#MARVEL}

[yellenabelova]

#Love him

[noodles-and-tea]

spider-man and nightwing…….. this is my final message. goodbye

It’s over once the witty quips start

[mcufam]

THUNDERBOLTS* dir. Jake Schreier | 2025

[smoky-moka]

good night sketches

[cupidofcaravaggio]

i love this trend

[critter-of-habit]

The BlackHawks football champions for @avalencias 🤭

[underscorecip]

My hand slipped again

[gallavichsreddie1128]

Sneaking Around (Johnny Storm)

Description: Johnny loves Reed’s little sister Y/N but Reed is against it due to Johnny’s habits of playing with women.

Warning: Face Riding, Oral (Female Reciving), Reed (He’s a little dark in this), innocent kink (sorta)

Word Count: 3,289

Request: Can I request smut with johnny storm where he gets caught with Reed's equally shy and awkward genius sister? 💕 💞 ♥️

Author’s Note: Not as shy as I meant for her to be but she has her moments. Hope you like it!

She adjusted her glasses as she helped her older brother work on the new project he was doing. They’ve been working on it for a week now and she’s been really excited to show her brother the new ideas she’s had.

“I’ll be right back.” He tells her as he leaves the lab.

Johnny smirks as he sees Reed leave and runs into the lab. There he sees the woman of his dreams still focused on the project.

“Hey pretty lady.” He smirks and walks up to her, trying to be cool.

“Hey Johnny.” Her voice is soft and she doesn’t look away from the equation.

“Whatcha workin’ on?” He asked like he would ever understand any of it.

Truth be told the only reason he asked was to hear her voice and the excitement. She explained to him what Reed and her were doing and what she wanted to show Reed when he got back. Johnny nodded along like he knew what she was talking about. He got distracted a few times with her cute blue bow that held half her hair up while she worked. She also wore a blue dress and had her glasses, she looked like a wet dream. It also didn’t help that she had slim to zero sexual experience and barely caught on to his flirting.

“Johnny, what are you doing here?” Reed’s voice boomed through the lab as he walked back in.

Johnny and his sister turned to look at him and he didn’t look happy. He was glaring at Johnny,

“Leave.” He demanded and Y/N looked at her brother, concerned.

“Reed, he was just asking about the project.” She tried to defend him.

“And now he’s leaving.” Johnny stood where he was as Reed got closer.

“I know what you’re trying to do.” He warned Johnny.

“So, you can marry my sister but I can’t yours?” He asked and Y/N’s eyes widened.

“What?” Both men turned to the woman and she looked shocked.

“I-” Johnny had no words, the words left his mouth before he could think.

Reed held his glare at him and before she could ask anything else he left the lab. Reed held up his hand at her before she could ask, not wanting to talk about it. 

Curiosity got the best of her and it wouldn’t leave her mind. Johnny wanted to marry her? Reed was mad about that? She certainly didn’t think it was fair that Reed could get with Sue but Johnny and her couldn’t do anything. Reed was protective over her and always has been but Johnny was a good guy and a hero, what was he so afraid of?

Truth was Reed knew that Johnny was a womanizer and didn’t want him playing with his sister like that. She deserved better and wanted them to stay away from each other but he couldn’t stop that forever. Y/N knocked on Johnny’s door with her heart beating, she was nervous and a little shaky to question the fire man on what he said but Reed wouldn’t give her anything. He opened the door and his eyes widened seeing her,

“Hey.” He breathed out and she gave him a nervous smile.

“Can we talk?” She asked and adjusted her glasses, making his heart pound as well.

He nodded and gulped, opening the door wider. She walked into his room and turned to him as he closed the door.

“Ya know, Reed would have a heart attack if he knew you were here.” He joked.

“That’s the thing, I don’t get why he cares so much.” Johnny rubs the back of his neck,

“He knows I like you.” He whispers and avoids eye contact.

“Well I would take it since you admitted that you didn’t think it was fair that Sue and Reed can be married but we can’t.” Johnny goes to open his mouth to say something about that but she keeps talking,

“I agree with you. Reed has no right to say who I choose as a husband.” She says to him.

He was surprised by her words, not expecting her to feel the same way,

“You like me back?” He asked and she nodded.

“Yes and I also love the idea of Reed freaking out over this.” That made him laugh.

“He knows my history with women.” She nods, knowing as well.

“I take it you don’t say that you wanna marry just any woman?” She asked him.

“Yeah I definitely haven’t said that about anyone else.” He confirms and she smiles.

“Well then, for now let’s keep this between us.” She said and walked up to him.

He wasn’t sure what to expect but given her history of course it was just a hug. He smiled and hugged her back, at least it was physically touching.  

The next month was awesome for Johnny. Reed would glare at the man for getting too close to his sister and had no knowledge of what was going on between them. Y/N would try to calm her brother from any comments Johnny made towards her in the lab and any time he caught Johnny in the lab.

“Johnny is a good guy.” Sue told him after he nearly blew up on Johnny for making a sex joke.

“He’s a womanizer, a player, my sister deserves better.” Reed said, sternly.

Sue rolled her eyes, she knew her brother was a player but he seemed to really like Y/N. Reed was not an easy person to talk to about this and given how he’s acting now, he would lose his shit if he knew that she was seeing Johnny in secret. 

Johnny giggled as he and Y/N cuddled up together under the blankets,

“He nearly killed me after the sex joke at the dinner table.” Y/N rolled her eyes,

“Yeah you really shouldn’t have said that.” She told him but kissed his cheek.

“Mmm but how could I not? You look like a wet dream almost all of the time.” She straddled him and stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but lust.

“Our first time having sex will be based on a joke you made at dinner?” She asked with a smirk.

