Work Text:
“Hyung, hyung! Come here a second!”
Hoseok perks up in his seat, eagerly glancing back at Taehyung. “Did you finish brewing the potion I assigned yout?”
“No, not yet. Just come here a second, alright?”
Hoseok stands up from his chair and wonders his way to their work area to check in on Taehyung.
Taehyung was… Technically, his apprentice.
Taehyung was technically his apprentice, but if Hoseok is being honest? It almost feels like the other way around sometimes.
“Tae… Holy shit.”
“Right? And check this out.” Taehyung smiles goofily, picking up a small vial of pink liquid. Hoseok feels drawn in to his every move, fascination pulling at every corner of his mind.
(Was that an invisibility potion he was working on? How? Hoseok has been studying that one for years now, and he never once found any sign of success.)
“See, watch this!”
Taehyung pours the pink liquid in, says a few words to himself, and… Poof!
The potion turns a semi-transparent glittering black, swirling around in the vial like a spinning galaxy.
“Tae."
“Neat, right?”
“... Do you have any idea how difficult that is to make?”
Taehyung blinks owlishly, tipping a finger on the glass. “This?”
“Yeah, Tae.” Hoseok lets out a deep breath, shaking his head to himself in disbelief. “That.”
“Did you wanna try it out with me or something?”
“Under no circumstance will you be using that potion, Kim Taehyung. Now, get back to work, alright? Charm potions might seem easy at first, but trust me when I say they are far from it.”
Taehyung pouts, but doesn’t put up any resistance.
Hoseok ruffles his hair and goes back to work with a fond smile.
(The way Taehyung’s eyes trail after him makes has his heart flutter.)
“Hyung, will you teach me how to make a love potion one of these days?”
“Why do you want to learn, Tae?”
“It’s just…” Taehyung fiddles with his fingers, avoiding direct eye-contact. “You taught me how to make charm potions, but what if that’s not enough?”
Hoseok sighs, removing his circle glasses to rub at his eyes. “Taetae, charm potions got their name because they’re meant to boost your natural ‘charm’. If the person you’re after isn’t being receptive to that, then it’s probably better you just don’t try to pursue them. You need to be fair. To both the other person, and yourself.”
It’s a speech he’s rehearsed many times.
(In the mirror.)
(To himself.)
(He’s had some desperate times.)
“Ah, I see…” Taehyung trails off. “So there really is nothing I can do, besides a charm potion? At least in good conscious?”
“‘Fraid not.” Hoseok hums sympathetically, leaning forward suddenly in utmost curiosity. “Who is it, though? Is it someone I know? ”
Taehyung stands up abruptly, turning around to fiddle with some more ingredients.
“It’s nobody you know, h-hyung.”
The next morning when Hoseok greets Taehyung, Tae seems to be…
Sparkling.
Completely and utterly radiant.
“Uh, g-good morning, T-Taehyung.”
Taehyung hums pleasantly, greeting some of Hoseok’s plants as he breezes his way to the work area.
(Little traces of glitter are left behind in a trail. Hoseok has never been so speechless in his life.)
“So, what am I working on today, Hoseokkie-hyung?”
Hoseok chokes back a noise at the way Taehyung says his name.
So adorable, so bright, so charming.
“Uh… ”
“You alright over there?” Taehyung teases, sending him a mischievous glance.
“Y… Yep! Just f-fine! I’ll go get my book!”
“Alright, s-so as you probably know well by now, brewing is a mix of th-three things. Equations, intentions, and incantations. You need all three to make a s-successful potion.”
“Equations, intentions, and incantations.” Taehyung repeats in a low voice, flicking his eyes over to Hoseok.
(They’re so close, and Hoseok is so weak.)
“Th-That’s correct. Use the wrong equations, or recipe, I g-guess you could say, and what happens?”
“Physical side effects, right? Fever, headache, stuff like that?”
“Yep! And…” His eyes travel down to Taehyung’s lips naturally. The room feels a little stuffy. “For i-incantation?”
“Hm…” Taehyung closes one eye in concentration. “Does something happen?”
Hoseok shakes himself out of his daze, trying to concentrate on teaching him something instead of just watching him. “Y-Yeah. Don’t you remember the first potion you made with me?”
“Oh!” Taehyung lights up again, sitting up straight in his seat. “That’s right, the one for minor illnesses? Unfocused intention, you might get something entirely different. In my case… Turning into a frog, it seemed.”
“Knew right from the start you’d be a pain in my neck.” Hoseok teases, trying to keep his tone light and casual; even with the blush settled so permanently in his cheeks.
“Oh please, you love it.”
Hoseok doesn’t reply to that.
(Because it’s true.)
“Lastly… I-Incantation?”
“Without the right incantation, the spell doesn’t bind. Isn’t able to stick together, right? You can’t have a potion without a good incantation. But, the effectiveness of a particular incantation depends entirely on the person; which makes some potions so difficult to master. Most spells work for some, but completely fail for others.”
Hoseok nods, smiling proudly. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, Kim Taehyung-ssi.”
Taehyung cheers to himself, glad to be able to impress him on at least one topic.
“Do I get a reward, hyung?”
“... R-Reward?”
(Hoseok’s mind immediately goes somewhere very very… Unsavory.)
“Yeah, like, for wording that so well? For really knowing my stuff?”
“Uh…” Hoseok’s mind zones out on him. “W-What are you suggesting?”
“I want a kiss!”
Oh.
Um.
“O-On your cheek, Tae?”
“On my lips.”
“O-On your l-l-lips?”
“If it’s fine with you, hyung!” Taehyung smiles charmingly at him, batting his eyelashes.
“Oh, g-goodness… Um...”
Hoseok fans himself off, completely and utterly flustered.
Taehyung keeps looking at him with hope gleaming in his eyes.
(Is that glitter on his eyelashes? Why are his cheeks so round and adorable? Is he glowing?)
He takes a deep breath to steady himself.
Lets it out.
“... O-On one condition.”
“Anything, Hobi.”
“You k-kiss back?”
Taehyung smiles, leaning in.
‘I think we could arrange that.”
+ Bonus
“Hyung, I think it worked!”
“Think what worked, darling?”
“The charm potion I tried out yesterday. He seemed... Responsive enough. At least to me. anyway.”
“Kim Taehyung, you minx!"
"Aw! Love you too, Hobi!”
(Taehyung coos at the dimples that appear when he can't help but smile.)