The first thing Liam Thomas noticed as he blinked awake was that this was not his bed. The sleek, black sheets were too smooth, the mattress too firm, and the faint hum of energy vibrating through the room was definitely not the sound of his creaky old fan. His piercing green eyes darted around, taking in the high-tech gadgets lining the walls of the futuristic apartment. Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, a sprawling city skyline glittered under the early morning sun. He ran a hand through his tousled blonde hair, his lanky yet muscular frame tensing as the reality hit him like a freight train.
The sheets rustled beside him, and his heart skipped a beat. There she was—Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, stirring from sleep. Her powerful frame was barely contained by the thin fabric of a black tank top, every muscle defined even in repose. Her short blonde hair formed a messy halo against the pillow, and even half-asleep, she exuded an aura of raw, untamed strength. Liam swallowed hard, his mind racing to catch up with the surreal fact that he was waking up next to a literal superhero.
He turned to her, his voice a shaky mix of awe and disbelief. “Are you… are you really my girlfriend? Like, for real? I didn’t dream last night, did I?”
Carol’s eyes snapped open, sharp and electric blue, pinning him with a gaze that could melt steel. She propped herself up on an elbow, a smirk curling her lips as she looked him over like a predator sizing up her prey. “Oh, I’m real, Liam. And yeah, I’m yours. Better not forget it, or I’ll have to remind you the hard way.” Her tone was playful, but there was an edge to it—a promise of power that sent a thrill down his spine.
Liam grinned, the kind of lovestruck, goofy smile that he couldn’t have wiped off his face if he tried. His heart was practically thumping out of his chest as the words tumbled out before he could stop them. “I love you.”
For a split second, Carol’s tough exterior softened. Her smirk faded into something warmer, her voice dropping low and intimate. “Love you too, dork.” Then, just as quickly, the edge returned as she added, “But don’t get sappy on me now, pretty boy. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
Liam chuckled, buzzing with nervous energy as he sat up, the sheets pooling around his waist. “I’ve got an idea,” he announced, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. He bit his lip, clearly holding back a secret that was itching to burst out.
Carol raised a perfectly arched brow, crossing her arms over her chest with a mock glare that could’ve stopped a villain in their tracks. “Oh, do you now? Spill it, Thomas. What’s cooking in that chaotic little brain of yours?”
He shook his head, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Nope. Not telling. You’ll see soon enough.” Before she could press further, he winked and bolted out of bed, his lean muscles flexing as he tugged on a pair of jeans. “Be back in a flash, babe. Don’t miss me too much!”
“Liam!” Carol called after him, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement, but he was already halfway out the door. She sighed, stretching her arms above her head, her muscles flexing with casual, effortless power. Muttering to herself, she couldn’t hide the smirk tugging at her lips. “I’m dating a dork with a death wish. How the hell did this happen?”
Meanwhile, Liam dashed through the early morning crowds of the city below, weaving between bleary-eyed commuters with the agility of someone who’d spent too much time dodging trouble. His destination was a quirky little gift shop he’d spotted a few blocks away, the kind of place that sold everything from novelty mugs to custom apparel. He had a mission—to find something that screamed “she’s mine” in a way that even a superhero couldn’t ignore.
Fifteen minutes later, he was back, slightly out of breath and clutching a wrapped package adorned with a bright yellow bow. His grin was wide enough to split his face as he pushed open the door to Carol’s apartment, finding her lounging on the bed in a tight tank top and shorts that left little to the imagination. She looked like a goddess, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
Carol’s eyes flicked to the package, suspicion written all over her face. She propped herself up again, tossing out a snarky quip without missing a beat. “What’d you do, rob a clown store, genius? What’s with the bow? You planning to propose with a rubber chicken or something?”
Liam laughed, practically vibrating with excitement as he crossed the room and handed her the package. “Just open it, okay? Come on, I’m dying here.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her expression as she tugged at the bow, the wrapping paper falling away to reveal her gift. Inside was a custom jacket in her signature yellow, red, and blue colors, emblazoned across the back with the words “Yes, I’m a Superhero, and Yes, I Have a Boyfriend.” Tucked beneath it was a pair of cheeky booty shorts that read “So Don’t Ask, Don’t Touch” in bold, unapologetic letters.
Carol held up the outfit, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation as she fixed him with a look that could’ve leveled a building. “You seriously expect me to wear this, don’t you?” Her tone dripped with playful scorn, but there was a glint in her eye that told him she wasn’t entirely opposed.
Liam nodded eagerly, his grin never faltering. “Hell yeah, I do. I want the world to know you’re my girl, Carol. Every alien, villain, and random creep on the street needs to get the memo.”
She snorted, tossing the jacket over her shoulder with a dramatic flair. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? I could blast you into next week for this kind of stunt.” But as she spoke, she stood, slipping the jacket on over her tank top, the fabric hugging her powerful frame like it was made for her. She turned, giving him a view of the bold text across her back, then shot him a smirk over her shoulder. “Fine. But if anyone laughs, I’m blaming you. And trust me, pretty boy, I don’t play nice when I’m embarrassed.”
Liam’s eyes lit up, his heart doing cartwheels as he watched her. “Deal. But admit it—you love it.”
Carol stepped closer, her presence commanding as she tilted his chin up with a single finger, her gaze locking with his. “Maybe I do. But don’t push your luck, Thomas. I’m still the one in charge here.”
He swallowed hard, a shiver running through him at the raw authority in her voice. “Yes, ma’am.”
She smirked, stepping back and giving the shorts a skeptical glance. “These, though? We’ll negotiate later. Now, get over here. You’ve got some explaining to do about how you even found a shop that makes this kind of nonsense at seven in the morning.”
As Liam laughed and moved to join her, he couldn’t help but marvel at the woman before him—strong, controlling, direct, and somehow, miraculously, his. The morning after was just the beginning, and he was already in way over his head.
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