This chapter has a place in my heart.

Year Two: Focus on Me

Wakanda's Palace - 2:49 AM

Iqadi returns to the palace later than expected but nobody minds. It's not like she had a curfew to obey. She walks through the hallways, smiling and greeting the night staff while filling them in on a line of her trip. Although she only met Emily for lunch, she did her homework (riveting content, if she must admit) and it got her to rethink about her argument with Imanu. The more she thinks about it, it's like a petty disagreement that escalated because it crossed the lines of their values and, come to think of it, was that their first fight as a married couple?

Iqadi stops at her bedroom door and sees the light on from the space underneath. She opens it slowly and sees Imanu turning around to face her. Their eyes are spooked with a tinge of sadness as she closes the door behind her and walks inside towards him.

"I thought you were coming back tomorrow," Imanu says.

"I didn't think you'd be back either," Iqadi responds, "or that you'd be asleep."

Imanu shrugs, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "Look, Iqadi -"

"No, Imanu, I'll go first but I'll be quick because we're both tired." She takes a seat next to him, on the perpendicular side to him, leaving the corner. "I said your point wasn't fair but you're right. I was a bit selfish in thinking that it's a day all about the Black Panther but it's really about Wakanda. A great leader isn't a great leader if they have nothing to lead. I understand how much it scares me to watch my father fight and you were terrified of being there your first time. I'm not one to change tradition or propose the idea but I'm telling you that I'm sorry and I get your point."

Imanu looks at her and his face softens. "I just didn't want to live without you. I would love to watch you to fight for Wakanda but I can't stand the thought of you dying."

Iqadi nods. "I wouldn't be able to bear it either." She smiles a little as she leans in closer. "You know my mother hates it for that reason as well."

"My opinion still stands. I still respect your tradition and will continue to till my last breath."

"Good. I wouldn't want you to change it because of me."

Imanu mimics her small smile before hugging her. Iqadi wraps her arms around him and rests her chin on his shoulder, closing her eyes at how smooth that conversation went.

-o-

Cafeteria - 15:17 PM

On their way to their next classes, Ashton, Angela, and Xavier walk through the cafeteria. They weren't getting anything to eat but it was a short cut to get to the aviation building, and it was raining. It wasn't pouring so getting drenched wasn't their issues. They would get so much crap from their professor from coming in even the slightest bit damp. It had something to do with all the training technology they use for flying, but their classmates believe their prof is hydrophobic. Because what kind of airplane, especially a SHIELD-level quinjet, wouldn't be waterproof?

"You want to know the worst thing I did in school?" Ashton questions. "I left school in the middle of the day because I wanted to. You know, get to experience skipping school as most kids did. I got to the end of the parking lot before wimping out and going back to school. That's when I got caught. I got an in-school suspension for coming back."

Xavier laughs at how horrible that luck is. Imagine getting caught the moment you decide to be the good man. " … why did you go back?"

"Dude, my mom's Latina. Imagine the shit I'd get for a phone call home. What did your white parents do - wait, did you even skip classes?"

"I have." He's not offended by that assumption.

Ashton gasps sarcastically which also doesn't offend Xavier. "Really? What did your parents do?"

"Ask Angela about my whereabouts and smack the back of my hands." He laughs a little, especially at Ashton's irritated face.

"Your poor, poor football hands." He rolls his eyes in annoyance. "I got slippers thrown at my head. You won't believe my mother's aim."

"How many did she throw at you for your suspension?"

Ashton looks away. "I don't want to talk about it."

As they continue talking, Angela finds herself getting more lost in her thoughts. It's not like she was really listening to Xavier and Ashton's conversation. She hasn't heard anything from James. He must've fallen so far off the edge of the Earth that the might as well have never existed. Would her life be better? Her body still feels like a pinball machine ever since their breakup. Her thoughts and feelings were just bouncing from one end to the other, building energy but having nowhere to go. She didn't tell anyone. Who could she tell? It was obvious that James hasn't told anyone or else the others would've checked up on her. Angela isn't sure what to do but she feels as if her pinball machine will explode. Is she going mad?

"Xavier," Angela calls loud enough for him to hear. "I can't breathe."

"What?" Xavier asks, turning to face her. His expression immediately drops when he sees her starting to cry and start gasping for air. "Angela!"

Angela stops walking and Xavier turns so that he's standing in front of her. He holds her trembling body by the arms as he pulls her off to the side with Ashton behind him. Angela's holding her chest, trying to find air amid her crying. Xavier feels her forehead and wipes away the tears from her eyes and sweat from her temples that have already dampened the ends of her hair. Xavier isn't sure what's happening or what to do. He feels the need to panic but he has to take care of his twin. He promised his parents despite doing so regardless of his word or not. This is his sister. She continues shaking and that's when he forces her to sit on the ground with him.

Xavier quickly wipes his teary eyes with his sleeve. He holds her face with his hands and forces her to look at him. "Angela, focus on me, please. Just look at me and copy my breathing."

Xavier tries his best to do slow breaths but his chest feels like it's constricting because of Angela's distress. Seeing her break down like this out of the blue is unlike her. He wasn't aware if anything happened to her which worsens her.

"I'll get her water," Ashton says, running into the cafeteria.

Xavier nods although he doesn't want to be left alone. Out of everything he's been through thus far, he has never been more scared until now. Seeing her teary eyes looking into his terrified ones must help her calm down because he knows that she doesn't like seeing her like this. It must be working. Xavier feels her body calm down the longer she stares at him. There are fewer tears, her pulse slows down, and he lowers his hands to her shoulders. Xavier feels calmer but he's expecting some sort of aftershock.

And there is but it's not as bad. Instead of exploding like a bomb, Angela starts sobbing softly to herself. Xavier hugs her tightly, holding her close. He holds back his own tears as much as he can but that doesn't last long.

"Mind your own business!" Ashton yells at the people who decided to stop by and gawk. The Rogers twins are having an emotional breakdown in the middle of the cafeteria? Who wouldn't want to watch? "Go on with your boring-ass lives!"

"Come on," Xavier says, helping Angela up. He looks at Ashton. "Thanks, man. I owe you."

Ashton shakes his head as he passes Xavier the water. "Nah, I'll take the notes for the three of us. Just make sure she's okay."

Xavier nods as Ashton pats his arm and continues heading to the aviation building, running there this time. Xavier looks down at Angela who's wiping away her own tears. He hands her the water and he leads her in the opposite direction.