Morning After

The sunlight streaming through the windows of the Young Avengers' headquarters highlighted the exhaustion etched on Daken's face. He had spent the night patrolling the city, his feral senses on high alert for any signs of trouble. The battle with Johnny Storm still lingered in his mind, a nagging sense of unease that he couldn't shake. As he entered the common room, he spotted Wiccan and Speed huddled in a corner, engaged in a heated discussion about their next move. Daken's gaze swept the room, searching for any signs of his teammates. That's when he saw him - Johnny Storm, leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping a cup of coffee. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air seemed to vibrate with tension. Daken's instincts went on high alert, his senses picking up on the subtle changes in Johnny's body language. The Human Torch seemed relaxed, but Daken could sense the underlying wariness. "Morning," Johnny said, his voice low and smooth. Daken nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Morning." The silence that followed was awkward, but not uncomfortable. Daken found himself drawn to Johnny, his curiosity getting the better of him. He wondered what had brought Johnny to the Young Avengers' headquarters, and what he was thinking after their battle the night before. Wiccan and Speed, sensing the tension between the two, excused themselves, leaving Daken and Johnny alone. The kitchen was quiet, the only sound the hum of the refrigerator and the occasional chirp of a bird outside. Johnny pushed off the counter, his eyes locked on Daken's. "I have to admit, I'm surprised to see you here," he said, his tone neutral. Daken raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised to see you here." Johnny chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent a shiver down Daken's spine. "I guess we're both wondering what the other is doing here." The air seemed to thicken, the tension between them growing more palpable. Daken felt his heart rate increase, his senses on high alert. He couldn't explain why, but he felt drawn to Johnny, like a moth to a flame. "Maybe we can discuss it over coffee," Daken said, his voice low and smooth. Johnny's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'd like that." As they walked to the coffee machine, the tension between them began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of tentative camaraderie. Daken found himself smiling, a rare occurrence, and Johnny grinned back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. For a moment, they forgot about their differences, their animosity forgotten in the face of a shared curiosity. As they sipped their coffee, Daken realized that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new. Something unexpected. The city outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a moment of uncertainty. But as they stood there, locked in a silent understanding, Daken knew that their journey was just beginning, and that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, and possibly, something more.