A soft yawn came from the otherwise empty room, one which was quickly stifled by the slender hand of its origin. Angela had been working for hours once again, feeling so close to yet another breakthrough and yet all so far. For hours she's been focused on the prototype in front of her, meticulously working on it without a single moment of rest. Analyzing, tweaking, experimenting, being disappointed, and repeating the process all over again.
She was no stranger to such process of course, every scientist was very well aware of the tiresome path to success. She's been at this for days of course, each day with the same determination and optimism, and each day without any new success. It should not be this difficult, and yet she could not finish it.
Perhaps it was due to all the thoughts that continuously cycled through her head, distracting her from her work. Or quite possibly, perhaps it was the deadline that was all too soon approaching. In fact, this wasn't simply just another improved medicine or antibiotic, this was more special than that. This project had not only a significant place in her heart, but also carried an important deadline as well. While she rather disliked being rushed in her work, it was in fact by her own wish that she had set this deadline. Though it really was frustrating her now, considering that the deadline was actually to be the day that is so soon coming. After all, it was Genji's birthday.
While Angela knew that the awkward cyborg may be a bit too shy for any bolder surprises from her, she figured that he would greatly appreciate this one at the very least. He had already managed to sneak into the base one day and coincidentally overheard their plans to throw a surprise party, hence completely ruining it and persistently insisted on not doing such a thing for him.
His selfless and sweet nature was a charm that made her heart throb with happiness; it was also sometimes a bit bothersome as she felt that he rejected certain things because he didn't consider himself worthy of them. Of course he was courteous and polite about it all, however it doesn't change the fact that he still thought of himself as less than what everyone else sees him to be. As such, they had managed to make yet another event this time, under the guise of a date for him and her.
While Angela had been a bit hesitant to have them so directly bring up their relationship in that manner, she did feel as though it was a good time to finally take him out to something nice. As such, she reluctantly agreed to let them deal with the location and other details of the date itself.
With the help of Lena, she had managed to find a lovely dress for the occasion, crafted just for her size. She had insisted on simply buying a premade dress but her protests fell on the deaf ears of the nimble girl that flitted around the shop looking at fabric and pouted at her in an attempt for a chance to personally take down her measurements. Angela had finally relented and simply used the measurements she had taken for her Valkyrie suit, seeing as she had stay in practically the same fit physique, much to Lena's disappointment at her lost opportunity. However, all these events had taken up much of her time, leaving so little for her own personal project.
As the new serum, fizzed out once more, its contents not dissolving and reacting in the way she had wanted them to, Angela let out a loud sigh and leaned back into her chair, looking up at the ceiling deep in thought. These thoughts were interrupted by a soft and polite set of knocks on the door. She blinked in surprise and looked at the door before a soft smile appeared on her lips. She pulled herself out of her chair and opened the door, saying at the same time, "You know you don't have to ask permission every time you want to enter my lab, Genji." Ah, if only she could gather the courage to say the same about her personal room.
Genji tilted his head slightly as he calmly responded, "While I do recall you having told me such a thing, I doubt that I can ever bring myself to enter so unprofessionally in the presence of the honorable doctor." Angela could help but giggle at his sly response, knowing all too well that she could never win in one of these arguments. She gently hit him on the side of his head playfully before looking down at what he had in his hand. She blinked twice and looked up at him once more. Genji let out a small robotic noise, one similar to a chuckle yet more mechanical and airy.
"Yes, this is in fact for you of course. May I come in and place it down somewhere for you or shall we stand here and cool it off with our stares?"
Angela pouted as she turned, pretending to be put off by his sarcastic comment. She hid the smile that came soon after, pulling out two chairs for them to sit at by a nearby table. Genji nodded and deftly closed the door behind him with his heel, walking over silently and placing the cup of tea onto the table in front of her, sitting down on the opposite side as she did the same. As he did so, he could not help but verbalize his thought at that moment. "In any case, how is it that you always know whenever I knock on your door?"
Angela blew at the cup twice, watching as the steam dispersed and ripples formed in the tea. She looked up to her left as she considered the answer for a moment, before meeting his eyes. "Well, I don't get many visitors this late at night. That narrows it down to Lena, Winston, and you usually. Lena usually just comes in without knocking and Winston is a bit too big to be quite as stealthy as you are." Genji's visor dimmed, as if he had closed his eyes to intently listen to her every word, absorbing and memorizing them. Satisfied with the answer, he nodded as his visor lit up brightly, once again watching as Angela blew at her cup and took a few sips.
After all, it wasn't so bad to know that there was someone out there who knew him down to such small details. While they had been dating for a while now, she continued to surprise him every time. Such was the way that she'll always be; as the angel she has always been and the angel who claimed his heart.
