Cassandra (Johnny Storm AU) 18+

6

Cassie had been anxious all day, ever since the phone call that had come through at lunchtime. What she hadn't been expecting was Victor's voice at the end of the line.

"Cass".

"How...you're not meant to be making calls..." She told him, looking around to make sure that no one was listening in. 

"Oh, no - not when I'm in prison. But when I'm out of it..."

She'd froze, silent for a moment before she could finally speak again. "That's not possible".

Victor chuckled at this. "Look, high security prison? They tried and they failed. I was just biding my time, waiting for my chance - and it came around finally".

"Victor...please".

Not again. She couldn't let him hurt anyone else, even her. The snap had done enough, taken enough people. There was barely anything left to take. Sure they had come so far in trying to get everything back to as much normality as possible, but things would never be the same. 

"Please what? Please don't come find me? Please don't hurt me?" Victor now taunted down the line. "I'm your brother Cassie, I'd never hurt you - do you really think that badly of me?"

She swallowed. "No..." she finally got out. "No I don't - but they're gonna be looking for you".

"Of course they are". He scoffed. "But you won't tell them, because if you do..."

She hung up immediately. He still had that control over her, something that she'd fought so badly to be free of.

Now she lay on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket and hoping that her brother wouldn't come hunting her down. Especially if he knew that Johnny was still around.

They'd exchanged a few messages but she'd not seen him. She'd tried her hardest to keep herself from replying, but she couldn't help it - especially when he was being flirty.

Cassie hadn't messaged him back though, her thoughts too focused on her brother's escape that had been plastered all over the media. No one was to approach him, but to be aware that he was back out there again.

She was restless but finally managed to drift off to the sound of rainfall pattering against the doors to the terrace. It was the only bit of peace that she could feel.

**

Something wasn't right.

He'd called Cassie but she'd not answered, and not even when he'd messaged her. As a result he was on his way to make sure that she was ok. The feeling he had didn't sit right with him, and it was rare to experience something like this. He'd not before.

It was raining, and as he landed on the terrace he noted the light from the table lamp on beside the sofa. She was curled up asleep under a blanket. He felt a wave of relief wash over him.

A crack of thunder followed by some lightening lit up the sky, and now Cassie bolted awake - looking towards the terrace before almost jumping at the sight of him staring through the glass. "Johnny?!" Within seconds she was on her feet and hurrying to the doors, throwing them open and looking at him in surprise. He was soaked through, droplets of rainwater now falling from his hair. "What are you doing here?" 

"Sorry. I was worried. You never answered my messages and I had a...feeling..." 

"Come in, quick, you're soaking". 

"Oh, that can be sorted easily". He said as he was able to dry himself off using the heat of his power. Steam rose from his body. 

She smiled lightly. "That must be pretty handy". 

He smirked. "It's certainly useful at the best of times. I'm glad that you're ok though. I'm sorry - I shouldn't have turned up here the way I did". 

"Just shows that you care. I'm ok though, rough day at work". She said, heading to the fridge. "You want a beer or something?" 

"Cass...you sure you're ok?" He frowned as she passed him one anyway. 

She nodded. "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Like I said just work - it's been kicking my ass lately, so much that I'm contemplating on asking to just take over the obituaries column". 

He chuckled. "Yikes, that bad eh?" 

"It'll pass". 

It wouldn't. What was more is that no more than ever, Johnny could never find out who she really was. But at the same time she didn't want to stop what was sparking between them either. 

"Will it?" He didn't sound too convinced, and she realised that maybe she hadn't sounded that way either. 

Instead, she just put on a smile that could make him melt (as well as feel a lot of other things stirring within him) and brushed it off. "I've seen some shit over the years. Some days are harder than others. Just the way it goes". 

By now they were close, bodies almost touching before she knew that what she would do next would be a mistake. But she couldn't hold herself back for much longer. Leaning up, she kissed his lips softly, his arms wrapping around her waist on instant. "Cassandra..." he murmured as he pulled away briefly to take another look at her. 

No one had ever made him feel like this. Maybe getting older he'd got a little softer when it came to feelings. Or maybe it was just the trauma he'd dealt with. He didn't care, but what he did care about was her, especially after her next words gave him all the more reason to. 

"Don't stop. Please...just say my name and make me forget about today".