Chapter 93: Can I call you daddy? 

'It's been 5 years since I've stayed,' Skye reminisces about the time she spent with him. 

The first time someone cooks for her. It was after her surgery that she met Kai for the first time. She still remembers the porridge Kai had prepared. Unexpectedly, he brought her into his house and became her guardian.

The first time she goes to a theater is with him. It was in 2006 and she is 14 years old. She read about the movie Silent Hill. Kai takes her to the theatre and buys popcorn for her. 

The creepy movie makes her horrified. She held the popcorn still without even eating it. Kai notices her condition and says to her.

"This movie is too much for me. Can you accompany me out?" Kai whispers to the frozen kid next to his seat. Skye quickly jumps up after she is offered a way out. 

"Too bad. I want to see it. I will come by some other time," she practically ran away from the theater hall and left Kai there. They went to see the movie Happy Feet instead. 

She is the oldest girl there, but she blends it well as she is short. Kai didn't say anything about it and she is very grateful. She did get teased as she tears up watching the movie.

'That bastard,' Skye cursed as she passed by Domingo's restaurant. She is picking up lunch for Kai as she is going to the clinic. 

"Skye! Big day today!" Domingo greeted her cheerfully when she walked in. Even if the restaurant is full of customers, Domingo will make sure that Kai's order is on time. 

"Mr. Dom. What did you do to your face? Are the previous ones not scary enough?" Skye is startled by seeing the new change. 

"This? I always thought the Mike Tyson tattoo was cool," The bald black man with some gold teeth and a face tattoo is scaring the customer off. Only he will think handsome and scary are equal things.

Will, who was recommended by Kai and now working there as an assistant to the owner,  had to bench him away from meeting the new customer. He only dealt with the regular ones now. Will interjected, "It is not cool at all. The kids are crying when they look at your face!"

"What did you say you little prick!" Domingo yells. 

Skye quietly walks out when the two men are arguing. 'It is starting again.' The two will always fight with each other. 

Domingo and Will noticed Skye had disappeared after 15 minutes since they started their argument. 

"If I put on a hat, people will like me!" Domingo put on a Fedora and tried to pose like a model. 

"If you put on a hat, you'll look like a pimp!" Will had seen this type of man in old movies.

"You don't know….wait where did she go?" Domingo is looking around and Will helps him. They scanned the entire restaurant. 

"You must have scared her off with all the yelling," Will said while calming down. 

"Damn, she forgot her present," Domingo took out a bag of presents that he wanted to give Skye. Then, he thought maybe it was for the best. "Kai should be the first to give his gift. That way, if it comes short, then Uncle Dom will come to the rescue."

"More like an Uncle Tom," Will ran away after he said that as Dom reached for the pan to hit him.

[Gesundheit! Clinic]

Stopping and reading the clinic's name, Skye's mind spiraled. 

'Should I do this today?'

'He won't say 'No', right?'

She walks back and forth in front of the clinic while holding her chin in a thinking mode.

'Why would he say yes? I am not his daughter!'

She hurt her feelings on her own in the process. Then it changes. 

'He is kind enough to take care of me.' 

She squatted on the clinic front. Many passersby thought she just had bad news or was afraid to get bad news. Some old lady thought she was pregnant and was going to a clinic to abort. Skye ignored all the stares and stood back up.

'I should let him ask me. Otherwise, it is so embarrassing.'

'Even if he says no, it's not like it'll change anything. I will still love him.'

'God, why did I wait until today…'

She walks to the clinic with the food bag. The food inside is almost cold from her indecision. She is greeted with a hug from the receptionist.

"Happy 18th birthday Skye. Nina is on a vacation, she also wishes you a happy birthday." A beautiful lady who is wearing the nurse's outfit is kissing both of Skye's cheeks.

"Thank you, Lana," Skye said without any excitement in her tone. 

" You don't seem eager about your birthday," Lana is worried. When she is 18, she is excited the whole day. She wants Skye to do the same. 

"I am a bit nervous right now," Skye confessed. Lana nods. Kids these days have a lot in their minds. 

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it will go well. You have a wonderful father. Just ask him if you are confused about something." She thought it was about the SATs or something.

Kai is with a patient, so Skye waits patiently outside. She wants to do this here, not at home. The clinic is now closed for a lunch break. Skye enters the doctor's office. 

"Ohh, my burger is here…" Kai said excitedly.

" What about me? I'm also here?" His daughter was sad. She is faking it though. 

"Sure, you too. " Kai said non-committedly. He unwraps a Krabby Patty and munches on it. He only has a 10-minute break before the next patient arrives. Skye is watching him quietly, and it is quite out of character for her.

