Bewitched.✦ ݁˖
johnny storm x reader wc: 1.8k song: bewitched by laufey
summary: months of longing and a few dinners lead to a late-night love confession neither of you thought you'd ever hear
tags/warnings: idiots in love, mutual pining, slight miscommunication, johnny being a gentleman, mentions of alcohol use, i suck at writing confession and kiss scenes
a/n: my brother bought the goddess edition of the "bewitched" album by laufey and it's all i've had spinning for months. i started writing this in april but then got busy with school and life. so here i am almost two months later, pushing through the lack of motivation to write, and publishing it! this is my first fic so i absolutely appreciate feedback/constructive criticism in any area!
Quiet, soft-swaying jazz music floated dreamily through the air. The warm candlelit walls on either side of the booth table captured the two of you in a frame that looked straight out of a cheesy romance movie. Business was slow that night, it always was, which made it the perfect spot to hide away and not be bothered by fans or cameras.
"Check's paid, ready to go?" Johnny asked, breaking you out of your thoughts. Friday night dinner dates were your favorite part of the week; every Friday you and Johnny would search for a new place to dine at, but you always ended up at the same little restaurant a few blocks away from your apartment.
"Yeah, thanks," you rose from the seat across from him and grabbed your purse as he offered you his jacket.
"It's a little chilly outside, I figured you'd might want to wear it." He shrugged and avoided your eyes as you smiled softly and slipped your arms into the warm suede sleeves of his jacket. The scent of his cologne lingered on it, and now on you, too.
The warmth was so fiercely… Johnny. Unlike the usual bone-deep chill of a New York city night, the warmth that radiated from and around Johnny was something no one had quite experienced. Not quite the same as standing in front of a heater after coming in from the snow, or the first day of spring when you feel the last chills of winter slowly seeping out of your soul— no, this was different. It was the type of warmth that replaces the blood in your veins with pure sunshine.
He frantically placed a tip down on the table before shoving his wallet back in the pocket of his pants. He turned to you and stammered, "I'll be back, just a quick trip to the little heroes' room. Don't leave without me!" He hurried off down the hallway and entered the bathroom, leaving you smiling and chuckling to yourself.
"So did he finally ask you out?" The voice of an older woman wavered from over your shoulder.
You whip around and face her, your eyes wide and mouth slightly agape in a nervous horror. The frail woman who'd been your waitress since the first time Johnny took you to the "little spot" he knew after work now stood in front of you with a prying look in her face.
"I'm sorry?" You chuckle nervously, already feeling the warm air becoming thicker, and he wasn't even in the room.
Magnolia, an older woman who sweet, yet nosy, would make sure she always had your usual booth free. After the first few visits together, she'd bring a small plate of dessert to yours and Johnny's table for the "adorable couple." After a few long seconds with awkward chuckles, you'd explain that the two of you were friends and there just for dinner, after she'd nod with a non-committal "hmm." And every time you went again, she'd deliver the same dessert with the same words and insist it "must be her memory" that confused her.
"The two of you come in here a few times a month and leave giggling and smiling like idiots. The two of you have undeniable chemistry, the kitchen's been betting for months on who'll make the first move." She crossed her arms across her chest and did her best to look as intimidating as a short old woman in a floral apron could.
A blush crept up your neck as you shifted your eyes around the room and fiddled with the edges of the jacket. "It's not like that," you chuckled nervously. "We're friends, we just like hanging out in little spots after work." You took in a deep breath, and with a relaxed tone said: "Super platonic, it's nothing."
He shut the water tap off and heated his hands just enough to evaporate the water off, then gently pushed the bathroom door open. "Super platonic, it's nothing," your voice echoed down the hall. His hands stopped before he could fully open the door, and let it close it gently again.
Nothing? He stepped back a few paces into the bathroom and leaned his hands against the small sink. "Platonic," he repeated to himself. "Nothing, right."
"Nothing," like the way he'd always wait outside the elevator with an extra coffee in-hand prepared exactly as you liked it after your shift? "Nothing," like how the two of you searched for the other's eyes in a group of people to see the other's reaction when someone told a joke? "Nothing," in the same way that he'd always make sure to grab that leather jacket before leaving for dinner because he knew it was your favorite of his?
Oh, for the love of whatever deity was enjoying this horror show, he was bewitched since the first time he'd met you. Of course, he'd been told he was in love before by Sue, but he always insisted it was pure friendship— even if it was just to convince himself rather than others.
