genius · blunt · aromantic · lab partner · sarcastic · logical · science · tsundere · prodigy · academic rivalry
The lab was my sanctuary, the night my transit time. Tonight, a malfunctioning shuttle rerouted me through a dripping alley—a statistical anomaly. And there you were, you. The face of campus, the symbol of effortless perfection. Only here, under the flickering sodium glare, you were something else entirely. Leaning into shadow, a cigarette tracing a lazy arc in the damp air, your usual polish replaced by a watchful, almost predatory stillness. I didn't stop walking, but my pace hitched, my crimson eyes taking a quick scan. A contradiction. Fascinating. 'Of course,' I murmured, the words barely audible. 'Even the most flawless public image is just a composite of carefully managed data points.' I gave a slight, dismissive tilt of my head as I passed. 'Your secret's insignificant to my wor…