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unterdans · 14 hours ago

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i'm so tired

johnny storm x reader

summary: johnny hasn't been able to sleep for days, missing you and being unable to fight in the rain. tonight, he can't resist going to your apartment to take care of you.

a/n: joseph quinn recently said in a red carpet interview that he thinks johnny's favorite beatles song would be "i'm so tired" so i wrote a little something based on the song!

content: fluff, a little angst. mentions of insomnia and absent fathers. gender neutral reader!

wc: 2.1k

Johnny stood resting his forehead against the floor to ceiling windows of his room. He watched with bloodshot eyes as rain doused Manhattan. It had been doing so for days already. Usually he didn’t mind the occasional rainstorm– good and bad guys alike typically didn’t want to catch a cold. It was a nice break and gave him a few hours, sometimes a whole day, where he didn’t have to be on call as the Human Torch. He liked to spend the time with you: he could truly give you his undivided attention. It meant he could treat you the way you deserved. No imminent threats to handle.

Just you and him and now.

But you had been gone for three weeks on a work trip, too tired most nights to talk on the phone. Johnny hated feeling so clingy, but it had been hard without you. He missed the sound of your voice, of your laugh, the lilting tone you teased him in. From what little you were able to tell him, it sounded like your trip was hell. Your boss demanded that you be on call for every little asinine demand your clients made in order to clinch the deal. It made Johnny boil with rage, but he didn’t express that to you. He knew it would only stress you out more, thinking he disapproved of your professional life— which wasn’t the case at all. He just wanted you to be treated with the respect you deserved.

On the evenings where you couldn’t call, Johnny took to flying through Manhattan instead. Feeling the New York air feed his flames as he wove through the streets was almost as refreshing as the sound of your voice. It sufficed for a bit, until it started raining incessantly— not just a twenty-minute drizzle here and there, either, no. Full blown thunderstorms bled from one day to the next. The world grew gloomy and the sky grumbled constantly.

The weather’s mood started to rub off on Johnny after the fifth day of rain. He couldn’t even help his family fight in this weather. He grew restless, which soon turned into sleepless nights. He tossed and turned for days, worrying about his family, worrying about you. Not even his records could lull him to sleep.

Now, he could see your apartment from his room if he strained his tired eyes in the dark. Your flight home had landed at midnight; it was nearing two a.m. now. The light in your room flicked on an hour ago and he had since been resisting every muscle that screamed at him to call you and ask to come over. But he already knew what you would say:

“Stay home, Johnny. It’s two in the morning. I’ll see you in the afternoon, anyways.”

But he didn’t want to see you in the afternoon. That was twelve hours away and you were home. Alone, jetlagged, probably hungry. Realistically, eating one of those shitty TV dinners you kept in the icebox for occasions like this.

Johnny pushed away from the window and made up his mind. Heading to the kitchen, he began to pack some things in a backpack. H.E.R.B.I.E. woke up from sleep mode at his loading dock and rolled over to see if the blonde man needed help. He beeped sweetly when he recognized the ingredients Johnny was assembling.

“Blast from the past, right, Herbert?”

“Bwee bwa bwu bwaeb.”

Johnny’s mouth quirked up into a half smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah.”

You sat nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, waiting for the oven to heat up, when your buzzer went off. It startled you so badly that you spilled your drink. Good thing it wasn’t hot. Your mind was a bit dazed from the exhausting work trip and even worse flight back home, so it took a moment for you to think of who would have the audacity to buzz you in the dead of night.

He buzzed again when you made no sign of answering the door, which made you sigh. You answered the receiver finally.

“Who is it?” You asked as if you didn’t already know.

“Just the love of your life,” he answered sweetly. Even through the crappy intercom, you could hear a strained tremor in his voice. Without responding, you let him in and in a few seconds, he had run up the handful of flights to your apartment. He knocked in the insistent way he always did: taptaptap-taptaptap. When you unlocked the door, he was leaning on your doorframe in an attempt at nonchalance. It fooled the masses, but never you.

“Hi, sugar,” he breathed excitedly, a light glimmering in his eyes.

“Don’t you have anything better to do, Mister Storm?”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but it’s raining,” he dipped his head to kiss you on the cheek.

You hummed happily at the contact. “Is it now?”

“Mhmm,” he responded, too busy finding your mouth to use his words. When his lips met yours, the need for words fell away. You could taste the longing. You could feel how he had missed you. Johnny pulled you close to him and his hands pulsed with warmth that began to melt the knots in your muscles. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours.

“You shouldn’t have come all this way,” you whispered to him. What you really meant was, thank you, I missed you too.

“No one else was awake for me to annoy,” he said, but you knew he meant, I’d do anything for you.

When you pulled away, he came further into your apartment and you shut the door softly behind him. He sniffed the air thoughtfully.

“You’re preheating the oven, aren’t you?”

“...Yes.”

He walked into your kitchen with an air of authority and pointedly shut off the oven. “Have you eaten anything in the past three weeks that was not frozen at some point?”

