NOTE: I know that when the first set of movies came out, Pandora wasn't a thing nor were some of the other technology or apps available, but since I'm writing it NOW, I felt moving the setting up a little. Make no mistake this is the CHRIS EVANS Human Torch, I haven't even seen the new remake. Just thought I'd clear that up before I get the inevitable "this doesn't match perfectly" reviews. Also, I won't be writing the fight scenes, it's not my strong suit, sorry.
Riley spent the next morning keeping Ben company while Reed studied Sue and Johnny. First, she put on some music to help her think. Her playlists included things for cleaning (solid AC/DC and metal, cleaning sucked, right?), cooking (always a pleasure so Imagine Dragons and Hozier), and writing (depended on the topic). She clicked up the cooking playlist and began.
First on the agenda was finding a better way for Ben to eat. Already half of Reed's silverware was mangled. Sadly his massive hands and newly acquired strength weren't made for regular utensils. She was ignoring the amount of shattered drinkware.
As she cooked him a full breakfast complete with fresh squeezed orange juice, she contemplated the dilemma. Searching the drawers in Reed's kitchen, she shocked Ben with a happy squeal. She held up a large cooking spoon, a meat fork, and a butcher knife and did a happy dance as Ben chuckled.
"Nearly as ingenious as your brother, lil sis." His gravelly voice offered as he took his new set of flatware. He smiled as he used them for the first time on her well prepared breakfast. She followed up the first discovery by giving him a plastic pitcher full of orange juice.
Riley felt accomplished and extremely proud. One issue down. Around 1,000 more to go.
They sat and joked about past visits, killing time until Reed's attention would focus on Ben's turn in the petri dish. They were leaning over the photo album Riley carried with her everywhere and reminiscing about the past. It was filled with photos of her and Reed throughout the years. Their parents and Ben were also featured prominently. So engrossed with laughter at some of the passing years' memories brought to the forefront by the pictures, they didn't notice when the others joined them.
"What are you two so fascinated over?" Reed asked, taking a look over Riley's shoulder. "Dear God, put that away." His voice was heavy with embarrassment.
"Come on, Reed," Ben chuckled, his mood vastly improved by the morning with his adopted little sister's company. "Not ALL the pictures are embarrassing. The one at Riley's graduation is pretty decent."
"It's at the very end of the book." Reed protested. Sue and Johnny were looking far too interested for his sanity.
Riley giggled, "Look, big brother, no one picked out those clothes for you." She rolled her eyes at his silent pleading. "I'll put it away." She stashed it in a nearby drawer. "How was whatever it was that you were doing?"
Reed launched into an explanation that she had no hope of understanding. In fact, aside from Sue, she doubted anyone else present in the kitchen could hope to keep up with her brother's scientific mumbo jumbo. While he kept blathering on, she set about making the others breakfast. Frying eggs, sausage, bacon, toasting bread and squeezing oranges for more fresh juice. She hip checked Ben to reach for the butter. She didn't realize that she had a captive audience.
Johnny watched while Riley flitted around the kitchen, smiling as she practically danced while keeping the breakfast cooking. Her brother kept talking about his findings, but like him, she showed little interest. When she bumped her hip against Ben's, he wished she was touching him.
Putting plates, glasses, and non-destroyed silverware in front of the three of them, she filled their plates and poured juice. Reed stopped talking when he noticed his full plate. While losing himself in the excitement of his research, he hadn't noticed his sister fixing breakfast.
"Looks wonderful, Riley." He offered, taking up his silverware. The first bite made him make an almost inhuman moan. "I forgot how good your cooking is, good God."
Smirking she leaned against the counter. "Now that he's quiet," she glanced at the others. "Dig in!" They did and she felt that at least she'd kept them fed.
Johnny took a bite and had to hold back his own moan. Damn, how did she make regular breakfast food taste so amazing? He wondered what other talents she had and flashed to the night before-the bathroom, her wet- He felt a sharp poke in his side. Sue had pulled him out of his thoughts.
"What?" He glared at his sister. She pointed at his hand, it was steaming, as was the rest of him. "Shit." He dropped the fork before he could melt it.
"Having some steamy thoughts, flame boy?" Ben gave a gravely chuckle.
Riley bit her lip, fairly certain where Johnny's train of thought had led, but sobered when she reconsidered. She was most definitely NOT the only naked woman he'd ever seen. Hell, she couldn't be sure she was the only naked woman he'd seen this week. Sighing she sat another, cool fork down in front of him.
"Once you cool off, try this one." She offered, starting for her rooms on the other side of the building. "I cooked, clean up is up to you!" And she was gone.
Johnny felt confused. He was sure that she knew what caused the embarrassing display. He'd seen her bite her totally kissable lip, saw the look in her eyes, and then it was gone. And so was she. He wanted to rush through the amazing breakfast she'd made and rush after her, but he couldn't, at least not yet.
On the other side of the building, Riley sat at the desk in her room and faced her computer. She needed to spend at least some time writing, she told herself. Refusing to admit that she just ran away from the kitchen and one of the literally hottest men she'd ever met.
