( SYNOPSIS ) ── after another one of reed’s infamous power outages, your boyfriend johnny comes with the solution to all your problems.
( WARNINGS ) ── no spoilers!! being scared of the dark. nothing else!
It had happened again.
Another one of Reed Richards’ late night experiments had blown the power grid, leaving your apartment in pitch black silence. Living just a few blocks from the Baxter Building had its perks, proximity to your superhero boyfriend being the main one, but moments like this made you question whether it was all worth it.
The bad part? Losing power twice a week, like clockwork, thanks to Reed tinkering with things the city’s infrastructure was clearly not built to handle. The worse part? You were still, to this day, hopelessly afraid of the dark. A childhood thing. Unresolved, unimportant. At least that’s what you always told yourself.
But the good part? Johnny always came.
The second the lights flickered out, he was already on his way, like muscle memory. Hovering outside your window, flames crackling gently across his body, casting warm light across your bedroom walls.
You were curled up in bed, flashlight wedged under the blankets like some makeshift bunker, when you heard a soft tap at the glass. That familiar quiet hum of fire accompanied it, comforting, warm, familiar.
You peeked your head out from under the comforter, already smiling. And there he was, floating a few feet from your window, his face illuminated by a soft amber glow, brows raised, that charmingly smug smile already in place.
You climbed out of bed and crossed the room, opening the window just enough for him to slip inside. He extinguished the flames across most of his body the second he landed, except for the steady flame burning on his right hand, casting gentle light across your room like a makeshift lantern.
“I heard someone was in desperate need of a hero,” he teased, his voice soft but playful. “Lucky for you, I happen to know one.”
You rolled your eyes as he stepped closer, his hand finding your hip like it always did when you needed grounding. He bent down and kissed your forehead, lingering for just a second longer than usual.
“I came as soon as the lights went out,” he said more gently now, his voice dropping to something quieter, more gentle.
You hummed softly, leaning into him without a word, because you didn’t need to say anything. Johnny already knew what came next.
The two of you made your way back to bed, you already dressed in your favorite pajamas while Johnny stripped down to his boxers, climbing in behind you. He settled in with the back of his head resting against your headboard, one scorching arm stretched out across the nightstand, casting a warm, amber light across the room.
With a quiet laugh, you climbed over him, nestling between his legs. Your hips rested comfortably against his and your head found its place on his bare chest, your arms curling around his waist. You nuzzled your nose against his skin, the heat of him grounding you.
“You’re gonna burn a hole in my nightstand,” you murmured against him with a sleepy smile.
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to your hairline. “I did all the shopping for your apartment, remember? Fireproof nightstand, babe.”
Your laugh was muffled against his chest, eyes already fluttering shut. And just like that, you drifted off in his arms, soft snores slipping from your lips, your face relaxed and peaceful against his warmth.
Johnny brought his free hand to your hair, gently brushing it back from your face. He watched you for a moment, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. Only when he was sure you were completely asleep did he dim his glowing hand, sighing softly as he shifted to get comfortable beneath you.
“I love you,” he whispered, pressing a final kiss to your head. Both arms wrapped around you tightly, like he could anchor you to this exact moment. “’Night.”
It was always like this. He’d come over and stay up just long enough to see you safely asleep before turning off his ‘night light’. And every morning, without fail, you’d wake up in the same place, wrapped in the arms of the boy who swore your nightstand was fireproof… even if the scorch marks told a slightly different story.
SUMMARY ⸻ Johnny Storm never thought he'd end up like Reed—until his pregnant wife told him he wasn’t going on that mission. Superpowers? Useless. Against her? He never stood a chance.
PAIRING ⸻ Johnny Storm X Pregnant!Fem!Reader
WARNINGS⸻ Fluff, pregnancy, mood swings, Johnny being tamed. [English is not my first language].
Johnny never thought he'd have anything in common with Reed, beyond the political and professional bond that tied them together by obligation
He had married his sister. Johnny had watched him crawl after her out of love, like a loyal dog following its owner. He always found it pathetic... and yet, absolutely hilarious. He mocked him every chance he got, mercilessly and without filter.
Until you came along.
Oh God. When had his world turned upside down?
The first time he saw you, everything stopped. Not for dramatic effect, but because, honestly, he couldn’t breathe. You were beautiful, yes—but not that generic kind of beauty everyone fawned over. You were unique. With a light, easy smile that chipped away at his ego and a steady gaze that wasn’t the least bit impressed by fiery suits or intergalactic stunts.
You laughed at his jokes, but turned him down without hesitation every time he tried something more. You even placed your hand on his back once, gently guiding him to the door like a hostess politely trying to get rid of a persistent guest.
And that... that drove him absolutely crazy.
He couldn’t stand that you didn’t like him. Couldn’t bear that you didn’t care who he was. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch—loved by the media, idolized by fans. And you? You were immune. Immune to his ego, his fame, his game.