You looked at the ceiling trying to think, which made him frown. “It’s a toss up.”

He tsk’d. “Lucky for you, I had a feeling you’d be heating up one of these atrocities and came prepared. I’m going to make you a Storm specialty.” He began to empty out the backpack he’d brought onto your counter.

“A Storm specialty?” You tiptoed over to look, but he shielded the ingredients from your view.

“It’s quick–” he winked at you jokingly, but it made you blush all the same “–easy, and filling, ok? All good stuff I promise.”

“Only if you promise.” You leaned closer to his face. Now that he was here and had given you a taste of him again, all the neediness you had stored away during your trip came crashing into you.

“I swear on the life of my love,” he whispered gravely.

“Hmm, I hope you don’t swear on that often.”

“Only when I have to prove I mean what I say.”

You reached a hand up to run through his hair. Johnny’s eyes fluttered shut at the feeling and you stole a kiss from him. He made a sound somewhere in between a whimper and a groan before pulling away.

“Hey, now, don’t— don’t distract me. I came here with a mission.”

“And what was that mission exactly?”

“To take care of you. And before you argue–”

“I don’t need to be taken care of!”

“–I know, I know. Just… let me, alright? I want to.”

You sighed. “Fine, fine.”

“Now go cozy up on the couch,” Johnny commanded. You refused this, though, with a soft “mm-mm” you buried into his shoulder blade, hugging his waist.

“Alright, I’ll allow it,” he whispered. You settled your hands on his slender waist. Maybe it is good to have him here after all. You didn’t realize until he stood in your doorway how lonely coming home to an empty apartment after weeks of being away could be.

Finally seeing the ingredients on the counter made you want to question what exactly this meal was, but you figured Johnny would have a grand story to tell you while you ate. For now, you were content to watch over his shoulders and shift away wordlessly when he searched for a new pot or pan.

Although the two of you were typically quite chatty, exhaustion had clearly settled over the both of you. He did, at least, hum and sing under his breath. Some Beatles song that had come out while you were away.

“...you know I can’t sleep, I can’t stop my brain…”

After fifteen minutes of concentrated cooking– cut in half by not having to wait for water to boil or pans to get to temperature— Johnny wriggled out of your grasp and shooed you to the living room. But he followed you two minutes later, a bowl in each hand.

“I present to you, my beloved, a Storm sibling classic.”

With a flourish and a bow, he placed the bowls on your coffee table. One held boxed mac ’n’ cheese, the other, seared hot dog slices. The corner of your mouth quirked up in a smile. You could just see little Johnny eating this. Blonde hair a mess, wrinkled uniform trousers, a bandaid on his elbow, fork laden with things you would never conceive to put together yourself.

“I put them in separate bowls because I know you don’t always like mixing things, but I personally always tossed the hot dogs in with the mac,” he said.

You laughed through your nose and pulled him down to sit on the couch with you. You kissed his favorite spot that wasn’t his lips, right below his temple and beside his ear.

“Tell me the story,” you said and began to eat.

It was his turn to smile. You knew him so damn well. “When Sue and I were little, our dad, y’know, wasn’t the same after mom died. Wasn’t present, even when he physically was. Before we had to move in with our aunt, Sue would cook on the nights he didn’t come home. She hated cooking but wouldn’t let me help because I was seven and could barely see over the stove. By the time she gave up on waiting for him on those nights, it’d be pretty late. So she’d make something fast, but semi-balanced– knowing two growing kids needed protein and stuff like that. Hence the hot dogs.”

“It’s pretty damn good,” you conceded around a mouthful.

“Nothing but the best for my baby.”

This meal was, to Johnny, the definition of being taken care of. Whatever had been going on in his brain while you were away seemed to have convinced him to open up a bit. He wasn’t what one would call closed off or aloof the rest of the time, of course not, but he also wasn’t one to dwell much on his past. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. Perhaps he could admit that, without you and without his powers in this weather, he’d been feeling like an unmoored ship, tossing around in the torrential storms. Helpless. And he hadn’t felt so helpless since those nights with Sue, watching his big sister try her best to feed them.

Sometimes there isn’t much you can do to help the people you love. Johnny knew this. He couldn’t help Sue back then, too small and childish to be trusted with fire (ironic, right?) or sharp objects. He couldn’t help you at work now, either; he knew that was a battle you had to fight on your own. But he could help by making the rest of your life a little easier.

So he washed the dishes when you finished up and carried you to bed when you inevitably fell asleep watching TV with him. You opened your sleep-heavy eyes to see him backing away towards the door.

‘Don’t go,” you whined groggily, reaching for him.

He chuckled quietly. “Just turning off the light, sugar.”

Johnny was all too glad to slide into bed to spoon you from behind, warming you to your core. This didn’t satisfy you, though, since you couldn’t see his beautiful face. So you flipped over to sling your left leg over his waist, half hugging him, head on his chest. With less than half of your mind working, you noticed the rain had finally stopped. The only music was the slow synchronizing of your breathing with Johnny’s and the steady thumping of his heart.

