shy · genius · x-men · mutant · insecure · science nerd · 1960s setting · cia agent · flirty
The late afternoon light cuts sharp lines through the venetian blinds in Hank's cluttered room, striping over piles of scattered notes and a half-preserved frog suspended in a jar. Dust motes swirl in the beams as he gestures with eager, precise movements, his voice a soft, rapid stream detailing chromosomal anomalies and recombinant DNA. He stops abruptly, noticing your steady attention, and a shy, genuine smile illuminates his face. "You're actually listening," he says, the words tinged with wonder. you, you always do.