Work Text:
When Tesla walked into the study of Lab 42, she immediately noticed something was wrong. It didn’t take very long to figure out what it was - Welt’s usual spot on the couch, where he would be reading pretty much every day, was empty. Sitting on an armchair beside the couch was Einstein, delicately sipping from a cup of coffee.
“Hey, Mophead, where’s Welt?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Did you evict him or something? Stuff him in a cupboard, maybe?”
“Unfortuately, Dr. Tesla, I did not stuff him in a cupboard. Welt is ill, and is currently stuck in bed with a fever.”
“Uh… what?” Tesla frowned. “Is he okay?”
“He will live.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“The doctor said that it’s nothing too dangerous, he just needs some rest and medication. See? He will live.”
“One of these days, that idiot is actually gonna die, and somehow you’re gonna make it worse.”
Einstein smirked. “Aw, Tesla, I didn’t know you cared so much about him.”
Tesla gave Einstein a sharp glare, and stuck her middle finger out at her. With a huff, she stormed into the kitchen.
A while later, she returned with a sandwich in her hand. She sat down on the couch, taking a bite.
“...Aren’t we supposed to take care of sick people?” Tesla wondered.
“Mmm, that’s true,” pondered Einstein.
“If that idiot dies of neglect, who’s going to do our laundry?”
“Also true.”
“We should do something.”
“I guess so.”
“...I’ll just finish my sandwich first.”
“...My coffee will get cold if I don’t finish it too.”
As Tesla prepared the ingredients she had bought on the kitchen counter, Einstein walked into the kitchen with a notebook in her hands. Though her face didn’t show much emotion, Tesla recognized her enthusiasm.
“It’s a recipe book, with Emma’s favorite recipes,” Einstein explained, setting it down. “She has a recipe for chicken noodle soup here which I’ve been interested in cooking.”
“Madame Planck’s recipes, huh?” Tesla noted as Ein opened the book. “For some odd reason, I don’t trust this book one bit.”
“Emma might be an… eccentric woman, but her cooking isn’t too terrible,” Einstein said with confidence, though this didn’t reassure Tesla one bit. “When I got sick one day while I was still her only student, she made me this soup, and it made me feel much better.”
“Huh… Well, I guess I gotta see it to believe it.”
Tesla took out a cutting board, and began chopping vegetables, while Einstein began working on the broth. While neither of them were particularly good at cooking, at the very least, they weren’t horrible. Today, both of them were trying their best to make something wonderful for their dear friend… though neither of them said this out loud.
Tesla slid the vegetables and boiled chicken into the broth, while Einstein prepared the noodles. As she waited for the pasta to cook, she noticed Tesla taking a small bag out of the pantry- her precious truffles.
“Some snacks for yourself, Tesla?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the pasta.
“Actually…” she muttered. “It’s for the soup.”
“Sorry? I could have sworn you said ‘it’s for the soup.’”
Tesla took a deep breath and grumbled. “Yes, Mophead, it’s for the damn soup.”
“I’d never expect to see Dr. Tesla willingly share her truffles with another, let alone with Welt.”
“It’s a special occasion, okay? Seemed like he liked it after you stole them from me, anyways.”
Einstein laughed. “You’re so sweet and cute, Dr. Tesla.”
“Oi. There’s a knife on that table, and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“I know you wouldn’t use it.”
“Wanna test that hypothesis, like a real scientist?”
“I’m on break right now, thank you very much.”
Welt laid in his bed, snuggled up under piles of blankets in the chilly room. The curtains were shut, leaving the room dim. Both the doctor and Ein had told him to rest, but he couldn’t sleep. The nightmares didn’t help much either.
At least he had a blanket, he thought. At least they cared enough to give him medicine, he thought. At least there was someone there to care for him. Being stuck in bed, feeling absolutely miserable, brought back bad memories for him. Brought back pain, brought back anguish, brought back cold, lonely despair.
To bear the unbearable, to suffer the insufferable.
He was afraid to look in the shadowy corners, fearing what he would see in the darkness. He wished that Ein or Tesla would open the door right now, and remind him that everything would be okay. He wanted to get up, but his body was too weak. He curled up underneath all the blankets.