He opened his mouth to make a comment but her lips stopped him. It wasn’t the first time that they kissed but the kiss was different. It was leading to a special moment between them. His hands found her back and moved her shirt up some. She sighed at the feeling of his warm hands on her skin and pulled her shirt over her head at his silent request.

While their lips were apart he stared at her upper body in awe. Her bra was a simple black one, not anything too sexy or fancy but it made him harder than a rock. His hands moved to her front and cupped her tits, making her let out a soft sigh. His hands felt better than hers and made her jerk towards his touch when he toyed with her nipples.

“Johnny.” His name fell from her lips, shakily and breathy.

He smirked at her and one of his hands stopped playing with her tit to move to her back and undo the bra. She gulped but let it fall from her body, opening her eyes to see him staring. Before she could cover herself he spoke,

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” If she wasn’t wet before, she is now.

He looked as if he was examining them and their size, like they were a science project that needed to be studied. She looked at him, a little needy and wanting him to touch her again. His hands moved to her hips and rubbed them. She looked down at her PJ shorts and realized that he also wanted them off.

“What about you?” She asked, not wanting to be the only one stripping.

He took off his shirt with one hand and laid back down. Her eyes traveled down his torso, taking him in like a piece of art.

“You like what you see?” She nodded and placed a hand on his abs.

He watched her while she examined his body as he did her, the difference was this was her first time touching a guy like this. He liked the feeling of her hands on his body and bit his lip, staring up at her.

“When you’re done having your fun with my body you can take your shorts off.” She huffs out a laugh but stands for a second to remove her pj shorts.

Her panties, unlike her bra, were lacey and pink. His eyes widened and fell to her panties. She realized this time that the look in his eyes was pure awe and lust, something that was good. He motioned with his hands for her to come closer and she did. He leaned forward and kissed both of her thighs,

“You know your brother would hate this.” He said with a smile, liking the idea of that.

“I do not want to think of my brother or his hatred for this while we do it.” She said as his fingers pulled at her panty line.

She let him pull them down and reveal her wet aching pussy that was untouched besides her.

“Sit on my face.” He told her and laid back on the bed again.

Her face went red as she thought about it, never having even thought about doing that.

“Hey, nothing to be nervous about, it’ll feel amazing.” She nodded and straddled him again, letting his hands run over her ass, hips and thighs.

She got closer to his face and looked down at him. He looked up at her with a reassuring smile that it was going to be okay. She realized as soon as she sat on his face that things would be okay. Her hands gripped the headboard and she gasped feeling his nose run against her clit.

She looked down at him to see his eyes closed as he felt her out, taking in her sweet scent. She nearly jumped when she felt his tongue lick up her clit. Johnny chuckled against her and the vibrations made her let out a moan that she feared was a little too loud.

His hands gripped her hips to keep her from moving, sucking on her clit. She bit her lip trying to keep quiet but he was too good at it, it was no use. Her soft moans and whimpers filled his bedroom as he rocked her against his face. She tried not to move too fast but he didn’t seem to mind.

She felt embarrassed how close she was to orgasm with under 5 minutes of her riding his face. One of her hands reached down to grip his hair, needing more than the headboard to keep her grasp. Johnny had opened his eyes and saw her eyes rolled as she tried to keep quiet, making him smirk against her.

“J-Johnny, I-I’m gonna c-cum.” She stuttered out and he rubbed her ass, letting her know it was okay.

She had to cover mouth from the scream that was in her throat as her orgasm rocked through her body. Her hips stuttered and her thighs shook as she had to lean on the headboard for support. Johnny’s hands fell from her hips as her orgasm subsided and she became sensitive. 

She managed to get off him and collapse on his bed, breathing hard. Johnny had a big smile as he looked at her, wetness all over his face. She managed to turn to him to thank him but the sight caught her off guard.

“Johnny.” She said his name and he smirked,

“My favorite part.” She let herself smile and she couldn’t hide how hot that was.

She felt at peace as she experienced an orgasm better than she’s ever had. She bit her lip and looked up at his ceiling. Johnny pulled her body closer to his and she yawned, laying her head on his chest.

“We can take it one step at a time.” He whispers as she rubs her back. She liked that a lot. 

It was early in the morning when she decided to leave his room and sneak back to hers before Reed would see. 5:40 am should give her enough time but she was wrong.

“I went to your room last night and you weren’t there, needed help on a project.” Her eyes widened and she felt goosebumps all over her skin at the sound of his voice.

She froze and didn’t dare to look back at him.

“Figured you had gone out for something but you never were there.” She closed her eyes and wished that the ground would swallow her whole.

She needed to make that a thing for the next time something like this happens.

“Reed.” Her voice was soft and full of guilt.

“He’ll only hurt you, that’s what he’s good at. Breaking hearts.” He tells her and she finally turns to him.

He looked madly disappointed in her, like she killed a dog.

“Reed, I’m an adult. If I wanna make a mistake, I'm aloud!” She said to him, with a stern voice.

“You’re still my baby sister, i’m always gonna look out for you but this.” He motioned to the situation,

“I can’t have that. You can do better.” She rolled her eyes,

“So it’s okay for you and Sue but not me and Johnny?” she asked the same question that Sue and Johnny did.

“That’s different Sue isn’t-”

“No Reed there’s no difference.” She yelled,

“You’re a hypocrite.” Johnny heard the yelling and opened his bedroom door, rubbing his eyes from sleep.

Reed turned back at him with a glare,

“What’s going on?” He asked and looked at the two, confused.

“I told you to stay away from her.” Reed growled and his arm stretched out to grab Johnny by the throat.

“Oh my god, Reed!” Y/N yelled and ran to them.

Sue ran out of the room and gasped at the sight of her husband choking her brother.

“Reed stop!” She screamed and the sound of her voice pulled him out of whatever state he was in.

