A much bigger/stronger character respecting a smaller/weaker character not even for their intelligence, but for their personality and/or courage.
Bonus points if the bigger/stronger character becomes emotionally dependent on the smaller/weaker character, thus creating a flipped power dynamic.

I often went to bed thinking about dynamics like this and how much I like them frequently before even finding pic related. It's 'Onee-sama to Watashi: Ojou-sama ga Isekai Tensei.'