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Suction cup boi
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“Scully, you’re not gonna believe this”
Indigo Velvet
description: you accepted the mission because the alternative was prison. you planned on keeping your head down, saving the world, and returning to your quiet life before anyone learned who you really were. Johnny Storm, however, had other ideas.
pairing: johnny storm x fem!superhero reader
tags: johnny storm x you, johnny storm x raven from teen titans (basically, but it's you), yes i know raven's from the DC universe let's move on, rivals to lovers, enemies to lovers, black cat x golden retriever, johnny and beast boy would be besties i will die on this hill, slow burn, forced proximity, bamf reader, reed is obsessed with how quick she puts johnny in his place, johnny storm loves scary women let's be so fr
TW: NSFW (18+) minors do NOT interact!!!, PiV, unprotected, dom!reader, violence
WC: 9.4k (i'm sorry, i like to world build, ok? it's worth it though, i promise!!!)
A/N: AGH i put my whole puss into this!! this fic has literally everything you could want. i am so freaking obsessed. this is based of off this request by @midgardian-rogue reblogs are always appreciated <33 ENJOY RAHHHHH
The conference room sat nearly forty floors above Manhattan, its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a city blissfully unaware that somewhere beyond its skyline, another extinction-level threat was steadily making its way toward Earth.
Government officials crowded one side of the polished table, military personnel the other, while holographic projections cycled through satellite imagery, casualty estimates, and reports so heavily redacted that more black ink covered the pages than actual text.
"We're out of options."
The words came from a gray-haired general standing near the head of the table, his fingers pressing so firmly against the folder before him that the edges had begun to curl beneath his grip.
He looked exhausted, though whether from the lack of sleep or the realization of what he was about to authorize, it was difficult to tell.
Reed Richards stood opposite him, one hand resting against the tabletop as another projection rotated lazily above the center of the room, displaying a fracture in space that seemed to grow wider with every passing hour.
"If the projections are correct," Reed explained evenly, "the incursion reaches Earth's atmosphere in approximately seventy-two hours. Even assuming optimal conditions, the Fantastic Four cannot contain it indefinitely."
"So you need reinforcements."
"We need someone capable of closing dimensional fractures from the inside."
Another official cleared his throat. "...There's only one."
Nobody seemed particularly eager to say your name.
A younger agent finally slid a weathered manila folder across the table toward Reed, the classified stamp nearly worn away after years of being handled by too many nervous hands.
"Eclipse."
Even saying your codename seemed to lower the temperature in the room.
"Conditional Release Asset Zero-One."
"...She already refused four deployments."
"Five," another corrected quietly.
"And she's ignored every attempt at communication."
"We've tried encrypted satellites."
"No response."
"Secure phones."
"No response."
"Letters."
"No response."
Reed looked up from the file. "You've sent letters?"
The agent nodded. "She mailed one back."
"...What did it say?"
He cleared his throat. "'Respectfully, no.'"
For reasons no one could adequately explain, Ben Grimm let out a snort from the opposite side of the room before coughing into his fist when several heads turned in his direction.
"What?" he muttered. "It's kinda funny."
"It is not funny," the general replied.
"It was a little funny."
Sue elbowed Ben beneath the table as Reed continued reading. The pages painted a horrifying picture.
Cities leveled. Entire military divisions erased. Threat assessments labeled OMEGA. Power output listed as unknown. Psychological evaluations. Containment procedures. Emergency protocols.
And yet, buried between pages of classified incident reports and casualty estimates, a single line appeared over and over again.
Complied voluntarily. Surrendered willingly. Civilian casualties minimized by subject.
Reed frowned. "These reports contradict each other."
"They're supposed to."
He looked up, and the general met his gaze without flinching. "The public record calls her a weapon."
"The classified record?"
"...Calls her the reason several countries still exist."
Johnny leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So we're really doing this?" he asked. "We're bringing in the woman everyone keeps locked in a magical witness protection program?"
"No," the general answered flatly. "We're asking."
"And if she says no?"
Every eye in the room shifted toward the woman who had remained silent since entering. Wanda Maximoff.
She stood near the windows with her arms folded, watching the conversation unfold with the patience of someone who had already seen how this meeting would end.
"If she says no," Wanda replied calmly, "then you can threaten to send her back."
A few confused glances spread around the room as Johnny frowned. "...Back where?"
"The Raft."
His eyebrows shot upward. "Wait."
He looked around the room. "She's not just... living somewhere?"
"No."
"She's on conditional release."
"Yes."
"And you people let her... what? Go buy groceries?"
"Yes."
Johnny stared. "...Who's idea was that?"
"The alternative was keeping someone capable of tearing open reality imprisoned indefinitely," Wanda answered. "Believe it or not, treating her like a human being has produced better results."
Then Wanda stepped away from the windows.
"So," she said, extending one hand toward the empty stretch of polished marble floor at the center of the room, crimson magic already curling between her fingertips, "shall we ask?"
No one objected.
Within moments, the overhead lights dimmed as scarlet energy spread across the marble in intricate, glowing patterns, ancient runes carving themselves into existence one by one while the air inside the conference room grew heavy enough that even breathing required effort.
Every screen flickered, every electronic device lost signal, and somewhere deep within the building, the emergency generators kicked on despite the power never actually failing.
Johnny shifted uneasily in his chair. "...Please tell me this is normal."
Without looking away from the forming circle, Wanda answered simply, "No."
And then she began the incantation. Scarlet energy spilled from Wanda's palms, weaving across the marble floor until the intricate pattern of runes stretched nearly twenty feet in diameter.
The monitors lining the walls flickered violently before going black altogether, phones lost service one by one, and somewhere beyond the conference room doors, alarms began sounding throughout the building as electronics inexplicably shut themselves down floor by floor.
Johnny shifted in his seat. "...Is that supposed to happen?"
"Pretty much,” Wanda answered evenly, never taking her eyes off the growing circle. The light intensified before everything came to an abrupt halt.
A dark circle began to ripple, like the night sky had been poured onto the floor. Tiny pinpricks of light shimmered beneath its surface, galaxies drifting lazily through an endless sea of black until the void slowly rose from the ground, twisting into the unmistakable outline of a person.
Combat boots emerged from the darkness first, their heavy soles striking the marble with a muted thud before the rest of your figure slowly materialized from the living void.
Long legs disappeared beneath a floor-length cloak of deep indigo, the fabric pooling around your boots before drifting lazily despite the complete absence of wind.
A broad hood concealed most of your face, casting your features in shadow while the cloak itself fastened neatly at your collarbones with a polished silver clasp engraved with an unfamiliar crest.
As the last traces of void energy unraveled from your form, glimpses of the suit beneath the cloak became visible: a fitted black bodysuit designed more for movement than spectacle, interrupted only by angular panels of muted violet armor protecting your shoulders, forearms, hips, and knees.
For a long moment, your hood remained in place, obscuring everything except the curve of your jaw, until you released a quiet sigh and lifted one gloved hand to push it back.
Dark purple hair spilled freely over your shoulders, and the room was finally met with a face that looked far softer than anyone had expected.
"...This better be important." You sighed, scanning the sea of surprised faces in the conference room.
Across the room, Johnny blinked. Well, that wasn't...
That wasn't what he'd expected. He'd expected horns, or glowing red eyes, maybe some claws. Something. Anything that matched the classified reports he'd skimmed on the way over. Instead…
You looked normal. Beautiful, admittedly. Annoyingly so. His eyes lingered for perhaps a second longer than they should have before he caught himself, clearing his throat and forcing his attention elsewhere.
Seriously? A demon? That's what everyone's terrified of? He'd met scarier accountants.
You, meanwhile, hadn't acknowledged anyone else in the room. Your attention remained entirely fixed on Wanda.
"I was making tea."
"I know."
"I had just sat down."
"I know."
"It had steeped for exactly three minutes."
"...I know."
"You owe me another cup."
The corner of Wanda's mouth twitched. "I'll buy you a whole box."
"I like the expensive kind."
"I'm aware."
Only then did your eyes wander around the conference room, taking in the rows of military officers, government officials, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Sue Storm...and finally Johnny.
You regarded him for exactly half a second before moving on without so much as a flicker of recognition.
Johnny frowned. Rude.
Reed stepped forward first, extending a hand. "My name is Reed Richards."
"I know."
"...Right."
"You stretch."
"...I do."
"You overthink."
Ben coughed to hide a laugh, and Reed lowered his hand. "Fair enough."
Your attention shifted toward Sue. "Susan Storm."
She offered a small smile. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"You too."
"Ben Grimm." You nodded once. "I've heard good things."
Ben's rocky brow lifted. "...Really?"
"You volunteer at children's hospitals."
"...Yeah."
"They like you."
His expression softened almost immediately. "Well… Thank you."
Finally, your gaze landed on Johnny again. "...Fire."
He blinked. "...Excuse me?"
"You catch on fire."
"...Yeah."
You nodded once, as though confirming something to yourself. "Hm."
That was it, and nothing more. Johnny wasn't entirely sure why the single syllable irritated him as much as it did.
"So..." he said, folding his arms across his chest. "Do you always introduce people by their powers?"
"No."
"Then why me?"
"You seemed self-explanatory."
Ben barked out a laugh as Johnny shot him a look. "Oh, c'mon."
Before he could answer, the general standing at the head of the table cleared his throat. "If introductions are finished..."
"We have a mission requiring your assistance."
"I assumed."
"The Fantastic Four cannot complete it alone."
"I'm flattered."
"We're asking that you join them."
Your expression remained perfectly neutral. "No."
The answer came so quickly it almost overlapped his question. The general blinked. "...No?"
"I've retired."
"You are not retired."
"I retired myself."
"That isn't how this works."
"It worked wonderfully until about five minutes ago."
A few officials exchanged uncomfortable glances as the general inhaled slowly. "You understand the terms of your conditional release."
"I do."
"And that refusal to cooperate during a Level Omega event constitutes a violation."
"I know."
Then he opened the folder resting before him. "The Raft has already approved your return."
Your eyes dropped to the document in his hands.
"...You're serious."
"We are."
"I've complied with every restriction for six years."
"Yes."
"I've remained exactly where you told me."
"Yes."
"I've hurt no one."
"We know."
"And your reward is threatening to lock me up the moment you need something."
You let out a slow breath, rubbing absentmindedly at the silver ring wrapped around your finger before looking toward Wanda.
She didn't speak, but instead simply gave the smallest nod.
Not because she agreed with the government's methods. But because she already knew there was no changing their minds.
You looked back toward the general. "...How long?"
"Until the threat is neutralized."
"And then?"
"You return home."
You studied him for another long moment before your shoulders sagged ever so slightly in weary acceptance. "...I hate when you people remember I exist."
"There'll be conditions," you continued.
"I work with them." You motioned toward the Fantastic Four. "Not for you."
No objections.
"I answer to Reed tactically."
Reed nodded once.
"I don't wear tracking tech."
The general frowned.
"Non-negotiable."
"I don't kill unless there is absolutely no alternative."
Another nod.
"And the second this is over..." Your eyes swept across the room. "...I disappear."
The Baxter Building came into view just as the sun dipped below the Manhattan skyline, its glass exterior catching the last streaks of orange and gold before surrendering to the growing blue of evening.
You stood beside the quinjet's open ramp with one hand tucked beneath your cloak, your eyes following the building upward until they disappeared into the clouds.
"...It's taller than I imagined."
Ben chuckled beside you as the team made their way down the ramp. "Reed compensates."
"I heard that," Reed called from several paces ahead without turning around.
"I wanted ya to."
A ghost of a smile tugged at your mouth, small enough that only Ben happened to catch it.
"Huh."
You looked over. "What?"
"Nothin'." He kept walking. "Just thought maybe your face got stuck for a second there."
The smile disappeared. "It did."
"That's more like it."
Johnny watched the exchange from farther up the walkway, eyebrows lifting despite himself.
She smiled. Barely, but it happened. Weird.
For someone whose government file read like the opening chapter of the apocalypse, she seemed normal. Or at least close enough. Not that he'd admit it, anyway.
The lobby was unlike anything you'd expected, sunlight giving way to warm lighting that reflected against polished stone floors and impossibly high ceilings.
Massive windows overlooked Manhattan from nearly every angle, while sleek laboratories stretched beyond glass partitions and robotics wandered the halls carrying trays of equipment with surprising efficiency.
One particularly small robot rolled directly toward Ben.
"Hey, buddy."
The robot extended what appeared to be a tiny mechanical arm, and Ben bumped it with his fist.
"...Cute."
Everyone looked at you, so you shrugged. "What?"