He seemed shocked by his own actions and stuttered over his words. Both Sue and Y/N had tears in their eyes but Johnny looked terrified. Reed looked apologetic at the three before running off to his lab. Nobody followed him. Sue looked at her brother and ran to give him a hug,

“I’m so sorry!” She even pulled Y/N in.

Y/N hugged her back and reassured her that it wasn’t her fault. 

Reed was in his lab for the rest of the day, not coming out for anything. Y/N and Johnny avoided him and the lab all together and Sue tried to talk to him but he wanted to be alone.

“We have to talk to him eventually.” Johnny tells her as he watches her pace her room.

“Johnny, he was going to kill you.” She said and sighed.

Johnny rolled his eyes playfully,

“Pfft yeah sure he can kill me.” He said, sarcastically but she saw the look in his eyes when Reed had his hand around his throat.

  “I just think that maybe I'm too close to him and I need to distance myself.” She said and he disagreed with her,

“So what? You’re gonna ignore him?”

“Johnny, he’s too protective of me!”

“He’s just gonna have to deal with us being together! He can’t hold a grudge forever.” He reasoned with her and she knew that was true.

“The one with a problem is Reed.” 

Reed hated himself for doing that, the scene and the look on Johnny’s face played in his head. He’s a hero, supposed to be and the fact that he lost control like that was traumatizing. Johnny was a good kid and yeah he was a womanizer but that wasn’t a reason to do what he did.

His sister was very important to him but she needed control over her own life and Reed couldn’t stop that. He didn’t even want to, he just doesn’t want her hurt. He sighed and rubbed his face. He's been in the lab for hours and needed a break but was scared of how the others would react to him. 

Sue tried seeing him earlier and he shut her down, still angry. Now he felt bad and realized that he was in the wrong and needed to apologize. It was weird that Reed skipped dinner and truth be told they all missed him, even Johnny. Ben had only heard about the altercation and it was enough for him to understand and stay away from Reed.

Sue was in bed by the time that Reed had left the lab. He assumed that Johnny and Y/N were together but in case of Reed losing it again they stayed in their own rooms. He had knocked on Johnny’s door with a shaky hand. He knew that Johnny stayed up later than the others and he was the one he hurt the most or at least he thought. Johnny opened the door and felt the air leave him, he heated himself up seeing Reed.

“I’m not gonna hurt you, I came to apologize.” He holds up his hands, seeing that Johnny was preparing.

“Not me, you should be apologizing to Y/N.” Johnny said and went to shut the door but Reed stopped him. 

“I will but I fear she doesn’t want to see me right now.” Reed says and he wasn’t wrong.

She wanted to be away from him as much as possible after that.

“You need to accept that I'm with her. I don’t want to hurt her, I've been in love with her for a while.” Johnny admits and Reed didn’t show any expression to that other than a nod,

“You’re right, I do and I will tell her that.” 

Y/N had to be in the lab to help Reed today and she was dreading it, usually she loved it but after yesterday she wasn’t excited. Johnny had told her that he and Reed had talked and that made her happy but she wasn’t excited to face the problem right now. When she got to the lab Reed was working. He had heard her footsteps and had yet to look up,

“Hey.” He mumbled and she nodded at him even though he couldn’t see it.

He started talking about work like nothing had happened, like things were supposed to go back to the way they were before. She hated that and realized that it was better if they talked about it,

“Reed stop!” He looked up at her and stopped his work.

“We should talk.” She said and he nodded,

“You know I hate these things in the lab.” She nodded but she didn’t care.

“You choked Johnny.” She pointed out and he sighed,

“I know and I’m sorry.” He took off his glasses.

“I just love you and I don’t want you hurt and he has the power to do that.” Reed pointed out.

She nodded and set down the paper that was in her hands,

“You know Reed, you hurt me worse than he ever could.” That was a hit in the heart for him, his face fell.

“Worse than any man could Reed.” He had no words for that, not realizing that by protecting her from the hurt he had hurt her worse.

“I love you too Reed but I need some time.” She said and walked out of the lab, leaving him there in sorrow. 

What would pull them together, what would make them forget it all was the threat that their world could be eaten. 

[miss-carter]

#yelena is judging you

[barnesandashes]

get jealous | oneshot

pairing: bucky barnes x reader summary: bucky barnes swears on his life that he is not a jealous man. warnings: 18+ content, MDNI. reader is female. swearing, dirty talk, p in v, unprotected sex, semi-public sex, bucky is possessive as hell and reader loves it. no use of y/n. wc: 1k a/n: challenged myself to write a fic with exactly 1000 words! best read by singing along to jealous.

bucky was by no means a jealous man.

or so he said.

he was a secure man, and he trusted the life out of you. bucky had the comfort of knowing you couldn’t care less to any man looking at your direction, or trying to say something along the lines of are you free next week? or shitty bare minimum texts of have you eaten? and deeming it as maximum effort.

so when a guy comes up to you in the dimly lit space of this bar, features contorted in a flirtatious manner as he gives out a smile that seemed to ask if you were available for a date— he didn’t flinch. he just snaked his vibranium arm a little lower to your waist, tilted his head and raised his eyebrow in a taunting way.

his eyes zoomed in on the man who couldn’t even properly look at the both of you, let alone carry a conversation with substantial topics. bucky knew guys like him— who was just desperate to get laid for a night.

he wouldn’t admit it, because he had nothing to confess. why would he be jealous when you’re all his?

“woah, man.” the guy let out a defensive laugh. “just trying to ask where the bathroom is.”

you chuckled, fingers caressing his stubble as you politely grinned at the person, not even listening to what he had to say because you enjoyed how bucky gripped tighter at your figure when he neared closer, the sense of personal space seemingly nonexistent.

“down the hall to your left.” he snarled. “the sign is literally there.” he pointed upward as the guy scurried off in a panicked manner. you really couldn’t blame him.