"Something on your mind?" He meets her eyes and asks. 'Did someone bully my daughter? Do I have to take another life?' He is keeping away his murderous thought and is waiting for Skye to speak.

"Hmm… Kai… I am your daughter, right?" Skye asked a question that puzzled Kai.

"Where did that come from? Of course, you are my daughter," Kai feels a little sad that Skye has to ask that.

" Officially, I am not…" Skye tries to get the piece of paper out of her pocket…but Kai is already forlorn. 

"I knew this day would come by. I am prepared for it if (voice break) you want to leave…" Kai said a little choked up. He is very insecure about it. Even Ryan, who is listening in, feels heartbroken.

" NO! That's not what I meant. What I meant is… do you want to…adopt me?" Skye is panicking. The reaction is a little different than she thought. She is startled when Kai starts to choke and she forgets about her nervousness. 

Kai is always calm, but when faced with family matters, he didn't have the best response. His eyes widened. Skye's heart is beating wildly. He gets up and stands in front of her. Then, he wrapped his arm around her.

"You are always my daughter. A piece of paper won't change anything. But I want to sign it," Kai said. Skye is worried for nothing. Her tears started to fall. She is always looking for her real parents, but right now, she has the best dad a girl can wish for. 

"You're already in my will, so don't worry about it too much. Even if you want to cut me off, I will make sure to be there with you," Kai starts to ramble. He let go of his hand and walked to his desk. 

"And also…" he opened the desk drawer and took out an identical piece of paper. "I too want to ask you the same thing today."

"DAD!" Skye yells and hugs him tightly. 

…

"SURPRISE!! HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY!" A group of people pops out from the shadow after Skye opens the light to the apartment. Kai closes the clinic early today after he and Skye had spent the whole day together there. 

There is Natasha Romanov and Phil Coulson. Jessica Jones and her sister Trish Walker. Ava Starr is now using the name Hannah. Lana and her 5 years old son Miles. 

Domingo is wearing a hat. Nina flew back from her vacation so that she won't miss the event and her life partner Elizabeth as gay marriage still isn't legal. Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen from a law firm are also there as Kai is the sponsor for the firm. 

"Meow," Felicia rubs her body on Skye's leg to wish her too. There is a cake and decorations that were set up by the Shield's logistic agents as Phil abuses his power and a pile of presents in the corner.

"Oh my god. I am so surprised!!..." Skye said in a fake tone. Natasha is amused and whispers to ask her. 

"When did you find out?"

"The minute Uncle Phil tries to subtly ask me about the cake I like." 

After having a party, she is opening up the present. She is picking up the gift bag from Domingo.

"Wait, shouldn't Kai go first?" Domingo asks. He has full confidence in his present. He didn't want Kai to be embarrassed. 

"That's cute Domingo. The best shall be kept for last," Kai mocked the fake Mike Tyson. Skye opens the present from Domingo. It is a luxurious brown purse from G**** Brand. 

"Do you like it, Skye?" The present has cost Domingo more than 10G. It is recommended to him by the shop assistant when he asks for a present for an 18-year-old girl. If Will didn't come with him, Domingo is sure to be arrested. 

"Of course. This is perfect for my laptop," Skye is thanking Domingo. An ordinary girl will focus more on the brand, but not Skye. She doesn't even notice the bag is a luxury item. Domingo's soul was nervous when she swung the bag around like it cost 10 bucks.

Lana and Nina give their presents. It is a pair of dresses that suited Skye's taste. They have been shopping for Skye since she lives there. They know exactly the kind of things she likes. 

Jessica and Ava also presented their gifts. Ava didn't know what to buy at first, so when she goes to change her quantum energy bracelet, she asks Gwen for advice. Gwen recommended an item she likes to get.

"This is…a book?" Skye is puzzled. She thought that this was a prank. She even flips through the book to find the item hidden in the carved-out pages. But she didn't find any. It's just an ordinary book. She looks at Ava puzzled. 

"It is…if you don't like it I can exchange it for you…" Ava panicked and didn't know what to do. This is the first time in her life that she goes to a birthday party or has any friends. Kai swoops in as her savior and karate chop Skye in the head. 

"Ouch," she held her head in pain.

"Be grateful that your friend is worried about you. I am also worried because this seems to be more empty days passing by..." He pointed at Skye's head. Kai winked at Ava to make her calm down. The young girl's face is bright red, but it is not quite the reason Kai is thinking.

Natasha notices it and scoffs silently. "Hmph, Lady Killer… " She wonders how many more girls Kai wants to fall in love with him. Natasha gives her gift personally. It is a brass ring. 

