Chapter Text
People continued to filter in and out of the mess hall. Some loitered by the counters deciding what to choose for a meal, some sat down in groups at tables, some made beelines to the to-go meals and went right back out the door. It was loud, everyone attempting to speak loud enough to be heard over the sound of others. All in all, it was a pleasant atmosphere.
Videre sat at a table near a corner, as far from the cacophony as she could be. Normally she'd be gone by now. She usually arrived, got food, and left once she'd finished eating. Sometimes she was one of the agents to get food and immediately leave to eat elsewhere. The noise-muffling ear covers she wore only did so much for her.
Not today. Today she had something else to do.
She looked up from the screen of her phone where she was casually browsing some website about something or other. She wasn't paying too much attention to it, honestly. Videre scanned the room, looking from person to person briefly and noting who was and wasn't there. And she failed to see who she was looking for in particular.
On one hand, it meant she hadn't missed him yet. On the other, it just built up the anxious apprehension of what she was waiting to do.
She glanced anxiously at the paper brown bag sitting in front of her. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Another frustratingly long day. It had been enough that the cyborg had had to push the limits of what his artificial body was capable of for training. Being forced to stay after and be looked over meticulously to make sure everything was still in working order was equally frustrating, and at this point it was a miracle he hadn't ripped off anyone’s limbs. Dr. Ziegler’s amicability only went so far in granting him patience.
He heard a shout from behind him as he stormed from the medbay, shrugging on a jacket to feel a little less exposed.
“Go get something to eat! Your body needs the energy!”
He groaned and rolled his eyes. Food was the last thing on his mind. All he wanted to do was lock himself in his room, turn the lights off, and pretend to not exist. But knowing the good doctor, she'd be checking around to be sure. Can't have her top project falling into disrepair, he thought bitterly to himself.
He didn't even know what was available in the mess hall today. Tonight. Whatever time it was. Maybe if he just went in, grabbed one of the ready-made items, and left. He probably wouldn't do anything with it other than throw it away immediately, but at least there would be witnesses saying they saw him.
Videre had put her phone down and was now busy trying to decide if she should just get up and leave, or try to stick around for a few more minutes. Not many people were left compared to earlier. Some agents she wasn't familiar with here and there, and a certain cowboy-wannabe slouching in his own corner with his hat down over his eyes.
She drummed her fingers against the table’s edge, sighing through her nose and propping her chin up with an elbow on the table.
Okay. A few more minutes, then I'll go. It's not like I didn't try.
Videre waited. A few more people left. The noise level had lowered to a pleasant hum of voices too indistinct to make anything out. Sitting still in the white noise, still leaning on an elbow, was having a drowsy effect on her.
Her head slipping and nearly cracking the table nearly gave her whiplash as she snapped it back up. Okay. If that wasn't a sign to get out of there and try at some later time, she didn't know what was. She carefully stood from her chair, taking care to keep her legs in check. The prostheses were still fairly new to her, and while she was making progress it was still taking a lot of getting used to. Once she was standing she stuffed her phone into her hoodie pocket and lifted the bag in both hands. Exhaling through her nose again, she turned and made her way to the doorway.
And promptly froze in place when she saw who was just entering.
Genji entered the mess hall like a storm cloud. A storm cloud trying to pretend it wasn't one. His piercing red eyes swept around the room - he noticed a few glanced his way, but quickly turned back to what they were doing like children that had been told not to stare and been caught. It's like they thought if they so much as looked at him wrong he'd come after them. He may have been frustrated with his situation, but that was a level of petty he wouldn't sink to so easily.
He stalked towards the counters where everything was. He didn't need to get very close to see how slim the pickings were. It looked like all that was left was salads, sandwiches, and various snack items like fruit.
Whatever, he'd grab an apple and leave.
He swept past the fruit and grabbed one of the pathetic little apples and a water bottle. He stopped just to glare down at the fruit and consider getting a different one. No, he was just going to throw it away anyways. It wouldn't matter.
“Uh… Genji.”
He was snapped from his thoughts by a nervous voice from beside him. He turned his head just enough to see who it was.
He was mildly surprised to see Videre standing there. Last name, anyways; she didn't like to use her first name for whatever reason, so nobody knew any other name for her. He knew who she was - they were the only two on base that both had double leg prostheses and frequently had physical therapy at the same time, or were in the medical bay at the same time for check-ups with Dr. Ziegler. It was impossible to mistake her for anyone else. But he couldn't recall a time she'd ever attempted to talk to him unprompted. This was unusual.
His eyes were drawn to the paper brown bag she had balanced on her palms.
“I uh… here. This is for you.”
She extended her arms and held the bag out for him to take. He stared, a little perplexed. Slowly he took the bag by the rolled-down top in one hand. She seemed to loosen up from her stiff posture the instant the weight lifted from her hands.
“I… hope it's okay.”