"You just called H.E.R.B.I.E. cute," Johnny said.
"I did."
"...Most people call him unsettling."
"I like unsettling."
"...Right."
Reed set the mission folder onto the nearest workstation before turning toward the group. "We'll begin briefing first thing tomorrow morning. Everyone should use tonight to settle in and familiarize themselves with the building."
His gaze shifted toward Johnny. "Johnny."
Johnny looked up from where he'd been leaning against the counter. "Yeah?"
"Would you mind showing her around?"
Johnny looked at you, and you looked back. Then, almost simultaneously:
"No."
"No."
Reed blinked. "I wasn't asking both of you."
"I know," you replied.
Johnny pointed toward himself. "Why am I tour guide?"
"Because you're the most familiar with the residential floors."
Ben snorted loudly enough to earn a glare from Sue. "He means because you'd talk to a brick wall if it smiled at you."
"I do not—"
"You named the toaster."
"It deserved a name."
"It was a toaster."
"It made excellent toast."
Reed pinched the bridge of his nose. "Johnny."
He sighed dramatically. "...Fine."
Reed smiled. "Thank you."
"You know I hate being volun-told to do something."
"I know."
A few minutes later, the two of you stepped into the elevator alone, the doors sliding shut with a quiet chime.
Johnny leaned casually against the mirrored wall, shoving both hands into the pockets of his jacket before stealing a glance toward you.
You stood perfectly still near the opposite corner, your cloak hanging neatly around your shoulders, eyes fixed on the glowing floor numbers as though they were infinitely more interesting than conversation.
He gave it approximately seven seconds. "So..."
Nothing.
"You always this chatty?"
"...Compared to who?"
"...People."
"I've met people."
"And?"
"They're exhausting."
Johnny laughed once. "...Okay."
The elevator climbed another five floors. "So," he tried again, "Eclipse isn't your real name."
"No."
"You gonna tell me the real one?"
"No."
"...Can I guess?"
"You can."
"Will you tell me if I'm right?"
"No."
He grinned despite himself. "You know, this whole mysterious thing probably works on most people."
"It isn't a thing."
"No?"
"I simply don't know you."
"...Fair."
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open onto a hallway lined with expansive windows overlooking the city.
Johnny stepped out first. "Alright, bedrooms are down this hall, kitchen's around the corner, gym's two floors below, labs are—"
"You've done this before."
"...What?"
"The tour."
"...Yeah?"
"You memorized it."
"I live here."
"You practiced."
"I absolutely did not practice."
You looked at him. "...You rehearsed in the mirror."
"I—"
He stopped walking. "I have literally never—"
"You gesture with your right hand every time you mention a room."
"...That's called pointing."
"You smiled before saying 'kitchen.'"
"...People like kitchens."
"You enjoy giving tours."
"I do not enjoy giving tours."
"You've slowed your pace three separate times so I could keep up despite the fact I've matched your speed since we left the elevator."
Johnny stared. "...Are you profiling me?"
"I'm observing you."
"...That's somehow worse."
"It usually is."
He let out an incredulous laugh. "Alright."
He pointed a finger toward you. "My turn."
"I'm listening."
"You're judging me."
"I am."
"You think I'm annoying."
"I do."
"You've decided that in under ten minutes."
"I decided approximately forty-three seconds after meeting you."
"...Forty-three?"
"You interrupted Wanda."
"I was asking a question."
"You interrupted."
Johnny folded his arms. "You know..."
A grin slowly spread across his face. "I don't think you're nearly as intimidating as everyone's made you out to be."
Then, you smiled the kind of smile someone wore immediately before saying something devastating. "I don't think you're nearly as charming."
Johnny's grin faltered. "...Excuse me?"
"You've attempted to flirt with me three times since we left the conference room."
"I wasn't flirting."
"You complimented my eyes."
"I said they were interesting."
"You asked if all demons looked this pretty."
"...That was hypothetical."
"You winked."
"...That could've been an eye twitch."
"It wasn't. But don’t worry, I've definitely had worse."
Johnny couldn't help laughing. "...You know what?"
"What?"
"I'm gonna make you like me."
You resumed walking without looking back. "I admire your optimism."
"...That's not a no."
"It wasn't intended to be encouragement, either."
Johnny watched you continue down the hallway, cloak trailing quietly behind you, and shook his head with an amused scoff before following after.
He had no idea why proving you wrong suddenly sounded like such a good challenge.
And you had no idea that the cocky man walking a few paces behind you would, in a matter of weeks, become the one person capable of getting under your skin in ways no one else ever had.
Three days. Three days inside the Baxter Building had been enough for everyone to establish a routine.
Reed practically lived in the laboratory. Sue alternated between mission planning and reminding Reed to eat. Ben could almost always be found in the kitchen. Johnny?
Johnny had made it his personal mission to discover exactly how many sarcastic remarks one person could make before another finally snapped. Current record?
Seventy-two. You hadn't so much as raised your voice.
The training room occupied nearly the entire sublevel of the building, reinforced walls stretching nearly three stories high and lined with holographic projectors capable of simulating almost any battlefield imaginable.
Weapons racks covered one wall while combat drones stood dormant along another, each waiting for Reed to activate them when necessary.
You were already inside when Johnny arrived.
A long practice staff rested comfortably between your hands as you guided it through slow, deliberate movements, the wood spinning over your shoulders, around your back, and between your fingers with the kind of effortless precision that only came from years of repetition.
Johnny stopped in the doorway. "...Show off."
Without looking up, you answered. "I heard that."
"I know."
The staff continued its lazy rotation. "You wanted me to."
"...Maybe."
Only then did you glance in his direction. "What do you need?"
"Ouch."
"What?"
"You make it sound like seeing me is a chore."
"It usually is."
Johnny pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "You know, that one actually hurt."
"I'm devastated."
"You don't sound devastated."
"I was lying."
He laughed through his nose. "I figured."
He wandered farther into the room, grabbing a pair of sparring gloves from a nearby bench before tossing them carelessly back down. "So."
You continued practicing. "So."
"I've been thinking."
"My condolences."
Johnny paused. "...Do you rehearse these?"
"No."
"They're coming out a little too fast."
"I've had three days."
"To do what?"
"Study you."
He blinked. "...Study me?"
"You aren't particularly complicated."
"Oh?"
You finally stopped moving.
The staff settled horizontally across the back of your shoulders as both hands rested casually over either end. "No."
"I'm listening."
"You crave attention."
"I do not."
"You've interrupted Reed seventeen times this week."
"They were important interruptions."
"You flirt with anything that has a pulse."
"...That's slander."
"You've flexed in reflective surfaces on four separate occasions."
"I was stretching."
"You named the espresso machine."
"...Espressa."
You stared. "...You named it Espressa."
"It was funny."
"It wasn't."
Ben wandered into the room just in time to hear the end of the conversation. "It kinda was."
Johnny pointed triumphantly. "See?"
"I didn't say it was good."
Johnny groaned. "Oh, c'mon."
Ben settled himself onto one of the nearby benches with a cup of coffee, clearly sensing entertainment.
You looked back toward Johnny. "My observations remain unchanged."
He folded his arms. "You done?"
"For now."
"Good." A grin spread slowly across his face. "'Cause I got one."
"I'm thrilled."
"You think you're better than everybody."
"You walk around here as if you've already figured everyone out."
"You barely talk."
"Mhm."
"You act like nothing impresses you."
"Mhm."
"And you've got this whole..." He gestured vaguely toward you. "...mysterious thing going on."
"...Go on."
"I think it's an act."
"An act."
"Yeah." He shrugged. "I think everyone keeps telling me how scary you are."
Another shrug. "So far? You've just been kinda mean."
Ben muttered quietly into his coffee. "...He's gonna regret that."
You rested the practice staff against the weapons rack before slowly rolling your sleeves back over your forearms. "I've been called worse."
"I'm sure." Johnny took another step forward. "So let's see it."
You tilted your head. "...See what?"
"What everyone's so afraid of."
"Spar me."
Ben looked up immediately. "...Johnny."
"What?"
"I wouldn't."
Johnny waved him off. "It's training."
"Johnny."
"What?"
"I said I wouldn't."
"I'm not asking her to vaporize me."
"No." Ben took another sip. "I'm worried she'll make you cry."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "Oh, please."
He looked back toward you. "Unless..."
He smirked. "...you're worried."
You stared at him for several long seconds. Then, "...One condition."
His grin widened. "There we go."
"No powers."
"...Seriously?"
"You wanted to see what I could do."
You unclipped the twin daggers from your belt, setting them neatly onto the bench before unfastening your sword and placing it beside them. "No magic."
The gloves followed. "No weapons."
Finally, you stepped into the center of the mat. "Just us."
Johnny cracked his neck. "Works for me."
Across the room, Sue and Reed entered just as Ben called, "...You're both gonna wanna see this."
Johnny dropped into a fighting stance, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. You simply stood there, hands resting loosely behind your back.
"...You're not even gonna put your fists up?"
"I haven't decided if you've earned them."
"Oh, that's cocky."
"It is."
"You know what?"
He rushed first, fast, with a clean right hook aimed toward your jaw. But you weren't there.
He barely had time to register the movement before your hand caught his wrist, redirected the momentum effortlessly past your shoulder, and sent him stumbling three steps beyond you.
"...Again."
Johnny turned. "...Lucky."
He came faster this time. Combination strikes. Left. Right. Body. Kick. Every single one met empty air.
Not because you were particularly quick. But because you moved exactly enough. An inch. Half a step. A slight turn of your shoulder. The smallest tilt of your head.
He wasn't fighting someone faster than him. He was fighting someone who somehow already knew where he intended to strike.
His frustration began building almost immediately. "You gonna hit me?" he snapped.
"You haven't given me an opening."
"I've given you plenty."
"No."
Another swing, which you counter with another effortless sidestep. "You've given me opportunities."
He spun. "What's the difference?"
"You survive one."
His teeth clenched. "Oh, now you're just pissing me off."
"I noticed."
He lunged again. This time, however, you moved. One hand caught his wrist while the other hooked beneath his elbow. A single pivot of your hips and suddenly the floor disappeared beneath him.
Johnny hit the mat hard enough to force the air from his lungs. Before he could even sit up, a knee rested against his chest, and one hand pinned his wrist.
The other hovered two inches from his throat, perfectly still. You hadn't even broken a sweat.
Johnny blinked up at the ceiling. "...How."
"I've been doing this longer than you've been alive."
"I'm twenty-seven."
"I know."
"...How old are you?"
You smiled. "Rude."
Then you stood, offering him a hand. He looked at it, then back at you. "...No."
"As you wish." You withdrew it immediately.
Johnny climbed to his feet on his own, brushing imaginary dust from his shirt as his jaw tightened.
Across the room, Ben whistled low beneath his breath. "Damn."
Sue looked genuinely impressed. "I don't think I've ever seen him taken down that quickly."
Reed, meanwhile, was already scribbling notes into a tablet. "Fascinating."
Johnny glared. "...Whose side are you on?"
"No one's." Reed didn't even look up. "I'm simply documenting that she anticipated every strike approximately four-tenths of a second before you initiated movement."
Johnny groaned. "Reed."
"What?"
"Stop making it sound worse."
"I'm making it sound measurable."
You retrieved your weapons one by one, fastening each back into place with practiced efficiency before pulling your sleeves back into their usual position.
Just before leaving the room, you glanced back over one shoulder. "For what it's worth..."
Johnny folded his arms. "What?"
"You almost landed one."
His expression brightened...
"Maybe another six months."
...and immediately fell again.
Steel beams twisted like paper overhead, showering the cracked concrete below with showers of rust and splintered glass as something enormous dragged itself through the skeletal remains of the station.
The dimensional fracture hanging above the tracks pulsed with violent streaks of violet lightning, each pulse widening the tear another few feet until fragments of another world bled into New York's skyline, jagged cliffs and crimson clouds flickering in and out of existence where they had no business being.
Civilians screamed somewhere beyond the collapsed entrance while police sirens echoed in the distance.
"Reed!" Sue's voice crackled through the comms as another support column buckled. "The west side's giving out!"
"I know," Reed answered, stretching across nearly thirty feet to keep another section of the roof from collapsing onto a cluster of trapped civilians. "Ben, reinforce the eastern wall. Sue, evacuation corridor. Johnny—"
"I see 'em."
Johnny was already gone. A streak of orange fire shot past the fractured ceiling before anyone could stop him, weaving between falling debris toward a family trapped beneath a collapsed platform.
Your head snapped upward. "Johnny."
No response. "Johnny."
Still nothing, so you closed your eyes for a second. The void answered your call. The creature wasn't attacking the civilians; it was waiting.