They sat silently, listening only to the soft hum of the machinery around them and each other's breaths until Angela had finished her cup. While most may be intimidated or felt awkward at the prospect of being constantly watched by such an impassive robotic figure, Angela could not help but feel completely at ease with him so close to her. For her, he was a source of calm and tranquility that she could not find anywhere else in the world, and he could bring it to wherever he may be. Even if he has no longer fully human and even if he did not fully accept himself, he was an anchor that she could always rely on. Even after she had confessed her attraction for him, considering that he was too shy to admit it himself, Genji still could not bring himself to be fully open with her. But he was getting better she supposed, and every attempt at being awkwardly affectionate for her simply made her see him all the more adorable and lovable.
However, his awkwardness never showed when she needed him the most, and especially when he had been constantly on her mind. Even though she knew that she had to return to her work, she couldn't help but want to be right there with him forever, without a hint of fatigue or worry with him around.
A small cough came from the figure in front of her, snapping Angela out of her thoughts. Focusing on Genji once again, she couldn't help but notice that his visor had taken on a slight shade of pink. While she knew that his visor responded to his emotions and facial expressions well, the first time it happened had caught her off-guard and thoroughly concerned.
It was only with the second time that she had realized that it was the shy cyborg's equivalent of a blush, one which she had never imaged that would ever appear on such a passive man's expression. She blinked in surprise and tilted her head, trying desperately to suppress the smile on her lips at the sight. She tilted her head and surrendered, fully smiling delightfully as she teasingly asked, "Is something wrong Genji?"
Genji averted his gaze for a moment, though the pink shade was still all too visible from this angle to her. With that, he softly murmured, "I'm fine. It's just, I'm not quite used to being stared at for such an extended period of time, and especially with that kind of gaze." He paused for a moment before meeting her eyes again, "And especially with your beautiful eyes, Angela."
The first part of her laugh was disguised as a cough which she covered with her hand. However, it soon escalated out of hand, quite literally, as she began to giggle uncontrollably. Genji's visor lit up green in surprise, traces of pink gone now. It then sharpened as if he was frowning or glaring at her for laughing at his embarrassment, yet soon enough it softened as he too began chuckling with her.
This went on for a while before Angela suddenly grabbed both of his hands which had been neatly laid on the table, pulling him in. She placed a kiss in the steel plate where his mouth would have been, leaving a faint lipstick stain there. She had tried it on some time in the afternoon to make sure that it was suitable and had not had time to wash it off. This was one way to do so she supposed.
Their giggles subsided as they looked fondly at each other, still holding on to each other's hands tightly. Angela opened her mouth, a soft smile still on her lips as she began to spoke. However, she stopped as Genji nodded his head gently, already knowing fully well what she wanted to say to him. It was one of his quirks, an adorable one if anything. She knew that he wasn't good with vocally telling her that he loved her yet, but in that moment she knew that he had already done such that with everything he had done and said to her so far. And with that nod, he had told her that he realized how much she loved him too.
Angela closed her eyes with a soft sigh, basking in the warmth and fuzziness that was embracing her heart. It had been a good break but she definitely had to return to her work. Unfortunately, his presence was going to distract her more than ever now, considering what had just transpired and the fact that she was still working on his present, even if he didn't know it and would most likely sit quietly in the shadow regardless.
As such, she gave his hands one last tight squeeze before letting them go, softly telling him, "Well, I've enjoyed being with you Genji. However, I must return to my work. It's very important and-" However, she didn't even get to finish her short farewell to him. By the time she was done with her first sentence, his visor had visibly dimmed. By the second, they had brightened once again, as if he had made a decision that he was going to follow through on. And by the middle of the third, he had stood up and promptly picked her up out of her chair, carrying him as if she was a princess.
In his arms, Angela squirmed and pouted at him for treating her as such. As she opened her mouth to protest once more, she felt his gaze stopping her. With that, she closed her mouth as he carried her out, using his elbow to skillfully open the door handle and turn off the lights to the lab.
As he walked out and used his heel to quickly pull the door shut, he looked down at the girl he had in his arms and said calmly, "Yes yes, I'm aware that the doctor had plenty of important work to take care of. However, as a very concerned patient insists that she gets her daily dose of rest as she is so keen to prescribe to everyone else."
As Angela continued to pout even as he continued to walk though no longer squirming, the green light softened in a tender manner as he continued on softly, "Plus, while having you in my arms is pretty bad for my heart, I think staying up so late is even worse for you."
Angela pouted at him for a while longer before letting out a sigh of resignation. Even if she could make excuses and demand to be returned to her lab for safety reasons or scientific reasons, Genji knew all too well that she was much too careful and tired for either of those reasons to be true.
More importantly, she couldn't bring herself to do so, not when she was feeling so comfortable in his arms, now warmed up from her own body even in the cold of the night. She looked up at the man carrying her once more lovingly before turning her head to comfortably nestle in his arms. While it was no fluffy and soft bed filled with pillows, it sure felt amazing and warmth.