“be nice, baby.” you said, in an amused manner, to which bucky isn’t in response— with the way his jaw tightens and how he turns his gaze to you, eyes filled with hunger and desire. and the only warm light in the bar swirls in his orbs, in the most intimate way possible.

“i’m not jealous.”

you raised your eyebrows at him. sure.

“i’m not saying you are.” bucky rolled his eyes when he heard your hearty laugh. “he was just asking where the bathroom is.” you shrugged as you defended the guy, just to rile your not jealous boyfriend up.

“he looked at you like you were a feast, sweetheart. didn’t even notice me.”

bucky’s act was starting to crumble.

“you know i love you.” you smiled. “only you.”

he let out a sigh, taking a swig of beer down his throat. bucky looked at you feverishly as you gave him a kiss on the cheek.

maybe he was, jealous.

because no other man deserved you, he thinks that he does not even deserve you. change has been the only thing that stayed by his side through the decades, and you’ve just become the only constant thing by his side— he wasn’t just going to lose that to a man who couldn’t even see where the bathroom is.

no, you deserved actual dates with your favorite flowers and the most expensive thing on the menu in the finest restaurant in the world. or a simple picnic in the middle of nowhere with a breathtaking view of the mountains, or the city skylines— whichever you preferred.

so maybe he did feel threatened.

but when you looked at him like he’s the only thing running around your mind, bucky started to calm down— heart fluttering at how easy it was for you to give him the reassurance he needed.

so, fuck that guy.

“so sweet for me, baby.” bucky groaned softly as you revelled underneath him, letting out chants of his name in strangled moans. “he can’t make you moan like that, can he?” he gave out a smug grin.

his hands were on your hips as you try to grasp the edge of the bathroom sink, the women’s comfort room in the very same bar bucky had told off a guy a few minutes prior. he had dragged you out of the stool where the both of you sat and religiously kissed your lips as he pressed you against the wall.

“look at you.” his mouth parted when you looked up to him through the mirror, he found it hot when you challenged the way he maintained eye contact with you. it was even hotter when you did it while he thrusted roughly into you.

skin slick with sweat and insides filled with wetness and spit that bucky used as a lube to push deep inside your glistening cunt as it shined, somehow gripping him tighter than before.

bucky was rougher, meaner, and more intense than he had ever been, markings on your back started to show in red where he trailed his hand, but you had never felt so good.

“should rile you up even more next time.” you smirked in between breaths, letting out a moan when his vibranium arm pressed down on the back of your neck, you shivered slightly from the cold contact. he did not tighten his grip, it just stayed there to let you know who was in charge.

“yeah?” he chuckled. “think you can handle that?”

his thrusts did not change its relenting pace, and it seemed that he was getting faster by the minute. his eyes darted on the way your pussy enveloped his length, like it did not want to let go.

“i can handle it.” you nodded, shaking your hips just to tease him more, as if he wasn’t already teased out in the maximum level. “can you?” you added.

he hummed in response. bucky was close. close to killing the guy or cumming? he wasn’t sure which to do first.

but when you squirmed underneath him and rolled your eyes at the back of your head, whined his name out loud as the electronic pop music drowned out your pleads— he knew not to get jealous of anyone ever again.

because you’re all his.

© barnesandashes, 2025.

[rebecca--barnes]

[mimicben]

@feiramie oh yeah, it’s spideytorch time.

Time skip between my ‘normal’ and ‘herald’ Johnny is only about a year (if we go by the comics and say he was 16 when he got his powers and then they were heroes for four years until Galactus came that would make him 20 at the time of invasion and 21 by the time him and Spidey meet, so it is a college age Spidey in my version)

The year has been rough for Johnny and I think if he looked in a mirror, he would be horrified at the sight of his eyebags. Not much time for beauty sleep or tlc when you’re heralding a space God, I guess. (Not that Spidey will care, he’s too much of a Simp for that XD)

Ima a big fan of down bad spidey so hes gonna be a liiiittle bit of a mess here LOL (side note, do you think I should tag this as fantastic four: first steps spoilers? I have no clue)

[not-yuyu]

⸻ Whatever you say. Johnny Storm X Fem!reader.

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.

“Whatever you say.”

I'm so down for this man omds

[noblebynura]

Somewhere, The Stars Remembered

Part 1 of I, carrion.

Pairing: Earth-828 Johnny Storm x Witch!Earth-616 Reader Synopsis: It was supposed to be an escape, a world secret to only you, but someone made you want to stay. Genre & warnings: SPOILER FREE!! Fluff to angst(what more do I write?), nothing else other than, get your tissues ready I guess? I'm sorry. Word count: 4.6k | masterlist

a/n: There are SPOILERS for the end credit scenes of Thunderbolts* and possibly F4:FS in the comments so don't open comments okay!!

You were never supposed to stay. Not in Earth-828. Not with him.

But it started with a flicker of curiosity.

The multiverse was a door you had no business knocking on, but ever since the battle with Thanos and the rise and fall of Wanda Maximoff, you'd learned that sometimes, doors knock back.

Under the watchful eye of Doctor Strange, you were training — closely monitored, conditionally trusted. You had power not unlike America Chavez: rare, unpredictable, and intimately tied to the fabric of the multiverse. He didn’t say it outright, but you knew he feared it. So you studied, meditated, restrained.

But restlessness bloomed in your bones.

One quiet evening, Strange gone to Kamar-Taj for a summit, you were left alone in the Sanctum Sanctorum’s vast, humming library. You had promised to only review sanctioned texts — tomes already vetted, cleared, catalogued. Instead, you reached for the ones above, the ones behind silent sigils and whispered warnings.

