Your Dad is usually compliant, but this time he showed his fangs." Mama bear said angrily.
"A man must stand for what he believes is right, even if it's against the woman he loves!" Papa bear said angrily.
"How can a man believe anything when his brain can barely be used!" Mama bear used logic to counter.
"Please be civil, we came with good news that we wanted to share." Kevin said, and only then did they notice Laura behind him.
"Oh, Laura, darling. Glad you're here. Take my advice and be careful of men. They pretend to be kind and smart until you're married and have children and it's too late to escape. And then they show their true colours!" Mama bear said kindly.
"Son, be careful of women, they'll act like they don't have controversial opinions and agree with whatever you say until they're pregnant, have a ring on their finger and you're trapped, only then will they speak honestly and show their true colours." Papa bear gave his son sound advice.
"Could you guys tell me what you're fighting about?"Kevin said.
"She said that aliens are pure green like grass, how is that even logical?"
"He said that Aliens are light green, almost gray in colour, this is the speech of a heretic!"
They both shouted at the same time!
"No one has ever understood aliens to be pure green, it's unrealistic!" Papa bear said in frustration.
"Excuses, do you even believe in the green? This light green nonsense is just what heretics speak about, can't you hear yourself!" Mama Bear said dangerously as she readied her light saber.
"Realistically they aren't green." Kevin said, gaining the attention of both Bears.
"Watch your tongue young man!" Papa bear said.
"You better have come with good news or else..." Mama bear finished.
"Sigh... why do you two always have to be so extra? We're getting married!" Kevin said as he raised his and Laura's hand showing her ring.
Both bears perked up, and jumped at the two with pure happiness, totally forgetting their earlier fight.
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!!"
They hugged and spoke happily as they sat down on the couch.
"Kevin, you said that you have something else to say?" Laura finally asked what he had meant before.
"Yes,I wanted to tell you guys for a while but I wasn't sure until very recently. I think the world doesn't need Superman anymore..." Kevin said nervously.
He didn't want to disappoint his parents or Laura, but he felt like it was time to retire.
No one said anything for a while.
"You sure?" His dad asked seriously.
"Yes, as you know, I've been superman for about a decade already, and I feel like Superman has fulfilled his purpose. Other than becoming the symbol of hope, he made the Avengers the symbol of hope, and they're doing a great job even without me, recently I've found myself thinking about Laura and building my future as Kevin, rather than thinking as Superman." Kevin said.
All of them looked at him. they wouldn't be against his choice, rather they would be happy about it, since he won't jump into danger. But they also knew what it meant to him, to put on the suit and save peoples lives.
It meant everything to him.
"Kevin, Why not just do Superman halftime? why do you need to retire completely?" Laura asked, hoping that he wasn't sacrificing himself for her.
"The world doesn't need Superman anymore.... is what I want to say, but the truth is, the world didn't need Superman from three to four years back, that's how good the Avengers have become." Kevin said while thinking back.
"Then why?" His mother asked.
"Because I don't need Superman anymore." Kevin said, very genuinely and openly, which shocked them all.
Kevin was very trusting and honest with them about everything, but it seems like he had his own inner demons that he had fought with.
They had no idea about this matter as he always seemed so... sunny and bright. Only now did they realise that, Kevin was more human than they could ever suspect.
Guilt started taking form in their guts, as they realised that they might have failed in some aspects, since they felt like they should have supported Kevin when he needed it.
Seeing their facial expressions, Kevin chuckled.
"Don't worry, it's not something serious, but we all have demons of the past that haunt us. It's not your fault for not noticing it, since even I didn't notice it until I saw my own grave. Since then I started realising things... and now, I feel like The S has fulfilled its purpose. I don't need it anymore." Kevin said in a smile.
His parents hugged him. Even Laura felt slightly guilty.
After all, they are his closest people and they couldn't see that he was going through something, and couldn't be a pillar of support for him as he had been for them and the whole planet alike.
"So will you go cold turkey on the world? How does Superman even retire?" His dad mumbled while hugging him.
"I'll lessen my time wearing the suit. Until finally, I'll break the news to the Avengers and let them handle the public domain of the matter, I trust them." Kevin said.
And he did as he said, for the coming months, he saved less and less people, until it had been 2 weeks since he last showed his face.
The Avengers worked hard, among them both Spiderman and Red Widow were out doing the hero work the most.
Fire Fist Johnny, Firestar, all the friends he had made always threw themselves at danger to save the innocent.
Kevin stood by the window in his apartment and looked down on the city. He saw a metallic man who he assumed to be Colossus, working together with the Fire Fist Johnny, Firestar, Dr. Strange and she-hulk fighting against Scarlet Witch, all the way on the other side of the city.
"This looks serious, maybe you should help them?" Laura said as she sat in front of the TV.
Kevin felt content seeing her struggling to paint the nails on her feet because of the child residing in her stomach, all the while listening to the news.
"What, my pregnant wife wants to put me in harm's way? Don't tell me you want to get rid of me before a black child is born?" Kevin said teasingly.
"Tsk, Don't worry, it will be born green." She said mockingly.
He went towards her and kissed her head, and for a second he could swear he heard her purr.
He sometimes felt like she was a cat in a human body. Acting cute, then fierce all of a sudden, showing her fangs and claws. Then when you ignore her she comes up to you to cuddle, but when you cuddle back she gets annoyed and rips you apart.
'Have patience Kevin, this is because she is pregnant!' Kevin thought, trying to console himself, while he patted her head.
"How about Kara if it's a girl?" Kevin asked suddenly.
"Kara... I like the sound of that..." She mumbled, they couldn't agree on a name for their child.
"And I've been thinking about the name that I didn't like from the beginning, I've changed my mind, I think we should go with Clark if it's a boy." She said.
"I think today is the day?" Kevin suddenly said while looking at the avengers on the news.
"What, your water broke?" She asked mockingly.
"As if. I'm talking about retirement." He said, making her look at him in surprise.