#cftorch

According to Google — more specifically trashy journalist, like the gossip column in the Daily Bugle and TMZ — Johnny wasn’t having an easy time. Since the return from her extended vacation, Cassie had obviously seen him. Johnny was like her family, she’d known him for most of her life, and shared a lot of life’s more awkward milestones with him which in retrospect, not her proudest moments, but hey, she hadn’t forgotten. Awkward (sloppy and wet) times or not, Johnny was important to her, and while he hadn’t opened up to her directly, Cassie wanted Johnny to know that she was prepared to support him through everything. Unfortunately, there really wasn’t any cards for that, and no bouquet of flowers could really convey meaning that deep. Not that Cassie was avoiding her feelings in the slightest! She was doing great now that the Power Broker had given her access to Pym Particles, assuming she never once thought about her dad. The only reason she was a little apprehensive about seeing Johnny presently was that she had no idea whether it was okay to admit that she had been reading extensively about him online... it was a little creepy.

In the end, Cassie ended up buying two iced cream cones, easy to keep frozen when all she had to do was cross the street to meet Johnny in the park. He was always easy to spot in a crowd, drawing attention a lot of the time, and now that he had two huge dogs in his possession, people were even more interested in talking to him. Some things never changed, Cassie thought, a smile crossing her face briefly. “Hey,” she greeted Johnny, handing him his favourite ice cream flavour (hopefully it hadn’t changed in roughly a year. “You want to see how big I can make our iced cream?” She asked, waggling her eyebrows at him. The story was that Cassie’s powers took a little longer to recover than her physical body and so far no one had questioned it.  

Getting into Johnny’s house was pretty easy when no one was home. Typically, the balcony door was open, most likely because both Wanda and Johnny were technically capable of flight. With web slingers, it was a breeze to get into, too, and MJ knew Johnny wouldn’t mind. He did it all the time at both of her homes! It was inevitable that she get him back for it. Once she was inside the apartment, Zasha was immediately jumping up, demanding attention, and MJ noticed another dog, a bulldog, hanging back, watching. On the bright side, it didn’t attack, but on the down side, Johnny had not mentioned another dog. As MJ pet Zasha, ensuring to pay proper attention to the very demanding dog, MJ singlehandedly sent a very strongly worded text message urging Johnny to get the hell back to his apartment.

When he arrived ten minutes later, she gestured to the bulldog dramatically. “Who the hell is this adorable dog? If it’s yours, I’m gonna be so mad, Johnny. You never told me you got a new dog. To repair our friendship, I want you to name him Watson, after me, not the detective dude.” Honestly, MJ had never felt so hurt in their years of friendship. She loved dogs! “And I want custody of Zasha on… Wednesday’s.” As she spoke, she wrinkled her nose at Zasha, and immediately got licked in the face. “I should get a dog, too,” MJ mused.

The majority of New York definitely looked like aliens — the ones before the demons, Skrulls — hadn’t ravaged the entirety of the city. The cleanup had been quick, but there were sectors where only a brick wall here and there stood on the outside of town. Honestly, she wasn’t sure whether that was actually the Skrulls’ fault or a gift from the demons. It was awfully close to where the city abruptly ended and barren wasteland began, though MJ hadn’t personally had the privilege of witnessing the demons standing shoulder to shoulder. God, she honestly was avoiding that invite at all costs. She was a proud hero, she liked to consider herself fearless, but MJ was aware of her own limitations, and she was nowhere near strong enough to live through that literal hellhole. But she was strong enough to hang out next to it… although that was more of a coincidence than an intentional decision. Out of curiosity, MJ had wanted to see whether her and Johnny’s favourite boutique had withstood the New York City relocation. Unfortunately, it was in shambles. Fortunately, she was still with her best friend, and both of them were recovering from their respective shit hands.

“So, no shopping,” MJ said, handing Johnny a latte. Starbucks, of course, had survived, but like hell would MJ sit in there when there was a partially ruined park to hang out in. Privacy was important when she was with Johnny (most of the time)! “But I do have something weird to tell you about,” she informed Johnny with a grin. “I have like weird electro-things in my blood now. Apparently it helps get the Iron Spider on my body no matter where I am. Here, I’m gonna show you,” MJ announced. Holding out an arm dramatically, she hoped it would actually work. When the metal came soaring towards her, covering her arm only, MJ bursted out laughing. “See? I told you this is weird!” Honestly, despite her attempts at learning, her control over the Iron Spider was pretty touch and go. She could fly, patrol, but she wasn’t sure how all of the tech worked yet. Out of curiosity, MJ pressed a button and pointed her arm out towards the barren wasteland. When webs went flying out of her hand, she pursed her lips. “I wonder if that’s gonna hit anything,” MJ mused.