You found the book buried in the lower archives of the Sanctum — a dusty thing about frequency planes and interdimensional pressure points. You didn’t even cast anything major. Just a ripple. A whisper of your power. And the portal bloomed before you like a tear in space, glowing soft around the edges.

Earth-828. But you didn’t know that at the time. All you knew that, it was somewhere new.

You stepped through.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

The first few times were quick. You slipped through the cracks with spells of cloaking and silence, walking among the chrome-lined streets and glowing glass towers. There was something poetic about it — the way neon met vintage, the way people dressed like retro comics but lived in buildings that pulsed with energy. It felt like a postcard, like a dream painted in old film colors.

You stayed invisible — literally. Your aura cloaked you naturally when you traveled between dimensions, a safety mechanism born of your power. You wandered quietly, just observing. A few minutes. Then you’d return.

But the rip hadn’t gone unnoticed.

His sensors picked up on your interdimensional signature, but Reed couldn’t track it to a fixed location. Your presence was too light, your signature too fleeting. But still, they knew someone or something, was coming through. There was a shimmer in the air every time you crossed over, like static, like a breath held too long. Reed couldn’t see you, but he felt your presence. And after the fifth crossing, he sent Johnny Storm to find you.

Reed Richards never cared much for names. Not the kind that came from different Earths or slipped between dimensions. So when his instruments began detecting flickers of destabilizing energy — spikes in multiversal frequency along the edge of Manhattan’s skyline. He didn’t ask who. He only asked how soon it could be shut down.

He had always theorized the multiverse. He had written about it in dusty old journals and modeled it in quantum projections no one else dared attempt. But theories were safer than proof. The truth was… Reed was afraid. Afraid that if even one hole opened, others would follow. And this Earth, this version, was stable. He would not risk it.

So when you showed up, a flicker in a courtyard, a blip on his carefully tuned sensors, Reed’s first instinct wasn’t wonder. It was containment.

He didn’t know your name. Didn’t know you came from a place of battle and blood and loss, a girl shaped by war and trying to find joy again. All he knew was that your presence sent his equilibrium readings spiraling.

He called it an anomaly. A threat. An intrusion.

But later, Johnny called it you.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

It was raining the night you met him.

The sky of Earth-828 didn’t fall with gray, but amber and pink — like an old oil painting melting. You wore the hood of your cloak up, casting a quiet veil spell around you, walking along the edge of a rooftop garden three blocks from the Baxter Building. That’s when the sky flared.

He came streaking through the sky in a blaze of gold and fire, trailing heat and a whoop of glee. Your breath caught.

He landed with a thud beside you, flame licking off his body like a living sun, eyes locked on you beneath the soft veil of your invisibility.

“I know you’re there,” he said, voice casual, but sharp with curiosity. “Your magic’s cool and all, but it doesn’t bend light like you think.”

You froze.

He took a step forward, flame receding slightly, revealing his boyish grin and sun-kissed hair still ruffled from the wind.

“You’re the anomaly,” he said. “Been chasing your signature for days.”

You let the veil drop.

He blinked. “Whoa.”

“Sorry,” you murmured, already raising your hand to summon a portal back. “I didn’t mean to—”

“No, wait.” His eyes scanned you — not in suspicion, but fascination.

“Where are you from?”

You didn’t answer.

“You gonna run?”

“No.”

“Good,” he said, folding his arms. “I hate when the pretty ones vanish on me.”

You rolled your eyes, but didn’t walk away. He captivated you. This was worth exploring more.

That was the first time.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Johnny didn’t go back to the Building right away that day.

He flew for a while — long loops above the skyline, fire trailing behind him like a comet tail. He needed to burn the adrenaline out of his system. Because he’d found you. You weren’t a rift or a monster. You were just a girl.

And that meant Reed didn’t need to know.

A girl wasn't a threat.

When he finally touched down at the Baxter Building, Reed was waiting in the lab, hunched over a floating matrix of dimensional readings.

“Well?” Reed asked without looking up. “Did you find the source?”

Johnny hesitated. “Nothing. Just a weird heat signature — old flare activity from the skyline. Your sensors probably ghosted.”

Reed frowned. “Unlikely.”

Johnny shrugged. “Or maybe you’re finally slipping. Want me to call Sue for a second opinion?”

Reed gave him a look, but didn’t argue. “I’ll recalibrate the harmonic receivers. Maybe I missed a background echo.”

Johnny exhaled as casually as he could. “You do that.”

He left the lab and ducked into his room, heart hammering. He’d just lied to the smartest man on Earth. But he didn’t feel guilty. Not really.

Because you weren’t a threat.

You were... real. And kind. And a little sad in a way that made him want to set things on fire until you smiled again.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

The days after bled into each other like the warm tones of Earth-828’s sky. You kept returning — not just for the city now, but for him. He met you at rooftops, fire escapes, quiet corners of the park where kids weren’t flying drones but kites. He brought you coffee once, said he figured out your favorite blend. He guessed right.

Johnny talked a lot. But with you, he listened more. He told you about flying, about Reed’s endless tests, about feeling like everyone thought he was just the showoff. And you told him about your Earth, about Strange (but not everything), about feeling like a passenger in your own life sometimes.

“You’re not just a passenger,” he said once, eyes soft. “You’re the one driving the damn ship.”

You laughed. “Is that a space metaphor?”

“Obviously,” he smirked. “I’m a rocket man, remember?”

You learned to stop being afraid of how quickly you started to care.

He touched your wrist when he laughed. His thumb would brush yours when he handed you things. Once, he tried to mimic your cloaking ability by hiding behind a lamppost and pretending no one could see him.

You laughed so hard your sides ached.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

The night nearing the fall, he took you to the observatory above the Baxter Building. The cautiousness of being detected was forgotten. Reed didn’t find you this long now so you let your guard down. You stood beneath the stars, his jacket draped over your shoulders. He didn’t need it. You did.