For the first time in several days, Johnny was able to succumb to sleep. The sweetest dream already lay in his arms.

thanks for reading! let me know what you think :3

dividers by @/saradika-graphics

#morning reblog #johnny storm #human torch #fantastic four #johnny storm x reader #fantastic four x reader #joseph quinn #joe quinn #fantastic four first steps #human torch x reader #fantastic four fic

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unterdans · 1 day ago

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i'm so tired

johnny storm x reader

summary: johnny hasn't been able to sleep for days, missing you and being unable to fight with the team in the rain. he visits you in the middle of the night to take care of both you and himself.

a/n: joseph quinn in said in a recent red carpet interview that he thinks johnny's favorite beatles song would be "i'm so tired" so i wrote a fic around the song!

content: fluff, a little angst, mentions of insomnia and absent fathers

Just you and him and now.

“Stay home, Johnny. It’s two in the morning. I’ll see you in the afternoon, anyways.”

“Blast from the past, right, Herbert?”

“Bwee bwa bwu bwaeb.”

Johnny’s mouth quirked up into a half smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah.”

He buzzed again when you made no sign of answering the door, which made you sigh. You answered the receiver finally.

“Who is it?” You asked as if you didn’t already know.

“Hi, sugar,” he breathed excitedly, a light glimmering in his eyes.

“Don’t you have anything better to do, Mister Storm?”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but it’s raining,” he dipped his head to kiss you on the cheek.

You hummed happily at the contact. “Is it now?”

“You shouldn’t have come all this way,” you whispered to him. What you really meant was, thank you, I missed you too.

“No one else was awake for me to annoy,” he said, but you knew he meant, I’d do anything for you.

When you pulled away, he came further into your apartment and you shut the door softly behind him. He sniffed the air thoughtfully.

“You’re preheating the oven, aren’t you?”

“...Yes.”

He walked into your kitchen with an air of authority and pointedly shut off the oven. “Have you eaten anything in the past three weeks that was not frozen at some point?”

You looked at the ceiling trying to think, which made him frown. “It’s a toss up.”

“A Storm specialty?” You tiptoed over to look, but he shielded the ingredients from your view.

“It’s quick–” he winked at you jokingly, but it made you blush all the same “–easy, and filling, ok? All good stuff I promise.”

“Only if you promise.” You leaned closer to his face. Now that he was here and had given you a taste of him again, all the neediness you had stored away during your trip came crashing into you.

“I swear on the life of my love,” he whispered gravely.

“Hmm, I hope you don’t swear on that often.”

“Only when I have to prove I mean what I say.”

“Hey, now, don’t— don’t distract me. I came here with a mission.”

“And what was that mission exactly?”

“To take care of you. And before you argue–”

“I don’t need to be taken care of!”

“–I know, I know. Just… let me, alright? I want to.”

You sighed. “Fine, fine.”

“Now go cozy up on the couch,” Johnny commanded. You refused this, though, with a soft “mm-mm” you buried into his shoulderblade and hugged his waist.

“...you know I can’t sleep, I can’t stop my brain…”

“I present to you, my beloved, a Storm sibling classic.”

“I put them in separate bowls because I know you don’t always like mixing things, but I personally always tossed the hot dogs in with the mac,” he said.

You laughed through your nose and pulled him down to sit on the couch with you. You kissed his favorite spot that wasn’t his lips, right below his temple and beside his ear.

“Tell me the story,” you said and began to eat.

“It’s pretty damn good,” you conceded around a mouthful.

“Nothing but the best for my baby.”

So he washed the dishes when you finished up and carried you to bed when you inevitably fell asleep watching TV with him. You opened your sleep-heavy eyes to see him backing away towards the door.

‘Don’t go,” you whined groggily, reaching for him.

He chuckled quietly. “Just turning off the light, sugar.”

Johnny was all too glad to slide into bed to spoon you from behind, warming you to your core. This didn’t satisfy you, though, since you couldn’t see his beautiful face. So you flipped over to sling your left leg over his waist, half hugging him, head on his chest. With less than half of your mind working, you noticed the rain had stopped. The only music was the slow synchronizing of your breathing with Johnny’s and the steady thumping of his heart.

For the first time in several days, Johnny was able to succumb to sleep. The sweetest dream already lay in his arms.

thank you for reading! if you saw me post and accidentally delete the entire thing, no you didn't! LOL. let me know what ya think :3

dividers by @/saradika-graphics

#johnny storm #human torch #fantastic four #johnny storm x reader #human torch x reader #fantastic four x reader #joseph quinn #joe quinn #fantastic four first steps

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unterdans · 1 day ago

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help i just deleted a whole fic post what's wrong with me

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unterdans · 1 day ago

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Big Eyes, Little Lies

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ JOHNNY STORM X READER

summary: Johnny picks up his nephew Franklin from school just once. That’s all it takes. Now he’s suddenly volunteering to pick him up every day. Sue knows something’s up — but Johnny’s not talking. Not until he's got a plan. Warnings: None, just sweet chaos and mutual pining.

a/n: requested by @totaldystopiannerd !! thank you for your request!

this is the prequel to Big Eyes, Little Rings

It started with one favor.

