"Why isn't he here yet," Braxton groaned.
"Patience," Matt sighed. "He does have his own classes to worry about. It's not unreasonable that he might have a couple of instances where he's unable to leave a little early to come collect you."
"But this is lunch," Braxton protested. "And I can't go eat until he's here. A man gets hungry, you know!"
Jim laughed. "In case you forget, I worked as a chef's assistant on a space ship full of pirates. I know how hungry men can get. Women, too, for that matter. You will survive. It's only been three minutes."
"Traitor!" Braxton clutched at his heart. "Betrayed by my friend to curry favor with his boyfriend's allies."
Jim scoffed. "Zephyr isn't Sy's ally. They're friends, you nut ball."
"I can't imagine anyone being friends with Zephyr. Even for Sy, that's a stretch. Allies at best, and that's being generous." Braxton insisted. "No one should be friends with Zephyr."
"I feel the same about you," Zephyr drawled from the doorway, "But at least I have the courage to say it to your face."
"I'll happily say it to your face," Braxton retorted, "But why avoid saying it when it's relevant to the conversation? If you had been on time, you would have been here when I said it."
"Please forgive Braxton." Matt took his friend's arm and started to drag him out of the room. "Someone missed his nap today. Varian, time to come up for air. Need someone to help carry your books?"
Varian shook his head. "No thanks. I've got it." He shoved a few of his loose supplies into his bag. His tablet and three books were scooped up into one arm and crushed against his chest to hold them in place. The fourth book remained open. He picked it up, one handed, to try and carry it open through the halls so he could continue his reading.
Zephyr followed the small group of friends through the halls. It was Matt's turn to make sure Varian didn't bump into anything while walking. Unfortunately this meant that what little conversation did include Zephyr was stilted and halting. By the time they reached the lunch room, all of them had given up on holding friendly conversation.
"Hey Zephyr," Braxton, surprisingly, was the first to address him again. "Which line do you prefer for meals?"
"Surprisingly considerate of you, Rudforrest. I use the omnivore line, as most humans do." Zephyr responded cautiously.
"Great, good to know. Alright Matty, I'll see you at the table. Jim, you're in charge of Varian." Braxton instructed.
Jim set a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder, steering him towards the lunch line. "Sure, but you'll be right there, too."
"Nope." Braxton had already turned away from his friends. "I am fulfilling a lifelong fantasy. Today we're doing all carnivore!"
Zephyr clenched his jaw. "I should have known better than to answer you honestly," He muttered as he followed after the frustrating cyborg.
Jim shook his head. "Just you and me for now, Varian. What you studying?"
"Arcturian solar crystals. I want to understand how they work, so I can utilize them to improve my planet back home." Varian answered brightly. "There's so much good that could come from a rechargeable power source!"
"Yeah, batteries are useful."
"I don't understand how physically attacking someone is helpful or relevant to unlimited power-actually now that I say it out loud, I do." Varian started laughing. "That was a good one, I'll have to remember that joke for later."
Jim decided not to correct him.
Lunch today was roast bonzabeast sandwiches, apples and celery with some sort of rich green peanut butter-like dip, and choice of chips. Today's dessert was brownies. Jim grabbed the largest one he could see. In his defense, everyone before him had done the same thing, and everyone behind him would as well.
"Have you seen Sy yet?"
"Not yet," Varian answered as he scanned the lunch room. "I don't see his friends, either. I can message Hogarth, but I think we'll be at the table together before I get an answer."
"That's alright, but thank you, Varian."
Sy would be over soon. He always sat with them, it was just a matter of time. Jim just missed him. He hadn't realized how rough it would be to lose a few extra minutes of their precious free time in the morning.
Matt was waiting at the lunch table for them. Jim took his usual across from him, and Varian settled in next to him. Braxton and Zephyr arrived mere moments later. At some point Braxton had picked up 628 on his way to the table. Sy was the last to approach, flanked by Mellow and Aladdin.
"Hey Sy!" Jim couldn't keep from smiling. Even the foul presence of the manticore wasn't enough to tarnish his pleasure at seeing his boyfriend.
"Hey," Sy gave the gathering a restrained smile. "I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I'm not actually going to sit here for lunch. We just got assigned a huge group project, and the guys and I were going to get started on some ideas while it's fresh. Zephyr, I thought maybe you'd like to sit with us? We were just going to use that table over there, so you'd still be able to see Braxton. I just know you two were a little tense at breakfast, so I thought, maybe, you know…"
Zephyr stood up. "Thank you, Sy. That would be preferable. Braxton. You will remain at this table at all times. If for any reason you need to get up, bathroom, refill, anything, you will come straight over to me so that I can accompany you."
"Yes dad."
The muscles in Zephyr's neck twitched as he restrained himself from reacting. Not bothering to waste any more words on the second years, the admiral's grandson circled around their lunch table and retreated to the relative peace of the group of first years.
Braxton scoffed. "Good riddance. Remind me I owe Sy half my dessert tonight or something, because wow I did not want to spend all lunch looking at that jerk."
"Yeah, but….I miss Sy," Jim protested weakly. He knew that it was probably a little pathetic to be complaining about spending one meal apart, but he loved what time he did get with his boyfriend. If he had it his way, they'd spend even more time together.
628 twitched his antenna. "Sy come back for dinner."
"I know, I know." Jim crossed his arms and stuck his lip out in an exaggerated pout. "But I want him now."
Matt reached over to pat him on the head. "Shall I get your pacifier and tuck you in for a nap?"
"Actually, a nap does kinda sound good," Jim started laughing. "But I'll pass on the pacifier, thanks."
"Your loss," Braxton answered as he ruffled 628's ears. 628 stopped sucking on his bottle of coffee and tipped his head.
Jim cast one last glance over at the table where Sy sat chatting animatedly with his friends before refocusing on the second years that sat around him. "Alright, so, how much fun was that cannon earlier today?"