Just Because Hugs

Cuddlebug came out of her and Weaver's room at Wards HQ, saw Vista alone in the common area so she walked up and gave her a hug.

"Hey, Cuddlebug," Vista said without otherwise acknowledging the hug. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," the hero who happened to be a child and a mutant replied.

"So what's the occasion for this hug?"

"No occasion," Cuddlebug explained. "It's just a 'just because hug.' "

"You sure about that?" Vista asked.

"I mean, yeah, what else would it be?"

"You've been excessively huggy the last couple of days," Vista deadpanned. "Seriously, what's up?"

"Uh... It's silly."

"Ashley... You're a mutant from an alternate universe full of magic and super-science that doesn't need powers bullshit to work. You've got an eldritch monstrosity from outer space living in your guts. You named it Mister Snuggles. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Terminator in your universe instead of OJ Simpson, Atlanteans fought vampires in world war two, and you're the only person I've ever heard of who has been on a high school level in science and a second grade level in social studies."

"...It's not my fault you people never discovered Pym Particles," Ashley mumbled.

"The point is, the simple fact that you're the one talking makes his conversation as silly as it can possibly get," Missy finished. "So whatever it is, just say it."

"I think I'm cursed."

Vista, who had been reading a magazine that had done an article on Wards ENE recently, closed the Magazine and looked back and the symbiote-host who was still hugging her. "Go on."

"It's just uh... About a year and a half ago my Grandpa Patrick passed away and... He wasn't that old, and he was in really good health. It just came out of nowhere... And then a few months later people come into my apartment and... Killed my parents, and... And a year later, after I end up here, I almost lose Taylor and then you almost die and... I've never had real-life in-meatspace friends before. You... You're my first real my-age friend. I don't want to lose anybody else."

"Ashley? I'm the strongest Cape on the Wards and they almost never let me go on the front lines," Missy explained. "OF all the Wards ENE, I'm gonna be the last one to die."

"Please don't joke like that."

"Look, Ashley," Vista said, "stuff like this happens. Bad stuff like that is how people get powers here. I think twenty attempted genocides in your lifetime has the record, but we've all been through stuff like that. You've just gotta... Look, I've been on the job for a while. You need to talk about this stuff? Come to me." Vista turned and returned Cuddlebug's hug. "Wanna sign up for an afternoon patrol with me? If we're lucky we'll get a route through Empire territory and then we can beat up some Nazis. That always makes me feel better."

"...I do still need to find some way to steal Mjolnir from Donar."