"Johnny!" Your voice rang through every communicator at once.
"Don't go underneath—"
The floor exploded.
A deafening crack tore through the station as massive black tendrils erupted from beneath the tracks, wrapping themselves around the steel support beams before violently wrenching them downward.
The entire western platform lurched, concrete splitting apart beneath Johnny's feet as thousands of tons of metal began collapsing inward.
"Shit—"
Everything happened at once. Johnny tried to pull upward, but it was too late.
A support beam slammed across his back, sending him crashing through two stories of concrete before disappearing beneath an avalanche of twisted steel.
"JOHNNY!" Sue's scream echoed through the station.
Your body moved before your mind did. The creature lunged, but you ignored it.
Void energy erupted from beneath your boots, black ribbons spiraling violently around your body as you shot forward, one hand extending toward the collapsing terminal while the other disappeared into the growing darkness surrounding your arm.
Every falling piece of debris froze. Thousands of tons of concrete hung suspended in midair. Steel screamed, windows shattered across neighboring buildings, and the sky darkened.
Reed looked up from the civilians just in time to watch the entire station stop collapsing. "...No..."
Your feet never touched the ground. You hovered beneath the fractured ceiling, one arm trembling violently as impossible amounts of weight settled against your shoulders.
Blood trickled from your nose, then your ears. The darkness surrounding you deepened until tiny stars shimmered within it, the void stretching across the station ceiling like ink spilled into water.
"Ben!" Reed shouted. "Get Johnny!"
Ben didn't hesitate. He barreled beneath the frozen rubble while you continued holding the entire structure in place, every muscle in your body beginning to shake as the dimensional energy fought against your own.
"Hurry," you breathed.
Ben disappeared beneath the debris.
"I GOT 'IM!"
Ben emerged carrying Johnny over one shoulder, the younger man coughing violently through clouds of dust as the four of you cleared the station.
The second Ben crossed the evacuation perimeter, your hand dropped. The building collapsed, the sound shaking the city as dust swallowed the skyline. When the smoke finally settled, nothing remained.
The emergency crews worked around them almost immediately, paramedics weaving through civilians while SHIELD agents established a perimeter around the dimensional fracture now slowly sealing itself overhead.
You stood several yards away from the rest of the team, one gloved hand pressed discreetly beneath your nose as you wiped away another streak of blood before anyone could notice.
Of course, however, Johnny did. "You knew."
You looked over. "I did."
"You knew it was a trap."
"I told you not to go."
"I was trying to save those people!"
"They were bait."
"They were civilians!"
"They were already evacuated!"
His voice rose. "Then maybe tell somebody that!"
"I tried."
"You yelled my name!"
"I expected you to listen!"
"I don't take orders from you!"
"No." You laughed once, though you weren't amused. "I've noticed."
"You think you're always right," Johnny continued, still riding the high of adrenaline and humiliation. "You walk around acting like everybody else is an idiot."
"I think before I act."
"I think too."
"Barely."
His jaw tightened. "You don't trust anybody."
"I trusted you to follow the plan."
"I made a judgment call."
"You made a reckless one."
"I SAVED PEOPLE!"
"YOU ALMOST GOT YOURSELF KILLED!"
Your breathing had become heavier now. "You are not invincible, Johnny."
"I never said I was."
"You behave like you are."
"I was trying to do the right thing!"
"And I was trying to make sure you survived long enough to do it."
He scoffed. "Oh, here we go."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're always talking down to everybody."
"I am explaining consequences."
"You're acting like you're better than us."
"No."
"You are."
"No."
"You think because you've got all these scary powers—"
"My powers have nothing to do with this."
"They have everything to do with this!"
He threw both hands into the air. "Everybody walks around here like you're some tragic saint. You barely speak. You judge everybody."
You simply looked at him. "I observe."
"You hide behind that cloak, and those one-word answers like you're above the rest of us."
Ben stepped forward. "Johnny."
"Not now."
Sue frowned. "Johnny."
"I'm talking."
"No," Reed said quietly. "You're escalating."
Johnny looked around. Everyone, every single one of them, was watching him. Watching you. Watching the argument.
His embarrassment curdled into frustration. Frustration became anger. And anger made him careless.
"You know what?"
You remained silent.
"Maybe there's a reason everybody keeps leaving you."
He took another step. "Maybe all those files weren't wrong."
Ben's expression shifted immediately. "...Kid."
Johnny didn't hear him. "Maybe you're not misunderstood. Maybe you're just impossible."
Your face hadn't changed, and that somehow made him crave a reaction even more.
"So tell me." His voice dropped. "When your own people sent you away..."
Another step. "...did it ever occur to you that maybe they had a good reason?"
When you finally spoke, your voice barely carried above a whisper.
"I saved your life."
Johnny's chest tightened. "I know—"
"I held a building over my head..."
Your gaze never left his. "...and the first thing you chose to do afterward was become another person who decided they knew my story. I expected better."
"...I..." One step.
You closed the distance between you. Johnny thought, hoped, you were going to walk past him. Instead…your fist connected cleanly with his jaw.
The impact wasn't enhanced by magic; it didn't need to be. His head snapped to the side as he stumbled backward, catching himself just before he hit the pavement.
You flexed your aching hand once before pulling your hood back over your head.
"I've fought monsters..." The shadows gathered around your boots. "...They've rarely disappointed me as much as people."
Void energy climbed your body in slow ribbons, swallowing your silhouette piece by piece until only your eyes remained visible beneath the hood.
"I hope saying that made you feel good."
A violent gust swept through the ruined street. Then, you were gone.
Johnny stood frozen, one hand against his jaw, his pulse still racing. Not from the punch, but from the realization that, somewhere between the collapsing building and this argument, he'd crossed a line he couldn't uncross.
Ben was the first to speak. He looked at Johnny for a long moment before shaking his head.
"...Kid." There wasn't anger in his voice, only disappointment. "You really fucked that one up."
By the time Johnny could muster up enough courage to come talk to you, it had been well beyond midnight.
Sleep had proven impossible, his mind replaying the argument over and over until every word he'd thrown at you echoed back louder than the last, each one somehow sounding crueler in hindsight than it had in the moment.
Ben hadn't spoken to him since returning to the Baxter Building; Sue had offered him one look that managed to convey an entire lecture without saying a single word, and Reed had quietly informed him that you still hadn't returned before disappearing back into his lab, leaving Johnny alone with the growing pit in his stomach that had only deepened with every passing hour.
He hadn't meant it; that much was true. But intent didn't erase impact. And judging by the look on your face before you'd disappeared… he wasn't sure an apology would either.
Finding you hadn't been particularly difficult.
The Empire State Building was the tallest structure within several miles, and somehow it felt painfully obvious that if you were going to disappear anywhere, it would be somewhere the rest of the world couldn't follow.
Johnny landed softly atop the observation tower, the warm glow of Manhattan stretching endlessly beneath him as millions of city lights flickered against the darkness like stars reflected on water.
You sat at the very edge of the building, legs crossed, hands resting lightly atop your knees.
Your cloak pooled around you in dark folds that fluttered lazily in the wind, the hood long since pushed back as loose strands of hair drifted across your face.
You didn't turn around. "I figured it'd take you longer."
Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "...You knew I was here?"
"You've been hovering behind that antenna for almost two minutes."
He looked back over his shoulder. "...Seriously?"
"You've got a very recognizable heat signature."
"...Right."
Johnny took a few hesitant steps forward, stopping several feet away.
"You can come closer."
His eyebrows lifted. "I wasn't sure if you'd throw me off the building."
"You'd survive."
"...True."
He lowered himself onto the concrete beside you, though he made certain to leave enough space between you that neither of your shoulders came close to touching.
Johnny rested his forearms against his knees. "I've never actually been up here."
"It's nice."
"...Yeah."
"I’ve been coming here a lot."
"I kinda figured."
Johnny stared out across Manhattan before quietly asking, "Do you ever get lonely?"
"Constantly."
"I thought..." He searched for the right words. "...I don't know."
"You thought I preferred being alone."
"...Yeah."
"I prefer solitude." You looked out toward the city. "That doesn't mean I enjoy loneliness."
He hadn't expected that answer; hell, he hadn't expected you to answer at all.
"I'm sorry."
Your gaze remained fixed on the skyline.
"For today."
Still nothing.
"For... all of it." Johnny swallowed. "I shouldn't have said any of that."
"You shouldn't have."
"I don't even know why I did."
"You were angry."
"I was embarrassed."
You nodded once. "I noticed."
"I wanted to win."
Finally, you looked at him. "And?"
He let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "...Doesn't feel much like winning."
Johnny stared down at his hands. "I read your file."
"I figured."
"I thought I understood you."
"No."
"I didn't."
"No."
"I was wrong."
Your expression softened. "But you believed it."
He frowned. "What?"
"You believed everything you read. It wasn't your fault."
"It kinda was."
"No." You shook your head. "They wrote those reports to make people afraid of me."
"They worked."
"They usually do."
Johnny turned to look at you. "I don't think you're scary."
A quiet huff of laughter escaped you. "...That's unfortunate."
"No, I mean—"
"I know." Your face warmed a tad. "I know what you meant."
He found himself smiling back before he even realized he was doing it. "There it is."
Your brows knit together. "What?"
"You smiled."
"It was an accident."
"I don't think it was."
"It won't happen again."
"I dunno..." He leaned ever so slightly closer. "I kinda like it."
You held his gaze for just a second longer than either of you probably should have.
Your eyes drifted down to his lips for the briefest heartbeat before you caught yourself, the realization hitting like cold water. You stood abruptly.
Johnny blinked, almost disappointed by how quickly the warmth between you disappeared.
"I should go."
He rose with you. "You don't have to."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I do."
He sighed softly. "I know saying sorry doesn't fix it."
"It doesn't."
"But..." He hesitated. "I want to."
You looked back at him. "...Want to what?"
"Make it up to you."
"I don't know how yet." A small, self-conscious shrug. "But I will."
"...We'll see."
Three evenings later, a steady tapping echoed against your bedroom window. Not loud enough to startle you, just persistent enough to pull your attention away from the novel balanced comfortably in your lap.
You frowned, confused. Your room occupied one of the upper residential floors of the Baxter Building. There wasn't exactly a hallway outside your window.
The tapping came again. You set the book aside before walking toward the glass, pulling the curtain back just enough to peer outside.
Johnny floated a few feet beyond the window, one hand tucked behind his back while the other tapped the glass once more, a sheepish grin already spreading across his face the second he realized you'd spotted him.
You stared. "...No."
He couldn't hear you through the glass, but he read your lips anyway. His grin widened.
You sighed toward the ceiling before unlatching the window, a rush of warm summer air immediately spilling into the room. "...What."
"Hi."
"...What."
"I come in peace."
"I doubt that."
Johnny laughed quietly before finally taking in the sight of you properly.
Gone was the indigo cloak.
The armor.
The belts.
The weapons.
Instead, you stood barefoot against the hardwood floor wearing an oversized charcoal sweatshirt whose sleeves nearly swallowed your hands, paired with black lounge shorts that disappeared beneath the hem.
Your hair hung loose around your shoulders, slightly messy from where you'd clearly tied it back earlier before giving up, and a pair of reading glasses rested low on your nose, making you look significantly less like the government's most feared superweapon and considerably more like someone he'd accidentally interrupted halfway through a quiet evening.
"...You wear glasses."
You looked down at the book still resting open on your bed. "...Sometimes."
"I didn't know that."
"You've known me for two weeks."
"...Still." He smiled. "I like 'em."
You blinked once. "...Thank you."
Johnny mentally celebrated the fact that you'd accepted a compliment without immediately insulting him…progress.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have something to show you."
"No."
"You don't even know what it is."
"I don't need to."
"It involves food."
"...Continue."
He laughed. "I tried to make dinner."
"You cooked."
"I attempted to cook."
"A distinction."
"It went...decent."
"...Johnny."
"What?"
"You set cereal on fire yesterday."
"That happened one time."
"It happened yesterday."
"I've grown."
"In twenty-four hours."
"I've matured."
You folded your arms. "I remain unconvinced."
"Well..." He slowly extended one hand toward you through the open window. "Guess you'll have to come see for yourself."
Your eyes drifted from his face to the offered hand. "...You're asking me."
"I am."
"You could've just told me to follow you."
"I could've."
"But?"
"I figured I'd ask instead."
Eventually, you reluctantly slipped your hand into his, fingers closing gently around yours.
"You trust me?" you asked quietly.
He met your eyes. "Enough to catch you."
