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.

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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]

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.