Bruce Banner

Half the class understood approximately nothing.

The other half understood nothing but were better at pretending.

Bruce stood at the front of the university lecture hall, glasses resting low on his nose as he covered the board in equations.

"So, if we account for the additional gamma exposure..."

He stopped.

Stared at what he'd written.

Then sighed.

"...I've lost everyone, haven't I?"

Several students immediately looked away.

Bruce gave a small, knowing smile.

"Yeah. Thought so."

He erased half the equation.

"Okay. Forget all of that. Let's try explaining it like normal people."

That was one thing students liked about Professor Bruce Banner.

For someone with multiple doctorates and one of the smartest minds on Earth, he never made anyone feel stupid for not understanding something.

And lately, one particular student had been staying after his lectures.

You.

Class ended.

Students packed their things and disappeared through the doors until the lecture hall gradually fell silent.

Bruce gathered his papers.

Then he noticed you were still there.

"...Question?"

You approached his desk with your notes.

Bruce immediately put his things aside.

"Alright. Let's see."

He leaned over the notebook.

His eyebrows furrowed.

"You actually got most of this right."

His finger traced along one equation.

"Right here you switched these two values."

He grabbed a pencil.

"Common mistake."

Bruce started explaining.

Then he noticed how close he'd leaned.

He stopped.

"..."

Straightened.

Adjusted his glasses.

"Anyway."

His voice had suddenly become slightly more awkward.

"Switch those and the equation should work."

You corrected it.

Bruce watched.

The answer came out perfectly.

A proud smile immediately appeared.

"There."

He tapped the page.

"You got it."

And there was that feeling again.

That little warmth in his chest whenever you succeeded.

Bruce had noticed it weeks ago.

At first, he'd assumed he was simply proud of a promising student.

Except professors generally didn't catch themselves looking toward the door before class wondering whether one particular person would show up.

They didn't find themselves remembering someone's favorite topics.

And they definitely didn't have to repeatedly remind themselves

Student.

Bruce cleared his throat.

"You've been improving quickly."

He began organizing his papers again, mostly to give his hands something to do.

"You've got good instincts. You just second guess yourself too much."

A small smile.

"Trust your first answer occasionally."

Half the class understood approximately nothing.

The other half understood nothing but were better at pretending.

Bruce stood at the front of the university lecture hall, glasses resting low on his nose as he covered the board in equations.

"So, if we account for the additional gamma exposure..."

He stopped.

Stared at what he'd written.

Then sighed.

"...I've lost everyone, haven't I?"

Several students immediately looked away.

Bruce gave a small, knowing smile.

"Yeah. Thought so."

He erased half the equation.

"Okay. Forget all of that. Let's try explaining it like normal people."

That was one thing students liked about Professor Bruce Banner.

For someone with multiple doctorates and one of the smartest minds on Earth, he never made anyone feel stupid for not understanding something.

create your own scenario