This chapter has flashbacks at the start and end and they're some of my favourites to date.

Year Three: As Father Said

Six Years Ago - Rogers House

Xavier walks into his home after coming home from school late. It isn't so late that he broke curfew and his parents had to call him but since his school is in The City, it takes at least an hour since he has to cross the bridge and he doesn't drive yet. He just started high school and he's still figuring things out so he expected to see his father waiting for him on the porch. Xavier can predict what his father will say. He had a lot of time on the subway and the walk home to think of valid arguments.

Xavier sees his dad as he approaches the house, standing once Xavier arrived at the porch. Xavier doesn't walk up the stairs since his dad walks down, as he imagined. He even sees the Angela tried covering for you but she isn't a good liar, which is why we didn't bother calling you face. He's getting used to that face from both parents.

"Where were you?" Steve asks.

Xavier knows that his dad knows the answer, but he can try. "At school."

"Doing what?"

"Hanging out with my girlfriend."

"You don't have a girlfriend."

"Not yet. I'm working on that. You know her-"

"Xavier." His dad's tone grows serious but his body softens. His arms hang by his side and he looks betrayed, almost. "I know you were at football practice."

"Oh…" Xavier mutters.

Xavier wanted to try out for football when he started high school. When he asked his parents because he had to get the permission slip for tryouts signed, they weren't as excited as him. They told him that it wasn't fair for his team and teammates that he'd play alongside him since he's so much stronger and faster than them. The other players wouldn't stand a chance and could get hurt. Xavier couldn't even use the usual Apollo's joining me excuse since he wasn't. Apollo found the sport too mortal for him which Xavier wouldn't dare tell his parents since they would try to use it on him.

Although his parents said no, he forged his mom's signature and tried out. He made the team and he was excited. Angela was elated for him and only knew since she's now a cheerleader and because they're siblings. It wasn't fair that Angela didn't get the same shit for cheerleading. Was Xavier surprised she didn't? No.

So, of course, his dad was mad at him for going behind his back. How did his dad find out? Xavier bets Angela told him he was out with his girlfriend and his dad doubted her so she caved.

"But nobody got hurt at tryouts or practice!" Xavier yells. "You're letting Angela do cheerleading!"

"Cheerleading is different," Steve says calmly.

"No, it's not. Angela could throw a person into the sun, not a football."

"Xavier-"

"It's because she's your favourite!"

Steve pauses, looking shattered in a split-second before crossing his arms. "Don't ever say that."

"Sorry…" Xavier mutters, unsure if he means it. He's mad now and will probably mean it later, and apologize again.

"Xavier, you know this. Your gifts come with responsibilities. I don't want you to make a mistake, get too into the game, and hurt someone."

"Dad, I just want to play! I won't hurt anyone, I promise. My team wants me to play. They think we can win now that I'm there."

"Xavier-"

"You're Captain America and not letting me play football?"

Steve pauses, exhaling a small laugh before looking up in disbelief for a second. "Wow, you prepared for this conversation."

-o-

Present Day - Operations Faculty Building - 12:13 PM

Xavier was the first one to leave his class following the first day of sparring. Nothing happened but he found it hard to hold back. Despite blocking and throwing hits, his arms and legs felt like noodles the whole time. He and Angela chose not to partner with each other to see if they could handle it so he partnered with Brody (who said his dreams were coming true, which was comforting for Xavier to hear) which Angela went with a girl from her floor in residence. Brody didn't get hurt. Nothing bad happened to him or with Angela.

"Are you good?"

Xavier escapes his trance and looks up to see Agent Vander sitting behind his desk. Xavier wasn't sure why he came to visit his SO other than Agent Vander wanting to know how his first day of sparring went. Judging by Xavier's spacing out and lack of energy sitting here, his SO could answer the question himself.

"Mom and Dad didn't want me playing football," Xavier says, "at the start, anyways. They didn't want me hurting people while having too much fun and losing focus. I played for four years, led the team for about three, and didn't break anyone. Now, it's different."