"See this, you can pull this and a wire will come out," It is an assassin's hidden weapon. Perfect to strangle someone. Phil chokes on his drink when he sees it. *cough* 

"This is the best gift ever!!!" Skye hugs Natasha and jumps around. The Black Widow is satisfied as she got the best reaction from Skye. Phil whispers to Natasha.

"Did you steal it from Shield?"

"Technically it broke during my mission,"

The last gift remains. Skye is looking forward to seeing what Kai had prepared for her. Although she already got the best present today at the clinic, Kai said he did prepare something.  All of the crowd is looking forward to seeing it.

Kai takes out the first box and gives it to Skye. Inside, there is a set of keys. 

"It's for your house,"  He says proudly. He got Skye a loft in the Manhattan area. The crowd is startled to see Kai's overindulgence. He gives out the second present. It is a piece of paper.

"It's college admission to NYU. You will start next week."

"Wait. This is not a present!" Skye tries to protest. She didn't plan to further her studies.

"No backsies. This is my last one," He gives a wooden box to Skye. Phil's eyes widened when he saw the shape of the box. 

"Wait. This needs to be opened in private," He stops the unveiling. Matt Murdock is familiar with the thing in the box. He also agrees that it should be opened in private. 

Domingo is impatient and grabs the box from Kai. "This is just a present. Don't be a stick in the mud," He opened the wooden box and the thing inside fell as it was not handled well. 

It penetrated the ground and is buried deep inside it as it falls. If Domingo's leg is 2 centimeters to the right, it would have gotten impaled. 

"A SWORD!" Skye is excited. Kai finally allows her to wield one. It means that she had passed his requirement in handling a sword. This is the best present she got today. She reached for the sword and held it in her hand. 

Phil facepalmed. He is a government agent. He couldn't pretend to not see this. He had to stop the excited Skye.

"Unfortunately, I have to seize it for now. I will return it for you later." Phil said with reluctance. 

"Nooooo!" Skye yelled sadly. Domingo quickly finds excuses to leave the party early. 

"I have to go. I need to get my hair cut," he leaves before Skye could blame him for the seizure. 

…

"I had rented a boat for the 4th of July. We will celebrate it while sailing on the seas. You guys can all come, " Kai said to the crowd. It is met with cheers from them. Kai is going to play with the fireworks at sea. 

"It'll be fun to watch things explode," Jessica said.

"Mr. Vera… can I come too?" Trish asks in a low voice. She is a bit embarrassed as she is not that close to the people there.

"Sure. The more the merrier. Foggy, Murdock, and Karen. Will you come?" 

"No sir. I have a case on that day. I'm afraid I will have to pass," Foggy answers. Karen drops her shoulder. She wanted to go on a vacation. The firm is overloaded with work recently. 

Matt Murdock also didn't go. He has something else planned for that day. To investigate the cause of the disturbance that appears on the streets. 

"Too bad. I want to get to know more about you," Trish said to Murdock after Kai had left them alone. 

"Maybe some other time," Matt said. He also wants to get to know Trish. They have a good impression of each other. 

"Phil, you're coming?" Kai asks the agent.

"No. I have a date that day. Natasha is free so she will go," Phil don't forget to play cupid. Skye told him what happened in Kai's bedroom the other day. He also knows it's been awkward for Natasha to show her face around Kai. 

"Hey!" Natasha is startled when Phil decides for her. She isn't free that day. She has to return to headquarters for a new mission.

"Don't worry. Barton said he will take over for you. Enjoy yourself, Nat…" Phil doesn't even ask Barton yet, but he knows Barton will agree.

"Okay, then it's decided.  Let's have fun!" Skye cuts in and also cuts all of Natasha's reluctance to go. After all, she is the birthday girl.

"Hey, where's the cake?" The young boy wants a second round, but the half-eaten cake is gone. They didn't have to search for the culprit very long as it lay unmoving on the sofa with a face full of evidence. 

"Meow? (why is everyone looking at me?)" Felicia couldn't move. Her stomach is bulging. She yawns on the sofa and goes to sleep.

Side Story 10: Mandalorian reaction across the universe.

*Ding* A message comes in on Ryan's phone while a Kree corpse is laid in front of him on the surgical table. 

> Hey it's Carol. 

> You're famous now. 

Ryan texted back.

> I am always famous. But what is this about exactly?

A week ago on the Xandar colony planet. A group of Ravagers is drinking at a social bar where they overheard a rumor about a certain warrior. 

"Wait. Did you say the Mandalorian?" Peter Quill is surprised. Yondu caught his reaction and asked.

"Do you know about him, Quill?"

"Yeah. He is only the best bounty hunter in the universe!" Quill starts to tell a story that started in a galaxy far far away. The rumors travel quickly on the Xandar colony and to the mother planet. 