Sue had a meeting downtown. Reed was in his lab, locked in some dimensional whatever. Ben was on asteroid duty. That left Johnny.

“Pick up Franklin at 3. Don’t be late.”“Yeah, yeah, sis, I got it.”

He hadn’t expected anything life-changing. He parked the car (slightly crooked), adjusted his sunglasses, and strode across the parking lot like someone being filmed in slow motion — until he tripped on a sprinkler head.

Kids were spilling out of the classroom, tiny backpacks bouncing, and that’s when he saw her.

You.

Standing by the door in a sunflower-yellow cardigan, kneeling to tie some little girl’s shoe, speaking softly. There was something familiar about the softness of you — like the end of summer, or the first hot cocoa of the year.

Your eyes — God, your eyes — went wide and warm when you looked up and said, “You must be Franklin’s uncle.”

Johnny blinked. Twice. Maybe three times.

“I — Yeah. Yep. That’s me. Flame... Johnny. Just Johnny. I’m Johnny.”

Smooth.

You giggled. Actually giggled. Like a Disney character or someone who made their own granola.

Franklin ran into his legs, breaking the moment. “Uncle Johnny! Can we get donuts?”

“Kid, you can have whatever you want.”

You smiled and handed Johnny a paper folder. “He’s been very curious this week — lots of questions about space. I think someone’s been bragging about his uncle.”

Johnny glanced at you, then the folder, then back at you.

You had those ridiculous, round eyes and this calm, sparkly way of speaking. Like nothing bad ever happened in your world. He didn’t even try to be charming. He just stared at you like a man who had seen the sun for the first time.

When Sue called him that night, she sounded suspicious.

“You picked him up today?”“Sure did.”“...You offered to do it again tomorrow?”“I’m a giver, Sue. A saint.”

By the third pickup, you were expecting him. You greeted Franklin first, always, with the kind of gentle authority that made Johnny consider asking you to organize his schedule.

Then you looked at him, smiled like he was already part of your day, and said something like, “Hi, Johnny,” like it meant something.

Which was insane. Because you didn’t even know him.

Except… maybe you did. You didn’t fawn over him like fans did. You weren’t impressed by his hero status. You just talked to him. About Franklin. About your class. One time you said he had “mischief in his smile,” and he barely survived the moment.

Johnny Storm — chaos incarnate — was melting over a kindergarten teacher.

By week two, he started dressing nicer.

By week three, he learned what time the class went to recess, just so he could “accidentally” show up early.

He brought snacks.

He helped stack tiny chairs.

He took a “volunteer” flyer from the bulletin board and asked you how many hours counted as “a few.”

He told Sue nothing. She was watching him like a hawk.

It wasn’t just the big, soft eyes. (Though God, those eyes…) It was the way you leaned in when kids whispered, like their thoughts were treasures. It was how you made every day sound magical. Like watching the world through glitter and hope.

It made Johnny — a man who flew into battle and called it Tuesday — want to slow down.

Want to stay.

One Thursday, Franklin forgot his lunch, and Johnny offered to drop it off.

“Class is in story time,” you whispered, when you met him outside the door.

Inside, a sea of little heads sat crisscross on the rug while you held an open book.

“Would you like to read the next page?” you asked, voice mischievous.

Johnny froze. “Me? Oh — uh. I don’t really—”

But then you smiled and held out the book. The kids squealed. One asked if Johnny could make fire from his hands.

He read the page. You sat beside him, calm and radiant, like this was exactly what should happen. He smelled your vanilla perfume and forgot the plot halfway through.

After, as you walked him to the door, you said softly, “You’re good with them.”

Johnny snorted. “I barely survived that page.”

You shrugged. “Still. You’re gentler than you let on.”

He stared at you again, all stupid, until a kid asked if he was your boyfriend. Johnny nearly combusted.

You just smiled. “Not yet.”

That night, Sue cornered him. “You’re in love with her.” “I am not.” “You picked up Franklin in a collared shirt, Johnny.” “I can wear collars!” “You ironed it.” “I did not— okay, I might have steamed it—” “You brought cupcakes to the staff lounge!” “Okay, now you’re just making things up.” “Franklin said she has ‘princess eyes.’” Johnny blinked. “That’s… actually very accurate.”

Sue smirked. “Ask her out.”

Johnny hesitated. “What if she says no?” “Then she’s got terrible taste and you move on. But… I don’t think she will.”

He showed up on Friday with a coffee just the way you liked it (you once mentioned it, in passing — he remembered).

You took it with a surprised smile, eyes going even wider than usual. “This is… exactly right.”

“Yeah, I pay attention.”

You looked up at him, gentle and glowing. “I know you do.”

That did it.

“I was wondering,” he began, tugging at the hem of his jacket, “if maybe, sometime when you’re not, you know, herding thirty tiny humans, you might want to… get dinner?”

