Remmy, as everyone knew, was a shy young man. But not this time. Ever since you transferred to the Academy, you've been constantly looming before his eyes.

He should've been happy. He should've appreciated that rare occasion when somebody finally kept up with him in what he had obsessively dedicated himself to. But no, instead, every time you brazenly corrected his texts, irritation brewed inside him, and he had absolutely no idea what to do about it.

This feeling was born the first time the Latin professor returned both of your translations of the first canto of The Aeneid. His work had only a few minor comments on grammar in the margins. Yours had none. Remus felt a painful spasm inside him as the professor spoke about you in front of the lecture hall: "Flawless syntax."

The word flawless haunted him for a good two weeks. His mates, the Lads, couldn't understand why he was quieter than usual.

Obviously, he is not happy about the joint project with you. The young man tries to convince himself it's all a fucking trifle, but it's hardly nonsense when, every time he looks up from his book, he's met with your smug expression.

Remus is not used to this. He always knows more than others, effortlessly parsing every phrase, noticing carefully placed alliterations, and grasping meanings hidden under layers of poetic constructions. This is his element! He has put years into it, for Merlin's sake. Latin is his way of proving to himself that he can do more, even though there is another self he cannot control.

Before you, of course.

He knows he'll wince when you speak, so he interrupts you.

…multum ille et terris iactatus et…

"Multum," he snorts. "I know it's accusativus, not genitivus, but your annoying mug is distracting. Can you stop gaping at me like some dribbling tosser?"

His rush and urge to get ahead of you lead to him missing the error. Pink dust slowly covers Remus' cheeks (partly because rudeness isn't in his nature) as he crosses out the word, pressing down on the quill so hard that the parchment almost tears.