading out the door with you. “It’s going to be amazing, Y/N. No matter what happens! Even if you don’t meet him tonight, at least you’ll get to see the Four up close.”
You nodded, giving your best friend a salute before getting in your car.
You can do this, you told yourself.
***
“Oh, I so cannot do this,” you whispered to yourself.
The lobby of the Baxter Building was completely full of people, none of whom had a familiar face. Everyone was dressed to the nines and looked incredible, and everyone seemed to know each other…except for you. Unfortunately, you didn’t even know where to go.
Suddenly, a beeping sound appeared next to you. You looked down, and a little robot was staring up at you. You looked around to see if anyone else was seeing this, but no one paid you or the robot any mind.
“Um, hello?”
The little robot made another beeping sound before rushing away, and you had a feeling he wanted you to follow him.
You followed him over to the elevator, where he pressed the button for you before rushing away once more. “Fascinating,” you whispered, shaking your head in disbelief.
Before you knew it, the elevator doors opened and revealed the main event. You walked forward a few steps to the balcony overlooking the gala being held right below. It was an incredibly large, lavish place, with even more people roaming about than in the lobby. Jazzy piano music combined with the sound of hundreds of people conversing played all around you. It was dizzying. Everyone looked at ease with a drink in their hand…everyone except for you. You began gnawing at your bottom lip as you made your way to the stairs, a habit you only picked up when you were really, truly anxious. Bracing yourself, you picked up your gown in your hands to avoid tripping in your heels, and slowly made your way down the stairs in an effort to find a single person you were familiar with.
**
“You’re lying, Ben.”
“I’m not lying, you’re just mad you can’t hold your liquor like I can.”
Johnny Storm was in the corner of the gala with a drink in his hand, bickering with Ben over how many alcoholic drinks he could down before actually getting wasted.
“No human being on planet Earth can down that many shots and not feel anything.” He stared at Ben incredulously.
Ben deadpanned. “We’re not exactly regular human beings, Johnny.”
“Yeah, well no, but even I can’t down ten shots and not feel like I’m about to—“
Johnny looked up as he was talking, and suddenly forgot how to speak.
Because walking down the stairs, wearing his ring, was you.
“Face it, Johnny. You’re a lightweight,” Ben chuckled as he took a sip of his drink, not even noticing that Johnny had stopped speaking.
“Ben.” Johnny stared at you, mesmerized as you seemed to almost float down the stairs.
“Do you really want to play this game? Because I can get the bartender right now and she’ll settle this.”
“Ben.” He still couldn’t take his eyes off of you.
“Alright, fine, I’ll get the bartender—“
“BEN!”
Ben startled, finally looking at his friend and furrowing his brows. “Jesus, what?”
“My soulmate is over there.” Johnny looked more serious and panicked than Ben had ever seen him, but Ben couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head.
“Yeah, sure, Johnny. Go talk to your ‘soulmate’ so you get out of losing a drinking contest.”
Johnny rubbed a hand down his face in frustration before leaning in closer. “Ben, I’m serious. She’s wearing the ring.”
Ben blinked. Oh. “Really?”
Johnny nodded furiously, eyes looking all over the room, looking panicked. “Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god, it’s her. Holy shit. Holy—“
“Johnny.”
Ben placed his giant hands on Johnny’s shoulders, steadying him. “Look at me. You’ve wooed how many women over the years? And this woman in particular was literally made for you. You’ve waited your whole life for her. Go to her.”
Johnny swallowed harshly, nodding and sniffling briefly. “Yeah. Yeah, I got this. I’m Johnny Storm. I can go talk to my soulmate. Totally. Absolutely.”
Ben bit back a laugh, taking Johnny’s drink from him. “Yep. You are Johnny Storm. Now go get her.”
***
You gave up on finding anyone from your PR firm. It was too loud, the lights too dim, the place too crowded to even think straight. So, you did the only thing left to do: headed for the bar.
Bottom lip still trapped between your teeth, you made your way over to the bar when a voice called out from directly behind you.
“Uh, hi.”
You turned around at the oddly familiar voice, and there was Johnny Storm, staring at you with wide, nervous eyes and a small, apprehensive smile.
Holy shit. Holy shit. Say something, you idiot! “Hi,” you breathed out, your brain suddenly turning back on long enough for you to return his small smile. Why was he talking to you? What was happening, why was he—
“Uh, I think…I have something of yours,” he said. Before you could ask him what he meant, he rolled up the sleeve of his black button down shirt and revealed the leather bracelet you had made, wrapped around his wrist.
Suddenly the room seemed all too quiet. You swore you stopped breathing. “Oh my god.”
Johnny laughed breathlessly, his smile growing wider. “I know.”
You couldn’t even think straight. This was real, this was happening, and Violet is never going to let you live this down. “That’s…that’s the bracelet I made for my…”
“Soulmate,” he finished for you, his smile turning into something a little smaller, more boyish and shy. “Yeah. And that,” he pointed to the gem on your finger, “Is the ring I had made for my soulmate.”
You looked down at the shining gemstone before looking back at him. Your heart was pounding in your throat. “You had it made? Where did you find this gemstone? I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s so beautiful.”
