I love your ilia writing so so so muchhhhh
I’ve seen a couple fics of reader tutoring ilia wether they’re best friends or just classmates because like he has to catch up but I’ve heard that ilia’s apparently really good at physics and stuff and I may be self projecting but I SUCK ASS at physics so if you could write like a flipped around version of those where ilia is the one doing the tutoring. Thank youuuu
i love writing cute little ones like this🥹
Tutor Ilia
“I don’t get it,” she mutters, dragging her hand down her face before slumping across Ilia’s desk. “I actually don’t get it. Like… at all.”
Ilia leans back in his chair, watching her with a small, amused smile he’s trying not to make obvious. “You said that about the last problem.”
“Because the last problem was also terrible,” she shoots back, lifting her head just enough to glare at the page like it personally offended her. “Who decided numbers should have letters in them? That’s not math. That’s betrayal.”
He laughs quietly, spinning his pen between his fingers. “It’s physics. Slightly different flavor of suffering.”
She groans, letting her forehead fall against the notebook. “I’m going to fail.”
“You’re not going to fail.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” His voice is calm, steady the same tone he uses before landing something difficult on the ice. Certain. “You’re stuck, not incapable. There’s a difference.”
She turns her head, cheek pressed to the paper, eyes narrowing at him. “Easy for you to say, genius.”
“Hey,” he says lightly, leaning forward, nudging her arm with his pen. “I worked for this genius status.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She sits up again, though she still looks unconvinced. “Meanwhile I can’t even figure out what this problem is asking me.”
Ilia glances down at the page, scooting his chair closer until their shoulders brush. “Okay. Let’s slow it down.”
He flips the notebook slightly toward himself, pointing to the equation.
“Forget everything else for a second,” he says. “What do you recognize here?”
She squints. “Numbers?”
He gives her a look.
“…okay, fine. Velocity? Maybe?”
“There you go.” His smile softens, a little proud, like she’s just landed something big instead of naming a variable. “So we’re dealing with motion. That already narrows it down.”
She watches him as he talks really watches him. The way his focus sharpens, how he gets a little more animated, hands moving as he explains like the concepts live somewhere just under his skin.
He likes this.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” she says.
“Because it’s fun.”
“It’s not fun. It’s evil.”
He laughs again, shaking his head. “Okay, dramatic.”
She nudges his knee with hers under the desk. “You love that I’m dramatic.”
“I do,” he admits easily, eyes flicking to hers for just a second too long.
Her stomach does a small, traitorous flip.
“Focus,” she mutters, breaking the moment, though there’s a hint of a smile now. “Teach me your evil ways.”
Ilia grins. “Gladly.”
He starts walking her through it step by step no rushing, no jumping ahead. Every time she hesitates, he pauses, rephrases, finds another way to explain it.
“And what happens if acceleration is constant?” he asks, tapping the page lightly.
She chews on the end of her pencil, thinking. “Then… velocity changes at a steady rate?”
His face lights up. “Exactly.”
Her eyes widen a little. “Wait, actually?”
“Yes, actually.” He bumps her shoulder gently. “See? You do get it.”
She tries to hide her smile and fails. “Okay, maybe a little.”
“A lot,” he corrects.
She rolls her eyes, but she’s sitting up straighter now, leaning in instead of collapsing.
They keep going.
There are still moments where she groans and threatens to drop out and move to a remote island where physics doesn’t exist, but now there’s laughter in between. Now, when she gets something right, she looks at him first like she wants him to confirm it matters.
And every time, he does.
At some point, her pencil pauses mid-solution.
“…Ilia?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you this patient with everyone, or am I special?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “You’re special.”
The words land softer than expected.
She looks at him, really looks this time, and suddenly the equations on the page feel a lot less overwhelming.
“Good,” she says quietly, a teasing edge slipping back in. “Because if you weren’t, I’d be offended.”
He leans a little closer, resting his elbow on the desk, head tilted toward her. “You should be. I don’t tutor just anyone.”
“Oh?” she raises an eyebrow. “What are your qualifications, exactly?”
“Elite skater. Physics expert. Very charming.”
She laughs, nudging him again. “Debatable.”
“Rude.”
“Accurate.”
They’re both smiling now close enough that it feels like the air shifted without either of them noticing.
Ilia glances down at her notebook, then back at her. “You want to try the last one on your own?”
She hesitates.
Then nods.
“Okay… but don’t judge me.”
“Never.”
She starts working through it, slower this time, but steady. Ilia stays quiet, just watching ready if she needs help, but letting her figure it out.
A minute passes.
Then two.
“…wait,” she says, eyes narrowing at the numbers. “Wait”
She scribbles something, then looks up at him, almost disbelieving.
“Did I just get that right?”
He takes the notebook, scanning it quickly.
A smile spreads across his face.
“You did.”
Her jaw drops. “No way.”
“Yes way.”
She lets out a surprised laugh, dropping her pencil. “Oh my…Ilia, I’m actually a genius now.”
“Careful,” he teases. “That’s my title.”
She beams, turning toward him fully. “I couldn’t have done that without you.”
“Yeah, you could have. Just needed a little push.”
“Well,” she says, softer now, “I’m glad it was you.”
Something in his expression shifts just a little, just enough to make her pulse pick up.
“Me too,” he says.
There’s a quiet pause.
Then she leans in and presses a quick kiss to his cheek light, almost shy.
“Thank you, tutor,” she murmurs.
Ilia blinks, caught off guard for half a second before a grin breaks through.
“Anytime.”
She starts gathering her things, still smiling to herself, when his hand gently catches her wrist.
“Hey,” he says.
She turns back.
Before she can ask, he leans in and kisses hersoft, warm, just a little lingering, like he’s been thinking about it for a while.
When he pulls back, she’s smiling again, brighter this time.
“…extra credit?” she asks.
He laughs under his breath. “Definitely.”
