Chapter Three
Liam

My room is still intact. I half expected my parents to sell my stuff and make it a home office or something. At one point my parents must have cleaned the room, because the bed is made and the floor is spotless, which definitely wasn't the case when I ran away. Everything is still here, all my photographs are still taped to the wall, my sheet music is in neat piles on my nightstand, my clothes are neatly folded in my drawers. What's startling is that all the plants I kept are still here, the ones I used to cure my restlessness when I wasn't using my powers. I had lied to my parents and told them I was getting into gardening. Every piece of furniture has shriveled up, wilted plants in small brown pots. I'm shocked they didn't throw the evidence of my lie, my powers away.

I am sitting on my bed now, and from here I wave my hands in the air, causing each of the wilted plants to perk up, regaining their life and color, now standing tall and strong in their pots. Stevie watches me from the doorway, staring at the plants in awe.

"I love it when you do that." He murmurs, glancing around the room at the various plants.

He has no idea how much it means to me to hear someone compliment my powers. Stevie has done so several times, and every time he does, it makes me feel like my cheeks will spontaneously burst into flames. He shuts the door behind him and comes over to my bed, sitting next to me.

"So this is your room," He says a little awkwardly. "It's nice. I love the pictures, did you take all of them?"

I nod, glancing around at some of them. Nearly every inch of my walls is covered in photos I took with my camera, as are my walls in my room back in Wakanda. Here the pictures are of California; the buildings, the deserts, the sites, the beaches, the people. In Wakanda, I haven't even gotten around to taking pictures of anything other than the wildlife, lakes, mountains, and especially sunsets. Wakanda has the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.

"What are my parents doing down there?" I ask him after a few seconds of silence.

"They're sitting on the couch. I think they're waiting for you to go back down."

"I don't know if I can do that." I confess to him, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear, some that has escaped my bun.

"You'll have to eventually. Are you just going to live up here forever?"

I give him a stubborn groan. "Yes, I was planning on it."

"I heard them talking about dinner, I think we should stay for a while longer. It will be good for you to eat something, you haven't since breakfast and all you had was a pop tart."

I shrug. "It was a very big pop tart."

"Lee," Stevie urges, once again slipping his hand into mine, the corner of his lips peeking up into a smile. "You said this was something you wanted to do. You owe it to yourself to talk to your parents, like really talk to them. You'll regret it if you don't."

He can be really wise when he isn't being a dork. I love that about him though. I love everything about him. I knew there was something special about him from the second I met him, and it wasn't because of who is parents are. He's filled with so much hope, he's so loving and open, and he just oozes charm. I've only known him about a month and half, but despite that, I know I would do anything to make him happy, to see that wonderful smile spread on his face. I think I would die of embarrassment if I ever told him any of this, even if I think he might feel the same way I do. I've never been very good at talking about my emotions, what happened with my parents made it so much worse. Ever since I left home I have felt very alone, very unloved, and utterly unseen. Stevie is the one that changed that, he made me feel like I belong.

I squeeze his hand, ignoring the thundering of my heart as I reply: "Thanks for being here with me. I don't think I could go through this without you."

Stevie lets go of my hand and places his hands on my shoulders, pulling me against him. This is the first time he's ever hugged me, and it's catching me a little off guard. I don't think I've been hugged in two years. I quickly hug him back though, pressing my hands firmly on his back, resting my head on his shoulder, soaking up his warmth like he's the sun and I'm one of the wilted plants.

-

Steve

I don't think I've ever felt more awkward, which says a lot. I tend to be in a lot of awkward situations given that I myself am an awkward person. This is something else though. You could cut the tension at this dinner table with a knife. I'm sitting next to Liam and his parents are across from us. We're all eating some grilled cheese and mac and cheese, two of Lee's favorite foods.

We go a full eight minutes before someone speaks. I know because I counted, needing something to distract myself from the situation I find myself in. Adnan, Liam's father, is the first to speak.

"Are you two together?" That certainly wasn't the question I thought he would ask.

"No, we're just friends." I say, daring a glance at Liam, finding his cheeks slightly flushed. I bet mine are the same. Adnan nods, but he doesn't look convinced.

"If we weren't would that be a problem?" Lee asks defensively.

Both of his parents shake his head, Adnan replying: "Of course not." He sounds genuine.

"I'm guessing you were living in London all these years if you were apart of the rebellion," Rhoda, Liam's mother, begins, picking at the crust of her grilled cheese. "Where have you been living since the rebels disbanded?"

Lee is the one to answer. "I've been living with Steve, his sister, and his parents in Wakanda."

"You could have come home." Rhoda mumbles softly.

