EVERMORE ─ marvel

I. Prepare For War

Chapter One
Steve

"What about Michael?" I suggest, placing one hand on the hood of the truck, unhooking my vibranium leg with the other.

Lee shrugs. "Eh, he doesn't seem like a Michael."

Three days ago Lee and I got a pet goldfish. I had been pestering him about getting one for over a year now and he finally relented. Of course, as soon as we bought the damn thing we were sent on a mission. The fish has been left with Livy while we're gone, and the poor guy doesn't have a name. We just can't seem to settle on one.

"Well now we've gone through names from Halloween, Scream, Beetlejuice, and The Shining. Should we try finding a name from a Hitchcock movie?"

Lee considers this. "Norman?"

I perk up. "I like Norman. Norman the goldfish. Ha! We did it!"

Lee sighs. "Only took three days."

"I hope little Norman is doing okay. Do you think Livy is taking good care of him? What if she's ignoring him?"

Lee helps me attach my vibranium leg to my back, securing it tightly with the latches on my suit, all while giving me a reassuring nod. "She's on bed rest until the babies come, so she has ample amount of time to spend with Norman."

I smile at the reminder that we're about to become uncles to not just one, but two baby boys. Twins don't run in either of our families, so it was certainly a shock to learn that my sister is carrying twin boys. Because of it, Livy has had to take double the dosage of the serum that prevents her from shifting, which she's taken throughout her pregnancy. She's been absolutely miserable. I don't blame her. I can't imagine not being able to use my powers for a day let alone six months. She's grown even more miserable since Aunt Shuri and Analiese both ordered her to be on bed rest until the birth, which could happen at any moment. I hope she and Norman are keeping each other company.

Lee wraps an arm around my waist and helps me towards the entrance of the building, asking me in a hushed tone: "Ready?"

I crack a grin. "I was born ready, Babe."

"Remember the plan?"

"Get the formulas back, take out the bad guys, and look great while doing it."

Lee rolls his eyes. "Such a dork."

"As you like to tell me often." I say, kissing his cheek before I let go of him and shift into a wolf. I take a good whiff of the air and point with my paw towards a staircase that leads down. Lee nods, gesturing for me to lead the way. I walk down each step carefully, not wanting to lose balance and topple over, but with good time we make it to the level where I smell the chemicals. The smell is strongest behind a locked door with the number thirteen scratched to the point where it's barely visible. I shift into bear, take a few steps back, then ram into the door, breaking it in half.

Inside the room are several tables set up together to form a makeshift lab. Atop these tables are vials, beakers, and papers which I suspect are the formulas we've been searching for. The men and women surrounding these tables gasp upon seeing a grizzly bear break into the room, but this shock only lasts a moment, they quickly jump into action: scrambling for any weapons close by, trying to make it to an emergency exit across the room. Lee takes care of the bad guys trying to flee, wrapping their arms and legs in vines and dragging them away from their freedom, their eyes widening with fear as the faintest glow appears around his body. After we visited Alfheim for the first time three years ago, he has a faint glow every time he uses his powers. It's stronger on the planet itself. He lights up like a Christmas tree.