Jay, Arina, and Deet hear the origin of the Mandalorian. 

"It is said that he comes from the Mandalorian tribe. The tribe is so fearsome that the empire attacks their mother planet and kills most of them to prevent their uprising." Deet says. She then continues. 

"They follow the ways of Mandalore. They must not remove their helmet as part of the tenet. Others include taking care of foundlings until they were of age or reunited with their own kind."

"Well, that explains why he is sending the kids back to their home," Jay realizes. She becomes interested in the ways of Mandalore.

"They also couldn't remove their helmet in front of others. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to wear it again unless they redeem themselves." Arina said.

The pink aliens are in awe of the stories. Denarian Dey is trying to calm down the Centurion who is regretting her choice not to get the Mandalorian contact. 

This is because Nova Prime had given out an order after she heard what happened to the Kree.

"Bring him to Xandar. We can hire him as a long-term mercenary if he wants and give him a place to stay. That kind of power is useful for the peace of Xandar."

The Kree empire on the other hand is fearful. 

"We must not let him join Xandar! Mobilize our sleeper agents. Find him first!" 

The Kree decides to take another approach. To bring the Mandalorian tribe to them instead. If the ones who fight them are hostile, there is still another Mandalorian. 

In Knowhere, the Collector is hearing about the rumors from the traveling mercenary. 

"I must have him!" Tivan yells as he shakes in excitement. With a swing of the sword, the warship is cut in half. The nameless Mandalorian has killed all the Kree on board until there is nothing left. 

He wants the Mandalorian to become his people. Or if he can, his collection. 

The gossip becomes much more colorful as it spreads. The Dark Order is presenting the rumor to Thanos.

"His kind is already culled. There is no need for us to pay him any attention," Thanos gives out an order while sitting on his throne. He is admiring the Empire mentioned in the rumor. He feels like the Empire can become his ally. Too bad it is already destroyed. 

"My lord, he may become trouble..." Corvus Glaive said as he kneel down. 

"Enough! Lord Thanos has spoken! You dare to go against his word?" Ebony Maw speaks rudely to Corvus Glaive. 

In the hall, Gamora is playing with her blade. She also has heard the rumor. She wonders. Could the Mandalorian kill Thanos?

"Proxima Midnight. What about the Asgardian that you found?" Thanos asks. 

In Asgard, the Mandalorian tales spread to the ears of the battle-addicted gods.

"IT IS SAID THE TRIBES RIDE A BASILISK," Volstagg is excited to hear about the warrior's tale. The battle that he made is legendary!

"No, you idiot! It is a war machine!" Hogun corrected. The gods seem unable to comprehend the beast with a cannon for a face.

"It is both!" Fandral corrected. Thor who is a little down as the Bifrost is broken and he couldn't get back to Jane has a little smile on his face. The good deeds of The Mandalorian make the gods label him as a true hero. 

Odin announces after he hears the tale.

"Should the Mandalorian enter the nine realms, he is to be invited to Asgard and will be bestowed a weapon made by the Dwarf for his deeds." 

The gods of Asgards cheer after hearing the announcement. The old god is satisfied. 

First, Odin did it because the Mandalorian tale brings a smile to Thor's face. Secondly, it is to determine that the Mandalorian isn't a threat to the gods.  After all, this is the first time the AllFather hears about the tribe. 

In Sakaar. A planet at the end of the wormholes. 

"I need a new champion. I need the Mandalorian. He will fight in the Colosseum and become my new Champion. Go forth, my hunters. Bring him here to me!" 

En Dwi Gast, who is also known as the Grandmaster, ordered the people there to bring him the prize.

Near the sovereign planet, a raccoon and a tree are trying to steal some stuff. 

The raccoon says in a bitter tone. "Best bounty hunter? We ARE the best bounty hunters!! A random no-name nobody is trying to hog all the glory,"

The tree nods while walking, seemingly agreeing with the raccoon. "I am Groot."

"You know what I am going to do? I am going to steal that helmet of his."

"I am Groot,"

"Of course, I don't know where to find him. That's why we need to do this fast and go to blow up his stupid helmet."

"I am Groot?"

"I can explode it first and steal it, or I can steal it and explode it. "

The Skrull is now watching George Lucas's house. Among the civilizations, only they have a lead on the Mandalorian. However, they thought that maybe George Lucas had met them before this and made them a character in Star Wars. They will never think that the guy is just a cosplayer. 

C > So that's it. 

R > LOL!

C > What is that? 'LOL'?

R > Laugh out loud. 

C > Just laugh like a normal person.

R > This is how the youngsters react. Oldies won't understand. 

C > This oldy knows how to do this. 

C > (slit-throat.gif)