So he set out to win you over like his life depended on it.
He dedicated every heroic act with the Fantastic Four to you, shooting cocky glances at the cameras as if you were watching from the other side. He left flowers at your door every single day—white roses, your favorite, even though you never told him. (He’d asked your sister.)
He invited you to dinners at restaurants that made magazine covers, planned surprises, ran every errand you asked of him with a smile… even when you asked him to walk your neighbor’s dog because you were too busy.
And in the end... you fell for him, too.
Not overnight. It was slow, sweet, almost imperceptible. A full year of persistence and devotion. When you finally said yes, Johnny felt like his soul had caught fire.
And then you got married.
Johnny Storm had never been happier. He showed you off like you were his greatest accomplishment. He mentioned you in interviews, held your hand on the street, and kept you tucked against his side at every family dinner. Always with that ridiculous smile on his face.
He remembered perfectly the day Susan and Reed announced they were expecting. He celebrated like a proud uncle, full of hugs and jokes. But when you two got home, alone, he’d let out a malicious chuckle as he shrugged off his jacket.
" Reed finally put the collar on " he laughed. Now Susan can do whatever she wants with him.
You, standing in front of the mirror, let out a sharp breath that caught his attention.
" If I were you, I’d ease up on the jokes "you said calmly, taking off the gold earrings he had gifted you for your anniversary.
Johnny chuckled, lounging back against the headboard with his legs crossed and that smug smile on his face.
" Hey, if there’s one thing you love about me, it’s my jokes. "He winked. "Why so serious?"
You didn’t respond right away. You placed the jewelry on the wooden shelf with a faint click and let out a quiet sigh. Your back was still to him, but he noticed something in your posture. Something… different.
His smile slowly faded. His heartbeat quickened, a nervous thrum in his chest. You turned just slightly—enough for him to see your face.
" I didn’t want to tell you today "you said softly "I didn’t know about Reed and Susan, and I didn’t want to steal their moment. But...
Johnny sat up instantly, the blankets falling off as he leaned forward. His eyes widened in alarm.
You looked down at your belly. One hand moved gently to rest over it, protective, instinctive.
"We’re going to have a baby."
●●●
At the time, he didn’t fully understand it.
But now, with every step you took, with every mission that involved even the slightest risk to you, Johnny did unthinkable things. He acted before thinking, reacted with a kind of intensity he didn’t know he had. His protective instincts had kicked in so hard, he was almost unrecognizable.
And still, if you scolded him—if you so much as raised your voice or frowned in disapproval—he obeyed without argument. Every word that came from your mouth carried the weight of a divine command. It didn’t matter what he was doing—if you asked, he dropped everything.
So there he was now, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, frowning, touching his face like he expected to find an answer in his reflection.
"Am I still me?" he muttered to himself, unsure.
He still had the fire, the ego, the urge to fly at top speed through the skies. But there was something new now. Something that softened him every time he looked at you. Something that made his fingers tremble every time he thought of you—and of the small life growing inside you.
He left the bathroom with a distant look in his eyes. His feet carried him instinctively to the living room, where the family usually gathered at that time of day. The air was filled with soft conversation, the smell of fresh coffee, and a comforting domestic hum.
You and Susan were on the couch, flipping through maternity magazines, discussing crib brands, biodegradable diapers, and baby names that weren’t “ridiculous,” as you’d said. Ben was in the kitchen, back turned, stirring something in a pot with a wooden spoon that looked tiny in his massive hand.
But there was no sign of Reed.
"Where’s Reed?" Johnny asked, glancing around like he half-expected him to pop out from between the couch cushions.
Susan looked up for just a second.
"In the lab, you know that," she replied in a neutral tone.
"Again? What’s he working on now, teleportation?" Johnny smirked, remembering his brother-in-law’s latest failures with that tech. One of his prototypes had once sent a toaster to the Negative Zone.
"I think so... maybe," Susan replied, not looking up from the baby stroller catalog.
Johnny scoffed softly and began to move toward the stairs—but before he could take the first step, your voice stopped him.
"Johnny."
He turned instantly, like you’d summoned him. His eyebrows lifted with a mix of attention and tenderness. Then he smiled, remembering how you’d been especially sensitive that week. According to you, he was “too serious lately,” and it made you nervous.
"Yes, babe?"
You looked pleading, with a slight furrow in your brow and your hands resting on your belly.
"Could you bring me a glass of milk? I’m really craving it."
"Of course," he replied without a single complaint, his voice soft—like you’d asked for everything and nothing at once.
He walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed the milk carton. The quiet click of the cap closing was followed by a teasing huff. Johnny looked up—and there was Ben, leaning on the counter with a smirk he knew too well.
"What?" Johnny asked, frowning. "What are you laughing at?"
"You," Ben replied, not even trying to hide it.
Johnny poured the milk into a glass while watching him warily.
