I was so confused earlier because I am so far ahead in writing these chapters. I knew this chapter took place in September but I was so lost because I'm currently writing chapters in November.

The title of this chapter is a play on the expression "dead of winter" which means nothing happens. Which is true since this chapter is a little filler.

Year One: Dead of September

Atlantic Residence - 11:05 AM

It's Saturday morning and there's nothing to do.

Merida sits crossed-legged on the top bunk that has a bird's-eye view of the room. She glances at her backpack on the floor and thinks about the assigned readings she has to complete by Monday. Does she really have to read that crap? Maybe later. Beside her is a pile of lead pencils sharpened to the tip.

Merida twirls one in her hand as she looks at the dartboard in front of her. Although she has prohibited darts hidden in a tampon box, she told the agent who performed the dorm inspections that she uses sharp pencils as her darts. Now that she has nothing to do on a Saturday, she will test that theory. Besides, it will help her if she one day has to prove her lie as the truth.

She touches the charms on her necklace, feeling the arrow and Black Widow insignia between her fingertips. If this works, she will blow her father's mind. Merida whips the pencil like a dart and isn't surprised that she hit the target, but that it made it to the target.

Before she continues playing darts with herself, she grabs her phone from her pillow and opens her family's group chat.

-o-

Campus Gym - 12:20 PM

They say that the later weeks of training is better but no. Xavier's body is still in pain from the first week but he's in better condition than his classmates who trained in military schools. Although he did football and had his father's super-soldier serum in his blood, his body took a minute to adjust to the new regimen.

Now, he would say that he's fine. He just needed to walk it off.

With his headphones in, he spent his morning in the Academy's common gym. Operations had a few of their own, but this one was more peaceful. He actually had no idea how long he was in here but doesn't know the current time and was aware that he was awake before the sun. Now it's in the middle of the sky. It's definitely been a few hours.

He doesn't look up from his set until he notices Angela in front of him. She's fresh in a tank and capri leggings with running shoes.

"Hey," Angela greets.

Xavier takes out his headphones. "Sup."

They smile at each other for a moment. When people come into the world with another person, they're as much a part of them as their heartbeat. Maybe it's a twin thing because he's never felt truly alone in anything.

Angela pokes his face. "Are you growing stubble?"

Xavier feels his face. "I'm becoming lazy."

"Also known as you didn't shave this one morning."

"You know me so well."

Angela smiles as Xavier returns the weights to their display. He wipes his face with his shirt and sees Angela looking at him with crossed arms and furrowed brows. Xavier drops his shirt and opens his arms to ask what with his motions.

"Girls are staring," Angela says.

"Are they?"

Xavier looks around and notices people suddenly looking down or going on their phone. There are more girls in here now that he's looking. Angela sighs beside him with a smile. She knows that Xavier isn't being cocky because he was always that oblivious. She pats his shoulder.

Xavier turns to her. "You know, I thought that the adrenaline fuels love theory was bullshit, but then I remembered -"

"Mom and Dad got engaged and married on two different missions in the span of a week?" Angela finishes.

"Yup."

"Aw, are you going to find and marry a new girl in a week?"

"Definitely." He throws his used towel over her head and she screams.

-o-

Darwin Library - 13:35 PM

Tables, study desks, and group rooms are packed. Sci-Tech students are glued to their screens and books as they work on their express PhDs. Although school was only a month in, they had seven months left to prove their thesis, take their comprehension test, and present it to the board. Nobody was finished, yet. Word of mouth revealed that nobody was even close to typing their conclusions. Some even changed their research direction and are panicking somewhere on campus. May science be with them.

"Hear me out," James whispers. He sits across from Daniel with his laptop open and gets his friend's attention by waving his hand in his face. "I did some research. Loving touches are good for our health. Kissing your partner can often lower cholesterol and affectionate touching can reduce the production of stress hormones and have healing properties."

Daniel isn't surprised that James is looking into that instead. On James's prioritization list, it's to sleep with his girlfriend for the first time and … that was it. Classes and training weren't even on the same line as his list. James Pym was something else and Daniel was grateful for that because it puts his mind back in reality.

But, sometimes, James had to get his head straightened. Daniel can't blame him, though. James has his girlfriend here and this is a big time for them. If Emily was here, she'd either be sitting next to him, peering over his shoulder and proofreading his research or double-checking his math. Or, more likely, she would join James in whatever the hell he was looking up. Likely the latter.

" … and how much research did you put in your dissertation?" Daniel asks.

"My what?"

Daniel isn't sure if James is joking. He hopes that he is but wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't. "Nevermind."

James closes his laptop. "Look, we don't always have to study. I partied all the time in high school and I got accepted to other colleges. Going out there will help you get through here."

"True, but if we don't finish a dissertation by the end of the year, we can't continue here."

"We have seven months."

"To be tested, finish, prove it, and argue it."

"Sounds like way more time."

"You haven't even started."

"Good point, also, why did you never tell me you and Emily did it already?!"

Daniel's face reddens as people glance over, glaring. Daniel mutters apologies as James grins. Nobody heard what they were saying because all they registered was noise. Out of all the things for James to ask in here … he isn't surprised.

"Keep your voice down!" Daniel whispers angrily although he isn't that mad at James.

James nods, still grinning. "Like you went down on her?"

Daniel should've seen that coming. He can't begin to imagine how red his face is but James's desire to burst out laughing is telling. He's definitely a tomato. He's never eating one again.

"Yes," Daniel mutters and James congratulates him.