"Kate!" Sophie smiled excitedly. "You're early."

"Thought I'd get a head start unpacking," Kate replied, waving the dorm keys in the air.

"I thought we were going together?"

Kate shrugged. "It's the least I can do. You've been neck deep in pleebs all day; the last thing you should have on your plate is unloading the storage unit."

At the end of spring term, Kate had rented a storage unit to avoid the trouble of moving their things back to Gotham. She had made no plans to rent a vehicle, and her motorcycle wasn't exactly equipped with storage space. It took a few days of pestering by Kate, but Sophie eventually begrudgingly agreed to accept some of the space for her own things.

"You're moving that couch by yourself?"

"Of course not - I've volunteered Melvin to help," Kate replied with a wink.

"Ok, but… well, I left it in a bit of a mess this morning. Ran late."

"Sophie Moore? Late?" Kate gaped. "It's fine. I'll have your boyfriend shield his eyes before we drop off the first load."

"So considerate."

"Anyway, it looks like you're busy. I just wanted to drop by - say hi."

Sophie smiled back gratefully as she glanced over at the welcome tables whelmed by anxious incoming cadets.

"And I guess I'll have to save a proper 'hi' for when you're done," Kate muttered, leaning in with a smirk that made Sophie's cheeks burn.

"So, good break?" Kate asked as she unlocked the padlock to the storage unit.

Melvin shrugged. "It was the usual."

Kate glanced at him uneasily. They'd been together all of fifteen minutes and not once had he cracked a joke or flashed his signature grin.

"You glad to be back?" Kate asked, searching for a conversation that would bring out the Melvin she knew.

"Yea," Melvin sighed softly as he helped Kate lift the door open. He sighed again as he saw the mountain of boxes in the unit. "How did you fit all of this in that tiny dorm room?"

"Half of these are just boxes of, like, pillows."

"How many do you have?"

"Pillows?" Kate paused as she mentally tallied them off. "Soph has… two? Although she's probably already taken those with her... There's a spare. I have two. Then the couch has the… what?"

Kate paused, seeing Melvin staring off, his attention elsewhere.

"Everything good?"

Melvin hesitated, his face contemplative.

"You know you can tell me anything, right? We both know I've done my share of ta-"

"This is my last term at Point Rock," he confessed. Kate's face fell in surprise.

"What?"

"I… once term is up I'll be done."

"Why? Did… are you transferring?"

He shook his head, his eyes trained on the wall of cardboard boxes in front of them.

"Then… then why?"

"I don't really want to talk about it."

Kate opened her mouth to press him for information, but the distant look on his face was enough guidance she needed to stay mum.

"Ok."

"And if this could stay between us."

"Even from James? Soph?"

"Even them."

Kate nodded. After nearly a year of him respecting her secrets, the least she could do was match that respect for Melvin's want of privacy, but a creeping thread of concern for her friend left her unresolved.

"So, if these are filled with pillows they should be pretty light, right?" Melvin asked, his attention returned to the task at hand. Kate noticed his tone was already lighter than a moment earlier.

"Uh, yea," Kate stumbled in response as she watched Melvin reach the first stack. "Except-"

"Ooph!"

"Except the boxes of Soph's books," Kate grinned.

"But then what happened?" Melvin asked, his mood a complete one-eighty from earlier.

"Well, I left."

"What?"

"What?"

"She runs after you, kisses you in front of her parent's house, and you just… left?"

"I… I mean, it's not like we haven't talked since then."

"Wait," Melvin said, setting another box on the trolley. "You mean you guys haven't seen each other since either?"

"W-well, no. We… she was working and then left a week later for here and… wait, should… should I have stayed? Or- or gone back?" Kate asked, a wave of concern taking hold.

Melvin grinned back, taking joy in Kate's insecurity. It wasn't a familiar look, and he was capitalizing on the opportunity to extend it as long as possible.

"You're messing with me," Kate realized.

"Honestly? Not sure. I can't believe you went all summer break only seeing each other once though. You two were practically inseparable the last few weeks of term. If you ask me it was a little sickening to see two people so smitten."

"Smitten?"

"Yes, 'smitten', because you shoot me that glare of yours every time I say 'in love'," Melvin reasoned before his eyes widened in proof, "yes, just like that; that's the face."

Kate scoffed as she closed rental truck's tailgate.