You glanced down toward the city several hundred feet below. "...That's not exactly what I meant."
"I know."
Your feet touched solid ground a moment later. You looked around, expecting... honestly, you weren't entirely sure.
A thick navy blanket had been spread across the concrete, anchored carefully beneath a pair of small lanterns that cast a warm golden glow over everything surrounding them.
There was a wicker basket sitting off to one side alongside two neatly folded blankets in case the wind picked up, a thermos, two mismatched mugs, and what appeared to be an alarming amount of takeout containers.
You slowly turned toward Johnny. "...You made this?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well..."
"I definitely didn't make the food."
"I did almost burn the kitchen down trying."
"...Johnny."
"So I pivoted."
"You ordered takeout."
"I ordered from four different places."
You looked back toward the spread. "...Four?"
"I wasn't sure what you liked."
Your gaze drifted across the containers. Italian. Thai. Chinese. A little bakery box. Even fresh fruit.
"I figured statistically speaking..." he continued, "...one of them had to be your favorite."
You couldn't stop the tiny smile that tugged at the corner of your mouth. "That is... strangely logical."
"I've been listening to Reed more."
"It shows."
He grinned. "I also asked HERBIE to help."
Your eyebrows lifted. "...HERBIE planned the picnic?"
"He made a spreadsheet."
"...Of course he did."
"It was color-coded."
You wandered toward the blanket, your fingers brushing absentmindedly over one of the lanterns before crouching beside the basket.
There was more thought put into this than you'd expected. Napkins. Real silverware. Dessert. A deck of cards. Even...your fingers paused over a familiar hardcover tucked neatly beneath one corner of the basket.
You picked it up. "...This is my book."
Johnny looked almost guilty. "I borrowed it."
"You stole it."
"I borrowed it... aggressively."
You flipped it over in your hands. "There are page markers."
"I, uh..." His ears turned noticeably pink. "I asked Reed what kind of books you checked out from the Baxter library."
"You researched my reading habits?"
"I was trying to figure out what you'd actually enjoy."
You stared at him. "...Nobody's ever done that before."
Johnny's smile faded into something softer. "They should've."
Your eyes met his then, the annoyingly beautiful shade of blue staring back at you. The breeze carried a loose strand of hair across your face before Johnny instinctively reached forward.
His hand hesitated halfway there, so he looked at you with a silent look of permission. You gave the smallest nod.
Only then did he gently tuck the strand behind your ear, his fingertips brushing your temple so lightly they were gone almost before you could register the warmth.
Johnny's gaze dipped, just for a heartbeat, to your lips before returning to your eyes. "I meant what I said."
You blinked, confused.
"...About making it up to you."
"...I know."
His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. "I also know this doesn't erase what happened."
"It doesn't."
"But..." He smiled, a little sheepishly. "...Can I at least buy myself another chance?"
You looked at him for a long moment, then slowly lowered yourself onto the blanket.
"...The food's getting cold."
Johnny's face lit up. "So that's a yes?"
You reached into one of the takeout bags before glancing up at him. "...Don't make me change my mind."
He practically dropped onto the blanket across from you. "Nope."
You couldn't help it.
As you watched him immediately begin rambling about how HERBIE had insisted on proper picnic etiquette and how Reed had somehow turned food recommendations into a lecture on nutritional balance, another small smile found its way onto your face.
By the time the last takeout container sat empty between the two of you, the city had settled into that strange hour where New York never truly slept, but somehow still managed to grow quieter. Your conversation hadn’t faltered in the slightest, though.
It had wandered from one meaningless topic to another with surprising ease, bouncing between Reed's inability to leave a conversation without somehow turning it into a lecture, Ben's secret obsession with old sitcom reruns that he'd vehemently deny if anyone asked, and HERBIE's insistence on announcing the weather every morning despite every room in the Baxter Building already having windows.
"...He gave me a five-minute forecast while I was brushing my teeth yesterday," Johnny said around a laugh.
You tilted your head. "...Did it rain?"
"No."
"So he was wrong."
"He was technically predicting humidity."
"...Of course he was."
Johnny snorted. "You fit in way better than you think."
You looked down at the mug warming your hands. "I don't think I do."
"You do."
"I tolerate everyone."
"They tolerate you back."
"I don't think that's the compliment you think it is."
"It absolutely is."
A smile tugged at your lips despite yourself, which Johnny caught immediately.
"You've smiled, what..." He pretended to count on his fingers. "...Five times tonight?"
"I have not."
"Six."
"I think you're hallucinating."
"I'm witnessing a miracle."
"I should've pushed you off the building."
"I would've looked majestic."
"You would've screamed."
"I would've screamed majestically."
Your laugh escaped before you could stop it.
Johnny froze. "...Whoa."
You cleared your throat almost immediately. "What?"
"That."
"What?"
"I've never heard you laugh."
"It was an isolated incident."
"It was adorable."
"It was temporary."
"It was cute."
"It was involuntary."
"I'll spend the rest of my life trying to hear it again."
The words left his mouth before he had time to think about them. Johnny blinked.
"...That came out way more romantic than I intended."
You looked over at him. "...Did it?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean..."
Another pause. "...Maybe a little."
You studied him for a second before looking back out over the skyline. "...I didn't mind."
Johnny smiled to himself.
"So..."
You hummed.
"What'd you actually do before all..." He gestured vaguely toward you and your imaginary aura. "...this?"
"I liked libraries."
He looked over. "...Yeah?"
"They were quiet." You smiled faintly to yourself. "No one asked questions."
"What'd you read?"
"Everything."
"Favorite?"
"I don't have one."
"C'mon."
"I don't."
"You have to."
"I genuinely don't."
"You can't tell me you've never reread a book."
"...Pride and Prejudice."
Johnny's eyebrows shot up. "...Seriously?"
You nodded. "Seven times."
"I... did not expect that."
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know." He laughed. "Ancient spell books."
"I've read those too."
"...Right."
As the conversation progressed, and without really thinking, his hand shifted across the blanket. You noticed it immediately, your eyes lingering there, then lifting to his.
He didn't say anything. Didn't encourage you, didn't ask. He simply left the choice entirely yours.
You exhaled a low sigh as your hand drifted across the blanket, fingertips brushing his. Johnny didn't move, didn't want to startle you or have you rethink your decision. Another second passed before your fingers finally slipped between his.
Johnny’s thumb brushed once over your knuckles, and you didn’t pull away.
“You know,” he said eventually, voice lower than usual, “I had a whole speech planned for this part.”
You glanced at him. “Of course you did.”
“It was good too. Very charming. Slightly self-deprecating. Perfect amount of sincerity.”
“And yet.”
“And yet I’m sitting here holding your hand like a teenager who just realized he’s allowed to.” He huffed a quiet laugh. “Reed would be taking notes.”
“Reed would be measuring the chemical composition of the moment.”
“Exactly.”
Your thumb moved this time, tracing the line of his. Johnny’s breath hitched, barely, but you felt it. The way his fingers tightened for half a second before consciously loosening again, giving you the choice to stay or retreat.
You stayed. So, he reached for the edge of the blanket, tugging it more securely around your legs.
“Cold?” he asked.
“No.”
“You’re always cold.”
“I’m fine.”
He studied your face for a second longer than necessary. The soft blue of his eyes looked darker up here, reflected city light catching in them. “You can tell me if you’re not.”
You didn’t answer right away. Instead you let your gaze drop to your joined hands, then back up. The distance between you on the blanket had somehow shrunk without either of you consciously moving.
“I know,” you said at last.
Johnny’s mouth curved, small and real. “Good.”
You could have left it there. Could have let the night stay soft and careful and unfinished. But the air between you had changed the moment your fingers interlaced, and neither of you seemed willing to pretend otherwise.
His free hand rose again. This time there was no hesitation when he reached for the strand of hair the wind kept stealing. He tucked it behind your ear the way he had earlier, only slower. His fingertips lingered at your temple, then traced down the side of your jaw with a carefulness that felt almost reverent.
“Can I—” he started.
You answered by leaning in.
The first kiss was quiet. Johnny’s mouth was warm and surprisingly soft, and for a second he seemed almost startled that you had closed the distance yourself. Then his hand slid to the back of your neck, and he kissed you back like he’d been waiting for permission longer than he’d admitted.
It stayed slow for a while, the kind of kissing that explored rather than claimed. You felt the heat of him rising under your palm when you finally set your free hand against his chest, felt the way his heart kicked harder the longer you stayed close. When you parted just enough to breathe, his forehead rested lightly against yours.
“Okay,” he murmured. “That was… yeah.”
You made a low sound that might have been agreement. Your fingers were still in his hair now (when had they moved?) and the slight tug you gave earned a soft, startled exhale from him.
Johnny’s eyes opened; the usual cocky spark was there, but quieter.
“You keep doing that,” he said, “and I’m going to start getting ideas.”
You tilted your head. “Then get them.”
He leaned in again, but this time you met him halfway and took control of the kiss. Your hand slid from his chest to the side of his throat, thumb resting just under his jaw, and Johnny made a quiet sound against your mouth that went straight through you.
When you finally drew back, his breathing had changed. “Blanket’s not exactly private,” he said.
You glanced toward the edge of the observation deck, then back at him. “No one else is up here.”
“Still.”
You rose onto your knees without breaking eye contact, then shifted until you were straddling his lap, knees bracketing his hips. Johnny’s hands settled automatically at your waist. He looked up at you like he was still half-convinced this was about to be taken away.
“Then stop talking about it,” you said quietly.
His answering grin was crooked and a little breathless. “Yes, ma’am.”
You kissed him again before he could say anything else. Your fingers threaded into his hair and tugged, guiding the angle of his head, and Johnny followed without resistance. His hands slid higher under the hem of your shirt, palms spreading heat across your lower back. When your teeth caught his lower lip, he made a low, needy sound that you felt more than heard.
You took your time undressing him. Jacket first, then the soft henley underneath, revealing the warm, golden plane of his chest and the faint residual glow that always seemed to live under his skin when his emotions ran high.
Johnny watched you the entire time, blue eyes half-lidded, lips parted. When your hands finally settled on his belt, he lifted his hips to help, never once trying to rush or take over.
“You’re killing me,” he breathed when you paused to look at him.
“You’ll live.”
“Debatable.”
You finished with his jeans, then sat back just long enough to pull your own shirt over your head. Johnny’s gaze tracked every movement, open and hungry, but his hands stayed where they were, resting on your thighs, waiting.
Only when you reached for his wrists and guided them higher did he touch you properly, palms sliding up your sides, thumbs brushing the undersides of your breasts through the thin fabric of your bra.
You let him explore for a moment. Let him learn the shape of you with careful, reverent hands. Then you reached back, unhooked the clasp yourself, and watched his expression change as the fabric fell away.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
You leaned down and kissed the sound from his mouth.
The rest of your clothes followed in the same measured pace. Johnny’s hands never left you for long, but he didn’t try to set the rhythm. He let you decide when to straddle him fully again, skin to skin, the heat of him pressed against you.
Let you decide when to roll your hips and draw that first broken groan from his throat. Let you decide when to reach between your bodies and guide him inside.
The stretch was slow. Johnny’s head tipped back against the blanket, eyes squeezed shut, hands gripping your hips hard enough to leave faint marks that would fade by morning.
You took him inch by inch until you were seated fully, breathing through the fullness, watching the way his throat worked as he fought to stay still.
“You good?” you asked quietly.
He nodded once, sharp. “Yeah. Just… give me a second.”
You gave him exactly that, then you began to move.
Slow at first. Deep, rolling your hips in a steady rhythm that made Johnny’s fingers dig into your skin. Every time you rose and sank back down, he made a sound, half curse, half prayer, and you cataloged each one.
When you leaned forward, bracing your hands on his chest, the new angle dragged a sharper noise from him. His eyes fluttered open, dazed and dark.
“Look at me,” you said.
He did.
You kept the pace deliberate even as heat built low in your stomach. Johnny’s hands slid up your back, then down again, restless, like he didn’t know where to put them.
You caught one of his wrists and pinned it lightly above his head against the blanket. His other hand stayed on your hip, guiding but never forcing.
“You’re—” he started, then broke off with a low moan when you rolled your hips just so. “God, you’re so—”
“Quiet,” you murmured, and kissed him to make the point.
He went beautifully quiet after that. Only the soft, punched-out sounds he couldn’t quite swallow remained, each one feeding the slow burn under your skin. You kept him there, held on the edge, for longer than either of you expected.
When his free hand finally slipped between your bodies and found the place that made your breath hitch, you let him. Allowed the extra friction, used it.