“I know Reed wouldn’t be okay with this,” he said quietly. “But I don’t care.”

“I know Strange would be furious,” you replied. “But I can’t stop coming here.”

He looked at you then, something sharp and raw behind his eyes.

“Then don’t,” he said.

And he kissed you.

It was soft. Careful. Like he didn’t want to scare you. But the second you leaned in, his hand rose to your cheek, thumb tracing your jaw, and it deepened into something real — something warm. You felt fire beneath his skin, but he held it back.

You kissed him like you were writing your name on this version of Earth.

But the stars do not wait for mortals. No matter how beautiful they were twinkling light years away, they still carry the cruel fate of destruction.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Back home, Reed’s algorithms kept humming. He adjusted his models, tweaked his code, even brought in Valeria to double-check a few strands of multiversal math. Johnny listened from the hallway. He always knew when Reed was getting close — the more agitated he got, the closer he was to truth.

So Johnny started sneaking glances at the terminal, memorizing numbers, checking the threshold charts for multiversal interference. Every time the graphs started to spike, Johnny would time his next visit with you just a little sooner. Just a little longer.

Every trip was a gamble.

But worth it.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

The courtyard was quiet at night, the kind of quiet that wrapped itself around you and muffled your thoughts into stillness. It's some sort of a routine now that you meet him at night. You walked slowly, hands tucked into your sleeves as the Baxter Building loomed above, windows dimmed except for one or two lab lights still glowing far up in the structure. You didn’t need to check to know one of them was Johnny’s.

You’d been careful. Always arriving when the world slowed down — past midnight, when Earth-828 seemed to sleep differently than your own. The air here always smelled faintly of something older. Analog. Less touched by the neon-hum of your Earth-616. The cars were heavier, the buildings boxier, but the sky… the sky was the same.

He was waiting for you beneath the skeletal shadow of a rust-covered sculpture in the courtyard. The moon cast soft light along the square tiles, bathing his blonde hair in silver, firelight dancing in the planes of his face as he fiddled with something in his hands.

“You’re not invisible this time,” Johnny teased.

You gave him a tired smile. “Felt safe.”

He stepped closer, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. “So, I’ve been working on something.”

From behind his back, he pulled out a small clunky device, silver and glass, glowing with soft green light. You raised a brow.

“What is that?”

“Dimensional field dampener. Sort of. It masks the frequency spikes you make when you open a portal. Doesn’t stop you, but makes it harder for guys like Reed to notice.”

You blinked, stunned. “You made me a magic cloak?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah. Kinda nerdy.”

You took it gently, thumbing the smooth edge. “I love nerdy.”

And you meant it.

He just watched you, quiet for a beat, eyes catching yours like a pull. “I don’t want to stop seeing you.”

“I don’t want to stop either.”

There was a moment of pause as agreement was made between the space of your bodies. Checking whether the universe would reject your appeal or not.

“Can I kiss you?” You blurted out suddenly. 

There was a breath of silence. Then a laugh, short and disbelieving, before he stepped forward and brought his hand to your jaw, cradling it like it was something delicate. As if you were a hologram in front of him. If he stepped in the wrong way your projection would disappear.

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

His lips met yours like gravity — not rushed, not greedy, just inevitable. The warmth of him poured into you, like he carried the sun in his chest and was willing to let it spill, just this once. You melted into him, anchoring yourself in his jacket, the heat of his touch grounding you.

And the world narrowed. There was only this kiss. This moment. This boy from another Earth who had flames at his fingertips and the stars in his eyes.

When he pulled back, he didn’t let go of you. His forehead rested against yours, breath mingling in the sliver of space between you.

“You’re incredible,” he murmured, so quiet it barely made it through the cool air. “You know that, right?”

You opened your eyes slowly, meeting his. “I’m starting to believe it.”

You both stood there for a moment, suspended in that quiet warmth, in the feel of belonging that didn’t make sense but it did in your own little secret bubble.

Above you, the moon bared witness to your actions. No matter how damning to the timeline it was.

And somewhere far above the atmosphere, beyond even Johnny’s reach, Reed’s sensors began to flare with renewed urgency. A spike in dimensional energy. A rupture, faint but growing. Something strange in the air.

But down here in the courtyard, it was just you and him.

You dropped your head onto his shoulder, feeling the rise and fall of his chest. “Tell me about space,” you whispered. “What’s it really like?” You’ve been to space before. It was just a curiosity to hear him say it. Maybe his space was different from yours?

He hummed, his arm circling your back. “Lonely. Beautiful. Cold. There’s this… silence that’s different. It’s not empty, just vast. Like everything is still listening. And there’s this feeling, when you look at Earth from that far away… like you understand how small everything really is. And how lucky we are.”

You closed your eyes. “I’d like to see yours one day.”

He smiled into your hair. “I’d take you there. If I could.”

Neither of you spoke for a while after that. You just sat, side by side on the edge of the stone planter, legs bumping, hands brushing, wrapped in the glow of something soft and unspeakable.

But above, invisible and unnoticed, the air was rippling. Like the fabric of this world was breathing wrong.

Like something, or someone, was looking for you.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Meanwhile, in Earth-616…

The Sanctum Sanctorum had grown… quieter.

Not in sound, but in magic. A kind of lull — an odd hush that settled in the corners of spellwork and seeped beneath the wards. At first, Strange didn’t notice. Your aura, cloaked in careful, deliberate shielding, wove itself neatly between the cracks of his attention. You were clever. And more importantly, cautious.

Too cautious.

You still trained every morning. You still studied, asked questions, meditated with a kind of intensity that masked the restlessness under your skin. You never raised suspicion. You never stepped wrong.

