Warnings: Fluff, mutual pining, best friends to lovers, suggestive language, mentions of feeling insecure
Summary: Johnny braves the snowstorm to your house, you brave the storm to let him into your heart.
Word Count: 4.6k
A/N: I don’t think I’ll ever be able to write as good as my last fic but here’s some sweet johnny to make up for it 🫂 sorry for all the world building I need someone to tell me when to shut up !!
Of all the times for a snowstorm to hit, it just had to be the week your best friend finally got home on leave.
For the past few months, seeing Johnny again had been the only thing on your mind. You two kept in as much contact as you could, texting each other when he was able to and exchanging letters while he was deployed. The last time you two talked, his excitement was evident even on pencil and paper about the prospect of being reunited with you, the same words that echoed every time he was away over the course of your friendship.
It seemed like fate brought you together all those years ago when a simple walk in the park to clear your mind coincided with the casual football match Johnny was playing with the lads. One errant ball flying your way led to your world spinning, in multiple ways, as you landed on the ground with a huff, a broad set of shoulders slamming against your own as your eyes met the most delicate pools of blue. Coupled with his tousled mohawk, scruffy stubble and that jagged scar on his chin, it was hard not to notice how ruggedly handsome he was. He took your breath away.
Truly, he took it away. The wind was knocked out of you after his miraculous dive stopped the ball from flying into the woods but failed to spare you from being body slammed into the grass. The view made up for it, however, and so did getting to hear that wonderful Scottish accent as apology after apology spilled from his lips.
Name was John MacTavish, he said, but you could call him Johnny. This was not how a woman should be treated by a man like him, so why don’t you let him buy you a coffee sometime to make up for it? One quick exchange of phone numbers plus a flash of a boyish grin and he was running back to the field, leaving you standing there to wonder if that actually just happened.
He was a man of his word, evidently, because your phone buzzed that night with plans to meet up at his favorite local coffee shop. It took all you had in you to swallow down your nerves and agree to his plans for the next day. He was a gentleman through and through, pulling out your chair and pointing out his favorites on the menu. The conversation flowed naturally, even when you eventually let him take over while you kept quiet and nervously bounced your leg under the table. Johnny picked up on this, but didn’t let your shyness deter him or make things awkward like so many others had tried to do in the past. It made you feel more calm in his presence, knowing that he had only known you less than a day and already understood you.
Johnny told you about his family in Scotland, his sisters that he insisted would absolutely find you endearing and his mum who would be thankful he was actually putting himself out there, especially around a woman as ‘bonnie’ as yourself. You asked him what that unfamiliar word meant and couldn’t stop your breath from catching after he told you he was calling you pretty. Just your luck you managed to run into a guy who was so casually flirty and effortlessly attractive.
The rest of that afternoon together went smoothly, and it was only right before you parted ways that he told you about his status in the army, admitting his schedule was iffy at best but he would like to do this again when he’s back home, if you wanted to, and he would pull whatever strings he could to put in the effort to fit you in.
In all honesty, you never thought you’d see him again after that. Even after your so-called meet cute that all your friends gushed about the moment you told them about it, and the ‘date’ where you found yourself completely captivated by the sergeant. You’re admittedly shocked when he keeps in contact with you, sending you message after message about anything and everything. You’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t acknowledge that you were falling for Johnny.
You didn’t have any qualms about dating a military man, but there was that voice in the back of your head gnawing at you that he would be simply settling if you got with him. The chemistry you two shared was palpable, however, and you were more than happy to stay friends with Johnny. You two were quick to talk almost every day, and it was when he came home from that first deployment after your paths crossed that he took you to meet his family. Turns out they did indeed like you just as much as he said they would.
All these years later, and you can confidently say the man who barreled you over that day in the park was now your best friend you couldn’t live without. Funny how that works.
This past deployment was one of his longest yet, weeks turning into months as you rarely were able to hear from him. Letters helped, but all you wanted to do was to be able to have him in front of you once more.
You didn’t know why, but all the feelings that had materialized back when you met him started to resurface during this time too. Maybe it was the way he did anything he could to be able to communicate with you, the sketches he mailed with a ‘wish you were here, darling’ attached to them. The idea of being more than friends with Johnny started to cloud your thoughts about him.