The orgasm rolled through you in a long, controlled wave. You stayed upright through it, hips still moving, riding it out while Johnny watched with something close to awe. Only when the last of it had passed did you lean down, lips against his ear.
“Your turn.”
You shifted the angle, took him deeper, and set a firmer rhythm. Johnny’s control frayed fast. His free hand gripped your waist hard; the one you still held above his head flexed uselessly against your fingers.
When he came, it was with a broken, almost desperate sound, hips stuttering up into yours as heat flooded between you. You stayed with him through it, slow and steady, until the tension finally left his body in a long exhale.
Johnny’s chest rose and fell beneath your palms. His eyes were closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, the usual easy confidence stripped down to something softer.
When you finally released his wrist, he didn’t immediately pull it back. He left it where it was for a few more breaths, as if the simple fact of being held still mattered.
Eventually you eased off him and reached for the edge of the blanket, tugging it up and around both of you. Johnny made a quiet, contented noise and shifted so you could settle against his side, head on his shoulder.
One of his arms came around you automatically, the other resting over your waist. The residual warmth of him soaked into your skin..
Johnny pressed a slow kiss to the top of your head. “So,” he said after a long moment. “That happened.”
You hummed.
“Any chance we can do it again sometime? Preferably somewhere with actual walls and fewer potential witnesses.”
“Possibly.”
“I’ll take it.”
His fingers traced idle patterns along your bare shoulder. The touch was unhurried, almost absentminded. After a while he spoke again.
“You know I’m still going to try to make you laugh, right? Even after… this.”
You tilted your head just enough to look at him and notice the soft blue of his eyes were calm now.
“I know.”
“Good.” He smiled. “Because that sound is still my new favorite thing.”
You didn’t answer. Instead, you let your eyes close and shifted closer, one leg sliding over his as Johnny’s arm tightened around you in answer.
that is all. hope you enjoyed! <33
the taglist system has been fucking me royally so i'm sorry if you are on this list and didn't get tagged IDK HOW TO FIX IT UGH >:(
taglist:
@midgardian-rogue @julxsxx @doomdabss @doodeesstuff @cicibananaaa @peterhollandkait @gunnersaurusrex @lisl0velettxrs @5lutforeddie @a-villain-vying-for-attention @fapqueen @sadgirl-bee @bowie-frommars @milescrypt @bitterestwillow @lnnn1n @youngbrokefab @ludachrissy @sisteramycatherine @izzycstairs @britttzy267 @eddiemunsonsimpp @powerpuffedbjtch @sariahs-stuff @cciessuzi @lilyquinnmunson @julxsxx @kozume-ko @obsessed-eddie @doomdabss @leelei1980 @hexqueensupreme @ches-86 @plaidamoosette @bobiverses @meadows-of-asphodel @whitakerstorm @brrrainst3w @serendipdipity01 @hypersexytoptobottom @m-art000 @walleloveseve @camsmunson101 @flavorfullsteve @peachpuffs25 @micheledawn1975 @whitakerstorm @cciessuzi @blackqueenie-18 @ggdawgg @velvetdimond @enne02 @ludachrissy @izzycstairs @abbysleftbicepp @britttzy267 @ssculker @eddiemunsonsimpp @powerpuffedbjtch @kylorensbaby @raeyas-ghost @lilyquinnmunson @this-issam @acrloved @ghoulishjewels @sespe08 @djoshairychest @foxygrrl @mortalselfprojected
i don't know why i'm seeing this video NOW but everything EVERY FUCKING THING is awesome??? his sweater, his nerdy look, his hands.. EVERYTHING
(this video got me all hot and bothered help)
Say whatever you want, but the way buzz cut Joseph owns me…
"Boyfriend"
description: your parents are very strict and would never approve of your new college-aged boyfriend, darren. so, nancy comes up with the perfect solution: introduce them to your "boyfriend", eddie munson, first. compared to the town pariah, darren should look like prince charming... if only fake dating eddie was as easy as you thought it'd be.
pairing: "boyfriend"!eddie munson x you (fem!reader)
tags: eddie munson x you, soft! eddie munson, fake dating, fake relationship, autumn/fall vibes, friends to lovers, slow burn, fluff as fuck, holding hands and forehead kisses "for the bit", eddie is a gentleman, drive-in movie date, acts of service! eddie, matching halloween costumes, darren never stood a chance, SO FUCKING FLUFFY PREPARE FOR TEARS OF JOY :D
TW: just go ahead and make your dentist appointment now tbh
WC: 8.3k (i'm SORRY i really loved writing this one, okay!?)
A/N: AH HELLOOOO!!! It's been a while since I've had a fic that I feel this deeply for, but here we are nonetheless. I am also leaving on Sunday for a much, much, much-needed 9-day vacation, so I'm going to try to feed you all with one or two more fics. reblogs are ssososososossoooo appreciated :) <3 enjoy my loves xoxo
"It's impossible, Nancy. Utterly and completely impossible."
You let your forehead fall dramatically against the cafeteria table with a soft thunk, your tray rattling beneath the impact. Across from you, Nancy barely looked up from the sad excuse for a school lunch she was methodically picking apart.
This wasn't the first time she'd listened to you spiral about your parents, and judging by the unimpressed look on her face, she doubted it'd be the last.
"Oh, will you stop whining?" she said, stabbing at a few peas with her plastic fork. "They cannot be that bad."
You lifted your head just enough to shoot her a look. "They're dictators."
"They're parents."
"They're prison wardens with a mortgage."
Nancy rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth twitched into a smile. "You are so dramatic."
"Says the girl whose mother once grounded her for getting a B-plus."
"That was one time."
"And she still brings it up."
Nancy couldn't exactly argue with that. With a sigh, she abandoned the mystery meat on her tray altogether and leaned back in her seat, folding her arms as she studied you.
You looked genuinely stressed, far more stressed than someone who'd only been dating a guy for a couple of months should've been.
"Darren's in college," you muttered, absentmindedly peeling the label off your milk carton. "He's already got one strike against him. Then there's the fact that he's older than me, which is strike two. By the time they actually meet him, they're going to have convinced themselves he's some twenty-five-year-old biker with a criminal record who's dragging me into a life of organized crime."
Nancy let out an amused snort. "You know that's not true."
"I know that's not true," you groaned. "But they don’t."
"You know what your issue is?"
You narrowed your eyes. "I've got several."
"You haven't given them anyone to compare Darren to."
"...What?"
"They've got nothing to measure him against." She gestured with her fork as if the answer were obvious. "You're terrified to introduce him because, in their minds, he's going to become the blueprint."
You blinked. "I don't follow."
Nancy leaned forward, lowering her voice despite the fact that nobody around you was paying the slightest bit of attention.
"You need to introduce them to someone worse first."
Your eyebrows knitted together. "...Worse?"
"Someone so unbelievably incompatible, so ridiculous, so catastrophically wrong for you..." A slow grin spread across her face. "That when they finally meet Darren, he'll look like the most respectable man on the planet."
You stared at her. "Nancy..."
"I'm serious."
"You want me to fake-date someone my parents would despise?"
"I want you to let them think you're dating someone they'd despise."
Silence. Then, almost against your own will, you felt the gears in your head begin to turn.
"...That's actually..."
"I know."
"...Kind of genius."
Nancy's smile widened. "I know."
Just as you were about to ask the far more important question: who on earth could possibly fit that description?...a familiar voice suddenly echoed across the cafeteria.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The two of you turned instinctively toward the source. "Oh, Christ," Nancy muttered.
Across the room, standing on top of one of the cafeteria benches as though he were addressing a crowd of thousands instead of a room full of teenagers trying to eat lunch, Eddie Munson threw his arms dramatically into the air.
"I would once again like to address the blatant discrimination against the Hawkins High Hellfire Club—"
You looked at Nancy, and Nancy looked at you, neither of you saying a word.
"...Him?" you asked slowly.
Nancy's grin returned. "Oh, definitely him."
“...Shit.” You mumbled under your breath. Before you could overthink it, you pushed your chair back from the table. The legs scraped loudly against the linoleum floor.
Taking one steadying breath, you squared your shoulders and started weaving your way through the maze of lunch tables toward the growing crowd surrounding Eddie's latest performance.
"Wait—" Nancy hurried after you. "I wasn't expecting you to do it right now."
"If I don't do it now," you muttered over your shoulder, "I'm going to lose my nerve."
"Right."
By the time the two of you reached the edge of the crowd, Eddie was still going strong.
"—and furthermore, if Hawkins High truly believes forcing Hellfire to relocate every other week is somehow constitutional—"
You exchanged one last glance with Nancy, so she gave you a tiny nod. Go.
Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in your throat, you carefully stepped through the cluster of students until you were standing close enough to reach him.
Then, before you could second-guess yourself…you gave the sleeve of his jacket a gentle tug. The effect was immediate, causing Eddie to stop midsentence.
"...constitutional ri—" His words died in his throat.
Slowly, almost cautiously, he looked down, and there you were. For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered if he'd imagined you. Because girls like you didn't usually interrupt his lunchtime speeches.
Hell, girls like you usually walked around him. He knew exactly who you were, of course. Everyone did.
You were one of those people whose name seemed to carry itself through the halls without any effort. Honor roll. Friends with Nancy Wheeler. Pretty enough that half the boys in school had, at one point or another, convinced themselves they had a chance before reality quickly corrected them.
You carried yourself with a quiet sort of confidence that made you seem untouchable. Not in a snobbish way, but in the way stars looked untouchable from Earth.
And now...you were standing in front of him. His brain, normally overflowing with smart remarks and sarcastic comebacks, came to a screeching halt. Eddie blinked once, then twice.
"...Uh..." He cleared his throat. "...Hi."
"Hi." You offered him a nervous smile, suddenly far less certain about marching over here than you'd been thirty seconds ago.
"Eddie," you began, tilting your head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Can we... uh... talk to you?"
His eyebrows climbed toward his hairline. "...Me?"
"In private," you added quickly, gesturing toward the audience that had practically doubled in size now that the two of you had approached him. More than a few people had abandoned their lunches entirely in favor of shamelessly eavesdropping.
Eddie glanced over your shoulder at the crowd.
"...I..." He rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to process whatever bizarre alternate universe he'd apparently wandered into. "...Yeah."
A crooked grin finally found its way onto his face. "Yeah, I think I can pencil you in."
Without another word, he hopped down from the cafeteria bench with an exaggerated flourish, dusted imaginary dirt from his jeans, and threw a dramatic glance toward the rest of Hellfire.
"Boys," he announced solemnly, "the revolution will have to wait." He shot you an almost sheepish smile as he caught up beside you.
"So..." His curiosity was practically radiating off him now. "...Lead the way."
The three of you didn't stop walking until the cafeteria noise had faded into little more than a dull echo behind you. The hallway sat blissfully empty during lunch period, save for the occasional locker slamming shut somewhere in the distance.
Eddie rocked back on the heels of his sneakers, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans before glancing between the two of you.
"So..." he drawled, a crooked grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Am I being recruited into a cult, or are you guys finally here to tell me I've won some sort of popularity contest?"
Nancy snorted. "Neither."
"Damn."
She exchanged a quick look with you before deciding to rip the bandage off.
"So, uh..." she started. "Eddie... how would you feel about being a fake boyfriend?"
Eddie blinked. "...Come again?"
"A fake boyfriend."
He frowned, eyes drifting toward Nancy. "...Wait."
"Aren't you and Byers still together?" His eyebrows knitted together in genuine confusion. "I mean..." He scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Sure, you're cool and all, Wheeler, but I kinda respect the guy."
Nancy stared at him for exactly half a second before letting out an exasperated groan.
"Oh, my God." She smacked his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Not for me."
Eddie rubbed his arm dramatically. "Ow."
"For her," Nancy clarified, throwing both hands toward you like a game show host revealing the grand prize.
His head snapped in your direction so quickly you were surprised he didn't give himself whiplash. "...Her?"
You gave him an awkward little wave. "Hi."
"You..." he said slowly, pointing at you as if he needed to make absolutely certain everyone was talking about the same person. "...want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"
"I know how insane that sounds."
"No, no." He held up both hands. "I'm just making sure I didn't hit my head getting off that cafeteria bench."
Nancy folded her arms. "Well?"
Eddie's bewildered expression slowly melted into one of pure curiosity. “I’m intrigued. What does this entail?”
You sigh, rocking on your heels. “Basically, I’ve been seeing this college boy, Darren. I’ve never ever been allowed to date, so I haven’t had a boyfriend yet. And considering he’s already in college, my parents would be uber pissed and never let it happen. So Nancy came up with this plan—”
“That you go out with me, your parents think he’s the golden boy, is that it?” He interrupts.
