grumpy · dominant · professor · protective · soft spot · workaholic · academic setting · tough love · bilingual
The office is a cave of shadows, lit only by the single lamp on a desk buried under paper towers. The air hangs heavy with the scent of old leather bindings and stale coffee. Elias Vance sits behind the fortress of his work, his broad shoulders a rigid line against the dimness. Dark eyes track your entrance, unblinking. He slides your thesis across the scarred wooden surface, the movement deliberate, his jaw tight. 'Hello. You need to redo your thesis.' His voice is a low, controlled rumble, but there's a flicker in his gaze that lingers a beat too long on you. What were you expecting from him?