Opening up her saved document, she reread the story so far, it had been awhile since she'd sat down and gave it a go. The story came back to her as she scanned it, fixing the few errors she noticed on this read. Rolling her shoulders and moving her neck so it could release some built up tension, she reached for her phone to put on her writing playlist. Thank God for Pandora, she thought, bringing up the best playlist/channel to go with her current story. Settling in to the music, who could write with regular classical music she wondered as she listened to Ed Sheeran begin the song "Happier".
At the end of the document she found it easy to keep the flow of the story going as she lost herself in the music and the tempo that she was building. She didn't notice him watching from the doorway. Didn't see him smile as he watched her fingers move across the keyboard of her laptop like she was in a trance. She did everything with such passion that he couldn't help but admire her. And music, he noted played a large part in her life. Here, in the bathroom, in the kitchen. He listened to the music and found it nice and sad. He wondered what she was writing that this was the inspiration?
"Are you going to stand there staring or are you going to come in and say something?" She asked, never taking her eyes off her screen. She'd felt his presence as he listened to the next song on her playlist. She didn't look at him, deciding that he could have his say while she worked. Multitasking was a skill she was proficient at and she was choosing to utilize it now.
He gave a small sigh and walked in. Standing awkwardly he tried to think of what to say and if he should sit. She looked busy. Finally deciding to sit on the bed, he watched her for a second and then blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Why'd you run out of the kitchen so fast, Riley?"
It was her turn to sigh. Tact, she thought, was clearly not Johnny Storm's strong suit. Then she considered the little bit she knew about him and wondered why she was surprised. He was open and honest, something she could admire and enjoy. Unfortunately, it made for uncomfortable situations like this one. "I didn't run. I have work to do." She lied.
He grunted, not convinced. "Work came up when I nearly set fire to the kitchen?" He asked, his eyebrow arched, even if she couldn't see him.
She bit her lip, damn him and his observational skills. "Well, you seemed to get it under control, and I haven't worked on my story for awhile, so-"
"So you ran like I lit your hair on fire." He said, groaning and lying back on the bed crosswise. "I don't buy it."
"I don't really care what you buy, Johnny." She said, turning her chair to face him. "Not everything is about you."
He raised up, using his elbows to elevate him to meet her eyes. "Bullshit." His eyes looked slightly hooded and framed with the longest lashes she'd ever seen on a man. And damn, they were so blue she had to bite her lip again. "I don't mean that everything is about me, Riley, but you ran like a rabbit when I started to steam. I know you know exactly why I was steaming too. So why'd you run?"
Her eyes dilated. So it was about her. "I wasn't sure." She started, realizing that writing words for others to say in a situation like this was much easier than saying them herself. She rolled her eyes and looked back at him laying so sinfully on her bed.
"About?" He asked, sitting up and letting her thoughts calm a little.
"What made you steam." She answered, staring him dead in the eye. "I mean, since I've known you, there've been a bevy of women, and it's been two weeks, maybe."
He blushed, realizing she was right. He was a playboy, for fuck's sake it was a running joke with everyone from his family to Ben. Of course she wasn't sure. He was such an ass, and a dick. Shit.
He reached out and took one of her hands. "Riley, it was you. That's what I was thinking about. You, in the bathroom, in that bathtub, and the bubbles almost gone. My God, do you have any idea how hot you are?" His skin started to steam again, and she pulled him off the bed.
"Calm down," she whispered, smiling. "You're going to make my bed catch flames, and I can't be sure that anything in this room is flame retardant."
Her touch and voice did it. He didn't want to accidently set fire to her, or her bed. Sighing he cupped her cheek with a still very warm hand. "This is so hard." He almost whined. "I didn't have any issues with control-before."
She understood. He meant with the nurses, or the other women he'd entertained since coming back from space. With her, however, it seemed to be flare up, no pun intended, without his even noticing. "You didn't hurt anything, Johnny. It's fine."
"Is it?" He asked, pulling his hand away when he noticed her skin getting a little clammy with sweat. "Your skin is sweating because I touched you, Riley. If I can't even cup your cheek, how can I-"
"Johnny," he brought his eyes back to hers. "Your control is going to come back." He snorted with doubt. "Hey, didn't I figure out Ben's utensil and drinking issues? My brother might be the scientific genius in the family, but I figure out how to fix things."
He stared at her, wondering why he felt so strongly for a woman he'd barely kissed. No one had ever held his interest for any longer than it took them to have sex. Then he'd be right on to the next one. Maybe that's what the steam was, he wanted her and once he had her he'd be back to normal. The thought wasn't a pleasant one and he was shocked. It's almost like he wanted to keep her.
"Riley," he whispered, wondering if he could manage to kiss her again without making the walls burst into flames. As he dipped his head toward hers, he realized the song playing was "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, and thought it was exactly how he felt. Their lips met, her hands came to wrap around his neck and he felt amazing. She was perfect, the way their lips fit, the way her hands felt on his skin. As the kiss deepened, he wondered how he could keep her.