"Could I have?" Lee asks with a passive aggressive tone.

"There is a school being built in Wakanda," I pipe up, trying to change the subject. "It's purpose is to train the enhanced in their powers as well as the next generation of Avengers. Lee and I will be going through the school to become Avengers."

"This is what you truly want to do?" Adnan asks.

Liam nods curtly once. "It is."

"I'm sure you will be great at it." Is all he says.

"That's it? You have nothing to say about me becoming an Avenger? Do you know what the means? I'll be running around catching bad guys and using my powers. The whole world will know I'm enhanced."

He's trying to get a rise out of his parents, but they don't seem to be upset, not in the way Liam wants. I think all these years he's believed his parents hated him, it probably made things easier to deal with to believe that. He let those wounds fester, and now that he's seeing his parents again, he wants them to show that hatred. I don't see any hatred in his parent's eyes, only regret and sorrow. I think it's making Lee angrier; it's harder to keep hating his parents when they clearly feel bad for what transpired all those years ago. It would be easier to hate them if they hated him.

"If I have a problem with anything it's that you are picking a profession of violence. We have always taught you that violence isn't the answer, Shiva has taught you that as well."

"Shiva also teaches us to believe in justice and harmony. Neither of those things exist in our world right now, and I have the power to do something about it, so I will."

"So you're content with taking someone's life to achieve that goal?"

"No," Liam says firmly. "I can still fight against injustice without killing people."

Liam explained to me on the trip here that all life is considered sacred in Hinduism. He said Hinduism texts don't condone violence and war. The first time I met him he literally choked a kid with a vine, he clearly doesn't have a problem with violence, which I now know is odd for someone of his faith. When I asked him why his views on violence are so different, he replied simply: 'we don't live in a world where everyone believes in love and kindness like Shiva. Until everyone does, I will fight to make the world a better place'.

"You must be really worried that I'm poisoning my soul with violence, Dad, since I've already poisoned it by having powers."

There's an earnest, desperate look in Adnan's eyes, and in his voice as he says: "We made a mistake, Liam. We have spent the last two years filled with regret and hope that one day you might come back home."

"We're so sorry," Rhoda nearly whimpers. "Please, baby, believe us."

"How can I? I knew that I had powers for years and I kept it from you because I was worried you would shun me for them. I was right to be worried, the second I showed you my powers you treated me like a threat. You have no ground to sit here and lecture me about my life choices. Violence may not provide good karma, but neither does making your child feel like an inhuman monster," Lee says through gritted teeth, his fists curled up at his sides as he stands up. "Steve, come on. I want to leave."

"No, please, wait!" Rhoda begs. "It's getting late, why don't you spend the night? Please, Liam."

I stare up at Liam, waiting for his reply. A solid minute goes by of him standing there before he locks eyes with me. "What do you want to do?"

"It's difficult to fly at night, I think it's safer if we stay here." I tell him. It's mostly the truth.

Liam nods, his eyes still on me as he says: "Fine, let's go."

He leaves the table without saying another word, and after I give Liam's parents a brief thank you for dinner, I follow after him.

-

Josephine

We didn't see any use of flying all the way back to Wakanda since we're going to Daniel's house tomorrow, so the three of us got a hotel room. Having two Avenger parents has many perks, one of which being that we get the fancy suite of the hotel half off regular price. Dad, Baba, and I are sitting in the common area of the suite, wearing fancy white robes, eating an assortment of room service foods. Dad and I are sharing a large piece of chocolate cake right now.

"Are you sure you're alright staying here tomorrow, Baba?" I ask, my mouth muffled from cake. "If you have to go back I—"

"No. I am staying here with you," Baba insists, tapping my nose affectionally. "Jabariland can stand to be without me for another day. You're more important right now."

I lean my head against his shoulder, curling up against his side. I know how hard it is being the leader of the Jabari tribe, I know how much responsibility it is. I was lady of the Jabari for a very long, excruciating week. Baba being willing to put all that aside for me means more than he could ever know.

I hear my Kimoyo Beads beep, indicating that someone is trying to call me. I tap on them and find Livy and Zy smiling at me. I excuse myself from my fathers and go into my bedroom, collapsing onto my cloud like bed.

"How was it today?" Livy asks.

"Daniel took me to a bookstore and then we had some pizza. We're staying at a hotel tonight because he's taking me to see his house tomorrow, the house I was born in."

Livy and Zy share a look, Zy being the one to ask: "How do you feel about that?"

"I'm the one that asked to go. It's hard to explain, but I need to see it."

Livy's voice is tender, her face soft as she replies: "You don't have to explain. I just hope it goes the way you want it to."

