And I never publish a story without giving the second chapter :)
Year One: Move-In Day Part Two
Hudson Residence - 10:40 AM
One bag down, two more to go.
While his dad went to go check up on Angela, Xavier took this time to start unpacking. That way, his parents could take the bulky suitcases back with them and they wouldn't be taking up space here.
A knock on his door captures his attention but not enough that Xavier looks up from his belongings. He guesses that it's his mother coming from Atlantic Residence. "It's open!"
The door swings open as if the person who knocked kicked it. Xavier drops the shirt he was folding and looks to see what that was about. That's definitely not his mother. She wouldn't do it with so much noise. He'll catch her and his dad before they leave at the end of the morning.
The one at the door is his roommate: Ashton Ruiz.
He's almost as tall as him but not as built. He has crisp dark hair and squinty eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a friendly smile. He wears a casual sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers. Instead of suitcases, he has four duffel bags all filled to the rim and nearly exploding. Although the zippers look like they're about to burst, that was a smart move. Duffel bags are easy to store. All you have to do is kick it under the bed and let them collect dust till graduation.
After Ashton drops all his bags on the floor in the middle of the room, he huffs out of exhaustion. Then he looks up at Xavier with a big and bright smile.
"Rogers!" He chants as if they were reuniting friends.
"Ruiz!" Xavier mimics.
They embrace each other in that bro-hug, gripping hands and patting each other's backs as if they're reuniting after years of separation. Finally, the real faces behind the text messages. As far as how he's a roommate, Ashton had a great first impression on Xavier. Thank god because he didn't know what he would do if his roomie had problematic vibes.
The Academy selected roommates randomly, but based on matching program. Admissions provided everyone with the photo, phone number, and email of their roommate. Over text, did the rudimentary ice breakers to spare themselves the awkward face-to-face conversation. They knew each other's hometown, birthday, favourite food, and Academy modules. All the roommate basics. Everything else will be learned along the way.
"It's so nice to meet you," Ashton says, kicking his bags to the side. "Have you looked around yet?
Xavier shakes his head. "Not really. I just got here."
"Same." He gestures to his bags, scoffing a little. "Obviously. Did your family have a nice drive down here?"
"Better than I thought. But then again, I'm only about two hours away. Don't tell me you drove here from Wyoming."
Ashton chuckles as he guiltily nods. "I've been on the road for three days straight just so I could have my car here. I don't even remember where I stopped at motels for the night. I have a feeling SHIELD cleared all the interstates just so their damn students will get here on time."
Xavier laughs, remembering how brisk the drive here was for him. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised."
-o-
Edison Residence - 11:09 AM
"James Pym, where the hell were you?!"
James sighs as he scurries over to his mother, making it look like he never ran off. He isn't sure how his mother managed to find him so quickly. Would she stop her yelling if he held her hand? It'd be more for himself than for her but nobody needs to know that.
"I had to get your things for you!" Janet exclaims, handing him his welcome folder and operations uniforms. That means he had to go to Sci-Tech for his things, but not anymore. And, at least for now, nobody will know the face of the boy overlapping the rival programs. It's a rare occasion where James Pym wants nobody to know the description of his handsome face.
"I didn't know where to go," James explains. "Calm down, Mom, you look like you will explode."
Janet narrows her eyes at her son even when Hank wraps his arm around her. James breaks into a smile before taking his welcome package. He follows the provided map and leads his parents through the residence building.
"He'll be fine," Hank reasons. "He's rooming with Daniel and Angela's his girlfriend."
James can't help but turn around and face his father feeling offended. His father made an indisputable point on James not being self-sufficient. But at least he'll have some sort of supervision on both campuses. Life definitely did something to help him out because he has no idea what he's doing.
"He won't be fine!" Janet exclaims. "My baby needs me!"
James can only hope nobody around them is listening. At least on move-in day, nobody gives a shit about you since they're figuring out their own shit. Instead, he continues following the map to his dorm room. Luckily, the door is already open and James pokes his head in. He sees Daniel and his parents unpacking.
"Daniel!" James yells, starling his friend.
James laughs as Daniel cusses him out. Daniel's parents laugh amongst themselves as James' parents start talking to them.
