Smoke and Fire|| A Fantastic Four AU

Maria's Cosmic Fate

Braxton's Point of View

I watch and take notes as Blakeleigh trains Maria and I help Kayson with the manufacturing of her's and Blakeleigh's biotech as she wanted to go back to using the biotech and felt that Maria would like it better as well.

"I know I should be used to it but I still get freaked out with every shift. How do you push through?" Maria looks at Blakeleigh.

"It takes time. You'll get there."

"Reed bought lunch. You guys hungry?" I ask them.

"Starving." Maria nods with a smile. I know she has been through it but I want to get to know her. I just feel this sort of gravitational pull towards her, it's unlike any feeling I have ever felt in my life. I know things would be difficult with her and things wouldn't come easy with her but I was willing to give it my all and try.

Maria's Point of View

I heard of werewolves having mates and how that all works and ever since I moved to New York with Blakeleigh, the Fantastic Four, and Braxton I could tell my mate was somewhere here in New York. It couldn't be Ben, Reed, or Johnny. Ben has Alicia, Reed has Sue and Johnny obviously has Blakeleigh. Honestly, right now the thought of a relationship just terrifies me, every relationship I had been in in the past has either been toxic or just didn't last. My last relationship ended with me becoming something I didn't want to be. I didn't ask for this power, I didn't ask to become what I am today... but here I am. I am so thankful that the Fantastic Four gave me a chance. Why even now do I feel so broken inside? I guess I may never know. Maybe one day all my broken pieces would heal. Maybe my heart will heal, maybe the world that crumbled at my feet might eventually be put back together.

Blakeleigh's Point of View

I can tell that Maria is struggling, although she is gradually healing I can see her questioning things in her mind. I know being a werewolf was proving difficult for her.

"Hey Blake, could I talk to you about something?" Maria spoke up.

"Of course, what's up?"

"I think my mate is close, the thing is I'm just not sure yet if I'm ready to take that on. Is that," Maria paused. "Is that alright? Is that normal? I'm sorry, I know this is a lot but do you have any advice"

"Just take some time to heal. To figure shit out and when you're ready and have found him just talk to him, take things slow, and get to know him and things will all fall into place. Do you have any idea who it might be?" Maria nods.

"I think it's Braxton. Can you tell me some about him? Is he an okay guy to be around?

"Wow, um yeah, he's a great guy, a little different than you're probably used to. He took over his dad Marc Spector's role as Moon Knight. I'm pretty good friends with him. He's really kind, loving, and caring and I could see things eventually working out for you two. Just play it safe, your heart is still healing. That's the thing they won't tell you about the self-healing process, being a werewolf, mental and emotional pain never heal, they eventually fade and don't hurt as much later on. You'll for a while feel broken but eventually, you'll find the one who will fight for you and put all your broken pieces back together. They will become your home. I found that in Johnny, maybe one day you can find that in Braxton." Maria listened intently.

"What is your first kill like? Like you killed Jayk. Does that stick with you? Does it count as self-defense? Oh god, will Braxton truly want me, with all I've been through, with me having hurt others?!" I nod and sigh a bit.

"That will always be stuck in the back of your mind. As for whether or not it counts as self-defense, for lack of a better example, when I killed Jayk, I feel like it counted as self-defense, it also prevented him from hurting any other girl as he did us. If Braxton truly cares about you, for you, and loves you he won't define you by your past. Hell, his whole family has a past, we all have a past. Remember, I was the one who introduced you to Jayk, knowing now what I didn't know then, looking back, I wouldn't have never introduced you to him, god, it is all my fault that this all happened, it's my fault you went through this, that I didn't see it sooner." I sigh softly as a tear rolls down my cheek.

"No, it is absolutely not your fault. It is NOT YOUR FAULT that he drugged you! It is NOT YOUR FAULT he raped you! It is NOT.YOUR.FAULT whatsoever. Neither of you deserved what he did to you two." Johnny spoke up, wrapping his arms around me, kissing the top of my head, and turning me around he wiped tears from my face.

"How much of that conversation did you hear?!

"Pretty much just you blaming yourself. Something about Braxton." I look at him initiating our mind link.

"Nothing you heard leaves this room. It's not our place to tell or speak on." I automatically, unintentionally forgot Maria was still standing there, I looked back at Maria. "I was telling him that he isn't to spill any information he heard, it is not our place."

"That's a thing that comes with mates? Sharing thoughts? Or telepathy, for lack of better words." I smiled and nodded for confirmation.

"It's something that mainly can be done between mates, all depending on the conversation. I haven't tried mind-linking with anyone other than Johnny. I guess it just makes it special that way." I smile.

Authors Note: so, I hope y'all like the thought of me putting Maria and Braxton together. I'm hoping for a possible sequel(😉 😉) focusing on the two of them. So here's this. Enjoy it you will!