Sunlight streams across the table that separates them.

Hoseok is leaning forward on it, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbow where they meet the surface of the table. His hair is a light, tousled brown and Jimin can't deny that he has been doing his best not to stare at the freckle that dots Hoseok's cupid's bow.

Jimin looks like a hot mess, emphasis on a mess. His face is covered in ash from the alchemy explosion he just recently caused and he had no time to clean up before his meeting with the senior in front of him. Hoseok has not commented on his appearance yet so far, but Jimin is just waiting for it, waiting for when Hoseok will strike his point home.

The only reason they even know about each other is that Hoseok is the star pupil of Bangtan Acadamy and Jimin can't take a step without hearing someone, or other, mutter the older boy's name. Jimin is known by all for other reasons, with the two biggest being the cause of constant explosions and spells gone wrong. As much as he pleads his case about not all of it being his fault exactly, none of the professors buy it.

Of course, who would believe him about Taehyung throwing belch powder into his cauldron when Namjoon, Taehyung's boyfriend, always manages to smooth talk Jimin's best friend out of all sorts of sticky situations?

It does not help either that in their Herbology class, Jeongguk always manages to upstage Jimin somehow and later he has to deal with Yoongi's gloating as he praises his not-so-boyfriend. Jimin thinks it is all ridiculous anyway since Yoongi is obviously not very bright considering he was held back in his second year, so it has clearly affected who he likes as well.

Rest in peace that poor old senior.

Back to the present moment where Jimin is sitting across from Jung Hoseok in the library though because that is leading to be more important than all the tangents Jimin was going through in his head. Hoseok looks tired and a little pale, but at least he isn't like Jimin who is covered in soot and smells like burnt onions.

"I still don't understand why I'm here."

Hoseok lets out a sigh across from him and leans back in his seat, a palm pressed to his forehead as he takes in a deep breath to settle himself.

"Jimin, I'm sure we do not need to go over each and every one of your recent infractions, right? So why don't you make this easier for everyone involved and just admit that you have a problem? You'll save us a lot of trouble," Hoseok grits out, frustration lying heavy in his tone of voice.

Jimin only shrugs and crosses his legs one over the other from his knee, focusing on the sole of his boot instead of Hoseok's face now. "I get that my magic isn't the most stable—"

Hoseok cuts off whatever else Jimin was going to say with a pained expression on his face. "Jimin, don't mind me being so blunt by saying this, but you are the worst in the entire academy. You're facing grounds of expulsion if you don't somehow get a lid on the extent of your magic."

"Well, how is that any fair? Controlling magic isn't something that's as easy as that!" Jimin doesn't realize he is shouting until Hoseok winces at the sound and others shush him. He flushes, backtracking as quickly as he can while glancing around the library to see how many pairs of eyes are on them. "Sorry, I just... I don't understand how I'm supposed to get better at this with the short amount of time the academy has given me."

"Normally, something like that wouldn't be possible at all, but — and luckily for you — I'm the best at control in the academy. I even proceed Headmaster Bang," Hoseok beams at Jimin, his smile much too bright for Jimin's tastes, especially with how tense their conversation has become. "So, I've been assigned to you as your new tutor and we will meet twice a week to work on your control and brush up on any of your present techniques."

Jimin crosses his arms over his chest and studies Hoseok. He is a year older than Jimin and a senior to boot, but he's also the student body president as well and the best at almost everything. Of course, he would be the one the professors would throw at him. It's genius except for the fact...

"But why are you going to be tutoring me? Why not a professor who, no offense, has a lot more experience and expertise with this?" Jimin can't help but ask.

Hoseok shifts in his seat and continues to smile, not put off at all. "Because you have a problem with authority, supposedly, so getting private lessons from a professor wouldn't help in the long run. That's where I come in. You respond a lot better to your own peers, or so I've been told."

Somewhere in all of that, Jimin is sure an insult is lurking, but before he can bristle up and lash out at it, Hoseok is steamrolling over him again.

"Plus, my level of control proceeds that of the professors so it was a no-brainer really. I know that control is not easy and I don't expect you to pick this up so quickly, but I know that you're not an idiot too. You're capable of a lot more than you know."

Jimin flushes once he realizes that Hoseok has complimented him and hopes that his cheeks are not what Hoseok is staring intently at right now. But he smiles then and uncrosses his arms as he looks to finally meet Hoseok's gaze.

"I don't really have a choice with this, do I?" Jimin asks.

Hoseok's grin widens, a twinkle in his eyes that strikes fear into Jimin's heart. "Nope."

Jimin resigns himself to his fate of having to be tutored by a boy he is pretty sure he's been crushing on since forever as said boy beams at him for finally giving in and agreeing to the arrangement.

    "You're already getting a lot better at this," Hoseok says, one of the first positive things he has said for their session today.

Jimin wipes the sweat from his brow and lets his hands rest on his knees as he tries to steady his breaths. The training grounds are open, making them the best place for their tutoring sessions, but it also makes it the hottest place on campus. Jimin would rather be splayed out on Taehyung and Namjoon's lap as he avoids his essay and possibly sneaks in a nap or two. Instead, he is out in the sun, pushing the limits of his magic for two hours twice a week.

Today is especially hot and Hoseok has granted him the liberty of a break every twenty minutes because of the heat. The senior isn't even sweating at all and Jimin wonders if there happens to be a spell that stops someone from sweating or not.

"Thanks," he huffs out, his heart beating a mile a minute, "Are we done yet?"

Hoseok smiles and shakes his head, clutching onto the handle of the umbrella in his hand tighter as he steps forward. "Not yet. Still have another half hour to go, Jiminnie."

Even though he fails to do so each and every time, Jimin bites his lip and tries to tame the erratic beat of his heart whenever Hoseok calls him by this nickname. They have been holding their sessions for over a month now and Jimin doesn't really notice a change in the extent of his control when it comes to his magic, but Hoseok is pleased with his progress regardless. Something about, having to start from somewhere or wearing the shame of not trying at all. Jimin doesn't know really, all he understands is that the more often they meet, the more often Jimin finds himself daydreaming about the senior.

Jimin smiles back and sits down in the grass, not caring of the stains he will surely sport once he stands back up. Hoseok takes a couple steps forward until the shadow of his umbrella lies directly above Jimin's face and stays there. Jimin thinks it would be easier to just conjure his own umbrella, but he likes that Hoseok is considerate enough to do this tiny thing for him anyway.

Hoseok makes to sit down beside Jimin then and uses a levitation charm to keep the umbrella aloft. They now have shade and Jimin sighs as he closes his eyes and tilts his head back, content to enjoy this break that Hoseok is being lenient enough to give him right now. He can see the light behind his closed eyelids, but he's focusing on not thinking about anything, not even the familiar heat of a body beside him.

But then Hoseok's fingers tangle with Jimin's and he feels his heart stop in his chest as he freezes.

Jimin is no fool. He knows that he likes Hoseok, but he never entertained the idea of Hoseok liking him back. Hoseok is affectionate, sure, just not on this kind of level.

This is intimate. This is important.

When Jimin finally opens his eyes and looks to his right to meet Hoseok's gaze, there is an emotion in his eyes that Jimin can barely distinguish. But it's there and that alone is more than enough for Jimin.