Cassandra (Johnny Storm AU) 18+

4

"Wow".

The word came out easily as he laid eyes on Cassie now coming out through the sliding door onto the terrace. She looked amazing. "You're even prettier when you're not on the verge of death..."

She smirked. "Didn't fancy taking the elevator?"

"Old habits die hard - besides, I didn't wanna be seen". He now logged nervously, thinking that perhaps he should've taken the normal entrance. "Flying's quicker..."

"Relax old timer, I'm joking. You can land on my terrace anytime". Now passing him a glass of wine.

Holy crap.

He downed it, then seeing her watching him with interest. "I'm on fire for the most part, don't wanna get dehydrated". It was a lie but she didn't have to know that.

"Somehow I find that hard to believe considering you don't burn yourself alive". She raised a quizzical eyebrow. She was a reporter - of course she gonna sniff out what was bullshit and what wasn't.

He cleared his throat. "I er, hope you don't mind the suit...kinda the only thing I can wear without replacing". He remembered the designer suit he'd had to sacrifice on Sue and Reed's wedding day. What had mattered to him then didn't seem to now.

She shrugged. "If it's any consolation, I could've worn my jammies".

He'd have accepted that right away. "Remind me why you didn't again?" Now giving her a cheeky look, eyes crinkling.

"I'd didn't wanna give off the impression that I'm a slob".

"Yet your penthouse says otherwise - how much they paying reporters these days anyway?" He asked, taking in the penthouse that clearly was worth a hell of a lot.

Was she rich?

Not that it mattered but she certainly didn't give off the impression that she was. It was refreshing.

"They're paying me enough to risk getting incinerated, that's for sure". She chuckled and showed him inside. "I inherited money when my parents died, so some went to my education, and then part of it along with what I'd saved from jobs and my current one went on this place. It's too big in my opinion, but I grew up in bigger - and it was far lonlier".

It wasn't a lie, but she didn't need to indulge him in all the details. He'd figure out for sure who she was then.

"I'm sorry about your parents".

"It was fine. An unfortunate accident". She shrugged it off, having become used to talking about it. "The housekeeper ended up taking care of me mostly, plus I had the help and support of my teachers".

"Still, it's not great that you had to lose them when you were young". He sat down next to her as she poured him another glass of wine. "I know what it's like though. My sister and I both had to live with my aunt when our parents were gone. Guess that's what made me rebel somewhat. I didn't give a crap".

Cassie looked at him. He had. No one left and technically neither did she. One thing they had in common. "And what about now? Something like the snap?  No offence but I'm surprised it didn't send you mad like some others".

"I had Reed up until a few years back, but even then I never really saw him. He was going through his grief and I just wanted to hide away. I felt a hell of a lot more guilt when he died". He sighed. "They'd be disappointed with me if they could see me now".

Her heart sank. "They wouldn't".

"They would. My sister wanted me to make something of myself, and I did for a time. Being in the team was my one way of realising that others mattered more than me. I took responsibility for what I could do. But even I couldn't stop Thanos in time. I stalled and as a result it cost me. It was my fault that everyone isn't here".

"It's not. Johnny - no one could have defeated him. You and the others were brave enough to go up against him when people like me were helpless. You fought for us".

He became a little angry now. "And I should've died for you! I should've gone full on supernova".

She was quiet for a moment. "But then we wouldn't be sat here now. We'd have never met".

Well, never met again - but he didn't know that.

It was going to be hard to stay away from him. Cassie had remembered the first time she'd seen him. He'd come into Victor's office with Sue as she'd been walking out. She'd asked whether he was going to be there to see her show at school, but he'd said that he wasn't able to make it. She'd been pretty upset - but on seeing Johnny follow Sue in and wink at her cheekily, it had made her smile, cheered her up to know a cute guy was looking at her. At that age he really wasn't, but it had started off her crush. It was a memory that should've been bad turned good. All thanks to him. 

"True". He now smiled lightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to turn depressing".

"I kinda started it, but let's just move in from the sadness. Have you eaten?"

"Briefly".

"I could make something? I can cook pretty good if I say so myself".

He looked at her, the young him would've already had her in bed without so much as a hello. But now he knew not to really expect anything. Dinner and drinks was fine with him. "I mean...I could probably use my hands to cook it..."

Cassie laughed. "Or the old fashioned way? An oven?"

"That's cool with me". He smiled, and followed her over to the open plan kitchen. "Hey Cass?"

"Yep?" She asked, now getting some ingredients from
The fridge.

"Thanks again, for this. Honestly please don't think I'm expecting anything more".

She paused for a moment, wanting more from the moment he'd landed on the terrace. But she couldn't. Could she?

"How about we just, see where things take us".

"You know what, that's not such a bad idea".