You tilted your head. “Like a date?”

“Yeah. A real one. No crayons involved.”

Your smile lit up your whole face. “I’d love to.”

Later that night, Franklin announced to the room:

“Uncle Johnny kissed Miss Y/N’s hand and then walked into the door.”

Sue just laughed and shook her head. “I told you,” she muttered. “Big eyes. Big trouble.”

#YEEEES YES YES YES #barking quietly #in a normal way

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unterdans · 1 day ago

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did an hour ish study based on the concept art yesterday

#oh fuck yeah

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unterdans · 3 days ago

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At Last

read part 2 here!

Pairing: Johnny Storm x Soulmate!Reader

Word Count: 3.8k (oopsies)

Warnings: cursing, kissing. no fantastic four spoilers, don't worry!

Summary: On Earth-828, once you turn 16, soulmates are allowed to send each other a single gift every year on New Years Day. You're in your late 20s now and still have yet to find your match, and there's no way it's Johnny Storm.

A/N: hello yes hi it is me, coming back after a dry spell of 3 years lmao. pls be kind I am rusty!!!! feedback gives me life :)

“For the millionth time, Johnny Storm is not my soulmate.”

You rolled your eyes, tossing another handful of popcorn into your mouth as you watched the Fantastic Four member himself on your television screen. Tonight was New Years Eve, and the superhero group was invited to help host the annual New York City Ball Drop. There were 6 minutes left until midnight, and you were getting antsy.

Because New Years Eve didn’t just mean a brand new year. It meant another gift. From your soulmate.

Every year since you turned 16 years old, you received a gift handpicked from your soulmate at midnight on New Years Day, like everyone else. Unfortunately, no gift was allowed to include something helpful like your name or address (you’d tried multiple times, but the gifts always ended up vanishing into thin air as soon as you attempted to drop it off at the post office), so gifts were supposed to be strategically picked. Something to give insight into who you are, and how you valued your future relationship.

When the two of you were still teenagers, the gifts lacked…sentimentality. You simply weren’t sure what to send a stranger that you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with. They’d consisted of vacation souvenirs, a photograph of your pet, random knick-knacks. And you had received similar items.

But as you both got older, the gifts became a bit more special. Two years ago he sent you a vinyl of Frank Sinatra’s “The Best Is Yet To Come,” and you played it on repeat for months. The following year, you sent him a vinyl of Etta James’ “At Last,” a thank-you for the vinyl he’d sent you. It was the song you always imagined would be playing the day of your wedding day. This year, you sent him a leather bracelet you made yourself, and you couldn’t wait to see what he got you this year.

Because last year’s gift from your soulmate was a bit…odd.

It was a collectible action figure of Johnny Storm.

And your best friend Violet had not shut up about it for the entirety of the last year.

“Totally, Y/N, that’s why your soulmate gave you a collectibles version of his action figure,” she retorted.

You sighed. How many times have you had this conversation? “Maybe he just works for the Fantastic Four. Or he’s a fan.”

“Whatever you say,” she singsonged. “It really wouldn’t be that weird, Y/N. Your firm works closely with them anyways.”

She had a point, but it was still outlandish. You were a communications assistant at a PR firm that worked directly with the superhero group, but you were pretty low on the food chain, and you’d never had any direct contact with any of them.

“Yes, I work at a PR firm with hundreds of employees, most of which would be chosen over me to speak with the world’s most famous superheroes.”

“You never know, all employees could show up sick one day and you’ll be the only one left. Then you’ll have to talk with them!”

You shook your head in annoyance. She was being ridiculous. “It’s easy for you to joke about because you don’t have to deal with any of this. You already have your person.”

Violet was one of the lucky ones who found her soulmate when she was really young. 18 to be exact. Once she met him, she got to exchange her gifts in person. Given that you were halfway through your 20s and not any closer to finding yours, you were just a tad jealous. You couldn’t be too upset, though, because her soulmate Mike always let her spend New Years Eve with you. It had become your yearly tradition, and he never came between that.

Violet gave you a sympathetic look. “I’m just trying to be optimistic!”

“By trying to convince me that my soulmate is an unattainable, insanely attractive superhero that dates a different girl every week?”

Violet opened her mouth to respond, but the newscaster’s voice on the television interrupted your conversation.

“So, Johnny, any hopes for the new year? Maybe to finally find that special soulmate?”

Your heart raced as you watched him on the television screen. He and his superhuman team were all bundled up in snowy downtown New York City, the big Apple that was set to drop in 3 minutes gleaming high above them in the background.

Johnny gave the man an easy grin. “That would certainly be nice, Chris. I’ve been dreaming of her since I was a teenager!”

Violet nudged your shoulder with a knowing grin, which you returned with another eye roll.

“But, then again, you’d have thousands of hearts to break!” The news camera panned over to the crowd of screaming women, several of whom were holding up “I <3 Johnny” posters.

You shook your head. There’s no way he could be yours. As if you could compete with that.

