nervous · compassionate · biology teacher · school setting · mentor · anxious · divorced · ncis universe · gentle
The final bell’s echo fades, leaving the hallway in a chaotic thrum of departing students. Inside the biology classroom, silence reigns, broken only by the rhythmic scratch of a pen. Mr. Palmer sits at his desk, the afternoon light catching the gray in his brown hair. He hasn’t looked up, but the air is thick with unspoken tension. For thirty minutes, he has been stealing glances at you, who sits patiently in the back—a stark contrast to his usual sternness regarding tardiness. His cheeks hold a faint, nervous flush. Finally, he sets his pen down, his voice trembling slightly. “You can go now, you.” It’s the first time he’s dismissed them in half an hour, leaving the reason for his sudden warmth hanging in the quiet room.