On my first day of university, I was late. I awkwardly walked into class and everyone stared at me because I was that little first-year freshie in a second/third-year introduction to French Literature course. It's a small program, everyone knew each other, so they wondered who the hell I was. I sat in the front, spoke to nobody, wanted to die, and forgot how to French. Good times.

Year One: The First Day

Edison Residence - 7:06 AM

James stands in front of his opened closet trying to decide what to wear for the first day. It's his first time picking an outfit for school because his entire life before that consisted of uniforms. Although he has a set of Operations training uniforms, he only had to wear those for the training classes. Does he have to go to that today? What is his schedule for today? Either way, he won't wear it. It's not like classes will start. It should be syllabus day.

Speaking of syllabuses, he should read his at some point. Probably won't. He could technically skip today since nothing will happen, but if he wouldn't read the syllabus, he should listen to the professor go through it. But now he's banking on whether he'll listen…

James ends up wearing a button-up with a sweater vest. Out of muscle memory, he goes to adjust his tie but there's nothing there. He turns around and looks in the mirror to confirm that his collar is empty.

Daniel comes out of their bathroom and notices James' fashion crisis. "Do you want a tie?"

James hesitates for a second. "Nope."

"Did you think of your dissertation over the summer?" Daniel asks.

James looks at him. "My what?"

Daniel's speechless, unsure of how to respond.

The first year of the Sci-Tech program is a preliminary year. All the students must get their express Ph.D. by the end of the year to continue. They'll only have to get some papers out there, meet a certain word count depending on the field, and face criticism or publication. Both results equal a pass. Then, once accepted to continue the Academy, students have the option to advance their express Ph.D. or they could dabble somewhere else.

James laughs before patting his shoulder and walking his friend to the door. "Don't worry about me."

He knows Daniel will worry, anyways, but it was worth a shot. James is expected to complete a dissertation and earn an express Ph.D. by conducting independent research. Everyone started theirs last year, most after their high school graduations. He was supposed to begin over the summer but he couldn't find anything worth solving.

But he's doubling in Operations so maybe he's an exception to the rule. Fingers-crossed.

-o-

Cafeteria - 7:37 AM

They thought they would get lost on the way to the cafeteria, but they found their way since everyone was going there.

And when they enter, a mess of noise comes from everywhere. It's almost like Concrete Beach but exchange the alcohol and mechanical bull for kids from the other two Academies. It's easy to identify who was in what program based on what they were wearing. Operations kids were in their training uniforms (mandatory for the first day) while Communications and Sci-Tech kids blended in their civvies.

Angela and Merida head towards the spiralling line and wait. Other Operations kids give them that nod as respect for sharing the program. Maybe they'll see them in around an hour when classes start. Did it look like they shared a weight class?

"It's our first day!" Angela exclaims, holding Merida's arm excitedly.

"Exactly," Merida says, not bothering to take her arm back. "So keep your energy intact because we have over a hundred more. And another four years."

"I bet Emily's being served wine and cheese on a silver platter."

"With a side of caviar and a view of the sunset."

"Lucky сука." Merida scoffs as they take a few steps forwards. "Speaking of food, we're about to enter the war-zone. Do you know what you want?"

Angela looks ahead and sees the food service of the cafeteria consists of students from every Academy darting from station to station, seeing what they want within the options and before someone else snags it. Classes haven't started and they were already eating each other alive.

"No," Angela says, eyeing whatever might be left by the time she gets inside. "Do you?"

Merida laughs, holding on to Angela's arm tightly. "Nope."

-o-

Operations' Training Room A - 8:13 AM

Angela walks into her first class about fifteen minutes early. It takes place in one of the training rooms so it's an open space with a high ceiling. Some equipment rests to the side after being put away by the previous class of upper years. It's evident in the smell that the room was just used. The room is mixed with freshies and upper years. The major differentiation is that the freshies have fresh, crisp uniforms. Upper years are covered in sweat and have tears and patches in various places. Both the person and the uniform look rundown.

They smile wickedly seeing the freshmen. Angela smiles back although she's being looked at as fresh meat. Maybe that's where the term freshie comes from? When Angela spots Xavier, she gravitates towards him.

