Cassandra (Johnny Storm AU) 18+

3

"Hey Cassie it's Johnny..."

"Hi Cass, Johnny here - human torch?"

He groaned as he practiced the number of opening lines he could give whilst calling her to himself in the mirror. Each one sounding just as cheesy as the rest. "Seriously Johnny? You're gonna sound like a dick".

How the hell had girls even fallen for this crap back then? All he'd had to do was give them a wink and they'd come running. Now he was stumbling over his words for a girl who probably only gave him her number out of pity.

What if it wasn't actually her number at all?

"Pull yourself together". He told his reflection that stared tiredly back at him, "just call her and say hi".

Putting in the number on his phone, he waited, listening to it ring and probably go to voicemail. Now he was proved wrong as a voice answered. Hers.

"Hello?"

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

"Helloooooo?" She repeated, a little more impatiently this time.

Say hi you fucking moron!

"Hey, erm Cassie? It's Johnny..." he finally found some words, and her tone brightened immediately.

"Johnny, hi! I didn't think you'd call this soon?"

Yeah, neither did he.

He now smiled to himself. "Really? Well, here I am". 

That sounded pathetic. 

"I'm guessing you're wanting that date?" Cassie now asked. 

"I mean...look you don't have to go out with me. I know I'm an old man, I asked out of the heat of the moment and..." 

She cut him off there. "Woah! Ok, look if you didn't want to go then no pressure. It's cool". There was no denying that her tone had turned to one of disappointment. 

"It's just, I erm...I haven't done this in a while, and you're young, like..." 

"Johnny. It's ok. Look I...Maybe it's best that we don't". 

Ok? That was a u-turn from sounding disappointed earlier. Maybe he had been right after all. "It's fine, forget I called. Anyway you sound like you're ok and getting over what happened so I'm just gonna leave you alone..."

"But I'm not..." 

What? 

"I'm not ok. I...sorry my heads completely messed at the moment, you must think I'm a bitch who's just leading you on". 

He sighed. "I don't think you're a bitch. You almost died, it's enough to fuck anyone up, plus asking for a date after you almost died was a shit move for me". 

"Believe me, it wasn't. But we could meet as friends? If you'd like that better? Or just acquaintances needing a drink to take off the edge". 

"I've been needing something to take off the edge for years". He chuckled. "Whatever you wanna do - hell, you can even block my number after we hang up if you want". 

"Why would I? Besides, I suppose I do owe you a beer or something to say thanks for not letting me die". 

Johnny was silent for a moment. "Give me a place and a time and I'll see you there". 

"Are you anywhere near New York?" 

"For you, I can be". 

"Ok, I'm texting you the time and place. I'll see you then". Her voice told him softly, the ping of a message notification coming through while he still had his ear to the phone. He looked at it, seeing that it was indeed from her and then put his ear back to the speaker. 

"I'll see you then, Cassandra..." 

"I'll be waiting for you, torch". 

He couldn't help but laugh lightly at this. "Haven't had anyone call me that in years". 

"Then I suppose I should start. That's what they used to call you wasn't it?" 

"That amongst other things". Especially if he was telling a girl that he wasn't looking for commitment, which back then was often. 

Saying goodbye, he hung up and then checked where Cassie wanted to meet. It was the address of her apartment...

At least he wouldn't have people hassling him. Now they knew he was still alive, it would be like before. They wanted pictures, had expectations that he'd be someone to save them. But he didn't want that. Not anymore. The power plant had been a one off, but that was it. Someone else could come out of hiding and deal with anymore shit that was to come. In his eyes, he was still retired. 

Reading more of the message he noted the date and time. 

7pm...tonight...

**

Cassie looked at herself in the mirror, letting out a frustrated huff and stomping off to try on something else. It was too 'dressy', the other outfit had been too casual, and the one before that looked like she was going to work. 

Perhaps she was just overthinking this. Would Johnny care? She wanted to at least look decent for him, even if it was just a drink. "There has to be something in this stupid closet". She said as she rooted through her clothes. No way was she going to sit there in a PJ set, no matter how cute it looked. 

"Okaaaaay, jeans....and a nice...top..." She said, scanning the shelves and rail before picking out something that made her look like she wasn't trying too hard, but also didn't look like she was lazy either. 

It would have to do, and topping up her make up her eyes went to the clock. Almost 7pm. He'd be here soon, so she hoped. 

What if he stood her up? Decided last minute not to come? 

Maybe this had been a bad idea after all. They'd all but danced around one another on the phone, going back and forth, stumbling over words and saying that it was ok if the other didn't want to do this. And as much as Cassie knew she shouldn't - she wanted to. It was one drink to thank him. That's all it was. 

Checking to make sure the penthouse she currently resided in was perfect (it was actually spotless, she'd cleaned up things that hadn't needed to be purely for this), she took a bottle of wine from the fridge and opened it, pouring herself a glass before glancing out to the private  terrace where she could sit and watch the New York skyline. 

Then she saw the flash of orange as it now landed onto the terrace.

Johnny was here...