Recovery Room, Baxter Building
The steady beep of Ben Grimm's vitals sounded.
Monitors hummed, casting pale green glows across the glass of the recovery pod. Sue Storm stood beside it, arms folded tightly against her breasts. Her gentle blue eyes flickered to the heart rate monitor before drifting back to the unconscious state of her friend.
Her face was drawn with quiet worry.
A long breath escaped her strawberry lips before she finally turned her head.
"Any progress?"
She asked in her usual gentle voice.
Reed Richards didn't look up.
He was crouched by the pod, using a handheld scanner that hummed with soft blue light as it swept from Ben's head to his feet. His eyes were locked on the readings with his usual trained focus.
"I'm doing everything I can, Sue…"
Reed muttered, sounding as though she was asking for the twentieth time today.
He reached for a button on the side of the recovery pod.
With a gentle hiss-klik, the protective glass slid over Ben like a transparent shell to seal him in a stabilized medical cocoon.
Reed finally turned to face her.
"For now… there's not much he can do. We just have to wait it out. Focus on the main thing—"
"Oh, let me guess…"
Sue cut in with a sharper voice as her arms slid down her breasts to now be folded under them.
"The guy in the Containment Room is way more important than Ben, right?"
Reed blinked, caught off-guard.
"What?"
His brows lifted in genuine confusion.
"Why are you acting like this? Since when have I ever said that? Or even implied it?"
He took a step toward her.
His tone was still calm, but underneath, you could tell he was barely holding it together
"Sue… what's going on with you lately? You've been—different. Oversensitive. You're giving me a hard time and I'm still trying to understand wh—"
Sue turned her face away as her expression softened into something sad and tired.
"Does it even matter anymore?"
She murmured sadly.
"I haven't been happy, Reed. And not only did it take you forever to even notice… you don't even know why. I know I promised you I could endure this… us… but…"
Her eyes finally met his, deep blue like calm waves masking a storm beneath.
"I just… it's not like I'm always like this."
Reed opened his mouth—closed it.
For once, he had nothing.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
There were countless equations in his mind, multiversal theories unraveling on instinct—but emotions? It was the one thing he could never solve. Because of that, he just couldn't get someone like Sue Storm—she was so in touch with her feelings, and he wasn't on the same page at all
Before the silence could drag, Sue turned on her heel.
"We should talk about this later. I'm going to join Johnny and Peter in the Containment Room…"
She said as she headed to the door.
"Let's see what our mystery visitor has for us."
Just as the doors hissed open, Reed spoke again.
His tone was mild, but his words were sharp as a scalpel.
"Speaking of our mysterious visitor…"
His eyes narrowed.
"You seemed to enjoy staring at him back in Downtown."
There was no bite in his voice. Just quiet accusation.
Sue didn't even expect him to be jealous.
She knew her husband better than that at this point.
He'd never get jealous unless there was physical proof as to why he should be.
『Still… it wouldn't kill you to feel threatened that your wife was in the arms of another man. Sigh~』
Sue paused—but didn't turn.
Reed Richards couldn't see her face, only the back of her tall, poised figure—something he'd gotten used to seeing too often lately.
"Can we just go?"
She said, her voice clipped.
"I'm not in the mood for this. Not today."
There was a softness to her voice, but also an edge—like silk wrapped around glass.
Reed didn't respond.
The doors closed behind her with a soft KSSSSH.
･･･
Moments Later.
Everyone was in the Containment Room.
Reed stood before a holographic screen displaying erratic waves and digital trails.
"I managed to close the rift…"
He spoke without a preamble.
"… and contain the monster. But it looks like someone else made it out. I can't trace them yet."
He stretched and crossed his arms like a ribbon, then rested his hands on his hips.
Spidey adjusted his mask, cocking his head.
"So we're hunting another mystery guy who could be anyone and we don't even know what he looks like. Yeah, that sounds… fun."
Then—
"I can do that."
A voice said from behind layers of red laser barriers.
All heads turned.
Nightwatch stood calmly inside his cell.
His voice was low, but certain.
Johnny stormed forward and pointed a mean finger at him with a scowl.
"You better shut up and sit pretty if you know what's good for you."
Reed didn't even look up from the screen.
"If Ben doesn't pull through… you won't even be able to do that. Clear?"
Nightwatch's lips pressed into a line, but he said nothing.
Sue frowned.
She cast a glance toward Nightwatch.
Their eyes met. And for a second, her expression faltered.
『This isn't right…』
She stepped forward quickly, then planted herself in front of his cell.
"Can we all just relax? This isn't how we treat someone who saved one of our own."
Johnny tilted his head in disbelief. "Sis, what are you—"
Sue shot him a look that sliced clean through his protest.
Johnny blinked… then chuckled awkwardly and took a respectful step back.
Nightwatch blinked behind his mask.
『Wow, she's just built like that, huh…』
Sue's tone softened again.
"There should be a better way. He's not some enemy we just lock up and leave it at that…"
She turned to Nightwatch, and in that moment her voice became something gentler.
"You're human too. You saved me. I can't stand here and watch them treat you like this. There has to be a better option. No more threats."
Everyone was quiet.
Reed watched her carefully, no reaction.
He exhaled slowly and stepped forward.
"Sue… I know you're always diplomatic about things like this. I get it. You see things from different perspectives… even the unreasonable ones. But I need to know one thing."
He hesitated. The air thickened.
Sue rested her hands on her hips. "Go on. Ask."
Her voice was sharp—but steady.
Reed's jaw tightened.
"Are you defending this man… for something other than your usual tendencies?"