All this just made it that more disappointing when the snow that was initially meant to be mild turned out to be a full out blizzard. Your heart was heavy as you shot Johnny a text telling him you weren’t going to be able to make it over to him, tossing your phone somewhere on the couch as you curled up on it to try to keep yourself warm.
The heating must’ve been on the fritz again, because you could swear it felt colder inside than it did outside. You brought your knees to your chest, tucking your chin behind them as you tried not to cry from the sheer frustration of not getting to see Johnny and having to get turned into a miserable human icicle at the same time.
You were just about to drag yourself to bed to make your brain shut off for the rest of the day when you heard knocking at your front door. Who would be crazy enough to be out in such a snowstorm? You probably should’ve been able to piece it together just from that thought alone, but all you could think at the moment was if fight or flight was going to win out.
“Lass? Open up. Dinnae know how much longer I can be out here.” You’d know that voice from anywhere. Unbelievable. You slowly make your way over to the door, cautiously opening it to try and prevent it from slamming against the wall from the sheer force of the wind.
“Johnny? What the hell are you doing?”
He looks like a lost puppy. Blue eyes staring at you almost pathetically while standing in at least a foot of snow. Those pretty eyes of his light up when he sees you, even though you can tell he’s tired from everything he’s gone through the past few months.
You look him up and down, soaking in the sight of the Scot in front of you. The bottom of his jeans are soaked from making contact with the snow, his hoodie either a size too small or his muscles a size too big. Not wearing any gloves and the tips of his ears are red from the wind. And yet, still so ridiculously good looking.
“Where's your hat?” You sigh after he does nothing but shrug sheepishly.
“Didnae wanna mess up the hair.”
“That’s what it looks like when it’s cleaned up?” You raise an eyebrow at him, flashing your teeth to let him know you’re just messing with him, really. The mohawk looks perfect no matter what he does to it.
Your heart flutters when he cocks his head to the side and grins back at you. God he looks handsome when he smiles.
“I’m kidding, MacTavish. You look good. C’mere.” You bury your face in his hoodie, holding onto him tightly like he’ll disappear if you don’t keep him grounded. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you more.” He sighs softly as he lets his broad arms completely envelope you. You two stay like that for what feels like forever before he reluctantly pulls away, slipping his backpack off his shoulder and unzipping it to pull out one of his spare hoodies.
“Had a feeling you wouldn’t be bundled up enough. Here.” You lift your arms up as he slips the jacket over you, immediately warming you up and filling your senses with his own scent that you’ll never get enough of.
“Thank you Johnny.” you murmur, smiling yet again as he folds the sleeves perfectly over your wrists. You wonder if he’s ever noticed he’s the only one who’s ever been able to make you feel this happy.
“Dinnae mention it. It’s the least I could do.” he replies, completely nonchalantly as he makes his way through the living room.
“Johnny, you’re tracking snow all over- Johnny!” you groan, shaking your head with a laugh at the trail of ice and snow falling from his boots. Oh sweet boy, he’ll be the death of you in so many ways.
“I ken I am.” He kicks off his boots, neatly placing them against the stairwell. “Sorry, couldnae resist. You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
Oh that does it. Forget the hoodie and the lack of central heating, your face is burning up so fiercely when he says that, you may as well have become a fireplace. Why does he get away with using such flirtations as casual banter? Well yes, you’re the one who allows him to do it, but damn it Johnny. Not cool.
“Wanna make ye something to fill you up, get you nice and warm.” He doesn’t even notice the way you’re still standing in the living room, jaw slightly agape as you try to settle down. Johnny goes over the admittedly bare contents of your pantry, finally landing on one of the cans of soup pushed into the back. “Perfect. C’mon, lass, let’s get you taken care of.”
You blink, shaking your head as your legs catch up with your brain and you walk over to the kitchen, stepping over the puddles forming from the melting ice (thanks a lot, John) and rifling through the drawers till you procure a can opener. You can’t help but giggle as he fumbles with it, even though you soon fall silent as his hand completely covers yours while the two of you work to twist the stupid thing over the lip of the can.
“Just relax, doll. You deserve it.” he hums, setting up the pot with ease as you lift yourself onto the kitchen island to sit back and watch him go to work.
