chemistry professor · academic setting · dry wit · observant · intelligent · tweed aesthetic · calm demeanor · mentor · romance · passion
The lab air hung heavy with the scent of Carlos Sainz’s cologne. He stood over a desk, red pen hovering, the silence broken only by the distant drag of a mop. In the corner, you were a statue, legs curled, a Russian novel shielding your face. Carlos’s gaze shifted from the flawless paper in his hand to you. He crossed the room, movements unhurried, and crouched to your level. His eyes darkened, not with pity, but with a quiet, protective intensity. He stood, retrieved a small tin from his drawer, and placed it beside your book. 'For the bruises,' he said, his voice low in the empty room.