I finished one French exam although I'm in the middle of another French exam due later...and they're with the same prof. The funny thing is that while I was doing the exam I just finished, she sent me (the class) an email reminding me that my other exam is due in nine hours. Like, merci Madame. (All of that makes the title of this story better).

That is good material for this story and, yes, I copied/pasted this AN from another story I updated. If you're reading both stories, then hi.

Year One: There's Still Time

Wakanda's Palace - 11:46 AM

"Iqadi, the suit is fine," Ororo tells her daughter.

"But, Mother -" Iqadi attempts to argue.

"No."

Iqadi bites down on her lips to prevent herself from talking. Instead, she turns around and looks at herself in the mirror. She's wearing her Panther suit, minus the mask, and her mother stands behind her.

"Darling, the problem is you," Ororo states.

Iqadi says nothing because she's right. She knew she was the issue but didn't want to hear it aloud. She has to admit that it's better coming from her mother and not her father. She keeps her eyes on herself in the mirror, watching her arms and fingers run up and down her crossed arms. She feels every fibre in the suit, thinking about how it was made and how much power it can emit. Even on its own, it's a weapon with vibranium sown into it. With movement, it builds kinetic energy that can be transmitted outwards. With her weather abilities, it becomes a disastrous storm she can't control.

"I know you hate hearing it but a good leader also has to learn through their faults," Ororo explains. "That way, you'd know what to fix."

"I know what to fix, Mother," Iqadi says. "I just don't know how. And don't tell me that I have to train because I know that. That's all I've been doing."

Ororo scoffs. She really is her father's daughter. "Iqadi, the suit is a vessel which means it has a limit for what it can contain. There's only a certain amount of energy it can hold before needing to release and it has to do so in a way that doesn't harm you. The weather's limit is the sky, the environment. It's exponentially greater than any uniform. It's the culmination of the universe at work and your body. You don't need to learn how to control your powers because you know how to do that. There's more to your Black Panther lineage than this suit. Once you start eating the heart-shaped herb, I don't know what will happen to the lightning you cast or winds you call."

"What are you saying?" Iqadi asks.

She tries not to think much about the heart-shaped herb. Iqadi knows that it enhances physical abilities so she never pictured the storms she could create. Her mother doesn't eat the herb and she can already destroy a city if she wanted to. The heir could ingest the herb too but she hasn't taken that option since she inherited weather manipulation. Because she's scared of what it will do to her. It helps that her parents and the Council are on the same page (without knowing her reasons). Maybe when she's closer to inheriting the throne. Whenever that is.

"I'm saying you have time," Ororo reassures.

-o-

Hudson Residence - 12:43 PM

Xavier throws clothes in a bag to the sound of his cheering neighbours. He's unaware of his smile but knows he's happy. He's finally free from first semester. Who wouldn't be overjoyed? Exams are finished, final grades will be submitted soon, Christmas is in a week, and he doesn't have to come back here for even more weeks. He will wake up in his own bed and think that the past few months here have been a dream.

Ashton groans as he looks out the window. "I have to drive home in that snow. By the time I get there, I'll have to drive back."

"Would you rather run laps in that snow?" Xavier asks.

Ashton thinks over that. Sitting in a heated car in the snow or running in the snow? He closes the curtain. "Good point."

"So, I'll see you next year."

"Next term."

"Few weeks."

"Next month."

"Same thing."

They smile at each other. They were great roommates and it's only been three months.

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 12:54 PM

Angela and Merida are doing the same as everyone else: packing what they will bring home. Merida shoves all she can into her suitcases because of all the laundry she didn't do (because why would she waste money and detergent doing laundry here when she could wait till she got home and do it for free? Or, better yet, her parents will do it for her for free since their precious little ребенок is home.) Angela closes her bag and sits on her bed, texting Xavier about when they're leaving because she's not driving in the snow. Besides, she and Xavier are carpooling.

"I will go home and die," Merida says, throwing her bag on the ground. "I'm too tired for this."

Angela nods, lowering her phone. "Exams are over. We should celebrate."

"That's what Christmas is for." She zips up her bag but stops halfway when she has an idea. "Hey, if I leave my car here, I can ride with Daniel."

"You just want to sleep in the car."

Merida nods as she takes her phone out of her pocket and starts texting him. "Both ways if I get a ride back. I'd ride with James but I don't want to jump out of the car when he opens his mouth. Same applies with you but even more because Xavier's there and you live in Brooklyn so I wouldn't do that to you."

Angela isn't sure if she's offended. She lost Merida within her reasoning while she was talking. "Thanks?"

"And Daniel's in my area so it makes the most sense."