Then… he smelled the most wonderful smell. Was someone cooking something?
It was a familiar scent, but like most familiar-smelling things, he couldn’t figure out why he remembered it. It felt warm and comforting, like candlelight in pitch black darkness, or his favorite jacket and scarf. He felt comforted by this… before realizing that Ein and Tesla were cooking.
Haha… they’re good at cooking, right? They won’t burn anything… right?
Tesla burst into Welt’s room, light from outside spilling into the dim room. Welt shielded his eyes as they adjusted to the light as Einstein walked inside behind Tesla, holding a bowl of… soup?
Einstein placed the soup on the table, while Tesla shook Welt awake. “Get up, sleepyhead! You haven’t eaten at all today, haven’t you?”
“He had a few crackers,” Einstein said, turning her head. “But he couldn’t eat much else. Are you feeling any better now, Welt?”
“Uh… well I don’t feel like I’m dying anymore,” Welt muttered, sitting up. “I haven’t had much sleep… I’m having nightmares.”
“I see. Well, I hope Emma’s soup will make you feel better.”
Welt’s eyes widened. Emma’s soup? Emma Planck? This is hers?
“I can see your concern,” Einstein said. “Don’t worry, me and Dr. Tesla cooked it. It’s just Emma’s recipe, and I can say from experience that it’s quite good.”
Welt looked over at Tesla. Tesla rolled her eyes, mouthing I didn’t poison you, Mophead was watching.
“Can you stand?” Einstein said, walking to his bed. She tried to help him out, but his body was still too weak to get out of bed. “Ah. Tsk, how inconvenient.”
“Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Tesla muttered. “Relax, we’ll just spoon feed you.”
“W-what?” Welt turned red, flustered and taken by surprise.
“Very funny, Tesla,” Einstein said, the bowl of soup in her hands. “You can just eat it yourself in bed. Unless you’d like to be spoon fed.”
“E-Ein!” Tesla grabbed a pillow and placed it behind Welt as Ein handed him the soup. He was still hesitant, but seeing Tesla and Einstein’s judgemental yet eager faces reassured him a little bit. He took a sip, and…
It was absolutely perfect.
It was like liquid happiness. The mellow, yet rich flavor. The hint of… truffles? The tender chicken and vegetables, and the soft noodles. Maybe his standards were horrible, horribly low, but this might be the best thing he’s ever tasted. He couldn’t even describe how he felt. He just sat there, staring at the bowl.
“Does he like it?” Tesla whispered to Einstein.
“Maybe he hates it,” Einstein whispered back.
“I…” Welt still didn’t know what to say. He felt overwhelmed.
“Dammit, Mophead, are you sure you cooked the chicken properly? He looks like he’s about to throw up,” Tesla muttered.
“No, Tesla, but maybe you bought bad vegetables,” Einstein replied calmly.
“Me? I’ll have you know I went out of my way to pick out the really good ones!”
“Guys…” Welt breathed. “It’s perfect.”
Einstein and Tesla looked at him in shock. “It’s what. ” Tesla said.
“I just can’t believe you made this… for me.”
“Oh, Welt…” Einstein sighed sadly. “Of course we’d do this for you.”
“Yeah, of course!” Tesla said. She seemingly pitied him too, as she dropped her tough attitude. “Welt, we’re your friends. We care about you, and we love you. And we certainly won’t let you die of starvation.”
The idea of being a “friend,” not a “test subject,” or a “lab rat,” still felt new to Welt. It felt incredible to remember how “Ω1” despised the world which had been so cruel to him, while “Welt Joyce” loved the world and those who made it feel so special. Truly, Lab 42 was a very special place, magical, even. It wasn’t just some ordinary, sanitized lab - it was home.
Ein and Tesla sat down on the bed beside him. They joked and laughed with each other, making Welt forget about his sickness. As… interesting as they were, Welt felt so happy with them. He didn’t even know he could feel this way, 3 years ago.
“By the way, can I tell you guys something?” Welt asked.
“Sure,” Einstein said. “No reason for you not to.”
“Sorry if this sounds cheesy, but… I’m glad I met you. I’m glad I got to become Welt Joyce.”
Tesla chuckled. “You are such an idiot. But yeah, we’re glad we met you too.”