"Now that I'm thinking about it, I might owe James $20."

"Why?"

"From our bet."

"Your bet?"

"I'm guessing you two didn't… you know."

"That was your bet?" Kate gaped in surprise.

"Technically we both lost though."

"You guys bet on Sophie and me having sex?"

"Not even just that. We bet on how many times."

"Wh… I… how are we friends."

"You're reading my mind! How could you let me down like that?"

Kate stared back at Melvin in amazement, her mouth open in shock. After a moment she shook her head and turned her attention back to the laiden trolley, pushing it toward the main entrance.

"You wanna know, don't you."

"No, I don't," she huffed against the load of boxes.

"Yea you do," Melvin teased.

"Door?" she asked, holding the cart from rolling back into the parking lot. She glanced at Melvin who was standing expectantly for Kate to reply. She looked like she might protest before glancing around briefly. "Fine, I want to know. Now will you-?" she asked, her head jerking toward the door.

"James had you at four," Melvin muttered as he pulled the door open, aware of the growing number of people around them and aware being back on campus meant a more censored conversation was required.

"Four what? Four times or four orgasms? And for who?" Kate muttered back quietly.

"I… what? It's… that's the same thing, right?" Melvin asked in surprise, pausing at the door as he struggled with Kate's retort.

Kate rolled her eyes at his ignorance. "And what about you?"

"Nine," he replied, pressing the elevator call button.

"Times?"

"Well… now I don't know the difference. I… what's the difference?"

"Wait, you're saying women can-?"

"Yep," Kate replied as the elevator doors opened to their floor.

"And you don't have to like… recharge?"

"So eloquent," Kate chuckled as they forced the trolley into the hall. "It's not really a recharge. You just sort of… wear each other out. Sometimes you… swap for a bit."

"Swap?"

"Left."

"Huh?"

"Same floor, different room."

"Really?" Melvin said in surprise. "James and I are in the same."

"I don't make the rules," Kate sighed.

"What number?"

"409."

"Nine?"

"Yea."

"Times or orgasms?" Melvin shot back with a sheepish grin.

Kate broke into a smile. "I've missed you."

"Weird."

"What?" Melvin said at the doorway.

"I… Soph said-"

"Oy, you mind? These aren't light."

"Oh, sorry," Kate replied, stepping aside to let him through.

"Nice, south-facing windows. You can see the quad from here!" Melvin gushed enthusiastically, dropping the box of books before rushing to the windows. "What's weird?"

"Soph said she left the room a mess."

"Sophie thinks a cup without a coaster is a mess."

"Yea but… hang on. This… her stuff isn't even here."

"Hey roomie!" a voice from the doorway shouted.

Kate took one look at Melvin's shocked expression to confirm her fear. She slowly turned to see someone who was very much not Sophie Moore standing in the doorway.

"You beat me here!" Chelsea exclaimed from the doorway before barreling in and engulfing Kate in a giant hug. "And Melvin! I figured you'd be off helping your girlfriend move in."

"Uh, well…" Melvin muttered uncomfortably, "that's what I thought I was doin-"

"Oh, how were your breaks? I have so much to tell you," she giggled with excitement. "When I found out we were rooming at first I was a bit worried because you look a bit messy, but Sophie only ever had the nicest things to say, and we are just going to have so much fun!"

Kate tried to hide the confusion and surprise in her face as she offered a half-smile in recognition at Chelsea's own excitement.

"Uh, so, you-you say you knew we were uh, that we were going to be roo-"

"Is it ok if I take the left side?"

"What?"

"I'm right handed, so I try to go left whenever I can," Chelsea explained which only added to the confused looks coming from Melvin and Kate.

"Uh, yea, that's… you said you knew we were going to be roommates?"

"Did you bring your couch?"

"Wh- yea, but-"

"Because I did, too. That means we've doubled up - oops! I knew I should have called you, but I was just so busy with summer ending and friends and... well you get it. I'm sure you'll find somewhere to put yours. It was such a drab color anyway, right Melvin?"

"What? I-I don't have thoughts," Melvin said, raising his hands in surrender.

"Oh gosh. Well, my parents are downstairs unpacking. Will your little cart be out of the way in time for me to bring my stuff in?" Chelsea said, pointing to the teetering pile of boxes on the cart outside the door.

