You know, I was going to put this up tomorrow since it'll be my last day before break week, but I've had a day. I was late to a midterm and then the following class because of buses and traffic. Today hasn't been my day but this chapter fixes it. It's one of my favourites.

Year One: Home Sweet Home

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

Ever since her engagement announcement, the wedding was under preparation. Although everything was sketched to follow tradition, Iqadi had to smoothen some details. This was her wedding, after all. She spoke with planners, caterers, the Elders, everyone who was anyone involved. Imanu was by her side in case he had anything to add. It was his wedding as well. He didn't say much because he was too scared of everyone, even a bit intimidated by his fiancée.

Imanu was alright with everything. His family as well. He will be the groom at the royal wedding. It didn't matter how the wedding turned out.

"We need to talk about something," Iqadi says once she and Imanu are alone.

"About what?" Imanu asks.

"Sex." She crosses her arms across her chest.

Imanu tries to act as casual as her but can feel his cheeks reddening. He hopes she doesn't notice but she's Princess Iqadi so she sees everything but she doesn't react. She only waits for him to take part in this conversation. At least she was straightforward, as always. Imanu was only taken aback because he didn't expect to talk about sex right after lighting choices for the reception.

"What's your history?" Iqadi asks like an interview.

Imanu hesitates. It's not that he doesn't know the answer. He does. It's because he's still processing the conversation. She was so mechanical about this and he isn't sure how to feel. Did she care, feel concerned or was she trying to tick a box? Maybe all of the above because that's who she seems to be.

"None…" he mutters. Was that embarrassing? It felt like it was.

And he will be making love to Princess Iqadi. An actual goddess. He doesn't deserve this. No wonder she's asking.

Iqadi nods, smiling a bit. "Me too."

Imanu exhales, relieved.

Iqadi raises a brow at him. "Are you okay?"

That question is more embarrassing than asking about his sexual history.

Imanu nods. "Oh, fine. I never thought about that."

"It just occurred to me," she responds.

"Do you want to…?"

Iqadi purses her lips together. "If you want to."

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 6:50 AM

Maybe she didn't think this through. Angela was fine about asking him but now that it's getting closer to the actual event, she feels nervous. Emily told her it's supposed to be fun, not stressful. Britney once told her to have fun. And to not take it so seriously. (Then again, Angela ignored Britney's advice since she hooked up with Xavier. She didn't want to hear those details). Despite the advice, it was hard to keep calm. She now understands why James kept on freaking out. This is really out of their element.

"The real bicep workout is braiding your hair."

Angela looks up from her phone and sees some girls sitting nearby her in their residence's floor's common room. They're in the living room and some other girls are in the kitchen preparing small breakfasts for themselves. It's early so girls were walking by, getting ready for their days. Angela prepped by showering and eating an hour ago. Now, she's distracted by Orchid attempting to braid her hair. Angela finds herself getting frustrated at Orchid's arms knotted above and behind her head like a contortionist.

"Come here," Angela says.

Orchid drops her arms and scoots over. She sits on the floor in front of Angela on the couch. Angela puts her phone down and combs her fingers through Orchid's damp hair, likely from showering.

"What's up with you?" Orchid asks.

"Nothing," Angela responds as she parts the hair.

"Are you sure?"

"Okay, I know you're besties with my brother but don't tell him this."

Orchid starts riling at the idea of a secret. "Alright."

"My boyfriend and I will have sex for the first time this weekend."

Orchid claps for her. Angela smiles as she starts one of the braids. If there's anything she learned from living in residence for about a month, it's that everyone's open. People don't have to be necessarily close to each other to talk about these kinds of things.

"Woah!" Their RA, Simone, who sits on a couch across from them exclaims. She puts her drink down on the coffee table and leans closer, joining this conversation. "Sorry, I can't help it. You, freshie cadets, are like babies compared to seniors like me so this is exciting."

Angela almost drops the strand of hair she was twisting. This is the least baby activity but, sure. "I like your water bottle."

"Thanks," Simone says. "It can hold a whole bottle of wine."

Angela says nothing, unsure if she should ask if she was currently drinking wine. It's too early for that. Orchid looks like she wants some if that's the case. But Simone walks over and sits beside Angela on the couch, starting on Orchid's second braid.

"Orchid, are you a virgin?" Simone asks.

Orchid shakes her head, making the girls pause their braiding. "I'm not misinformed about sex. I grew up on a farm. Animals had sex left and right and, sometimes, we made them. Then again, they do it in the same position on the daily without consent and condoms. But I know about humans from actual experience with consent and condoms."

Angela pauses, taking a second to process that. "Probably should've started with that."

Orchid shrugs. "Look, you and James might not do this the first time but do you know that position where they hold your knees up?"

Angela doesn't respond when Orchid acts it out from where she's sitting but Simone's nodding wildly. Was there something Angela missed out on?

"Yes!" Simone says before laughing a little. "It hurts like a bitch!"

"But guys like that for some reason."

"Something about angles."

Simone looks at Angela. "Take this wisdom: when you know you will get some, you should always have fruit-scented wipes and clean around the area before going to town."

" … what?" Angela questions.

"Yes," Orchid supports. "I never carried wipes but that's good advice."

"I have everything in my dorm," Simone says. "I got lube, condoms, the morning-after pill, pregnancy tests, everything. Even all the fruits. Does your boy have a preference?"

Angela hesitates. "I don't know."

