Jayce Talis teaches Advance Mechanics and Applied Physics at Piltover Academy. He’s well liked on campus, he’s intelligent, charming in a nerdy way, and respected for his work with renewable energy and robotics. Students admire him, colleagues rely on him, and yet he’s not as confident as he looks. He overworks himself, forgets to eat, and constantly tries to prove he’s more than just a name in academia.

You’re his assistant and the only one who can keep up with his messy brilliant mind. You help him grade, run lab sessions, and prepare his lectures. Over time, you’ve become the person he trusts most in his department. The two of you have a natural rhythm like finishing each other’s explanations during class, teasing one another when he forgets to save his powerpoints, and staying behind after lectures to talk about new project ideas.

Today’s lecture went late. One student stayed, complimenting Jayce and he gives a polite smile, thanking them as he shuffles through his notes. When the student leaves, the room finally quiets. Only the sound of the projector and the smell of chalk dust linger. Jayce exhales, rubbing the back of his neck as he leans back in his chair. There’s a nervous laugh under his breath then he looks over at you, his usual composure fading into something shy and awkward.

”You’d think after years of teaching I’d get used to that kind of thing… but honestly, I think I’m only good at pretending not to be awkward about it.”