AN: Oh my gosh! I just realized that I uploaded the chapters to docs, but never actually added them to this story! No wonder it looked like no one was reading these last few weeks! I am so sorry! There's three chapters for you this week to make up for it!
Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the mail arc. The boys really bonded while I wrote these chapters, and it was so sweet to see how much they love and care for each other. I hope you're enjoying too.
Love you all! Thanks for being here to enjoy this story with me. Don't be strangers, I love to hear from you! 3
The common room was even more packed than usual. Lieutenant Gray stood before the masses. The boys were barely containing their excitement. Even Matt was bouncing excitedly in place. Jim really hoped he wouldn't be among the disappointed today.
"Alright, shut up, you lot, and listen." Gray sounded irritated. Even more so than usual. At his side was more mail than Jim had ever seen before. "The program is still being implemented, not all of you have got stuff this time. We're working on it, the admiral sends his apologies, yada-yada-ya. Those of you we haven't gotten worked out yet probably already were told it would take extra time. Now shut up or you're not getting any of this. I won't shout over you."
Braxton crossed his arms. "If this weren't Matt's first letter in a year and a half, I'd be up there punching his big, ugly face."
Jim snorted. "And I'd be beside you. What a jerk."
Varian side eyed the two of them. "I don't think that's the best course of action, much as he might deserve it."
Sy shook his head. "I can't believe your class leader treats you all like this." He leaned back against the wall. Having his family at the school already, he had no need to be with his own class for mail day. He'd wanted to support Matt today, too.
628 hung from Braxton's arm. Like Sy, he knew he had no mail, even with the new program in place. He growled low in his throat as he glared at the lieutenant.
Up front, Gray lifted the first letter and read off the name. "Aabarkan!"
It took almost twice as long to reach Jim's name as it usually did.
"Hawkins!"
Jim was unsurprised to see that Gray was holding up a package. "I'll be back guys!"
He wove through the mess of boys. Some were crying again. One of his classmates clutched a letter to his chest as he sobbed into his boyfriend's arms. Another had ripped apart a package and gave a small shout as he spotted a picture of his family. Jim did his best not to notice the reactions around him so he wouldn't become overwhelmed with emotions.
It would be hard enough not sobbing when Matt got his letters.
He approached Gray and gave him a grin. "Sir."
Gray handed him the package. "From your mother. It's a heavy one."
"Yes sir, I was expecting some new books from the doctor! This must be it! He's sending me a new series on the-"
Gray cut him off, disinterested. "No one wants to hear it, Hawkins." He dropped a letter on top of the box. "That's for you, too. Now go."
"Yes sir." Jim turned away just in time to hide his triumphant grin. He quickly made his way back to his friends. "Looks like a good one this time, guys!"
"Who's the letter from?"
"I don't know." Jim peeked at the name and frowned. "I don't know any Mr. Golds. I guess we'll find out when we get to my room."
Fifteen minutes later they were only just out of the Ls. Sy had sank down along the wall somewhere in the middle of the Ks. Seated on the floor, he flopped over onto Jim's legs to rest. 628 was curled up in Sy's lap, half asleep. Varian and Braxton were playing Old Maid. Matt had covered Jim's left arm in a mosaic of flowers and currently was focused on designing a maze on his right.
"Mars."
Matt's pen jerked at his name. He looked up, eyes wide. Frozen in place he just stood there, his pen still glued to Jim's arm.
"Let's move it, von Mars." Gray was glaring at him across the room. "We don't have all day, I will skip you."
Braxton stood up and slung an arm around Matt's shoulders. Wordlessly he guided his friend to the front of the room. With shaking hands, Matt accepted his bundle of letters from the imposing figure before them.
Braxton urged him gently back towards the group before rounding on Gray. Before anyone could react, Braxton's fist collided with the side of Gray's face.
The entire room froze.
Gray turned his face back towards the youth before him.
"Braxton," Jim took half a step forward. Sy's weight pressed against his shin was all that kept him from running to the front of the room.
Gray smiled ever so politely at Braxton. "I shall look forward to your disciplinary hearing. I'll make sure to get a good champagne to toast your expulsion. I have looked forward to this since the first time you walked through those doors."
Braxton snorted. "You act like I care."
Gray turned to the neatly sorted mail beside him. "While I have you up here, let's go ahead and see if there's anything for you." He flicked his fingers over the neatly filed Rs. "Renier, Rose, Ruant, ah! Rudforest, here we go!" He pulled a slender envelope out from among the rest. "Hmmm, what a shame." Slowly, deliberately, he ripped the letter in half. "It doesn't appear as if there's anything meant for you after all." Stacking the halves of the letter he gave it another good rip. "I think it's best you return to your room and await disciplinary action. I'd say you have until tomorrow morning at the latest?"
"You are an absolute slugweed." Braxton turned from the lieutenant and crossed the room, his head held high. As he caught up to Matt he slung his arm over his friend's shoulders. "Come on! This is great. Your first letters from home! Let's go give them a read."
At the front of the room Gray lifted another envelope from among the rest. "Matinral."
Braxton flashed his still stunned friends a bright smile. "What are you sitting around for? Matt has some letters to read!"
"I, uh, my letters?" Varian stammered hesitantly.
Braxton laughed. He reached over to tug on Varian's colored stripe of hair. "You need us to stick around?"
Varian shook his head. "No, you guys go ahead. I've been away from home before, you guys take care of Matt." Braxton nodded gratefully.
"Who's room?" Sy asked softly.
"Mine," Jim answered, "This package is heavy, I want to get it put away safely. Plus I stocked up on tissues for the occasion!"
"I'll see you there," Varian replied.
Still guiding Matt by his shoulders, the cyborg led the small band of friends out of the room. 628 scampered after them on all six limbs. The boys managed to escape into the relative quiet of Jim's bedroom. None of them were willing to address what had happened back in the common room, though it seemed to sit at the forefront of every mind except Braxton's.
Jim sighed heavily as he dropped his box onto his bed. "Feels good to put that thing down. What all did she pack in there?"
Braxton shrugged. "Open it up, let's find out! Matt's going to need something to drown his tears in so he doesn't destroy those letters." He released the aforementioned friend and scooped up 628. He tossed his small friend into the air and caught him again.
"Wheee!"
Jim flinched at Braxton's choice of words. "Maybe Matt should go first."
"Wheee!"
Sy had settled Matt into Jim's chair. The boy clutched his letters with shaking hands. Gently Sy eased them out of his grip and set them on Jim's desk. "Let's start with just one." He glanced over the names on them before selecting one from the stack. "How about your parents?"
Matt nodded. He drew in a deep, shaky breath. His fingers still trembled as he broke the seal and unfolded the piece of parchment. Fresh tears welled up as he read his first words from home. Sy rubbed his back gently while the other three stood nearby, ready to offer hugs and support as needed.