"Well if you think he's cute, I say go for it, honey," McCree advised, popping his gum casually. As long as Fareeha was visiting the Watchpoint, he was on a strict no-smoking-under-penalty-of-death policy from Ana.
"Yeah, but grandma is super traditional," Fareeha replied, punching a few numbers into her calculator and jotting down the result, her legs slowly swinging in time over her back to the twangy music drifting out of McCree's computer. "She makes me get up really early every day for morning prayers. Mom doesn't even make me get up early on Fridays," she grumbled.
"Yeah, don't know much 'bout that," McCree shrugged, casually flipping through one of her science textbooks. At least they were in English. "What's all this here?"
"That's ions. Don't skip so far ahead, we're still working on math," she said, tapping the back of his hand with her pencil.
"Fareeha?" Morrison frowned, poking his head into the room with confusion. "What are you doing in here? McCree, don't distract Fareeha from her homework."
"I ain't distracting," McCree replied, snapping the book shut and running a hand through his messy hair.
"Yeah, he's helping me, Jack," Fareeha replied, "I didn't want to bother any real agents with my questions."
"Hey!"
"How much do you have left?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.
"Just a few more algebra questions, then my science and I'll be done for now," Fareeha said, pulling her book closer to hide how many questions she actually had left.
"'For now'?"
"Well I'll have to ask Mom to help me with my Arabic homework. So I'll be as done as I can be."
"...Alright. No more snacks, though," Jack said, nodding toward the various half-empty bags of chips and cookie crumbs littering the floor of McCree's room. "You'll spoil your dinner. McCree, clean up your bunk," he added.
"Yessir," McCree answered automatically, though he made no motion to follow through as Morrison left the doorway. Fareeha punched a few more problems into her calculator before anyone spoke again. "Thanks," McCree murmured.
"For what?"
"Coverin' for me," he said, opening the book back up at the beginning. "Not sure he believed I'm helpin' you, though. Mean, why would I know any of this?" he muttered, sighing and staring down at the book. "I'm just a dumb ol' country boy."
"You're not dumb," Fareeha frowned, "It's not your fault you had to stop going to school. The Omnics blew up your town, it's not like you flunked out or anything."
"Wasn't too smart when I was in school, neither," McCree sighed, scratching his head.
"You're doing fine so far. Now come here, let me show you how you graph polynomials."
"Hows come I gotta learn that?"
"If I have to, you have to. We're in this together, remember?" she smiled, pushing the book toward him. "Now quit whining and study algebra with me."