"Uh, yea, sure," Kate said, trying to keep up with the boisterous energy that seemed to permeate directly out of Chelsea's pores.

"Great! Be right back then," she smiled before bounding out of the room.

"Chels, wait!" Kate called after her. She poked her head around the corner and came face to face with Chelsea spinning around in response.

"Oh, whoops! That almost got weird," Chelsea laughed, raising a hand between her and Kate's face.

"Uh… yea, sorry," Kate replied, trying to keep her eyes from rolling. "When did you say you found out we were going to be roommates?"

"Hm? Oh, like… two, maybe three weeks ago?"

"H-how? How did you find out?"

"The school called and then I got a letter."

"But I thought you were rooming with Martha?"

"She met a boy!"

"That… what?"

"She moved dorms," Chelsea continued as though that was explanation enough.

"S-so… you - so then…?"

"I don't know. I thought I was going to get a single, but this is so. much. better!"

"Sure…" she muttered as she watched Chelsea rush down the hall feeling a growing worry loom over her. She returned to the room where Melvin's face was clearly struggling with how to react to the situation. He half looked like he might burst into laughter while the other half knew what this meant for Kate and Sophie.

"Not a word," Kate hissed as she searched for her phone.

"Wh-? I wouldn't dream of it," Melvin replied, sensing now was not the right time for jokes. "It's probably just a small clerical error. You know how the school gets wi-"

"Hey, Soph, it's me. There's… well, just… just call me back when you get this. I think there's been some sort of uh… mix-up with-with… just give me a call, thanks," she said before dropping her phone onto the bed next to her. She sighed heavily as she landed on the mattress next to it.

"It'll get fixed, I'm sure of it," Melvin said with more confidence than he felt.

"You probably just jinxed it."

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'? How can you say that?"

"Because the assignment is right, and the answer is 'no': you were not accidentally assigned the wrong roommate. If you would like to switch roommates you will need to fill out the proper paperwork an-"

"Switch roomma- I'm not trying to switch. I'm trying to get the one I picked."

"I don't know what to tell you; the paperwork says otherwise," the cadet behind the counter advised.

"That's impossible. I filled out a form. Sophie Moore filled out a form. Don't you have the forms for like, record-keeping?" Kate asked. The look of amusement on the cadet's face made it clear these were not considered valuable assets worth holding onto.

"Is there a problem Cadet Bradley?" came a voice from an office behind the main counter.

"Uh, no, just… just a misunderstanding, sir," Bradley replied to the hidden voice.

Instead of remaining a voice, the figure appeared at the threshold of his office with a smile that made Kate immediately skeptical of his intentions. It was a smile that reminded her of every greasy politician that held office in Gotham.

"Well let's have a closer look, shall we?"

"Uh, yes, sir," Bradley said, stepping aside to give him access to the files Bradley had just reviewed. Kate glanced back at the door he'd just exited and saw the name Lieutenant Arnold Reyes etched on the glass.

"Cadet Kane, is it?"

"Yes, sir," Kate replied.

"Related to retired Colonel Jacob Kane?"

"Er… yes, sir; his daughter."

"Mhm," he said, glancing up from the documents to survey Kate. "And what brings you here. What is your great worry that's causing such a raucous the day before the term even starts?"

"I wouldn't call it a… it seems there was an error in roommate assignments. I was roomed with Cadet Rivers but am supposed to be rooming with Cadet Moore."

"Ah, Sophie, yes, well," Reyes muttered as he scanned the paperwork. Kate felt her eyes narrow in suspicion at the way he casually addressed Sophie by her first name. "I see Cadet Moore is not here."

"Uh, no, she- she was, er, is still helping with first years."

"Yes, of course, of course. She's a bright one. Hard worker. You'd do well to learn a thing or two from her."

"Uh… yea, sure... uhm, sir, is there some way to get this cleared up before everyone moves all their stuff? It'd be a real hassle if we've all-"

"I can confirm that there is nothing on our end to clear up, Cadet Kane," Reyes interrupted with a smile.

"Wh… how- that's not…" Kate stuttered in confusion.

"You, Cadet Kane are assigned to 409, Murray Hall with Cadet Rivers, and Cadet Moore is assigned to 419, Murray Hall with Cadet Thomas."

"Cadet who?" Kate asked, trying to recall the name from the year prior. There wasn't a single first year Kate didn't know, and a 'Thomas' was not among them.