For James, since he was overlapping academies, he had a choice in residencies. That meant he had a choice between rooming with Daniel or Xavier.
James and Daniel are happy that they got a choice of roommates although most incoming students come alone. Daniel would've picked him in a heartbeat because why would he want to bunk with a stranger in an unknown place? Also, he wouldn't be okay on his own.
As much as James loves Xavier, he was dating his twin sister. But even if James wasn't dating Angela, he would still choose to live in Sci-Tech. He heard that Operations kids would live on a military schedule and blend protein shakes in the middle of the night. James didn't want or need that life. He liked his sleep and required relaxation to function. Intense was an unknown word to him. Besides, it's not like Xavier was offended when James picked him. Xavier was relieved and James was the offended one.
Besides, Daniel let him have the top bunk without the slightest banter. Xavier would have buried him in the top bunk after looking at it.
"Where are your things?" Daniel asks him.
James reaches into the pocket of his jeans and pulls out four suitcases the size of coins. He places them on the ground and backs up, pulling Daniel beside him. James blasts them with the bioelectricity in his palms and his bags grow to their regular size. The parents don't look fazed at all and return to their conversation.
James proudly sits on one of his bags as Daniel gives him a small applause.
"This is the only time I'm telling you that that was a smart move," Daniel says.
"That means a lot coming from you," James responds.
-o-
Atlantic Residence - 11:10 AM
Steve walks through the slightly opened door of Angela and Merida's dorm room. He watches the two girls discuss how they will decorate. That won't go smoothly. They both have different personalities and colour palettes. It's a miracle how they were friends for all these years.
He walks beside his wife who stands with Clint and Natasha.
"How's Xavier?" Peggy asks.
"Unpacking," Steve responds. "I think his roommate showed up. What about things over here?"
Clint sniffles a little. "Our babies are growing up."
Merida groans. "Really, Dad? Can you not cry in front of me?"
"No, because I want you to cry and miss me!"
Merida rolls her eyes.
Angela turns around and smiles at Clint. "I'll cry for the both of us."
Angela turns back to Merida who stands in front of a blank wall. This is their dorm room for the year. Being unable to puncture holes in the walls was the least of their problems. Their contrasting aesthetics make it hard to personalize their shared space. They could divide the room in half but they agreed on wanting a flow between their two spaces. At least they have the same friends so they won't have to worry about which photos to put up. Talk about that as a shared aesthetic.
"At least we can agree on string lights," Angela states.
"And a bean bag chair in that corner." Merida points to the spot. "But if you and James make out or do any other nasty things on that, I will burn this room down and bunk with some twat in Communications."
Angela narrows her eyes at Merida because their parents are in the room. Angela's face heats up in embarrassment, reddening as she turns around to look at her parents. Steve and Peggy give Angela an I know you just started university and I don't care if you're an adult because you're still our little girl so if that boy does anything to you we're going after him face. Yet, Angela awkwardly turns away from her parents, not bothering to respond to that.
"Don't worry Cap, Agent Carter," Merida says to them with an unusual chipper in her voice. "I will be a good godchild and always enforce protection. There will be no grandkids on my watch and I'm not watching them do the devil's tango."
Steve and Peggy's faces don't change but they're grateful for that gesture. A little disturbed, but grateful. Clint and Natasha pretend they never heard that.
Angela, on-the-other-hand, isn't. Good godchild and great friend, but not a good roommate … and they haven't even unpacked. She's more annoyed, thinking about how she and James are totally going to do nasty things on that bean bag chair just to piss off Merida. James would so be on board for many reasons.
"And, Angela," Natasha says to her. "You'd better make sure Merida doesn't do anything that will get her expelled."
"Мама!" Merida yells.
Angela smiles, sparing Merida a glance. "Anything for you, Natasha. I'll be a better godchild than her."
And now Merida is the one glaring. But the two girls know that their parents will only be informed if anything were to go too far and not only because their parents will be a whole state away. Even more than high school, when they were rarely home, they felt less free because there's no one to catch them if they fell.
Throughout the series, there will be some new names. But there will only be a few that are important to remember and I will introduce them as they appear. For this story, there will be seven of them. (And, realistically, in college you only know about a handful of people.) Our first, as I call them, rando is Ashton Ruiz, Xavier's roommate.