But the magic, your magic, left traces, even when cloaked. The moment you stepped out of this Earth’s frequency, you created a tension. A distortion. A soft pull, like someone plucking a single string out of tune in the Loom of time.

He ignored it the first few times.

Strange had grown used to the occasional ripple. The multiverse never sat still, not anymore. And you… you were still grieving. Still healing. He chalked it up to emotional fluctuation. Restlessness. You were young, and the cost of power was always weighty.

But then, around the second week, the distortion sharpened.

Not loud. Not chaotic. Just present, like a tick in the corner of his eye. You'd disappear for an hour. Two. Sometimes three. And when he searched, there was nothing. Not even a blink of magic left behind.

At first, he doubted himself.

He checked the wards. The shields. Even the Sanctum’s heart, where the echoes of other realms occasionally whispered. But there was nothing. You had hidden your trail with frightening precision.

Until you didn’t.

The moment came quietly.

Strange sat in his study, the Book of Vishanti open in front of him. The pages began to flutter — not from wind, but from a pulse. One that didn’t belong to this world. He reached toward the page meant to monitor multiversal tension and watched as a single glyph, a line of balance, quivered. Just once. Like a skipped heartbeat.

Then another ripple followed.

Not subtle this time. Not quiet. It roared.

A tether. Thin but intimate — stretched across the void.

You. He knew it instantly.

And whoever stood at the other end... wasn’t of this Earth.

He closed his eyes, reached inward, and followed the magic like smoke in reverse. When he found the thread you left behind, embedded deep in the weave of your own power, he saw it.

A courtyard, bathed in low moonlight. A strange skyline — not 616.

And you.

Smiling like he hadn’t seen in months. Laughing in a way that felt unfamiliar. Happy.

And beside you stood a young man with fire woven into his very being. His fingers brushed your cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world.

That was all it took.

Strange inhaled sharply, the spell snapping in his palm.

You had fallen in love.

Across dimensions. Behind his back. Using a power you didn’t fully understand.

He stood. Anger wasn’t the first thing he felt.

Fear was.

Fear that you would lose yourself, not just to emotion, but to the unraveling consequences of what this meant. Fear that he'd seen this before. That he’d already failed once.

He remembered Wanda. Her desperation. Her pain. Her delusions of control.

He wouldn’t lose another.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

The glow from Johnny’s makeshift field dampener flickered quietly between you both. It cast faint rings of light in the courtyard — like a ward against time itself. It was working. It was shrouding your presence in an invisible dome of frequency altering waves. 

You stayed there for a while that night. Long enough that your breath slowed in rhythm with his. Long enough that you forgot how wrong this all was.

“I don’t want to go back tonight,” you murmured.

Johnny looked over, his thumb brushing your knuckles. “Then don’t.”

You smiled faintly, leaning your head back against his shoulder. “You don’t understand. He’s going to find me. Eventually. I don’t know how I’ve gotten this far without being caught.”

He stilled for a second, then squeezed your hand. “You’re good at hiding.”

You didn’t dare answer.

Your pulse ticked uneasily. You didn’t want to say it aloud, but you felt it. A tension. An invisible tug on the air, like something far away was waking up.

Your eyes lifted to the dark sky — and for the first time, it didn’t feel like peace. It felt like a countdown.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

A floor above, in the Baxter Building’s observatory, Reed Richards stood stiffly behind a console, his fingers flying over glowing panels.

The readings didn’t lie. The interdimensional signature had spiked again — stronger than before. Centered just beneath them.

“No more guesses,” Reed said sharply into the comms. “I want a location. Johnny’s there again, isn’t he?”

Ben’s voice crackled through. “Yeah. Courtyard.”

Reed’s mouth tightened. He knew.

ִ⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Back in the courtyard, you felt it a heartbeat before you saw it — like the crack of static inside your chest.

A snap — the ripple of fabric tearing.

The air split above the grass behind you, light spiraling outward in a vertical slash. A portal. Familiar. Too familiar.

You were on your feet instantly. “No—”

Out stepped Stephen Strange, cloak billowing, eyes dark with fury.

His voice was quiet, but it carried like a thunderclap.

“I told you not to touch the multiverse.”

Johnny stepped in front of you instinctively, protectively. “Who the hell are you?”

“Johnny—” you warned.

Strange didn’t answer Johnny. His gaze pinned you. “You crossed worlds. You lied. You hid from me.” His voice threatened to lose control in anger. Rising in volume as he closes to you. 

Your chest burned. “You locked me in that old building alone. You kept me from even understanding what I could do—”

“For good reason,” Strange snapped, stepping forward. “Do you know how thin the line is between you and what Wanda did? Do you remember what she became?”

“I’m not Wanda!”

“But you could be.”

That silenced you. He didn’t shout. He didn’t need to.

And you hated that your heart twisted because part of you believed him.

Johnny looked between you both, confused and angry. “She didn’t hurt anyone. She was just—exploring—”

Strange shot him a look. “You think this is about hurting people? It’s about unraveling them.”

You flinched. “I didn’t ask for this.”

“I know.” His voice softened, just for a moment. “But you have it. And you’re not ready.”

“That was all you ever say to me.”

A glow gathered at his fingertips.

“Don’t,” you whispered.

“I have to.”

“Johnny—” you turned to him, panicked, reaching for his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

He held your hand tighter. “I know.”

But the moment broke. A crack of gold light spiraled outward. Strange lifted his hand, and the cuffs snapped into place around your wrists.

You gasped as the energy flickered through you, your power dimming in an instant. The bond to the multiverse—cut. Just like that.

“Stephen!” you shouted. “Please!”

“You’re grounded,” Strange said simply. “You don’t touch this universe again.”

You twisted, eyes locked with Johnny’s, even as the world behind you spun and the air split into a recall portal.

He stepped forward. “Wait!”