"She's not a berry girl," Orchid says. She turns around halfway and pokes the side of Angela's boob. "She's got some peaches. Or maybe go for cherries since it'll match the mood."

The apples of Angela's cheeks start reddening, especially when Orchid winks at her. Perfect to match this awkward mood.

Simone nods, looking there and agreeing. "Don't worry, I got them all. The third drawer on the right. Everything's organized by berries, melons, Western fruits, and exotic ones. Take one or make a salad."

Orchid nods. "But it's better if he's tossing yours."

-o-

Banner Household - 8:38 AM

It's only been a month but it felt like so much longer. Possibly because more than just living arrangements changed. Their lives were flipped so much that it almost felt strange re-entering New York and seeing Stark Towers again. They got back late last night. It wasn't until the next morning did anyone really reconnect with their parents. During the moment between opening the door and seeing each other with fatigue, they can only catch up on the big things because it's too much of a tired bother to retell every little thing.

Although the little things are what make up life. But that's what the next morning is for.

"I went from seeing her every day to never seeing her," Daniel tells his parents about Emily. "It's weird. And everyone in my program is obsessed with her which is even weirder."

Betty nods, stirring her coffee. "Well, she's doing amazing things out there. What about what you're learning? How's that going?"

Daniel smiles a little. "My brain is always going because it's running on things I'm passionate about so it's easier to not feel exhausted."

"But please sleep. Now that you're here, you're getting a bedtime again."

Daniel is about to laugh but stops when his mom's face doesn't budge. " … you're serious?"

"I am."

Daniel looks at his dad. "Help me out here."

"With your bedtime?" Bruce questions. "Not a chance. But back to what you're learning."

"It's great. What's hard is knowing what to cite."

"There's always liberation in admitting you don't know something."

"But I did know it. Apparently, I had to cite common sense."

Daniel isn't amused when his parents laugh. They're published scientists with a combined total of doctorates in the double digits. They're happy that he finally understands their long-standing issue of research versus common sense. He's not thrilled.

"I have to get an athletic credit," Daniel points out. "At some point before grad."

"How about yoga?" Bruce suggests.

Daniel cringes.

-o-

Rogers Household - 8:48 AM

Xavier woke up in his old bedroom and it didn't faze him. In his brief moments of procession and delirium, he got out of bed, took a shower, shaved, and got dressed. He went down the stairs, said good morning to his parents, and started getting breakfast. It wasn't until looking out the window and seeing James's car in his driveway did he remember he came home last night. And he has to drop that car off before noon. The past month in The Academy felt like a dream.

Peggy smiles at her son when she sees the realization hit. "I was like that when I went home the first time. Everything you went through feels surreal, doesn't it?"

Xavier leans against the counter, facing his parents who sit at the table across from him. "Yup. I've noticed that there's really no learning there. Only survival."

"Gut feelings are a survival tactic," Steve says.

Peggy nods. "Yeah. You get used to it. It's so much more than a game. It's a passion, a lifestyle, a state of mind. Before you even realize it's happening, you get used to things being different."

Steve looks at his wife. "Peggy."

Peggy opens her arms. "What? I actually attended the Academy so I have more of a say in this than you. Disappointment is good for kids but they're bloody adults. It prepares them for the real world where it's not always about them and their feelings. They just have to man up and work through the motions, aiming to where they want and heading there."

"I have no clue where I'm going," Xavier says while looking down at his phone.

"See?" Peggy gestures an arm towards him to prove her point to Steve.

"No, I'm talking about where to drop off James's car."

-o-

Barton Household - 9:52 AM

Merida passed out after being suffocated by her parents' hugs. She forgets falling asleep but she woke up in her bed to the smell of pancakes. If turns out that her dad made pancakes. He said he would make them anyways but Merida doubts that. If she wasn't here, he would've eaten cereal while her mother made herself an omelette.

"I wasn't expecting you home till Thanksgiving," Natasha says, passing Merida the syrup.

Merida shoves a forkful of pancakes in her mouth. "I need my car."

"I missed you too."

During hard times, it's still okay to laugh. Merida just doesn't want to choke on her suppressed feelings or pancakes so she stops chewing and stares at her mother. It's too early for this.

Merida starts drowning her pancakes in syrup. "I have loads of time to miss you."

"You think you have time but you really don't," Clint says.

"You said time passes differently in New Jersey."

Clint nods. "Because it does. That place is basically a different universe."

Merida rolls her eyes but maybe her dad was onto something since a month passed in the blink of an eye. Fucking New Jersey…

"What are you doing now?" Clint asks. "You're not fighting yet, right?"

"Nope," Merida responds. "It's all muscle work and endurance and stamina building."

Natasha scoffs. "Boring. You haven't lived until you've crashed through glass. Peggy said they do that in the upper years."

"Oh, I want to do that! What class is that?"

Clint laughs. "It's not in the fine print of our job description, but what we do is dangerous."

Merida knows that because it's been ingrained in her brain ever since she could think.

Merida points her fork at her parents. "There is a fine line between dangerous and reckless."

Clint stops the pancakes he was grilling and Natasha looks up from her plate. They look at each other blankly before facing an unfazed Merida. She was completely unaware of the weird thing she just said. Fucking New Jersey…

"Wow," Clint states. "You've lived with Angela for too long."

Thank god I go it an all-girls university. Everyone, at least the ones I've spoken to, are very open about sex and all things related. (A lot of little conversation snippets in this story will have quotes from my life experience. Feel free to leave me some of yours as well and you might find them here).