Finally, he let got of the ceramic sink and ran his hand across his face. Pushing open the bathroom door, he stepped out into the hallway with plastered-on confidence. He strutted over to where you and Magnolia were still making small conversation and he slung his arm around your shoulders. Without breaking conversation with Magnolia, you moved your hand up to meet his warm one and gave a reassuring squeeze.
Magnolia's voice faltered as she eyed the two of you. The arm on the shoulder, the squeeze, the comfortable stances like it was the most natural thing in the world. She gave a tight lipped smile and a hum. "Good night you two," she clapped her hands together and brought them to her chest. "Always such a pleasure for you two lovebirds to dine with us." She turned around and shuffled into the kitchen, leaving just you and Johnny in center of the soft candle-lit dining room. "I've got $20 on them coming in as a couple next time," she yelled not-so-discreetly down the kitchen hallway.
Heat radiated off the both of you and silence filled the air. Neither of you moved. She always says that, you thought to yourself. It's fine, she's old.
At last, Johnny finally broke the silence. "…Let's go now? Reed made me swear I'd be home at a reasonable hour so I don't trigger any alarms or—"
You nodded quickly and broke away from his hold as you began to walk ahead of him to the exit of the restaurant. The bell above the door rang and you were both met with the cool night air nipping at your ears and noses. Apartment windows reflected the soft twinkling lamplight through the street and the off the pavement.
The conversation flowed naturally as the two of you walked down streets laughing and joking as much as your tipsy brains would allow without letting anything too deep slip out.
Maybe it was the cold cutting sensation from your fingertips, but every while you felt a spark of warm fingers close to your own, or the ghost of a hand linger over the small of your back.
—
"Well this is me here," you came to a stop in front of your building apartment and went up the three steps before you began your search inside your purse for keys. Johnny surveyed the small street, as he'd done a hundred times before, and exhaled slowly. The sound of keys jingling snapped his eyes right back to you.
You turned around to face him, keys in hand. "You good there, hotshot?" You chuckled.
He blinked twice and scratched the back of his neck. "Oh, yeah. Sorry I didn't really mean to—" All of him, but his eyes, froze. They flickered down to your lips for just a millisecond. "You look so…" he exhaled breathlessly. He stood there gawking at you.
The way the lamplight shined in bright streaks in your hair. The way the moonlight softly caressed every one of your facial features. The way his jacket draped over your frame like it had always belonged there. The way the cold made your cheeks and tip of your nose slightly pinker. Even the funny little touch of light your eyes seemed to show when you looked at him.
Just, you.
"You're more beautiful than anything I've ever seen," he blurted out.
Your keys clattered on the floor and your breath hitched. His softened, ocean blue eyes searched your face for any signs of reciprocation. Your knees buckled and your heartbeat quickened. So this was actually happening?
Without breaking eye-contact you shakily stepped down the stairs— and failed. Luckily, a pair of arms lunged forward and caught you before you could fall onto the pavement. You grabbed his upper arms and steadied yourself. He chuckled and smiled sheepishly while he glanced you over for any injuries. The laughter died and your eyes met again, faces burning.
He leaned in and whispered, "I mean it, I really do." He paused, then came a sharp inhale and the contents of his heart spilled out. "Every second I'm with you it's like my brain shuts off and I can't think straight but it's okay because everything comes so naturally around you and I don't have to think about anything and after what I heard back at the restaurant I thought that if I didn't tell you tonight I might have to wait forever and—"
A smiled tugged at your lips and you tugged away from him slightly to meet his eyes again. "I love you, too. Not in a platonic way, but more than that. Way more," you interrupted.
It started as a quick peck on the lips, before he pulled away briefly. "Is it okay if I do that?"
You tugged him down by the shoulders and your lips collided into one another and you both melted into the kiss. Faint traces of earlier's wine lingered on each other's lips. Your head swam in the warm fuzziness that was only deepened by the wine. Months of longing and late night talks faded and added passion to the kiss before you broke it, gasping for air.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to do that," you admitted through a shaky breath.
"Less time than I have," he quipped with his signature boyish grin. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear and glanced back at the keys on the steps.
You looked in the same direction and cleared your throat. "I should get inside… cold and all."
He took it as a sign to jog up the steps and open the door for you. "Enter, madame." The door clicked open and he gestured you inside with a bow. You smiled at him and crossed the threshold.
"You don't have to go," you muttered. "It's cold and you'll be walking— or flying— home alone."
He smiled and shook his head. "I'm afraid I won't want to leave."
"Then don't."
if you made it here, thank you so much for reading my first fic! feedback in structure, writing, grammar, and story is very much welcome and appreciated!♡ ‧₊˚ ⋅