That means you'd have to leave when he does if you want a ride back."

Merida looks up from her phone. She thinks about her options. Ride back with Daniel to sleep in the passenger's seat both ways but leave home earlier. Or drive herself both ways but can leave whenever. She debates with herself because she isn't sure. There are pros and cons for both. But when she feels a response from Daniel, her mind is made up.

Merida starts typing that she'll be at his dorm soon. "Sacrifices have to be made."

-o-

Edison Residence - 13:15 PM

"It's ridiculous!" Daniel explains. "It's half a mark for a comma!"

"A comma you decided to put a period over," James says.

With his report rolled up like a scroll and crumpled in his fist, Daniel points it at James. James smiles in a way that's about to turn into a laugh. He did that to spite him and Daniel hates him right now. But James is having the time of his life. Out of all the things that could've happened to Daniel to end off the school year, this was an unfortunate irony.

"I'm burning this," Daniel states.

"You said that days ago and you still haven't burnt it," James tells him. "I think you have attachment issues."

"I do not!"

"You clearly do if you attached a period to a comma."

Daniel couldn't continue his argument because there's a knock on the door. He would've exploded if James kept on talking. As he goes to open it, James finishes packing. Daniel opens it and sees a woman his height wearing the bright ruby-red hood of her cloak-like coat. Daniel looks at her up and down, following the chunky buttons to the belted waist and, eventually, the heeled black boots with dark jeans. When he looks back up at her face that he can't see due to the casted shadow caused by the hood, she raises her hands to remove it. The moment he sees her perfect manicure and emerald ring on the right ring finger, he smiles excitedly.

The hood comes off and her hazel eyes pop when they make eye contact. She unbuttons the hood and it falls onto her shoulders, turning the collar down.

"God, it's a blizzard out there," Emily says.

Daniel isn't sure what to say because he didn't expect to see her here. He thought there would be another day or two and it would be back in New York. His fiancée is here at the Academy. Months without seeing her in person and now she's right in front of him. It's a dream come true. Her smile and rosy cheeks (the latter likely from the cold) reflect his joy.

Before he could kiss her to make this moment realer and bring her into the dorm to avoid drawing attention from their neighbours also known as her admirers, James screeches and jumps between them. He falls to his knees and starts sobbing into her cloak that's already damp from the snow. Emily smiles, patting his head and leaning forwards to hug him back. Emily looks up at Daniel. Her face wrinkles in a confusion of what happened to him to which Daniel shrugs.

"Let's not waste time," Emily says, forcing James up to his feet. He continues to sob but now he's hugging her over the shoulders. Emily pats his back and closes their door with her boot before facing Daniel again. "We'll have a long car ride to catch up on the past three months for the both of us. I took a cab here from the airport and sent all my bags home so I'm going back to New York with you."

"Me too," James adds. He was about to drive himself home but change of plans.

Daniel nods. "That works."

Emily tilts her head a little. "James, go finish packing. We're getting out of here soon."

"Yes, ma'am."

The moment James returns to his bag, Emily walks up to Daniel and puts her arms over his shoulders, linking her hands that dangle behind his neck. Daniel holds her hips close to him.

"Comprehensive exams, how did those go?" Emily asks.

"Fine, actually," Daniel responds.

"I aced it," James pipes in.

"What?" Emily and Daniel question in the purest shock.

Even Daniel didn't ace his. First the commas and now this? Nobody, at least that he's heard from other people including some upper years, has aced theirs. At least, not until James. Emily claps for him.

"Apparently, I'm really good at comprehending," James states.

Emily stops clapping. How did he ace it? But she refocuses on Daniel and turns his face to look at her. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you more," Daniel responds.

He's about to kiss her again but the door opens. To their reliefs, it's only Merida with her bag. She looks at Emily whose jaw drops from excitement upon seeing her, Daniel, James, and everyone again. Seeing Emily here feels normal to her but, holy shit, it's been months.

"You're coming with us?!" Emily exclaims, going over to hug Merida.

Merida pauses, still processing the situation as she accepts Emily's hug. She really missed her friend. "Wait, we're all in one car?"

Everyone nods, even James who zips up his jacket. Merida's process of the situation comes to a freeze because she thought James was going home in his own car. Now, she will be riding alongside Daniel, James, and Emily, but mostly James and Emily since Daniel will be too focused on the snowy streets to talk. Those two will do all the chatting. And she'll be sitting in the back with James.

"О Боже…" Merida mutters. "I'll never sleep now."

I didn't plan for Emily to be here but, aside from missing her, it's a nice finale to semester one.

On that note, I will see you all later when I finish my second French exam.