"Huh?" Spidey blinked.
Even Johnny was taken aback.
All eyes were on Sue.
Her face dropped into disappointment.
Quiet, tired disappointment.
"Reed? For the smartest man in the world… you say the dumbest things."
There wasn't even anger in her voice. Just… sadness.
Nightwatch raised a hand gently.
"Hey—look, I get it. You're all worried about your friend, and obviously he's important to you. I'm really sorry about your buddy, truly."
He stepped closer to the lasers.
"But I have no idea what's going on here. I've never heard of the Fantastic Four. Or Spider-Man. Or any of this."
He shook his head, then sighed deeply.
"One minute I'm chasing Marmot Man because he thought a crate of oranges was gold bars, and the next, I'm getting hit with a flash of light and fighting some guy who shoots fire out of his body."
He paused, hands half-raised.
"I don't know what I did to end up here. I just know I saved someone and now I'm in a prison."
The room went dead silent.
Reed couldn't even find words.
He turned back to the scanner, grabbed his tablet, and began studying it again.
"We'll discuss this tomorrow…"
He said over his shoulder.
"I've got a lot of work to do."
He walked out without another glance.
Sue called after him.
"REED RICHARDS!"
She pouted sternly with squinted eyes.
"We can't leave him in a cell overnight. Not after this."
Reed didn't stop walking. "Well, I can."
The doors shut behind him.
"Uhm, that was…" Spidey started, trailing off.
Johnny patted his back.
"Come on. Let's go play some games."
"Hell yeah!"
Spidey replied, brightening as they walked out.
Now, only Sue and Nightwatch remained.
The hum of the laser bars and pulsing lights was the only sound left between them.
Sue glanced over at him to offer a gentle side-eye.
"Sorry."
Nightwatch shrugged, smiling faintly beneath his mask.
"You did your best."
She didn't reply.
Just nodded, then turned and walked away.
And Nightwatch watched her leave—silently.
･･･
Nighttime.
Reed stood in front of the mirror.
His fingers loosened the last button of his customized dark blue pajama shirt. The sleeves were already rolled back from earlier lab work—residual ink smudges and bits of white chalk dust still clung faintly to his fingertips.
He had spent hours finalizing formulas, calculating ripple patterns from the spatial rift earlier that day, and performing one last checkup on Ben, who still hadn't stirred.
That would all have to wait till tomorrow.
He glanced toward the bed, expecting to see Sue perhaps brushing her hair, reading, or maybe waiting to talk. But instead—there she was, already curled up beneath the sheets, her back completely turned toward him.
Reed blinked.
『That's… new.』
Sue never slept with her back facing him.
Not even when she was mad. Not like this.
He sighed and rubbed his forehead, muttering something under his breath before stretching his limbs with a tired groan and slithering into bed like a folding chair slowly collapsing.
He aligned himself with her—back to back.
"…Sue?" he called softly.
No reply.
He waited.
"…Sue?" he asked again, just a whisper.
Her voice came out coldly—
"I really don't want to have this talk right now. Not until we release our guest."
Reed cleared his throat awkwardly and replied with the most pitiful tone he'd used all day,
"Uhm… I just wanted to tell you… you're kind of taking all the blanket."
Sue didn't say a word—she just flung the blanket toward him with a telekinetic puff of force, then sharply adjusted her own pajamas to cover her shoulders and arms. Without another word, she scooched even closer to the edge of the bed as if any closer would mean suffocating in his presence.
"Thanks…" Reed murmured under his breath.
･･･
Some Hours Later…
The lights in the penthouse flickered to ultra-low.
In the room, Sue opened her eyes.
She didn't move at first. Just blinked. Once… twice.
Then, slowly… she turned over.
Reed lay perfectly still, back still turned, one arm tucked beneath his pillow and the other stretched out awkwardly over the bedsheet like he had tried to reach for something and given up halfway.
She inched closer, crawling across the bed softly, barely making a sound.
Then—she waved a hand over his face.
Once. Twice. Three times. He didn't budge.
She did it four more times for good measure.
Still nothing.
"Okay…" she whispered.
Next, she vanished into thin air with a faint shimmer.
The elevator chimed gently on the lower floors.
The next moment, invisible feet touched down in the massive open living room.
Sue's light steps barely made a sound on the floor tiles as she passed the couch where Peter and Johnny were sprawled out, deep into their video game marathon.
Peter leaned forward, brows furrowed.
"Something's off…" he muttered.
Johnny didn't even blink.
"You're just mad 'cause I'm on a ten-win streak."
Peter squinted behind him.
"… No, seriously. I think my Spider-Sense just—"
"BOOOOM! FIFTEEN POINT COMBO, BABY!"
Johnny shouted triumphantly, lifting both hands.
"HEY! Not fair!"
Peter protested, pointing at the screen.
"I wasn't looking!"
Johnny just laughed. "That's your fault, bug-boy!"
･･･
Containment Room – Minutes Later
The large iron doors hissed open, releasing a whisper of air as Sue stepped in. Her invisibility dropped, and she materialized mid-step, a steaming pot in one hand and a plate in the other.
Nightwatch, who had been lounging casually on the bench, flicked away his holographic screen the second he heard the door.
His head turned. And then his posture softened.
Sue Storm stood there like a dream—her blonde hair loosely tied up, dressed in a silky navy robe with stars on the hem, warm light catching in her eyes as she smiled.
She wasn't wearing makeup, didn't need to.
She looked tired—but graceful. Real.
"Uhm…"
She didn't know where to start from.
"Are you… okay?"