You pause abruptly, suddenly coming to the realization of how messed up and flat-out mean this all sounds.
“No— uh, shit, yeah, kinda. I’m sorry, this was such a bad idea. Forget I even asked—”
“Woah woah woah, I’m not saying no. I’m all for sticking it to the man or whatever. Just, what do I have to do? Movie dates and rides home?”
“I mean, yeah, kinda. We’d have to be together in every aspect. You know how people in this town love to talk. We have to sell it, y’know?”
Eddie's grin only grew wider.
"So..." He tilted his head. "We're talking the full boyfriend package."
You nodded sheepishly. "Pretty much."
He let out a low whistle. "Movie dates."
"Mhm."
"Walking you home."
"Probably."
"Holding your hand?"
You could feel warmth creeping into your cheeks. "...If people are around."
He hummed thoughtfully, stroking his chin like he was negotiating a business deal worth millions.
"...You realize," he said, unable to suppress the grin threatening to split his face in two, "if we're gonna sell this..."
He leaned in just a fraction. "...I'm gonna have to be the greatest fake boyfriend Hawkins has ever seen."
You couldn't help but laugh, shaking your head. "I don't think that'll be a problem."
"Oh?" Eddie asked, feigning offense. "You underestimate my dedication to the craft."
"I think I underestimate your ego."
"That's fair."
Nancy glanced between the two of you, already regretting how well you seemed to bounce off each other.
"So..." she interjected. "When exactly were you planning on starting this little social experiment?"
You looked back at Eddie. "Tomorrow."
His eyebrows shot up. "...Tomorrow?"
"My parents drop me off every morning."
"And?"
"And tomorrow..." A small smile tugged at your lips. "They won't have to."
The next morning started like any other. Alarm at 6:30 on the dot, shower, brush your hair and teeth, do your makeup, pick an outfit, and head downstairs for breakfast.
Your mother was in her usual spot in the kitchen, making the same eggs and whole-wheat toast. Your father sat at the head of the table, glasses low on his nose as he read the newspaper, mug of coffee steaming next to him.
“Morning, Hun,” he hummed. “We have to stop at the post office before school today. I gotta mail out my case notes.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Dad.” You said nervously. “I, uh, have a ride today.”
“Oh, did Nancy finally get her car fixed?” Your mother chimed in.
“Oh, uh, yeah, but…it’s not Nancy. Eddie’s actually picking me up.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Your father slowly folded up his newspaper and placed it on the counter. “Eddie? As in, Eddie Munson, Eddie?”
You winced. "...Yeah."
Your mother blinked. "The young man with the... leather?"
You almost laughed. "I think it's denim."
"The one with the chains?"
"...Probably."
"The long hair?"
"...Yes."
"The Hellfire Club?"
"...Yes."
"The one who's in detention every other Tuesday?"
You sighed. "...That's the one."
Your father leaned back in his chair, studying you with an expression that was somehow calmer than yelling would've been.
"And..." He clasped his hands together. "...Why, exactly, is Eddie Munson picking my daughter up for school?"
Your heart hammered against your ribs. “Because we’ve been…seeing eachother.”
Absolute, unwavering silence followed. Your mother and father exchanged looks before answering in unison:
"...What?"
You cleared your throat. "Eddie and I have been... seeing each other."
Your mother's wooden spatula slipped from her fingers, clattering against the stovetop. Your father stared at you as though you'd just announced you were dropping out of school to join the circus.
"I'm sorry," he said slowly. "I must've misheard you."
You forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. "You didn't."
"Since..." your mother began carefully, "...since when?"
"A little while."
"A little while?" your father echoed.
You nodded. "Mhm."
"And you neglected to mention this because..."
"I knew you'd react like this."
"We're reacting because you just informed us that you're dating Eddie Munson."
"I know."
You opened your mouth to argue more, but before you could, a loud, unmistakable rumble echoed from outside. It sounded like someone had awakened a dying dragon in your driveway.
All three of you turned toward the front window. The familiar roar of an aging engine settled into a rattling idle.
Your father slowly stood from the table. "...Is that him?"
As if on cue: Honk. One short beep, then another.
Your eyes squeezed shut. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
From somewhere outside came a voice that carried far too well through the quiet neighborhood. "Take your time, sweetheart!"
You whipped around toward the window in horror. "Oh, my God."
Your father walked over first, carefully pulling back the curtain with two fingers. Your mother joined him a second later.
"...Harold," she whispered.
"I see him."
"He brought flowers."
Your stomach dropped. Flowers? That wasn't part of the plan. Slowly, you walked toward the window yourself, peering over your father's shoulder. There, parked halfway into the driveway in the unmistakable rust-speckled Munson van, was Eddie.
He'd traded his usual leather jacket for his battle vest over a black T-shirt, his sunglasses perched on top of his head despite it barely being eight in the morning. And, resting casually against the side of the van like he'd rehearsed it in a mirror...
...was the single ugliest bouquet of flowers you had ever seen. Half of them looked dead, one of them might've been plastic. There was definitely baby's breath sticking out at an angle it wasn't meant to.
The second your eyes met his through the window, his face lit up. He flashed the biggest, cockiest grin imaginable before lifting the bouquet high into the air with an exaggerated little flourish. Then he gave you an enthusiastic wave.
Your father slowly let the curtain fall shut, and he turned to face you. "...He's brought you funeral flowers."
You pinched the bridge of your nose. "...I think they're supposed to be carnations."
You let out a slow, defeated sigh. "...I'll be home after school."
Neither of your parents responded. Your father simply stood with his arms folded across his chest, while your mother wore the same expression she'd had ever since the words Eddie Munson had left your mouth. It was somewhere between confusion and preparing for the worst.
Grabbing your backpack from beside the front door, you slipped your shoes on and reached for the handle. "Love you," you offered hopefully.
Your mother managed a weak smile. "...Love you too."
Your father nodded once. "We'll... talk tonight."
You swallowed. "...Sounds good."
The second the front door swung open, Eddie spotted you. He straightened from where he'd been leaning against the van, tucked the pitiful excuse for a bouquet behind his back with an almost comical flourish, and plastered on the biggest smile you'd ever seen.
"There she is!"
You had to physically stop yourself from laughing. He walked toward you with the confidence of someone arriving at prom instead of a suburban driveway at seven-thirty in the morning.
"Good morning, beautiful."
Beautiful? You'd known Eddie for less than twenty-four hours, and he was already improvising.
He stopped in front of you, producing the bouquet from behind his back like a magician revealing his greatest trick.
"For my lovely lady."
You looked down. They were somehow even uglier up close. One carnation had snapped clean in half.
"...You bought these?"
"I rescued them."
"From...?"
"The clearance bucket outside Melvald's."
You bit the inside of your cheek so hard it almost hurt.
"They were seventy-five percent off."
"How romantic."
"I know."
You accepted the bouquet, shaking your head. "They're hideous."
"I picked the worst ones."
"I can tell."
"Proud of me?"
"...A little."
His grin widened. "Excellent."
Then, before you had time to react, he reached out, brushed a stray strand of hair away from your face with surprising gentleness…and pressed a quick kiss to your forehead. It was quick, sweet, and almost innocent.
But if anyone happened to be watching from inside, it looked incredibly convincing. Your eyes widened ever so slightly. When he pulled away, he leaned in just enough to whisper:
"...Sorry."
You blinked. "For what?"
"I panicked."
"...You panic by kissing people?"
"Apparently."
Before you could answer, the front door creaked open behind you. Both of your parents stepped onto the porch.
Eddie immediately turned, the picture of charm. "Mr. and Mrs!," he called cheerfully, raising a hand in greeting. "Pleasure to finally meet you."
Your father looked him up and down. "...Is it?"
Eddie didn't miss a beat. "It certainly is for me, sir."
"So..." your father began slowly. "You're Eddie."
"The one and only."
"I've heard... things."
Eddie rested a hand dramatically over his heart. "I'm hoping only the good ones."
"I sincerely doubt they were."
"Oh." He nodded thoughtfully. "...Probably."
You could actually see your father's brain trying to determine whether Eddie was genuinely this odd or simply putting on a performance. Spoiler alert: it was both.
"So," your father continued, "you're driving my daughter to school."
"I am."
"You'll obey the speed limit."
"Absolutely."
"No reckless driving."
"Never."
"No funny business."
Eddie frowned slightly. "...Define funny."
You closed your eyes. "Eddie..."
"What?" he asked innocently. "I'm asking for clarification."
Your father's expression remained perfectly flat. "You know exactly what I mean."
Eddie's own smile softened. "I do."
Then, for the first time since he'd arrived, he answered without a trace of sarcasm. "I'll get her there safely, sir."
The sincerity in his voice caught everyone a little off guard; hell, even your father seemed surprised. After a moment, he gave one curt nod.
"I expect you will."
"I will."
With that, Eddie walked around to the passenger side of the van and pulled the door open with an exaggerated bow. "Your chariot awaits."
You rolled your eyes. "What a gentleman."
"I have my moments."
Climbing into the passenger seat, you waited until he rounded the front of the van and slid into the driver's seat before the two of you looked at one another. There was exactly half a second of silence, then you burst into laughter.
Eddie looked over, trying and failing to suppress his own smile. "...What's so funny?"
"You."
"Me?"
"You kissed my forehead!"
"You said we had to sell it."
"I did not say before eight in the morning!"
"You never specified business hours."
You laughed harder. "And those flowers?"
He gasped dramatically. "They cost me a dollar twenty-five."
"They looked like they'd already attended a funeral."
"They did."
You stared at him. "...What?"
"I may or may not have bought them from the cemetery."
Your jaw dropped. "Eddie!"
"I'm kidding!"
"...Were you?"
"...Mostly."
You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "I have made the biggest mistake of my entire life."
He shifted the van into gear, a smug grin settling onto his face. "Oh, sweetheart."
The engine rumbled to life. "We're only on day one."
The drive to school had only been the beginning. Once Eddie committed to something, it quickly became apparent that he didn't know how to do it halfway.
The second the first bell rang, he'd slung his backpack over one shoulder and casually fallen into step beside you as though the two of you had been doing it for years.
"History first?" he'd asked.
"Mhm."
"Excellent."
You'd expected him to walk you halfway there, maybe to the end of the hallway. Instead, he'd walked you all the way to your classroom, leaned casually against the doorframe while you gathered your books, and smiled down at you.
"I'll see you after second period."
"...You know my schedule?"
He'd pulled a folded piece of notebook paper from his pocket. "Made a copy."
You stared. "...When?"
"Nancy."
You looked over your shoulder at her, so Nancy simply shrugged. "He asked."
"You gave it to him?"
"He was very persuasive."
Eddie tucked the paper back into his vest. "I'm an actor, sweetheart. Continuity is everything."
Sure enough, the moment second period ended, he was already waiting outside your classroom. Then again after third. Then fourth. By lunchtime, the entire school had noticed.
Girls whispered when you walked past. Basketball players openly stared. Freshmen practically dove out of Eddie's way when he slipped an arm lazily over your shoulders while walking through the hallway.
If anyone had doubted the relationship that morning, they certainly didn't anymore. Which was exactly why you found yourself carrying your lunch tray toward the Hellfire table instead of your usual seat beside Nancy.
You stopped dead in your tracks. "...People are going to think I've lost my mind."
Eddie looked up from unwrapping his sandwich. "They already think that."
"...Helpful."
He scooted over and pulled up a chair for you. "C'mon."
With a resigned sigh, you slid in beside him. Almost immediately, the rest of Hellfire fell silent. Gareth looked at Jeff. Jeff looked at Mike. Mike looked at Dustin. Dustin's eyes darted between you and Eddie so fast you were surprised they didn't get stuck.
"...Holy shit," Gareth muttered.
"It's real," Jeff whispered.
Eddie looked offended. "You doubted me?"
"We doubted her."
You couldn't even blame them. A few minutes later, Nancy and Jonathan wandered over, trays in hand.
"Mind if we join?" Jonathan asked.
"Please do," you replied. "I need normal people."
Eddie gasped dramatically.
By the final bell, your social battery had all but evaporated. Being the center of attention all day was exhausting. You were halfway through stuffing books into your locker when Nancy appeared beside you.
"So..." she began.
You looked up.
"I think Phase One was a success."
"You think?"
"I've already heard three different people say they 'always knew' you and Eddie had chemistry."
You groaned. "People are unbelievable."
"They're bored."
"Fair."
Jonathan joined the two of you, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. "Speaking of bored..."
Nancy suddenly snapped her fingers. "Oh!"