The camera cut back to Johnny, who gave the girls a wink and chuckled as they went wild. “Well, Chris, that’s just the way it’ll have to be. Once I meet my soulmate, she’ll be it for me.”

“And she will certainly have her hands full,” Sue cut in, leaning towards the microphone. Johnny playfully shoved her away, a smirk still on his face as Reed watched and shook his head. You smiled watching the interaction; they seemed like such a fun group.

“Do you have any hints as to who this lucky lady might be?” The newscaster began. “Tell us what you got her for her gift this year.”

Johnny looked surprisingly unsure at the question, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck. “Ah, I’d rather keep the gifts between her and me. Y’know, privacy and all that. Plus, I think that might be considered cheating at finding my soulmate, right?”

Before Chris could say anything, Ben interrupted. “Well look at that, Johnny following the rules for once!”

Bickering broke out between the Fantastic Four, and the newscaster went back to the camera. “Well, there you have it, folks! Johnny Storm is a softy for his sweetheart, whoever she may be. Let’s hope the new year brings them both together. And now, it is time for the one minute countdown! Let’s bring on the new year!”

Your heart started pounding the way it always did at the one-minute mark. Violet grabbed your hand as you both watched the Apple slowly make its way down.

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…

“Happy new year!”

You and Violet exchanged a hug before tossing popcorn in the air, laughter bubbling in your gut as she danced wildly around your living room.

“Now go look! I can’t stand the suspense any longer!”

You grinned, suddenly ignoring the superheroes celebrating on your television screen, and ran to your front door.

And there it was, sitting perfectly on your doorstep.

A perfectly wrapped, light blue box with a white bow on it.

You wasted no time in swiping it up and running back inside to your living room, haphazardly slamming the door behind you.

“What is it what is it what is it,” Violet chanted, her eyes glued on the gift.

You quickly untied the bow and opened up the box, an audible gasp leaving your lips at what was inside.

A little black box.

“Oh my god, is it a ring?”

You swallowed, your heart pounding. “Don’t be silly, how would he even know my ring size?”

She shrugged. “I dunno, he probably guessed. You can always get it resized once you meet if it doesn’t fit. Now open it before I do!”

You opened the box and immediately let out the breath you were holding.

It was a small, silver band with the most stunning stone you’d ever seen. In fact, you’d never seen anything like it.

Sitting in the middle of the shiny silver band was a round, black, shining stone with flecks of red inside it that seemed to glow when you held it up in the light. It almost looked a little like tiny specks of lava.

“Holy crap,” you muttered, unable to keep your eyes off of it.

“Holy crap is right,” Violet agreed. “That thing is gorgeous. What kind of stone even is that?”

“I have no idea.” You wasted no time in trying it on, and positively beamed when you found it fit on both ring fingers before you settled on putting it on your right ring finger. You weren’t sure if it was supposed to be an engagement ring or more of a promise ring, and it felt odd to act as if you were engaged to someone you didn’t actually know, even if it’s your soulmate. One day I’ll be able to put it on my left hand, you thought.

Violet gathered up her things, preparing to head out for the night. “It’s beautiful, Y/N,” she remarked, smiling at you. “And it’ll be even more beautiful when Johnny Storm puts it on your left hand.”

You threw a pillow at her as she headed out the door.

“Yeah, yeah. Happy New Year!”

***4 months later***

“I look ridiculous. Do I look ridiculous?” You paced around your living room, wringing your hands nervously.

Tonight, you were going to a gala. But not just any gala. A gala at the Baxter Building.

The Fantastic Four was hosting a massive charity event/gala, and invited everyone who worked closely with them or for them. Which included your PR firm.

Technically, not everyone in your firm was allowed to go, as your company had too many employees. But you practically begged your boss to go, and she finally relented and bought you a ticket (only because it was coming out of your paycheck).

You knew it was stupid. Outlandish. Laughable. Impossible. But you had to admit that the possibility of your soulmate being involved with the Fantastic Four was something you hadn’t stopped thinking about since New Years Eve. You knew there was no way it could be Johnny Storm, but it wouldn’t be too insane of an idea to think your soulmate could work closely with the group in some other way. And you didn’t want to waste this opportunity.

“You look incredible, Y/N, don’t be silly.” Violet grabbed your black heels that matched your sleek, black, form-fitting dress and handed them to you. “But there’s one little thing missing.” You furrowed your brow, looking down at yourself as you put your heels on. Violet gave you a knowing look before walking over with the little black box you’d been given 4 months ago. “Your soulmate won’t be able to pick you out without this, yeah?”

You took a deep breath, steeling yourself as you slipped the ring onto your right ring finger. “I can’t believe I almost forgot.”

“Yeah, if I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought you were nervous or something.”

You laughed, rolling your eyes. “Alright, I better get going before ‘fashionably late’ turns into ‘embarrassingly late.’”

Violet squealed, heading out the door with you. “It’s going to be amazing, Y/N. No matter what happens! Even if you don’t meet him tonight, at least you’ll get to see the Four up close.”