It’s not fair that he can look so good so casually, the sleeves of his hoodie pulling against him just right, the fabric tight against his biceps as they flex every time he stirs. He’s making soup. It’s just some damn soup. Yet it feels so... obscene? Who let him be so perfect? You can’t help but think that maybe you could get used to seeing this.
Coming home to Johnny when he’s on leave, dinner cooking on the stovetop as a record plays in the background. Wrapping your arms around him from behind as he keeps one hand on the pot handle, the other splayed over both of yours as his thumb rubs over the backs of them. Swaying softly together as you stand in content peace. Perhaps you’ll even feel the coldness of the ring on his left hand, the metal covering up the wedding band tattoo he got with your initials for when he can’t wear his ring in the field.
It doesn’t take long for your thoughts to wander elsewhere. He’d look even better standing over the stove making you breakfast after a long night together. You wearing his shirt with nothing else underneath, him wearing just a pair of sweats to show off the trails of bites and marks you left on his skin. One of you, probably Johnny, will make a comment about how you two need to eat to get your energy up for another round. The food will be put on the back burner (literally) as Johnny turns around to slot his lips in between yours as he murmurs something about taking you right on the counter. Maybe the kiss will deepen as he plays with the hem of your shirt and maybe his fingers will slip under the fabric and then he’ll-
“Dove?” You snap out of your daydream to see those ocean eyes of his meeting yours, the mild confusion evident in his face. It takes a moment to register the wooden spoon hovering in front of your lips as he cups his hand under your chin. “I asked if you wanted a taste test?”
As inviting as that pumpkin soup looks, right now you’re still thinking about another substance Johnny can conjure up that you’d be all too willing to have a taste of. You push those thoughts to the back of your mind as you try to remember to blink.
“Y-yeah. Sure.” You can’t help but cringe at the hesitation in your voice as you open your mouth slightly for him to press the spoon into. “Tastes nice, Johnny. Really nice. You’re spoiling me.”
Your tongue flicks out as you absentmindedly lick at a drop of the soup from the corner of your mouth. Maybe if you were paying attention instead of staring at the wall in front of you as you try to regulate yourself, you would notice how Johnny’s eyes focus on your tongue for just a tad too long before he turns back to face the stove.
“You’re worth being spoiled.” he says softly, pouring the contents of the pot into a bowl. “C’mon. We’ll eat on the couch. Cannae believe how cold your kitchen is.”
You trail behind him as the two of you make your way back into the living room, Johnny chuckling at the way the ice evaporated onto the hardwood that earns him a playful punch to the bicep. Which definitely hurts your fist more than it hurts him.
You’re expecting for you and Johnny to sit side by side, so you can’t hide your yelp of surprise as he instead lays on the couch, taking you down with him and laying the blanket hanging off the back of the couch over you. He wraps his arms around you, holding your back to his chest as he lays the bowl in your laps.
Being in such close proximity to him is definitely something you’re not a stranger to, but it feels different this time. Too perfect, too much like you’re meant to be laid against him.
Too much like a couple.
The clanking of the spoon against the bowl shakes you out of your thoughts, and you can’t help but be confused as you stare down at him lifting the spoon up towards you.
“Really Johnny, I appreciate it but I can feed myself.” you sigh, trying to lean back away from it.
“Dinnae think you can, love. Your hands are trembling.” They actually were. How did he notice that before you did? “Please, let me do this for you.”
You can’t argue with that, certainly can’t argue with him. It's comforting as Johnny feeds you, not to mention how much it’s warming you up. Your hands finally stop shaking by the end of it, although they might just start up again when he places the bowl on the coffee table and interlaces your fingers with his.
“You need anything else? Want me tae do anything for you?” He squeezes your hands reassuringly as you lay your head back on his shoulder.
“I’m fine with just being here with you.” you whisper, your eyes searching over his features as if they weren’t already committed to memory. “Missed hearing your voice. Missed you. Sorry. I know I already said that.”
“I’ll never get sick of hearing it.” Johnny laughs lightly, making your breath catch in your throat just from the sound. “You been taking care of yourself while I’ve been gone?”
“Sometimes.” you admit, knowing he’d want to hear the truth. “It’s real hard some days. But I’m trying, promise.”
“That’s all I could ever want from ye.” he replies gently, bringing your hand to his lips to kiss your palm. “You dinnae have to always feel like you’ll let me down if you’re not doing yer best. I’ll take ye just the way ye are.”
