I couldn't wait to get to this little arc.

Intersession: Guys Night III: Part One

Alumni Residence - 8:04 AM

There's a reason why Xavier always takes the stairs—many reasons, actually. It's faster for him to go up and down the stairs (sometimes he would be at his destination floor before the elevator arrived to get him), and he doesn't like the peak hours when everybody's either leaving or coming back. He could never have a slow and solo ride from Floor A to B.

Yet, for some reason, he is taking the elevator now. He leans against the cold, reflective wall and looks up when the elevator unexpectedly stops. He watches the doors open and sees Daniel and Imanu get on.

"Hey," Xavier says as the doors close.

The elevator continues its descent.

"I haven't seen you since the meeting with the SOs," Daniel says. "Where have you been?"

Xavier shrugs, not because he doesn't want to answer. He actually has no clue where he's been since his mind was one place while his body was in another.

Imanu clears his throat. "I'm not sure if Daniel was permitted to share any information from that meeting with me, but he did and I'm sorry that your supervisor is keeping you here."

Xavier laughs a little. "I don't mind that you know and thank you. But it's not a bad thing, right? The Academy is amazing cause of all the stupid residence stuff I have to do like call maintenance people for work order forms or handle smoke alarms that go off for too long, or run Common Sense workshops and be on call at all times. I was at Atlantic all day yesterday breaking up a neighbour dispute over one of them playing guitar and someone else calling it racket."

"I'll trade you that for royal protocol."

Xavier looks at him for a moment, considering it. He remembers stories of Imanu telling him all the drills and lessons he's had to sit through since he and Iqadi got engaged. They've been married for almost five years and he's still being taught things and corrected on others.

"Yeah, you can keep that shit. I'm never doing royal protocol."

The elevator stops again and Xavier almost gets off before realizing they're still not on the ground floor. The doors open and James walks on, grinning happily when he sees his friends inside already.

"Xavier Rogers taking the elevator instead of the stairs?" James questions rhetorically. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going home for the weekend," Xavier tells them.

"Vander gave you time off?" Daniel asks.

"No, but he'll understand. If a cadet can't microwave instant noodles without burning down the place, then they shouldn't be here."

"I don't think that's how it works."

"I just want to sleep in my own bed, ask my mom to make mashed potatoes, and buy shit from Costco with my parents' membership. I'm going on a vacation."

"You really need one," Imanu mutters.

"Hence this."

"You're going home," James states. "That's not a vacation."

Xavier turns to James who still has the same stupid grin he's had since walking onto the elevator. For once, he couldn't think of an argument because James was right. He'd never tell him that though, but silence is worth a thousand words.

"But your kind of vacation that actually sounds nice," Daniel says.

"I'd like to experience a Costco," Imanu adds.

Xavier's eyes widen. "You've never been? We're definitely going now. I'm getting you a hot dog."

"I want mashed potatoes from Peggy," James says.

The elevator stops again and Keith steps into the car with all the boys looking at him. The moment Keith sees them, his body juts to the side as if to start running for the stairs, but the steps aren't worth it so he walks inside.

"Hi Keith!" James greets too excitedly for 8 in the morning. Even Xavier grimaces at the loud volume.

"Gentlemen," Keith responds as the elevator continues its descent. "I don't even know why I'm awake, but what are you all up to?"

"Wanna come to Brooklyn?" Xavier asks.

-o-

Keith doesn't remember saying yes … or even answering the question. It felt as if he blinked and then he was in the backseat of Xavier's car as he was driving off The Academy's grounds. Daniel sits shotgun while Keith was sharing the back row with James in the middle and Imanu on the other side.

As if he had a choice in joining them. Then again, would Keith have said no? It's not like he had any other plans let alone any plans. Besides, would he really say no to a free trip to Brooklyn? Even if that trip was with James and Xavier, it's a free ride.

"So… New York … why Brooklyn?" Keith asks before stopping himself. He knows better. He's read and watched every Captain America biography and war documentary. Brooklyn is his home base.

He's so socially derived that that's the best conversation starter he could've created.

"Nevermind, I know where you live," Keith says before realizing how weird that sounds. "Not that I know your exact address—"

Xavier eyes him through the mirror for a moment and Keith looks away. This is why he doesn't interact with jocks, let alone Xavier Rogers.

James jumps a little in the middle seat. "Punch buggy no punchbacks!"

He punches Keith's arm and Keith glares.

"I wish I could punch you back…" Keith grumbles.

"Do it," Xavier tells him.

"Did you tell your parents we were showing up?" Daniel asks.

