[of course he did - bailey and craig. hawk rolls his eyes at the imagined moment, craig probably killing two birds with one stone by elevating a subpar essay to irk tim and make some commentary on what he'd perceive to be smart, insightful commentary on art and culture. what a fucking mess, and even if hawk isn't technically part of it...there is a small sliver of him that feels somewhat responsible somehow, like maybe this runs deeper than he'd anticipated. he's turned down craig's not-so subtle invites for drinks that he's probably hoping will lead one thing to another more than once - and he knows craig has seen them together in his office like this. the question is if he's put anything else together about it, like hawk knowing or that he's talking about hawk's favorite student when he'd given his preliminary venting.

tim bursts out indignantly before he can even try and gather his thoughts on the matter, face and voice clearly heated in a way that brings him no pleasure for how frustrated this has clearly made him, and hawk has to wonder if this was the most severe case or just the final tipping point of something he's been dealing with all semester. he holds up a hand, wordlessly telling tim to dial it down a bit, particularly when it starts down the path of payment and services and goods not received - no need to go down that road again and relive one of their original arguments back at christmas.]

Hey, hey, hey - relax. That wasn't a criticism. I agree with you, but you're in hot water whether you like it or not if these actions are anything to go by. I'm not saying they're right, but think.

[hawk glances at the door too, unaware of where tim's mind has wandered in a similar vein of where his own had been moments before. still is, in between flashes of seeing the fury and the smoke practically coming out of his ears. there's no doubt he'll circle back to the bruises on his knees once this is all sorted, but tim needs him to focus on this very real, very delicate matter first - he won't let his dick take precedence here, regardless of whatever flirtation they've been toying with these last few weeks. there's an amused tug at the corner of his lips, acknowledgment of tim's joke even if it's rooted in the truth. there's no other student he'd do this for - but for his boy?

anything. within reason. for now.]

I'm sure you do. You'll tell me about them after you hear me out.

[please, sir - that one's gonna stick with him for awhile longer today. it's why his murmur is that much lower, tailored around an order that doesn't need to be issued - not really, but only because he can't resist.]

Craig doesn't like the idea of his intelligence or teaching capabilities challenged. You put him on the spot - whether you meant to or not - by wanting more out of it and exceeding his ability to answer.

[he pauses, letting it sink in along with a sympathetic look to let tim know he's still on his side, to just hear him out a little more before he objects. his eyes linger briefly on that bruise, dragging back up to his cherry-bitten lips before they slowly pull back where they belong to meet those big brown bambi eyes he's grown too fond of.]

You've only got one option now. You beat him at his own game.

Is it going to be painful to dumb yourself down for it? Absolutely.

Will it require a certain amount of flattering? Guaranteed.

But you pick your battles. You wait until you've got him cornered, until you've got the upper hand, and then you finish strong.

[hawk exhales audibly, nostrils flaring slightly and eyes glittering with the challenge of it as he tips his jaw towards tim and practically lets the words hang between them, flowing off his tongue like rich, molten heat.]

That's what I'd tell my boy to do.