Disclaimer: It belongs to Marvel. I'm just bored.
Author's Note: So, here's the 2nd chapter. The story will alternate between Reed and Sue's points of view, but Ben and Johnny will make plenty of appearances cause it's not really a romance fic, it's a story about family.
Anywho, enough of me. I hope you enjoy and please take a minute of your time to drop me a line to tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is an author's best friend! Enjoy!
—Pink
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Timing is Everything
By: Pinkchick
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Chapter 2
"You don't show up to a date late, Matchstick." Sue heard Ben rumble as he and Johnny entered the apartment. "It ain't respectful of a gentleman."
"Yeah, whatever, Pebbles." Johnny snorted. Sue was tempted to roll her eyes at her brother, but she would wait until he was within viewing distance. "And who said I was a gentleman, anyway?"
There was a pause and a gruff laugh. "Well, that's true."
There was another pause and Sue could imagine Johnny's smirk. "Did we just agree on somethin'?"
The two of them moved into the kitchen, where Sue sat sulking. "Yeah, I guess we did, huh? But, let's just not make it a habit, Tinkerbell."
"Another agreement." Johnny pressed his hand against his heart dramatically. "The apocalypse must be coming."
At that, Sue did roll her eyes. "You guys are impossible."
"I know." Johnny smiled and sat down next to her at the kitchen table. He already had a plate and fork in his hand, pushing the last piece of cake toward him. "But that's why you love us."
"Yeah." Sue smiled genuinely for the first time in a week. "I guess that must be it."
Johnny plunged his fork into his cake and began eating. Ben sat across from them with a big mug of coffee. It was the scene of the three of them just sitting there, no words between them, no awkward silences, that made Sue angrier at Reed and his recent actions. Why couldn't he just see that she just wanted to spend a little quality time with him? She'd been feeling like his experiments were his number one priority in life and everything else, including herself, came second.
"What have you two been up to tonight anyway?" Sue asked, suddenly wondering why they were both coming in at the same time.
"Out, the usual," Johnny replied between bites. "Actually," he looked sheepish, "we were on a double date."
"A double date?" Sue raised her eyebrows and turned to face Johnny. "You, Johnny? Seriously?"
"Would I lie to my own sister about this?" Johnny asked innocently.
Sue didn't pause for contemplation. "Yes."
"Maybe you're right. But with Big Guy as my witness, it's true." Ben rolled his eyes at the nickname. "We actually, and cheesy as it is, had dinner together."
"I think you're right, Johnny," Sue said, "The apocalypse is coming."
"Suzie, we were forced ta do it," Ben added, holding up his big brick orange hands. "An' it wasn't all that bad."
Sue laughed. She imagined the two of them and their respective dates sitting at a nice restaurant table having normal conversation. Sue smirked. At least, she tried to imagine it. She sat back, suddenly feeling tired. Rubbing her eyes, she started to get up when Johnny's voice stopped her.
"Sue? You ok?" her brother asked, moving a hand to her arm. Sue sat back down heavily. She began to nod and then stopped and shook her head instead. There was an irritated tinge to Johnny's voice when he next spoke. "Is it Reed again?"
"What'd Stretch do this time?" Ben rumbled.
Sue stared into the concerned eyes of Ben and Johnny. Before she could stop herself, everything she had been previously worried about poured from her mouth. She told them about how Reed had been distant lately, about how he always forgot to have dinner with them, his obsession with his latest experiment, and so on. She almost felt ridiculous for the sudden wetness in her eyes.
When Sue had finally stopped speaking, she looked at Ben and Johnny, trying to decipher their expressions. Ben seemed contemplative while Johnny looked capable of walking into Reed's lab and saying something he might regret. Her brother got up, fists clenched at his sides. He began pushing his chair back his intent clear on his young features.
Sue immediately put her hand to his arm, halting his forward movement. Johnny's eyes met hers and Sue could see the irritation, underlined with just a hint of anger. "Johnny, stop. It's not worth it. It'll get better. Reed always does get carried away, doesn't he?"
Ben was silent across from them. Her brother's eyes went from frustrated anger to confusion as quickly as his body temperature changed. "But you were just—"
"I know," Sue said, chagrined by the betrayal of her mouth over her mind. She sighed. "I know." She sat down. "I just needed to vent, that's all."
Johnny sat down, still confused, some of the tension leaving his posture. Ben leaned forward, his large, rocky hand, placating her. "Reed's well… Reed. He says things and… y'know."
"Never means them?" Johnny added helpfully, the confusion clearing. He sat down and leaned back on his chair. Sue tipped it back to its original position. Ben glared at him in a 'you're not making it better' gesture.
"No, Torch Boy, it just means he makes things more complicated and sometimes just needs a push in the right direction." Ben turned his warm blue eyes on Sue. "It don't mean he don't love ya, Suzie." He smiled.
Sue appreciated Ben's words and Johnny's protectiveness, but there was a gray cloud hanging over her head, raining on her parade. It didn't look to be stopping anytime soon. Sue sighed for the umpteenth time that day. "I know," she whispered quietly.
Ben stood up after a moment and bade the siblings a good night. The silence he created left Sue alone with her thoughts. Maybe Ben was right. It wasn't the first time Reed had been preoccupied with his work and didn't pay attention to anything else around them. However, Sue wondered if he would always be the same. What would happen when they had children? Would he put science first then?
Sue was brought out of her reverie when Johnny stood up abruptly, the chair squeaking as he pushed it back. He yawned loudly and dramatically. Sue rolled her eyes and fought back a smile.
"Frankie and Alicia wear you out?" she asked mischievously.
Johnny's blue eyes lit up, twinkling. He winked his right eye at her as Sue stood up. Johnny looked at her through his eyelashes innocently.
"C'mon, Sue. We both know that women don't wear me out."
"Mhmm, sure." Sue smiled fully.
He pointed to himself and smirked. "I wear them out."
Sue laughed, the sound echoing across the kitchen. Johnny openly grinned. They had always leaned on each other, even still.
"You wanna hang out tomorrow?" Johnny asked abruptly.
Sue paused, considering. "Aren't you seeing Frankie tomorrow?"
Johnny waved his hand absently. "Nah. I'll see her later."
Sue raised an eyebrow. "Besides, if I see her all the time, I might get bored. Which means you'll never, ever see me in any sort of long-term relationship, so…."
"Oh, seriously," Sue huffed, throwing her hands in the air.
"Alright then," Johnny said quickly before Sue could change her mind. He winked before walking out of the kitchen whistling some song she didn't know.
Sue stood up, taking in the kitchen. Some fresh air would do her some good, she realized. Turning off the kitchen lights, she made her way to the master bedroom and did her nightly rituals before getting underneath the covers.
Sue turned over to her left side and brushed her hand over the cold spot where Reed should've been. She cried herself to sleep.