You can’t do anything but nod at that, any words you could possibly come up with would fail at letting him know just how much you needed to hear that. Needed him.
Johnny and you lay like that for a while, staring at each other with soft eyes as you appreciate the peace the two of you bring each other. You feel the steady rise and fall of his chest as you lay against it before your eyes focus on the rest of his face.
His lips are cracked, the look of them making you wince. If you had it your way Johnny would’ve had them slathered in Vaseline before he ever dared to step outside in the cold but alas he didn’t seem to think that through when he decided that trudging through the snow just to see his best friend was a good idea.
You begrudgingly slip your hand out of his and reach around the clutter on the coffee table, fumbling around till you grab one of the many lip balms you keep scattered around the house.
“Your, um, your lips are chapped.” you mutter, uncapping the balm and delicately running it over his lips before doing the same to yours. “Does that feel any better?”
He’s not listening, you realize, as his baby blues are completely transfixed on your mouth as you apply the lip balm.
“Sharing chapstick now, yeah? Practically just kissed each other.” His words barely register because his eyes are still glued on your lips. You open and close your mouth as your brain short circuits.
“Think ye missed a spot.” Johnny murmurs, and you naively assume he’s going to take the tube and go over your lips again. You feel your heartbeat pick up as he cups your jaw instead, glancing between your eyes and your lips as he leans his head down slightly.
“Then you better do something about it, Johnny.” You close your eyes as you silently panic at wherever this newfound confidence came from and move your head up further in response. You don’t know who closes the gap first but it doesn’t matter because suddenly his lips are on yours and it’s perfect.
Your first kiss with Johnny is even better than all the times you dreamed about it. His lips are still chapped, of course, rough skin cutting against the softness of your own, but he makes up for it with the way his lips are practically glued to yours and the way his stubble scratches your skin so gently. It feels so desperate, makes you wonder if the need for it has been building inside of him for as long as it has for you.
It doesn’t take long for the kiss to get messier, rougher, Johnny's teeth nipping at your bottom lip so your lips part instinctively and he’s able to slip his tongue into your mouth. A welcome intrusion for sure, and all you can think about is how good it feels against your own.
Although it hurts both of you, the two of you finally have to part to get some air back into your lungs. This is the second time Johnny has taken your breath away and it’s just as good as that day in the park.
You look up at him to find his eyes already on you, dazed and slightly dilated with his lips red and swollen and definitely going to need another layer or two of chapstick after this. He’s grinning down at you like he didn’t just send your head spinning.
While this was the second best thing to ever happen to you (the best thing, obviously, was getting to meet Johnny in the first place), that voice that told you you weren’t going to be good enough for him all those years ago comes back full force. You can’t do this, not with him, can’t fall in love with the man who surely wouldn’t take you as his girlfriend.
It’s all too much and you have to turn away before you do something stupid. Even if Johnny is looking at you so adoringly.
“That was sweet, Johnny. Thank you for indulging me.” you mumble, shifting away from him slightly as you lower your head to stare down at your lap.
“Been wanting tae do that for a while.” he sighs softly, looking down at you lovingly before he picks up on your new mood and his gaze shifts to one of concern. “What’s the matter? You didnae like it? I’m real sorry, honest, thought you were okay with it.”
“No, no I did like it. I really did.” Understatement of the year, but he doesn’t need to know that. “I just… I know it’s gonna leave me wanting more. Make me wanna be yours, and you’re not gonna have me.”
The silence was nearly suffocating, and even with you faced away from him you could feel his gaze piercing against you.
“What are ye talkin’ about, dove? Course I’d want to be with you. I love you.” he scoffs, his voice full of annoyance not aimed at you but at the idea that you weren’t the only person he’s ever truly loved.
“Yeah… yeah, I know you do. You tell me it all the time. I love you too.” You shrug, dragging your nails over the outline of your thighs under the blanket.
“No, I dinnae mean it like that.” He sits up against the cushion, tilting your chin up so your eyes can meet. “That was as a friend. I do love you that way, I always will even if you don’t feel this way about me.”
You’re fully at attention now, trying to gauge if this is just another one of Johnny’s jokes. You know realistically he would never be unserious about something like this, wouldn’t ever want to hurt you this way. Perhaps all the kissing cut off his oxygen for too long because there’s no way he’s meaning what he’s saying, right?
