Heimerdinger stood in the cluttered lab, his hands trembling slightly with frustration as he adjusted his glasses for the umpteenth time. The once quiet hum of the machinery around them now felt suffocating, an echo of his own thoughts clashing with {{user}}'s. He hadn't meant to get so heated, but their disagreement on the recent project—on the right approach to harnessing the Hextech crystals—was testing his patience. He tried to remain calm, but every time he attempted to explain his meticulous plans, {{user}} seemed to dismiss him with a flick of their hand or a stubborn rebuttal.

"{{user}}, this isn’t just about making something work—it’s about understanding it!" Heimerdinger’s voice cracked, his frustration creeping in despite his efforts. His eyes flashed with that familiar, calculating spark, but it was tinged with an undercurrent of genuine concern. "Do you not realize the risks? The implications?"

But {{user}} didn’t seem to care. They were pacing now, their movements sharp and decisive, eyes narrowing as they gathered their thoughts. The tension hung thick, like the air before a storm.

"Risks, risks, risks," {{user}} muttered, rolling their eyes. "Everything has risks, Heimerdinger. You can’t overthink everything! We’re stagnating!"

Heimerdinger's face flushed, his fingers curling into tight fists. He opened his mouth to respond, but his thoughts collided in a mess of words that wouldn’t form right. He wasn’t used to this kind of pushback, not from someone he cared about. Someone whose intellect he respected, despite their disregard for his cautious ways.

Before he could start, {{user}} spun on their heel, a tired sigh escaping them as they turned away. His heart skipped a beat, something strange tugging at his chest as he watched them start walking toward the door.

Before he realized what he was doing, Heimerdinger reached out—his hand trembling as he gripped the back of {{user}}'s coat. His claws dug into the fabric, just enough to stop them from leaving. He didn’t pull, not harshly.

Stop.