"Cadet Thomas. Perhaps a conversation with Cadet Moore will clear up some of your confusion."

"Sir?"

"Cadet Moore is one of our best and brightest. She is also here on scholarship."

"Yea, but what does that have to do wi-"

"One expectation the school has is that it's best and brightest take on roles of responsibility and leadership where others would fail."

"Where others would-? What does-"

"Cadet Moore is well aware of this requirement. Beginning their second year, it is expected that these select scholars work to raise all ships, if you will," Reyes said, clearly enjoying his opportunity to monologue at length. "On occasion one of our own struggles, and we lean on exemplary students like Cadet Moore to elevate those stragglers. Cadet Thomas, while certainly capable, is one such example."

When Kate's look of confusion didn't fade, Reyes sighed in slight annoyance. "You will not be changing rooms, Cadet Kane. Cadet Moore has been assigned Cadet Thomas as a roommate for the term as a way to reinstate her into the class."

"Reinstate… what does that even mean-"

"That will be all, Cadet Kane," Reyes said, interrupting her. Kate felt her cheeks flush with anger at this. "I'm sure you have plenty of boxes to unpack before classes start tomorrow. You'd do well to get started."

"Sir, I think if you just-"

"As one of your commanding officers, I suggest you hold your tongue and accept the orders given to you, Cadet Kane. Do I make myself clear?"

"But you're not even loo-"

"And now you've just lost your next two Saturdays to running courses, Cadet Kane. I suggest you carefully consider whether you want to lose another with your insubordination."

Kate glowered at Lieutenant Reyes as she closed her mouth, much to his delight. She glanced at Cadet Bradley who silently shook his head in guidance for her to remain quiet.

"Thank you for your time, sir," Kate said through a clenched jaw, backing away from the counter.

"My pleasure," Reyes grinned back. "Oh, and Cadet Kane," he called as she reached the office door, "Saturday 0400 sharp. Don't be late. You'll be running with the fourth years."

"Hey, way to blow up my pho… ne. Hi?" Sophie said, her eyes landing on an unfamiliar face sitting on Kate's bed.

"Hey."

"Uh hi… hi, sorry, you are?"

"Riley. You must be Moore."

"Uh, Sophie. I… am… is… did Kate let you in?"

"Who?"

"Kate... sorry, how did you get in here?" Sophie asked, glancing around and noting a very different set up than Kate had the semester prior.

"They gave me a key… told me to move in my shit…?"

"What?"

"I live here," Riley said, clearly annoyed by Sophie's confusion.

"I think… I think there's been some sort of misunderstanding. I-I have a roommate who should be…" Sophie fell silent, looking down at the list of missed calls from Kate and beginning to understand the growing intensity in her voicemails.

"Are you slow or something?"

"What? No, I just… I'll be right back," Sophie continued, forcing a smile as she backed out of the still open door. She quickly dialed Kate's number, listening to the six rings that led to her voicemail before cursing softly. She ended it without a word and found Melvin's contact to dial instead.

"Hello?"

"Melvin?"

"Hey babe."

"Not now. Have you seen Kate?"

"She went to the housing office like… an hour ago?"

"Where are you?"

"My room; James is here. You?"

"I just got back," Sophie replied, making a beeline down the hall toward the familiar room.

"Ah, so you've met Riley," Melvin offered apologetically.

"Yea… What's going on?"

"You should probably come to our room."

"I'm coming in," Sophie said, hanging up the phone while simultaneously turning the knob to Melvin's room. "What's going on?"

"We're still trying to work that out," Melvin replied, staring between his phone and Sophie now standing in the doorframe.

"Is this-?"

"All your stuff? Yea," James chimed in. "You have too many books."

"Riley wouldn't let us move it in," Melvin explained of the boxes as Sophie negotiated around them and shut the door for privacy. "She's kind of…"

"A bitch?" James offered.

"That's harsh, but… but very… very close to accurate," Melvin clarified. Sophie glanced between the two, still no clearer on what was unfolding. The look on her face was all Melvin needed to continue his explanation. "So, apparently Kate was assigned rooms with Chelsea, and you were assigned to this Riley character."

"Who is she?"

"Apparently she's our year."

"So she's a transfer?"

"We aren't sure. She wasn't exactly chatty Kathy."

"Can we call her bitchy Barbara?" James offered.

