note: Hello to anyone who reads multiple of my fics! I am still working on my other fics- I swear. But most of my effort is dedicated to my s8 fix-it-fic currently.

Thanks for being patient!

Adam~

Adam began pulling out his books and school supplies from his backpack because he refused to take those with him.

This was going to be a homework-free week. That's what he had decided.

"Toothbrush?" Shiro asked, helping Adam to name off things that he might have forgotten. "Deodorant? Clothes!"

"I remembered to grab clothes, Shiro," Adam laughed. "I'm not that much of an idiot." He paused, surveying the things he had in his bag and then glaring at Shiro playfully. "Fine. I forgot socks. But that's it!"

Shiro laughed. He was laying sideways on his bed, watching Adam pack while half attempting to read Percy Jackson. Adam appreciated the effort of him trying, but it was kind of funny to listen to his questions about what was going on in the book for parts he had zoned out to while reading.

"Do you want to bring back a pillow?" Shiro asked, gesturing to the couple on his bed and the one on Shiro's own bed.

"... Yeah," Adam said after a brief pause. "I know I have pillows over there, but I do love this one," he said as he pulled off the main pillow on his bed and stuffed it into the suitcase."

Tomorrow, he was going to get on a plane to return to his family. It was Thanksgiving break and all of the cadets were given a week off so that they could return home to their families and stuff. Adam was elated to get to see his sisters and his parents again, but he also felt kind of bad for Shiro.

"So… is your sofu going to come and visit?" Adam asked quietly, jolting Shiro from where he was in the book.

"Oh, um, yeah, probably," Shiro answered awkwardly. "I hadn't really told him yet because he's bad with dates, so I figured it would be better to ask whenever I wanted him to visit to see if he could. So he didn't just show up today for no reason."

"Okay…" Adam nodded slowly. "Still… I feel rather bad for leaving you here by yourself."

"Phh," Shiro breathed, sitting up and waving his arms as though he were swiping away Adam's concerns. "I'll be fine. As long as you promise that you have a good time there."

"No," Adam said, stone-faced but joking. "I will not, under any circumstances, have fun with my family. And in return you aren't allowed to have fun either."

"Eh, I'll just sleep in and read books."

"No, I will check in with you to see that you're doing… HOMEWORK!"

"Nooo!" Shiro cried, fakely, falling back onto the bed with a hand held to his heart. "Not the homework! My only weakness!"

"Mwahaha!" Adam cackled, raising his hands above his head. "I know your only weakness and I shall use it to exploit, manipulate, and control thee!"

They stared for a minute, not sure what to say before they both broke down into fits of laughter.

"But seriously," Adam said, wiping at his eyes, "I think that you should try to do some things so that you have fun while you're on break."

"I think," Shiro started to say slowly, "that Matt said he and Sam weren't leaving and instead his mom and younger sister are just coming to the Garrison. So I might get to meet Matt's younger sister."

"Katie, right?" Adam asked.

"Yeah," Shiro nodded. "Except Matt calls her Pidge to annoy her."

Adam laughed. "I get that. I'll call my sisters by weird names, too, if I feel like it. But that should be a lot of fun."

Shiro nodded in agreement. "Hopefully. I've heard that Katie can be kind of introverted and rude when you meet her because she's not used to people being nice to her just because they want to. Apparently she faces a lot of bullying in school for being smart."

"That's so sad!" Adam frowned. "You shouldn't bully people regardless, but the fact that she gets bullied for being smart? Something that'll help her succeed in life?"

Shiro looked down at his hand. "I think that unless you are the kid doing the bullying, everyone has experienced it at one point or another. But that doesn't mean it isn't sad and absolutely horrible."

"When you see her— well, If you see her— give her a big hug for me and tell her to keep being smart and compliment anything that she says that makes her seem more intelligent or something."

"Definitely. But I'll try to do it without seeming weird," Shiro laughed.

Adam sighed, zipping his suitcase up and turning around to lean on the bed, facing Shiro. "I'm excited to tell my family all about the first semester, so far," Adam said with a soft smile on his face.

"Are you going to tell them about me wearing a flower pot costume?" Shiro groaned playfully.

"...Maybe…" Adam said slowly in a suggestive way.

"Man, you are," Shiro lamented, a smile still peaking through on his face.

"Well, I do have photographic evidence and I have to share all of the photographic evidence that I happen to have in my collection," Adam smirked before grabbing his suitcase and pulling it off of the bed before slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"You have to tell me stories when you get back," Shiro said, standing up as well.

"Of course!" Adam told him. He knew that Shiro was slightly disappointed that they weren't going to stay over break together, but he was putting on an act. Adam promised himself that he would make sure to text Shiro to check in with him and make sure that he was okay and having enough fun. "And I expect you to tell me any stories about anything that happens. ...and tell me how your Sofu is doing."

Shiro smiled, "Why, certainly. Now let me get the door for you, good Sir," Shiro bounded off of the bed and towards the door where he pulled it opened and then held it while bowing with one arm placed across his chest as Adam lugged the suitcase through the door frame.

"Why thank you, kind Knight," Adam said, playing his part.

"I'll walk you down," Shiro said, holding out his hand as though for Adam to take.

Adam rolled his eyes, almost tempted, but then he swung his backpack off of his shoulder and placed it in Shiro's hand. "Here. You can help me carry this."

"What's in here? Bricks?" Shiro gasped, swinging it onto his back.

"My computer and some books," Adam laughed. "So yeah."

Shiro shook his head.

"Speaking of books," Adam smiled. "I expect you to have read at least the first two Percy books by the time I get back!"

Shiro sighed. "Okay. I will. I swear."

Adam smiled, bumping into Shiro's arm lightly. "Good. Can't wait to hear about them when I get back."