"Because you're training to hurt people," Agent Vander finishes, "defend yourself and your team."

Xavier nods. "Basically."

"And I can tell you don't want to spar against your sister."

Xavier pauses. "Well, yeah, she's my sister. She may be my only match but she's also the last person I ever want to hurt."

"She doesn't want to hurt you either."

"I know."

"And that's fine, as long as you know who you're fighting and what you're doing. You, hopefully, won't be fighting your sister or your classmates on the field."

"Agent Hayes said the same thing."

"Because he's right."

"But it's hard to stay close to them because anything could happen."

Agent Vander nods. "Xavier, you stay close in combat because distance gives someone room to hurt you. They'd have room to build power, especially if they have a weapon. When you're in the field, you'd better make sure whoever you're fighting gives you space."

Xavier smiles to himself. "That was my team's football strategy. Make sure I was in the open and had space to run with the ball."

-o-

Six Years Ago - Brooklyn Bridge

Xavier needed air after talking with his father. Their conversation wasn't going anywhere but circles so he left and his dad let him. He'd be home before dark and if it got too dark, he'll just run home at top speed as his dad would want. The further he got from his house, the more he needed to talk to someone who wasn't there. On his way, he texted his girlfriend if she could meet him and she responded saying she already left her place.

Xavier had to stop when he read that because he was smiling. Reading that text alone almost made him feel completely better.

But when he arrived at the Brooklyn Bridge, he already saw her there.

"So," Britney starts, "I read your texts and Angela called me while you were on the way here and filled me in. She heard your fight with your dad and knew you'd call me. You're lucky I'm great at sneaking out."

Xavier smiles, shrugging as he leans against the bridge's railings. He doesn't say anything but looks at Britney, the girl he's had a crush on for over a year now. He wants to say that she likes him back but he can't be so sure. She'd smile at him and his heart beats faster. She flirts with him, he can tell (sometimes) but he isn't sure if she was teasing, genuine, or being Britney.

"So," Britney starts, standing next to him. "Why can't you play football?"

Xavier bites his tongue. He knows he can't share the whole super soldier genes with her. "My parents think I'll hurt someone."

"You're not violent."

"Not because of that."

"Because of your abs, biceps, triceps, calves, and basically your whole body?"

Xavier pauses as Britney stands closer to him. She gently holds him by his bicep, linking her arm with his and holding his hand. Xavier looks at her and sees she's already gazing up at him.

"Angela's the favourite anyways," Xavier says. "The all-perfect little girl."

Britney scoffs. "Hey, she's my friend. Watch what you say because I think I'm obligated to tell her. Something about girl code? I don't know. It's because of her I tried out for cheerleading and coincidentally also why you're in this mess and here with me."

Xavier looks at her and grins. "So, whose favourite are you?"

Britney doesn't hesitate. "Yours."

Xavier didn't see that coming but doesn't mind. She isn't wrong. "So, what do you think?"

"About your football spat?"

"Yeah."

Britney eyes him. "Did you come to me because you wanted someone to agree with you?"

"Partially."

Britney raises a brow. "Partially?"

Xavier bites on the corner of his lips. This girl… "But I chose you because you don't know me all that well compared to my father or my other friends."

"I don't have to know you like them to agree with your father."

Xavier removes himself from her grasp because he didn't see that coming. She isn't even surprised that she moved.

"What?" Xavier asks.

Britney holds up her palms, her many rings sparkling in the street lights. "But I say try out for football because you want to and I find it attractive, especially if I'll be a cheerleader. I'd watch you play and get to cheer for you."

Xavier regrets letting her go knowing that's her answer. "You won't say that I can watch you cheer?"

Britney grins, raising her brows for a second now that she thinks about it. "You'd be playing. You should keep your eyes on the field instead."

"True, if I'm playing."

Britney nods, walking up to him again to take his hand with both of hers. "You're not like other boys, Xavier, you're so much more than they'll ever be. Go out there and show everyone that."

Goddammit, I miss her.