She looked between you and Eddie. "I almost forgot."
"What?"
"The drive-in's doing a horror double feature tomorrow night."
Eddie perked up immediately. "...Seriously?"
Jonathan nodded. "I drove past this morning."
"They're showing The Evil Dead and A Nightmare on Elm Street."
Eddie's jaw practically hit the floor. "No way."
"Way."
"They never play good movies."
"I know."
Nancy smiled. "Jonathan wanted to go..."
Jonathan looked over at her. "...Did I?"
"You do now."
He chuckled. "I guess I do."
She turned back toward you and Eddie. "You guys should come."
You blinked.
"As..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "...A couple."
You looked instinctively toward Eddie.
"A public date," he mused. "Excellent for maintaining the illusion."
Nancy laughed. "See? He's getting it."
"Oh, he got it the second he showed up with cemetery flowers."
"They weren't cemetery flowers," Eddie defended.
"They were discount flowers."
"There's a difference."
Jonathan smiled, shaking his head. "So..."
He looked between the two of you. "Tomorrow night?"
You glanced at Eddie, and he gave a tiny shrug. "I'm free."
"...Yeah." You nodded. "I think we'd like that."
The following evening arrived far quicker than you would've liked. Somewhere between surviving an entire day of whispers at school and convincing your mother that, yes, you really were just going to the drive-in with "friends," the reality of the situation had begun to settle in.
You were going on your first date. Granted, it was fake. But somehow that only made your stomach twist even more.
After changing into a pair of jeans, one of your favorite sweaters, and throwing on a light coat for the chilly October air, you gave yourself one final look in the hallway mirror.
"Ready?" your mother called from downstairs.
"As I'll ever be."
The words had barely left your mouth when the doorbell rang. Your father looked up from his armchair.
"That'll be him." You exchanged a quick glance with your mother before making your way toward the front door, only for your father to beat you there. "I'll get it."
The door swung open, and standing on the porch was Eddie.
His curls had clearly been tamed…well, as much as Eddie Munson's curls could ever be tamed.
He'd swapped his usual ripped Hellfire shirt for a plain black waffle long-sleeved shirt. His jeans were still ripped, his boots still scuffed, and there were just as many rings decorating his fingers as always.
He'd made an effort, in the most Eddie way possible.
The moment he saw your father, he straightened. "Evening, sir."
Your father regarded him carefully. "...Munson."
"Eddie works."
Your father didn't smile. "I'm sure it does."
You quickly slipped between them before things could somehow become awkwarder than they already were. "Hi."
The second Eddie looked at you, his entire expression softened. "...Wow."
You felt heat creep into your cheeks. "What?"
"You..." He smiled to himself before shaking his head. "You look really nice."
"...Thanks."
Your father cleared his throat, and Eddie immediately remembered where he was.
"Right." He clasped his hands behind his back almost like a soldier awaiting inspection. "So..."
Your father folded his arms. "So."
"I understand we're going to the drive-in."
"We are."
"And I understand Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler will be there."
"They will."
"Good."
"You'll have her home by eleven."
Eddie nodded immediately. "Absolutely."
"If plans change, she calls."
"Of course."
"If that van breaks down—"
"It won't."
Your father raised an eyebrow. "It might."
"...It might."
"And if it does?"
"I'll call."
"You won't let her walk home alone."
"I wouldn't let her walk across the parking lot alone."
Your father's posture eased... just a fraction. "Good."
He stepped aside. "You kids have fun."
"We will, sir."
As you stepped off the porch, Eddie quietly reached for your hand. You glanced down at your intertwined fingers before looking back up at him.
He leaned over just enough to murmur, "...Audience."
You looked back toward the front window, and sure enough, your parents were watching through the curtains. "...Right."
The drive itself was surprisingly easy. The windows were cracked just enough to let the cool autumn air drift through the van while some old rock station played quietly over the speakers.
You talked about school. About Gareth somehow managing to fail another chemistry quiz. About Dustin insisting he'd seen a UFO behind Family Video. By the time the glowing marquee for the Hawkins Drive-In appeared in the distance, you'd almost forgotten this wasn't real.
Eddie paid for both of your tickets before steering toward the back row.
You frowned. "...Shouldn't we park closer?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
He killed the engine before hopping out of the driver's seat. "C'mere."
Curiosity getting the better of you, you followed him around to the back of the van. He swung the rear doors open with both hands.
"...Ta-da."
You stopped walking. "...Eddie."
The inside of the van looked nothing like you'd expected.
The back seats had been folded flat, replaced with what looked like every blanket he owned layered over an old mattress pad. Pillows were piled against the sides, making a little nest beneath a strand of warm white battery-powered string lights he'd somehow managed to drape across the ceiling.
There were even two lawn chairs folded neatly in the corner in case you wanted to sit outside instead.
"...What..."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "So..."
You climbed a little closer, running your hand across one of the impossibly soft blankets. "You did all this?"
He shrugged like it was no big deal. "I figured drive-ins are more fun when you're comfortable."
Your eyes wandered farther; a little cooler sat tucked against the wall. Curious, you opened it. Inside were glass bottles of Coke, your favorite cherry licorice, peanut M&M's, movie theater butter popcorn. Even the little strawberry candies you'd absentmindedly mentioned liking while sitting at lunch two days ago.
You looked back at him. "...How do you even know all of this?"
"You told Gareth those strawberry candies reminded you of your grandma."
You blinked. "...You remembered that?"
"Sure."
Still speechless, you reached into the back again.
"...Is this..." You pulled out a folded gray sweatshirt. "...Mine?"
"Nah." He laughed. "It's mine."
You looked at him, confused.
"It's supposed to get cold later."
"So?"
"So..." He looked at you like the answer was obvious. "You complained yesterday that you always underestimate how cold October gets."
"...I did."
"So I brought an extra sweatshirt."
You stared at him. "Eddie..."
For the first time since you'd met him, he actually looked a little shy. "What?"
"I thought this was supposed to be fake."
"It is."
"You didn't have to do..." You gestured helplessly toward the cozy little setup he'd somehow built in the back of the van. "...all of this."
A grin slowly spread across his face. "Oh."
He leaned casually against the open door. "...This?"
You nodded, and he shrugged. "Fake boyfriend package."
You laughed. "No."
"What?"
"This is way above the fake boyfriend package."
He feigned offense. "You wound me."
"Eddie."
"I'm serious."
He pointed into the van. "Blankets."
Another finger. "Snacks."
Another. "Emergency sweatshirt."
He spread both hands proudly. "I'm providing a premium service here."
You laughed so hard you had to grab the side of the van to steady yourself. "I'm going to have to leave you a five-star review."
"Damn right you are."
Then, quieter, his grin softening into something far less performative.
"I just..." He looked over the little setup. "...Figured if we're pretending to date..."
His shoulders lifted in a small shrug. "...You should get at least one really good date out of it."
The drive-in ended up being surprisingly perfect. Neither of you paid much attention to the first movie.
Instead, the two of you spent most of it making sarcastic commentary under your breath, sharing popcorn, and arguing over whether The Evil Dead was genuinely terrifying or just "creative low-budget filmmaking," as Eddie insisted.
By the second feature, the October air had turned considerably colder. Without saying a word, Eddie reached behind him, grabbed the sweatshirt he'd packed, and draped it over your shoulders before you even had the chance to complain.
You'd rolled your eyes as he'd simply grinned. "Premium service."
By the time the credits rolled, your cheeks hurt from smiling.
True to his word, Eddie pulled into your driveway at exactly 10:50, ten whole minutes before your curfew. Your father was already waiting on the porch, arms crossed, watching.
Eddie climbed out first, walking around to open your door before helping you step down from the van with an exaggerated flourish. "Milady."
You curtsied dramatically. "Thank you, kind sir."
He placed a hand over his heart. "My pleasure."
Your father watched the exchange carefully as the two of you walked toward the porch. "You made good time."
Eddie nodded. "Told you I would."
Your father checked his watch. "...You're early."
"I figured ten minutes was a safe buffer."
"...Smart."
It wasn't exactly praise. But coming from your father, it was pretty damn close.
"Goodnight, sir."
"Goodnight, Eddie."
You glanced between them. "...Goodnight."
As you headed inside, you couldn't help but notice your father watching Eddie climb back into the van.
Your mother appeared beside him. "So?"
He kept his eyes on the driveway. "...He was respectful."
You nearly tripped over your own feet. Respectful? From your father? Maybe hell really had frozen over.
One fake date somehow became two, then three. Then somewhere along the line, the lines started blurring.
Eddie still picked you up for school almost every morning. He still walked you to every class. He'd started carrying your books without asking. Holding doors open. Stealing fries off your lunch tray despite insisting he "didn't want any."
You'd retaliated by drinking half his chocolate milk whenever he looked away. A silent war had begun that neither of you intended to lose.
The town, of course, ate it up. Mrs. Thompson at Melvald's gave the two of you a knowing smile every time you stopped in after school. The librarian had started saving romance novels "for the young couple." Even Principal Higgins had caught Eddie kissing the top of your head outside English one afternoon.
Instead of detention, he'd simply sighed. "Keep it appropriate, Munson."
"Always do."
The moment Higgins rounded the corner, Eddie looked down at you. "...That counted, right?"
You laughed. "I think we sold it."
"Excellent."
The phone calls hadn't been part of the plan. It started because Eddie called one evening to ask if your father had "bought the hand-holding today."
That conversation lasted fifteen minutes. The next night became thirty. By Friday, the two of you had somehow spent nearly two hours talking about everything and absolutely nothing.
Favorite movies. Childhood stories. Music. Why Garfield was objectively the funniest comic strip ever printed.
You'd started waiting for the sound of your phone ringing around nine every night. And like clockwork, you’d always answered.
Before long, pretending started feeling easy and dangerously comfortable. Sometimes you'd catch yourself laughing before Eddie even finished the joke.
Sometimes he'd bring you your favorite soda without asking. Sometimes he'd absentmindedly reach for your hand crossing a parking lot before either of you remembered there wasn't actually anyone around to witness it.
Neither of you acknowledged those moments; you simply kept the "bit" going.
"So." Jonathan leaned back in his cafeteria chair one afternoon, looking around the table. "I heard something."
Nancy looked up from her sandwich. "...Should we be worried?"
"Probably."
Eddie nodded approvingly. "I like where this is going."
Jonathan ignored him. "My friend at community college said there's a party this Saturday."
That immediately caught everyone's attention. "A college party?" Nancy asked.
Jonathan nodded. "Apparently one of the fraternities is throwing a Halloween thing."
You, Nancy, and Eddie exchanged glances. None of you had been to a college party before. Jonathan noticed the exchange and smiled.
"I was thinking..." He pointed between the two of you. "You guys should come."
Nancy perked up immediately. "Oh my God, yes."
"It'd be fun," Jonathan continued. "Nobody there knows either of you, so there's no pressure. Just music, some booze..." He shrugged. "Besides, Darren goes there, doesn't he?"
Your stomach flipped. "...Yeah."
Jonathan smiled. "Perfect."
Nancy's eyes widened as the implications dawned on her. "Oh."
"Oh."
Nancy was the first one to put the pieces together. Her eyes widened as she looked between you and Eddie. "...Wait."
You glanced over.
"If your parents think Eddie's taking you..." She pointed toward Jonathan. "...Then they'll have absolutely no problem letting you go."
You nodded absentmindedly. "...I guess."
Jonathan shrugged. "And if Darren happens to be there..."
The name hit you like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over your head.
Darren. Right.
For a brief, almost embarrassing moment, you'd forgotten. Not forgotten him, exactly. Just forgotten that he was the entire reason any of this had started.
Your mind flashed back to the phone call you'd had with him a few nights earlier. The conversation had been nice, comfortable even. He'd asked how school was going. You'd told him "good." He'd told you about a biology exam. You'd wished him luck.
Then, before hanging up, you'd mentioned you couldn't talk much longer because Eddie was supposed to call in a few minutes. Only after you'd said it had you realized how naturally the words had come out.
You blinked. "...Oh."
Eddie noticed the shift in your expression almost immediately. "What?"
You looked back at the table. "...Nothing."
Jonathan continued, oblivious. "He'll probably be there somewhere."
“Yeah…” You said, sinking into your seat. "Probably."
By the time the night of the party rolled around, you were equal parts nervous and excited. The excitement, however, had very little to do with the party itself. It had everything to do with the ridiculous argument you'd had with Eddie three nights prior.
"If we're going," he'd said over the phone, "we're wearing matching costumes."
You'd laughed. "No."
"Yes."
"Absolutely not."
"We're a couple."
"A fake couple."
