Ms.Marvel's Stress

10

Medusa’s POV:

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, and as Kamala drifted into a peaceful sleep, I knew my time with her today had been a gift. A brief moment of peace in a world that often demanded far too much. But now, the quiet of the night was interrupted by the soft chime of my communicator. My posture straightened, and a sense of responsibility crept in. There were matters that needed my attention, matters of the royal sort that could not wait.

I took one last look at Kamala, her small form curled under the blanket, a content smile still lingering on her face. I gently kissed her forehead, then stood and made my way toward the door, pausing only to give a final glance at the nursery. It would be hard to leave her after such a perfect day.

But duty called. The kingdom needed me.

Kamala’s POV:

I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling a little disoriented. The room was dark, the kind of dark where shadows seemed to stretch and shift. I rubbed my eyes with my tiny hands, trying to remember where I was. The soft bed, the warm blanket—oh, right. I was in Medusa’s room. Everything was safe and cozy. But something felt different now.

I heard soft voices coming from somewhere nearby. I squinted and looked toward the door. There, standing just outside, was Carol—Captain Marvel, I remembered. She was looking right at me, smiling in that way that made her seem like she could handle anything.

“Hey there, sleepyhead,” Carol said in a gentle tone, stepping closer. “Looks like you woke up from your nap.”

I blinked a few times. “I wasn’t napping. I was... I was playing with flowers,” I said, my voice soft and still a little sleepy. “And making pancakes.”

Carol chuckled quietly. “I remember. You made the best pancakes I heard. You sure you didn’t dream that?”

“No!” I said, shaking my head firmly. “I made them! Really made them! With syrup and everything.”

“Alright, alright,” Carol said with a teasing smile. “I believe you. The pancakes were legendary I assume. But I’ve got a fun idea for tonight.”

“What is it?” I asked, my eyes wide with curiosity.

“Well, since Medusa’s out for a bit and you’re wide awake, how about a little adventure?” Carol suggested, leaning down to my level. “We could build a superhero hideout or fight some invisible monsters. What do you think?”

I grinned, excitement bubbling up in my chest. “Invisible monsters?! Yes! I can fight them!”

Carol held out her hand, her smile growing. “Alright then, let’s suit up, hero. Time to save the day.”

I grabbed her hand with both of mine, feeling the coolness of her gloves. “Where are the monsters?”

“Well, we’ll need to find them first,” Carol said. “They could be anywhere.”

I gasped. “They could be *right here*?!”

“They could be,” she said with a grin. “You’re in charge now, Kamala. Lead the way.”

And so we set off, the two of us searching for invisible monsters in the middle of the night. The room was full of excitement, even though we both knew the monsters weren’t real. Carol’s energy, her playfulness, made it feel like it was all part of a bigger adventure.

Medusa’s POV:

I walked into the royal chambers, the weight of the crown heavier on my mind than it had been in a long time. The affairs of Attilan could not wait, and as much as I wished to remain by Kamala’s side, my responsibilities had to come first. I would always make time for her when I could, but this was a different calling. One I could not ignore.

The meeting began as expected—formal, serious, and punctuated by the distant hum of tension that seemed to always hang in the air. My mind, however, wandered back to Kamala. I hoped Carol was keeping her entertained. I knew she was in good hands, but a mother’s heart never fully rests.

It wasn’t until later, after the meeting had wrapped up and I was making my way back to my quarters, that I heard the laughter. It echoed down the hall, light and carefree. I followed the sound, a smile tugging at my lips, and found Carol and Kamala sitting together, surrounded by pillows and blankets, the remnants of their "superhero adventure" scattered around them. Kamala’s face lit up when she saw me.

“Medusa! Carol and I fought invisible monsters! And I was so brave!” Kamala declared proudly, holding up her tiny fist as if she had just defeated a mighty foe.

Carol shot me an amused look. “She’s a natural. I’ve never seen anyone take down invisible monsters quite like her.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, my heart swelling with affection. “It sounds like you had a good time.”

Kamala nodded vigorously. “The best time! Can we do it again tomorrow?”

I kneeled beside her, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “We’ll see, little one. But for now, I think it’s time to rest. You’ve had a very busy day.”

Kamala pouted for a moment but then smiled again, her eyes heavy with sleep. “Okay… tomorrow then.”

As I tucked her back into bed, with Carol standing by, I realized something. Even when duty called, I had the support of comrades of family. And that was everything.

"Goodnight, Kamala," I whispered.

"Goodnight, Medusa," she replied softly, already drifting off to sleep, her tiny hand wrapped around Carol’s finger, both of them surrounded by a blanket of love.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt truly at peace.