I stare at Livy and Zy for a second, leaning in closer to get a better look at them. "Are you in bed? And is Zy shirtless?"

They glance at each other and then back at me. "Yes to both." Livy replies casually.

"We're not naked if that's what you're asking." Zy says with a grin, one that makes Livy blush. I make a gaging noise that isn't entirely faked.

"I spent years trying to get you two together and now that you are, you two have gotten gross."

Zy kisses Livy's cheek, making her let out a giggle. A giggle, for Hanuman's sake. I swear I created two monsters, two love sick monsters.

"Speaking of annoying love birds," I say after a not so subtle cough their direction. "Have you heard from Stevie and Liam?"

"Yeah, they're staying the night at Liam's parents house." Livy informs me, sharing in my worry for both boys.

"Glad to know I'm not the only one dealing with weird familial relationships. When we get back home we'll have a lot to talk about. We'll need to have an immediate meeting in the treehouse."

"Something to look forward to." Zy says with a sigh.

-

Liam

Stevie and I stare at my bed for a several seconds. We don't have a guest room in the house, but even if we did, I wouldn't want Stevie to sleep somewhere else. It will be hard staying in my old room, even harder if I have to be here alone. I didn't tell Stevie that though, I apologized profusely that we don't have a guest room as we walked into my room.

"I'll sleep on the floor." Stevie chivalrously declares.

I shake my head. "You're not going to sleep on the floor."

"It will be fine. I'll shift into a dog and sleep on a pillow. It's actually pretty comfortable, dogs can sleep anywhere."

As entertaining as it would be to watch him as a dog, I shake my head again, insisting: "We're adults, we're perfectly capable of sharing a bed. You get one side and I'll get the other."

"I wish I'd known we would spend the night," Stevie thinks aloud, gesturing to his clothes, which are a Panic At The Disco shirt and jeans. "I would have packed some pjs."

"You can borrow something of mine, I have tons of clothes here." I offer. Stevie nods, going over to my dresser and sifting through my clothes. He grabs onto some and exits my bedroom, returning moments later wearing a baggy shirt that says 'I'm not shy, I just don't like you' and black checkered pj bottoms. Stevie places his clothes next to the bed along with his paw print necklace and Kimoyo Beads. While he was gone I had changed into pjs as well: a long sleeve olive green shirt and pj bottoms that are black with grey polka dots. I place my other clothes, and my leather jacket, on the floor next to Stevie's.

I try not to think about Steve wearing my clothes, how much better they look on him than me, how cute he looks. He slips into bed without looking at me, curling up under the blankets so only his eyes and nose show. The sight makes me smile. I shut the lights off and get into bed as well, a good half foot between us.

"Your bed is very comfortable." Stevie says after a few moments of silence.

"Thanks." I reply, not knowing what else to say.

"I've never had a sleepover before," Stevie admits, turning his head to look at me better, though I doubt it's doing much good. I can't see him at all. I'm kind of glad for it right now. "This is the first time I've slept in the same bed as someone else, besides my family, but I don't think they count."

"Neither have I."

"Lee, I really don't mind sleeping on the floor. I don't want you to make yourself uncomfortable for me."

"I want you to stay." I whisper, really glad he can't see my face right now.

There's a pause, and then Stevie begins scooching closer to me, he does so until there is maybe an inch between us. He turns on his side facing me, resting his hands under his head, letting out a deep sigh. He wanted to be closer to me. I feel myself smiling to myself in the darkness.

"Stevie?" I whisper after another few seconds.

"Hm?" Stevie mumbles, edging closer and closer to sleep.

"What do you see in me? What about me made you willing to invite a stranger into your life and your family?"

Maybe there isn't anything special about me, maybe I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Steve and his whole family have been so kind to me, so generous, maybe they'd be like that to anyone. Maybe I just got lucky.

"I shanghaied you into my life and family because I wanted you in my life," Stevie mumbles, letting out a yawn. "I knew from the second I met you that you were a beautiful person, inside and out. You may not see it, or believe it, but you're amazing. You're like a Mr. Knightly kind of amazing, and I don't say that ever."

I feel a sharp breath seep through my lips, my chest growing tight. I feel tears begin to prickle my eyes, but I refuse to cry the first time I have a boy in my bed. That's so embarrassing. I take in a deep breath and blink a couple thousand times to keep my stupid tears at bay. I can't think of anything else to say to him, so instead I close the distance between us and curl up next to Stevie, my body now turned to the side to face him, our heads touching, his hands just barely touching mine.

"Night, Lee." Stevie whispers.

I smile to myself, finally shutting my eyes. "Night, Stevie."