Johnny Storm wasn’t the immediate person Ororo wanted to seek help from, but after a young mutant, capable of creating lava in their hands, demanded to meet the Human Torch, she had little choice in the matter. Gemma, as the young woman burned incredibly hot, most likely altering the molecules around her, had informed Ororo that unless she met her ‘absolute favourite superhero, she was staying right here.’ Thirteen year olds were incredibly stubborn and incredibly difficult, but helping mutantkind was well worth it, Ororo reminded herself as she arrived at Johnny Storm’s home. The situation could also be far worse. Gemma was willing to comply as long as her request was filled, and the Human Torch happened to be a superhero Ororo was friendly with. (She wished Gemma’s ‘absolute favourite’ was the Invisible Woman instead, but unfortunately, she wasn’t in a situation where she could bargain.)

As she entered the apartment, Johnny was sitting on the couch, surrounded by two dogs and a giant mess. “Hello,” she greeted, turning off the TV with a forced smile. “I have a mutant that needs your help,” Ororo said, moving forward to pet the pitbull. “Her name is Gemma, she’s thirteen years old, and currently burning a hole through the floor in her home. She can create lava, but unless she meets the Human Torch, Gemma refuses to come with me.” Ororo sounded as frustrated as she felt, and unfortunately, she could imagine Johnny’s elated (and egotistical) reaction. “I can handle the heat myself, but I can’t force a young mutant to learn how to control their abilities. All you will have to do is essentially perform a meet and greet.”

In all honesty, MJ knew that she wasn’t coping well. Attempting to arrest your mutant ex-boyfriend whilst continually fighting random criminals and dating random people — not all of whom she fucked, thank you! — was far from coping. In fact, it was just about the highest level of avoidance that she could muster, but she was trying. She was trying so fucking hard to stop being so angry, and not to feel overwhelming loneliness the second no one was around. She wasn’t consciously doing what she could to avoid her issues, she was doing her best not to break down after Pietro’s betrayal and the revelation that they were no longer on Earth. MJ was trying to be strong for the people she loved, to prove that she was a hero, and while she understood she could be visiting a therapist, that wasn’t realistic at the moment (largely because of the money it costed, and she’d taken enough from Tony). Naturally, after an hour in the training room at Stark Towers, after still feeling restless, she took to Tinder. The date wasn’t absolutely terrible, she was another scientist, a complete genius, and on a whim, MJ agreed to take her home. She didn’t seem to have any expectations about where this was going, her name was Candice, and that was all she really needed to home.

Once they got inside of MJ’s floor, she moved into the kitchen to retrieve two glasses of sparkling apple juice, she never kept alcohol on hand, when she saw Johnny emerge from the spare room he’d claimed as his own. “Um, hi,” she said, sounding as surprised as she was to see him. Johnny was welcome on her floor anytime, he was on the clearance list, but he usually texted her before coming over. “Johnny, this is Candice,” MJ said, handing Candice one of the glasses. “He’s just a friend, but… what are you doing here?” Candice, to her credit, did not immediately leave, but instead fixed Johnny with a glare. Normally, she would be offended, but given the fact that she really wanted to be laid, she only said, “He’s my best friend. If you want to fuck me, you apologize for that look.”

Johnny Storm had entertained Felicia on more than one occasion, they had spent several absolutely riveting parties hidden away in coat closets, but Felicia was completely through with the Human Torch! In case anyone was concerned, it was before he committed to Wanda Maximoff, something that still headlined gossip rags, although Felicia wasn’t sure why. Her daily exploits were much more exciting than his domesticity. Her decision to stop tracking Johnny down for entertainment originated after he disappointed her with one orgasm, and she was aware she deserved far better than that.  

Unfortunately, they seemed to frequent similar places, and when she saw him running across a street, waving enthusiastically at a group of paparazzi, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. He always sucked up the spotlight, it was a very disappointing fact about New York City. Felicia didn’t hate Johnny by any means, but she definitely deserved an apology! As she walked across the street, deciding to inform him of that fact, a cab suddenly pulled out and was seconds away from hitting the Human Torch.

God, her days always ended up so weird!

Before Felicia could contemplate her decision, she ensured that the odds were in her favour, and shoved Johnny out of the way, landing harshly on top of him. “You owe me a really fancy bottle of wine,” she informed him. “And you can cover the dry cleaning bill,” she added, glancing down at the stains on her jacket.