Working on this while helping my friend move out of residence. It's not that I'm being a bad friend and not helping with the lifting. She just wanted me to stay outside with her stuff. The funny thing is that she felt bad for making me sit out here and just wait, but it gives me time to write so I'm cool with it.

Year Two: A Multifaceted Experience

Operations' Training Room A - 12:44 PM

It's been endless laps and weights for weight class A … and that was only the warm-up. Lucky for these cadets, their bodies are so used to the physical exertion that some are only breaking a small sweat. For others, they had to retrain their bodies again from summer break. Everyone is at a different weight, even in weight class A, but they're all challenged.

"Where's all the cool stuff?" Brody asks sarcastically. "They don't do this in movies."

"Check out the deleted scenes," their prof, not catching the tone, responds with an eerie seriousness.

"I hope I stop hurting by tomorrow," someone else whines.

The pace is comfortable. Nobody wants to burn out before the day's first physical evaluation. They will be timed for how many of certain reps they can complete in a minute.

But that's for the second half of the class.

"Now, look up," their professor instructs.

The class looks upwards and sees a small white flag hanging from the centre of the ceiling. They were familiar with the possibility of this. Every second year Operations class has a task to complete. The year before had to climb a rope without supports. The year before that to perfectly hit a moving target blindfolded. This? This was a game of capture the flag without needing to search for it.

"Your task is to get that flag," their prof instructs, "but you're not allowed to use any equipment or the observation deck, as if that were possible."

The class continues looking up at the dangling flag. The ceilings were way too far up for them to jump and there's no grating around that they could use to climb. It makes them wonder how the flag got up there. They probably used a ladder. Bad examples.

"Angela, why don't you use your cheerleading moves?" Brody teases.

The class echoes like a chorus, waiting to see Angela's reaction. She looks unamused at the poke at four years of her life but isn't mad.

"You mean throw you like a pom-pom," Angela suggests.

The class gets more riled, making Angela grin. Who knew the sweet girl had it in her? The attitude, not the action. They know she can throw him back to Australia. Brody laughs back, seeing her angle as he walks right up to her.

"Alright, Rogers, let's do it," Brody says. Angela isn't sure if Brody is testing her bluff or really wants to be thrown up there to get the flag.

The cheers get louder as the professor steps between them with a disapproving look on their face.

"There will be no manhandling in this class," their professor says.

"But you said we could get the flag any way," Brody argues.

The professor gives an annoyed face.

Brody clears his throat. "Yes, sir."

As the professor turns around to start the next drill, Angela pumps a fist in the air, mimicking the start of one her routines, even mouthing ready, okay! Brody laughs at her.

-o-

Operations' Training Room B - 13:08 PM

The entire class jumps when their professor pulls a gun at them. Some step back, whimper and scream a little. What the hell, right? Contrary to that, Merida gives their professor a strange face and James blinks. That's happened in his dreams many times with different people on the other side.

Their professor smiles maniacally, putting the gun away. Who gave that masochist a gun? "Any suggestions?"

James puts up his hand. "Switch programs."

Merida cracks a smile.

-o-

Embassy of Egypt in Sudan - 18:45 PM

They had a conference to attend with a lot of other delegates from other surrounding countries. Ever since Iqadi and Imanu got married, after they had time to adjust to their new lives and each other, they were handed more royal responsibilities. One of their new roles was to attend formal events on behalf of their parents.

Iqadi's been to a lot of them growing up so she's used to the environment to an extent. She understands the atmosphere and mannerisms, but she's used to being in her parents' shadows. Now, she's the one answering questions.

Imanu hasn't attended one on his own since he isn't prepared (nor would he ever want to). He was always scared of saying the wrong thing or being judged by people whose names he didn't want to get wrong. Luckily for him, Iqadi did most of the talking. All he did was stay by her side, agree with her words, and, sometimes, add a few points to support her.

And people didn't mind. They loved seeing the sharply dressed young couple in a room with people who have decades of life and experience on them. They're mutually adoring of one another, mirroring beaming smiles with loving intimate touch rituals. Sometimes, Imanu would lead her one way by gently touching the small of her back. There would be moments where Iqadi would turn around and make sure Imanu was behind her, eyes dazzling when she would see him although she knows he's there because he would never leave her.

It's the honeymoon-style affection that makes the day better for everyone; makes them more approachable and warm.

After the introductions and welcoming chats, they were escorted to the main banquet room to listen to speeches and policy changes. Iqadi and Imanu are seated in the front row, both looking at the man behind the microphone as he delivers his message.

Iqadi's legs are crossed at the ankle as Imanu sits with one arm stretched over onto her lap, holding her hand. Iqadi holds it with both of hers.

In between speeches, they look at each other. Their faces are so close that nobody could make out their words when they would whisper, but their smiles were visible.

"I can't be the only one bored," Iqadi says to him.

"I'm not," Imanu responds.

Iqadi is taken aback for a second, moving her head back a little. "Really?"

"I've entertained myself by thinking about going home."

Iqadi looks at him, laughing a little as he kisses her cheek.

-o-

Academy Courtyard - 14:53 PM

Ashton and Angela could believe what they were watching, for once. It's something normal and, although they've had the same reactions every time they saw it, it always baffled their minds that it happened. Right before their eyes was Xavier talking to one of their Operations classmates. She was a cute girl and wanted it to be known to Xavier that she was cute. Her smile was extra bright and she fiddled with her hair, trying to mask they were planned gestures.

Ashton and Angela know this routine because they understand these social cues. A girl wants Xavier's attention so she acts extra. Xavier can register that the girl is cute but he won't understand why she's being cute to his face. He has this Britney block in his brain that renders him from processing this new romance-related information although he's been through it on multiple occasions in the Academy (even in high school when he and Britney were together. His body still doesn't understand what it's like to be without her).

It's regularly scheduled programming with the same ending.

Ashton facepalms as Xavier walks over to them after chatting with the cute girl. If he was talking to her, he would've scored. Maybe he could run over after. Angela sighs, shaking her head disgracefully. She was no Britney, but that's okay. Nobody's Britney.

"He was never in the flirting game," Angela finds the need to remind Ashton every time. He needed it.

Xavier heard that which was Angela's intention. "Maybe it's good that my heart's broken. At least I know that I can handle it."

Ashton shakes his head. "Dude, you fucking can't."

Xavier glares at him before straightening his back. "Actually, I did my research this time. Studies show that people with only one love in the past are more content."

"I've read that study and that applies to actually being in a second relationship." Ashton scoffs disappointedly. "Geez, you can't even have a proper confirmation bias."

"Yeah, well, love is a multifaceted experience."

"Wow." Angela states. "Multifaceted. Did the study teach you that word too?"

Xavier glares at his twin's fake plastered smile used to smite him. "Shut up, both of you."

Iqadi and Imanu's moment was inspired by Meghan and Harry because I'm in love with them.