Ms.Marvel's Stress

12

Medusa's POV:

It was supposed to be simple. Just a few decorations, some adjustments to the furniture, a little personal touch to make Kamala feel at home. That’s what I told myself when I started. But now, as I stood in the middle of the room with a pile of colorful pillows, a stack of books, and a half-painted canvas in one hand, I wasn’t so sure.

I had never really decorated a child’s room before. Attilan’s royal chambers were about function and elegance. There were no themes. No bright colors. No whimsical touches. But Kamala... Kamala needed something different. She needed something that would match her boundless energy and wild imagination.

And I was determined to get it right.

I glanced around the room again, a little uncertain. The walls were already painted the bold red, yellow, and blue, but the space still felt a little... bare. The furniture was sparse—a bed with simple linens, a small wooden dresser, and a desk where Kamala could do her “hero work,” as she liked to call it.

But there was still something missing.

I placed the pillows down gently on the bed and moved to the window. The morning light was soft, filtering through the sheer curtains, but the room still felt too plain. It needed... more. Maybe a mural? Some shelves with toys and books?

I stood there, lost in thought, when a soft voice interrupted me.

"Hey, Medusa."

I turned to see Kamala standing in the doorway, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. Her enthusiasm was always contagious, and despite the chaos I felt in the room, her presence immediately calmed me.

"Kamala, you’re up early!" I said, forcing a smile. "I was just thinking about how to make this space a little more special for you."

Kamala’s face lit up. “Are you putting up a secret door or a hidden treasure chest?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I’ve got a really good idea for a secret lair where I keep my superpower artifacts. We could put it under the floorboards or in the closet…”

I laughed softly at her excitement. “I’m sure we could come up with something. But for now, I was thinking maybe something to brighten up the walls. Maybe a mural?”

Kamala’s eyes widened, her hands clasped together. “A mural? With dragons and invisible monsters? Please tell me there’ll be a giant glowing portal!” She jumped up and down, clearly ecstatic at the thought.

I chuckled, a little relieved. She was so easy to please. “I think we can make that happen. I was also thinking about adding a few shelves for your books. Maybe a place for all your little treasures?”

“Books? Yes! And toys!” Kamala exclaimed. “Can we have a corner for all my action figures? They’re *very* important to my missions.”

“Of course,” I said, smiling at her eagerness. “Anything you need, Kamala.”

Kamala grinned, and suddenly, the room didn’t seem so overwhelming. With her enthusiasm and my determination, we could make this room exactly what she imagined. But I still had one thing left to figure out: how to make it feel like *her* space—something uniquely hers.

"Let’s get started then," I said, gesturing to the empty wall. "I’ll start sketching out the mural. You can help pick what goes where. How does that sound?"

Kamala clapped her hands together. “That sounds *amazing*! But first, can we hang my cape? It *definitely* needs to go on the wall somewhere.”

I raised an eyebrow, but I couldn’t help but laugh. "Of course. We’ll find a special spot for it."

Kamala ran off, returning moments later with her favorite superhero cape, which she insisted was essential for all her "top-secret missions." She handed it to me like it was some kind of royal artifact.

I hung the cape on the wall with a small hook, making sure it was the first thing anyone would see when they entered the room. It was a small thing, but it felt like a perfect touch.

As Kamala helped me arrange the furniture, pulling books from shelves and arranging her collection of action figures with meticulous precision, I found myself thinking back to my own childhood. In Attilan, we didn’t have rooms like this—rooms that were alive with imagination and adventure. It was a reminder of how different this world was from mine, how Kamala’s spirit brought something entirely new to our lives.

By the time we finished, the room had transformed. The mural I had begun to sketch now stretched across one of the walls—a swirling pattern of stars and galaxies, with a portal at the center, glowing softly in the dim light. It wasn’t exactly what Kamala had imagined, but I hoped it captured the magic she saw in the world.

We had arranged the toys and books in little corners, each one a perfect fit for Kamala’s favorite things. The shelves were lined with little knick-knacks she had collected, and there was a special corner for her action figures, just as she wanted.

Finally, I stood back and looked around the room. It was a far cry from the austere chambers of Attilan, but it was *her* room. It was a space where she could dream, grow, and, most importantly, feel like she belonged.

Kamala walked into the room, her eyes wide with wonder. "Wow. This is *amazing*," she whispered, her voice full of awe. "It’s like... it’s like the whole room is part of an adventure now. I can’t wait to go on my next mission!"

I smiled, feeling a warmth fill my chest. “I’m glad you like it, Kamala. It’s all yours.”

She ran over to the bed and jumped onto it, spinning around in the comfort of the soft, colorful pillows. “It’s perfect! Now I’m ready for all the adventures I can dream up!”

I stood in the doorway, watching her, and for the first time, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t realized I was missing. This was her world now. And I would do anything to protect it.

“Rest up, Kamala,” I said softly. “You’ve got a big adventure ahead of you.”

She grinned, already imagining her next quest. “I’m ready! Let’s go save the world!”