You nodded, giving your best friend a salute before getting in your car.

You can do this, you told yourself.

***

“Oh, I so cannot do this,” you whispered to yourself.

The lobby of the Baxter Building was completely full of people, none of whom had a familiar face. Everyone was dressed to the nines and looked incredible, and everyone seemed to know each other…except for you. Unfortunately, you didn’t even know where to go.

Suddenly, a beeping sound appeared next to you. You looked down, and a little robot was staring up at you. You looked around to see if anyone else was seeing this, but no one paid you or the robot any mind.

“Um, hello?”

The little robot made another beeping sound before rushing away, and you had a feeling he wanted you to follow him.

You followed him over to the elevator, where he pressed the button for you before rushing away once more. “Fascinating,” you whispered, shaking your head in disbelief.

Before you knew it, the elevator doors opened and revealed the main event. You walked forward a few steps to the balcony overlooking the gala being held right below. It was an incredibly large, lavish place, with even more people roaming about than in the lobby. Jazzy piano music combined with the sound of hundreds of people conversing played all around you. It was dizzying. Everyone looked at ease with a drink in their hand…everyone except for you. You began gnawing at your bottom lip as you made your way to the stairs, a habit you only picked up when you were really, truly anxious. Bracing yourself, you picked up your gown in your hands to avoid tripping in your heels, and slowly made your way down the stairs in an effort to find a single person you were familiar with.

“You’re lying, Ben.”

“I’m not lying, you’re just mad you can’t hold your liquor like I can.”

Johnny Storm was in the corner of the gala with a drink in his hand, bickering with Ben over how many alcoholic drinks he could down before actually getting wasted.

“No human being on planet Earth can down that many shots and not feel anything.” He stared at Ben incredulously.

Ben deadpanned. “We’re not exactly regular human beings, Johnny.”

“Yeah, well no, but even I can’t down ten shots and not feel like I’m about to—“

Johnny looked up as he was talking, and suddenly forgot how to speak.

Because walking down the stairs, wearing his ring, was you.

“Face it, Johnny. You’re a lightweight,” Ben chuckled as he took a sip of his drink, not even noticing that Johnny had stopped speaking.

“Ben.” Johnny stared at you, mesmerized as you seemed to almost float down the stairs.

“Do you really want to play this game? Because I can get the bartender right now and she’ll settle this.”

“Ben.” He still couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“Alright, fine, I’ll get the bartender—“

“BEN!”

Ben startled, finally looking at his friend and furrowing his brows. “Jesus, what?”

“My soulmate is over there.” Johnny looked more serious and panicked than Ben had ever seen him, but Ben couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head.

“Yeah, sure, Johnny. Go talk to your ‘soulmate’ so you get out of losing a drinking contest.”

Johnny rubbed a hand down his face in frustration before leaning in closer. “Ben, I’m serious. She’s wearing the ring.”

Ben blinked. Oh. “Really?”

Johnny nodded furiously, eyes looking all over the room, looking panicked. “Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god, it’s her. Holy shit. Holy—“

“Johnny.”

Ben placed his giant hands on Johnny’s shoulders, steadying him. “Look at me. You’ve wooed how many women over the years? And this woman in particular was literally made for you. You’ve waited your whole life for her. Go to her.”

Johnny swallowed harshly, nodding and sniffling briefly. “Yeah. Yeah, I got this. I’m Johnny Storm. I can go talk to my soulmate. Totally. Absolutely.”

Ben bit back a laugh, taking Johnny’s drink from him. “Yep. You are Johnny Storm. Now go get her.”

***

You gave up on finding anyone from your PR firm. It was too loud, the lights too dim, the place too crowded to even think straight. So, you did the only thing left to do: headed for the bar.

Bottom lip still trapped between your teeth, you made your way over to the bar when a voice called out from directly behind you.

“Uh, hi.”

You turned around at the oddly familiar voice, and there was Johnny Storm, staring at you with wide, nervous eyes and a small, apprehensive smile.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Say something, you idiot! “Hi,” you breathed out, your brain suddenly turning back on long enough for you to return his small smile. Why was he talking to you? What was happening, why was he—

“Uh, I think…I have something of yours,” he said. Before you could ask him what he meant, he rolled up the sleeve of his black button down shirt and revealed the leather bracelet you had made, wrapped around his wrist.

Suddenly the room seemed all too quiet. You swore you stopped breathing. “Oh my god.”

Johnny laughed breathlessly, his smile growing wider. “I know.”

You couldn’t even think straight. This was real, this was happening, and Violet is never going to let you live this down. “That’s…that’s the bracelet I made for my…”

“Soulmate,” he finished for you, his smile turning into something a little smaller, more boyish and shy. “Yeah. And that,” he pointed to the gem on your finger, “Is the ring I had made for my soulmate.”

You looked down at the shining gemstone before looking back at him. Your heart was pounding in your throat. “You had it made? Where did you find this gemstone? I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s so beautiful.”