Johnny beamed. “I found it on a different planet, uh, some planet called Sakaar I think. I’d never seen anything like it either, so I had it melted down into a gemstone…for you.”
You were now smiling so wide your cheeks were starting to hurt. Your head shook in disbelief, because of course it wasn’t even from this world. “It’s incredible. And…god, I can’t believe it’s really you.”
Johnny’s grin grew until he couldn’t take it anymore, and suddenly you were in his arms. His cologne and strong arms filled your senses, and you felt like you were about to explode as your arms wrapped around his neck.
“Jesus, I’ve waited so long for you,” he murmured in your ear, one hand cradling the back of your head and the other wrapped around your waist. He pulled back suddenly, eyes flitting between yours. “Will you come with me?”
You would follow him anywhere, you decided then. You smiled, nodding. “Yeah.”
Johnny grinned and grabbed your hand. “C’mon.”
You were dizzy with adrenaline as you and Johnny weaved through the crowd until you reached a door, and suddenly you were being pulled into his bedroom. He shut the door behind the two of you, and you gasped as you took it all in.
Because, decorating his shelves, was all of the presents you had sent him over the years.
“Oh my god, the Turks and Caicos turtle!” You laughed loudly as you wandered up to the turtle bobble head you had sent him from vacation when you were 17. “I cannot believe you kept this.”
Johnny simply couldn’t stop smiling as he took all of you in, watching as you stared in wonder at all of the mementos. He could not believe you were really here, in front of him, in his bedroom. “Of course I kept it. I kept everything.”
You turned and looked at him then. “So did I.”
He quirked a brow, smirking. “Even the Johnny Storm action figure?”
You busted out laughing. “Well it is a collectible, of course.”
“Sue made fun of me relentlessly for that one. Ben did, too,” he shook his head, chuckling. “I wasn’t sure if I should send it or not. Didn’t know if it was too on the nose or self-centered, y’know? But I wanted to give you as much of a hint as I was allowed.”
“My best friend was absolutely ecstatic. She knew it was you from the second she saw it, but I kept trying to convince myself that you were just a fan or something.”
Johnny swallowed nervously then, looking a little unsure. “Is it—is it okay that I’m…y’know, me?”
“Of course. It’s more than okay, why wouldn’t it be?”
Johnny sat down on his sofa, his hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, the whole superhero thing could be a deal breaker for some…And I know I have a…reputation.”
You followed him, sitting down next to him. “Hmm, well I distinctly remember Johnny Storm saying that once he met his soulmate, she’d be it for him.”
Johnny turned to you then, eyebrows lifted in surprise as a smile spread across his lips. “You watched my New Years Eve broadcast?”
You mirrored his smile, nodding.
He dramatically flopped backwards onto his sofa, making you laugh. “God, you really are my soulmate.”
Before you knew it, two hours had gone by. Two hours of sharing life stories, childhood memories. The two of you were currently laying on the floor, side by side, laughing about some of the gifts you’d exchanged over the years.
“What’s your favorite gift though? In all seriousness,” you asked, turning your head to the side to look at him. He was beautiful, and you couldn’t believe he was really yours.
“Hm.” Johnny looked up at the ceiling, eyes squinting in thought. “I love the bracelet you made me this year. I never take it off. Buuuut I think my favorite is the vinyl you gave me a couple years ago.”
You smiled, sitting up on your elbow to prop your head up. “Yeah?”
Johnny sat up to mirror your position. “Yeah. I played it nonstop the first few months after I got it. Ben threatened to break my record player.” You both laughed when suddenly Johnny looked serious and stood up. You sat up, furrowing your brow.
“What is it?”
Johnny bowed dramatically, holding his hand out for you to take. “My lady, may I have this dance?”
You giggled, taking his hand and allowing him to help you up. “Why yes, I think you may.”
Johnny grinned, muttering a “one sec,” before putting the Etta James record on. The sweet, slow melody filled your ears, and Johnny placed his hand in yours, his other wrapping around your waist. He pulled you close, and the two of you began to slowly sway.
At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Your chest swelled with emotion as he pulled you impossibly closer, his lips brushing your temple as you swayed in time, neither of you speaking, just taking in what you both had waited your entire lives for.
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Johnny pulled away then, his eyes never leaving yours as he took your right hand in his. Slowly, he pulled the ring off your right ring finger before gently placing it on your left. Your heart was pounding wildly in your chest, your eyes unable to look away from him. He swallowed thickly then, a question swimming in his blue eyes, a “Can I?”
You leaned in, nudged his nose with yours in a silent, “Please.”
His lips gently met yours, and the entire outside world melted away. Your heart sang as his thumb brushed your cheek and he kissed you harder, a quiet, needy whimper escaping his throat. Your hands slid down to wrap around his lower back, bringing him even closer. It was everything you’d ever dreamed of, and it really was with Johnny Storm.
june comms are open! (just rehashed my info sheet to make it a bit simpler!)
5 slots free for now! currently comms are my main source of income so any reblogs would be so incredibly helpful! thank you all sm for the all the support! 🖤
