The fact that I'm posting this chapter on my birthday and the word crying is in the title is fitting.

Year One: Cramming and Crying

Cafeteria - 9:26 AM

Amid the background noise of people eating, chatting, and shuffling around, Xavier and Brody sit across from each other. They're sharing Brody's laptop and going through the class slideshows for their upcoming written aviation permit test. They went over the basic rules, etiquette, controls, etc.

"You know, this is like driving a car," Brody states as he changes the slideshow.

"Please don't think that when we get to flying," Xavier begs. He's already scared for when Merida gets unsupervised control of a jet.

Brody laughs as Ashton approaches their table and takes a seat at the head of the table. Brody closes the laptop so he and Xavier could focus on Ashton. The ends of his hair have water drops on it from the shower and his body jitters as if it was waiting for someone to say something or else he'll explode. But all Brody and Xavier could do was stare and wait for him to say something.

"I'm chugging energy drinks and coffee like it's water and taking cold showers to stay alert," Ashton explains.

"That's concerning," Xavier says.

"That's phenomenal!" Brody exclaims. He makes note to try that later on in the exam season.

Xavier looks at him. "Don't encourage that."

"You sound like your sister."

-o-

Sci-Tech Lecture Hall - 11:09 AM

"The final is on the 18th."

It takes James a second to realize that someone was talking to him. His mind isn't quite back yet to see who it is but he's only aware that it's not Daniel. Geez. He zoned out for the lecture's entire review period, hoping that some of the important information breaks the barrier between reality and dreamworld. Dreamworld was nice because he wasn't at the Academy. He was on the beach about to go tanning but woke up before the sun hit him. Dammit.

He gives himself credit for going to class.

"The what?" James asks.

"The final."

"What final?"

They look at him concerned. " … for this course."

There are still no bells ringing in James's mind.

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 11:23 AM

Angela walks through her dorm's hallway. All the doors are closed but she can hear everything: crying, panicking, complaining, ranting, all of it. The emotional breakdown that inevitably occurred in such a high-stressed environment has doubled lately. Upper years were right: they hear everything through those thin utilitarian cinder walls. No wonder their RA made her room an open-door policy. As much as Angela wants to help and comfort each of those girls, she knows from experience that it's best to let them vent it all out on their own accord.

Exams are close. They'll get over it and it'll be Christmas.

It's fine. At least, she wants to believe it will be. Angela thinks that before she opens a textbook and drowns out everyone's cries, she'll call home.

-o-

Noakes Library - 14:17 PM

From a private study desk, Merida grimaces at her SHIELD History textbook. She understands concepts like the evolution of clearance levels, the different divisions, publicly-known initiatives and whatever else was in the book. What she couldn't wrap her head around was the real-world application of this crap. She'll never have to defeat a criminal mastermind by listing all the past directors. Don't shoot me, I know the locations of SHIELD's non-classified laboratories!

Merida stretches her arms. Out of all the classes she can afford to take an L in, this tops the list. If she barely passes this course, it won't be the end of the world. She can still work towards trying to get into Weight Class A and fly a plane without delving into the details of SHIELD's relationship with other international bodies of government.

"Fuck this," Merida says, closing her textbook and gathering her things.

What's more important to her is the resell value of the stupid textbook. As much as she wants to make a profit, she wants to get rid of it. That begs the question of if she values money more than some space in her desk.

These are the riveting questions she should be studying.

-o-

Campus Gym - 14:47 PM

This is the last place Daniel ever expected to be but Xavier asked him if he was free for an hour and he said yes. He had to ask for directions to the gym but he eventually found it. It's emptier than he thought but like because it's the shared gym and it's exam season. Within the weights area that intimidates him, he sees Xavier with Ashton and Brody. The latter two intimidate him since they're also over a head taller than him. The only reason Xavier doesn't scare him is because he knows him.

"Why am I here?" Daniel asks.

"Here," Ashton says, passing him a textbook.

