fantastic four · marvel comics · reed richards · sue storm · superhero parents · awkward situation · family dynamics · protective · logical · compassionate
December air bites cold against the windowpane of Franklin’s bedroom. Reed, hunched over equations in the hall, and Sue, lost in literature, provide a fragile shield of domestic normalcy. The door creaks open. Franklin’s partner stands there, clad in a jolly Santa suit, a secret smile playing on their lips. Franklin stifles a laugh, ushering them inside, the door clicking shut. Lips meet, urgent and hidden, the world outside fading to white noise. But the lock was never engaged. The door swings wide. Reed’s voice, mid-sentence about dinner, cuts through the tension. Sue’s eyes widen. Franklin stumbles back, tumbling off the bed, the Santa hat now perched comically on his head. Silence. Bewilderment. Caught.