A/N: I do not own Ms. Marvel nor any of the characters used in this fic.
Written as part of a Halloween fic challange between myself and FeatheredMoonWings, my three prompts were Jack-O-Lantern, kisses, and candy, making this all but doomed to be a fluff fic.
Turning the sign that hung on the Circle Q's door from open to closed, Bruno Carrelli double checked to make sure that everything was locked up tight before he turned off the lights and headed downstairs into the store's basement.
Kamala Khan was exactly where he had left her, sitting on a towel, scooping out her pumpkin's guts with a large spoon and then scraping them into a bowl while occasionally reaching out to consume large handfuls of Halloween sweets and candies from the several open packets surrounding her.
"We're out of skull bites." She informed Bruno as he reached the bottom step. Mock scowling at his best friend and then at the empty sweet packet, Bruno sat down on his own towel, picked up his untouched pumpkin and took in the large orange fruit as a painter might a blank canvas.
After several seconds of silent staring, he lowered the pumpkin in defeat.
"Still struggling for an idea?" Kamala asked as she emptied out the last of her pumpkin's innards into the bowl and began to wipe her hands on the towel.
Bruno nodded. On Halloween's gone by the gang had gathered at various locations and had spit balled Jack-O-Lanterns ideas over sweets, stories, and laughter. Bruno would then normally pick something that fit in with the rest of the groups designs, if inspiration did not strike him first. Last year they had each done their best at carving an Avenger's face or logo into their pumpkins, the year before that had been slasher killers from the nineties, but now there was no group to bounce ideas off, it was just him and Kamala, alone in the Circle Q's basement.
Of course neither of them had any problems with such a situation. But it was still different from the past Halloween's carving parties and Bruno wondered if that was why he was struggling to come up with an idea for so simple a task.
Nakia was helping to organise the school's Halloween dance, and while she had never been overly enthusiastic about the holiday, nobody on the student committee had dared to turn her, nor her impressive organisation skills, down. Zoe had then in turn volunteered to help out, meaning that she was busy whenever Nakia was, and Michaela was not going to be back in New Jersey until after Halloween was over.
Turning the pumpkin slowly with his hands Bruno continued to rack his brain for an idea. Was he overthinking it? Should he just do a classic horror monster? A superhero? Something simple like a traditional scary face, or was that just too simple?
He turned to see that Kamala had taken up a carving knife, her face scrunched up in concentration as she prepared to make the first vital incision.
"So uh… what's your idea?" Bruno asked, hoping that it might lead to some much needed creativity.
Kamala gave him a knowing smile. "Patience young Jedi. All shall soon be revealed." The carving knife was then plunged into the pumpkin's flesh and with a happy grin, New Jersey's number one superhero got to work. Stroke by stroke, she cut out pieces of the fruit's face and dropped them into a separate bowl.
Bruno meanwhile helped himself to some sweets, as his brain continued to fire on all cylinders, and produce zero results. Why was this so hard? He mentally bemoaned as he swallowed a chocolate bat.
"Maybe you'll think of something once you've emptied your pumpkin?" Kamala suggested, her eyes intently fixed on her own project.
"I guess?" Bruno shrugged his shoulders. Popping another candy into his mouth, he picked up his carving knife and slowly began to cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin.
"Remember to save the innards," Kamala said, sliding the bowl which she had used earlier towards him. "The school wants authentic pumpkin flavoured things for the dance."
Bruno shook his head. "I remember their pumpkin flavoured hot chocolate from last year." Both he and Kamala then pulled a face and started to laugh at the memory. The school could keep its trend chasing recipes, both of them where happy enough with tried and true Halloween treats.
For several minutes the pair of teenagers fell into a comfortable silence, each working on their Jack-O-Lantern and on occasion, looking up to check on the other without trying to be too obvious.
Sweets were consumed; pumpkin slime was accidently spilled, and progress was made.
Putting down his now ready to carve orange fruit, Bruno reached out and grabbed another small handful of Halloween candy. He still didn't have an idea. He had come up with several as he worked, but each time he was ready to commit to one, he found himself hating it, and quickly sought out an alternative only for the same thing to happen once again. It was a vicious cycle, and if Kamala hadn't been there, hard at work, inspiring him on with her own efforts, Bruno would have packed up, gone home, and declared himself creatively bankrupt.
"All done?" Kamala asked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Bruno answered. "How's yours coming?"
Grinning in triumph, Kamala turned her almost finished Jack-O-Lantern around to face him. "Tadaaa!"
"Whoa." Bruno whispered. It might not win one of those best carved pumpkin awards on social media, but there was no denying that Kamala's passion shone through her work brighter than any candle. "Is that-"
"Binary mode Captain Marvel." Kamala finished. "I watched this tutorial on TubeMe last night and I think I got most of it right." She turned the pumpkin back around and tapped her carving knife against its orange face. "Just need to work on the aura flames."
"That is seriously cool." Bruno complimented, admiring not just the Jack-O-Lantern but its maker and her unyielding passion for those things that she loved. It was always something that he had admired about Kamala. How unbashful she was. How open with her feelings she could be. Then there was him, unable to make a simple decision. Turning back to his untouched pumpkin, Bruno found himself more lost than ever.
Grabbing a handful of chewy zombie brain sweets, Kamala popped them one by one into her mouth and was about to continue carving when she noticed Bruno was staring at his pumpkin, deep in thought.
Putting her near finished Jack-O-Lantern down, Kamala climbed off her towel and scooted across the circle Q's basement floor until she sat beside him.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, causing Bruno to jump and drop his pumpkin. Kamala prevented an accident from occurring by leaning forward and embiggening her hands, catching the orange fruit before it hit the hard ground.
