Speaking of the war, which we will discuss in this chapter, I took a day trip to Dunkirk while writing this chapter.

Intersession: Guys Night III: Part Two

Xavier's House, Brooklyn - 15:37

After paying for their purchases (a cart full of potatoes, giant stuffed animals, and boxes of grape energy drinks with other things), Xavier was ready to head back home but his friends weren't. James insisted that Imanu try the Costco food court since they were already there. Xavier would never object to Costco's food court, especially if James paid, so they ordered things, from pizza to chicken bake to ice cream. Besides, if they filled themselves up with food, that meant more mashed potatoes for him. (And he wanted a churro for the road after dealing with James in the backseat … and generally.)

Once they exited the parking lot, driving back to his home (especially from Costco) is a muscle memory for Xavier. He's driven this route so many times but now that he's gone to the Academy, it feels weird being back, even with his longtime friends in the car. It's familiar but not. Things have changed drastically, but not at all. Sometimes, he can't help but think about how he's becoming a different person, yet not the man he thought he'd be by now nor someone he's sure he wants to be now.

He pulls into his driveway and the boys step out, leaving the stuffed animals in the car.

"Go right in," Xavier tells them as he circles the trunk, "I'll grab the stuff."

They walk up the porch, not even offering to help him get stuff cause he's Xavier. They'll only slow him down, his words.

"Keith," Daniel starts, "I know you'll want to ask Steve many questions, but don't ask about the war. It's a touchy topic. Have him bring it up and then ask."

Keith nods slowly, not sure what Daniel even said. "You call him Steve so casually … holy shit I'm meeting Captain America! I'm coincidentally wearing Captain America socks!"

"Also, don't cuss."

James knocks on the door and jumps at the thudding sound of Xavier dropping bags of potatoes at their feet.

"You all know the drill," Xavier states. "Clean words and no war inquiries until the old man brings up the war."

Steve opens the door and the boys greet him with a chorus of hellos, except for Keith whose jaw is on the ground in pure awestruck. The war hero, the legend, the captain of The Avengers, Captain America is standing at the front door in civvies, looking right at them.

"God, Xavier, you've got enough to feed an army," Steve says as Xavier starts bringing the bags inside.

"I am an army and brought back up," Xavier responds.

"Don't I know it? Boys. Come on in. Xavier, your mother isn't home yet so get started on all that."

They walk inside, taking their shoes off at the door. Keith is frozen on the spot because he can't help but take in the domestic setting that Captain America lives in. Every war movie, documentary, and novel he's ingested explored the catastrophic yet heroic war for which he was made to be a weapon. All the endless battles and gunfire, soldiers dying and orders being barked. It's like Keith walked into a happy ending for the man who deserves it so well. A nice house in a great neighbourhood, pictures of his beautiful nuclear family on the walls along the stairs, talking with his son about how work is going like a normal parent. It's such a healthy and unexpected setting for Keith. It's almost like an unsettling dystopia.

Keith clears his throat. "Captain Rogers, it's an honour to meet you."

Keith offers a hand and Steve takes it. He knows that the Avengers took it gently, but Keith considers the near snapping of his elbow worth it. Holy shit, he's shaking Captain America's hand! Or, more accurately, Captain America is shaking his hand!

"I've heard a lot about you, Keith," Steve responds.

He can feel his face paling. "You- you have?"

"My daughter speaks highly of you … and James as well but he's always talking."

-o-

They all settle in the kitchen, sitting around the table with cold beers open in front of them, except for Keith who took one of the grape energy drinks they bought earlier in Costco. Xavier happily took the beer meant for Keith alongside one for himself as he stood at the kitchen sink peeling and prepping potatoes as a way not to be involved in the conversation.

"So, enjoy Costco?" Steve asks.

"I had a great time!" Imanu exclaims. "It was a little intimidating, but Costco is magical."

Steve laughs a bit. "As much as I disagree with capitalism, I can respect buying in bulk and a single place where you can get almost everything."

"As much as King T'Challa has his opinions on the Western world, maybe I'll suggest opening one there … or at least have Iqadi or Queen Ororo talk about it with him. He'll say a definitive no for me, and consider it if it comes from them."

"Iqadi's in town, isn't she?"

"Yes, she helped Angela move into her new place."

"They're actually all heading back to The Academy," Daniel adds. "Emily's flying out, though. She's making a pit stop in Amsterdam to meet Pepper before returning to Japan."

"I know you've been the Prince Consort for about four years, but has T'Challa delegated you to anything?" Steve asks.

Imanu shakes his head with a nice smile. "No, not that I mind. Even if I were given a more prominent role, I'd have to run it by my wife who would then have to report to her parents. Line of hierarchy."