“I love you. Love you.”
Suddenly the warmest you’ve ever felt isn’t the December nights where the two of you have split a hot chocolate or the many times he’s lent you his jacket after you insisted you could handle the cold, but instead it’s Johnny’s pretty blue eyes staring into yours as he tells you the only words you’ve ever wanted to hear.
“Oh. Alright.” you finally sputter out, unable to stop yourself from smiling. “How long have you felt this way?”
“Long time, angel. Long time.” he murmurs almost apologetically. “Didn’t kno’ how to tell you. Wasn’t sure if it was something you wanted.”
“Should’ve told me.” you grumble, dropping your head back onto his shoulder with a huff. “I’m not someone to get nervous about.”
“You are. What if I was too dafty to realize you didn’t see me the same way and then you never wanted tae see me again? Couldnae risk losing my girl.” Johnny replies simply, keeping one hand on your jaw and the other reaching down to hold your hand.
“Wouldn’t be missing out on much. I’m not exactly a good friend all the time.” you mumble, rubbing the back of his hand with your thumb. “I’m clingy and I’m always needing attention, and I feel like there’s always something wrong with me that you need to deal with. I mean you just came home from a deployment, I should be the one doing stuff for you and it’s not fair that-”
He cuts you off with another kiss, this one even softer than before. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.” he says, his tone genuine. “You agreed to spend time with me even after I made you keel over cause I was too in my head to watch where I was goin’. My mum thinks yer a sweetheart, sisters cannae stop asking me when I’m bringing you home again. You’re nice tae me and you’re nice tae everyone you’ve ever met, even when they dinnae deserve it. I like that you need me, because I need you too.”
It’s hard to know just how to respond to that, but Johnny doesn’t mind. He knows you’ve never been too good with your words, better with actions and you’ve already shown him how much he means to you plenty.
“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had too.” You settle on, glancing down nervously before looking up at him again. “So… you wanna, um, be my boyfriend?” You wince at the lack of smoothness but hey, at least it gets a laugh out of Johnny.
“Yeah, honey, I’ll be yer boyfriend. I’ll be whatever you want.” He leans down to kiss you yet again, and you realize you could definitely get used to that. “Cannae believe you’re finally mine. You’ve got no idea how much you mean tae me.”
“Think I’m starting to understand.” You rub your eyes with your free hand, feeling yourself get drowsy. The way the day has ended with the confession you’ve waited years for must be finally catching up to you.
“You look tired. Get some rest, we can sleep right here.” Johnny shifts you against him, cradling the back of your head to hold you.
“Wouldn’t you rather take this to bed?” You can’t help but feel bad, the couch is barely big enough for one person to lie on it, especially with how much space Johnny takes up naturally.
“Shouldn’t I take you out to dinner first?”
“MacTavish. Get your mind out of the gutter.” you groan, shaking your head at him if only to cover up the fact that you wouldn’t exactly say no to that. “You know what I meant. My bed’s much more comfortable than a couch. You deserve better.”
“I got the woman of my dreams currently in my arms, wearing my clothes after I fed her and warmed her up. Why would I want to be anywhere but here?” Johnny says with a shrug, moving further onto the couch and pulling the blanket tighter against the two of you.
For someone who’s only been your boyfriend for all of five minutes, Johnny certainly knows exactly what to say to make you melt. You turn over onto your side, laying your head against his chest as your blinks become slower and your eyes feel heavier.
There’s going to be a lot for you to talk about when you wake up, but you figure he should hear the most important part now.
“I love you too, Johnny.” you whisper, letting your eyes close. “I always have.”
“I’m glad you do, baby.” He wraps his arms around you as you finally get to experience the feeling of falling asleep in your lover's arms. “Sleep well.”
Johnny’s kept you safe, he’s keeping you warm.
And he’ll keep you loved.
need to stop making reader fall asleep in soaps arms but it's too perfect to pass up UGH
Sgt John "Soap" MacTavish and Sgt Kyle "Gaz" Garrick post-mission finds themselves in a pub near the English countryside, still with their full kit on. Let it not be said around they are lightweight when it comes to drinking
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Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, poses in front of colleagues for a team group photo during qualifying at F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - Qualifying at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (James Moy)