"I remember the stuff you used to say before we went into space… bragging about how you had thirty girls a week," Ben chuckled. "You swore you’d never serve anything to a woman unless she was wearing red lingerie and heels."
Johnny pressed his lips together, biting his cheek to keep from laughing. He rolled his eyes dramatically, grabbed the glass, and turned toward the living room, ignoring his friend’s cackling.
"People change, Ben."
"Oh, I can tell!" Ben shouted from the kitchen. "Now you’re warming up milk like Nanny of the Year!"
Johnny ignored the comment and gently heated the glass with his fingers, just enough to make it warm without cracking it. He returned to you with a determined stride, like he was carrying a sacred offering.
"What’s Ben laughing at?" you asked as you took the glass, raising a curious eyebrow.
Johnny shook his head, leaning down to kiss your forehead.
"You know Ben. He laughs at anything," he replied with the soft smile that lately, only you could bring out of him.
You turned back to Susan, who just shrugged without looking up from her magazine. Johnny took the moment to walk toward the window, but then you called him again.
"Johnny, wait…"
He turned back once more, patient, ready for anything.
"Look at this," you said, turning the magazine toward him. Your eyes sparkled with childlike excitement. "I want to buy this crib for our baby girl. Let’s go now!"
He let out a low, affectionate laugh, even as Ben’s voice still echoed in the back of his mind.
Johnny nodded, letting go of any other plans he might have had for the day. If you wanted to buy a crib, then that was the only thing that mattered.
"Then let’s go get that crib."
●●●
And despite everything, Johnny never thought he’d end up resembling his brother-in-law so much.
Not until that day.
The alert didn’t seem like a big deal. A minor threat in the city, they said. The villain wasn’t particularly strong or dangerous. Any other team would’ve sent a single member. If Ben went on his own, the matter would be resolved in minutes.
Everyone knew that. Everyone understood it.
Except Johnny… and Reed.
“We’ll finish faster if the three of us go,” said Reed in his usual rational tone, like he was discussing just another experiment.
Johnny didn’t reply immediately. He stayed silent, his gaze drifting ever so slightly toward you, sitting in the living room. He could feel the tension radiating from your body more intensely than his own flames. It surrounded you like a dense, silent, implacable atmosphere.
And he knew what was coming.
“No. You’re not going,” said Susan from her seat, not raising her voice, but with an authority that left no room for debate.
Johnny turned slightly toward her, just as Reed frowned.
“That guy’s weak, yeah. But he’s smart. He wants all of us there to make things complicated,” Susan added, crossing her legs with elegance. “Ben can knock him out in one hit. Can’t you, Ben?”
“I don’t know anything…” muttered Ben from the kitchen, shrugging while pretending to look inside the fridge.
“And that’s why we’re not all going,” declared Reed, like he’d just solved a math equation. “You’ll stay here with y/n”—he gestured briefly in your direction.
You still hadn’t spoken. Your eyes were fixed on Johnny, studying every muscle in his face. He avoided meeting your gaze, but he felt the weight of it like a chain around his neck. Because he knew if he looked at you directly, he’d surrender.
And he loved you as much as he feared you.
“You’re not going,” Susan repeated, more serious now. Reed scoffed in frustration, turning to her.
“Then Johnny and Ben can—”
The sentence died in the air.
Everyone went silent when they saw you getting up from the sofa with some effort, one hand resting on your round belly. The mere act of you standing was enough to make everyone—except your husband—turn to you with a mix of surprise and expectation.
Johnny swallowed hard as you walked toward him, step by step, until you stood in front of his tense body.
“Johnny…” you said softly, taking his forearm. He thought, naively, that you were going to give him permission. That you were going to say you trusted him, to go and come back quickly and safely.
But then he saw your expression. Your eyes were firm, your face serious, leaving no room for negotiation.
“Let’s go to our room.”
Johnny barely had time to glance at Reed before he felt your fingers tightening around his arm. Reed also tried to look at Susan, but she was already approaching, mimicking your gesture. She took her husband by the arm and dragged him toward the opposite hallway.
Ben burst out laughing.
“Could you be any more married?” he muttered between chuckles.
Johnny and Reed exchanged a confused glance, barely managing a resigned look before being literally dragged away by their pregnant wives.
As they walked down the hallway toward the bedroom, Johnny couldn’t stop thinking how ironic it all was. He, the eternal heartthrob, the golden bachelor, the superhero adored by thousands… being led by the hand like a scolded teenager.
And the worst part wasn’t even that.
The worst part was that he didn’t mind.
In fact… he liked it.
A lot.
He glanced sideways at you. You walked beside him with a determined stride, gripping his arm like you could physically stop him from escaping fate. Your face still wore a seriousness that both unsettled and aroused him.
“So… I can’t go?” he asked in a low voice, almost with a restrained smile.
“No,” you answered sharply. No nuance.
Johnny sighed in resignation. He wrapped his arm around your back, gently caressing the curve of your side, right where the baby bump was starting to show clearly.
