The Problem Isn't Us

"A little life experience makes a heckuva’ difference." He grins, offering a light, playful nudge. 

"Are you admitting to being old, Mr. Storm?"

A somber expression across his face, Johnny nodded, holding a hand out to shake Kitty’s. “You’ve got my word.” A small smile. “I get it. Doesn’t matter what universe, you’ve gotta’ watch out for your own.” 

A playful smile forms on her face as she looks up at him. "Okay, so you might be a little smarter than the Johnny I know."

"Well, yeah but—” Johnny hesitated for a moment before muttering; “I knew that.” Thinking about life experiences caused a thought to jump to mind and the blond changed the subject. “Just make sure Little Johnny doesn’t go off into the Negative Zone. I mean he’s probably already been in there but y’know. Alone. Tell him I said no.” 

She paused, brow furrowing slightly, before nodding slowly. "Alright. Can... Can you do something for me then? I don't really know how much older everyone is in your universe. But, if you can find a Jimmy Hudson, just make sure he's okay yeah? There's nothing else just... I made a promise a long time ago to make sure of that and I suppose that should extend to every universe."

"I dunno’, I’ve always been a Playstation guy. I think good sense in consoles is just something you’re born with." The blond made a face. "And apparently little me wasn’t. Y’know, I was nothing like him when I was his age. Kind of weird, huh?" 

"Well, different universes and different life experiences. I bet you never lived with Aunt May or went to high school with me. And we've already established that your Reed Richards is surprisingly a good person. Your DNA isn't the only factor in who you end up being."

"Wait. You mean controlling aging’ll be one of your powers in the future?" Johnny grinned cheekily. "If that’s the case there’s definitely a deal to be made here." The blond made a face, joking with the girl. "Yeah, I dunno’ about that guy. He told me he liked Xbox over Playstation and quite frankly I found that a little unnerving.” 

"Well, who knows what the future hold?. But I promise if I develop that one you'll be the first to know." She shakes her head with a laugh and a slight roll of her eyes. "Yeah he always did fall on the wrong side of that argument. Clearly you know better than him." She pauses and a teasing look crosses her face. "Maybe that's something that comes with age?"

"Why’re you apologizing? Not your fault I’m old." Johnny lips curled up and he nudged her playfully. 

"True, controlling the aging of alternate universes is not one of my superpowers. Yet." She smiled with a laugh and nudged him back. "You may be old but you're clearly still just as much of a dork as the Johnny I know."

"Nightwing. And so…you guys are on a hero shortage?"

"Well I mean... There was the flood which was devastating. And mutants like me are still considered second class citizens, not to mention our existence is apparently illegal depending on who you ask. So yeah, I guess shortage is a word for it."

"Younger than Wolverine. That’s… Something. I guess." Johnny looked down at the girl and smirked like he was joking. Which he wasn’t. Finding out he was older than Tony Stark was not something he wanted to hear today. 

She squirmed uncomfortably, realizing this Johnny wasn't in as good of a mood as he was when they started this conversation. "Sorry."

Probably not. It’s just a hunch that you don’t forget meeting a guy in blue and black spandex.

True but there aren't many heroes I haven't met these days, not many of us left. So I was caught off guard. I'm Kitty.