"A distinction with very little importance."
You'd groaned into the receiver. "Eddie..."
"We have to sell it."
"We're already selling it."
"No, sweetheart." You could practically hear the grin in his voice. "We're raising the bar."
Which explained why you were currently standing in front of your bedroom mirror wearing a black, studded mini dress layered over a fishnet top, ripped tights, and heavy combat boots. A spiked choker sat snug around your neck.
Your hair had been teased and left wild, half-pinned back with a chain clip Eddie had insisted on adding himself earlier.
“Needs more attitude,” he’d said, concentrating like he was defusing a bomb.
You’d called it ridiculous; he’d called it perfect.
A knock sounded downstairs.
"He's here!" your mother called.
You grabbed your leather jacket, shrugging it on as you hurried downstairs. The second you rounded the corner into the foyer, Eddie looked up and promptly forgot how to speak.
Gone were the ripped jeans and Hellfire tee. Instead, he wore black skinny jeans, a sleeveless band tee layered under a distressed denim vest covered in patches, and heavy boots that looked like they’d seen more than one mosh pit.
Eddie had somehow managed to style his own hair into a wild, voluminous mess of teased curls and waves, half of it pulled back with a chain and leather wrap, the rest spilling around his face like he’d stepped straight out of a metal album cover.
A few strands fell into his eyes, but he didn’t brush them away. He just stared at you.
"...Holy shit."
You smiled. "What?"
"You..." He shook his head slowly, like he couldn’t quite process it. "You actually did it."
"You look like you belong in a band."
"I do belong in a band."
"You belong in a very loud band."
He grinned, stepping closer. "You look..." His voice softened just slightly. "...Really good."
You felt heat rise in your cheeks. "You don’t look so bad yourself."
Your father chose that exact moment to clear his throat. The two of you jumped apart as though you'd been caught committing a crime.
"Evening, Eddie."
"Sir..."
Your father looked him over. "...Interesting costume."
Eddie glanced down at himself. "Thanks."
"You know..." Your father folded his arms. "...People in bands tend to make questionable life choices."
Eddie nodded seriously. "Yeah, I’ve heard that. I’m trying to keep my record clean tonight, sir."
That earned the smallest twitch at the corner of your father’s mouth.
"So," your father continued, "college party."
"Yes, sir."
"You understand there’ll be drinking."
"There probably will be."
"You won’t be."
"No, sir."
"You’ll make sure she isn’t."
"I will."
"And if anything feels off..."
"We leave." He finishes.
Your father studied him for another second before nodding. "...Midnight."
"We’ll be back before then."
He looked toward you. "Phone?"
You held it up.
"Wallet?"
You patted your pocket.
"Keys?"
Eddie jingled them.
"...Have fun."
The fraternity house was impossible to miss. Music thumped loudly enough to rattle the windows while clusters of college students spilled across the front lawn, laughing beneath strings of orange lights and fake cobwebs. The moment the four of you stepped out of the van, heads turned.
Jonathan leaned toward Nancy. "...I think they win."
Nancy smiled. "They absolutely win."
One college girl walking past pointed excitedly. "Oh, my God!" She laughed. “Sharron and Ozzie!"
Eddie immediately slid an arm around your shoulders. "See?" he murmured. "Worth it."
"...Debatable."
Inside, the house was somehow even louder. A surprising number of people in ripped band tees and eyeliner that looked suspiciously rushed. You spent the first hour simply existing.
You danced exactly once, mostly because Eddie refused to accept no for an answer.
"You have two options," he'd informed you.
"Dance..." He held out one hand. "...Or I throw a fit in this living room."
"...Those aren't good options."
"They absolutely are."
You’d taken his hand before he embarrassed both of you. Nancy had laughed so hard she’d nearly spilled her drink. You were having genuine amounts of fun, almost enough to make you forget why you were there in the first place.
"I'm gonna find the bathroom," you announced after another song ended.
Finding the bathroom proved far easier than finding your way back. You’d barely stepped into the upstairs hallway before a familiar voice stopped you in your tracks.
"...Babe?"
Your heart skipped, and slowly, you turned around. "Darren?"
He smiled, equally surprised. "I thought Jonathan said you might be coming."
"I almost didn't."
He laughed. "I didn't think I'd actually run into you."
"So..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You look nice."
You smiled politely. "Thanks. You too."
His eyes drifted over your costume. "...Metal?"
"Mhm."
"Cute."
"So..." he asked carefully. "How've you been?"
Meanwhile downstairs, Eddie checked his watch. "Huh."
Jonathan looked over. "What?"
"She's been gone a while."
Nancy frowned. "...You're right."
"I'll go find her."
"You know where the bathroom is?"
"I'll figure it out."
He checked one door, and then another.
Then, "...Oh."
His footsteps stopped because halfway down the hall stood you. Laughing, talking with a guy: college-aged, a little taller than him, and standing much closer than Eddie would've liked.
Darren. Of course. This was literally the entire reason any of this existed.
His grip around his cup tightened as he watched Darren smile at something you said and watched you smile back.
What had he expected? That you’d forget about the guy you’ve been trying so hard to introduce to your parents?
That this fake relationship had somehow...He cut the thought off before it finished. The cup slipped through his fingers, and it clinked softly against the floor.
Your head whipped toward the sound. "Eddie?"
Your eyes had met then, and he stared at you solemnly for a second before shaking his head and scurrying away.
"Eddie!"
You looked back at Darren only long enough to offer an apologetic smile. "I'm... I'm sorry. I have to go."
Before he could answer, you were already hurrying after the retreating figure, disappearing down the staircase.
“Eddie! Hey…Jesus Christ, you walk fast—Fuck, hey!”
You finally caught his wrist just as he pushed through the front door of the fraternity house; the October air hit both of you immediately.
"Eddie."
He stopped walking, and for a second, you swore he'd turn around. He didn't. Instead, he let out a slow breath through his nose, staring out at the sea of cars parked along the lawn.
"...You should go back inside."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I was literally coming to find you."
"No." He laughed once, humorlessly. "You were talking to Darren."
"I was saying hello."
"Mhm."
"Eddie."
He finally turned around then, his eyes glossy. He wasn’t crying, not yet, but somewhere dangerously close. "You don't have to explain yourself."
"What?"
"You don't owe me an explanation."
"I wasn't trying to—"
"No." He shook his head. "Seriously."
He laughed a short and almost bitter laugh. "You don't."
You frowned. "You're my—"
He cut you off. "Fake boyfriend.
“You were talking to the guy you actually like." He shrugged. "I get it."
"No, you don't."
"I do."
"No—"
"I was just..." He rubbed both hands over his face before letting out another disbelieving laugh. "Jesus Christ."
His shoulders slumped. "What the hell did I think was gonna happen?"
"Eddie..."
"What?" he asked, throwing one hand into the air. "That I actually convinced myself the prettiest girl in Hawkins High was gonna wake up one morning and decide she wanted me?"
He wasn't looking at you anymore; his gaze was fixed beyond your shoulder, talking more to himself than to you.
"I'm the fucking freak."
"Eddie—"
"And somewhere along the way..." He shook his head. "I forgot."
You stepped closer. "You forgot what?"
"That this..." He gestured between the two of you. "...was never real. You know what the worst part is?"
"Eddie..."
"I started believing it. I started believing all the stupid little things."
He counted them off on his fingers. "The phone calls. The drive-in. You stealing my fries. You laughing at my dumb jokes."
He laughed again. "I started thinking..." He stopped himself. "No."
"Eddie, finish that sentence."
"I started thinking maybe..." His jaw tightened. "Maybe you actually enjoyed being around me."
"I do."
"You have to."
"No."
"You literally have to!" he exclaimed, his voice finally rising. "That's the whole deal!"
"I don't."
"You don't?"
"I don't have to."
He blinked as you took another step forward. "I call you because I want to."
He stared.
"I laugh because you're funny. I go to the record store with you because I like going. With you."
"Eddie..." You swallowed. "I would've kept talking to Darren for maybe another minute."
You gestured toward the house. "I chased after you. Like, I've barely thought about Darren this entire month."
Those words surprised both of you, mainly because you hadn't meant to say them out loud.
"I..." You frowned. "I don't know when that happened."
"Eddie..."
He looked away. "I really don't want you to say something just because you feel bad."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
He let out another dry laugh, shaking his head. "You don't have to spare my feelings."
"I'm not trying to spare your feelings, you idiot!"
Your chest rose and fell rapidly as you searched for the right words. "I don't know how else to say this."
"You don't have to say anything."
"Yes, I do."
"Eddie..." Your voice softened. "I like you."
He smiled sadly. "I know."
"No." You shook your head. "I don't think you do."
He frowned.
"I like you. Like..."
You let out a nervous laugh, one hand coming up to rub the back of your neck. "Like, I genuinely like you."
He froze so much so that you could almost see the sentence replaying itself in his head. "...What?"
"I like you."
"No, you don't."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I really, really do."
He stared at you as though you'd started speaking another language. "You came up with this whole fake dating thing because of Darren."
"I know."
"You wanted me to make him look better."
"I know."
"You've been trying to introduce him to your parents for weeks."
"I know."
"So..." He gave another confused laugh. "How the hell does this happen?"
You laughed through the tears threatening to form. "I don't know."
"I think..." You looked down at your shoes before meeting his eyes again.
"I think it happened somewhere between you showing up with those horrible flowers..."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"...And remembering my favorite candy."
You smiled weakly. "And the drive-in. And the phone calls. And you walking me to every class. You remembered all the little things I said without me ever asking you to."
"You made pretending feel so easy that..." You shook your head. "...I forgot we were pretending."
His lips parted. "I almost forgot Darren existed."
The admission hung in the cool night air.
"I went the entire time without thinking about him once." You laughed softly to yourself. "And then Jonathan mentioned the college party..."
You shrugged helplessly. "...And I realized I'd spent more time wondering what costume we would wear rather than seeing Darren."
"So..." You offered him the smallest, most nervous smile he'd ever seen.
"I guess somewhere along the way..."
You reached down and gently took his hand. "...I stopped fake dating you."
He looked down at your intertwined fingers, then back up at you. "...You're serious."
You nodded. "I've never been more serious."
He smiled so wide it almost looked painful. "...Guess I'm gonna have to start putting in some real boyfriend effort now, huh?"
“Should I be afraid to find out what that entails?”
“Oh yeah. Very much so.”
me giggling and kicking my feet at how cute ts is
since ik you all far too well and love adding more projects for myself...
part 2?🫣
pls bea i beg u
no bc im lame
taglist:
@midgardian-rogue @julxsxx @doomdabss @doodeesstuff @cicibananaaa @peterhollandkait @gunnersaurusrex @lisl0velettxrs @5lutforeddie @a-villain-vying-for-attention @fapqueen @sadgirl-bee @bowie-frommars @milescrypt @bitterestwillow @lnnn1n @youngbrokefab @ludachrissy @sisteramycatherine @izzycstairs @britttzy267 @eddiemunsonsimpp @powerpuffedbjtch @sariahs-stuff @cciessuzi @lilyquinnmunson @julxsxx @kozume-ko @obsessed-eddie @doomdabss @leelei1980 @hexqueensupreme @ches-86 @plaidamoosette @bobiverses @meadows-of-asphodel @whitakerstorm @brrrainst3w @serendipdipity01 @hypersexytoptobottom @m-art000 @walleloveseve @camsmunson101 @flavorfullsteve @peachpuffs25 @micheledawn1975 @whitakerstorm @cciessuzi @blackqueenie-18 @ggdawgg @velvetdimond @enne02 @ludachrissy @izzycstairs @abbysleftbicepp @britttzy267 @ssculker @eddiemunsonsimpp @powerpuffedbjtch @kylorensbaby @raeyas-ghost @lilyquinnmunson @this-issam @acrloved @ghoulishjewels @sespe08 @djoshairychest @foxygrrl @mortalselfprojected
just moaned
the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be apart of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.
never forget what the beatles took from us
🔥🥵🔥 JOSEPH QUINN as JOHNNY STORM / HUMAN TORCH THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025)
God damn, he's beautiful! 😍 Prefer his real brown eyes, though. 👁️👃🏻👁️
Happy 1 year of the best Johnny Storm and the best Fantastic 4!!!! 💙🧡💙🧡
They made me love Marvel again and it was so nice to fall in love with another character from the MCU. Can't wait to see them in Avengers Doomsday! They beter be ok by the end! 🤧
one year ago, the fantastic four : first steps released in theaters
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) dir. Wolfgang Reitherman & John Lounsbery
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm
Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
RIP Eddie Munson, you would’ve loved me.


