I've been writing a crap ton in November and I somehow banged out another chapter of Garrison Academy eyyyyy. But also I had his whole chapter planned since the beginning, so that also may be why. Enjoy!

Hunk

Ever since the day he had lunch with Keith and Pidge, Hunk had just not gotten a break in his classes. Besides that one time, none of his classes had ended early; and all of them practically went over the class period. Hunk was exhausted.

While he was sitting in his class, all Hunk could think about was his bed. He was able to keep his eyes open, but they were extremely heavy. He could barely keep up with the numbers of the equations dancing around on the board. God he hated math. Why did he have to take math. What also didn't help was that this was an evening class; that made the thought of bed even more tempting.

He started thinking about the things he could be doing instead of sitting in math class to keep his mind busy: hanging out with Lance, eating snacks, calling Shay, doing homework, but if there was any class that took up the whole time it would be this class that he was currently present in. Passing with a B; that was his only goal.

Hunk glanced up at the clock. There was still about twenty minutes left; plenty of time for them to go over another boring equation and how to do it. He huffed, getting prepared for another boring part of the lecture, but instead the unspeakable happened.

"You all look pretty dead to the Earth right now." His professor, Honerva, huffed. "I guess we'll just have to continue this next class. Dismissed."

All the students in the class (including Hunk) sprung up from their seats and rushed immediately to the exit, as if they didn't leave she would change her mind and start teaching again. Normally Hunk wouldn't be rushing as much; but getting to go back to the dorm early would be fantastic. So, he fought his way through the crowd to get on the other side of that door. Instead of diving right into his homework, he could take a very well deserved nap. Or maybe just hang out with Pidge, who was usually in the room prepared for sleep in his pajamas.

Exercise usually wasn't Hunk's thing, but he practically sprinted to the dorm. This was the best thing that could have ever happened in his life right now.

Once he got to the dorm, Hunk swiped his ID. Slightly out of breath, it took him a while to make it to his room. Trying to catch what little air he had once he got to the door, Hunk unlocked it, swinging it open with what little energy he had left.

"Hey, Pidge." He said, in between breaths. "I hope you don't mind that I'm back, I got out of class early and… I…"

Hunk paused when he looked up. Pidge was frozen in place, a look of terror on his face. It seemed as if he was in the middle of changing; his pajamas folded neatly on the bed. But what he saw made Hunk utterly confused, if Pidge was getting undressed for bed, why was he still wearing what looked like a sports bra?

All the color seemed to disappear from Pidge's skin. "Hey, you okay?" Hunk questioned, taking two steps forward into the room. That was apparently the wrong action to take, because his roommate bolted from where he was standing, accidentally pushing past Hunk to get out of there.

"Pidge?" Hunk tried again, but the other boy kept on going, practically slamming the door. Hunk was still very puzzled, trying to figure out what exactly that was about; why was Pidge so quick to escape?

Then it clicked. It always seemed weird that Pidge was so short and that his voice was higher than usual; but the thought never occurred to Hunk. Pidge was trans? So that girl in the photo wasn't Pidge's girlfriend that was… Pidge?

Hunk took a seat on his bed, blinking at the floor. It's not that he would frown upon Pidge, but why would he not tell him? So many questions were running through his head, Hunk could barely think of anything else.

The only thing he hoped, was that Pidge would be okay.

Shiro

Shiro was occupied by a paper when he heard a frantic knocking at his door. He sighed, putting his computer aside. Usually conflicts don't happen at this time; Shiro was pretty confused. Opening the door, he came face to face with a hyperventilating Pidge. He wasn't sure what caused the younger student to become this way, but there's no way he would get any information from him like this. Pidge was trying to talk, but it was all a jumbled mess; something really bad must have happened, Shiro was sure of it.

Hearing other students coming in the building, Shiro guided Pidge into his room, before quietly shutting the door. "Hey, hey Pidge, I can't understand you like this. Deep breaths okay? I'm going to need you to calm down." He mentioned softly, leading Pidge over to his bed and having him take a seat. By then, tears were falling from the younger boy's face; which didn't help anything to make him more understandable.

Shiro hesitantly reached over to rub Pidge's back. If he couldn't do anything else he figured it would be good for him to just be there; that's what Matt would want him to do. He remembered Matt talking about how Pidge was alone since Matt left and how he was upset he couldn't be there for his brother since his time had gotten so rough. Shiro knew ahead of time about Pidge, so he knew to keep an eye out for any transphobic activity around the dorm; he was worried that this issue was something far greater than a dispute if this is how Pidge is reacting. This is his first time ever confronting an issue like this, Shiro was unsure of what he should do. Then again, he didn't know exactly what was going on. Pidge was still sitting there sobbing, not saying a clear word.

"I'm going to need to know what happened in order to help you Pidge." He said gently again, voice lined with concern. "Please, Pidge. What's going on."

"H-Hunk…." Pidge forced out, before choking on his words. Hunk? Something happened with Hunk? Out of everything, this is not what Shiro expected at all. Out of all his residential pairings, he though Hunk and Pidge would be the best match. Hunk the boy with the seemingly huge heart, and Pidge, someone that just needed to be respected.

"Hunk? Did something happen with Hunk?"

Pidge nodded, looking defeated. He hadn't calmed down much, but was able to follow up with more clear words. "I-I was changing and he walked in and noticed me and I…" The distraught boy sighed, shaking his head. "I couldn't think, I just ran out. He knows I'm different now. He knows and… God, what if he hates me?"