And with that she turned and practically speed-walked away and out of the mess hall. Impressive for someone who was still getting the hang of new legs.
He stood there, his former bad mood thrown off by the act. He blinked a few times. What in the hell was that about?
The cyborg’s attention turned to the bag, and whatever its contents were. It was a decent weight, so something substantial was in it. He closed the distance between himself and the nearest surface he could put it down. The apple was dropped dismissively onto the same counter, now forgotten. Unrolling the top, he pulled it open and peered inside.
It was…
…no way.
He reached inside with his organic hand and pulled out a bowl container with a clear lid. He had no idea where Videre had found the ingredients for ramen, but there it was, noodles adorned with green onions and sliced meat and a sectioned egg, still warm in the container. The other, taller container in the bag, upon quickly glancing at it, contained the broth to put over everything.
There was a small note stuck to the top of the broth container. Genji reached inside the bag and picked it off, unfolding and reading it.
I thought you might like something besides what's usually being served in here. I had to improvise with the recipe I was using, so I hope it's okay by your standards. You've had the real thing, after all.
- Videre
He stared at the note in his hand, then slowly back to the container in his other. He couldn't process anything other than a feeling of confusion at the gesture. Why would she do this?
He had no idea how long he stood there staring off into space when he was brought back to reality by a drawl behind him.
“You gonna do something with that before it gets any colder? Or can I have it?”
Genji glared over his shoulder at the cowboy looking at him with a smug expression.
“I'll take that as a no.”
The cyborg huffed through his mask, looking back down at the note.
“Ziegler must've told her to do this.” It was the only thing that made sense.
McCree snorted loudly. Genji quirked an unruly eyebrow at him.
“I don't think Angela would've made her sit around here as long as she did waiting for you to show your face.” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “I should know, I was feignin’ sleep watching to see what all she was up to.”
McCree propped his wrist on Genji’s shoulder, tapping on the bowl with his other hand.
“You shoulda seen the look on your face when she handed this over. And then when you looked inside. Never seen ya so taken aback!”
Genji shrugged the cowboy off with another glare and put everything back into the bag, folding the top down and picking it up. Videre made this herself, if the note was anything to go by. But without anyone telling her to? And delivering it in person and not just dropping it by his room? She was so quick to leave, too, after he took it from her.
Well, as confused as he was by the gesture, it was still… nice. He hadn't had ramen in so long. Genji certainly didn't feel as irritated as he'd been earlier. Unless McCree continued to tease him. Then he might be right back where he was. That was a good possibility, the way things were going.
“I'm leaving.”
“Be sure to tell her thanks! Maybe even return the favor! She doesn't do this for anyone that I know of!” The cowboy clapped a hand on his shoulder and beamed as the cyborg tore away and started towards the exit. He passed a hand through his messy black hair.
Maybe he would do something. Just to pay her back, he told himself. And to get McCree off his case.
In the meantime, he was going back to his room to have some peace, quiet, and homemade ramen. And maybe think about what Videre might like. Maybe.
“You sure ran out of there quick. Shoulda stayed longer.”
The shorter agent jumped when McCree sidled up to her in the hall without a sound. You'd think that someone with spurs on their boots would be easier to hear coming.
She glanced up at the smug cowboy and then back to the empty hall, trying to fight the faint blush beginning to appear on her face. He'd only come and found her to tease her, and she knew it.
“Go away, McCree.”
“Why? I just came over here to tell ya Genji seemed real happy about the gesture.”
Heat spread across her face and she was sure she looked like a surprised beet.
“Well, more like confused. But he wouldn't share when I asked, and he didn’t try to throw anythin’ at me, so I think it's safe to say he liked it.” He winked at her, clearly pleased with himself that his teasing was paying off with such reactions.
Videre’s look of confusion turned into a scowl. God damn cowboy. She shifted her weight on her mechanical legs and folded her arms.
“He could still find something to not be happy about with it. It might taste terrible, or, or not hold up to actual authentic ramen.”
“You beat yourself up too much. If your cooking tastes as good as it smells you have nothin’ to worry about.”
He patted her on the shoulder. She grimaced and swatted his hand away. She didn’t know why this man decided to assign himself as her older brother figure. She didn’t exactly hate him, but she didn’t like him that much either. He was too touchy when trying to be friendly, and teased too much. It reminded her a little too much of her family that were the same way.
“I’m not beating myself up, I'm being realistic.”
“Uh huh, sure.”
Videre gave McCree a pointed look. “Don’t go pestering him about it. I know you’ll try. Just don’t, please. If this was a disaster I don’t want to know about it.”
The cowboy rolled his eyes at her, passing a hand over his face to hide the smirk there.
"Well, can't make any promises there. We are in covert ops together, after all." And not to mention he'd already done some pestering. Videre glowered up at him.
"Please."
He held his hands up in front of him defensively.
"Alright, alright. Just don't get your hopes too low, is all I'm sayin'."