Young Angela and Xavier flashbacks give me so much joy. (Even better now since today is Chris Evans' birthday).

Year Three: Big Kid Stuff

12 Years Ago - Death's Hill, Brooklyn

Angela and Xavier managed to convince their father to take them down Death's Hill when they were seven-years-old. In their eyes, Death's Hill was the real big kid stuff. Their mother tried to stop them but it snowed hard one night making the following school day a snow day, and the twins begged. So they bundled up at their mother's request and followed their father to the park.

Death's Hill was a hill in Brooklyn so steep that the slope was basically perpendicular to the ground. People avoided it during the year, especially in winter. Those who choose to go down the hill are said to have a death wish, hence the name, Death's Hill.

When they arrived at the park, Death's Hill was empty. Not surprising.

"Are you ready?" Steve asks, taking the shield off his back. At the twins' request and Peggy's objection, they wanted the shield as their toboggan. (Lucky for them, Peggy got called into work after she zipped up their jackets.)

"Yes!" Angela and Xavier yell, racing through the snow up the hill.

They never recovered from Death's Hill.

-o-

Present Day - Academy Field - 15:37 PM

The last time James went to a training class on the field was a year ago and he ended up having a target on his back and military crawling to his dorm. Now, everything should be better since it's only his weight class but there's a whole complicated obstacle course set before them with many levels and stages throughout. Surely, they've heard about this exercise and have seen upper years do it before. Shouldn't be that bad, right?

"Here's what you're going to do," Agent Summers says as she walks in front of the class, between them and the extensive obstacle course. "Start with a bunny hop over the first beam, college boy roll over the next and land on that first platform when you flip over. Walk up to the top where you'll find another beam to college boy rollover. Climb the rock wall on the other side and then leap over. Another college boy roll. Climb the rope and hoist yourself up to the final platform. Slide down the rope and get back on the ground. Run back around to the start of the course and repeat. You'll be doing this drill till the end of class."

"No, I'm not," James mutters. He stopped listening the moment he heard bunny hop.

"Can't you fly across?" Merida suggests.

James realizes that and nods. "Good idea."

-o-

"I thought you Avenger kids were supposed to be in shape?" Agent Summer questions James with a snarky tone.

James sucks his breath, doubles over, and puts his hands on his knees. He holds up a finger, indicating to give him a minute although he'd need at least sixty of them. His prof actually made him complete the course, no flying, and he got too dizzy after the first college boy roll. He spent too much of his energy wondering why it was called a college boy roll. Sounded stupid to him. He only picked up speed when Angela showed up near the end to watch as she waited for him.

When Agent Summers turns to talk to someone else, James spins on his heel and runs over to the bleachers. Where was that speed when he was running through the course? He'll never know. He was likely saving it to run away. When he arrives at the bleachers, he lies across the row where Angela sits placing his sweaty head on her thigh. He relaxes when she smiles down at him.

James pants for air. "Drinking before a combat evaluation will be 95% of my strategy."

"And the other 5%?" Angela asks.

"1% athletic talent and 4% luck."

It's all he has going for him since he has about 1% of athletic talent. The problem with him is that he doesn't realize he's an expert in a dozen different fields. But he did tell Angela he would try and, well, he's trying to try.

"Xavier and I went through that course yesterday," Angela says. "It was fun."

"Of course you found it fun," James moans. "I will never be the same again. I expect you to nurse me back to health."

Angela laughs. "Whatever you want, babe."

-o-

Training Room B - 17:05 PM

Merida walks away from the shooting range where after getting angry with a crossbow. She didn't miss any targets but she hated using it. She prefers her standard bow because she could feel the power build and be in control to feel its launch.

She passes by a station where Agent Vita holds up a paddle to help students build up height for roundhouse kicking. Merida heads over to Orchid and Ashton who practice sparring.

"You need a break?" Ashton asks with a grin.

Orchid heaves before taking a seat on the floor. "For your sake."

"Can you do that?" Merida asks, pointing at Agent Vita who demonstrates a roundhouse kick and flip combo.

Ashton sucks in a breath. "My body doesn't work like that."

-o-

The Next Day - Atlantic Residence - 14:27 PM

Angela exits the elevator and walks into her dorm floor's common area. Some girls are sitting on the couches, studying or chatting but Angela's attention turns to their kitchen where she sees Orchid cooking a storm in her pyjamas. Angela saunters over, mouth-watering at the heartwarming scent and she takes a seat on a stool at the kitchen island.

"Did you go to class today?" Angela asks since Orchid's in her pyjamas and Angela hasn't seen her all day.

"No," Orchid responds. "I decided to take a mental health day."

"What happened?"

"Yesterday, I had a lecture on aviation laws. I wore a hat with a shower cap underneath since I was hiding my hair mask. I somehow survived a three-hour lecture with that hair mask and 7% battery on my laptop. And then I got this this," Orchid lifts her leg and shows a giant bruise on her thigh, peeking underneath her shorts. It's many shades of purple on the outside with a reddish-pink centre.

Angela winces. "Good god, what class did that come from? The obstacle course?"

"Nope. Not a class. I hit my leg against my bed frame when getting out of bed." Orchid shrugs as she turns back to what she's cooking on the stove "So I've been cooking because it's an edible escape room."

Orchid turns back around and holds a steaming spoon with some cooked vegetables. Angela takes it and blows, glancing at the other dishes Orchid's made on the counter and the island in front of her. She recognizes some Southern dishes since Orchid's made them before. Fried okra and fried green tomatoes, collard greens, baked beans. Angela samples the fried okra Orchid handed her and her mouth waters in delight that Agent Moore dismissed her early.

Orchid smiles at her. "A secret to frying veggies in the South is to do it with bacon."

Angela chokes. "You know I'm a vegan!"

"Settle down, Brooklyn Babe, I used the weird vegan bacon solely for you. It's a sin that they even put the words vegan and bacon together." She shudders. "God, Angela, you're the last person I thought to be living in sin."

Angela laughs. " … that's the part that makes me sinful."

"Y'all might not be religious but I'll still force you to pray for forgiveness."

The part with Angela and James after the obstacle course was in one of the SA sneak peeks.

Okay, guys, this will be the last bi-weekly updates since the next chapter is the story's second anniversary special (meaning we'll be back Oct. 21st). Thank you to everyone who has been reading so far! PNG will be back July 2nd with weekly updates so stay tuned for that fun stuff.

Counterparts, aka chapters with the infamous Death's Hill that I can remember off the top of my head:
Emily's Counterpart - Chapter 108 (Toboggan For Days)
Britney's Counterpart - Chapter 235 (Twist & Turn)