closed | let's go on living

[morphogenia]

WHO: Kamala Khan
WHERE: House 6
WHEN: Nov. 15, Frank's birthday
OPEN TO: Frank Castle
WARNINGS: Vague references to horror settings!! Otherwise super G.

---

She looked him up when they got back. It was silly in hindsight. She didn't really have any business poking into his personal life like that. Kamala missed her friend. It's super easy to put a name in a search engine and find out all kinds of things. One thing that stuck out was a date. Thanks to Peter, she knows the watch will give her some idea of the time that's passed. It occurs to her in the craziness that this is the week of Frank's birthday. She really needs to do something even if it can't be a party.

A couple days before his birthday she takes some zoom seeds to make everything she needs. It works like a charm. She's fast enough to make flour for a cake, to carve a piece of wood down until it's a little gift, and get the rest of the prep work for baking done on short notice. What sucks is puking her guts out at the Inn afterward. She cleans it up along with the rest of the bathroom for good measure. She realizes she can't go home like this. She already used a fair amount of preserved peaches for the cake so using those to heal up isn't an option.

All that's left is to head down to the Bunker and see if that vending machine will give her back what's been stolen from her. (Until she remembers the hot springs were also an option.) The broken blood vessels healing up are all the confirmation she needs that her healing power is back for however long. All she needs is for it to work until Frank's birthday so she can stay healthy unlike some of the others.

Miracle of all miracles it does. The morning of his birthday comes. She excuses herself from breakfast to grab something at the Inn with the promise he will save all the coffee for her. Upon return she does the cheesiest thing Kamala can think of: sing happy birthday all the way to the table. Kamala set down the cake she'd hidden there yesterday on the table with a huge smile. "Okay so I don't have candles, but we can still eat! Happy birthday, Frank!" She uncovers it with a grand sweeping gesture. It's all his!! She hopes he likes it.

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[morphogenia]

An invisible hand grabs her throat. It's Kamala's turn to stand now as a surge of panic washes over her. "It doesn't have to, Frank!" It comes out in a rush. As always Kamala is painfully sincere. Her eyes bright tellingly. She doesn't want that for him. This time she thinks she can stop some bad things from happening. She's grown up, hasn't she? She should be able to do this much!

The rest is more carefully spoken. She thinks every word through, weighing how much help or hurt they will do as she says them. "We may not know what's happening, we may not even be who we think we are, but this isn't Reims! We don't have to get hurt over and over again without having any real way to save each other. You can convince Jessica to let people help her for a change and if you can't, then I'll talk to her too. It doesn't always have to end badly." She stresses that part. Kamala doesn't blame him for feeling that way, but she can't accept it.

[oorah]

She's right, of course, and his gaze softens as he turns to lean against the counter so he can face her properly. "I'm gonna try my best, okay? Promise." And he'll even do his best to go into it with an open mind even though he's convinced there's no way she'll say yes. He forces a tiny smile and shrugs a shoulder. "Wanna get ready to head out soon? We'll bring Aretha, I told Agent Carter we'd bring back some geese for soup." That can be his contribution to this humanitarian crisis, right?

[morphogenia]

She believes him enough to let it go. He'll call her in for backup if he needs it. Frank did provide her with a nice distraction from her heightened emotions over the whole affair. She smiles big and claps her hands together. "Oh I love missions! I'll be ready in fifteen!" Just like that's off to get into more appropriate clothing, brush her teeth and tie up her hair. More like twenty tbh. #teengirls

[oorah]

He nods at her retreating back, knowing how she do. And she knows how he do which is why he's ready to go within moments, loading them up each a light pack and a bow with arrows. Even Aretha has some saddlebags and she's looking very pleased with herself as they head out. Frank pulls out some dried peaches from his jacket pocket once they really hit the trail and offers the bag to her.

"I think I know where to find those frogs right after a rain, but we gotta be quiet." Frank winks at her, obviously they'll have trouble with that, right? He looks at Aretha and puts a finger to his lips, she's the loudest of their group, obviously, but she looks determined to do right by the crew.

[morphogenia]

They're like a team. The thought gives Kamala more cheer than usual. She keeps pace with Frank while accepting those pieces of dried fruit. She lets out a soft laugh at his joke, content to eat and do their thing after, until she realizes her mistake. Kamala holds up her hand to stop the group and turns to Frank. "Before we get any further, you need your birthday gift!" Her hand slips into her jacket pocket where she produces a very homemade gift. It's a very tiny piece of wood that has been carved carefully into a (slightly slanted) square with a lightning bolt etched in attached to a rope cord to be worn as a necklace presumably.

If there's ever a moment Kamala is desperate for approval, it's in this moment. She pretty much poured her soul into this little project. She wants him to love it. She wants Frank to see this and be happy. Anything less than total approval would probably crush her tiny spirit. "Do you like it? It's my symbol. That way we can always be together. And if anyone gives you any problems, you can always say you're with Ms. Marvel. There hasn't been an evil one ever so that should buy you some credit in the superhero community." Mostly it's about being horror bffs.

[oorah]

Frank had completely forgotten she made him something else. The cake and her company were more than enough to make this day perfect. But he reaches out to accept the tiny thing instantly, his hand so large it shutters the necklace and her entire hand from view before he can hold it up in his palm and really take a look. Confusion flits across his face, wondering if it's a joke from when he gave them lightning powers by accident. When she explains, it's the ultimate D'oh! moment. He knew that, and he brushes his thumb over the symbol reverently as she goes on. He's pulling the necklace on over his head before she's even done with her speech, tucking it under his clothes close to his heart where he can feel it with him always.

Instead of saying anything. he waves for her to come closer then wraps his arms around her shoulders. He's trying not to let his emotions get the best of him, but he knows he's squeezing her a little too tight anyway. "Thank you," he manages to croak hoarsely, one tear trailing down the side of his face no matter how he tries to hold it in.

[morphogenia]

She knows she did good when he waves her in. The crushing hug just confirms it. While it hurts, Kamala couldn't be happier as she hugs him back. He really is her best friend in so many ways and in others he really has become family to her. Frank is also someone she feels she owes a great deal. Anything she can do to make him feel special or appreciated doesn't seem like a big deal compared to all he's done for her.

"Only the best for my horror bff." She pledges sincerely. Maybe her best isn't great, but every bit of it is made with care and love. She thinks that comes through.