"Perfect segue…" Xavier mutters, but accidentally loud enough for his dad to hear. It's a terrible habit that never grew out of him.

"You do know there's always a chain of command, Xavier," Steve says. "I didn't just start right to the top when I enlisted. You will always answer to someone."

"But you did jump a few pegs when you got some of that super-soldier serum."

"That's not my point."

Xavier turns around from the potatoes to face his father. "Dad, I don't need to be talked down to, I know all this stuff."

"I know you and your sister sometimes like to vent about things, but you can't do that by standing there burning daggers into me without even looking at me."

Xavier turns back around. The kitchen is silent and Steve takes a sharp breath before sipping his beer. He widens his eyes to the other boys before shaking his head. Even in this tense interaction, Keith still sees it as a happy ending for the man who deserves it most.

"Sometimes I liked it when my dad ignored me," James says to lighten the mood.

Steve sighs. "It's easier getting top intel from Nazis than talking to these kids, sometimes."

"I'm still here," Xavier mutters.

"Act like it," Steve says, almost like an order. The stern tone made Keith straighten his posture. Xavier ignores him, but the kitchen can hear the eye roll. "See what I mean?"

Keith looks at Daniel, eyes begging for the green light. Captain America mentioned Nazis and one of the house rules he was told was that the old man had to bring up the war first … and he did. Daniel nods and Keith internally pumps a fist in the air.

"Mr. Captain America, sir?" Keith says to get his attention. "Did you interrogate Hitler or straight up punch him?"

"Just call me Steve." He laughs a bit. "Yeah, he didn't want to talk to me unless it was talking about his destiny or the power of the gods right in his hand, so it got a little violent."

Before Keith could ask more, the front door opened and closed. Footsteps walk their way and Peggy enters fresh from the office in her business casual attire with a dark brown leather jacket and a shotgun slung over her shoulder. Nobody reacts except Keith who nearly dies on carbonation from his latest sip. Peggy greets the boys before bending down to kiss her husband on the cheek with her dark red lips. Keith doesn't even remember what he wanted to ask Captain America anymore. That man won the war and at life.

"Traffic was hell coming from the other way," Peggy says. "Nice to meet you, Keith."

-o-

After Peggy put away the shotgun and changed into a sweatshirt and jeans, she started making the mashed potatoes with Xavier since, especially now, he didn't want to chit-chat with anyone. The difference is that Peggy opened a bottle of wine for herself (and James who got himself a glass) and managed to cook and talk to everyone in the room. James even ordered a bucket of fried chicken with the potatoes. Then they were all sitting down and having dinner together.

"Xavier, sit up," Peggy orders. "I assumed that being an RA and now Residence Director made you a better example for the youth."

Xavier looks at her. "Mom, are you serious?"

"Hey," Steve nearly barks like a military commander, "don't speak to my wife that way."

Peggy's lips purse into a small smile before it disappears and she's shaking her head. Keith's posture straightened again at the militaristic-sounding order. As much as he's praised Captain America for getting the life he fought the war for, he can't imagine being reprimanded as if he disobeyed an order in the army.

"I'll excuse myself," Xavier says, standing up from the table. He takes his food and beer with him and exits the front door.

"Xavier-!" Steve yells, cutting himself off when the door closes.

"Stay here," Peggy tells him, following Xavier. Once the door opens and closes again, the rest of the table sits in a tense silence that even James doesn't know how to fix.

"So, Keith, how are you doing?" Steve asks.

Keith blinks before looking at him. "Me?"

"There's no other Keith here," James says.

"Shut up," Keith grits through his teeth. He takes a breath. "Anyways, Sir, I'm doing amazing. I've never been to Brooklyn before. It's- it's fun to do things with friends. Not like I did a lot of that back home."

Steve smiles warmly. "I was the same growing up. But you seem to be doing well in the friends' department."

Keith nods as he looks at the table of men before him. James bothered him since the day he met and the first time he said Hi Keith right in his face. Even as the years go by, James is still a nuisance to him, but even the annoying company can be good. And when push comes to shove, James is a great friend. (Don't tell him that.) Daniel is a great mind like him, someone who understands what it's like to be the smartest person in a room where nobody else gets you. Daniel even got him a job! Even Imanu, although they've only hung out a few times. A man who doesn't understand how he got to where he is now, faking it till he makes it as Prince Consort and even as the husband to his wife. Keith feels the same about the Academy and being at this table with friends and Captain America.