"Pidge, I don't think Hunk is capable of hating anyone."

"What if he does, though? When people found out at my old school, they switched real quick."

Shiro paused, not knowing much to say. But he had to say something, he needed to be there for Pidge right now. Smiling over at the other, he shook his head. "Well if he does, he doesn't deserve the wonderful person you are. It's his loss. But you've known Hunk for a while now; do you think he would change just because of this?"

"I… I don't know." Pidge murmured, rubbing his arm unsurely. "Quite honestly I'm scared to find out. I don't really want to go back there."

Shiro hopped off of the bed, standing in front of Pidge, holding out his hand and grinning. "Then how about we go together? If anything happens, I'll be there. Okay? You don't have to go through this alone, we'll work this out together. But I also think it's fair that you tell the truth to Hunk."

Pidge seemed to hesitate, looking up at Shiro. Even though there was hesitation, he appeared to be more relaxed and his tears had mostly cleared up; which relieved Shiro to see. If there is anything he wanted from this it conversation was to make Pidge feel better and it seemed to do that at least. Eventually Pidge took his hand, standing up before walking forward and wrapping Shiro in a hug. That, Shiro did not expect. Pidge didn't seem like one to be the affectionate type. "Thanks, Shiro."

"Hey, it's no problem." Shiro added softly, smiling as he gave Pidge a squeeze back. "Now let's go get this over with, huh?"

Pidge

Pidge stood there, staring at the closed door. Even though he talked it out with Shiro and even though the person he was facing was Hunk; he was still terrified of this confrontation. It was hard for him to wrap his head around how he has to actually come out; that was something he hadn't properly done since he told his family years back. Shiro was standing behind him. At least his presence gave some sort of comfort, like an older sibling would. Similar to the comfort Matt would give if he was here.

"You ready?" Shiro questioned, as Pidge inhaled deeply.

"It's now or never." Pidge responded, holding his breath as he twisted the doorknob, slowly opening the door.

He walked back into the room with a normal scene; everything around him was neat and Hunk was sitting there on his bed, scrolling through his phone looking at who knows what. It was like nothing even happened. Hunk looked up when the door opened, and Pidge got a nervous feeling in his stomach. How was Hunk going to react?

"Oh. Hi Pidge." Hunk said plainly, before turning his attention back to his phone. That was it? What an odd reaction; but then Hunk seemed to realize that Pidge, who had just run out of the room in a panic, was actually back in the room. "Pidge! Oh my god, are you okay? You just ran out of here."

Pidge blinked and looked at Shiro in disbelief. He found it weird the way that Hunk was reacting, but it was a bit reassuring to Pidge that his roommate at least seemed to be concerned. Maybe Shiro was right, and Hunk wasn't like everyone else at his previous school. He took a deep breath, preparing in his mind what to say next.

"I-I'm okay Hunk. I just…" He sighed, moving to take a seat on his bed. Pidge started to twiddle his thumbs, something he only started to do when he was really nervous. "I think you figured this out by now but I… I'm transgender Hunk. I don't like to tell people because well… Whenever people figure out they shun me or make fun of me. Besides my family I've never had much support or friends. So… It was best for me to keep it down, keep it silent."

"I'm sorry for keeping it from you for so long." Pidge continued, choking in his words at this point. He was silently begging to himself to not cry, he didn't want to in front of Hunk. But the tears disobeyed and some fell anyways. "I guess a part of me was scared I'd lose you, like I lost so many in the past. You're a great guy and a great friend, so when you walked in on me changing I just freaked out. But I just wanted to start over as a boy for once… You know? A time where everyone just thought of me as a boy and nothing else. It's just so nice…"

Hunk was sitting on the edge of his bed, and he seemed to genuinely listen to what Pidge was saying, nodding. "Yeah I get that." He responded, shaking his head. "So that person in the image that was…"

"Me, yeah. The other person is my brother Matt."

"And what you're wearing?"

"It's a binder. Flattens you know, this." Pidge motioned over his chest.

Hunk took a while, it seemed like he was thinking about the whole situation. This made Pidge sort of nervous now, the silence was agonizing. He'd rather Hunk be saying something than the silence since he laid it all out in the open. Other than this moment though, Pidge thought that this went so much smoother than he was expecting. For a moment, he thought that Shiro didn't even need to be there for support; but nonetheless Pidge was glad he was there.

Hunk finally spoke, standing up. "You know, you may be different, Pidge, but you're a damn good roommate." a big grin sprouted onto his face. "You won't have to worry about losing me. You're good. But I would have liked to know the truth earlier."

"Noted." Pidge nodded, also standing. He walked over to Hunk, holding out his hand. "We good?"

"Dude, we are more than good." Hunk responded, wrapping Pidge into an unexpected hug. "We are great."

Pidge shouldn't have been too surprised; Hunk seemed like he would be the type to hug things out. He sighed a sigh of relief, before noticing that Shiro had left. Probably when he realized all was well between the two.

After a while the two separated from the hug. Pidge spoke again. "Hey Hunk, can… Can you not tell the others?" he crossed his arms. "I… I'm not ready to tell them yet. I may never be. I don't want them to know."

Hunk grinned at the other, nodding his head. "You got it man. Your secret is safe with me."