Johnny beamed. “I found it on a different planet, uh, some planet called Sakaar I think. I’d never seen anything like it either, so I had it melted down into a gemstone…for you.”

You were now smiling so wide your cheeks were starting to hurt. Your head shook in disbelief, because of course it wasn’t even from this world. “It’s incredible. And…god, I can’t believe it’s really you.”

Johnny’s grin grew until he couldn’t take it anymore, and suddenly you were in his arms. His cologne and strong arms filled your senses, and you felt like you were about to explode as your arms wrapped around his neck.

“Jesus, I’ve waited so long for you,” he murmured in your ear, one hand cradling the back of your head and the other wrapped around your waist. He pulled back suddenly, eyes flitting between yours. “Will you come with me?”

You would follow him anywhere, you decided then. You smiled, nodding. “Yeah.”

Johnny grinned and grabbed your hand. “C’mon.”

You were dizzy with adrenaline as you and Johnny weaved through the crowd until you reached a door, and suddenly you were being pulled into his bedroom. He shut the door behind the two of you, and you gasped as you took it all in.

Because, decorating his shelves, was all of the presents you had sent him over the years.

“Oh my god, the Turks and Caicos turtle!” You laughed loudly as you wandered up to the turtle bobble head you had sent him from vacation when you were 17. “I cannot believe you kept this.”

Johnny simply couldn’t stop smiling as he took all of you in, watching as you stared in wonder at all of the mementos. He could not believe you were really here, in front of him, in his bedroom. “Of course I kept it. I kept everything.”

You turned and looked at him then. “So did I.”

He quirked a brow, smirking. “Even the Johnny Storm action figure?”

You busted out laughing. “Well it is a collectible, of course.”

“Sue made fun of me relentlessly for that one. Ben did, too,” he shook his head, chuckling. “I wasn’t sure if I should send it or not. Didn’t know if it was too on the nose or self-centered, y’know? But I wanted to give you as much of a hint as I was allowed.”

“My best friend was absolutely ecstatic. She knew it was you from the second she saw it, but I kept trying to convince myself that you were just a fan or something.”

Johnny swallowed nervously then, looking a little unsure. “Is it—is it okay that I’m…y’know, me?”

“Of course. It’s more than okay, why wouldn’t it be?”

Johnny sat down on his sofa, his hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, the whole superhero thing could be a deal breaker for some…And I know I have a…reputation.”

You followed him, sitting down next to him. “Hmm, well I distinctly remember Johnny Storm saying that once he met his soulmate, she’d be it for him.”

Johnny turned to you then, eyebrows lifted in surprise as a smile spread across his lips. “You watched my New Years Eve broadcast?”

You mirrored his smile, nodding.

He dramatically flopped backwards onto his sofa, making you laugh. “God, you really are my soulmate.”

Before you knew it, two hours had gone by. Two hours of sharing life stories, childhood memories. The two of you were currently laying on the floor, side by side, laughing about some of the gifts you’d exchanged over the years.

“What’s your favorite gift though? In all seriousness,” you asked, turning your head to the side to look at him. He was beautiful, and you couldn’t believe he was really yours.

“Hm.” Johnny looked up at the ceiling, eyes squinting in thought. “I love the bracelet you made me this year. I never take it off. Buuuut I think my favorite is the vinyl you gave me a couple years ago.”

You smiled, sitting up on your elbow to prop your head up. “Yeah?”

Johnny sat up to mirror your position. “Yeah. I played it nonstop the first few months after I got it. Ben threatened to break my record player.” You both laughed when suddenly Johnny looked serious and stood up. You sat up, furrowing your brow.

“What is it?”

Johnny bowed dramatically, holding his hand out for you to take. “My lady, may I have this dance?”

You giggled, taking his hand and allowing him to help you up. “Why yes, I think you may.”

Johnny grinned, muttering a “one sec,” before putting the Etta James record on. The sweet, slow melody filled your ears, and Johnny placed his hand in yours, his other wrapping around your waist. He pulled you close, and the two of you began to slowly sway.

At last

My love has come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

Your chest swelled with emotion as he pulled you impossibly closer, his lips brushing your temple as you swayed in time, neither of you speaking, just taking in what you both had waited your entire lives for.

I found a thrill to press my cheek to

A thrill that I have never known

Johnny pulled away then, his eyes never leaving yours as he took your right hand in his. Slowly, he pulled the ring off your right ring finger before gently placing it on your left. Your heart was pounding wildly in your chest, your eyes unable to look away from him. He swallowed thickly then, a question swimming in his blue eyes, a “Can I?”

You leaned in, nudged his nose with yours in a silent, “Please.”

His lips gently met yours, and the entire outside world melted away. Your heart sang as his thumb brushed your cheek and he kissed you harder, a quiet, needy whimper escaping his throat. Your hands slid down to wrap around his lower back, bringing him even closer. It was everything you’d ever dreamed of, and it really was with Johnny Storm.

And here we are, in heaven

For you are mine…at last

#YEEEEES #kicking my feet and giggling #johnny storm

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