Daniel leafs through it, seeing different combat strategies and diagrams. What is he supposed to do with this information? He looks up and sees Ashton, Brody, and Xavier disperse amongst some of the machines. Xavier rolls over a yoga ball and Daniel jumps a little. It looked like a boulder about to run over him. Once he stops it, he takes a seat on it but plants his feet on the ground to avoid falling off and looking like a complete idiot in front of boys who can beat him in everything physical. Daniel opens the textbook to one of the pages that has a sticky note in it.

"So, what's your Ph.D. going to be in?" Brody asks. Xavier must've told them before he got here that he was in Sci-Tech.

Daniel pauses before looking at Xavier with a smile. "Xavier, you tell them."

"No, thanks," Xavier says. "It's your achievement and I don't want to steal that from you."

Daniel grins. He's known Xavier long enough spot his bullshit. "You have no idea, do you?"

Xavier puts his hands up. "In my defence, I always forget the moment you tell me."

"Biochemistry."

"Oh god," Ashton groans. "Why?"

Daniel shrugs. "I couldn't choose between biology or chemistry."

The three Operations boys shudder at those words. That's a choice they never had to worry about making. But it was difficult for Daniel to pick. A lot of upper years advised picking a broad field so that it's easier to narrow down and complete in the amount of given time. All that mattered was getting into second year, even their profs hav said the same thing. But Daniel saw it as a bigger deal. It was his first Ph.D. and he wasn't even 20! He couldn't take it lightly. So he chose biochemistry since it combined two things he loves. Sometimes he wonders if it's the right choice.

But screw it. He's here now and his comprehensive exam is soon. There's no time to change his mind. But there's time to help these boys out.

-o-

Daniel hasn't moved from the yoga ball, but the other boys now stand around him in a triangle. Ashton tosses a medicine ball between his hands as Daniel flips to a new chapter in the textbook.

Daniel clears his throat. "Okay, what are the seven questions?"

"What's the situation and how does it affect me," Ashton responds before tossing the ball to Brody.

"What have I been told to do and why," Brody adds before throwing it to Xavier.

"What effects do I need to achieve." Xavier tosses it back to Ashton.

"Where and how can I best achieve each action and effect." Back to Brody.

"What resources do I need to accomplish each action and effect," Back to Xavier.

"When and where do actions take place in relation to one another." Back to Ashton.

"And finally, what control measures do I need to impose."

Daniel nods as Brody keeps the ball in his hands. When they make eye contact, Brody pretends to throw the medicine ball to him but quickly catches it. Still, Daniel jumps a little on his yoga ball, holding the textbook up as a shield and almost rolls back. He would've died if Xavier didn't catch him so he forgives Xavier for laughing at him.

"I hate the gym," Daniel mutters, readjusting his glasses.

"Why?" Brody asks. "It's fun."

"To you." Daniel gets up from the yoga ball. "I don't need to workout. I'm fit enough and don't have to impress anyone."

Ashton and Brody pause. They look at each other confused before facing Xavier for an explanation. Xavier points at his own left ring finger to tell them that Daniel's engaged so he doesn't need a lady. Or maybe that gesture meant married but they're the same thing when referring to Emily. As a response, Ashton and Brody gasp and coo like chorus girls with their congratulations. Daniel's surprised by that reaction and Xavier's stunned that they harmonized. But Xavier pats Daniel's shoulder as his friend blushes.

Daniel clears his throat. "You know, after this, I learned that Operations is its own science."

Ashton cringes. "Ew."

Brody shakes his head. "No."

Xavier removes his hand. "Why."

Daniel laughs.

Toxic masculinity is not welcomed in this household.

The part about Xavier never knowing what Daniel's PhD is came from me not knowing what my friends in the sciences are doing. I swear, whenever they tell me, it's in one ear and out the other. That conversation with James not knowing about the final and its date happened to me ... and I was James. I think those past few sentences in this AN really tell a lot about me.