To answer all the questions I've forgotten: yes, I have seen all the movie trailers that have been out. I'm excited for a lot of them. Hopefully, during my week off, I will get to go watch Birds of Prey (because I've been listening to Sway With Me on loop ever since it came out).

S/O to the music I was listening to for this chapter. No, I'm not telling you what it was.

Year One: Just Happened

Atlantic Residence - 18:04 PM

Angela and James sit across from each other on her bed. Both of them occasionally look at each other, hearts racing, minds wondering how to start this. Nobody could tell them how to get it going. They always spoke about the during but never the before which, in hindsight, is the most important part since you have to get to the during. Some help they were. But they could figure this out. It's their moment.

"Okay," Angela says with an exhale, "if you're feeling too much pressure about this, we don't have to."

"No, no, no…" James replies, turning to face her. "It's just - how do people do this so easily?"

"They don't think."

"All we do is think!"

"I know." She laughs a little. Angela's always thinking of something she has to do next and James is thinking of anything but what he has to do. "Maybe we should just shut our brains off for a bit."

"Or we don't and just -"

James reaches across and puts his hands on the sides of Angela's head. He repositions it so that it's facing him and he scoots a spot closer. As she stares at him, he keeps her gaze as he lowers his hands to her shoulders.

When was the last time they just sat down and looked at each other?

They're adults who have known each other since they were babies born a bit over a week apart. They grew up together without remembering a first introduction. The whole Angela, meet James and vice versa was ingrained in their minds. They knew each other but didn't. There was no true destiny for them like Emily and Daniel or a high school flame like Xavier and Britney. Angela and James weren't each other's first kisses, first crushes or first partner.

But they're with each other now. Looking at each other so intensely for the first time in eighteen years, there is nothing more they could ever want now.

James leans forwards and takes her hands into his. "Promise me this."

"Anything," Angela responds, waiting for him to continue.

"Tell me if anything's going wrong. I only care if you're enjoying it."

Angela's heart swells until it hurts, but it's the best pain ever. She's been with James for a while but that is the moment where she notes herself as the luckiest girl ever. This is his time as well and he's prioritizing her above all.

"I love you so much," Angela says.

James smiles at her before gently holding the back of her head to kiss her. Her mind is in a flurry as James's lips press up against her skin, igniting her insides. She finds one of his hands and puts it on one of her breasts, keeping her hand on top to hold it there.

James pulls back for a second and looks down without removing his head. He meets Angela's eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

"As much as you're sure about me."

Seeing the reassurance on his face, Angela pulls him back in. Once they start, they know there's no going back.

-o-

Rogers Household - 18:40 PM

"So how's Angela doing?" Steve asks.

Xavier looks up from his dinner plate and shrugs. He was texting her this morning and everything seemed fine. The Academy was still there and they still had class on Monday, unfortunately. He would know based on text messages if something was wrong. And there was no problem. Besides, if there was an issue, she could solve it herself. She would put out the fire and teach the classes herself.

"She's doing great," Xavier responds. His twin telepathy tells him so. The only reason he's glad Angela didn't come back home with him was that he didn't have to eat (or think about) a vegan dinner. Bless meat.

"Did James come back as well?" Peggy asks.

"Nope," Xavier responds, "just lent us a car."

Peggy puts down her fork and looks across the table at Xavier who went back to eating. No flags. Ignoring him for a second, she looks at Steve who hasn't even looked up from his plate. Doesn't know what flags are. Peggy sighs. As a woman who was once at The Academy, she knows what happens there because some things never change. As a mother, she's only happy that her daughter is dating a boy she knows and trusts. But she's calling that daughter right after the table's clear.

But god help the men in front of her. Like Father, like Son.

Peggy clears her throat. "Steve."

"Yes, dear?" Steve asks.

Still no flags in sight. "Pass the salt."

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 19:35 PM

Neither of them had any idea what they were in for. They were worried about doing something wrong. There was a lot of nervous laughter, questions making sure the other is okay, fumbling around. But once they got a rhythm, they stayed with it. And once they finished, or thought they finished, they felt accomplished.

James lies on her bed with a bright and proud smile. Wow. That just happened. He thought it'd be weirder but it wasn't because it was with the girl he loves.

He looks up and sees Angela walking back into their room. Was she always wearing some oversized tee that she stole from him before The Academy? When did she get it? He forgot all about that shirt. Because she had it for a while, obviously. It looks better on her. Way better. The way the thin fabric hugs her body but hides everything except her legs and arms. She can keep the shirt. A beautiful body that he got to explore as she took a trip around his.

What an adventure.

When they look at each other, there's less tension than before. Her hair falls beside her face and her cheeks are a pale rosy colour. She's smiling lighter but happier like there's this new glow to her. Her happiness relieves him of any nerves he had when she first brought it up.

Angela closes the door by leaning against it. She teeters back on her heels and her hair swoops in that direction, clapping past her shoulders as the door clicks shut.

"Did you change the sheets?" Angela asks, walking over to her bedside.

"Yeah," James responds, pointing to a pile of discarded sheets in the corner of the room. "I'll deal with those when I head out which won't be for a while."

He opens his arm and she climbs back into bed with him. She nestles in his embrace. Her breathing takes a few breaths to be at the same pace as his. Angela rests a hand on his chest and she swears she could feel his bioelectricity sparking so lightly from underneath his skin.

"I love you," Angela tells him.

"I love you too," he responds.

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day.