"Considering that I planned it to be just me, no."

Daniel sighs as he takes his phone out of his pocket.

"Don't give me that," Xavier tells him.

"Don't give me that," Daniel mocks as he holds his phone to his ear.

"I have a lot on my mind."

"I'm sure all the residence buildings are still there. Hi, Steve— yeah, Xavier didn't tell you this but we're stopping by for a night or so." Daniel leans forwards to hear his phone call better while the other boys argue from the backseat. "What was that? James, shut up!"

"He hit me!" James yells.

Keith grins. "I saw another punch buggy."

"That was some small electric car," Imanu says.

"I know."

Xavier groans. "You two shut up or I'm turning this car around!"

The boys in the back freeze, even Imanu and Daniel who weren't even being yelled at. Even Steve on the other side of the line is quiet for a moment before talking again. Keith and James still narrow their eyes at each other like young bickering siblings on a road trip.

"Your dad says hi, by the way, and to be careful driving," Daniel says.

"I am!" Xavier yells.

"Do you want me to drive?"

"It's fine!"

Daniel shrugs. "So, yeah, Steve, it'll be me, Xavier, Imanu, Keith, and James. Xavier wants mashed potatoes."

"Why would you tell him that?"

"Cause you're depressed."

"I am not—!" Xavier grips the wheel and takes a breath. "Should've said Imanu wanted them."

"I wanted to go to Costco," Imanu says.

"Dad, Imanu wants to go to Costco as well. Should we go there first or-?"

Daniel listens to a response. "He says to pick up many bags of potatoes cause you eat a ton. Your mom's also not home at the moment but should be after Costco."

The boys in the back laugh and Xavier glares are them through the mirror.

-o-

If there was one skill Xavier has mastered, it's driving and parking at Costco. It could be a crowded weekend afternoon or the day right before a major holiday, and Xavier could navigate it as if it wasn't a busy hour. He could sense Daniel being stressed out by his driving in the parking lot, grabbing the handle above him as if he was about to crash into a family and their shopping cart. (He wasn't). James kept trying to backseat drive and point out empty parking spots, but as usual, Xavier ignored him.

Finally, Xavier swerves into the perfect spot. It was close enough to the entrance and near a cart lot (but not too close that people will drive their carts straight into his car).

He parks the car and sees stages of scared on all their faces. He grins.

"We're here."

They slowly get out of the car.

Imanu grabs a shopping cart for them once they approach the store, but Xavier takes it from him. Not only does Imanu have to experience the wonders of Costco without thinking about cart traffic rules and making sure they don't lose it in the bakery section, but pushing the cart gives Xavier something to do.

Xavier shows the store greeters his parents' membership on his phone and they enter the giant world of Costco. Shelves and tables of random items from clothes to appliances and then dog food, all together under one industrial roof.

"Wow," Imanu states.

"Ain't it great?" Xavier asks, patting Imanu's shoulder. "Now, you guys go ahead and find stuff. Get all the samples."

"Bye!" James exclaims, grabbing Keith and Imanu's hands and leading them further into the store at top speed.

Xavier laughs to himself. "Children."

"Give me the cart," Daniel says, taking it from Xavier. "You go find free samples with them."

"It's fine."

"Be serious with me. Are you good?"

Xavier looks at him for a second. He's serious about asking that question. "Yeah, yeah … why wouldn't I be? I'm at my favourite vacation spot with my friends."

"You said you wanted to be alone."

"Changed my mind." Xavier takes the cart back. "Let's get potatoes and get out of here with all the samples."

-o-

They lost the others, but Keith could never lose James no matter how much he tried. It's like back at The Academy, sometimes he would turn around and James was somehow always there. For some reason, against his will, he has a James radar. At least now, unlike at The Academy where there would always be a chorus of Hi Keith followed by something annoying, James was approaching him with a handful of paper cups with samples.

For once, that James Pym and his sociable charm were useful. He could bypass the "one sample per customer" limit for anything from butter toast to free laundry pods (the latter of which Keith filled his pockets with). They also got some energy drink samples and grabbed some boxes, dropping them in the cart when they passed Xavier and Daniel in the vegetable section before disappearing again.

"This is some hazelnut coffee cake," James says, handing one paper cup to Keith and another to Imanu. "It's also five dollars off."

"It's very crumby," Imanu says as the cake falls apart in his fingers. He still eats it though.

"We're getting five. I'm stocking up."

The boys walk over to the display and grab some hazelnut coffee cakes, thanking the server with the samples.