"Thanks." Bruno smiled, relieved that he wouldn't be spending the rest of the evening cleaning up smashed squash.
"It's what I do." Kamala boasted as she returned the pumpkin to Bruno. "Stop bad guys, help people, save innocent Jack-O-Lanterns." This quip caused Bruno's smile to grow, but only for a moment, then he turned away from her and focused on his pumpkin again. "Seriously," Kamala started again, her tone soft and inviting as her hand came to rest on his shoulder. "Is everything okay?"
"Fine." He nodded only to then realise how silly the whole thing was. It was just a Jack-O-Lantern after all, who cares what he carved into it? Turning to face her, Bruno was about to assure Kamala that everything was perfectly fine when it dawned upon him at just how close she had gotten.
Their faces were mere inches apart and while Kamala's eyes widened slightly when she seemed to realise it too, neither of them made to pull apart.
"I'm-" Bruno started to say, but then was forced to stop and swallow as his throat became dry and hoarse. "Fine."
Kamala nodded, her hand still resting on his shoulder. "Good."
The kiss just sort of happened.
The uncarved pumpkin slipped from Bruno's hands and rolled across the floor, neither of them noticed.
Pulling apart almost immediately after their lips had barely touched both teenagers faces flushed with heat and from out of their mouths came a string of babbling apologies.
"I am so sorry."
"Bruno I didn't mean to-"
"That was not cool of me."
"I just ruined everything." Kamala whispered, pulling on her hair.
"No you didn't, it was me, I shouldn't have kissed you." Bruno said, watching as his best friend closed in on herself. Throwing an arm around her shoulder, he pulled Kamala in for a hug. "I am so, so sorry." He whispered.
Kamala sniffed and fought back tears. Things had just gone from zero to light speed and now suddenly everything that she had ever known and loved about Bruno was thrown into question, where they going to be okay? Was this going to hang over them forever? Had what she'd just done gone and ruined everything?
"Please don't cry." Bruno continued, knowing it wasn't the most helpful of advice under the circumstances. "I would never- should never have…"
Kamala raised her head and Bruno stopped talking. She looked angry, and with her eyes still wet from tears it was a terrifying expression to behold. "I kissed you." She insisted. "You didn't do anything."
"I kissed you first." He tried to argue but Kamala quickly cut him off.
"No, it was me, I caused this."
They sat for a moment in silence, replaying that brief, world changing, moment in their minds; each so certain that they had been the one to initiate the kiss.
"I didn't-"
"We should-" The two teenagers stopped at the exact same time and awkwardly tried to get the other to continue talking.
"Sorry." They said in unison.
Staring down at their shoes, Kamala and Bruno fell once again into silence.
"Are we going to be okay?" She asked, finally noticing the fallen pumpkin Bruno had been holding onto earlier.
"Yeah, I mean, I want us to be." Bruno said trying to be braver than he felt. "I am really sorry."
"Stop apologising." Kamala ordered turning to face him. "I caused this, I shouldn't have-"
Their faces were once again in close proximity to each other.
Reaching out hesitantly, Bruno cupped the side of Kamala's face with his hand. "I didn't mean to kiss you." He started, which caused her to open her mouth in preparation for a fresh argument. "And I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"You didn't." Kamala immediately answered. "You couldn't I-" She then hesitated but only for a second. "I love you."
Bruno kissed her this time; of this he was adamantly certain. It was a little rushed, and wet, but when he tried to pull away Kamala grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him back in for more, which easily made it the greatest thing that he had ever taken part in.
Eventually, the kiss came to an end and both teenagers sat their panting for several seconds trying to get to grips with the brave new world that they had both entered.
"Are… you good?" Kamala asked after several seconds.
"Yeah." Bruno nodded. "Are you?"
She took his hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Yeah." Kamala smiled. "I'm good."
Tucking her finished Jack-O-Lantern under her arm, Kamala waited as Bruno locked up the Circle Q. Slipping the keys back into his pocket, Bruno picked up his own pumpkin and then fell into step alongside her.
"Ready?" He asked, both nervous and excited.
"Ready." Kamala answered and slipped her hand into his. The walk back to her house was a quiet one, neither of them spoke about what happened down in the basement, but they didn't need to. It was just a couple of kisses after all. Wonderful, life changing, world shattering kisses.
Kamala wasn't sure what was going to happen next, or what they, as a couple, if that's what they were, would do, but right now that didn't matter. They were together, filled up on Halloween candy and dopamine.
The journey home didn't last nearly as long as either of them wanted it too and before they knew it, Kamala and Bruno were walking along a familiar street.
"Should we stop?" Kamala asked as she delivered a small squeeze into Bruno's hand.
"Yeah… probably." He nodded, aware that her family might have something to say if they were discovered before anything could be straightened out. Slowly their hands separated and both teenagers walked the few final feet towards Kamala's home in regretful silence.
"I'll talk to you later." She promised and Bruno nodded. Kamala then smiled at him making him feel as if he could suddenly fly. Giving her a totally not awkward wave goodbye he waited until she was safely inside, before he began to make his own way home.
It was funny how things were Bruno reflected. Earlier this evening he had trouble coming up with an idea for a simple Jack-O-Lantern and now he couldn't even begin to think about what he and Kamala were going to do next. But somehow that didn't seem so scary a thought, maybe they would just figure it out as they always had and everything would turn out okay.
Lifting up his carved pumpkin, Bruno smiled as he stared at the familiar lightning bolt logo of Ms. Marvel that he had chosen as this year's design. If there was anything he could be sure of it was Kamala.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it, if you have any thoughts, comments or constuctive critisism, please let me hear them, getting feedback means the world to me.