EVERMORE ─ marvel ⁷

VIII. Hamburg

Chapter Eight
Analiese

"It's a really nice house, Mom." Stevie says with a smile, his arm wrapped around Lee's and his chin leaning on his shoulder.

"It's strange to imagine you living here," Livy says, her hand in Zy's. "Before HYDRA, before your powers."

Soroya decided to take everyone on a weekend vacation to Hamburg, Germany. She had Bucky and Alex come back to Earth early, convinced Khari and Zy to take a weekend off, and brought the rest of the kids too. She insisted I come along and wouldn't take no for an answer. I know better than to argue with her, so I didn't. I feel a little weird tagging along on a family vacation, especially since that vacation is in a city I murdered a ton of people in. Some of those people lived in this exact house.

"Every time we come here the house looks different." Soroya observes.

"Well we haven't been here in nearly twenty three years, so change was inevitable," Alex replies, glancing at me. "Especially after what happened."

Lee looks around confused. "After what happened?"

Soroya, Bucky, Alex, Khari, and I all share an alarmed look, unsure of what to say to them. I don't really want to see their faces when they're told that I mauled an old couple to death and wrote a message to Soroya on the wall in their blood.

"I had an incident here." I tell them, crossing my arms over my chest.

"An incident?" Jo repeats with a quirked brow.

"A messy one." Bucky mutters.

The kids seem to get the picture, they just silently nod their heads and don't ask anymore questions. It's probably for the best.

Alex peers inside the family room window, smiling to himself. "They must have paid a fortune to repaint and recarpet that room."

"Okay, are we done here? I get that this is a place of nostalgia for you guys, but I'm starting to feel a little lightheaded." It's not a lie. Images of that old couple I slaughtered are resurfacing in my mind, images I've tried my hardest to bury. I feel nauseous thinking of all the blood, remembering their screams, remembering my joy in their pain.

Alex smiles excitedly at the kids. "I think it's time we go sight seeing, yeah? Soroya and I have a lot of places to show you guys, and not just the run of the mill tourism sights other bowzos go to. You guys are gonna get the true Hamburg experience from two Hamburgians."

Jo snorts. "I'm gonna call you that from now on."

Alex looks down at his daughter and sighs. "Must you always have a comment for everything?"

Jo mimics his sigh and tone. "Must you ask hypocritical questions?"

"How about you guys go find a place for lunch. Ana and I will catch up." Soroya suggests, walking over to me.

"We will?" I ask, watching her link her arm with mine.

She nods, beginning to lead me off to an unknown destination. "Call us when you found a place!" She yells to her family, who all stare at us in confusion as we walk away from them. I bet my expression is not too far off from theirs.