"What? James… no, dude, you are not helping right now. But that's why Kate went to the housing office. There must have been some mix-up in the assign-"

"This is complete bullshit," came Kate's voice bursting through the door. "This asshole of a Lieutenant just - Soph, hey, I-"

"They're filling me in."

"Right," Kate said, her face flush with frustration as she took in the scene of all three crammed around unpacked boxes.

"So what'd you find out?" Melvin asked first.

"It's… it's not a mistake. The assignments are staying."

"That doesn't make any sense; we both filed the forms. I know because I filled out half of yours-"

"I know-"

"-and then submitted it-"

"-I know-"

"-because I knew you'd forget."

"Soph, I know, b-"

"So what's the problem?" Sophie interrupted, her own frustration growing to match Kate's.

"If you would let me finish," Kate began, shooting Sophie a look that quieted her.

"Sorry, I'm just… sorry."

"Maybe we should go," Melvin chimed in, jumping off Kate's couch and glancing at James to do the same.

"But-"

"We're leaving, James," Melvin said, his tone leaving no room to negotiate. "We'll be in the mess hall."

"So what's going on?" Sophie asked as she navigated toward the couch Melvin had just left.

Kate waited for the latch of the door to break into explanation.

"Apparently the powers that be made the change."

"I need a little more than that, Kate," Sophie said as she watched Kate navigate the same terrain to collapse onto the couch next to her.

"This, Cadet Thomas-"

"Riley-"

"Sure. She is… a sinking ship that needs righted, and the leadership at this school has decided their best and brightest student is solely equipped at dealing with that."

"What? Kate, wh-"

"They're using your scholarship as reason to task you with… fixing, or whatever, this Riley person. Apparently it's part of your whole 'scholar outreach' thing. I don't know anything more than that. I don't know who she is or-or what her story is, but according to this Reyes, she-"

"Lieutenant Reyes? He's in charge of the scholar outreach program. He's super nice-"

"Sorry, did you just say 'nice'?"

"Yea."

"Ok, we're going to have to put a pin in that one."

"Maybe I could talk to him and-"

"Soph, he's the one who told me it wasn't a mistake."

"But… wait, so… so what can we do?"

"Hope that Chelsea is still dating Tony?"

"What? No, Kate, I'm being serious right now. If… if we aren't rooming together-"

"I know. Things are going to get complicated," Kate said. It was something that had played out in her mind for the last two hours: if they weren't roommates, that would make their relationship near-impossible to maintain. It was easy enough when they slept behind the same door; there was no reason for anyone to be suspicious. But even if Chelsea made a permanent move into Tony's room, Sophie slipping in and out of Kate's room could raise all sorts of alarms.

They sat in silence as the reality of the situation unfolded in their imaginations.

"Kate…"

"It's going to be fine. We - we'll figure it out," Kate replied with more confidence than she felt. She slipped her fingers between Sophie's and gave it a light squeeze. "Besides, this year would've been really boring without a little hiccup."

"This is a hiccup?"

"Sure."

"I don't want to know what you think a glacier is," Sophie chuckled before sobering, a scowl appearing over her eyes.

"Don't worry. That's year four material," Kate smirked, slipping her hand out of Sophie's and lifting her arm to wrap it tightly around Sophie. She pulled her close and set her lips on the side of Sophie's head, sighing softly. "I'm glad you're here."

Sophie broke into a soft laugh.

"What?"

"This… just… I spent all afternoon imagining your proper hello. I never imagined you'd go to such efforts to get me alone on our couch-"

"Our couch?" Kate gushed.

"-in James and Mevlin's room-"

"-what can I say-"

"-which still smells from last year-"

"-I'm as romantic as they come, Sophie Moore," Kate finished before she pressed her lips to Sophie's, letting the last two hours wash away under them.

a/n: Hi all,

A bit of a shorter chapter this week to set the stage. I'm going to break my rule again and binge on the past for a number of weeks as we wind into Kate's second year at Point Rock. I'm personally suuuper eager to build out this term for Kate and Sophie to a point where it has 130% distracted me from the main plot. Hopefully putting it on hold until the New Year won't cause too much upset from y'all. I've still got big plans for the duo in the main thread, but I'm not interested in watching the two timelines compete.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read. Borg27, your enthusiasm is killer. It tickles me dayem pink every week.

Cheers,

EQT.95