Then there's Xavier Rogers himself. He never liked the boy for reasons different than how he felt towards James. A nerd and geek like himself got shoved in lockers by football jocks like Xavier. Sure, his other friends here and being in Xavier's presence a few times changed that perspective, especially because Angela Rogers is so nice and cool. Now Xavier is in a different light. He invited him to his house, for fuck's sake. Like him, Xavier has so much pent-up anger and resentment with heartbreak that Keith can't help but relate to so much. Oh god … is Xavier a friend? Ignoring that… Keith also has Naomi in his life, although he wants her to be more than friends. Angela Rogers is also a friend since she has spoken so highly of him to her father, Captain America. Oh my god, Captain America already knew about him. A dream he never knew he had come true.

"Yeah, I'm doing alright there," Keith admits as a warm feeling builds inside his bones.

-o-

Xavier looks up from sitting on the front step of their porch when his mom walks out. He straightens his back and puts his bowl of mashed potatoes down when she sits next to him. She doesn't say anything at first, but he looks at him, waiting for him to have the first word and guide this conversation.

"I'm sorry," Xavier starts, "I've been thinking about my life but what's new?"

"I know," Peggy responds. "And you're still heartbroken over Britney. I always knew that girl would break your heart, but you are simply reallocating your sadness because you don't want to think about being stuck at The Academy."

"What?" Xavier wasn't sure to comment on his mom predicting that his heart would be broken because it was and has been for years.

"You're in denial about being a Residence Director instead of a field agent and Agent Vander isn't being helpful. So you're focusing on Britney because things just aren't aligning now. I'm only saying that because, as a part of the life you expected to have by now, you would've been a field agent. You would've been going on missions and coming home to Britney, who would've been your wife for a few years since you probably would've married her out of high school. I know that's the life you dreamt you'd have by now."

Xavier's mouth dries and he distracts himself with a sip from his nearly empty beer bottle. His mother isn't wrong. That's the life he more or less dreamt he'd have by now since he made it clear to himself that he would marry Britney Braun. "Why am I like this?"

Peggy rubs his arm. "You love so strongly and you have goals. Being with The Academy longer than you intended will benefit you in the long run. Just trust the process. Everything will fall into place. It did for me and your father as well."

-o-

Xavier and Peggy walk back into the house and return to the kitchen where the rest of their company is laughing over something. The dinner has now become dessert with apple pie and ice cream they picked up from Costco. Two empty plates are waiting for them and Peggy starts getting them some to rejoin the group. She sits beside her husband, crossing one leg over the other as she takes a bite of the pie.

"Dad, I'm sorry," Xavier tells him.

Steve smiles with a small nod. "Thank you. Now, help yourself to a slice of pie you all bought. But, first, fetch my shield. Keith would love to see it."

Keith shrieks as Xavier walks out again to get it. "Oh, god, I need my inhaler."

"I didn't even have one back in my day."

"Just missed it by a couple of years," Daniel says.

"Wakanda had inhalers while you were still using bloodletting as a remedy," Imanu mutters.

Daniel glares at him. "Bloodletting is still used nowadays for certain conditions. It's funny how you criticize Wakanda so much you're there but speak about it so highly out here. You guys were only so advanced cause you were isolationists."

"Cause when America got involved in things that weren't their business, then their affairs went swimmingly." He sucks in a breath as he glances at Steve, the war hero who was the beacon of America getting involved. "Sir."

Steve waves a hand dismayingly. "Oh no, forget I'm here. I'm interested. I might be biased but I think getting involved helped a few times."

"I agree and I hate the government," Keith says.

"You're only saying that cause you're a felon," James says.

Keith stabs his ice cream. Not in front of the superhero. "James!"

"What did you do?" Peggy asks.

"Gave people the answers to the SATs … and allegedly some other stuff."

Steve shrugs. "I've betrayed the country while wearing the Stars and Stripes so you'll be fine. Have fun explaining that to your girlfriend's parents, though."

Keith chokes on ice cream this time. "No, Sir, no girlfriend."

James snickers. "Yet."

"Shut up, James!"

"Angela told us about you and Naomi and Steve thought you two were going steady," Peggy says.

"Going steady?" James questions, looking at Steve as Keith's face burns redder than the stripes on the flag. "God, you're ancient. But she's Canadian and they don't even have the SATs so it's probably not a crime up there."

Daniel side-eyes James. "That's not how that works."

"If it helps, Keith," Steve says, changing the topic. "I liked Xavier's girlfriend a lot and she, well— how do I say this nicely…"

"She allegedly committed a war crime," James fills in the blank.

"Pym!"

"My bad, it was more than one. At least five."

Keith is about to inquire more, but his eyes fall on Xavier walking into the kitchen holding the shining red, white, and blue vibranium shield.

Keith shrieks like a little girl. "The SHIELD!"

Keith is all of us.