For some inexplicable reason, Sy had insisted on actually studying instead of spending the morning kissing. Jim had, of course, drawn upon every last skill he had in a desperate attempt to win the debate. He had explained the mental health benefits, the moral improvements, and how Sy would be much too distracted to study if he was busy thinking about kissing instead. Jim had detailed the importance of taking breaks and avoiding burnout. He'd even touched upon how integral affection was to proper brain development. Finally, he'd offered a testrun of the proposed activity for Sy's consideration. After he'd finished his passionate argument, Sy had presented his rebuttal.

"No."

And so, with that, the boys had spent the rest of the morning actually studying.

Sy slid his last sheet of paper into the proper folder and gathered up all his supplies. He pulled a thin bag from under the desk to tuck everything neatly away. Jim reached over and grabbed the straps before Sy could slip them over his shoulders.

"Jim?"

Jim shrugged. He could feel a blush creeping across his cheeks. "I just thought I'd carry it for you."

The corner of Sy's lips quirked up in a smile. "My hands aren't injured any more, you don't need to carry my things around."

"No, but, I dunno. That's what boyfriends do, right?"

"Boyfriends." Sy said the word as if he were tasting it, savoring the flavor of the unfamiliarity.

"Well, that's what we are, right?" Jim could feel the heat inching from his face down along his neck. "I mean, that's what I want to be. And you said you like me, so I just thought that with us both liking each other and all the kissing and stuff earlier that-"

Sy cut him off with a quick, chaste kiss. He giggled as he smiled up at him. "I like Boyfriends."

Jim grinned. He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly. "So, boyfriends?"

"Boyfriends." Sy giggled over the word again.

Jim easily pulled the bag from Sy's hands and draped it over his shoulder. "Then I carry this. Boyfriend."

"Fine!" Sy snatched Jim's tablet up off the table and clutched it to his chest. "Then I carry this!"

"That's not how this works!" Jim tried to grab his tablet back but Sy skipped back out of reach.

Sy hid the tablet behind his back and took a few more steps away. "Yes it is."

"I'm supposed to be carrying your things, Sy, not you mine." Jim followed him across the classroom. "I was trying to be sweet!"

"You are sweet," Sy plastered himself against the wall, the tablet trapped out of Jim's reach, "but I want to be sweet too!"

Jim planted his hands on either side of him and grinned down at his brand new boyfriend. "Maybe I think you're sweet enough without it."

Sy just smiled. "Maybe."

Jim eased himself forward just enough to capture Sy's lips one more time. He drew back, settling for draping his arm across Sy's shoulders. "Alright. You can carry it, if you really want. We should go grab lunch, though. I'm starving."

Sy wrinkled his nose. "You're always starving." Even so he allowed himself to be guided out of the classroom.

"Are you eating with us tonight?"

Sy nodded. "I finally spoke to my grandparents about that. My grandfather said he's glad I'm making friends, and that as long as I join the family for Saturday dinner and Sunday prayers, he's glad that I'm taking a free day with you guys. My grandmother fusses a bit more, she says the food here isn't the same as home cooking, but it's just her way of saying she loves me."

Jim could relate to that. "My mother's the same way."

The two walked in comfortable silence through the mostly empty halls. It wasn't until the low buzz of chatter from the mess hall became distinct that Sy slid out from under Jim's arm.

Their friends were waiting at table 8-B, half eaten lunches on trays before them. Sy claimed his usual spot beside Varian and placed Jim's tablet at the seat across from Matt. Jim hooked Sy's bag over the back of the chair next to the young alchemist. "Anything good for lunch today?"

Braxton handed Varian a small local coin.

Matt was the one to answer his question. "Nothing amazing in your line. Looks like sloppy jacks."

"Joes." Jim correct.

"Johns." Braxton insisted.

"Geronimo!" 628 slammed all four fists into the table. Braxton laughed and ruffled his antennae.

"And you don't know what you're talking about," Jim added firmly. "Sloppy Joes are amazing."

"Johns."

"Jacks."

"Jim?"

"I've never heard them called Sloppy Jims before," Varian muttered to himself with a frown, "Maybe it's a regional thing?"

"Uh, no," Sy spoke up sheepishly. "I was just trying to get Jim's attention."

"You always have my attention," Jim flashed him a grin. Braxton snickered. Matt swatted his shoulder. Jim ignored them both. "What was it?"

"Are we ready to go grab lunch?"

As the two boys left, Varian crossed his arms and gave Braxton a smug smile. "One point for Team Awesome. I told you he was going to ask Sy out today."

Braxton rolled his eyes affectionately. "You can't be 'Team Awesome' if there's only one person in your team. That's not a team."

"It's just Awesome." Varian finished for him. "And yes, I am."

Matt shushed them both. "We don't know for certain that Jim asked him out."

"Yes we do." Braxton answered bluntly. "They both have terrible poker faces."

Matt twisted in his seat to get a look at their two friends. Jim put a chocolate pudding cup on Sy's tray for him. Sy nudged his shoulder and smiled up at him. Jim leaned in just a little too close to say something, his hand lingering on the back of Sy's.

Matt turned back. "Alright, fine. He asked him out."

"Told you." Varian crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat confidently.

"We all knew it was coming," Matt agreed, "but how'd you know it was today?"

"Jim told me."

"You cheated!" Braxton was laughing hard. "628, sic em!" 628 promptly leaped up onto the table, fangs and claws bared. Braxton caught him around the chest before he could lunge. "I didn't mean it, buddy. You can relax. You're still a sneak, Varian." He winked. "I approve."