Chapter Text
In the midst of spending the entire summer adjusting to his new team and his new life, Jean had been, to put it mildly, distracted. So when the semester started and he was thrown into this new world of classes, it was overwhelming. With the Ravens, classes were definitely the second priority. They weren’t necessarily easier, but with only three people in a class it was easier to focus and they had ways of ensuring all the Ravens passed. Now, not only did he have to adjust to going to classes without a familiar face, but he also had to deal with the incessant noise of the large crowds in his classes, to the point where every day when he returned to his room he had a pounding headache.
Currently, Jean was sitting in his room with only his desk lamp on, staring blankly at his math textbook. He had a test in the morning, but he still wasn’t prepared and his mounting anxiety had prevented him from being able to ask for extra help. He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated, and had just about convinced himself that he was going to fail, be forced to drop out, and be murdered by Ichirou, when he heard a soft knock on the door.
He turned to see Jeremy leaning against his doorway. “How’s it going?”
Jean turned a glare on him. “How does it look like it’s going?”
Jeremy didn’t even look phased at being yelled at. After five months he was completely used to it. “I passed your room earlier and I saw your light still on, so I went and got you this.” He held out a cup of what appeared to be coffee. “I figured if you had a test tomorrow you’d be up for a while so caffeination was in order. And maybe a study buddy?”
Jean took the offered drink and took a sip. “You remembered I don’t like sugar?”
“A man can only get sworn at in French about “American blasphemy” so many times before he gets the hint.”
Jean smiled before sighing and looking back down at his book. “I think I’m a lost cause.”
Jeremy frowned, which looked so out of place on his face that Jean regretted saying it. “You’re not a lost cause. It’s one day at a time.”
“One day might be all I have if I fail this test.”
“Don’t be dramatic. Move over here and we can look at it together. I’m not bad at math.”
“Really, and here I was worried that you weren’t completely perfect,” Jean quipped dryly.
Jeremy flashed a smile before saying, “Just wait until I make you help me with my French homework.”
“Mon Dieu,” Jean muttered under his breath, but moved over to sit on the bed and discuss polynomials and equations until they were both too tired to focus on the book anymore.
“I should let you sleep,” Jeremy said quietly.
“No,” Jean said. He paused, embarrassed with the way his voice had sounded, but continued, “Sleeping is...it’s hard. Adjusting after the Nest, I mean. But maybe, if you don’t mind, you could just talk to me until I fall asleep?”
Jeremy looked at him in silence for a minute and Jean hated feeling on display like this. “If you’re going to mock me, just leave. Forget I said anything.”
“I’m not mocking you. I’m just happy you asked for help.”
Jean rolled his eyes. “You and Alvarez can throw a party about my progress later. Right now I have to be awake in 8 hours.”
Jeremy lay on top of the covers next to Jean and chattered about nothing until Jean felt his eyes growing heavy. The last thing he was conscious of before falling asleep was Jeremy’s lips softly on his forehead.