"Actually, I might bring one back for when Iqadi and I return to Wakanda," Imanu mutters, grabbing an extra one.

"Good call," Keith says.

"I see a BBQ sample!" James exclaims as he scurries over.

"I'll leave him to deal with that one," Imanu mutters. "I'm not dealing with that crowd of people."

Keith glances over and sees a whole pile of people waiting for the BBQ samples. He couldn't tell you what exactly was being served, but the salty scent made his mouth water. He would also join the dogpile, but James is making himself useful and would probably return with the whole animal.

"This whole store is crowded," Keith says. They've bumped into so many people even if they were standing in place.

"I say that and I've worked in the mines," Imanu cracks a smile. "My wife would feel so claustrophobic in here, but Kili would have the time of her life."

At least with Imanu, he was someone Keith could relate to more. A vastly intelligent and introverted underdog who somehow made it to the top and questions how he got there every single day. Someone who eventually fell for a girl totally out of his league but, unlike Keith, won the girl at the end of the day because she chose him.

And the guy worked with vibranium which is fucking cool.

Still, Keith's met Princess Iqadi before (look at him, saying he met the Princess of the coolest country in the whole world), but hearing Imanu talk about her makes her feel more like a real person than someone he's bowed for when he didn't have to.

Daniel told Keith that married life changed Iqadi in the best way possible: that she became less rigid and more playful; that she was still the serious and regal heiress to the throne and Black Panther mantle, still comfortable and confident with who she was her whole life. Initially, Imanu saw her as the powerful princess who was the symbol of the country — and he still does, but then he witnessed her vulnerability and got to know who she was behind the castle walls. He had a different set of eyes and beliefs to how she was raised, and while she was still so fixed on her morals, he still brought wonderful additions when they wed that only made her beautiful life better.

Keith could only wish to have that effect on someone.

The two of them walk over the the books and toys section in the middle of the store and Imanu's eyes widen when he sees a giant box of large stuffed animals. Immediately, he darts over and starts digging through.

"Can I ask you something?" Keith asks.

"Found it!" Imanu pulls out a giant yellow stuffed chick. He looks over at Keith. "I have a younger sister." He grabs a stuffed panther at the top of the pile. "This is obviously for my wife. Sorry, what did you want to ask me?"

"That, kind of. When did you stop feeling like you had to earn it?"

"Earn what?"

"Your wife."

Imanu grins a little. "It hasn't stopped. She's changed my life in so many ways and I will forever be grateful for her. I don't want it to stop. I have her heart, sure, and I know she loves me but I want to always feel like I still have to earn her love, you know? She'll tell me I don't have to earn it, but the effort shows her that I love her, although she's very well aware."

Keith blinks. "That is the best advice that I don't know how to use."

"Pick something."

Imanu opens his arms to the giant cardboard box of plush animals. Keith takes a step closer and peers inside. So many options for toys, but only one girl is on his mind. A girl he still has to win over, whose heart he thinks he still has to earn, but here he is trying to pick an animal.

"Naomi would love this one," Keith grabs a giant stuffed walrus.

"Aww," James says, walking up to them with paper cups of BBQ sausage samples in his hands. He hands them out. Keith was so distracted that his James sensors weren't working. "Are you finally going to ask Naomi out?"

"What? No, I can't."

"Why not?" Imanu asks.

"Look at me!" Keith yells.

He didn't mean to yell that loud, nor did he think that a noisy Costco would've noticed him. He did say to look at him. Shoppers stare at him with samples in his hands and a giant stuffed walrus in his arms. At least he looks like the average Costco shoppers.

"I don't understand," Imanu mutters.

"I can't ask her out," Keith responds as everyone else returns to their regularly scheduled programming. "I'm, well, I'm me. What if she only sees me as a friend and then asking her out ruins the friendship?"

James shrugs. "Didn't ruin mine."

"Nobody asked you."

"You literally did."

"You don't count."

"What about Daniel and Emily?" Imanu asks. "Or Xavier when he had Britney? Those all started with friendship, did they not? Well, Emily and Daniel are a better example, but you get my meaning."

"… yes."

"My marriage to my wife eventually became a friendship I wouldn't trade for anything."

"What are you saying?"

"Get the walrus."

Finally, advice that Keith knows how to use. They walk through the store and find Xavier and Daniel in the potato chip section. They drop their giant stuffed animals in the cart. Xavier doesn't even react, but Daniel raises an eyebrow.

"I was advised to get the walrus in order to feel love," Keith states.

Daniel nods. "It's good advice."