Ms. Marvel & Nova in "More Than You Bargained For"

Chapter 3- Dodging Bullets

More than You Bargained For Ch. 3

Disclaimers: The usual. Refer to the disclaimer in chapter 1. I don't own these things, this is fanfiction.

"That's all." Sam fell back on his bed and rested his arm over his eyes. "There really isn't anything else to talk about."

"There are plenty of things still to talk about!" Miles pressed. Sam could hear him getting exasperated on the other end of the phone. The other Champions may have let him slide from spilling more details about his mysterious girlfriend with his excuse - I just remembered, my...er, mom said I have to...pick up the, er, groceries from the grocery store. I mean, buy the groceries. First I have to go there and actually look for...y'know."

But it didn't work on Miles who had his phone number and who had flooded him with pesky text messages once he got home. He was seriously curious and it was apparently eating him up.

"Like, her name for example? I get why you'd want to keep it from them - from Viv and Amadeus who could probably download her whole internet history if they wanted- but me? Come on, I thought we were superhero best friends!"

Sam swallowed, sat up. Touche, Miles. Touche. He'd put himself on the spot and honestly, making things up as he went along wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. Sam had been busy trying not to look at Ms. M, while wondering what would happen if the others actuslly looked up whatever random name he'd give them.

He's not stupid enough to give Kamala's actual name then, shrug and think it wasn't like they'd put two and two together.

"Her name? Hmmm," Sam said "Her name, huh? Didn't I mutter it under my breath earlier?" He tried stalling by walking around the house, to the kitchen. Maybe he could make himself sound busy.

"No, you most certainly have not."

"Oh...well, uh, I...gosh, Miles. You know, I just realized it almost feels unusual to actually have a life oustide of superheroing. A personal life. A private life." He opened the fridge, keeping himself sounding cool and nonchalant.

Miles sighed and then a momentary silence. And there it was. Sam pumped his fist and mouthed a silent "Yes!"

He could sense the guilt and unease as Miles said "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, Sam. Really."

He took a swig out of a carton of milk. "Didn't say you were, man."

"It's just that, I'm really surprised and confused, even. I thought we were on the same wavelength with Ms. Marvel. You were serious, I could tell!"

Sam took his time with the milk, made one last dramatic gulp and cleared his throat for two more minutes.

"It was just a crush, Miles. Nothing serious," he said. "I mean, it's not like it was ever going to get serious, either. We're just friends."

"Really? Cuz I remember you said-"

"Just friends. Totally, totally just friends," Sam continued, bumping his hip on the fridge for it to close. He had to keep talking the subject away. "And you know her. She's all about the superheroing and, well, so am I. We're professionals." He remembered how serious and proud Kamala had been when saying it and had to grin that he was able to use her words as well. Part of him knew that he meant it-the part about being professional heroes-and knew that even if they were in a relationship, they could take it. The older superheroes do it all the time, right? Dating a fellow hero? Nothing bad or tragic has ever happened out of that, right? It's one thing to have to stay away from loved ones, for wanting to protect them; both being superheroes meant they wouldn't have to worry about each other.