The door opens and I glance up and see MJ in the doorway. She comes over and sits next to me, she doesn't say anything, just sits beside me and waits for me to speak. I don't say anything for a few seconds, there's so much I want to say but most of it is pointless, I can't make things better for anyone right now, despite how much I want to.
"How's Peter?" I ask, turning to look at MJ. I'm glad Peter still has Ned and MJ, he's lost so much already, I couldn't imagine how he'd cope if he lost his best friend or his girlfriend.
"He's asleep, he decided to spend the night here" MJ answers, I wonder what made MJ decide to look for me. "I heard Steve tell Natasha how you discussed leaving."
"It seemed like a good idea" I admit, glad I'm with MJ, I know I can be honest with her. I feel guilty leaving Peter after everything he's gone through, and I'd feel guilty discussing it with Henry, I'd feel like I was forcing him to leave with me, but I can be honest with MJ. She's one of my closest friends but I know she'll be okay if I leave New York. "It still does, I guess."
"I can imagine" MJ says, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. I close my eyes, I told Steve I'd discuss it with Henry, I thought we would have the time, I didn't think I was going to lose Henry. "Don't get me wrong, I'll miss you like crazy, but I'm not selfish enough to ask you to stay."
"I never thought we'd get to this point, but I'll miss you too" I say, smiling at MJ. MJ chuckles slightly at my response.
"When Peter told us he'd kidnapped a mutant, I was so scared you'd hurt him, but after I spent all of five minutes with you, I knew you were good" MJ says softly, her brown eyes meet my blue ones and I smile, I wouldn't call myself good, but I wouldn't call myself evil either, so I think that's a step forward in the right direction.
"Natasha understood, she told Steve she thought it was the right decision" MJ says after a few seconds of comfortable silence. If anyone understood wanting to get away to get a fresh start, it would be Natasha. She's haunted by the red room the same way I'm haunted by the x-men institute. Peter will be the hardest one to tell.
"If I was selfish enough, I'd ask you to leave with me" I say, starting over with MJ would be amazing, but she has people who love her and great memories here, she has no reason to go. Her, Ned, and Peter have a bright future ahead of them, they'll go to an amazing college and settle down, I'm rooting for MJ and Peter to have at least five kids together.
"If I didn't love him so much, I'd consider it" MJ whispers, staring at me. She reaches over and hugs me. "I wish you didn't have to go, but I think you do."
"There's just too many memories and too many ghosts" I admit, staring down at my hands. Will Henry join my nightmares tonight? A part of me hopes so, just so I can see him again, but the other part of me thinks my nightmares already have enough people. Henry should be here right now, we almost made it.
"I'm sorry about Henry, he was a good friend" MJ replies, squeezing my hand. Henry was one of the greatest friends I've ever had, I don't think I'll find any friends who will be as loyal as he was. "You didn't ruin our lives, Storm, we're better people just from knowing you."
"Something tells me I'll be back here in the future" I murmur, escaping New York sounds too easy, I'm sure another threat will arise, the avengers will try their best to keep me out of it, but I won't be surprised if eventually an avenger turns up at my door asking me to return to New York with them. I wouldn't be me if I refused to help save lives when I can, I'm strong enough to protect me which means it's my duty to protect me.
"I'll be waiting in your room for you when that happens" MJ says, I smile, I'm sure she will be. "If you don't text me I'll be very offended."
"You can be the first" I promise with a little chuckle.
"What about Peter?" MJ asks, grinning at me.
"I'll send a group text then" I reply, MJ nods in agreement and we both fall silent. Apparently, Estella had an apartment in Chicago, it's been empty since she died, Charles once said it was mine if I wanted it. I don't know much about Chicago, but I figure it's a good as place as any to start over. Something tells me Florence won't be an issue, she can have her stupid farm, I really don't care as long as I don't have to see her.
"If you're ever in Chicago, I expect you to text me" I say to MJ, I'm not opposed to coming back to New York for a short while to say hi to everyone, I just don't think I can handle living here permanently, there's too many awful memories.
"Oh, trust me, I'm booking flights and spending summer with you" MJ replies. It would be nice if her, Peter, and Ned came up, I can find some nice places for us to go. "You can ask Steve to fly us to Chicago in one of your planes." I grin, I'm sure the avengers will agree to let us use their plane for a holiday.
*Author's Note* In another universe, Storm and MJ are for sure a couple.
YOU ARE READING
Beautiful Ruins
Action"Maybe there was a fleeting moment where I wanted to be a hero and believed I could be one, but the truth is I'm not, I won't ever be. My past does define me, it made me a villain" - Storm. Fifteen-year-old Storm is the daughter of Black Widow and I...
