Unfortunately, the talk hadn't exactly resolved everything between Sue and Reed. Not that Sue could blame him for being a bit jealous. It hadn't been that long since they'd gotten back together and Reed had always been a very passive-aggressive person. Not to mention the fact that the man pursuing her was a tall, dark, handsome, billionaire. His mind was probably drawing connections between this and the whole Victor affair.
So they sat, eating their breakfasts in silence, the roses on the table a constant reminder that someone was trying to come between them
"Finally did something right, eh, Reed?" Johnny teased as he entered the smile kitchen, pouring himself a glass of milk before he perched on the counter.
"Hmm?" Reed questioned distractedly, frowning as he looked up at the youth.
"The roses, genius," he answered. "Finally did something right by getting them. Or…" His eyes darted to Sue, noting her reserve. "Or are you in the doghouse? Alright what did you do? Sue, I'll beat him up for you." Brother's prerogative.
She shook her head impatiently. "That's not it at all. Reed didn't even give them to me." So there.
"Ah," Johnny crowed, jumping off the counter. "So that's it. Who's eye'd you catch this time, Susie? No wait…let me guess."
"Johnny," Reed sighed.
"Bill Gates," Johnny continued, undeterred. "No, he's married. Some rich oil guy? No…wait, wait, I'll get it sooner or later. Don't help."
"Mr. McKenzie," Sue answered between clenched teeth as she stalked towards the sink. And if Johnny happens to get brained with something, it's completely not her fault.
"Hugh Ja-" Johnny broke off mid-guess, staring at his sister. "I told you not to help!" He paused as her words sunk in. "Namor McKenzie? Your dancing partner last night?" A huge grin spread over his face as he turned his attention to Reed. "Dude. Someone's moving in on your girl?"
"His girl?" Sue questioned, eyebrow raising.
"I know that, Johnny," Reed answered with a sigh. "We've already talked about this. And we don't need your input about it."
"His input on what?" Ben's gravely voice interrupted the conversation.
"Sue's got a boyfriend on the side," Johnny answered, ignoring the sharp thwap his sister gave his shoulder
"Mr. McKenzie sent me roses last night," she explained, glaring at her brother. "I'm sure it was a courtesy gesture. Something he did for every woman he danced with."
"Iunno, Susie," Ben shook his head. "Looked like he only had eyes for one girl last night." And three guesses as to who that was. "He only danced with one." Innocent look.
"Okay, that's enough," Sue answered firmly. "Enough teasing. You," she pointed to Ben, "no more observations. You," Johnny's chest was tapped, "no more jokes. And you, mister," her attention turned to Reed. "Get it through your thick skull that I'm marrying you and that I'm not going to abandon you for the first guy who glances my way. Is that clear?"
Ben just went to the fridge to get his breakfast and Johnny rolled his eyes, but Reed looked a bit ashamed. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm just…"
"Whipped?" Johnny interjected helpfully.
"Stubborn," Sue corrected. "And that's okay. Just give me -some- credit." She leaned forward to kiss him softly on the cheek.
"Gross," Johnny sighed, rolling his eyes as he made a beeline for the door. "Get a room," he called back.
"We already have one," Sue yelled with a grin.
"Ew! No no no no no no," Johnny cried. He does not need to know about his sister's sex life. Especially not when they lived in the same apartment.
Sue and Reed shared a smile as she sat back down beside him, her hand stretching out this time to hold his.