Before the twins could greet each other, professors (or trainer, or even SHIELD agent; same things) start yelling. There's a flood trying to get the upper years out quickly to the showers and the first years to walk in like they own the place and stand in a straight line across the space. The chaos combined with yelling has become white noise in seconds. They're being called cadets and freshies and every other iteration.

They went from high school seniors (the head cheerleader and football captain) to the bottom of the barrel.

-o-

Sci-Tech's Lecture Room - 8:17 AM

They didn't sit at the very back, but not the very front either. Daniel and James sit in the middle of a row in the centre of the room. It wasn't intentional. Although they were early, there weren't many seating options that had two available seats next to each other. Almost every row had a pattern of seats that were taken and vacant. Nobody knew each other and it was obvious because nobody wanted to sit beside each other unless there were no other seats left. Then it's the question of which empty seat you choose because the two strangers on both sides will give you looks. It didn't help that the desks were really row-long tables with chairs. Personal space is trivial.

The moment they spot two empty seats next to each there, Daniel and James bolted like children. It didn't help that the chairs spun 270 degrees and they were so easily amazed. People around them look up from their laptops for a second before returning to minding their business.

"Alright, let's start," the professor (or SHIELD agent; same thing) says.

The class goes pin-drop silent and over a hundred pairs of eyes face the man in the front. The room was large, resembling a movie theatre with rows that become more elevated the rows became by a single stair step. All seats face the centre of the room, the teacher and his background array of whiteboards.

The professor smiles warmly at the class. "I always feel honoured to lead the Oath of Enlistment."

-o-

Operations' Training Room B - 8:20 AM

The Oath of Enlistment.

Merida knows about that. On cue from her trainer, she and her surrounding classmates stand straight.

It's a promise that every freshie makes before the start of their classes. They have to swear to adhere to the SHIELD Code of Conduct for their entire academic career at The Academy. And at graduation, when they become agents, they repeat it. They enforce discipline, order, all the good things.

"Raise your right hand and repeat after me," the trainer starts. All the students follow, raising their hands at the same level as their heads. "I, state your full name."

Everyone repeats the first word with the same monotonous voice. Then it's a cacophony of everyone's names that turns into laughter. They're all shushed and it takes a few seconds for the laughs to simmer because it's disrespecting the Oath. Then, they're all quiet as they wait for the next statement.

During the Oath, Merida's mind goes elsewhere as her mouth repeats the words like a robot. This feels longer than the Pledge.

-o-

Sci-Tech's Lecture Room - 8:24 AM

Daniel has to nudge James to look straight ahead. James glances at his friend as he clears his throat and raises his hand even higher with a bright toothy grin on his face. In any other situation, Daniel would've facepalmed (which he would've done if his dominant hand wasn't in the air to show allegiance). Why did it have to be him watching James? What did the universe ever do to him? It did him a favour because he effortlessly brings a smile to his face.

"Have been appointed a cadet for SHIELD Academy," the professor continues. He's not reading off a sheet so he had this memorized. It must've been that big an honour.

As everyone drones through the line, James slightly leans in closer to Daniel and repeats it with an awful British accent. Daniel has to take a breath, exhaling through his nose and biting down on his lips to prevent himself from laughing.

-o-

Operations' Training Room A - 8:28 AM

As they follow and repeat what the lead officer says, Angela finds the words getting caught in her throat. This is real life. It hits her that this is bigger than herself. She stopped paying attention and almost lowered her hand, but thank god she didn't. Instead, she mouths the words and looks at the ground. She feels tears starting to form in her eyes and reaches the point where she stops mouthing. Is this really her life?

Xavier notices Angela's trance and nudges her with his left arm. She jumps a little but not enough for anyone to notice. She looks at him for a moment before back at the leading officer.

"So help me God."

"So help me God," they all repeat. She will need it.

Everyone disperses. Students start mingling with each other, finally relieved to lower their arm after an oath that seemed like it would last to graduation. In a sense, it will.

Angela exhales out of relief as she looks at Xavier. "Is it bad that I'm already scared?"

Instead of responding, because he didn't know the right answer, Xavier wraps an arm around Angela's shoulders to comfort her.

The lead agent calls their attention once again. "Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your life. Welcome to SHIELD Academy. Class is now in session."

They're starting their first day while I'm coming out of my first winter exam in second year. It went bad. Life's great.