But it was too late.

The last thing you saw was his hand reaching for you.

And then the world went white.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Back in Earth-616, the Sanctum Sanctorum felt like a cage.

The ancient walls creaked under silence. The usual hum of arcane wards now pulsed louder in your ears, like they knew what you’d done. A thousand hidden sigils glowed faintly in the corners, reacting to your presence, or maybe warning the house to keep you still.

The magical cuffs around your wrists were cold. Not just in temperature, but in what they meant. Powerless. Bound. Caught.

You’d paced the room for hours, feet scuffing against the floor, your mind spiraling. Johnny’s name still echoed in your chest like a song you weren’t ready to forget.

When the Sanctum doors finally opened, you didn’t turn. You knew the sound of Strange’s footsteps.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just stood there behind you, cloak rustling faintly with his breath.

You could feel the disappointment bleeding off him like a curse.

“I believed in you,” he said at last.

His voice was quiet. Not scolding. But it hit harder than a scream.

You didn’t turn around.

“I believed you wanted to learn. To understand your gift. I didn’t think you’d betray that trust.”

You bit your lip, jaw tight. “You mean you didn’t think I’d outgrow your leash.”

Silence.

Then a sigh. Exhausted. Hurt.

“You lied to me.”

Your voice came out hollow. “You lied first.”

That stung. You finally turned around, meeting his eyes. There was a flicker of guilt there, buried beneath the control.

He looked older tonight. Worn.

“I kept things from you,” he admitted. “Because I’ve seen what happens when people like us… chase after what we want instead of what’s safe.”

You stepped forward, slow and deliberate, your cuffed hands hang heavy in front of you, “This isn’t about safety. This is about fear.”

Strange’s jaw clenched. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think I do,” you said, eyes locked on his. “You’re scared I’ll become another Wanda. Another fracture in your perfect little order. And you didn’t trust me enough to believe I wouldn’t.”

His silence said enough.

You swallowed back the lump in your throat. “You never believed in me, Stephen. Just in your ability to control me.”

Something flickered in his gaze, regret, maybe.

Or shame.

“This isn’t about punishment,” he said quietly.

“Then what is it?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the floor like the words were stuck in his chest.

“It’s about not watching another gifted, powerful person lose themselves to want.”

You blinked. Hard. “Is that what you think I did?”

He looked up. “Didn’t you?”

Your shoulders sagged. You felt the ache spread in your chest like frost.

“I didn’t go there to tear space apart,” you said. “I went because… I met someone who made me feel like I wasn’t dangerous. Like I was real.”

Strange said nothing.

“I wasn’t destroying the universe,” you whispered. “I was falling in love.”

You saw it. The way his expression cracked for half a second. A flash of emotion. Not anger. But something sadder.

“I miss him,” you added, voice thin. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

You turned your face to the side, jaw clenched, trying not to cry.

Strange shifted his weight. When he finally spoke again, it was quiet. So quiet it barely reached you.

“Love doesn’t justify breaking the universe.”

You laughed. Bitter and empty. “Is that what this is to you? A breach protocol?”

“I saw what happened when Wanda reached across dimensions for love,” he said firmly. “She burned everything.”

You spun around. “I’m not her.”

“I know,” he said. “But you’re closer to that line than you realize.”

You held up your bound wrists. “So this is it? You’re locking me down? Is that how you love your students now?”

“I’m protecting you.”

“No,” you said, stepping toward him, voice rising. “You’re afraid of me.”

He didn’t deny it.

He just said, again, quieter this time, more final.

“You’re grounded.”

The words cut through the room like a curse. Simple. Final. Inevitable.

You stared at him, breathing hard.

“You don’t get to make that choice for me.”

“I just did.”

You turned away, chest shaking with silent sobs. You wanted to scream, but there was no point. Your power was gone. Your freedom gone. Your heart was somewhere in a different universe.

And all Strange could offer was a cell with velvet curtains.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

He left after that.

Didn’t slam the door. Didn’t raise his voice. Just walked away like it hurt him to stay.

The Sanctum was quiet again.

Too quiet.

And you stood alone in the middle of a glowing sigil meant to keep you safe.

It felt a lot more like a prison.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

Meanwhile, back in Earth-828, the Baxter Building was anything but calm.

Johnny stormed into the lab, fury written across his face. “You knew.”

Reed looked up slowly. “I suspected.”

“You let her get ripped out of here like she was some mistake—”

“She was a mistake,” Reed said coldly. “Her being here was a violation of everything we’ve worked to stabilize. She risked the entire equilibrium of our universe.”

“She’s not some monster.”

“She’s a threat.”

“She’s more than her power!” Johnny shouted. “And she trusted me.”

Reed didn’t blink. “Then she made two mistakes.”

Johnny’s jaw clenched.

“You should be grateful she was taken,” Reed added. “It could’ve been far worse.”

But Johnny didn’t feel grateful. He felt hollow.

⌞══════════════════════════════════════════⌝

And so time passed. Not weeks. Just days.

But it was enough.

You didn’t go back.

He didn’t reach out. Not that he could.

And neither of you said goodbye.

But maybe this is how it had to end.

A moment out of time.

A version of love that only existed between worlds.

Somewhere, the stars still shone the same in both skies.

And somewhere, the stars remembered. 

a/n: Hi there! Part 2 is in the works upon an anon request! How would you like me to continue this? Because I can always make it more..... depressing or something else you guys want it to be!

[dearwalker]

The whole “boyfriend taps your window late at night and comes into your room after patrolling” trope is so back!!!

I used to eat that up with Peter Parker back then, and now we have Clark Kent and Johnny Storm who can just fly to your balcony/fire exit and be like ‘hey :)’ and omg I’m just giggling and kicking my feet!!

Life is worth living 🫶🏼