EVERMORE ─ marvel

IX. Peace & Purpose

Chapter Nine
Jade

Construction on the Avengers base and enhanced school has officially started. It's exciting seeing the bustling of construction workers, some from Wakanda and some sent from the government, all slicked with sweat, their expressions hyper focused, their hands building the foundation for the future of the enhanced people. Construction will go a lot faster with the help of Wakandan technology, all provided by Shuri and her amazing team. The princess thinks the two buildings will be done in six months, which is half of what it would take normally.

The construction workers aren't the only ones busy, all of us have been running around Wakanda trying to get the F.E.P members settled while assisting the enhanced newcomers we already helped settle. I haven't had a moment to relax since yesterday. Actually, with helping the enhanced, the party, and the entire world altering around us, I haven't relaxed in more than a week. Sam is just as tired, and once we finish with the last of the houses, we take a second to catch our breaths, with him muttering:

"After this is over, I'm going to sleep for a month."

"I don't think there will be an end to this, honey," I say with a soft chuckle. "Once this dies down, you'll be the new director, you'll have a full schedule."

Sam groans. "Work, work, work," He takes a step closer to me and kisses the side of my head, rubbing my lower back in soothing circles. "Don't you miss the days where we could stay in bed all day, eat left overs from the bakery, just be together?"

I do miss those days. Up until Alaric Hale showed up, Sam and I were taking less and less assignments. We were considering retirement in the next year or two, we focused more and more on the bakery, we spent so much time together, just the two of us. It was like being in our own little bubble, even when we would go on assignments it felt like that. It felt like we were living inside a dream, but now that dream is fading away, though not entirely. We will get that dream back one day, but until then we have to endure the waking nightmare that is the world right now.

"I miss it." Is all I say, which doesn't even begin to encompass how I'm feeling about all this. What we're doing is important, and besides my guilt making me feel obligated to help these people, I genuinely want to. I've always wanted to help people, I've always wanted to make people feel safe. But I want what we're giving these people here in Wakanda: a peaceful life. I want it more than anything.

"I miss it, too." Sam replies, knowing exactly what I'm thinking about, like he always does.

"I think I want to focus on the people still in jail," I tell him, having though of this for a while. "When you and Soroya are directors you'll be focusing on many different issues, as will Naomi. I know Naomi is presenting an amendment to the UN, but someone will have to take the reigns of the transition these people will go through. I want to be the one to do that."

"Really?"

I nod. "I owe it to the people we failed, as well as the people who are separated from their families. When that little girl told me she didn't know where her parents were...all I could think about was my parents. I had to grow up without them, I don't want that for her, or for anyone else."

Sam's hand stalls on my back, his face freezing for a second before melting into a wide, beautiful smile. It makes my heart palpate. "I love you more everyday, Jade Rosales."

I feel myself blush. "I don't deserve it."

"You deserve it more than anyone else."

"Might be a while before I believe that."

"I know," His hand now tightening on my back, pushing me against his chest, his other hand brushing my cheek then my lips, tracing the outline of them with his fingertips. "I promise to tell you that everyday until you do." He tells me tenderly, smiling once again before moving his hand away, placing his lips on mine.