[of course he cares. well - maybe he doesn't care about the book or the living and breathing scenery and a novel about the grueling realities of border towns back in the day, but he cares what tim has to say, always. it's why his gaze lingers, feet carrying him the way he's memorized towards the building and drinking in the furrow between his brows, the animated way his lips move almost a mile a minute before he really gets going -
and then promptly cuts himself off, as if hawk wouldn't want to listen to more of it. now that just won't do. hawk intentionally stops dead, forcing their rhythm of walking in sync up until now off balance before turning slightly towards tim at full attention.]
And? I was listening.
[there's a lopsided grin before he starts up again, somehow wholly unsurprised yet caught off guard and delighted to know he's snuck his way into tim's subconscious. surely it's just because he was nose-deep into his reading before dozing, because he'd interrupted him - nothing more than that, just like tim said. but he does nothing to deter the growing closeness, the easy camaraderie and conspiratorial way they're practically rubbing shoulders with one another and discussing this as if they were old friends with gentle flirtations - not professor and student. hawk is all too grateful the sunglasses mask his line of vision - focus dropping to the fullness of his bottom lip, worried a darker and all too enticing shade as tim taps against it thoughtfully without the awareness of how much of hawk's interest he commands in the moment. there's a thoughtful hum, amused, and hawk absolutely lets their shoulders brush.]
No fringe, or no cowboy hat? I'll take that into consideration. And dare I ask, what about chaps?
[just an exceptionally good looking boy, embodying every bit his age in the golden rays of a perfect summer's sun - the kiss of chestnut in his hair, the peek of what hawk thinks might be a tan line, christ. tim looks easy and content in a way he doesn't think he's ever seen in the last year and a half, and he'd be lying to try and deny how intoxicating it is - like the sweet center of a flower to a bee, drawing him in closer and closer until he almost misses what tim even says for the way his mind wanders more than inappropriately. he wouldn't call it tension, but there's an intimacy underlying everything from the amount of time they've spent together both on and off campus at this point. and whether he likes it or not, it's more than hawk has ever allowed himself to do with anybody else - sexual or otherwise. the fact that those lines were blurred to begin with makes it even more complicated, as do their apparent proclivities from the get go.
tim spins on his heel, facing him head on with the internal struggle he's not privy to, and then spits out something so unpredictable hawk misses the rhythm again of his steps and barks out a laugh.]
Anna?
Are you - trying to set me up on a date, Laughlin?
[except then the idea flips - and has him wondering why tim knows so much about her in the first place. twelve cats, a gap tooth...those are details that seem more than a little friendly. does he have a crush? does tim go both ways? why is tim seeing a nurse so much anyway, is he sick? struggling? and jesus - where is this all coming from?]
Unless she's already spoken for. You know how many cats she has....that sounds serious.
[his tone stays light, never betraying the sudden streak of something unpleasant worming its way up his chest. get it together, fuller. for fuck's sake.]
But don't worry. If you prefer me being rough, I'll make sure to deliver.
no subject
and then promptly cuts himself off, as if hawk wouldn't want to listen to more of it. now that just won't do. hawk intentionally stops dead, forcing their rhythm of walking in sync up until now off balance before turning slightly towards tim at full attention.]
And? I was listening.
[there's a lopsided grin before he starts up again, somehow wholly unsurprised yet caught off guard and delighted to know he's snuck his way into tim's subconscious. surely it's just because he was nose-deep into his reading before dozing, because he'd interrupted him - nothing more than that, just like tim said. but he does nothing to deter the growing closeness, the easy camaraderie and conspiratorial way they're practically rubbing shoulders with one another and discussing this as if they were old friends with gentle flirtations - not professor and student. hawk is all too grateful the sunglasses mask his line of vision - focus dropping to the fullness of his bottom lip, worried a darker and all too enticing shade as tim taps against it thoughtfully without the awareness of how much of hawk's interest he commands in the moment. there's a thoughtful hum, amused, and hawk absolutely lets their shoulders brush.]
No fringe, or no cowboy hat? I'll take that into consideration. And dare I ask, what about chaps?
[just an exceptionally good looking boy, embodying every bit his age in the golden rays of a perfect summer's sun - the kiss of chestnut in his hair, the peek of what hawk thinks might be a tan line, christ. tim looks easy and content in a way he doesn't think he's ever seen in the last year and a half, and he'd be lying to try and deny how intoxicating it is - like the sweet center of a flower to a bee, drawing him in closer and closer until he almost misses what tim even says for the way his mind wanders more than inappropriately. he wouldn't call it tension, but there's an intimacy underlying everything from the amount of time they've spent together both on and off campus at this point. and whether he likes it or not, it's more than hawk has ever allowed himself to do with anybody else - sexual or otherwise. the fact that those lines were blurred to begin with makes it even more complicated, as do their apparent proclivities from the get go.
tim spins on his heel, facing him head on with the internal struggle he's not privy to, and then spits out something so unpredictable hawk misses the rhythm again of his steps and barks out a laugh.]
Anna?
Are you - trying to set me up on a date, Laughlin?
[except then the idea flips - and has him wondering why tim knows so much about her in the first place. twelve cats, a gap tooth...those are details that seem more than a little friendly. does he have a crush? does tim go both ways? why is tim seeing a nurse so much anyway, is he sick? struggling? and jesus - where is this all coming from?]
Unless she's already spoken for. You know how many cats she has....that sounds serious.
[his tone stays light, never betraying the sudden streak of something unpleasant worming its way up his chest. get it together, fuller. for fuck's sake.]
But don't worry. If you prefer me being rough, I'll make sure to deliver.
[in class. just class.]